The fear of being adopted into a noble family still lingered. However, the desire to change the future outweighed the fear.

Even if Duke Adrien were to take her in and make her do worse things than Duke Dallas, she would protect him.

Though it might be selfish, Rosette wanted to atone for her past in this way.

Duke Adrien, the director, and Daniel all wore surprised expressions. The first to recover from the shock was Duke Adrien.

He approached Rosette, knelt on one knee, and carefully embraced her.

“Alright.”

He gently stroked her head.

“Welcome, Rosette.”

* * *

The employees of Duke Adrien’s mansion were bustling about from dawn. They had just received the Duke’s order to thoroughly clean the room next to Isabel’s, the mansion’s only princess.

The third floor’s south corridor was a space used only by the Adrien family’s direct line. Why had they been suddenly ordered to clean this area, which wasn’t even a guest room?

Though puzzled, they couldn’t question the butler’s orders. The employees moved quietly yet swiftly to tidy up the room, careful not to wake the precious Lady Isabel.

After hours of cleaning, just as the room was spotless, Isabel, already up and dressed, came to see the adjacent room.

“Is the room cleaning done?”

Isabel Adrien possessed the Adrien family’s characteristic fine platinum blonde hair and purple eyes that resembled the Duke’s.

Though only eleven years old, Isabel was more suited to the adjective “dignified” rather than “cute.”

Her purple eyes, as aloof as a cat’s, slowly scanned the room. The most experienced maid bowed deeply before her.

“Yes, young miss. We’ve just finished tidying up.”

“I see. It looks that way. Good work.”

The maids exchanged glances.

Isabel knew how to clearly distinguish between public and private matters, but she wasn’t a cold employer to her staff. She was the kind of young lady who engaged in some conversation with the maids.

The maids were confident that Isabel wouldn’t be angry if they asked about their curiosity this time as well.

The maid at the front carefully spoke up, representing everyone.

“Um, young miss.”

“Yes?”

“Are we expecting a guest?”

“Ah.”

Isabel replied in a calm tone, as if commenting on the nice weather.

“It seems my sister is coming.”

“Young Master Lucas?”

“No. A new little sister.”

As the maids looked at each other, not understanding the meaning, the butler approached Isabel.

“Young miss, the master and the first young master have returned.”

“Is that so?”

Isabel adjusted the shawl draped over her shoulders and gestured to the maids.

“Let’s go.”

“Pardon?”

“It seems my sister has arrived.”

The maids followed Isabel, still unsure of what was happening. When they reached the front of the mansion, a large four-horse carriage bearing the Adrien family crest came to a stop.

As soon as the coachman opened the door, the Duke stepped out. The line of employees bowed in unison.

“Welcome back, master.”

“Yes.”

The Duke, smiling and greeting them, reached into the carriage and lifted out someone. It was a small girl with lovely pink hair, even smaller than Lucas, the mansion’s youngest.

The child rolled her round blue eyes, observing her surroundings cautiously. Duke Adrien smiled, finding the child adorable, and announced to the employees:

“Let me introduce you. This is Rosette Adrien, who will become a member of our Adrien family from now on.”

The child bowed timidly.

“Please take care of me.”

The employees let out a silent scream.

Oh my, she’s too cute!

* * *

The very next day after declaring she would become Duke Adrien’s adopted daughter, Rosette left the orphanage at dawn. The reason was that Duke Adrien and Daniel could no longer be away from the Duke’s mansion.

“Waaah, Rose. You have to stay healthy, okay?”

Jane, who thought she would be able to send Rosette off composedly, hugged her while shedding tears and snot. In contrast, Rosette only reddened her eyes without crying.

Ever since she decided to change the future of the Adrien family, she tried to act with dignity.

‘I’m not a child.’

Though her body was that of a seven-year-old, her mind was an adult’s. She couldn’t keep crying and lamenting the past forever.

It was time to move forward now.

Instead of crying, Rosette smiled and bid farewell to Jane.

“I’ll write to you, sister.”

“Sniff, but you don’t even know how to write.”

“I’ll learn.”

Actually, I can write really well now. You don’t know, but I learned while being beaten up at Duke Dallas’s house.

“Then you have to write for sure, okay?”

“Yes. You should write too, sister. Got it? Don’t cry.”

“Okay.”

“Come visit. I’ll ask them to make lots of delicious food.”

“You don’t need to invite me, just live well there.”

“Okay, I will. I really have to go now.”

Rosette gave Jane one last tight hug before picking up her luggage bag and turning to Duke Adrien.

“Are you done saying goodbye?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t have much luggage, do you?”

“No. I don’t have much to begin with.”

What little she had was all worn out, and she wasn’t sure if it could still be used. In the past, Duke Dallas had thrown away her bag full of belongings right in front of her, calling it trash.

Duke Adrien carefully took the bag from Rosette.

Is he going to throw it away? Rosette tensed for a moment. But instead of discarding it, he put the bag inside the carriage.

