The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 134

134. Boat Ride (1)

March 13, 2024

“There are many things I want to discuss, but I think I should ask this first. What does a thank-you gift have to do with a boat ride?”

Joshua had anticipated the Duke’s question. He wasn’t flustered and gave the reason he had prepared in advance.

“It’s not exactly related, but I heard that the Princess Consort didn’t fully enjoy the hunting competition last time. So, I thought we could go on a boat ride together as a sort of outing. It turns out the Princess Consort has never been on a boat ride before.”

“Did Rose tell Your Highness that she wanted to go first?”

“I was the one who suggested it first, Teacher.”

The Duke examined Joshua with a slightly suspicious gaze.

“Your Highness did?”

“Yes. Oh, and I think it would be fun if Daniel and Lucas came along too. And if Princess Consort Isabel or Lady Rivera have time, they could join us as well.”

Adrian pondered for a moment.

He didn’t want Rosette to get involved with Joshua privately, but it was difficult to refuse such a direct request from Joshua, who was a prince.

‘It would be alright if the other children went along. They’ll just think of it as an outing for Adrian.’

After some deliberation, the Duke nodded.

“I’ll ask Rose what she thinks and then proceed.”

“Thank you, Teacher.”

After that, Joshua talked a bit more before returning to the Imperial Palace.

Even after he left, Adrian was troubled by many thoughts.

After pondering alone, he cautiously spoke to Rosette during dinner.

“Rose, His Highness the Prince has suggested a boat ride for you all this weekend.”

“Yes, I heard it from His Highness.”

Lucas, who hadn’t heard about it, asked in surprise.

“A boat ride? With the Prince and the kid?”

“Calm down, Lucas. He didn’t just suggest it to Rose, but to all of you.”

Still, Lucas couldn’t calm down.

“Still, a boat ride all of a sudden!”

“It seems he wants to give a thank-you gift for saving Her Majesty the Empress.”

“No, he could just give an expensive gift as a thank you.”

Lucas, who had been grumbling, shut his mouth at the Duke’s stern expression. He was a full-fledged adult now, but the four siblings were still sensitive to the Duke’s disapproval.

“So, Rose, what do you think?”

“I!”

Rosette, who had raised her voice without realizing it, realized she was too excited and lowered her voice.

“I like it. Oh, of course, I like it even more if I go with my sister and brothers.”

“I never said I was going.”

Lucas muttered sullenly. On the other hand, Daniel smiled, hiding his surprise.

“Then I should talk to Ines. She’ll probably be free this weekend too. Isabel, what about you?”

“I don’t think I can. I have things to do.”

“Okay, I understand. Now that it’s settled, make sure to keep the weekend free, Lucas.”

“Wait a minute, Brother. Why don’t you ask me what I want?”

Daniel smiled mischievously.

“You’re going anyway, even if I don’t ask.”

“No, that’s true, but……!”

“Pfft.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes as Rosette covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

“Kid, why are you laughing?”

“Just because.”

Rosette tried to hold back her laughter and stuffed mashed potatoes into her mouth.

The commotion was settled with Adrian saying he would send a reply to Joshua.

* * *

That night, Rosette, who had changed into her pajamas, rolled around on her bed and tapped Pipi’s beak, asking.

“His Highness was a bit different today. Don’t you think so, Pipi?”

[Chirp?]

Pipi tilted its head this way and that, wondering what she meant.

“No, just, how should I put it? Didn’t he seem a bit softer than last time?”

[Chirrrp?]

Still confused, Pipi concluded, ‘That’s just your imagination, Rosette.’ Rosette hugged her pillow and muttered awkwardly.

“Yeah, I guess it’s just my imagination?”

[Chirp!]

Pipi, who had been flapping its wings in place, suddenly examined Rosette’s expression and asked cautiously.

[Chirrrp?]

Rosette, why do you look unhappy?

“I’m not unhappy. I’m the same as always.”

[Chirp?]

Something’s strange?

Rosette pushed Pipi away with her palm as it brought its face close, and buried her face in the pillow.

‘Still, he did seem a bit different.’

Rosette recalled when she first met Joshua. It wasn’t a very good meeting.

No, it could even be said to be a terrible first meeting that she wanted to forget.

‘He even told me to leave Adrian.’

Rosette didn’t resent Joshua for that. He remembered the past, so it was natural for him to react that way.

At first, Joshua even suspected Rosette’s intentions, but after a series of events, he began to trust her. He not only tolerated her staying with Adrian but also put his head together with her to worry about changing the future.

The cold appearance he had when they first met had completely disappeared. Joshua acted as if he thought of Rosette as ‘his person.’ At least, she thought he treated her as warmly as he treated Daniel or Duke Adrian.

