And so, at noon today, we finally headed to the library for the first time in ages. I was bringing the first-years to have them register as users. I surveyed the first-years lined up in the multipurpose hall and smiled warmly.
"Library registration at the
On the shelves in the multipurpose hall, I had placed copies of Ehrenfest's book catalog and records of the books that upperclassmen had copied the previous year. After explaining that I wanted them to choose books that didn't overlap with what others were copying, the first-years nodded vigorously with eager, fresh-faced expressions.
I hurried through lunch and prepared to head out. I had to make sure I could go straight to the afternoon practical session after the library.
"So
"Wouldn't it be stranger for me to stay behind in the dormitory while Ehrenfest's students go to register at the library?"
Brother
"Please think about it carefully. This time it's the first-years registering. You've already finished your registration as a second-year, so it has nothing to do with you. Lady
"But I also need to provide magic power to
When I pouted my lips, Cornelius gave a light shrug. "I haven't received any message from Solange-sensei that she's running low on magic power."
Cornelius's reasoning was probably correct. Since I'd already charged and delivered the magic stones, I might not need to visit the library today. But there was no reason to pass up this rare opportunity to visit the library before lectures were even over.
"You know how much I want to go to the library, Cornelius, so why would you say something so mean? ...Could it be, you got rejected by the person you're courting?"
As I glared at him and asked if I was taking my frustrations out on him, Cornelius's eyes went wide. "That's not it!" he denied immediately.
"Then have you decided who you're escorting to the graduation ceremony? Both Cornelius and
There's no way someone this accomplished couldn't get a girl's attention, right? As I looked alternately at my two retainers, Cornelius and Hartmut exchanged glances, their eyes glittering. Some sort of unspoken communication passed between them, and they sealed it with a firm handshake.
Hartmut looked down at me with a bright smile.
"I can't tell Rozemyne-sama."
"Why not?!"
I was so taken aback by Hartmut's refusal that my eyes nearly popped out of my head, while Cornelius turned his gaze toward the bookshelves.
"Because my mother would find out immediately, and it would become material for her stories."
On those shelves were the romance novels set in the Royal Academy that my mother and her friends had written. Cornelius's prediction that he'd become fodder for the second or third installment was almost certainly correct.
After all, Mother had cheerfully written about the romantic situation between
Incidentally, Lamprecht's love story ended up being about a couple who were torn apart by social circumstances but were ultimately reunited through prayers to the gods. More than half of it was fiction. Mother's imagination was truly something else.
"I understand the desire to avoid becoming material. But whoever you're escorting, you'll need to greet them properly, won't you?"
If the other party was from a different duchy, you'd absolutely need to inform both sets of parents well before the interduchy tournament. It would just shift the timing of when Mother turned them into material slightly.
"I'll handle that when Rozemyne-sama returns for the dedication ritual. Please don't worry."
The way he said it so casually, it felt like he'd already won over whoever it was. I turned my gaze toward
"Haa... But how did this conversation even come about? I simply prioritized finishing lectures early so I could accompany Rozemyne-sama to the library from now on."
"In that case, Cornelius, you're welcome to stay behind and keep watch. Leonore and Judith are also here as guard knights, and Charlotte's retainers will be accompanying us too."
Even though I gave him permission to study during his lunch break, Cornelius shook his head with a deep sigh and stared at me intently with those pitch-black eyes.
"No. I'll be coming along. I was told to keep a close eye on you as much as possible."
I wanted to ask who told him that, but I kept my mouth shut. He'd just rattle off a long list of names — the Chief Priest, my adoptive father, my adoptive mother, Father, Mother...
As I was thinking this, Hartmut's bright orange eyes drifted to the distance.
"Ah, I was told the same thing by many people. Starting with the attendants at the
...It seemed quite a few people considered my library visits something to be cautious about.
"I understand everyone's concerns."
"Then Rozemyne-sama..."
