Preparations and the Award Ceremony

Between reading books every single day, practicing my dedication dances, and training with Grandfather on efficient body-strengthening magic, I also had to prepare for my journey to the Royal Academy.

The first thing I needed was clothing commissions. Although plenty of fabric had been prepared so that outfits could be made at any time, apparently none had been crafted yet because no one knew when I would wake up. The exclusive tailors from both Mother's and Adoptive Mother's households, along with the Gilberta Company—which handled my commissions as well—were all mobilized to begin outfit production. That was why both Mother and Adoptive Mother were in my room today.

"Oh my, to think you even gathered information about the latest fashion trends at the Royal Academy—Rozemyne, you truly are remarkable."

Among the information that Daumel had compiled from the Royal Academy, there were details about what kinds of outfits the duchy's candidate nobles tended to wear. A high-ranking noble girl named Brünhilde had written it all out in great detail, saying she wanted it to serve as a reference for outfits being made for me and Charlotte, who would be entering the Academy.

I hadn't intended to collect information like this at all, but Adoptive Mother praised it as foresight. Any kind of information could be useful to someone somewhere, so it seemed best to keep having people gather whatever they could.

Incidentally, the information I actually wanted—stories and tales from various regions—hadn't arrived at all. Originally, I had no plans to use Leveled in winter, and since I intended to explain everything in my own words, the fact that I had only written "please collect information at the Royal Academy" was my downfall. When I hung my head in disappointment, Cornelius brother gave a wry smile and told me that no one could guess I wanted stories collected from a request that simply said "gather information."

"My lady, the outfits that must be made first and foremost are those you'll wear to winter social events."

"Winter socials—I could just wear outfits I've worn before, couldn't I? Fortunately or unfortunately, I haven't grown at all."

I had been discussing the order of outfit production with Richelda. Richelda wanted to make them in the order they'd be worn, but I prioritized the outfits that would be taken outside the castle.

Sadly, during the two years I'd been asleep, I hadn't grown one bit. I could still wear outfits from two years ago without any problem.

"To think you'd wear something you first debuted two or three years ago at a coming-out again..."

"But, Richelda. What we need to make first are the outfits for the Royal Academy, aren't they? We can't just bring along clothes that already exist."

Mother, who had been listening to the discussion between Richelda and me, let out a soft sigh.

"Rozemyne, I now fully understand Lord Ferdinand's words about how your sense of time has been frozen two years in the past."

"Mother?"

"Rozemyne, entering the Royal Academy means you are turning ten years old."

"Yes?"

"Your skirt length will be different from before, so even though you haven't grown, you won't be able to wear your old outfits."

...Ah, right. The skirt length changes.

When girls turn ten, their skirts shift from knee-length to calf-length. This was supposed to be a moment where I'd savor the joy of my growth, but since nothing about me had changed on the inside and I hadn't even had a proper tenth-birthday celebration, there was not a speck of joy—only a sense of discomfort.

"We'll have no choice but to have new outfits made for the Opening Feast as well, won't we?"

"...For the Opening Feast, let's just have the skirt length adjusted. That shouldn't take too much time, right?"

I asked the tailors lined up nearby to call Corina over.

"Corina, I'd like you to alter this skirt portion. Starting from the underside here, attach a new calf-length skirt, and then gather the current skirt like this and add a flower ornament."

Just as when I'd altered Turi's outfit for her Baptism Ceremony back in the lower city, I planned to have the current skirt portion gathered like a balloon to serve as decoration, with a new calf-length skirt attached underneath—a simple alteration to get me through the feast.

Corina, who had received prior explanations of my simple alterations from my mother, immediately grasped what I wanted and, pulling out needle and thread, quickly gathered the fabric into a balloon shape with basting stitches.

"How does this length look? If, as Lady Rozemyne suggested, we attach a new knee-length skirt underneath in this manner, this is how it would turn out—is this acceptable?"

Corina had another tailor bring fabric and demonstrated the proposed alteration to Mother and Adoptive Mother.

"Oh, how adorable. The shape is fine, but please use this year's trending color for the new skirt fabric."

"As you wish."

"If you're decorating the gathered portion with flowers, wouldn't it look nice to put a matching ornament here on the bodice as well?"

"My Lady, if that is the case, then I believe small flowers arranged in this pattern on the bodice would also look quite lovely."

"Oh, how wonderful."

Adoptive Mother and Adoptive Mother placed their orders, and Corina recorded them on wooden tablets. Then, from among the trendy-colored fabrics prepared by the Gilberta Company, she selected materials with suitable texture, measured dimensions, and made her decisions.

