I finally recovered my health. Had I been more tired than I realized? Was my physical stamina completely spent? It took three whole days to recover this time.
"I'm so relieved your fever has gone down. These past three days have been truly difficult."
Richarda informed me of the commotion over those three days while telling me, "You mustn't leave your bed today."
First, my losing consciousness during the meeting had caused
On top of that, the new attendants who had rarely seen someone collapse before their very eyes had panicked and been completely useless. Richarda told me that even just carrying me out of Anastasius's presence and excusing us had been a struggle.
And even after returning to the dormitory, my consciousness still hadn't returned—no matter how they called my name, I wouldn't respond at all. That listless state reminded them of when I had fallen unconscious two years prior, and it had turned
"I should probably apologize to Wilfried and the others."
"You need to recover first. If you start feeling ill again in the middle of apologizing, that would be problematic."
"Yes..."
In exchange for staying obediently in bed, I received permission to read books I had borrowed from the library, and spent the entire day lounging around.
"May I go to the library today?"
"Yes, I suppose so."
Having received Richarda's permission to head to the library, I happily climbed out of bed, declaring it my complete comeback.
"I had heard various things about
She said she had often seen apprentice knights faint during training, but never someone who simply collapsed without doing anything in particular. Because they couldn't determine the cause, they hadn't known how to handle the situation and had rushed about in a panic.
"Good morning, Rozemyne."
When I went downstairs,
"I seem to have shocked you as well, Hartmut."
"My heart nearly stopped. The attendants who spent time with you in the children's room the year of your debut had apparently seen you collapse from a snowball, but this was my first time."
He said his mother
When we sat down for breakfast, Wilfried looked at Richarda with a skeptical gaze. "Is Rozemyne really well enough to move around?"
"She went an entire day yesterday without her fever rising, and she was able to read her books. It seems she has recovered."
"Good. Then you shall return to Ehrenfest."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
When I tilted my head, Wilfried let out a slow breath and said, "I'll explain after the meal."
I couldn't understand why I needed to return to Ehrenfest, and finished breakfast with my head still tilted in confusion. Afterward, Wilfried and his attendants, along with me and mine, were all gathered into one room.
"This arrived. It's an order for your return."
Wilfried handed me letters from my guardian father and the Chief Priest.
The general contents were something along the lines of: "If you've finished your lectures, come back immediately"; "Rozemyne, who keeps causing one unexpected incident after another, should be removed from the
It seemed that from here on, the social duties at the Royal Academy would be left to Wilfried, while I would face what amounted to an interrogation session by my guardians back in Ehrenfest.
"N-No! You said I could stay until the Dedication Ritual! There are still about ten days left! I'll be going to the library every day until the last possible moment!"
My already dwindling library life had been cut short by four more days due to my poor health. I was absolutely determined to prevent any further reduction.
"Rozemyne, this is an order from the Aub Ehrenfest."
"I-I cannot return to Ehrenfest until the Dedication Ritual due to my poor health. I will be sequestering myself in the library to seek emotional stability and recovery of my vigor."
"It's clear you're flustered, but what exactly are you saying?"
Wilfried sighed, exasperated.
"But isn't this all far too sudden?"
"Yes! It's far too sudden!"
The one who loudly agreed with me in my resistance to returning was
"We can't send Rozemyne back! My final exam is in three days! And once I pass, I'll be taught the fourth stage of Magic Power compression! Rozemyne, please don't go back yet! Just three more days! Three more days, please!"
Angelica latched onto me, declaring she wouldn't let me go, and I hugged her right back. Valuable allies must be cherished.
"That's right. In addition to Angelica's exam, I've also promised to deliver sheet music to Prince Anastasius, and I need to thank Lady
When I listed everything that needed to be done before I could depart, Richarda nodded. "Indeed. It's important to make arrangements for the period of your absence."
"We should inform Prince Anastasius and Lady Eglantine that the lady will be absent, so that Wilfried isn't left in a lurch."
"True. I'd be in trouble if matters with the royal family weren't wrapped up beforehand."
The contents of the meeting held without the attendants present couldn't be leaked. Otherwise, Wilfried would be asked to handle things after my departure without knowing a thing about what had been discussed.
Sensing that Wilfried was beginning to show signs of yielding, the apprentice knights who had been dragged along to Angelica's studying, along with my attendants—whose own Magic Power compression's fourth stage depended on Angelica's passing—all nodded in unison.
"We would like you to wait until Angelica's exam is over."
"This is the critical juncture that will determine whether Angelica can graduate or whether Ehrenfest will have its first dropout."
"Just three days. Three days is all we need. Please grant us a preparation period."
