Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 50
She had given the twins simple arithmetic problems. The twins, being quite quick on the uptake, usually managed to complete any task given to them.
Richelle glanced at the twins as she left checkmarks on the answers. With faces befitting their age, they innocently looked at the paper. Richelle bit her lip.
‘I must do something about these kids.’
During her two months at the mansion, Richelle felt she was becoming increasingly odd. Even when uninvited knocks came in the middle of the night or smiling servants grabbed her, she was no longer afraid or panicked. She simply dealt with it as if it were a matter of course.
The Otis twins occasionally exhibited strange behavior, too. Actions filled with a peculiar malice, not just simple childlike tantrums. Whenever they uncannily demanded she go to the kitchen or other dangerous tasks, Richelle’s heart would sink.
If the mansion was changing the children…
‘I must get them out of here as soon as possible.’
She knew. Ignoring, complying, and living quietly according to the rules would help her return home safely after a year. Every time she looked at the children, her intuition buzzed with warnings not to interfere with Bertrand’s matters.
However.
“…….”
There were things Richelle could neither compromise nor rationalize. She could not ultimately turn away from children who needed help.
And now, having decided to move forward…
After completing the grading of the last problem, Richelle patted the twins on the head.
“You got everything right! Isn’t that great?”
“Really?”
“Teacher, can we read a fairy tale book now?”
Recently, the twins had become deeply engrossed in a collection of fairy tales brought by Richelle. Fairy tales filled with morals and fun served as perfect rewards for children who had difficulty concentrating in class.
“Of course, I’ll read to you. You did very well in class today. I’ll bring the book, so can you wait for a moment?”
“Yes!”
The children giggled merrily and rolled around on the plush carpet. Richelle quietly left the children’s room.
‘A way to rescue the children from the mansion…’
In fact, it’s simple.
The plan is to recommend their admission into a boarding school.
Though the twins were still young, it’s not uncommon for children around the age of nine to enter boarding school. Didn’t Richelle herself enter Harriet at about that age?
The problem is whether the Otis offspring are allowed to leave the mansion.
‘Young Master Otis didn’t go to school until he was almost of age… But the Otis family used to participate in high society in the past.’
Actually, it would be best to consult Madam Otis or Alan Otis himself about this issue. Or perhaps Rogéros, who had been working in the mansion for a long time now.
However, it’s highly unlikely that Madam Otis would properly address the twins’ matter, and Alan Otis has been openly avoiding Richelle now.
And as for Rogéros…
‘Somehow, I find myself hesitating.’
Was it because of Alan’s warning?
Pressing her temples, she opened the door to her bedroom. There was someone inside.
“Ah.”
A girl in maid’s attire, holding a rag.
Richelle recognized her immediately. She had often passed by this maid, who was responsible for cleaning Richelle’s room.
According to the mansion’s rules, entering a room for work didn’t require the room owner’s permission. Richelle nodded in greeting and then moved toward the bookshelf.
‘I’ve already asked Meg to look into Earl Otis’s whereabouts. I’ve just got to wait.’
Sending the children to boarding school would require the guardian’s permission anyway. She could only hope that Earl Otis, unlike Madam Otis, would not completely shy away from discussing his children.
Having found the fairy tale book, Richelle was about to quickly leave the room.
At that moment.
“You’re close with Mr. Walter, aren’t you?”
Richelle stopped in her tracks. She felt a piercing gaze from behind. Was this maid about to say something strange again?
[11. Since the mansion does not frequently welcome new servants, the long-standing servants always wish to tease the new members of their family.
If you find yourself alone with someone who speaks strangely or acts inexplicably, act as if you have seen and heard nothing, and leave the area immediately. Curiosity is not a good thing to have in this mansion.]
She soon recalled the rules of Bertrand that had been written in that letter. It had happened to her several times before, so it was no longer a big deal. Richelle did not turn around and simply continued walking.
But this time, the maid was persistent. She rushed at Richelle out of nowhere.
