The textbook sale went well. Mother showed up near the end and purchased everything for
As she left, she smiled at
Benno nodded with a pleasant smile, though I thought I detected a slight flicker in his eyes. Being the center of attention for nobles all at once, especially within the castle—that must come with enormous pressure and tension. Having been scrutinized at the
...But hang in there, Mr. Benno!
After the textbook sale ended, several ladies who had come for the Musicant approached Benno and
"
"Ah, I'll go in your place. You stay here."
The Chief Priest said this while glancing at Benno and Mark, then had an Attendant nearby carry the wooden box containing the Small Holy Cup, and headed for the Lord's office.
Once the day's schedule was complete, I received reports on the sales figures later, brought the Gilberta Company staff along with Fran and Fritz back to the
"Playing cards go here, karuta go here, picture books go here. Please write your name or your family's name on each one. Since they're all the same, you mustn't mix them up."
Working together, some of the siblings wrote their family names on each item, while others looked through all the textbooks they'd purchased and sighed at the sheer volume of writing required.
"If you only need some of them today, you can ask your family to help with the rest," I suggested.
Hearing this, several noble ladies breathed a sigh of relief. "In that case, since we're only using the picture books today, we'll only write our names on those."
While observing the children's room, I listened to new stories from the lower Noble children and jotted them down. Until now, I'd only heard stories from girls, so this was my first time hearing them from boys.
They'd stop midway and go "Hmm?" or make up absurd, disjointed connections that clearly came off the top of their heads—so much so that I wanted to laugh. It was quite enjoyable.
As spring drew closer, more and more clear days appeared even amid the snowfall. Naturally, the children spent more time playing outside. I went out as well to build up my stamina.
Near the landing and departure area for the nobles' riding beasts, packed snow had been gathered into mounds, creating an environment where children could slide down on sled-like objects.
I intended to join in sledding and snowball fights.
"Shall we go, Lady
"Yes!"
I dashed off with great enthusiasm, but after just a few steps in the snow I'd plop down, then take a few more steps and land flat on my rear. The children quickly left me behind.
I tried several times, but in the end, I never once made it to the snow mounds. I gave up on sledding from exhaustion. I crouched down to make a snowball, only to have one thrown at me, knocking me unconscious before I could even fight back. My foray into snow play ended before it truly began.
Still, it felt like a snow march of sorts, and I thought my stamina improved a little.
Before I knew it, winter ended and spring arrived.
New adults—parents, the Lord, and students who had returned—headed to the Noble Academy for the graduation ceremony. Once the graduation and coming-of-age ceremony concluded, everyone returned from the Academy all at once.
After everyone came back and we were all together again, there was a feast to celebrate the end of winter. Afterward, the nobles departed for their respective territories.
Before that celebratory feast, while students were gradually returning one after another, I received an audience request from
I hadn't expected them to seek an audience with me, given how timid they'd been before, so I tilted my head in puzzlement at what could have happened and agreed, arranging for the meeting room to be prepared.
On the appointed day, just as I was about to enter the room, I found the parents kneeling with Angelica between them. They lined up on either side of their daughter, kneeling with heads bowed.
I entered, and as Richida closed the door behind me, the parents' voices—more like screams—rang out.
"We are terribly sorry for this incident!"
"...Eh?"
Their apology carried a more desperate note than the previous audience, and I blinked in confusion. This sudden apology made no sense.
Tilting my head, Angelica's parents pressed hands against their stomachs, their faces deathly pale, and began to explain.
"It is entirely due to our insufficient education..."
It turned out that Angelica had been assigned mandatory supplementary lectures at the Noble Academy starting in spring and would be unable to perform her guard duty for some time.
Her parents asked, in trembling voices, to have Angelica removed from my guard detail—before she could cause any further embarrassment.
However, dismissing one of my guard knights would have a significant impact on Angelica's future. Being appointed as a guard knight to the Lord's adopted daughter was a great honor, and being removed would be a major demerit.
"...Richida, what should I do in a situation like this? I'll be away from the castle for a while during spring due to the Dedication Ritual. If Angelica can finish her supplementary lectures during that time, it wouldn't be too much of a problem."
