The Children's Room in Winter and the Start of the Noble Academy

When the winter social season begins, the children are moved to the children's room. I received greetings from children I was meeting for the first time while keeping a careful eye to make sure the children of the former Veronica faction weren't excluded or bullied, and I proceeded with studies and games.

The children old enough to attend the Noble Academy seemed to get along without any particular awkwardness—perhaps because they had spent the period of the purge together at the Academy, or perhaps because they wanted to maintain the unchanging atmosphere of the Academy even as the situation back home shifted around them.

Perhaps influenced by that, even the younger children who hadn't yet entered the Noble Academy showed no tense atmosphere. They all threw themselves into games and, during study time, tried their hardest to earn top marks in exchange for treats.

"I was worried the atmosphere might get worse than before, but it's actually better than I expected."

"Mm. Charlotte and I were worried it might end up like the children's room back when Rozemyne first left, but it seems that hasn't happened."

The Aub and his wife would soon be busy with social engagements, so dinners were attended only by the children. As a result, after dinner became a time for the children to discuss reflections on the children's room and their plans for the Noble Academy at their leisure. They used Magical Tools that prevented eavesdropping within a designated range so that everyone could speak candidly.

Charlotte and Wilfried were relieved that the children's room hadn't taken a turn for the worse. Melchior seemed delighted by the fun atmosphere.

"Maybe getting dragged into the adults' faction conflicts is something that only happens in Ehrenfest, and at the Noble Academy they've grown somewhat accustomed to the idea of cooperating to outperform other duchies. I hope they can maintain this atmosphere."

"We'll have to raise nobles who, carrying that same feeling into adulthood, place greater importance on their relationships with other duchies than on the power struggles within Ehrenfest."

Charlotte's words drew a nod from Wilfried, who then turned his gaze to Melchior.

"What surprised me was how unexpectedly well Melchior has been guiding the children. Last year I was worried because he was isolated in the northern wing during the purge, but this year he seems to be leading the children's room without any problems."

"Big brother, I think it's because I played games and talked with everyone at the Temple's orphanage. The number of children is a bit larger, but it's not all that different."

Melchior said this with a cheerful smile. Just as he said, the experience at the orphanage seemed to be paying off—he appeared able to keep an eye on those around him rather than simply getting absorbed in games himself.

"What concerns me is the learning progress of this year's first-year students. Last year they had few opportunities to study in the children's room, so... Will they be all right?"

For desk studies, they had been doing them in the children's room for about two years, so that wasn't much of a problem. Whether they could all earn high scores was debatable, but they could pass on the first day. However, the lack of practice with Feischpiel was clearly apparent. Compared to last year, the gap between lower-ranking and middle-ranking nobles was severe.

"Sister, worrying about it here won't help. Let's have them practice as much as possible while we still have our musicians available, and check each person's learning progress carefully so we can respond accordingly."

Charlotte's words prompted Wilfried to mutter, "Individually checking learning progress... That brings back the nightmare from when I was a first-year," before warning me not to go overboard.

...The library isn't even at stake here, so why would I go overboard? How rude.

"I was worried about whether Dirk and Bertram would fit in, but both of them seem to be doing fine, so I'm relieved."

Both Dirk and Bertram had played karuta and card games at the orphanage, so winning games and earning treats made them happy. Perhaps it was because we were watching, but neither was treated overtly harshly, and they appeared to be fitting in.

However, Dirk had only decided to become a noble about half a year ago. Even if he could win at games, he was still quite weak in history and geography, and he needed to work hard on his Feischpiel practice. Above all, memorizing the common knowledge expected of a noble was his biggest challenge.

For Bertram, the challenge was that he had to reassess his position in every situation. Had it not been for the purge, he would have been a middle-ranking noble close to the upper tier, but now he was a middle-ranking noble who had received his Baptism Ceremony as an orphan. Among middle-ranking nobles, he was at the very bottom. The difference was enormous. Now that the Baptism Ceremony was over, he couldn't even call Lorenz "big brother" anymore. His bewilderment over his own position was clearly evident.

"He's the first noble to receive his Baptism Ceremony from the orphanage under the Aub's guardianship. Some disadvantage can't be helped, but Melchior, please watch over him in the children's room to make sure he doesn't suffer too many losses."

"Yes, Big Sister Rozemyne."

The blue-robed apprentices staying in the former Veronica faction's children's room in the castle also didn't seem to be particularly inconvenienced. "I feel more at ease at the Temple where my own Attendants are, but this is fine," one of the blue Shrine Maiden Apprentices had said. It seemed that the long journey to the Harvest Festival had deepened their bonds with their masters. They seemed a bit lonely being away. I understood that feeling—being separated from people like Fran whom you were close to would naturally make you lonely.

