The Youngest Daughter of the Swordsmanship Family Turned Great Mage - Chapter 25

Rosette and Lucas simultaneously glanced at Duke Adrian.

Joseph was still imprisoned in the underground dungeon. It was perplexing how to explain all the circumstances to Melody.

“Melody.”

Duke Adrian knelt on one knee to meet Melody’s eye level. Yet still unable to feel at ease, Melody tightly clenched her hands and rolled her eyes.

“For now, can you tell this mister how you’ve been doing all this time?”

Melody looked hesitant but soon explained the whole story. According to her words, it went like this:

Melody, who had been constantly missing her elder brother, followed a man who said he would take her to see him.

She stayed in an unfamiliar mansion, almost like being confined, but didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable. This was because the people of the mansion were quite kind to the child.

‘They probably intended to send Melody to the Dallas family if things went wrong.’

Melody said she begged several times a day to see her elder brother, asking when she could see him, but was only told to wait.

Then today, she ended up coming here.

After telling everything, Melody shrank back again.

“So what about my elder brother? Where is my elder brother?”

“Joseph went out for a moment because he had some business.”

Duke Adrian had no intention of showing Melody to Joseph until he had thoroughly investigated him. Instead, he soothed Melody and gestured to a maid.

“For now, take her to her room.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Rosette scurried after Duke Adrian, who was leaving his seat for the investigation.

“Father.”

Duke Adrian turned around, softening his hardened face.

“What is it?”

“What are you going to do with Joseph Oser? And Melody?”

Duke Adrian laughed somewhat awkwardly.

“I’ll have to think about that a bit more. And that’s not something for you to worry about, Rose. As I said, this is now an adult matter.”

“But it’s my matter too.”

Rosette spoke clearly, unlike her usual self. Duke Adrian, finding this curious, continued to ask.

“Why is it your matter?”

“I made a promise to Joseph Oser. That I would save his younger sister. Joseph Oser helped me after hearing my words.”

Duke Adrian muttered somewhat awkwardly.

“But Rose, Joseph Oser has…our family…”

Unable to say the word ‘betrayed’, he held back his words, but Rosette spoke instead.

“I know. He tried to betray us. But in the end, he kept his loyalty.”

“Loyalty? Where did you learn such a word?”

“…I heard the knights use it.”

“You’ve learned quite a difficult word.”

Duke Adrian stroked Rosette’s head as if impressed. Rosette continued speaking, her face slightly flushed.

“Anyway, I don’t want Joseph Oser to be punished.”

“That’s for this father to judge.”

“And I want to take lessons with Melody.”

“Lessons?”

“Yes.”

Rosette explained earnestly.

“If she takes lessons well, I think Melody could become a great magician too. So I want to take lessons together with elder sister Celinn.”

Duke Adrian couldn’t immediately refuse this request. While it was interesting to hear that Melody had an aptitude for magic, it was more because of Rosette’s attitude.

It had already been two months since Rosette became the youngest of the Adrian family.

During that time, Duke Adrian had given Rosette everything she needed without reservation. At first, Rosette seemed to find it burdensome, but soon accepted gifts shyly.

However, she had never once requested anything from Duke Adrian herself.

This was the first time such a child had asked for something on her own. Duke Adrian didn’t know whether to be pleased or perplexed by this.

While he wanted to grant all of Rosette’s requests if possible…

“Then let’s go see Celinn for now. We need to first determine whether Melody has talent or not.”

“Yes.”

“If Celinn says she has no talent, we can’t teach her even if we want to. You should know that.”

“Yes.”

But Rosette had no worries. There’s no way Celinn wouldn’t recognize Melody’s talent. Given her personality, she might even make a fuss about wanting to teach Melody.

“Then let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Rosette reached out her hand to Melody, who was hesitating beside the maid far away.

“You come too.”

Melody glanced around nervously before approaching with small steps.

“Mm.”

Rosette held the child’s cold hand and confidently headed towards Celinn’s research lab.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Young Lady Rose!”

As soon as they entered the research lab, Celinn rushed over and lifted Rosette up. Rosette flailed her legs in surprise.

“H-Heavy!”

“Heavy? You’re so light. Just like a feather. You still need to get a bit plumper. You’re eating well, aren’t you?”

“Of course!”

Rosette said proudly. She could confidently say she ate three meals a day better than anyone. She was confident she wouldn’t lose even to Lucas.

Celinn smiled with satisfaction and put Rosette down.

She bent her knees slightly and observed Melody hiding behind Rosette.

“Good. Now who might this pretty little miss be?”

Melody, desperately clutching Rosette’s clothes, hesitated before answering.

“I’m Melody Oser.”

“Oser?”

Wrinkles formed on Celinn’s beautiful face. As the Adrian family’s exclusive magician, she knew better than anyone about the incident that had turned the mansion upside down for the past ten days.

