YDGMSF CHAPTER 19

Joseph Osser flinched and looked back.
“Lady Rosette…?”
Rosette, who had approached him closely, widened her eyes.
“What are you trying to do with the carriage?”
In the darkness, Joseph’s eyes shook violently.
“I… I was…”
“I asked what you’re doing here at this hour, Joseph Osser.”
Rosette asked clearly without any sign of hesitation, and Joseph, startled by her sudden change, stammered as he continued speaking.
“I was just, taking a walk at night…”
“That’s a lie. What were you planning to do with the carriage?”
“…”
“You’re being threatened, aren’t you?”
“…!”
Rosette looked directly into Joseph’s eyes with a clear gaze.
“Tell me honestly. Then I’ll help you.”
Joseph, his face full of confusion, swept his hair back.
“How could you…?”
He looked as though he needed more explanation, but there was no time, so Rosette quickly waved him off.
“That’s not important right now. I’ll help you. Just explain to me why you were going to do that.”
A moment of silence passed.
“No, I… I…”
Finally, Joseph knelt in front of Rosette, tears streaming down his face. His tears, pouring out with sorrow, soaked the ground beneath him.
This sight reminded Rosette of Joshua, the last person she had seen before her death, and she took a small step back.
Joseph, watching her, thought deeply. Was Rosette really speaking from knowledge, or was she just testing him?
If she knew, how did she know? How much did she understand?
Should he really tell her everything?
‘I shouldn’t be doubting anymore. I was just going to confirm everything and follow my sister to die anyway.’
With resignation, he opened his mouth.
“I said I couldn’t do it.”
Rosette, belatedly understanding his words, asked again.
“What?”
“I couldn’t hurt anyone to save my sister. I even returned the potion I was given.”
“But if you did that, your sister…”
“If my sister dies, I was going to die with her.”
Tears fell from his eyes like a child’s. Rosette calmly comforted him.
“Then why are you here today?”
“There are other agents in the mansion. Even if I don’t do it, someone else might. I came to check if the carriage is safe.”
Rosette organized the situation in her mind.
It seemed that the person who had damaged Daniel’s carriage in the past wasn’t Joseph but someone else.
Rosette secretly felt relieved that Joseph wasn’t a bad person. She also felt thankful that she wasn’t too late.
“Don’t cry. Your sister will be safe.”
Rosette helped Joseph to his feet and comforted him.
“How do you know that…?”
“I have my ways.”
In the past, Joseph had left the Adrian family to work for Duke Dallas. It was probably because his sister was still being held hostage.
If that’s the case, his sister must still be alive.
“It’s all going to be fine now. Daniel is still asleep, so let’s just check on the carriage.”
“Young Master?”
Joseph asked as though he had never heard the name ‘Daniel’ before.
He then murmured, realizing what Rosette meant.
“They were after the Duke, though…”
That was strange. Daniel was supposed to be the one in danger…
Rosette and Joseph stared at each other in confusion, then both stepped into the carriage storage.
Rosette, who had been looking around in the dark, muttered.
“It’s not here.”
The carriage that Duke Adrian used wasn’t anywhere to be found.
***
“Is it about the Master?”
The butler, Sebastian, looked at Rosette, who was awake at this hour, with a puzzled expression but still answered diligently.
“He just left a little while ago.”
“Why at this hour?”
“I’m not sure, but it seems to be related to something concerning you, Miss…”
“Where did he go?”
“To a village in the northern part of the capital… But why are you asking about this all of a sudden? Is there something you need to tell the Master?”
Instead of Rosette, Joseph spoke.
“The carriage might have broken down.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Joseph briefly explained the events that had happened up until that point. After hearing this, Sebastian moved quickly.
“I’ll call people immediately.”
After Sebastian left, Joseph tried to calm Rosette down.
“Miss, now let’s go inside and…”
“No, it’ll be too late then.”
Rosette nervously bit her nails and asked Joseph.
“Joseph, you know how to ride a horse, right?”
“Yes, I do, but…”
Rosette took a deep breath and spoke firmly.
“Let’s go.”
“What?”
“Take me to my father.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll go alone.”
Rosette shook her head.
“No, I need to go myself.”
That way, she could be prepared in case anything happened.
“Quickly.”
Joseph couldn’t stop Rosette’s determination and they both headed toward the stable.
Even as he helped Rosette onto the horse, he still had a doubtful expression, but in the end, he spurred the horse forward.
Rosette held tightly to Joseph’s waist as she thought.
‘Because of me, things have changed.’
It seemed that in the past, Daniel had been the one to ride in the Duke’s carriage and had gotten into an accident. She didn’t know the details, but this time, it appeared that because of Rosette, the Duke was riding in that carriage instead.
