"Also, I received some consultation regarding the fact that
"Yes. The burden on Ehrenfest would be far too great."
I explained the situation: how this year, Ehrenfest had rushed through the Dedication Ritual and brought in the tools; how the Chief Priest managing everything was only permitted entry on the day itself, making it an enormous burden; how they'd been asked to prepare magic-recovery potions as well; and how next year, I would likely need to return for the Dedication Ritual.
"What would
"It seems the Aub wished to discuss exactly that. That's where negotiations should begin, wouldn't you say?"
Apparently, they'd been bewildered by the proposal being cut off before negotiations had even begun.
"However, we cannot simply order the Central
At my words,
If it was next year, Ferdinand would have completed the Starbinding and become someone of
And rather than sharing the recipe publicly through joint research with Klassenberg, it would be better kept as a trump card for when something happened. You could never have too many trump cards for cleaning up after
"Of course, I agree with Klassenberg's desire to provide magic power to the royals, even if only a little. However, if they intend to make this a recurring event rather than a one-time thing, we would need to reach a state where the Central Temple can lend sacred tools and Priests, Klassenberg can prepare the magic-recovery potion in sufficient quantities for all participants using their own recipe, and Ehrenfest only needs the High Priest to attend the ceremony. Without those conditions, I believe a Dedication Ritual at the Royal Academy would be difficult."
I thought I'd wrapped up my desire not to have my precious reading time consumed by preparations and cleanup quite neatly. I was rather proud of how smoothly I'd put it—until Ferdinand, looking at me the way one might regard a disappointing child, lightly tapped his temple with his finger.
...Hm? Did I make a mistake somehow?
"I understand Lady
Our meeting with Eglantine ended earlier than the graduation ceremony was scheduled to finish.
...As always, Prince Anastasius is such a sourpuss.
After exchanging our farewells, we left the royal villa promptly. Even walking side by side, without anti-eavesdropping Magical Tools and with each of our Attendants present, there was no way Ferdinand and I could have a serious conversation. The only topics available to us were the Dedication Dance's magic circle and the joint research.
"Are you truly not an idiot? Why did you end the conversation without proposing that you consult with the Aub?"
"He said it was a student matter and didn't require consultation."
When I relayed what my Adoptive Father had told me, Ferdinand creased his brow. "That's normally the case, yes, but—in your situation, this isn't merely student-to-student joint research. It's a project that involves both Aubs and even the royals. Besides, with conditions like that, it would become an annual event. What do you intend to do after you graduate?"
"
After Melchior, there would be the baby who was yet to be born, I added silently to myself. By the time that baby enrolled in the Royal Academy,
...Wait, would I be the one bearing Wilfried's children? Hmm. How would that even work?
Romance, marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth—these were unknown territories I hadn't experienced even in my previous life. I couldn't really imagine what any of it would be like.
The distance from the door connecting to Anastasius's villa to Ehrenfest's door wasn't that great. A brief conversation would get us there in no time.
"Well then, Lord Ferdinand, please take great care of your health as you continue your duties."
"There's no need to say it so many times. You should be the one looking after your own condition. Don't get careless just because you've gotten a little sturdier."
"Yes. ...Will the next time I see you be the Starbinding in spring?"
"Well, who knows..."
He wouldn't even say "see you." Ferdinand paused as if in thought, then murmured: "The Central Temple might make some troublesome demand. I sincerely hope you don't get dragged into anything difficult, but no matter how many times I say it, it's probably futile with you."
"Ugh... I really am trying my best to avoid it, you know."
It wasn't as though I deliberately went looking for trouble. I simply found myself caught up in the middle before I knew it. But Ferdinand didn't seem to buy it—looking down at me coldly, he told me, "From an objective standpoint, it looks like you're diving in headfirst with all you've got."
"There's often a gap between subjective and objective perception, isn't there?"
"Indeed. You should learn to see yourself objectively."
As we talked, Richarda opened the door to our dormitory. I stepped through to enter, while Ferdinand walked past it entirely, heading toward the Sixth-Year Ahrensbach door. Even though we wore mantles of the same color, entering through different doors felt strangely unsettling.
"Hah, that's finally over. Escorting royals to their villa is nerve-wracking—my shoulders are bound to be stiff no matter what. I'm glad Lord Ferdinand was there."
