The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 171

171. Enlightenment

2024.04.19.

“Father and I are trying to reassure ourselves.”

“Reassure?”

Lucas gave a bitter smile.

“If even you have to step in, it means the situation is serious. We’re hoping it’s not that bad. Even if you do step in, it should be as a last resort.”

“But…”

“I don’t need to tell you again that you’re a great mage. It’s just a waste of breath. I know that, but we want to protect you. To me, you’re still the little kid who first came to the mansion.”

“…”

“So, let’s trust Daniel for now. If the situation really gets serious, then I won’t stop you.”

Rosette looked at Lucas’s face, which was filled with earnestness, and barely nodded.

Hoping that Daniel would be safe.

* * *

Rosette expected additional letters from Joshua. She thought there would be follow-up reports, whether Daniel got worse or better.

However, days passed without any contact from Joshua. Duke Adrian had also sent letters to the north, but he hadn’t received any significant replies.

“Could something really be wrong?”

Rosette murmured gloomily, looking at herself in the mirror. Joanne, who was dressing her up, tried to smile brightly.

“Everything will be alright. They always say no news is good news. If something had happened, we would have heard by now. Don’t worry and enjoy the banquet.”

“That’s right, Miss! What kind of person is the Young Master! He’ll sweep away all the monsters and come back soon!”

The maids, who didn’t know about Daniel’s situation, tried hard to comfort Rosette.

“Yes, I’m sure. Daniel is the strongest knight after Father, so he’ll be safe.”

Rosette smiled faintly.

‘Everyone must be anxious; I can’t afford to make things worse.’

In fact, she heard that there was no contact not only from Joshua and Daniel but also from the subjugation force. The Emperor had sent additional personnel to find out what was going on, but even they hadn’t returned.

The Imperial Family was trying to keep this news from leaking out, but rumors were starting to spread secretly.

Some were saying that monsters might soon overrun the capital, and there was a growing voice calling for countermeasures to be taken in advance.

Amidst all this, some people criticized the Emperor for proceeding with the founding festival and banquet as planned.

‘Honestly, I don’t want to go either, but if I don’t go, the anxiety will only increase.’

If Adrian, who protects the north, didn’t show up, the people of the Empire would realize that the situation was really serious, and the capital would be filled with fear in an instant.

In preparation for any unforeseen events, Rosette decided to attend the banquet.

“Wow, Miss. You look so beautiful.”

“There’s no goddess of beauty that can compare. You’ll be the star of the banquet today. The First Prince should have seen this.”

“You.”

Joanne scolded the maid who had inadvertently mentioned Joshua. The maid quickly bowed her head, seeing Rosette’s expression.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I shouldn’t have said that…”

“No, it’s okay. I also wish Joshua could see this. You guys dressed me up so beautifully. Thank you.”

Rosette smiled at the maids one by one and then got up from her seat. Joanne hurried out to call Lucas.

Lucas, who was Rosette’s partner for the day, whistled as soon as he saw her.

“Ooh, Rosette. You’re quite prettily dressed up.”

“You’re nicely dressed up too, Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or close male friend].”

“Really? I put in some effort. I have to seize the opportunity and get some attention while Daniel is away, right? Even though Daniel has already gotten engaged, everyone only looks at him when he enters the party.”

Rosette chuckled at Lucas’s playful words. Lucas laughed loudly and then offered his arm to Rosette.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes.”

Rosette and Lucas deliberately chattered and talked in the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace. Pipi, who was wearing a pretty ribbon, also joined the conversation.

“Oh, Pipi. You look quite handsome today?”

“[Bbit!]”

“We should find you a good partner soon.”

“[Bbiik?]”

“But can familiars even get married?”

“[Bbit!]”

“Even if they can’t, we’ll make it happen! Don’t worry, Pipi. Lucas will figure something out.”

“[Bbiee.]”

Lucas didn’t even understand Pipi’s words but conversed with him just fine. He didn’t even realize that Pipi was shaking his head, thinking, ‘Oh dear, he’s starting again.’

Having arrived at the Imperial Palace, Rosette entered the banquet hall with Lucas’s escort. The banquet hall was crowded, but the atmosphere wasn’t the same as before.

Everyone was gathered in groups of three or five, talking noisily, but their expressions weren’t very good.

