Playground

"What do you mean by 'playground'?"

"It means a place where you can play however you like. This territory has already committed the crime of provoking foreign invasion. As Aub, even if you make the wrong choice and crush it, that's fine, or you could even make it look like you're showing mercy."

"Please wait a moment. Wouldn't it be terrible if I crushed it!? There are actual nobles and commoners living there!"

I couldn't help but think, "Don't make it sound so easy." But then I remembered what happened with Hasse. Come to think of it, Ferdinand had always been like this. He had bluntly stated that if commoners attacked a lord, wiping out entire towns would be acceptable.

...So Ferdinand really was planning to destroy Ahrensbach.

It apparently wasn't just a joke he'd tossed out with a cute, bashful excuse about having been careless enough to be poisoned by Detlinde. This might be just like the Hasse incident—if I didn't do my best, Ahrensbach could end up being crushed into dust by Ferdinand.

The Hasse nightmare all over again!? I was clutching my head in distress when Ferdinand spoke up with a look of irritation. "Wasn't this something you wanted?"

"It has a sea, and there are fish. You've always envied being able to eat fish whenever you wanted, haven't you? Moreover, some government officials have recently become fed up with Lanzanave's arrogance and have been acquiring raw trees to experiment with various spices, hoping to reduce trade with them even slightly. If you support them and cultivation becomes possible, there's a good chance we'll be able to obtain all sorts of spices."

...What's that!? Ahrensbach is delicious!

I pressed my hand to my mouth to keep the drool from escaping on its own while picturing a fish paradise in my mind. Ahrensbach, which had been nothing but a bundle of nightmares, had suddenly transformed into a most delicious-looking territory.

"Besides, this is your own territory that you acquired by dyeing the mana foundations. You're free to develop it however you like. Wouldn't it be possible to build the library city you once proposed during your lecture preparation?"

"Huh? A library city!? Can I really build one!?"

During my preparation, Ferdinand had looked at me with exasperated eyes, and during the Noble Academy lectures, Eglantine had given me a lukewarm look, as if supporting a child's dream. Was it really okay to go ahead and build this library city? Having Ferdinand grant permission so casually actually made me more anxious.

"That plan was designed with building it in Ehrenfest in mind, so constructing it as-is would cause problems in various ways. We'd need to revise the design while taking Ahrensbach's current specialty products and primary industries into consideration, but making the library city concept a reality is feasible."

My heart was already racing at the thought of fish and spices, and now the green light had been given for building the library city. Being told modifications were needed somehow made it feel even more real. I could tell I was being completely won over. Ahrensbach was starting to look like an incredibly appealing territory.

"As you once said yourself, you'd also be free to build temple schools for improving commoner literacy rates if it's your own territory. You wouldn't need to obtain permission from anyone else, and the Zent cannot interfere with matters that fall within territorial management. During this current period of upheaval, wouldn't you be able to push through even sudden changes to some extent?"

...Temple schools, huh. That was a dream of mine too. Raising literacy rates and broadening the base of potential writers...

I was filled with astonishment and admiration at Ferdinand's memory for recalling every plan I had ever laid out. A voice in the back of my mind whispered, "Why not just become Aub Ahrensbach already?" Another voice countered, "Calm down. There's no way Ferdinand would only say things that sweet."

...That's right. Ferdinand isn't that generous!

As I desperately tried to keep my cool, Ferdinand piled on even more words.

"Your important people are already making preparations to move, aren't they? Then you can simply bring them along to your territory. If you build temple schools and a library accessible to commoners, and in the process of expanding the printing industry you lower the barrier between nobles and commoners, it'll become easier for you to see them as well. ...Besides, the contract you made with your family in the lower city was limited to Ehrenfest. In another territory, the contract would no longer be effective."

"Ferdinand, does that mean..."

Did that mean I could see my family again? I took a step back, wary of Ferdinand. If he told me here that he was joking or that it was actually impossible, I wasn't confident I could keep my emotions in check.

"Of course, considering the peaceful lives of your family in the lower city, it would be wise not to publicly call each other family. However, when developing the town, if I install a teleportation circle in one of the rooms given to your family and connect it to your hidden room, you'd be able to meet in secret."