The moment we returned to the dormitory, my Adoptive Father began rolling his neck and shoulders. Standing perfectly still for that long, unable to say or do anything while trapped inside the anti-eavesdropping Magical Tool's barrier—it must have been quite exhausting.
"Thank you very much for providing the escort, Father. How are things in Ehrenfest?"
"...That's something we should discuss after returning to Ehrenfest. We agreed not to bring it into the Royal Academy."
My Adoptive Father hesitated briefly before answering, then tentatively stroked my head.
"What's the matter?"
"You won top student honors for three years running, didn't you? Well done. When I'm on guard duty, there's just no way I can say anything to you."
He wanted to praise me now, because once we returned to Ehrenfest, the opportunity would be gone.
"I feel like this is the first time Father has ever praised me like this."
"Is that so? ...Well, your Grandfather was extremely excited again this year. You'll need to be careful not to get tossed around or crushed in his embrace."
I was grateful for my grandfather's feelings, but when he got carried away, it was genuinely a matter of life and death—vigilance was essential. I hoped I'd at least be able to hold his hand while walking this year, though whether that would go smoothly remained to be seen.
While waiting for everyone to return from the graduation ceremony, I sat in a chair near the multipurpose hall's fireplace so my father could keep guard, and spent the time reading the second volume of the Fernestine Saga. Having the chance to read at a leisurely pace made me realize just how little free time for reading I'd had lately. I really had been that busy.
"Rozemyne, are you back?"
The moment Wilfried returned, he rushed into the multipurpose hall in a panic. Other students were with him, but none of the graduates—they had a celebratory meal to attend.
"What's the matter, Brother Wilfried?"
"Lady
I had already confirmed the second volume of the Fernestine Saga, and there would be no problem lending it out. More than anything, I was excited about the fragments of mythology I could borrow from Dunkelfelger.
"I think sooner is better, but tomorrow is probably out of the question. Shall we arrange for the day after tomorrow? I'll send a consent ordnance from my side."
"Mm, I'll leave it to you."
I asked Brünhilde to coordinate with Dunkelfelger and gave
"The Aub has asked that the Lord Candidates each bring one Attendant and assemble in the conference room."
Having received this message from my Adoptive Father's Attendant, I headed to the conference room with Richarda. The guard for the conference room was handled by the Knight's Order, so our Guard Knights were forbidden from entering. I would probably be questioned about my discussion with Eglantine.
My Adoptive Mother was feeling unwell and resting in her room, so she was nowhere to be seen. Once Wilfried,
"First, let me report to Rozemyne, who was unable to attend the graduation ceremony, about what happened."
"Yes."
"The High Priest of the Central Temple announced that the magic circle which appeared during the Dedication Dance was meant to select the next Zent, and it caused quite a commotion."
Even though I had seen records about magic circles in the archive, it seemed there had been no information about where a magic circle actually appeared or what kind of ceremony summoned it. The people of the Central Temple were deeply moved to learn that it truly existed.
However, those who had been spoken of as the closest candidates for the next Zent—particularly after Detlinde had put on such an embarrassing display during the Dedication Dance—were reportedly all viewing the announcement with skepticism. The temple's words were rarely trusted or taken seriously, so perhaps that was only to be expected.
"They say that when the time comes,
My Adoptive Father asked about Ferdinand's words in an exasperated tone, even remarking, "There's no way that girl could be the next Zent."
"Ferdinand said it was meant to select candidates for the next Zent. He also said that Detlinde, who couldn't even activate the magic circle, would likely be excluded from candidacy entirely."
"I see. That's somewhat reassuring. But is it truly meant to select the Zent..."
In the conversation that followed, I explained the contents of my discussion with Eglantine. I told them how Ferdinand's loyalty had been questioned once again, and how I had somehow ended up being scolded by Ferdinand for clearing up that misunderstanding.
"The royals' understanding has been obtained, more or less... That's a relief."
"Also, there was a discussion about the joint research with Klassenberg. I replied that if they handle all the preparations and I simply participate as High Priest, that would be acceptable."
I also mentioned the reminder to negotiate properly. My Adoptive Father looked very troubled and nodded. "That's valuable advice," he said.
The next day, my Adoptive Father departed promptly for Ehrenfest with my Adoptive Mother, who didn't look particularly well. I spent my remaining time with
"Well then, I'm off to the ceremony to receive blessings."
