The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 120

120. Joshua’s Wavering Heart

The forest, after twelve years, remained unchanged. If anything was different, it was that the tree stump I used to sit on as a child seemed a bit smaller.

But that was only because Rosette had grown taller, making the tree appear smaller in comparison.

“You’ve come?”

Rosette, lost in her memories, snapped back to reality at Joshua’s voice from nearby.

“Your Highness.”

Joshua was dressed in a light shirt and trousers. His jawline was sharper, as if he had been suffering these past few days, but his expression seemed more relaxed than the last time she had seen him.

Rosette slowly approached him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

“Indeed.”

“And it’s been a while since I’ve ridden on Silver’s back.”

Joshua silently watched Rosette stroke Silver’s head. As Rosette was indulging Silver’s affection, a sudden thought occurred to her, and she quickly asked,

“Come to think of it, how is the Empress? I heard she regained consciousness.”

“Yes. Thanks to the physician from the Shelton Kingdom who created the antidote, Her Majesty quickly regained consciousness. However, her body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so we need to monitor her progress.”

“I see. If it’s due to internal injuries, would it be alright if I examined the Empress?”

“You?”

“Yes!”

Rosette explained with a slightly confident voice.

“I studied healing magic a lot while I was in the Ivelin Kingdom.”

It was in preparation for any possible situation. If Daniel were to have an accident and injure his leg like in the past, or if other family members were to fall ill, she wanted to be able to heal them.

Joshua nodded.

“If you would, I would be grateful. I know your skills best. I’ll speak to Her Majesty, so if it’s alright with you, come to the palace tomorrow.”

“Yes, thank you. But why did you ask me to come here today?”

“I wanted to express my gratitude.”

Joshua said plainly.

“Gratitude?”

“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I properly thanked you last time.”

‘Didn’t he?’ Rosette recalled the conversation Joshua had through the magic communication tool last time.

‘Come to think of it, Lucas Oppa [older brother figure] came in the middle, so the conversation was suddenly cut off.’

Even so, it didn’t seem like she needed to receive gratitude from Joshua. Thinking so, Rosette awkwardly scratched her cheek.

“Well, it’s not like I deserve thanks. The Empress is the Empress, but it was also about my family.”

She smiled wryly.

“I couldn’t give up on Ines Unnie [older sister figure].”

“Indeed, it was the first time I’ve seen Daniel so happy, both in the past and present.”

Joshua nodded lightly and asked Rosette,

“How do you feel?”

“It feels like a weight has been lifted. I was very worried when Daniel Oraboni [older brother figure] said he would demand a breakup with Ines Unnie.”

“No, not that.”

Joshua rephrased his question.

“Elisha Dallas will be executed soon. How do you feel about that?”

“Ah, that.”

Rosette hesitated for a moment.

The Adrian family didn’t know about the complicated relationship between Rosette and Elisha. In fact, Elisha herself didn’t remember the events of the past.

However, the events of the past hadn’t disappeared. Rosette still remembered what Elisha had done to her and Bbibbi.

But because it was already a vanished past, she couldn’t vent her frustration to anyone. But Joshua hadn’t forgotten and asked her.

“Actually, I don’t really know.”

Rosette answered after much thought.

“When Marquis Dallas was dealt with, I felt a great sense of relief. It wasn’t the revenge I wanted, but the Marquis paid for his sins anyway.”

“But?”

“But I don’t know about Elisha Dallas. She did bully me and Bbibbi, but I wondered if she really did anything that wrong. I was just curious. Why did she treat me like that?”

“……?”

“But Elisha doesn’t remember the past, so I couldn’t ask. But I found out this time.”

Rosette smiled brightly.

“She just enjoyed trampling on me. That was Elisha’s true nature. It wasn’t because I or Bbibbi did anything wrong.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

Joshua came a little closer to her and affirmed.

“I’m glad to hear that you’ve shaken it off.”

“You are, Your Highness? Why?”

“Well.”

He chuckled.

“Call it camaraderie.”

He answered lightly and knelt on one knee in front of Rosette.

“Your Highness, please get up!”

Rosette was flustered and tried to raise Joshua, but he didn’t budge.

“I owe you another debt.”

“A debt?”

“If you hadn’t found the Seareal Flower, I might have really lost Her Majesty this time.”

He carefully took Rosette’s hand and kissed the back of it. His lips trembled as they touched her hand.

It wasn’t the first time Joshua had kissed her hand, but her heart fluttered more than ever.

“I will protect you no matter what it takes from now on. I swear on my name.”

He swears on the name of the Imperial Prince.

It was by no means a light promise. Rosette didn’t know how to react, so she just opened and closed her mouth.

Then, Joshua looked up at her, still with his lips on her hand. His jewel-like golden eyes were unwavering.

