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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Joshua Ehrnhardt's Circumstances (1)
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Apparently quite pleased with her answer, Duke Adrian laughed aloud. He then lifted Rosette into the air and settled her on his lap.
“Then how did you know about Joseph Oser?”
“I asked Pipi for a favor. I told him to let me know if anything happened to our family. That day, Pipi was flying around, checking on the manor, and told me there was a suspicious person!”
[Peep!]
As if in agreement, Pipi flapped its wings on the bed. Rosette lowered her voice, as if embarrassed.
“Because I wanted to protect my family.”
Duke Adrian gazed down at the top of Rosette's head for a moment, as if weighing something.
In truth, there were still a few things he couldn't quite accept. Was that really the reason she’d specifically warned him to be wary of only Daniel? And why had Rosette gone to the trouble of asking Pipi to patrol the manor?
Outwardly, however, Rosette’s answer was perfectly sound. So, Duke Adrian didn't press further and simply stroked his youngest daughter's hair.
“Yes, you did well.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I must give you a reward.”
[Peeeeep!]
“Yes. You too, Pipi. I will give you a reward as well.”
[Peep, peep.]
Watching Pipi puff up its feathers in satisfaction, both Duke Adrian and Rosette burst into laughter.
The breeze drifting through the slightly open window had grown considerably warmer.
Spring was in full bloom.
* * *
“Young Lady, are you alright?”
“I heard you saved the master, Young Lady. That’s truly amazing.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
The next day, as Rosette entered the training grounds in the morning, the knights who were in the middle of their physical training all flocked to her.
Now quite used to the knights, Rosette wasn't intimidated by their large frames. In fact, she felt good.
‘They were really worried about me.’
She had never realized before just how wonderful it was to have people who worried about you.
Reassured by Rosette’s bright smile, the knights showered her with more questions.
“But is it alright for you to be training already?”
“I think you’ve gotten even smaller. Are you eating properly?”
Looking at their worried faces, Rosette clenched her fists.
“I can do it. And I’m eating well.”
The previous evening, after hearing Celine and the physician say, “You may train, but…,” Rosette had decided to resume her dawn training immediately.
Even Lucas, who had trained her so rigorously, had argued, “Are you sure? Let’s rest a little more!” but she had no intention of backing down.
‘I’m going to build up my stamina and expand my mana core.’
After this incident, Rosette had keenly felt one thing.
Regardless of her innate abilities, she was still just a tiny eight-year-old girl.
She was well-versed enough in formulas to cast high-level magic on the spot, but unfortunately, her body couldn't keep up.
Her mana core was so small she could barely manage simple spells, and her stamina was weak.
This time, she had fortunately summoned Pipi and prevented a major accident, but there was no guarantee it would happen again.
To safely protect the Adrians from the Dallases, she needed to grow stronger, even a day sooner.
‘I couldn’t prove that Marquis Dallas was behind this. He might be plotting something else again soon.’
Just as the knights were making a fuss over how cute Rosette's serious expression was, Lucas, who was approaching from a distance with a wooden sword, spotted them crowded around her and rushed over.
“Hey, I told you guys not to crowd her like that! You'll scare the little one, didn't I tell you?”
Having reached Rosette, he gripped the wooden sword with both hands and swung it through the air. The rather menacing display made the knights back away in unison.
“I’m warning you now, if any of you so much as show an interest in our little one, you’ll have me to answer to.”
*Sigh, that's not what this is about.*
Shaking her head at Lucas's overprotectiveness, Rosette spotted Joseph in a corner of the training grounds with Melody.
“Melody, why are you up already? You should be sleeping more.”
“I like being with you more, Oppa! Don’t you like being with me?”
“Of course I love being with you, Melody. But you need to sleep well to grow big and strong.”
“I slept a lot, a lot. Don’t worry so much!”
Rosette smiled warmly at the affectionate siblings.
As if sensing her gaze, Joseph turned and, upon seeing Rosette, quickly bowed his head in greeting. Melody followed her brother's lead and bowed as well.
Straightening up, Joseph mouthed something. She couldn't make out all of it, but she knew the last part was ‘thank you.’
Just as Rosette was about to say something, Lucas spread his arms and blocked her view.
“Alright, kiddo. Stop looking over there and start running. You said you wanted to do morning training yourself, so you have to keep your word.”
It seemed Lucas still mistakenly believed that Rosette had a crush on Joseph.
‘I told him that’s not it.’
Shaking her head, Rosette clenched her jaw and began to slowly run around the training grounds.
It was a peaceful day.
* * *
“I heard something terrible happened to my master.”
It was the first thing Joshua said upon meeting Daniel after a long time, even before the servant had finished bringing out the refreshments.
Daniel smiled bitterly, recalling the harrowing events of that day.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What exactly happened? I asked my father, but he wouldn’t give me any details.”
“To be honest, I don’t know the full details myself.”
