"Welcome home,
"Father, that's enough."
"Please stop, Master."
As Grandfather greeted me beaming with a smile, I could see
"Out of my way, all of you! What reason is there to hold back when praising my granddaughter for winning top honors two years in a row!?"
"If you don't hold back, Father, Rozemyne will die."
Persuaded by those around him, Grandfather's shoulders slumped. I was happy that he praised me with all his might, but my personal safety mattered too.
"Grandfather, please hold your hand open like this. You must never close your fist."
I had Grandfather hold his hand flat, then wrapped my fingers around his index and middle. I had wanted to hold hands properly, but Grandfather's hand was far too large for that.
"We'll head to the room like this. Let's go together to the northern annex."
"V-very well."
"Master, please don't squeeze your hand."
"If Lord
With the guard knights watching nervously, I accomplished the great feat of walking hand in hand with Grandfather.
"Well then, let's talk again at dinner."
After parting ways with Grandfather in front of the connecting corridor and returning to my room, I introduced
"This is Roderick, the apprentice scholar who has received his position in my service. He'll be living at the Knights' Dormitory from now on.
"Understood."
"Roderick, please ask
Since everyone had just returned from the dormitories today and was busy unpacking, actual work would begin tomorrow.
"Lady Rozemyne, tea has been prepared. Would you care to move to the tea room?"
It seemed
Wilfried and Charlotte were already there, likewise waiting to kill time.
"
The northern annex had the same structure as the
"Come to think of it, I heard the
I'd only ever seen Melchior when he was brought in for bedtime greetings after dinner, but his demeanor resembled my adoptive mother's. His hair color was similar to my adoptive father's—a vivid purple with strong blue tints—so it wouldn't be surprising if he resembled Father more than Wilfried did, but at the very least, he was nothing like the "mini Lord Zil" I'd thought when I first saw Wilfried.
Since I was adopted and not a full sibling, I couldn't enter Melchior's room in the main building. We'd barely interacted before, but I hoped we could get along.
Dinner on the day we returned to Ehrenfest had become a regular occasion for Grandfather and the Chief Priest to join us as well. That evening, I sat next to Grandfather. He had been staying behind as acting Lord, so I told him about the Interduchy Tournament—the Ditter match between Haishitze and the Chief Priest, the attack during the awards ceremony, and Brother
"...Perhaps next year I should leave
Grandfather said this with a completely serious expression after hearing about the apprentice knights who had asked for my blessing despite black weapons being prohibited. The Ditter performance aside, he was outraged that their knightly spirit still left so much to be desired!
And Ferdinand, who was told he'd be staying home next year, merely shrugged his shoulders and gave a soft laugh toward Grandfather.
"That would be most appreciated. Rough brawling is not my forte, after all."
...Chief Priest, you liar! You're incredibly good at rough fighting!
Putting aside my inner retort, the truth was that between this year's Interduchy Tournament and graduation ceremony, there had been countless situations where things would have been troublesome without the Chief Priest—my own carelessness included—so I genuinely wanted him to come again next year.
"Good, good. I'll go next year then. No matter what happens, you'll be safe, Rozemyne."
"Wait, Lord Bonifatius. If Uncle isn't there, who will look after Rozemyne's health?"
Wilfried hurriedly tried to stop Grandfather. My adoptive father nodded deeply in agreement. I felt the same way. Nobody knew my physical condition better than the Chief Priest, and during the Interduchy Tournament, when everyone was busy, there was no one else who could manage my unconventional behavior. I probably couldn't convince Grandfather to stand down, but I felt it was futile to try when he was already determined to go.
"If Rozemyne gives up on participating in the Interduchy Tournament, perhaps we could keep Lord Bonifatius locked in the dormitory."
"Weren't you the one who said it would be cruel to make her give up, Ferdinand?"
"I do think it's cruel, but sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances."
After speaking with the Knight Commander at the library, the Chief Priest had been acting a bit odd. Unlike before, he seemed strongly averse to the Royal Academy. This conversation too, ultimately, came down to the Chief Priest not wanting to go to the Royal Academy.
...What on earth had he been told?
I was curious, but since the Chief Priest was clearly on edge, I figured it wasn't a problem I should stick my nose into, so I could only watch and wait.
"Why not worry about next year when it comes? Let's focus on the Dedication Ritual that's fast approaching. By next year, I may have grown enough to manage my health even without Ferdinand."
"That won't happen."
...Chief Priest, don't crush my kind sentiments!
I suppressed the urge to shout "Ugh!" and instead began talking about the Dedication Ritual. Since we needed to prepare for the long journey, I also needed to coordinate with Wilfried and Charlotte. With the Chief Priest present as well, now was the perfect time. I asked my adoptive father which land would host the printing business, and after considering
"Father, if the Lord's children are participating in the Dedication Ritual, what about Melchior?"
"Even after his Baptism Ceremony, Melchior hasn't learned to handle Magic Power yet. He could learn during the Lord's Conference and start participating next year, couldn't he?"
Unlike Charlotte, who had learned to handle Magic Power during the winter social season and headed to the Dedication Ritual prepared, Melchior would have no practice period since I'd been asleep. It was settled that he would start participating the following year.
