Farewell and the Coming-of-Age Ceremony

And so it was the morning of the graduation ceremony. Gretia came to wake me shortly before the second bell.

"Lady Rozemyne, please wake up."

"Isn't it still early?"

Even as I said that, I rolled over in my futon and looked up at Gretia.

"It's unusual for Gretia to be the one waking me. Did something happen with Richarta?"

"It is a bit early, but the Lord contacted us to say that you should have breakfast with Lord Ferdinand after the second bell. Richarta is preparing breakfast in the tea room."

When Gretia told me that, I sprang out of bed. Breakfast prep kept the tea room busy, so originally, sharing breakfast had been prohibited.

"Apparently, Lord Ferdinand stayed up reviewing research materials after drinking wine and talking extensively with the Lord. They want to make absolutely sure he's woken up when you come for breakfast."

It seemed my adoptive father had ordered them to wake Ferdinand early enough to send him off on time. There was also apparently a calculation that having three retainers accompany us would speed up the tea room cleanup.

...Yay! Thank you, adoptive father!

With Gretia and Brünhilde helping me, I hurriedly began getting dressed. The reason Liselota and Leonore weren't in my room this morning was that they'd already gone to breakfast at the second bell. I needed to finish a quick bath before my parents arrived.

"Graduates do have a lot of preparation to do."

I chuckled to myself remembering how two years ago, Angelica had been so unprepared that Liselota and the three others had to get her ready, then I pulled out my orduanz.

"Good morning, Lord Ferdinand. I'm ready, so I'm heading to the tea room for breakfast now."

When I left the room, Charlotte had finished getting ready too. When we descended the stairs, Wilfried was there as well. When we all went to the tea room together, the Attendants who had been preparing greeted us. The retainers' space that had been set up in the tea room was already gone, and the sofas had been rearranged so graduating students could wait for their welcome. The wooden boxes for luggage seemed to have been moved to Ferdinand's old space—I couldn't find them.

"Everything's been cleaned up quite a bit already."

"Yes. Breakfast preparations are all set over here. Now then, ladies, please come this way. You two should finish your breakfast in the dining hall."

The underage retainers who had accompanied us to the tea room headed to the dining hall, and we lord candidates were led by Richarta to the table. Hearing the announcement of our arrival, Ferdinand emerged from behind the screen. His clothes were properly arranged, but he still looked as though he hadn't gotten enough sleep.

"Good morning, Lord Ferdinand."

"Ah, good morning."

"Your voice sounds rather sleepy—are you still not fully awake? Too much research material?"

He looked the same way he had two years ago when he'd stayed up all night discussing research with Hirschur. It was extremely rare to see Ferdinand looking so dazed.

"...That's partly it, but that sofa was surprisingly comfortable to sleep on."

"If Lord Ferdinand slept well, then it was worth the trouble of moving it. When you move your things in the spring, shall we bring it along?"

Due to the sudden summons to Ahrensbach, Ferdinand had taken only the bare essentials and the minimum marriage gifts. Seasonal household items and the many gifts sent by nobles from various regions this winter were still in Ehrenfest.

"For now I'm still in the guest room, so there's no need."

"That would be in the spring, after the Star Binding ceremony, correct?"

"...Once I have my own room, I'll consider it then."

That was an unusually noncommittal answer even for Ferdinand, who tended to think far ahead—but then again, it would be inconvenient to have things delivered before he had a room to put them in. When I replied, "Please let me know if you need anything," Ferdinand nodded and took his seat. Then he beckoned to me.

"Rozemyne, come here. Has your fever gone down?"

"I feel fine this morning, I think..."

I obediently stood before Ferdinand. Charlotte gasped in surprise as she watched Ferdinand take my temperature and pulse. "Was Lady Rozemyne feeling unwell?"

"I was just a little feverish from being worn out during the Interduchy Tournament. I took my medicine properly, and my fever is down this morning."

"Quiet, Rozemyne. Close your mouth. You're making it hard to take your pulse."

"My apologies."