"...Is it really okay to install a teleportation circle for such a personal reason?"

I couldn't imagine Ferdinand allowing the Aub's power to be used for personal matters, so I couldn't help but stay on guard.

"There is historical precedent for an Aub installing a teleportation circle to meet with a lover, so while it isn't praiseworthy, it's not impossible. To protect your family, I would have to ask you to exercise restraint, however..."

"Restraint! ...That basically means I should voluntarily stop seeing them, right?"

"Why do you always arrive at such a twisted interpretation?"

I mean, he had been using twisted interpretations to get his way this whole time, so I was actually the one who wanted to press him on why he looked so genuinely bewildered.

"I think once or twice a season, you could spend time with your family without anyone else around."

"Is that a guarantee?"

"...If I'm in a position to manage your schedule, I can carve out that much time. Even with Hartmut, once every half year or so should be possible."

I was already feeling like I wanted to jump at becoming Aub Ahrensbach. Everything I wanted was being laid out all at once.

"...What exactly is your aim, Ferdinand, offering me one favorable thing after another? I won't be deceived so easily. You're pretending to grant my wishes, but you're really plotting something, aren't you?"

"Don't say something so unkind."

"It's based on experience."

As I glared at Ferdinand while taking a fighting pose, he looked at me with the expression one might give an incredibly disappointing child.

"You're right—it's not that I have no plans at all."

"See, I knew it! What are you plotting? Keeping secrets only leads to big trouble later."

It was Ferdinand who had told me that reporting, contacting, and consulting were important. When I pressed him to spill everything, he rested his hand on his chin in thought for a moment.

"...That's right. I'd like to have a research facility next to your library. Ideally with a roof and connected, so I can reach any materials I need at short distance."

"Oh, the magic tree research facility you mentioned before?"

"I'd like to study not just magic trees but also magical beasts and magical fish, but you're more or less correct. If Ahrensbach is going to be your playground, wouldn't it be fine for me to have a place to play as well?"

So that was his real agenda—pushing the research facility on me. Ferdinand was a research fanatic through and through. I felt both understanding and irritation rising at the same time.

"You rejected my suggestion of spending your remaining years immersed in research earlier, but in the end, that's exactly the life you want, isn't it!"

"What's possible in Ehrenfest and what's possible in Ahrensbach are vastly different. As part of a network of research facilities, I'd like to have a facility for cultivating magic trees in a remote location, one for keeping magical beasts, and also a facility near the sea for studying magical fish."

...So in other words, he wants a comprehensive research facility next to the library, plus a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium out in the middle of nowhere?

But the word "playground" really did fit perfectly. It seemed Ferdinand intended to make me the Aub of Ahrensbach while he devoted himself to research.

"That's more research facilities than I expected."

"Exactly. That's why I couldn't get Sylvester's approval in Ehrenfest. That's why I want them here. I'll prepare the gold dust for my own research facilities and handle the design myself. All you need to do is give me permission."

...Making sure to secure his own benefits was so typically Ferdinand! He was planning to have me do all the work as Aub while he retired into a life of leisure!

"That's not enough. You'll also be helping me with my work as Aub. I won't allow you to go off and enjoy yourself alone."

"Is that really enough? Those terms seem far too easy compared to how things have been until now?"

When he said that with a grin, I felt I needed to demand more, and desperately racked my brain for additional conditions.

"Um, um, that still isn't enough. You'll have to manage my schedule and arrange for me to see my family once a season, advance research on making medicine easier to take, and compile your research results into books for the library."

"Hmm. All of those take effort, but there's no real problem. If the binding costs are covered by the territory, I'll also have the government officials using the research facilities submit their results."

"That sounds great!"

My joy at the prospect of books regularly increasing made Ferdinand smile faintly.

"Then, do you have any objections to becoming Aub Ahrensbach? I can proceed in that direction?"

"I have no objections."

I let out a quiet "Yes!" in delight, but then Ferdinand opened Gutrisheit, saying, "Excellent."

