Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 153
Richelle took a moment to ponder Alan’s question.
Still, she couldn’t quite understand what he meant, so she tilted her head awkwardly.
“Um, Alan, I don’t exactly want to become a second Neil Otis.”
“I’m not asking you to become a second Neil Otis.”
Alan turned fully toward her, spreading his hands wide.
“Think carefully, Richelle. Go over Charlotte Otis’s letter. Rose didn’t exactly fulfill Neil Otis’s wish.”
“But Neil Otis did get what he wanted… Ah.”
A small sound escaped her.
Yes, Alan was right. When seen from a different perspective, it was clear Rose hadn’t truly granted Neil Otis’s wish.
“Right. Edgar Otis’s wish was to ‘help his brother’, right? So, technically, Neil Otis’s desire was fulfilled… because Rose granted Edgar’s wish, not because he agreed to Neil’s.”
“Exactly. And unlike with Edgar and Charlotte, Rose even demanded a price from Neil. What Rose and Neil had was more of a transaction—a highly unfair one at that.”
Alan rubbed his chin as he paced the room.
“If I had to describe what Rose did to Neil Otis, it’d go something like this: he sets up a grand feast, pretending to be generous, and then, just as Neil’s finished eating, he arbitrarily assigns an outrageous price and forces him to pay up.”
It was a compelling analogy, and Richelle nodded as Alan continued.
“But while Rose’s actions could be criticized as excessive, they weren’t necessarily wrong. After all, Neil Otis did receive a feast beyond his means.”
“Still, Alan, Rose gave that feast to Neil Otis to fulfill Edgar’s wish, right? So you could argue that the meal was already paid for. Demanding an additional price afterward seems unfair and arbitrary, don’t you think?”
“That’s one way to look at it. But let me ask you something: for fulfilling Edgar’s wish, exactly how much was Rose supposed to provide Neil Otis?”
“What?”
“I think it goes like this: Edgar never set specific conditions. He only wished for his brother’s life to find stability. So Rose interpreted Edgar’s wish as merely ‘Neil Otis living a moderately peaceful life’. The excess wealth, fame, and power Neil Otis acquired afterward were, in Rose’s eyes, part of a separate deal.”
Richelle finally understood Alan’s point. He wasn’t trying to judge whether Rose’s actions were appropriate.
“You’re saying that if Rose himself offered to grant a wish, he might actually keep that promise?”
“Yes. At first, I thought his talk of a ‘wish’ was just another one of his tricks… but reading Charlotte’s letter made it clear—he would genuinely fulfill the wish. After all, Charlotte’s wish to establish rules in Bertrand has been respected all this time. Rose may not like it, but he does honor the promises he makes.”
Alan crossed his arms tightly, as though trying to suppress his anxiety.
“When it comes to a wish he offered first, Rose doesn’t mess around. So if you set the terms carefully, you can achieve anything.”
“Do you want me to make a wish, Alan?”
“I want you to be safe.”
Alan scratched his head irritably, then plopped down next to Richelle.
“I can trust Charlotte Otis. She sacrificed her own safety for the possibility of freeing Otis. If I don’t trust her advice, I’d be a terribly ungrateful descendant.”
“Is something else bothering you?”
“Richelle, it’s Neil Otis that I don’t trust.”
Alan locked his fingers and rested his chin on them.
“This ‘second path’ entirely depends on Neil Otis’s help, right?”
“If you put it that way, yes.”
“He’s a man filled with greed, selfishness, and conceit. Can we really trust him? Will he genuinely help us?”
A faint scowl flickered in his eyes.
“I just can’t trust him.”
“…I’ll admit this plan does have a lot of uncertainties.”
“That’s why I want you to make a wish instead.”
Richelle looked at Alan. His gaze was fixed on the cloudy sky outside.
“This plan directly attacks Rose. If we fail, he’ll never forgive us. So Richelle, make a wish. Ask for your safety and freedom.”
After listening intently, Richelle carefully spoke.
“If I make a wish and secure my safety… what about you, Alan?”
“Rose can’t kill me anyway. I’m the last Otis in this house. Once you’re free, I’ll find a chance to try and break the contract on my own.”
“……”
When she didn’t respond, Alan gave a faint smile.
“I don’t plan on dying. I don’t want to rot away in a locked room, either. I’ll keep fighting to escape. Who knows, maybe going solo will even make things easier, with less to worry about.”
