Caught completely off guard by the sudden Ditter challenge, I stood there with my mouth hanging open, looking up at Aub
...What should I do? This is a problem. Professor Primavera's court etiquette lessons never covered "how to respond to an Aub who skips all pleasantries and challenges you to a Ditter match"!
"Father, does Mother know about this proposal? I shall go confirm with her."
Seeing Hannalore fumbling with her ordinance in a half-tearful panic, it seemed like this was Aub Dunkelfelger acting entirely on his own initiative.
...Hannalore looks like she's having a rough time too. ...Wait, this isn't the time to stand around dazed.
Socializing during the Inter-domain Tournament was the battlefield of Lord Candidates. I had to respond like one. But I had no manual for dealing with Dunkelfelger. At the very least, it wasn't covered in any of the nobility manuals I'd read.
...Time to step up, Chief Priest!
I glanced at the Chief Priest, who apparently had some familiarity with the Dunkelfelger knights, and silently begged for help. The Chief Priest had settled into a posture that said "I'm going to sit back and watch how you handle this," and was pointedly avoiding eye contact with the Dunkelfelger knights.
...Chief Priest, you useless man! This is exactly when I need your help!
Hannalore was the only one watching my situation while struggling to deal with Aub Dunkelfelger herself. That was when it hit me.
Could this perhaps be a test for the guardians to see how each Lord Candidate would respond under pressure? Even in Primavera's court etiquette lessons, there had been hidden assignments designed to put students on the spot.
The Inter-domain Tournament might work the same way—the visiting Aub might be issuing challenges to the Lord Candidates. Once I thought of that, my motivation surged. I quickly recalled everything I'd discussed at my tea parties in the library and with Hannalore about the modern-language translation manuscript. There had to be a solution without taking the Ditter challenge head-on.
...I'm going to pass Aub Dunkelfelger's challenge and win the right to publish this book!
I straightened my back and smiled at Hannalore.
"Um, Hannalore. If I recall correctly, matters regarding copies of the history books are to be discussed between Aubs, aren't they? I don't think this is something I, as a Lord Candidate, can respond to here..."
When I suggested, "Why don't we defer the answer to an incomprehensible question to the Aub?", Hannalore immediately caught on to what I meant. Her eyes widened slightly, then she broke into a warm smile. As expected of a Lord Candidate from a large territory—Hannalore was sharp.
"That's right, Father! You said this was to be discussed between Aubs. You can't just suddenly address Lady
At Hannalore's words, Aub Dunkelfelger raised his eyebrows slightly, looking amused. As I'd hoped, dodging the Ditter challenge didn't seem to cause any problems.
"Then I shall go fetch the Aub."
...Perfect. Dump it on my adoptive father and escape!
Just as I was about to rise from my seat, the Chief Priest held me back, stood up first, and looked around at the Dunkelfelger knights with a smile.
"No, Rozemyne. There's no need for that. You're the one who wrote the manuscript, aren't you? It would be better if I—someone with absolutely no involvement in this matter—fetch the Aub and take your place."
The Chief Priest had blocked my escape route, then seamlessly and elegantly went to swap positions with my adoptive father.
...The Chief Priest escaped instead of me! That's cheating!
After letting out a small groan, I pulled myself together, exchanged greetings with the Aub, and offered him a seat. What I needed to do wasn't accept a Ditter challenge—it was socialize. Brünhilde quickly brought out Roule quatre-quarts. The idea was probably to offer them and stall for time until my adoptive father arrived. I took a bite each of the tea and sweets to demonstrate.
"These are quatre-quarts made with Roule that I received from Lady Hannalore the other day. Please, I'd love to hear your impressions."
"Oh my, how kind. I'll have some."
We sipped tea while discussing Roule and the Dunkelfelger variety with Hannalore. I thought I was handling myself quite like a proper Lord Candidate. Aub Dunkelfelger seemed to enjoy the Roule quatre-quarts as well. Though from what I could tell, he seemed to prefer the rumtopf even more.
"This flavor wasn't served at the Lord's Conference."