"I just hope whoever was assigned as Attendants to the children's room isn't someone who bears a grudge against the former Veronica faction or would be harsh toward the children. ...My mother was the one who appointed them, wasn't she? Charlotte, do you know what the Attendants assigned to your rooms are like?"

"It's all right, Sister. Since I'm going to the Noble Academy, I've assigned my own Attendants. There's no need to worry."

It seemed that in place of our mother—who had to stay with her newborn baby—Charlotte had assigned her own Attendants. That was reassuring.

"Oh, that's right. Charlotte, the items I ordered from the blacksmith have arrived."

"They're already finished? I'm so happy, Sister!"

The pendant tops shaped like coins bearing crests were finished. Of course, these were gifts for Charlotte, and since the two of us had designed them together, they weren't as simple as mere coins. Filigree cutouts of Charlotte's female crest and the symbols of the gods whose blessings she wished to receive had been carved around the crests, making them quite ornate. The delicate, intricate decorations were Johann's specialty, so they had turned out beautifully.

The symbols of the gods had small holes where tiny magic stones could be inserted, and Charlotte would be placing the stones herself. Apparently, when using them as talismans to receive the gods' blessings rather than for defense, using your own magic stones made it easier for your Magic Power to flow through and for your prayers to reach the gods.

"What are you talking about, Big Sister Rozemyne?"

"Charlotte asked me for something that would let her feel our bond as sisters even when we're apart, so I had our exclusive blacksmith make a pendant top bearing my crest."

"I'm your brother too—don't I get one?"

Melchior looked at me with a sorrowful, clouded expression. Being looked at with that face put me in a difficult spot.

"I had them made because Charlotte's desire for a token that would remind her we're still sisters even when apart made me happy. But I can't very well force a token on someone as proof that they should think of me as their sister even when we're separated, can I? If you go to another duchy, we'd be strangers—and even more so if the adoption contract with the Aub is dissolved."

Thinking about how he'd say "We'd be strangers if we're apart" with such a matter-of-fact expression, I realized I could never send a sibling token of my own initiative—it would have to be requested first.

"I respect you, Big Sister Rozemyne, and I'd be lonely if we were separated. I want a sibling token too."

"If you feel that way, Melchior, I'll have one made for you. If I place the order right away, Johann should be able to finish it during the winter."

With the snow not yet deep, the order should reach Johann in time. I'd heard he had more free time during winter since he couldn't go outside, and giving him work now would probably help take his mind off things.

When I happily agreed, Melchior's face lit up with a bright smile. As I explained Charlotte's design and the two of us began sketching out a pendant top for Melchior, Wilfried started drawing something beside us.

"I want something like this, Rozemyne."

"...Huh? Wilfried, you want a token of our bond too?"

Charlotte and Melchior had been affectionate toward me, so their requests made sense. But Wilfried had resisted the engagement fiercely and had said quite a few blunt things to me. I couldn't understand why he would suddenly want a token of our bond. When I showed my dissatisfaction, Wilfried's expression turned slightly awkward.

"A sibling relationship is fine. Over these past months, I've come to truly understand that from the bottom of my heart."

The tense, prickly atmosphere that Wilfried used to carry had completely vanished. Perhaps by saying everything he'd wanted to say, he'd gotten through his knife-sharp adolescence.

Honestly, I had no idea why his attitude had changed so much. We hadn't done anything resembling an engaged couple, so before the engagement, during it, and after its cancellation, my own feelings hadn't changed in the slightest. And yet Wilfried's attitude had been flipping all over the place.

"Your behavior has changed so much since the engagement was called off, Wilfried, but is there really that much difference between being fiancés and being siblings?"

"They're completely different. ...Oh, wait—perhaps you still don't understand? Mm, I think you'll figure it out as you grow. I didn't understand the difference at first either, when I got engaged."

"Do you understand now?"

"Yes. Siblings and fiancés are completely different things, and given who you are and who I am, the outcome would have been the same sooner or later. There's no way I could have endured it."

After his gaze swept quickly from my head to my feet, Wilfried said with a smug grin, "I hope you grow up soon too, Rozemyne." Then he thrust his desired design at me. He really did look like he'd figured something out, and I felt a bit frustrated that he seemed to have matured first as I accepted the drawing.

...Ah, but the way he's so fixated on looking cool for no reason—he hasn't grown at all in that regard.

