The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 55

55. Your Name Is Rosette Adrian

“The little one has received an official letter from the Imperial Family.”

“What?”

“It seems to be from Her Majesty the Empress.”

“D-Did I do something wrong?”

Rosette trembled, and Duke Adrian calmly replied.

“It’s nothing like that, Rose, so you don’t need to worry. Would you like to open the letter first?”

“Yes.”

Rosette, under the gaze of her family, tore open the seal. The letter, written in Ophelia’s familiar handwriting, stated that she was planning to hold a charity party soon.

Several noble children were also invited, and it included a message that she would like Rosette to come as well.

It also mentioned that there was no need to feel burdened, as it was an event where they would watch a puppet show together and raise funds by selling cherished items.

The Duke, who received the letter from Rosette and confirmed its contents, relaxed.

“Fortunately, it’s nothing serious.”

“It’s not a big deal!”

Isabelle, who had also read the letter, retorted slightly.

“Either way, it’s a party hosted by Her Majesty the Empress herself! There’s a lot to prepare!”

She covered her cheeks with both hands and let out a silent scream.

“If I had known this would happen, I should have had a dress for outings made for Rose, even if she had opposed it.”

“I have an outing dress. Mrs. Wide gave it to me as a gift.”

“That’s a spring dress. How are you going to wear that? Are you planning to make the Adrian family a laughingstock by not even having a proper summer dress made for you?”

“Besides, you’ll be cooked alive, kid!” Lucas added.

Rosette was speechless as Lucas joined in after Isabelle.

Daniel gently soothed Isabelle.

“The party is in three weeks, so we can get one made quickly even now. Don’t worry too much. Mrs. Wide is fast.”

“Sigh, I need to contact the salon right away. But is it just Rose who’s invited?”

“It seems so. It looks like she invited children around Rose’s age. You might be able to make friends there.”

“Really?”

Rosette asked, a little skeptical.

“Will I be able to make friends?”

Rosette currently had two friends: Pipi, who was her best friend no matter what anyone said, and Melody, whom she was slowly becoming friends with.

However, strictly speaking, those two—no, one bird and one person—were not what one would commonly call friends.

Pipi wasn’t human, and Melody had a different social standing. In particular, Pipi couldn’t even communicate with other people.

Perhaps that’s why Duke Adrian always wanted Rosette to make noble friends of the same age. It seemed he thought this would be a good opportunity.

But Rosette was skeptical.

‘Will everyone like me?’

She loved her family and was proud to be an Adrian, but Rosette knew how to see the situation objectively.

How many nobles would look favorably on a commoner girl who became a Duchess overnight?

Besides, Rosette didn’t even know her parents. In a noble society that revolved around bloodlines, that wouldn’t be viewed favorably either.

But Duke Adrian didn’t seem to think about that at all.

“Of course, you can make friends.”

“But…….”

“Of course, if you don’t want to go, I’ll decline this invitation. So, do whatever you want to do.”

Goodness, declining the Empress’s invitation! That was impossible.

In fact, Isabelle shook her head slightly at Rosette with a shocked expression.

Rosette finished thinking and smiled brightly.

“I want to go.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ll go and make a lot of friends.”

She probably wouldn’t be able to make any, but she swallowed those words. If she told the truth, her dad would be sad.

Thus, unexpectedly, Rosette was about to appear in front of people in three weeks.

* * *

“The little Duchess is also attending the charity party hosted by Her Majesty the Empress in three weeks?”

Mrs. Noir was so surprised when she heard the news that she almost fell backward.

“She still needs to learn more before she makes her debut…….”

Rosette was a fast learner and had mastered etiquette well compared to when she had started learning it. However, she was still far behind her peers.

‘Should I have said I would go?’

Rosette regretted it a little at Mrs. Noir’s more intense reaction than she had expected, but Isabelle replied nonchalantly.

“Just teach her the basic etiquette properly. Since she’ll be mingling with her peers anyway, mistakes won’t stand out.”

“But…….”

“And what if she makes some mistakes? Who would dare to say nonsense about Rose?”

“That’s true.”

“But teach her how to greet the Imperial Family properly again. Last time I saw it, it was still quite sloppy.”

“That…….”

Mrs. Noir hesitated for a moment before resolutely resolving.

“Yes, I’ll give it a try.”

Rosette’s opinion was nowhere to be found.

For the next three weeks, Rosette had special training with Isabelle and Mrs. Noir.

She also carefully selected items to donate to the charity party. Among them was her favorite rabbit doll.

The doll, with sapphires resembling Rosette’s eye color in both eyes and jewels all over its clothes, looked expensive at first glance.

“Miss, are you really okay with this? This is the doll you hug every night.”

“Yes, it’s okay. I can sleep well now even without this doll.”

Joan was a little sad when Rosette spoke confidently.