"Oh, by the way, did you find any descriptions of how to build the stages needed for the Dedication Ritual ceremony?"
"Unfortunately, no. I'll keep looking, but I doubt we'll find anything."
Several scholars were to accompany the Chief Priest to Haardenzell, where they would research magic circles and ritual stages.
"Since I'll be conducting Melchior's Baptism Ceremony, I need to return to the
"If it's just fetching supplies, you could leave it to an attendant. What purpose does granting your retainers access to the Temple serve if not this?"
When my adoptive father said this, I slapped my palm. The thought had never occurred to me. I simply hadn't considered asking the castle attendants to handle Temple matters.
"I'll have Eustachus fetch his as well, and I'll have
"Thank you."
As my thoughts drifted to the Temple, the lower town also came to mind.
"Father, when should the Plantan Company start selling books? I'll need to contact them again..."
"Contact the attendants assigned to the Children's Room and
"Understood. When should we hold the Magic Power Compression lecture? Charlotte will be joining this year, and Roderick, who's newly joined my retainers, will be there too. Have the attendees already been decided?"
Those who could be taught Rozemyne-style Magic Power Compression had already been listed and invitation letters sent, apparently. I requested that Roderick and Philine be added. Philine's Contract needed to be changed from a duchy-level one to a country-wide one.
"Also, when do you plan to sell the information gathered at the Royal Academy to the various departments? I was thinking whenever you're ready, but..."
"I'd like to go over it with the scholars first, so any time after two days from now would be good."
"Understood. I'll contact each department and settle on a schedule."
My adoptive father and I quickly drew up a rough schedule of things that needed to be done while the nobles were all gathered here for the Spring Prayer feast. If we tried to handle this through written documents, it would take too long and we'd never make it in time.
"Rozemyne."
When the Chief Priest called my name and I turned around, I found him tapping his temple lightly while looking at me.
"You should include Wilfried and Charlotte in the Royal Academy information gathering work."
"Why?"
Starting next year was one thing, but since the two of them had been completely uninvolved until now, I didn't think they could just jump in. When I tilted my head, the Chief Priest let out a slow breath.
"Didn't I tell you that when this started, it was supposed to be Rozemyne's hobby of collecting stories from various places? The other information was actually more of an unexpected bonus. However, various departments have come to value that information and eagerly await it. When it comes to selling information to the departments, you shouldn't be doing it without the next Lord, Wilfried."
It was Wilfried who looked up, as if struck by the Chief Priest's words. If I was the only one attending the meetings where the upper echelons of each department gathered to review the information, then among the lord candidates, I would be the one who stood out.
"Furthermore, since the Contract change has made the printing business an Aub-led initiative, collecting stories from various places and turning them into books has become Ehrenfest's enterprise. It shouldn't be run solely on Rozemyne's budget."
I still felt like the printing business was something I was doing as a hobby, but since the Contract had changed, it was indeed being conducted on Ehrenfest's budget.
"Also, it would be good to reduce Rozemyne's workload and distribute tasks to Wilfried's and Charlotte's retainers as well. Your retainers have grown admirably by keeping up with you as you spread yourself across so many things, but the gap between them and the others is becoming too noticeable."
You are not going to be the Lord but the Lord's wife, so don't outshine him too much," the Chief Priest muttered. He meant for me to build up Wilfried's position.
"Collecting stories and printing—these are things I'm only doing because I want to. It's difficult to assign tasks to Wilfried or Charlotte, who aren't even my subordinates."
"Difficult or not, printing is no longer your job alone. Be mindful of that."
"Yes."
The next day, Wilfried's and Charlotte's scholars also joined in sorting the information gathered at the Royal Academy. Since I needed to teach Roderick, I taught the others at the same time and organized everything for sale to the various departments. At the same time, I had Philine compile the paper and ink usage and calculate the costs.
"Charlotte, please handle these calculations. Brother Wilfried, please summarize this into a table."
Once I assigned them their tasks, the two worked alongside their own scholars. Watching three people put their heads together on a job that Hartmut could have handled alone, the gap between my retainers and theirs was painfully clear.
...My retainers were trained by the Chief Priest, so does this mean I'm supposed to give assignments to and educate their retainers next? That doesn't seem like it should be my job at all.
When I asked the Chief Priest, he looked at me with frigid eyes and said, "How many times do I have to tell you not to take on unnecessary work?" I apparently wasn't supposed to be the one educating their retainers.
Then, Wilfried and Charlotte were also made to attend meetings with the upper echelons of each department. They successfully extracted money, assembled information collectors, and distributed the tasks. "Were you doing all this even last year, right after recovering from your illness?" Wilfried sighed.
"I understand why Uncle wants to take work away from you, Sister. Please rely on us a bit more."
"Thank you, Charlotte."
When I thanked Charlotte, Wilfried nodded deeply.
"I'm your fiancé, yet you haven't told me anything at all. When you're discussing work with Father, call me over too."
"Understood, Brother Wilfried. I'll do that from now on."
