The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 201

Epilogue (2)

May 19, 2024

‘Maybe I’ll hear good news from my sister soon, too.’

Isabelle, of the Imperial Knights, mostly stayed in the capital, even during winter. I planned to subtly inquire about what she’d been up to when I saw her this time.

Rosette, escorted by Lucas, climbed into the carriage, her face alight with excitement as she gazed out the window.

It was going to be a thrilling trip to the capital.

* * *

Of course, the mansion in the capital, which I hadn’t visited in months, was just as I remembered.

“Dad! Daniel, Brother!”

Rosette, leaping from the carriage, ran towards Duke Adrian and Daniel, who were waiting at the mansion.

“You arrived safely, Rose.”

“Of course. I was with Lucas, so it’s only natural.”

Rosette beamed, then turned to Daniel.

“How about you, Brother? Are the wedding preparations going well?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“What did I do?”

“Thanks to you, I can walk into the wedding hall on two legs.”

“Not that again! I just did what I had to do, and it was possible because other people helped too. Silver, Lord Roten, and Joshua, too.”

Even after several months, Daniel still praised Rosette like this whenever he had the chance.

“Okay, I won’t do that in the future. Anyway, let’s go inside, Rose. The chef has made lots of desserts because you’re here after so long.”

“Okay!”

Rosette went inside the mansion. She enjoyed a pleasant tea time with her family, except for Isabelle, who was at work at the Imperial Palace, and Ines, who had come to visit after hearing the news.

Later, she returned to her room.

An unexpected guest was waiting for her on the terrace.

[Woof!]

[Beep!]

“Silver?”

Silver, who had been lying in front of the terrace, wagging his tail and resting, bounded towards her instantly.

[Woof! Woof woof!]

It had been a long time since she’d seen Silver. Rosette hugged him tightly as he licked her cheeks, and she smiled brightly.

“It tickles, Silver!”

[Koo-ong!]

“Yes, I’m glad to see you too. How have you been?”

Just then, Joshua’s voice, laced with dissatisfaction, came from Silver’s necklace.

[……!]

Silver, sensing his master’s displeasure, quickly backed away. Rosette scolded Joshua when she heard Silver whimpering.

“I’m okay. Silver is just happy to see me, so…”

“……Pardon?”

A deep sigh echoed from the necklace. The words he muttered softly after that weren’t clear, but he seemed to be saying something like, ‘To think I’m feeling this way about Silver.’

Rosette hugged Silver’s neck and asked cautiously.

“Were you upset that I greeted Silver first?”

<…….>

He definitely seemed upset. Rosette hugged Silver even tighter, as if he were Joshua himself.

“Of course, I wanted to see Silver and Joshua. I haven’t seen you for a long time. I haven’t been able to exchange many letters recently because I’ve been busy.”

Joshua muttered something to himself again. This time, she couldn’t understand it at all.

“What did you say?”

Rosette listened to his regretful voice and whispered without thinking.

“I miss you.”

<…….>

“If I could, I feel like running to the Imperial Palace with Silver right now to see you. But Joshua and the Empress probably don’t have time for that, right?”

Before she knew it, Rosette’s voice was filled with longing.

“If I had known this would happen, I should have researched video communication magic during my break. Why didn’t I think of that sooner? Since I don’t know what will happen in the future, I should try researching it from now on.”

Joshua, who had been listening silently, finally spoke. His voice was a little quieter, as if he were asking someone else besides Rosette.

The voice that answered was Lord Roten’s.

<……You can say that because you don't understand my heart.>

Rosette, who had been perking up her ears since Isabelle’s name was mentioned, burst into laughter without realizing it.

Lord Roten’s voice muttered, ‘Look at this. How would the Princess see me?’

<…….>

Joshua sighed again and spoke to Rosette.

Still feeling regretful, Joshua continued to talk to Rosette, but after being scolded by Lord Roten, he turned off the communication.

