-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Duke Adrian (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Duke Adrian thought of Rosette, whom he had seen in the square earlier.
On his way to the orphanage, he had sensed a powerful flow of mana and headed toward it. Such a thing was out of place in this quiet little town, so he had gone to assess the situation.
There, he met a girl with pink hair.
The girl, whose name—Rosette—suited her perfectly, possessed the greatest potential he had ever seen. Even to him, a layman when it came to magic.
As an adult, it was only natural to want to help a child with such potential blossom.
But beyond that, Duke Adrian had another reason.
“And… I felt an inexplicable urge to protect her.”
The sight of her trembling, tear-streaked face was heartbreaking and lingered in his mind. He couldn’t bring himself to leave her, knowing he would only continue to worry about the child.
If it were up to him, he would have taken her to the Adrian estate this very day. If Rosette agreed, he was fully prepared to do so.
It was strange. This was a feeling he had only ever experienced with his own three children.
“If it’s the Duchy of Adrian, we can entrust a child to you with confidence. Oh, and here’s Rose now.”
The director welcomed Rosette as she cautiously entered the room. But something was wrong with Rosette’s expression.
The moment she saw Duke Adrian sitting across from the director, her already pale face turned ghostly white.
The director, following Rosette’s gaze to Duke Adrian, completely understood how she felt.
‘It’s understandable that she’d be afraid of a nobleman.’
As a Sword Master, Duke Adrian had an impressive physique. He was taller than most knights, with a solid, well-built frame.
Though his features were gentle, to a child who was inherently terrified of nobles, he might have appeared fearsome.
And wasn’t Rosette the most fragile and sensitive of all the children at the orphanage? On top of that, after what she had endured in the village, it was no wonder she was frightened.
The director gently took Rosette’s arm, coaxing and soothing her.
“Rosette, I’m sure you’ve already seen him, but please offer your greetings again. This is Duke Adrian. He’s a good man, so there’s no need to be scared.”
Still, Rosette’s expression remained frozen. She struggled to breathe, letting out choked gasps. Alarmed, Duke Adrian slowly approached and knelt on one knee before her.
“Your name is Rosette, isn’t it? You don’t need to worry. I’m here to protect you.”
“I… I…”
Rosette stammered, trying to say something, but when Duke Adrian reached for her hand, she reflexively snatched it away.
“Ah…”
Then, her eyes darting nervously, she fled from the director’s office as if escaping.
Her unexpected reaction left the director’s face pale as well.
“She’s not usually like this. My deepest apologies.”
“I understand. After the ordeal she went through today, and considering children are often afraid of nobles, it’s to be expected.”
Duke Adrian rose from his spot, showing no sign of being offended.
“It was impolite of me to summon her so suddenly. She seems quite shaken today, so I will return tomorrow.”
Duke Adrian gave a polite bow and left the office. Watching his retreating figure, the director felt a sense of relief.
A family like that… yes, she could entrust Rosette to them without worry.
* * *
As soon as she was back in her room, Rosette leaned against the door and slid to the floor. She wanted to lock it, but the room, shared by more than ten children, had no lock.
Instead, she pressed her ear to the door, focusing on the sounds outside.
She worried that the director or Duke Adrian might follow her, but she heard nothing. Only the faint, distant chatter of the other children reached her.
After about five minutes, Rosette finally allowed herself to relax. Only then could she process what had just happened.
‘Why on earth did Duke Adrian want to see me?’
Rosette had been stunned when she ran into Duke Adrian in the village. She had never dreamed of meeting him here, of all people—not even Marquis Dallas.
She had nearly fainted when he personally brought her and Jane to the orphanage, but she had tried to stay calm.
From what she’d heard in her past life, Duke Adrian was a very kind man.
There were many stories about his kindness, especially toward children. The nobility speculated that being a father of three had made him more affectionate.
So it made sense that he wouldn’t have just stood by and watched as she and Jane were being harassed by the villagers.
‘That must be why he brought us to the orphanage.’
She tried to convince herself of that. Until she saw Duke Adrian in the director’s office just now.
But why was he looking for her? Could it be that he knew she had turned back time? Was he here to take revenge on the Rosette who killed him in her past life?
‘That’s impossible.’
Rosette shook her head.
The ancient tome on time magic had clearly stated that no one but the caster could remember the past. So, no matter who Duke Adrian was, he couldn't possibly remember.
And even if, by some miracle, he did remember the past, he wouldn’t have recognized her.
In her previous life, Rosette had carried the appearance of a proper noble lady, thanks to Marquis Dallas’s generous financial support.
But what about now? A scruffy appearance and a gaunt frame. Aside from her pink hair, there was nothing to connect the Rosette of the past with the Rosette of the present.
So he can’t know that I killed him. He absolutely can’t.