After that, we had to decide on the outfits to bring to the Royal Academy. The Academy had no prescribed uniform, but regulations dictated that outfits be black-based. Apparently, this was a sign of respect for the Darkness God, who absorbs all things, and a demonstration of one's eagerness to greedily absorb the teachings at the Academy.

However, since only the black base was mandated, there seemed to be considerable freedom. According to the information gathered from the Academy, some students covered their black outfits with vibrant embroidery, while others wore a bolero-style outer garment with flowing sleeves over a close-fitted outfit, adjusting their sleeve length depending on the lecture content.

"I'd prefer an outfit where the sleeve length can be adjusted, like this, rather than embroidery."

Long sleeves were honestly nothing but trouble. However, there were apparently practical classes on court etiquette as well, so there would be times when longer sleeves were needed. If a bolero could be put on and removed to adjust the length, that would be both convenient and efficient, I thought.

But at my suggestion, Adoptive Mother, Mother, and Richelda all shook their heads in unison.

"A duchy candidate must not wear such sleeves."

"...Eh? But surely duchy candidates take practical classes in addition to lectures? Wouldn't long sleeves get in the way?"

"Handling that elegantly is precisely what defines a duchy candidate, Rozemyne."

Adoptive Mother smiled sweetly and shut down my sleeve-length idea.

Well, there was nothing I could do. At the very least, I'd make sure to properly prepare sash cords for tying back the sleeves myself.

Regarding my outfits, aside from the alterations, my opinions were almost never accepted, and the three of them decided everything. It was probably for the best to leave it to them rather than end up with something outlandish. I could only stare blankly at the decisions being made one after another, thinking all the while that I wanted to get back to reading.

Thanks to the large number of tailors mobilized, my outfits were successfully completed before the winter social season began.

"Rozemyne, about your exclusive cook and exclusive musician... would it be alright to dispatch them to the Royal Academy?"

One evening at dinner, Adoptive Father brought this up with me. At the Academy, students lived in dormitories organized by territory. The musicians dispatched would be five exclusive attendants assigned to the highest-ranking students, while the cooks would be five selected from the castle kitchen staff, including assistant workers.

Wilfried and I, as duchy candidates, held the highest status, so our exclusive musicians would automatically be included. However, Ella and Hugo had been commuting between the Temple and the castle alongside me, making it difficult to simply take them from the castle kitchen. That was why Adoptive Father wanted permission to dispatch them.

"While you're away, you'll return those two to the Temple, yes? In that case, I'd like to make the most efficient use of skilled cooks."

"I'm accustomed to their cooking, so I have no objection. However, I won't be sharing any new recipes with the cooks who go along."

The original recipes that Ella and Hugo had developed over the two years were fine, but my recipes were not to be spread beyond what had been paid for.

"...There's nothing to be done about that, I suppose."

Adoptive Father had apparently harbored a faint hope for new recipes, but he gave up and nodded.

"What I'd like is for you to showcase the sweets made from the recipes I purchased from you at duchy candidate gatherings and tea parties."

"I thought you wanted to keep those hidden?"

He had given strict orders to the nobles to keep the teaching materials, picture books, and new recipes under wraps. Was he planning to lift the embargo?

"Everything you create has enormous influence. I thought it was safer to keep things hidden as long as you were enrolled as a duchy candidate. But from now on, you and Wilfried will be enrolled, and starting next year, Charlotte will be as well. I want to use this opportunity to raise Ehrenfest's influence as much as possible."

Adoptive Father's expression had shifted to that of a lord. I couldn't tell what future he was envisioning, but considering our relationship with Ahrensbach, it would be wise to increase our influence as much as possible.

"...From what Lord Ferdinand told me, I just need to improve our grades at the Academy, correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"How much budget will we be allocated?"

"Hmm?"

"If you're serious about raising the entire duchy's academic performance, there are several strategies. However, the cost would be far too great for students like me to bear alone. What we can accomplish will depend on how much of the duchy's budget is allocated toward education."

Money was needed for everything. And time. If only I had woken up a year earlier, there would have been much more I could do.

"There's very little we can do between now and when we leave for the Academy, so serious preparations will begin in the spring. This year at the Academy, we'll verify the results of the teaching materials used so far, compare the collected information against reality, and focus on assessing the current situation. Based on that, I'll put forward several proposals for improving the entire duchy's performance, so please allocate a budget, Adoptive Father."

"...Understood. I leave the Academy to you and Wilfried. As duchy candidates, take charge and lead everyone."

At Adoptive Father's words, Wilfried nodded with a stern expression. "Understood," he said.

