Richida's Fury

Two days had passed since Anastasius's summons. I'd been told there would be an invitation to a tea party from Eglantine, but that seemed to be a ways off, as no word had come. It would probably happen after lectures ended and the social season began.

I took my time, continuing my routine of visiting the library, pouring Magic Power into Schwartz and Weiss, and working my way through the library's books one after another.

Today's companions were Brunhilde, Philine, Judith, Leonore, and Brother Cornelius.

Reflecting on how poorly the knight apprentices had coordinated during the Treasure-Stealing Ditter, Leonore and Brother Cornelius were discussing what they could do to take down feybeasts more efficiently. Having actually fought side by side in a proper formation rather than just racing for speed, they'd felt the difference firsthand.

For Judith, who was still a second-year and hadn't taken the knight course yet, discussions of military strategy were over her head. So she was assigned to guard duty in the library, where there was virtually no one around, while Leonore and Brother Cornelius sat at nearby carrels copying books and conferring with each other. From where I sat, it looked exactly like a library date.

Secretly cheering Leonore on in my heart, I continued reading book after book. Philine was hard at work copying texts at the carrel beside me.

The light signaling closing time blazed to life, bathing the surface of my book in a wash of colors. Brunhilde gently closed it for me, saying, "It's closing time, Lady Rosemine," and I let out a soft sigh.

"Princess, we're done for today."

"Princess, I'll borrow the book."

"I know. Schwartz, Brunhilde, please handle the checkout for this book. Weiss, please return the carrel key."

I read right up until the last moment before closing, then checked out the books to continue reading later. After having Brunhilde carry them back, I returned to the dormitory. This was the wonderful, blissful daily routine I'd earned by finishing all my lectures.

"I've finished copying everything related to the feybeasts as of today," Leonore told me with a beaming smile on our way back to the dormitory. It turned out some feybeasts had unexpected weaknesses. Brother Cornelius nodded and chimed in.

"Now that we've gathered information on the feybeasts, I'd like to thoroughly read the reference book I borrowed from Brother Eckhart about coordination. Also, I'd like to go back and speak with the Knight Commander about coordinating when taking down powerful feybeasts."

"Once lectures are finished, you should be able to go home, right? That's all the more reason to finish lectures quickly."

Father, as the Knight Commander, was busy having to accompany the Lord on his social engagements and had the monumental task of defeating the Winter Lord ahead of him, so he was surely swamped.

Still, during the winter social season, every noble gathered together. If they could hear from the knights of the generation that had played Treasure-Stealing Ditter and the instructors who had drilled coordination into them during new recruit training, it would be immensely valuable.

Leonore nodded eagerly at my words.

"...I never imagined the classroom lectures, which I wondered what purpose they could possibly serve, would connect so directly to coordination. Back when we were playing Treasure-Stealing Ditter in the inter-duchy tournament, I think everyone was desperately studying tactics and putting their heads together to figure out how to outwit the enemy."

Brother Cornelius said that in a speed-based Ditter, you could win just by everyone charging in, so there had been no particular need to think about coordination or tactics. Now, he said, figuring all of this out was actually enjoyable. Leonore, exchanging a smile with him, seemed to feel the same way.

...Hmm, hmm, isn't this quite a lovely atmosphere?

As I watched Brother Cornelius and Leonore with a knowing smile, Brunhilde leaned in and whispered, as if she'd noticed.

"Are you cheering Lady Leonore on, Lady Rosemine?"

"Oh no, I'm doing nothing of the sort. Brother Cornelius seems to be quite popular, so I have no intention of stirring up unnecessary trouble."

As a Lord candidate and his younger sister, if I openly supported Leonore, it would look like things were already settled. I hadn't even confirmed with my family the rumor about Angelica marrying one of my brothers, and I didn't even know Brother Cornelius's own feelings. It was best not to meddle.

"I see. That's somewhat of a relief. Favoritism among attendants is not looked upon favorably."

Brunhilde said this with a small laugh.

Indeed, favoritism was no good. I had planned to support Leonore once I confirmed the rumor with my family, but it seemed I should hold off.

