The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 208

208. Side Story 2: Wedding Preparations (2)

May 26, 2024

Fiancée. That single word lifted her gloomy mood.

“Thank you, even just for saying that.”

“Okay. Oh, right. Ines and Daniel went on a trip to the Caitlin Territory this time. They said it was really nice. They said it would be great if the whole family could go on a trip together in the summer.”

After pondering for a moment, Joshua cautiously suggested,

“Pardon?”

Rosette, without realizing it, excitedly hugged Silver a little tighter. Silver whined, sounding a bit choked, but remained still.

“Really? But can you take that much time off?”

“I want to go!”

Only then did Rosette say with relief,

“It would be so wonderful to go with Joshua.”

“I’m already looking forward to it.”

As Rosette chattered in a very excited voice, Silver, also excited, licked her cheek.

“That tickles, Silver.”

“Not all slobbery, just licked it a bit.”

[Woof!]

Silver barked triumphantly.

“Are you very busy?”

“Hmph.”

Rosette buried her face in Silver’s neck.

“No, it’s just…”

Rosette’s voice grew softer.

“I miss you…”

In that instant, an ominous silence flowed from beyond the necklace. Once again, Joshua and Lord Roten could be heard talking.

It was roughly about going out for a short while and being stopped from going anywhere.

Rosette quickly shouted,

“I’m! Okay! You must be tired, so you don’t have to come. Really.”

A cry of ‘That won’t do, Your Highness!’ followed.

“It’s really okay. I’m going to get on Lord Roten’s bad side like this.”

“They might. Anyway, it’s really okay if you don’t come today. I’m going to the Imperial Palace in a few days anyway. I’ll see you then.”

Joshua sighed, a deep sense of regret in his voice.

“Okay. You promised?”

Rosette kissed the necklace, filled with longing. A light peck sounded.

Knowing what that sound was, Joshua muttered quietly.

Rosette chuckled softly and turned off the magic communication device. If she didn’t cut it off first, Joshua would surely keep talking to her.

“Are you going to stay a little longer, Silver?”

[Woof!]

Silver wagged his tail happily.

After giving the wolf a treat, Rosette woke Pipi, who was dozing off on the head of the bed.

“Pipi, wake up.”

[Pip?]

“Can you do me a favor?”

[Pipp!]

Rosette placed a flower in Pipi’s beak, as if entrusting it to him. It was chosen from the bouquet Ines had given her.

A small note was tied to Pipi’s tiny ankle.

“You have to deliver it safely without losing it. Got it?”

[Poot!]

Pipi nodded vigorously and soared powerfully into the sky, where the sunset was beginning.

* * *

“Did you hear something?”

Joshua, who was quickly organizing the piled-up documents, suddenly raised his head. Lord Roten, who was also processing documents, shook his head.

“I didn’t particularly hear anything.”

“No, I definitely heard something.”

Joshua, who had gotten up from his seat and headed to the large window, smiled. A white parrotbill [a small, finch-like bird], too small and adorable compared to the window, was tapping on the window.

“Pipi, did Rose send you?”

[Poot!]

Pipi, who had climbed onto Joshua’s palm, rubbed his cheek all over as a sign of affection.

Joshua stroked the parrotbill’s head, pleased by the gesture, and took the flower from Pipi’s beak.

“What’s this flower? Did you bring it, or did Rose send it?”

[Pip! Peep!]

Pipi proudly held out his left foot.

A smile spread across Joshua’s face as he quickly unfolded the note.

Sending a flower filled with happiness, I miss you, I love you.

It was a short note, but it was a powerful word that could melt Joshua’s heart.

Joshua neatly folded the note and put it in a box with the flower. Then, he broke a biscuit for Pipi and whispered.

“Tell Rose I’m sorry I can’t run to her right away. I’m holding back because of your request.”

[Pipp!]

Pipi nodded while aggressively pecking at the biscuit.

“Also, tell her I miss her and that I love her.”

[Pee…]

Pipi stopped eating the biscuit and stared up at Joshua.

His two eyes, like black sesame seeds, gleamed.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

[Peet.]

