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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: A New Family (1)
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The thought of being adopted into a noble family was still frightening. But the desire to change the future was stronger than the fear.
Even if Duke Adrian took her in only to make her do things worse than what Marquis Dallas had, she would still protect him.
Selfish as it might be, Rosette wanted to atone for her past this way.
Duke Adrian, the director, and Daniel all wore expressions of surprise. The first to recover from the shock was Duke Adrian.
He approached Rosette, knelt on one knee, and gently pulled her into an embrace.
“Alright.”
He softly stroked her hair.
“Welcome, Rosette.”
* * *
The employees of the Duchy of Adrian had been bustling about since dawn. An order had just arrived from the Duke to thoroughly clean the room next to that of Isabelle, the duchy’s only daughter.
The south corridor of the third floor was a space used exclusively by the direct line of the Adrian family. Why the sudden order to clean this room, and not even a guest room?
Though puzzled, they couldn't question the head butler's words. The staff moved quietly yet swiftly to tidy the room, careful not to wake the precious Lady Isabelle.
A few hours later, just as the room was impeccably tidy, Isabelle, already awake and dressed, came to see the room next door.
“Is the room all tidied up?”
Isabelle Adrian had the fine platinum-blonde hair characteristic of the Adrians and purple eyes that resembled the Duke's.
Although she was eleven this year, the word "dignified" suited Isabelle better than "cute."
Her cat-like, aloof purple eyes slowly scanned the room. The most experienced maid bowed low before her.
“Yes, my lady. We have just finished.”
“Yes, it seems so. Good work.”
The maids exchanged glances.
Isabelle knew how to clearly separate public and private matters, but she was not a cold employer. She was a young lady who would engage in a certain amount of conversation with her maids.
The maids were confident that Isabelle wouldn't get angry if they asked what they were curious about this time either.
The maid at the very front spoke up carefully on behalf of everyone.
“Excuse me, my lady.”
“Yes?”
“Are we expecting a guest?”
“Ah.”
Isabelle replied in a calm tone, as if commenting on the fine weather.
“It seems my younger sibling is coming.”
“Young Lord Lucas?”
“No. A new younger sister.”
As the maids exchanged glances again, not understanding her meaning, the head butler approached Isabelle.
“My lady, the master and the first young lord have returned.”
“Have they?”
Isabelle adjusted the shawl draped over her shoulders and gestured to the maids with her eyes.
“Let's go.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems my little sister has arrived.”
The maids, still clueless as to what was happening, followed Isabelle. When they reached the front of the mansion, a large four-horse carriage bearing the Adrian family crest came to a stop.
The Duke stepped out as soon as the coachman opened the door. The servants, lined up in a row, all bowed at once.
“Welcome back, master.”
“Yes.”
The Duke, who had greeted them with a smile, reached into the carriage and lifted someone out. It was a girl with lovely pink hair, even smaller than Lucas, the youngest of the household.
The child cautiously looked around, her round blue eyes darting about. Duke Adrian smiled as if finding her adorable, then announced to the staff.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Rosette Adrian, who will be a member of our Adrian family from now on.”
The child hesitated for a moment before bowing her head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The employees let out a silent scream.
*My goodness, she's so cute!*
* * *
The very next day after declaring she would become Duke Adrian’s adopted daughter, Rosette left the orphanage at dawn. The reason was that Duke Adrian and Daniel could no longer be away from the duchy.
“*Sob*, Rose. You have to stay healthy, okay?”
Jane, who Rosette thought would send her off maturely, hugged her tightly, tears and snot streaming down her face. Rosette, on the other hand, only had red-rimmed eyes and did not cry.
Ever since she decided she had to change the Adrian family's future, she had been trying to act with composure.
*I’m not a child.*
Her body was that of a seven-year-old, but her mind was an adult's. She couldn't cry and lament her past forever.
It was time to move forward.
Instead of crying, Rosette smiled and bid Jane farewell.
“I’ll write to you, Unni.”
“*Hic*, you don't even know how to write.”
“I’ll just learn.”
*Actually, I’m a great writer now. You wouldn’t know, Unni. I learned while getting beaten half to death at the Marquisate of Dallas.*
“Then you have to promise you’ll write, okay?”
“Okay. You have to write back, too. Alright? Don't cry.”
“Okay.”
“Come visit. I’ll ask them to make lots of delicious food.”
“You don't have to invite me, just go and live well.”
“Okay, I will. I really have to go now.”
Rosette gave Jane one last tight hug, then picked up her bag and went to Duke Adrian.
“Are you done saying your goodbyes?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have many belongings.”
“No. I don’t own much.”
Even what little she had was so worn out she wasn't sure if it was still usable. In the past, Marquis Dallas had thrown her bag away right in front of her, telling her to get rid of such trash.
Duke Adrian gently took the bag from Rosette.
*Is he going to throw it away?* Rosette tensed for a moment. But instead of throwing it away, he placed the bag inside the carriage.
