The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 130

130. Daniel’s Suspicion

“Should your older brother read you a fairy tale?”

He was really treating Rosette like a little kid.

Rosette’s face flushed instantly, and she exclaimed.

“Do you really think I’m a child, Oppa [term of endearment used by a younger female to an older male, like ‘older brother’ or ‘honey’]?”

“Of course, you’re a child. Aren’t you younger than me?”

“There’s only a two-year difference.”

“A two-year difference is a huge deal.”

Rosette wanted to retort, ‘What’s so much about a two-year difference?’ But it didn’t seem like Lucas would listen.

When Rosette couldn’t find a response, Lucas proudly puffed out his chest.

“Wait a minute, kiddo. Your older brother will bring you a fairy tale book.”

Soon after, he actually brought a fairy tale book. Rosette opened her mouth in disbelief, but Lucas stubbornly laid her down on the bed.

“It’s not often that I personally read a book. Consider it an honor, kiddo. Bbi Bbi, you sit and listen too.”

[Bbee.]

“Yeah, you like it, don’t you?”

Lucas, unaware that Bbi Bbi was chattering, ‘Oh, he’s doing it again,’ patted the pillow next to him.

[Bbit.]

Bbi Bbi sat on the pillow, just going along with Lucas.

“Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a fierce dragon. The fierce dragon had a very bad temper and tormented people.”

Lucas’s voice, as he read the fairy tale in a gentle tone, was surprisingly pleasant to listen to. Calm yet powerful.

Rosette forgot about complaining and listened attentively to the story.

Lucas’s voice echoed softly in the quiet room.

* * *

Joshua, accompanied by Silver, paid a sudden visit to the Adrian mansion. Duke Adrian was away, so Daniel went down to the first floor to greet him instead.

“What brings you here so suddenly without notice, Your Highness? And those flowers……”

Daniel trailed off, looking at the large bouquet Joshua was holding.

“Ah, this.”

Joshua handed the bouquet to the head butler, Sebastian.

“For the Lady.”

Sebastian was a little taken aback but quickly composed himself and asked.

“May I ask to whom you are referring?”

“Rosette Adrian.”

He added, as if making an excuse, noticing Daniel’s subtle expression.

“I heard she’s not feeling well? I heard she collapsed during the hunting competition. Her Imperial Mother is very worried. I barely managed to stop her from visiting in person.”

“She has recovered now. So, Your Highness has come to see Rose today?”

“No, not really, I came to see you. I’m just asking after the Lady as well, since Her Imperial Mother is worried.”

Joshua had been particularly emphasizing the words ‘Her Imperial Mother’ since earlier. Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly, observing his expression with suspicion.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Sebastian, what is Rose doing right now?”

“I believe she is in her room with Master Lucas.”

“Then inform them of the Crown Prince’s visit while delivering the flowers.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Daniel, who was watching Sebastian go up the stairs, guided Joshua.

“Shall I escort you to the drawing-room? Or would the garden be better since the weather is nice?”

“Let’s go to the garden.”

Daniel started to walk to the garden with Joshua. Then Silver, who was standing proudly next to Joshua, pointed his snout at the stairs and howled.

The only person there who realized that the wolf was howling, ‘I want to see Rosette!’ was Joshua.

Daniel, realizing that Silver was asking for something, asked.

“Shall I ask for a snack for Your Highness’s familiar? Rose often gives snacks to Bbi Bbi.”

“That’s not it.”

Joshua paused for a moment, looking at Silver wagging his tail.

“He seems to want to go to the Lady.”

“To Rose?”

“Yes. Strangely, this guy likes the Lady quite a bit. If it’s okay, can I send him up to the Lady’s room?”

Daniel readily agreed.

“Yes. Rose will probably like it too.”

Before Daniel could finish speaking, Silver almost flew up the stairs.

Several maids screamed in surprise at the appearance of the large wolf, but Silver ran to Rosette’s room without paying attention.

Daniel watched the scene blankly for a moment before belatedly moving his feet.

“Then let’s go.”

The weather was sunny, making it a good day to have tea in the garden. Daniel poured the tea that the servant had hurriedly brought for Joshua and observed him.

‘This is quite unusual.’

In fact, Joshua didn’t visit noble’s mansions very often. It wasn’t easy for him as the Crown Prince to venture outside the Imperial Palace.

So, usually, when Joshua wanted to meet someone, they would come to him. That was the natural thing to do.

