The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 100

100. Debutante

February 8, 2024

“Huh?”

The maids, who were huddled together hoping to catch the bouquet, giggled.

“It seems the young lady will meet someone nice at this debutante ball!”

“Well, the young lady is already twenty; it’s about time she found someone!”

“I wonder who will capture our young lady’s heart?”

Rosette blushed.

“It’s nothing like that. Someone nice, you say…….”

Rosette had never once considered leaving Adrian and starting a new family.

Her desire to protect Adrian was so strong that she couldn’t imagine herself dating.

But at this moment, embarrassingly, Joshua’s face flashed through her mind very briefly.

His changed physique, which she had seen in detail when they reunited recently, and his gentle face when he smiled slightly, were vivid.

‘Why on earth…….’

As Rosette’s face turned red, the maids exclaimed, “Oh my, oh my.”

“Perhaps, young lady, do you perhaps have someone you admire?”

“No, nothing like that!”

“I think you do. Who is it?”

Rosette hugged the bouquet and vehemently denied it.

No one knew that Lucas was the only one trembling and whispering, ‘No way,’ in that pleasant commotion.

* * *

After Joan’s wedding ended successfully, Rosette prepared for the upcoming debutante ball. [A debutante ball is a formal party to present young women to society.]

Lucas was to be Rosette’s debutante party partner. Daniel secretly wanted to be Rosette’s partner, but he had to escort his fiancée, Ines Rivera.

“Haha! I’m our little one’s first partner!”

Lucas, who had easily secured the partner position, was very proud.

And then came the day of the debutante ball. Joan, who had returned from a short honeymoon, diligently attended to Rosette.

Rosette told her that she was fine and to enjoy her trip to the fullest, but Joan said that she had to see Rosette’s debutante ball and returned briefly.

Rosette, wearing the white dress that Mrs. Wide had poured her heart and soul into making, looked lovely and pretty even to herself.

Joan covered her mouth with both hands.

“Our young lady is already like this……. What should I do? I’m already like this now; I think I’ll be bawling when the young lady gets married.”

Rosette mumbled, embarrassed.

“Don’t be like that too much.”

“It’s true. I didn’t give birth to the young lady, but I raised her. It’ll feel like I’m sending my child off to get married.”

“You’re saying all sorts of things. We’re going to be late. Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes!”

Rosette took Joan’s hand and went down to the first floor. Her family, who were already waiting, were surprised to see her.

“Wow, little one! You’re so pretty!”

As expected, Lucas made the biggest fuss. Rosette took the hand of Lucas, who was circling around her like a puppy.

“Just escort me.”

“Okay, let’s go then.”

The people attending the party today were Daniel and Ines, Isabel, and Lucas and Rosette.

Daniel and Ines rode in one carriage, and the other three rode in another.

“Since it’s been a while, I’ll ask you, Rosette. You haven’t forgotten who you are, have you?”

Rosette smiled and answered the familiar question.

“I am Rosette Adrian. Adrian’s precious youngest daughter.”

“That’s right, don’t forget that fact today either.”

“Yes, Sister. But is it okay for you not to have a partner?”

Rosette asked, looking at Isabel, who was wearing a knight’s uniform. Isabel muttered as if it were nothing.

“Well, I don’t need a partner. I’d rather go alone than take that Lucas guy.”

Lucas flared up.

“I have no intention of escorting you either, Sis!”

While they were talking, they arrived at the Imperial Palace. Rosette, holding Lucas’s hand, got out of the carriage and greeted the two.

“Then I’ll be back. Go ahead first.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Ladies who are officially making their debut greet the Empress before going to the party hall. According to that custom, Rosette had to leave her siblings and go to meet Ophelia.

When Rosette went to the hall where she was to meet Ophelia, many ladies had already gathered. Everyone glanced at Rosette and whispered, but no one spoke to her directly.

Fortunately, Ophelia’s complexion looked fine today.

The audience is held in order of the family’s rank, and of course, Rosette, as a member of the Duke’s family, met Ophelia last.

“Rosette of Adrian greets Her Majesty the Empress.”

Ophelia smiled kindly as Rosette greeted her.

“I hope that sunlight will shine on the Duchess’s future as well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

As Rosette was about to straighten her bent knees and leave, Ophelia added.

“You look pretty today too. Please take good care of that child today.”

It was a small voice that only Rosette could hear. It was obvious who ‘that child’ was without even hearing it.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

Rosette, who also whispered softly, left the audience chamber and headed to the Diamond Hall where the party was being held. Lucas, who had been waiting in the waiting room, came out and escorted her.

“The Young Master and Young Lady of Adrian enter!”

When the servant announced, the noisy hall became quiet for a moment. Rosette entered with Lucas, receiving the attention of the people.

Taking advantage of the fact that people were only watching and could not dare to approach, she went to find familiar faces.

“Clara, Theresa! My dear friends.”

“Rosette!”

“It’s been so long!”

