Knights of the Central Knights could be seen lined up near the transfer gates of the Central Building. First, they would secure whatever forces were immediately available. He had Heisshitz contact
As
For Schtrale, who had been tasked with scouting the movements of the Central Knights while leading his own squad, the ordonnance was a matter-of-fact, concise command to rendezvous. The one sent to Zent, however, was couched in the roundabout language befitting a noble. No matter how indirect it was, the message boiled down to: "If you still have any pride as Zent and don't want the foundation stolen by foreigners, then clear the area immediately and lead the trustworthy Central Knights and Dunkelfelger here yourself"—so it wasn't exactly diplomatic.
"Um, Ferdinand. What if Zent and Prince
"...It would be a detour and take more time, but we could simply use another method. I want to know how the royals assess this crisis and how they intend to act."
Ferdinand's voice was utterly displeased. I could understand why he was displeased, too. When an Aub's foundation is threatened, the proper response is to hole up in the foundation room to defend it. Only the Aub can protect that room, so it's the natural course of action. Similarly, the premise is that Zent must protect the nation's foundation.
"...I believe your issue is that Zent isn't defending the foundation but rather hiding somewhere. But wouldn't Zent, who doesn't possess the
If they didn't know where the foundation was, they couldn't hole up in the foundation room. I tried to defend Zent just a little. But it was completely pointless. Ferdinand simply scoffed at me with a snort.
"If they don't know where the foundation is, they should lead the knights to strike down the enemy before it's stolen. At the very least, I'd like to see them make an effort. You, an underage girl, are standing on a battlefield you dislike and leading knights—so what is Zent doing, hiding away?"
"That's an overstatement. The only reason I can be here is because Ferdinand and my guard knights are with me, providing unwavering support and protection. That sense of security is what allows me to be here. It would be difficult for Lord Trautwall, whose knight commander has betrayed him."
If Cornelius and
"Betrayal by attendants isn't all that uncommon. Having enemies planted among your allies creeping closer is an everyday occurrence. Keeping watch over your attendants' movements to catch betrayal early, working to earn their loyalty, not trusting your attendants and remaining constantly vigilant—isn't self-defense simply the norm?"
"I don't exactly live that kind of daily life...?"
My everyday life was different from what he described. I hadn't lived anything close to that ruthless an existence.
"Of course you haven't. The people allowed near you were carefully vetted by the Aub and his wife, myself,
...His way of putting it is just as awful as always...
I had been frustrated and burdened by my restricted environment—limited contact with the lower town, meeting partners chosen by my guardians, constant work shuttling between the
"...I was more overprotected than I ever imagined."
"You established the papermaking and printing industries, increased harvests through religious ceremonies, improved the children's academic performance, and carried out the salvation of
Ferdinand spoke as he descended into the grove near the Central Building.
"I cannot acknowledge anyone who would flee at this point as someone worthy of leadership. In that case, I would judge them to be cowardly fools who tried to hand over Yurgenschmidt's throne to Lanzanave, unworthy of being Zent regardless of whether they possess the Grutrissheit."
...Go for it, Zent!
"Dunkelfelger has been successfully capturing the Central Knights, I'm told. As for defending the foundation, they said they would leave it to Lady
"Protest that defending the foundation is the role of royalty, not the job of the Aub of Ahrensbach."
It seemed that the Aub of Dunkelfelger was struggling to quell the internal fighting. Apparently, it was particularly difficult to distinguish friend from foe. They couldn't just kill everyone, so they were capturing whoever they encountered.
...Capturing whoever they encountered—that's so Dunkelfelger.
The building where Zent was must have been absolute chaos with Dunkelfelger and the Central Knights mixed together inside. Since there was still no clear picture of the situation, they said it would be difficult to send reinforcements. Upon hearing this, Ferdinand wore a bitter expression.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ferdinand."
Eckhart and the others who had been stationed at the library, along with Schtrale's group who had rendezvoused, arrived. A report was given immediately. According to Eckhart, they had stationed two lookouts where they could see the library, with instructions to report if anyone approached. Schtrale, who had been tasked with scouting the Central Knights' movements, had been observing the knights in the Central Building.
"The Central Knights guarding the area near the doors to the various dormitories entered the auditorium via ordonnances that flew in from the south. We confirmed eight individuals. However, since the auditorium door was opened from the inside, we can expect a larger number within."