The name of the boy who became the starting point of all this incident was definitely Joseph Oser.

‘Then this child must be the problematic younger sister.’

Having concluded this, Celinn glanced at the Duke standing behind the children. Duke Adrian nodded lightly, indicating there was no problem.

Reassured by this, Celinn asked.

“So you’re Joseph Oser’s younger sister.”

Melody opened her eyes wide.

“You know my elder brother?”

“Of course.”

This time, Celinn’s eyes sparkled with a different meaning.

“By the way, there must be a reason you brought this adorable little miss to me, right?”

Just like Rosette who hadn’t fully contained her mana yet, Melody was also leaking mana profusely.

While not matching up to the genius Rosette whom anyone could see, if well nurtured, she had the potential to become quite a skilled magician.

“Yes. Take a look and see if this child has talent for magic.”

“There’s nothing to look at. Her talent is outstanding.”

“Is that so?”

“But just to be sure, shall we properly check once? Melody, was it? Is it okay if this elder sister holds your hand?”

Celinn bent down and held out her hand. Melody looked at Rosette with a frightened face.

“It’s okay. She’s a good elder sister.”

Only after Rosette’s assurance did Melody take Celinn’s hand.

Soon, a bright light leaked from Celinn’s hand and passed to Melody’s hand. Melody opened her eyes wide. Celinn smiled gently and concentrated again.

Soon the light shone from Melody’s entire body and then faded. Celinn exclaimed excitedly.

“As expected, she’s outstanding!”

“How outstanding are we talking about?”

Celinn exclaimed excitedly.

“To the extent that I’d like to raise her myself if possible!”

Belatedly realizing her subject was Joseph Oser’s younger sister, she corrected herself.

“Though there’s probably no need for that.”

Duke Adrian looked at Rosette and Melody alternately with an inscrutable expression.

Melody hid her face behind Rosette’s back, while Rosette looked up at the Duke with a desperate face.

After a moment of silence, the Duke concluded.

“Let’s think about it after we fully resolve the incident. If we decide to sponsor this child in the Adrian family, would you be willing to teach her?”

Celinn asked back in surprise.

“Sponsor her? But this child is…”

“Yes. Originally, before this incident, we were planning to sponsor this child and send her to the academy.”

“If that’s the case, I welcome it. Nurturing talented juniors is the dream of magicians. She seems to be about the same age as the young miss, so it would be good for them to take lessons together. Having a friend to study with tends to increase lesson efficiency.”

“I see. Then I’ll contact you again later.”

“Understood.”

“Alright Rose, go rest in your room for now. Melody, was it? I’ll have you guided to a room too, so rest there for now.”

“What about my elder brother?”

“I’ll let you meet Joseph when he returns.”

“Okay.”

Duke Adrian watched the two little ones leave the research lab and headed back to the underground dungeon.

[This is the timeline separator]

“How did it go, Your Grace?”

Joseph, who had been anxiously waiting all along, clung to the bars upon seeing Duke Adrian walking in the darkness.

“My younger sister, is Melody alright?”

“Yes. Melody is safe.”

As soon as he heard those words, Joseph burst into tears he had been barely holding back. It was a childlike cry.

“Thank… Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Don’t thank me, thank Rosette later. If it weren’t for her, things wouldn’t have been resolved so well.”

“I will definitely convey my gratitude to the young lady as well.”

“Now then, I suppose it’s time to decide on your punishment.”

The Duke’s voice was chilly. Joseph wiped the tears that had thoroughly wet his cheeks and put on a resolute expression.

“I will accept whatever punishment I receive. If you tell me to die, I will die.”

“…”

“However, Melody, that child is innocent. If you just send that child back safely, I really don’t care what happens to me. Melody, sob, our Melody mustn’t be harmed. It may sound selfish, but please, Your Grace, please don’t punish Melody.”

Duke Adrian looked down at him with an expressionless face.

“Joseph Oser. You certainly tried to betray the Adrian family. Although your sister was held hostage, the fact that you tried to betray me remains unchanged.”

“…”

“But it’s also true that you saved me at the risk of your sister’s and your own life. I’ve been pondering all along which point I should consider more.”

Duke Adrian gestured to the knight waiting behind him. The knight opened the prison door and entered to unlock the shackles on Joseph’s wrists and ankles.

Duke Adrian helped the bewildered Joseph to his feet.

“The Adrians do not forget kindness. I’ve decided to highly value the fact that you ultimately chose Adrian.”

“…!”

“However, I will have you under surveillance for the time being. I will also keep Melody in the Adrian family. Whether it becomes sponsorship or hostage-taking depends on your actions.”

“Then…”

“Yes. Now you may go meet Melody.”

As soon as those words fell, Joseph left the underground dungeon with the support of the knight.