"Brother, what exactly did you say to
At Hannelore's quiet question, Lestilaut raised one eyebrow, glanced at Wilfried, and muttered, "Nothing of consequence." His nonchalant attitude clouded Hannelore's expression.
"There is no way Wilfried would raise his voice over something of no consequence. You must have said something terribly rude, Brother. I am so very sorry, Wilfried."
At Hannelore's apology, Wilfried seemed to startle slightly before composing himself and offering a smile.
"There is no need for Hannelore to apologize. I was foolish to fall for the provocation during our gevinne game. I am the one who was terribly rude, and I apologize to both of you."
After apologizing to both Hannelore and Lestilaut, Wilfried slowly sat back down in his chair, turned to face Lestilaut who sat across from him, and moved a piece.
"Father... the Aub of Ehrenfest has no intention of making
"Cruel, you say? To make someone Aub?"
Lestilaut, who had been moving a piece, turned his red eyes toward Wilfried with a questioning look. Wilfried nodded once and moved another piece.
"As you know, Rozemyne is an frail sister who has collapsed multiple times at tea parties. Father would never be so heartless as to force the grueling duties of Aub onto a daughter with health concerns. I would appreciate it if you understood that point."
...Is this a campaign by Wilfried to improve Father's image? He's right—if a daughter has health concerns, even her birth parents wouldn't make her Aub.
From Wilfried's words, I could tell he had been provoked regarding Father's reputation and the next Aub succession. The persistent rumors tarnishing Father's reputation had irritated me at tea parties too, so I understood his feelings all too well.
...I know I shouldn't have risen to the provocation, but the last time I did and tried to squeeze out Magic Power during the ceremony, it turned into the Zent's bestowal ceremony.
It's hard for me to scold Wilfried.
Hannelore's intervention seemed to have calmed Wilfried somewhat, but Lestilaut's provocations showed no sign of stopping.
"I had always assumed the Aub would be someone with abundant Magic Power who could bring greater benefit to the duchy... I see. So because of her health concerns, regardless of ability, she is to be the next Aub."
I could see the tension in Wilfried's fist as he gripped the staff used to move the gevinne pieces.
I stood from my seat and took a position beside the table where the gevinne pieces floated, placing myself between Lestilaut and Wilfried.
"If there is sufficient Magic Power to support the foundation of the duchy, is it not only natural to make a healthy man the Aub? What is so strange about that?"
Even if I was gradually becoming healthier, I was still frail, and as a woman, there would be periods during pregnancy and childbirth when I couldn't perform my duties. It seemed far more natural for Wilfried—who had earned excellent grades at the
Lestilaut turned his red eyes toward me, looking somewhat amused. Those eyes, as if evaluating something and testing me, were unsettling, and I flinched for an instant.
"So you possess such extraordinary talent, yet you are content to settle for the position of First Wife?"
"The word 'settle' is hardly appropriate. I have never sought the position of Aub in the first place."
"Is that so? Then what is it that you desire?"
At Lestilaut's question, I smiled. I knew exactly what I wanted.
"To become the Aub's First Wife and serve as Librarian. I intend to fill my library with more and more books."
That was why I had started the printing industry. Thanks to all the stories gathered at the Royal Academy, new books were being produced every year, and readership was slowly growing from the Academy outward. If I could get nobles hooked on reading, then I'd move on to commoners—starting with the wealthy who were literate, and eventually making books available to everyone. I harbored an enormous ambition. I wanted the position needed to achieve it, but I had no desire to do much work outside of bookmaking, which was why I had no intention of becoming the Aub. Even as High Priest, I was already overwhelmed.
"If what you desire is to be the Aub's First Wife and serve as Librarian, then there is no problem at all. Become my First Wife, Rozemyne."
...Excuse me?
After a moment of stunned silence, a wave of murmuring swept through the room.
"Brother! What are you suddenly saying!?"
"Silence, Hannelore."
Lestilaut waved his hand dismissively, cutting Hannelore off. She pressed her lips together tightly and took a step back. The retainers, who had been voicing their shock, fell silent under the force of Lestilaut's presence. Still, every face in the room wore an expression of stunned disbelief.
Frankly, it was so sudden that I couldn't process it. I wanted to believe I had misheard, but given that everyone around me was struck dumb, I was fairly certain I hadn't.
