The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 114

114. Daniel’s Anguish (2)

February 22, 2024

“This is absurd.”

Isabelle, feeling the same frustration as Rosette, whispered fiercely.

“Lady Rivera shouldn’t be here yet. The investigation is still ongoing. But why…”

She even questioned Lord Roten directly.

“Lord Roten, what is going on? Why is Lady Rivera imprisoned here? The dungeon is strange enough, but the lowest level!”

“She is a heinous criminal who attempted to poison Her Majesty the Empress. His Imperial Majesty ordered that she be dealt with strictly due to the possibility of escape. We are merely following the orders from above.”

“That… !”

“Sister, calm down. Seeing Lady Rivera should come first.”

Lukas whispered, glancing at Daniel. Isabelle also glanced at Daniel and didn’t press further.

Daniel followed Lord Roten without a word.

Before long, Lord Roten led them to the innermost iron bars on the lowest level.

It was the very prison where Rosette had been held. A place with magic circles drawn to suppress all magic.

As Rosette trembled and clung to Lukas, Lord Roten said,

“Exactly ten minutes. No more.”

“Lord, ten minutes is too short.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince said that even with His Highness’s power, more than that would be difficult.”

“But…”

“It’s okay, Bell [Isabelle’s nickname].”

Daniel nodded and approached the iron bars with a stiff face.

“Ines.”

Ines, who had been dozing with her back against the innermost wall, raised her head. She widened her eyes as she spotted Daniel in the darkness.

“…Daniel?”

Ines, whom he had seen just half a day ago, had changed in the meantime. The lively and playful smile she always wore was nowhere to be found.

Despair was etched on her face.

“Ines…”

Daniel took a deep breath to hold back the emotions that welled up inside him. He couldn’t show weakness in front of Ines, so he fought back his tears.

Ines slowly got up and approached the iron bars. Daniel reached out his hand through the bars and took Ines’s hand.

Ines’s eyes became moist.

“It’s been a while, Daniel. You look a little thinner; I guess you suffered in the North.”

“Is this the time to say that?”

“Of course. I was worried about you. I was worried you might get hurt in the North. But it seems you’re safe.”

“Is this the time to worry about me?”

Ines smiled bitterly.

“It’s good to see your face. I thought I wouldn’t be able to see you…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence. But everyone there understood her words.

Ines was afraid of being executed without seeing Daniel. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Joshua’s consideration, the two of them wouldn’t have been able to see each other one last time.

Daniel’s hand, holding her white hand, clenched tightly.

“What are you talking about? Why would you be executed? You’re innocent.”

Ines frowned slightly.

“That’s right, Daniel. It really wasn’t me. I didn’t do it.”

“I know. You, with your kind nature, would never do such a thing. I know that better than anyone.”

“But there’s no way to prove it.”

“Me and my siblings will prove your innocence. So, until then, be strong.”

“Is that possible? All the evidence already points to me, doesn’t it?”

“It’s possible. Trust me and my siblings…”

Ines shook her head slightly, released Daniel’s hand, and took a step back.

“…Ines?”

“Daniel, we…”

She whispered with a determined face.

“Let’s break off our engagement.”

Daniel’s face, which had been trying to remain composed, was filled with shock. He gripped the bars of the prison instead of Ines’s hand and barely managed to ask.

“Ines, what are you talking about?”

“I can’t let you get hurt because of me. Or Adrian either.”

“…”

Ines, who had been looking up at Daniel, lowered her head. Tears that she couldn’t hold back finally streamed down her face.

“I know you and Adrian are trying to prove my innocence. But it will be difficult. I’m already caught in the middle of a well-laid plan.”

“But… !”

“It’s enough if only I get hurt. I can’t bear to see everyone get hurt because of me.”

Daniel couldn’t affirm or deny, and just clenched his teeth.

‘Daniel knows that breaking off the engagement is the only way.’

