The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 169

169. Ominous News (1)

It was, quite literally, a ‘fleeting moment.’ Louis regained his composure, his expression shifting as if he had never smiled at all.

Rosette watched him, his lips pressed tightly together and his face serious, and seriously wondered if she had imagined the smile. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking.

But the image of Louis smiling at her was vivid in her mind, as if etched there, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

Recalling his face made her blood run cold. It was a chillingly inappropriate reaction.

How could Louis, a member of the Imperial Family, smile like that about this situation? It felt deeply unsettling.

Even if they were vying for the Crown Prince position, Joshua was Louis’s brother. How could he be so pleased by the news of Joshua’s potential peril?

‘Well, it’s too late to talk about family now,’ she thought, a bitter realization washing over her.

So, Louis was hoping that Joshua would die at the hands of the demons, absolving him of any direct involvement. A clean, bloodless victory.

He probably wanted to hear the news he desired from the safety of the Imperial Palace, citing his lack of ability as a convenient excuse.

‘That will never happen. Joshua will return safely. And in the meantime, I will find a way to bring down the Lillis family and His Second Highness.’ Her resolve hardened.

Rosette glared at Louis, searching for any flicker of his true intentions. It was another attempt to find a weakness, but Louis did not reveal his true colors until the subjugation force departed.

* * *

“The Empire’s atmosphere is so chaotic, yet they’re still holding the National Foundation Festival. Isn’t that a bit much?” Clara asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

“I think it’s fine,” Theresa replied. “Just because the situation in the North is serious doesn’t mean the entire Empire needs to fall into despair. If we cancel the National Foundation Festival, people will become even more anxious. There’s no need to create more unease.”

“It’s not about creating unease, but… Ugh.” Clara sighed, resting her chin on her hand as she engaged in a serious conversation with Theresa.

“People need to understand the severity of the situation. Everyone in the North is struggling to fight the demons, and we can’t just live peacefully as if nothing is happening.”

“If people start rioting, that would be even more serious,” Theresa countered, highlighting the potential consequences of widespread panic.

“At the very least, they could cancel the swordsmanship competition or the celebratory banquet. All the capable knights have been dispatched, so who will participate in the swordsmanship competition? And what about the banquet? How many nobles attending have family members who have been dispatched to the front lines?”

“Clara, watch your words…” Theresa warned, her voice laced with caution.

“Ah, why…” Clara, who had been grumbling, belatedly noticed Rosette sitting at the end of Theresa’s gaze and clamped her mouth shut. Theresa glared at Clara once before quickly changing the subject.

“Speaking of which, Rosette, have you decided on a dress to wear to the banquet?”

“…”

Rosette, who had been lost in thought and hadn’t been listening to them, didn’t respond. Her mind was elsewhere, grappling with the implications of the war.

Only after Clara waved her hand in front of Rosette’s eyes did she snap out of it.

“Huh? What did you say?” she asked, blinking in confusion.

Clara grinned, showing her teeth. “I asked if you’ve decided on a dress to wear to the banquet.”

“Banquet? What banquet?”

“The National Foundation Festival celebration banquet at the Imperial Palace,” Clara clarified.

“Ah…” Rosette forced a smile, the thought of celebrating feeling hollow in the face of the ongoing conflict.

It had already been two weeks since the demon subjugation force had headed north. During that time, rumors about the demons had spread uncontrollably throughout the capital, fueling fear and uncertainty.

Perhaps to appease the anxious public, the Emperor declared that the National Foundation Festival would proceed as planned. Some nobles, including Duke Adrian, opposed it, but they couldn’t sway the Emperor’s stubbornness. His decision was final.

As the Emperor’s eldest son, Joshua, had also participated in the subjugation, they couldn’t even use the excuse of ‘considering the feelings of the remaining family members.’ The Emperor seemed determined to project an image of strength and stability.

In any case, as a result, the National Foundation Festival and the Imperial banquet were to be held as the Emperor wished.

Rosette thought of Lucas, who had been furious that this was really happening, before answering.

“I’m still thinking about it. Lady Wide said she’s going to present some new designs, but…” Her voice trailed off as she let out a deep sigh.

“Actually, I was wondering whether to even attend the banquet in the first place.”

“Wondering? Why?” Clara asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

“Just… I don’t think I’d be able to enjoy it properly even if I went. It feels wrong to celebrate while so many are suffering.”

“Yeah, I feel the same way,” Clara said, her voice softening with understanding.

“I’m already feeling unsettled, so I can only imagine how you must feel. But Adrian will be holding up well. And His Highness too,” Theresa added, offering words of encouragement.

“That’s right. So don’t worry,” Clara reassured her.

The two friends, who had been comforting Rosette, exchanged silent signals before sticking close to her on either side, offering their unwavering support.

“By the way, everyone I meet these days is talking about you. What’s going on?” Clara asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“What, what is?” Rosette stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“His Highness the First Prince!” Clara exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

Even Theresa, who was usually calmer than Clara, blushed with excitement. “Rumors are spreading that you and His Highness are in a romantic relationship. Is it true?”

Clara chimed in with a mischievous look. “A romantic relationship doesn’t quite cover it. Haven’t you heard? Apparently, Rosette and His Highness at the departure ceremony… Mmph!”

Rosette quickly covered Clara’s mouth with both hands, trying to silence her friend’s indiscretion. Theresa playfully finished the sentence in Clara’s place.

“The rumor that Rosette and His Highness shared a kiss, right?”

“Theresa!” Rosette looked around, her face instantly turning red. She was mortified.

Fortunately, the terrace where they were sitting was separated from the others, ensuring privacy. The waiter had also been dismissed, so no one had heard their conversation. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Clara, having removed Rosette’s hands, teased her. “Why are you so surprised? Everyone who needs to know already knows. If you wanted to keep it a secret, you shouldn’t have done that in a crowded place.”