"I am terribly sorry—I could have sworn I heard Lestilaut say he wanted me as his First Wife, but..."
"You heard correctly. That is indeed what I said."
Hearing it stated so matter-of-factly, I pressed my hand to my cheek. If he was asking me to be his First Wife, wasn't that a proposal? But something didn't add up. Lestilaut was supposed to have someone he intended to give a hair ornament to, and a noble marriage proposal should involve discussions between the families. Though now that I thought about it, when students at the Royal Academy got involved in romance, perhaps the parents weren't involved.
...But wasn't a proposal supposed to come with a long, flowery speech offering a magic stone and invoking the names of gods? I didn't think it was supposed to be blurted out as casually as small talk. Was I remembering wrong?
I couldn't wrap my head around noble customs, and I had no idea how to take Lestilaut's words. My engagement to Wilfried was widely known, and if I took this seriously, I might be laughed at.
As I tilted my head in confusion, unsure how to respond, Lestilaut looked back and forth between Wilfried and me.
"You have shown your value to the world. Magic Power capable of simultaneously wielding two divine instruments, the number of blessings you possess, the new trends you set, the industries that benefit the duchy, your connections to royalty and upper duchies, your reputation as a Saint... Ehrenfest, which languished at the bottom before the civil war and only rose to a middle rank afterward, is not worthy of you."
He pointed out that Wilfried—barely knowledgeable about printing, which was to become the duchy's primary industry going forward—was the one claiming to be the next Aub, and that while my grades had been improving, only I and my retainers stood out while the rest of the duchy's nobles lagged far behind.
"If you conducted joint research, you would clearly see the gap between Ehrenfest's lord candidates. This is the downside of your rapid rise in rank based solely on your achievements alone. Those around you haven't kept up at all."
The apprentice knights who had been rigorously trained by Grandfather to protect the lord's family didn't have that big of a gap. There were differences depending on when they started compressing their Magic Power, but those were merely differences in natural talent and effort.
However, the level of the scholars who had attended the
"Your old ways from a lower duchy won't be enough to keep up with someone who produces new things one after another like you. You alone have pushed your duchy's rank up, but those around you haven't caught up. Ehrenfest would suit a lower rank far better. The Aub of Ehrenfest who plucked you from the Temple had keen foresight, but the one who claims to be the next Aub hasn't recognized your value. Going forward, Ehrenfest simply doesn't have the capacity to handle you."
He was provoking us. Lestilaut wore a fearless grin as he surveyed Wilfried and the Ehrenfest retainers in the room.
"If you don't wish to be Aub of Ehrenfest and have decided to live as the Aub's First Wife, then come to
...Books and documents accumulated over a long history, unrivaled even within Yurgenschmidt? What a beautiful phrase.
I couldn't help but swoon, feeling my resolve waver. But I desperately held my body still. Let me think about this carefully. The one making the offer was Dunkelfelger. This wasn't simply an invitation to come read books. Based on past experience, whenever Dunkelfelger made an offer, some kind of ditter was always involved.
"...I-I won't go."
"You wavered."
"I-I did not waver! And besides, my engagement to Wilfried has the King's approval."
No matter what Dunkelfelger said, it was pointless. When I proudly declared as much, Lestilaut waved his hand as if it were all stupid.
"It only has approval—it's not a royal decree or anything of the sort. If the Aub of Ehrenfest requested its cancellation, it would be accepted easily. Since no other duchy is involved, dissolving it would be simple."
Apparently, having the King's approval didn't make things absolutely secure. If Father wished it, my engagement to Wilfried could be dissolved.
"And Dunkelfelger could easily apply pressure on the Aub of Ehrenfest. The only reason we haven't done so until now is because we hadn't seen enough value in you to warrant it. If you can hold your own in a negotiation without backing down an inch, you would be more than capable of serving as Dunkelfelger's First Wife. To broaden your knowledge and create books, Dunkelfelger is far more suitable than Ehrenfest. Come to Dunkelfelger, Rozemyne."
Financial resources, manpower, agility in adopting new things, recognition of the importance of new technologies... He listed Dunkelfelger's advantages one after another, and every single one was something I wanted. My heart swayed back and forth.
"Surely you would find far better personnel than in a backwater like Ehrenfest."
