The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 123

A Budding Affection

“Well, I was a little thankful.”

Lord Roten paused briefly. Isabelle continued, not looking at him.

“Of course, I still think it was unnecessary meddling.”

Rosette touched her forehead.

“Sister……”

*If she was going to admit it, she should have thanked him properly.*

Contrary to Rosette’s worries, however, Lord Roten’s face had already softened at Isabelle’s words.

“I was just doing what I had to do.”

His brightly smiling face was quite pleasant to see.

*‘I hope things work out between my sister and him.’*

As she thought that, Rosette suddenly compared Lord Roten’s appearance with Michael’s, who had whispered sweet words to her.

*‘It feels different.’*

Michael had certainly whispered sweet words to her. She had been unknowingly fluttered at first, though she was immune now.

But looking back, his eyes didn’t hold as much affection as Lord Roten’s.

She didn’t think Michael sincerely loved her. There was no reason for him to do so.

However, reaffirming that fact made her feel strange. It wasn’t betrayal or disappointment.

Just…….

*‘Then why on earth is he doing that?’*

Why was Michael whispering things he didn’t mean and trying to take her away? What did he want?

Rosette’s magic?

But he was quite skilled enough not to need her help.

The thought that it might be to create a connection with Adrian also crossed her mind briefly, but Michael didn’t seem interested in Adrian either.

What does Michael really want?

“Hey, kid, what are you thinking about?”

Muddled in thought, Rosette snapped back to reality at Lucas waving his hand in front of her eyes.

“I wasn’t really thinking about anything. Just……”

Rosette quickly made up a topic.

“I was just thinking about the upcoming hunting competition.”

Fortunately, Lucas nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. The hunting competition is not far away.”

He grinned.

“I haven’t been thinking about the hunting competition because of other worries.”

Rosette asked the three of them.

“Are you all participating in the hunting competition this time?”

The first to answer was Lord Roten.

“I’m not sure. If His Highness the Prince participates, I might, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

“I will.”

Isabelle replied primly.

“The hunting competition is the only thing that can flatten the noses of those who ignore me.”

“I usually don’t participate because it’s a hassle.”

Lucas stretched and looked at Rosette.

“I might participate if our little one gives me a handkerchief.”

Rosette glared at him.

“Do you think I’ll give you a handkerchief if you say that?”

“You made one for Hyung [older brother] when he participated in the swordsmanship competition before.”

“I made one for you back then too, Oppa [older brother].”

“It’s different now than it was then.”

Rosette didn’t know what was different, but she sighed as she looked at Lucas, who was sparkling his eyes.

“Okay.”

Just then, Lord Roten stood up, realizing something.

“Ah, come to think of it, Lord Adrian. We should get going now. It’s already this late.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Isabelle, who had risen from her seat, advised her two younger siblings.

“You two, don’t cause any trouble and just watch quietly before returning.”

Lucas grumbled.

“Do you still think we’re kids?”

“You act no different from when you were little, so that’s why I’m saying it. Got it, Rose? Make sure you take that guy in with you.”

“Yes, Sister.”

Rosette smiled as she watched the two people walking away, then leaned her head on Lucas’s arm.

*‘I hope I hear good news.’*

Thinking that, she carefully asked Lucas.

“Oppa, do you not have anyone you like?”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying something so out of the blue?”

“Just because. Daniel Oppa is getting married soon, and it seems like Isabelle Unnie [older sister] has someone she’s interested in, so I was wondering if you had anyone.”

Lucas waved his hand dismissively.

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Then he narrowed his eyes.

“What about you, kid? Don’t you have anyone you like?”

“Pardon?”

Rosette blinked, wondering why the fire was suddenly directed at her, but Lucas questioned her quite seriously.

“You’re an adult now, aren’t you? I hate to admit it, but you’ll get married someday.”

“Marriage?”

“Yeah.”

Lucas muttered a little dejectedly.

“I can’t have you living with me or the family forever.”

At those words, Rosette also sank into gloomy thought.

*‘Is that so?’*

In fact, Rosette had never thought about the future other than her determination to protect Adrian.

She had vaguely thought that she would stay in Adrian even after fixing everything.

But Lucas was right. She was already an adult and was living her own life apart from revenge.

She had made friends she had never been able to make in the past, and she had also graduated from the academy.

But love and marriage felt distant somehow. They even felt like a luxury.

She murmured gloomily.

“If I don’t get married, can’t I stay in Adrian anymore?”

“What are you talking about!”

Lucas trembled.

“That’s not what I meant. Just, well……”

He rambled.

“Daniel Hyung [older brother], Isabelle Nuna [older sister], and I will all have families when we get married, so we won’t be able to take care of you like we do now. I hate to think about it, but Father can’t be by your side forever either.”

