Chapter 16

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Joseph Oser (1)
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“I've heard that a dozen times this past month. You said if you gained weight, your clothes wouldn't fit, so I kept putting off calling for Madame Wide. And now you want to postpone it again?”

“It's not that I want to postpone it, just… maybe a few less clothes….”

“No. I won't watch you walk around in ill-fitting clothes any longer. If they get too small later, we'll just have new ones made. So today, you'll listen to me.”

When Rosette looked surprised, Isabelle frowned.

“And don't give me that look. You don't need to worry about the cost of your clothes.”

Arguing any further seemed like it would only provoke Isabelle’s anger. Instead of protesting more, Rosette answered timidly.

“Okaay.”

“Alright, if we're all set, let's get you measured.”

Isabelle clapped her hands once, and the staff rushed toward Rosette with measuring tapes.

Rosette could only repeat, “Sister? Sisterrr?” before she was led away by the staff and disappeared behind a screen.

Madame Wide, sipping her tea, smiled softly as she watched Isabelle.

“The little young lady is quite….”

Before she could finish, Isabelle cut in.

“Cute, isn't she?”

Her voice was as flat as someone making a platitude like, ‘Nice weather today, isn't it?’ But Madame Wide, who had known Isabelle since she was a child, noticed that she was utterly captivated by her younger sister.

*The little young lady is one thing, but Lady Isabelle is quite adorable herself.*

However, Isabelle hated being treated like a child. Having taken on the responsibility of managing the Adrian household after her mother’s early passing, Isabelle had matured quickly and was eager to become an adult.

Even though she was still at an age where she deserved to be showered with love.

But Madame Wide skillfully concealed this thought.

“Yes, she is very cute.”

“So I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, the dresses will be perfectly….”

“No, not that.”

“Ah.”

Madame Wide once again quickly grasped her hidden meaning.

“Yes. I will be sure to mention what a cute and lovely person she is.”

The salon was a place where all sorts of rumors came and went.

Currently, the focus of high society was on the lucky second daughter of the Adrian family, Rosette Adrian.

However, thanks to Duke Adrian's strict orders to his employees, no rumors about Rosette had spread at all.

But the less that was said, the more interested people became.

Over the past month, the question Madame Wide had been asked most often was whether she had seen the new Adrian young lady.

In other words, Isabelle was telling her to strictly manage the gossip so that no ill rumors about her sister would spread.

“You truly cherish the little young lady, my lady.”

Isabelle scoffed.

“Cherish her? Don't be ridiculous. I just don't want any unnecessary talk about our family.”

But contrary to her words, a smile graced Isabelle’s lips as she gazed beyond the screen.

When she first saw Rosette, Isabelle had been worried.

She hadn't been against having a sister, but she worried if the gentle-looking Rosette could survive in the cutthroat world of high society.

*-Then you should just sponsor her.*

That was why she had said such a thing. The title of a genius sponsored by the Adrian family would attract attention while still allowing for a peaceful life, far more so than being an adopted commoner.

Nevertheless, Rosette’s adoption was finalized. And though she didn't want to admit it, Isabelle had fallen head over heels for her new sister within a month.

*I have to protect her.*

Daniel and Lucas were men; they didn't know how terrifying high society could be. It was a place where you could be torn apart for the smallest flaw.

Hadn't people whispered behind Isabelle's own back just because she was a woman learning the sword?

It was painfully obvious what kind of things Rosette would hear in high society.

“Make sure you tell them that the Adrians cherish Rosette.”

“Yes, my lady.”

It was a warning, meant to ensure no one ever forgot that House Adrian stood behind Rosette.

Madame Wide smiled faintly as she watched Isabelle take another sip of her tea.

*She really can't be honest, can she?*

***

The first thing Madame Wide sent over was a set of pajamas. The new pajamas were just as soft as the ones of Isabelle’s she had been wearing for the past month, but they weren't too big; they fit her perfectly.

After changing, Rosette paced in front of the mirror, examining her reflection and stroking the soft fabric with her fingertips.

Joanne, who was now Rosette's personal maid, smiled as she watched her.

“You should get to sleep now.”

“Mhm.”

If she could, she would have loved to show off her new pajamas to her family, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. With a hint of disappointment, Rosette lay down in her bed.

Was it thanks to the new pajamas? She was able to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately.

“Hey, kiddo!”

A few hours later, it was the voice of Lucas Adrian that woke her.

“Hey, kiddo!”

Having had a pleasant dream, Rosette didn't wake up, so Lucas jumped right onto the bed. The plush mattress dipped for a moment before bouncing back up.

“Hey, pipsqueak.”

“…”

“Youngest.”

“Uuung.”

Rosette squirmed and burrowed deeper into her blankets. Lucas grinned as he watched his sister.

*Cute.*

About a month ago, his father, Duke Adrian, and his older brother, Daniel Adrian, had left the mansion to deliver supplies to the orphanage they always sponsored.

The two, who usually left in the morning and returned by evening, didn't come back for several days, saying something urgent had come up.

Then Sebastian, the butler, had delivered some unexpected news.

*-The master has said he will be adopting a young lady. He said she will be arriving with him today.*

*-A young lady? Adopting?*

*-Yes. He said the young master will be getting a younger sister.*

A younger sister?

It was sudden news, but Lucas was thrilled. With only an older brother and sister, he had always wanted a younger sibling. And now he was getting one! It was the best news ever!

