"Your Ladyship, to the reading room. Let's go."
"We'll show you the way."
The ones guiding me are two rabbits. Schwarz and Weiss say this as they head toward the back of
"Schwarz, Weiss—that isn't the door you use to guide guests."
Apparently, there's a door in the back of this office that connects directly to the library's working area.
Schwarz and Weiss normally use that door, but Solange points out it isn't the entrance for escorting guests. The two come trotting back to the door we entered through, then open it wide for us.
"This way, please."
"Your Ladyship is the guest."
Since Schwarz and Weiss are Magical Tools made to work, perhaps that's why they're dressed in puff-sleeved, short-sleeved dresses. Schwarz the black rabbit wears one in white, while Weiss the white rabbit wears one in black—a matching set in contrasting colors.
On top of the dresses, they wore vests with elaborate embroidery in various colors. The glittering stones used for buttons appeared to be magic stones. If even the decorative buttons were magic stones, the outfits alone would be quite valuable. Moreover, I'd never seen working Magical Tools like these even within the Noble Academy. Could their very existence be rare?
"Solange, won't Schwarz and Weiss be snatched away or stripped of their outfits right away? I'm terribly worried."
"Schwarz and Weiss are Magical Tools created to work in the Library. They cannot operate outside the Library unless they are with their Master. Besides, although I'm not well-versed in the matter, it seems that successive Masters who shared this same concern have had various protections put in place to prevent them from being taken out. As long as they remain within the Library, there's nothing to worry about."
That's a relief, I thought with a small measure of ease as I left Solange's office, urged on by Schwarz and Weiss.
"Your Ladyship, this way."
The two take the lead at the front of the party and cross the corridor. Their heads and ears bobbing as they trot along is utterly adorable. I don't know who made them, but I feel we'd get along when it comes to taste in cuteness.
As I was thinking this, I heard a sigh of admiration from behind me, brimming with delight.
"Ahh, how adorable they are."
When I turned around, I saw
The moment our eyes met, Lieseleta composed her expression as if snapping back to awareness. Still, she was clearly very curious about the two, and I could see her gaze darting toward them again and again.
"I'm delighted that even Lieseleta finds Schwarz and Weiss so charming. That makes their Master—me—happy too."
"Oh my. Well... I do keep a Schumil at home, and this is the first time I've seen a Magical Tool of a Schumil this large that can actually talk. I suppose I got a little carried away."
Lieseleta smiled with a sense of relief and slowly turned her gaze back to Schwarz and Weiss. That look spoke volumes about how impossibly cute she found them. While Lieseleta in her charmed state was adorable, there was another word that caught my attention.
"...A Schumil?"
That's a word I'd heard somewhere before. Where was it? As I searched my memory, I looked at Schwarz and Weiss. While I was struggling to recall, Lieseleta eagerly began telling me about Schumils.
"A real Schumil is just a bit smaller than my knee, and among the nobility, they're kept as pets. Of course, unlike these Magical Tool dolls, they can't speak—they just make little 'pyi-pyi' sounds. Have you never seen one, Lady Rosemine? They absolutely adore lutrebe grass, and watching them eat so earnestly is simply precious."
...Pyi-pyi sounds?
That phrase finally jogged my memory. The not-so-pleasant memory of my first meeting with my adoptive father resurfaced, and I grimaced.
"...I can't say exactly who, but I was once told that I look like a Schumil."
"Oh my, now that you mention it, the golden eyes are quite similar too. The Schumils I know have lustrous dark-blue fur that reminds me of your hair color, Lady Rosemine. It must have been meant as quite the compliment about your loveliness."
...No, I'm pretty sure being told to "pyi! and squeak" upon first meeting wasn't a compliment.
At the same time, I also remembered how the Chief Priest had told me, "If you're going to do that, you might as well make it a Schumil," when I first created my Lesser Beast. If I'd known Schumil meant rabbits back then, I might have gone with that.
My image of riding beasts is already set in stone, so it'd be hard to switch to a Schumil shape now. I'll keep using my Lesser Beast going forward.
"Your Ladyship. Here. Reading room."
Schwarz and Weiss say this as they pull open the thick, outward-swinging door of the reading room.