Without Magic Power compression as a carrot, Angelica's motivation would undoubtedly plummet to horrifying levels. It was easy to see that a single unfinished subject would grind everything to a halt. The apprentice knights who knew how things stood last year united in wanting to get Angelica's written studies finished once and for all.
"Angelica, are your grades really that bad that graduation is at stake?"
"Yes! Every single written exam is right on the passing line."
...That's nothing to brag about, Angelica.
She puffed out her chest proudly, saying she had worked very hard this year for Magic Power compression, but that smug expression only made her hopelessness stand out all the more.
"Lord Wilfried, once Angelica's exam is over, we will immediately send Rozemyne back to Ehrenfest. All of us attendants will take responsibility, pull her away from her books, and send her off. So please... please give us a three-day grace period."
"Cornelius, that's awfully harsh treatment of me, isn't it?!"
Their desperate pleas seemed to have gotten through. Wilfried, who had been deep in thought, raised his head.
"Very well. I will recommend to Father that a three-day preparation period be granted. Finish what needs to be done in that time. You will return on the next Earthday. Is that understood, Rozemyne?"
When Wilfried said this while looking around at everyone, the surrounding faces all nodded with expressions of intense, focused determination.
Having my return moved up by about a week left me thoroughly displeased, but with everyone else so settled on the matter, there was no point objecting alone. Slumping my shoulders, Ireluctantly nodded.
"...Understood."
Because the magic circle for transporting people requires far more Magic Power than the one used for moving objects, reports to Ehrenfest were essentially conducted through wooden tablets and letters.
The room with the magic circle had knights on guard duty, and they received ordonnances from
Apparently, Wilfried had been sending wooden tablets practically every day lately, detailing all the trouble I had caused. That was reportedly why the return order had been issued.
...Wilfried, you traitor!
For the return preparations, I had a letter sent to Ehrenfest stating, "For the Dedication Ritual, I'll be bringing
Having just
"Wilfried, would it be alright if I brought
"If possible, I'd like her to stay. Among the musicians here, Rosina is the most skilled, and the music instructors have praised her as well, haven't they? She's essential for the social events going forward."
Wilfried said she was a musician who needed to accompany them to tea parties. A musician who could play many of the new songs trending in Ehrenfest and who had been composing new pieces since arriving at the Royal Academy—if her skill was recognized by the instructors and by Eglantine, she would be needed for Ehrenfest to gain even a slight edge in social situations.
"Then I'll leave Rosina in Wilfried's care. Please make sure she isn't put in an unpleasant position or poached by anyone."
"I understand. She's an important musician to Rozemyne. I won't let anyone treat her carelessly."
Since Wilfried took responsibility for her, I decided to entrust Rosina to him.
If she wasn't coming back with me, there were various things I needed Rosina to take care of.
"So, Rosina will be staying at the Royal Academy for social purposes. There's a piece of sheet music I'd like her to write up quickly—is that alright? A song dedicated to the
The songs for the Goddess of Light and the Goddess of Wisdom were for currying favor with the Chief Priest. There was a faint hope nestled in the request that if he had new songs, he might ease up on the interrogation a little.
"I'm thinking of showing the song for the Goddess of Light to Lord
"If it's Lord Ferdinand, then by all means ask for his opinions on the arrangement."
The song for the Goddess of Earth was the love song from the incident that had caused the fainting spell. I needed to present it to Anastasius.
I had decided not to distribute printed copies at the Royal Academy yet, so I would have Rosina write the sheet music by hand, and then deliver it along with a get-well letter and absence notice to Anastasius.
...I think the lyrics suit him, actually.
The lyrics about wanting to know your happiness and not wanting to end without ever knowing—it was a perfect fit for Anastasius right now. If he practiced and sang it well, even if he didn't faint, I had a feeling Eglantine's heart might draw just a little closer.
Since I had caused quite a bit of trouble for Anastasius, I wanted to earn some goodwill too. I mulled it over and added a postscript to the absence notice: "If you could let me know Lady Eglantine's favorite flowers and colors before the Earthday of my return, I can place an order for a hair ornament. How about presenting one at the graduation ceremony?"
At the same time, I also sent a get-well letter and absence notice to Eglantine. I wrote that I would "bring back a Rinsham."
The day after I had
"Magnificent, Rozemyne! This song is truly wonderful! And I've heard that Eglantine's outfit is red. Her favorite flower is the Colarelie. The hair ornament should match that..."
The important part was only the very beginning—that Lady Eglantine liked lily-like Colarelie flowers and wore red outfits. What followed was an endless stream of praise for Eglantine, and I was genuinely fed up after being made to listen to it three times over.
