The Royal Family and the Library — Part 1

Sigiswald was gazing at me steadily with his dark green eyes, having just stated that even the slightest bit of information was necessary for the royal family. He smiled gently, yet I could tell he was carefully observing me all the same.

"Answer me honestly, Rozemyne."

"Yes."

"I have been told that the library requiring three keys can only be entered by the royal family, a select few archduke candidates, and Schwartz and Weiss, and that it contains materials the royal family should read. Is that correct?"

"I'm not sure whether that's correct or not."

My honest answer made Sigiswald blink, while Anastasius pressed his hand to his forehead.

"Rozemyne, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"When I informed Ehrenfest that I had become the administrator of Schwartz and Weiss's keys from their previous administrator, I reported the joy of being allowed to read the books that the Librarian had verified. I then received a reply saying that was not right. Since this is not information I know myself, I won't know whether it's correct or not without actually entering the library."

As Sigiswald nodded with an "I see," Anastasius sighed beside him and said, "You really are far too honest, as always." Apparently I needed to wrap things in softer language.

...But the royal family was the one who told me to answer honestly.

"Still, it is quite puzzling."

"What is?"

"Why is it that no one outside of Ehrenfest knows about the library requiring three keys? Neither the central region nor the large territories have anyone who knows of it."

I tilted my head at Sigiswald's words. Was it really possible that no one knew? Any royal family who had survived the purges should have known about it.

"The professor who had been teaching the archduke candidate course until last year — she doesn't know either?"

"Her husband apparently did visit the library when he was young, but she herself claims not to know of any such library's existence. I also made inquiries with the Archdukes of Klassenberg and Dunkelfelger, and neither of them has ever set foot in the Royal Academy's library."

I knew the reason archduke candidates didn't visit the library. They would come with a whole retinue of attendants, occupying the place with their noise, which made them a nuisance to lower-ranking nobles who couldn't afford books and needed to study and earn money through copying manuscripts.

Attendants had told me as much before, too. But I enjoyed reading books in the library and had no intention of stopping. This year I had been busy with research, and with the change in Schwartz and Weiss's administrator causing a fuss, I'd simply been trying to avoid the area as much as possible.

"I have heard that ordinary archduke candidates have their attendant apprentice scholars fetch the books and materials they want, so they almost never have the opportunity to visit the library themselves. Could that be why?"

"...Does Ehrenfest have you go there on your own?"

Sigiswald's voice sounded as though he were suppressing a laugh. I realized I had inadvertently confirmed that Ehrenfest's archduke candidates were indeed unusual, and quietly averted my gaze.

"I personally enjoy the library and books, so I go there by choice. But Wilfried and Charlotte have their attendants fetch things for them, so it's not as though all of Ehrenfest is different."

"That's right. Rozemyne just happens to love books. Besides, she was supplying Magic Power to Schwartz and Weiss as well, so she simply had more opportunities to go."

Hildebrand seemed to be trying to back me up, but I doubted it would change Sigiswald's impression of me as a strange archduke candidate. The thought was appreciated nonetheless, so I smiled and nodded to Hildebrand.

"There used to be an archduke candidate in Ehrenfest who was so devoted to research that it became a hobby, and who frequently visited the library because the professor of her research lab worked her attendant too hard. Apparently she also had few attendants she could trust and couldn't very well entrust important books to them..."

When I summarized the situation plainly, the three princes wore extremely strained expressions. Perhaps that was more information than they needed.

"It seems that she also learned of the library's existence by pure chance. When she was muttering in the library about materials she wanted, Schwartz and Weiss led her to the archive. Back then, the Senior Librarian apparently opened the key for her without any issue, so perhaps it wasn't considered secret at the time?"

Having an archduke candidate who visited on her own was rare, and since the Senior Librarian from that era was no longer around, there was no way to verify it. But if the archive was truly restricted to exclude anyone outside the royal family, a Senior Librarian should never have opened the key.

"I too have visited the Royal Academy's library many times, and as Schwartz and Weiss's administrator, I should have had more contact with them than most — yet even I didn't know of the archive. So I think whoever found it must have been searching for extremely specific materials."

I would ask Schwartz and Weiss to let me read books I had never read before, but I had never requested "this type of material specifically." That was why the books in the reading room had always been sufficient for me.