“You can just tell me what you know.”
“Well…”
Daniel hesitated for a moment.
It was true that he didn't know the full story. The incident had happened near dawn, so he had been asleep at the time.
He had woken up later to the chaotic atmosphere in the manor, but he was just as clueless as everyone else.
Even Duke Adrian, who had returned to the manor carrying a fainted Rosette, hadn't explained what had happened.
All he knew was that there had been an attempt on the Duke’s life, and Rosette had collapsed into a coma after dealing with it.
But there was another reason for his hesitation now.
‘Father issued a gag order.’
The House of Adrian was currently preventing any rumors about that day’s events from spreading.
It was for Rosette’s sake, not the Duke’s. She was already drawing a lot of attention, and if it became known that she was a magical prodigy on top of everything else, it would likely cause her a great deal of trouble.
But was it alright to tell Joshua about that day?
‘A brief summary should be fine.’
Daniel soon came to that conclusion. Joshua was Duke Adrian’s only swordsmanship disciple and Daniel’s closest friend. He could be trusted.
“From what I heard, a spy disguised as a servant sprinkled a magical substance on my father’s carriage. The carriage suddenly exploded, and my father was nearly engulfed in flames.”
“Then how did he get out safely? Did he use his mana?”
“That is…”
Answering that would inevitably bring up Rosette’s name. But even if it was Joshua, he felt he shouldn't mention it.
In the end, Daniel deflected vaguely.
“I don’t know the details of that part. I suppose that must have been it?”
“Hmm, is that so.”
Joshua’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
‘He's lying.’
As someone born into a noble family and trained as an heir, Daniel was skilled at controlling his expression. It was hard to tell when he was lying.
But Joshua had known Daniel since they were infants. He keenly caught the fleeting look of unease that crossed Daniel’s face for just an instant.
It seemed there was an accomplice who had helped the Duke. And the House of Adrian was trying to hide that person's identity.
‘But he won’t tell me even if I press him.’
Whoever had helped, all that mattered was that Duke Adrian was safe. Right now, something else was more important.
Joshua changed the subject as he personally poured tea into Daniel’s cup.
“But what about you?”
“Me?”
“Were you by any chance in the carriage with my master that day?”
“No. I was at the manor at the time.”
“You were at the manor?”
Joshua asked in a meaningful tone. Daniel, not sensing anything amiss, replied.
“Yes. It was quite early, after all.”
“Why was my master leaving the manor at such an early hour?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know about that either.”
“Well, whatever the case, it’s a relief. I should have warned my master to be careful of carriages, not you.”
“Indeed.”
“Still, you never know, so be careful with carriages for the time being.”
Daniel looked puzzled but soon smiled and replied.
“Yes, I will.”
“By the way.”
Joshua set down his teacup, changing the topic again.
“When will I finally get to meet the precious young lady of the House of Adrian?”
“I’ve felt this for a while, but you seem very interested in Rose.”
“It’s not just me; isn’t she the talk of the town? Everyone is wondering when ‘that’ youngest daughter will make her official debut.”
“It’s still too early.”
“What’s too early about it?”
Daniel hesitated before murmuring.
“Rose is… well, she’s like a newborn chick.”
“A newborn chick?”
“Yes. She has to adapt to this harsh world, and there’s so much for her to learn.”
A deep smile spread across Daniel’s lips.
“Of course, she’s just as adorable, too.”
“But it’s not good to keep her hidden away so tightly. The gossips are already talking.”
“The House of Adrian is more than capable of protecting her from that.”
“Well, if that’s what the Adrians think, there’s nothing more for me to say. But you know.”
Joshua decided to ask something he had been curious about for a while, something he couldn't bring himself to ask Duke Adrian directly.
“How did you come to adopt the youngest daughter? Did my master originally have plans to adopt a child?”
“No, it wasn't anything like that. It was a sudden decision.”
“Everyone is curious. You can tell me that much, can’t you?”
“I suppose so.”
Daniel began to recount the story of his first meeting with Rosette.
“Rose instinctively used healing magic to save a girl who was like an older sister to her. Father happened to witness it. It seems he recognized Rose’s potential and wanted to teach her.”
“If that was the case, couldn’t he have just sponsored her?”
“You sound just like Isabelle. Of course, he could have done that, but Father said he couldn't get Rose off his mind for some reason. So he decided to adopt her so he could keep her close and look after her.”
“That youngest daughter must have been thrilled. To be adopted by the House of Adrian, of all families.”
“No.”
Daniel smiled, a hint of bitterness in it.
“She refused at first.”
“Refused? Why?”
“I think she felt burdened by the thought of leaving the people she considered family to be adopted into a noble house.”
“I suppose that makes sense. Especially a house of Adrian's stature.”
Just as Joshua was about to wrap up the conversation, he suddenly asked.
“By the way, is the young lady of Adrian's name Rose?”
