The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 160

160. No Matter What Anyone Says, You’re Adrian

2024.04.08.

Rosette, surprised by the tears soaking her clothes, flailed her arms in the air.

“D… Dad?”

She hadn’t anticipated this at all. Instead of Duke Adrian resenting Rosette, he seemed to be the one in more pain?

Rosette was the one who had poured out her troubles, yet it felt like she was the one who needed to comfort the Duke.

Rosette mustered some courage and patted the Duke’s back, just as he had always done for her whenever she was worried.

‘Warm.’

The Duke’s embrace was still broad and comforting. It felt similar to when he had held her after she had stubbornly eaten shrimp and had an allergic reaction.

It still felt like he would protect Rosette from all the storms of the world.

Rosette buried her face in the Duke’s arms and acted like an eight-year-old child.

“It wasn’t that hard. I could handle it.”

“How could it not have been hard? You grew up being treated like that since you were a child. It’s all my fault. If only I had found you and taken you with me back then…”

“It’s not your fault at all. It was unavoidable. It’s not something you should blame yourself for. And Dad…”

Her voice choked up.

“You found me this time.”

Looking back, Duke Adrian had always worried about and cherished Rosette, both in the past and now.

“I was so happy to be your daughter this time. Even if you never wanted to see me again because of my mistakes, I will love you forever.”

“Who said I wouldn’t want to see you?”

Duke Adrian raised his head and made a serious face. Rosette frowned but tried to force a smile.

“What I did to Adrian in the past is unforgivable.”

“That’s…”

The Duke, gathering his thoughts, spoke as if he were lecturing a child.

“You’re right, Rose. You definitely made many mistakes in the past. Even if it wasn’t your intention, it was your actions. Just because time has been turned back doesn’t mean what you did never happened. You will have to atone for the rest of your life, even if those people don’t remember.”

Rosette lowered her head gloomily.

“But Rose, at least your father has forgiven you. No, I never resented you in the first place, so there was nothing to forgive.”

“Dad…”

“You have given your father much joy since we first met. You are my treasure, irreplaceable by anything. So…”

Duke Adrian smiled slightly.

“If you have to atone for the rest of your life, I will carry your burden with you.”

The tears that had barely stopped flowed down Rosette’s cheeks again. She couldn’t help but sob at the Duke’s next words.

“So don’t ever think that your father and your brothers will abandon you. No matter what anyone says, you’re Adrian, Rose.”

* * *

“Come to think of it.”

When Rosette, who had been crying for a while, finally calmed down, Duke Adrian’s attention turned to Joshua.

“Rose said she turned back time herself, but how did Your Highness know about it?”

“Your Highness…”

“I’ll tell you.”

Joshua gestured for Rosette to rest a little more and spoke honestly.

“To put it simply, I also returned to the past with my memories intact.”

Duke Adrian immediately realized what had happened.

“That day, then. The day Your Highness returned.”

“Yes. I’m ashamed to say that I showed a disgraceful sight in front of His Majesty and my teacher that day.”

“Disgraceful?”

Rosette, who didn’t know the situation at the time, interjected, and Joshua changed the subject.

“There was something like that.”

This time, Rosette looked at Duke Adrian with a face that needed an explanation, but he just smiled meaningfully.

“You were so eager to find Rose when she first became an Adrian, and that’s because you remembered the past.”

“Yes. My teacher suddenly adopted a daughter, and the accident that injured Daniel’s leg was suddenly resolved. Something was very strange, and I needed to confirm it.”

“So the two of you joined hands?”

“That’s…”

Joshua seemed unable to bring himself to talk about how he had treated Rosette harshly. Rosette explained in place of Joshua, who kept his mouth shut.

“Yes. The Prince and I knew that we both knew the past, and we decided to change the future together. So we changed a lot.”

Duke Adrian quietly looked at Rosette.

It was as if he was saying, ‘This father knows what you’re hiding.’

Rosette avoided his gaze.

“Anyway, that’s the story. There’s still work to be done, though.”

“So the two of you are…”

“That…”

Rosette hesitated, and Joshua firmly grasped her hand, saying,

“I love the Princess, no, Rose, very much.”

