Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 41
“Mother, how did you pay for that new dress?”
“Oh, this? It suits me very well, doesn’t it? It’s not terribly expensive, but still quite nice.”
Madam Howard, wearing a proud expression, lovingly caressed her dress. Meanwhile, Richelle grew increasingly anxious.
“I had stopped the credit. And it’s unlikely that Viscount Oliphant has already sent you money again. …Surely not, right? Please tell me you didn’t take the money from Anna!”
“Take… That word is rather unpleasant to hear.”
Madam Howard pursed her red lips slightly, a clear affirmation. Richelle finally caught on to the entire context.
“You found out I’m here at the Otis household from Anna, didn’t you? My goodness. What exactly did you do to her? Aside from living expenses, part of that money is the salary we give to Anna!”
“Why should that girl receive a salary? She should be grateful that we’ve taken her and her grandmother in when they’ve got nowhere else to go. Feeding and sheltering her should be enough. Our household isn’t that large to begin with. There isn’t much work to do either…”
“Mother!”
“Goodness. Why are you shouting? More importantly, how can you speak as if your mother is some sort of criminal! Who would dare stop a mother from finding her daughter? And since when is it normal for a mere servant to resist the demands of their master?”
“How is Anna merely a servant? And nowhere else to go? Anna is a skilled maid. She would have been welcomed with open arms at any household. Yet, she chose to stay with us, even when we had nothing more to give! Even now, in my absence…”
“Enough, enough! I didn’t come here to fight.”
Madam Howard waved her hand dismissively. It felt like talking to a wall. As always.
Overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, Richelle covered her face with her hands.
After a moment of silence, Madam Howard was the first to speak.
“Richelle, I’m in a rather good mood right now. Originally, I planned to scold you severely upon meeting, but now that you seem to have come to your senses, I’m willing to forgive you graciously.”
Richelle lowered her hands and looked at her mother. Madam Howard was excitedly surveying the drawing room, her eyes greedily scanning the exotic porcelain and paintings.
“I wondered why you wouldn’t listen to me… You had your eyes set on the heavens… Smart move. Planning to secure a connection with the Otis family.”
“…What?”
“The Chester family is nothing compared to the Otis family. I can’t wait to see the look on Madam Allison’s face when she hears about this!”
The word ‘young madam’, which had sprung from her mother’s mouth and shocked Richelle, came back to mind.
So that was why she came. Not because she was worried or missed Richelle, not even out of anger, but out of anticipation for a potential connection with the Otis family.
Richelle’s face turned pale as if she were being strangled.
“I came here to work as a tutor for the Otis family, Mother.”
“Yes, for now. I hear the eldest son of Otis is about your age. Having never attended school, let alone social events, he probably hasn’t met many women. So, it wouldn’t be strange if he fell for my pretty daughter.”
“What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense!”
“Not making sense? If you just act pretty, one innocent young man who isn’t even of age could be enough… Surely you haven’t taken a fancy to another man? The man who guided you here was quite handsome, who is he? If you were to be charmed by a mere servant, I would be truly disappointed in you. You’ve already lost your value as it is. At least try not to lose your dignity!”
Madam Howard evidently believed Richelle had come to Bertrand to find a husband to marry, unlike Meg’s jesting about enjoying time with handsome men. These words trampled all over Richelle’s decisions, thoughts, and resolve.
Dizziness overwhelmed her. She could no longer speak. She just wanted to escape this place as soon as possible.
She couldn’t breathe in front of her mother, not even for a second.
