After the dedication ceremony came lunch, and once lunch was over, socializing among the nobles would begin. However, the High Priest told me to return to my room. I had apparently been moving around too much already.
"But I've been told that after this, Father's second wife and her child, Nicolaus, will be paying their respects…"
"Is your well-being not more important than such introductions? Don't forget that you're only able to move around because of a magical tool. If you collapse now, it will interfere with tomorrow's schedule onward. There's no time before we depart for the Noble Academy. You ought to be able to figure that much out on your own?"
When the High Priest launched into a lengthy lecture about what would happen if my condition worsened, I drooped my head in resignation. The gratitude I felt at his concern was inversely proportional to the amount of time he spent piling on words, dropping sharply with each additional sentence.
…If he had stopped after those first words, he would have been such a wonderful person, High Priest.
For now, the person who knows my physical condition better than anyone is the High Priest. In order to stop his long-winded speech, I decided to obediently return to my room.
"Understood. I will do as Lord
That alone was enough for the High Priest to understand what I intended to do. He said "Hmm" and furrowed his brow slightly.
"Isn't the payment for that information supposed to be made at the Noble Academy?"
"The documents I gave you, Lord Ferdinand, only list those who graduated during the two years I was asleep. The information from those still enrolled at the Noble Academy will be paid at the Academy."
The compiled documents of information gathered at the Noble Academy had been read by Ehrenfest's leadership as well. Since the High Priest and I place different values on information, I had thought there might be people who would be pleased even by information I didn't particularly need.
Sure enough, as expected, each person felt different things were important, and there was also information they wanted follow-ups on. I selected those who had provided such valuable information and took the information fees firmly from the budgets of the departments of those who had been pleased to receive the information.
The civil officials I wasn't very familiar with were stunned when asked for information fees, but seeing that the Lord and his wife and the Knight Commander paid generously with wry smiles, they couldn't very well refuse and willingly paid up.
In this way, I prepared the money I had originally planned to.
"Now that you mention it, you sold information to quite a few places, didn't you? Understood. I'll make arrangements for them to gather in the afternoon."
"That would be helpful."
"So, will Big Sister only be visiting the Children's Room tomorrow?"
When the High Priest and I finished discussing tomorrow's schedule,
"That may be how it turns out. I intend only to greet the children and make introductions, but I truly have no time to make up for the two years of delay."
At the dedication ceremony, seeing the growth of
Moreover, if I wanted to raise Ehrenfest's overall academic performance, I would first need to raise my own grades—otherwise no one would follow me. Once I had assessed the Children's Room's current state, I wanted to devote my time to my own studies.
"I understand Big Sister's feelings. Then, would you please prepare the treats to give the children on tomorrow's first day? There are children who have been looking forward to sweets made by your personal chef."
"Yes, of course. Starting tomorrow, I'll take care of the preparation."
I answered with a smile, but inside I was breaking into a cold sweat.
It hadn't even occurred to me that during my absence, the two personal chefs had been preparing sweets as prizes. In the worst case, we could have ended up preparing duplicate batches.
…Thank goodness. Charlotte pointed it out for me.
Still, I thought. Preparing sweets costs a tremendous amount of money. Sugar was absurdly expensive. Even using honey, which was cheaper by comparison, having to prepare sweets every day must have been extremely difficult. Setting myself aside since I could earn my own money, did the two of them have enough?
…I know it might seem strange to ask now and offer to pay, but this was something I started on my own initiative, and the two of them just got caught up in it.
"Hmm," I murmured, lost in thought, and Wilfried narrowed his deep green eyes in a frown.
"
"Yes. It was something I started on my own initiative, and while I could use the excuse of being bedridden from medicine, I've recovered now, so I cannot continue to burden the two of you any further."
When I said that, Charlotte also frowned, her blue eyes fixing me with a glare. Being stared down by my cute little sister with that reproachful look, I honestly felt at a loss.
"Big Sister, isn't it unwise to take everything on yourself when you're already busy with your own preparations?"
"Huh?"
"Father said that educating the children in the Children's Room and raising Ehrenfest's academic performance is work that should be done as the Lord's children, didn't he?"
"Y-Yes, he did."
Charlotte crept closer, leaning her face down toward mine from its slightly higher position, and smiled as she scolded me. Being scolded by my sister left me flustered, and then Wilfried tapped me on the shoulder.
"That's right, Rozemyne. It is work that we, as the Lord's children, must also undertake. You must not monopolize it. If we do nothing, we'll be treated as incompetent. Surely even the clever you can understand that?"