"But regardless of what those around me think, I have no intention of giving up on the library. Let's go quickly."
...It had been so long since I visited the library. Woohoo!
"We have the magic stones
We who had already finished registration could enter, but the unregistered first-years needed permission from Solange, the Librarian.
"Charlotte, please insert the invitation Solange-sensei sent you into the slot on the door."
"Yes, sister."
With a slightly tense expression, Charlotte clacked the wooden tablet Solange had sent her into what looked like a mail slot on the door.
A few seconds later, with a creaking sound, the door slowly swung open. Leading the wide-eyed first-years through the bright corridor, I opened the door at the far end. There, just like last year, Solange waited with a gentle smile on her face. The difference from last year was that Schwartz and Weiss now stood beside her.
"It's been a while, Solange-sensei."
When I called out to her, Solange's blue eyes softened with a fond smile. She looked like a grandmother gazing at a grandchild she hadn't seen in years.
"I'm so glad to see you looking well, Rozemyne-sama. And you've grown a little taller since last year."
"Eh? You can tell I've grown just by looking at me?"
"Yes."
As I happily received the compliment about having grown, Schwartz and Weiss began circling around me.
"Princess, came."
"Long time, princess."
"...Big Schmimil."
"Talking?"
When I saw the first-years' eyes go round at their first sight of Schwartz and Weiss, Charlotte spoke up as their representative.
"Are these Schwartz and Weiss? I'd heard about them, but they're even more adorable than I imagined!"
Watching Charlotte's eyes sparkle blue as she followed Schwartz and Weiss's movements, Lieselota nodded enthusiastically. While catching sight of Lieselota gazing at Schwartz and Weiss with rapt adoration in the corner of my vision, I smiled softly.
"That's right. Cute, aren't they? But Charlotte, none of you should touch them. To prevent them from being carried away, Schwartz and Weiss are protected by numerous magic circles. A light touch just gives a little static-like zap, but if you try repeatedly, things can get quite severe."
Sch Schwartz and Weiss wandered around the library helping the Librarian, so bumping into them by accident was quite possible. Apparently, a light touch earned a static-shock-like warning sting.
However, if that repeated several times, if the impact was strong enough to break them, or if prolonged contact occurred, the countermeasure would escalate beyond a simple static shock to burns and skin damage.
"I understand. I embroidered the magic circles with them. Besides, no matter how adorable they are, Schwartz and Weiss are royal treasures. I would never touch them carelessly."
Charlotte puffed out her chest as she declared she had that much common sense. The first-years, who had just learned that Schwartz and Weiss were royal treasures, looked at them with slightly startled expressions — their faces clearly showing awe and reverence.
"Since the Ehrenfest students have already received warnings from Rozemyne-sama, I suppose there's no need for me to explain about Schwartz and Weiss."
Solange placed a hand elegantly to her mouth as she smiled, then compared me with Schwartz and Weiss.
"Rozemyne-sama. I'll be handling the first-year registration. Would it be all right if I asked you to provide magic power to Schwartz and Weiss in the meantime? Both of them were so delighted when they learned you were coming."
"Of course. I'll do it in the reading room so as not to be in the way."
"...Yes. The second floor should be empty now, so if you'd like to avoid being seen, please head up there."
My desire to visit the must have been written all over my face, because Solange told me to go to the second floor with a wry smile. She was probably remembering the time
"So Rozemyne-sama really had nothing to do with the first-year registration."
"My job is providing magic power."
Listening to Cornelius's exasperated voice at my back, I quickly led Schwartz and Weiss into the reading room. Opening the door and climbing the staircase on the left, I reached the second floor and confirmed that no one was around.
"Cornelius, please keep watch at the top of the stairs and make sure no one comes. Leonore and Judith want to see Schwartz and Weiss, and Cornelius alone should be fine for guard duty, right?"