"Enough already, Traugott!"

The moment I stepped into the dormitory, Richida's fury echoed all the way to the entrance hall. It was coming from upstairs—she was probably lecturing Traugott in his room. But this was the first time I'd heard Richida raise her voice this loud, and I exchanged a bewildered look with Brunhilde.

"...Whatever did Traugott do?"

"I couldn't say. Let's go up to our rooms first, and we can tidy up and change for dinner. After the meal, I'll ask Hartmut if he knows anything."

It was difficult for Brunhilde to go up to the second floor, where the boys' rooms were lined up. Even with afternoon lectures, they should have ended before the library's closing time. Hartmut, at least, would probably know something.

"You're right. I'll ask Hartmut about the situation later. Cornelius, would you go and report to Richida that I've returned, while also checking on the situation?"

"...Lady Rosemine, you want me to walk into that storm of fury?"

Brother Cornelius pointed upstairs with a grimace. I couldn't make out the exact words, but Richida's lecture was still going on. It would indeed take considerable courage to charge in there.

"There's no need to force your way in, but could you at least knock on the door and let her know it's dinner time?"

"If it's just that much..."

Then, at dinner, the exhausted Angelica—who had yet to finish her classroom studies—handed me an invitation. It was an invitation to a tea party from Eglantine. Eglantine's attendant had apparently brought it during study hours.

"Thank you, Angelica. Brunhilde, may I leave the response to you?"

"Of course. If it's Lady Eglantine's tea party, we'll need to prepare Rinsham as well."

Brunhilde, all fired up for tea party preparations, began thinking about what gifts to bring, while Brother Cornelius started considering which guards to assign. Angelica, whose studies weren't finished, was ruled out from the start.

"Lady Rosemine, I wish to be assigned as your guard as well."

"I also hope to be assigned as your guard soon. I'm counting on Angelica to show the same amazing performance in her studies as she did during the Treasure-Stealing Ditter."

"Ugh..."

Angelica's shoulders drooped. Brother Cornelius, watching her, let out a small chuckle.

"She's passed about a third of her written exams, so she's putting up a good fight. As expected, there's a world of difference in efficiency when one's Lord is watching over them."

Compared to the two years I'd been asleep, she'd apparently improved tremendously. The entire knight course cohort was said to be breathing a sigh of relief at her exceeding expectations.

"Oh my, for Big Sister to have finished a third of her studies by now—how delighted Father and Mother would be if they knew! Lady Rosemine can never be thanked enough."

Lieselerte said this, her eyes glistening with emotion.

However, with two-thirds still remaining, finishing all her lectures was still a very long road for Angelica. Complacency was not an option.

"Indeed... If Angelica can finish all her lectures before I return to Ehrenfest for the Dedication Ritual, shall I teach her a method to compress her Magic Power one more level?"

"One more level?!"

Angelica and Brother Cornelius both widened their eyes in shock.

"I completed the lecture on Magic Power compression and successfully achieved four levels of compression."

"What!? It wasn't three levels!? I never heard there was another level!"

Wilfried was naturally stunned, and exclamations of "Impossible!" rose from all around the dining hall.

"Why are my parents in the Former Veronica faction? ...When will I finally be able to choose my own faction?"

Some knight apprentices were holding their heads, seeing all too clearly how disadvantaged they were just by belonging to a different faction, and dreading that the gap would only widen further. It was only natural—when you could clearly see those whose Magic Power was growing at an extraordinary rate pulling ahead of everyone else.

"The Former Veronica faction was the mainstream just a few years ago, so there's no point in blaming or lamenting your parents. It's only natural that children are assumed to share their parents' faction before coming of age. However, if you wish to choose your own faction of your own free will, I would like to assist as much as I can."

"Huh!?"

"Lady Rosemine, what do you mean!?"

With my most saint-like smile, I addressed the wide-eyed children of the Former Veronica faction who looked up at me. This was a huge chance to bring the younger generation into the fold.

