The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 135

135. Can I Call You Rosette?

It was strange. The weather was nice, and the surroundings were already bright, but as soon as Joshua smiled, it seemed to become even brighter.

Of course, that wasn’t objectively the case. It was just how Rosette’s heart felt.

As she realized this, the question Pipi had asked yesterday floated around in Rosette’s head.

“Rosette, don’t tell me you like Silver’s owner?”

Oh-le-ri-kko-le-ri!

Oh-le-ri-kko-le…….

‘Could it be that I……’

Realizing something, Rosette covered her flushed cheeks and let out a silent scream.

* * *

“Is something the matter?”

“……Pardon?”

“You seem to be avoiding my gaze for a while now.”

He was right. From the moment she got off the carriage and saw Joshua, Rosette couldn’t look him in the eye properly.

“Hmm, is it hot? Your face looks a little red.”

“I guess so.”

Rosette desperately fanned herself, trying to avoid Joshua’s gaze. When Joshua came a little closer to observe her face, she almost pushed his face away with her palm.

[Pippit!]

Rosette watched Joshua as she felt Pipi fanning her.

He was quite dressed up today. It wasn’t an official event, so he wasn’t wearing a fancy dress coat, but the white shirt he was wearing was quite stylish.

The bangs that he usually casually messed up were swept back with pomade [hair styling product] oil, and it suited him quite well.

Rosette gave a quick greeting to Silver, who was wagging his tail and welcoming her, and approached Ines, who was getting out of the carriage with Daniel’s escort.

“Ines, Sister.”

“Oh, Rosette.”

Ines, wearing a bewitching purple outing dress, smiled.

“Sister, you look very beautiful today.”

“Oh, thank you. Rosette, you look cute and pretty too.”

While talking to Ines, she felt a gaze from somewhere. She felt like Joshua was watching, but she didn’t look in that direction.

In fact, her heart was a little confused.

‘What happens if I really like His Highness?’

She had always thought that liking someone was a beautiful thing.

But when it became a reality, she realized that it wasn’t so easy.

‘First of all, I don’t even know how His Highness feels.’

Even if Joshua had feelings for her, it was a problem. He was one of only two princes in this empire.

He was someone who might become the next emperor.

That meant there were many things to consider realistically.

A royal marriage wasn’t just decided by each other’s feelings but was determined by considering various conditions.

Even if they got married, could Rosette handle that position?

‘I’m getting ahead of myself, Rosette.’

Rosette shook her head.

She wasn’t sure about her own feelings, and she didn’t know what Joshua was thinking, but she was thinking too much on her own.

Maybe this feeling was just a passing emotion.

“Oh, Rosette.”

Ines, who had been observing Rosette without saying a word for some time, covered her mouth and smiled.

“Do you perhaps have someone you like?”

“Yes…… Yes?”

Rosette, who had been hit right on the mark, was startled.

“What are you talking about? Someone I like?”

Lowering her voice while being conscious of the gazes around her, especially Lucas’s gaze, Ines laughed.

“Rosette is an adult now, and when you socialize, you may have someone you like. Besides, you feel different today. It reminds me of when my younger brother had his first love.”

Is it that obvious? Rosette couldn’t refute and just touched her face.

Fortunately, Ines didn’t ask any further.

“If you ever have someone like that, tell me too. I might be able to help. Think of me as a comfortable older sister.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Looking at Ines, who was smiling back, Rosette realized something.

Ines, who had the courage to approach Daniel, whom she liked first. Of course, it wouldn’t have been an easy decision for her.

But she didn’t just stop at thinking; she took action.

‘Maybe I don’t need to be afraid.’

As Rosette was thinking that, Ines took her hand and headed to where the three men and the silver wolf were.

“Shall we go enjoy a boat ride?”

Naturally, Daniel took her to a small pleasure boat.

“Okay, little one. We too…….”

As Lucas was about to reach out his hand to Rosette, Joshua was faster.

“Lady, let’s go too.”

Lucas looked at Joshua once, then at Rosette, and nodded.

“Well, it would be fun for the three of us to ride together.”

“No.”

Joshua immediately denied it.

“I want to enjoy time alone with the Lady today.”

“Pardon?”

While Lucas was flustered, Joshua asked Rosette.

“What about you? How about enjoying a boat ride with me?”

Rosette glanced at Lucas, who had a shocked expression on his face. He couldn’t say anything and just opened and closed his mouth.

