Unfortunately, my negotiation results didn't seem to go over very well. "Just one book..." Small, exasperated voices could be heard from several nobles outside the royal family. It was clear they thought this was useless.
...If you normally never read any books, then of course your studies of ancient texts wouldn't make any progress! Grr!
"Um, Lady
"When I spoke with the two of you before, I recall you expressed the opinion that conducting large-scale verifications of the Dedication Dance and having Zent candidates emerge one after another from lord candidates across the land would become a seed of unrest... But just now, the two of you said you want to choose the next Zent from outside the royal family. What are your thoughts regarding the potential for unrest? Would you be willing to enlighten me?"
It was exactly the kind of question Eglantine would ask—the kind of person who wanted to avoid any unrest above all else. This was among the questions we'd anticipated, so I gave the answer Ferdinand and I had prepared.
"I still believe it would be best if someone among the royal family could become Zent. There would be no need for any seeds of unrest. It has been nearly a year since we learned the means to reach the
When I paused there, Ferdinand shot me a slight glare.
...But it was hard to say something snide like, "The one who was closest to the Grutrissheit was Eglantine, who was born with all attributes, wasn't it?" Even though it wasn't wrong.
"Well, that is... But it was decided that the Grutrissheit would be brought to the royal family through Lady Rozemyne's adoption, so..."
"Eglantine, that is not the royal family obtaining the Grutrissheit. At the time, I genuinely believed the royal family should be the ones to obtain it, but I never imagined the royal family would be so completely lacking in the qualities, effort, and dignity needed to become Zent."
"Ferdinand!?"
My adoptive father, who had been watching my outburst from a distance, opened his eyes wide as if startled and tried to rein Ferdinand in. But Ferdinand deflected it with a smile.
I had thought the prepared answers, as I'd described them, were fairly combative, but Ferdinand was even more provocative. I never expected Ferdinand, who had always maintained proper outward etiquette toward the royal family, to call them incompetent so directly, and I blinked in surprise.
"Eglantine, at that time, I shared the clues to reaching the Grutrissheit so that the royal family could obtain it without causing any unrest. And I accepted the engagement by royal decree to demonstrate that I held no ill will toward
Ferdinand paused there and deepened his smile.
"The royal family, having obtained the clues, did not go after the Grutrissheit themselves, but tried to have Rozemyne do it instead. I was told that Rozemyne—who had promised to protect Ehrenfest in my stead while I went to
Rather than addressing Eglantine, who had asked the question, Ferdinand directed his gaze straight at Trauerqual. Trauerqual pressed his lips together and hung his head.
"However you look at it, that is far too rude, Lord Ferdinand."
"
At Trauerqual's rebuke, Magdalena said, "It seems I spoke out of turn. My apologies," and fell silent.
"Trauerqual, would you be able to tell me what you forced upon Ferdinand? I believe I have the right to know, as his older brother and as the Aub of Ehrenfest."
My adoptive father, who had been kept out of the loop regarding Ferdinand's marriage into another family, fixed his gaze on Trauerqual. Trauerqual glanced at Ferdinand, then slowly shook his head.
"The condition he imposed for what I forced upon him was that I never speak of it, and I have no intention of going back on my word. I will not do anything further to incur the wrath of Ferdinand or the Avatar of the Goddess."
Ferdinand seemed to feel some relief at Trauerqual's decision and gave a single nod.
"To answer your question, Eglantine: rather than placing on the throne generation after generation royal family members who, despite knowing how to obtain the Grutrissheit, still have not obtained it, and facing the risk of the country collapsing again—I believe it is more desirable for a country filled with Magic Power to survive, even if there is some unrest."
"I see..."
"...However, if you wish to maintain the appearance of the royal family reigning as Zent over
At Ferdinand's dismissive words—essentially telling them to continue as Zent through their own efforts—Eglantine tilted her head gently, as if mulling it over.
"We intend to publicize both the history of how the royal family distorted the way Yurgenschmidt should be, and the method for anyone to obtain the Book of Mestionora, but I do hope you will continue to make efforts to produce future Zents."
"The history of how the royal family distorted the way Yurgenschmidt should be...?"
