The Prince’s Summons
“Good job! I love seeing surprises like that!” Rauffen exclaimed, excitedly rushing over once the game was decided. “All those surprise attacks really reminded me of Lord Ferdinand.”
“Thank you,” I replied, lowering my gaze. “However, I would not have won without executing such extreme strategies. I am in awe of the discipline and overall proficiency of Dunkelfelger’s apprentice knights. They truly are quite something.”
Rauffen looked over at our recent opponents, who were blinking at me with surprise. I smiled in particular at the apprentice who had taken command of the whole group.
“Even when a surprise attack caught them off guard while they were moving their feybeast, it took only a single bark from their commander for everyone to return to their allocated roles. On top of that, when the schnefeld unexpectedly grew and Cornelius launched a full-power attack, that same commander instantly moved to protect the Dunkelfelger archduke candidate, ensuring his safety even when the explosion was so close. Ehrenfest would have been capable of neither such feats.”
Had our knights worked together as well as those from Dunkelfelger, I was sure we would have won during our first surprise attack.
“The coordination and cohesion you displayed was truly a sight to behold,” I continued. “Today’s game has made it painfully clear that the training of our knights needs to be adapted, in the hope of us one day reaching your level. I pray that your success continues, so that Dunkelfelger may be an example for all to follow.”
The commanding apprentice from Dunkelfelger broke into a smile. “It is an honor to receive such praise from an archduke candidate. We too learned much from this game, as it was nothing like playing the kinds of ditter focused only on hunting feybeasts. We look forward to a rematch against the knights you have trained.”
“...I will simply be informing the knight commander of this, and I do not plan to play a game of ditter like this again, but I will do my best to raise our ranking at least somewhat higher during the Interduchy Tournament,” I replied with a vague smile, mostly ignoring the request for a rematch. My plan was to dump the duty of training the apprentices on the Knight’s Order and then leave it at that.
“Ah. Finished already, I see. Who won?” Anastasius asked, walking over. He had been attending lessons, so he hadn’t been able to watch.
“Ehrenfest did, Prince Anastasius.” Rauffen started to fervently describe the match, but Anastasius silenced him with a wave.
“There being a winner is all that matters,” the prince said. The sky was already getting dark, and nobody had time to hear such an extensive summary. “Dunkelfelger were the ones who suggested this match. You have no complaints, I imagine?” he asked Lestilaut.
“None at all. They won, and so I will stand down,” Lestilaut replied, kneeling before the prince and announcing that he would leave Schwartz and Weiss alone. I sighed in relief, which made him glare at me. “I saw with my own eyes your string of vile plots, however. I will never accept that you are a saint.”
After that remark, Lestilaut strode away.
Anastasius grimaced. “Did you pull some form of malicious trickery during a game of ditter?” he asked, looking down at me.
“I may have used a few devious plans, but whether they can be described as ‘malicious’ depends on the person, I imagine.”
I was willing to do whatever it took to protect the library, so I personally didn’t care about what Lestilaut had said. Not once had I even claimed to be a saint, so as far as I was concerned, him rejecting my legend actually worked in my favor. Too many people were falling victim to the disinformation campaign.
“I suppose it does not matter. Rozemyne, come to my room tomorrow at third bell, as master of the library’s magic tools. I have things to discuss with you and Solange.”
“Understood.”
We promptly dispersed after Anastasius had given me his invitation. He watched with wide eyes as Hirschur flew back to her research lab or wherever she was headed, perhaps seeing a drivable highbeast for the very first time. I watched his surprise out of the corner of my eye while returning to the dormitory.
“How did you end up playing ditter?! Explain, Rozemyne!” Wilfried yelled with tear-filled eyes the very moment the dormitory door closed behind us. “Rihyarda sent an ordonnanz midway through to say what was going on, but I only had one guard knight with me, so I couldn’t even leave the dorm! I was suffering here the whole time you were playing!”
Not having much else to do, I explained how Dunkelfelger had been camped out in front of the library, how our encounter ended up turning into a game of ditter, and how Anastasius had summoned me once the match was concluded.
“A summons from the prince...? Let me get this straight—you measured Schwartz and Weiss, fought back an ambush, played a game of ditter, and now received a summons from a prince, all on the same day?! How am I going to report this much news to Father?!”
“Oh, that reminds me,” I noted. “In your report, could you inform the knight commander that I think he should review the training the apprentices currently receive?”
“Wait, Rozemyne. Save that for later. We’re talking about you right now. What in the world did you do to receive a summons from Prince Anastasius?” Wilfried asked. I was more interested in him asking Karstedt to readjust the apprentices’ training regimen, but it seemed this matter took priority.
“It’s about Schwartz and Weiss. Prince Anastasius said there are things he needs to discuss with Professor Solange and me.”
“...Alright. As long as you don’t have an angry royal shouting you down.”