While preparations progressed steadily, my body-strengthening magic training with Grandfather was also going well, more or less. I was practicing casting body-strengthening magic on my right arm—without the Magical Tool attached—and was able to summon my riding beast.

When Angelica saw this, her eyes went wide, she staggered unsteadily, and slumped in defeat.

"Why can Lady Rozemyne use body-strengthening magic so easily? I've lost all confidence as a knight."

It had apparently taken her a year and a half to finally be able to summon her riding beast while using body-strengthening magic.

"Ha ha ha ha! Rozemyne has that much Magic Power. Even with her whole body strengthened, she still has plenty of Magic Power left for other things. That's all there is to it. You have been training to increase your Magic Power and use body-strengthening magic with less energy. There's no point comparing yourselves. There's no useenvying the Magic Power demanded of the lord's adopted daughter. Instead, increase yours steadily, refine your technique little by little, and reduce the Magic Power required."

Grandfather said this with a laugh, then added, "When it comes to conserving Magic Power, take a page from Daumel's book." Daumel, a lower-ranking knight with limited Magic Power, was apparently always mindful of how to fight with as little Magic Power as possible and was extremely enthusiastic about research into Magic Power conservation. He was said to fight in a humble, understated way, but with virtually no waste.

"As the master's teacher says, your master still isn't used to body-strengthening magic and wastes a great deal of Magic Power. Your technique is far more refined by comparison. There's nothing to feel down about."

Angelica had been recognized as Grandfather's disciple and had become one of the rare knights who could use body-strengthening magic—something even most higher-ranking knights could not do. And Stlnruk seemed to be growing steadily as well, with its blade noticeably longer than before.

"Stlnruk has gotten bigger too. I wonder if it's learned all sorts of things?"

"Yeah, but since my master is terrible at remembering things, I'm the one who has to suffer."

Hearing those words in the Chief Priest's voice and tone made me feel as though I were the one being scolded with "Honestly, your memory is dreadful. Think about how much I've had to put up with."

Remembering the tasks the Chief Priest had assigned me today, my spirits sank. Just then, Grandfather cleared his throat and thrust a short dagger before me. Seeing the large magic stone set into the hilt, I realized this was another magical sword.

"Rozemyne, I'm raising a magical sword too. Would you pour your Magic Power into it?"

"...Lord Ferdinand has forbidden me from pouring Magic Power into other people's magical swords."

"What!?"

I felt bad for bursting Grandfather's bubble of excitement, but I truly couldn't pour in Magic Power freely. I had been forbidden by the Chief Priest long ago.

"Hmm, hmm... Ferdinand's permission, you say."

Grandfather made a complicated face and began to groan. Sensing he might charge off to confront the Chief Priest at any moment, I hurried to put a stop to that idea.

"Even with Lord Ferdinand's permission, it would be difficult if I'm not accustomed to controlling my own Magic Power."

The Magic Power that had been unlocked by Leveled and had increased my usable reserves—I still couldn't handle it well.

To put it simply, it was like being told to switch from pouring water with a watering can to pouring from a bucket. The adjustment was extremely difficult. For body-strengthening magic, which consumed large amounts of Magic Power, it was like pouring water into a basin, so I could just dump it in without issue. But pouring Magic Power into a magical sword was more like carefully measuring with a ladle—pouring from a bucket was far too imprecise. That was where I currently stood.

"Besides, Angelica needed someone who could support her and guide her training. By imagining someone who would push her hard, I poured Magic Power with the intention of creating a sword with Lord Ferdinand's manner of speaking. But when I think of you, Grandfather, I can't picture anything you're lacking. You're already plenty strong."

"...Is that so?"

With exchanges like these, preparations for the Royal Academy continued to progress steadily. Under Richelda's direction, packing began in earnest, and the Chief Priest's intensive short-term course stuffed knowledge into our heads. Naturally, behavior befitting a ten-year-old was demanded of me as well, and studies in court etiquette were undertaken.

Before I knew it, winter had arrived. Today was the day of the Opening Feast. The winter Baptism Ceremony would be held, new children would be presented, and the Award Ceremony would take place.

Since I had to attend the Award Ceremony this year, the Baptism Ceremony and presentations had been left entirely to the Chief Priest. Not attending as the High Priest, I felt rather at ease as my hair was arranged, I changed clothes, and prepared at a leisurely pace.

"Sister, shall we go to the great hall together?"

Timing it perfectly to when I had finished getting ready, Charlotte arrived at my room, similarly prepared. I agreed at once, and we left together.

"With Sister attending special classes to prepare for the Royal Academy, even though we're both in the castle, the only times I can see you are during dedication dance practice and dinner. I've been feeling quite lonely."

