The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 202

202. Epilogue (3)

May 20, 2024

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

However, Rosette didn’t move. Joshua, who had rushed over anxiously, hugged her tightly, his breath warm against her ear.

Rosette, unsure of what to do, hugged him back awkwardly, glancing at Ophelia. Ophelia, wearing a pleased smile, led the maids out of the garden.

“Let’s give them some time to talk. Pipi, come here. I’ll give you more biscuits inside.”

[Chirp!]

Only after they were completely alone did Rosette hesitantly wrap her arms tightly around Joshua’s waist.

The strength of his embrace, as if he would crush her, and the warmth she had longed for, were welcome.

The only thing she regretted was that she wanted to hear Joshua’s voice, but he only caught his breath and didn’t seem to want to say anything.

After a moment of hesitation, Rosette spoke first.

“How have you been?”

“…….”

“I missed you so much that I came here…”

Only then did Joshua let her hear his voice.

“You missed me, but you were going to see only Mother and not even tell me?”

“No, that…”

“How could you do that after coming all the way here?”

His voice held a hint of resentment. Perhaps Joshua was once again upset that Rosette prioritized Ophelia over him.

Didn’t he also subtly show his disappointment earlier when she greeted Silver more enthusiastically than him?

To soothe his feelings, Rosette buried her face in his arms and shook her head.

“That’s not it.”

“Then?”

“I thought Joshua looked very busy, so I was going to see the Empress and then secretly see your face and leave.”

“Without telling me? You really came to see me just to secretly look at me?”

“Well, no…….”

“If Mother hadn’t given me a hint, I don’t think you would have told me until the end.”

Rosette couldn’t bring herself to lie and say that wasn’t the case.

“I thought I would be a hindrance. Earlier, Lord Roten said you were so busy that you were dividing your time into minutes.”

“I can still make time to see you.”

Rosette unconsciously made a ‘tch’ sound.

“Liar. You didn’t come to see me after all.”

She knew it was childish whining, but she wanted to act spoiled with him for once.

Joshua’s sigh warmed the top of her head.

“I was adjusting my schedule to see you even this evening. Lord Roten was furious and said it wouldn’t work, but he soon approved, saying I could take some time off.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. I barely managed to get away with it even now. I don’t know who’s in charge and who’s the subordinate.”

She felt happy again at the words that he was going to come to see her. When Rosette burst into laughter, Joshua still grumbled discontentedly.

“But you were going to see only Mother and leave.”

“That’s all because I was thinking of Joshua…!”

“If you really thought of me, you should have come to see me first.”

“But it’s also proper to visit the Empress first…”

“Mother would have understood.”

“But…!”

*I did it all for Joshua! It’s not like I didn’t want to see you!*

It was when Rosette raised her head to protest that Joshua quickly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

He explored her lips urgently, like someone who had been wandering in the desert and found an oasis.

When Rosette turned her head slightly because she was out of breath, he waited for her to catch her breath before kissing her again.

It was a deeper and hotter kiss than ever before.

But there was another difference from before.

“……Joshua?”

Joshua’s lips, which had tasted Rosette’s lips to his heart’s content, moved to another place.

When he bit her earlobe with his lips and then nipped it with his teeth, Rosette felt goosebumps rising all over her spine.

A strange sound, unfamiliar even to her own ears, escaped her lips.

Joshua didn’t stop there and lowered his head further. Soft lips trailed down her slender, white neck. Hot breath touched her skin, and goosebumps rose.

It was something she had never experienced before. She was afraid because she didn’t really know what would happen in the future, but on the other hand, she didn’t dislike Joshua’s actions.

Joshua’s lips, which had gone down to her collarbone, retraced their path. Her body accepted it more sensitively the second time his lips touched her neck than the first time.

Rosette didn’t know what to do and repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fingers.

Finally, Joshua raised his head, ending with a kiss on her lips that made a smacking sound.

Unlike Rosette’s face, which was flushed as if it would burst, his face was not much different. His breathing was disturbed, but it wasn’t particularly noticeable.

*Was it because he had learned to hide his expressions since he was born? Or was it just his personality?*

Rosette, who was blankly thinking, covered her lips with her palm as she watched Joshua lick his lower lip with his tongue.