His voice was strong and filled with conviction.

Duke Adrian seemed to already know about their relationship. Yet, when Joshua confirmed the truth, his expression slightly darkened.

“Rose?”

Rosette looked back and forth between the two men before answering.

“I love the Prince very much too.”

“…I see.”

“I know what you’re worried about, Father. You probably don’t want to send your beloved daughter to the Imperial Palace.”

The Duke couldn’t bring himself to either affirm or deny it.

“But I won’t force Rose. I just want us to be honest about our feelings, at least for now.”

Duke Adrian was silent for a moment. Rosette and Joshua waited for his answer, holding each other’s hands.

Finally, the Duke spoke.

“If that’s what you both want, I must accept it. Whatever choice Rose makes, I will do my best to ensure her happiness.”

“Dad…”

Duke Adrian rose from his seat.

“It seems we’ve covered most of what we needed to discuss. Shall we go for dinner? It sounds like Lucas is grumbling outside.”

Rosette, supported by Joshua, got out of bed.

“Okay!”

* * *

“So, you two…”

Lucas narrowed his eyes as he saw Rosette and Joshua coming down to the dining room together for dinner. Isabel nudged his side with her elbow.

“If you have any sense, you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

“No, Sis. Even after seeing this scene…”

“I know, so just shut up.”

Lucas reluctantly closed his mouth with a disgruntled look. Rosette smiled awkwardly and took her seat.

Joshua, who was about to sit next to her without thinking, was guided by Sebastian to the seat of honor. It was at the end of the long table, facing Duke Adrian.

“I apologize for not preparing a proper meal due to the suddenness. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“It’s alright. I came abruptly. And the mansion has been in quite a state.”

Daniel chimed in.

“Still, I’m glad everything turned out well. It seems Rose had the Goddess’s blessing. And of course, so did Your Highness.”

As if nothing had happened to Rosette, small and pleasant conversations went back and forth. The family didn’t pry into Rosette and Joshua’s relationship either.

Rosette was grateful for her family’s consideration. At the same time, she realized once again how precious the happiness of everyday life was.

‘I hope it stays like this forever.’

As if hearing Rosette’s earnest wish, the moon was especially bright that night.

* * *

“Good night, Rose.”

“Good night, Father.”

“Yes. Sweet dreams.”

Duke Adrian tucked Rosette into bed himself before leaving her room. With a stern face, he headed to his study, deep in thought.

‘She turned back time…’

He had somewhat expected it. He had also suspected that the dreams he had been having repeatedly were not just dreams but were hinting at something.

However, the story Rosette told him was so shocking that even he, who had lived for so long, found it hard to bear.

That his small, fragile child had been so thoroughly used by Marquis Dallas.

‘That bastard shouldn’t have died so easily.’

Had he known the truth Rosette had hidden sooner, he wouldn’t have let Marquis Dallas fall so easily. He should have given him a hell so terrible that he would have preferred death.

Duke Adrian reviewed the current situation. It was true that many things had changed from the past Rosette had told him. But the death of Marquis Dallas had not solved everything.

Still, Duke Lillis was burning with ambition to make his grandson, Louis, the Crown Prince, and the Lillis Duchess was coming and going from the Imperial Palace as if it were her own home. Even though the Empress, Ophelia, was alive and well.

Duke Adrian actively supported his beloved disciple, Joshua. He didn’t want to get involved in politics, but he tried to protect Joshua from danger.

But if Rosette liked Joshua, the story was different again.

The Duke didn’t want to make Rosette the Crown Princess, but he wanted to support her so that she could make the choices she wanted.

He wanted to make sure there were no obstacles when she wanted a future with Joshua.

To do that, he had to get a firm grip on the Lillis household. They had been quiet since the attempted poisoning of Ophelia last time, but there was no telling when they would show their fangs again.

‘I need to find a weakness first. A fatal weakness that can bring down Duke Lillis and the Duchess…’

Having thought that far, Duke Adrian suddenly felt a gaze and jumped up from his chair.

He drew the decorative sword he had hung on the wall and pointed it towards the window.

“Who’s there?”