Both of them were no longer beings I needed to protect. They were trying to take on work as the Lord's children on equal footing. Then I simply needed to assess what each of them could handle and divide the tasks accordingly.
"Understood. Then, let me look at the Children's Room tomorrow and divide up the work."
When I proposed dividing the work, Wilfried's expression brightened considerably. Then, with a smug "Hmph!" and a puff of his chest, he patted my head.
"Good. Then you rest today. It's going to be tough starting tomorrow."
"We certainly can't have Big Sister collapsing again."
Charlotte also seemed pleased to have taken on work from me, and her expression softened into a smile.
Thinking it was fine as long as the two of them wanted to do the work, I headed for the door to leave the dining hall.
"Rozemyne."
"Yes, Lord Ferdinand?"
Called back by the High Priest, I turned around on the spot.
"Your body needs rest, but your mind is perfectly fine to keep working. Continue reading through the documents I've given you."
"With pleasure."
I returned to my room and, with Richalda's and Ottillie's help, took a bath and changed clothes. Then I had them carry the wooden crate of documents from the High Priest over to my bedside.
"Goodness, Lord Ferdinand. If he's going to give the Lady a rest for the sake of her health, he ought to prohibit reading as well."
Richalda said this in a huff, but I pulled books from the wooden crate, spread them out on the bed, and let out a sigh of relief. I felt bad for Richalda, who worried about my health, but reading was the time when I felt most at peace. When the High Priest told me to read, he looked like a godsend.
"There are so many things I need to memorize before going to the Noble Academy. I have to read. Hee hee."
Richalda was angry at the High Priest for saying "rest" while piling on assignments, but I think the High Priest had actually shielded me from the nobles. In the great hall, all I had met were gazes full of curiosity at my having not grown in two years, and mocking looks that were clearly anything but friendly.
I had thought I was prepared, but I was exhausted by the sheer number of stares and the whispered conversations. Wilfried and Charlotte shielded me, but simply being there had been genuinely exhausting.
And then, the next day, I had Richalda and Ottillie carry the sweets I had asked Ela to prepare, and headed for the Children's Room.
Starting today, the move to the Noble Academy would begin, and
I had told Hugo to "make sure Ela can live comfortably by protecting her properly, and report to me immediately if anything happens," so he would surely take care of the living arrangements as well.
Basically, I didn't want to send young girls to places beyond their masters' oversight. For that reason, Ela's move was scheduled for the day I departed for the Noble Academy.
It wasn't just chefs and servants who moved—the students' relocation naturally took place as well. Today was the day
"Cornelius will also head to the Academy starting tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. As an upperclassman who's accustomed to it, I'll be preparing for the new arrivals and welcoming the lowerclassmen."
Listening to Damuel and Cornelius talk about the move-in and the advancement ceremony as we went, I entered the Children's Room.
"Good day, Big Sister."
"Good day, Charlotte."
When I entered, the Children's Room buzzed with murmuring. Setting aside the students, the children who had completed their Baptism Ceremonies during my two years of sleep had never met me at all. Some wore expressions like "I'd heard the rumors, but she actually exists?" while others looked at me with puzzled expressions as if they had no idea who I was.
Among them, Wilfried pulled me by the hand, stood before everyone, and raised his hand to demand attention.
"For two long years, I was asleep for treatment, so there are some who may not know my face. Let me introduce her. This is my sister and Charlotte's elder sister, Rozemyne. Those of you older enough should know that she created the picture books, karuta, playing cards, and sweets found nowhere else that are used here."
…Wh-wh-wh-what kind of introduction is that!?
I gasped in shock, and Charlotte sidled up to me with a soft smile, adding with a bright grin: "Big Sister Rozemyne is Ehrenfest's Saint, who, even while asleep, blessed Ehrenfest with an enormous amount of Magic Power. Even if you haven't seen her, you've surely heard stories, haven't you? I admire Big Sister very much."
…Stop it! The shining, expectant eyes of the children who believe it all are painful! Stop raising the bar!
I wanted to deny it with all my might—"I'm not a saint anymore!"—and flee. But sandwiched between Wilfried and Charlotte and further surrounded by my guards, there was nowhere to run.
Pulled along by Wilfried, I was made to sit in the chair Richalda had prepared and could do nothing but force a smile.
"You may now greet Rozemyne."