"Do as you please, my lady."
Richida said this with a light sigh.
I could cut loose a poor performer, or I could keep them on if they showed promise. In other words, the choice was entirely mine as their master.
"What would Angelica like to do?"
"...Would it really be all right for me to continue serving?"
Angelica asked with a puzzled look. I nodded firmly.
"If you work hard and make it back by summer, I'd like you to continue serving."
When I said this, Angelica's parents exchanged glances and wore expressions of great difficulty.
"We understand that Lady Rozemyne is merciful and kind, but keeping Angelica at your side does not serve your interests. There is no need for retainers who would lower their lord's reputation. Please, reconsider."
Their words struck me as exactly what one would expect from servants of the Lord's family. It was classic noble thinking—cut the dead weight, advance the clan's fortunes.
But to me, those were sad words. I thought of my family, who had cherished me no matter how sickly and useless I might have been, and the contrast made my mood sink.
I appreciated that they were thinking of my well-being, but I wanted them to consider Angelica as well. Even knowing that this was a selfish wish born from someone who couldn't fully adopt the noble mindset, I couldn't help feeling that way.
I had given a second chance to
"I will keep your counsel in mind, but I would like to observe the situation until summer before deciding whether or not to dismiss Angelica."
I slowly shook my head, turning aside the parents' plea.
Their faces fell to expressions of resignation. They looked at Angelica and me, then murmured, "Understood."
"The children managed to memorize the gods' names before leaving for the Noble Academy during winter. Surely Angelica can do it too."
I said this and rose to my feet, then urged Angelica's parents to take their leave.
"Now then, let's discuss what lectures Angelica has been taking, where she's struggling, and what she doesn't understand."
After seeing Angelica's parents out of the room, I immediately formed the "Angelica Grade Improvement Squad" on the spot.
The members forced to join were the guard knights. You had to be a knight to understand the lecture content, so there was no need for Attendants or civil officials.
Since men couldn't enter my room, the strategy meeting would have to be held as-is.
"What lectures is Angelica struggling with?"
At the Noble Academy, grades were communicated verbally rather than on report cards, so I had no way of knowing Angelica's strengths and weaknesses. I needed to focus training on her weak areas. As I posed this question, Angelica's deep blue eyes sparkled, and she answered clearly.
"Almost all of the written lectures."
In the next instant, everyone was speechless.
"...Angelica, that's really..."
"Written lectures aren't that difficult, are they?"
Damuel had originally been a civil official's younger brother before deciding to become a knight, so when it came to strengths and weaknesses, he leaned more toward academics. As a lower Noble with limited Magic Power, he had struggled more with practical training than written studies.
"Um, Angelica. Then what exactly have the lectures been about?"
"...I'm not really sure."
Cornelius's eyes shot upward at Angelica's tilted-head response.
"You'd be memorizing the gods' names and learning the basics of military strategy, wouldn't you!? Did you actually attend the lectures!?"
Angelica was a third-year student at the Noble Academy. And yet, the person who understood the third-year lecture content the least was Angelica herself. Cornelius, who was gathering information in preparation for next year, actually knew more about it than she did.
I wasn't the Chief Priest, but I wanted to press my fingers to my temples.
"Damuel, Brigitte, Cornelius—would you mind explaining the lecture content in detail?"
"Of course."
Realizing that asking Angelica was a waste of time, I decided to hear from the other three instead. Information from Brigitte and Damuel's memories and Cornelius's research would be far more reliable.
"Let me summarize what everyone's said. The common coursework involves memorizing the gods' names and what they govern, and obtaining the blessing of a god compatible with yourself. The knights' coursework is understanding the basics of military strategy and the properties of weapons, and being able to employ them. Is that correct?"
"If you break the lectures down in detail, there's a lot more, but if you cover those areas, you shouldn't fail any of them."
Damuel, who had apparently struggled with practical training but performed relatively well in written studies, tilted his head in confusion. "I don't understand why you'd fail," he said.
Brigitte nodded in agreement with Damuel. She said she had performed roughly average across the board and hadn't struggled particularly with anything.
