The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 168

168. Farewell

2024.04.16.

Rosette didn’t sleep well last night. She had seen Daniel and Joshua off on expeditions before, but this time felt different. A chilling feeling and anxiety clung to her, like bugs crawling all over her skin.

Pipi, noticing her anxiety, stayed up all night with her, trying to reassure her, telling her to trust Silver’s master and Silver.

When Rosette still couldn’t relax, Pipi became dejected.

Rosette stayed up all night researching materials about the monsters until the last moment. But, as expected, she couldn’t reach any plausible conclusions.

“Miss, it’s time to go.”

Rosette followed Joan, who was trying to sound cheerful, out of the room. She arrived at the Imperial Palace in a carriage with Lucas and Isabel.

The atmosphere at the Imperial Palace was bustling, a stark contrast to Rosette’s mood. She noticed people were deliberately exaggerating their behavior, trying to shake off their anxiety.

“My brother’s over there. Let’s go, shorty.”

“Yes.”

Lucas led Rosette to Daniel, who was chatting and laughing with his fellow knights, showing no signs of tension.

“Bro, are you well-prepared?”

“Lucas, when did you get here? Oh, Rose is here too.”

Daniel smiled at his two younger siblings and looked around. “But where’s Belle? Didn’t she come with you?”

“Sister went to see Lord Roten. I heard Lord Roten is also going on this expedition.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Because the situation was more serious than last time, the size of the subjugation force had doubled. Many people who hadn’t participated in the previous subjugation were drafted, including Lord Roten.

Upon hearing that news, Isabel calmly brushed it off, saying, ‘As an Imperial Knight protecting the Empire, it’s only natural to do what we have to do.’ But she seemed concerned, as she went to see Lord Roten as soon as she arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Daniel spotted Isabel with Lord Roten in the distance, a pleased expression on his face.

“We might hear more good news soon.”

“What good news? The first thing is to come back alive.”

“Of course, Lord Roten will return safely.”

“You’ll come back safely too, Brother. I’ll be preparing for the wedding as soon as you return, so come back in one piece. Especially, be careful not to get any scars on your face. We can’t have the groom’s face messed up.”

Daniel laughed.

“I understand. I will.”

“Daniel.”

Ines’s voice came from behind. Daniel’s face clouded over when he saw her.

“Ines, you came. I told you that you didn’t need to.”

“How could I not come? I…”

Ines, who had been so composed until yesterday, choked up. Rosette and Lucas exchanged glances and tactfully excused themselves.

Lucas put his hands behind his head, fingers interlocked, and mumbled, “I don’t know what all this fuss is about. Damn monsters.”

Then, he nudged Rosette, who was silent. “Shorty, His Highness the Prince has arrived.”

“……Yes?”

Lucas gestured with his chin. “Over there, His Highness the Prince has arrived.”

Joshua was in the distance, talking to the knights with Silver by his side. Lucas pushed Rosette a little harder, seeing her hesitation.

“Go on.”

“Weren’t you against me being with His Highness?”

“That’s right.”

“But why…….”

“Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I can stop you from saying goodbye. Go quickly, before I change my mind.”

“Okay. Thank you, Brother.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Rosette hugged Lucas, who was feigning indifference with a ‘hmph,’ and headed towards Joshua.

[Woof!]

Silver, who spotted her before Joshua, ran over. Rosette hugged Silver tightly, who was lifting his front paws and leaning into her, trying to calm him down.

“Yes, Silver. How have you been? Have you been busy?”

[Woof!]

“I’m glad to see you too, but won’t you give me some time to talk with His Highness?”

Silver’s tail, which had been wagging wildly, drooped. He reluctantly stood on all fours, looking disappointed.

“Thank you, Silver.”

Rosette stroked Silver’s nose and headed towards Joshua, who had already dismissed the knights and was approaching her.

“Rose.”

“Your Highness, are you well-prepared?”

“Why ‘Your Highness’ again?”

“There are many people here, so I can’t call you by your name.”

“I see.”

Joshua frowned slightly and took a couple of steps back. He had reached out to take Rosette’s hand but withdrew it.

Rosette knew that this was the right thing to do to avoid attention, but she felt a little disappointed by the distance.

“Didn’t you sleep well? You don’t look good.”

“How could I have slept well? Daniel and Your Highness are both leaving.”

