The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 14

Unexpected Birthday Party (2)

November 14, 2023

Rosette was followed around by Lucas all day. He acted as if he couldn’t possibly impart all his wisdom in a single day, and she, surprisingly, didn’t mind. She willingly trailed after him.

She only managed to escape Lucas’s clutches after dinner.

“Have a good dream.”

The maid, having dressed her in pajamas, extinguished the candle. Rosette, who had been lying quietly in bed, sat up the moment the maid left.

‘I want to create a mana core….’

Both Duke Adrian and Celine had told her to begin magic lessons once she had gained some weight.

However, Rosette was impatient. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Marquis Dallas would target the Adrian family again, and she didn’t know when or how.

‘I might be able to prevent the carriage accident.’

But the aftermath was the real problem.

Would Marquis Dallas simply give up on Daniel? Rosette knew he wasn’t the type. More likely, he would be filled with venom and relentlessly target Daniel.

If he targeted Daniel in another way, she might not be able to protect him. Therefore, it was crucial to develop her magical abilities before anything happened, to be ready to counter the Dallas family’s schemes.

Rosette closed her eyes and focused on the mana flowing through her body. She concentrated on gathering the slowly flowing mana in her lower abdomen. As she did, she felt a warm sensation in that area.

But that was it. The mana dissipated in less than ten seconds. Simultaneously, Rosette began to cough violently from the shock.

Cough, cough, cough! Rosette, covering her mouth, sighed as she looked at her belly after the coughing subsided.

‘Is it still too difficult?’

I need to gain enough weight quickly so my body can withstand the mana.

Rosette reaffirmed her determination and went to sleep.

* * *

It was during this night, while Rosette was asleep, that:

“Father.”

Daniel sought out Duke Adrian, who had just returned to the mansion. Duke Adrian handed his coat to Sebastian, the butler, and inquired,

“Did you have a good audience with the Crown Prince?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing happened?”

“Nothing special happened.”

Joshua had said something meaningful, but it was too ambiguous to be considered ‘something special.’

“Anyway, it’s about Rosette.”

“Rosette? Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing happened, so there’s no need to worry.”

Daniel shook his head and then broached the subject he wanted to discuss.

“But her birthday is in a week. Did you know?”

The Duke’s hand, which was unbuttoning his cuffs, paused momentarily.

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“I thought so.”

Daniel continued, “Anyway, everyone has become busy preparing for Rosette’s birthday party.”

“I noticed the atmosphere in the mansion seemed strangely excited. So that’s the reason.”

“Yes. But it seems Rosette has never had a proper birthday party before. I want to prepare something special for her, but I’m unsure how. I came to ask for your opinion, Father.”

“A special birthday party….”

Duke Adrian was lost in thought. If she had never had a birthday party before, he could throw a grand celebration that would be the envy of everyone.

But somehow, that didn’t seem like enough. And it didn’t seem like Rosette would want that either.

After a moment of contemplation, Duke Adrian smiled.

“I have a good idea, Daniel.”

“What is it, Father?”

Duke Adrian smiled and shared his idea.

Daniel smiled as he listened to his father’s plan.

* * *

A week had passed since Rosette came to live with the Adrian family. During that week, Rosette hadn’t done anything particularly noteworthy.

She simply ate well, played well, and slept well.

It wasn’t an exaggeration; those three activities were all she did. At night, she secretly attempted to create a mana core, but she failed every time. The more she failed, the more enthusiastically she ate breakfast.

But aside from that, no one asked anything of her. As a result, Rosette seriously pondered the situation every morning.

‘Is it really okay to continue like this?’

The promise that she didn’t have to do anything for the time being held true, and Duke Adrian hadn’t even assigned her a teacher. Celine also hadn’t visited her since that first day.

Was it really alright to be like this? If she couldn’t prove her usefulness, wouldn’t she become a burden?

Once, perhaps that thought was written on her face, Duke Adrian stroked her hair and said,

“Just relax.”

Adding that a child should grow up without worries, like a child.

Ah, there was one requirement.

“By the way, from now on, you have to eat a lot without leaving any food on your plate. You have to eat a lot and grow up quickly. Of course, except for shrimp.”

But could that really be called a requirement? She wondered, but Rosette diligently stuffed food into her mouth at every meal to meet his expectations.

It wasn’t a difficult task. The Adrian family’s chef was exceptionally skilled.

Thanks to that, Rosette’s cheeks had plumped up noticeably in just a week. Everyone noticed, though they didn’t explicitly comment, and they were proud of Rosette’s transformation.

And today was the day. It was Rosette’s birthday, the event that had kept the Adrian mansion bustling for the past week.

“Hey, kid!”

Lucas barged into Rosette’s room early in the morning. The maids tried to stop him, but it was futile.