"We haven't made that many yet, so last year they ran out right after being presented at the Noble Academy."
As I was entertaining the two of them, my adoptive father arrived to take over from the Chief Priest. The two Aubs exchanged greetings and took their seats.
"I understand you have something to discuss regarding the modern-language translation of the history books from Dunkelfelger. What exactly is it about?"
When I explained Aub Dunkelfelger's proposal, my adoptive father made a troubled face and sighed.
"Rozemyne, give up on the manuscript. You collapse at tea parties—there's no way you could handle a Ditter against Dunkelfelger's Aub. Besides, you may be too young to understand, but this is Dunkelfelger using Ditter as a pretext to obtain the manuscript. Even if it's a manuscript you spent a year building up bit by bit with your retainers, you cannot speak against a large territory's proposal. Dunkelfelger has already made copies, and you must still have copies or drafts or something, don't you? As the tenth-ranked territory, Ehrenfest has no choice but to silently accept the will of a large territory."
As my adoptive father said this consolingly, it was the two from Dunkelfelger whose faces changed.
"That's not—I didn't mean it that way—"
"Aub Ehrenfest, I harbor no such intentions. I'm not trying to take it by force—I'm simply saying we settle it through Ditter."
Aub Dunkelfelger insisted he wasn't saying anything unsavory, but when an Aub who was large and rather stern-looking was issuing a challenge to a child like me, anyone watching would probably have seen it as intimidation.
Setting aside Dunkelfelger's true motives, as my adoptive father said, I had already read through all their history books, and what I'd handed over was only the fair copy—so the draft of the modern-language translation was still in my possession. For Dunkelfelger, there might be information they wanted to turn into books within their own territory but didn't want to leak to others. I'd give up on printing and distributing it widely, compile the drafts into a single volume, and enjoy it privately.
...Honestly, the Ditter challenge sounded like even more of a hassle.
When I nodded to show my adoptive father that I understood, he nodded back once, then turned to Aub Dunkelfelger.
"Aub Dunkelfelger, if you wish to turn it into a book on your end, Ehrenfest will accept it silently and raise no objections."
"No, wait. How could I not care? That's a manuscript that required that much money and effort. Wouldn't it be better to settle this through Ditter?"
Aub Dunkelfelger's words gave me a glimmer of hope. Since I'd started the modern-language translation as a personal hobby, I didn't need a fee for myself. But if he understood the manuscript's value, I wanted him to at least pay for paper and ink. Covering all the costs from my own budget with nothing to show for it—not even keeping the manuscript—was a hard pill to swallow.
"Aub Dunkelfelger, you're wonderful. Just as you say—paper, ink, and the fees paid to my retainers for the modern-language translation have resulted in enormous expenses. Rather than taking it by force, are you saying you'll pay an amount befitting the manuscript's value?"
With the draft still in my possession, I thought it would be great to get even half the money back as I looked up at Aub Dunkelfelger. My adoptive father backed me up.
"That modern-language translation was Rozemyne's personal hobby, and every expense came from her own budget. It may not seem like much from a large territory's perspective, but for Rozemyne's budget, it's an enormous sum. I humbly ask that you take that into consideration."
Aub Dunkelfelger's face grew extremely troubled. He looked back and forth between the manuscript, me, and my adoptive father.
"...That was done as a hobby? How much does it cost?"
"Rozemyne, how much did it cost?"
I immediately calculated by multiplying the cost of paper by the number of manuscript pages.
"If you're asking for an itemized breakdown, that would be hard to prepare immediately, but just paper and ink costs exceed fifteen large gold coins. Adding in the translation fees paid to my retainers, it comes to roughly eighteen large gold coins."
"E-Eighteen large gold coins!? That's... money spent on a hobby, isn't it?"
Hannalore looked at me with her eyes spinning. It was true that this probably wasn't money a typical Lord Candidate could spend so freely. But I wasn't about to skimp on expenses for the sake of a book. I caught sight of my adoptive father pressing his fingers to his brow, but I pretended not to notice.
