The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 42

42. Entering the Palace

To be honest, Rosette thought she could keep everything a secret from her family forever. No, she *wanted* to keep it a secret.

But after meeting Joshua, her mind changed.

‘I don’t want to deceive my family anymore.’

In the distant future, after all the fighting was over, she wanted to tell her family the truth and ask for forgiveness.

“Even if Dad or my brothers don’t forgive me, it can’t be helped. Even if my family knows the truth and hates me…”

Imagining their loving eyes turning to contempt choked her up. She tried to speak as calmly as possible, but her voice trembled.

“But it can’t be helped. It’s all my karma [the principle of cause and effect in Hinduism and Buddhism]. But not now. Saving my family safely comes first.”

Rosette clenched her fists.

“So, I’m going to work really hard not to get kicked out. I’m definitely going to prevent the Empress’s poisoning. So, you have to help me too, Bbibbi. Okay?”

[Bbit!]

Perhaps because the tension was relieved, her eyes started to feel heavy.

Rosette yawned and mumbled, her pronunciation slurred.

“So, I will definitely protect everyone. Dad, my brothers, and Isabel…”

And Joshua, that man too.

Rosette, who thought so without realizing it, soon fell asleep.

Bbibbi tried to cover Rosette with the blanket, struggling to pull it up, but soon gave up and lay down on the pillow to sleep.

* * *

After that day, peaceful days continued. Rosette took lessons from Mrs. Noir and Celine at set times. Outside of class, she played with Lucas or Melody.

Thanks to Duke Adrian’s words, she no longer struggled to excel. She didn’t even do unsolicited preparation. She just diligently followed what the two teachers told her to do.

‘But I still got praised for doing well.’

Unlike the past when she tried to avoid being scolded by Marquis Dallas or desperately sought praise, Rosette now enjoyed the class itself. She felt it was a positive change.

She also became quite close to Melody and her brother, Joseph.

In particular, Joseph was about to take his knight’s oath and openly declared that he would swear allegiance to Rosette. Lucas was even more wary of him.

Everything was peaceful. Except for one thing.

‘But why hasn’t the Prince contacted me?’

He barged into the mansion to see Rosette, but there had been no contact from Joshua for a week.

‘He said he would contact me soon, but I guess the wolf isn’t coming today either.’

Rosette, who used to sit by the window every night before going to bed to wait for the wolf, wandered around the window again today before going to bed.

That’s when she fell asleep.

[Bbeeep!]

Bbibbi, who was sleeping by Rosette’s head, sensed something and flapped her wings vigorously.

“Bbibbi, be quiet…”

Mumbling in her sleep, Rosette opened her eyes wide and ran to open the window. At the same time, Joshua’s familiar [an animal or being connected to a witch or magic user], the wolf, jumped over the window in one leap.

“Wolf, long time no see!”

As Rosette greeted him happily, the wolf rubbed his face against her waist. Joshua’s firm voice leaked from the necklace around the wolf’s neck.

At that word, Rosette and the wolf froze. Joshua said commandingly.

“The Imperial Palace? But how can I?”

The wolf, who was gently touching Rosette’s ankles with his fluffy tail, whined like a puppy.

The wolf looked at Rosette with eyes as if asking for help. But there was nothing she could do.

Rosette whispered an apology and hugged the wolf’s neck tightly.

“See you next time, Wolf. Be careful.”

The wolf groaned once more and then jumped out of the window.

After that commotion, the next morning.

Rosette soon understood what Joshua meant.

“What’s coming?”

“A letter from Her Majesty the Empress.”

Isabel muttered, looking at the letter that the head butler had just handed her. Rosette glanced at the wax seal on the letter and asked again.

“How do you know it’s from the Empress?”

“You can tell by looking at the seal here. You’ll learn about it later in etiquette class.”

“I wish I could learn it soon. I’m curious. But does the Empress send invitations directly to you, Isabel?”

*My sister was such an important person!* Rosette was a little excited. On the other hand, Isabel replied as if it was nothing.

“Yes, she sends them often.”

“Often?”

“Yes. Oh, didn’t I tell you? My late mother and Her Majesty the Empress were close friends. The Empress is also the godmother of our three siblings.”

“I don’t think you told me.”

“It’s okay since I told you now. Anyway, I often went to the Imperial Palace with my mother to see Her Majesty. After my mother passed away, I hardly visited even when she sent invitations.”

Rosette looked at Isabel, who was smiling slightly bitterly, and asked carefully.

“Why didn’t you go?”

“Just because. What would Her Majesty the Empress have to talk about with a little kid like me? I’d only be a hindrance. So, I didn’t go, but…”

Isabel, who was answering diligently and reading the letter, frowned slightly.

