Lady
I could hear murmurs of admiration ripple through the hall. Everyone must have been relieved to see that the ceremony could be performed just as well without Lady Rozemyne unleashing the Goddess's Power—that the candidate for Zent chosen by the Goddess Incarnate was worthy after all.
...After all, during Lady Rozemyne's performance, the atmosphere had been so overwhelming that people scarcely dared to breathe.
The music for the Dedication Dance began. Noticing how different the volume and singing were from before, I turned my gaze toward the musicians. One seat was empty, with a feshpiel left sitting there.
...Oh my? Lord
When Lady Rozemyne had danced, his magnificent voice had rung out across the hall, but now he was nowhere to be seen—not among the musicians, nor anywhere near the stage. I found it curious and considered calling out to my brother, but he was already completely captivated by Lady Eglantine's dance. He wouldn't have heard me even if I had.
I decided to set aside any concern about Lord Ferdinand and focus on Lady Eglantine's dance. It lacked the mystique of Lady Rozemyne's performance, but it was a splendid dance all the same. If one judged purely on technique, I believed Lady Eglantine was still superior.
As Lady Eglantine danced, the magic circle grew more distinct, and pillars of light slowly began to extend upward. However, the divine statues on the altar didn't start moving until her dance was nearing its end, and I couldn't help feeling anxious about whether Lady Eglantine truly had the qualifications to become Zent.
When the Dedication Dance concluded and she had offered her gratitude to the gods, Lady Eglantine remained on the stage.
"The gods didn't summon her... but it wasn't a failure, was it?"
"No, but the gods on the altar seem to be beckoning her..."
Unlike Lady Rozemyne's ending, where she had been summoned by the gods and vanished, this conclusion prompted uneasy murmures from the surrounding nobles. Among them,
"A path to the gods has been opened. Lady Eglantine, the gods await you up there."
Lady Eglantine hadn't disappeared like Lady Rozemyne had upon being summoned by the gods, but the path on the altar was open, and it seemed she too could go to them. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt a wave of relief at Hartmut's words.
Lady Eglantine slowly raised her head and stood, moving with a grace just a touch softer and more ethereal than usual as she headed toward the altar. The one who took her hand as she descended from the stage was Prince
Lady Eglantine's profile as she demonstrated her strength as a Zent candidate by opening the path to the gods on her own was truly beautiful.
Prince Anastasius tried to escort Lady Eglantine all the way to the top of the altar, but an invisible wall seemed to stand in his way—Lady Eglantine alone was able to ascend.
"Only those who performed the ceremony can go up to the altar, it seems."
"That's right. Apparently only those who possess the qualities to become Zent can ascend..."
Father murmured those somewhat cryptic words. I didn't understand what he meant, but it seemed confirmed that Lady Eglantine possessed the qualities of a Zent candidate.
Passing through the Chamber of the Supreme God facing her, Lady Eglantine entered the gateway at the very top of the altar. Once she was out of sight, the divine statues returned to their original positions.
"Oooh..."
This kind of inauguration ceremony must have been a first for the adults as well. Once Lady Eglantine disappeared from view, exclamations began rising from all around.
"That was a magnificent Dedication Dance. To think the Dedication Dance performed at the
"So this is how the ancient inauguration was conducted. Today, to have seen the Goddess Incarnate with my own eyes and felt the Goddess's Power—I find myself grateful for this encounter."
"Even just hearing the words 'Goddess Incarnate,' it's hard to believe right away, but actually seeing it in person like this, I can't think of any other title that would suffice."
What people mostly spoke of was, naturally, Lady Rozemyne. Regarding Lady Eglantine, the predominant sentiment seemed to be, "Since she was chosen by the Goddess Incarnate, surely she'll be fine."
"The purpose is probably to make clear which holds higher standing—the Goddess Incarnate or the new Zent—but I can't help wishing, at the very least, that the order of the Dedication Dances had been reversed."
I agreed with my brother's words. Lady Eglantine's dance had been truly excellent—the magic circle had risen, the pillars of light had appeared, and the divine statues had moved. If one were seeing all of this for the first time, the birth of a new Zent would have been profoundly moving. But because Lady Rozemyne had gone first with an even more mystical ceremony, it inevitably felt like a lesser spectacle.