She had looked directly into Joshua’s eyes countless times, but there had never been so much emotion in his eyes as there was now.

Trust, joy, conviction. And when she discovered the passion within, Rosette couldn’t bear to look into his eyes and averted her gaze.

“I will also try to protect Your Highness.”

“I expect it.”

Joshua stood up again and released her hand.

“It’s late, so it’s best to go now.”

“That’s……right.”

“I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

“I understand.”

Rosette smiled awkwardly and climbed onto Silver’s back, who had lowered himself. Her heart was pounding pleasantly. Her face was also flushed.

“Then I’ll be going.”

[Woof!]

Silver began to run back out of the forest. It felt like Joshua’s gaze was fixed on her back.

In reality, Joshua was watching Silver and Rosette disappear without wavering.

When Rosette had completely disappeared, he pressed down on his left chest with his right hand. His heart was beating so strongly that the vibration was transmitted to his palm.

In fact, from the moment he saw her arrive in the forest with Silver, his heart had been pounding as if it would burst, just like when he had finished a fierce sparring match with Duke Adrian or Daniel.

He couldn’t tell Rosette, but when he met her blue gaze, it felt like his breath stopped.

He had lived for over 30 years in the past and present, but this was the first time this had happened.

Why was he only like this with Rosette? It couldn’t be explained simply by the fact that he was grateful to her for changing his misfortune.

Joshua stood there for a long time, lost in thought.

Soon, the sound of Silver howling was heard from afar, and the silver wolf ran towards him.

Joshua stroked the fur of Silver, who had placed his front paws on his shoulders. The silver wolf stuck out his tongue and panted, as if he was in a good mood.

This was also a change that had occurred after meeting Rosette. Before that, Silver was exactly as people imagined a wolf to be: an imposing and dignified beast that was intimidating just by standing still.

But from some point on, Silver turned into a docile large dog whenever he met Rosette.

He would rub his long snout against her legs, wag his tail, and make whining noises.

He probably hadn’t calmed down yet.

“Do you like the Lady that much?”

[Woof!]

“What do you like so much? Is it because she gives you snacks? But you can live without food, can’t you?”

[Woof woof!]

Silver protested as if he was wronged, insisting that his liking for Rosette was an unavoidable phenomenon.

“An unavoidable phenomenon?”

Silver, who was back on all fours, pawed at the ground as if frustrated. He even fearlessly bit and chewed on Joshua’s trousers.

“Silver, what is this all about?”

Silver turned his back as if he was upset by Joshua’s blunt voice, but his tail was still wagging from side to side.

Joshua watched it and fell into thought.

‘Come to think of it, I heard that familiars share the emotions of their owners.’

He knew it theoretically, but it was a fact he had never thought deeply about.

But once he recognized it, Silver’s attitude began to bother him.

Was Silver acting like this because he had a liking for Rosette, unlike in the past? But Silver didn’t cling to Ophelia, whom Joshua loved more than anyone else, this much.

Then, Silver howled as if making a final effort.

I just like Rosette! It’s okay even if she doesn’t give me snacks!

Joshua was shocked, as if he had been hit on the head by Silver’s sudden confession. He stroked the area near his heart, which had now calmed down and regained its pace.

When he thought of Rosette smiling brightly, his barely calmed heart began to beat rapidly again.

That can’t be. Could it be that I like Rosette……?

Joshua looked at Silver, who was still grumbling, and began to walk out of the forest. It was a night where a troublesome incident had been resolved, but it was still a headache.

* * *

The next day, Rosette headed to the Imperial Palace with Lucas. Lucas waited in the drawing-room, and Rosette headed to Ophelia’s bedroom with Joshua, who was waiting.

“Rosette, you’ve come.”

Ophelia tried to get up when she saw Rosette. Joshua was startled and quickly approached her.

“There’s no need to get up, Mother.”

“That’s right, Empress. Please rest comfortably.”

Even though Rosette dissuaded her, Ophelia leaned back against the headboard with Joshua’s help.

“I can’t greet a guest lying down.”

Ophelia smiled weakly. Rosette carefully sat on the chair next to the bed and observed her.

Ophelia, whom she had seen again after a long time, looked visibly ill. Her white skin was so pale that her blue blood vessels could be seen, and her lips were also slightly purplish.

“How are you feeling?”

“I may look like this, but it’s no exaggeration to say that my body has gotten a lot better. Besides, Rosette, seeing you makes me feel even better.”

Rosette deliberately laughed, “Hehe.”

“I’m also feeling energetic because I got to see the Empress again.”

“Oh, is that so?”

A shadow of worry fell over Ophelia’s face as she smiled.

“I heard that Adrian and the Rivera Young Lady had a hard time because of me.”