The next day, I sent a messenger to the Gilberta Company so the order could reach Johann immediately.

From then until the day of departure for the Noble Academy, I spent my days observing the children's room during dinner discussions, preparing for the Noble Academy, and going over the procedures for the Dedication Ritual with Hartmut and the others.

On the departure day for the fourth-years, Wilfried and I set off for the Noble Academy.

"Please make yourself comfortable here, Rozemyne. Gretia and I will go prepare your room."

Lizelere had come to the Noble Academy as a fully grown Attendant in Richunda's place. The reasons were that Brünhilde, an upper-ranking noble, was still serving as one of my retainers this year and could handle dealings with royalty and top-ranking duchies, that Ottilie needed to remain in Ehrenfest to keep Clarissa in check while she was minding things at home, and that I would need contacts in the Central District when I went there.

"Lizelere, please also check whether the rooms for Hartmut, Big Brother Cornelius, and the others who will arrive last for the Dedication Ritual are prepared."

"Understood."

After Lizelere and Gretia went to see to the luggage, Brünhilde guided me to the multipurpose hall. I sipped tea that Brünhilde had brewed for the first time in a while and chatted with her as she waited at my side.

"Brünhilde, how is Groschel?"

"Thanks to the cooperation of the Lord's family's retainers, it's become very beautiful. Clarissa's auxiliary magic circle for her wide-area magic was wonderful. In autumn, goods started arriving in waves from carpentry workshops all over, and before we knew it, doors and windows had been fitted into the buildings. Seeing so many carriages going back and forth, Father was relieved that we'd widened the roads in the commercial district. This winter, I believe each shop is working on its interior."

Craftsmen had come one after another to outfit the buildings, and supplies for their Winter Preparations were continuously brought in from the surrounding areas. With the sudden population increase, Groschel was apparently bustling with activity.

"How is Bertilde doing as one of the new students? How should I interact with her?"

"Bertilde has been looking forward to becoming your Attendant, Rozemyne, and she was overjoyed when Lady Elvira agreed to release her from her service."

Apparently, Brünhilde's request was for Bertilde to serve as my Attendant apprentice for at least this winter. I agreed immediately.

"You'll be training Bertilde, won't you, Brünhilde? In that case, would you mind taking Melchior's retainers along with you? I'm supposed to look after Melchior's student retainers, but they can't very well enter my quarters, can they? At the very least, I'd like them to have opportunities to observe things they can only learn through experience—the groundwork and preparation for tea parties with top-ranking duchies, for example."

Brünhilde had the most experience dealing with top-ranking duchies. I wanted her to train up successors as much as possible before graduation.

"Understood. This is for the future of Ehrenfest. I'll do everything I can."

Brünhilde told me that she had received Ahrensbach's fabric through our mother, and she praised my decision to elevate the First Wife.

"It would have been troublesome if the old Leisegang faction elders had gotten riled up just as we're trying to facilitate a generational transition, and elevating Lady Florenzia was part of the agreement with the Aub. You did us a great favor by supporting Lady Florenzia, Rozemyne."

Our mother and Brünhilde belonged to the same faction. Apparently, even though the women's faction had managed to stay unified, they couldn't afford to split it at a time like this.

"I may not be very useful when it comes to socializing, but I'll help however I can."

"You're very kind. ...But assisting you is my job as your Attendant, Rozemyne."

Brünhilde let out a soft chuckle and stood up. The next person to arrive was Muriella. I'd heard she had dedicated herself to her mother and was busy with the printing business.

"Rozemyne, I look forward to working with you again at the Noble Academy."

"The pleasure is mine, Muriella. How is the printing business?"

"We've been having the scholars rack their brains over whether we can use the low-Magic-Power transfer circles you proposed to send at least proof copies from various locations to the castle. They're used repeatedly for trial print checks, so the main challenges are the rapid wear and whether we can conserve even more Magic Power."

It seemed my mother had proposed this and was working hard to deliver new books to me as quickly as possible.

...Mother!

"You should either pass your current challenges on to Raimund in Hirschur's research lab to get advice on improvements, or try researching together with him. I'm going to be busy making Magical Tools for the library this year."

Filled with gratitude, I recommended that Muriella look into collaborating with Raimund.

The next day Charlotte arrived, and the day after that, Theodore joined us as a retainer and told us about the Gutenbergs who had been staying in Kirnberger.

After the second-years arrived and we caught our breath, it was time to gather materials for our lectures. Among the upperclassmen, some apprentice knights had already gone on material-gathering trips, but the apprentice scholars and apprentice Attendants had not yet been. We would all go together to minimize the danger.