The person closest to Angelica's situation was probably Cornelius. He tended to lean toward Magic Power and practical skills, with written studies being the area that most dragged him down. Still, with the pride of an upper Noble, he maintained a respectable level of grades.
"Does 'failing grade' mean there are tests?"
"Yes. At the beginning of each lecture, there's an explanation of what the lecture will cover. Then the lecture takes place. In principle, there's a test at the end of each lecture."
Damuel explained this while Brigitte gave him a sharp glare and a slight shrug.
"Even though you say there's a test at the end, Damuel, you've never once stayed until the end of a lecture."
"What do you mean?"
Tilting my head, Damuel explained further.
"If you already know the lecture material, you can make an appointment with the professor outside of class hours and take the test. I poured all my free time into practical training, so even when I finished my written lectures early, I couldn't leave the Noble Academy until the end of winter."
Those with older siblings or who received guidance from upperclassmen during dormitory life—and those who were confident they could pass the test—could finish their lectures quickly. Now I understood why students returned to the castle at staggered intervals.
"With the free time they gained, some people studied Magical Tool crafting, reinforced their weapons, or took lectures as hobbies. Others built relationships with people from other territories."
The Chief Priest must have attacked his lectures with ferocious intensity. I could practically see him taking test after test, passing on the first try, and receiving effusive praise. He probably never even noticed the admiration of those around him, his eyes fixed only on the next lecture.
"...So she just needs to take the supplementary lectures and pass the tests? Then I'll hold a study session with Angelica and Cornelius together. If they do it here, Cornelius will have an easy time of it next year."
Fine by me. As I said this, Cornelius looked at Angelica with concern.
"Lady Rozemyne, will you be using that karuta to help her memorize the gods' names?"
"Yes. Cornelius, would you bring it?"
"Understood."
I'd watched children playing in the children's room before but had never participated myself, so I had Cornelius's karuta brought out for the guard knights.
In a match full of beginners, Damuel came out on top. Cornelius was frustrated about it, but Angelica didn't seem particularly bothered by losing.
If she didn't develop more ambition, she'd never improve.
"...Just like we did with the children, perhaps offering some sort of reward would make her more motivated. Angelica, is there something you want?"
Angelica's eyes widened at my words, and then for the first time, she began to deliberate with a genuinely serious expression. Occasionally she touched the hilt of the short sword at her waist, furrowing her brow.
As leader of the "Angelica Grade Improvement Squad," I looked over the guard knights who had agreed to help.
"If any of the others would like something within my ability to provide, just let me know. This isn't part of your normal duties, so extra salary, or anything else—feel free to ask."
"Then I'd like the extra salary," Damuel said with a light laugh.
But Brigitte tilted her head with a troubled expression.
"I'd like something that benefits Ilgner, but I can't think of anything specific."
She wasn't in a position for a political marriage, so she wanted to at least be useful to her brother—that's what Brigitte said. Her resigned expression made me purse my lips in displeasure. Brigitte was a wonderful person, and if it were possible, I wanted her to find a nice person and get married.
...But I didn't have nearly enough connections or communication skills to meddle on that front.
Cornelius clenched his fist firmly and said he'd like "new sweets or dishes." He wanted to bring them to a gathering of knights or Noble Academy classmates. As the son of a father who held new recipe cards, he wanted to be the one to set the latest trends. Whether to call that typical upper Noble behavior or to call him a foodie—a delicate call.
"Very well. Damuel will receive five large silver coins. Cornelius will receive new sweets that no one else has tried yet. For Brigitte, I'll think a little longer about something of comparable value."
"Thank you."
Damuel gave a light smile, and Cornelius murmured, "That seems about right." Neither showed much enthusiasm. I'd need to sweeten the success bonus.
I furrowed my brow slightly.
"What I mentioned earlier was the payment if Angelica fails. If Angelica can pass all her tests before summer, Damuel will receive one small gold coin. Cornelius won't receive the actual sweets, but rather one recipe. And I'll provide something appropriate for Brigitte as well."
