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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Acknowledgment (1)
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Rosette looked to her three siblings, hoping for help. But they kept their mouths firmly shut, as if the Duke had instructed them beforehand. Even Lucas, who loved to meddle in her affairs.
Left with no choice, Rosette began to speak.
“When I went to the Empress’s Palace today, I had a look around the apothecary.”
“The apothecary? Why there?”
“Pipi is very interested in plants.”
Lucas, finally unable to hold back, chimed in.
“I know! Pipi was always bringing back all sorts of wildflowers. I think he really loves plants!”
“Lucas, Father is speaking.”
When Daniel chided him, Lucas zipped his lips with a “Hup!”
Duke Adrian prompted Rosette again.
“And?”
“I was showing Pipi various tea leaves when he suddenly said something was strange. He said the tea leaves contained Kisch tree leaves, which aren’t normally used.”
“Kisch tree? What’s that?”
“It’s a plant native to the Owen Kingdom. The fruit is mainly used as a digestive aid, but…”
Rosette, who had been excitedly explaining, shook her head.
“That’s not what’s important. Anyway, Pipi found the Kisch tree leaves and showed them to me. They looked just like Evan flower leaves.”
“The Evan flower, you mean the medicinal herb that aids in sleep.”
“Yes. So when I mentioned that, the Prince became furious. He said it seemed someone had sold the tea leaves under false pretenses. Since Evan flower leaves are expensive, he said they must have used worthless Kisch tree leaves instead.”
“And?”
Lucas, listening with rapt attention, urged her on.
“So I said, ‘Your Highness, it’s a relief that nothing has happened to Her Majesty until now. Kisch tree leaves can become poisonous when consumed with honey,’ just like that.”
“And then?”
“Then the Prince became very angry… and after that, I just did as he asked.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
“Well…”
Rosette fell silent.
“He… told me to say that I wanted to drink the tea.”
“Did he also tell you to drink the tea?”
“No!”
Rosette cried out urgently.
“He said nothing of the sort. That was just me acting on my own, based on the situation. And Pipi had already removed all the Kisch tree leaves before that.”
Duke Adrian pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Rose. Why on earth did you do such a thing?”
“I’m sorry. But I never actually intended to drink it.”
“I understand. I’ll ask His Highness the Prince for the finer details myself.”
“…Yes.”
“And you are forbidden from going out for the time being.”
“What?”
It wasn’t Rosette who was surprised, but Lucas. He had been planning to take Rosette out to all sorts of places and protested in a disgruntled voice.
“But Father! That’s too harsh! It’s not like Rosette did it on purpose, and she didn’t cause an accident. She saved Her Majesty the Empress!”
“It’s alright.”
Rosette calmed Lucas down. In truth, she had no real objection to being grounded.
*It might be a little boring for a while, but there’s plenty to do in the mansion.*
There was just one thing she was curious about.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“Why would I be angry with you, Rose?”
“But…”
“I was just worried, that’s all.”
Duke Adrian’s expression finally softened, and a faint smile touched his lips.
“As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters to me.”
Then he added briefly.
“And separate from the dangerous act, you did well in resolving the incident. I am proud of you.”
Only then could Rosette relax. But she couldn’t let her guard down completely.
*My conversation with the Prince isn’t over yet.*
She had saved the Empress, just as she had told Joshua.
Would he really allow her to stay with the Adrians?
***
That night, in the dead of dawn when everyone was asleep, Joshua’s wolf appeared again, just as he said he would.
That was all Joshua said. Rosette, who had been fighting sleep and rubbing her tired eyes, mumbled.
“I’ve been grounded.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
After all, no one had found out about her meeting with Joshua a few days ago.
Rosette hesitated for a moment before putting on a robe and climbing onto the wolf’s back. Just like last time, the wolf slipped out of the mansion without being seen by anyone.
Upon reaching the woods, the wolf didn’t drop her off in the middle of the forest this time but carried her all the way to the clearing.
“Thank you, Wolfie.”
Hopping off its back, Rosette stroked the beast’s spine. Pipi, no longer afraid, perched on the wolf’s head.
Rosette watched the wolf settle down in a corner of the clearing before approaching Joshua. She had many questions for him.
“What happened?”
Joshua handed Rosette the documents he was holding.
“For now, we are interrogating Count Dozer’s family, Gretta’s house, and the court physician, Sir Largo. Nothing specific has come out yet.”
Rosette skimmed the documents. Just as he said, there was nothing of note.
“What about the Empress?”
“She seems to be in great shock. Gretta may not have been at the Empress’s Palace for long, but Sir Largo served my mother for over ten years. To be honest, I’m quite shocked myself. I investigated so thoroughly in the past, but I never imagined Sir Largo could be involved in something like this.”
“I see.”
“By the way, what did you tell your master?”
“Um, I told him that Pipi happened to find the Kisch tree leaves while we were looking at the apothecary.”