“This won’t be enough. I’ll buy you more of what you need when we get to the mansion.”
Then he lifted Rosette up and placed her in the carriage. Rosette was so surprised her mouth hung open.
The Duke, sitting across from her, asked with a puzzled look.
“What is it?”
“I’m… dirty… No, I’m heavy.”
When Marquis Dallas had first taken Rosette, he had barked at her to get into the carriage on her own.
In truth, he hadn't wanted Rosette in his carriage at all, but with prying eyes around, he had no choice but to ride with her.
Just then, Daniel, who was sitting next to Rosette, let out a chuckle. It wasn’t a sneer, but a bright smile, refreshing like citrus.
“What do you mean, heavy? You need to eat a lot more from now on. John will love it. Oh, John is our mansion’s chef. He loves feeding children and fattening them up.”
“Fattening them up…”
“Unfortunately, the three of us Adrian siblings only ever gain muscle… But you’ll be fun to fatten up.”
Rosette puffed out her cheeks.
“Are you teasing me right now?”
“Oops, did you catch me?”
Daniel now laughed out loud. Glaring at him for a moment, Rosette suddenly realized that Daniel’s personality was slightly different from what she remembered.
*He’s surprisingly cheerful.*
Was it because of his ailing body? In the past, he had been less kind and more cynical. He kept a slight distance from people.
But the Daniel before her now was simply lively and pure.
She wanted to protect this side of him, too.
Besides…
*I don’t hate it.*
This kind of attention wasn’t bad. As Rosette lowered her head, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Duke Adrian and Daniel noticed and smiled warmly, but she didn't realize it.
* * *
The carriage rode on and on, eventually arriving at the Adrian mansion in the capital. Once again lifted out of the carriage in Duke Adrian's arms, Rosette was rendered speechless by the sight before her.
*So many people.*
When she was adopted into the Marquisate of Dallas, there had been no one to welcome her. Naturally, there was no formal introduction to the staff either.
So, she had expected it to be the same this time. But to see so many people, all staring intently at her.
Rosette flinched and gripped Duke Adrian’s arm tightly. The Duke patted her back reassuringly.
“Allow me to introduce you. This is Rosette Adrian, who will be a member of our Adrian family from now on.”
Rosette remembered what she had learned in her past life and bowed her head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
In truth, she should have spoken informally to them as they were employees, but that was something she could change over time.
Fortunately, the Duke dismissed the staff, saying that proper introductions would be made later.
But there was still more to come. Duke Adrian had said he would introduce her to the family.
Rosette followed the Duke to a lavish drawing room. Inside were the Duke, Daniel, and a girl and boy who looked a couple of years older than Rosette.
“This is Isabelle, and this is Lucas. They will be your older sister and brother.”
Isabelle stood with her arms crossed, staring sullenly at her, while Lucas’s eyes were wide as he stared intently at her.
Rosette swallowed hard.
She hadn't socialized much in her past life, but she knew a lot about the two of them. Isabelle and Lucas weren't Sword Masters, but they were skilled enough to be comparable and served in the Imperial Knights.
Lucas, at least, was said to be affable and fond of people. Isabelle, on the other hand, was said to be rather prickly and avoided contact with others. This was due to the discrimination she had faced for wielding a sword as a woman.
But judging from her gaze now, it seemed her natural disposition was quite haughty.
Just as Rosette was wondering if she should introduce herself, Isabelle spoke first.
“You’re younger than I thought.”
Rosette mumbled.
“I’m not young.”
Duke Adrian came to her defense.
“That's right, she’s not young. She’s seven.”
“What did you say?”
Isabelle haughtily raised an eyebrow and circled Rosette once. A look of displeasure crossed her face.
“She looks six at most. She’s a whole handspan shorter than me.”
Rosette was indeed small for her age, but Isabelle was also well-developed for hers. Not just her, but everyone in the Adrian family had a large frame.
Rosette clenched her fists.
“I’m not small. You’re just big, Lady Isabelle.”
“What.”
Isabelle furrowed her brow in disbelief. Daniel, standing beside Rosette, covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling.
Though he didn't show it, Duke Adrian also lowered his head and swallowed dryly. Only Lucas, the immature youngest—or rather, the one who was the youngest until yesterday—burst out laughing.
“That’s right! My sister is big!”
“Be quiet, Lucas.”
Isabelle snapped, and Lucas clapped his hands over his mouth.
“So why did you bring this child here?”
“Isabelle.”
Duke Adrian tried to stop his daughter, but she continued to speak her mind.
“If you needed a capable knight, you have us. With three children already, is there really a need to adopt?”
“Rosette is not a swordswoman, but a mage.”
“A mage?”
Lucas’s eyes widened. Rosette quite liked him. Of the three who were to become her siblings, she felt she would get along with him first.
But it seemed that explanation wasn't enough for Isabelle. She crossed her arms and retorted.
“Then you could have just sponsored her.”
