"I heard that young children were permitted to participate in order to reform the aversion toward the
From the viewing gallery where the Lord's family sat, I surveyed the lecture hall. Today, the
...My terrible timing does seem to be gradually improving. I should offer a prayer to Dreifangute.
As I held the charm my Attendant
"Naturally there are few children present. Normally, one wouldn't bring children to the Lord's Conference at all. An Aub who drags along children who haven't even enrolled in the Noble Academy—children who just had their
In Dunkelfelger, the second wife's daughter's participation had been decided smoothly, but to avoid being rude to others, my brother's attendance was sent off.
Incidentally, my brother had insisted that "As the next Aub, I must attend the event where the next Zent inherits the Grutrissheit, if only to build connections," and had asked our uncle to watch over things in his absence so he could come here.
From the moment our parents told us that Lady
...For a grown next-Aub to be in such a state. The children brought here must indeed be few.
"But the proposer, Ehrenfest, has brought theirs along properly. Having the High Priest's ceremonial robes in this venue—now that's quite conspicuous."
I could see young Lord Candidate
"He's been appointed as the new High Priest, succeeding Lady Rozemyne."
"Now of all times, a High Priest? They're about to push the importance of religious ceremonies and the Temple, and this is who they choose? Could it be that he's destined to become Ehrenfest's next Aub?
My brother grumbled while looking toward the Ehrenfest Lord's family's seats.
"You say he lost his fiancée, but apparently within Ehrenfest, by the time winter social season ended and spring arrived, word had already spread that Lady Rozemyne would become the royal family's adopted daughter and marry the next Zent—so the engagement had effectively been dissolved already..."
"That's exactly what makes him pathetic. It turned out exactly as I predicted when I was the bride-stealing Diitta."
On that point, my brother was right. No matter how long Wilfried had been engaged to Rozemyne, Ehrenfest hadn't been able to protect her, and now that it had turned out the royals intervened as bride-stealing Diitta precisely to claim Rozemyne for themselves, one could hardly fault anyone for saying so.
"Your brother's logic isn't wrong, but Lady Rozemyne is not the sort to be content as the first wife of Dunkelfelger. She is not someone who belongs in another's reins—she is someone who needs her own reins. Unfortunately, I don't think you could guide Lady Rozemyne properly."
"And that would be
"Yes. I felt that very strongly in Ehrenfest, so I was greatly relieved when Lord Ferdinand became Lady Rozemyne's fiancé."
I had been startled the other day when our parents told me, but apparently Lady Rozemyne and Lord Ferdinand were already in an engaged state even without us doing anything. I had been fired up about finding some way to get Lord Ferdinand and Lady Rozemyne married—even if it was just a political marriage—but I had felt completely blindsided.
Apparently, Lord Ferdinand had received a royal decree from King
However, Lady Dietlinde had defied the royal decree by not dyeing the foundational magic herself, instead having her sister
But before Alstede could officially take office as Aub, Lady Rozemyne dyed the foundational magic of Ahrensbach. Lady Rozemyne was an unmarried, inexperienced woman serving as Aub. Once again, the royal decree took effect.
"Since the engagement between Wilfried and Lady Rozemyne had been effectively dissolved and approved by the King, it was only natural that the royal decree would take priority. No wonder Lord Ferdinand was treating Lady Rozemyne like his fiancée and leading Ahrensbach's knights."
"But if one were to faithfully execute King Trauerqual's royal decree, Rozemyne would take an adopted daughter at the time of the Star Binding, and that adopted daughter would have to become the next Aub. Accepting one part of the decree but not the other—no one around them would permit such convenient pick-and-choose."
As he spoke, my brother pointed at a group wearing lilac mantles marked with blue and yellow crosses. Only Lady Letizia was seated in the Ahrensbach Lord's family's area. The fact that Lady Letizia, who hadn't enrolled in the Noble Academy, was here meant she was still being treated as part of the Lord's family.
"Does Lord Ferdinand intend to see the royal decree through regarding Lady Letizia as well?"
"Well, what will he do... If he doesn't nullify the old royal decree, the adopted daughter will become a seed of turmoil for the new territory. But if he nullifies it, Ferdinand won't be able to remain a fiancé. For now, I think the safest course is to appear to be complying with the royal decree..."
My brother listed his concerns: many would want to become the husband of Rozemyne, the goddess's incarnation who wielded enormous influence over the new Zent; and many territories worried that Ehrenfest's influence would become overwhelmingly strong in the new government through the Star Binding of Lady Rozemyne and Lord Ferdinand.
"I share your worries, but I'm sure Lord Ferdinand has already thought of everything you're considering and more. That man truly considers every possible scenario and prepares countermeasures for all of them. I witnessed it firsthand, and it gave me chills."
I was about to describe the real Diitta that had taken place in Ahrensbach and Ehrenfest, but my brother cut me off: "I've heard that story from various people many times."