“Everyone looks like they’re attending a funeral. If they’re going to be like that, why didn’t they just stay home?”

“…”

“Rosette, loosen up your expression and enjoy yourself. There’s nothing that can be solved by worrying here anyway.”

Lucas, who lightly nudged Rosette’s back, disappeared, saying he was going to talk to his friends.

Rosette sighed once and then walked around the hall looking for Clara and Theresa.

She was chatting brightly with her two friends when the attendant announced the arrival of Princess Lillis. She was dressed up more splendidly than anyone else, and she was smiling brightly with a face that showed no worries.

Clara frowned and muttered sarcastically.

“Her expression is very bright. It means the Second Prince is safe and sound in the Imperial Palace, right?”

“Clara, watch your words.”

Even though Theresa warned her, Clara didn’t stop.

“Did I say anything wrong? Honestly, Princess Lillis is probably hoping that this subjugation will fail. She’s the one who would benefit the most from its failure.”

As Clara said, if this subjugation failed, and if Joshua were to die, Louis would naturally become the Crown Prince.

Ophelia would be plunged into sorrow, and since her health wasn’t good, something bad might happen.

‘If not, the Lillis family might do something.’

Since there would be no one to protect Ophelia, Duke Lillis might openly plot against her.

It was a scenario that Rosette didn’t want to think about at all.

Theresa, having noticed Rosette’s stiff face, pinched Clara’s arm hard.

“Ouch.”

“Think before you speak.”

“That…”

Clara, who was about to retort, belatedly realized that she had made a mistake and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Rosette. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

“It’s okay. I know how you feel.”

Rosette patted Clara’s shoulder and then observed Princess Lillis. She was more excited than ever.

Soon after, Ophelia also appeared in the banquet hall. She was dressed plainly and was smiling, but her complexion was dark.

Rosette excused herself from her two friends and quickly approached her.

“Your Majesty.”

“Ah, Rosette.”

Ophelia smiled and hugged Rosette. She could feel her arms trembling.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you. Have you been alright, Your Majesty?”

“What could happen to me? I’ve been protected in the Empress’s Palace.”

Rosette drooped her eyebrows.

“Joshua will be safe.”

“Yes, he will be. No, he must be.”

Ophelia, who muttered self-deprecatingly, raised her voice.

“Come to think of it, you call Joshua by his name. I saw you two that day, but I didn’t know you were this close.”

Rosette blushed.

“It just happened that way.”

Ophelia chuckled.

“Actually, I knew that you two would end up like this.”

“…How?”

“To be exact, I knew that Joshua had feelings for you. He’s cherished you since he was young.”

“Me? I don’t think so.”

Joshua hated Rosette when he was young. But to cherish her?

Rosette shook her head with a disbelieving expression, and Ophelia spoke again.

“No. Even so, I’m his mother, aren’t I? I can say that I know Joshua better than anyone else. He’s liked you for longer than you think.”

She didn’t know. Joshua said that Rosette had bothered him since some point, but she didn’t know it was something that Ophelia remembered as a long time ago.

If she had known that it was such a long and deep feeling, she would have expressed it sooner. She would have told him that she had loved him a lot for a long time too.

‘I miss him.’

She felt like she was going to cry. The anxiety that she had been suppressing all along slowly rose again.

What if she couldn’t see Joshua again? What if the last time she saw him was the last time she would ever see him?

If that man is no longer in this world, how should she live now?

Should she turn back time again this time? Is that even possible?

Even if she turned back time, would Joshua love her again?

Would her father and family cherish her again?

‘Calm down, Rosette. Don’t assume things like that. That will never happen.’

She steeled her heart and looked at the entrance of the banquet hall. Just a moment ago, the attendant had announced the arrival of Louis Ernhardt.

“Louis.”

Princess Lillis ran to Louis as if she was happy and hugged her son. Duke Lillis also approached them and smiled.

‘Not this time.’

She didn’t know what Duke Lillis and Louis had done.

However, it was suspicious that monsters, which had not appeared in the past, had suddenly appeared.

Why did monsters suddenly appear?

At that moment, Rosette saw Michael Löscher entering the banquet hall. Rosette realized something in an instant and widened her eyes.

‘A person who didn’t appear in the past…’

Come to think of it, wasn’t Michael not in the Empire in the past?

A thought that she had never had before dominated her mind.