Ferdinand's Book of Mestionora looked the same as the High Priest's Holy Book in the Temple, as was evident from the fact that he called it a Holy Book. But its capabilities were entirely different. It truly seemed to require no searching, as a magic circle immediately appeared the moment he opened it. However, the magic circle that appeared was incomplete and apparently wouldn't function in its current state.

"Rozemyne, this is the magic circle for closing the Border Gate, but this part here is a bit chipped. I can guess at it from the surrounding connections, but I'd like to confirm the correct version if possible."

When he told me he didn't have enough Magic Power to change things little by little and redo them multiple times, I hurriedly took out my own Book of Mestionora.

"Border Gate closure... magic circle..."

When I searched, the only thing that came up in my Book of Mestionora was the missing fragment. It was such a small portion that it was completely incomprehensible on its own. Ferdinand glanced at my Holy Book while using a stilo to write directly into his own.

"Ferdinand, can't you just copy and paste this?"

"Ah, that extraordinary... I am interested, but let's leave it for another day. I don't have the bandwidth for that today."

Ferdinand completed the magic circle as he spoke and then chanted "Indegranz." The magic circle blazed to life and the ground began to tremble, telling me the Border Gate had started moving.

"...It didn't take as much Magic Power as I expected."

"That might be because I used it first. During my first teleportation, it drained a massive amount of Magic Power from me, but the second time wasn't nearly as bad."

Ferdinand murmured, "It seems supplying Magic Power to the Border Gate is urgent," and extended his hand. We descended the gate pillar's stairs, mounted our magical beasts, and this time confirmed that the gate was properly sealed.

The sight of the teleportation circle and the white desert across the sea that had been visible because both the Border Gate and the Boundary Gate were open had disappeared once the rainbow-colored door was sealed shut.

"Lady Rozemyne!"

"Are you safe!?"

Leonore and Angelica's magical beasts rushed over immediately. I waved to the two of them.

"The Lanzanave soldiers can't get in, so it's fine."

"Rozemyne, close the Boundary Gate as well. It'll help keep out any unwanted stragglers."

"Understood."

Following Ferdinand's instruction, I took out my staff and closed the Boundary Gate. The rescued noble ladies, with the help of Dunkelfelger's knights, had apparently already been transported to the castle. Their figures were no longer visible atop the gate pillar.

Ferdinand's magical beast descended onto the Boundary Gate's pillar. The knights who had been recovering magic stones and other items all knelt before me in unison.

"I didn't expect to recover this much. You've all done well. Leave three lookouts, and the rest may rest. I'm heading out to join the knights who are operating with Georgine."

"Yes, sir!"

Ferdinand praised the knights who had worked hard recovering the items scattered across the sea, then announced the next plan.

"Ferdinand, if you're simply heading back to the castle, I can have Lady Rozemyne ride along with me."

"Yes, the situation requiring my direction has ended, so it would be best to let her rest as soon as possible. There's no need for any further cleanup right now."

As Ferdinand said this, he gently pushed my back toward Leonore.

"Rozemyne, rest in the guest room Letizia prepared and use your magical beast. That's the safest option."

"What about you, Ferdinand?"

"I'll rest in my hidden room. Leonore, Rozemyne is quite exhausted from overusing her Magic Power. Please tell Hartmut to have her drink the undiluted potion at double the previous dose."

Leonore nodded with "Yes, my lady," but I turned pale in an instant.

"D-double the dose..."

"Your body has grown, so the same amount won't have the same effect. If you're staying in Ahrensbach with your retainers, it doesn't matter, but if you want to go back to Ehrenfest, drink it."

"...Yes."

I rode with Leonore toward the castle. Even though I was officially still Wilfried's fiancée, Leonore cautioned me that the distance between Ferdinand and me was too close.

"Lady Rozemyne and Ferdinand no longer look like guardian and ward. The way you were today, you seemed more like a loving couple."

"...Is that so? I think I'm the same as I always was."

"Before, Lady Rozemyne looked so much younger... Ferdinand must be aware of how others see you, so why did he do something like that?"

