“How old?”

“Hmm.”

Rosette tried to recall, but soon shook her head.

“I don’t know anything about it.”

“Even if I think more, it’ll be the same. As far as I know, there’s nothing.”

Rosette could say that one thing with confidence.

“In the past, since I was there, there was no need to bring in another child. I alone would have been enough to do what he wanted, so why adopt more?”

“Maybe he’s found someone to take my place?”

“Probably. He must be quite capable too. Enough to satisfy Marquis Dallas.”

Joshua fell silent. Rosette also sank into thought while hugging Silver tightly.

‘I hope he can’t do magic.’

She hoped her prediction that he had found a child to replace her was wrong. She wanted to think that Marquis Dallas had just adopted a boy for show to others.

‘But that’s unlikely.’

If he had adopted just for show, he would have chosen a girl instead of a boy. He wouldn’t want to cause unnecessary conflict when he already had a legitimate heir.

Joshua must have had the same thought, as he quietly muttered:

“That’s right. There’s no reason to adopt a boy otherwise.”

“Indeed.”

Rosette knew well what tasks Marquis Dallas would assign to the unknown boy. He would train him well and use him to eliminate political opponents.

Just as Rosette had done in the past.

And what Marquis Dallas was ultimately aiming for…

‘Father and elder brother Daniel.’

Her face instantly darkened.

“Marquis Dallas is probably targeting Father and elder brother Daniel. Because they support His Highness. Plus, he’ll keep targeting Her Majesty as well.”

Rosette continued to mutter gloomily.

“Fortunately, there’s no need to worry too much yet. I don’t know how skilled he is in magic, but it will take at least 3-4 years to master the magic the Marquis wants.”

“A way?”

“Get him out? How?”

“If we’re going to do that, we need to act quickly.”

Rosette recalled her time at the Dallas household in the past.

Marquis Dallas had imprinted magic on Rosette when she started learning magic in earnest, about three months after she arrived at the Marquis’ house.

It was a command magic that forced her to follow his orders no matter what.

Because of that magic, Rosette had killed Duke Adrian and Daniel against her will.

Recalling the memories of that terrible day, Rosette took a deep breath through her nose.

‘I thought the day would come when I’d have to talk about it.’

She had already hinted to Joshua when they first met that killing those two wasn’t her own will.

Although she hadn’t explained the exact principle, Joshua must have guessed that some magic had been cast on her.

But now that she was about to say it with her own mouth, she felt a bit uneasy.

Rosette touched the area below her collarbone where the magic had once been inscribed.

“I’m not certain, but Marquis Dallas will probably cast magic on that child.”

“Yes. It’s a type of ancient magic that makes you follow his orders exactly.”

“Because of that magic, that child will end up hurting others even if he doesn’t want to.”

“…Yes.”

Rosette and Joshua had already buried the past.

It was an unspoken agreement. In fact, the two hadn’t talked about the past since preventing Ophelia’s poisoning.

Perhaps because of this, Rosette felt uncomfortable with the talk of the past coming up after so long. She also felt a tightness in her chest, as if she had indigestion.

‘I don’t want to rationalize that it was unavoidable, but…’

She spoke carefully.

“As you probably guessed, I made Father and elder brother Daniel like that in the past because of that magic. I don’t want to rationalize my actions, but that’s the truth.”

“If he inscribes that magic on that child’s heart too, that child will go around hurting people regardless of his own will.”

Then that child’s heart will be wounded. Maybe even his soul will be hurt. Like I was in the past.

Rosette swallowed those words.

“I can’t bear to see that child repeat the same misfortune as me.”

“I feel sorry thinking he’s in my place. Originally, he wouldn’t have had to go through such things. But because I came to Adrian instead of Dallas…”

Joshua cut her off.

“…Yes.”

“How long has it been since Marquis Dallas brought that child?”

Rosette let out a sigh of relief.

“It hasn’t been long. That’s good.”

“That magic can only be used after stabilizing mana. Otherwise, the mana will clash inside the body and it won’t be able to withstand it. I don’t know if that child has learned magic or not, but if he hasn’t, it will take at least three months just to stabilize the mana.”

“Yes. Of course, that’s assuming that child hasn’t learned any magic yet.”

Joshua’s voice sank even lower.

“Probably.”

“How?”

Rosette nodded. In the past, before she was officially adopted into the Dallas family, she too had gone to the Imperial Palace with the Marquis.

“That’s right. I did that too before.”

Rosette added in a worried voice.

“What if we fail?”

Joshua was silent for a moment before answering.

“Okay.”

“Yes, you too, Your Highness. Silver, you go too.”

Silver licked Rosette’s hand once more before leaping out the window.

Rosette stood at the window, watching Silver disappear for a long time.

It was before Rosette could send a letter to Clara. Somehow knowing that she had come to the capital, Clara sent her a letter first.

Rosette excitedly opened the letter. Written in slightly more untidy handwriting than usual, it welcomed her back to the capital and said she wanted to meet soon.

“Pipi, look at this. Clara is holding a tea party in three days and wants me to come. She says it’s okay if I’m too tired and want to meet next time, but I should go, right?”

“But I can’t take you with me.”

“Everyone will find you strange. Instead, I’ll bring back some delicious snacks.”

Rosette tickled Pipi’s chin to console him.

After that, time passed quickly and the day of Clara’s tea party arrived.

Just as Rosette was about to leave the mansion, wearing an outing dress that Madam Wide had made for her after a long time:

“Now, Rose.”

Isabelle grabbed Rosette’s shoulders. Rosette had to tilt her head back extremely far to look at Isabelle.

“You’re going to meet people after a long time, so I’ll say it again. Who are you?”

Unlike in the past, Rosette could now say confidently:

“Rosette Adrian. The youngest daughter of Duke Adrian and your sister.”

Isabelle smiled.

“Yes, that’s right. You’re a proud Adrian. Even if someone disrespects you – though I’m sure no one will – never forget that fact.”

“Yes.”

Rosette nodded. One of the big changes over the past 5 years was her increased self-esteem.

As Isabelle put on the hair ornament she had brought for Rosette, she advised:

“Still, if anyone does disrespect you, you can do as you please. I’ll take responsibility for everything.”

“I don’t think that will happen, but I understand.”

“Then off you go.”

“Yes!”

Rosette got into the carriage and headed for the mansion of Clara’s family, the Cheller Count’s house. Her heart was pounding at the thought of meeting her friend after a long time.

Finally, when the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Cheller mansion and Rosette got out with Joseph’s escort:

“Rosette!”

Clara, who had been excited since the carriage entered, ran over and hugged Rosette tightly. Clara, who was following the path of a knight, was taller than her peers.

“I missed you, my friend! Have you been well?”

“Yes! I’ve been really well. How about you, Clara?”

“Oh, you know, same as always! But you seem brighter somehow.”

“Really? Everyone’s been saying that.”

As Rosette smiled shyly, Clara grabbed her shoulders and looked her up and down.

“Did you grow a bit? You seem taller, but my eye level is lower than I remember?”

Rosette pouted and grumbled.

“That’s because you grew more. Not just you, but elder sister Isabelle and elder brother Lucas have all grown taller than me. It seems like everyone’s growing except me.”

Clara laughed heartily.

“Well, that’s just the difference in natural build. We’re all knights while you’re the only mage. But it’s okay, you’re cute because you’re small.”