The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 147

147. War of Nerves (2)

2024.03.26.

Joshua turned to Michael, who had been silently observing him.

“Is that the Marquis’s familiar?”

“Yes, it is. He’s called Perito.”

At Michael’s gesture, Perito clambered onto his arm and wrapped himself around it.

“So, what brings you here?”

Michael smiled brightly. “I simply wanted to see you.”

Joshua resisted the urge to retort, ‘Just for that?’ Instead, he continued towards the Emerald Palace, Michael following a step behind.

“The Marquis seems to have some… interesting qualities. Like helping Adrian [likely referring to a character or event from a previous chapter] prove Miss Rivera’s innocence. That couldn’t have been an easy decision.”

“It wasn’t particularly difficult.”

“Hasn’t your standing in the kingdom suffered?”

“My standing? Mine?”

Michael laughed as if he’d heard something absurd. “Then that’s a relief. But why haven’t you returned to the kingdom? Why remain here alone?”

“Because I haven’t received the answer I’m waiting for.”

“Answer?”

Joshua wasn’t particularly concerned with Michael’s situation. If he chose to stay in the Empire, that was the Emperor’s concern, not his.

This conversation was merely a formality, a social nicety.

But Michael’s next words were unexpected, catching Joshua off guard.

“Actually, I proposed to Princess Adrian.”

Joshua stopped walking abruptly.

“A proposal? Which one?”

“The only Princess Adrian I know.”

That meant Rosette. Silver, who had been quietly trailing Joshua, bared his teeth at Michael. Perito responded by flicking his tongue at Silver.

“Silver, stop.”

Joshua managed to compose himself, masking his rising irritation, and resumed walking.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. You didn’t send a formal proposal, did you?”

“No. I only inquired about the Princess’s feelings.”

“And what did the Princess say? Ah, you mentioned you haven’t received an answer yet.”

“That’s correct.”

“I see.”

Michael studied Joshua’s profile before bowing slightly.

“I suspect you’re busy, so I’ll take my leave. I hope we meet again.”

Joshua didn’t bother to acknowledge Michael as he quickly departed. Instead, he patted Silver’s head, who was still growling in Michael’s direction.

“No need to be so wary, Silver.”

[Woof!]

“Rose will undoubtedly refuse him.”

Still, he knew he had to keep a close watch on him.

Joshua suppressed these thoughts and headed towards the Emerald Palace.

* * *

[Swish.]

Perito, perched on Michael’s shoulder, whispered, “That prince is very annoying.”

“I feel the same way, Perito. I didn’t care for him to begin with, but he’s starting to grate on my nerves.”

“And I don’t like that big wolf familiar either. I should have bitten him earlier.”

Michael smiled, pleased by Perito’s words.

“We can always bite him next time, and claim it was a mistake.”

[Swish.]

“Of course, we can.”

Michael glanced back at the spot where Joshua had been standing and muttered, “But I need to act quickly. Otherwise, I might actually lose Rose.”

Michael smiled meaningfully and began to walk with a newfound purpose.

* * *

Silver had arrived. Rosette gave him the jerky she had prepared and removed the necklace from around his neck.

Silver, completely engrossed in the jerky, didn’t notice the missing necklace. He simply sat down and began tearing at the treat.

“Stay with Silver, Bbi.”

[Bbi?]

Rosette tickled Bbi’s chin, who was pouting as if she knew a secret.

“It’s not that I have a secret. I just feel shy about others overhearing my conversation with the Prince.”

[Bbit! Bbeek!]

“Am I ‘other people’? Rosette, how could you do this to me!”

As Bbi protested, flapping her wings, Silver approached, still chewing on the jerky.

Seeing Silver open his mouth wide, Bbi landed on Silver’s head, thinking, ‘Bbit, well, maybe.’ She clearly didn’t want to see the inside of Silver’s mouth again.

“Thank you, Bbi. Thank you too, Silver.”

Rosette nodded to the two familiars and then retreated under the blanket on her bed.

“Your Highness?”

[Yes.]

The voice that answered sounded different than usual.

“Is something wrong?”

[No.]

“Then?”

[Just…]

Rosette wished Joshua were with her at that moment. If they were face to face, it would be easier to gauge his feelings by looking at his expression.

In the past, she would have backed down at this point, believing she had no right to intrude on Joshua’s personal matters.

‘But isn’t it different now?’

It was still embarrassing to admit, but she and Joshua were lovers, as close and intimate as a summoner and a familiar could be.

