Lunch and the Capital

Ratzapham came riding back in a carriage, telling us to return to the castle for lunch. Of course, an ordnance notification had already reached Liesereta ahead of time, so Turi, Corina, and the others from the Gilberta Company had finished their basting fittings and gone home. Preparations for departure were all set.

Hannelore and I each boarded a carriage with our respective escort knights.

"How should I go about getting Lord Ferdinand to agree to a political marriage? The Ferdinand I know is almost entirely based on what Heisshitze and the others have told me, so I can't think of any brilliant ideas. Wouldn't it be best for Lady Rozemyne to ask Lord Ferdinand for a task, as before?"

Hannelore was thinking with a serious expression, but I had absolutely no intention of proposing in the Dunkelfelger style like Clarissa. Ferdinand would definitely refuse to marry me, and I couldn't imagine him scoffing at me and then giving me a task. Besides, rather than a political marriage he didn't want, I thought it would be better to build him a research institute in Ehrenfest, his Geduldh.

...I need to consult with Lord Ferdinand before they dig any strange moats around me!

If Hannelore was going to make her move, it would certainly be during this lunch where the lord and his wife were present. Before that happened, I needed to talk to Ferdinand and figure out a strategy—spreading information so he could resist the political marriage.

If things stayed as they were, Dunkelfelger's momentum might drag Ferdinand into yet another unwilling political marriage. I thought I had warned them to stop Dunkelfelger's rampage, but Hannelore had apparently already forgotten.

...I'll stand on Lord Ferdinand's side, even if it's just me!

"Leonore, please contact Lord Ferdinand for me. I'd like to speak with him before lunch."

I asked Leonore, who was riding in the carriage as my escort knight. Normally this would be something to ask an attendant of, but Liesereta wasn't riding along due to rank, so there was no other choice.

"I can send an ordnance, but they'll think it's far too rushed, no matter what."

"If I say something terrible has happened, he'll surely make time for me."

"Lord Ferdinand!"

A room near the dining hall where the luncheon would be held had been prepared for Ferdinand to speak privately. There, I found not only Ferdinand and his attendants but all of my own male attendants gathered as well. Clarissa, who had been mobilized to give opinions on hospitality for Hannelore and the rest of Dunkelfelger, was there too.

"What is this terrible thing, Rozemyne? What on earth have you done?"

"I haven't done anything in particular myself, but something terrible has happened—Lord Ferdinand, a political marriage—"

"Calm down. You're too excited. Your complexion..."

I grabbed the right hand Ferdinand had extended as though checking my temperature.

"If things continue like this, I may be forced to marry you. Lord Ferdinand, please run away immediately!"

"...That makes absolutely no sense. Use the anti-eavesdropping magical tool first, and then explain from the beginning with proper context. There's no way this is something to discuss so openly."

Frowning, Ferdinand gave a light wave of his left hand. Hartmut immediately activated the area-designated anti-eavesdropping magical tool, creating a space where they could talk. Justus, who had finished preparing tea, instructed the attendants to move outside the magical tool's range. Though they were still surrounded by attendants, in the blink of an eye a space had been created where the two of them could speak alone.

Keeping one eye on the attendants' own conversation, I told Ferdinand about everything during the basting fittings—from the moment he was misunderstood to be harboring feelings of love for me and received their support, all the way to the talk of a political marriage.

"...So when they asked me to share my true feelings, I stripped away all the complicated obligations and pretenses and stated what I truly wanted. The very moment I did, Lady Hannelore and the attendants all started saying Lord Ferdinand should enter into a political marriage. It completely turned things around in an instant. I don't understand it at all. Don't you think so?"

"They merely recognized that if you were given power and left unchecked, things would get out of hand, and that someone capable of controlling you was needed. There's nothing incomprehensible about that."

Ferdinand looked utterly exhausted just from listening, and as he said, "You're the only one who doesn't understand," he glared at me.

"Perhaps you were also exasperated by the library plan. But the reason everyone so unanimously changed their opinions was that what you proposed was dangerous. The fact that the country gate is located outside the boundary gate, that the teleportation circles to the Noble Academy are in each province's dormitory, that despite requiring the Aub's permission and moving large numbers of students every year, it only works with small groups—think about why that system is in place."

"Huh?"

"If the Aub were to build a library as he pleases and then install teleportation circles for unrestricted travel, from a provincial defense standpoint, it would be the worst possible scenario. Even if you installing them had no malicious intent, there's no guarantee that those who use them later won't abuse them. The Dunkelfelger lord candidates with their province's long history of pride being cautious about that is perfectly natural. You fool."