Daniel loved Adrian as much as he loved Ines. As the heir, he had a duty to protect his siblings.

Considering everything, it was right to break off the engagement with Ines before it was too late and assert Adrian’s innocence.

That wouldn’t completely remove Adrian from this situation, but at least they wouldn’t be accused of attempted poisoning of the Empress and face annihilation.

‘But if Oppa [term for older brother] says he’ll break off the engagement, the relationship between the two will be truly irreparable.’

Rosette was determined to uncover the truth with Joshua. But if Daniel talked about breaking off the engagement here, their relationship would be over.

Even if they proved Ines’s innocence, could they go back to the way things were before, now that trust had been broken?

Probably not.

“I…”

Tears finally streamed down Daniel’s face as well.

Then Rosette, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward towards Ines before Daniel could say anything.

“Don’t say such things, Ines.”

“Rosette…”

“You’re already an Adrian, even if you haven’t had the wedding yet. The Adrians don’t abandon their family.”

Rosette had been thinking a lot since earlier. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered drawing a line with Ines and protecting her family.

‘But that doesn’t seem to be the answer.’

If something happened to Ines, Daniel would collapse. The kind, caring side of Daniel that Rosette loved would no longer be found.

In the worst case, he might actually give up on life.

For Daniel’s sake, she had to protect Ines no matter what.

‘I can’t give up on Ines either.’

Rosette said with a determined face.

“I’ll find a way. So, Oppa, don’t ever give up on Ines either.”

That was also a word to herself.

“We’ll all be safe.”

With those words, Lord Roten approached them. He said with an apologetic face.

“You must leave now.”

Isabelle grabbed his arm.

“Please give us a little more time, Lord.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do any more than this.”

“It’s okay, Bell. You can go now.”

Daniel, who had already wiped away his tears, said calmly.

“Ines, I can’t give up on you. We will never break off our engagement.”

“But Daniel.”

“I will definitely uncover the truth, so be strong and hang in there a little longer.”

With those words, the four Adrian siblings followed Lord Roten out of the dungeon. There was no conversation between the five of them.

“Daniel.”

Joshua was the one who greeted the five people who had returned to the surface. Joshua, whom she had not seen in a long time, had a slightly more tanned face than the last time Rosette had seen him.

“Your Highness.”

Before Rosette could greet him, Daniel raised his voice and demanded, unlike his usual self.

“Your Highness, what is going on? Ines is only under suspicion. But she’s in a prison where only heinous criminals are held? This is absurd.”

Only after hearing those words did he regain his composure and apologize.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I have been rude. You must be having a hard time too.”

“No, it’s okay. Of course, I’m having a hard time too, but I can only imagine how you feel. Go and rest for today.”

Silver, who had approached Joshua, whined. Joshua tapped Silver’s head with his fingertips.

“Silver, you should follow Lady Adrian for now.”

Kkiing, kkiing. Silver groaned, but Joshua was firm.

“Go and wait.”

“Your Highness.”

Rosette glanced at Joshua. Joshua nodded. Rosette roughly understood his words.

‘He must be telling me to take Silver and wait.’

Rosette nodded in agreement and headed to the mansion.

After returning to her room alone, she whispered into Silver’s necklace.

“Your Highness, are you listening?”

Joshua sighed.

“Thank you. I know you’re having a hard time too, but thank you for caring.”

With those words, there was a brief silence between the two. Rosette didn’t know what to say and just moved her lips, but Joshua asked.

Rosette began to explain what had happened during the day.

“We were having a tea party when Her Majesty’s complexion worsened. I thought she should go in and rest, but Her Majesty persevered. She probably didn’t want to create gossip.”

“Then she suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. While the knight took Her Majesty into the Empress’s Palace, Lady Lillis said there was a possibility of poisoning. And actually…”

Rosette sniffled and added.

“A knight from the Imperial Knights came and said that Anette poison [a fictional poison] was found in the statue Ines gave her, and took Ines away.”