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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: For a Child to Be a Child (2)
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Seemingly at a loss for words, Duke Adrian fell silent for a moment. He rose from his seat and sat down next to Rosette, then pulled her into a tight embrace.
It was different from Jane’s soft, gentle embrace. It wasn't as cozy, but it felt solid—like it could shield her from all the storms of the world.
Instinctively, Rosette buried her face in the duke's arms.
"There's a difference between not eating something and not being able to, Rose."
“…”
"You shouldn't force yourself to eat something you can't."
"Will I be scolded then?"
"From now on, you will be."
"Yes."
The duke gently patted Rosette on the back.
"And what's wrong with being a picky eater? It's fine not to eat things you don't like. That's what children do."
“…”
"So, are there any foods you dislike?"
"...Carrots."
"Carrots? Anything else?"
"No. I eat everything else just fine. I really do."
"I see."
After letting Rosette go, the duke examined her arm.
"To have scratched your arm this much... It's really going to leave a scar."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't do it again."
"Yes."
"I was planning to introduce you once you'd gotten used to the mansion, but it can't be helped. I'll introduce you to your teacher today."
Rosette's eyes widened.
"My teacher?"
Duke Adrian smiled and gently tweaked her nose.
"Yes."
He pulled the bell cord and instructed the waiting Sebastian to bring someone. A moment later, a woman with fiery red hair entered.
Rosette recognized her at once.
*Isn't that the Witch of Fire?*
The Witch of Fire, Celine.
In her past life, Celine was a mage who had been desperate to take Rosette as her disciple.
-*Why don't you come with me? You'll learn far more from me than from that rigid Marquis Dallas.*
And what had she said to Celine back then?
-*I have no interest in mages weaker than I am.*
Looking back, it was an incredibly arrogant response. But it had been the only warning she could give.
*Stay away from me. If you covet me, Marquis Dallas might kill you.*
The truth was, Rosette had quite liked Celine. That was why she had said it.
But Celine had approached Rosette relentlessly.
-*Hey, kiddo, wouldn't I be better than an old geezer like him? Come with me, huh? I'll take good care of you.*
In the end, Celine died in a mysterious accident. The cause was never determined, but Rosette could guess that Marquis Dallas was behind it.
It hadn't been just because of her. Celine was a remarkably skilled mage, and with her around, it would have been difficult to attack the Duchy of Adrian. Celine's death was likely the result of a complex web of interests.
So Rosette didn't feel guilty about her death. But it did feel a little empty.
To be honest, she had hoped she might meet Celine when she came to the Duchy of Adrian. And now, she was meeting her so soon!
As Rosette looked up at Celine with a curious expression, Celine offered a casual greeting.
"Your Grace."
"Yes."
"And who might this lovely young lady be? She's practically radiating mana."
Just as before, Celine showed an interest in Rosette.
"Let me introduce you. This is my youngest daughter."
"Oh my, did you have a hidden daughter, Your Grace?"
When Duke Adrian frowned slightly, Celine corrected herself.
"Just kidding. She must be the one who's been the talk of the mansion. Hello, little lady. My name is Celine."
"Hello, Unni."
Rosette greeted her using the title Celine had used for herself in the past, and Celine burst into hearty laughter.
"Heavens, Your Grace! Did you see that? The young lady called me Unni!"
"Is... is that not okay?"
"Not okay? Of course, it's okay! Do you want to learn magic? This unni will teach you everything."
"Before that, take a look at her injury."
"Injury?"
Finally noticing Rosette's arm, Celine made a fuss.
"Who did this? Such a pretty arm, all scratched up."
"It seems she scratched it because of an allergic reaction."
"This will scar if we leave it. Just a moment."
Celine crouched in front of Rosette and channeled her mana. A shimmering light gathered at her fingertips and seeped into Rosette's wounds. Soon, her arm was pristine, as if it had never been injured.
Rosette wasn't surprised. It was magic she had seen countless times in her past life, so what was there to be amazed about? But Celine seemed to find her lack of reaction odd.
"Oh? Aren't you amazed, young lady?"
*Oops. Was I supposed to be amazed?* Just as Rosette was wondering if she should let out a belated "Wow," Duke Adrian interjected.
"Rosette has already used healing magic on her own."
Celine's eyes grew as wide as saucers.
"What? Healing magic? Please, tell me more!"
Duke Adrian recounted the story of how Rosette had healed Jane. After listening with a look of constant amazement, Celine wiped her face with both hands.
"No way. How could something like that..."
"Is it really so unbelievable?"
"It's theoretically possible, but did she really—I mean, did this little lady really do that?"
"Yes, I confirmed it myself."
"But... how..."