Damuel and Cornelius's eyes lit up, gleaming like predators who had spotted prey as they looked at Angelica. Brigitte remained composed since no concrete reward had been offered yet.
"Angelica, have you decided what you want?"
When I asked, Angelica knelt before me, stroking the hilt of her short sword, and spoke hesitantly.
"Lady Rozemyne, is it truly anything I wish for?"
"Anything within my ability..."
After lowering her gaze for a moment, Angelica looked up with determination in her eyes.
"Lady Rozemyne, I would like to receive your Magic Power."
"...Magic Power?"
Not understanding the meaning, I tilted my head, and Angelica's gaze turned to the hilt of the sword she had been touching all along.
"I am currently in the process of nurturing this sword. That is why I would like your Magic Power."
"...I'm sorry, Angelica, but I don't quite understand?"
Angelica was a poor explainer, and I didn't know much about weapons or Magic Power—the two of us simply couldn't communicate effectively. We both tilted our heads and stared at each other.
"Lady Rozemyne, would you mind if I explained?"
Brigitte stepped in, unable to watch any longer.
"Please, Brigitte."
"The sword Angelica carries is a magic sword—a weapon that grows by absorbing Magic Power. Of course, it absorbs its wielder's Magic Power, but it can also gain power from various other sources, which diversifies its capabilities. Angelica wants Magic Power from others to help her magic sword grow."
It seemed she needed to pour in her own Magic Power while also infusing it with the Magic Power contained in magic stones from hunted magical beasts, or having others lend her their Magic Power in exchange for something.
"Lady Rozemyne, I prioritize speed in combat. To that end, during battle I devote most of my Magic Power to enhancing my physical abilities."
Angelica added this as though a thought had struck her, but once again, it was too terse for me to fully grasp.
Seeing me still tilting my head, Damuel elaborated.
"Lady Rozemyne, you've seen the knights in battle, yes? Many of them transform their Staves to fight, but both transforming and maintaining the form requires Magic Power. Since Angelica uses her Magic Power for physical enhancement, she uses a magic sword instead of a Staff—one she can nurture by accumulating Magic Power. Nurturing her magic sword is essential for fighting at even the slightest advantage."
"Couldn't the other knights help her?"
If the knights cooperated, the magic sword would grow in no time. Damuel shook his head at my suggestion.
"No one gives away their Magic Power so easily."
Magic Power was essential for creating magic stones infused with one's own energy and for being summoned in emergencies to fight. Damuel, a lower Noble with even less Magic Power than most, certainly wouldn't waste his. Even Brigitte, a middle Noble, apparently didn't part with Magic Power lightly.
Magic Power was apparently quite valuable.
"I'm happy to help, but is there anything I should be careful about or watch for when channeling my Magic Power?"
"As long as you don't exceed the amount Angelica has put in so far, there shouldn't be any problem. But are you truly certain!?"
"Yes. However, for Angelica, this is a success-based reward. She must pass all the written tests before summer."
For the first time, Angelica's deep blue eyes—always so listless—came alive with a vivid light. She looked at me with a gaze full of strong resolve and gripped her sword hilt tightly.
"I'll do it! I will absolutely pass those tests and receive Lady Rozemyne's Magic Power for this sword!"
"Now that you're motivated, let's get to it."
For memorizing the gods' names and their domains, we'd use karuta. For the basics of military strategy, we'd use a chess-like game called Gewinnen that employed Magic Power, based on a book on military fundamentals that Cornelius's brother
It was Damuel who designed the intensive crash curriculum to get through the written studies.
"The Academy closes on the Earthday, so we'll hold a study session then. Everyone, is that all right?"
Damuel was motivated for some reason. A single small gold coin had apparently been quite appealing. Cornelius was brimming with motivation as well.
"I'll lend you my karuta, so memorize like your life depends on it, Angelica."
"Thank you, Cornelius, Damuel."
And so, the serious contest of the "Angelica Grade Improvement Squad" began.
As many of you were worried about in the comments, Angelica's grades had indeed fallen into the situation I predicted.
Starting now, I'll do my best. I hope you'll root for me too. It's for the reward, of course.
Next time: the Dedication Ritual and the Harspiel visit.