The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 70

70. Clara’s Tea Party

January 9, 2024

Rosette stiffened.

“Do you perhaps dislike me being close to Silver?”

The voice answering was brusque, but didn’t seem displeased. Rosette breathed a sigh of relief.

“What is it?”

Rosette tilted her head.

“A child? What child?”

“How old?”

“Hmm.”

Rosette searched her memory, then shook her head.

“I don’t know anything about it.”

“It’s the same even if I think more. I don’t know anything about it.”

Rosette could say that with confidence.

“In the past, I was there, so there was no need to bring in another child. I alone was enough to do what he wanted, so why would he adopt another one?”

“Maybe he found someone to replace me?”

“Probably. He must be quite capable, enough to satisfy Marquis Dallas.”

<.......>

Joshua was silent. Rosette also hugged Silver tightly and fell into thought.

‘I hope he’s not good at magic.’

She hoped that finding a child to replace her was a wrong prediction. She just wanted to think that Marquis Dallas adopted a boy to show off to others.

‘But that’s unlikely.’

If he had adopted him just to show off to others, he would have chosen a girl. He wouldn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble when there was already a legitimate heir.

Joshua seemed to be thinking the same thing, quietly muttering.

“That’s right. There’s no reason to adopt a boy otherwise.”

“That’s right.”

Rosette knew very well what Marquis Dallas would make the unknown boy do. He would train him well and use him to eliminate his political enemies.

Just like Rosette had done in the past.

And the last thing Marquis Dallas would aim for…

‘It’s Father and Daniel.’

Her face clouded over in an instant.

“Maybe Marquis Dallas is aiming for Father and Daniel. Because they support the Prince. And he’ll keep targeting the Empress too.”

Rosette continued to mutter gloomily.

“Fortunately, there’s probably nothing to worry about yet. I don’t know how good he is at magic, but it will take at least three or four years for him to master the magic the Marquis wants.”

“A way?”

“Take him away? How?”

“If you’re going to do that, you have to do it quickly.”

Rosette recalled the time she went to the Dallas family in the past.

Marquis Dallas engraved magic on Rosette when she started learning magic in earnest, about three months after she went to the Marquis family.

A command magic that made her have no choice but to obey his words.

Rosette killed Adrian and Daniel against her will because of that magic.

Rosette, recalling the terrible memory of that day, took a deep breath.

‘I thought the day would come when I would tell you someday.’

When she first met Joshua, she had hinted that killing the two was not her will.

She didn’t explain the principle, but Joshua must have guessed that she was under a spell.

But she felt a little uneasy when she tried to say it herself.

Rosette groped under her collarbone, where the magic had been in the past.

“I’m not sure, but Marquis Dallas will cast a spell on that child.”

“Yes. It’s a type of ancient magic that makes you obey his orders.”

<.......>

“Because of that magic, that child will end up hurting others even if he doesn’t want to.”

“……Yes.”

Rosette and Joshua had already buried the past.

It was an unspoken agreement. In fact, after preventing the poisoning of Ophelia, the two had not talked about the past.

Perhaps that’s why Rosette felt uncomfortable with the story of the past coming out after a long time. Her chest felt stuffy, as if she had indigestion.

‘I’m not trying to rationalize that it was inevitable, but…’

She said carefully.

“As you may have already guessed, I made Father and Daniel like that in the past because of that magic. I don’t want to justify my actions, but that’s the truth.”

<.......>

“If you engrave that magic on that child’s heart, that child will go around hurting people against his will.”

Then that child’s heart will be bruised. Maybe even his soul will be hurt. Just like I was in the past.

Rosette swallowed those words.

“I can’t bear to see that child repeat the same misfortune as me.”

“I feel sorry for him because I think of him as a replacement for me. He’s not the kind of child who would normally suffer such a thing. But because I came to Adrian instead of Dallas…”

Joshua said firmly.

“……Yes.”

“How long has it been since Marquis Dallas brought that child?”

Rosette breathed a sigh of relief.

“It hasn’t been long. That’s a relief.”

“That magic can only be used after stabilizing mana [magical energy]. Otherwise, the mana will collide in the body and the body won’t be able to withstand it. I don’t know if that child has learned magic or not, but if he hasn’t, it will take at least three months to stabilize mana.”

“Yes. Of course, that’s assuming that the child hasn’t learned any magic yet.”

Joshua’s voice became even more subdued.

“Probably.”

“How?”

Rosette nodded. In the past, she had also gone to the Imperial Palace with the Marquis before being formally adopted into the Dallas family.

“That’s right. I did that before too.”

Rosette added in a worried voice.

“What if we fail?”

Joshua was silent for a moment before answering.

“Yes.”

“Yes, Your Highness too. Silver, goodbye to you too.”

Silver, who licked Rosette’s hand once more, jumped out the window.

Rosette stood at the window and watched Silver disappear for a long time.

* * *

It was before Rosette even sent a letter to Clara. Clara sent her a letter first, knowing how she had come to the capital.

Rosette excitedly tore open the letter. The letter, written in a slightly more disheveled handwriting than usual, contained words of welcome for returning to the capital and a desire to meet soon.

“Bbi Bbi, look at this. Clara is holding a tea party in three days, so she wants me to come and play. She says it’s okay to see her next time if I’m tired, but it would be nice to go, right?”

[Bbi!]

“But I can’t take you with me.”

[Bbic?]

“Everyone will think you’re amazing. Instead, I’ll pack you some delicious snacks.”

[Bbi-i-i.]

Rosette soothed Bbi Bbi by tickling his chin.

After that, time passed quickly and it was the day to go to Clara’s tea party.

Rosette was about to leave the mansion wearing a going-out dress that Mrs. Wide had made for her after a long time.

“Now, Rose.”

Isabelle grabbed Rosette’s shoulders. Rosette had to bend her head back a lot to look at Isabelle.

“Since you’re going to meet people after a long time, I’ll say it again. Who are you?”

Unlike in the past, Rosette could now speak confidently.

“Rosette Adrian. The youngest daughter of Duke Adrian and the younger sister of my sister.”

Isabelle smiled.

“Yes, that’s right. You are a proud Adrian. Even if there is someone who ignores you, although I don’t think there will be, never forget that fact.”

“Yes.”

Rosette nodded. One of the biggest changes was that her self-esteem had increased over the past five years.

Isabelle put the hair ornament she brought on Rosette and urged.

“But if there is someone who ignores you, you can do whatever you want. I’ll take care of everything.”

“I don’t think that will happen, but I understand.”

“Then come back safely.”

“Yes!”

Rosette took a carriage to the Cheller County residence, Clara’s family. Her heart fluttered at the thought of meeting her friend after a long time.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Cheller mansion, and when Rosette got off with Joseph’s escort.

“Rosette!”

Clara, who had been excited since the carriage entered, ran and hugged Rosette tightly. Clara, who was walking the path of a knight, was taller than her peers.

“I missed you, my friend! Have you been healthy and well?”

“Yes! I’ve been really well. Clara, how about you?”

“Me? I’m always the same! But you seem brighter.”

“Really? Everyone has been saying that.”

Rosette smiled shyly, and Clara grabbed her shoulders and looked her up and down.

“Have you grown a little taller in the meantime? I think you’ve grown, but the eye level is lower than I remember?”

Rosette pouted her lips and grumbled.

“That’s because you’ve grown a lot more. Not only you, but also Isabelle and Lucas have grown a lot more than me. Everyone seems to be growing except me.”

Clara laughed heartily.

“That’s because of the natural difference in physique, so there’s nothing you can do about it. Everyone is a knight, but you’re the only wizard. Still, it’s okay because you’re small and cute.”