“What if you collapse again?”

“I won’t collapse. My doctor and Celine said I’m really better now.”

“I’m still worried. If you collapse while I’m away, I can’t rush over right away.”

“It won’t happen, so you really don’t have to worry. Worry about yourself, Your Highness.”

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

Rosette glanced at Joshua, who shrugged. He chuckled and looked at Silver.

“I was thinking of leaving Silver with you. Silver agreed too.”

“No way.”

Rosette answered firmly. “Keep Silver by your side in case something happens.”

She felt sorry for saying this to Pipi, but Pipi didn’t really have any offensive abilities. The extent of her attack power was tearing out Lucas’s hair when she got angry.

‘Of course, she’s small and has a fast flying speed, so she can be used as a messenger pigeon in case of war, but still…’

On the other hand, Silver had strong physical attack power. He wouldn’t be physically affected by the attacks of monsters that weren’t imbued with mana [magical energy], so he was useful for subjugation.

‘Besides, Joshua can use magic better when Silver is by his side.’

So, of course, Silver had to be by Joshua’s side.

“It makes no sense to leave Silver by my side, safe in the capital.”

“I’m worried.”

“Still no.”

“I didn’t know you were so stubborn.”

“It’s not that I’m stubborn, it’s that Your Highness is being unreasonably stubborn.”

Rosette tapped Silver’s nose, scolding the wolf instead of Joshua.

“You too, Silver. Even if His Highness says something like that, you have to say you’ll follow him, not stay here.”

Silver whined as if he felt wronged, but Rosette didn’t give him any sympathy.

“Anyway, stay close to His Highness. I’ll scold you if he gets even a scratch.”

Silver whined and circled around Joshua. Rosette nodded in satisfaction and looked up at Joshua.

“Anyway, be careful.”

“Yeah. I can’t get hurt because you’re scary.”

“Don’t joke around.”

“I’m not joking. I think I’ll be living under your thumb from now on.”

Rosette crossed her arms and glared at him, but Joshua hesitated and asked.

“……Can I have a farewell kiss?”

“Yes?”

Rosette looked around in surprise. People were busy saying their goodbyes, but some were paying attention to them, curious about the relationship between Joshua and Rosette.

If she kissed Joshua in a place like this, it would be like announcing their relationship to the entire Empire.

But…….

“Yes.”

Rosette decided to take the plunge. She felt like she wouldn’t regret it even if this decision meant her future was mortgaged to the Imperial Family.

Joshua, who had asked first, was taken aback.

“You said it’s okay.”

“Really…….”

“Or should I give you one? A farewell kiss.”

“No, that…….”

Joshua was flustered but moved closer to Rosette. He gently took her hand and asked again.

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“Yes.”

Rosette stared into his eyes and smiled. “I won’t regret it.”

At the same time, Joshua cupped her cheeks and lowered his head. Soft lips landed on Rosette’s lips.

Rosette closed her eyes and squeezed Joshua’s hand.

Joshua gently bit her lower lip and then released it. Then, with a look full of regret, he straightened. It was a short and sweet kiss, conscious of the surrounding gazes.

However, the repercussions of that short action were significant. People gasped, and the news spread.

People began to whisper that Rosette Adrian and Joshua Ernhardt were lovers.

In the midst of it, Lucas facepalmed, thinking, ‘That’s not why I sent you to His Highness.’

It was something she had prepared for, but she felt a little uneasy as things escalated. As Rosette anxiously looked around, Joshua carefully turned her face to meet his gaze.

“It’s okay, everything will be alright.”

“That’s right. Everything will be alright.”

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Yes.”

Rosette squeezed Joshua’s hand one last time and let go. As soon as Joshua left, Lucas rushed over and started nagging, but Rosette’s gaze was solely fixed on Joshua.

“Hey, shorty! Are you listening to your brother?”

“…….”

Rosette ignored Lucas’s nagging and watched the departure ceremony.

The Emperor and Ophelia, as well as the Second Prince, Louis Ernhardt, came out to see Joshua and the subjugation force off.

Rosette, who had been watching Joshua’s back, suddenly turned her head for no particular reason, as if possessed.

And at that moment, Rosette’s eyes met Louis’s.

‘He’s smiling?’

It was only for a fleeting moment, but Louis smirked when he saw her.