The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 125

125. The Hunting Competition (2)

March 4, 2024

“I’ll bring back more game than that guy, so look forward to it.”

Rosette chuckled, watching Lucas openly sizing up Antony with a competitive glint in his eyes.

“Alright. I’ll look forward to it.”

“So, when are you giving me the handkerchief?”

Rosette replied with mock innocence.

“I don’t have a handkerchief?”

“What?”

Lucas muttered to himself, repeatedly thinking, ‘There’s no way she wouldn’t have one for me.’

He seemed quite shocked, nervously running his fingers through his neatly styled hair.

Rosette quickly retrieved the handkerchief she had placed in her small handbag and offered it to him.

“I was just kidding. Of course, I made one for you, Oppa [term of endearment used by a younger woman to an older brother or male friend].”

“I knew it.”

Lucas snatched the handkerchief with an arrogant air, as if he had never doubted it for a moment, and tied it to the hilt of his sword. He nodded in satisfaction and subtly inquired.

“I’m the only one getting a handkerchief, right?”

Rosette couldn’t bring herself to lie outright, so she gave a noncommittal response.

“Yeah, well, I guess so?”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“What’s with that lukewarm reaction? Is there someone else? Maybe Daniel Hyung [term of endearment used by a younger man to an older brother or male friend]? But Hyung will get one from Lady Livera!”

“No, not Daniel Oppa…….”

Rosette awkwardly fiddled with the handbag containing the other handkerchief.

‘I did make it, but I don’t know if I can give it to him.’

Following Lucas’s handkerchief, she had impulsively made one for Joshua. She didn’t even know why she had done it. It was as if she were acting on a whim.

However, after seeing the finished handkerchief, she hesitated.

What reason could she possibly give Joshua for presenting him with a handkerchief? She didn’t want to create any unnecessary misunderstandings.

But on the other hand, she couldn’t help but think of the many young ladies who would undoubtedly give Joshua handkerchiefs.

Before he was engaged to Ines, many people gave Daniel handkerchiefs, so there would probably be quite a few people offering handkerchiefs to the Imperial Prince Joshua as well.

For some reason, the thought of that scene made her feel a little… strange. It felt like her stomach was twisting, and she felt a little down.

“If not Daniel Hyung, then who? Don’t tell me it’s that damn Huxley?”

Snapping back to reality, Rosette was startled and playfully slapped Lucas’s arm.

“Oppa, how can you say that when Antony is right next to you?”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s about time that guy realized I’m keeping a close eye on him.”

Lucas backed down as Rosette continued to frown and glare at him.

“Alright. I won’t. Then, little kid, I’ll be off.”

Lucas noticed the young ladies approaching them and disappeared as if escaping. Antony also exchanged brief greetings and departed.

Looking around, she saw men and women exchanging handkerchiefs. Among them were Daniel and Ines. They were such a beautiful couple, as always.

‘……Huh?’

Rosette, who had been smiling contentedly, turned her head a little further and noticed an unexpected sight. Isabel, who she thought had gone to prepare, was with Lord Roten.

Even more surprising was that Lord Roten was handing her a handkerchief.

Not only Rosette but also the people around them were watching with interest. One of the mischievous Imperial Knight comrades even whistled.

“It’s not like that.”

Isabel denied it without showing any signs of embarrassment. However, Lord Roten soon asked with a serious expression.

“What is ‘not like that,’ Lord Adrian?”

“Well.”

A slight hint of embarrassment flickered across Isabel’s usually unwavering face.

“Isn’t this just wishing good luck as a colleague?”

“You could see it that way, but Lord Adrian.”

Lord Roten smiled brightly as he moved a little closer to Isabel.

“Wouldn’t you consider it a little more special?”

“……Yes?”

Isabel, slightly flustered, was noticeably affected by Lord Roten’s next words.

“I worked hard to learn embroidery and made this, so I would be a little sad if you thought of it as ordinary.”

“Did Lord Roten make this himself?”

Someone nearby whispered, “Oh, Lord Roten! Your sincerity is extraordinary!”

Lord Roten scratched his neck as if embarrassed.

“Who would sell such a messy handkerchief? I made it little by little while being scolded by my younger sibling.”

“That…….”

Isabel, unable to find the right words, carefully accepted the handkerchief.

“I will accept it gratefully.”

Lord Roten’s face lit up as if a weight had been lifted. He seemed moved simply by the fact that Isabel had accepted the handkerchief and was about to turn away without any further expectations. Isabel called out to him.

“Just a moment, Lord Roten.”

She spoke in the tone she usually reserved for her family, as if she were in a hurry. When Lord Roten turned back, Isabel untied the handkerchief she was wearing on her wrist and handed it to him.

That handkerchief was one of the ones Isabel had made herself whenever she needed to calm her mind, and she had originally brought it to wipe away sweat.

“I didn’t prepare anything separately. Would you mind accepting this?”

Lord Roten tensed up slightly. He swallowed hard once and carefully looked down at the handkerchief resting on Isabel’s hand.

“May I accept this? It looks precious.”

