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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Encounter (2)
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One thing was certain: he found her repulsive.
Would he tell my family everything? Or would he just drive me away?
Either possibility was terrifying. Just when she thought she had finally found happiness, her past had come back to haunt her.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn't wanted to follow Duke Adrian at first, but now, she couldn't imagine a life without her family.
It would have been different if she'd never had anything to begin with, but the thought of having it all taken away was unbearably sad.
*What should I do? What am I going to do from now on…*
Rosette remained huddled in her room all day, trembling with fear. She wrapped herself tightly in a blanket on her bed and shivered.
When she refused to eat dinner, everyone grew worried.
“My lady, you still must have your dinner.”
Joan placed a tray with a warm meal on the table. Rosette pulled the blanket over her head and shook it.
“I’ll leave it here, so please have some if you change your mind.”
“Mhm.”
After Joan left, Lucas came to visit.
“Hey, kiddo! Are you sick?”
He made a boisterous entrance and walked straight to her bed. Once again, Rosette shook her head from under the covers.
“You’re not sick? Then why are you like this? Come out for a second.”
She shook her head again.
When Rosette refused once more, Lucas tried to lift the blanket, but he couldn't because she was gripping it so tightly.
Instead, he wriggled his way under the covers.
Rosette jumped in surprise when Lucas’s face suddenly appeared right in front of her.
“Why, why…”
“I’m worried, kiddo. The girl who ate heartily every day, saying she was going to get all plump, suddenly skips dinner. You think I'm going to worry or not?”
“…You will.”
“Then why aren’t you eating if you’re not sick?”
“I’m just not hungry…”
“Why aren’t you hungry? You didn’t even have a snack today!”
“I just don’t have an appetite…”
“Should I ask them to make your favorite egg sandwiches?”
The sandwiches, filled with a salad of mashed potatoes and eggs mixed with mayonnaise, were one of Rosette’s favorite snacks.
John, the chef, would make them whenever Rosette and Lucas snuck into the kitchen before mealtime, complaining of hunger.
Rosette’s mouth watered slightly, but she refused again.
“It’s okay.”
When she refused even his secret weapon of a dish, Lucas was practically jumping out of his skin with shock.
“Why not? Why? Are you sure you’re not sick? Should I call a physician?”
He placed a hand on Rosette’s forehead, then tilted his head.
“That’s strange, you don’t have a fever.”
Rosette weakly pushed his hand away.
“I’m really not hungry.”
“Hmm.”
Lucas, who had been lying on his side looking at Rosette, flopped onto his back.
“Then I’m not eating either.”
“What?”
“Since you’re not coming, I’ve lost my appetite too.”
“But…”
“Well, I guess skipping one meal won’t hurt.”
Lucas patted his stomach.
He truly had no ulterior motive. He was simply thinking, *If the kiddo’s starving, I’ll starve with her.*
Even though Rosette knew this, she became restless.
Finally, she peeked out from under the blanket.
“Joan brought me a meal. Let’s eat together.”
“Really? You’re really going to eat?”
“Yes.”
And so, the two children sat side-by-side at the table and ate.
Joan, who came by to check if the food had gotten cold, saw them and brought another meal for Lucas.
After dinner, Rosette played card games with Lucas. The other family members, worried about her, also stopped by and were urged by the children to join in.
Spending time with her family helped Rosette shake off some of her anxiety.
“There, have sweet dreams.”
“Okay. You too, Joan.”
But when everyone had left and she was alone again, Rosette crawled back under the covers and writhed in agony.
*Please, I hope they don’t kick me out of the Adrian family.*
As if sensing Rosette’s anxiety, Pipi chirped sorrowfully beside her, “Pii, pii…”
Rosette sniffled for a long time before finally falling asleep, feeling Pipi nuzzling against her cheek.
***
Rosette, who had been sleeping lightly, was awakened by a frantic Pipi.
[Peep! Pip! Pip!]
Pipi, who had been sleeping next to her pillow, flapped its wings desperately and tugged at her pink hair.
The sharp sting woke Rosette, and she carefully cupped Pipi in her hands.
“Pipi, you can’t cry in the middle of the night. Everyone’s sleeping.”
[Pip! Piiip!]
*Rosette, look over there! There’s an intruder!*
“An intruder?”
Rosette casually glanced in the direction Pipi indicated with its beak and froze.
In the dark room, where even the moonlight barely crept in, a pair of eyes glowed unnaturally.
“...!”
Those were the eyes of a predator.
Rosette instinctively hugged Pipi to her chest, on guard. Pipi trembled and hid in the sleeve of Rosette’s pajamas.
Looking closer, she saw that the beast standing a short distance from her bed was a wolf with silver fur. With a little exaggeration, its body was as big as Rosette herself.
*Don’t be scared, Rosette. Think carefully.*
There was no way a real wolf could have broken through the tight security and infiltrated the mansion.
