The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 154

154. The Unveiling Truth (1)

2024.04.02.

“I’m asking if you know what Rosette has been doing behind my back, Your Highness.”

Duke Adrian’s voice was filled with conviction. Joshua realized that he wasn’t simply testing him but had drawn a conclusion based on reasonable grounds.

But whatever the reason, it wasn’t right for Joshua to reveal everything. Instead, he decided to find out what Duke Adrian suspected.

“I don’t know why you’re saying this to me. How would I know something that even my teacher, who lives with the Princess, doesn’t know?”

“Of course, that’s true, but…”

The Duke didn’t back down. His purple eyes stared straight at Joshua, as if saying, ‘I know everything about you.’

Joshua felt like the Duke was reading his mind. The Duke continued, noticing Joshua slightly lower his gaze.

“I just have a feeling that you know, Your Highness. Weren’t you close to Rose since childhood?”

“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t know?”

“Your Highness, the situation is serious. For Rose’s sake, wouldn’t you tell me everything you know?”

Indeed, Duke Adrian wasn’t just testing Joshua with mere suspicion. Joshua sighed softly.

“Why does Master think the Princess has been doing things behind his back? She doesn’t seem like someone who would cause trouble without his knowledge.”

“Of course, she wouldn’t after meeting me.”

After meeting him? Joshua frowned slightly at the Duke’s subtle words, and the Duke continued.

“But if she did something before meeting me, I wouldn’t know, would I?”

“I believe the Princess was eight years old when she met Master. What could she have done then?”

“…….”

Rather, Joshua became anxious and pressed the Duke.

“Master, what exactly are you suspecting?”

This time, the Duke sighed deeply.

“Actually, I’ve been having strange dreams lately.”

“Strange dreams?”

“Dreams about Rose.”

Joshua clenched his fist with a bad feeling.

“In the dream, she is very small and thin. She’s supposed to be an adult, but she doesn’t look like one at all.”

“…….”

“And she…”

Duke Adrian covered his eyes with his hand, as if the mere thought was horrifying.

“She…”

The Duke couldn’t finish his sentence. But Joshua seemed to know what kind of dream he had.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t a dream. What the Duke saw in his dream was the past.

Before Rosette turned back time, when Duke Adrian died by her hand.

“It felt so real, not like a dream. Rose’s crying face, the pain of being stabbed in the heart…”

So, Rosette was crying that day. Joshua’s face hardened at the new information.

He knew that Rosette had done something she didn’t want to do because of Marquis Dallas’s manipulation. He had also heard that killing Duke Adrian was against her will.

But he didn’t know that Rosette had cried so sadly in front of the Duke that day.

She had never told Joshua in detail about what happened at the Adrian estate that day.

“So, I thought it wasn’t just a dream.”

Joshua thought that no one but Rosette and Joshua remembered what happened that day, but Duke Adrian seemed to have recalled the past in this way.

Even knowing all these facts, Joshua still couldn’t tell the truth. He still thought it was Rosette’s place to say it.

In the end, there was only one answer Joshua could give.

“I don’t think it’s something I should tell you.”

“Your Highness.”

“I think it would be better to hear it directly from the Princess later. That’s the right thing to do. But for now…”

Just as Joshua was about to say something, a hurried knock was heard, and Sebastian came in before the Duke could even grant permission.

“Master, you need to come out.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Young Master Lucas…”

The Duke and Joshua roughly guessed what was happening and went outside. As expected, Lucas’s angry voice could be heard from afar.

“He’s a complete fraud! If you really care about the kid, you wouldn’t do this! Are you playing with people’s lives right now? How can you even think about trading with someone’s life! While you’re dragging your feet like this, the kid’s condition is getting worse!”

“Lucas.”

Lucas, who was grabbing Michael by the collar, flinched at Duke Adrian’s low voice.

“Let go of him immediately.”

“But Father!”

“Are you trying to disgrace your father’s name?”

“Ha…….”

Lucas let go of Michael’s clothes and stepped back. The Duke approached Michael and apologized.

“I apologize on behalf of my son.”

“It’s alright. It’s understandable, so there’s no need to apologize.”

