The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 78

78. The Mysterious Child, Michael (1)

Several days had passed since my visit to the Imperial Palace.

As usual, I was having breakfast with my family when Rosette received an invitation from an unexpected person.

Rosette’s eyes widened as she recognized the familiar seal on the letter.

“Dallas?”

Just to be sure, she checked the sender’s name as well. It was written as Elisha Dallas.

‘She really sent an invitation?’

Of course, Elisha had said she would invite me to a tea party when we met at the swordsmanship competition.

However, Rosette thought it was just empty words. She never dreamed she would actually send one.

‘What on earth is her intention? I don’t think it’s a good one.’

As Rosette was thinking that, Isabel, who had also recognized the seal, subtly asked,

“You’re going to decline, right?”

Rosette groaned.

‘Originally, I should…….’

Rosette recalled the conversation she had with Joshua a few days ago on her way back from the library.

The Duke of Dallas should have come to file an adoption request, but he hadn’t, she said. The situation was different from when Rosette was adopted, which made her uneasy.

‘This is a good opportunity.’

What if I go and find that child myself?

“I’ll go.”

“What?”

Isabel was taken aback.

“Rose, you don’t have to go to every tea party you’re invited to. You can pick and choose.”

“I know. I just want to go.”

Isabel narrowed her eyes and observed Rosette as if trying to figure out her true intentions. However, seeing Rosette’s unusually firm expression, she gave up and nodded.

“Alright. Do as you wish.”

“Yes.”

“But don’t ever forget that you are Adrian.”

“I know.”

Rosette could now answer confidently.

After that, on the day of Elisha’s tea party, Isabel took it upon herself to oversee Rosette’s preparations.

Rosette, dressed as she was told, looked more beautiful than ever.

Isabel nodded as she looked at Rosette in the mirror.

“Good. This is enough to put Elisha Dallas in her place.”

Escorted by Joseph, Rosette stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the Dallas mansion.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’

The slightly orange-tinted Dallas mansion was exactly as Rosette remembered it.

When she first came to this mansion with the Duke of Dallas, she had hope—the hope of having a loving family.

‘Of course, I later found out that would never happen.’

What young Rosette experienced was hell.

Rosette didn’t want the boy, whose name and face she didn’t even know, whom the Duke of Dallas had brought this time, to walk the same path as her.

In fact, until she got out of the carriage, she was worried that she might be terrified by the mansion, but fortunately, she didn’t feel anything special.

‘I can do it.’

And I’m the only one who can save that child now.

Rosette took a deep breath and headed inside.

A familiar-looking maid led her to the garden. The maid’s face showed that she was displeased with Rosette’s late arrival.

‘This is just like before.’

Elisha ignored Rosette just like in the past, so the maids under her seemed to be ignoring her in the same way.

However, Rosette pretended not to notice and smiled brightly.

“Thank you for showing me the way.”

The maid made a reluctant expression.

“Yes, well…….”

Rosette continued to walk with a smile on her face. About ten children were already sitting at the table, chatting.

“I’m so sorry I’m late.”

When Rosette spoke, all the children’s eyes turned to her. Most of the gazes were not friendly.

Today, Rosette deliberately arrived a little later than the scheduled time.

It was a kind of revenge. Although it was Clara’s tea party that Elisha was late to, Clara’s affairs were as good as her own.

Only children who already disliked Rosette had gathered, and everyone seemed even more upset that Rosette was late.

But Rosette didn’t care and approached Elisha.

“Thank you for inviting me, Lady Dallas.”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you for coming.”

Elisha replied with a smile. However, Rosette, who knew her well, noticed that Elisha was very upset right now.

She was delighted by that fact.

‘I’m on equal footing with Elisha.’

It was something that would never have happened if I thought about the past.

As Rosette sat down, the tea party began in earnest.

Rosette thought that Elisha had called her to the tea party to make fun of her. Even so, she came here to meet the child that the Duke of Dallas had brought.

But Elisha talked to Rosette to an unusual degree. It wasn’t friendly, but it wasn’t as hostile as last time.

Rosette found that strange.

‘Why is she doing this?’

Rosette spent time parrying Elisha’s words appropriately.

It was when the atmosphere of the tea party was in full swing that Rosette, who had been watching the children’s reactions, stood up from her seat.

“I’m going to go to the powder room for a moment.”

The powder room was a term for the restroom.

“Go ahead. The maid over there will guide you.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll go alone.”

Rosette, refusing the guide, crossed the garden and headed into the mansion.

‘The place where I lived here is the attic located at the very top.’

Of course, she knew how to get there and how to avoid being seen by people.

‘The child is likely to be in the place where I was.’

Rosette climbed the secret stairs. The attic, where she had been confined in the past, was getting closer and closer.

It had already been five years, but the scenery in front of her was vividly remembered as if she had seen it yesterday. Her heart ached as if it were being squeezed.

