Chapter 7

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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: New Family (2)
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Rosette flinched.

*Does she hate that I’m here?*

I suppose that’s possible. Elisha used to show her dislike so openly, too.

Back then, Elisha’s hostility had broken my heart. But perhaps because I’d been through it once before, it didn’t sting as much this time.

*I’m not upset.*

No, that was a lie. You never get used to negative emotions, no matter how many times you experience them, and my heart still ached.

Still, if there was one thing that had changed from before, it was that I could speak to Isabelle with confidence.

“I-I’ll work really hard.”

Rosette said, raising her voice, which threatened to shrink into a whisper.

“I can be good at magic, too. Once I learn, I can take care of your hair, Lady Isabelle, and, um, and I can keep your tea warm! So please don’t hate me too much.”

These were all things Elisha had made Rosette do in the past.

But as she listened, Isabelle’s expression grew strange. She crossed her arms and spoke tartly.

“What do you take me for?”

“...Pardon?”

“Do you think I’m going to work you like a maid? And who said I hate you?”

“...?”

Isabelle let out a heavy sigh, as if frustrated by Rosette, who could only blink, not understanding.

“Listen up, kid. The House of Adrian has produced knights for generations. We’re a renowned family of swordsmanship.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Not many people here know how to handle a delicate, sensitive kid like you.”

*Is she trying to kick me out?* After I’d finally steeled my heart to come all this way. Rosette clutched her skirt with both hands.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? The knights train loudly in the sparring grounds every morning.”

“I’ll be fine!”

“I’m saying we’re not the prim and proper noble family you might be imagining.”

“I…”

Rosette said with conviction.

“I’m still happy to be here!”

Isabelle scanned Rosette from head to toe with sharp eyes, her disbelief palpable.

Rosette mumbled, her voice a little smaller this time.

“I can really do well. I’ll work hard…”

“Who said I was worried you wouldn’t? I was just…!”

*Just…?*

As Rosette blinked, trying to guess the rest of the sentence, Isabelle sighed deeply.

“Fine. If you insist, you can experience it for yourself.”

“Really?”

“And remember this.”

Isabelle leaned down to meet Rosette’s eyes.

“You don’t need to manage my hair or adjust the temperature of my tea. You shouldn’t.”

“But…”

“From now on, you’re my little sister and a member of the Adrian family. Act with a little more confidence. If you don’t, I’ll tell Father to send you back. Got it?”

“...Yes.”

“Louder.”

“...Yes!”

“Good.”

Daniel and Duke Adrian, who had been listening to their conversation, exchanged meaningful smiles.

Isabelle huffed at them before reaching out and ruffling Rosette’s hair. Her touch was surprisingly rough, belying her composed face.

“And from now on, call me your sister. What’s this ‘Lady Isabelle’ nonsense?”

“Can I really call you… sister?”

“Isn’t that obvious? And call that idiot over there Lucas, your brother.”

“Why am I an idiot!”

Lucas grumbled but soon approached Rosette with a wide grin.

“I’m so happy to have a little sister! But we have to go to morning training now. We’ll see you at breakfast in a bit.”

“Oh…?”

“Bye!”

Lucas and Isabelle left the drawing room with disciplined strides. Daniel, who had been smiling the whole time, also departed, saying he had to train.

After the whirlwind of activity, only Rosette and Duke Adrian remained in the drawing room.

Rosette smoothed her messy hair with her fingers, cautiously glancing at the Duke.

“Um…”

The Duke fixed her hair for her. Rosette mumbled in a dazed voice.

“Is this… really happening?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No…”

She had expected more resistance. But Daniel and Lucas showed no signs of opposition, and even Isabelle, who had scrutinized her so strictly, seemed to have accepted her for now.

“I’m just… bewildered.”

“That’s natural when your environment changes.”

Duke Adrian gently caressed her cheek before straightening up.

“The head butler will show you to your room. We’ll be having a meal soon, so rest until then. I must go oversee the training.”

“Wait.”

Rosette caught Duke Adrian’s sleeve as he turned to leave. For a brief moment, she worried she’d be scolded for her impertinence, but thankfully, the Duke turned back with a smile.

“Is there something you need?”

“It’s just…”

Rosette’s eyes darted around before she asked cautiously.

“What am I supposed to do from now on?”

“Hmm?”

Duke Adrian replied curtly, as if he didn’t understand. Rosette mumbled, her voice shrinking even more.

“I mean, what am I supposed to do here?”

The Duke, who had been listening intently, stroked Rosette’s head with his large hand.

“I’m sorry. I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“I-I can do everything well. I’ll study magic diligently, and I’ll study history diligently, too. And…”

“Wait, hold on, my child.”

Duke Adrian coaxed in a gentle voice.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“What?”

This time, it was Rosette’s turn to be confused, her already large eyes widening even more. Duke Adrian emphasized it once more.

