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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: My Name is Pipi, Rosette's Familiar (1)
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At those words, Rosette slowly opened her eyes. When she did, her vision filled with the face of Duke Adrian.
His platinum blonde hair shone more brilliantly than anything else, and his purple eyes gazed down at her with warmth.
As their eyes met, Duke Adrian’s widened in surprise before he broke into a smile.
Unlike when he had been pressing Celine and the physician just moments before, he was not agitated.
He simply asked in a low voice.
“Did you sleep well, little one?”
He spoke as if asking his daughter how she felt after a short nap.
Unable to distinguish dream from reality, Rosette could only blink as he gently stroked her cheek, just as he had in the past to soothe her tears.
“It seems you had a sad dream.”
Only then did Rosette realize she was crying. And that Duke Adrian, who had died by her hand, had now been saved by her hand.
“Ugh.”
Rosette’s face crumpled as she threw her arms around Duke Adrian’s neck.
Dad, Dad, Dad. She wanted to call out to him, but her voice wouldn't come.
Duke Adrian carefully hugged her small frame back, stroking her hair.
“Yes. Daddy’s right here.”
“Ugh.”
“Thank you for holding on, Rose. Thank you for waking up.”
*No, thank you for being alive, Dad.*
Rosette repeated the words over and over in her mind.
It had been ten full days since she had collapsed.
***
Rosette sipped the warm water, cautiously glancing at Duke Adrian.
Unlike a moment ago when he had kindly asked if she had slept well, his expression was now slightly stiff.
The three Adrian siblings, who had rushed in upon hearing Rosette was awake, also watched the duke warily.
Daniel spoke up to break the awkward silence.
“Still, it’s a relief that Rose woke up safely. Right, you two?”
Lucas nodded vigorously.
“Yeah! It’s great!”
Isabelle chimed in with a prim air.
“I guess we don’t have to worry anymore.”
Daniel added.
“Besides, Father is safe thanks to Rose…”
But Duke Adrian’s expression showed no sign of softening. It was the look he wore on the rare occasions he scolded the children.
He only ever scolded them for one reason: when they did something dangerous.
Like what Rosette had done not long ago.
The three siblings, who knew that expression all too well, exchanged glances before quietly tiptoeing out of the room. Just before closing the door, Lucas mouthed the word, *Fighting!*
*‘What did I do wrong?’*
As Rosette’s eyes darted around in confusion, the duke, seated on the edge of her bed, asked sternly.
“Rose, do you know what you did wrong?”
Rosette shook her head from side to side. The duke let out a small sigh.
“You were in great danger this time. You might not have woken up.”
“…”
“There were plenty of people who could have helped me even without you. So, don’t do such dangerous things again. Understand?”
Rosette felt it was a little unfair.
She hadn’t done it for praise.
She had saved Duke Adrian for her own sake. So, she didn’t mind not being praised.
But she hadn’t expected to be scolded like this, either.
When Rosette pouted her lips in displeasure, Duke Adrian’s expression finally softened a little.
“You look like you have no idea why you’re being scolded.”
Rosette hesitated before nodding.
Duke Adrian’s expression relaxed completely as he carefully stroked her hair.
“What did I tell you? I said children should be children.”
As Rosette nodded again, he patted her head as if to say, *Good girl.*
“Children shouldn’t have to worry, and they certainly shouldn’t do dangerous things. You can leave that to the adults.”
Rosette forced her voice out to protest.
“But…”
*If it weren’t for me, you would have been in trouble. I might have never seen you again.*
As if he understood her unspoken words, Duke Adrian explained calmly.
“Yes. I might have been seriously hurt or worse because of this incident. But Rose, on the other hand, you were almost lost because of me.”
“…”
“And for this father, it’s far scarier for you children to get hurt than for me to get hurt.”
Rosette’s eyes widened.
*Do adults get scared of things, too?* Her eyes seemed to ask, and Duke Adrian smiled.
“Of course. Adults have things they’re scared of too.”
“…”
“So, let’s promise that you won’t do such dangerous things again.”
He held out his pinky finger.
But Rosette couldn’t bring herself to link her finger with his. Because if a similar situation arose, she would, of course, save her precious loved ones.
“Rose.”
As Rosette pouted and looked away, Duke Adrian’s tone grew stern again.
“Rosette Adrian.”
Just then, a knock sounded like a savior’s call. Rosette quickly raised her hand and pointed to the door.
Duke Adrian sighed once more before speaking.
“Come in.”
The person who entered was Celine. She quickly approached Rosette, wiping away tears.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. I was so worried.”
“Could you check on Rose and see if she’s all right?”
“Of course. Young Lady, excuse me for a moment.”
Celine gently took Rosette’s hands and infused them with mana.
A moment later, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“She’s fine. Her internal mana has fully recovered. There’s no need to worry anymore.”