"If I had read every book in the reading room and exhausted all the books in the closed stacks that anyone could borrow, then perhaps Schwartz and Weiss would have led me to that archive as well. But given the time remaining before graduation, I don't think that would be feasible."

I deliberately didn't say where I had gotten this information. But it seemed to reach Sigiswald and Anastasius all the same. Sigiswald's smile remained, but his dark green eyes sharpened.

"Why had this person kept such important information hidden until now?"

"Perhaps they didn't think it was information the royal family didn't know about? You said that if I knew something you didn't, I should tell you — so I sent an Ordinance. The way the royal family seems to be so unnaturally lacking in information almost makes one wonder whether someone is deliberately concealing things."

If it came from me, Ferdinand would naturally come under suspicion — something he surely understood himself. Still, the fact that he had judged it worth conveying meant the information must be rather significant. Far more productive than spending time on trivial matters here would be to go to the library and read at least one set of materials.

"If I may, I have a question I would like to ask the royal family as well. Would that be acceptable?"

Anastasius told me to "wait a moment," but Sigiswald urged me forward with "Please go ahead." I returned a bright smile to Sigiswald.

"Is what the royal family considers even slightly necessary — enough to summon me and interrogate me at such length — the identity of the person who provided this information? Or is it the content of the materials that the royal family believes it should know about? I have never entered the archive, so I can be of absolutely no help regarding its contents."

My attendants rustled nervously. Sigiswald's eyes went wide, and Anastasius said, "You're being rather cheeky."

"The former Senior Librarian's diary that I borrowed from Professor Solange contained descriptions of adult members of the royal family visiting the library during Lord's Meeting, with the Senior Librarian and the entire staff coming out to greet them. Just from that, one can imagine how significant a library visit was for the royal family. Since the diary was taken by the Commander of the Central Knights, the royal family must have read it as well? I would think the importance of the archive is already known to you."

What I wanted to say was: It's obvious that going to the archive is important, so if you have time to interrogate me about where the information came from, just go to the library already. It seemed the sentiment got across.

Sigiswald and Anastasius exchanged a look, as if coming to an understanding, and then lightly nodded.

"If the Senior Librarian came out with the entire staff, it's quite likely they headed toward the archive that requires keys. Once inside, we'll be able to determine whether the information is truly important. Anastasius."

"Understood. I'll summon the archduke candidate from Dunkelfelger to the library."

Anastasius called Oswald and ordered him to send an Ordinance to Dunkelfelger. I hurriedly called out: "Oswald, if you're summoning Lady Hannelore, please tell her to bring a recovery potion."

"A recovery potion?"

I nodded firmly.

"I've heard that the key registration requires a considerable amount of Magic Power. It would be better to be prepared, wouldn't it?"

"Now that you mention it, Orthesia did say something like that. Oswald, do as Rozemyne says."

"As you command."

Once the Ordinance was sent, a reply came back from Hannelore: "Understood. I will make my way to the library now."

I used an Ordinance to inform everyone that three princes were heading to the library, and we all set off together. It was extremely conspicuous and I wanted to flee, but as the administrator of the keys, I couldn't exactly run away.

Our group didn't stay clustered together for long, however. Given the speed at which I walked, there was simply no way to keep pace with the adult princes. As the two princes gradually pulled ahead, I quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Hildebrand, who was walking at about my same speed, spoke up.

"Rozemyne, do you know what's in that archive?"

"I've heard it contains lecture materials for archduke candidates and documents about ancient rituals. It seems the documents about ancient rituals that were being researched in Ehrenfest are there as well. When the Archduke of Ehrenfest and Ferdinand visited the library during the Lord's Meeting, they were told by Schwartz and Weiss that the Librarian wasn't there and the key wasn't available."

Recognizing the library's importance, I wanted them to increase the number of Senior Librarians, even if only slightly. When I made this appeal with thoroughly ulterior motives, Hildebrand clapped his hands together as if struck by a good idea and smiled.

"Then why not take this opportunity to search for materials together with Rozemyne?"

"That is... a very tempting offer, but my guardian has forbidden me from entering the archive, in order to avoid causing any further trouble."

To prevent Ehrenfest from coming under more suspicion, and also to keep me from having a Blessing rampage upon entering an archive for the first time, it would be better if I stayed out.

...Even though I know this intellectually, I want to go in so badly!