...Charlotte is still as adorable as ever.

The fact that Charlotte had grown taller than me was a shock that left a crack in my sisterly pride. But the moment she gifted me a book as thanks for saving her and an apology for poaching my knights, my affection rating for Charlotte skyrocketed, and the shock of being surpassed in height blew away completely.

...My little sister is genuinely too cute for this world.

I summoned my riding beast, mounted it, and descended the stairs alongside Charlotte, the two of us chatting. Waiting there at the bottom, also ready to go, was Wilfried.

"You're still using your riding beast? Haven't you recovered, Rozemyne?"

Wilfried's eyes went round when he saw me come down the stairs on my riding beast.

"I've taken medicine and recovered somewhat, but without the Magical Tool, I still can't really walk."

"What!? Didn't you say you were training with Bonifatius in the Knight's Order? That's suicide!"

Wilfried had apparently been undergoing his own training alongside the knights being rigorously drilled by Bonifatius, so to him, my training with Grandfather looked like nothing short of suicidal. In truth, I'd had similar thoughts of "I might die," so perhaps that was how it appeared to everyone.

"Grandfather is teaching me about body-strengthening magic, so we haven't done anything that could really be called training."

"Sister's dedication dances have improved so quickly too—I had no idea about any of this."

I hadn't made a big deal of using the Magical Tool. It was going to come off eventually anyway.

"...Once we return from the Royal Academy and have some breathing room, we've discussed gradually removing the Magical Tool and rebuilding my physical strength and muscle."

Wilfried and Charlotte walked beside me as I moved on my riding beast, with our knights forming a protective cordon around us. The three of us walking together like this for the first time since the attack had put even the surrounding guards on edge.

"I'm feeling a bit nervous now. The culprit has already been caught, but still..."

Charlotte laughed softly at this, and the surrounding tension eased slightly as others smiled along with her.

At the final turn before the great hall, I had to dismount my riding beast and proceed on foot. Riding beasts could not be used beyond this point. And from here, I would be standing for almost the entire day.

...Will I be okay?

My worry must have been written on my face, because after we'd walked only a short distance, Wilfried furrowed his brows with concern and extended his hand to me.

"...Rozemyne, would you like to hold onto my arm?"

"No, I'll slow you down. You and Charlotte can go ahead without me. I'll walk at whatever pace suits my condition."

"Absolutely not. We've been told the three of us must stay together today."

In the end, everyone accommodated my pace. Surrounded by our trailing knights, the three of us claimed seats in the front row of the great hall. During the walk through the great hall, perhaps because I had been so surrounded by knights, Wilfried, and Charlotte that I was barely visible, the nobles who came to greet us were visibly surprised when they caught sight of me.

"Lady Rozemyne, you've awakened!"

"How wonderful indeed. Then I shall be able to attend the Royal Academy alongside Lady Rozemyne. I'm so delighted."

"I apologize for causing you concern, Count Groschel, Brünhilde. Sister has made a full recovery."

Charlotte stepped a pace ahead of me, beaming, and handled the greetings.

Brünhilde—she was two years older than me, wasn't she? I recalled seeing her in the children's room during the winter three years ago. She had straight crimson hair and light brown eyes. I remembered her as a chatty, fashion-conscious girl. She was the one who had gathered information about duchy candidate outfits at the Academy for me.

I stood beside Charlotte and smiled warmly at Brünhilde. I should properly express my gratitude.

"Brünhilde, the information you provided about outfits was extremely helpful. Thank you very much."

"Oh, I'm so glad it was useful."

When Brünhilde spoke up in her bright voice, other nobles began gathering to offer their greetings.

Having slept through two years, I became a curiosity and a center of interest, with nobles streaming over one after another.

"Please allow me to greet Lady Rozemyne as well."

"Oh my, if it isn't the Viscountess Daldorf."

Before I could even open my mouth, Wilfried smoothly stepped in front of me.

"I trust you are in good health. I was hoping to speak briefly with Viscount Daldorf—do you know where he might be?"

"Oh my, Lord Wilfried... I shall go look for him at once. Good day."

I was disliked by Shikikoza's mother, so it was a relief when Wilfried efficiently drove her off.

Feeling carefree about that, I continued to be approached by nobles for some time before it finally dawned on me.

...I'm being protected by Wilfried and Charlotte.

Whenever a noble approached, one of the two would step forward. Unless I made a move to speak on my own, the exchange would conclude without a single word from me.

I stared in amazement at how the situation had completely reversed from two years ago, when I had shielded the two of them while facing nobles.

"You two have really been studying hard, haven't you?"

"You can't just stay protected forever."