"According to Lord Ferdinand, things involving Lady Rozemyne rarely go according to plan."
"Hm?"
"We were present at the planning meetings, and sure enough, things turned out just as Lord Ferdinand had worried."
Mother wore a troubled smile. Perhaps this ceremony had taken an unexpected turn after all. Suddenly recalling that Lord Ferdinand had vanished, I began to feel worried. I scanned the area, but couldn't spot him anywhere. The number of Lady Rozemyne's retainers who had been sitting in the viewing gallery with the
Hartmut, Lady Rozemyne's devoted attendant, was offering prayers to the gods atop the altar, but he didn't seem particularly surprised that the ceremony's proceedings had gone awry, nor did he appear concerned about Lady Rozemyne or Lord Ferdinand.
Even as I stared at the altar, the divine statues that had returned to their positions didn't budge an inch. Would the two who had gone to the gods truly return? Amid the hall celebrating the birth of the new Zent, I was overcome with unease.
"Silence! The new Zent and Lady Rozemyne, the Goddess Incarnate, are returning!"
Hartmut's voice rang through the hall. As I blinked in surprise, I saw the divine statues begin to move once more. A path was opening for those returning from the gods. A gateway became visible at the very top of the altar.
Everything fell silent as all eyes converged on the top of the altar. The first to return was Lady Eglantine, and right behind her, Lady Rozemyne appeared.
When she had vanished so abruptly from the Dedication Ceremony stage, I had briefly doubted Lord Ferdinand's words about whether she had truly been transported to the same place—but there was no mistake. She had indeed been among the gods.
Lady Eglantine took Lady Rozemyne's hand as if escorting her, and the two descended from the altar. The Goddess's Power radiating from Lady Rozemyne seemed even stronger than before.
"Kuh... Why don't I have my writing implements on me right now?"
"Because you'd start sketching in the middle of a sacred ceremony, perhaps?"
My brother's urge to draw had apparently grown quite strong. At this rate, he might end up publicly embarrassing himself as a member of a lord's family.
"Not recording today's ceremony for posterity—is that not blasphemy against the Goddess Incarnate? I should return to my room at once and—"
"As long as you go quietly, I have no objection. But the inauguration ceremony isn't over yet,
Mother offered my brother a sweet smile as he half-rose from his seat.
"Wouldn't it be blasphemy to miss the most spectacular scene of today's ceremony? Of course, if you behave in a manner unbecoming of the
Her eyes were saying, *If you want to see the end of it, stay quiet.* My brother settled back down in his seat and took a deep breath.
"I'll have to engrave everything into my mind, then. Very well. I shall devote my full attention to it."
Watching my brother stare at Lady Eglantine and Lady Rozemyne with wide, unblinking eyes, I felt the urge to increase the distance between us, even if only slightly.
...Mother, I think it would be best to have Brother removed!
The two descended the altar with slow, elegant movements. The Goddess's Power, which felt stronger than before, didn't seem to affect Lady Eglantine in the slightest—she was smiling as she held Lady Rozemyne's hand.
"She can walk while holding Lady Rozemyne's hand without prostrating herself before the Goddess's Power. As expected of the one chosen to be the next Zent."
"...She must have considerable resolve to become the next Zent."
The two descended to the position before the altar, where Hartmut and the other blue-robed priests stood in a line.
Hartmut stepped to Lady Rozemyne's side and brought a Magical Tool that amplified voice close to her mouth.
"O new Zent blessed by the gods, swear your oath to the
The crown—a divine instrument of the Goddess of Light—materialized in Lady Rozemyne's hand. Lady Eglantine knelt before her. This demonstrated that Lady Rozemyne, as the Goddess Incarnate, held a superior position to the newly appointed Zent.
Lady Rozemyne gently placed the crown on the head of the kneeling Lady Eglantine and stepped back. Hartmut then extended the voice-amplifying Magical Tool toward Lady Eglantine. She took it in hand and spoke her oath to the gods.
"I, Eglantine, hereby swear before the Goddess of Light and the twelve goddesses who serve as her divine retainers: I will reexamine the way
As Lady Eglantine's words of oath left her lips, the crown of light blazed with brilliant radiance. She was being bound by an inescapable Contract with the gods. It was immediately obvious that the Contract with the Goddesses of Light had been established.
