Welcome to the Rose Mansion - Chapter 87
“Um, Young Master Otis. Thank you for…”
“If it’s just to say thank you, that’s enough. Is ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ all you know how to say?”
What a hedgehog-like boy. Well, at that age, everything tends to be sharp and prickly.
Richelle nodded inwardly. Still, when he finds someone he likes in the future, he shouldn’t act that way towards them.
In the meantime, Alan Otis took something out of his pocket. He placed it on the table with a thud.
“Explain.”
Richelle looked at the object spread out on the table.
[Rogéros seems to be involved in my mother’s death. Please help me.]
It was the note she had hidden under the ointment container. Richelle rubbed her palms together. Finally, they were getting to the main point.
“It’s as it says, Young Master Otis. I think Rogéros is involved in my mother’s sudden death. It’s still just a suspicion, though.”
“What’s your basis for this?”
“I found a red-stained Bertrand rose in my mother’s room.”
“…”
Alan’s expression hardened. Richelle lowered her gaze and continued.
“I heard that my mother started behaving strangely at some point. Suddenly, she began to smell like roses. And… my mother hated getting wet in the rain, but she went for a walk in the rain and drowned to death.”
“And why do you think this was Rogéros’s doing?”
“When my mother came to Bertrand, I confided in Rogéros about our relationship. My mother and I… didn’t have a good relationship. And not long after that…”
It took considerable courage to say the next words.
“Rogéros confessed to me. He said he would fulfill all my desires if I stayed with him.”
“Hah! What a load of nonsense.”
Alan’s loud sneer made Richelle shrink back. She clenched her hands tightly.
“So, I thought maybe he killed my mother for my sake. And from what I’ve observed, Rogéros seems to be the only one with significant influence at Bertrand.”
She barely managed to finish her explanation. Alan rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. An anxious Richelle cautiously called out to him.
“Um, Young Master Otis…”
“You’re right.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your suspicion is correct.”
Alan roughly ran a hand through his hair, making his thin golden hair a mess.
“Rogéros Walter did reach out to your mother. Who else could do such a thing but him?”
A deep fatigue was evident on the boy’s pale face.
“He’s the one who has buried the Otis family in this prosperous hell.”
“…”
So, it was true.
Richelle lowered her gaze. Surprisingly, she wasn’t as shocked as she thought she would be.
Rogéros Walter killed her mother. He might also be deeply connected to the longstanding tragedy of the Otis family.
It was a hypothesis she had always wanted to deny in her heart. But her mind had already accepted it. Alan’s confirmation made her accept the truth immediately.
Richelle squeezed her clasped hands and asked quietly.
“Rogéros Walter is not just an ordinary tutor, is he?”
“…”
“Who is he really? Is he even human?”
Alan didn’t answer. He just silently stared at the note on the table.
After a long silence that felt like a battle of wills, Alan finally spoke quietly.
“Rogéros likes you. So maybe it would be best to pretend to get along with him until the contract ends and then run away.”
“Young Master Otis.”
“Bertrand is both Rogéros’s domain and his shackle. He doesn’t have the freedom to reach out to a servant after the contract ends. His scheming with your mother must have been to create a burden for you.”
Alan raised his gaze. His sky-blue eyes, filled with gray gloom, looked at Richelle.
“Once you hear the truth, you can’t go back. Especially in your case. You might end up sinking with the Otis family. Can you handle all of that?”
Richelle didn’t avoid his eyes, which were probing as if searching. Instead, a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
“It’s already too late, Young Master Otis.”
“…”
“My mother has already passed away.”