After the usual examination, he told me, "Your fever has subsided, but don't push yourself," and I took my seat as well.

"You'd been getting better lately, so I didn't think you were feeling unwell."

"Being overwhelmed by the first awards ceremony might have contributed too. Charlotte, how was last night's dinner? My adoptive father was in this room, and he sent us away saying it was 'adults-only time,' so I couldn't hear how it went."

Over breakfast, we asked Charlotte about the dinner in the dining hall that we hadn't been able to attend. It sounded like the students had been lively and excited, having produced so many outstanding performers.

"Now that I think of it, what did Lord Ferdinand talk about with my adoptive father after we went to bed? It had been a while since they'd shared drinks, so they must have had quite the conversation."

When I turned the topic to Ferdinand, he lowered his eyes as if considering something for a moment, then shook his head and said, "You can ask Sylvester later," refusing to give me any details.

After breakfast was cleared away, Justus began laying out various things. Two recording Magical Tools, and then a leather bag. Ferdinand shoved one of the Magical Tools in front of me with a thunk.

"This is the recording Magical Tool you requested. Per your Attendant's wishes, I've included lengthy cautionary words."

"Lord Ferdinand, what about my request?"

"Well..."

"That's terrible."

Puffing out my cheeks in a pout, I activated the tool I'd been given. True to Ferdinand's word, right from the start it opened with a lecture: "It is mealtime. I don't know what you're doing, but put it down immediately."

...What else is on here?

"Rozemyne, don't listen to it here—at the very least, do it in your own room. Hearing your own voice echoing in the same room is an unpleasant experience."

Ferdinand wrinkled his nose as he stopped me. I wanted to hear everything right then, but if I didn't listen, he might take it back, so I decided to bring it to my room.

Then I was handed a leather bag that magic couldn't pass through. When I opened it, there was another Magical Tool inside along with a piece of paper.

"Last night, you breathed voice into the Magical Tool registered with Zerxius's Magic Power, so you should have had one left over, correct? I'd like to continue this research. Use this Magical Tool as written here and report the results to me. A letter will suffice."

"Understood."

It had been a collaborative research project from the start, so if he said he wanted to continue, there was no way I could refuse. I accepted the leather bag.

"Also, may I take the spare ones for myself? I'd like to think of various ways to use them before next winter."

"You made them, Lord Ferdinand, and I paid for them, so of course that's fine."

Once we woke Ferdinand and shared breakfast, our job was done. After that, Ferdinand would change into formal attire and go greet Dietlinde. We would be in the way during the changing and tidying up, so we had to move to the multi-purpose hall.

"Rozemyne, Richarta. Sylvester told me that the two of you arranged this room for me. I spent a very comfortable night. Thank you."

Ferdinand had gone out of his way to thank us, and it was clear just how comfortable he'd truly been. That he'd acknowledged all the thought I'd put into how to make Richarta and me comfortable—perhaps because I hadn't been praised last night, it made me especially happy. And yet, I realized with a pang that this was once again a farewell parting, and I felt terribly lonely.

"In moments like this, you really should say 'thank you' properly."

Trying to shake off the loneliness, I cracked a light joke. I'd expected his usual sardonic smile or a single dismissive word, but Ferdinand instead showed me a gentle smile that I had rarely ever seen from him.

"...Thank you, Rozemyne, Richarta."

With just that, as if time truly was running out, Ferdinand quickly disappeared behind the screen. It wasn't just my eyes that had gone misty at Ferdinand's rare, unguarded words of gratitude. Richarta's eyes were glistening too as she addressed us.

"Now then, please head to the multi-purpose hall. Lord Ferdinand needs to change."

In the entrance hall, I could see current students gathering to head to the auditorium. When I started to go that way, Wilfried stopped me.

"You do as Richarta said—wait in the multi-purpose hall. You collapsed from fatigue during yesterday's Interduchy Tournament, and if you overdo it now, you'll have to leave early again this year. Uncle will be escorting Lady Dietlinde, and if you disappear from the venue, he'll worry."