At Wilfried's words, a line formed before me to pay respects. Even so, it was only the children heading to the Noble Academy, so even after receiving everyone's greetings, it was only a little over thirty people.
Wilfried and Charlotte sat on either side of me, and the children who had just completed their Baptism Ceremonies lined up in front of them and began their introductions.
"May I be permitted to pray for blessings upon this rare encounter, received through the strict selection of the God of Life,
"You have permission."
While receiving small sparks of blessing light, I answered each greeting with a smile. Among them was my half-brother Nicolaus, whom I had seen at yesterday's presentation.
He knelt before me and crossed his hands. His bright chestnut hair swayed gently.
"May I be permitted to pray for blessings upon this rare encounter, received through the strict selection of the God of Life, Ewigeliebe?"
"You have permission."
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Nicolaus, son of Knight Commander
"And I look forward to yours."
After the formal greeting was finished, Nicolaus left the spot. As his older sister, I thought I could be a bit more friendly—when Cornelius called out, "Lady Rozemyne."
Cornelius, wearing a smile reminiscent of our mother's, looked down at me. It was the kind of smile that asked, "You haven't forgotten yesterday's warning, have you?" and I returned it with a smile of my own.
"…I remember."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
After the greetings were over, stone slates were distributed to the newly enrolled children, and
At the same time, centered on Wilfried and Charlotte, card games using karuta and playing cards began based on last year's final team assignments. Apparently, this was to gauge how much they had improved from spring through autumn.
I watched the proceedings from my chair with an impressed "Oho." I could see clearly that over the two years, they had made their own adjustments and the Children's Room had been running without problems.
"Today's prize is sweets that Rozemyne has prepared for the first time in two years."
At Wilfried's announcement, the children who had never tasted Ela's sweets simply tilted their heads in confusion. It was the students whose eyes lit up as they gazed at the prepared sweets.
"Lord Wilfried, I'll have to get serious about this."
"There are battles I absolutely cannot lose."
"Hmph. I, too, shall show no mercy."
The boys who got serious about what was "just a game of karuta" raised cries of triumph and despair every time someone took a card.
"Lady Rozemyne, here is the document I've compiled about the Children's Room over these past two years. Would you like to see it?"
"Of course, Teacher Moritz."
I received the results of their work to date from Moritz and looked through the documents.
"From what I can see, it seems to have been managed well. From this data as well, it appears the foundations have been thoroughly drilled, so we could increase the difficulty of the calculation problems a bit more."
"You want to increase them further?"
When Moritz widened his eyes in surprise, I nodded firmly.
"I've received orders from the Aub Ehrenfest to raise the academic performance of the entire territory as much as possible. I would very much like your cooperation, Teacher Moritz."
"Understood."
"Still, I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble, Teacher Moritz. I had not planned to sleep through the winter, so all I left regarding the Children's Room was a memorandum. It must have been difficult without detailed instructions."
The memorandum, which only listed in bullet points what needed to be done in the Children's Room during winter and what I wanted to try, had been handed down as my instructions by the High Priest. The recipients had no idea what to do or how, and it must have been quite difficult.
"…To be honest, the first year was full of stumbling blocks, and it was tough. Every time I realized Lady Rozemyne's meticulous preparation and thoughtfulness, I was back to trial and error. In the second year, I was able to create a workflow by refining those improvements, which kept the Children's Room running."
I could see in Moritz's face the confidence of someone who had worked hard for two years. At this rate, it seemed there would be no problem leaving things in his care.
"I need to make up for two years of sleep, so I won't be able to come to the Children's Room starting tomorrow. I'll leave the rest in your hands."
"I understand and accept."
Moritz knelt and crossed his hands. At that moment, the karuta match apparently came to an end. The winner pumped a fist in the air shouting "I won!" while Wilfried slammed his fist into the floor in frustration.
I called the winners by team and handed out the sweet prizes. While everyone watched with envy, the winners who put the sweets in their mouths trembled with emotion.
"Darn it! One more round!"
"Lord Wilfried, the team reassignment comes first."
"Grrgh!"
Wilfried, who had apparently lost himself in the competition, stood up with a sour expression. He and Charlotte re-formed the teams—the students based on match results, and the children by new assignments.
They seemed to divide the work well, and from the way the children helped them, I could vaguely tell that the Children's Room was roughly split into a Wilfried faction and a Charlotte faction.
"Lady Rozemyne."
In the midst of all this,
"Philine, may I see them?"
"Yes, Lady Rozemyne!"