“To be honest, it’s not that precious. I just grabbed one from the drawer. That’s all.”

“But didn’t you make it yourself, Lord?”

“That’s true. But it’s not a special handkerchief. I embroider them whenever I have time, so I have a lot of handkerchiefs. When my mind is troubled, focusing on embroidery calms my mind.”

Isabel’s explanation became a little longer than usual. Rosette noticed from that subtle change that she was nervous.

‘Sister is still the same.’

The more she cared about someone, the less Isabel revealed her true feelings. Paradoxically, the more blunt she was, the deeper her affection was.

That was the case with Rosette, and it was the same with Lucas.

It seemed that another precious person had appeared in her life.

Rosette had heard that Lord Roten had been working with Isabel as a colleague for several years. Of course, he would have already understood Isabel’s reserved personality.

Sensing the affection hidden beneath her blunt tone, Lord Roten smiled pleasantly and took the handkerchief she offered.

“I’ve always heard that the sentiment contained within an object is more important than its monetary value. You said that this handkerchief is not special, but the sentiment behind it is special, so I will gratefully accept it.”

“It doesn’t contain any particularly special feelings. It’s just a return for the handkerchief.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lord Roten still smiled and carefully placed the handkerchief inside his coat.

Isabel, who was about to tie the handkerchief Lord Roten had given her back on her empty wrist, hesitated and instead placed the handkerchief in the pocket near her chest.

Rosette, who saw Lord Roten bowing and returning to his colleagues, cautiously approached Isabel.

“Sister.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What am I doing?”

“You’re making the same expression that Lucas makes.”

It seemed that a smile had unknowingly crept onto her face. Rosette touched the corners of her mouth with her fingertips and tried to compose herself.

Before she could say anything, Isabel suddenly said.

“It’s not like that.”

“I didn’t say anything?”

“It’s all written on your face what you’re about to say. But it’s not. Lord Roten and I are just good colleagues.”

“Yes, well, colleagues can exchange handkerchiefs too.”

“Are you making fun of me right now?”

“No!”

Rosette quickly waved both hands in denial.

“I just meant it looks good.”

“Everything looks good to you.”

Isabel turned her head away with a sulky expression. Today, she had tied her hair up high in a single ponytail to make it easier to hunt. As a result, her ears and the nape of her neck were attractively exposed, and they were slightly redder than usual.

Rosette, who laughed out loud without realizing it, cleared her throat at Isabel’s fierce glare.

“Ahem, ahem. Anyway, be careful out there, Sister.”

“Yeah. You too, don’t cause any trouble while we’re gone and stay put.”

“You make it sound like I’m a troublemaker.”

“Didn’t I tell you? You’re a bigger troublemaker than Lucas.”

“But I’m more…… than Lucas Oppa…….”

Rosette, who was trying to defend herself by claiming she was well-behaved, couldn’t finish her sentence after reflecting on her past actions.

“You don’t have anything to say, do you?”

“Yes.”

Isabel, who was looking down at the slightly subdued Rosette, softened her expression and straightened her clothes.

“Remember, you are…….”

“Adrian. Sister, I’m twenty years old now, aren’t you treating me too much like a child? How long are you going to say that?”

At Rosette’s playful complaint, Isabel seemed momentarily speechless, pursed her lips, and muttered as if making an excuse.

“That’s right, you were twenty years old, right.”

Rosette felt a pang of emotion as she looked at Isabel, who was muttering as if it were a revelation.

From the beginning, Isabel had been the strictest with Rosette among the four Adrian family members.

While the men, including Duke Adrian, emphasized that Rosette didn’t have to do anything, Isabel tried to guide and correct her in every way.

From her clothes to her speech and attitude.

There were times when she was a little intimidated by her, but she knew that it all stemmed from a desire for her well-being.

Because she knew what it was like to face discrimination simply for being different, she was trying to protect Rosette from being hurt by others in advance.

In that sense, Isabel was actually the one who treated Rosette the most like a cherished younger sibling. She was always concerned about Rosette, treating her like a vulnerable child.

‘But it’s not bad.’

It was truly a blessing to have a family that she could rely on without worrying about ulterior motives.

The second time she was twenty years old, which was distinctly different from her first twenty years.

Rosette hugged Isabel tightly, like a child seeking comfort.

“Thank you, Sister.”

Isabel awkwardly waved her arms, unsure of how to respond, and then hugged her back.

“Yeah.”

Isabel’s embrace, which held her tightly for a moment, was surprisingly warm. Rosette savored her warmth, indulging in a moment of childlike affection.

“I really have to go now.”

After a while, Isabel released Rosette and disappeared into the crowd. Rosette watched her receding figure and then looked around.

‘Come to think of it, where is the Imperial Prince?’

Rosette, feeling a surge of anticipation, even summoned Pippi to help her locate Joshua. The handbag containing the handkerchief felt quite heavy.

‘Could it be that he didn’t come to the hunting competition?’

Just as she was starting to feel disappointed.

[Woof!]

A loud wolf’s howl echoed through the area, and then Silver bounded toward her and playfully pounced on her.

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