However, Adrian was often an exception, unintentionally. Joshua had been making surprise visits to the Adrian mansion like this since he was young.

At the time, he said he was coming to see Duke Adrian and Daniel, but no one believed him.

‘It seemed like he was coming to see Rose.’

At that time, Rosette was the only one in the Adrian family who didn’t frequently visit the Imperial Palace.

Whenever he visited suddenly, Joshua would casually say things like, ‘When are you going to show me the youngest Lady?’ to Daniel.

I don’t know why he wanted to see Rosette so much that he secretly visited the Adrian mansion, but at the time, I just thought it was curiosity. Joshua stopped making surprise visits after a certain point.

No, come to think of it, when Rosette went to the Ibelin Kingdom to study abroad, Joshua hardly ever visited the Adrian mansion.

But suddenly, he came to the mansion to see Daniel, bringing a large bouquet to convey his regards to Rosette instead of Ophelia.

‘This is really strange.’

Daniel, who had been close to Joshua since he was born, knew more about Joshua than anyone else.

Joshua wasn’t very interested in others. Whether it was his innate nature or a learned personality, he was only interested in Ophelia and the Adrian family members.

He showed a cynical reaction and kept his distance from third parties other than them.

In fact, even if they were Adrians, he didn’t cherish Isabel and Lucas that much relatively.

Yet, he was showing special behavior only to Rosette.

‘There wouldn’t have been many opportunities to get close.’

As Daniel thought so, he realized that his thinking was wrong a beat late.

‘No, there were quite a few opportunities.’

12 years ago, the two who joined forces to prevent Ophelia’s poisoning spent quite some time in the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor showed interest in Rosette, who had summoned a familiar, and Rosette taught Joshua how to summon a familiar.

‘Besides that, Your Highness saved Rosette from danger.’

It was the day Joshua’s familiar, Silver, first appeared in the world.

Also, Joshua would send Silver to say goodbye whenever Rosette left the capital.

What about when Rosette returned to the Empire? Although it was said that they met by chance, the two worked together to defeat the pirates and return to the Empire.

At Rosette’s debutante, he danced after Daniel and Lucas.

Rosette gave Joshua a handkerchief.

Is this really because of the strong bond between Adrian and Joshua?

‘If that were the case, he would have treated Isabel the same way.’

Of course, Joshua took care of Isabel and danced with her at her debutante.

But something felt different. His brother’s intuition was telling him that Joshua was suspicious.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Daniel carefully tried to sound out Joshua, who was looking at him with his legs crossed, holding a teacup.

“Is it okay if you don’t see Rose? You came to ask after her.”

“She must be resting; there’s no need to call her out.”

“Still, Your Highness came all the way here and even gave her flowers; shouldn’t she express her gratitude?”

“It’s okay. She must be suffering from Silver right now anyway; just let her rest.”

There was a soft smile on Joshua’s lips as he said that.

The dazzling sunlight between late spring and early summer shone over Joshua’s head.

Daniel always thought of winter whenever he saw Joshua. His silver hair had a pale light like winter snow, but it was more because of his expression.

A sharp and cool look in his eyes.

But Joshua’s expression now had a warmth that blended well with the current season.

Just with the name Rosette Adrian.

Daniel didn’t know whether he should resolve the question rising in his heart or suppress it.

‘If Your Highness really has feelings for Rose……?’

The most important thing was Rosette’s heart. But Daniel wasn’t entirely happy with Joshua’s feelings. Perhaps Duke Adrian would feel the same way.

Joshua Adrian was in a very precarious position right now. If Rosette were to become his partner, she would have to walk a tightrope as well.

Just like Ophelia Ernhardt, who is always threatened with her life.

The people of Adrian, including Daniel, wanted Rosette to be happy. If possible, they wanted her to be free from worries and concerns.

They wanted her to remain as their precious youngest daughter and youngest sibling forever, just like she had been.

But if she gets involved with Joshua, she may no longer be able to enjoy the peaceful and happy life that her family wanted.

‘Calm down, Daniel. You’re getting ahead of yourself. You don’t know what Your Highness feels.’

In the end, Daniel decided to resolve his question.

“Your Highness. Excuse me for saying this.”

He asked with a hesitant heart.

“Do you perhaps have feelings for Rose?”

Honestly, Daniel thought Joshua would definitely say no.

Considering his cautious personality, he would have said no even if he had feelings.

But Joshua tilted his head and gave an unexpected answer.

“You’re asking as if I shouldn’t.”