Through the opened entrance, I could see wooden bookshelves lined up at even intervals in the center, slightly away from the walls. Large, thick pillars stood along the walls between tall, narrow windows, also at even intervals. At about shoulder height, a decorative wooden board ran around the entire interior of the reading room like a wainscot.
...Whoa! So many books! There are really so many! I'm so happy! This is too much joy! I'm about to cry!
There were far more bookshelves than in Ehrenfest. The count was comparable to the library in a moderately sized town during my days as Reina, or perhaps a branch of a large public library.
My heart soared with glee at a library of this scale—the first I'd seen in this world. If I hadn't been told I could only look, I would have headed straight for the shelves and started reading from one end.
"I'm so happy I could cry."
"You're crying before we even go in?!?"
Schwarz and Weiss looked up at this exchange in front of the open door with their wide golden eyes, looking bewildered.
"Your Ladyship. Enter."
"Yes, excuse me."
Heart pounding, I stepped inside and looked around. On the right was a section without windows, where a desk for counter work—presumably an office workstation—caught my eye. Even without windows, there was a door, so I assumed it connected to Solange's office.
On the left was a wide staircase, and I could see the library continued onto the second floor.
...A two-story library! Oh, my excitement is making my chest ache!
It wasn't just the first floor—there was a second floor as well. With that many shelves, the collection must be impressive. I wanted to read through every single one.
Where would be the best spot for reading? In a library without electric lighting, where was it brightest? And where was closest to the bookshelves? I scanned the reading room, searching for a reading space.
The Noble Academy was built from the same materials as the Ehrenfest dormitory and the castle, so the library's walls and pillars were all white. It appeared that many tall, narrow windows had been installed to improve the lighting, and when light streamed through them, the interior actually looked surprisingly bright—perhaps because of all the white.
There were carved decorations on the pillars and walls, so despite being all white, it didn't feel plain.
...It's a bit like the
"Your Ladyship, what are you looking for?"
"A question?"
Schwarz and Weiss must have noticed me looking around, as they called out to me.
"Where should I read these books? Is there a place to read?"
"Yes. This way."
Schwarz and Weiss strode straight through the library toward the back, cutting directly between the bookshelves. Following behind them, I turned my gaze to the books on the shelves.
The books lining the shelves weren't the kind with beautiful leather covers like those in the castle. Instead, they were simply made—thin wooden boards sandwiching pages bound with string. They felt more like reference collections than proper books.
I'd expected the library of the Noble Academy to be filled with far more lavish, ornate volumes, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"The covers are much simpler than I expected. Is this how books are arranged on the shelves here, Master?"
"The books currently on the first-floor shelves are all reference works written by students."
It was Solange who answered my question. Apparently, each year the library purchases reference works from high-achieving students or those with beautiful handwriting to help support poorer nobles. Because of their large numbers, frequent damage, and constant turnover, it would be impossible to put leather-bound covers on all of them.
I nodded in understanding as I surveyed the bookshelves. In that case, there shouldn't be any particular problem with me adding my own books to the shelves.
Led by the two, I made my way to the back wall. There, thick square pillars—wide enough that I could just barely reach both ends with my arms spread—and equally wide, tall windows alternated in a row.
Between the pillars, simple wooden desks and chairs had been placed, presumably so students could study in the light streaming through those windows. What I'd thought was merely a wainscot when looking in from the entrance actually served a door-like function. The panels had locks on them to keep them from opening.
...Wow! Actual carrels!
Seeing the roughly one-meter-square spaces between the pillars turned into tiny private study—or rather, reading—nooks, my spirits soared.
It seemed the carrels here were used almost like private rooms. Even though no one was sitting in them, books were piled on the desks, along with stacks of ink and wooden tags.
"Here. Carrel. Key goes to whoever wants it."
"Study here. Read books. Good for naps too. Sleep well here."
...Come to think of it, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows after lunch, it would be easy to doze off.
I looked around to see if anyone was napping, but the reading room was nearly empty. Only a handful of people were using carrels, and no one else could be seen walking through the library.
"This library has surprisingly few visitors."
It seemed such a waste for a library with so many books and carrels to be so underused. Schwarz and Weiss shook their heads.
"That's not right, Your Ladyship."
"It's few only right now."
Solange added that at this point in the term, only a small number of upperclassmen had passed the written exams, and among the freshmen, most who passed on the first day hadn't finished their registration yet. That was why library attendance was low.