“When did our Miss grow up so much? It’s okay to grow up a little later.”

“It’s okay, Joan. I’m still young, so I still need Joan’s care.”

“Then that’s a relief. Then I’ll take good care of this doll too.”

“Yes, thank you.”

In addition, she decided to donate dresses and accessories that she no longer wore.

And three weeks passed quickly, and it was the day to go to the charity party.

“Remember, Rose,” Isabelle whispered seriously to Rosette, who was wearing a pretty dress hastily made by Mrs. Wide.

“Your name is Rosette Adrian.”

“Yes? Of course, that’s…….”

Why was she suddenly talking about something she already knew?

Rosette blinked, puzzled, and Isabelle looked frustrated.

“You’re an Adrian.”

“That…….”

“Just remember that. Then you’ll be able to come back safely today.”

That was the end.

“Bell gave you good advice,” Daniel said, nodding. He had been listening behind Isabelle.

But Rosette still couldn’t understand what they were talking about.

Daniel tapped her cheek.

“You’ll find out when you go.”

“Yes.”

Rosette nodded absentmindedly. Lucas chuckled.

“Go and eat a lot of delicious things!”

“Is there anything but food in your head?”

“Eating is what’s left at the party! Got it, kid? Eat a lot of tarts. You like them.”

“Yes.”

Rosette nodded absentmindedly this time as well. Lucas habitually tried to mess up her hair but stopped his hand in mid-air.

Soon he tapped her head lightly.

“Anyway, have a good time. If there are any kids who bully you, remember their names. This brother will take care of them all!”

It was obviously a bluff, but it was quite reassuring.

Rosette took Lucas’s hand and got into the carriage, nodding.

“Yes! Then I’ll be back!”

* * *

Unlike saying she would come back confidently, Rosette became very nervous as soon as the carriage started.

‘Can I really do well?’

Since being adopted into the Adrian family, it was the first time she had been away from her family. Duke Adrian or the three siblings were always by her side.

But to go alone, to an official event hosted by Ophelia…

‘If I do something wrong, the Adrian’s reputation will plummet.’

When she was Rosette Dallas, Rosette had only been to a party once. It was her debutante party [a formal coming-of-age celebration for young women].

Marquis Dallas, who had tried not to expose her to the outside world, emphasized several times with a displeased look on his face.

-Go and behave properly. If you tarnish the Dallas name, I won’t stand still.

Rosette tried her best, but she only came back ridiculed. Of course, as soon as she returned to the mansion, a slap flew.

She couldn’t eat for days and was locked in her study. It was a terrible memory she didn’t even want to think about.

‘Of course, I know that won’t happen now.’

Her current family would comfort her no matter what Rosette did.

But that’s why she was even more worried. She didn’t want to see her kind family being talked about by others.

Perhaps noticing Rosette’s tension, Pipi, who was hiding in her sleeve, pecked her hand with its beak.

[Pii.]

“Yes, Pipi. I feel a little relieved because you’re here.”

[Piit!]

Don’t worry. Trust me! If anyone bullies our Rosette, this Pipi will take care of them!

“Yes, thank you.”

While Rosette was talking to Pipi, the carriage ran and ran and arrived at the performance hall on the outskirts of the capital where the charity party was being held.

Rosette, holding the escort knight’s hand, straightened her back as she had learned in etiquette class.

“Let’s go, Pipi.”

[Ppit!]

Rosette followed the servant into the performance hall.

The interior, neither narrow nor wide, was crowded with several children. At first glance, there were about a dozen of them. Of course, Rosette didn’t know any of them.

“What, who is that?”

“I’ve never seen her before?”

“Is she a noble?”

“There shouldn’t be any kids we don’t know among the kids invited to this party.”

As an unfamiliar face appeared, the children began to whisper. Rosette swallowed hard and slowly walked to a corner seat.

She didn’t have the confidence to introduce herself first, nor could she. It was because of what Isabelle had emphasized until the end.

-Never go first and introduce yourself. You’re an Adrian. You have to make someone come to you first.

‘I am an Adrian,’ Rosette repeated inwardly, receiving stinging gazes.

Then, someone clapped and said.

“I think I know who she is. The new Adrian Duchess who came this time. She was said to have pink hair.”

“Oh?”

The gazes scanning Rosette became even more blatant. Among them, one reddish-brown-haired boy approached Rosette as a representative.

“Hey, are you that Adrian Duchess?”

The child, who was already standing in front of Rosette, crossed his arms and glared at her.

Rosette answered as confidently as possible.

“That’s right. My name is Rosette Adrian. But who are you……?”

“Are you that great?”

He was a completely selfish child. The nameless child didn’t even introduce himself and circled around Rosette, observing her.

“What, are you really that great? You look like a scrawny colt?”