The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 4

Adrian, the Duke, remembered Rosette, the girl he’d seen earlier in the plaza.

On his way to the orphanage, he’d sensed a surge of mana and followed it. Such a strong magical presence was unusual for the quiet little town, so he felt compelled to investigate.

That’s where he encountered the pink-haired girl.

The girl, aptly named Rosette, possessed the greatest magical potential he had ever witnessed. Even someone as magically inept as himself could sense it.

As an adult, he naturally felt the urge to help such a gifted child flourish.

But Adrian, the Duke, had other reasons, too.

‘And somehow, I feel like I need to protect her.’

Her trembling, tearful face was so pitiful that it haunted him. He couldn’t simply leave her as she was; the thought of her plight lingered in his mind.

If he had his way, he would have taken her back to the Adrian estate immediately. He was even prepared to do so if Rosette agreed.

It was a strange feeling. He had only felt this protective instinct when looking at his own three children.

‘If it’s the Adrian Dukedom, we can trust them to take care of the child. Oh, Rose is here.’

The director greeted Rosette as she cautiously entered the room. But Rosette’s expression was troubled.

She saw Adrian, the Duke, sitting across from the director, and her already pale face turned ashen.

The director, following Rosette’s gaze, understood her feelings perfectly.

‘Nobles can be intimidating.’

Adrian, the Duke, was well-built, as one would expect of a Sword Master. He was taller than most knights and possessed a robust physique.

His demeanor was generally gentle, but to a child already wary of nobles, he might appear imposing.

Rosette was the most sensitive and delicate child in the orphanage. Moreover, she had just endured a traumatic experience in the village, so her fear was understandable.

The director gently took Rosette’s arm, offering comfort and reassurance.

‘Rosette, you’ve already met him, but please greet him again. This is Duke Adrian. He’s a kind man, so there’s no need to be afraid.’

Still, Rosette couldn’t relax. She was breathing shallowly and hiccuping. Alarmed, Adrian, the Duke, slowly approached and knelt before her.

‘Rosette, isn’t it? You don’t have to worry. I’m here to help you.’

‘I, I……’

Rosette stammered, then instinctively flinched away when Adrian, the Duke, reached out to take her hand.

‘Ah……’

Her eyes darted around, assessing the situation, and she fled from the director’s office.

The director’s face paled at her unexpected reaction.

‘She’s not usually like this. I’m so sorry.’

‘I understand. She’s had a difficult day, and children are often apprehensive around nobles anyway.’

Adrian, the Duke, rose without showing any offense.

‘It was impolite of me to call so suddenly. She seems particularly distressed today, so I’ll visit again tomorrow.’

Adrian, the Duke, bowed politely and left the director’s office. The director felt a wave of relief as she watched him go.

She felt confident that Rosette could be entrusted to such a family.

* * *

As soon as Rosette returned to her room, she sat with her back against the door. She wanted to lock it, but the room, shared by more than ten children, had no lock.

Instead, she pressed her ear against the door, listening for sounds outside.

She worried that the director or Adrian, the Duke, would come after her, but she heard nothing but the faint chatter of children in the distance.

Only after about five minutes did Rosette begin to relax and process what had happened.

‘Why did Adrian, the Duke, want to see me?’

Rosette had been shocked to encounter Adrian, the Duke, in the village. She never imagined meeting him here, let alone the Marquis Dallas.

She almost fainted when he personally escorted her and Jane to the orphanage, but she tried to remain calm.

Adrian, the Duke, whom she had heard rumors about before turning back time, was known to be a kind man.

In particular, there were many stories about his kindness towards children. Some nobles speculated that his affection for children stemmed from being a father of three.

So, he couldn’t have simply ignored her and Jane being harassed by the villagers.

‘That’s why he brought me to the orphanage.’

She tried to convince herself of that. Until she saw Adrian, the Duke, in the director’s office a short while ago.

But why is he looking for me? Does he, as a wizard, know that I turned back time? Is he holding a grudge against Rosette, who killed him in her previous life, and trying to take revenge?

‘That can’t be.’

Rosette shook her head.

The ancient book about time magic clearly stated that only the caster could retain memories of the past. So, no matter how powerful Adrian, the Duke, was, he couldn’t possibly remember.

Even if he somehow remembered, he wouldn’t recognize her.

In her previous life, Rosette possessed the refined appearance of a noble lady, thanks to the Marquis Dallas’s generous support.

But what about now? She was grimy and thin. Aside from her pink hair, there was no way to connect the Rosette of the past with the Rosette of the present.

