The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 127

127. Unusual Symptoms

March 6, 2024

The sky was clear, without a single cloud. Yet, for some reason, an ominous feeling began to creep in.

It felt as if dark storm clouds were about to gather at any moment.

I couldn’t quite explain the feeling, but the unease in my chest was unsettling.

[Beep… Beep!]

As if sensing Rosette’s anxiety, Bbippi, perched on her shoulder, cried out mournfully.

“Rosette? What’s wrong?”

Rosette, who had been trying to soothe Bbippi, looked at Clara and Theresa, who were watching her with concern. They seemed only worried about Rosette, showing no particular signs of tension themselves.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you feel anything strange?”

“Strange?”

Clara tilted her head.

“What kind of feeling?”

“Like something bad is about to happen?”

“Something bad?”

Clara pondered Rosette’s words for a moment, then chuckled.

“Are you nervous because it’s your first hunting competition?”

Theresa chimed in.

“Don’t worry, Rosette. The trails are thoroughly controlled, so no animals will wander over here.”

Judging by their reactions, they didn’t seem to feel the ominous energy that Rosette was experiencing.

‘Am I just being paranoid?’

Rosette looked up at the clear sky once more, then shook her head.

“It’s nothing. Let’s keep going.”

Rosette continued along the trail with Bbippi and her two friends.

Contrary to her worries, nothing unusual happened.

As Theresa had said, the trail was peaceful. Occasionally, the sounds of people shouting and animals crying could be heard in the distance, but no beasts suddenly charged out.

Moreover, there were other people strolling along the trail besides the three of them. Rosette was soon able to relax and enjoy the walk. Bbippi also fluttered around her, bringing her wildflowers.

“Shall we dip our feet in the stream?”

When their feet started to feel a little stiff, Clara suggested it. The three girls followed Joseph, who led them down to the stream.

Carefully taking off their shoes and stockings, they dipped their feet into the clear stream. The cool sensation that spread from their toes made their shoulders shiver.

The three girls giggled at each other’s reactions.

Bbippi sat lightly on a half-submerged stone, dipping its tail feathers into the stream and playing.

“It’s so peaceful.”

“It really is.”

“I wish we could stay like this forever, like children.”

“Yeah.”

“But once we get married and start families, we won’t be able to spend time like this, right?”

Clara bristled at Theresa’s worried words.

“What do you mean we can’t? Of course, we can. Right, Rosette?”

“Yeah, of course.”

The three girls laughed together again.

They were leisurely splashing around when Rosette suddenly felt another wave of unease and snapped her head up. The ominous energy was even stronger than before, stirring through her entire body. It felt as if someone was forcibly peering into her mind.

‘Why do I keep feeling like this?’

Rosette looked around, lost in thought, when Theresa, who was sitting across from her, pointed at her face with a startled expression.

“Rosette! You’re bleeding…!”

“Huh?”

At that moment, Rosette felt something flowing from her nose and touched her upper lip with her fingertips.

When she saw the red blood on her fingertips, she suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded.

With the question, ‘Why am I bleeding?’ in her mind, her body tilted forward.

“Young lady!”

“Rosette!”

[Beep!]

Amidst the surrounding commotion, Rosette lost consciousness.

* * *

“…tte? Rosette!”

[Bbi! Bbi-it!]

At the worried voice above her, Rosette struggled to open her eyelids. The first thing she saw through her blurry vision was Bbippi’s small, black beak.

[Bbit?]

As she met Bbippi’s tiny black eyes, Bbippi fluttered its wings. Bbippi began to chatter frantically.

‘Rose, are you okay? I was so worried! Say something! I was so scared!’

Rosette gently tapped Bbippi’s head and fully opened her eyes. She saw her two friends and Joseph sitting around her.

“Young lady, are you alright?”

Rosette, with Joseph’s help, sat up and looked around. Her last memory was sitting by the stream, but now she was back in the waiting room.

“What happened?”

Rosette asked, touching her face. Joseph replied.

“You suddenly had a nosebleed and collapsed, young lady. We rushed you to the waiting room and have been waiting for you to wake up.”

“I see. How long was I out?”

This time, Clara answered.

“About an hour?”

“An hour? That long?”

Joseph sighed deeply.

“Yes. I was worried sick. If you hadn’t woken up any later, I was going to call your brother or sister.”

“You didn’t tell them, did you?”

“No, I haven’t contacted them yet.”

“Good. I don’t want to worry them unnecessarily.”

“Are you sure it’s alright not to call your brother or sister?”

“Yeah.”

Rosette smiled at Joseph, who looked concerned.

“I think I was just a little tired.”

“The doctor said the same thing.”

“A doctor examined me?”