Besides, wasn't this the third floor? It wasn't a height an ‘ordinary’ wolf could physically leap to.
*Which means…*
Rosette focused on the mana around her. She could feel an unfamiliar mana emanating from the silver wolf.
Celine’s familiar was a black cat. She had seen it several times, so she was certain this wasn't Celine's familiar.
In this mansion, besides Rosette and Celine, there were no other mages who could summon a familiar. That meant it had come from outside.
Gazing at the strangely familiar silver fur, Rosette unknowingly muttered.
“Did His Highness the Prince send you?”
There was no rule that a familiar had to look exactly like its summoner, but the wolf's silver fur resembled Joshua's silver hair.
Just then, the collar around the wolf’s neck glowed, and a voice emerged.
It was indeed Joshua’s voice. Rosette swallowed dryly and asked.
“How did you get here…?”
Normally, a twelve-year-old like Joshua shouldn't have been able to summon a familiar. The fact that this wolf had been summoned meant only one thing.
“You remember, don’t you?”
Though her words were vague, Joshua understood at once and replied.
“…”
“But how?”
Though a wolf stood before her, she could vividly picture Joshua scowling.
“I know how to use it. But my mana core is still too small, so it's too much for me. I could cast it, but I'd probably be sick for days.”
“Yes.”
After a brief silence, the wolf spoke.
“What?”
The wolf strode toward the bed and lowered its body, as if telling her to hurry up and get on.
Rosette swallowed hard.
*I can’t avoid this forever.*
She didn't know what Joshua would say. But now that she had encountered him, she couldn't keep running away and pretending not to know.
If she couldn't avoid it, it was better to talk to him as soon as possible.
Just as Rosette thought this and approached the wolf…
[Pip! Peep!]
Pipi, who had been hiding in her sleeve, quickly flew to a chair.
It then started tugging at the robe hanging on the back of the chair with its beak. It wanted her to wear an outer layer since the night air was still chilly.
But Pipi was far too small to gallantly bring the robe to Rosette.
[Piii…]
Pipi chirped sorrowfully. Rosette changed direction, put on the robe herself, and stroked Pipi under its chin.
“Thank you, Pipi. I know what you meant. I don't think I'll be cold now, thanks to you.”
[Pip!]
With a faint smile, Rosette carefully climbed onto the wolf’s back. Pipi naturally settled on her shoulder.
The wolf immediately sprang up as if dancing and slipped out the window.
From the third floor.
“...!”
[...!]
*We're falling!*
*Piiiiiiip!*
Rosette and Pipi let out silent screams.
Terrified, Rosette gripped the wolf’s fur tightly, while Pipi dug its claws desperately into her clothes.
Contrary to their fears, the wolf landed lightly on the ground and slipped out of the mansion, avoiding the guards.
Rosette pressed herself flat against the wolf’s back and squeezed her eyes shut. The razor-sharp wind slicing against her face and body told her just how fast the wolf was running.
How long did they run like that? A refreshing scent brushed past her nose. Just then, the wolf slowed down.
Rosette lifted her head and looked around. The wolf had brought her and Pipi to an unfamiliar forest.
It was already dark, and the sky-high trees on all sides blocked out even the moonlight.
The wolf, having completely slowed down, lowered its head again as if telling her to get off.
Rosette carefully placed her feet on the ground, hesitated for a moment, then patted the wolf’s head.
“You worked hard carrying me.”
[…]
The wolf said nothing, its connection with Joshua apparently severed. For a moment, Rosette wondered what a wolf’s howl sounded like before belatedly asking.
“By the way, where is His Highness?”
The wolf pointed toward the deeper part of the forest with its snout.
“Are you waiting here?”
The wolf then pointed in the opposite direction. It seemed to mean it would stand guard to make sure no one disturbed them.
“I see.”
Even after getting her answer, Rosette hesitated, so the wolf tugged at the hem of her skirt.
“Alright, alright. I’m going.”
Rosette swallowed dryly, took a few deep breaths, and then finally took a step deeper into the forest. Pipi followed along, perched on her head.
Before long, a clearing came into view. Silver moonlight bathed the area, and in the center stood Joshua.
He was wearing a hood, so she couldn't see his face or hair color clearly, but his short stature for an adult told her it was Joshua.
“You’re here.”
He pulled back his hood upon spotting her. His silver hair was even more beautiful under the moonlight than it was in the sun.
But that wasn't important right now. Rosette clenched her fists and approached him. Her heart was pounding, and she felt like crying, but she barely held it in.
*If I cry, His Highness will hate me even more.*
Tears would only make the situation worse.
Forcing herself to walk with composure, Rosette recalled the greeting Isabelle had given Joshua and knelt deeply on one knee.
Joshua waved a dismissive hand.
“Save the pleasantries. I have no desire to receive your greetings.”
“…”
“To be honest, if I had my way, I'd grab your neck and snap it right now, but…”
Joshua's eyes glinted in the darkness, much like the wolf's had moments before.
