Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 32
It was when she was drifting off into her thoughts that Rogéros brought up a rather unwelcome topic, causing Richelle to stiffen.
“Oh, that…”
[Speaking carelessly about things experienced within the mansion is strictly forbidden. This must be emphasized once more—it is a very reckless action.]
The content of the Bertrand rules vividly flashed through Richelle’s mind, reminding her of the warning not to carelessly discuss what she had experienced within the mansion.
Even though it might be a trivial story, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
Richelle, with her hands clasped behind her back, tried to sound nonchalant as she replied.
“It’s nothing. I just thought I saw something over here. Thought it might be a dog or a cat, but now it seems it was just the shadow of the gas lamp.”
“Is that so?”
Fortunately, Rogéros accepted Richelle’s explanation without any suspicion. He leaned forward to examine the shadow of the gas lamp more closely.
“The nights at Bertrand can be quite noisy, can’t they?”
His comment floated over casually, as effortlessly as a breeze caressing the cheek.
Richelle almost let out an agreement but managed to hold it back, staring blankly at Rogéros.
Right. Rogéros Walter was kind and friendly enough to make one want to be closer, but sometimes, like now, he would evoke such odd discomfort. Discussing ‘the night’ so openly? Did Rogéros Walter not know about Bertrand’s rules?
His intentions were unclear. Without Rogéros’s gaze on her, she couldn’t read his expression. Richelle swallowed hard.
“Is that so? I always fall asleep before midnight.”
Her voice, thankfully, sounded quite calm as she forced it out. Rogéros, straightening up to face her, also appeared perfectly serene.
“You have good habits. I wish our Young Master Alan would take a lesson from you.”
Alan Otis was mentioned. Richelle instinctively perked up her ears.
“Does Young Master Alan have trouble sleeping?”
“He has some insomnia.”
Richelle thought back to the boy she had closely observed yesterday. His complexion was so pale it could have been mistaken for a corpse.
Worry flooded back in. It didn’t sit well with her, and she slumped her shoulders.
“That must be tough for him.”
“It’s because the Young Master is particularly stubborn.”
Annoyingly so.
Richelle doubted her ears at the quietly added comment. However, Rogéros’s expression remained endlessly gentle, as if to suggest whatever she thought she heard was merely a misunderstanding.
A breeze wrapped around them, and within the vivid scent of roses, Rogéros extended his hand toward Richelle.
“The scent of roses makes for a delightful morning. Would you care to join me for a walk? Starting the day with a stroll alongside you would be a real pleasure, Miss Howard.”
Under the overcast sky, only this beautiful man and the red roses shone brightly.
His thick black hair fluttered in the cool breeze. In his auburn eyes, only Richelle Howard was reflected.
A scene so deeply engraved within those eyes, it was unforgettable for its beauty.
The urge to take his hand was strong, as if doing so would wash away all worries and distractions.
Yet, Richelle, with a polite smile, clasped her hands together respectfully.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must return. I need to assist Young Lady Penny and Young Lord Nero with their morning preparations.”
Rogéros had been exceedingly kind to her. Perhaps, it was more than simple colleague-to-colleague friendliness.
This was the second reason why Rogéros Walter sometimes made her uncomfortable.
In this world, there’s no such thing as kindness without a reason. Richelle knew this fact better than anyone in the world.
She gratefully accepted kindness but never let down her guard.
Not too distant, not too close, always maintaining a proper distance.
This was Richelle’s rule for self-preservation.
“Oh, is that so?”
Rogéros seemed genuinely disappointed. He even went a step further, offering a new proposition.
“Then, how about I walk you back to your room?”
“It’s not far.”
“Please, don’t refuse. I was about to head back myself.”
Since their destinations aligned, refusing further would seem odd.
Having sorted out her thoughts, Richelle decided to walk with Rogéros. That is, until she spotted a fluttering white fabric in the distance.