"When I teach Magic Power compression, I use Contract Magic, but I'd like to discuss with the Lord of Ehrenfest whether we might modify the terms somewhat to allow those who wish to learn the compression method to do so. It may not happen right away, but I will do everything in my power to make it a reality as soon as possible, so please don't lose heart and keep working hard."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Perhaps because they now had a goal in sight, the faces of the Former Veronica faction children lit up. In the corner of my eye, Hartmut was smiling with satisfaction, which was a bit unsettling, but oh well.

"Brother Wilfried and the rest of you, this year is the real test. You've been doing well so far, so please be careful going forward into the social season."

"Mm. We won't make the same mistake again."

"Yes, Lord Wilfried and we have all been working hard. I believe Lady Rosemine will acknowledge our efforts."

As Wilfried's retainers nodded to each other with smiles—united as always—Angelica looked up, clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, and gazed at me.

"Lady Rosemine! I'll do it! Please let me challenge myself!"

Unlike before, when she'd been slumping and reluctant to study, Angelica's blue eyes sparkled with excitement, her cheeks flushed and her expression dreamy. If not for the fact that she was saying "With more Magic Power, I can enhance my body further and make Stenluke even stronger," she would have looked exactly like a girl in love.

No—actually, for Stenluke's sake, she diligently maintained the blade, studied even the subjects she disliked, and poured Magic Power into it without rest. In a way, Angelica could very well be called a maiden in love with the magic sword Stenluke.

...How utterly tragic.

"Lady Rosemine, if you're going to teach Angelica the new method of Magic Power compression, can't you teach me as well? I'm your own brother, after all."

Brother Cornelius wore a disgruntled expression, and I gave a small shrug.

"I said if Angelica finishes her lectures before I return for the Dedication Ritual. Which is probably impossible."

I'd said it to motivate Angelica, but there were less than three weeks left until the Dedication Ritual. For Angelica, who had completed a third of her studies in the past three weeks, it was quite a demanding condition.

But Brother Cornelius shook his head slowly.

"Looking at Angelica like this, do you really think she can't do it? She reminds me very much of Lady Rosemine when a library is placed before her."

Comparing Angelica and me, Brother Cornelius said, "They're a Lord and attendant pair who share a striking resemblance—when they have a goal, they charge forward without looking sideways."

In Brother Cornelius's mind, it seemed Angelica was bound to achieve her goal.

"Ugh... Well then, if Angelica passes all her lectures before the Dedication Ritual and... improves the inter-duchy tournament ranking from last year's fifteenth place to twelfth or above, I'll teach her as one of my retainers."

"Yes!" Traugott pumped his fist with a broad grin, while Hartmut raised an eyebrow slightly.

"If you're saying retainers rather than guard knights, then as an apprentice scholar, I too must help the knight apprentices improve their rankings. Cornelius, come to my room later. I've compiled data on the feybeasts that appeared in previous inter-duchy tournaments and how to defeat them—at least the top-tier ones. It should be somewhat useful."

"Thank you, Hartmut."

"Apprentice attendants will also need to rack their brains in preparation for the inter-duchy tournament. I'm looking forward to this year's tournament."

Brunhilde's amber eyes gleamed, and dinner came to an end.

"Lady Rosemine, I have something of pressing importance to discuss. Might I have a moment of your time after the meal?"

Richida said this with a completely expressionless face. When we'd returned to the dormitory, she'd been dressing down Traugott, so I'd expected things to be tense at the dinner table where Traugott was present. But they weren't.

Richida was perfectly capable of switching off her emotions. That was precisely why I agreed without a second thought.

"Of course, that's fine. Shall we go to my room?"

"No, I've secured a private room on the first floor. I'd like the Lady's retainers to be present if possible."

I looked around at everyone at my table. Everyone except Traugott nodded. Traugott alone sat wide-eyed, frozen in place.

"Grandmother, I..."

"Then let us go."

With a gaze that brooked no argument, Richida fixed Traugott with a stare and strode forward. As we filed along, I could feel the tension radiating between Richida and Traugott.