After replying to Anastasius with "Understood," I headed to the library. Reading was important, but my primary objective was to supply Magic Power to Schwartz and Weiss. Since I doubted I would be able to come back quickly even after the Dedication Ritual, it would be best to fill them with as much as possible.
"
"Oh my, Lady Rozemyne. I hadn't seen you for a while and was quite worried, so I'm relieved to see you looking well."
The last time she'd seen me was when I was being dragged off by Anastasius, after which I—a daily presence from library opening to closing—had vanished entirely. I was sure I had caused her a great deal of concern.
"I was a bit under the weather. I'm sorry for worrying you. I've come today to inform you of my upcoming absence and to supply Magic Power to Schwartz and Weiss."
"Thank you for going out of your way."
Schwartz and Weiss, summoned by Solange, gazed up at me with their round golden eyes.
"Princess, going home?"
"Princess, not coming back?"
"I have important business, so I'll be returning to Ehrenfest for a time, but I'll come back to the Royal Academy before the Interduchy Tournament."
As I spoke, I held my hands over the magic stones on Schwartz and Weiss's foreheads. I poured in as much Magic Power as I could, then let out a soft breath.
"I think this should last for a while."
"Thank you for providing Magic Power to Schwartz and Weiss, Lady Rozemyne, especially when you need so much for your duties as an archduke candidate."
I had intended to leisurely enjoy one last reading session in the library, but an ordonnance from Hirschur arrived and stopped me.
"Lady Rozemyne, if you're returning to Ehrenfest, you need to inform us here as well, or we'll be in a bind. Please return to the dormitory immediately."
A summons from the dormitory supervisor. I couldn't very well ignore it. Hirschur would undoubtedly barge into the library without hesitation. Considering the trouble it would cause everyone, I reluctantly closed my book.
"...Let me return before I cause trouble for the library. Schwartz and Weiss, make sure you help Solange properly, alright?"
"Understood, Princess."
"We'll help."
After finishing my farewells and returning to the dormitory, I could see Hirschur waiting for me with a massive stack of papers and a wooden box in her arms.
"If you're returning to Ehrenfest, please deliver these to Lord Ferdinand. I've compiled the patterns of the magic circles embroidered on Schwartz and Weiss's clothing and bellies, along with my own observations and analyses. Please obtain Lord Ferdinand's views on these before you return here. Also, these are Magical Tools that Lord Ferdinand made previously. They're not working properly, so I'd be grateful if he could repair them."
The several stacked boxes were all destined for the Chief Priest. Since he had once entered the Temple, communication had been cut off, but it had resumed when I enrolled at the Academy, and there were apparently many deliveries waiting to be sent.
The sorting and packing kept all the attendants busy, which meant I—left without my companions—couldn't even go to the library. On my final day before returning, I moped about while organizing the information everyone had gathered, calculating the money I needed to prepare, and strategizing for the interrogation session awaiting me from my guardians.
Angelica, whom my attendants—whose own Magic Power compression depended on her passing—and the apprentice knights who didn't want to see all their efforts go to waste had been drilling relentlessly, took the final exam with a fierce, almost frightening intensity despite her half-lidded eyes.
Pouring everything she had into the exam to fulfill everyone's expectations as well as her own goals, Angelica scraped by with a narrow pass. She was proud of having convinced the instructor—who had wanted her to retake it since there was still time—to let her through on the spot.
"With this, I've finished all my lectures!"
Angelica, who always reached passing levels in practicals immediately but was constantly held back by her written studies, declared the completion of all her lectures with a radiant expression.
"Now I'll be taught the fourth stage of Magic Power compression, and I can finally take up my guard duty."
She said this with a smile of pure accomplishment.
Those returning together were head attendant Richarda, Cornelius and Angelica who had completed all their lectures, and Leonore.
"
"Understood."
"I'm the only apprentice knight who hasn't finished all the lectures..."
Judithe lamented that she wanted to go back together, but there was nothing to be done about unfinished work. Judithe's grades were average—she didn't excel or struggle in either practicals or written studies—so it would take a little longer. But Judithe wasn't incapable. It was perfectly normal, especially considering the Royal Academy hadn't entered social season yet.
"
"Understood."
After bidding farewell to my attendants and entrusting matters to Wilfried, I entered the room with the transference circle.
"It seems everyone back there is eagerly awaiting Rozemyne's return. Aub Ehrenfest has already sent three wooden tablets just today alone."
The knight on guard duty showed me a wooden tablet with "Not yet?" scribbled on it, a wry smile on his face. That haphazard handwriting sent an indescribable irritation through me and made the back of my neck go cold.
Only three people could travel through the transference circle. I, Richarda, and Cornelius would go through first.