Michael, who straightened his crumpled shirt, smiled as if nothing had happened.

“So, have you made a decision? As Adrian said, there’s not much time left.”

“I’ve heard about the Marquis Leuscher’s marriage proposal. But it’s not something I can decide on my own. The person involved is the most important, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Is that a rejection?”

“Instead, I will compensate you sufficiently.”

Michael glanced at Joshua for a moment and gave an ambiguous answer.

“Then I’ll have to think about it a bit too. I’ll prepare a way to treat the Princess for now. Contact me anytime if you change your mind.”

Michael bowed with graceful movements and turned around. As he passed by Joshua, he said casually.

“It seems Your Highness can’t be Rose’s guide.”

“What do you mean…”

Joshua quickly turned around to grab Michael. But Michael waved his hand without turning back and quickly left the mansion.

* * *

A heavy silence fell again on the Adrian estate. It seemed like all hope was lost as even the Magic Tower, which they had trusted, showed a negative reaction.

“Wouldn’t it be better to save Rose even if it means accepting Marquis Leuscher’s marriage proposal, Father?”

“That’s not like you, Oppa [older brother].”

Isabel glanced at Joshua and quickly retorted to Daniel.

“You’ve always respected Rose.”

“But there’s no other way now.”

“Damn it.”

Lucas hit the wall hard. His right hand was already injured from hitting the wall several times earlier. Blood was seeping again from the wound, which had barely been stopped because he refused treatment.

Joshua, who had been listening to the Adrian family’s conversation, stood up.

“I’ll be going now. Please contact me immediately if anything happens to the Princess. No need to see me off.”

After leaving the Adrian estate, Joshua returned to the Imperial Palace and went straight to the Emperor’s Palace.

“Your Highness, what brings you here…”

“Would there be any other reason for me to visit the Imperial Palace? I’ve come to see His Majesty.”

“Princess Lilith is currently having an audience with His Majesty.”

“It’s alright, inform him of my visit.”

“But Your Highness.”

“Did you not hear me?”

The attendant hesitated. Joshua passed him and knocked directly.

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty, I have something urgent to tell you, so I have come to see you.”

After a moment of silence, permission was granted from the Emperor.

“Come in.”

As Joshua entered, Princess Lilith, wearing a splendid dress, bowed.

“Greetings to the First Prince.”

“It’s been a while. But I have something important to tell His Majesty, so could you excuse us?”

The Emperor interjected.

“What is it that requires such privacy?”

“I will tell you when we are alone.”

“Your Highness, I am discreet. Is there really a need for me to leave?”

Princess Lilith gave the Emperor a secretive look.

The Emperor, who was looking at Joshua, took his hand away from Princess Lilith and waved it around.

“Leonie, step out for a moment.”

“But Your Majesty.”

“My son wants to have a private conversation with his father, so I must allow it.”

Princess Lilith pouted slightly and left the drawing-room. Only then did Joshua bow to the Emperor.

“Greetings to His Imperial Majesty.”

“Yes, it’s been a while. Come more often. That fellow Louis shows his face quite often, but his older brother never comes. What will Louis learn from that?”

The Emperor’s words were true. Joshua didn’t bother to find the Emperor unless there was something special.

But until now, the Emperor hadn’t pointed it out.

But now, he was even mentioning Louis’s name and scolding him.

At first, he thought he was simply rebuking Joshua, but there was a hint of disappointment on the Emperor’s face.

Joshua thought he was mistaken and opened his mouth.

“I apologize. I didn’t realize Your Majesty’s feelings.”

“Enough with the flattery. More importantly, you rarely come, so what brings you here today? You wouldn’t come just to ask after my well-being.”

Joshua hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

“I know that the Imperial Family is keeping the items of the Dallas Marquis family, which was destroyed in the past.”

After Marquis Dallas was executed, the Dallas Marquis estate and the family’s assets were all put up for auction. All the proceeds went into the Imperial treasury.

However, some of them were not sold and were kept in the Imperial Palace vault. Among them were the vast amount of magic books that Marquis Dallas possessed.

This was because the Imperial mages strongly insisted that the books should not fall into the hands of others.

“That’s right. And?”

“May I examine those items?”