Sensing her gaze, Daniel looked down at her with a smiling eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just think elder brother is amazing.”

Rosette gave two thumbs up.

“That was aura earlier, right? So has elder brother become a Sword Master like father now?”

“No, not yet.”

Daniel smiled, squinting one eye.

“To become a Sword Master like father, I need to be able to freely control aura a bit more. Honestly, earlier the aura didn’t come out exactly as I intended.”

Rosette clapped her hands.

“It’s still amazing!”

“Thank you. I’m a bit embarrassed. Anyway, I need to work harder. To become a Sword Master and follow in father’s footsteps, you know.”

Rosette felt a renewed sense of emotion.

‘To think that elder brother Daniel might really become a Sword Master…’

Although Rosette’s sword skills hadn’t improved much, she had developed a discerning eye from lessons with the Duke and the three siblings.

Even to her, Daniel’s skills had noticeably improved. He had faintly wrapped aura around his sword a few times before, but today he had created clear aura, if only briefly.

It was a completely different result from the past, when he had been a promising swordsman as a child but gave up the path of knighthood due to an injured leg.

Rosette was glad that she had changed Daniel’s future.

“I’m really happy that elder brother can continue using a sword.”

“Oh? What did you think I would do if I didn’t use a sword?”

“I’m just saying.”

Rosette just laughed, “Hehe.”

At that moment, Rosette waved at two familiar faces visible behind Daniel.

“Joseph! Melody!”

In the distance, the Oser siblings were coming out to the training ground, holding hands affectionately.

“Oh? Young lady, you’re out here.”

“Young lady!”

The two came running when they heard Rosette’s voice. Rosette took Melody’s hand and spun around in place.

“Melody! What have you been up to?”

“I just had lunch with my brother. What about you, young lady?”

Melody smiled brightly.

If there had been a big change over the past 5 years, it was the change in the relationship between Rosette and Melody.

5 years ago, the two were like friends.

But as time passed, Melody seemed to have realized the difference in status with Rosette. Even though Rosette said it was fine, she consistently called her “young lady.”

Rosette found it a bit sad, but decided to respect Melody’s wishes. She also knew they couldn’t remain friends forever.

‘But we still take magic lessons together and play together.’

Though the way of address had changed, the fact that the two were friends remained unchanged.

“By the way Melody, have you grown taller again?”

Rosette asked in surprise, suddenly realizing that Melody’s eye level was slightly higher.

Melody twirled in place.

“Does it look that way to you too, young lady? My brother says I’ve grown taller again!”

“I’m envious.”

Over the past 5 years, Melody had grown quite a bit.

Sadly for Rosette, Melody was now taller than her, though they had been about the same height before.

‘How strange. I’m eating diligently too…’

Why wasn’t she getting plump or taller?

As Rosette frowned and pondered, Joseph laughed heartily.

“Young lady will grow a lot too. I hear there are many late bloomers!”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“I hope so.”

Rosette murmured earnestly and observed Joseph this time.

Joseph, who had been nearing adulthood when he first met Rosette, looked much the same now as he did then.

The only changes were that he had gained a bit more muscle and his skin had tanned slightly.

Unlike his unchanged appearance, she had heard his skills had improved considerably.

Lucas teased such a Joseph.

“Why are you here only now? Just earlier, elder brother Daniel and Sir Kellen had a duel.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Elder brother even created aura! When he put that aura to Sir Kellen’s neck, whew! It gave me goosebumps, I tell you.”

“Why are you saying it like that.”

Unlike the embarrassed Daniel, Joseph was disappointed.

“I should have seen it too, what a shame. Melody was eating a bit slowly today…”

“So it’s my fault?”

As Melody puffed up her cheeks, Joseph became flustered.

“No, no, it’s not our Melody’s fault.”

The four Adrian siblings watching laughed at the same time.

“You two siblings always get along so well.”

“Getting along well? It’s more like I’m begging Melody to play with me a little more.”

“Still, that’s getting along well. I heard Sir Haindt doesn’t even speak to his younger sibling.”

As the six were having a casual conversation, it happened.

“So this is where everyone was.”

Duke Adrian, dressed in a light shirt and pants, approached the shade of the trees.

“Dad!”

Rosette was the first to spot Duke Adrian and ran to him.

Although she had grown quite a bit now, the Duke still lifted her up with ease.

“Yes, Rose. What were you up to?”

“I was watching elder brother Daniel’s duel. With elder sister Isabelle and elder brother Lucas too!”

“I see. Was it fun?”

“Yes!”

Duke Adrian smiled gently and praised Daniel.

“I heard from the knights. You created quite clear aura, didn’t you?”

Daniel’s face flushed slightly.

“I’m still lacking a lot, father.”

“Lacking? You’re probably the most skilled among those your age in this empire.”

“You flatter me.”

“We should hold a banquet tonight to celebrate you properly creating aura.”

Lucas was the most excited.

“Really? Does that mean we’ll eat lots of delicious food?”

Isabelle shook her head.

