The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 7

7. A New Family (2)

Rosette shrank back.

‘Does she not like me coming here?’

She probably doesn’t. Elisha used to show her dislike like this in the past.

In the past, Elisha’s hostility hurt her. But maybe because she had experienced it once before, she wasn’t as upset as she used to be.

‘I’m not upset.’

No, that was a lie. Negative emotions never get easier, no matter how many times you experience them, and her heart was still cold.

Still, the difference from before was that she could speak confidently to Isabel.

“I, I’ll really work hard.”

Rosette tried to raise her voice as much as possible, which kept getting smaller.

“I can do magic well, too. If I learn magic, I can take care of Isabel’s hair, and, also, um, also, I can keep the tea warm! So please don’t hate me too much.”

These were the things Elisha had made Rosette do in the past.

However, Isabel’s expression became strange as she listened to her words. She crossed her arms and said in a sulky tone.

“What do you think of me?”

“……Yes?”

“Do you think I’m going to use you like a maid? And who hates you?”

“……?”

Isabel sighed deeply, as if frustrated by Rosette, who was just blinking, unable to understand what she was saying.

“Listen carefully, kid. The Adrian family is a prestigious swordsmanship family that has produced knights for generations.”

“Yes.”

“There aren’t many people who know how to handle a delicate and sensitive kid like you.”

So, is she trying to kick me out? I finally pulled myself together and came all the way here. Rosette grabbed her skirt tightly with both hands.

“Are you still okay with it? Knights will be training loudly in the training grounds every morning.”

“I’m okay!”

“I’m saying that this isn’t the kind of quiet and pretentious noble family you’re thinking of.”

“I…….”

Rosette said with conviction.

“I still like it!”

Isabel scanned Rosette up and down with sharp eyes. She looked like she didn’t believe Rosette.

Rosette mumbled this time in a slightly smaller voice.

“I can really do well. Hardworking……”

“Who’s worried that you can’t? I’m……!”

I am?

Rosette blinked, guessing at the cut-off words, but Isabel sighed.

“Okay, if you’re that determined, try experiencing it yourself.”

“Really?”

“And keep in mind.”

Isabel lowered her head and met Rosette’s eyes.

“You don’t have to take care of my hair or keep the tea water at the right temperature. You shouldn’t do that.”

“But…….”

“From now on, you are my sister and a member of the Adrian family. Be more confident. Otherwise, I’ll tell Father to send you back. Got it?”

“……Yes.”

“Answer louder.”

“……Yes!”

“Okay.”

Daniel and Duke Adrian, who had been listening to the conversation between the two, looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.

Isabel, who made a ‘hmph’ sound as she looked at them, raised her hand and ruffled Rosette’s hair. Unlike her gentle-looking face, her touch was quite rough.

“And call me ‘sister’ from now on. What’s with ‘Isabel-nim’?”

“Can I really call you ‘sister’……?”

“Isn’t it obvious? That idiot calls me ‘Lucas oppa’ [older brother in Korean, used by females].”

“Why am I an idiot!”

Lucas grumbled, but soon smiled and approached Rosette.

“I’m happy to have a younger sibling! But we have to go to morning training now, okay? Let’s see each other at breakfast time later.”

“Yes……?”

“Bye!”

Lucas and Isabel left the reception room with resolute steps. Daniel, who had been smiling all along, also left, saying he had to go train.

After the storm-like time passed, Rosette and Duke Adrian were the only ones left in the reception room.

Rosette smoothed her disheveled hair with her fingers and looked at the Duke.

“Um…….”

The Duke tidied up her hair for her. Rosette muttered in a daze.

“Is it settled like this?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No…….”

She thought there would be more opposition. But Daniel and Lucas didn’t seem to oppose it at all, and Isabel, who had been scrutinizing Rosette, seemed to have accepted her for now.

“I’m just dazed.”

“It’s always like that when the environment changes.”

Duke Adrian gently rubbed her cheek and straightened his back.

“The head butler will show you to your room. We’ll have a meal in a little while, so rest until then. I’m going to go instruct the training.”

“Um.”

Rosette grabbed the sleeve of Duke Adrian, who was turning around. For a moment, she was worried that she would be scolded for her rude behavior, but fortunately, Duke Adrian smiled and looked back at her.

“Is there anything you need?”

“That’s…….”

Rosette, who was rolling her eyes, asked cautiously.

“What should I do from now on?”

“Hmm?”

Duke Adrian asked back briefly, as if he didn’t understand. Rosette mumbled in an even smaller voice.

“I mean, what should I do here from now on?”

The Duke, who was listening to her, stroked Rosette’s head with his large hand.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.”

“I can do everything well. I’ll study magic hard, and I’ll study history hard, too. Also…….”

“Wait, just wait a minute, child.”

Duke Adrian said gently.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“Yes?”

This time, Rosette didn’t know what he meant, so she opened her already large eyes even wider. Duke Adrian emphasized once more.

