The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 146

146. War of Nerves (1)

2024.03.25.

“Yes, I think I like you too, Your Highness.”

It was only after saying those words out loud that all my worries seemed to dissipate.

I definitely like Joshua.

I’m still not sure when these feelings began to sprout, but my emotions towards him are clear.

Rosette spoke with a bit more confidence.

“I like you, Your Highness.”

In a fleeting moment, a smile slowly spread across Joshua’s face, which had been tense with nervousness. Joy and elation, which he tried to hide but couldn’t, flickered across his expression.

Just seeing his expression made Rosette feel better. At the same time, she also felt a little sad.

“We might not be able to be together forever, are you okay with that?”

“Yes.”

Joshua approached and cupped Rosette’s cheeks.

“You can’t even imagine how happy I am right now, Rosette. No, Rose.”

Rosette didn’t even have time to be surprised or delighted by the nickname ‘Rose’ that came from Joshua’s lips. It was because Joshua carefully kissed Rosette’s lips, from which a small gasp escaped.

Rosette squeezed her eyes shut. She awkwardly followed Joshua’s lead, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Joshua also wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her closer. The heat emanating from his firm body, which was close to hers, was intense. His breath, pouring over her lips, tickled.

Rosette flinched and then smiled with her lips pressed against his. She could feel Joshua also smiling, pulling at her lips.

There was still a long way to go, but it was a day when everything seemed like it would be alright.

* * *

Duke Adrian observed Rosette, who was eating the salad that came out as an appetizer. Not only him, but the other family members were also glancing at her.

Representing everyone, Lucas poked Rosette with his elbow and asked.

“Hey, what’s got you so happy?”

Rosette was startled.

“Yes, yes?”

[Chirp?]

Bibi, who was pecking at peanut powder, was also flustered.

Even though attention wasn’t focused on Bibi, the little bird looked around and hid in Rosette’s hair.

Rosette skillfully hid her expression.

“There’s always something good, brother.”

“No, there isn’t?”

Lucas tilted his head.

“You’ve been worried a lot lately, haven’t you?”

“There are always worries.”

“That’s true, but…”

Lucas, at a loss for words, looked at Daniel for help. Daniel smiled and chimed in.

“I think Lucas is right. You seemed serious for the past few days, but you look happy today, Rose. It’s good to see. I feel good too.”

Rosette glanced at Isabel, feeling uneasy, and swept her hair back with her fingers.

“The worries I’ve had for the past few days have been resolved. That’s why I’m happy.”

“What could our youngest have been worried about?”

“What were you worried about!”

“It’s a secret.”

Rosette glanced at Isabel, who continued to eat without paying attention to their conversation, and at the Duke, who was looking at them with a faint smile, before starting to eat her salad again.

She lowered her head so much that the other family members were worried that she might stick her nose in her plate.

Bibi, who had been hiding, also peeked out again and ate peanut powder.

Fortunately, the family didn’t ask anything more. Instead, as she was about to go to her room after the meal, Duke Adrian came out and asked cautiously.

“Rose, is everything alright?”

“Yes, Dad. Everything… is alright. Really.”

“Okay, that’s a relief.”

Rosette carefully asked back, seeing the Duke’s smile, which seemed different from usual.

“Is there something wrong with you, Dad?”

“Why do you think so?”

“You seem a bit tired, and I thought you might be worried.”

“It’s nothing like that. Just…”

After a moment of silence, Duke Adrian tapped Rosette’s head.

“If anything happens, tell your father anytime, Rose.”

“Of course.”

Rosette’s voice, feeling guilty for no reason, became smaller.

‘I decided to keep it a secret from my family for the time being.’

That day, in the forest, Rosette and Joshua decided not to reveal their relationship for the time being. It was obvious what would happen the moment their relationship became known to those around them.

So, she didn’t tell Ophelia or the Adrian family.

She thought it wouldn’t be too late to tell them when they were more certain about their relationship.

As Rosette kept her mouth shut and only smiled, Duke Adrian suddenly grabbed her wrist. He wrapped his thumb and middle finger around her wrist.

The Duke’s hand was so big that there was space between her wrist and his fingers. The Duke, estimating the gap with his eyes, muttered softly.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Yes?”

“Rose, how old were you when your height was about this tall?”