He yanked the blanket off Rosette and woke her up.

“Wake up, wake up!”

“Ugh…….”

Rosette, struggling to open her eyes, widened them at his next words.

“Are you going to sleep in on your birthday?”

Ah, that’s right. It’s my birthday!

Initially, when the Adrian household began preparing for her birthday party, Rosette hadn’t felt much. Everyone said birthdays were special, but the idea hadn’t truly resonated with her.

She was simply happy because everyone else was happy preparing for her birthday.

But had she been brainwashed into believing that birthdays were good and worthy of celebration over the past week?

Rosette belatedly began to look forward to her birthday. In fact, she had been a little excited the night before and had trouble falling asleep.

“I’m not sleeping in.”

Rosette tried to open her eyes, which kept drooping from sleepiness, and Lucas grabbed her hand.

“Come on, let’s go. We have somewhere to go.”

Rosette rubbed her eyes and followed him in her pajamas. Lucas led her to the dining room.

“Don’t cry because you’re too happy.”

Lucas opened the dining room door with a warning that wasn’t really a warning. At that moment, a chorus of voices erupted from inside.

“Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday!”

A servant waiting by the door sprinkled confetti over Rosette. Lucas also grabbed a handful of confetti from a basket and showered it on Rosette’s head.

Rosette, her hair now full of confetti, looked around the dining room.

The dining room was decorated more lavishly than usual. The table was laden with Rosette’s favorite dishes and desserts.

Her family, along with the employees, stood before it, smiling brightly at her.

“Ah…….”

A warm sensation bloomed in her chest. It was a feeling she was experiencing for the first time, but it wasn’t unpleasant. On the contrary, it felt good.

Then Daniel and Isabel approached.

“Happy birthday, Rose.”

“Happy birthday.”

Next, Duke Adrian walked over and stroked Rosette’s head.

“Happy birthday. I hope only happy things happen to you today, Rose.”

Kind people and warm words. Rosette finally understood today.

I’m really glad I was born.

At that moment, tears streamed down her face.

* * *

“Crybaby, crybaby!”

Lucas began teasing Rosette, whose eyes were as red as a rabbit’s from crying. Daniel and Duke Adrian, who would normally scold him, simply laughed and didn’t intervene.

Rosette, still teary-eyed, put a piece of cake that the maid had cut for her into her mouth. The chocolate cake, made with plenty of fresh strawberries, was both tart and sweet.

Lucas chuckled as he watched her, then handed her something he had been hiding under the table. It was a long object, almost as long as Rosette’s arm, clumsily wrapped in red wrapping paper.

“What is this?”

“A birthday present!”

“Can I accept it?”

“Of course!”

“Here, take mine too.”

This time, Isabel handed Rosette a box the size of her palm. Daniel also gave her a heavy gift.

Rosette asked, holding the birthday presents in her arms.

“Can I open these?”

“Of course. They’re your presents.”

She carefully began to unwrap the beautifully packaged gifts one by one.

Daniel gave her a coloring book with pictures she could color, and Isabel gave her a hair accessory that she cherished. Lucas gave her a wooden sword that he had played with when he was young.

Isabel gave him a disapproving look.

“What’s with the wooden sword for a kid who has to learn magic?”

Lucas scoffed.

“Sister, what kind of family are we? We’re the Adrian ducal family that has produced talented knights for generations. Father is the coolest Sword Master.”

“So?”

“Magic is good, but shouldn’t the kid learn basic swordsmanship too?”

“Look at her arms. What kind of swordsmanship is she going to learn with those arms?”

“There’s nothing she can’t learn!”

Rosette interjected.

“I, I want to learn!”

The two people’s gazes turned to her simultaneously. Rosette, slightly intimidated, continued in a softer voice.

“I want to learn the sword.”

Learning magic was good, but since she had been adopted into the Adrian family, she thought it would be beneficial to learn some simple self-defense.

“Is it not allowed?”

“It’s allowed.”

Duke Adrian answered.

“However, let’s start learning when you’re a little taller and stronger.”

“Yes.”

“Now that you’ve received all your birthday presents, it’s my turn.”

Duke Adrian gestured, and Sebastian brought in a large box.

Duke Adrian opened the box for Rosette. Inside were a fancy party dress and shoes, along with accessories to match the dress.

“Let’s wear this and have a party at lunchtime today. That’s my gift.”

“A party?”

Rosette blinked, confused.

“Wasn’t the party what we’re doing now?”

Lucas chuckled.

“What kind of party is this? This is just breakfast.”

If this was just a meal, how extravagant would the party be?

Daniel winked at Rosette, who was surprised.

“You can look forward to it, Rose. Father has prepared a really good gift.”

Along with those meaningful words.