Rescuing Solange

Just imagining Solange collapsed in the supply room, in a critical state like Ferdinand, was enough to make my breathing grow ragged and my whole body tremble.

"I-I need to get to the library right away..."

When I turned to look at my guard knights, those who had been listening to Ferdinand's words alongside me nodded in agreement. It was truly reassuring to have retainers who never panicked, even in sudden situations like this. Thinking so, I stepped toward Brother Cornelius.

"Wait. We need to decide who to leave here, who to take with us, and who to send ahead—there are many things we must settle before we move."

Ferdinand grabbed my arm to hold me back, and I turned around, glaring at him.

"There is no time to waste on such deliberation, Ferdinand. I need to go to the library immediately to see about Solange's..."

"I know as well as you do that there's no time for dithering. But before we charge in blindly, we need to share information and decide what to do with the prisoners we've captured. Who has the keys to this secondary palace? There's no guarantee that Gervasio and the others won't come back while we're heading to the library."

He might be visiting the shrines, or he might be in the library, or he might be at the royal palace participating in an internal conflict, trying to eliminate royals. Ferdinand said that where Gervasio is and what he's doing is entirely speculation.

If we could extract information from the prisoners about their objectives and movements, we might be able to prepare countermeasures in advance. If we left too few guards watching over the prisoners, they could be overpowered and the prisoners freed. If the seized tools were recovered and the prisoners armed, we would be at an overwhelming disadvantage. Ferdinand raised various possibilities as he spoke.

"The reason we won so easily this time was that we launched a surprise attack with overwhelmingly superior numbers—Dunkelfelger included—while they slept unguarded in the deep of night, overconfident in the protection of Feberken, the God of Concealment. What would happen if they confronted us while properly armed? There's no way to know. And keep in mind that Dunkelfelger is currently at the royal palace and can't be relied upon."

Because I hadn't yet completed the brooch needed to register as Aub Ahrensbach, it seemed I couldn't move the prisoners and tools to a safe location.

"To enter the library, and to open the door to the underground archives, we need Solange, the Librarian. That is precisely why the lack of contact doesn't necessarily mean she's dead. Wait—at least until I've finished giving instructions."

"But what if it's too late by then!? There are many times when even a small difference in timing leads to irreversible consequences. It's only natural that I want to deal with Solange's danger as quickly as possible, isn't it? Please, at the very least, let me go!"

I pleaded desperately with Ferdinand, who refused to release his grip on my arm. Remaining calm with a composed expression and waiting until every last move had been played out—that was something I simply could not do. Ferdinand cast a look of sympathy toward my guard knights and asked, "Is this the same momentum with which you charged into Ahrensbach?"

"If you absolutely cannot wait, then send a knight who hasn't sworn their name to you and have them scout the area. But you specifically must never approach the library until the presence or absence of enemies has been confirmed."

"Why not!? I'm the one who feels the strongest need to go—why am I the only one who mustn't get close?"

When I pushed back, Ferdinand pinched my cheek and said calmly, "You're too worked up. Settle down."

"There's only one reason why you specifically must not approach. The magical tools in the library are attuned to their master and will sense your approach. We don't know exactly what effect your Magic Power would have on those who have sworn their names, but it would be safer to keep you away."

When Schwartz and Weiss began their welcome preparations by calling out "Princess, came!", I was told that if there were enemies in the library, they would likely detect our approach, set up an ambush, or take Solange hostage, and I blinked in shock.

"If Solange were taken hostage, we would be unable to move freely. You, who wish to save her, could end up putting Solange in greater danger. Sending knights to investigate the interior comes first. The underground archives can only be accessed by higher Nobility or above, and only royals and Lord candidates may go further beyond. The time when you must go will come—so please wait."

Being lectured so logically and thoroughly, I had no choice but to accept.

"Lady Rozemyne, Mathias and Laurenz have sworn their names, so Angelica and I will take a few knights to check on the situation at the library."