Graduates from duchesses that had participated in the Dedication Ritual were able to redo the blessing ceremony, so the graduates headed out to the lecture hall together.
Those who newly received blessings were, as expected, mostly the Knight Apprentices who had practiced the blessing ceremony repeatedly.
"I also received a new blessing from Lungschoemel."
The one who reported this was
...Well, that wasn't the only reason. She had a neat, pretty face, she was an Attendant who paid close attention to the details, and she was skilled at embroidery and sewing. High feminine charm!
I thought maybe I should learn a bit more from Lieseleta. But I wasn't about to sacrifice my reading time for it. Reading time was more important than feminine charm. That was just how it was.
The following day was when I would lend and borrow books with Hannelore. I prepared the second volume of the Fernestine Saga and waited in the tea room. A soft chime sounded from beyond the door, and Hannelore entered.
"Thank you for taking the time despite your busy departure preparations. I was truly curious about the second volume of the Fernestine Saga."
"I've been wanting to get my hands on Dunkelfelger's books as well, so I'm very happy to have this chance to talk with you, Lady Hannelore."
As we exchanged our greetings, scribe apprentices entered one after another, carrying books and drawings. There were two thick books from Dunkelfelger, and a remarkably large number of Lestilaut's drawings.
"Oh my, two volumes...?"
"Lady Rozemyne, you lent us so many books. I thought this might make up for it, even a little... I received permission from my mother. Both are books on mythology."
...The First Wife—what a wonderful person!
After the scribe apprentices had finished their lending and borrowing, I invited Hannelore to take a seat. Once she sampled a bite of the yogurt mousse tart and had a cup of tea, the tea party officially began.
"These are drawings my brother did at the Royal Academy. Please feel free to use them as you like in Ehrenfest."
I flipped through the illustrations that had been handed to me via the scribe apprentices. There were so many illustrations for the Ditter story that it was hard to choose which to look at. These were the kinds of drawings I wished Wilfried or the author Roderich could pick through, being fans of Lestilaut's work.
"They're truly wonderful drawings."
As I said this and leafed through the Ditter story illustrations, I somehow came upon drawings of my Dedication Dance. Not only on Parchment, but there were numerous sketches on Plant Paper as well. As I flipped through them, the images seemed to almost spin on their own. It was starting to look like an animation.
"This one is colored."
When I unrolled the large paper that had been curled up, it was also a picture of the Dedication Dance. The raised arms and the sleeves that drifted with them, the skirt that billowed outward as it spun and caught the air, hair that fluttered in colors like the night sky, and magic stones that shimmered with complex patterns of light. It was undoubtedly a picture of me, but it was so different from reality that I wanted to ask, "Who is this?" When my attendants saw the unrolled drawing, their eyes went wide and they looked at it with some alarm.
"...Um, Lady Hannelore. This is from when I was practicing the Dedication Dance, right? Is this really how Lord Lestilaut saw me?"
I asked Hannelore tentatively. The magic stones had glowed, which was rare enough, but being told the model was a completely different person would have made more sense.
"It seems the dance where the magic stones glowed was so beautiful that my brother wanted to capture it on paper immediately. I was too focused on practicing and missed it, which was such a shame."
After we left, apparently everyone had been talking about the magnificent, tension-filled dance illuminated by countless lights—but Hannelore hadn't been able to join in the conversation.
I murmured "Is that so" to Hannelore while quickly rolling the drawings back up. They really didn't look like pictures of me at all, and knowing that Lestilaut had drawn them made me feel a little embarrassed.
...I think these should be sealed away. Just a gut feeling.
"Could it be that the Dedication Dance is a favorite subject of Lord Lestilaut's?"
"Yes. My brother has even painted pictures of Lady Eglantine dancing, so the Dedication Dance may indeed be one of his favorite subjects."
I felt somewhat relieved by Hannelore's answer. If my picture was this beautiful, then a painting of Eglantine as the model must be even more stunning.
"I would love to see Lord Lestilaut's painting of Lady Eglantine's Dedication Dance sometime. Please convey my gratitude for drawing mine so beautifully."
"Of course," Hannelore replied with a smile.
"Speaking of the Dedication Dance, this year's was quite something, wasn't it? The
"Yes, he was. He hadn't expected Detlinde to come rushing toward him, of all people..."