“That alone won’t be enough. When we get to the mansion, I’ll buy you more of what you need.”

Then he lifted Rosette and placed her in the carriage. Rosette was so surprised that her mouth gaped open.

The Duke, sitting across from her, asked curiously:

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s… dirty… I mean, I’m heavy.”

When Duke Dallas first took Rosette, he had yelled at her to get into the carriage by herself.

In fact, he wasn’t happy about Rosette riding in his carriage at all, but he had no choice due to watchful eyes.

Daniel, sitting next to Rosette at that time, chuckled softly. It wasn’t a sneer, but a smile as fresh as citrus.

“What’s heavy about you? You need to eat a lot from now on. John will like that. Oh, John is our mansion’s chef. He likes to feed children and make them plump.”

“Plump…”

“Unfortunately, we three Adrien siblings only gain muscle… But with you, he’ll have fun making you chubby.”

Rosette puffed up her cheeks.

“Are you teasing me now?”

“Oh my, did I get caught?”

Daniel laughed out loud this time. Rosette glared at him for a moment, but suddenly realized that Daniel’s personality was slightly different from what she knew.

‘He’s unexpectedly lively.’

Was it because of his uncomfortable body? In the past, he had been more cynical than kind. He kept a slight distance from people.

But the Daniel in front of her now was just lively and pure.

She wanted to protect this side of him too.

Moreover…

‘I don’t dislike it.’

This kind of attention wasn’t bad. Rosette’s cheeks, as she lowered her head, had turned slightly red without her noticing.

Duke Adrien and Daniel, who noticed this, smiled warmly, but she didn’t realize it.

* * *

The carriage drove on and on, finally arriving at the Adrien mansion in the capital. Rosette, who was once again unexpectedly carried out by Duke Adrien, was left speechless at the scene before her eyes.

‘There are so many people.’

When she was adopted by Duke Dallas, there was no one to welcome her. Of course, there was no formal introduction to the employees either.

In fact, she thought it would be the same this time. But to have so many people, and all of them staring at her…

Rosette flinched for a moment and tightly grabbed Duke Adrien’s arm. The Duke patted her back as if to say it was alright.

“Let me introduce you. This is Rosette Adrien, who will become a member of our Adrien family from now on.”

Rosette bowed her head, recalling what she had learned in her previous life.

“Please take care of me.”

Actually, she should have spoken informally to them as they were employees, but that was something she could change gradually.

Fortunately, the Duke dismissed the employees, saying he would have her greet them in detail later.

However, there was something left. The Duke said he would introduce her to the family.

Rosette headed to the luxurious reception room with the Duke. Inside the room were the Duke, Daniel, and a girl and boy who looked a couple of years older than Rosette.

“This is Isabel, and this is Lucas. They will be your older sister and brother.”

Isabel was looking at her glumly with her arms crossed, while Lucas was staring at her with wide eyes.

Rosette gulped.

She hadn’t participated much in social activities in her previous life, but she knew the two well. Although Isabel and Lucas weren’t Sword Masters, they worked in the Imperial Knights as skilled individuals approaching that level.

At least Lucas was known to be friendly and fond of people. On the other hand, Isabel was said to be somewhat prickly and averse to people’s contact. It was due to the discrimination she had faced for wielding a sword as a woman.

But judging by that look in her eyes now, it seemed her innate personality was quite haughty.

As Rosette was wondering if she should introduce herself, Isabel spoke first.

“She’s younger than I thought?”

Rosette mumbled.

“I’m not young.”

Duke Adrien took her side.

“That’s right, she’s not young. She’s seven years old.”

“What?”

Isabel raised one eyebrow haughtily and circled around Rosette once. A displeased look appeared on her face.

“She looks six at most. She’s at least a span shorter than me.”

While Rosette was indeed smaller than her peers, Isabel’s good development was also a factor. Not just her, but all the people in the Adrien family had large frames.

Rosette clenched her fists.

“I’m not small. You’re just big, Lady Isabel.”

“What.”

Isabel frowned as if dumbfounded. Daniel, standing next to Rosette, covered his mouth and shook his shoulders.

Though he didn’t show it, Duke Adrien also lowered his head and swallowed dry. Only Lucas, the immature youngest – or at least until yesterday – laughed out loud.

“That’s right! Elder sister is big!”

“Be quiet, Lucas.”

When Isabel spoke irritably, Lucas covered his mouth with both hands.

“So why did you bring this child?”

“Isabel.”

Duke Adrien tried to restrain his daughter, but she continued to speak her mind.

“If you needed a capable knight, we’re here. You already have three children, so why adopt?”

“Rosette is not a sword, but a magician.”

“A magician?”

Lucas’s eyes widened. Rosette quite liked Lucas’s reaction. Among these three siblings who would become her family, she felt she would become friends with him first.

However, that explanation alone wasn’t enough for Isabel. She crossed her arms and asked again.

“Then couldn’t you just sponsor her?”