"From about the middle of winter, there will be so many students coming and going that the carrels won't be enough. It's always busiest right before the final exams, every year."
According to Solange, high-ranking nobles tended to pay a deposit and take books back to their rooms rather than study in the cramped carrels. Lower- and mid-ranking nobles who couldn't afford the deposit had to read in the library, so the carrels effectively became their study spaces. As a result, students who frequently visited the library between lectures had their carrels almost entirely taken over—essentially treated as private rooms.
"As a mid-ranking noble myself who struggled with studies, I understand their feelings perfectly. But leaving books in the carrel indefinitely is rather problematic."
"They probably want to keep them until they've finished copying," Solange said with a smile.
The carrels on the south side, with windows facing outside, were popular for their sunny spots. Those on the west side, which suffered from the setting sun, and those near the entrance door on the passage side with poor lighting even with windows, were unpopular.
The competition for carrels apparently involved rank and status as well. Lower-ranking nobles from smaller territories were typically shoved into the carrels near the door or on the west side.
...I want a carrel too.
Having bookshelves nearby and a comfortable environment to sit and read was truly wonderful. Once I passed all the tests, I wanted to secure my own carrel.
As I walked past the carrels, Schwarz and Weiss headed toward the counter desk.
The handful of library users noticed the sound of the Ehrenfest group's footsteps and looked up. When they turned around and saw Schwarz and Weiss, their eyes went wide in surprise.
Before the civil conflict, Schwarz and Weiss had been working in the library as a matter of course, so the librarian—who appeared to be about the Chief Priest's age—should have known them. But judging by the level of astonishment, it wasn't just Magical Tools that were rare—moving ones certainly were.
"Solange, I haven't seen them myself, but are Magical Tools like Schwarz and Weiss common within the Noble Academy?"
"Oh no, they're exceedingly rare. Research findings are always kept secret, and I heard from the previous librarian that the manufacturing method itself has been lost. They were created by the royal family long ago. So I've heard that for Schwarz and Weiss, their Master is always—the princess."
The male librarian had also called me "Your Ladyship," Solange said. At the thought of a male librarian being addressed that way in the library, a small laugh escaped from the Ehrenfest party.
"Solange, how are the books on the library shelves arranged? Please tell me about the classification system."
"They're arranged by acquisition order, since everyone prefers newer books."
Naturally, since the first-floor books were all lecture reference works, newer ones were favored over older ones. On the day the library opened at the start of lectures, fierce battles over reference books reportedly broke out among the upperclassmen.
Moreover, every year a few particularly well-made volumes were taken out by lord candidates or high-ranking nobles who paid deposits and never returned them, making Solange's management job extremely difficult.
"Do they not return the books? What about sending reminder notices through Ordinance?"
"In the past, when a high-ranking noble served as librarian, they would return them upon contact. But now, complaints are often just brushed off."
The high-ranking nobles and lord candidates who could take books out by paying deposits were essentially untouchable by a mid-ranking noble like Solange. Her protests were completely ignored. That disrupted library operations. This was not good.
"Why did the high-ranking noble librarian leave?"
"Due to the civil conflict, they were reassigned to another position. I was told that as long as Schwarz and Weiss were here, everything would be fine, but I didn't have enough Magic Power to move them."
Lending, returns, and carrel management had been the duties of Schwarz and Weiss. For a while, the previous librarian's Magic Power lingered within them, keeping them running, but they stopped moving after about a year.
Solange had lined the two up in the back of her office, harboring the grief of losing colleagues she'd worked alongside, and carried on the work by herself.
"We'll process here."
"We'll check in here."
Once they reached the work area, the two scrambled onto their chairs, racing each other.
The desk was more of an office workstation than a counter, but it was apparently where transactions were handled. Schwarz and Weiss slapped the desk to show me.
Around the desk were numerous shelves packed with reference materials and tools needed for work. Just looking at them made my heart race.
"Come to think of it, not only are there hardly any students, but I don't see any other librarians either."
"...Indeed."
Solange's expression clouded as she nodded. The staff was being steadily reduced, and she was the sole person in charge of the library's management—as long as student registration and deletion were handled, apparently.
"For librarians, there are far more duties beyond this. How on earth is it being managed?"
"Basically, after the Noble Academy term ends... from spring to autumn, when there are almost no students, I handle other duties."
