The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 137

137. The Right to Enjoy Happiness

“Hey, you!”

Lukas, having quickly reached her, huffed.

“Didn’t I tell you not to wander off?”

“Uh, well…”

Rosette, who had been watching him carefully, replied with conviction, “You didn’t.”

“Huh? Didn’t I?”

Lukas scratched the back of his neck, looking awkward, then gestured toward Rosette with his chin.

“Anyway, aren’t you hungry? If you’ve enjoyed the boat ride enough, let’s go grab some lunch. A picnic isn’t complete without it.”

Lukas nodded to Joshua and began rowing toward the shore.

Joshua looked at Rosette with an expression that seemed to say he had something on his mind, then followed Lukas and helped row.

The rest of their time was spent enjoying the company of Daniel and Ines, who were waiting with a picnic blanket.

The strange tension she’d felt when alone with Joshua vanished, and the outing drew to a close.

* * *

“Mother.”

“Yes, did you enjoy the outing?”

Ophelia asked Joshua, who had come to greet her, and gestured to the chair opposite her.

Joshua, who had only intended to say hello and leave, hesitated for a moment before sitting down.

“Yes, I did.”

[Woof!]

“Judging by your expression, it must have been quite enjoyable. Silver seems excited too.”

Silver wagged his tail, seemingly trying to explain the day’s events. Of course, Ophelia couldn’t understand the wolf’s barks.

However, Ophelia guessed what had happened from Silver’s behavior and chuckled.

“It sounds like it was more fun than I thought? Especially because you saw Rosette?”

As soon as the name ‘Rosette’ was mentioned, Silver wagged his tail even more vigorously. Joshua’s face showed a hint of displeasure as he looked at the wolf.

“Silver, try to behave yourself in front of Mother.”

“Well, what does it matter? I don’t mind. So, how was it for you, Joshua?”

“It was a good change of pace.”

“Is that all?”

“Do you need more than that?”

“It’s not that, but…”

Ophelia rested her chin on her right hand, observing her only son.

‘He’s definitely changed.’

Joshua had rarely shown his true emotions since he was young.

When he was a toddler, just learning to speak, he had expressed his feelings freely, like any other child.

But after he began his formal education, Joshua changed. He had, to put it nicely, acquired the virtues of a prince.

The Emperor was pleased with Joshua’s transformation, but Ophelia felt a pang of sadness.

The royal family of the Ibelin Kingdom, where she was born and raised, had a more relaxed atmosphere than the strict Imperial family. Before coming to the Empire, Ophelia had also lived freely, unconstrained by rigid rules.

If Joshua hadn’t been a prince, or even if he had grown up in the Ibelin Kingdom, wouldn’t he have had an easier time? A sense of guilt often weighed on her.

The child, who was already mature, had suddenly changed one day. If she remembered correctly, it must have been about twelve years ago, around the time Rosette was adopted into the Adrian family.

Joshua, who had once burst into tears like a child in front of Ophelia, had matured noticeably since that day. He had become so composed that Ophelia was both impressed and saddened.

Strangely, Joshua was different when he was with Rosette. It was a little odd that Joshua had tried to stay close to Rosette even when he was young, but recently, his behavior had become even more noticeably different.

To agree to an outing, which he usually wouldn’t even consider. And with Rosette!

Joshua had explained that he was ‘just trying to spend time with Adrian after a long time,’ but he couldn’t fool Ophelia.

Besides, just looking at Silver, who was particularly fond of Rosette, she could clearly guess Joshua’s feelings.

Ophelia, who came from the Ibelin Kingdom, famous for its magic, had never summoned a familiar [a magical companion bonded to a witch or wizard], but she knew their characteristics well. Familiars share the emotions of their summoner and master.

Silver’s friendliness toward Rosette was proof that Joshua’s heart felt the same way.

“Do you like that child?”

“That child…?”

“Rosette Adrian, I mean.”

Even as she asked, Ophelia expected Joshua to hide his feelings as he always had. But he showed an unexpected reaction.

“Yes.”

It was a simple answer, but that’s why it felt so sincere.

Ophelia was very surprised, but she didn’t falter and added,

“What I mean is…”

“It’s not because Rosette is an Adrian.”

“Then…”

“But I’m not sure yet.”

“Not sure?”

“I…”

Ophelia was the only person in the world who loved Joshua unconditionally.

The person who would be on his side no matter what he did.

The person to whom he could reveal his true feelings without reservation.

Joshua hesitated, then expressed his feelings honestly.

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to be greedy.”

“Greedy?”