There was no room for argument. I left the preparations to everyone else and waited in the multi-purpose hall with my guard knight Judith. While we were there, the graduates' parents began arriving. Leonore and Liselota's parents came and greeted us, then headed to their children's rooms.

As the wave of parents subsided, those who would serve as escorts began to appear. Cornelius and Hartmut, impeccably dressed in formal attire, showed their faces in the multi-purpose hall. "Good morning, Lady Rozemyne."

"Leonore's parents just arrived, so I think preparations will take a bit longer, Brother Cornelius. Hartmut, please go pick up Clarissa early. Apparently waiting makes her very anxious."

Given their track record, if Hartmut didn't go get her, Clarissa would probably come marching in on her own—but there was no need to make a girl more anxious than necessary.

"You received permission to marry, didn't you?"

"After considering various circumstances, we received the response that this would be the most prudent course of action."

...That sounded rather questionable as a marriage permission.

If everyone around them was satisfied, that was fine, but it did worry me slightly. While I was talking with Hartmut, one of Wilfried's retainers whom I recognized from the castle approached us.

"Lady Rozemyne, might I have a moment to introduce myself?"

The one who spoke up was Torsten, Liselota's partner. I'd heard his name and that he was one of Wilfried's attendants, but since the face and the name hadn't matched for me until now, I hadn't really connected them. He seemed calm and had a composed demeanor. He and Liselota probably got along well.

"Please take good care of Liselota."

"Of course."

By the time I finished greeting Torsten, my adoptive father and mother, who had apparently returned to Ehrenfest at some point, had arrived. My adoptive father looked somewhat flustered as he guided my adoptive mother to a seat.

"I thank you greatly, Lord Sylvester."

"How are you feeling, Mother?"

My adoptive mother smiled slightly at my question, her face a touch pale. She did not look well at all.

"I think I got a bit airsick from the transfer circle."

"I told you that you should have just stayed and rested in Ehrenfest."

"But it's a once-in-a-lifetime graduation ceremony for the students. I know it's selfish of me, but I want to celebrate with them."

I could tell from the way they repeated the same exchange that this was an argument they'd had many times. Seeing this, it was clear my adoptive father truly adored my adoptive mother.

"My lady, shall we head to the auditorium soon? If we don't get in before the parents are admitted, we'll stand out."

"What will you two do?" I asked my adoptive father and mother.

"I'll keep Florenzia resting here until the last moment, so you go ahead."

He said this because she already walked slowly enough as it was, and with that, I headed to the auditorium with Richarta and Judith.

Just like last year, the walls had been removed, and the auditorium had been transformed with tiered seating like a colosseum. In the center of the auditorium was a white cylindrical stage for the consecration dance and sword dances, and beyond it, the altar was visible.

"These are the seats for the lord's family."

"Please come this way, Lady Rozemyne."

Unlike the parents' seats from last year, this was very close to the stage. From here, the consecration dance would be easy to see. I took my seat at Charlotte's beckoning.

"Have Father and Mother arrived?"

"Yes. However, my mother got a bit airsick from the transfer circle, so she's resting at the dormitory until the last minute."

"Is she really that unwell? I'm worried."

I'd been told by my adoptive father that the possibility of pregnancy still needed to be kept secret from those around us. With many other dukes present, plus the complicated situation regarding the Second Wife, he said they would share the news only after returning to Ehrenfest.

Right at the last minute before the graduates' procession began, my adoptive father and mother arrived. Whether it was from taking some medicine, the benefit of resting, or simply the noble habit of never letting emotions or physical condition show, my adoptive mother took her seat with her usual smile.

"Mother, please don't push yourself."

"That applies to you as well, Rozemyne."

When my adoptive mother chuckled softly, the doors opened for the graduates' procession. The graduates filed in and lined up on the stage, but there was one presence that stood out above all else, making the crowd murmur in astonishment.

...Oh no no no! Lord Ferdinand, your persuasion didn't work!?