Her face beaming, Philine showed me the story collections she had compiled herself. The early ones had poor handwriting and were written in childish spoken language, making them difficult to read, but over two years she had grown accustomed to writing, and her penmanship had improved steadily. The wooden plaques—where one could see at a glance how spoken language had transformed into written prose—were filled with Philine's effort, and I felt my cheeks soften.
"You wrote quite a lot, didn't you?"
"Lady Rozemyne, you turned my mother's stories about knights into a book. Other nobles read my mother's stories too, and seeing how happy it made them filled me with joy."
The knight storybook I had compiled also included several stories collected from the children. Apparently, the children of lower-ranking nobles were overjoyed to find their own stories in the books borrowed in the Children's Room after I fell asleep.
…I would have liked to see that.
"Roderich, who never imagined his own stories would become a book just because he wanted teaching materials, has been desperately gathering stories ever since."
"I read Roderich's stories. They were very enjoyable. I'm planning to revise them into proper written language and turn them into a book again. Philine, were you able to write down all of your mother's stories?"
At my question, Philine lowered her eyes sadly and shook her head.
"I couldn't write them all. There are some stories I've forgotten… and that makes me very sad."
"Philine, stories often follow certain patterns, and remarkably similar tales exist even in distant lands. Students from various territories gather at the Noble Academy, don't they? While hearing all sorts of stories, you may find yourself remembering some."
How about trying to hear stories from many different people? When I suggested this, Philine's leaf-green eyes widened, and then she broke into a quiet laugh.
"Lady Rozemyne, are you perhaps planning to collect stories at the Noble Academy too?"
"Yes, absolutely. Isn't it a perfect opportunity to gather stories from beyond Ehrenfest?"
When I answered proudly, Philine knelt right there and crossed her hands.
"I, Philine, pledge to offer stories from various lands to Lady Rozemyne as a scribe-in-training who collects regional information."
"I look forward to it."
The next instant, a ripple of commotion ran through the room. In an instant, a strange tension filled the air. Several students' eyes went wide, and they hurried over in a fluster.
"Lady Rozemyne, have you taken Philine in as an attendant?"
"…An attendant?"
Confused, I looked to Cornelius. Cornelius immediately stepped forward and shook his head.
"No, that's not it. I was watching from Lady Rozemyne's side, and no such words were spoken. Philine merely accepted Lady Rozemyne's request. While she may be appointed as an attendant in the future, that is not the case at the present time."
As soon as Cornelius said this to calm everyone, sighs of relief could be heard from various parts of the room. At the same time, Philine, looking as if she had nowhere to stand, clutched the wooden plaques and retreated.
One girl, as if having made a decision, spoke up.
"Has Lady Rozemyne not yet chosen her attendants?"
Now I finally understood the situation. Wilfried already had a group that could be called his entourage. Charlotte did too. Naturally, I also needed to appoint my own attendants. Judging by the children who were unlikely to become attendants for either of them, my attendants would need to be appointed quickly, and this was likely their chance.
But behind the children were their parents. I couldn't carelessly choose attendants based solely on my own preference.
"Of course, attendants are necessary. I intend to discuss it with Richalda, my Head Attendant, and appoint new ones. Since it will primarily be those who serve at the Noble Academy, it's only natural to finalize the appointments then."
"…Has it already been decided?"
If I were to prioritize students at the Noble Academy who belonged to my mother's faction, it would be no exaggeration to say it was mostly decided already.
…I don't know who the candidates are, though. I'll smile, deflect, and buy time, then ask Richalda and my mother later.
"The candidates have been decided. I will make the formal announcement after the move-in."
At those words, the strange tension dissipated and the students dispersed.
…Right. Attendants. That's something else I need to think about.
The fourth bell rang, and it was time for lunch. After eating, I had Richalda carry the money and headed for the High Priest's office.
"Richalda, the candidates for my attendants are pretty much decided, aren't they? Within that faction…"
"Yes, of course."
"Tell me later. A lot must have changed within the faction over two years."
"As you wish."
Along the way, I asked various questions and learned that currently, the only people who could be considered my attendants were my three guards and Richalda and Ottillie. Since I had been absent, the attendant apprentices had been released from their positions, which also allowed them to serve Charlotte.
"The Academy dormitory is a place where you live, after all. You can't keep up a polished facade the entire time. There, you'll see a person's true self. Choosing them there wouldn't be a bad idea."
…In other words, my own true self would also be on display. That was a problem.
When I arrived at the High Priest's office, the information providers had already been gathered.