Rosette found Clara and Theresa and hugged them happily. The two, who had already made their debut, were wearing dresses with slightly pastel colors instead of white.

“I missed you so much. I heard you were back, but I didn’t dare to contact you because I thought you’d be busy.”

“Me too, me too. But I thought I might be able to see you this time because you were going to have your debut, and I really did!”

“I have so much to talk about. Let’s talk in detail later. I’ll invite you to the mansion.”

“Okay.”

After that, Rosette was dragged around by Lucas and Isabel and greeted many people.

After spending some time like that, the servant shouted.

“The First Prince and the Second Prince enter!”

This time, the noisy party hall became as quiet as a mouse.

The two princes, who I never thought would come together, appeared at the same time. People were working hard to figure out what this could mean.

The Adrian family members were the same. Daniel, who had come to his three younger siblings with Ines, muttered meaningfully.

“It’s going to be a headache.”

“Why?”

Isabel explained in a low voice.

“Prince Joshua has always appeared alone at official events. But today he came with the Second Prince. What does this mean?”

Rosette thought for a moment and muttered.

“Can other people see that the Prince has acknowledged the Second Prince?”

“Yes, that’s right. And perhaps this is not Prince Joshua’s intention.”

“I see.”

Rosette fidgeted with her hands and looked at Joshua, who was entering the hall.

Today, he had his hair styled with half of his bangs up and half down. He was wearing a white ceremonial robe embroidered with gold thread in places, and he looked quite imposing because he had no expression on his face.

‘On the other hand, Prince Louis…….’

He came out with a neat hairstyle covering his forehead. He was wearing a similar ceremonial robe to Joshua, but he was smiling brightly, creating a different atmosphere from Joshua.

He was the kind of face that people often think of when they think of ‘a prince in a fairy tale.’

‘Some people criticize Prince Louis for not having the dignity of a prince because he grew up in the Lillis Ducal family until he was sixteen…….’

On the other hand, many people liked Louis. The reason was that he had a more human side than Joshua, who was as cold as ice and unapproachable.

‘But is the Prince okay?’

He already knew about the existence of his half-brother Louis, so he wouldn’t have been too surprised when he first appeared.

That doesn’t mean he would welcome the existence of his half-brother. It wasn’t him who directly took action, but after all, Ophelia and Duke Adrian died in the past because of Louis.

Rosette looked at Joshua with concern, and he met her eyes. In a very fleeting moment, a smile appeared on Joshua’s lips, who had no expression.

It was such a short moment that I wondered if I had seen it wrong. In fact, when Rosette looked again in surprise, he had returned to his original expressionless face.

“Little one, stop looking at the Prince and dance a song with your brother.”

Rosette, who had been constantly observing Joshua, suddenly came to her senses at Lucas’s words. She belatedly realized that people were going out to the dance floor to dance.

“Ah, okay.”

Rosette took Lucas’s hand and went out to waltz. Lucas was excited and giggling.

“Remember, little one. You danced your first dance with this brother.”

“It’s not the first time…….”

“Except for the ones we practiced at the mansion. I mean at an official party.”

“So, it’s not the first time.”

Lucas frowned when Rosette mumbled while looking at her feet.

“What, then who was the first?”

“With Anthony at the graduation party…….”

“Anthony? That damn Huxley? I knew it. He seems to be here today too; I’m not going to let him come near you.”

Lucas gritted his teeth. Rosette smiled and finished the dance because she didn’t dislike Lucas’s anger.

The next dance was with Daniel. Daniel also subtly asked who she had danced her first dance with, and Rosette, who had already been through it once with Lucas, replied that it was a secret.

‘Well, Brother Lucas will probably tell him everything anyway.’

After that, she was a little tired and skipped one dance.

While a slightly cheerful dance tune was playing, she sipped a cocktail and observed Isabel. Isabel was surrounded by many girls.

‘It seems like my sister is enjoying herself in her own way.’

Rosette looked around.

‘What is the Prince doing?’

While Rosette was looking around, the cheerful dance tune ended, and a calm tune began to play again.

At that moment, Rosette met Louis’s eyes, who was standing far away. The moment he found her, he smiled and slowly approached.

Rosette instinctively knew what he was trying to do.

‘He’s going to ask me to dance.’

What would happen if Rosette danced with Louis after her two brothers? People would be eagerly watching which side Adrian, who is still maintaining neutrality, would take.

However, she couldn’t refuse a dance request from Louis, who was a prince.

‘Should I just pretend I didn’t see him and run away?’

Yes, let’s just run away.

Rosette handed the glass she was holding to a servant and started walking towards the entrance of the hall. When she glanced back, she saw Louis approaching at a faster speed.

‘What should I do?’

Rosette was wondering if she should run.

Someone asked somewhat arrogantly from behind.

“Won’t you dance with me, Duchess?”

Rosette was surprised and turned around.

Silver hair sparkling dazzlingly in the chandelier light.

It was Joshua Ernhardt.