I tugged lightly at the hem of Hartmut's cloak as he walked diagonally ahead of me and asked in a low voice.

"Do you know what's going on?"

"Richida has been furious for three days now. Of course, I know."

From Hartmut's narrowed smile, I could sense a trace of anger as well. Judging by the way they looked at Richida and Traugott, Hartmut seemed to be on Richida's side more than anything.

...What on earth did Traugott do?

The small meeting room, somewhat removed from the multipurpose hall, was designed for students of different genders to confer, since they were otherwise forbidden from entering each other's floors.

Normally, each faction had a designated room, but this year, since everyone gathered in the multipurpose hall for activities more often, there were no fixed assignments, and any available room could be used.

Entering the room, I sat in the chair Richida offered me. Flanking me were Lieselerte and Brunhilde as attendants, and beyond them, guard knights lined up on either side. Hartmut sat down with a wooden tablet and ink—as if taking minutes—and seated Philine beside him.

Standing before me were Traugott, who had been dragged along by Richida and forbidden from joining the line of guard knights, and Richida herself, still gripping Traugott's arm.

Richida surveyed all the retainers, her expression stern, and spoke.

"Lady Rosemine, please dismiss Traugott from the retinue immediately."

"What!?"

The attendants on either side of me widened their eyes at the sudden request. However, the guard knights around us, who must have had some premonition, only wore bitter expressions as if to say "So it finally happened," showing hardly any surprise. Hartmut, who presumably had a firm grip on the information, didn't change his expression at all.

As for Traugott—the word "dismiss" seemed to have drained all the color from his face, leaving him in utter despair. He looked completely shocked that his own grandmother would say something like this.

And rightly so.

Being dismissed by one's Lord as unnecessary was a disgrace for a noble serving as a retainer. For such a person to emerge was a disgrace for the entire family as well. It was unthinkable that Richida would wish such dishonor upon her own grandson, and I tilted my head in confusion.

"...Richida, what exactly happened?"

"This isn't a case of 'what happened.' You yourself witnessed the situation, Lady Rosemine—my anger was already at its peak, and it shouldn't surprise you that I'm proposing dismissal. Please pay closer attention to those around you and keep a watchful eye on your retainers' words and actions."

"Yes, ma'am! I'll be more careful going forward!"

Richida's fury turned toward me. I straightened my back and responded immediately.

"Traugott is not fit to be a retainer to the Lady. Please dismiss him at once."

According to Richida, Traugott's words and behavior during the Treasure-Stealing Ditter had been a complete disqualification as a retainer. I had thought his attitude was poor, but for Richida, it was an unforgivable transgression.

"But Traugott is your grandson, the one you recommended yourself, isn't he? Dismissing him seems—"

"Yes, I did recommend him. Of course, I have feelings for him as his grandmother, but I am the Lady's Head Attendant. A retainer who serves no purpose for their Lord is unnecessary."

Precisely because of her grandmotherly affection, Richida had scolded Traugott for his behavior during the Treasure-Stealing Ditter and told him to resign of his own volition. Rather than being branded as unfit and forced out, it was better for his reputation to step down voluntarily.

"The reasons and motivations for serving differ from person to person. That is why I did not interfere when Traugott chose to serve Lady Rosemine as a means of obtaining the method of Magic Power compression. What matters is one's attitude toward the work."

Brunhilde wanted to serve me because I carried multiple trends and she wanted to spread them. Lieselerte had decided to serve me out of gratitude for rescuing her sister Angelica from expulsion, preserving her family's reputation, and bestowing honor upon her as a guardian knight.

Hartmut threw himself into his work as a retainer to accelerate my Saint legend, and Philine was collecting stories together with me.

Richida and Angelica had been acting on orders from above, and Brother Cornelius, whose own family served as guardian knights for the Lord's family, had requested to be my guardian knight as my brother. Each had their own reason for becoming a retainer.

It didn't matter what reason drove someone to serve. As long as they upheld their Lord and could act in their Lord's interest, that was sufficient—this was Richida's creed.