‘But what if he does?’
As Rosette anxiously chewed on her fingernails, Jane’s voice came from beyond the door.
“Rose? Are you in there? Can I come in?”
“Y-Yes.”
As Rosette moved away from the door, Jane entered. She frowned when she saw Rosette biting her nails.
“There you go again, biting your nails. How many times have I told you it’ll hurt if they get too short?”
Jane gently pulled Rosette’s hand away. As Jane meticulously checked to see if she was bleeding, tears welled up in Rosette’s eyes.
‘I’m so glad you’re safe, Jane.’
Even when she lived with the Dallases, she had been scolded for her habit of biting her nails.
Her tutor would strike the back of her hand with a ruler whenever she did it, and even Marquis Dallas, who rarely spoke to her, would reprimand her for being unladylike.
But no one had ever worried about her the way Jane did. The warmth from Jane’s fingertips made the reality that she was alive, unlike in the past, sink in.
She had truly changed the past. That gave Rosette hope.
‘This time, I can avoid killing anyone.’
All those many people who had died by her magic. Especially Duke Adrian and Daniel Adrian. And Joshua Ehrnhardt, who had suffered so much from their deaths.
She could save them all.
Even if Duke Adrian had discovered her identity from the healing magic she used today, she wouldn’t regret it. She would gladly accept her punishment.
“Huh? Rosette, are you crying?”
Unable to hold back her tears, Rosette threw herself into Jane’s arms and wept. Jane patted her back and comforted her for a long while. Only after Rosette’s sobs subsided did she murmur with understanding.
“It’s sad, isn’t it? I’m sad, too. But Rose, if you’re adopted into a noble family, you’ll have so much more than you do now.”
What was she talking about? Adopted? It wasn’t time for Marquis Dallas to show up yet.
As Rosette blinked in confusion, Jane continued.
“Duke Adrian seemed like a very nice person earlier. I’m sure he’ll treat you well…”
She couldn’t just listen anymore. At the name ‘Adrian,’ Rosette reacted instantly.
“Why Duke Adrian?”
“Huh? Weren’t you crying because you knew?”
“No, I don’t know anything.”
Jane tilted her head, then explained.
“I heard Duke Adrian is going to adopt you.”
Rosette couldn’t respond right away. She knew Jane wasn’t the type to make such jokes, but her words sounded like a cruel prank.
‘Why would he adopt me?’
Marquis Dallas, maybe, but there was no reason for Duke Adrian to adopt her. As if reading her thoughts, Jane answered for him.
“You healed me with magic, didn’t you? The director said you have the potential to become a great mage. That’s why the Duke wants to adopt you. Since he’s a great swordsman.”
There had to be another motive. That reason alone wasn’t enough for adoption.
Rosette shot up from her spot and ran toward the director’s office.
“Rose? Where are you going?”
She heard Jane call out from behind her, but thankfully, Jane didn’t follow.
When she reached the director’s office again, Rosette, breathing heavily, opened the door without knocking. The director greeted her as if he had been expecting her.
“Oh, yes. Rose, come in.”
Rosette stood at the doorway and shouted.
“I don’t want to be adopted!”
“Did Jane tell you?”
“Yes. Director, I…!”
“Rose, please calm down and have a seat.”
The director spoke calmly, but Rosette stood her ground, stubbornly shaking her head.
“No! I like it here! I want to stay with Jane!”
The director’s expression turned troubled for a brief moment before he smiled and rose from his seat. He walked over slowly and sat in front of her. His hands, as they took hers, were gentle and warm.
“I won’t force you to go if you don’t want to. But before that, would you tell me why you’re so against it?”
Led by him, Rosette sank onto the sofa and parted her lips. There was so much she wanted to say. That she couldn’t be adopted by the man she had killed, that she had no right to call him father.
But that was a secret she could never tell anyone. All Rosette could say here and now were the typical words of a seven-year-old child.
She fidgeted with her fingers and mumbled.
“I don’t want to be separated from Jane.”
“You can come visit often. The Duke also said he would frequently invite Jane and the other children to the estate for you.”
“Also… also…”
As Rosette faltered, unable to find another excuse, the director waited with patience.
“I’m scared.”
This was the truth. Rosette was scared of Duke Adrian, whose true intentions she couldn’t fathom.
“I can understand being afraid of a nobleman. But Duke Adrian is a good man. He will cherish you as family and help you become a great mage.”
“But still…”
But Rosette couldn’t answer further.
She had been feeling achy and dizzy for a while, and now, her body suddenly swayed.
She hadn’t even realized it, but her back was already drenched in a cold sweat.
”Rose? Goodness, Rose! You’re burning up!“
Hearing the director’s alarmed voice as he placed a hand on her forehead, Rosette lost consciousness.