“I’m worried that my greed might ruin Rosette.”

Ophelia didn’t ask what he meant. She understood the meaning behind Joshua’s words.

“Yes. What you have may be sweet honey to some, but it can also be poison to others.”

“……”

“But there’s no need to be afraid in advance. However, you must not force it. Express your feelings, but humbly accept whatever answer you receive.”

After thinking for a moment, Joshua nodded.

“Thank you for your advice, Mother. It’s getting late, so you should rest. I’ll be going now.”

“Okay.”

Ophelia watched Joshua’s retreating figure and fell into thought.

She had a feeling that many things would soon change.

* * *

That night, Rosette, still basking in the joy of the boat ride, found herself with a new worry.

“It probably doesn’t mean anything, right?”

[Beep?]

Pipi tilted its head at her sudden mutterings. It seemed to need a little more explanation.

When Rosette didn’t elaborate, Pipi tugged at her hair in dissatisfaction.

“Ouch, Pipi. Okay, I’ll explain.”

[Beep!]

She explained to Pipi, who was protesting that there were no secrets between them. There was no one listening in the room, but she lowered her voice just in case.

“The Prince suddenly said he was going to call me by my name.”

[Beep!]

“It really doesn’t mean anything, right?”

[Beep?]

‘Does he want something?’ Pipi asked.

“No, it’s not that, but…”

[Beep?]

‘Then what’s the problem?’

“Actually, I don’t really know either.”

Rosette mumbled uncertainly.

Lately, she felt restless whenever she thought of Joshua. To be exact, she didn’t even know how she felt herself.

She wanted Joshua to think of her as special, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to.

Rosette, who had been organizing her thoughts while listening to Pipi’s nagging, shook her head.

“It’s nothing. By the way, the Prince’s birthday is coming up soon. What should I get him?”

[Beep.]

Pipi, who had been pondering with her, soon offered an opinion.

‘Make him a cake! Like you did for the Empress’s birthday!’

Rosette shook her head at Pipi’s suggestion.

“The reason I made a cake for the Empress’s birthday was because she was from the Ibelin Kingdom. It was so that the Empress, who always missed her hometown, could taste the flavors of her childhood after so long.”

[Beep?]

“But the Prince is from Ernhardt, right? And he’s only ever eaten cakes made by the best chefs in the Empire. Even if I made him a clumsy cake, he wouldn’t be impressed. Besides, the Prince doesn’t even like desserts.”

[Beep…….]

“But thanks for the suggestion, Pipi.”

When Rosette expressed her gratitude by tickling Pipi under the chin, Pipi, who had been feeling down, offered another idea.

[Beep!]

“A handkerchief? But I’ve already given him a handkerchief a few times, haven’t I? It’s not special at all.”

[Beep!]

“A toy? Pipi, the Prince is an adult. He’s not old enough to play with toys.”

[Beep!]!

“A botany book? That’s what you like, Pipi.”

After racking her brains with Pipi, she couldn’t think of anything suitable.

‘Actually, I think the Prince would be indifferent no matter what I gave him.’

In fact, Rosette could give Joshua a gift that no one else could. She was an Adrian, and with the Adrian’s wealth and influence, she could give him expensive jewels or rare artifacts.

But would Joshua even care?

Joshua received all sorts of gifts from nobles every year on his birthday. No matter what Rosette prepared, it didn’t seem like it would impress him.

[Beep…….]

In the end, Pipi declared defeat, muttering, ‘Rosette, you’re being too picky for someone like you.’ Rosette felt uneasy as she watched Pipi settle down on the pillow and close its eyes.

‘I need to think about it some more. First, I need to find out what Dad or Daniel Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend in Korean] are giving the Prince.’

There was still time, so she could think about it more slowly. Rosette went to sleep peacefully, thinking only of the precious memories she had made during the day.

It would have been nice if the day had ended like that.

But, despite falling asleep with only happy thoughts, Rosette had a nightmare for the first time in a long time.

-Why did you do that? What crime did Master and Daniel commit that you killed them! Why!

In the dream, Joshua was wailing. He knelt down in front of her and cried like a child.

His golden eyes, looking at her, were filled with anger and hatred.

Rosette already knew the story that would follow. Joshua would tell her that her execution date had been set, and he would leave, advising her to atone for her sins until she died.

Rosette, left alone, would shed tears of regret and use forbidden magic to turn back time.

But the events that followed in the dream were different from what she remembered.

-Does turning back time erase what you did? What gives you the audacity to have feelings for me?

A cold gaze pierced Rosette’s heart more sharply than any blade.