Lestilaut had apparently been at a complete loss about how to handle an adult woman whose hair had come undone. An adult woman letting her hair down was something that only happened in bed. The only people who saw her in that state were her husband and her attendants. And yet Detlinde had not only had her hair come undone in front of everyone—she had lost consciousness and collapsed.
"Lady Rozemyne, were you aware of the magic circle that appeared on the stage at that time? The High Priest of the Central Temple said it was meant to select the next Zent..."
"There seem to be detailed records in that underground archive. If it's you, Lady Hannelore, couldn't you look into it during the Lord's Conference? The royals would want the information too."
I carefully avoided mentioning anything about Ferdinand telling me or being questioned by the royals, simply saying it could be looked into. Hannelore nodded. "The Lord's Conference is sure to be terribly busy."
"On another note, Lady Hannelore—how are Lord Lestilaut and the rest of Dunkelfelger? I heard they were harshly reprimanded for surrendering during the Interduchy Tournament, and I was worried."
"I'm fine. My brother had many of his drawings confiscated and is quite depressed about it. And the knights who were scolded by my mother have been very quiet, so it's actually more peaceful than usual."
Hannelore said this with a wry smile. There was probably some exaggeration involved, but as long as Hannelore herself wasn't suffering, that was all that mattered.
"Right now, I'm just looking forward to reading the second volume of the Fernestine Saga when I return to my duchess."
The gentle smile on Hannelore's face as she wondered whether she would finally get to see a happy ending made my heart ache.
...I'm sorry, Lady Hannelore. That book actually ends with Fernestine being torn away from the prince and forced by royal decree to marry another man—and then it says "to be continued in the next volume"!
But I wasn't going to spoil it. It was rare enough an opportunity; I wanted her to enjoy it.
"The romance at the Royal Academy was fun too, so I'm looking forward to the continuation of the Fernestine Saga. By the way, Lady Rozemyne, what kind of man catches your fancy? I heard that Lady Charlotte finds men with indomitable spirits who try again and again to be wonderful, but I've never asked about your preferences."
...A conversation like this—it might be the first since my previous life. It felt a little nostalgic, honestly.
If I answered that I had no interest in men whatsoever, I'd have no grounds to complain about being ostracized from women's society. In conversations like these, empathy and a sense of shared secrets were what mattered.
"You said that Lord Wilfried is your fiancé as arranged by your parents, correct? But is there someone else you hold dear, or an ideal man you admire?"
Heh. Back in my previous life, I had created an imaginary unrequited love interest just to smooth over friendships with other women. This level of conversation was nothing.
This was the perfect occasion for the imaginary love interest I had once fabricated when a jealous classmate suspected I was dating "
For situations like this, it was best to use someone no one present actually knew as the model. If I picked someone too well-known, it could lead to strange misunderstandings and awkward rumors. And if the person was completely made up, I'd be stuck when they inevitably asked, "Which person? I'd like to see them!" The finishing touch was adding, "But he doesn't see me that way at all."
...Now then, who should I use?
It had to be someone the Attendants listening in here didn't know well. Anyone from the Royal Academy was out.
...Hmm, if I mixed together bits of
"The person I've been formally engaged to is Brother Wilfried, but there is someone else I hold dear to my heart. This is just between us, Lady Hannelore."
When I lowered my voice, Hannelore's eyes widened slightly.
"Th-there is?"
"Yes. Since I was young... since before my
At my confession, Hannelore nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with interest.
"What kind of man does Lady Hannelore find appealing?"
"Me? Well, let me see... I think I'd prefer someone who is the opposite of my brother. You see, my brother doesn't really listen to my opinions."
As she said this, Hannelore glanced around slightly and pressed her index finger to her lips. "It's a secret from my brother, okay?" The Attendants nearby were watching with expressions of deep amusement, and I completely understood the sentiment.
And so, drawing on the social skills I had honed in my previous life, I successfully navigated the womanly art of sharing secrets and managed to borrow two entire books from Dunkelfelger.
...Aren't I just perfect today?
With that, my social obligations at the Royal Academy came to an end, and I returned to Ehrenfest.
That concludes the third year at the Royal Academy. It was longer than expected.
Next update: 2/8.
Next, we begin daily life in Ehrenfest after the purge.