Rosette likes it, so I’m delivering it, but I can’t stand how lovey-dovey you are.

Joshua muttered words he couldn’t understand, and Pipi finished all the biscuits.

Joshua shouted at Pipi’s tail as he flew to the Adrian mansion.

“And tell Silver not to think about loafing around there and to come back quickly!”

[Peeeeeet!]

Pipi’s cheerful chirping echoed in the sky.

* * *

Rosette’s wedding preparations were progressing smoothly. It was thanks to the all-out efforts of Adrian and the Ernhardt Imperial Family.

In particular, Ines and Ophelia were very attentive.

The dresses to wear for the ceremony and reception party were entrusted to Madam Wide, as always. She was grateful for their trust in her and honored at the same time.

The wedding venue was decided to be the Grand Temple in the capital. It was said that it would be decorated with flowers sent from all over the country.

Many other things were also decided.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, Rosette was able to rest and enjoy her freedom as much as she wanted for the past few months, as Lucas had advised.

However, she didn’t completely enjoy the rest. She had her own things to do.

She continued to research magic with Melody and Celine, and on the other hand, she learned the etiquette that the Imperial Family should have.

Ophelia offered to teach her etiquette first. Rosette refused, saying, ‘I can’t impose on Her Majesty!’ but she couldn’t break her persistence in the end.

Thus, she met Ophelia two or three times a week for classes. She could see Joshua every time.

Whenever Rosette made a mistake in etiquette and became sullen, Joshua would whisper, ‘You don’t have to be bound by stuffy etiquette. Just be yourself. Do whatever you want. I’ll take responsibility for everything.’

To Rosette’s question, ‘But what if His Majesty doesn’t like me?’, he replied, ‘That’s unlikely, but even if he does, I’ll throw a tantrum.’

Rosette was taken aback by his words, but she just laughed it off. She was very happy that someone was supporting her.

As the preparations progressed smoothly, a problem arose.

“Miss, are you still worried about the guest list?”

Joan asked cautiously as Rosette grabbed her head and groaned.

“Shall I bring you some sweet chocolate milk? Sweet things are the best when you have worries.”

“No!”

Rosette stopped Joan, who was about to get up.

“Joan, you rest. It’s hard for you to move around.”

The seasons had changed twice, and Joan’s belly was already quite swollen. The baby was due in two months.

“And I wasn’t worried about the guest list. I’ve already written almost all of it. Father said it was okay to invite Jane and my orphanage friends too.”

Rosette put down her pen and checked Joan’s complexion.

“Are you uncomfortable? I kept telling you to rest because it’s hard.”

“I’m here because I like it. And now all I do is sit next to Miss without doing anything.”

“Still, it’s hard if you sit for too long.”

“Rather, it’s more boring and difficult to be alone at home. It’s better to see Miss’s face than to just knit until Chris comes back.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Joan smiled, holding Rosette’s hand tightly.

“And there aren’t many days left for me to serve Miss like this by her side.”

“…”

“If I have a baby next month, I won’t be able to work for a while.”

“Of course. I heard you need to recover your body sufficiently. I’ll give Chris a few months off too.”

“Thank you for taking care of me like this. Anyway, if I have a baby, I probably won’t be able to work properly until Miss’s wedding. And when Miss goes to the Imperial Palace, I won’t be able to be by your side anymore. So I have to see you a lot now. Oh, the baby says so too.”

Joan rubbed her belly where she felt the baby kicking.

“Actually, I’m a little upset. I’ve served Miss the longest, but I can’t be with you until the end of your wedding preparations. I’m happy to have a baby, but I’m also a little sad.”

“Don’t think like that. The baby will be sad.”

“Anyway, for that reason, I’m going to come see Miss as long as I can move.”

Rosette hesitated for a moment.

“Actually, I have something to say about that…”

What she had been seriously worried about since earlier was about Joan.

“I don’t want to be separated from Joan either. Of course, Joan has a family now, so she can’t always be by my side like before. But I want to see Joan often. So, what I’m saying is…”

Rosette took a deep breath and said,

“Won’t you be my first lady-in-waiting?”