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

“But……”

“Don’t worry about me or the others. We’ll all be assigned equally skilled ones.”

“Even so……”

Indeed, perhaps the duke, who is a Sword Master, or Daniel, who is undoubtedly believed to soon become a Sword Master, might not need escorts.

Rosette smiled brightly at Duke Adrian, who was waiting for her answer.

“Both Joseph and Sir Kellen are fine. Thank you for your consideration, Father!”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Elder brother, what’s the matter?”

Melody, who had been crouching and waiting in front of Duke Adrian’s office, jumped up as soon as the door opened. Joseph hugged his sister tightly.

“Melody, why were you here?”

“I was worried about you.”

“Were you worried I might get scolded by the Duke? Why were you worried I’d get scolded?”

“Well… You’re always causing trouble.”

Melody spoke scathingly in a calm voice. Rosette burst out laughing. Melody made an embarrassed expression.

“Anyway, did you get scolded?”

“No, I didn’t. Listen, Melody. I have good news!”

“Good news?”

“I’ve become Lady Rosette’s escort knight!”

“What?”

Melody’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that even possible?”

“Huh?”

“With your skills?”

Unlike the four siblings of the Adrian family who always got along well, the Oh siblings had a cool edge to their relationship despite seeming close.

To be precise, Joseph still doted on Melody, but Melody, who was entering puberty, was sometimes cynical towards him.

“Well, the Duke must have made me an escort knight because it’s possible, right? And I’m the only knight who has pledged to the young lady…!”

“Then isn’t that favoritism? Don’t tell me you pledged to the young lady for this purpose? How cunning.”

“Favoritism? Cunning? Melody, where did you learn such words? I certainly didn’t teach you.”

Rosette, who had been listening to their conversation, burst out laughing. Only then did the Oh siblings close their mouths.

“But Joseph, are you really okay with this? If you become my escort knight, you won’t be able to participate in the swordsmanship tournament. I’m going to watch elder brother Daniel’s match this time, and you’ll have to stick by my side, you know.”

“It’s fine! I prefer escorting you to the swordsmanship competition.”

“Then I’m glad.”

Rosette smiled as if relieved. And so, she got her first escort knight.

[This is the timeline separator]

That evening, a grand banquet was held in the hall of the Adrian mansion. Not only the Adrian family members, but all the knights were in attendance.

“Melody, eat a lot, a lot. There’s barbecue pork ribs, your favorite.”

“Don’t worry about me, you eat a lot too, elder brother.”

“Our Melody, are you looking after your elder brother too?”

“It’s not like that.”

Rosette stifled a laugh as she watched the Oh siblings bickering diagonally across from her. Lucas, seeing the Oh siblings, started filling Rosette’s plate with various dishes as if he couldn’t be outdone.

“Squirt, you eat a lot too. That’s how you’ll grow tall. You can’t lose to the little Oh.”

“Okay.”

Lucas, who had put a whole palm-sized rib on her plate, started picking out just the meat with his fork and knife. Thanks to him, Rosette could comfortably eat just the meat.

Lucas also deboned chicken legs for Rosette and cut grilled vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

“Elder brother, you eat too.”

“I’ll eat after I finish this.”

“Mm. Thank you.”

Rosette, who was chewing on tender chicken meat, picked up a large piece of meat and held it out to Lucas.

“Eat this.”

“Are you really giving it to me?”

Lucas looked at her with touched eyes.

“Yes. Say ah.”

“Ah!”

Lucas smiled as he eagerly ate it. He asked while chewing.

“By the way, squirt. You said Joseph and Sir Kellen became your escort knights, right?”

“Yes.”

“Have you formally greeted Sir Kellen yet?”

“No, not yet……”

“Sir Kellen is coming over there, let’s greet him. Hey! Come over here!”

Kellen, who was entering with his colleagues, quickly ran over. He smiled at the two children.

“Hello, young master, young lady.”

“Hello, Sir Kellen. I saw your duel earlier.”

“Oh, did you?”

“Yes. Actually, I couldn’t see it properly because both you and elder brother Daniel were so fast. You’re both amazing.”

When Rosette spoke shyly, Kellen bent his knees to lower his eye level to hers.

“You flatter me, young lady. From what I hear, your magic skills are also amazing.”

“Um, thank you.”

Kellen smiled again and knelt on one knee in front of Rosette.

“I formally greet you, young lady. I am Chris Kellen, who will be in charge of your escort from today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you too.”

Chris smiled and held out his right hand. When Rosette just blinked, not understanding the meaning, Lucas whispered.

“Squirt, your hand.”

“Ah!”

As she belatedly held out her hand, Chris took the small white hand. Then he kissed the soft back of her hand.

Unlike a lord’s oath, this was a knight’s greeting to the lady he serves. Of course, it was the first time Rosette had received a knight’s greeting.

It seemed that to Chris, Rosette was not a lord to be followed faithfully, but a young lady to be preciously protected.

‘A young lady to be protected……’

Rosette’s face flushed with embarrassment. Chris looked at her and stifled a laugh.

“What’s this?”

Lucas quickly pulled Rosette’s hand away from his grasp.