Still, when Rosette became a little depressed, Lucas hugged her tightly.

“Ugh, I don’t know. You’re just going to live with this Oppa forever.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! I’d rather have me take care of you for the rest of my life than see you get tangled up with some weird guy!”

Rosette chuckled as she buried her face in his arms.

*‘But Lucas Oppa also has his own life.’*

Even if he said that, Lucas would also meet a woman he loved and start a family.

Given his personality, there was a high possibility that he would bring Rosette to live in the mansion even after he got married.

But Rosette didn’t want that. Lucas had his own life, as it was.

*‘I’ll have to find my own life and leave.’*

The time would come when she would have to find other goals besides avenging the past or protecting Adrian.

She could use her magical talent to train future generations, or, as Lucas said, she could meet someone she loved and get married.

*‘Marriage…….’*

At that moment, the face of a man came to Rosette’s mind.

A man with silver hair and golden eyes like the midday sun.

Joshua Ernhardt. The man who shared everything with her.

Why did his face come to mind at this moment?

Rosette shook her head vigorously.

*‘His Highness also has his own life.’*

A full-scale power struggle for the Crown Prince position would soon take place.

If everything went smoothly, Joshua would become the Crown Prince and welcome a Crown Princess who would support his power.

He was already twenty-three years old. In fact, it was stranger that he didn’t have a fiancée or lover until now.

*‘Then we won’t be able to live like we do now.’*

Until now, they had been running towards a common goal. They secretly snuck out at night to talk through Silver, and sometimes they had secret rendezvous in the forest.

But once the goal was achieved, that would no longer be the case.

That was a little disappointing. It was like letting go of the only person who shared the past.

*‘I can’t help it.’*

Rosette steeled her heart.

According to the initial plan, she was supposed to be the only one who remembered her past. Hadn’t she chosen solitude from the beginning?

Joshua was just a passing acquaintance in her life. An acquaintance who came without warning and disappeared again without warning.

So when the time came, she would have to let him go…….

Somehow, she couldn’t hide her regret.

“Hey, kid, what’s wrong? Are you so happy that this Oppa is with you?”

Lucas chuckled, having misunderstood Rosette, who kept shaking her head in his arms. He hugged his only younger sister even tighter.

“Ugh, you’re still a kid, a kid. How can you not change even after more than 10 years?”

Perhaps it was because of Adrian’s affection, Rosette thought inwardly. Because there were four people in her beloved Adrian, she could act like a child in front of them.

“Just because.”

Rosette mumbled and closed her eyes. Perhaps it was thanks to Lucas’s warmth. Before she knew it, the gloominess melted away like snow.

* * *

“How is your health, Mother?”

Ophelia smiled at Joshua’s question.

“I’m fine. I’m really feeling lighter, not just saying it.”

Joshua also quickly realized that those words were not a lie. Ophelia’s complexion had definitely improved noticeably since Rosette had treated her.

“That’s a relief.”

“More than that, you don’t have to go back to the North now, do you?”

“I left instructions behind. They should be able to manage without me for the time being.”

“I see. This mother is happy to have you by my side, but I’m worried that my presence might disrupt your plans.”

“There’s no need for Mother to worry.”

Joshua looked at Ophelia, whose expression was dark despite his answer, and summoned Silver.

[Woof!]

Silver, who briefly looked around and assessed the situation, approached Ophelia. Ophelia stroked Silver’s head and smiled.

“Hello, Silver. It’s been a while.”

[Woof!]

Silver expressed his joy. He wagged his tail slightly, but not as vigorously as when he met Rosette. When he saw Rosette, she was worried that his tail would break from wagging so much.

Joshua, who was swept up in strange emotions as he looked at Silver, snapped back to attention at Ophelia’s question.

“By the way, Joshua. I’ve been wondering for a while, did you name Silver?”

“……Pardon?”

Joshua was briefly taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and asked back.

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Just because.”

Silver fur sparkled between Ophelia’s fingers as she stroked Silver.

“I didn’t think you would have given this child a name.”

His mother’s eyes were accurate. In the past, Joshua had not given Silver a name, and Silver would not have had a name this time either if it hadn’t been for Rosette.

But Joshua feigned ignorance.

“I named him.”

“Really?”

Ophelia smiled suspiciously.

“Is ‘Silver’ really your naming sense? You named him Silver because his fur is silver?”

“That…….”

Joshua couldn’t bring himself to affirm it, and Ophelia continued.

“Come to think of it, Rosette said that she named Bbibbi because Bbibbi chirps like ‘bbibbi’? Seeing that, your naming sense is similar to that child’s.”