When Lady Rozemyne dismissed the divine instrument, Hartmut took the Magical Tool from Lady Eglantine's hand and brought it to Lady Rozemyne's mouth.
"If you're going to have Eglantine hold it, why not have Rozemyne hold one too?"
My brother frowned slightly at the somewhat cumbersome movements atop the altar. He wanted to sear the sacred image of the two women into his mind, and Hartmut's constant presence in his line of sight clearly irritated him.
"Hartmut is preventing Lady Rozemyne from touching the Magical Tool. The Goddess's Power is apparently difficult to control—it's similar to one's own magic, but if she touches it carelessly, the magic-stone portion turns to gold dust."
Father's explanation left my brother and me with our mouths hanging open. We had no idea Lady Rozemyne's condition was that severe.
"Don't look away. Next is the bestowal of the
Father made a slight gesture with his fingers, signaling us to watch the altar. My brother and I quickly turned our gaze back. Lady Rozemyne adjusted her position slightly so her voice would carry into the Magical Tool held by Hartmut, and spoke.
"In the Garden of Beginning, Lady Eglantine was recognized by the gods as the new Zent. Having already completed her oath to the Goddess of Light, Lady Eglantine will now receive the bestowal of the Grutrissheit."
As soon as Lady Rozemyne finished speaking, Hartmut stepped back. Lady Rozemyne swiftly raised her right hand high, transforming her Stave into a pen. Her hand moved gracefully as she began drawing a magic circle in the air with her magic power.
"What kind of magic circle is that? I've never seen it before..."
"It's a magic circle for all attributes? There can't be many who can use it so effortlessly."
As murmurs began spreading through the hall, Lady Rozemyne's prayer could be heard: "Ruler of the lofty, towering sky." She wasn't using a Magical Tool, so it was faint. Hartmut didn't seem to think there was any need for the prayer to be heard clearly—he simply gazed up at the magic circle Lady Rozemyne had drawn with evident pride, making no move toward the Magical Tool.
"The Supreme God is the divine couple of Darkness and Light."
Along with the prayer, the magic circle blazed a dazzling gold, and edges of darkness began to encircle its luminous border. Everyone's attention snapped to the suddenly radiant magic circle. The murmuring naturally faded, and all ears turned to Lady Rozemyne's prayer.
"Ruler of the vast, expansive earth, Five Great Gods: Goddess of Water, Flutrene; Fire God,
With each divine name Lady Rozemyne recited, magic power flowed from her Stave, and the symbols representing each god began glowing in their respective colors.
"Hear my prayer and grant me your blessings. I offer you my strength. Offering prayers and gratitude, may I receive your sacred protection. The power of Water that purifies all filth, the power of Fire that nothing can cut, the power of Wind that repels all misfortune, the power of Earth that accepts everything, the power of Life that never gives up—to the new Zent!"
The blessings of all attributes poured down upon the kneeling Lady Eglantine. The sight was so overwhelmingly divine that it stole my breath.
When the light of blessing subsided, Lady Rozemyne glanced back at Hartmut. He brought the voice-amplifying Magical Tool close to her mouth.
"Lady Eglantine, please present the proof of Zent to everyone."
Could it be that the earlier blessing had been the light of the Grutrissheit's bestowal? Lady Eglantine appeared to be holding nothing.
Yet, wearing a smile that betrayed not a hint of anxiety, Lady Eglantine stood and pressed a hand to her chest as she called out: "Grutrissheit!"
In the next instant, a thick volume—unmistakably the Grutrissheit—appeared in Lady Eglantine's hands. She raised it high, shifting her body slightly so that everyone in the viewing gallery could see.
"Ohhh!"
"It's a genuine Grutrissheit!"
"It was bestowed upon her by the Incarnate of
A Zent who had obtained the true Grutrissheit—the very thing all the nobles of Yurgenschmidt had been waiting for—was born. My friend had brought a new Zent to Yurgenschmidt.
More beautiful to my eyes than Lady Eglantine's beaming smile as she stepped forward to display the Grutrissheit was Lady Rozemyne's quiet, restrained smile as she stood slightly back, watching with gentle composure.
"Now then, everyone..."
Hartmut's voice, thick with emotion, rang through the hall.