Celine kept repeating "how," as if she'd forgotten every other word.
Celine's shock was understandable. Duke Adrian, knowing little about magic, thought Rosette had used healing magic instinctively, but in truth, using magic instinctively was no easy feat.
Rosette had actually used a formula she already knew to cast the spell, so "instinctively using healing magic" was effectively impossible.
But what could she do? She couldn't very well say, "Actually, I learned magic in my past life, so I was able to use it."
Rosette decided to just play along with the duke's story.
"I wanted to save Jane."
“…”
"I prayed earnestly to the Goddess, and Jane lived."
"My goodness, so it really is possible! Your Grace, the young lady is a genius!"
"Yes, it seems so."
A pleased look spread across Duke Adrian's face as he replied.
"So, about that! May I teach the young lady?"
"Of course. That's why I called you here."
"No take-backs! Now, you heard that, didn't you, young lady? From now on, I'm your teacher."
"Yes, Unni."
"Aww, you're so cute."
Celine pulled Rosette into a tight hug. Rosette mumbled from within her embrace.
"So, when do we start our lessons?"
She wanted to form her mana core and start using magic as soon as possible. But in her current body, it was too difficult to form a mana core on her own; she needed help.
*'Besides, I have to at least pretend to be learning magic so I won't arouse suspicion when I use it.'*
Daniel's accident was not far off. She would do her best to prevent it through other means, but in the worst-case scenario, she had to be prepared to heal his leg with magic.
But Celine, oblivious to her impatience, spoke nonchalantly.
"Not yet. A body this small can't form a mana core."
"But..."
"Let's learn magic after you've eaten a bit more and grown bigger."
"When I get chubby?"
Celine let out a small laugh.
"Yes, when you get chubby."
She stroked the crestfallen Rosette's hair and stood up.
"You must have been startled, so please rest. I'll be on my way now."
"Yes, get some rest. I have somewhere to be as well. If you need anything, call a maid."
"Okay."
Now alone, Rosette hopped onto the bed and lay down, spreading her arms wide as she recalled being scolded by Duke Adrian.
To be honest, she still didn't fully understand why he had been so angry.
But she had a feeling that she shouldn't force herself to eat shrimp from now on.
Besides.
-*Rosette Adrian.*
Rosette thought of the name Duke Adrian had uttered and let out a small laugh.
She had definitely been scolded, but strangely, she found herself laughing.
Not Rosette Dallas, but Rosette Adrian.
It finally felt like she had truly become a member of the Adrian family.
*'It really has changed.'*
Before she died, she had wondered if her life might have been different had she been adopted by a family like the Adrians. Could her life change this time?
His life, and her own.
And.
-*What sin did my master and Daniel commit to deserve death? Why!*
"I wonder if his life can change, too."
The First Prince, Joshua Ehrnhardt, who had cried like a child before her. Could he, too, find happiness without losing the ones he loved?
Rosette tried to recall the face of the man she had never even seen properly, then closed her eyes.
She didn't know why she was thinking of a man she had no connection to. Was it because he was the last person she saw before she died, or because he was the reason time had been turned back?
*'I wonder if I'll get to meet him someday.'*
Since he was the duke's disciple, wouldn't he visit the duchy at least once?
Rosette closed her eyes, her heart fluttering slightly.
Perhaps because she had woken up so early, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Duke Adrian canceled all his appointments and headed back to the orphanage.
"What brings you here?"
The director was quite surprised to see the duke return alone with a grim expression, only a few hours after leaving with Rosette. He broke out in a cold sweat as he led the duke to his office.
It wasn't uncommon for adoptions to be annulled just a few days after a child was taken in. He wondered if this was another such case, but it was strange that Rosette wasn't with him.
"Has something happened to Rose?"
"Were you aware that the child has an allergy?"
"An allergy... you say?"
The director thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"No, not to my knowledge."
"The child is allergic to shrimp."
"Is that so? We never served her shrimp, so I had no idea."
Duke Adrian's eyes glinted sharply.
"Are you sure you didn't know?"
For a moment, the director felt like a herbivore facing a predator. He understood he was being interrogated, but he couldn't figure out why.
He swallowed dryly before managing to answer.
"I didn't know. But why do you ask?"
"The child knew she had the allergy."
"That's impossible. Rose came to our orphanage shortly after she was born. How could Rose know about an allergy that even we were unaware of...?"
"Not only that, she forced herself to eat the shrimp, knowing it would make her sick, and had a reaction."
The director was stunned.
"Good heavens, is she all right?"
"Fortunately, the allergy wasn't severe enough to be life-threatening. However, I came here to find out why the child would do such a thing."
“…”
"Did you pressure the children to eat, forcing them to finish their food?"