Leonore was indignant out of concern for my reputation and honor, but it had been necessary for giving directions on the battlefield and concealing my Holy Book.

"It was probably to carry out the sweep of Lanzanave as efficiently as possible. Whether others were watching or not, and no matter what might happen to my reputation or honor, I think Ferdinand would have made the same choice."

"Does he consider Lady Rozemyne's honor meaningless even while claiming to be her guardian?"

Leonore seemed to be genuinely angry. Honestly, I wasn't sure what Ferdinand was thinking either, so the only way to know for certain was to ask him directly.

...But this was a problem.

I mulled things over with the feeling of Leonore's anger at my back. In the same enthusiastic vein as always, I had agreed to become Aub Ahrensbach and promised Ferdinand a research facility, but wouldn't this be yet another matter that would seem outrageous to anyone else?

...Since Ferdinand seemed to have his mind entirely on research and wasn't paying attention to anything else, maybe I should ask my adoptive father to let him build a research facility in Ehrenfest?

"Lady Rozemyne, welcome back! I was truly moved! I've already sent letters to both Dunkelfelger and Ehrenfest!"

"I was thinking I needed to notify the Aub, so that's a great help, Clarissa."

"Dunkelfelger has granted continued permission to proceed to Ehrenfest. Ehrenfest's response was simply 'well done.'"

As I was greeted by an enthusiastic Clarissa, I entered the Ahrensbach castle. I was impressed by Clarissa's work, but the unknown nobles behind her shouting "Lady Rozemyne!" with the same level of excitement were somewhat frightening.

"Um, Lady Rozemyne. I've prepared a guest room for you here."

"You went through so much yourself, Letizia, yet here you are. Thank you so much. Please get some rest soon too."

As I thanked Letizia and the others for preparing a place for everyone to rest, Letizia's expression became slightly troubled.

"I'm sorry to trouble you. But the Dunkelfelger group has started a feast, so until my attendants can rest, I still have to..."

"Hosting Dunkelfelger must be a burden on you, Letizia. Where is Lady Hannalore?"

"Lady Hannalore has gone to return the Volteniel to its former owner."

...So that was why Dunkelfelger's knights were running around unsupervised.

I had Letizia guide me to the great hall where Dunkelfelger's knights were holding what they called a reflection party but was really just a feast. Even with the doors closed, I could tell they were making an enormous racket. They were getting worked up over how impressive Leydschaft's spear had been and how to incorporate Ehrenliebe's sword into ditter.

I opened the door and gave the knights a gentle smile.

"Lady Rozemyne! Today's ceremony was magnificent, truly..."

"I came to thank you for your wonderful performance today, but I'm surprised. Ferdinand said that the ditter includes protecting the foundations, didn't he? Is Dunkelfelger in the habit of drinking during ditter?"

The atmosphere in the room froze in an instant. Several knights were subtly shifting to block my view of the sake barrels.

"You haven't even finished the ditter yet and you're already relaxing with a drinking party—do you think Ferdinand will take along those who can't even get proper rest before tomorrow?"

"We'll clean up immediately and go to bed. When will we depart?"

"...As soon as I've recovered."

Since Dunkelfelger had quieted down, I left the great hall. They probably weren't used to Dunkelfelger's ways. I could feel Letizia and her retainers relaxing their shoulders with relief.

"Lady Rozemyne, thank you so much."

"They're guests I brought, so there's no need to thank me. Letizia, I know you're tired and I'm terribly sorry, but would you please ask the kitchen cooks to prepare dishes that can be eaten cold? With this many people, we need food ready for those who wake up at different times. It must be quite a lot of preparation."

I gave several instructions based on recipes Letizia had sent me before, then entered my guest room. After washing away the grime with wassen, I drank the absolutely terrible recovery medicine Hartmut had brought at double the dose, and rested inside my magical beast as Ferdinand had instructed.

Ahrensbach playground plan activated.

Had a feeling that my plan to launch a library city would end up turning it into a research city instead.

The Border Gate and Boundary Gate were successfully closed, but Leonore is angry.

Next, we head to Ehrenfest.