"Ehrenfest's new paper is cheaper than traditional parchment, so this is actually quite a reduced cost. But more importantly—was there anything incorrect in my translation, or anything I misread? I've been worried about that... If you could teach me the correct interpretation and what actually happened, I'll deduct the cost of that information."
Aub Dunkelfelger, who had been brooding, looked at me.
"With all that expense, what were you planning to do making Dunkelfelger books in Ehrenfest? The costs, effort, and purpose don't seem to align at all..."
"Dunkelfelger's history books are truly wonderful, aren't they? Just as Lord Restiauto said, I was overwhelmed by the length and depth of your history. I wanted so badly to turn them into books and sell them widely to as many people as possible. It's a shame I wasn't permitted to make them into books."
As I slumped my shoulders, Aub Dunkelfelger laughed cheerfully.
"Then let's settle it with a Ditter match, with the rights to sell copies at stake. I'll return the manuscript once you participate. And if you win, I'll grant you the right to sell."
My heart wavered. If I could get the right to sell Dunkelfelger's books, it would set a precedent for future negotiations over book rights with other territories. I'd be able to say, "These are the terms under which we trade with Dunkelfelger."
"Aub Dunkelfelger, you said you'd grant the right to sell—but if Ehrenfest wins, would that sales right also apply to future books borrowed from Dunkelfelger? In that case, since you would be providing the original source material, we would deliver one copy to Dunkelfelger and pay a portion of the 'royalties.'"
Since Ehrenfest was doing the translation and writing, I couldn't exactly give away all the royalties. But if I offered a portion, it might make it easier to gather books from other territories too.
"...Does Ehrenfest intend to sell books?"
The Aub's expression changed sharply. He assumed the face of a lord who had spotted the crucial moment—not the amused face from when he'd first proposed the Ditter match, but one with a stern, probing gaze.
I turned my gaze to my adoptive father. This was where I needed him to step up and make a decisive call as a lord. Meeting my eyes, my adoptive father also assumed the face of a lord seizing the critical moment, straightened his back, and deepened his smile.
"We intend to develop it into Ehrenfest's primary industry going forward. By this time next year, I believe we will be able to surprise all of you."
The two Aubs stared each other down with smiles for a while, until Aub Dunkelfelger curled the corner of his lip upward.
"Interesting. Very well. If you win, I'll grant you the right to sell copies of every book we've lent you."
"We can't spare personnel for a Ditter on our end. If you insist on settling it through Ditter, I'd like to request an individual match."
My adoptive father said he couldn't afford to have knights fight a spectacular battle only to be incapacitated for a while afterward. Above all, having just defeated the Lord of Winter, their supply of recovery potions and other provisions was uncertain. Dunkelfelger had plenty of manpower, but Ehrenfest's situation was different.
"Then I'd like to request
"Hmm, I'll sound him out."
So saying, my adoptive father stood up. The Dunkelfelger knights let out cries of joy, but in the next moment, my adoptive father shrugged lightly.
"However, whether Ferdinand participates in the Ditter or not is another matter entirely. I doubt Ferdinand would join a match that offers him no benefit. If that's the case, we'd like to request our Knight Commander instead. ...Do your best to convince Ferdinand, Rozemyne. We need every advantage we can get."
My adoptive father said this, gave my head a light tap, and went to summon the Chief Priest. After making an extremely displeased face, the Chief Priest returned with a composed expression.
The Chief Priest looked around at my hopeful face and the expectant faces of everyone from Dunkelfelger, and let out a deep sigh.
"Even if you win the Ditter and obtain the right to sell, it's meaningless if Dunkelfelger refuses to lend you any more books afterward. And having to fight a match every time you want to borrow new books would be endlessly troublesome. Therefore, I reject this Ditter challenge. If you absolutely insist, Rozemyne can go alone, lose, and retrieve just her manuscript. That way, no one is inconvenienced except you."
"Grrrrr..."
For Aub Dunkelfelger, whose goal was likely a Ditter match against the Chief Priest, a Ditter where I showed up alone would be completely meaningless.