“You don’t have to do a thing, my child.”

“But…”

Rosette recalled the day she was adopted into the Dallas family.

From the very day he brought her home, Marquis Dallas had stressed that she must be perfect. His goal was to make Rosette the greatest magician.

Rosette tried and tried again to meet their expectations.

She wanted only one thing: her family’s love. Marquis Dallas would praise her in a relatively gentle voice whenever she mastered a difficult spell.

—Yes, you’ve done well.

Praise given only when she performed well. Strangely, the more she heard it, the more her throat grew parched, the thirstier she became. And so, Rosette grew more and more obsessed.

Perhaps that was why. She had naturally assumed Duke Adrian must have had a reason for bringing her here.

But to be told she didn’t have to do anything… What on earth did that mean?

As Rosette blinked, unable to comprehend, Duke Adrian added an explanation.

“For now, just focus on getting comfortable here and rest. We can gradually start with magic lessons and basic studies after you’ve settled in.”

“But…”

“Until then, just live like a child and do whatever you wish.”

He glanced at Rosette’s gaunt wrist and added playfully.

“It would be even better if you ate well and got a little chubby.”

With that, he entrusted Rosette to the head butler and left the drawing room.

*Chubby…*

Rosette stared blankly at her own frail frame. She hadn’t realized how small she was when she was at the orphanage. Food had been scarce there, and everyone was small-bodied.

But the members of the Adrian family were particularly large, making the contrast all the more stark.

Still…

*I should eat well.*

I’ll grow tall, too. Since I’ve been adopted into the Adrian family, maybe I should try learning the sword.

And so, Rosette’s first goal upon entering the Adrian household became ‘to eat well.’

***

“I will show you to your room, Lady Rosette.”

The head butler, his hair flecked with gray, bowed to Rosette. Startled, she almost waved her hands in protest but quickly remembered her new station and straightened her back.

“Yes—I mean, okay.”

The head butler smiled as if to say *well done* and led the way. Rosette followed him down the hall and up the stairs.

“You may call me Sebastian.”

“Okay, Sebastian.”

“Once you’ve grown accustomed to the residence, we will assign a personal maid to you. Until then, the maids will attend to you in rotation.”

“Okay.”

“Everyone is looking forward to meeting you.”

*Is that really true?* Rosette was skeptical. Still, she nodded without letting it show. Thankfully, she must have managed her expression well, as Sebastian led her to her room without further comment.

“This will be your room from now on. It is next to Lady Isabelle’s.”

“Okay.”

“We were in a hurry, so we weren’t able to prepare new furniture. We will redecorate it to your tastes over time. Now, please, step inside.”

Following Sebastian inside, Rosette clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle a gasp.

*Is this really my room?*

The room was so perfect she wondered if he had brought her to the wrong one.

At least five times the size of her room at the Marquisate of Dallas, the spacious chamber was decorated with jaw-droppingly splendid furniture.

Warm sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that led to a terrace, and a bed large enough for five adults was piled high with dolls.

She tried to tell herself she was too old to get excited over dolls, but it was no use. In the end, Rosette couldn’t help but ask in an excited voice.

“Is all of this mine?”

Sebastian replied with a smile.

“Indeed. If there is anything you do not like…”

“No!”

Rosette answered quickly.

“I love it! I love it so much.”

From the moment she stepped into the room, her heart had been pounding with joy. She was worried it might leap right out of her mouth.

Rosette took a step away from Sebastian to hide the sound of her racing heart. Misinterpreting the gesture, Sebastian took a slight step back himself.

“I have taken up too much of your time. You must be tired, so please rest. I will send the maids in.”

After he left, Rosette threw herself onto the plush-looking bed. Stuffed with copious amounts of cotton, it was even softer than it looked. She rolled around, hugging a chubby rabbit doll.

In that moment, she was so happy that the thought, *Do I deserve to enjoy something like this?* didn’t even cross her mind.

How long had she been like that? A cautious knock sounded at the door.

“My lady, may we come in?”

Hearing the voice from outside, she scrambled off the bed. Even though no one was watching, she felt inexplicably embarrassed.

“Please come in. No, I mean… come in.”

The door opened, and three maids entered—one with auburn hair, one with brown, and one with black. They bowed to Rosette, who was trying her best to act composed.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”

However, Rosette couldn’t maintain her composure at their next words.

“We are here to help you with your bath.”

*A bath? Do they mean I have to show them my naked body?* Rosette hesitated again.

“Um, that’s…”

“Yes, my lady?”

“I’d like to bathe by myself…”

“Pardon?”

“I-I’m not a child. I’ve always washed by myself before, and…”

Then she belatedly realized that young ladies of noble families typically had attendants for their baths.

But she simply couldn’t muster the courage to show them her scrawny, unsightly body.