"Please, Brother Cornelius."

When Mathias and Laurenz returned—they had been escorting Alsteide out—Brother Cornelius left with Angelica in their place. He'd taken Angelica rather than Leonore, considering speed and Stenluke's presence, apparently.

Even as I watched the two of them leave, Ferdinand was issuing orders one after another, moving about ceaselessly. He registered his Magic Power on the doors that accepted it, and ordered Heisshitz's group to load Lanzanave's tools into the storage.

"There are many tools whose purposes can't be determined at a glance. I don't want to be poisoned with instant-death poison repeatedly, and unfamiliar tools and weapons are dangerous. Seal away all the silver weapons and armor too."

"Looking at these preparations, it was absolutely the right call to overwhelm them while they slept. If the people of Lanzanave had been active and able to use their tools in counterattack, Dunkelfelger would have suffered considerable losses—never a small number."

Heisshitz said this as he tossed the mountain of tools into the hidden room. The large quantity of silver weapons and armor being transported conveyed just how serious the enemy had been.

"Ferdinand, is there anything I can do? It's agony to just sit here and do nothing..."

"Could you research the differences between royals and collateral royals? I want to understand what Gervasio, who has returned to collateral royal status, can and cannot do. The Grutrissheit may contain information I don't know about."

Having been handed an assignment so casually, I took out my Grutrissheit and began researching collateral royals. I learned that once registered as a collateral royal, one could enter and leave the library without a Librarian's registration—but because they were not true royals, they couldn't venture further into the underground archives, the same as me.

"Then it seems Gervasio hasn't obtained the Grutrissheit yet."

Ferdinand relaxed his shoulders slightly. An ordinance flew from Justus and Hartmut asking about the interrogation's status, and the information was distributed between the prisoners' guards and those heading to the library.

An ordinance flew from Brother Cornelius. Not to me, but to Ferdinand—a white bird relaying the library's situation.

"At this hour, the library is completely locked down with no one allowed inside. We circled the exterior of the building looking for signs of forced entry. There were none, but we could see a faint light through the window of the office."

It was nearly time for the first bell to ring. Even for someone who woke early, being in the office rather than their private room at an hour when attendants were still asleep was hard to imagine.

"It would be possible to break in through the window, but given that we don't know the enemy's numbers, proceeding without reinforcements would be too dangerous."

"We'll head there together with reinforcements now. If there are no signs of forced entry, then do not enter by force. The library's magical tools will eliminate unauthorized intruders without hesitation. Wait for Rozemyne, the master of the library's magical tools, to arrive."

Ferdinand, who had studied extensively how Schwartz and Weiss were constructed, began whispering into the ordinance what became of those who attempted unauthorized entry. Covering my ears in desperation—I wanted to cry, not listen—by the time Ferdinand finished sending the ordinances, he extended his hand to me.

"Let's go, Rozemyne."

"Yes."

Approximately sixty ride beasts thundered through the darkness. Hartmut and Justus remained behind to guard the prisoners, but all the other retainers headed to the library together.

"Hartmut was quite disappointed, you know. He said the library is where all of Rozemyne's miracles are stored."

Clarissa said this, counting off on her fingers the blessings I had given. She described, full of divine phrasing, how I had been so excited entering the library for the first time that I had given blessings, and how I had become the master of Schwartz and Weiss. I desperately tried to stop her. I did not want even the Ahrensbach knights to learn about the deeds of my past that I'd rather forget. If Ahrensbach was to become a library city, then I wanted to become a Librarian whom everyone respected.

"Princess, came!" "Princess, long time!"

Just as Ferdinand had said, I was able to open the library doors without any difficulty. Once inside, Schwartz and Weiss came to greet me.

"Schwartz, Weiss. Where might Solange be?"

When I asked, Schwartz and Weiss began bobbing toward the office.

"Solange, face-down." "Solange, can't move."

The instant I was about to rush forward, Ferdinand stopped me.