"Hannalore is quite right, Restaurot. It's likely Lord Ferdinand's design, but Lady Eglantine is to make a name offering to Lady Rozemyne in order to obtain the Grutrissheit. Obtaining a new royal decree from Lady Eglantine is easy, and Lady Rozemyne won't face any difficulties."
My mother's words made my brother grimace with distaste.
"Using the Grutrissheit as leverage to force a name offering upon the new Zent... The man they call the Demon King in Dunkelfelger is as vicious and ruthless as ever."
While we were having this conversation, the clear sound of bells—kararn, kararn—resounded through the hall. The third bell, signaling the start of the ceremony. As the grand doors blazed with light, the viewing gallery fell silent at once.
Just like the Noble Academy's coming-of-age and graduation ceremonies, the lecture hall had been arranged with an altar and a stage. Today, musicians carrying instruments glided gracefully into the hall. At the graduation ceremony, the graduates offered music and song, but today the musicians would be performing. Looking carefully, I could spot Rozemyne's personal musician—the one who had accompanied us at tea parties.
Next to enter was a group of Blue Priests. Leading them at the front was a familiar face in similar blue vestments.
"That's
"Ah,
Perhaps it was because I had interacted with him far more often than with those from the Central Temple. In my mind, whenever a religious ceremony took place at the Noble Academy, the only image that came to mind was Hartmut running the proceedings. Clad in his Blue Priest robes, Hartmut stood before the altar. The Blue Priests stopped at their designated positions. Hartmut slowly surveyed the lecture hall and took hold of a Magical Tool that amplified his voice.
"Please welcome Lady Eglantine, the Zent candidate chosen as
Accompanied by those words, Lady Eglantine entered with an elegant smile, escorted by Prince
"Oh my!"
"The same as at the graduation ceremony—isn't that a blessing from the gods?!"
Part of it may have been because their garments were the same as at the graduation ceremony. Lady Eglantine bathed in the glittering light of blessing—it looked exactly like the graduation ceremony. The former High Priest's words, "A blessing from the gods," echoed in my ears. It now seemed perfectly natural that the gods had chosen Lady Eglantine as a candidate for the new Zent even back then.
Lady Eglantine, her golden hair softly gathered up, proceeded gracefully toward the altar as though bathing in the light of blessing. Perhaps because of her new role as Zent, the softness in her demeanor had diminished somewhat, and she now showed a more resolute profile. Even Prince Anastasius's stern expression conveyed the weight of the Zent's responsibilities. My brother's fingertips moved across the table—he was surely trying to capture in a drawing a beauty this captivating.
"As the incarnation of Mestionora, please welcome Lady Rozemyne."
When Lady Eglantine stopped before the Dedication Dance stage, Hartmut said this while gesturing toward the doors. I strained my eyes desperately. I had been so eager to see what Lady Rozemyne, who had received the goddess's divine power, now looked like—our father and mother had told me about it.
Lord Ferdinand escorted Lady Rozemyne as she entered. While Lady Eglantine had been bathed in the light of blessing, Lady Rozemyne herself was softly luminous. Even from a distance, I could feel the goddess's divine power radiating gently outward. It was the kind of presence one could sense even from the viewing gallery. Unlike the magic power a person normally carried, it was an aura that compelled reverence.
...How does Lord Ferdinand manage to escort Lady Rozemyne?
Even if her appearance was Rozemyne's, I doubted anyone else could stand that close to her without falling to their knees. Our parents had said the same. Ferdinand was truly extraordinary, after all.
Looking more closely, the light emanating from Lady Rozemyne wasn't solely from the goddess's divine power. Every magical stone ornament she wore was glowing.
With each step, her night-sky-colored hair swayed gently, and countless rainbow-colored magical stones produced a delicate tinkling sound, creating a radiance like scattered stars. I couldn't tell how many ornaments lay hidden beneath her white robes, but within her long sleeves glowed lights of various colors, faintly outlining the shape of her arms. Just from the adornments alone, one could instantly tell whose status was higher—Lady Eglantine's or Lady Rozemyne's.
The night-sky hair blessed by the Darkness God, and the moon-like golden eyes blessed by the
...It had only been about ten days since I parted with Lady Rozemyne after the battle.
I never imagined such a change could occur in just ten days. I was a same-sex friend who had spent considerable time with her and had witnessed her growth up close, yet even I was involuntarily captivated by the transformation. Those unaccustomed to seeing her would surely be struck speechless.
I glanced at my brother. His eyes were wide, his lips slightly parted, completely frozen in place. The shock must have been enormous—his drawing hand was still, his fingertips not moving at all. He stared at Lady Rozemyne without blinking, as though he had to engrave every detail into his mind.
"The other day, the Goddess of Wisdom, Mestionora, descended upon Lady Rozemyne. There should be no one who cannot feel the goddess's divine power."
Eglantine addressed the nobles gathered in the lecture hall, having received the voice-amplifying Magical Tool from Hartmut. The gods' words were conveyed, and there was also a brief mention of the battle against those from Lanzanave.