Her expression held a mix of emotions: relief, joy, and astonishment.
*‘Why is she surprised?’*
As Rosette tilted her head, unable to understand why, Celine continued.
“Still, to think it took ten full days to recover. That's incredible. I knew she had great talent when I first met her, but…”
Her voice began to bubble with excitement.
“As expected, the young lady is an amazing—!”
[Peep, peep?]
A sudden birdsong cut Celine off.
Pipi, who had arrived with a wildflower as usual, spotted Rosette, and its tiny eyes grew even wider. Its small beak fell open, and the wildflower dropped to the floor.
[Peeep!]
With a sorrowful cry, Pipi flew toward Rosette at full speed. It nuzzled its cheek against Rosette’s, its eyes welling with tears.
Seeing this, Celine’s eyes widened as well.
“Don’t tell me… a familiar?”
[Peep!]
Pipi, who had been affectionately greeting Rosette, puffed out its chest. Its posture seemed to say, *‘Ahem, that’s right! I am Pipi, Rosette’s familiar!’*
Celine rubbed her eyes again and again, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“My goodness, it really is a familiar?”
There was a reason for her surprise.
It may have seemed easy because Rosette had summoned a familiar so casually, but in truth, not just anyone could create one.
First, one needed a sufficient amount of internal mana and immense mental fortitude to maintain a constant connection with the familiar.
As a result, only high-ranking mages could create familiars. Even then, the earliest one could summon a familiar was in their mid-to-late teens.
But Rosette, who was only eight years old and had never even learned magic, had summoned a familiar?
“This is impossible. How can this be? Young Lady, how on earth did you do this?”
Duke Adrian, who had been watching Rosette’s interaction with Pipi with a fond smile, asked casually.
“Is it that surprising?”
“Of course it is!”
Celine shouted in her excitement.
“There are only a handful of mages in the entire empire who possess a familiar. I barely managed to create mine when I was seventeen! And even I was called a genius for it.”
“So?”
“The young lady is an incredible genius! A once-in-a-few-centuries kind of genius! At this rate, she’ll become an Archmage! No, she’s already an Archmage!”
Celine began to piece together the parts that had puzzled her until now.
“I was wondering how the young lady could use such magic with that small body. It must have been because of this familiar.”
“Does having a familiar make a difference?”
“Yes. With a familiar, one can use Mana Burst. It’s a method of amplifying ambient mana to cast spells… Anyway, it’s something incredible. I don’t know how the young lady managed it without ever learning magic, but…”
Celine trailed off and shrugged.
“How can an ordinary person understand a genius? It seems a genius like the young lady can use such abilities as naturally as breathing.”
“Then…”
“Yes, that’s right! An Archmage has been born into this family! In the House of Adrian, which was filled with only Sword Masters! Finally!”
Duke Adrian’s face showed surprise, which soon melted into a slight smile.
“I see. So our Rose is a genius. That’s certainly something to be happy about.”
He didn’t show it, but he was immensely pleased.
[Peep!]
Pipi puffed its chest out again with a swagger. Its air seemed to boast, *‘Of course my Rosette is amazing. She is Pipi’s master!’* but no one other than Rosette could understand it.
“However, Rose.”
Duke Adrian composed his expression and spoke with renewed gravity.
“You are not to use magic again until Celine says it’s alright.”
When Rosette pouted again, his eyes narrowed.
“You must listen to your father.”
Rosette reluctantly nodded.
And so, the little mage Rosette Adrian, who was destined to cause a great stir in the empire, returned to the warm embrace of her family.
***
“Is Peepers really that amazing of a bird?”
[Peep!]
Pipi, who had since befriended Lucas, chirped from its perch on his shoulder.
When Rosette gave a slight nod, Lucas muttered in disbelief.
“This tiny, insignificant little Peepers?”
[Peep?]
Pipi began to peck and pull at Lucas’s hair. A few strands of platinum blonde hair were actually plucked out.
“Ouch! Hey, Peepers, you!”
[Peep, peep!]
*My name isn’t Peepers, it’s Pipi! How dare you compare me to a flightless chick!*
Listening to Pipi, Rosette burst into laughter. Lucas, having finally managed to fend off the bird, asked.
“What are you laughing at?”
Rosette managed to squeeze out a sound.
“Pi…pi.”
“Pipi?”
Seeing Rosette nod, Lucas paused to think for a moment, then asked with a look of betrayal.
“Wait, is its name Pipi, not Peepers?”
[Peep!]
Pipi chirped happily, and Rosette nodded. Lucas, on the other hand, just gaped, at a loss for words.
Rosette tilted her head, confused, as Lucas turned to confront Pipi.
“Then why did you answer when I called you Peepers! I thought you liked the name I gave you!”
[Peep? Peep!]
Pipi began to pull at Lucas’s hair once more.