"You're next. Heisshitz!"

"Yes, sir!"

Heisshitz, accompanied by a knight skilled in healing, entered the office while remaining vigilant. One of the knights called out, "There's no trap, but Solange has collapsed." At that moment, Ferdinand began walking with a speed that seemed impossible for someone who had been restraining me moments ago. With his long legs and wide stride, I couldn't keep up.

"Ah..."

"Forgive me."

He steadied me just as I was about to lose my balance, and I sighed in relief that I hadn't fallen in an undignified manner. Ferdinand told me, with a sigh of his own, "Follow behind," and strode into the office. Going on ahead alone was just cruel.

"Please wait, Ferdinand!"

As I tried to walk as quickly as I could to catch up, Leonore lightly raised her hand to stop me.

"Please walk with grace and at a measured pace, Lady Rozemyne."

"Huh?"

"If you've been watching how considerate he's been, you'll understand. Ferdinand most likely intends to check on Solange's condition before you arrive and provide healing if necessary. Let us accept a gentleman's thoughtfulness with gratitude."

Leonore said this, her indigo eyes gently narrowed, and began walking with slow, graceful steps as if demonstrating for me. As I compared the distance between Leonore and the office entrance, I heard Ferdinand's voice performing the Lungshwemmer healing, and saw a flash of green light.

"...Leonore was right."

"Solange, are you all right?"

I called out to Solange, who was slowly raising her body with the knights' help. She looked at me and tilted her head slightly.

"I'm Rozemyne, Solange."

"Oh, Rozemyne? You've grown so much! I didn't recognize you at first glance. How wonderful."

Her smiling face was thick with fatigue. I wanted to let her rest as soon as possible, but I needed to find out what had happened.

"Solange, what exactly happened?"

"...Lord Raublut brought someone named Gervasio here. You may not know of him, but he was a collateral royal who came seeking the Grutrissheit. He hasn't changed from the past."

"You knew Gervasio, Solange? He was educated in the secondary palace and shouldn't have attended the Noble Academy."

At Ferdinand's sharp gaze and pointed words, Solange, who had been gazing into the past with narrowed eyes, blinked in surprise.

"I didn't realize Ferdinand knew of him. He left for distant lands long ago. When I was first assigned to the Noble Academy's library, he used to visit often... From the end of spring through the end of autumn, after the Lord's Conference ended and the Senior Librarians departed, he would come to the library."

"That's enough reminiscing. Where is Gervasio now?"

At Ferdinand's words, Solange slowly surveyed the tense knights around her, then shook her head.

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but I don't know. ...It was yesterday evening. Schwartz told me that Ortanthea had arrived, so I went to greet her."

But the person who appeared wasn't Ortanthea—it was Gervasio, Raublut, and members of the Central Knights.

"Ortanthea, I'm told, had passed beyond our reach despite all efforts at care. Lord Raublut said he came to vacate Ortanthea's private room in the library."

Raublut had taken Ortanthea's magic stone and gone to open Ortanthea's room deep within the library. Meanwhile, Solange said she had an opportunity to catch up with Gervasio—who had returned to his homeland for the first time in ages—and they reminisced about the old days.

"But Lord Raublut returned quickly from Ortanthea's room. Then he demanded that I hand over the keys to the underground archives, threatening that if I didn't want to end up like Ortanthea, I'd better comply. Frightened, I surrendered the keys that Senior Librarians dye, as well as the key to open the door to the underground archives."

Gervasio had said he didn't want to do anything cruel to an old acquaintance. But his Stappe was rendered unusable by the shackles placed on him, and he was bound and left lying about. They had the knights dye the keys for them, and then descended to the underground archives with Gervasio.

"Gervasio said that if he obtained the Grutrissheit, he would come back to untie me—but he never came to the office. Instead, Lord Raublut locked the library and left. Judging from those footsteps, I don't think he succeeded."