Ideally, two people should handle the watch. But girls basically loved Schwartz and Weiss, and they'd helped embroider their outfits too. It seemed unfair to stick them with stair-watch duty. At my insistence, Leonore giggled softly.
"Rozemyne-sama, there's no need for such concern. I'll take the watch at the stairs as well."
"Leonore, is that all right?"
"Yes. I'll handle the watch today, so when it's time to change outfits, please have me accompany you."
I smiled and nodded at the playful glint in her blue eyes, then left Cornelius and Leonore at the top of the stairs and moved further into the room.
"Here, no one coming up the stairs will be able to see us immediately."
Nodding at
"Schwartz, Weiss. You've both worked very hard from spring until today."
"Work hard."
"Solange, happy."
"In winter, even more students will come, so it will be harder. Besides, I've made friends who will help me with the Library Committee. I'll introduce them to you soon."
When I removed my hands, Schwartz and Weiss opened their golden eyes, blinked several times, then began walking deeper into the room.
"Princess, princess."
"Stroke this way too."
"...This way?"
Without understanding what was happening, I was led to a stone statue between two bookshelves. It was
Come to think of it, Solange had told me last year that the library had the blessing of Mestionora, the Goddess of Wisdom, which was why students' transcriptions collected there.
"Princess, stroke here."
"Pray here. Princess's job."
What Schwartz and Weiss indicated was the Grutrissheit in Mestionora's arms. As instructed, I touched the Grutrissheit and prayed.
...Please let the library's collection grow even more.
As I prayed, I stroked the magic stone embedded in the Grutrissheit.
A tremendous amount of magic power was suddenly sucked out — incomparable to what I'd fed Schwartz and Weiss. It was pulled from me all at once, and I hurriedly pulled my hand back.
"Rozemyne-himesama, what's wrong?"
Rihyarda frowned, apparently suspicious of my sudden retreat. I compared my hand with the Grutrissheit, then cautiously looked around, checking for anything unusual. Whenever magic power was siphoned from me like this without warning, something inevitably happened. I'd learned that much, at least.
But this time, my experience proved useless. Nothing happened.
I'd half-expected the Mestionora statue to move, or a door to the royal family's secret archive to appear — something, anything. But there wasn't the slightest change. Strange.
"...Nothing's happening."
"Rozemyne-sama, did something happen?"
It wasn't my retainers who answered, but Schwartz and Weiss.
"Princess's job."
"Jiji-sama, pleased."
"...Schwartz, Weiss. Who is Jiji-sama?"
The master Librarian had called them all "princess," so who was "Jiji-sama"? I'd never heard of such a person before.
The answer I received only made me tilt my head even further in confusion.
"Jiji-sama is jiji-sama."
"Old and great."
"...Jiji-sama is someone very old and very important, then?"
"Yes."
...Well, Schwartz and Weiss were cute, but I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about.
Since thinking about it further wasn't going to help, I gave up. I'd ask Solange later. That would be more reliable.
Just as I was thinking this, I heard a chorus of "Wow!" followed by excited chatter. Solange had apparently finished the registration and brought the first-years to the reading room.
"Schwartz, Weiss. Let's go down to the first floor. Please guide the first-years. I have something to discuss with Solange-sensei."
"Understood, princess."
"I'll guide."
I sent them downstairs to handle the first-year tour. Even if Schwartz and Weiss's speech was limited, Charlotte's retainers were there too, so there was no problem.
"Solange-sensei, I'd like to talk with you for a moment..."
Just like last year, I was forbidden from entering or leaving the library until my own lectures were over, so I told her I'd leave the Chief Priest's magic stones with her until then.
"Please don't push yourself too hard."
"No. I want to finish my lectures as quickly as possible so that this year, I can finally participate in the Library Committee activities. The return work I did with Schwartz and Weiss at the end of last year was so much fun."
"Truly, you were a great help that day."
We both laughed as we recalled the sight of students rushing in with books, their faces pale.
