The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 76

76. Reunion (1)

January 15, 2024

“Instead of staying here, let’s go see our brother!”

“Okay!”

“Sister, let’s go too!”

“Alright.”

The three children, ignoring the knights’ pleas to slow down, dashed towards the waiting room.

“Brother!”

Rosette was the first to run and hug Daniel, who caught her without hesitation.

“Rose, I’m sweaty.”

“That’s not important right now.”

“That’s right, Brother! That’s not important!”

This time, Lucas threw his arms around Daniel. Caught off guard, Daniel opened his arms wide to embrace his two younger siblings, then glanced at Isabel, who was standing awkwardly.

“Want to join in, Bel?”

“Well…”

Isabel hesitated before nestling into Daniel’s arms. Daniel chuckled.

“Three is a bit much.”

Rosette, squeezed in the middle, smiled weakly.

“I guess so.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay!”

Lucas laughed out loud. Barely managing to escape from the embrace, Rosette suddenly looked around for Alex and Elisha.

The two siblings were conversing some distance away. Elisha, her face red, was arguing about something, while Alex listened with an expressionless face.

‘She’s probably nagging him about why he lost.’

Rosette quickly turned her head away before their eyes could meet.

Soon, Duke Adrian arrived and praised Daniel.

“Well done. I’m proud of you.”

The Adrian family knights lifted Daniel and cheered him.

It was a happy ending for everyone in Adrian.

* * *

After that, Rosette spent the rest of the Founding Festival with her three siblings, exploring the festivities. This time, Duke Adrian joined them as well.

She tasted cotton candy, a candy that melted in her mouth, for the first time, and won a doll by throwing darts.

She also experienced a night market for the first time in her life.

‘There are still so many things I haven’t done.’

Every day was filled with happiness.

After the boisterous Founding Festival ended, they were spending quiet days when an invitation finally arrived from Empress Ophelia. This time, all four Adrian siblings were invited.

Rosette’s heart fluttered as soon as she saw the envelope with the Empress’s seal.

‘Finally, I get to see the Prince.’

Silver had visited a few more times in the meantime. According to Joshua, he sent Silver because Silver insisted.

Still, whenever Silver came, Rosette could talk to Joshua, even if just a little.

But most of the conversations were trivial. Rosette and Joshua’s worlds had changed a lot, and they had quite a few fewer things in common.

‘But before, we had the common goal of protecting the Empress and Adrian.’

Of course, that common goal hadn’t disappeared, but since they couldn’t predict the future, there was nothing to talk about.

Still, it was nice. Every night before falling asleep, Rosette would wonder, ‘Will Silver come today?’

At the same time, she imagined what Joshua, now seventeen, would look like.

The only time she had encountered Joshua in her past life was in the cold prison before she turned back time.

Back then, neither Joshua nor she was in their right mind, so she didn’t get a good look at him. She only remembered that he had a considerable presence.

But now, the day to finally meet Joshua had come.

Rosette couldn’t sleep well the night before entering the palace.

She waited, hoping Silver might come, but he didn’t.

The next day, Rosette was nervous in the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace with her siblings. Noticing this, Lucas leaned close to her and asked,

“Hey, why are you so nervous?”

“It’s been a while. It’s been a long time since I met the Empress and the Prince.”

“Just act normal. What are you so nervous about?”

“What if I fall while bowing? Mrs. Neuer said my curtsy is perfect now, but…”

“It is perfect.”

Isabel blurted out.

“I acknowledged it, so you don’t have to worry.”

Rosette stifled a laugh and nodded.

“Yes!”

“Still, aren’t you curious? His Highness must have grown a lot too. Oh, and I’ve never seen His Highness’s familiar [a magical creature bonded to a person], I wonder if we’ll see it this time?”

“Probably.”

Daniel replied.

“His Imperial Majesty is so large, so His Highness is very tall. He always brings his familiar with him, so we’ll probably see it today too.”

Daniel was the only one of the four who had been to the capital and had an audience with Joshua.

“What’s it like? I heard it’s a wolf!”

“It’s amazing. Exaggerating a bit, it’s a silver wolf as big as my waist, and its name was Silver, I think.”

Daniel burst into a refreshing laugh.

“Such an un-Prince-like name.”

Rosette pretended not to notice and looked away.

‘Is the name that strange? I like Silver a lot.’

While Rosette was sulking, Lucas poked her arm.

“Hey, aren’t you curious? They say it’s a huge wolf. If it comes up to Daniel’s waist, it’s almost as big as you.”

“Silly. Rose has already seen His Highness’s familiar.”

“How?”

Rosette flinched at Lucas and Isabel’s conversation. She wondered if they had found out that Silver often came to visit, but fortunately, Isabel was talking about something else.

“I’m talking about the concert hall accident before. His Highness summoned his familiar for the first time and helped Rose. She must have seen it then.”

Ah, that’s what she meant. Rosette nodded vigorously.

“That’s right! I saw it then!”

“Wow, really! What was it like?”