What a terrible situation. I felt dizzy just thinking about it. Wasn't this where I could step in? I wanted to take action to help the library run smoothly. Since students couldn't become librarians, the only option was to become a Library Committee member.
"I would like to help Solange—"
The moment I was about to say "I'll join the Library Committee to help," a cascade of multicolored light—as if filtered through stained glass—poured down into the library.
Although no stained glass was set in the windows, I was startled when red and blue light came streaming down and looked up. It only appeared as colorful light hitting the white ceiling and walls—there was nothing else there.
After just a few seconds, it vanished.
At the same time, I could see the handful of users closing their books and standing up.
"What was that light?"
"It's a signal to prompt students to leave for afternoon lectures," Solange explained. "Even students so absorbed in their books that they can't hear the bell seem to notice when the color of the book in their hands changes. So the library uses this kind of light-based notification before the bell rings."
I nodded deeply in understanding—once you start reading, you really do lose track of surrounding sounds. Behind me, I heard Riicharda murmur, "That's a useful thing to know."
"Solange, the keys..."
"Yes, yes. The afternoon sessions are practical, aren't they? Do your best."
The students handed over the carrel keys to Solange while still fretting over Schwarz and Weiss, then hurried out of the reading room.
Watching them leave, Riicharda smiled and gestured toward the door.
"Now then, Lady Rosemine. Since the signal to leave has been given, let us head to the afternoon practical sessions as well."
"You got into the reading room, so you should be satisfied, right? Everything else comes after you've passed all the tests."
"We'll be late for the afternoon practicals."
At everyone's words, I looked up at the second floor I hadn't been able to visit, and let out a small sigh. Not going to the second floor and not reading a single book was incredibly disappointing, but for today, I had no choice but to give up.
...Next time, I'll definitely spend the whole day in the library. I need to pass all the tests as quickly as possible. All right! Let's do this!
Clenching my determination in my fist, I left the reading room with everyone. Schwarz and Weiss, who had been following along as if seeing us off, tugged lightly at my sleeve as we exited.
"We worked."
"Your Ladyship, praise us."
Schwarz and Weiss stood in front of me and gently closed their eyes. Not understanding what they wanted, I looked up at Solange, who chuckled softly.
"Please stroke the magic stones on their foreheads and infuse them with a bit of Magic Power. That will let these little ones work energetically again."
"Of course."
I stroked the magic stones on Schwarz and Weiss's foreheads and poured in a little extra Magic Power. They'd have to work hard until I passed all my tests.
"Schwarz, Weiss. Thank you for guiding us. From here on, listen carefully to Solange and help her with her work."
"Got it. Help Solange."
"That's right, Your Ladyship. New clothes."
Weiss's request was so terse I couldn't quite understand, and I tilted my head again. Solange narrowed her eyes as if searching through distant memories, then snapped her fingers.
"When their Master changed, Schwarz and Weiss were granted new clothes. They must want to receive new clothes from you as well, Lady Rosemine."
"...I don't have a tailor with me at the Noble Academy, nor any fabric prepared, so it would have to wait until next year. Would that be acceptable?"
Making outfits for two would take time. It certainly couldn't be done over winter. At my words, Schwarz and Weiss nodded vigorously.
"New clothes take time."
"Understood."
If they'd wait, it seemed I could have cute outfits made for them. As I was thinking this, something occurred to me.
"...Solange, do Schwarz and Weiss have a gender?"
"Oh my, Lady Rosemine. Magical Tools have no gender. What matters is that the clothes were given to them by their Master."
As Magical Tools modeled on Schumils, Schwarz and Weiss apparently had no gender. Depending on the era, they'd been dressed in girls' clothing or boys' clothing—all sorts of variations.
...What clothes should I make for them? No matter what I chose, they'd need Library Committee armbands, right?
If I gave Schwarz and Weiss armbands, I'd want matching ones for myself too. Once I returned to Ehrenfest, I'd ask Turi.
"Well then, I'll try to finish my lectures as quickly as possible and return to the library. If Schwarz and Weiss run low on Magic Power, please contact me right away."
I told Solange this, waved goodbye to Schwarz and Weiss, and left the library.
Schwarz and Weiss, the Magical Tools who help out at the library, showed me around.
When will Rosemine next be able to visit the library?
Next time: the practical session for court etiquette and