At Ferdinand's prompting, I explained how the method of qualifying as Zent had been gradually changed by successive Zents. The records in the Central Royal Palace Library only contained those from after the royal family had moved to the Central, so they apparently differed considerably from the history I had learned until then.
"Avatar of the Goddess. I understand that the gods desire a new Zent in order to break the existing framework of the royal family. I would like to become the new Zent and, as much as possible, incorporate the old ways in accordance with the gods' will."
Ferdinand raised an eyebrow slightly at Sigiswald's declaration.
"Brother, that is..."
"I believe it is most fitting for me to initially assume the role of Zent, as I am already widely known as the Zent-candidate. You would agree, would you not, Anastasius?"
When Sigiswald turned his gentle smile toward Anastasius, who had started to voice a protest, Anastasius looked as if he'd lost the words to say and quietly lowered his gaze. Taking that as assent, Sigiswald deepened his smile and turned to me.
"I am willing to incorporate the old ways, but the crime of inciting foreign enemies this time lies with Ahrensbach. I cannot accept the royal family bearing all the blame."
"Brother!"
Anastasius tried to cut him off, but Sigiswald continued.
"Although we were placed in danger, Yurgenschmidt was protected by
The gaze of the gently smiling Sigiswald was directed at Ferdinand. His intention was transparent: if Ferdinand had restrained Dietlinde and prevented the Lanzanave people from infiltrating, none of this would have happened. It was clear he was accustomed to giving orders and hadn't given a single thought to the possibility of his own words as a royal being contradicted. He must have grown up in that position, with that upbringing.
...He doesn't seem to understand at all, but is it really okay for him to take this attitude with me—the Avatar of the Goddess—simply because he's a royal who has put himself forward as a Zent candidate?
I couldn't quite understand the way the royals thought or what their standards were. I wasn't sure whether I should reprimand Sigiswald here and now. When I glanced at Ferdinand, he had put on a dazzling fake smile.
"Understood. The criminals from Ahrensbach are ready to be handed over at any time. As Prince Sigiswald wishes, let us transfer them to the Central immediately."
...Wow, he's completely ready to fight back. My condolences, Prince Sigiswald.
"If you want to punish them first, go right ahead. Isn't it the Central that doesn't have its receiving arrangements in order?"—I thought I could hear the subtext. Going up against Ferdinand in this state was something I never wanted to do, when it came to anything other than books. But Sigiswald, it seemed, was actually quite a courageous young man.
Even if Sigiswald couldn't tell that Ferdinand's sparkling smile was a sign of displeasure, he seemed to have picked up on the subtext perfectly. He faltered for a moment, then gave a thin smile.
"I'm not just talking about the perpetrators. I'm referring to you, who were in Ahrensbach as the fiancé supporting the next Aub. Are you aware of your own guilt?"
That remark hit a nerve. I couldn't just let it slide—coming from Sigiswald, who hadn't fulfilled his own duties as a royal, to say such things about Ferdinand, who had followed the royal decree's orders and worked himself to the bone in an unfamiliar land.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand what Prince Sigiswald is trying to say. Are you suggesting that Lord Ferdinand has been neglecting his duties?"
Sigiswald's eyes widened at the fact that I, not Ferdinand, was the one who spoke up, and Anastasius groaned, "Brother..." I thought that if he wanted to stop Sigiswald, he should have done a better job of it sooner.
"It was precisely because he had obligations under the royal decree that Ferdinand was poisoned and sent to the battlefield without even having time to properly recover. And despite leading the knights of Ahrensbach and volunteers from Dunkelfelger in battle, you say his duties still weren't enough?"
"Indeed. As Lady Rozemyne says, Lord Ferdinand exterminated the Lanzanave soldiers in Ahrensbach, drove back the Ahrensbach nobles who had invaded Ehrenfest, and captured the Lanzanave people who attempted to obtain the Book of Mestionora in the Central. Considering he did all of this not as her husband but still merely as her fiancé, I—Dunkelfelger, who fought alongside him—can guarantee that he fulfilled his duties with a sincerity that went well beyond what was required."
The Aub of Dunkelfelger affirmed that it had truly been a forced march with almost no opportunity for rest. Sigiswald smiled and said, "I see," but his eyes showed no sign of being convinced.