“Th, th, that just now…”

“It seems the Duchy didn’t properly educate you in this area.”

“What does that…”

Joshua buried his face in Rosette’s shoulder.

“Just know that I miss you and want you a lot.”

“…….”

“I’m going crazy because you don’t leave my head all day.”

“That…”

Rosette carefully stroked his hair.

“I feel the same way.”

She smiled brightly.

“I missed you a lot, and I longed for you. I don’t know how many times Joshua appeared in my dreams.”

She didn’t know what was wrong with Rosette’s words, but Joshua’s breathing, which had barely calmed down, began to roughen again.

It was when Joshua raised his head and was about to explore Rosette’s lips again.

“Your Highness!”

From afar, the voice of a disturber, not at all welcome to Joshua, was heard loudly. It was Lord Roten’s voice.

“I sent you saying you would only see her for five minutes, but it’s my fault for trusting you, Your Highness!”

Lord Roten quickly entered the garden. Joshua gritted his teeth.

Rosette, with a reddened face, moved away from him.

“L, Lord Roten. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Princess. It’s been a long time. I’m so glad to see you return to the capital safely. Lord Adrian has been waiting for you so much.”

Apart from being embarrassed at being caught in an amorous scene with Joshua, she was intrigued by Isabel’s story.

“Now that I think about it, I heard that you’ve been getting along well with Isabel lately.”

This time it was Lord Roten’s turn to blush.

“No, well, it’s not really like that…”

“I think I can trust and entrust my sister to Lord Roten. It’s not like I’m in a position to tell her what to do, though.”

“We’re not like that…”

At that moment, Joshua stepped between Rosette and Lord Roten and said coldly.

“It seems you’ve completely lost your mind, following me all the way here when I said I would go on my own.”

“The situation was urgent, so I couldn’t help it.”

“Aren’t you even afraid of me now?”

“Your Highness? I’m more afraid of the documents piled up on your desk.”

Rosette, who burst into laughter, lightly pushed Joshua’s back.

“Go quickly. It’s enough since I saw your face.”

“Rose, I’ll be in a lot of trouble if even you say that.”

Rosette squeezed Joshua’s hand once and then let go.

“There will be more days to spend together in the future. Think of it as one step back for a leap forward.”

“Ha…….”

Joshua, who messed up his hair and let out a deep sigh, pressed his lips to her forehead and then took them away.

“Okay. I will.”

“Then I’ll see you at the Crown Prince’s Inauguration Ceremony.”

“Stay well until then. Contact me if anything happens.”

“Okay.”

“If you ever go to the Empress again, be sure to tell me too…”

“Your Highness, there really isn’t time for that.”

Lord Roten was now grabbing Joshua’s arm and pulling him. It was a very rude act, but Joshua only sighed and didn’t scold him.

“Then go in carefully.”

Joshua left those words and left the Empress’s Palace. He looked back at Rosette several times before finally being dragged away by Lord Roten.

[Chirp!]

Rosette, who was watching the scene with a smiling face, reached out to Pipi, who had come to her. Pipi rubbed his beak against her finger.

“Yeah, it was fun. Did you eat your fill of snacks too?”

[Chirp!]

“That’s good. Then let’s say goodbye to the Empress and go back. We should have dinner with the whole family for the first time in a while.”

[Chirp!]

After saying goodbye to Ophelia, Rosette returned to the mansion and had a good time with her family for the first time in a long time.

*Now this won’t last much longer.*

She already knew the future that was coming. She didn’t know when, but Joshua would propose to her, and Rosette would gladly accept it.

It wasn’t just marrying a high-ranking noble, but becoming the Crown Princess.

It would be difficult to visit her family freely like now. Her family could come to the Imperial Palace, but it would be difficult for Rosette to come to the Duke’s residence.

That’s why this time was more precious. Rosette enjoyed this time to the fullest.

It was a happy day that she wouldn’t be able to enjoy again.

* * *

Rosette spent the next week in a daze. She had to fit the dress she would wear to Joshua’s Inauguration Ceremony and review her etiquette once again.

They were so busy that she couldn’t even have a proper conversation with Joshua. It was difficult to find time to talk even through Silver.

Time passed quickly, and the morning of the Crown Prince’s Inauguration Ceremony dawned.