...Excuse me? Better personnel than my
The instant I mentally retorted on reflex, my excitement cooled. If I went to Dunkelfelger, I wouldn't even be able to see my family. I would be abandoning my crucial role as a bridge between nobles and merchants and craftsmen. I had no intention of severing the precious, delicate ties that existed in Ehrenfest. Most importantly, my beloved library was in Ehrenfest.
"...It is a terribly attractive offer, but I must decline."
In situations like this, it was best to refuse quickly and clearly. If I hesitated over my answer, a greater duchy could take advantage of me. First and foremost, I needed to make my intentions known. I had no plans to go to Dunkelfelger.
After moving a piece, Lestilaut slowly stroked his chin.
"I thought I was offering quite generous terms, but you refuse, do you..."
His muttered question about where exactly he had gone wrong—despite having clearly shaken me—made me realize he had been reading my emotional state rather well.
Relieved that I had successfully declined, I felt the atmosphere shift as Lestilaut suddenly changed demeanor. The leisurely, noble air gave way to something fierce and aggressive, like knights facing a ditter opponent.
"...If I'm refused, then I'll simply have to take you by force."
"Lestilaut!?"
"Brother, please wait!"
Brushing aside Hannelore's attempt to stop him, Lestilaut's eyes took on the look of a predator locking onto prey.
"What I want, I obtain. I build the strength needed to win, and without ever giving up, I change my methods, change my approach, and continue to challenge again and again. That is Dunkelfelger."
I already knew from
His domineering words and demeanor reminded me of how I had felt the first time I confronted him over Schwartz and the others, and I instinctively took a step back.
"Rozemyne."
I turned at the sound of Wilfried's voice behind me.
"...As Lestilaut pointed out, I'm well aware I have many shortcomings, but do you wish to remain with Ehrenfest?"
Wilfried asked with an awkward expression.
"Until I heard Lestilaut's words, I hadn't truly understood your value. If anything, I'd been focused solely on holding you back rather than considering how to use and develop your knowledge like Dunkelfelger or
Wilfried slumped his shoulders as he spoke.
"I had excelled at the Royal Academy for two years straight and thought I was on equal footing with upper duchy nobles by competing and befriending
Within Ehrenfest, he had always compared himself to me and felt he was lacking, but once he began interacting with other lord candidates at the Royal Academy, he had gained confidence in his own abilities. That confidence, he murmured, had led to complacency—the notion that "this level of effort should be good enough."
"The greater duchies were able to quickly adopt your innovations, but I couldn't even think of doing the same. Our own industries had all started from your hobbies, so I thought it was best to leave things in your hands."
He admitted that even though everyone around him was being told that their awareness was still stuck at the level of a lower duchy, there was no way he alone could have developed an upper duchy's sensibility. He would need to keep building relationships with his upper duchy friends and gradually grow into that mindset.
"Now that you've recognized you haven't been utilizing my abilities, you can start doing so from now on. Everything precious to me is in Ehrenfest. I have no intention of leaving. Ehrenfest is my
"Is that so? Then as the next Aub, I will protect you. Besides, if I can't protect you here when you want to stay in Ehrenfest, I would fail as family too."
Wilfried puffed out his chest and looked at Lestilaut defiantly. Lestilaut responded with a feral grin.
"If you claim to be the next Aub, then show me that resolve. Defend Rozemyne from Dunkelfelger. I challenge you to a game of ditter."
...Just as I expected. Ditter.
"Rozemyne—wanting you as Dunkelfelger's First Wife is not my wish alone. I have obtained the agreement of the Aub and his wife. If I win, I will use every means at my disposal to pressure the Aub of Ehrenfest into dissolving the engagement."
As the second-ranked great duchy, they intended to apply overwhelming pressure. Father's stomach would never survive that.
"What happens if we refuse the match?" Wilfried asked.
Lestilaut snorted.
"If you're too cowardly to even accept a match from the start, then Rozemyne has no use for you. I would simply take the same measures as if I had won."
"So if Ehrenfest wins, Dunkelfelger will back off from pursuing Rozemyne?"
"A ditter match is a sacred contest. I swear to the gods that I will not interfere in the future."