"The book return rate was wonderful — I almost want to send Ferdinand-sama a reminder ORD once more this year."
"...That would require something in return, wouldn't it? Or perhaps a Magical Tool that could record Ferdinand-sama's voice would solve the problem."
There were Magical Tools that displayed images, and there were tools that delivered voice like an ORD, so I'd assumed there would be some kind of recording device. But apparently they weren't very common. Solange blinked and tilted her head with a gentle look of incomprehension.
"You mean a device that preserves one's voice?"
"That's right. You don't know of one?"
"It would be convenient. In the library, making loud noises or voices isn't considered a good thing, but I can't think of any use beyond sending reminders."
Come to think of it, the Magical Tool that the Chief Priest had lent me to film the sword dance and dedication dance hadn't had sound either.
...Maybe I should consult with the Chief Priest or
"More importantly, Rozemyne-sama, are you going to be all right? You'll be using a lot of magic power in the afternoon practical sessions, won't you? I'm worried the magic power supply for Schwartz and Weiss might become too much of a burden."
Solange's expression clouded with concern about the burden of magic power supply rather than some Magical Tool whose feasibility was uncertain.
"I'll be fine.
"Hannelore-sama... isn't she a Lord candidate from Dunkelfelger? Didn't you compete with Dunkelfelger for the throne?"
Solange looked confused, so I explained the behind-the-scenes circumstances of the fight over Schwartz and Weiss, including how Restaurot had been running in circles for nothing.
"Hannelore-sama loves books and she loves schumils. She's a gentle, calm person. Assuming there are no issues with her elemental attributes, she'll be serving as the Library Committee co-chair with me."
"Oh my. Then before more people start flooding the library, I'd like to host a tea party again this year. There are so many things I want to ask. If possible, please invite Hannelore-sama as well."
At Solange's words, I felt my vision brighten. A tea party at the library with Solange and Hannelore. Just thinking about it made me want to dance.
"A tea party for book lovers. I'll definitely invite Hannelore-sama."
"Yes, I'll be looking forward to it."
At that moment, colorful light filtered through the stained glass poured into the library. It was the light signaling us to leave for afternoon lectures.
From deep in the reading room, I heard a first-year cry out "Wha!?" in surprise, followed by Schwartz and Weiss's voices.
"Afternoon class."
"Coming. Hurry."
...Ah. I forgot to ask about "Jiji-sama"!
But at my walking speed, I needed to get out of the library as quickly as possible. The tea party, or the library visits — I'd just have to wait until I could move freely again, or ask next time.
"I'll visit again. Schwartz and Weiss, please keep up the good work with your helping."
Rushed along by Schwartz and Weiss, we left the library behind. The apprentice attendants and apprentice scholars headed to their respective specialist buildings, while the first-years, me, and the apprentice knights returned to the central building.
"Sister, we first-years have our lecture in the lecture hall, so we'll part ways here."
All first-years had their lessons together in the lecture hall, while second-years had practical sessions. Classrooms differed by year.
"Once I've delivered Rozemyne-sama to the small auditorium, we're heading outside to mount our scholarly steeds. Leonore, Judith."
"Right!"
After delivering me, the apprentice guard knights needed to rush to the specialist building even further north of the central building. As I matched their hurried pace with my elegant stride, I could hear Cornelius and the others talking among themselves.
I channeled magic power into my body-enhancing Magical Tool and increased my speed. Even without the tool, I'd grown capable of moving quickly, but I'd been told to always wear one at the Royal Academy for situations like this.
...As fast as possible, but elegant!
"Now then, Princess. This afternoon's practical session is about Stappe transformation. Please study carefully how to create a weapon and shield for protecting yourself."
Rihyarda said this as she gave me a light push on the back.
Safe at the plate!
I went along with the first-years' library registration and provided magic power to Schwartz and Weiss.
Next is the practical session. How to use a Stappe, weapons & shields.