Lucas, who was munching on butter-baked potatoes next to Rosette, chimed in.

“What’s wrong, Sister? Did something happen to Her Majesty the Empress?”

“No, it doesn’t seem like anything happened. She just wants to see Rose.”

Rosette, who was drinking freshly squeezed orange juice at that moment, suddenly choked. Isabel patted Rosette’s back casually as she coughed.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“H-Her Majesty the Empress wants to see me? Why, why, why, why?”

“Why else? She must be really curious.”

“Why is she curious about me?”

“I told you. Her Majesty the Empress was a close friend of your late mother. She cherished our three siblings that much. She treated us like her own children. So, she must be curious when she hears that a youngest sibling has appeared. So, let’s go greet her.”

“That…”

“It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. You have no choice.”

Isabel, who folded the letter, said firmly.

“Her Majesty the Empress wants to see you. Can you refuse that? At least I can’t.”

“Ugh, no. I can’t either.”

“Then we’re going. It’s in three days, so prepare.”

“Yes.”

Only after answering did Rosette realize that this was Joshua’s plan.

‘Coming to the Imperial Palace soon meant this.’

So, this visit was not just to see the Empress, but to find a clue to the poisoning.

Thinking that way made her even more nervous. She had confidently boasted to Joshua, but she was scared now that the time had actually come.

‘Can I do well?’

As if hearing Rosette’s worries, Isabel said.

“You don’t have to worry. You’ve been doing well so far.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve been taking etiquette classes well, and you’ve actually improved a lot. Just act as you do now in front of Her Majesty the Empress.”

Isabel, who had been cold since the letter arrived, smiled slightly.

“Besides, I’m going with you, so ask me for help if something goes wrong. Okay?”

*Ah, now I felt like I knew Isabel for sure.* She wasn’t good at expressing herself, but she cherished and worried about Rosette as much as Daniel or Lucas did.

Watching from behind and supporting when needed, that was Isabel Adrian’s way.

Rosette nodded.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

“What.”

Isabel turned her head away. But the white ear visible through her platinum blonde hair was faintly red.

“I wasn’t particularly worried.”

Rosette laughed quietly.

Thanks to Isabel, meeting the Empress wasn’t as worrying as before.

* * *

Time flew by quickly, and the day to visit the Imperial Palace arrived. Joan and the other maids started decorating Rosette noisily from the morning.

Rosette looked at herself in the mirror with a slightly stiff face. Today, she was wearing a white dress with fancy lace.

It wasn’t as fancy as a going-out dress, but it was made of luxurious material that felt good against her skin.

Aside from feeling good about wearing pretty clothes, Rosette was very nervous right now.

‘What if I make a mistake in front of Her Majesty the Empress? What if I can’t stop the poisoning again?’

With these thoughts, she was already exhausted before even going to the Imperial Palace.

As Rosette sighed deeply, Isabel came into the room. She was wearing a white dress that was fancier than usual but simpler than Rosette’s.

Seeing Isabel made her feel a little relieved.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes.”

Isabel came over and rearranged the ribbon tied around Rosette’s neck once more.

“Pretty.”

“Yes?”

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes!”

The two headed to the Imperial Palace in the most luxurious four-horse carriage in the Adrian family.

No conversation took place in the carriage on the way to the Imperial Palace.

Rosette kept her mouth shut, worried that her heart, which was beating loudly, would jump out of her mouth if she opened it, and Isabel stared out the window with a thoughtful face.

Rosette was curious about what her sister was thinking, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace. The guards saw the Adrian family crest engraved on the carriage and immediately let the carriage inside.

When the carriage arrived and the door opened, Isabel, who was about to get off first, flinched. Rosette was also surprised to see the person standing outside the door.

‘Did he come to watch me?’

It was Joshua Ernhardt. Unlike when he came to the Adrian mansion last time, he was wearing a fancy ceremonial dress.

“I will escort the princesses.”

Joshua held out his hand to Isabel. The Adrian family knights, who were supposed to escort the two children, were standing behind him with anxious faces.

Isabel glanced at the knights, then took Joshua’s hand and got out of the carriage.

“Has Your Highness recently enjoyed surprising people?”

“Well, let’s just say that.”

This time, Joshua held out his hand to Rosette, who was standing awkwardly.

“Shouldn’t you get off too?”

“I……”

Rosette looked at Isabel with a face asking for help. Then Isabel nodded once as if it was okay and said.

“Get off, Rose. His Highness is waiting.”

“Yes.”

It would be okay with Isabel. But Rosette’s nervous body didn’t do as she pleased.

Rosette hurriedly grabbed Joshua’s hand and got off. She was in such a hurry to get away from his hand that she even missed a step in the middle.

“Oh my. The little princess is not careful.”