The Youngest Daughter Of The Great Wizard Of The Famous Swordsmanship [EN]: Chapter 87

87. Joshua’s Proposal

January 26, 2024

[Beep beep.]

Rosette tapped Pipi’s beak, who was watching her carefully.

“It’s not that I’m sad about Marquis Dallas’s death. Marquis Dallas did things that warranted it. Of course, it feels a bit strange.”

[Beep.]

“It’s not because he used to be my father. I really don’t have any feelings for Marquis Dallas. It’s just that, no matter what kind of person he was, I don’t think he deserved to die so miserably. I wanted him to be fairly tried and punished accordingly.”

[Beep beep.]

Pipi rubbed its face against Rosette’s cheek. It was a gesture of comfort.

“That’s all. Thanks for worrying about me, Pipi.”

Rosette smiled faintly and turned her gaze out the window.

“I wonder what happened to Michael?”

Rosette hadn’t seen Michael since that day.

That day, Michael had clearly said he was going to catch Marquis Dallas and left.

However, it wasn’t Michael who caught Marquis Dallas, but Duke Adrian.

So, what happened to that child?

“Surely nothing bad happened to him, right? Could he have been captured by Marquis Dallas and been put under a spell?”

[Beep beep.]

Pipi mumbled, with a worried look on its face, though Rosette couldn’t understand the specific meaning.

“I asked Dad, but he said he didn’t see Michael at the temple where Marquis Dallas was captured. Did he escape safely then? That child can use magic, after all.”

[Beep.]

“If he were alive, he would have contacted me for sure. He’s the kind of kid who would have sent even Ferito [Pipi’s friend]. But there’s no contact at all.”

Rosette hugged her knees with both arms and muttered gloomily.

“If something happened to that child, I’m….”

He’s the first person I failed to save after turning back time.

Rosette murmured the words she couldn’t bring herself to say.

Pipi, sensing Rosette’s sadness, cried mournfully.

“No, he’ll be okay. If something had happened, they would have found his body. If they haven’t found anything, it means he escaped safely. Right, Pipi?”

[Beep!]

Pipi flapped its wings, replying that it probably was.

“He must be too shaken up to contact me. He was a noble, so he probably contacted his family and rushed back.”

[Beep!]

“Yeah, that must be it. Let’s think positively, Pipi. More than that, I’m worried about the children who were put under a spell by Marquis Dallas. It seems like they were under mind control magic too.”

The control magic cast on the children would disappear when Marquis Dallas died. Marquis Dallas was already dead, so the magic would have disappeared as well.

However, mind control magic was different.

“Celine said she’s looking for a way to fix it, but….”

Rosette was having a light conversation with Pipi when Joan came in with a troubled face.

“Young Lady.”

“Yes? What’s wrong?”

“His Highness the Prince has arrived. He said he came to visit you.”

“Me?”

Rosette hurriedly ran her fingers through her disheveled hair.

“Where is the Prince now?”

“The Master and the Eldest Young Master are receiving him.”

“I want to go too. Can you help me change?”

As Rosette tried to get up, Joan quickly sat her back down.

“No, Young Lady. You need to rest.”

“But I can’t meet the Prince looking like this.”

“It’s okay, Young Lady, you’re a patient.”

“But….”

Rosette protested until the end, but she couldn’t break Joan’s stubbornness. In the end, she compromised by putting a cardigan over her pajamas.

Soon after, Joshua came to the room himself. Silver was with him.

“Y-Your Highness!”

As Rosette, who had been lying down, tried to get up, Joshua gently pressed her forehead and laid her back down.

“No need to get up. I’m not a cold-blooded person who demands greetings from a sick person.”

“Yes.”

Joshua grabbed Silver’s collar tightly as he happily ran towards Rosette.

“You restrain yourself too. Can’t you see she’s sick?”

Silver made a whining sound.

“I’m really okay.”

“Your complexion doesn’t look okay at all.”

“Yes.”

In the end, Silver watched Joshua’s expression, then came up to the bed and laid down next to Rosette, expressing his joy.

Joshua pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down.

“How’s your body?”

“Yes.”

“I was very worried when I heard the news. I never imagined Marquis Dallas would move so openly.”

“I was a bit surprised too.”

“By the way, did you get a proper explanation of what happened?”

“No. I asked Dad and Daniel, but they didn’t say anything.”

“That’s understandable.”

Joshua nodded.

“It seems Marquis Dallas has been taking children with magical abilities and putting them under control magic. It’s probably the same as what he cast on you in the past.”

“That’s right. He actually tried to cast it on me too. He said he would make me a puppet.”

Rosette shuddered, recalling Marquis Dallas’s cruelly smiling face.

“So, what happened to Marquis Dallas?”

“As you already know, someone broke in and killed him. It seems they had a grudge against him; the method of murder was very….”

Joshua, having said that much, checked Rosette’s expression and changed his words.

“Anyway, they are looking for the murderer, but no one saw anything. In fact, there are no traces of entry, so some people say he received divine punishment.”

“……I see.”

After that, there was silence between the two. After a while, Joshua spoke first.