Dunkelfelger was overbearing, obsessed with ditter, and troublesome, but in this regard, they were trustworthy. Still, being on the defensive from the start and having things go exactly as Lestilaut wanted was deeply unpleasant.
...What is Lestilaut's weakness?
Between Father's bad reputation, Wilfried's sore spots, and my love of books, he had attacked each of us at our weakest points and was now forcing a ditter match on us. I wanted to fight back at least a little and give him a taste of his own medicine before I could be satisfied.
I scanned the room. Was there anything I could find that might make Lestilaut reconsider the ditter challenge? My eyes landed on Hannelore, who was gazing at us with worry, clearly regretting that she hadn't been able to stop her brother.
"Then, in the event of Ehrenfest's victory, let us have Hannelore serve as Wilfried's Second Wife."
"What!? What are you saying, Rozemyne!?"
"Lady Rozemyne!?"
Wilfried and Hannelore both changed expressions. The retainers stirred. The shock was even greater than when Lestilaut had proposed I become his First Wife. I had won.
"As you can see, I have ongoing health concerns, and Wilfried absolutely needs a Second Wife. If that Second Wife were a lord candidate from Dunkelfelger, it would be the best possible prestige boost for Ehrenfest!"
"You would make a princess of Dunkelfelger the Second Wife of a duchy like Ehrenfest? Are you joking!?"
Lestilaut leapt to his feet, eyes blazing, positioning himself protectively in front of Hannelore. It seemed my counterattack at his weak point had hit home.
"Whether I'm joking or not is for you to decide, Lestilaut. I feel exactly the same way as Dunkelfelger does when you demand I dissolve an engagement that has the King's approval."
If you're serious, then I'm serious about taking Hannelore. If Dunkelfelger could dismiss the ditter challenge itself as nothing more than tea party banter, then I could dismiss this as a joke too.
"With all of that in mind, does Lestilaut truly wish to proceed with the ditter challenge?"
I hoped he would back down here.
Having Hannelore become a Second Wife in Ehrenfest was completely out of the question. Unlike how the only option we had to stop Dunkelfelger was to accept the match, sending Hannelore to be a Second Wife in a middle duchy was not something that could be decided without consulting the Aub.
...I'm sorry, Hannelore. But I really want to avoid the ditter match if at all possible.
Perhaps he realized what I was thinking. Wilfried also recovered quickly from his shock and flashed a fearless grin at Lestilaut.
"Lestilaut, should you really be deciding the future of your precious sister with something as crude as this ditter match? I strongly suggest you consult with the Aub. If you go through with this, it would be terribly cruel to Hannelore."
"Wilfried... Brother, please do not decide Lady Rozemyne's or my futures based on idle tea party banter. Lady Rozemyne is already engaged, you know."
Hannelore's plea apparently fell on deaf ears.
"...This is no idle tea party banter. I am looking ahead to Dunkelfelger's future interests and have decided to take Rozemyne as my First Wife."
"Brother, please don't make such a momentous decision on your own! If you lose, then I'll be..."
"Hannelore—deciding whom you marry is Father's and my prerogative."
At Lestilaut's declaration, Hannelore trembled slightly, then lowered her gaze and took a step back.
"So what will it be, Ehrenfest?"
Wilfried glanced at me. He wore an expression of uncertainty—as if wondering whether he was allowed to make this decision himself.
"Rozemyne, may I entrust your future to me?"
"If the ditter is for the sake of treasuring me, then I won't lose."
My own future was on the line. I would give it everything I had. With my support, Wilfried surveyed the retainers gathered in the room.
"Rozemyne is Ehrenfest's treasure, and I will protect her with everything I have! Everyone, lend me your strength!"
The apprentice knights answered in unison with a resounding "Yes, sir!" It seemed to give Wilfried the courage he needed, and he looked up at Lestilaut with determination.
"We accept your challenge! I am the next Aub, and I will not hand over Ehrenfest's treasure so easily!"
"Well said."
It was the confrontation between Lestilaut and Hannelore—between Dunkelfelger and Ehrenfest.
Lestilaut was apparently quite anxious to settle the match before royalty could get involved.
Wilfried, who had been caught up in Rozemyne's wake, learned for the first time about how others evaluated him following the bestowal ceremony.
Next time: the ditter match to determine whether they'll be stealing a treasure—or claiming a bride.