Today, as usual, Rosette woke up in the morning and headed to the training grounds with Lucas.

The knights who always trained in an orderly manner were unusually restless today. It was because of the knighting ceremony that would take place in a few hours.

“Congratulations! You’re finally becoming an official knight.”

“Thank you! I never thought this day would come.”

Various conversations were exchanged between the new knights receiving their titles and the existing knights. Joseph Oser was among them.

‘Come to think of it, Melody was also very excited.’

Rosette was smiling, remembering her friend whispering excitedly during yesterday’s class, “My elder brother is finally becoming a real knight!” when Lucas blocked her view.

“Little one. No, it’s not allowed.”

“What’s not allowed?”

Daniel, who was carrying several wooden swords of different sizes, asked.

He glanced briefly in the direction Rosette was looking, then subtly stood next to Lucas as if he understood.

“What are you looking at, Rose?”

“Just everyone seems so excited.”

“Of course. The knighting ceremony is a festival for all of us.”

Lucas exclaimed.

“I understand why those being knighted are excited, but why is everyone else?”

When Rosette expressed her doubt, Daniel, who had carefully placed the wooden swords on the ground, offered an explanation.

“It’s nice to see a child you’ve known since they were young grow up well and become a colleague.”

“Ah, I see.”

Still unable to fully understand that feeling, Rosette nodded anyway.

“Little one, that’s not important right now. Let’s choose your wooden sword!”

Lucas shouted, holding up the smallest wooden sword.

For the past few months, Rosette had thoroughly focused on building her basic physical strength. She ran around the training grounds with Lucas and strengthened her core muscles. She had never held a wooden sword before.

And today, Daniel and Lucas had decided to gift Rosette a wooden sword.

The reason was, ‘On the day when apprentice knights become official knights, you should also move up a level!’

Rosette had also been waiting for this day for a long time.

‘I’m finally going to learn swordsmanship.’

Rosette, with a slightly excited face, grasped the wooden sword Lucas handed her with both hands. The wooden sword, said to be used by average five-year-olds, was small for Rosette.

Lucas clapped his hands.

“Oh, this is a bit small? Little one, you must have grown taller.”

“Really? Lady Wide did say I’ve grown a lot.”

Rosette recalled Lady Wide’s amazement when she recently took her measurements.

“Then let’s try this one.”

After careful examination by Lucas and Daniel, the third-largest wooden sword fit Rosette. It was a wooden sword used by seven-year-olds.

Daniel and Lucas were disappointed that it wasn’t bigger, but Rosette was happy with it.

By the way, the wooden sword Lucas had gifted her on her birthday was still too big and would probably be usable in 1-2 years.

“For today, let’s practice with this one. Next time, I’ll gift you a new wooden sword.”

“Okay.”

Following the instructions of her two elder brothers, Rosette practiced moving her hands up and down while holding the wooden sword. She thought her muscles had grown quite a bit, but her arms were trembling after just ten repetitions.

“It’s okay. That’s a lot already. Well done.”

“That’s right! Everyone starts like this at first!”

Encouraged by her two elder brothers’ words, Rosette resolved to work even harder.

After the morning practice, Joanne and the maids fussed over her, dressing her up. It was to attend the knighting ceremony.

“You’ll have a knight who will swear allegiance to you as their lord, young lady.”

One of the maids whispered.

“Hmm, I wonder…”

The Adrienne family had been a family of knights for generations. Who would swear allegiance to the young Rosette, leaving aside the Sword Master Duke Adrienne and the three promising siblings?

It was such an obvious fact that it wasn’t even sad.

Then, suddenly, a face came to mind.

‘Come to think of it, there was Joseph.’

Joseph Oser had been going around saying he would swear allegiance to Rosette. He wasn’t the type to say one thing and do another, so he probably really intended to make a vow to Rosette.

However, Rosette was a bit skeptical about it.

‘There’s nothing I can do for him.’

She had already saved him and Melody, but was that enough to receive a vow? Wouldn’t it be of no help to his future knightly career?

Wouldn’t it be much more beneficial for Joseph’s future if he swore allegiance to her father or elder brothers instead?

Should she tell him in advance not to swear to her?

“There will surely be someone. That Sir Oser? Melody’s elder brother adores you so much.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Rosette mumbled vaguely and then closed her mouth.

After all preparations were complete, she went to the grand hall holding Joanne’s hand. The hall, which was said to be opened for every banquet, was a place even Rosette had never been to before.

As Rosette was about to enter the hall, someone ran towards her.

“Rosette!”

It was Melody.

Today, she had her hair tied up in two high ponytails. Joseph had tied them himself, but his skill wasn’t great, so stray hairs were sticking out here and there.

Melody placed her right hand on her left chest and whispered.

“I’m so nervous. I feel like my heart is going to burst.”

“Don’t be nervous. Joseph will do well.”

“Okay.”

Rosette held Melody’s hand and entered the hall where the knighting ceremony was to be held. The hall was grand and spacious, with chandeliers twinkling from the ceiling.

The knights noticed her and welcomed her.

“Welcome!”

“We’ve prepared a seat for you!”

Then Lucas, dressed in his formal uniform, pushed through the knights and shouted.