"A detailed account will be given at the Lord's Conference. Today, we who lost the Grutrissheit are to have it bestowed upon us once again."
Lord Ferdinand received the Magical Tool from Lady Eglantine and escorted her up onto the Dedication Dance stage. The moment Rozemyne stepped onto the stage, a magic circle materialized vividly upon it—identical to the one Lady Dietlinde had faintly summoned.
"This is an ancient magic circle that has now been forgotten, but it was designed to select Zent candidates. Those who cannot, through the Dedication Dance, open the path to the gods by their own power alone are disqualified as Zent candidates. Going forward, for the children who may one day receive wisdom from Mestionora, I would like them to observe closely and come to feel the importance of religious ceremonies and what it means to pray to the gods."
With those words, Lord Ferdinand released Lady Rozemyne's hand and descended from the stage. He then took his place among the musicians, picking up a fechspiel.
"Is Lord Ferdinand going to perform?"
"He's on that stage, isn't he? There's no doubt he'll be playing."
After confirming several notes—piin, boron—the musicians tuned in with Lord Ferdinand. Once the tuning was complete, he adjusted his fechspiel once more.
The musicians must have finished, for Lady Rozemyne, remaining alone on the stage, knew it was time. She knelt upon the circular stage and spoke the words of prayer: "I offer my prayers and gratitude to the gods who created this world."
Music resounded, and with the voice-amplifying Magical Tool placed nearby, Lord Ferdinand's singing began to fill the lecture hall. At the same time, Lady Rozemyne, who had been quietly bowing her head, raised her face. With movements so light and fluid they seemed weightless, she rose to her feet. Her body began to move, her supple arms extending upward toward the vast, towering sky. It seemed something adorned the backs of her hands down to her wrists, as small rainbow-colored magical stones glowed and traced luminous arcs.
"Prayers to the gods."
This was the beginning of the Goddess's Dance—a dance no one had ever seen before.
In the hushed lecture hall, the only sounds were the music played by the musicians and Lord Ferdinand's singing. All eyes were fixed straight upon Lady Rozemyne.
...Pillars of light...
When Rozemyne began to dance, the magic circle on the stage began to glow, and from each of the great gods' symbols, pillars of noble-colored light slowly rose. As her arms swept upward in languid arcs, as her hem whipped around in graceful turns, seven-colored pillars of light gradually grew taller.
"The statues of the gods on the altar are moving."
At my father's murmur, I looked intently at the altar. Just as he said, the statues of the gods had begun to move of their own accord, opening the path upward toward the apex.
...Is this the path to the gods?
It was well known that pillars of light formed when religious ceremonies were performed at the Noble Academy, but this was the first time I had seen the altar statues move like this.
"This didn't happen during the Noble Academy's religious ceremonies."
"Even the ceremony to receive the gods' divine protection opened a path, apparently. It likely requires filling it with the magic power of a single Zent candidate."
As I quietly conversed with my father, the pillars of light stopped growing. Perhaps the stage had been filled with the goddess's divine power. In place of growing upward, a soft, pale light now began to flow slowly downward. The light turned into shimmering waves and began to race across the altar covered in red cloth, just like during the dedication ceremony. The red cloth rippled as though caught in the light's movement, and then the sacred implements held by the altar statues began to shine one after another.
After all the sacred implements had lit up, Lady Rozemyne knelt and went still. It took me a moment to realize the Dedication Dance had ended—so entranced had I been, watching in a dreamlike daze.
"I offer my gratitude to the gods."
The instant Lady Rozemyne's voice rang out, all the sacred implements blazed with intense light simultaneously, and Lady Rozemyne's figure upon the stage vanished.
"Lady Rozemyne has disappeared!"
"What's happening?!"
As exclamations of surprise rose from the viewing gallery, the statues of the gods moved once more, closing the path. The pillars of light that had stood upon the stage faded, and the magic circle vanished as well. Everything returned to how it had been, as though signaling that all was complete. Nothing had changed before or after the Dedication Dance—except that Lady Rozemyne was gone.
Lord Ferdinand set down his fechspiel, rose, and gazed at the altar.
"Rozemyne has received the gods' invitation and gone to the Garden of Beginnings. Lady Eglantine, please proceed. The gods await you there."
To have to dance after Lady Rozemyne—what a cruel assignment. I watched Lady Eglantine's profile as she ascended the Dedication Dance stage, my face pale.
"Having to dance after being compared to Lady Rozemyne must be so difficult for her, even as part of her duty as a Zent candidate."
The words slipped out before I could stop them, and my brother snorted.
"This is no one else's business, Hannalore. You yourself danced alongside Rozemyne at the graduation ceremony, didn't you?"
"Oh..."
...It seems my terrible timing truly hasn't improved at all.
Of the Inheritance Ceremony, only Rozemyne's Dedication Dance has been completed.
I think the mystique came through, at least a little.
Eglantine, who dances next, will have it rough.
Next time—Part 2.