Remembering the size of Silver she had seen recently, Rose spread her arms wide.

“It was huge. Like this. And its teeth were so scary, and…”

Rosette chuckled.

“Cute.”

“Cute?”

Lucas grimaced.

“I haven’t seen it myself, but I think that wolf is big enough to eat you, how can it look cute?”

“…”

Rosette wanted to brag about Silver’s cuteness, but she stopped, afraid that she would reveal that she had met Silver often.

“I just think all familiars look cute in my eyes.”

She vaguely glossed over it like that.

In the meantime, the carriage stopped inside the Imperial Palace.

“Everyone’s here.”

Rosette, who got out of the carriage with the help of her brothers, widened her eyes at the man who greeted them.

He was a man with silver hair that shone brightly in the sunlight and golden eyes, the symbol of the Imperial family.

The man was as tall and broad-shouldered as Daniel. His jawline was sharp, giving him a somewhat cynical and edgy feel.

Rosette unknowingly stared at the man’s eyes and blinked.

Then, the man raised one corner of his mouth.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Uh…”

Rosette rolled her eyes and looked at Silver, who was wagging his tail vigorously beside the man, towards her.

Only after seeing Silver did she gain certainty.

“Could you be His Highness?”

The man, Joshua, smirked.

“Why are you so surprised?”

His voice was even sweeter than when she heard it through the magic orb.

Clearly, the Joshua she saw five years ago was a boy who hadn’t even shed his childishness. But the Joshua before her was a complete adult.

What on earth happened in five years….

While Rosette was still in shock and unable to say anything, Lucas answered instead.

“Of course, we’re surprised! Your Highness has grown so much! I was surprised too!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! You were much bigger than I thought.”

“Lucas, you’ve grown a lot too.”

“Right?”

Lucas giggled. Joshua held out his hand to Rosette.

“Well, let’s go then. Her Majesty is waiting.”

His hand was also clearly different from before. The knuckles were thick, and there were more calluses than before.

Rosette hesitated before taking Joshua’s hand. Her small hand fit snugly into Joshua’s large hand.

The sensation on her fingertips was also different. It was less rough than Daniel or Lucas, who practiced with swords all day, but she could feel hard calluses in places.

Rosette, very nervous, entered the Empress’s palace with Joshua’s escort.

Ophelia was in a garden full of roses.

“Your Majesty!”

Rosette, who was about to run to the garden without realizing it, slowed down at Isabel’s murmur, “Be careful.”

“We greet Your Majesty.”

The Empress smiled kindly as she watched Rosette greet her.

“Your greetings have become much more natural now.”

“I practiced a lot.”

Following Rosette, the three siblings also bowed and sat in their respective seats. Rosette watched the maid pour tea and observed Ophelia.

Ophelia, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, hadn’t changed at all from five years ago. It was as if time had passed her by, without a single wrinkle.

Rather, her complexion looked better, perhaps because her health had improved.

“Your Majesty looks even younger.”

“Oh my.”

Ophelia covered her mouth and laughed.

“Thank you for the compliment, even if it’s just empty words.”

“It’s not a lie, it’s the truth.”

“And Rosette, let me see. You’ve really grown a lot.”

Rosette rubbed her cheeks awkwardly.

“I’m still very small compared to my siblings.”

“You’re the youngest. You’ll grow a lot more in the future. More than that. Isabel is really a lady now. I should find someone suitable for you.”

“It’s still too early, Your Majesty.”

“Lucas has shed his childishness too. You’ve really grown a lot. Daniel not only won the swordsmanship competition this time but also created an aura [a manifestation of inner power], right? I’ll be hearing good news soon.”

“You flatter me. It’s still too early.”

Ophelia chuckled and asked the four children about their recent activities.

While they were catching up for a long time, Ophelia asked Rosette.

“Speaking of which, Rosette. Are you no longer interested in the library?”

“The library?”

“Yes. I told them to clean up the library diligently because you were coming, but you haven’t mentioned wanting to go.”

Rosette replied in an excited voice.

“I want to go. There was a book I wanted to see anyway.”

“Then go. Joshua, would you guide Rosette?”

“I can go alone…”

“I understand.”

Joshua, who had risen from his seat, held out his hand to Rosette again.

Rosette hesitated before taking his hand and entering the building. Silver wagged his tail and followed Rosette.

As they walked down the hallway alone, Rosette felt like her heart was about to burst.

‘The Prince is like a completely different person.’

She couldn’t get used to it no matter how much she looked at him.

In fact, before seeing Joshua in person, she was half expecting and half worried. She was curious about Joshua’s changed appearance, but she was also afraid that seeing him so grown up would remind her of the old days.

But as soon as she saw Joshua, instead of thinking about the past, her heart was pounding. Her face also felt hot.

Rosette unknowingly let go of Joshua’s hand and slowly moved to the side.

“Why are you walking so far away?”

“Just because.”

Rosette deliberately moved closer to Silver. Joshua didn’t say anything more and entered the library.