Solange gazed sadly at the rope and shackles that had bound her. "For an old acquaintance, he treated me rather terribly," she said.

"Then what happened to Gervasio?"

If he hadn't obtained the Grutrissheit in the underground archives, where was he now? I had merely voiced a passing thought. But an answer came.

"Gervasio, with Princess." "Gervasio, went to old man's place."

Ferdinand's expression hardened, and he spun on his heel with a sharp sound, striding out of the office in large steps. His retainers and half the knights followed.

"Lady Rozemyne, Gervasio is..."

*Your old acquaintance attacked Yurgenschmidt as a foreign power. He's aiming to obtain the Grutrissheit and become Zent. Raublut has betrayed King Traokval. And as the library's Librarian, you may be held responsible for handing over the keys.* I didn't know how much of the truth I could share with Solange, who looked at me with such worry.

"Please rest now, Solange. You must be exhausted. Schwartz and Weiss will protect you, so no one will threaten the library."

I asked Leonore to escort Solange to her room. Leonore returned with a grimace after supporting Solange on her way.

"What's wrong, Leonore?"

"Solange's room had been sealed with magical tools—to keep the Attendants from being able to leave. ...It seems she was trapped in her room, unable to come out. Her master never returned, and the Attendants had a terrible time as well."

*That Raublut...!* "I'll put Schwartz and Weiss into combat mode."

I closed my eyes and asked Leonore to guide my hands to Schwartz and Weiss's magic stones. I replenished their Magic Power and channeled it into the outfit buttons as well, putting them into combat mode. I had no intention of ever letting Raublut inside again.

"Schwartz, Weiss. Please protect Solange, the Librarian of this library. If anyone who isn't registered as a collaborator enters using a key, be sure to take the key back and drive them out."

"Solange, protect." "Key, take back."

After giving Schwartz and Weiss their instructions, I went to the reading room and looked up toward the second floor where Ferdinand was. He came running down almost immediately. From his expression and the speed of his descent, it seemed my concerns had been warranted. Gervasio was already in the Garden of Beginnings.

"Rozemyne, take the knights and return to the secondary palace."

Watching Ferdinand descend the stairs while issuing his order, I shook my head.

"No. I'm going with you."

"It's dangerous. Wait at the secondary palace."

Ferdinand passed in front of me and headed for the reading room exit. For an instant, his back overlapped with the image of Ferdinand heading to Ahrensbach. My throat tightened, and before I knew it, my hand had shot out.

"Wait! If you leave me behind, I'll expose all of your secrets to everyone!"

"What are you saying at a time like this!?" Ferdinand's face twisted as he turned around.

"There's no way I can just wait here, and more Magic Power is better, isn't it?"

"Magic Power? What are you talking about?"

"Huh? Isn't it what Ferdinand did back then? Hit the magic circle with enormous Magic Power and charge in at maximum speed?"

Eawermine might scold me terribly for my poor etiquette and irreverence, but if we wanted to reach the Garden of Beginnings as fast as possible, that was the best way. Smash tremendous Magic Power into the magic circle in the air, activate it, and charge through.

"What kind of outrageous idea are you even thinking...?"

"Oh come on!? I don't think I should be the only one getting scolded when Ferdinand is the one who already did it!"

Ferdinand clutched his head, then sighed in resignation, closed the distance in a few large strides, and hoisted me over his shoulder. He began walking in his usual long steps. My guard knights, momentarily stunned, scrambled to follow.

"Just so we're clear, I was only trying to activate the magic circle. I never intended to charge straight in. Don't lump me together with you—I knew the consequences when I did it."

"From the perspective of the person being visited, I'd say it amounts to the same thing."

Whether by accident or on purpose, Eawermine wouldn't care about the intentions of someone who barged in through a non-standard route.

"...That's a fair point."

Ferdinand cracked a brief smile and left the library. He summoned his ride beast and placed me on it.

"We're going at maximum speed, Rozemyne."

"Yes!"