“You haven’t fully recovered yet, so it’s a bit much to say this, but….”

He paused.

“How about going to the Ivelin Kingdom?”

“The Ivelin Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

He explained calmly.

“There will be more people targeting you in the future. Marquis Dallas is dead, but Duke Lilith is still left. Besides, you don’t know where and when someone will pop out targeting you. Of course, the people of Adrian’s mansion, including the Master, will protect you. But the more they do, the greater the possibility that your family will be in danger.”

“I know that too.”

“The Ivelin Royal Academy was built in ancient times, so the defense magic is very well made. It’s probably the safest place there is.”

“…….”

“Besides, there will be a limit to learning magic from Celine Karin. I know the Fire Witch is an excellent magician, but you will soon surpass her. Or maybe you already have. Going there to learn magic from more skilled and diverse magicians is a good opportunity.”

Rosette hesitated for a moment before retorting.

“But there’s not much time left until autumn. At least I have to get admission by autumn. There’s no time to prepare….”

“Did you forget your abilities? With your magical skills, you can pass without an entrance exam. Besides, if you want, Her Majesty will write you a recommendation letter.”

“If the Empress, the princess of Ivelin, writes a recommendation letter, it will definitely have an impact.”

Rosette moved her lips. Eventually, she revealed her true feelings.

“Who will protect Adrian while I’m gone?”

Joshua answered without hesitation.

“Adrian will protect itself.”

“…….”

“Marquis Dallas is gone, and Rosette Dallas is gone [referring to her previous identity]. There are no magicians in the Empire who can threaten Adrian anymore.”

“That’s true, but….”

“Besides, that child Louis hasn’t surfaced yet. Until that child appears, Duke Lilith won’t move rashly either. Even if he sends assassins, the Master and Daniel are not people who can be easily defeated.”

“…….”

“Of course, it’s not a coercion, it’s just a suggestion.”

Joshua whispered softly.

“I know how much you love Adrian now. It won’t be easy to leave. If it’s the Master, he can find you a good magic teacher here besides Celine Karin.”

“…….”

“I just wanted to let you know that the Ivelin Kingdom is not a bad option.”

“But Your Highness also knows. The Ivelin Kingdom is….”

“Yes.”

Joshua readily admitted.

“The sea route will be cut off in about two years.”

That was right.

The Ivelin Kingdom was a peninsula with three sides bordering the sea.

The northern part of the Ivelin Kingdom and the Empire were connected by land, but the fastest way to exchange was by sea.

By ship, it takes about two weeks to get from the capital of the Empire to the capital of the Kingdom.

However, two years later, the so-called ‘Pirate King’ who unified the pirates appeared, and the sea route was blocked.

People had no choice but to use the land route until the pirates were defeated.

However, the northern land of the Ivelin Kingdom was a frozen plain where almost no one lived, so there was no mana gate [teleportation portal].

Using general transportation, it took more than a month one way. Even then, the road was very rough.

The academy’s summer vacation was only about two months.

If you use a ship, you can come and go to the Empire every vacation.

‘But it’s impossible to use the land route. It will take at least two months just to come and go.’

In the end, Rosette would not be able to see her family for about five years. But you can exchange letters by land.

“So, I feel heavy-hearted making this suggestion. But I’m saying this because I want to help you.”

“I understand, I’ll think about it.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, I have a favor to ask of Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a child who was captured with me. Michael, the one Marquis Dallas brought at that time.”

Joshua frowned.

“Why suddenly about that child?”

“That child helped me and disappeared. I think he returned safely, but I’m a little worried. Can you find that child?”

“What does he look like?”

“He has reddish silver hair and red eyes. He’s probably a child you won’t forget once you see him. He’s very pretty. And he said he was a noble, but unfortunately, I don’t know which family he’s from. I don’t even know if he’s from the Ernhardt Empire in the first place.”

“That’s difficult. But I’ll try to find him.”

“Thank you.”

“Then get some rest. It seems like you haven’t fully recovered yet.”

“Yes. Thank you for coming today.”

After Joshua left, Rosette was lost in thought.

‘His Highness’s words make sense.’

Rosette thought she had perfectly learned magic in the past.

However, as she properly learned magic from Celine, she realized that Marquis Dallas’s method was completely wrong.

His method was only to raise Rosette as a killing weapon. Whether Rosette’s body was damaged or not, he only taught her crude attack magic.

‘Well, there’s no way he would have taught me properly.’

He didn’t teach her the magic she needed to learn. She especially didn’t know much about the magic that could protect herself or others. It seemed like he was preparing for when Rosette released the magic.

Celine was, of course, a good teacher. She was capable, knew a lot, and taught well.

However, these days, Rosette felt a longing to learn more.

‘Besides, if I stay here, my family will be in danger.’

As Rosette became known to people, she was exposed to danger without her knowing.

Marquis Dallas was dead, but the real enemy, Duke Lilith, was still left. He will target Rosette, who protects the Adrian family, first.

More than anything, she thought her family would be in danger if she stayed here.

The fact that Marquis Dallas cut off her hair was also to lure the Adrian family.

She couldn’t allow her family to be in danger again because of her.

‘Then, as expected….’