“You don’t have to do anything, child.”

“But…….”

Rosette recalled the day she was adopted into the Dallas family.

From the day he brought Rosette, Marquis Dallas emphasized that she had to be perfect. His goal was to make Rosette the best magician.

Rosette tried and tried to meet their expectations.

All she wanted was the love of her family. Marquis Dallas praised her in a relatively gentle voice whenever she mastered difficult magic.

-Yes, you did well.

Praise was given only when she did well. Strangely, the more she heard the praise, the more thirsty she became. So Rosette began to become more and more obsessed.

Was that why? Naturally, when Duke Adrian brought her, she thought there would be a good reason.

But he says she doesn’t have to do anything. What does that even mean?

As Rosette blinked, unable to understand, Duke Adrian added an explanation.

“Settle down here for the time being and rest comfortably. Let’s take magic lessons or basic lessons gradually after you get used to it.”

“But…….”

“In the meantime, just live like a child, doing whatever you want.”

He looked at Rosette’s thin wrists and added playfully.

“It would be even better if you eat well and get chubby.”

Then, after entrusting Rosette to the head butler, he left the reception room.

‘Chubby…….’

Rosette stared blankly at her frail frame. When she was in the orphanage, she didn’t even realize that she was small. There wasn’t much to eat in the orphanage, and everyone was small.

But because the Adrian family members were so big, she seemed to be compared even more.

Still…….

‘I have to eat hard.’

I’ll grow taller, too. Since I’ve been adopted into the Adrian family, how about learning swordsmanship?

Thus, Rosette’s first goal after entering the Adrian family became ‘eating well’.

* * *

“I will guide you to your room, Miss Rosette.”

The head butler, with his graying hair, bowed to Rosette. Rosette was startled for a moment and tried to wave her hand, but soon realized her status and straightened her back.

“Yes, no, uh.”

The head butler smiled as if she had done well and walked ahead. Rosette followed him down the hallway and up the stairs.

“You can call me Sebastian.”

“Okay, Sebastian.”

“Once you get used to it, I will assign you an exclusive maid. Until then, the maids will take turns serving you.”

“Okay.”

“Everyone is waiting to meet you.”

Is that really so? Rosette was skeptical about that. But she nodded without showing it. Fortunately, Sebastian didn’t say anything and guided her to her room.

“This is the room you will be using from now on. It’s next to Miss Isabel’s room.”

“Okay.”

“We didn’t have time to prepare new furniture because we were in a hurry. We will gradually redecorate the interior to suit you. Now, come in.”

Rosette, who followed Sebastian inside, covered her mouth with both hands to hold back the exclamation that was coming out.

‘Is this really my room?’

It was such a perfect room that she wondered if she had been guided wrong.

The room, which was at least five times larger than the room she used to use at the Marquis Dallas’s house, was decorated with luxurious furniture that made her jaw drop just by looking at it.

Warm sunlight was pouring in through the glass windows connected to the terrace, and the large bed, large enough for five adults to sleep on, was filled with dolls.

She tried to calm herself down, telling herself that she was no longer at an age to be excited about dolls, but she failed. In the end, Rosette asked in a voice that she couldn’t help but be excited about.

“Is this all mine?”

Sebastian replied with a smile on his face.

“Yes, it is. If there is anything you don’t like…….”

“No!”

Rosette answered hastily.

“I like it! I like it so much.”

From the moment she entered this room, she liked it so much that her heart was beating very fast. She was worried that her heart would pop out of her mouth.

Rosette distanced herself from Sebastian to hide the sound of her heart beating so hard. Sebastian took a step back, wondering how he had interpreted it.

“I’ve taken up too much of your time, Miss. You must be tired, so please rest. I will send the maids.”

After he stepped back, Rosette threw herself onto the fluffy-looking bed. The bed, which was made with plenty of cotton, was even softer than it looked. She hugged a plump rabbit doll and rolled around.

At this moment, she was happy enough not to think, ‘Am I allowed to enjoy this?’

How long had she been doing that? A cautious knock was heard.

“Miss, may I come in?”

At the sound coming from outside, she hurriedly got off the bed. There was no one to see, but she was embarrassed for no reason.

“Come in. No, come in.”

Three maids entered as the door opened. They were maids with reddish-brown, brown, and black hair, respectively. They bowed to Rosette, who was trying to act as calmly as possible.

“Nice to meet you, Miss.”

However, Rosette couldn’t react calmly to the words that followed.

“We will help you take a bath.”

A bath? Do you mean showing my naked body? Rosette flinched again.

“Um, that…….”

“Yes, please speak.”

“I want to take a bath alone…….”

“Yes?”

“I’m not a child. I’ve washed well alone before, and also…….”

Then, she belatedly realized that the young ladies of ordinary noble families receive bath service.

But she didn’t have the courage to show such a skinny and unsightly body.