"Prince Sigiswald, I have a question as well. While Ferdinand was fulfilling his obligations under the royal decree, what exactly were the members of the royal family doing, upon being notified of the crisis by Dunkelfelger and Ehrenfest?"
It wasn't just me and Ferdinand who had duties to fulfill. They said they couldn't accept the royal family bearing the blame, but what had the royal family actually been doing? When I glared at him, Sigiswald seemed to be cowed and swallowed hard.
"Please do tell me what else you were doing besides failing to notice the knight commander's betrayal and the spread of Trug in the Central, committing the blunder of playing into the knight commander's designs and allowing the Lanzanave people to take the Stab, abandoning the defense of the Foundation, and running around in a panic over the knight commander's betrayal. I didn't see you during the battle in the auditorium, Prince Sigiswald, so what exactly were you doing, and where?"
"I was, in my own secondary palace, giving orders to the Central nobles as a royal..."
I smiled sweetly and cut off Sigiswald as he struggled to get the words out. The mere fact that he had holed up in his own secondary palace meant he was doing absolutely nothing to protect Yurgenschmidt.
"Were those instructions necessary for fulfilling the royal duty of protecting the country and the Foundation, rather than your own persons? Protecting the Central where you yourselves live, rather than the
"Rozemyne, that's enough. The other royals are turning pale at the Avatar of the Goddess's denunciation."
Ferdinand lightly tugged at my sleeve. Looking around, everyone did indeed look pale.
"So it seems. But after the coup, when many people lost not just their color but their lives due to the royal family's reckless implications and absurd denunciations, it's hardly anything at all for royals—whose lives are guaranteed, no less—to lose their color when confronted with their own failures, wouldn't you say?"
When I tilted my head inquisitively, Ferdinand stood up and grabbed my arm. His face was pale, and his anxiety was plain for anyone to see.
...Huh? Something's wrong with Ferdinand?
"Rozemyne, are you aware that your eye color has changed? The power of the Goddess is unconsciously leaking out and increasing, putting you in a state of mild intimidation. Do you realize that?"
I had felt anger toward Sigiswald, but I had no awareness that I was in a state of mild intimidation. It was Trauerqual who slowly raised his hand toward me as I blinked. Seeing him compose his breathing, it was clear he was being affected by my unconscious intimidation.
"Please grant me permission to speak, Lady Rozemyne."
Seeing him so politely request permission to speak, Sigiswald looked as if he'd been struck by Feadrenna's lightning. Everyone's attention turned to Trauerqual.
"You may speak."
"I apologize for my foolish son, who fails to understand the position he should be in. However, there is no need for Lady Rozemyne to be troubled by my son's words. Until the Starbinding is completed, it has been confirmed that Ferdinand will not be implicated by Dietlinde. Please rest assured."
At Trauerqual's words, I breathed a sigh of relief. It had faded somewhat from my memory, but there had indeed been such an agreement. No matter what anyone said, it wouldn't affect Ferdinand. The moment I let out a breath of relief, everyone around me did the same.
Ferdinand peered into my face with a serious expression and murmured, "Your eye color seems to have returned." My eye color did seem to have returned, but the anxiety on Ferdinand's face was not completely gone.
"Rozemyne, the power of the Goddess appears to be even more difficult to control than your own Magic Power. The Goddess's power swells up whenever you react emotionally. If this continues and the Goddess's power keeps increasing, there is a chance you will cease to be you. I'm begging you—try to keep your emotions in check."
The words "cease to be you" sent a chill down my spine. Did it mean there was a possibility of losing more precious memories, beyond those I had already lost? That something even more terrifying could happen? The fact that Ferdinand was pointing this out in such a way meant that perhaps I had already ceased to be me.
...What the— that's terrifying!
The fear that swelled up inside me lasted only an instant.
"Rozemyne!"
Part 2. Ferdinand, who among the royals felt the most anger toward Trauerqual. Rozemyne, whose emotions were easily shaken when it came to Ferdinand, all the more so because she lacked memories of Turi and the others. Sigiswald, who had just declared himself a Zent candidate and immediately been subjected to intimidation. Next is Part 3.