Magic Power filled the transference circle, and it emitted a black-and-gold light. At the same time, the magic stone set into my brooch glowed. The space before me wavered and shimmered, and a momentary sensation of dizziness washed over me.
I blinked, and the next instant, a row of familiar faces stood before me. The first to rush over was
"Welcome home, sister. I heard you collapsed and your fever didn't go down for three days. Are you feeling better now?"
"I'm back, Charlotte. Yes, I'm perfectly fine now."
We stepped out of the transference circle to make room for Angelica and Leonore, who would be coming through next, and moved to the reception room.
"Rozemyne, it's good to see you well."
"Grandfather."
"See? I've been keeping
He seemed to have picked up quite a few more injuries, but his build had filled out considerably, and the somewhat bullied-looking expression on his face had grown a touch more dignified.
"...It looks like it was rough, but you seem a bit stronger now."
"I'm glad you've returned. ...Truly."
When I smiled at the genuine emotion in his words, Father strode over with long steps.
"I was worried sick, Rozemyne. When I heard you'd joined the Ditter for treasure hunting, I felt sick to my stomach."
"Father..."
He said he was worried, but his eyes clearly spoke of wanting to hear all the details. Mother stepped forward, cutting him off.
"I nearly fainted from shock when I heard that as well. You're not even an apprentice knight—how did you end up participating in Ditter? Didn't your guard knight Cornelius stop you?"
Cornelius received a sharp glare, and I hurriedly intervened.
"Mother, it isn't Cornelius's fault. I was the one who insisted on participating."
"I did try to stop her, but she wouldn't be stopped. Master Ruffen cheerfully approved her participation, so there was nothing I could do."
At Cornelius's words, Mother let out a soft sigh. "Ruffen would find that amusing." Apparently, the reason
"You beat Dunkelfelger, didn't you? From now on, Ruffen is going to challenge you to rematches over and over again."
"...The one who'd have to work hard for that is the apprentice knight, so I won't be participating again. It'll be fine."
Mother said, "I hope so..." but the words did nothing to ease the uncertainty about what lay ahead. Once he identified a worthy rival, Ruffen apparently had a tenacity that made him cling on and never let go.
...I really didn't need to know that.
My shoulders drooped, and a firm grip seized my right shoulder. It was Father, wearing an extremely pleasant smile. His deep-green eyes were completely at odds with that smiling face, and my cheek twitched.
"You certainly took your time, Rozemyne. I've been eagerly awaiting your return."
"...Was there something about me that warranted your eager anticipation?"
"Oh, you could call it a completely unprecedented state of affairs. In previous years, reports arrived from the Royal Academy once a week with nothing of note. When reports and inquiry letters started arriving one after another, followed by Wilfried's incomprehensible reports coming on a daily basis, it would hardly be unusual to conclude that hearing from the source herself would be best."
Wilfried had apparently been quite diligent about sending reports, but if they were incomprehensible, they defeated the purpose.
"Rather than summoning me, wouldn't it be better to teach Wilfried how to write reports properly?"
"It's not that Wilfried's reports are incomprehensible! It's your actions that make no sense! 'Rozemyne goes to register at the library and becomes the owner of a royal Magical Tool'—there's absolutely no connection there. Explain everything. You're to come to my office immediately."
...I still think it's Wilfried's writing that's the problem.
If he wrote each thing out carefully, I didn't think any of my actions would come across as incomprehensible.
As I was mulling this over, my other shoulder was seized just as firmly. I looked up to find the Chief Priest's face, a cool smile playing on his lips. These golden eyes, too, were not smiling in the slightest.
"Welcome back, Rozemyne. That was quite a long time coming."
"I've returned, Lord Ferdinand. There's still time before the Dedication Ritual, so it's considerably earlier than I had planned, but..."
As I looked up at the Chief Priest, letting him know just how deeply I resented having my library access revoked, he furrowed his brow.
"If I recall correctly, I told you to finish your exams as quickly as possible and return before you could cause any unnecessary trouble."
"Is that so? I remember being banned from the library until all my lectures were completed, but I have no recollection of those particular words."
We exchanged a "fufufu, hohoho" of mutual smiles before the Chief Priest's expression softened into the faintest of grins, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"I have mountains of questions for you. How on earth did you end up holding private tea parties with the large duchy
...I'm sorry! This prince is so troublesome! All I was thinking about was wanting to read books in the library!
"Well then, shall we go? There's still plenty of time before the Dedication Ritual to hear your story."
"...Y-Yes."
And so, I was abducted to the Lord's office by my trio of guardians right upon my return.
The return order came from my increasingly impatient guardians.
I've returned to Ehrenfest for the first time in a long while.