The door to the Innermost Room was in the auditorium. That meant someone was lying in wait.
"After the Central Knights entered the auditorium, the knight order led by the Aub of Dunkelfelger passed through the door connecting to the royal family's detached palace. We should assume they are already aware of our movements."
Schtrale said this. He advised against reducing their numbers at the detached palace too much, since Lanzanave's people were there and there was a risk of the prisoners being recaptured the moment they became understaffed. Ferdinand agreed.
"Those who received a Stappe in Lanzanave may not be accustomed to handling them, but many among them possess more magic power than half the knights who came here. The magical tools and weapons they've created would be a threat if used. Under no circumstances are they to be released."
"Yes, sir!"
Schtrale began sending ordonnances to relay instructions to the detached palace. At that moment, in the darkness, an ordonnance was seen flying toward the Central Building.
"Eckhart, take this and find whoever is monitoring us. Our movements seem to be known to some extent already, but if they learn the timing of our assault or any surprise attack plans, it'll be troublesome. Approach on foot with body strengthening—not on a riding beast."
"Ferdinand, should we not also give one to
Eckhart, having been handed some magical tools, said this and took another before dashing off with Angelica among the trees.
"Fast..."
"If it's those two, they should swiftly neutralize the spy and return. Until then, remember what you need to do."
Just as Ferdinand was issuing orders one after another, steadily advancing preparations, an ordonnance arrived from the Central Building.
"It's from Trautwall."
The ordonnance, identifying itself as Trautwall, repeated three times in somewhat roundabout noble language that my support was in vain: "If there is one who obtains the Grutrissheit, that person is the true Zent. I wish for the birth of a new Zent." From partway through, Ferdinand's eyes, who was gripping some kind of magical tool, narrowed to slits. Looking carefully, the color of those eyes was wavering.
"Oh? So you're saying that, being a fake Zent without the Grutrissheit, you have no intention of fighting to defend the foundation? That you'd be fine with
"Y-yes! ...That's what it sounded like to me as well. That if someone obtains the Grutrissheit, Zent will be ceded to that person. Regardless of who that person might be..."
"So my interpretation is correct after all..."
...Scary. Scary, Ferdinand. Your eyes are terrifying. And there's something misty visible around your body.
A faint magic power was leaking from Ferdinand. Perhaps because we were in the dark, it almost looked like he was glowing. I could sense the knights around us swallowing hard. It was very slight, but they were being subjected to his unconscious intimidation. The air pressure increased, making it a bit hard to breathe.
"Ferdinand, please calm down. See? Your magic power is leaking slightly, and you're in a mild state of intimidation. I understand how you feel, but I believe the statement that the one who possesses the Grutrissheit is Zent isn't wrong. After all, you can barely do any of the work."
Ferdinand glared at me. The change in his eyes had subsided, but I could tell that within him, an irrepressible anger was swirling.
"Lord Trautwall was willing to cede Zent even to Lady Dietlinde, as long as she could obtain the Grutrissheit. He is prepared for how he and his family will be treated afterward. So his position is at least consistent, isn't it?"
"Are you stupid? How delusionally optimistic can you be?"
Ferdinand's anger turned toward me. Oh no. I'd made a mistake. I shouldn't have said anything extra—I should have just let him be angry at Zent. I really am careless.
"If it were only his own sacrifice, that might be one thing. But the foolish Zent without the Grutrissheit is making a decision that would place all of Yurgenschmidt under Lanzanave's control. Whether it's consistent or not is entirely beside the point. What's clear is that this is a response that disqualifies him as Zent of Yurgenschmidt."
As he spoke, Ferdinand surveyed the knights around him.
"I should have reported their deeds—giving lethal poison to those who wouldn't obey them, and attempting to send magical stones and young noblewomen to Lanzanave. If Gervasio were to steal the foundation, what would happen—even if you ask about what they did in Ahrensbach, I won't let anyone claim ignorance. The same thing could very well happen not just in Ahrensbach but across all of Yurgenschmidt, and yet Lord Trautwall shows no intention of protecting it. He is disqualified as Zent. Am I wrong?"