After finishing the Magic Power Compression lecture, I could see Roderick desperately compressing his Magic Power while looking queasy from magic overload. By that time, Roderick's father had heard through society circles that Roderick—who hadn't returned home—had become my retainer, and he had requested an audience with me. However, the audience request was denied, and my adoptive father handled things with Roderick's father instead.
"Today I'll be going to the Children's Room. I need to advertise the Plantan Company, and I was told to look for attendant candidates among the lower-year students as well."
"...If you're looking for attendant candidates, may I introduce my younger sister? Of course, whether she's appointed is entirely up to you, Lady Rozemyne, but I think she would make a fine candidate for the senior apprentice attendant position after I graduate."
"Please, by all means, introduce her."
"Lady Rozemyne, may I introduce my younger brother as well?"
Judith's eyes lit up as she spoke. Come to think of it, she had said she needed to work hard as the eldest, for the sake of her younger siblings. I smiled and nodded.
When we arrived at the Children's Room, the two summoned their siblings. Their beaming smiles as they approached calling "Big Sister" were absolutely adorable.
"Lady Rozemyne, please allow me to introduce her. My sister,
Bertilde was a girl with an aura very similar to Brunhilde's. She had apparently received greetings from all the children in the Children's Room, but without much interaction, it was difficult to remember everyone.
"I've heard many of Lady Rozemyne's stories from my sister. I'm so happy to be able to meet you in person."
From a young age, Bertilde had been Brunhilde's conversation partner about trends, and once Brunhilde had entered my service, she had envied how Brunhilde had come alive as a trendsetter.
"I too hope to be in your service by the time I enter the Royal Academy."
"Bertilde, you need to pass Lady
Bertilde wouldn't enter the Royal Academy for another two years, and for now she was still training as a servant under their mother, a relative of mine. Being in their mother's service meant she was undoubtedly being groomed specifically to become my attendant.
...Bertilde. Got it.
"Lady Rozemyne, this is my brother,
"Sis, let go. I can introduce myself."
The boy Judith had dragged over had features similar to hers but with a more composed demeanor. He seemed like the type who had always been the one to rein in Judith's excitable energy.
...The gender was different, so the vibe was different too, but was this like Angelica and Lieserenna?
"My name is Theodore. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Brother Cornelius, who had been watching Theodore, said, "I think you could consider adding him to your retainers." Angelica nodded in agreement beside him.
"I've also seen Theodore during training, and he has quite good form."
"Oh, thank you. It's an honor to hear that from both of you."
Theodore blushed bashfully, looking up at Brother Cornelius and Angelica with his violet eyes—very similar to Judith's. The two of them were well known as Grandfather's prized disciples, so they were objects of admiration for any aspiring apprentice knight.
"Theodore, your attitude is quite different from how you treat me, isn't it?"
Judith said this with a dissatisfied expression. If she aspired to be a wonderful big sister like Charlotte, having someone else steal that position would feel like having her siblings stolen, which was somewhat understandable.
"Since you'll be entering the Royal Academy next year, shall I consider making you one of my retainers?"
When I said this, Theodore looked extremely troubled. He glanced back and forth between Brother Cornelius, Angelica, and me in a panic, and finally lowered his gaze.
"Ah... I'm sorry, but I... cannot become Lady Rozemyne's retainer."
"Theodore, what are you saying? Are you refusing Lady Rozemyne's offer?"
Judith's eyes went wide in disbelief. I raised a hand gently to quiet her and smiled.
"He may have already made a promise with Melchior. Don't bristle, Judith. It's up to the individual to decide whom they serve."
"No, it's not that. It's not Lord Melchior. In the future, I want to serve a giebe, just like my father. So I cannot become a guard knight to the archducal family."
He probably thought it was presumptuous to refuse a position as guard knight to the archducal family. Theodore shrank into himself apologetically as he spoke. But his dream of "becoming a knight like my father and serving a giebe together with him" pierced right through my heart, reminding me of my own promise to "protect everyone in this town, just like Dad." My fondness for Theodore skyrocketed.
"What a wonderful dream. I'll support you, Theodore. So, would you serve as my retainer during our time at the Royal Academy?"
"...Pardon?"
It wasn't just Theodore who was stunned by my offer. All the retainers around me stared with wide eyes.
"Theodore would serve me only during our time at the Royal Academy. As training and study for one day serving a giebe, how about serving as my guard knight only while we're at the Royal Academy?"
When I offered him a part-time position rather than full-time employment, I could feel Theodore's resolve waver. Ricarda tried to stop me, saying "Lady Rozemyne, please wait a moment," but I pressed on.
"I have enough guard knights for my time in Ehrenfest. The only time I truly need them is during our stays at the Royal Academy, so won't you serve me just for those periods?"
"...I'll think about it."
Theodore said this with a small smile.
We've returned to Ehrenfest! I wanted to quickly get to the Spring Prayer feast, but so much has happened that it's going to be difficult.
Brunhilde and Judith's siblings make their first appearance here. They'll really shine much later, so I don't think you need to stress about remembering them now.
Next up is the Plantan Company's sales event.