I had thought he was exhausted from being fed up with all the talk about love and political marriages—about how "this is ridiculous again"—but it turned out to be something entirely different. Surprised by this unexpected scolding, I hurried to make excuses.

"I just freely said whatever came to mind about what an ideal situation would look like. I never thought it could actually be implemented so easily. I wanted to divert everyone's attention from the topic of Lord Ferdinand harboring feelings for me."

"You proudly declared that marrying Prince Sigiswald would be the easiest option. What are you talking about? The point is that even though you carelessly blurted things out as you always do, Lady Hannelore took it to mean that if you were truly determined to make it happen, it would be possible. And this doesn't just apply to teleportation circles. It's only natural that those around you think that if one idea after another gets casually implemented on your whim, it would be unbearable."

"Auu..."

It seemed my failure to think things through had led to a terrible situation.

"I'm the one who wants to hold my head in my hands. I went to such lengths to teach you to maintain the appearance of a saint and create a lord candidate who at least looks perfect, but to have it all thrown away for such a ridiculous reason—I never could have imagined it. After all those lectures at the banquet about maintaining your public image and outward appearance, did you not understand?"

"Uu... I suppose because everyone kept telling me about public image, public image, I found it incredibly tedious... and in a sort of backlash, I just threw it all away, I'm afraid to say."

"Foolish beyond measure."

Ferdinand said in a bitter tone, then began tapping his temple.

"Before Lady Hannelore and the rest go on a rampage, we need to do something, or Lord Ferdinand will be separated from his Geduldh once again. I'll ask my adoptive father to negotiate getting a research institute built in Ehrenfest, so Lord Ferdinand, let's work out a plan together to—gyah—ow!"

Ferdinand pinched my cheek, cutting off my words.

"That was quite useful information. I'm grateful for it."

"This is not the behavior of a grateful person."

I held my stinging cheek and glared at Ferdinand, who then shifted his gaze slightly toward the door. I turned to look as well. Angelica, who had been standing guard outside, poked her face in.

"It seems to be time for lunch, Rozemyne."

"Lord Ferdinand. I want you, who have endured so much until now, to prioritize your own wishes above all else. So no matter what Dunkelfelger or my adoptive father say, don't give in. Please, absolutely win the path you desire."

Once we got through this lunch, Dunkelfelger would be heading back to their province. As I clenched my fist and cheered him on, Ferdinand stood and extended his hand to me.

"Don't worry. I don't fight battles I can't win."

Ferdinand wore the face of someone who was plotting all manner of wicked things as he smiled. With that, everything would definitely be fine. I felt relieved.

I had been very wary of Hannelore's words and behavior, but the lunch itself proceeded very cordially. Hannelore was delighted by the carefully prepared dishes made by Ehrenfest's cooks, saying, "These are truly delicious," and the guests from Dunkelfelger enjoyed them thoroughly as well.

The main topic of conversation during the meal was the Ehrenfest knights getting roughed up by the Dunkelfelger knights at the training grounds, and Wilfried excitedly recounted how "the Dunkelfelger knights were extremely strong," since he had been roughed up alongside them.

...So Wilfried had participated too.

After that, plans for after the meal also came up. While I went to check on the Temple, Hannelore was to have tea with my adoptive mother, Wilfried, and Charlotte.

"It's a shame, since I would have liked to tour Ehrenfest's Temple, which differs from other provinces, but if there's no time, there's nothing to be done."

Hannelore said that with visible regret, but even just going by riding beast and coming back would be cutting it close when considering the time needed to return to Dunkelfelger. There was certainly no time to go by carriage.

"I would have loved to invite Lady Hannelore, if I could..."

When Ferdinand rejected the idea, saying "the time to head to the West Gate will certainly run out," and Melchior apologetically explained, "Since yesterday's battle took place there, it would be rather difficult to welcome guests at the Temple," there was nothing that could be done.

"Uncle is going to the Temple as well, not just Rozemyne and Melchior?"

"That's right. I need to return Rozemyne to the castle on schedule, and there are those at Ehrenfest's Temple who used to be my attendants. Is there a problem with me going to check on the situation?"

"There were voices saying they wanted to train until departure time..."

In response to Wilfried's concern about the Dunkelfelger knights being left with nothing to do, Ferdinand glanced toward my adoptive father.

"I invited them in order to express my gratitude to Dunkelfelger, but I haven't had much time with the Aub. I'd like to spend my final moments with the Aub. ...How does that sound, Aub?"

"That consideration of yours is truly appreciated."

Ferdinand deftly delegated the task of entertaining the Dunkelfelger knights to my adoptive father, who had forced a slight smile onto his face. By then the meal was over and post-meal tea was being brought out.