"Ferdinand, if we want to advance the printing industry to Ehrenfest's advantage, this Ditter match is an incredibly important battle. We can't afford to lose, and more importantly, it's a battle we can't afford to avoid."
"That's right, that's right!"
The Dunkelfelger knights called out in agreement, backing me up. I could see their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Ferdinand, this isn't just for my sake—it's a wonderful opportunity for all of Ehrenfest. Please, lend us your strength."
I'd pushed Ehrenfest's benefits to the forefront rather than my personal reasons, but he just gave me a perfectly polite noble smile and bluntly refused: "Why should I move for something that offers me absolutely no benefit?"
The Chief Priest's gaze and words as he looked down at me were cold. I was on the verge of being discouraged, but whether the Chief Priest participated or not would make a huge difference in the outcome. I grabbed his sleeve and desperately pressed my case.
"We'll provide you with copies of whatever we've borrowed and transcribed from Dunkelfelger."
"I don't need them."
"Uh, well, then—is there anything else..."
As my eyes brimmed with tears, one of the Dunkelfelger knights stepped forward. He appeared to be from the same generation as the Chief Priest.
"Aub Dunkelfelger, please leave the match with Ferdinand to me."
"...
"Yes!"
Facing the Chief Priest, he said, "Flammetz fruit." That alone was enough to wipe the confident, forced smile from the Chief Priest's face. The Chief Priest glared at him, and he grinned smugly.
The surrounding Dunkelfelger knights were cheering him on: "Go get him, Heisshitze!" "You can do it!"
...So this is Heisshitze? Amazing! He looks like he's used to dragging the Chief Priest into matches!
He'd said he'd been pestering the Chief Priest with challenges to win back his blue cloak, and that was nothing other proof that Heisshitze could drag the Chief Priest into matches time and again.
...Go get 'em, Heisshitze! For my publishing rights!
"Quellweide leaves, Vinfall fur."
Heisshitze faced the Chief Priest and began listing off what were probably very precious materials. They were all names I'd never heard of.
"If Ferdinand wins, one of these will be..."
"Add Granzring powder as well. All of them. ...For you, that cloak must be worth at least that much?"
The Chief Priest raised one eyebrow and regarded Heisshitze with a challenging smile. Heisshitze, who had been looking so smug, suddenly wore the expression of someone who'd just been swindled of their entire fortune, groaning painedly, "Grrrrr..."
...Chief Priest, stop bullying Heisshitze! That's just cruel, no matter how you look at it!
"What will it be, Heisshitze?"
Pressed by the Chief Priest, Heisshitze lifted his face sharply. Determination was written all over it.
"This time, I will defeat you and take back that cloak. It's a match!"
"Very well. Then what we'll each protect this time is... our respective Lord Candidates. Since they're the same age, that works out nicely. That way, Rozemyne—the very person Aub Dunkelfelger challenged—can also technically count as a participant."
...Excuse me?
"Don't worry, Rozemyne. I will protect you."
The Chief Priest wore a dazzling smile so bright it was almost suspicious. I was absolutely certain he was scheming something. But with publishing rights on the line, asking the Chief Priest—the person most likely to win—was the best option. I had no choice but to say, "Thank you very much."
"Oh, um, I think I heard that I'm supposed to participate..."
"Lady Hannalore, please rest easy. I will protect you. Together, we shall defeat Ehrenfest. Why, you're Lady Hannalore, who once defeated the Saint of Ehrenfest. I have high expectations."
"That's not—Heisshitze, what are you saying..."
Hannalore, who had been completely swept into this, looked around with tearful eyes. But all the Dunkelfelger members were in a frenzy because the Chief Priest had accepted the Ditter match, so nobody seemed to care about Hannalore's plight at all. I was delighted that the Chief Priest had gotten on board, but at the same time, I felt like crying.
...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Hannalore! I'm really sorry for dragging you into our Chief Priest's schemes!
