Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 20
Soon they arrived at Richelle’s bedroom door. Rogéros released her hand gently like a flowing stream.
“You’re starting your life at Bertrand from tomorrow. Have you finished setting up your room?”
“My luggage wasn’t much.”
“Then you can rest well now. You can explore your room more, it’s a wonderful space.”
Rogéros lightly knocked on the door. The moonlight elegantly flowed over his refined features.
“Do you like Bertrand, Miss Howard?”
The man, beautiful like a flower laced with poison, smiled enticingly. As she was an employee of the mansion now, she had only one reply to give.
“Yes, I am happy to be here.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Bertrand is a beautiful place. If one is wise, it’s not a bad place to work.”
The man took a step back, his tall figure slowly melting into the darkness.
“I hope you adapt well here, Miss Howard. I have no doubt you will do well.”
“You are very kind, Mister Walter.”
“Not really. I just try to appear kind. I want to be friends with you.”
For a moment, Richelle was at a loss for words and could only offer an awkward smile. Rogéros laughed out loud.
“The next time we meet, I’d be very pleased if you called me ‘Rogéros’ instead of ‘Mister Walter’. Will you do that for me?”
“Should I grant you permission to use my name as well?”
“No, not now. Only when you truly want to, Miss Howard.”
Rogéros bowed gracefully, like an actor at a curtain call, elegant and dignified.
“Then, I wish you a peaceful evening.”
***
Upon closing the door and entering her room, Richelle slid down to the floor.
‘This mansion is indeed strange.’
She couldn’t exactly explain it, but she was certain. There was something about this mansion that couldn’t be attributed solely to the discord within the Otis family.
Richelle hugged her knees to her chest and raised her head to face the dense darkness looming over her.
Feeling a chill, she stood up, lit the fireplace, and carried a lit oil lamp from the desk. The light improved her mood slightly.
She gazed into the fireplace for a moment before approaching the desk. Setting the lamp on the floor, she lay flat, unconcerned about wrinkling her best dress.
After some fumbling, she finally felt a piece of paper under her fingertips. It was the peculiar letter she’d dropped before dinner.
Richelle, having straightened her dress, sat in front of the fireplace holding the letter.
[This letter has been written to assist you in leading a safe and peaceful life in the manor for the coming year.]
If this letter was indeed true…
Her green eyes slowly scanned the letter. Her gaze halted on a particular sentence.
[Pay no heed to the eldest of the Otis family.]
“The eldest of the Otis family…”
The young man who, whether he ate or stormed out in anger, seemed to matter to no one but the tutor, Rogéros Walter.
Richelle glanced at the flames and buried her face back into the letter. Soon, every detail of the letter was etched into her mind.
There must be a reason for such a letter to exist in this strange mansion.
‘It’s not like it’s instructing me to slap the children’s cheeks every morning. It can’t hurt to be cautious.’
Don’t overthink it. As always, just accept, adapt, and act according to the rules.
That’s what you’re best at, Richelle.
After a thorough second reading, she tossed the letter into the fireplace, where it quickly burnt to ashes without a trace.
Richelle stood, locking her bedroom door and meticulously drawing the curtains by the window.
Everything will be alright.
She reassured herself.
The long night had just begun.