"Aub Ehrenfest, by the way, do you have any news from the Capital? We've received absolutely no information on our end. Has Ehrenfest learned anything?"

A departure at midnight, battle until dawn, and then I had slept for two days on medicine after becoming Aub. We had departed for Ehrenfest without being able to use the direct-line magical tool to the Capital. While we had sealed off various routes to prevent Dietlinde and the others from returning to Ahrensbach, we had no information at all about the state of the Capital.

Hannelore, who was also curious about this, turned her gaze toward my adoptive father.

"When I sent word that I was heading to Ehrenfest with the Dunkelfelger knights, my father was still in Dunkelfelger."

"I'm not entirely clear on the situation in the Capital either. It was two days ago, I believe? When I received letters from Hartmut and Clarissa, I sent word through the Noble Academy knights."

My adoptive father had apparently relayed the news that I had carried out Ferdinand's rescue and that there had been a battle with Lanzanover. Since it wasn't an immediate emergency, he hadn't used the direct-line communication tool.

"And what did the royalty say in response?"

"They asked why the Central Knights had been told to fortify defenses yet Ahrensbach and Lanzanover's people still hadn't arrived. When would they come, were they actually heading to the Capital, and when would it be appropriate to contact Dunkelfelger?"

This surprisingly nonchalant inquiry had apparently arrived yesterday morning, while my adoptive father had been busy with the defense of the foundation. He had deprioritized it and pushed the response to later. I could understand that feeling.

"How would I know such things? If the Capital isn't in crisis right now, I judged that a response after you returned would suffice. Is there anything we could respond with to the royalty?"

"If they're after the Grutrissheit, then Dietlinde and the others must have headed straight for the Noble Academy."

Ferdinand said this as though it were obvious, and my adoptive father's expression changed slightly as he moved to rise, saying, "I must contact the royalty immediately." Ferdinand lightly raised his hand to halt him.

"If we're considering the royalty's safety, staying sequestered in the duchy's annex in the Capital would be the best option. As long as the Grutrissheit isn't delivered there, maintaining the status quo would result in the fewest casualties."

In this roundabout way, Ferdinand was saying there was no need to volunteer extra information. He gave Justus a signal and stood up.

"Please contact Professor Hirschur urgently and gather information on the current state of the Noble Academy. Ahrensbach has shut down its dormitory, the dormitory supervisor has been dismissed, and the new supervisor was supposed to be appointed at thelord conference, so they're absent. If possible, also contact Dunkelfelger to relay the royalty's current situation, and have Professor Rufen investigate conditions at the Noble Academy as well."

If there was no disturbance in the Capital, then Dietlinde and the others must be operating within the Noble Academy. Perhaps they were praying at the shrine to obtain the Grutrissheit. If that was the case, it made sense that the Capital showed no signs of activity.

"...Rozemyne. Melchior. There's no time. We're going to the Temple."

Melchior and I stood up, and the attendants moved to follow.

"Lord Ferdinand, if there's no time, should we go to the Noble Academy immediately?"

"As long as the dormitory supervisors have sent no word to the royalty, there's unlikely to be any immediate action. We need to make various preparations before heading there, and I came back specifically to check on the Temple and the lower city. The royalty can wait."

At Ferdinand's words, I pictured the people currently at the Noble Academy. Just before leaving the dining hall, I turned back.

"Um, Adoptive Father. Please also confirm that Professor Solange in the Noble Academy's library is safe. I'm worried about her."

The fact that the entrance from the Temple to the foundation was located in the Temple library apparently conveyed to my adoptive father just how important a position the Noble Academy's library occupied. "I'll contact Hirschur and Dunkelfelger right away," he promised.

Leaving the dining hall, where everyone on the balcony was summoning their riding beasts, I froze, unable to touch the magic stone needed to summon my own.

"Um, Lord Ferdinand, I..."

"Ride with Angelica."

"...Yes. Please, Angelica."

I rode on Angelica's riding beast and headed for the Temple.

...I don't think I'll ever be able to become an Aub, let alone a Zent.

If I was afraid of magic stones, I couldn't perform preparation. I couldn't send ordnances. I couldn't ride a riding beast. For a noble, these were fatal flaws.

...It's not something that will be cured immediately, and I can't afford to rush...

Still, it wouldn't be long before I had to return to Ahrensbach, where an Aub was needed. An indescribable urgency made my fingertips go cold.

Lunch was approaching, but Rozemyne felt relieved that she had managed to speak with Ferdinand beforehand.

Hannelore intended to hear stories from the adoptive mother and the others at the tea party.

Ferdinand cared little for the Capital and the royalty, but the Noble Academy weighed on his mind.

Next, we head to the Temple.