CHAPTER 411: A LITTLE PEEK INTO MARIONETTE’S DOINGS? [2]

This person strolling over to them was a man named Gregorie Von Roselle. Or by his title, the Gardener of Roses.

His role encompasses the medical role in taking care of the members within the Roselle household’s health, as well as sometimes being the executioner of selected individuals when tasked.

The Gardener stopped before her and bowed before straightening his back and responding, "It is a splendid morning, my Lady. Have you been enjoying your time within torture chamber #7?"

"... You may say that, Gardener."

The Gardener nodded, then added:

"May I also ask another question, my lady?"

"... Yes."

"Why is it that you aren’t wearing your mask?"

Marionette stiffened and unconsciously held a hand over her face. She had remembered putting it back on... Had she taken it off at some point during the session again?

"... I needed a break from the mask for a moment. Is that a problem?"

"Inside the garden, it isn’t unless we have guests over." The Gardener smiled warmly behind his mask before adding in a sudden change of tone, "But having weeds over is the same as having guests... Even though some in the southern nation are aware of what your appearance looks like, having a mask on is a good habit to have regardless..."

Marionette sighed and took out her mask before putting it on. She then gave the Gardener a glance and found them nodding at her in satisfaction.

"Now that’s out of the way... May I also ask why you are keeping hold of these weeds within our garden? Had they not committed a crime and needed to be exterminated?"

"... They hadn’t committed a crime."

"..."

The Gardener stared at her silently before taking a step forward into her personal space and looking down at her with an intense gaze.

Marionette, who was about to look up, found a sudden overwhelming pressure fall upon her body, almost causing her knees to buckle as a hand fell on her right shoulder.

"YOU brought weedsinto our garden? Aren’t you aware that some weeds can carry harmful viruses or fungi? HAVE you made sure they are cleansed?" The Gardener asked in a calm, yet clear, disgusted tone.

Marionette clenched her jaw behind her mask and nodded slowly as she said, "They have nothing or any attachments or organisations. I... I have merely brought them here for my own benefits."

After saying that last sentence, the overwhelming pressure disappeared in an instant. The hand, which had been clutching her shoulder, began to pat her gently.

"Oh, I see. My mistake, my Lady."

Marionette sighed in momentary relief as she watched the Gardener take a step back away from her. But not a second later, she was met with an inquiry:

"But could I ask what you would do after you had finished playing around with them? I take it that you will allow our cleaners to clear out another blood rose that will bloom inside here later?"

"... I have no intentions of killing them off. I have no right to, since they hadn’t committed a crime. Instead, I will wipe their memories and reimburse them for their time here."

"But for what reason? We lose then if we just prune them off."

"Perhaps... But that’s only if their entire memories of their time here were wiped..."

The Gardener tilted his head slightly at the Lady of Roses’s cryptic words. But then silently realised what she had meant.

Marionette’s torture session was so severe that if one were to wipe the victim’s memories, they would still live in fear of the name "Roselle" in their unconscious mind.

And through word of mouth, they cling to their portion of the Underworld, which would strengthen through fear.

The Gardener slowly clapped, "My, my... When had our Lady ever done this? You haven’t done something like this ever before. Why the sudden change? Or could it be because of the supplements I prescribed to you?"

Marionette stared into the Gardener’s eyes.

Recently, she had been given supplements to take for her upcoming surgery. She was told that the medicine was to make her more mentally and physically suitable for when it happens.

In response to the Gardener’s question, she shook her head. She hadn’t felt any different after taking the supplements.

"I believe it was my time at the academy that had greatly influenced me rather than the supplements..."

"Is that so?" The Gardener narrowed his eyes and sensed Marionette smiling slightly behind her mask. He smiled as well and nodded, "It truly was a great decision by your father to send you off to that academy, then..."

He then paused before adding, "Oh yes... Have you finally decided whether you wish to support the Royal Family or not? I’m sure you remember the entire household is split 50:50."

Marionette, hearing this, took in a deep breath and thought deeply. She looked through her memories of her time at the academy and centred her attention on Reph, the Second Prince.

At first, when she had thought that Reph was secretly making moves on Lillian, she was inclined to go against the Royal Family.

However... After finally being able to claim a certain Rabbit as hers...

"I’ll be supporting the Royal Family."

There wasn’t a need to go against them now.

’I’ve grown rather petty, haven’t I...’ Marionette internally asked herself in a self-deprecating manner.

After bowing and bidding farewell to the Gardener, she went and ordered those under her to erase the memories of the victims she had tortured, as well as heal all injuries they had sustained, before dropping them in the middle of the city with a 4,000 Semis reimbursement split between them.

And once she had finished doing all of that...

*Ring. Ring. Ring.*

"Hello! Just leave a voice message and I’ll call you back later! Or uh, I’ll send you a text or something."

"Haaa..."

Marionette sighed in a disappointed manner as she sat on the ground beside her bed. She then dropped her phone on top of her bed before faceplanting in her blanket and muttering in a muffled voice:

"I miss you, Lillian... Call me back soon..."