Rosette briefly explained her conversation with Duke Adrian.
“Good, you did well.”
Rosette handed the documents back to him and carefully added.
“My dad also said he would hear the details from you, Your Highness.”
“I was planning on visiting my master anyway. I did end up dragging you into this, so I must apologize to him.”
Joshua replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then studied Rosette’s face.
“Did you get a bad scolding?”
“Pardon?”
“I imagine your master was angry. I asked if you were scolded harshly.”
“Well… I think Dad was angry, but I wasn’t scolded that much. Oh, I was grounded, but I rarely go out anyway. And…”
Rosette compared Marquis Dallas’s reaction to Duke Adrian’s.
*I wouldn’t have minded a scolding.*
It was certainly different from when Marquis Dallas had scolded her.
The Marquis had always taken his frustrations out on Rosette, but she could feel that Duke Adrian was genuinely worried about her.
That was why she could accept the punishment of being grounded so readily.
“And what?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nonsense. But you really weren’t scolded?”
“No.”
“That’s not like him.”
Her interest piqued, Rosette asked.
“What is my dad usually like?”
“He’s normally kind, but he is strict when it comes to mistakes. If it had been Daniel or one of the others today, they would have received a very stern scolding.”
*Then why didn’t he scold me? Could it be that he didn’t even think I was worth scolding?*
As Rosette was spiraling into a pit of absurd thoughts, Joshua rubbed his chin and muttered as if to himself.
“He must care for you a great deal.”
Rosette, who managed to catch his words, brightened.
“You think so?”
“Yes. It seems he has a soft spot for you.”
“If that’s the case, I’m glad.”
As Rosette giggled, Joshua raised an eyebrow.
“What are you so happy about?”
“Just because. I’m happy about everything. And the Empress is safe. Speaking of which, she’ll be alright now, won’t she?”
“Yes. It seems she never once took honey with the problematic tea. We still have to watch her until June 15th, but she will be safe. Everyone’s on edge and keeping a close eye on the Empress’s Palace.”
“That’s a relief.”
Just then, Joshua whispered, almost as an afterthought.
“Thank you.”
“…Pardon?”
Rosette’s eyes widened, wondering if she had heard him correctly.
“Whatever the reason, it’s a fact that you helped save my mother. If I had tried to solve this alone without your help, it might have been difficult. A plant that only grows in the Owen Kingdom… and to think Sir Largo was an accomplice.”
“…”
“And I, not knowing any of this, was planning to ask Sir Largo for help as a last resort. It was a complete misjudgment on my part.”
Rosette touched her cheek, a sheepish look on her face.
“It’s not like I did much. I just used a memory from the past.”
“That was only possible because you paid attention to this incident in the past. You also have considerable knowledge of botany. More importantly, could any of this have happened if you hadn’t summoned your familiar?”
[Bbi!]
Pipi, who had been listening silently from his perch on the wolf’s head, puffed out his chest as if to say, *Ahem, of course, I’m the best.* Hearing this, Rosette let out a small laugh.
“Hearing you say it like that makes me feel pretty amazing.”
“I didn’t say you were amazing.”
“…”
Rosette pouted. Then she remembered there was still something she needed to discuss with Joshua.
Rosette finally asked the question she didn’t want to ask.
“So, what happens to me now?”
Her heart pounded in her chest.
*What if the Prince really kicks me out?*
When she had offered to help Joshua save the Empress, he had said he would grant her a reprieve ‘for now.’ It meant there was still a chance he would kick her out even if she stopped the Empress’s poisoning.
*But I thought we got along pretty well.*
While handling this incident, Rosette no longer felt afraid of Joshua. Seeing him struggle to save his mother made her realize that he, too, was a person with feelings.
She also saw a reflection of herself in Joshua.
Perhaps the two of them were quite similar in their efforts to save the ones they loved.
*And he’s the only one I can share the past with.*
At first, she had been terrified that someone remembered her past, especially her shame. But as she continued to talk with Joshua, she found it nice to have someone who could understand.
Until now, she had often felt like she was living alone in a different world.
*But it must be different for the Prince.*
To him, Rosette was nothing more than a monster. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Joshua looked at Rosette, who seemed on the verge of tears, and asked gently.
“What is it that you want?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you still want to stay with the Adrians?”
“Of course!”
Rosette shouted before he could even finish his sentence.
“I still want to stay with the Adrians!”
“I don’t understand. Why are you so obsessed with the Duchy of Adrian?”
“Obsessed?”
Joshua leaned down, bringing his face closer to Rosette’s.
His golden eyes, which gazed at her intently, were no longer filled with the contempt of before, but with pure curiosity.
“Didn’t you live with the Marquisate of Dallas for over ten years? That’s what I recall. So why are you so obsessed with the Duchy of Adrian, where you’ve only been for about half a year, rather than the Dallases?”
“The Dallases…”
“Aren’t they your family, too?”