“Of course.”

Joseph sighed again.

“I was worried that there might be something seriously wrong, but thankfully, that’s not the case. He said you probably collapsed from accumulated fatigue.”

“I haven’t been doing anything tiring, though.”

‘I’ve been eating well and resting well. It’s been a series of peaceful days without any worries.’

So, I didn’t quite understand the accumulated fatigue, but I decided to accept it since the doctor said so.

“Still, just in case, you should go back to the mansion and get checked by your personal physician again.”

“Okay.”

“Or would you like to return now?”

“No, I’m fine. I don’t feel anything strange anymore.”

It wasn’t a lie; it was the truth. The ominous energy that had been enveloping her before she fainted had completely disappeared.

“I think I’ll just wait here for my sister and brother.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Rosette, who had regained some of her strength, sat on the cot and spent time talking with her two friends.

Then, the sound of a horn blared outside the tent, followed by the murmur of people.

“Looks like everyone’s coming back.”

“Let’s go out.”

Rosette, supported by her two friends, went outside. Lucas, who was looking around, ran towards her.

“Hey, squirt!”

“Brother!”

“Do you want to see what I caught? I caught a rabbit for you!”

“A rabbit?”

Rosette, who instinctively recoiled, felt relieved when she saw the direction Lucas was pointing. A white rabbit was alive inside a square iron cage.

Noticing her surprised gaze, Lucas puffed out his chest and boasted.

“I caught it for you to raise at the mansion. You like animals, right? Bbippi, and even His Highness the Crown Prince’s familiar.”

It was true that Rosette liked cute animals. But she especially cherished Bbippi and Silver because they were familiars [magical companions bonded to a person].

Especially Bbippi, who was an irreplaceable friend with whom she could communicate with words and emotions.

[Bbit!]

Bbippi, who had been circling above Rosette’s head, began to tug at Lucas’s hair.

‘You idiot, Lucas! How dare you compare this great Bbippi to an animal? I’m not an animal, I’m a familiar!’

“Ouch, Bbippi! Why are you pulling my hair again?”

[Beep!]

‘You don’t need to know, you fool!’

Rosette chuckled at Bbippi’s angry voice.

“Brother, let that rabbit go. That rabbit would be better off living here. I appreciate the thought, though.”

“Alright.”

Lucas nodded, and a servant took the iron cage with the rabbit and disappeared into the forest.

“But hey, squirt, why are you coming out of there? Isn’t that the medical tent?”

“Ah…”

At the sudden question, Rosette hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Before she could say anything, Lucas noticed the dark red bloodstains on her clothes and scolded her.

“What’s this? Are you hurt somewhere? What’s with the blood?”

“I’m not hurt…”

“What was Joseph doing? I told him to protect you, but what is this!”

“No, it’s not like that. Shh, lower your voice.”

Rosette calmed Lucas down, feeling the gazes of the people turning towards them. Joseph explained on her behalf.

“Actually, the young lady collapsed earlier.”

“What?”

“The doctor said it was due to accumulated fatigue.”

Lucas started to rant again.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I told him not to say anything. Everyone would worry.”

“Of course, we’d worry! Still, there are things you need to tell us, right?”

“Okay, I get it. So, be quiet.”

Rosette gave Lucas, who was pursing his lips, a brief explanation of the situation. Throughout the story, Lucas cupped Rosette’s cheeks and turned her face from side to side, observing her.

“So, you’re not hurt anywhere else?”

“Yeah. Joseph caught me before I fell to the ground.”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You didn’t sleep and stayed up all night reading magic books, did you?”

“No. I really slept a lot.”

“No books for you for a while.”

Rosette, who was about to retort, ‘I’m not a child, what do you mean no books?’, nodded involuntarily at Lucas’s serious expression.

“Let’s go back as soon as brother and sister return.”

“Okay.”

Soon after, Isabelle arrived. She had caught a large deer and was with Lord Roten. Apparently, she was giving the deer to Lord Roten as a thank you for the handkerchief.

Then, Daniel returned. He hugged Ines tightly upon reuniting and approached Lucas and Rosette with her.

“Daniel, Isabelle, listen to this.”

Both of them were surprised by Lucas’s words that Rosette had collapsed.

Daniel asked calmly with a worried expression.

“Rose, are you alright? Are you in pain?”

“Yes. I’m fine. Lucas is exaggerating.”

Isabelle wiped her hands with a handkerchief and placed her hand on Rosette’s forehead.

“You don’t seem to have a fever. Still, we should go and rest soon.”

“Okay. But in a little while.”

Rosette answered, then unconsciously looked around. Lucas asked, puzzled.

“Who are you looking for? We’re all here.”

“That…”