Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 68
Alan Otis refuses to talk to her. Mrs. Otis has fits. The twins are too young, and the servants are all ‘not human’.
There was no one in the mansion she could even have a proper conversation with, let alone gather information from.
Asking Rogéros directly was also out of the question.
She was aimlessly walking, feeling the texture of the carpet underfoot, when someone spoke to her.
“Hello?”
Looking up, she saw an unfamiliar maid with a broad, unnatural smile.
“How are the little roses?”
Little roses? What was that supposed to mean?
Richelle frowned slightly but then recalled something from Bertrand’s rules.
[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 looked around. As expected, there was not a soul in sight besides them. Following the rule’s advice, Richelle prepared to walk past as if she knew nothing.
But then a thought struck her. What if there was some valuable information hidden in the random things the servants said?
It might be worth listening for a moment, even if she didn’t respond…
Changing her mind, Richelle stopped walking. She glanced at the maid, who was still smiling brightly. Her pitch-black eyes seemed unfocused.
Seeing that Richelle wasn’t leaving, the maid continued speaking.
“They are not yet proper roses. They haven’t fully taken their place. They were fortunate despite being unqualified because they met ‘his’ criteria perfectly.”
…What is she talking about?
Who exactly are ‘they’ and who is ‘he’?
Moreover, what does she mean by proper roses? Is there some other meaning to the ‘roses’ she mentioned, aside from the plants covering Bertrand?
From the little roses onward, there was not a single comprehensible word. Richelle felt drained. It seemed this was indeed a pointless endeavor.
She was about to pass by the maid when she noticed something strange. The maid, who had been smiling broadly, suddenly had her face contorted as if it were melting. It was a bizarre expression, perhaps of fear or sorrow, with eyes looking past Richelle.
A chilling coldness suddenly enveloped Richelle. It felt as if something massive and dangerous was looming over her, observing her.
Slowly, Richelle turned around.
Dark red eyes were staring intently at her.
“…Rogéros?”
Were Rogéros’s eyes always this… crimson?
But the cold, red hue vanished like a fleeting illusion. It must have been a momentary trick of the light through the window.
Rogéros, who had been quietly watching her, drew his lips into a smile.
It was a smile that was hard to decipher, yet seemed somewhat melancholic.
“Richelle.”
Rogéros called her name and then fell silent. His long hair cast shadows over the tear mark on his cheek, moving in and out of the light.
After a long pause, Rogéros extended his hand.
“The timing is a bit odd, but may I offer you some tea?”
***
Rogéros led her to a small tea room on the third floor. Richelle fidgeted awkwardly with her hands before asking.
“It’s not the designated meal time right now. Is it okay to have tea?”
“As I am offering it, it’s fine. Unfortunately, I cannot provide any accompanying food.”
As I am offering it, it’s fine.
Under her suspicious gaze, Rogéros lifted the teapot. His movements were the most graceful she had ever seen. Even the most rigorously trained royalty couldn’t match his elegance.
“This tea is blended with Bertrand’s prized roses. I hope it suits your taste.”
Rogéros pushed the teacup towards Richelle. The delicate rose scent filled the room, as if a bouquet had been freshly picked and placed there.
The tea was not only fragrant but also perfectly balanced without a hint of bitterness. However, Richelle merely wetted her lips and set the cup down. She didn’t feel like swallowing anything.
Rogéros, observing her closely, finally spoke.
“Richelle. I know what you have been up to recently.”
