Chương 40: Chapter 39

Lady Furen Boswe had been ready to sneer the moment her eyes met Rosa Roosevelt's. The audacity. After everything between them, after all the previous conflicts, Rosa still had the confidence to look directly at her as though nothing had happened. However, the moment Furen prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation, Rosa simply looked away. Not out of fear. Not out of hesitation. She merely turned her attention toward the outside world, completely ignoring Furen's existence. Furen's mouth twitched.

"You have got to be kidding me." She had originally intended to leave Miss Rosa Roosevelt alone. After hearing that the woman had fallen ill, Furen had decided that there was no need to provoke someone whose condition was already unstable. However... Her attitude remained exactly the same as before. That unbearable calmness. That complete disregard for others. So why should Furen continue being considerate? After deciding on her next course of action, Furen walked toward Rosa with a confident stride.

The moment she moved, the surrounding noble ladies and lords instinctively made space. Everyone knew the relationship between the two. If Furen wanted to confront Rosa, then this was the best opportunity. She needed to act before the higher-ranking nobles arrived at the banquet. Dealing with the daughter of a Duchess would already be troublesome enough. Having to deal with both the Duchess's daughter and Lady Rosa Roosevelt would be far too irritating.

As Furen approached Rosa's seat, however, she noticed something strange. Earlier, when she had seen Rosa from a distance, she had felt something unusual. Despite understanding that they were opponents, despite knowing that Rosa had always been someone who stood against her, there had been a strange resistance within her. A feeling that made her hesitate. A feeling that made her want to protect the woman. It was strange. It should not have existed. But now...

Although Rosa still appeared sickly, that strange resistance was gone. Perfect. Perhaps she had simply been imagining things. There had also been something different about Rosa earlier. A feeling that she was not quite the same person. But now that Furen had gotten closer, that feeling had disappeared as well. It did not matter. She had already prepared herself.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Roosevelt." Furen stopped before her. Rosa slowly turned to face her.

"Miss Boswe." Her voice remained calm.

"For what do I owe the pleasure?" Furen smiled lightly.

"Well, my dear, I heard that you were rather ill." She tilted her head slightly.

"And because of your illness, it was said that you had lost much of your previous beauty." Her eyes scanned Rosa.

"But it seems that rumor can no longer be trusted." Rosa's fingers lightly touched her face.

"That is quite thoughtful of you, Lady Boswe." Furen narrowed her eyes. Of course. There she was again. The moment she mentioned Rosa's illness, Rosa immediately touched her own face. A subtle movement. A calculated response. She was showing that she was not hiding anything. No powder. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. No disguise. Nothing that could suggest her illness had affected her appearance. Furen had expected as much.

From the information she had gathered, Mr. Roosevelt had gone searching for an impersonator. Which meant... If this person was not disfigured and had enough confidence to touch her own face without hesitation, then there was a possibility that this was not the Rosa Roosevelt she knew. Interesting. Very interesting.

"Oh, Miss Rosa." Furen spoke lightly.

"I hope you are aware that today's gathering is meant to evaluate the talents of the noble ladies and present opportunities for the noble lords to display themselves before the head maid of the Empress Dowager." She smiled.

"I do hope that your illness will not prevent you from taking advantage of this opportunity, especially since you came here with that very purpose in mind." Rosa opened her fan and lightly covered her face.

"Surely you jest, Miss Boswe." Her eyes curved slightly.

"Of course, I have prepared a suitable talent."

"Really?" Furen raised an eyebrow.

"I heard that you were quite skilled with the ukulele and had been practicing in preparation for eventually impressing the head maid of the Empress Dowager." Her smile sharpened.

"Unless your illness has affected more than your appearance."

"Perhaps it has taken away your talent as well, leaving you only able to boast about what you once possessed rather than demonstrate it." Rosa quietly snapped her fan shut. She held it delicately in her hand. Although her face remained gentle and sickly, a faint sharpness appeared beneath that expression.