Joseph urged the horse forward at full speed. A horse was faster than a carriage, so they would be able to catch up.
And soon, the white carriage appeared in the distance.
“Dad!”
Rosette shouted loudly, but her voice did not reach Duke Adrian. Joseph increased the speed of the horse.
That’s when it happened.
The carriage shook, and a wheel came off. At the same time, the carriage flipped over, and sparks flew. The fire quickly engulfed the carriage.
“No!”
It couldn’t have caught fire just from a broken wheel. It had to be fire magic that spread. The substance on the carriage must have been laced with a flammable spell.
“Ugh!”
Joseph stopped the horse. Rosette jumped off the horse and tried to run toward the carriage. But before she could do that, Joseph grabbed her from behind and held her tightly.
“You can’t, Miss!”
“Let me go! I have to…!”
At that moment, an explosion was heard from the carriage, and shockwaves spread out in all directions. Joseph curled his body to protect Rosette and fell to the ground.
Without a chance to thank him, Rosette ran toward the carriage.
“Dad! Dad!”
Tears flowed quickly, blurring her vision. Joseph rushed over and, noticing her staggering, threw his shoulder under her and carried her.
“It’s dangerous, Miss!”
“But…”
“The Duke is already…”
Rosette’s tears soaked his shoulder.
“It’s all my fault.”
She had decided to correct all the wrongs from the past. She believed that was the only way to repay the debt she owed to the Adrian family.
‘No, actually…’
She liked the way Duke Adrian gently smiled while making eye contact. She liked the careful way he patted her head, and the warm feeling she got when he embraced her.
Above all, she loved the feeling that came with the word “father.”
The idea of dedicating herself to the Adrian family out of guilt had long since faded. Now, Rosette no longer wanted to lose what she had for her own happiness.
She didn’t want to lose her happiness to Marquis Dallas again…
Rosette glared at the carriage engulfed in flames, her eyes full of tears.
At that moment, she felt the presence of mana inside the carriage. It was the same feeling she had experienced when Duke Adrian controlled her wild mana.
‘Is he alive?’
Duke Adrian was alive. It wasn’t too late. There was still hope.
The only way to extinguish a fire caused by magic was with the same magic.
But Rosette didn’t have a way to use nullification magic right now. Her mana core was too small, and it wasn’t enough to suppress such a large-scale spell.
But if she waited for Celine to arrive, it would already be too late.
‘I have a way.’
Rosette reached out and called for Pipi.
“Pipi!”
[Peep!]
Pipi flew to her palm, and light began to radiate from Pipi’s body. The surrounding mana started to swirl toward her.
This time, a wave of energy spread out from Rosette herself.
Mana explosion. A method of using the amplified power of natural mana to cast magic.
It was a dangerous method for the caster, so it was rarely used, but right now, it was the only option.
Rosette, through Pipi, released all the mana she had absorbed at once and shouted the nullification spell.
“…!”
At the same time, the blazing fire, which had been burning fiercely, began to subside slowly.
Rosette slipped out of Joseph’s arms and walked toward the carriage.
Something churned deep inside her, but she barely managed to suppress it and took heavy steps.
She opened the carriage door, where embers were still flickering.
“Dad!”
She hurriedly scanned the inside of the carriage. The carriage was already filled with thick, black smoke.
Rosette coughed and searched for Duke Adrian.
At that moment…
“Rose?”
The voice she had longed to hear echoed from inside, and through the smoky haze, the familiar platinum hair appeared.
It was Duke Adrian. A faint barrier of mana surrounded him.
‘He defended with mana.’
While Rosette assessed the situation, Duke Adrian stepped outside and looked at her.
“Rose, how did you…”
Rosette sighed in relief as she looked at him.
His arms and legs were scorched, but fortunately, he didn’t appear to have life-threatening injuries.
Once she confirmed that, the strength drained from her body. It was the aftereffect of the mana explosion.
Rosette started coughing uncontrollably.
“Rose!”
Duke Adrian caught her as she collapsed. Rosette looked up at him, laughing through her tears.
“I’m glad…”
That was the last thing she said before losing consciousness.
***
“Doctor! Where’s the doctor? Bring Celine too! Quickly!”
Duke Adrian, who was rarely ever flustered, shouted urgently as he entered the mansion.
“Master, you’re safe…”
Sebastian, who had been relieved, went pale when he saw Rosette, limp in Duke Adrian’s arms.
“Miss! What happened…?”
“I’ll explain later. Just bring Celine.”
“Lady Celine went out to find you, sir.”
“Contact her and tell her to come back immediately. Right now!”