"But Traugott has no mindset for service. He fails to show the proper attitude of a retainer toward his Lord. As Head Attendant, I will not permit someone like that to call himself a retainer."

Traugott looked down on me, apparently. Richida said it was primarily because of my frail health, the fact that I was originally Karstedt's daughter, and our cousin relationship.

"Even when faced with Cornelius, who maintains a proper boundary between public and private despite being siblings, Traugott is far too pampered!"

Because Traugott showed no retainer mindset or loyalty whatsoever, Richida had told him three days ago to quit before he caused a bigger incident and was forcibly dismissed.

Yet Traugott showed no intention of budging. Apparently, Richida had been scolding him again today, saying "Resign before Lady Rosemine dismisses you." The fury we'd heard upon returning must have been directed at him.

However, the very Traugott who had been told to resign just moments before had, at today's dinner table, casually tried to avail himself of the benefits of his position as Lady Rosemine's retainer when the four-level Magic Power compression came up. That attitude had pushed Richida over the edge, and she decided to go beyond requesting a resignation to demanding a full dismissal.

"With no mindset for service and trying to seize only personal gain—there are limits to sheer audacity. No further leniency is needed, even for my own grandchild. To serve the Lord's family and protect Ehrenfest—that is the way of an Ehrenfest noble. What have your parents been teaching you all this time? How did they raise you? Absolutely pathetic!"

Dismissal, dismissal—Richida kept saying it, but the decision was mine to make. I turned my gaze toward Traugott, who had gone pale at Richida's words.

"Traugott, do you wish to continue serving me?"

"I do! Please let me continue!"

As Traugott pleaded desperately, Richida's eyes narrowed and a faint smile touched Hartmut's orange eyes.

"Traugott plans to serve Lady Rosemine only until he learns the method of Magic Power compression, and then resign immediately, I hear."

"Hartmut!?"

Traugott stared at Hartmut in shock. Richida was struck speechless by Hartmut's words. He slowly surveyed all the retainers, the smile still on his face, and continued.

"He also says that he doesn't want to continue serving an eccentric Lord who, on top of being frail enough to be felled by snowballs and take to bed at the slightest provocation, charges headlong into the library without a care for those around her. If he can learn Magic Power compression, he'd rather have served Lord Wilfried."

"Hartmut, you—!"

Traugott bristled as if to say "Shut your mouth!" but Hartmut merely sniffed dismissively.

"As Lady Rosemine's retainer, it is my natural duty to deliver information that bears on her judgment, is it not?"

While Traugott and Hartmut glared at each other, Richida's veins bulged with fury.

"Traugott, how dare you...! This is beyond a retainer problem! Shape up immediately!"

Watching Richida's fury unfold, I narrowed my eyes.

I understood the reason she wanted Traugott dismissed. But I couldn't fathom what Traugott was thinking, pursuing Magic Power compression this desperately—going so far as to serve a Lord he didn't even want to serve. It didn't feel right to simply dismiss him on the spot.

"...Everyone, I'd like to speak with Traugott privately. Would you mind clearing the room?"

My words, spoken in consideration that having others present might make the conversation difficult, were immediately rejected by Richida.

"Absolutely not! It's improper to hold a private meeting about dismissal without guards present! Please observe the situation properly, Lady Rosemine."

Looking around, I saw all the guard knights nodding in agreement with Richida.

"But sometimes there are things you can't say with others present?"

"That's what Eavesdropping-prevention Magical Tools are for. Even if they can't hear the voices, this allows you to speak while keeping the guards, does it not?"

Richida admonished my softness, saying "Normally, you'd dismiss someone without even asking for their side of the story," and placed an Eavesdropping-prevention Magical Tool in front of both me and Traugott with a clink.

"I wish to hear Traugott's side of things. If you intend to speak with me, pick up that Magical Tool."

"...Yes."

Traugott picked up the Eavesdropping-prevention Magical Tool with a grim expression.

Angelica was fired up.

And Richida was furious.

She's angry at Traugott for his un-retainer-like behavior, and at Rosemine for not reprimanding his attitude.

Next time, Traugott's argument.