The instructions the Chief Priest had drilled into me about dealing with nobles had been extensive. Knowing that the two young ones had absorbed it all as well, I could only let out a sigh of admiration.

"There was so much to learn. It must have been terribly difficult?"

"...Yes, it was. But it wasn't all that different from what Sister went through two years ago. In addition to handling nobles, Sister also prepared for my Baptism Ceremony and debut, didn't she? When I saw the wooden tablets Sister had to memorize for that, I nearly fainted."

Apparently, the Chief Priest had presented them with the wooden tablets I had memorized for the Dedication Ritual, along with the materials on dealing with nobles. All my behind-the-scenes efforts had been laid bare.

"You two even helped me with my work as High Priest, didn't you? I'm sorry for piling so much on you."

"Sister, I am the lord's child too. Over these past two years, I've come to understand just how difficult and important it is to pour Magic Power into the directly governed lands. I plan to head out for the Dedication Ritual next spring as well. I can't keep leaving all the burden to you."

"That's right. If we divide the work and take turns, we can finish much sooner."

...Oh no. I've been completely left in the dust by these two.

After savoring their growth—beyond just physical stature—the lord and his wife entered the hall. They ascended the stage, took their seats, glanced our way, and offered a gentle smile. We returned the smile.

The Chief Priest entered to conduct the Baptism Ceremony. Stepping onto the stage, the Chief Priest surveyed the great hall with a sweeping glance. As his voice boomed, "Welcome the newest children of Ehrenfest," the doors opened wide, and the children who had recently undergone the Baptism Ceremony filed in.

"Lady Rozemyne?"

"Yes, Cornelius?"

Watching the children ascend the stage for their presentation, I turned at the voice from Cornelius, who stood beside me.

"The one who will make his debut afterward—Nicolaus..."

"Yes?"

"He is Father's son. Our half-brother."

"...What?"

This year's debut featured Nicolaus, the son of the second wife, Tromdelie.

Unlike me, who had undergone the Baptism Ceremony with the legal wife Elvira as my mother, Nicolaus had completed his as the son of Karstedt and Tromdelie, making him officially a half-brother.

"He will likely come to greet you afterward along with Tromdelie."

"Is there anything I should be mindful of?"

"No. However, Father has asked that you not show any obvious favoritism in the winter children's room. He says you are exceptionally soft toward those younger than you."

Now that I had become an adopted daughter, the siblings I needed to prioritize first and foremost were Wilfried and Charlotte, followed by my full brothers—Eckhart, Lamprecht, and Cornelius. Nicolaus ranked considerably lower, so I was to be mindful of how I showed my affection.

...But little brothers and sisters are cute, and you want them to rely on you, don't you?

Nicolaus, a high-ranking noble, played the feyspiel last during his debut. The tone of his playing revealed that he had clearly practiced well. He was a boy with bright chestnut hair and pale blue eyes. He took after his mother, I supposed—his features didn't much resemble Father's. However, his build was on the taller side, so when standing in a line, I'd no doubt be the shorter one.

After the debut came the Award Ceremony. As the Chief Priest descended from the stage, officials ascended in his place. Eight officials carrying ornate boxes lined up in formation. After confirming that everything was prepared, Adoptive Father walked to the center of the stage.

"Now, we shall begin the Award Ceremony. New students heading to the Royal Academy, step forward!"

The official's voice rang out, and escorted by Wilfried, I made my way onto the stage. The eight individuals who had stood alongside me at my debut three years ago were lined up once more. Filine, catching my eye unexpectedly, offered a sweet smile. I returned it.

Glancing around, the faces on stage were all familiar, but each had grown beyond what I remembered. My own lack of growth stood out painfully, and my heart sank.

"Rozemyne."

Called by Adoptive Father, I looked up sharply and stepped forward. An official stepped out, placed the ornate box he was carrying before Adoptive Father, and opened the lid. From inside, Adoptive Father drew a mantle and brooch and held them out toward me.

"Through diverse experiences, learn well, grow, and become a noble worthy of Ehrenfest."

"With utmost sincerity, I pay my respects to the Darkness God and devote myself to turning every experience into strength."

I accepted the mantle and brooch, stepped back several paces, and rejoined the line. Once the awards were given to everyone, an official announced the departure date for the Royal Academy. As in previous years, departure would be by seniority, starting with the eldest students. Wilfried and I, as newcomers, would depart last on the final day.

And so, winter life had begun.

I've finished my preparations for the Royal Academy.

I received my mantle and brooch. The mantle was prepared with the assumption that it would last until I came of age, so it's far too big for Rozemyne. I'd be happy with half the size.

Next is the winter children's room and departure.