“Wake up, little one!”

A voice even rougher than Jude’s woke Rosette up. Rosette, who had been sleeping while hugging a rabbit doll, wriggled deeper under the blanket.

“Little one! If you sleep now, you won’t be able to sleep later!”

“Young master, the young lady must be tired. Why don’t we let her sleep today?”

“But she needs to eat dinner. Eating well helps you grow!”

“But sleeping a lot also helps you grow.”

“Really?”

The mumbling voices by her ear faded away. Thanks to that, Rosette was able to fall back asleep.

As she fell into a deep sleep, she began to dream.

In the first dream, Duke Dallas appeared. He was furious at Rosette for failing to properly perform the magic she had learned, and threw everything within reach at her.

– You vermin! Do you think I brought you here to see this?

Rosette was hit on the head by a flower pot he threw and bled. Yet he showed no signs of stopping. Rosette prostrated herself at his feet and begged for her life.

Please spare me. Please spare… Even in her sleep, groaning sounds escaped Rosette’s lips.

Next appeared her stepsister, Elisha Dallas. She cleverly tormented Rosette by ordering the maids around.

That much was bearable. However…

– Why did you do it? What sins did Master and Daniel commit for you to kill them! Why?

When she heard the chilling voice filled with resentment, Rosette shed tears even in her sleep.

It wasn’t my will. I turned back time to undo everything. I’ll change it. I’ll give back everything of yours.

I will, no matter what it takes, get it back for you.

But the man, Joshua Earnhardt, did not listen to her words. With eyes clouded by madness, he began to strangle Rosette. As if doing so would solve everything.

At the same time, Rosette woke up with a gasp, like someone who had been submerged in water.

The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was an unfamiliar ceiling. Rosette came to her senses as she watched the white canopy swaying in the darkness.

‘That’s right. I, I turned back time.’

After that, she saved elder sister Jane, and was adopted by the Duke Adrien family. Rosette sighed in relief as she recalled that fact anew.

It was a sigh born from the hope that just as she had saved Jane, she could also save the people of the Adrien family.

At the same time, she suddenly felt as if all strength was leaving her body. Rosette tried to close her eyes again due to the overwhelming fatigue.

Then she opened her eyes wide as she saw sunlight seeping through the curtains. It was morning.

‘I slept all day!’

Sleeping all day on her first day at the Adrien house. What would people think?

Rosette got out of bed in surprise. However, not yet used to the small body she had returned to, she lost her balance and ended up rolling off.

“Eek!”

Along with the scream came a rather loud thud.

“What’s wrong, young lady!”

Joanne, who hurriedly entered, approached Rosette who was tangled in the blanket on the floor. She immediately grasped what had happened and lifted Rosette up.

“Are you alright?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“Thank goodness. It would be terrible if your precious body was harmed.”

After sitting Rosette back on the bed, Joanne wiped her face with a towel dampened with warm water. The towel was soft, and Joanne’s touch was even gentler.

Rosette blushed at the feeling of truly becoming a child, but Joanne just smiled at her face.

“There, all done. By the way, aren’t you hungry? You haven’t eaten anything since breakfast yesterday.”

“It’s fi-”

Just as she was about to say it was fine out of habit, a rather loud growl came from Rosette’s flat stomach. Rosette’s face turned a bit redder.

Joanne whispered, barely holding back her laughter.

“The two young masters and the elder young lady are still in morning training. Since it will be a while before we can have a meal, I’ll bring you a warm glass of milk.”

Joanne left the room before Rosette could say it was fine. And not long after, she returned with a large mug filled with milk.

“Drink it slowly.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Rosette blew on the milk and drank it slowly as Joanne had said. When a round mark was left on Rosette’s mouth after finishing the milk, Joanne wiped it with a handkerchief.

“Has your hunger subsided a bit now?”

“Yes.”

Rosette hesitated before asking.

“Um, Joanne. Can I go watch the practice?”

“Practice? Oh, do you mean the morning training?”

Rosette nodded instead of answering. Joanne fell into contemplation. Rosette asked again, watching her expression.

“Is it not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed. There’s nowhere in this mansion that the young lady can’t go. It’s just that I’m worried you might be surprised…”

“It’s okay! I won’t be surprised!”

Joanne nodded reflexively at Rosette’s first show of enthusiasm.

“Alright. But first, let me change your clothes.”

Joanne guided Rosette to the dressing room. She began rummaging through the dresses after eyeballing Rosette’s build.

“For now, I’ve brought some clothes that Isabel young lady can’t wear because they’re too small. But they still look big on you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“We should call for a tailor right away, even today. Ah, this one might be a bit better.”

The dress Joanne chose was a white one-piece with no decorations at all. Isabel, who learned swordsmanship, disliked cumbersome clothes, and naturally did not add lace or accessories to her clothes.

“Now, raise your arms.”

When Rosette raised her arms, Joanne skillfully changed her clothes. The sleeves were big, but after folding them a couple of times, it looked somewhat presentable.

Joanne took Rosette’s hand.

“Well then, shall we go?”