I mounted my riding beast and flew out of the dormitory. The apprentice guard knight sitting behind me was Judithe. Once we were outside, I could see glowing lines in the sky above—the same magic circle that had appeared during the Lords' Conference. Curious about what exactly this magic circle was, I began increasing my riding beast's altitude to get a view of the whole thing.

"Rozemyne, how high are we going?"

Asked by Judithe with a puzzled look, I snapped back to awareness. The other apprentice guard knights were following on their riding beasts around us, looking somewhat confused.

"I'd really like to go higher, but everyone will worry. Let's head back after."

When I landed at the gathering site, I cast Stellura's shield over a portion of it.

"I'll just be casting the shield to keep everyone safe. Please all participate in restoring the gathering site through the divine rite so that you may receive the gods' blessings. The adults who were at the Noble Academy during the Lords' Conference have already recovered it, so all of you can do it too."

Since students from other duchies did this on their own, if Ehrenfest didn't do the same, before long our students might end up with fewer blessings than the rest. Besides, next year I would be gone. I needed to confirm how much restoration they could manage. When it came to the divine rites, Ehrenfest was currently one step ahead, and I wanted them to keep that up.

"You should gather extra materials for making recovery potions. There's the Dedication Ritual too, so you'll need more than usual."

Philine gathered large quantities of materials for recovery potions and participated in the restoration ritual at the gathering site with a determined expression. I taught them the prayer, and the students formed a circle, repeating it as they prayed to Flutrane. The gathering site recovered just as it had during the Lords' Conference. Some lower-ranking nobles and younger students let go of the ground midway and dropped out, but the site was successfully restored.

"There's something I'd like to check, so I'm going to fly high up on my riding beast. Wilfried and Charlotte, please lead everyone back to the dormitory first."

"What are you going to check, Sister?"

"...It's a royal matter, so it's a secret."

"Understood. Please be careful."

Since no one else could see the magic circle, there was no point in explaining. I boarded my lesser beast and ascended. I flew past where the Magic Power lines were, higher and higher.

"Rozemyne, how far are you going!?"

"Just high enough to see the entire Noble Academy. A little more, Judithe."

As I told Judithe—who was trembling, never having gone this high—our destination and continued to climb, I looked down. Noble lines of the gods ran across the snow-covered grounds of the Noble Academy, forming a magic circle. Beyond the circle, all that was visible was the sea of clouds. In a way, it looked as though the Noble Academy had been built to match the magic circle.

...The selection magic circle.

The magic circle covering the Noble Academy was the same one that had appeared at the beginning of the High Priest's Holy Book and on the stage of the Dedication Dance—it was the circle for selecting the King. It appeared completely unchanged since the Lords' Conference. It was only natural, perhaps, since I had created the magic circle by visiting the shrines while I wasn't at the Noble Academy, but it also didn't seem to disappear.

...Since this magic circle had appeared after I'd offered Magic Power at the shrines and prayed fervently, it almost certainly had something to do with the King's selection. But would something change once I became the King's adopted daughter and was registered as royalty?

The Holy Book didn't contain details about it, and the appearance of the magic circle hadn't changed any of its descriptions. Since I opened the Holy Book every time I performed a divine rite, I would have noticed any changes—of that I was certain. The books in the underground archive weren't very detailed either. Perhaps the information was in sections I hadn't read yet, but the records there were full of the detached, unhelpful hints of people who had struggled to become King basically saying, "We suffered too. Now you suffer."

...If Magic Power is what's needed to activate the magic circle, maybe showering it with blessings from above would do the trick? Or perhaps dropping a large magic stone brimming with Magic Power onto it? No, but spreading Magic Power across the entire Noble Academy would be an enormous undertaking, and dropping a magic stone would be dangerous. Hmm...

I tried to think of ways to activate this magic circle, but nothing particularly good came to mind.

...Since it appeared through prayer, maybe activation also requires prayer? Should I visit the shrines again? Or was there somewhere other than the shrines where one could pray? I mean, I do pray just about everywhere...

After this magic circle appeared, we performed the Dedication Ritual for the Lords' Conference in the lecture hall, but nothing special happened.

"Did you find out anything, Rozemyne?"

"I can see the circle, but thinking about what lies beyond that doesn't really give me answers, so let's head back to the dormitory."

My lack of creativity was nothing new. I couldn't keep dragging the guard knights along indefinitely on something that might not even yield answers.

"Hey, Judithe. Where would you say is the place to pray at the Noble Academy?"