Rosette gathered her courage and whispered, “I don’t know what’s troubling you, but you can confide in me.”

[…]

“I promise I won’t tell anyone, and if we put our heads together, wouldn’t we find a better solution?”

[Yes, that’s the problem.]

“…Yes?”

What was the problem? Where? Was the problem that she had spoken so presumptuously?

“I’m sorry…”

Rosette was about to apologize reflexively.

[How long am I going to be ‘Your Highness’?]

“…Yes?”

[I’m asking how long you’re going to stick to that formal title, Rose.]

“But…”

Rosette stopped herself from saying, ‘Your Highness is Your Highness,’ realizing that wasn’t the answer Joshua wanted.

But the title Joshua desired wouldn’t come out of her mouth.

It wasn’t because he was one of only two princes in the Empire, or that even lovers shouldn’t casually use a prince’s name – such old-fashioned notions.

She was simply embarrassed.

Was calling his name so difficult and shameful?

“So…”

[I can wait forever. I have more patience than you think. But I’d prefer you call me sooner rather than later.]

Rosette swallowed hard and mumbled, “…Shua.”

[I can’t hear you very well.]

“Th, uh…”

Rosette buried her already flushed face in the pillow.

“Joshua.”

There was silence from the other end of the magic communication device for a moment. Then, she heard Joshua chuckle softly.

Rosette’s ears and neck were now burning red.

“Are you teasing me?”

[Teasing you? Not at all.]

Joshua’s voice still held a hint of amusement, making his denial less than convincing.

[I like hearing it. Make sure to call me that when we’re alone.]

“…”

Rosette didn’t reply, simply clutching the innocent pillow tightly.

[By the way, what were you doing?]

“I was waiting to see if Silver would come.”

[I see.]

“What about you, Prince… no, Joshua?”

[I was wondering when to send Silver.]

“We were having the same worries.”

[That’s right.]

With those words, silence fell between them.

Rosette was carefully choosing her words to calm her racing heart after saying ‘Joshua,’ and Joshua was preoccupied with his own concerns.

After a moment, Joshua spoke first.

[I met Marquis Lscheer today.]

“Miha… no, Marquis Lscheer?”

[Yes. He said something strange.]

“…?”

Rosette sat up, focusing on Joshua’s words.

[He said he proposed to you. What’s going on?]

To be honest, Rosette had completely forgotten about Michael’s proposal until Joshua mentioned it. She never imagined she would be reminded of it by Joshua, of all people.

“Pardon?”

[Is it true?]

“No, well…”

Joshua’s voice was calm, neither angry nor accusatory.

But Rosette felt inexplicably guilty. Even though Michael had proposed, she felt as if she had done something wrong.

“If we’re just talking about whether it’s true or not, then yes, he did propose.”

[…]

“But it wasn’t a serious matter. It was almost a joke. If he were serious, he would have sent a formal proposal to the family. But he didn’t.”

Rosette rattled off the words like an excuse.

“And of course, I rejected him immediately.”

[You rejected him?]

“Of course! Michael and I are nothing. We’ve known each other since we were young, but we’re not even close enough to be called friends, let alone consider marriage. Besides, the Shelton Kingdom is even farther than the Ibelin Kingdom. I have no desire to leave my family and go to a strange land.”

Rosette, who had spoken rapidly without pausing for breath, finally took a deep breath.

“Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about. Really.”

Rosette insisted on her innocence until the very end. And it was the truth.

[Then that’s a relief.]

Rosette, relieved to hear Joshua’s voice soften, widened her eyes at his next words.

[Then why is Marquis Lscheer saying he’s waiting for your answer?]

“Marquis Lscheer said that to Your Highness?”

[Not Your Highness, Joshua.]

“Yes, Joshua… That’s not the point right now. Why did he say that to Joshua?”

[It just came up during a casual conversation. Though it’s hardly casual for something that came up during a casual conversation.]

Rosette frowned, and Joshua added, [Don’t frown.]

“Can you see that?”

[There’s no way I can see it. I just said it because I assumed you would be, and it seems I was right.]

Rosette rubbed her nose and sighed.

“Anyway, it’s not like that. I clearly rejected him. If Marquis Lscheer hasn’t given up, that’s his problem. That’s his feelings. But it’s a lie that I didn’t answer him properly.”

[Then that’s a relief…]

Just then, Silver barked loudly outside the blanket.