The truth was I wanted to go in desperately and read everything inside, but Richalda didn't seem like she would allow it, and Ferdinand would definitely be furious.

When we arrived at the library, Schwartz and Weiss greeted us.

"Rozemyne, came."

"Hildebrand, came."

It was the first time Schwartz and Weiss had called me by name rather than "Lady," and it felt oddly surreal. This was how it was supposed to be, but there was a tiny bit of sadness that I was no longer "Your Highness."

"We were expecting you. The area has already been cleared."

Having sent word that three princes were coming, this was natural. Of course, Orthesia and Solange were waiting as well. It was unfortunate for the students who had been studying, but they were better off leaving quickly than getting caught up in trouble with the royal family.

While I exchanged greetings with the Librarians, Hannelore arrived from behind us. When she saw the row of princes lined up, her red eyes widened slightly.

...Being summoned under Prince Anastasius's name alone was enough to give one heart palpitations, and now three princes were all gathered together. No wonder she was surprised. I understood — I was surprised too too.

While I was privately feeling a sense of kinship, Hannelore had already exchanged introductory greetings with Sigiswald.

"I apologize for the sudden summons, but I need your help as a library committee member."

"I would be glad to assist."

She truly was a candidate from a large territory. Without faltering at the sudden royal request, Hannelore simply smiled and accepted.

...I should learn from her example.

"The key is kept in our office. However, given the number of people present, we cannot allow everyone inside. For the office, I must limit accompaniment to two guard knights and one scholar per person."

As Orthesia led us toward the office, it was clear that all the attendants of three princes and two archduke candidates could not fit inside. I selected Leonore, a Senior Knight, and Laurentz, who was large and the strongest in close combat among my guard knights, along with Philine, who was the most experienced with scholar work, and entered the office.

Orthesia set the keys down on the desk with a soft clink. These were the keys she had retrieved from the Senior Librarian's room — the ones that could apparently only be registered one at a time.

"I will have you register as administrators using these keys. Lady Rozemyne and Lady Hannelore, please hold the keys and flow your Magic Power into them."

Hannelore and I did as instructed, gripping the keys and flowing Magic Power into them for registration. It was not much different from registering an owner for the key to the Holy Book. It was over in an instant.

"That was remarkably fast."

I smiled apologetically at Orthesia's wide-eyed reaction. Hannelore also finished her registration without taking much time.

"There really is a difference between an archduke candidate and a high-ranking noble."

"Orthesia, both of them are exceptional archduke candidates. You shouldn't compare yourself to them like that."

Solange said this reassuringly as she retrieved two additional keys from the key storage box and closed it.

"I never thought I would be the one using these keys."

According to Solange, whenever the royal family came to the library like this, the Senior Librarian handled everything, so Solange never appeared in public. She simply directed where the Attendants should prepare tea and food, working entirely behind the scenes.

Leaving the office and heading to the reading room, we reunited with the attendants who hadn't been allowed inside. Our numbers swelled dramatically as we crossed the first floor of the reading room.

"The book I lent Lady Rozemyne for the Book Lovers' Tea Party was from this archive."

Solange chuckled as she opened the key to the closed stacks at the back of the reading room. My heart soared at the thought of entering the closed stacks for the first time. The slightly dusty air mingled with the scent of Parchment, which I found wonderfully pleasant.

We all filed into the not-so-spacious archive, and Solange opened the key to the door at the very back. The moment she did, lights appeared on the other side, revealing a staircase descending underground. The entirely white surroundings made everything quite bright.

"Schwartz, Weiss. Please guide everyone through."

"Will guide."

"Important work."

At Solange's instruction, Schwartz and Weiss trotted ahead and began descending the stairs.

"Orthesia, please follow Schwartz and Weiss. As a mid-ranking noble, I cannot proceed further from here. Please direct any further questions to Schwartz and Weiss."

Orthesia, the Senior Librarian, descended the stairs, followed by the princes. It wasn't just Solange who couldn't proceed — the attendants were similarly blocked. As if stopped by a transparent membrane, several of the princes' attendants halted in their tracks.

As the three princes and their attendants headed for the stairs, Hannelore followed behind them. Considering the territory rankings, I was last.

Among my attendants, Philine and Roderich stopped as well. Only Richalda, Leonore, and Brünhilde from among my retainers could accompany me as far as the stairs.

Considering that the other royals and Hannelore each had far more retainers, my group was remarkably small.