"We just prayed at the gathering site, but normally the place to pray is at the back of the lecture hall, isn't it? Where the altar is?"

As someone who prayed just about everywhere, I hadn't thought of it immediately, but for normal people, prayer was naturally done in the chapel. Come to think of it, during the Lords' Conference I had prayed in the lecture hall, not in the innermost room where the altar was. If I prayed facing the altar in the innermost room, something might happen.

...Wait—isn't the next Dedication Ritual at the altar?

The magic circle might activate. It was a good thing I'd noticed before something strange happened without any preparation. It would be wise to contact the royal family before the Dedication Ritual.

"Judithe, that's excellent! I'm sure everyone will be grateful to you."

"Huh? Huh?"

Smiling at Judithe, who blinked her violet eyes in confusion, I headed back to the dormitory.

The next day was the day for the new students' arrival. Brünhilde's younger sister Bertilde entered the multipurpose hall accompanied by upperclassmen. Today's new students would be welcomed and entertained as guests by the upperclassmen.

Bertilde was guided to a seat near mine, and she smiled happily as her sister Brünhilde poured her tea. The sisters' similar silky straight hair swayed as they moved. Brünhilde's hair was deep crimson, while Bertilde's was rose-pink. I thought their round, amber eyes looked exactly alike.

"Welcome, Bertilde. As my Attendant apprentice, please learn well from Brünhilde."

"Yes, Rozemyne."

Melchior's apprentice retainers had been brought to my area as well, and we discussed future plans. If I wanted them to come with me to the library, I'd need to finish lectures as early as possible.

"First-years should be the first to finish their lectures, so please study hard. Leave good grades for the sake of your master Melchior as well."

"Yes!"

With Nikolaus's arrival, all the new students had assembled. All the upperclassmen were also in the multipurpose hall. I explained this year's joint research project and assigned the apprentice scholars to teams regardless of whether they served a Lord candidate.

"Last year, we nearly had our research stolen by Drewanchel. Please approach your research with considerations for maintaining secrecy, having a final resort, and incorporating elements unique to Ehrenfest."

While we were having this discussion, Damuel, Angelica, Leonore, Hartmut, and Big Brother Cornelius arrived. They were the adult members who would participate in the Dedication Ritual wearing blue.

"This year the Dedication Ritual will be divided into three sessions by rank—lower, middle, and upper—along with the Lord candidates, so I know it'll be tough for the five of you who have to attend every divine rite, but please do your best."

"We must finish before Ehrenfest's Dedication Ritual. Please leave the scheduling coordination with the Central Temple and Klassenberg to me. I'll make sure it doesn't interfere with Rozemyne's lectures."

Hartmut accepted with a smile. In times like this, I found him incredibly dependable. If only he hadn't been touching the crested magic stone at his chest and grinning, it would have been perfect.

"Ah, everyone. You're all here. I'm Hirschur, the dorm supervisor."

As always, Hirschur arrived and announced this year's schedule. The promotion ceremony and fellowship gathering were also on the usual timetable. After finishing her explanation, Hirschur came straight to me.

"Rozemyne, have the materials for the library's Magical Tool been gathered? There were many rare materials, so I was worried."

"It's all right. Every material was available in the workshop I received from Ferdinand."

"Oh my, that's Ferdinand for you. Now my own research can proceed. I'm relieved."

...Wait? She was worried for the sake of her own research!? As expected, Hirschur and Ferdinand were definitely master and disciple cut from the same cloth!

Letting out a resigned sigh at the same old Hirschur, life at the Noble Academy began.

While everyone else was frantically preparing for their lessons, I spent my precious free time before the promotion ceremony reading for the first time in ages. I read new books printed in various parts of Ehrenfest in the multipurpose hall. The Ditter stories had illustrations, and there were many new books—Dunkelfelger history volumes and the usual Noble Academy romance stories.

Ever since it was decided I would become the King's adopted daughter, I'd had time to read the materials needed for the handover but not to lose myself in books. When was the last time I'd truly lost track of time reading? I felt a sense of fulfillment like gulping down water when you're desperately thirsty, and I let out a satisfied breath.

...Ah, bliss. As expected, it just doesn't feel like living without books.

After spending some time in the children's room, I departed for the Noble Academy. Dirk was having a good time, but Bertram was struggling to find his place. The gathering site at the Noble Academy was successfully restored by everyone working together. The lower-ranking nobles were kept extremely busy making recovery potions. The full scope of the massive magic circle covering the Noble Academy was revealed. Next: the fellowship gathering and lectures.