Dietlinde entered with a self-satisfied smile, and her hair was piled as high as humanly possible. First, they had probably designed the arrangement to hold as many ornaments as possible. Like Marie Antoinette, her hair was styled into an extremely elevated arrangement. Her already gorgeous golden hair had been piled even higher to create an even more extravagant effect.

On top of that, three of Ehrenfest's reddish hair ornaments were placed in her hair, and the whole arrangement was decorated with ribbons and lace to an almost absurd degree. It was so spectacular that it left everyone around her speechless, and Ferdinand's fixed smile as he walked beside her genuinely looked hollow.

...No, honestly, it's amazing in its own way. I never expected to see that kind of hairstyle in Yurgenschmidt.

Looking more carefully, not all of Ehrenfest's hair ornaments had been used. She'd probably been told by those around her that using too many flower ornaments would be disrespectful to the royalty. And so, she had held back on the flowers and used other ornaments instead.

...Ehrenfest's hair ornament flowers were reduced to match the royal ornaments? But honestly, when you've piled on that many ribbons and lace, the number of flowers hardly matters at all. More importantly, can she even perform the consecration dance like that?

Involuntarily, I looked toward the seats where the Ahrensbach ducal family sat. Georgine was sitting there with a perfectly cool expression. She hadn't stopped her daughter's eccentricity?

...If she'd stopped her, Dietlinde wouldn't have shown up like this. What was Georgine thinking, letting Dietlinde do whatever she wanted?

I felt very uneasy, but Dietlinde herself—the center of all that attention—looked thoroughly satisfied. After completing the escort to the stage, the non-graduate partners moved to their assigned seats, but Ferdinand already looked utterly exhausted.

Then, the coming-of-age ceremony was conducted by the High Priest of the Central Temple, followed by a musical offering. Since Leonore and the others had already left the dormitory before we could see them off this morning, I hadn't yet seen Liselota and Leonore in their finery. And yet, with Dietlinde monopolizing every gaze in the venue, I still hadn't found them. This moment—when Dietlinde stepped off the stage for the musical offering—was my only chance.

"Where is Liselota? I can't find her—my eyes keep going straight to Lady Dietlinde."

"I understand exactly how you feel, Sister. I can't find my own Attendants either."

When scanning a large crowd, the towering hairstyles were the first thing to catch your eye. There was no way to spot Liselota with her modest attire. She should be among the singers, so I strained my eyes desperately. With Dietlinde gone, the venue had become much easier to see.

"There she is. That's Liselota."

I spotted her in a pale cream-colored outfit, her gathered hair adorned with a matching hair ornament. Liselota always seemed to stand a step back, so her beauty didn't usually stand out, but today she looked truly lovely.

...According to Muriella, she was quite popular with students from other duchies too.

The musical offering ended just after I managed to find Liselota, and next came Leonore's sword dance. The musicians descended from the stage and repositioned themselves around it. In their place, those performing the sword dance ascended the stage, clad in Blue Robes. Twenty people climbed onto the stage. Because there were so few women, Leonore was immediately easy to spot. I could see her reddish-purple grape-colored hair adorned with white and red flowers. She must have been born in winter.

Once she drew her sword from her stappe and took her stance, the music began. As it played, her blade caught the light and flashed. Amid the powerful, sharp movements of the sword, there were distinctly feminine gestures. Leonore's sword dance was fluid and graceful, and despite wielding a keen blade, it had an inexplicable softness to it.

"Leonore really is beautiful, isn't she?"

"Mm, splendid. But Alexis is no slouch either."

Wilfried laughed proudly of his own Attendant.

We were discussing which of them was more impressive when the sword dance, too, came to an end.

"Next is the consecration dance... Can she even dance in that?"

My adoptive father's mutter summed up what everyone was thinking. Dietlinde, now dressed in the flowing, frilly costume for the consecration dance, drew every eye in the venue.

After sharing breakfast, it was farewell with Ferdinand.

And now came Dietlinde's moment in the spotlight.

It seemed Ferdinand had failed in his persuasion.

I'd wanted to see the consecration dance, but it didn't make it in.

Next up: Dietlinde's consecration dance.