“Everyone, move aside! The little one isn’t interested in you! Little one, come to your elder brother.”

Rosette heaved a deep sigh and whispered to Melody.

“I’ll go over there. You stay with Joanne.”

“Okay.”

As a member of the Adrienne family, Rosette had to receive the knights’ vows. She couldn’t stay with Melody, so she handed her over to Joanne.

Rosette sat at the end of the chairs prepared for the Adrienne family members on the platform. Lucas sat next to her.

As she passed time playing with Lucas’s hands, the knighting ceremony began.

Lucas, who had been wearing a playful expression until just moments ago, straightened his posture seriously. Rosette sat next to Lucas, silently watching the knights undergo their knighting ceremony.

Most of the faces were familiar, but unlike their usual playful expressions when they saw Rosette, they all wore serious faces now.

Rosette, in turn, managed her expression seriously.

Duke Adrienne, dressed in white ceremonial attire, ascended the platform and presented each of them with a sword engraved with the Adrienne family crest.

Then the knights would choose one of the five Adrienne family members to make their knightly vow to.

‘As expected, most of them are choosing Father.’

More than half knelt on one knee before Duke Adrienne. It was natural, as he was the head of the family they would serve from now on.

Next, Daniel received many vows. Isabel and Lucas each received two.

Only Rosette had none. She wasn’t disappointed.

‘It’s an expected result.’

The knights adored the small and delicate Rosette. They all said they would rush to her aid if anything happened to her, without hesitation.

However, separate from that, Rosette was a magician. She was a young lady to be protected, not a lord to be followed and trusted.

But Lucas seemed quite bothered by it, as he whispered to her.

“It’s okay, little one.”

“…?”

“They just don’t know how amazing you are. If I were one of them, I would definitely have sworn allegiance to you.”

Well, I don’t think so.

But even just saying it was nice. Rosette swung her feet happily for no reason.

Finally, Joseph Oser came forward. Rosette breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Melody, who was full of excitement next to Joanne.

‘I’m really glad that both of them can now live well with their family without being used by the Dallas family.’

Though saving the two of them had been unintentional, seeing them happy made her feel good.

Duke Adrienne likewise presented Joseph with a sword.

In fact, thinking about it, it probably wasn’t an easy decision. But he trusted Rosette and Joseph.

“I will not disappoint you.”

Joseph whispered as if making a pledge as he received the sword, then turned towards Rosette.

As their eyes met, he smiled, pulling only his lips. It was different from his usual bright smile that showed his teeth.

‘Oh?’

At that moment, Rosette realized.

That Joseph Oser was already sincerely following her.

“Young lady.”

Then, without hesitation, he knelt on one knee before Rosette.

“I, Joseph Oser, will become the sword that protects you, young lady.”

Serious eyes looking up at her. Seeing that, Rosette felt a flutter in her heart and her mind went blank at the same time.

‘Oh no. What should I say?’

Having only thought about stopping Joseph Oser, she hadn’t considered how to act when receiving his vow.

As Rosette hesitated, Lucas whispered in her ear.

“Just stand up and say what you want to say.”

“Okay.”

Rosette carefully stood up and stood in front of Joseph.

“I look forward to working with you.”

It was an unimpressive phrase even to herself. But it seemed there was no better words than this.

Sounds of suppressed laughter were heard from around. Lucas lowered his head and chuckled, while Daniel bit his lip to hold back his laughter.

Even Joseph Oser swallowed a laugh with a ‘kup’ sound. Rosette, feeling embarrassed, quickly helped Joseph to his feet.

“Anyway, I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, young lady.”

“I will really work hard! I’ll improve my skills and become your personal guard, young lady!”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Then we’ll be taking this fellow, young lady.”

Two knights who suddenly appeared carried Joseph away. Lucas snickered.

“Looks like they’re going to initiate him.”

“Initiation?”

“Yes. They’ll probably make him drink a lot. Let’s go eat too!”

“Okay.”

Duke Adrienne and Daniel went to make a brief appearance at the knights’ after-party, while Rosette, Isabel, and Lucas had a meal in the dining room.

“Young lady.”

At that moment, the head butler Sebastian entered with a letter. Once again, a letter had arrived from the Empress’s palace.

This time, it wasn’t sealed with Ophelia’s personal seal, but with the official imperial seal.

The recipient was Rosette.

Isabel and Lucas were startled to see the seal of the roaring lion. Rosette, seeing their expressions, became nervous as well.

“Why are you surprised?”

Rosette asked, trying to remain calm. Isabel answered.

“Because it’s not a personal letter from Her Majesty the Empress, but an official correspondence.”

Isabel explained that it was the seal used when the imperial palace sent official statements.

She added that it was unusual for Rosette, who hadn’t even made her debut in high society yet, to receive a letter with such a seal. Rosette became even more flustered at those words.

“Why, why, why would they send such a thing to me?”

“Maybe Her Majesty the Empress made a mistake with the seal?”

Lucas chattered.

“Idiot, how could that be possible?”

Isabel retorted as if it were absurd. Just then, Duke Adrienne and Daniel entered.

“What’s the matter?”

Daniel asked, sensing the suspicious atmosphere in the dining room. Lucas exclaimed.

“The little one received an official letter from the imperial family.”