Rosette, caressing the necklace with a regretful expression, smiled.

“Should I go and see him secretly?”

[Bbee?] [Woof?]

Rosette, looking at her familiars [magical companions] who seemed curious, jumped up from her seat.

She had no patience to wait another week.

* * *

“Oh my, Rosette!”

Ophelia, who had heard the news of Rosette’s visit, came out to greet her in person. She took Rosette’s hand, her eyes welling up with tears.

“How long has it been? I was so worried. Have you been well? Are you okay? It must have been hard coming all the way to the capital. Why didn’t you rest more at the mansion?”

Unlike the usually calm Ophelia, her words tumbled out quickly, and questions poured out non-stop.

Rosette was wondering what to answer first, but Ophelia’s maid carefully suggested.

“Your Highness, how about going to the garden? I’ll prepare refreshments right away.”

“I was so excited that I kept Rosette standing! Let’s sit down and talk.”

Rosette sat at the table in the garden, following Ophelia’s guidance. Then, she began to chat with Ophelia while the maid brought out refreshments.

“I’m sorry for visiting you so suddenly.”

Rosette had sent a note to Ophelia through Pipi [Rosette’s bird familiar] that she would be visiting the Empress Palace soon. It seemed faster to contact her that way than through a messenger.

Pipi, who had performed his duty well, was already getting biscuit crumbs from Ophelia when Rosette arrived.

“There’s no need to be sorry. I’m glad I can see you even a day sooner. I thought I would only be able to see you at the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony [formal ceremony where Joshua will be declared Crown Prince].”

“I was originally thinking of doing that, because the Empress and Joshua will be very busy. But I thought it was right to come and say hello since I haven’t seen the Empress for a long time. Actually, I should have visited you sooner, but it’s too late.”

“It’s not late.”

Ophelia carefully took Rosette’s hand.

“I know you’ve been through a lot. Rather, I should have visited you first. It’s all thanks to you that Joshua is safely by my side like this now.”

Ophelia smiled softly.

“Thank you so much for saving Joshua, Rose. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost everything and despaired.”

“I just did what I had to do.”

“And thank you for being by his side.”

Ophelia’s eyes seemed to be lost in memories.

“Joshua was a very lonely child. He didn’t receive love from his father, His Majesty, and I, who had no power, couldn’t protect him safely. Rather, Joshua protected me.”

“…….”

“Although Joshua was able to grow up safely without being attacked by assassins thanks to his innate magic and swordsmanship skills, I couldn’t even protect his heart. But you embraced the heart of that child who always had to be more mature than his age. It’s something only you can do.”

Rosette wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t because Ophelia kept talking.

“To Joshua, I was someone to protect, not someone he could rely on. But Rose, you stood side by side with him and gave Joshua a space to rest. It’s something only you can do.”

Rosette shook her head slightly.

“No. Joshua was able to endure because Your Majesty safely protected this place.”

What if Ophelia had met her fate early like before? Perhaps Joshua would have been immersed in despair at losing her again and regret for not protecting her, and he would not have been able to forgive himself.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Ophelia, who was patting the back of Rosette’s hand, smiled as she looked behind her.

“There are many more things I want to talk about, but he doesn’t give me time.”

“……?”

“He came faster than I thought. I thought he would come after at least exchanging simple greetings.”

Rosette, listening to Ophelia’s meaningful words, turned around with a hopeful heart and opened her eyes wide.

Joshua, wearing a light shirt and pants, was standing at the entrance of the garden. His hair was disheveled, as if he had run in a hurry.

“How…….”

Rosette had been planning to secretly see him with Ophelia’s help so as not to disturb Joshua. She hadn’t even considered meeting Joshua like this.

“I told him.”

“Your Majesty did?”

“Yes. If I didn’t tell Joshua that you came all the way here, what resentment would I hear later?”

Ophelia urged Rosette.

“Go quickly. Joshua has been dying to see you.”