The people here were the knights of Ahrensbach who had witnessed Lanzanave's actions firsthand, my guard knights who had worked to quell the turmoil, and the knights of Dunkelfelger. They all nodded in agreement with Ferdinand's words.
"The incarnation of
"No!"
"Do you believe Gervasio is worthy of being Zent of Yurgenschmidt?"
"No!"
"Do you respect Lord Trautwall's judgment and wish to bring danger and chaos to Yurgenschmidt?"
"No!"
"Then, we will disregard Lord Trautwall's response and eliminate Gervasio, regardless of whether he possesses the Grutrissheit or not."
"Yes!"
Eckhart returned just as I turned toward the auditorium, reporting that he had taken out the Central Knight who had been watching them. I had sent scouts ahead, but as Schtrale had reported, there was no one in the area near the doors connecting to the various dormitories.
Just as I was thinking this, footsteps approached from not far away. Anastasius arrived, surrounded by my guard knights who had their weapons raised in caution. Unlike me, who was surprised at how quickly he had appeared, Ferdinand sent a signal—inaudible to most but understood by knights—meaning "Make no sound."
Anastasius looked between the auditorium and us, frowning.
"I sent an ordonnance ordering you to come to the Innermost Room immediately, so what are you doing in front of the auditorium?"
"We cannot reach the Innermost Room without eliminating the enemies inside. Please wait until the attack is finished."
"Ferdinand, what do you know and how much...who is that?"
Anastasius stared at me, who was standing beside Ferdinand, and tilted his head.
"It's been a while, Prince Anastasius. I'm Rozemyne."
"Ro—..."
Remembering he had been told to be quiet, Anastasius quickly covered his own mouth. After shaking his head several times, he slumped forward.
"Your brother and
"Rozemyne's growth has nothing to do with the current battle. Put that aside."
As Ferdinand said this, he raised his hand with his weapon ready. Though we couldn't see it, Schtrale and the others must have moved out. A few seconds later, multiple explosions rang out inside the auditorium, and the voices of knights startled by the surprise attack began.
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
"A separate squad is throwing in magical tools made by Hartmut through the highest windows!"
"An attack on the Academy is the same as an attack on the Zent! Do you wish to be charged with treason?!"
At Anastasius's fury, Ferdinand calmly said "That's perfectly fine" and produced a recording magical tool.
"I sent an ordonnance ordering them to lead their knights and fight to defend Yurgenschmidt's foundation. In response, I received this—where they declare their readiness to cede Zent to a foreigner who obtains the Grutrissheit as the true Zent. This is the evidence."
The magical tool played back the words Trautwall had sent earlier. Anastasius's face drained of color at the words expressing a wish for a new Zent.
"Prince Anastasius, Yurgenschmidt currently has no Zent who will defend the foundation. There can be no charge of treason or lèse-majesté."
Ferdinand's attitude was so terrible that I hurried to stand between him and Anastasius.
"Ferdinand is furious because he despises those who shirk their responsibilities—the lazy and incompetent—and Zent's response has made him extremely angry. But I believe Lord Trautwall is a man of principle."
Anastasius looked at me with suspicion, wary of what I might say next. I smiled gently.
"He is prepared for how he and his family will be treated after they are no longer royalty."
I pressed on further as Anastasius's eyes went wide.
"You said, Prince Anastasius, that we would be charged with treason for taking action to defend the foundation. In other words, that means you accept Zent's words, doesn't it? In Ahrensbach, they gave lethal poison to those who wouldn't obey and attempted to send magical stones and young noblewomen to Lanzanave—and this will now happen across all of Yurgenschmidt."
When I smiled and added that Lady
"Rozemyne, you—"
"Rozemyne, stop the idle chatter and raise your shield."
Declaring my exchange with Anastasius to be idle chatter, Ferdinand glanced around at the knights with weapons raised and swiftly lowered his raised hand. The doors were flung open and knights rushed inside. Ignoring Anastasius, who looked like he wanted to say something, I immediately raised my Steria shield and followed my guard knights inside to secure safety.
"Ah, Prince Anastasius, if you accept Zent's words, you should return to your own detached palace so as not to be charged with treason. ...Or perhaps you wish to eliminate the foreigners and join us to protect Lady Eglantine? According to Ferdinand, I am apparently the incarnation of Mestionora who can appoint a new Zent."