“Anyway, don’t you dare have any strange thoughts about our squirt.”

“Elder brother.”

Rosette put her hand to her forehead.

Sir Chris was in his late twenties. There was no chance of him developing feelings for Rosette, nor should he, but only Lucas was making strange warnings.

Chris quickly denied it.

“That will never happen!”

Lucas glared at him.

“Really? Then just let her get even a single scratch. I won’t let you off easy then.”

“Yes, I understand.”

By this point, Rosette was so embarrassed by Lucas that she buried her face in her plate and started picking at the deboned meat.

A little later, Daniel and Duke Adrian also came in. The two stood side by side at the head of the long table, holding large beer mugs.

“I called everyone to gather today for multiple reasons. As you all saw, Daniel created a clear aura today. It’s a blessing for the Adrian family.”

Daniel smiled awkwardly.

“Also, I’ve assigned Sir Kellen and Sir Oh as Rose’s escorts. But not just the two of them, I ask everyone to take good care of Rose.”

“Understood.”

“Then let’s make a toast.”

Everyone raised their beer mugs with one hand. The three underage siblings held glass cups filled with juice. Especially Rosette, who had to hold the heavy glass cup with both hands.

“Cheers!”

Rosette smiled as she clinked her glass with Lucas sitting next to her.

After eating dinner until she felt like bursting in the bustling atmosphere, Rosette was led to her room by Joanne’s hand.

“I’m not sleepy yet.”

“But you need to sleep. You’re going to the capital tomorrow.”

“Mm, but we’re using the mana gate to go.”

“Even if you use the mana gate, fatigue accumulates. Especially for you, young lady.”

In the few years since coming to the territory, mana gates had also appeared in the empire. Using a mana gate, one could move to another gate using mana.

There were mana gates in both the Adrian territory and the capital, so they could come and go almost without riding carriages.

However, because of the influence of massive mana, using the gate accumulates fatigue.

Rosette, who was sensitive to mana, struggled twice as much as others.

“Okay.”

“Now, I’ll help you change clothes. Raise your arms.”

“Okay.”

Rosette, changed into her nightgown, lay down on the bed at Joanne’s urging. However, even after Joanne turned off the lights and left, she couldn’t fall asleep easily due to excitement.

‘Finally returning to the capital.’

Turning over and lying face down on the bed, she recited to Pipi what she was going to do.

“As soon as we arrive, I’ll write letters to Clara and Teresa, go to the bustling streets and visit cafes together, and also……”

Rosette, who had been whispering quietly, suddenly stopped speaking at the thought that popped into her head. As she suddenly pulled the blanket over her head, Pipi flapped its wings.

[Pii? Pii?]

A small voice leaked from under the blanket.

“I wonder if I’ll be able to see His Highness the Prince too?”

[Pii!]

Of course! You’ll be able to see that human called the Prince and Silver too.

Rosette, who had been fidgeting her feet under the blanket, suddenly sat up.

“Ah, that’s right, Silver!”

She jumped out of bed and headed for the dresser. Then she took out the dog treats she had collected in the bottom drawer. There were bones, jerky, and so on.

[Pii!]

Pipi, who had followed her, flew back to the bed with a disgusted look.

“I hope Silver will eat these too.”

Wolves are canines too, so maybe they’ll eat them. Rosette carefully packed the treats in her bag.

She got back into bed and tried to sleep, but it wouldn’t come.

And so, her last day in the Adrian territory was passing by.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next morning, Joanne dressed Rosette in several layers of thin spring clothes.

“It will be warmer in the capital than here, so take off your outer clothes when you get there.”

“Okay.”

Rosette looked out the window, entrusting her body to Joanne. The high mountains covered with eternal snow and the emerald lake visible in the distance.

Rosette had come to love this Adrian territory, so different from the capital. However, she was excited about returning to the capital, regardless of that.

There were her friends there, and Ophelia, and Joshua.

“I wonder how much His Highness the Prince has grown.”

When she muttered without realizing it, Joanne smiled gently.

“Of course. The capital kids say he’s grown so tall he looks like an adult.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You might look like a real child now when you stand in front of His Highness.”

I don’t like that. Rosette wiggled her toes for no reason.

In her mind, she tried to imagine Joshua’s appearance.

Somewhere between the 12-year-old Joshua she knew and the 24-year-old Joshua.

But no matter how much she thought about it, all she could imagine was a large body with a youthful face.

Rosette laughed without realizing it.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Let’s go if we’re ready.”

Rosette looked around her room once more, which she wouldn’t be returning to for a while, and went outside.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Ugh, using the mana gate feels new every time. I can’t get used to it.”

Lucas patted his waist as he walked out of the capital’s mana gate. Isabelle passed by his side, chiding him.

“You’re exaggerating.”

Behind them, Daniel carefully walked while holding the arm of the stumbling Rosette.

“Rose, are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not dizzy?”

“A little. But it’s better than when I used the gate before.”

“That’s good then.”

“Rose.”

Duke Adrian, who arrived at the mana gate last among the five family members, picked up Rosette. Then he got into the carriage.

The carriage carrying all five of them headed enthusiastically towards the Adrian mansion.