“That’s true, but…” Rosette mumbled, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

When Rosette allowed Joshua’s farewell kiss, she had decided to accept all the repercussions that would follow. She knew it would become a topic of gossip.

If she really didn’t want people talking about it, she wouldn’t have done it in the first place, as Clara said. She had made her choice.

However, hearing it from her closest friends made her extremely embarrassed. She felt like she wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

For the record, her family had definitely heard the news, but they hadn’t shown any reaction. Only Lucas glared at Rosette as if he wanted to burn her alive, then repeatedly sighed, a mixture of disapproval and resignation in his eyes.

‘I heard that His Majesty the Emperor was also pleased,’ she recalled, a flicker of unease passing through her.

The day after the departure ceremony, Duke Adrian was summoned to the Imperial Palace. He didn’t tell Rosette what was discussed. He remained tight-lipped about the details.

Instead, according to Lucas, who had accompanied the Duke in place of Daniel, the Emperor seemed ready to push for Rosette and Joshua’s engagement immediately, but the Duke had stopped him. He had apparently urged caution and patience.

“So, what exactly happened? How could you keep it so secret from us? I guess the quiet cat climbs the chimney first [meaning someone who is secretive often achieves more]. It looks like you’ll be the first to get engaged,” Clara said, feigning offense.

“That’s right. You could have at least given us a hint. It’s a little upsetting to hear about your love life from someone else instead of you,” Theresa added, echoing Clara’s sentiments.

Clara and Theresa seemed genuinely disappointed.

“I’m sorry. There were circumstances. It’s not easy to talk about, especially since it’s not just anyone,” Rosette explained, her voice laced with apology.

“Well, I understand that. It’s His Highness the First Prince, after all. Even if we’re your closest friends, it wouldn’t be easy to talk about. Right, Theresa?” Clara said, offering a gesture of understanding.

“Yeah, that’s true. Anyway, when did you and His Highness become so close?” Theresa asked, her curiosity piqued.

Rosette briefly explained her relationship with Joshua to her two friends. Since the entire capital knew about their relationship, there was no reason to hide it anymore. She decided to be honest, up to a point.

However, she couldn’t tell them that the two of them had regressed and that they had known each other since their first meeting. So, there wasn’t much she could say without revealing the truth.

“Adrian was always close to the Empress, so Adrian and His Highness had a lot of interaction,” she began, offering a simplified explanation.

“That’s right,” Clara and Theresa nodded in agreement.

“Naturally, she met His Highness from a young age, and they developed feelings for each other,” Rosette concluded.

“Well, it would be strange if they didn’t develop feelings after being together so much,” Clara commented, a knowing smile on her face.

“That’s true,” Theresa agreed.

Clara and Theresa understood with just a brief explanation.

“So, what’s going to happen in the future?” Clara asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Rosette asked, confused by the question.

“You’re an Adrian. You’re from a family that wouldn’t have any problems marrying His Highness. Are you going to marry His Highness?” Clara clarified, cutting to the chase.

“Well…” Rosette hesitated, unsure of how to answer.

“Clara, give her a break. She wouldn’t have revealed it like this if she wasn’t planning to. Maybe His Highness has already proposed? Ah, I guess not,” Theresa said, observing Rosette’s reaction.

Theresa clicked her tongue in disappointment, looking at Rosette’s bare ring finger.

Rosette hesitated before speaking honestly. “I don’t know yet.”

“Why?” Clara asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

“It’s true that I like His Highness a lot, but marriage still feels like a distant thing. It’s only been about half a year since I returned from studying in the Ivelin Kingdom for so long, and also…” Rosette trailed off, struggling to articulate her feelings.

Rosette was worried that her two friends wouldn’t understand her feelings, so she rambled on. But Clara and Theresa, surprisingly, understood easily this time as well.

“Well, that makes sense,” Clara said, nodding in understanding.

“You can understand?” Rosette asked, surprised by their empathy.

“Yeah, of course. I’ve been getting a lot of marriage proposals lately too. My father told me to tell him if I have a lover or if there’s someone I like, but honestly, I’m not ready yet. Leaving my family and starting my own? I wonder if I can do it well,” Clara confessed, revealing her own anxieties about marriage.

“I feel the same way. Me, becoming the mistress of a household and taking care of everything? Ugh, how awful,” Theresa added, shuddering at the thought.

Clara, who was disgusted, patted Rosette’s hand. “So, don’t worry too much about what others say. We’re on your side no matter what you do. Okay?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Rosette said, her voice filled with gratitude.

“It’ll be tough, but I hope you come to the banquet. Let’s hang out together without any interruptions for once,” Theresa suggested, offering a welcome distraction.

“Yeah, yeah! Let’s drink a lot too!” Clara exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

Rosette smiled brightly, watching her two friends speak with forced excitement. She appreciated their efforts to cheer her up.

“Okay. Thank you,” she said, her heart filled with warmth.

* * *

“Young Lady! A letter has arrived!” Joan announced as soon as Rosette entered the mansion. The letter looked crumpled at first glance, but Rosette beamed when she saw the seal on the envelope.

It was a letter from Joshua.

Joan smiled as she watched Rosette’s bright face as she eagerly received the letter. She was happy to see the young lady so cheerful.

“The Young Master also sent a letter to the Master. You will be able to see the letter when you go to the Master,” Joan added.

“Really?” Rosette asked, her eyes widening with anticipation.

Rosette hurried towards Adrian’s study, quickly tearing open the wax seal. Her expression hardened as she read the letter with a joyful heart. The news was not good.

‘Daniel is hurt?’