"Let us offer prayers and gratitude to the Ruler of the lofty, towering sky, the Supreme God; to the Ruler of the vast, expansive earth, the Five Great Gods—Goddess of Water, Flutrene; Fire God, Leidenschaft; Goddess of Wind, Schutzaria; Goddess of Earth, Geduldh; and Life God, Ewigeliebe—in celebration of Lady Rozemyne, the Goddess Incarnate who brought the Grutrissheit to Yurgenschmidt, and the birth of our new Zent."
Midway through Hartmut's words,
"Wh-what's happening?"
"I don't understand."
We couldn't grasp what was going on, but the others looked as if standing was the most natural thing in the world.
"Pray to the gods!"
On the altar—Lady Rozemyne, Hartmut, and the other blue-robed priests—and in the viewing gallery where nobles had risen, all moved in perfect unison to offer their prayers. Light drifted gently not only from Lady Rozemyne atop the altar, but also from the gallery, wisps of blessing floating through the air.
...I could understand if it were just Ehrenfest, but for the Ahrensbach nobles to be praying in unison!
The perfect synchronization left me stunned.
"Lady Rozemyne, Lady Eglantine will now be departing. Please raise your Stave to see her off!"
At Hartmut's words, my brother and I raised our Staves and made them glow. Prince Anastasius and Lord Ferdinand ascended to the altar and escorted Lady Eglantine and Lady Rozemyne respectively, leading them out of the hall.
Through a sea of raised lights, the Goddess Incarnate and the new Zent made their elegant exit. After they left, the blue-robed priests standing before the doors closed them shut. The historic inauguration ceremony—one that would profoundly reshape how temples and divine rites were perceived going forward—had come to an end.
"Now that I think about it, it seems only natural that Lady Rozemyne was calling for a reexamination of how divine rites are conducted."
Just as I felt the ceremony's conclusion and prepared to rise from my seat, Hartmut's voice echoed once more: "Please remain seated a little longer."
"With a new Zent having risen, there are numerous matters to address at the Lord's Conference. Lord
At Hartmut's words, Lord Trauerqual blinked several times before slowly rising and walking to the altar. Perhaps because he had effectively been stripped of the role of Zent, his complexion appeared rather poor.
Yet Lord Trauerqual took his place at the altar, accepted the voice-amplifying Magical Tool from Hartmut, and began addressing the Aub regarding the Lanzanave rebellion and the Ahrensbach situation.
"Behind the birth of the new Zent that Yurgenschmidt has long awaited, there were many developments..."
After presenting the official account of the Lanzanave rebellion, the topic shifted to the Lord's Conference. Presumably because reliable intelligence had been scarce until now, every Aub's face was utterly grave as they listened to Lord Trauerqual's words.
...They're covering up quite a lot of what the royal family did.
Father and Mother had told me about it, but having fought against the Lanzanave soldiers in Ahrensbach myself, I couldn't help feeling that Lady Rozemyne's exploits were being far too thoroughly concealed.
...Though apparently that was Lady Rozemyne's wish...
Announcements followed regarding the punishment of Lanzanave and the Ahrensbach nobles who had participated in the rebellion, the redrawing of territorial boundaries by the new Zent before the Lord's Conference, and the resulting changes in territorial rankings.
"Seriously, when will we finally be allowed back to our rooms?"
"...Brother, you are the next Aub. You really should listen more attentively to Lord Trauerqual."
After further notices—that Lord Trauerqual and Prince
Mother watched him go with a resigned expression before urging the rest of us to leave as well. Back in the dormitory, my brother had already retreated to his room and couldn't be found. In the common hall, I had our attendants prepare tea and discussed the day's ceremony with my parents. My purpose was to convey the grandeur of the inauguration ceremony and the divine majesty of Lady Rozemyne to those who had stayed behind.
"Still, to announce beforehand even what was supposed to be discussed during the Lord's Conference just to buy time... What on earth could have happened?"
"Who knows? It's not something I, who did not become Zent, need to know."
My parents' quiet conversation was nearly drowned out by the animated chatter of the others.
Lady Eglantine's inauguration ceremony had concluded.
The Ahrensbach nobles had been so thoroughly conditioned by Hartmut that they could pray on cue.
Melchior, praying with impeccable form, certainly cut a striking figure.
Next would be the blessings from the gods.