‘It’s okay. I’m not Rosette Dallas anymore.’

She reassured herself and took one step at a time. Before she knew it, she had reached the entrance to the attic.

She put her hand on the attic door and felt for mana [magical energy].

But she couldn’t feel anything inside. Rosette, who had been feeling for mana with her eyes closed, tilted her head.

‘That’s strange, why isn’t it there?’

Rosette had spent almost all of her time in the attic for about a month or two after coming to the Dallas family. Unless there was something special, she ate her meals here as well.

The only time she left this room was when she took magic lessons from the Duke of Dallas.

After that, she went here and there without being noticed by Elisha, but she couldn’t even think about it in the beginning.

So the child that the Duke had brought this time should still be here.

She looked inside again, but still couldn’t feel anything. Just in case, she turned the doorknob, and the door opened.

She was a little surprised, but Rosette only poked her head in.

But inside, there was no sign of anyone living there, let alone a child.

Instead of the bed or desk she had used, there were only boxes and junk left unattended.

‘Why isn’t he here?’

It was strange. But there was no one here, so she couldn’t waste any more time. Rosette had no choice but to go back the way she came.

She was walking safely down the hallway leading to the garden without being noticed by anyone.

“We meet again?”

Suddenly, a languid yet youthful voice was heard from behind. Startled, Rosette turned around and was even more surprised to see the owner of the voice.

“You are……?”

It was the silver-haired boy she had seen at the swordsmanship competition sometime ago. The boy was wearing a light dress shirt and pants, which looked to be of very good quality.

Anyone could tell that he was not a servant but a child of a noble family.

‘I think his name was Michael.’

But where and when did this child appear? Did he see Rosette coming out of the mansion?

More than that, why is he here? I’ve never seen his face before.

As Rosette was slightly flustered, the boy approached.

“No escort today?”

Rosette answered as if she were compelled by the boy.

“Uh-huh. I can’t bring them to the tea party, so they’re waiting somewhere else.”

“Ah.”

The boy smiled, crinkling his eyes. As she had felt last time, he gave off a strange feeling, perhaps because of his almost white eyelashes.

“Do you remember my name?”

“Michael?”

“That’s right. You’re smart.”

Michael carefully approached Rosette.

“I still haven’t heard your name. Will you tell me?”

“Rosette. Rosette Adrian.”

Rosette hesitated before telling him. Anyone who knew a noble with pink hair would know it was her, so there was no reason to keep it a secret.

“Rosette, then. Your nickname must be Rose, right?”

“Yes.”

“I can call you Rose, too.”

“No.”

Rosette cut him off, and Michael tilted his head.

“Why?”

“That’s a nickname only my family calls me.”

“But nicknames are called not only by family but also by close friends, right?”

“But so far, only my family calls me that.”

“Can’t I be an exception?”

He was a strange kid. He had only met her twice, and he hadn’t even talked to her properly, but he suddenly wanted to call her by her nickname.

“Still, no.”

When Rosette refused again firmly, Michael made a “Heung” sound [a Korean expression of disinterest or annoyance]. He didn’t seem particularly disappointed.

“Anyway, what were you doing here?”

“I’m going back to the garden. The tea party is over there.”

“Hmm. Then where are you coming from?”

“The powder room…….”

“The powder room is over there, but you came from this way.”

He saw everything. Rosette bit the inside of her cheek in dismay. She then made a clumsy lie.

“I mistook the location. This is my first time at this mansion.”

“Liar.”

Michael said bluntly.

“You’re really bad at lying, you know?”

“I’m not lying.”

“It’s obvious that you’re lying. You know what? People usually avoid eye contact when they lie. So, in order not to get caught lying, they sometimes stare even more intently.”

“So……?”

“You weren’t doing that until a little while ago, but now you’re staring straight into my eyes.”

It was true. Rosette was staring intently into Michael’s red eyes without even realizing it.

“That’s because your eyes…….”

Michael smiled brightly.

“Why? Are you fascinated by my eyes, too?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Rosette composed herself.

“I looked because they were pretty.”

“……What?”

Michael blinked blankly as if he was hearing the word ‘pretty’ for the first time in his life. Then, after a few seconds, he burst out laughing.

It wasn’t a mischievous or hearty laugh like Lucas, but a clear sound like water flowing in a summer valley. A laugh that smelled like fresh oranges.

It was Rosette who was embarrassed instead.

“Why, why are you laughing?”

Michael wiped the tears from his eyes and muttered softly.

“I knew you’d be fun.”

“What?”

When Rosette asked back, not understanding, he raised his voice.

“You’re the first person to say my eyes are pretty as soon as you see them.”

“Why?”

“Why indeed.”

Michael raised one corner of his mouth cynically, unlike the person who had been laughing loudly just a moment ago.

“They’re grotesque, my eyes.”