But maybe it was just her imagination, but today Joshua was especially kind to Rosette.

It was such a subtle difference that Pipi would ask, ‘Where do you see that?’ but Rosette definitely felt it.

‘Besides, he even suggested we go on a boat ride together, and he persuaded Dad and my brothers too.’

Before she knew it, Rosette began to interpret Joshua’s actions as she wanted.

At that moment, Pipi, who had been jumping on Rosette’s head, asking what she was thinking, asked a fundamental question.

[Chirp?]

But Rosette, what does the Silver’s owner [referring to Joshua, due to his silver hair] attitude have to do with you?

[Chirrp?]

Why do you even care about that?

Rosette was jolted awake.

‘That’s right, why am I caring about His Highness’s attitude?’

What does it matter if Joshua treats her coldly or warmly?

‘But I think I would be sad if His Highness treated me coldly like before.’

Pipi, sensing Rosette’s bubbly mood, chirped and jumped again.

Rosette, don’t tell me you like Silver’s owner? You’re in love!

“No, it’s not like that!”

Rosette jumped up, shouting. As a result, Pipi rolled off her back and protested, ‘Chirp chirp!’

If it’s not, then it’s not, why are you doing that? You scared me.

Rosette glared at Pipi, who was flapping in the air, then covered herself with the blanket so the little chick couldn’t get in.

She listened to Pipi chattering outside the blanket with one ear and pondered.

‘I do like His Highness.’

If she was asked whether she liked Joshua or not, it was definitely the former.

But that was the same feeling as liking her family, Pipi, and friends.

She didn’t like him romantically.

‘Of course, I don’t know what it feels like to like someone romantically.’

In the past, she had never had romantic feelings for anyone. It was natural since she had never had the opportunity.

She didn’t have time for that in this life.

But if she were to like someone, maybe that person would be…….

Rosette once again thought of Joshua’s face.

Joshua, who thanked her for turning back time.

Joshua, who told her that she was actually a swan, not an ugly duckling.

Joshua, who revealed Silver [Joshua’s magical bird companion] to the public earlier than expected to save her.

All the emotions she had felt at those times swirled in her heart at once.

Before she knew it, Rosette’s heart was pounding as if it would burst.

[Chirp?]

Rosette, are you sick? Your face is red!

Pipi, who had already burrowed into the blanket, fussed.

“It’s nothing like that.”

Rosette turned her back to Pipi and closed her eyes.

* * *

There were a total of five people who decided to go on the boat ride: the three Adrian siblings, excluding Isabel, Ines, and Joshua. And if you had to add them, Pipi and Silver were also together.

On the morning of the weekend they were to go on the boat ride, maids, including Joan, began to diligently dress up Rosette.

The reason was that their little lady should shine the most today.

Rosette would have been embarrassed and told them there was no need at other times, but today she obediently entrusted herself to their hands.

‘I want to look pretty.’

Her appearance reflected in the mirror was rapidly changing with the maids’ skillful hands. Rosette wiggled her fingers and quietly observed the scene.

Joan was a bit curious about Rosette’s quiet demeanor today, but she didn’t ask her separately what was wrong.

After much deliberation in the dressing room, Joan dressed Rosette in a bright yellow outing dress. She even put a white lace parasol in her right hand.

“Okay, it’s perfect. I’ve dressed you up beautifully, so you have to enjoy the outing today.”

“Thank you, Joan. Joan, you should get ready quickly too.”

Rosette decided to take Joan with her. It was a consideration for her to have a good time with Chris by the lake.

When she came down to the first floor with Joan, who had quickly finished preparing, she saw Ines, Daniel, and Lucas standing there. All three of them were dressed up nicely.

“Ooh, kid.”

Lucas, who found Rosette, whistled and approached. When Rosette grabbed his hand and looked around, Daniel, as if reading her mind, said.

“His Highness decided to come directly to Herman Lake. We can leave by ourselves.”

“Yes.”

The four of them moved to the lake in one carriage. There were many carriages heading to the lake, perhaps because the weather was nice. In fact, the area around the lake was crowded with people.

“I don’t know if we came to see the lake or to see people.”

Daniel laughed at Lucas’s grumbling.

“Still, isn’t it fun?”

“Well, it is fun.”

Rosette listened to her brothers’ words and looked out the window.

At first, it was just to observe the lake, but before she knew it, she began to scan the people with her eyes.

However, the person she was looking for was not seen among the many people.

Just as she was about to be disappointed, she saw a man with silver hair getting out of a carriage in the distance.

Rosette reflexively smiled brightly, and the man looked in her direction.

There was quite a distance between them, but she could vividly see him smiling back.