At other times, she would have refused Joshua’s offer and ridden the boat alone with Lucas or with the three of them, but…….

‘I’m sorry, Lucas, Oppa [term of endearment for older brother].’

Rosette smiled awkwardly and took Joshua’s hand.

“Okay.”

She pretended not to see Lucas, who looked like he was about to collapse, and followed Joshua to the boat.

The pleasure boat was big enough for two people, but it wasn’t enough for Silver, whose body was bigger than most adult men.

“You stay here.”

At Joshua’s words, Silver whined as if protesting how could he do that. Joshua lightly ignored Silver’s cry and first boarded the boat, carefully guiding Rosette inside.

Rosette, who was sitting in the boat, looked back at Silver, who was still groaning, and asked.

“What is Silver saying?”

“He says to have a good time.”

“I don’t think that’s what he’s saying?”

Joshua shrugged and began to row.

As the boat moved away from the pier, Silver spun around in place, becoming even more restless.

After hesitating for a moment, Silver howled and dove into the lake. With a splash, water splashed and Silver disappeared into the lake.

“Silver!”

Rosette was flustered and grabbed the edge of the boat. Soon, Silver poked his head out and started swimming like a dog, no, like a wolf, following the boat.

Pipi, who was sitting on Rosette’s shoulder, flew up and sat on Silver’s wet head, hopping up and down.

[Pippit! Pipit!]

Faster! He’s telling you to go faster!

Hearing Pipi’s urging, Silver moved his front paws even harder. Before she knew it, the wolf, who was approaching quickly, caught up with the boat.

“Okay, good job.”

Only then did Rosette feel relieved and straightened her posture. Once she unfolded the parasol that Joan had packed, the surrounding scenery came into view.

The lake scenery with numerous outing boats floating on it was quite spectacular. Rosette put her right hand in the lake. She felt good at the cold temperature of the lake touching her fingertips.

“By the way, you’re amazing, Your Highness. How did you persuade Father?”

“There was nothing special.”

Joshua answered as he rowed to a place where there were fewer people.

“That…….”

Rosette couldn’t find anything to say and just rolled her eyes.

She didn’t think she had ever been awkward with Joshua because she had nothing to say, but strangely, she felt awkward now.

As if noticing her feelings, Joshua spoke to her.

“How do you like the boat ride?”

“I like it. Much more than I thought. Actually, I was worried about whether it would rain today for the past few days, but I’m glad the weather is nice. I was nervous yesterday too because the weather was cloudy.”

Joshua chuckled.

“Actually, I was worried a lot too, but I’m glad it’s sunny.”

“Right?”

[Pippit!]

Rosette, who was awkwardly raising the corners of her mouth towards Joshua, turned her head at Pipi’s urging. Silver was approaching with a large flower in his mouth, having found it somewhere.

Before she knew it, Silver, who had come close to the side of the boat, put his snout on the boat. As a result, the boat tilted slightly, and Joshua muttered lowly.

“Silver.”

He just called his name, but Silver drooped his ears, which had been perked up, sadly. Rosette quickly received the flower so that Silver wouldn’t be more depressed.

“Thank you, Silver.”

Silver barked contentedly, burying his nose in the large flower and smelling it. Joshua silently watched the scene.

His gaze was intense. Joshua’s gaze, which had the light of the sun, was stronger than the heat of the early summer sunlight felt beyond the parasol.

In the past, she thought Joshua’s eyes only contained coolness.

She thought that he, who had lost Ophelia and become alone, rejecting people, had no human side.

But it wasn’t. Joshua was just barely hiding his feelings.

He was especially honest about his emotions in front of Rosette.

In the past, he had broken down and cried like a child in front of her, thanked her for saving Ophelia, and worried about Rosette when she was in danger.

Looking back, Rosette had shared quite a bit of Joshua’s joys and sorrows.

But this was the first time she had seen such an expression and eyes.

What is the emotion contained in those eyes? No, before that, what emotions do I want Joshua to have at this moment?

I wanted to know. What are you thinking as you look at me now, you who always hide your inner thoughts?

Are you feeling the same emotions that I am feeling?

I wasn’t lonely for the past 12 years because you were there, remembering the past just like me, are you the same?

If you weren’t a prince, if you didn’t know all my past mistakes, wouldn’t it have been easier to approach you?

While Rosette was complicated with many thoughts, Joshua opened his mouth.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“That, I…….”

He hesitated, unlike usual. His ears, which were exposed to the sunlight, were slightly reddish.