"Surely you jest." Her voice remained calm.

"However, it is true that I cannot perform with the ukulele."

"My illness has affected my voice, making such a performance impossible." She smiled faintly.

"However, I did not wish to disappoint those who came here expecting to see my talent."

"Therefore, I prepared something else that should be equally suitable." Furen frowned. Something else? What exactly was this woman planning? No. She needed to prevent any possible hidden methods Rosa could use.

"Then I hope your talent does not involve something prepared before the banquet." Furen's gaze sharpened.

"As everyone knows, this gathering is meant to display the talents of the participants themselves, not something brought from elsewhere."

"Of course, Lady Boswe." Rosa nodded.

"I understand the rules."

"I would not make such a mistake at an important occasion like this."

"I'm glad we agree."

"So am I." Furen smiled.

"Since that is the case, I would not mind having you go after me."

"I plan to be the first participant in the talent assessment."

"I hope whatever you have prepared will be sufficient." Rosa looked down slightly.

"Now that you mention it..." Her voice became softer.

"I seem to have forgotten the materials required for my talent." The setting sun fell upon her at that moment, creating a gentle glow around her figure and emphasizing her delicate features. The surrounding nobles watching the exchange began whispering.

"Lady Boswe was going too far."

"If Lady Rosa Roosevelt was truly as ill as the rumors suggested, and if she had arrived without the necessary materials, then there was no reason to pressure her."

"Even if they could not see her talent, having someone like Rosa Roosevelt present at the banquet was already an honor." Furen's eyes twitched. Damn it. Lady Rosa Roosevelt. You are doing it again. Public opinion. But this time... I was prepared.

"If that is the problem, then it is quite unfortunate." Furen smiled.

"However, if necessary, you may use my servants to prepare your materials."

"They are all highly trained."

"And everything is stored within my special pouch."

"Regardless of what you require, they should be able to provide it." She raised her chin slightly.

"I have prepared everything from ordinary artistic supplies to even the strangest instruments imaginable."

"There is nothing you could request that I would not have." Rosa Roosevelt... You are stuck. However, just as Furen began feeling victorious, she noticed something strange. Rosa's eyes sparkled faintly. Not with anger. Not with frustration. With genuine interest. Furen froze. What? Why was she looking at her like that? Before Furen could understand, Rosa stood. She gently reached forward and clasped Furen's hands.

"Could it be possible that you have a stand with a landscape painting setup?" Furen froze.

"A canvas of this size..."

"A specific type of paint..."

"Brushes with these materials..."

"The additional tools required would be..." As Rosa continued listing the exact requirements, Furen felt as though she had walked directly into a wall. What was happening? This was not the reaction she expected. She had prepared to corner Rosa. Not help her. After finally recovering from her confusion, Furen quickly pulled her hands away. With a small motion, one of her servants immediately approached with a handkerchief. She wiped her hands carefully. Every inch.

She could not allow even the possibility of a poisonous coating remaining. Afterward, she placed the handkerchief inside a small sealed bag. If there was any evidence of poison, she would bring it directly to her father and use it against the Roosevelt merchant family. However... As she finished, she noticed Rosa staring directly at her actions. Furen froze. Right. This was a formal occasion. She needed to excuse herself. But before she could speak, she saw Rosa raise her hand. Then...

Rosa lightly licked one of her fingers. Furen stopped. Rosa swallowed before looking at her with a gentle smile.

"See?"

"I did not put any special coating on my fingers."

"You do not need to be so cautious, Lady Boswe." Furen felt heat rush to her face. This woman... Was impossible. Before she could embarrass herself further, she turned away.

"Yes."

"I will have my servants prepare everything you requested."

"Goodbye!!" She did not even bother asking what Rosa Roosevelt intended to create. She needed to leave. Immediately. She needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere she could cool down. Because whatever game Rosa Roosevelt was playing... Furen was beginning to realize she did not understand it at all.