It was probably because they had been summoned by the High Priest, the Lord's half-brother. Young men who looked like they had nowhere to stand, paired with what appeared to be their older superiors, all stood in line with pale faces.
"Everyone looks quite pale. How were you all gathered?"
"I had them told to come immediately after lunch?"
…When you're summoned like that, of course lunch won't go down and both the subordinates and their bosses come running!
My own stomach twisted with guilt. I felt terrible.
"I did not summon you here to scold you. Rather, I wished to offer my thanks and praise, so please try to relax."
When I said this, the young men looked relieved and patted their chests, while their superiors eyed me with deep interest, wondering what was about to happen.
"I wish to express my gratitude for your dedicated information gathering at the Noble Academy during my long slumber. I know this is late, but I would like to deliver your compensation now."
The young men lifted their faces, looking as if they had completely forgotten about that.
"The Vice Commander of the Knights was delighted."
"The Aub Ehrenfest expressed admiration for your insight."
I called each person by name, offered my thanks and an apology for the delayed reward, along with encouraging words for their continued efforts, and handed over the money.
"You are exceptional talents who obtained information that caught the attention of Ehrenfest's leadership. I look forward to your future contributions."
"Continue to work without ceasing."
After seeing them leave the room with motivated expressions, I immediately began studying. There truly was no time before heading to the Noble Academy.
"Lord Ferdinand, will I be alright going to the Noble Academy?"
"Everything you're studying now is for your own sake. You'll pass, but more than that will be required. There's only one reason I'm educating you. Do you understand?"
The High Priest's stern golden eyes fixed on me. There was only one reason the High Priest would personally tutor me while his own work piled up.
"So that I won't be a disgrace as the Lord's child?"
"…Well, something like that."
And so, cramming lessons down to the wire, the day arrived for me to depart for the Noble Academy. Dressed in black-based attire with a mantle and brooch in a yellowish ochre close to goldenrod for the journey, Richalda and I headed to the room with the teleportation circle.
In the dark, windowless room, the teleportation circle floated into view. Servant men were piling luggage—my personal belongings packed in large quantities—onto the teleportation circle.
Seeing me off were the Lord and his wife, Charlotte, my grandfather and the Knight Commander and his wife, the High Priest, and his guard knight,
"Rozemyne, take care of yourself. We'll be looking forward to the day you return and we can have tea together."
"I'm looking forward to it as well, Mother."
"Cornelius will be there, so I'm not overly worried, but do take care of your health."
"I trained him hard, so he'll be fine. With Angelica and Cornelius, things should be all right. Damuel will be working hard while you're away, so head to the Academy without worry."
At Grandfather's words, Damuel seemed to shudder, but there was nothing I could do about it.
…Hang in there, Damuel.
"Live carefully around Archduke candidate Arensbach. When you need information, send a scribe-in-training; do not involve yourself personally."
"Understood."
I nodded at my adoptive father's words, and my adoptive mother told me, "Take care of Wilfried." From seeing his recent growth, I thought I was the one who needed looking after, but I nodded anyway.
"I'm looking forward to hearing about Big Sister's time at the Academy."
"Charlotte, take care of the Children's Room for me."
"Leave it to me."
The last person to speak to me was the High Priest.
"Well then, Rozemyne. Make sure you pass every exam and return before the Dedication Ceremony."
"…Lord Ferdinand, isn't that rather reckless?"
The Dedication Ceremony was in the middle of winter. For someone who had been asleep for two years and was underprepared, it seemed far too ambitious.
At my words, the High Priest smiled fearlessly.
"In the midst of all my work piling up, what do you think intensive crash courses are for?"
"You said just the other day that this studying was for my own sake, didn't you?"
"Yes, for your own sake."
He smiled a poisoned grin and nodded cheerfully. I felt my cheeks twitch.
"Um, in this case, does 'your own' actually mean… yours, Lord Ferdinand!?"
The High Priest flashed a dazzling smile so suspicious it was almost laughable, and avoided giving a direct answer.
"I believe you can do it. Finish your exams as quickly as possible, and be sure to come back before you cause any trouble. Your answer?"
…Darn it!
I also avoided giving a direct answer, simply flashing a smile before stepping onto the teleportation circle.
My gratitude regarding the High Priest's concern is inversely proportional to time.
It approaches infinity minus, but the key point is that it never quite reaches zero.
I've finally entrusted the Children's Room to Charlotte and set off for the Noble Academy.
Next up: moving in and choosing attendants.