The Duke pointed to about his sternum.

“Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe twelve or thirteen? But why are you asking that?”

“I just asked. I’m amazed at how much you’ve grown. I think you were about this tall when you left for the Ibellin Kingdom, right?”

“Maybe.”

Rosette muttered in a somewhat uneasy voice.

‘Why is Dad suddenly acting like this?’

The Duke, who was known to be cold on the outside, was warm only to his four children. However, he wasn’t the type to get lost in memories like this without any reason.

‘Is something really wrong? Could it be that he knows about me and His Highness?’

Rosette went up to her room with a nervous heart.

* * *

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

Ophelia, who put down her teacup, said to Joshua, who had come to greet her.

“Is there any good news?”

“It is my joy to see my healthy mother like this.”

“You’re even saying such flattering things. You must have something good going on?”

“…….”

When Joshua didn’t answer, Ophelia asked Silver, who was sniffing with his snout on the table.

“Then you answer, Silver. Did something happen to Joshua?”

[Woof!]

“Silver.”

Joshua stopped the wolf, even though Ophelia couldn’t understand what Silver was saying.

“And get off the table. You must be polite in front of Mother.”

Silver whined and got off the table, straightening his posture. Ophelia smiled as she watched the series of events.

‘What on earth could be going on?’

As a mother, her intuition was telling her something. Joshua was in love.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain this marshmallow-like atmosphere.

‘Then who is the other person?’

It wasn’t too difficult to deduce the other person. Joshua hadn’t consistently interacted with any girls since he was young.

At best, Adrian’s Isabel and Rosette?

But it was easy to deduce which of the two he had in mind.

Even when he was young, Joshua showed a unique attitude towards Rosette.

She decided to test her only son a little.

“How about inviting the Adrian Duchess soon?”

“The Adrian Duchess…”

“I mean Rosette.”

The reaction came from Silver first, not Joshua. Silver, who had been lying on the floor with his belly on the ground, suddenly stood up and wagged his tail.

Silver didn’t care even when Joshua gave him a displeased look. Rather, he showed great interest in Rosette by barking.

“Silver also says it’s good. So, does that mean you also like it, Joshua?”

“Silver’s actions do not represent my feelings, Mother.”

“Oh my, but it’s true that familiars react to the summoner’s heart.”

“…….”

“So, I want to invite Rosette, but what excuse should I use to invite her? She’s not a child anymore, so it’s hard to invite her easily.”

It was the moment when Joshua, who had been silent, was about to answer. A maid approached and whispered to Ophelia.

Ophelia’s expression became serious as she listened to the whisper.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Tell them I have a guest. Tell them to come again next time.”

“They said they came to see His Highness.”

“What’s going on?”

When Joshua asked the maid, she carefully answered.

“Marquis Lischer of the Shelton Kingdom has requested an audience with Her Majesty the Empress.”

“With Mother?”

“To be exact, they say they came to see His Highness.”

“Then I’ll go out and see.” Joshua rose from his seat.

“Then I’ll be on my way today, Mother. We can discuss inviting the Adrian Duchess again later. Don’t dawdle, follow me, Silver.”

[Woof!]

Silver circled around Ophelia and quickly followed Joshua, who was leaving the garden.

As soon as they came out of the garden, Michael’s figure was seen. As soon as he found Joshua, he greeted him politely.

“Greetings to His Highness the Prince.”

“Let’s go to my palace for now.” Joshua brushed past Michael. Silver, who was following him, suddenly began to growl at Michael.

The appearance of him acting like a gentle lamb in front of Joshua or Rosette had disappeared without a trace. Now Silver was in the form of a wolf that people feared.

Joshua scolded Silver when he saw the maids around him were very frightened.

“Shh, Silver. Be quiet and follow me.”

However, Silver did not stop even at Joshua’s words. Rather, he bared his sharp teeth at Michael.

Then a white snake crawled out of the bushes and soon showed its sharp fangs in front of Silver. Silver swung his front paw to get rid of the snake, but the white snake dodged here and there, flicking its red tongue.

“Silver.”

Joshua called Silver once again and observed the white snake. Mana seeping out of the white snake. The white snake was not just a snake, but a familiar.

Joshua asked Michael, who was silently silent.

“Is it the Marquis’s familiar?”