The training ground was about a 10-minute walk from the main building. Even before reaching the training ground, loud shouts could be heard.

“Everyone’s speed is slow. Faster!”

“Yes!”

“Your voices are weak! One more lap!”

Rosette was slightly startled but walked on without showing it. As she entered the training ground, she saw a group of people running in formation.

‘They’re not here.’

However, the people Rosette was looking for were not there. Just as Rosette was feeling a bit disappointed.

“Oh? The little one is awake!”

A sharp voice rang out, and Lucas came running with a wooden sword slung over his shoulder. In an instant, he was right in front of Rosette and began teasing her.

“You were quite the sleepyhead, weren’t you?”

Rosette’s face reddened once again.

“I’m not… a sleepyhead.”

“Really? But your eyes are swollen like a fish’s.”

When Rosette covered her eyes with both hands, Lucas laughed loudly.

“But why did you come here? Why didn’t you go to the dining room?”

“I heard everyone was here…”

Rosette looked at Lucas hesitantly, slightly parting her little fingers.

“But where is… Daniel sir?”

“Daniel hyung? He went out with Father for a bit. But why do you call hyung ‘Daniel sir’?”

“Huh? If not Daniel sir, then what should I…”

“You should call him oppa.”

Rosette waved her hands in surprise.

“But how could I…”

As Rosette hesitated, Lucas narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to call me ‘Lucas sir’ too?”

Why wouldn’t she? Rosette was actually planning to address him as ‘Lucas sir’.

As Rosette failed to deny it quickly, Lucas’s eyes narrowed even more.

“You’re my little sister now. Right?”

“…Yes.”

“But isn’t it strange for family members to use the title ‘sir’?”

Honestly, she couldn’t tell if that was strange or not. Rosette had no family since birth.

In her previous life, she was adopted by Duke Dallas and gained a family, but the titles she used for family members were always ‘Duke Dallas sir’ or ‘Elisha miss’.

But judging from the atmosphere, it seemed she should answer that it was strange. Rosette slowly nodded. Only then did Lucas smile with satisfaction.

“That’s right, it seems strange to you too, doesn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

“Then try calling me Lucas oppa.”

“…”

“Come on.”

At the orphanage, she had used the term ‘oppa’ for older boys. But somehow, the title used then and the title for Lucas felt the same yet different.

Somehow it felt embarrassing and ticklish. Rosette hesitated, then clasped her hands together and whispered.

“Lucas… uppa.”

“What? I can’t hear you.”

“Lucas oppa.”

By now, even Rosette’s ears had turned red. Lucas laughed heartily, seemingly satisfied.

“Good, good. I finally have a little sister too! I’m no longer the youngest!”

He seemed to be happy about a slightly odd point, but since Lucas appeared pleased, Rosette felt relieved. At the same time, it felt a bit strange.

‘Why is everyone welcoming me?’

In the Dallas family, no one had welcomed her. Even when Duke Dallas introduced Rosette as a child necessary for the family, everyone showed antipathy.

Especially Elisha, who openly covered her nose, saying Rosette smelled like garbage because she couldn’t wash properly.

Not content with just that, even after Rosette had washed thoroughly, Elisha would frequently complain that she smelled lowborn.

Rosette thought that was the normal reaction. The nobles she had seen held the belief that they were different from commoners, and tended to look down on them.

But adopting a commoner orphan? From their perspective, it would be similar to welcoming livestock as family.

In fact, Isabel, whom she met yesterday, was initially a bit reluctant about Rosette’s adoption. Of course, unlike Elisha, she seemed to be worried about Rosette.

But neither Daniel nor Lucas showed any signs of opposing Duke Adrien’s decision. Rather, the atmosphere was welcoming towards Rosette.

Rosette was curious about the reason, but couldn’t bring herself to ask.

“But why Daniel hyung?”

“Ah…”

At those words, Rosette pressed her lips tightly shut.

‘I need to warn Daniel sir quickly.’

While drinking the milk Joanne had brought, Rosette recalled the first thing she needed to do. No matter how she thought about it, preventing Daniel’s accident was the priority.

What she knew about Daniel’s accident was that it happened in the spring of the year she was adopted into the Dallas family, and that it was a plot devised by Duke Dallas.

She didn’t know exactly when or how it happened.

However, from what she heard, the carriage wheel came off, causing the carriage to fall off a cliff. It seems the carriage even caught fire, and he nearly lost his life.

Since it could happen any day, she wanted to warn him as soon as possible. To check the carriage wheels one more time before riding.

‘It should be fine for now. I can tell him in the evening.’

Since it was still winter, not spring. Rosette thought so and made up an excuse.

“I just wanted to see Daniel sir.”

But something strange happened. Lucas’s expression twisted oddly upon hearing those words, and he pouted his lips.

“You wanted to see Daniel hyung, but not me?”

“…Pardon?”

“You’ve gotten close after spending a few days together with Daniel hyung?”

Rosette couldn’t understand at all why Lucas was getting angry. However, before she could figure out the reason, Lucas shouted.

“Alright! I’ll show you that I’m a better oppa than Daniel hyung!”