And just like that, his father and brother returned after a few days, bringing with them a truly small and lovely girl.

The child’s colors were all soft. Her hair was cotton-candy pink, and her eyes were the color of a spring sky.

And her skin? It was so white, it was as if she had never seen the sun in her life. It was a stark contrast to the people of House Adrian, whose skin was healthily tanned from swordsmanship training under the scorching sun.

She was short and terribly thin, as if she hadn't eaten well, but she was a child who, if dressed up properly, would look as pretty as a doll.

That was Rosette Adrian, the girl sleeping before him now.

*How did such a pretty kid become my sister?*

To be honest, Lucas had wanted a sibling he could run around and play with.

But Rosette was frail and shy. In other words, she wasn't the best type of sister for roughhousing.

But Lucas didn't care. So what if her stamina was low? They could build it up starting now!

He gazed at the doll-like Rosette and spoke again.

“Wake up, wake up!”

Only then did Rosette rub her eyes and open them, revealing beautiful, bead-like sky-blue eyes.

Lucas grinned broadly and shouted.

“Time for dawn practice!”

***

When Lucas had given her his old wooden sword, Rosette had definitely promised to learn swordsmanship. She felt that as a member of the Adrian family, she should at least learn the basics.

However, due to her practical stamina issues, she had been gradually delaying her lessons.

And today, she was finally going to learn. Rosette didn't show it, but she was a little excited.

A short while later, however, she came to regret her decision.

“Alright, we need to build your basic stamina first. Go run three laps around the training grounds!”

Lucas had shown up at the crack of dawn and dragged the barely-awake girl out to the training grounds. The reason was that they had to do their promised dawn practice.

As if that wasn't enough, he had appointed himself as Rosette's swordsmanship instructor.

“What are you waiting for?”

“Mhm.”

Dressed in a set of Isabelle's borrowed training clothes, Rosette began to walk across the grounds at Lucas's urging. Instantly, the eyes of all the knights in the training grounds turned to her.

They began to whisper among themselves.

“Is that the…?”

“I thought she wasn't learning swordsmanship….”

“Isn't she still too young to learn the sword?”

Though perplexed, the knights watched lovingly as Rosette walked, bravely swinging her arms back and forth.

The people of House Adrian were born to wield the sword. They were significantly larger and had better stamina than their peers.

The three Adrian siblings, excluding Rosette, were no different. When they first started learning, they had dashed energetically around the training grounds.

Even Isabelle, a girl, was the same. She boasted stamina rivaling that of most adults and quickly improved her skills.

To most knights, the young lady they served was a being to be protected, but Isabelle was the opposite. She was a superior to be followed with loyalty.

Perhaps that was why. The knights quickly found themselves smitten with the youngest lady, Rosette, who seemed like someone they ought to protect.

But it seemed Rosette’s cuteness was lost on Lucas. He trotted along behind his sister, nagging her.

“Ahem, too slow, too slow. Is that walking or running? Pick up the pace.”

*No, Young Lord! The little lady is different from Lady Isabelle! How can she possibly run with those legs!*

The knights fretted, wondering if they should offer to run in her place.

But Rosette, the object of all their concern, didn't complain. Instead, she gritted her teeth and picked up her pace. Still, it was only a change from a slow walk to a fast walk.

As she was walking, Rosette’s feet tangled, and she fell.

“Hah!”

A gasp escaped from the knights. They held their breath, worried the tiny young lady might burst into tears.

Even Lucas, who had been sternly pushing her, was surprised and rushed to help Rosette up.

“Hey, are you okay?”

He looked at Rosette’s knees, then turned his back to her and crouched down.

“Kiddo, get on my back.”

“…?”

“We need to go to the physician. Hurry up, get on.”

The knights rushed over in a panic.

“We’ll do it!”

“Please leave the young lady to me!”

Lucas shot the knights a fierce glare. Though he said nothing, his gaze seemed to say, ‘How dare you lay a hand on my sister?’

Lucas usually got along well with the knights, but the look in his eyes now was quite sharp. As the knights flinched and hesitated, Lucas spoke again.

“Come on, get on.”

“I’m okay.”

“Don’t cry, just get on.”

“I’m not crying.”

Rosette really was fine, and she wasn't crying. Her knees hurt a little, but compared to the beatings she used to receive from Marquis Dallas, this was nothing.

“I can keep going.”

She brushed the sand from her knees and started to circle the training grounds again.

Lucas stared after her, his mouth slightly agape in disbelief, while the knights whispered about how brave the youngest young lady was.

And so, with the silent cheers of every knight, she completed three laps around the training grounds.

“Good job, kiddo.”

Lucas gave her a thumbs-up in praise, but Rosette’s head was spinning.

Her heart was pounding, and it felt as if someone was squeezing her lungs. It was a sensation similar to, yet different from, casting high-level magic.

“Thirsty….”

As she unconsciously muttered her plea, the nearby knights scrambled to bring her water.

“Here, Young Lady. Here’s some water.”

The first to arrive was a knight in his late teens with striking reddish-brown hair and freckles across the bridge of his nose.

“Thank….”

As she took the water bottle from him, Rosette froze. When she stared at him intently, the nameless knight grinned.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

But Rosette couldn't answer. She searched through the memories of her past.

*I know that face.*

The knight in her memory was more mature than the one before her now, but it was unmistakably the same face.