So, he won’t know that I killed him. He will never know.

‘But what if he does?’

As Rosette nervously bit her nails, she heard Jane’s voice from beyond the door.

‘Rose? Are you inside? Can I come in?’

‘Y, yes.’

When Rosette moved away from the door, Jane entered. She frowned at Rosette, who was gnawing on her nails.

‘You’re biting your nails again. How many times has your sister told you that it hurts when your nails get too short?’

Jane gently pulled Rosette’s hand away, meticulously checking for any bleeding. Rosette felt tears welling up for no apparent reason.

‘I’m so glad my sister is safe.’

She had been criticized for her nail-biting habit even when she lived with the Dallas family.

The tutor would rap her knuckles with a ruler every time she did it, and even the aloof Marquis Dallas would scold her for being unrefined.

But no one worried about her like Jane. The warmth of Jane’s touch reminded her that she was alive, unlike in the past.

She had truly changed the past, and that gave her hope.

‘I can avoid killing people this time.’

So many people had died because of her magic, especially Adrian, the Duke, and Daniel Adrian, and Joshua Ernhardt, who was tormented by their deaths.

She could save them all.

Even if Adrian, the Duke, recognized her today through her healing magic, she wouldn’t regret it and would gladly accept the consequences.

‘Huh? Rosette, are you crying?’

Rosette couldn’t hold back her tears and wept in Jane’s arms. After a long period of comforting pats, Jane spoke as if she understood, once Rosette’s sobs subsided.

‘Are you sad? I’m sad too. But Rose, if you are adopted into a noble family, you will have a better life than you do now.’

What is she talking about? Adoption? It’s not time for the Marquis Dallas to arrive yet.

Rosette was confused, and Jane continued.

‘Duke Adrian seemed like a very nice person. He will surely be good to you……’

Rosette couldn’t listen anymore. She reacted immediately to the name ‘Adrian.’

‘Why Duke Adrian?’

‘Huh? Weren’t you crying because you knew?’

‘No, I don’t.’

Jane tilted her head, then explained.

‘I heard that Duke Adrian is adopting you?’

Rosette didn’t respond right away. Knowing that Jane wasn’t one to joke about such things, the words sounded like a cruel jest.

‘Why would he adopt me?’

There was no reason for Adrian, the Duke, to adopt her, just as there had been no reason for the Marquis Dallas. As if reading her mind, Jane answered.

‘You healed me with magic, right? The director said that you will become a great wizard. So, the Duke said he would adopt you. The Duke is a great swordsman.’

There must be another motive. That alone wasn’t a sufficient reason to adopt her.

Rosette jumped up and ran to the director’s office.

‘Rose? Where are you going?’

She heard Jane calling after her, but fortunately, Jane didn’t follow.

Rosette returned to the director’s office, took a deep breath, and opened the door without knocking. The director greeted her as if expecting her.

‘Oh, yes. Rose, come in.’

Rosette stood in the doorway and declared,

‘I don’t want to be adopted!’

‘Did Jane tell you?’

‘Yes. Director, I……!’

‘Rose, calm down and sit down.’

The director spoke calmly, but Rosette shook her head firmly.

‘No! I like it here! I want to stay with my sister Jane!’

The director looked momentarily embarrassed, then smiled and rose. She walked over and sat in front of Rosette, gently taking her hands.

‘I won’t force you to go if you don’t want to. But first, tell me why you don’t want to go.’

Rosette slumped onto the sofa, her lips moving. There was so much she wanted to say: that she couldn’t be adopted by the person she killed, and that she couldn’t possibly call him father.

But that was a secret she couldn’t share. All Rosette could voice was what a seven-year-old child would typically say.

She wiggled her fingers and mumbled,

‘I don’t want to be separated from my sister Jane.’

‘You can come and play often. The Duke said that he would often invite Jane and the other children to the mansion for you.’

‘Also, also……’

The director patiently waited for Rosette, who hesitated, unable to find another excuse.

‘I’m scared.’

This was genuine. Rosette was afraid of Adrian, the Duke, whom she didn’t know.

‘I understand that you’re scared because he’s a noble. But Duke Adrian is a good man. He will cherish you as family and help you become a great wizard.’

‘Still……’

Rosette couldn’t say anything more.

Her body had been aching and her head had been dizzy for a while, and suddenly she felt faint.

Unbeknownst to her, her back was soaked in cold sweat.

‘Rose? Oh my, Rose! You’re burning up!’

Hearing the director’s panicked voice as she placed a hand on her forehead, Rosette fainted.