CH 87

Palesdon mansion

“What a good morning!”

Catalina rose vigorously.

She usually sleeps late in the morning, so the maids were surprised.

“Madam, you’re up early?”

“Because waiting for today was hard! Every day, I prayed for this day to come quickly before I went to bed.”

Both her health and mood were at their best.

No wonder, because today was the day Catalina prepared gifts for Roselina and Argention.

“What about Argention?”

“He’s in the Duke’s room. I’ve prepared everything the godfather said.”

“Good. Good!”

Catalina put in a special order at the Hyers boutique.

It was a black dress and a black robe.

The jewelry to decorate the dress had to be red, and the cravat to be worn with the robes had to be light pink.

It was the perfect couple outfit she envisioned.

From the moment Catalina made her plan, she couldn’t wait to see Roselina and Argention in couple outfits.

She made her way to the palace before the Argention was ready.

Entering the Grand Hall before anyone else, Catalina was able to preoccupy a place where the hall was clearly visible without being seen by people.

It was a mini balcony, so when she sat on a prepared chair and closed the curtains, people couldn’t see her. However, she could see well from where she was.

Catalina was happy waiting for Roselina and Argention to enter.

But something was wrong.

As the nobles entered and a crowd formed, a strange noise was heard.

“Did you hear that? The Godfather of Palesdon collapsed under the curse of the rose!”

“Oh, my God. She’s been fine. Why did that happen all of a sudden?”

“There are no details yet. They’re a very closed family, and the godfather stopped socializing a long time ago.”

Catalina was at ease while listening to the conversation about her.

She wasn’t interested in the rumors not related to Palesdon anyway.

“Do you know what? It’s a rumor that started circulating recently that the former Crown Prince has disappeared.”

“Shh! What are you talking about in a dangerous way? Baroness Janier.”

“It’s just us, so who cares. Countess Laura.”

But I was interested in these kinds of stories.

‘Baroness Janier and Countess Laura.’

Catalina remembered the madams who were talking with their eyes shining.

If there’s a weakness she could catch in advance, she could use it well if they had a conflict with Palesdon later.

‘I’m glad I came today in many ways.’

Catalina glanced at her watch.

The press conference is coming up.

Soon, it was over.

“It means that the fool is coming soon!”

Catalina was happy to think of Roselina.

Unlike when she first met her and when she just got married, she has taken a liking to Roselina a lot these days.

When she had something to say, she liked how she looked up and stared into her eyes.

As she was talking, she liked how she spoke clearly.

‘Well, I can’t even say she’s stupid anymore.’

Isn’t today a presentation about the rose harmony that Roselina discovered?

‘I thought you were stupid, but you must have been pretty smart. That’s not even funny.’

Catalina’s lips twitched.

She wanted to grab someone at once and share her compliments for Roselina disguised as gossip.

But before that, she wanted to see Roselina in the dress she prepared.

‘I’ll be the first one to follow you and scold you. But I won’t let anyone else touch that stupid snooty.’

Catalina burned with her will.

“The Duchess of Palesdon is entering!”

The gatekeeper announced that Roselina had entered the Grand Hall.

Catalina jumped out of her soft chair and grabbed the curtain.

Just as she was about to close the curtain and run to spite Roselina–

“Duchess Palesdon is here. Why is she coming in shamelessly?”

“But today is the presentation named after the Duchess of Palesdon. If she doesn’t come out today, she’s going to be a dog that rolled its tail and ran away.”

“But did the Duchess of Palesdon really do any research? I heard she collaborated with Master Mage of the Tower, but didn’t she just put her name on it?”

A grotesque voice penetrated Catalina’s ears.

Catalina’s hand, holding the curtain, trembled with anger.

‘You’re afraid you’ll get hurt, so do you bother my kind idiot whom I can’t even scold?’

In the meantime, gossip about Roselina continued.

“By the way, did you hear the news? The Duchess of Palesdon is the one who caused the curse of roses.”

“Well, that’s not true. The Duchess of Palesdon herself is known for her severe symptoms of the curse of roses.”

“No, listen. It’s pretty plausible.”

Catalina, who was extremely angry, was rather calm.

She listened to the story that followed without any expression.

“It’s a secret, but the Duchess of Palesdon visited the mansion on the day the Godfather of Palesdon collapsed the other day!”

“So after the Duchess of Palesdon went, the Godfather of Palesdon was cursed by the rose?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to say! Isn’t it suspicious?”

“But if the Duchess of Palesdon causes the curse of the rose, then I understand that she could make the cure.”

“I guess she didn’t know the topic and wanted to act like a hero. Wasn’t she famous for not knowing her place when she wanted to marry the Duke of Palesdon?”

Catalina heard a snap of her reason.

She tore up the curtain and went forward.

The ladies, who soon noticed Catalina’s presence, avoided her eyes in surprise.

“What nonsense is that!”

Catalina shot a hideous look.

“How dare you talk nonsense about Palesdon? I’m going to take these right now.…!”

The old aristocrat, who was watching it from afar, murmured casually.

“Palesdon’s Mad Dog…”

“What? Father. What do you mean?”

“When I was your age, it was the nickname of the Godfather of Falesdon.”

“Is that true?”

The aristocrat stroked his beard and nodded.

“So this was what the Princess of Brighton was called when she became the Duchess of Palesdon. The rabid dog put another rabid dog under her.”

“I didn’t know that happened.”

“Yes, it’s all in the past………. I never thought I’d ever see the Palesdon rabid dog shake heads in both hands.”

The aristocrat was lost in memories as he watched Catalina stirring the Grand Hall.

It was a scene that he often saw when he was young and enthusiastic about social activities.

‘Madam, you don’t know………… You always come to my mind.’

While the aristocrat looked at Catalina and recalled his youth.

Catalina’s surroundings were no joke.

“Ah! I, I’m sorry!”

“I’ll never make fun of her again!”

“F, forgive me! Heut……………”

Those who cursed Roselina to their heart’s content were paying for their sins.

Catalina ran wild because her anger barely subsided.

Then someone came near Catalina.

“Lady Catalina. Calm down.”

“Who are you! ……Ugh.”

Catalina, who turned her head, breathed in.

Roselina, who was dressed beautifully in the dress she sent, stood.

“That’s enough. Thank you for coming forward for me.”

“Hm, yes.”

In an unknown spirit Catalina let go of the ladies’ hair.

Roselina, who came next to Catalina, smiled at the ladies.

“You dare to insult Palesdon, so I will send your family to the abyss from now on.”

“A hundred points…!”

Catalina gave a standing ovation when she saw Roselina speaking proudly.