While I was silently apologizing over and over, arrangements between the Chief Priest and Heisshitze progressed rapidly. Between the two of them, everything seemed to be understood already—things were confirmed one after another with short phrases like "as usual" and "at Dunkelfelger's training grounds."
"So the match will be after the graduation ceremony..."
"I want to settle these troublesome matters immediately. Both Dunkelfelger and Ehrenfest are participating in the second half of the Inter-domain Tournament. So let's settle this before then."
Just as the Chief Priest snorted and said this,
"Thank you for waiting, Ferdinand."
"Then let's go."
And so, we moved to the Dunkelfelger dormitory. Next to it was the training grounds, where they could hold a Ditter at any time. How much must they love Ditter?
Normally, outsiders weren't allowed in, but since Aub Dunkelfelger was with us today, we were given magic stones imbued with the Aub's Magic Power in lieu of brooches and granted entry.
Currently at the Dunkelfelger training grounds, both sides had split up for strategy meetings. The Dunkelfelger knights surrounded Hannalore and Heisshitze as they conferred, debating this and that. Hannalore had already clad herself in armor made of magic stones at some point.
...She may look gentle, but she's still a Dunkelfelger Lord Candidate through and through.
As I was admiring this, I was flicked sharply on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
"Listen. Your role is to be the treasure, so stay within this circle, ride your beast, create a Wind Shield, and keep quiet. In fact, don't do anything on your own."
As he spoke, the Chief Priest removed two of the charm bracelets I was wearing and fastened them to his own wrist. Then he took off his Ehrenfest cloak and spread out the blue cloak with a flourish. While Justus helped him put it on, I thought about the Inter-domain Tournament and let out a quiet breath.
"Is it really okay to be fighting a Ditter match while the Inter-domain Tournament is going on, Ferdinand?"
We'd had so many guests, and with two of us running off, the remaining family and retainers would be in a real bind. At my words, the Chief Priest made an extremely displeased face.
"If we rescheduled to another day, spectators would flood in whether we wanted them or not, and it could become a match that draws the attention of royalty. If we want to keep this as low-profile as possible, right now—during the Inter-domain Tournament, when no one can leave—is the only chance. And you, who decided to accept the match despite my rejecting it outright, have no right to complain."
"I'm sorry."
I supposed the one being thoughtless was me.
"Ferdinand, what exactly are you scheming with this match? You didn't need to involve me and Hannalore, did you?"
"If I designate you as the treasure, you ought to be able to protect yourself, right? It saves Magic Power and lets you focus on the match."
The Chief Priest shrugged as if to say "don't ask me obvious things." It seemed he had no intention of protecting me.
"Who was it that said 'I will protect you' and 'don't worry'!? That was just a moment ago, wasn't it!?"
"
"That may be true, but... Hannalore can't use Shield of Störia or Blessing of Angrief either, so this is cheating, isn't it?"
I felt like I was being incredibly unfair. The Chief Priest scoffed at my words.
"What are you talking about? How well you utilize what you bring to the battlefield is what decides the match. I only fight battles I can win."
"I know that."
"Then the moment you dismount your beast, create a Wind Shield immediately. Understood? You're trying to win publishing rights, aren't you?"
I nodded vigorously and brought out my Lesser Beast. The Chief Priest, Heisshitze, and Hannalore each summoned their own beasts and mounted them.
"Are you ready?"
At Aub Dunkelfelger's voice, the beasts took flight and landed in their respective positions. At the same time, Aub Dunkelfelger's booming voice announced the start of the match.
"Begin!"
Cheers rose from the spectating Dunkelfelger knights as Heisshitze and the Chief Priest urged their beasts forward.
Just as the Chief Priest had told me, I began channeling Magic Power into my ring.
"Goddess of Wind who governs protection, Störia! Twelve Goddesses who serve by her side! Hear my prayer and bestow upon me your sacred power! Keep all who harbor ill intent away! Grant me the Wind Shield!"
Somehow, I managed to get the match underway.
Rozemyne is hunkering down behind her Wind Shield and riding beast.
Go get 'em, Heisshitze.
Next time: Part Two.