“This guy’s head is full of nothing but thoughts of food.”

Duke Adrian smiled.

“Of course. I’ll have them prepare your favorites.”

“Hooray!”

As he watched the cheering Lucas, Duke Adrian quietly whispered to Rosette.

“Rose, Dad has something to tell our Rose.”

Rosette swallowed at the Duke’s serious appearance.

“Is it something grave?”

“It’s nothing like that. I just need Rose’s opinion.”

“I understand.”

Duke Adrian, who had put Rosette down, gestured to Joseph Oser, who was playing with Melody’s hands.

“Joseph Oser. Would you come see me for a moment?”

Joseph stood up with a face full of determination.

“Yes! Understood.”

Duke Adrian took Rosette’s hand and headed to the office. Rosette glanced at Joseph following a step behind.

‘I wonder what this is about.’

However, unlike the worried Rosette, Joseph had been grinning from the moment his name was called. He seemed pleased just by the fact that the Duke had summoned him.

“Both of you, sit down.”

“No, I’ll stand.”

“It’s alright, sit down.”

Rosette and Joseph looked at each other before sitting down across from Duke Adrian in turn. A maid brought refreshments.

As Duke Adrian poured tea into Joseph’s cup, he asked.

“How have you been lately?”

“I’m always doing well thanks to you, Duke. My sister Melody too.”

“I see.”

A gentle smile spread across the Duke’s lips.

“I hear Melody, that child, has such talent for magic?”

Joseph scratched the back of his head.

“I don’t know much about magic, but I heard Lady Celine said so.”

Affection for Melody dripped from his eyes.

“It’s all thanks to the care of my lord and the young lady.”

“I haven’t done much. I just listened to Rose’s words. By the way, I was thinking it might be good for Melody to enter the academy soon, what do you think?”

“The academy? Uh, um…”

Joseph was flustered.

“I haven’t thought about sending Melody away from me yet. She’s still young, and also…”

“It’s alright. There’s still time, so think about it a bit more. More importantly, that’s not my business.”

Duke Adrian put down his teacup and got to the main point.

“Joseph, you’re the only one who made a vow to Rosette.”

There had been a few more knighting ceremonies over the past 5 years.

Sadly, no one had made a vow to Rosette.

Rosette wasn’t particularly saddened by this fact.

Over time, Rosette had fully bloomed her talent as a mage, and moved further away from the path of knighthood. Rather, Celine’s disciples often showed interest in her.

On the other hand, Joseph was quite proud of his title as ‘the only knight who made a vow to Rosette’. He declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

“Yes, that’s right! More knights will surely make vows to the young lady in the future, but I was the very first to make a vow.”

Duke Adrian smiled slightly.

“There was certainly a big incident, but you’ve shown loyalty to House Adrian since then. Your skills have improved considerably too.”

“That incident…”

As Joseph’s face darkened, Duke Adrian raised his hand to stop him.

“I’m not trying to bring up that incident from back then, so don’t worry.”

“Then…?”

“Rose is already thirteen, and when she goes to the capital, she’ll go out more often. Until now, knights have taken turns escorting her, but we can’t keep doing that forever, can we?”

Joseph’s expression brightened as he grasped the situation.

“Then…!”

“I’d like you to officially become Rose’s escort knight, what do you two think?”

“I…!”

Joseph, who had raised his voice in excitement, checked Rosette’s reaction and lowered his voice.

“I would be very pleased. It would be an honor for the Oser family. Of course, only if the young lady will accept me.”

“What do you think, Rose?”

“I’m fine with it.”

“Young lady!”

Joseph looked touched by Rosette’s nonchalant answer.

“If I don’t have an escort knight, I won’t be able to go out, right? Then I won’t be able to go see elder brother Daniel’s matches either.”

“That’s true.”

“So I’m glad to have an escort knight too!”

It could be interpreted as if it didn’t matter whether it was Joseph or not. Joseph looked a bit disappointed but rationalized to himself.

“It’s okay. I’m the young lady’s escort knight anyway…”

“Joseph, I’m joking.”

Rosette smiled brightly at such a Joseph.

“I’m very happy that you’re my escort knight, Joseph!”

“Young ladyyyy…!”

“Ahem, hem.”

As Joseph was about to kneel before Rosette, Duke Adrian cleared his throat to get his attention.

“But you alone won’t be enough, Joseph. Of course, you’re a skilled knight, but you don’t have escort experience yet. So I’m thinking of assigning Sir Kellen to Rosette as well.”

“Sir Kellen?”

Rosette was surprised.

‘Isn’t Sir Kellen the one who won three consecutive championships at the tournament held by House Adrian?’

To assign such a person not to the head of the family, Duke Adrian, nor to the heir, Daniel, but to Rosette.

It showed how much Duke Adrian cherished Rosette.

“But is it alright to assign Sir Kellen to me?”

“To you? It’s because it’s you, Rose.”

Duke Adrian gently pinched Rosette’s cheek, who was bewildered.

“You’re the youngest that we all cherish. Of course you should have the best knight.”