"Lady Rozemyne's attendants are mostly mid-ranking nobles, aren't they?"

Hannelore turned back as she descended the stairs and said this.

"Ehrenfest has Wilfried and Charlotte, with another younger brother, Melchior, waiting in the wings. So there's no competition among archduke candidates for attendants."

"When four archduke candidates are enrolled at the same time, it's true that you do tend to be short on attendants at the Royal Academy."

"Yes. Until now it hadn't been a problem at all, but as you can see, there are situations where only high-ranking nobles can accompany you."

When I showed my distress by saying "This is a first for me," Hannelore smiled and replied, "It is a first for me as well."

Descending the stairs, we emerged into a space set up with numerous tables and chairs, like a tea room. I was startled by how spacious it was — large enough for all the attendants to fit — and couldn't help but look around.

The stairs were pure white, the floor was pure white, and the walls were pure white — yet one wall had a metallic hue, and three ornately decorated sections stood evenly spaced along it, asserting their presence.

"Three in a row."

"Open the key."

Schwartz and Weiss patted the metallic wall and indicated the decorated sections. The part that looked like a metallic wall apparently served as the archive's door, and these decorative elements were the keyholes. Looking more closely, the key wasn't inserted but rather pressed into place.

I glanced at Hannelore and Orthesia, then carefully pressed the key into place. Magic Power was drawn from the magic stone that had been registered, causing it to glow. Then red lines began to race across the entire wall.

After tracing an intricate pattern across the whole surface, the wall groaned and split into three sections, each beginning to rotate. I stepped back to avoid being caught by the movement. Though it had looked like a wall, once it separated into three moving parts, it clearly resembled doors.

The doors slowly moved, rotating 180 degrees, and the instant they appeared to reconnect into one, they vanished entirely.

Beyond them was unmistakably an archive. There were reading stands, writing desks, and many bookshelves. Lined up on those shelves were what looked like wooden placards but weren't — they were white, board-like objects arranged in rows. The only items shaped like the books I knew were roughly twenty volumes lined up on a desk with a slanted reading surface.

While everyone stared in amazement, Schwartz said "Opened" and headed over. Orthesia tried to follow Schwartz, but was stopped by the same transparent membrane as before.

"...I truly cannot enter."

Orthesia pressed against the transparent barrier and came to a halt. Looking up at her, Weiss said, "Your Highness is not qualified."

"I would like to verify whether archduke candidates can enter. Rozemyne, please go in and see."

Looking up at Anastasius with the feeling that I might cry, I said, "I am, regretfully, forbidden by my guardian from entering the archive. If there are any materials I am permitted to read, please bring them out here."

Weiss shook his head.

"Materials cannot be removed."

"What!? No, that's..."

...I was planning to take a careful look from outside — this is devastating!

I wasn't the only one shaken. Orthesia was trembling slightly at Weiss's words, her hand pressed over her mouth.

...I am in complete sync with Orthesia right now.

Seeing Orthesia and me both slump their shoulders in disappointment, Anastasius sighed in exasperation and turned his gaze to Hannelore.

"There's no helping it. Hannelore, go ahead."

"...Understood."

As if steeling herself, Hannelore took one deep breath and slowly moved forward, cautiously extending her hand. But unlike Orthesia, she passed through without issue. Schwartz, who was already inside, appeared to say something to Hannelore, and she tilted her head. Perhaps the sound didn't carry through to our side.

"So archduke candidates really can enter. ...Then, Your Highness. I'll go first."

Anastasius entered ahead to check for danger, and once he turned back and nodded, Sigiswald went in after him. The two princes got inside, but the attendants who tried to follow could not.

"Then I'll go as well."

Hildebrand smiled brightly and tried to follow the two princes, but was blocked. He couldn't get past the transparent wall.

Hildebrand gasped and struck the transparent barrier.

"Why!? Why can't I enter!? Is it because I'm engaged to the Lady of Ahrensbach and will no longer be royalty!?"

Hildebrand's voice sounded on the verge of tears, but Weiss simply shook his head.

"Wrong. Hildebrand, not enough Magic Power."

I provided information and headed to the library.

Hannelore was also summoned and registered her Magic Power with the key.

This was my first time entering the library's underground archive.

Doesn't "underground" carry a certain romantic appeal?

Next is Part 2.