After dinner, we gathered the apprentice knights who had participated in the ditter game for a performance review. Some were just happy to have beaten Dunkelfelger, while others were still struggling with how different treasure-stealing ditter was than the types they were used to, but they were all surprised when Leonore and Judithe explained what they had realized watching the battles from afar.
“We defeated Dunkelfelger today not by our own strength, but through Lady Rozemyne’s schemes,” Leonore said. “We deserved to lose, and I believe we have much to learn even when playing speed ditter.”
We proceeded to discuss organization in battle, and the weak points of various feybeasts we had learned about. This truly was the realm of the apprentice knights, and so I had my male guard knights stay with Leonore and returned to my room with Angelica and Judithe in tow. I was exhausted from everything that had happened, and my summons from the prince was to take place tomorrow; the sooner I bathed and climbed into bed, the better.
“Oh? Where is Rihyarda...?” I asked. Lieseleta and Brunhilde had prepared my bath and moved to start bathing me when I returned, but in an unusual development, Rihyarda was nowhere to be seen.
“She is absent for the moment,” Lieseleta answered, albeit hesitantly. “She has spent the entire day with you, so...”
It seemed that Rihyarda would normally take care of all sorts of minor errands while I was attending my classes or reading in the library with my other attendants, but there hadn’t been time for her to do these things today. She had never mentioned them to me before either... It seemed attendants were always busy in their own ways.
After such an eventful day, it wasn’t long before I was fast asleep.
It was the day of my meeting with Anastasius. Rihyarda told me to bring at least one gift to improve the prince’s mood, and so I asked Hugo and Ella to bake two pound cakes first thing in the morning—one made with rumtopf mixed in, and the other made with honey. Anastasius had previously said that he liked the rumtopf, and I was generously throwing in the honey pound cake for him to share with Eglantine.
I practiced the harspiel with Rosina while arranging the song dedicated to the Goddess of Light until second-and-a-half bell. I then had Brunhilde assist me in preparing for my summons before finally leaving for the prince’s room at third bell.
“Incidentally... where is Prince Anastasius’s room?” I asked.
“I have never been there before, but I do know where it is,” Brunhilde replied as we exited the dormitory. We headed to the same hallway as usual, but instead of turning toward the auditorium, we went in the opposite direction, toward where the lower-ranking duchies were. The evenly spaced doors continued even after the numbers ran out, and it wasn’t until we approached the very end of the hallway that we came across an especially large door in front of which stood a guard.
“We are from Ehrenfest the Thirteenth,” Brunhilde said. “Lady Rozemyne has arrived at the summons of Prince Anastasius.”
The guard checked our brooches and capes before opening the door, allowing us through. Waiting inside was an old man who was the spitting image of a butler.
“We have been waiting for your arrival, Lady Rozemyne.”
As it turned out, we were now in the prince’s villa, and this old man was his head attendant. We were guided to the parlor at once, where we found Solange drinking tea with an elegant smile on her plump face. Anastasius was sitting across from her.
I directed my attendants to deliver the pound cakes we had brought, and once we had exchanged greetings, I took the seat that was offered to me.
“Clear the room,” Anastasius ordered.
Our retainers stepped out at once, leaving only the three of us and some of Anastasius’s retainers. We briefly exchanged small talk over the sweets, but the prince’s expression then tightened out of seemingly nowhere.
“About the library’s magic tools,” he began. “As Ehrenfest won the battle for them, you will be considered their official master for the duration of your stay at the Royal Academy.”
“‘The battle for them’? Were you attacked by Ahrensbach?!” Solange exclaimed, holding a hand over her mouth in shock. I was more taken aback by the duchy she had so suddenly named.
“Ahrensbach? No, it was Dunkelfelger who came for her,” Anastasius said, sounding a bit confused.
“Oh my. I see. My apologies. I only jumped to that conclusion because I received frequent visits at the library from a young Ahrensbach lady who quite incessantly asked how she could become Schwartz’s and Weiss’s master,” Solange said, sounding a little embarrassed.
My heart lurched in my chest. “Ahrensbach” was not a name I had expected to come up here.
“So another duchy may be getting involved...” Anastasius said. “How inconvenient. In any case, why did Rozemyne even become those magic tools’ master? I had someone investigate the situation, and there are no records of a student ever taking up that position.”
“Lady Rozemyne’s prayers reached Mestionora,” Solange intoned, which caused the prince to furrow his brow.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“Schwartz and Weiss returned to life because Lady Rozemyne prayed to Mestionora the Goddess of Wisdom. Her prayers reached the gods,” she explained, but that didn’t tell the prince anything. He looked at me for details, and while I was well aware of what he wanted, I had little more to add.
“I am afraid I do not know the details myself,” I admitted. “I simply prayed to the gods while overjoyed at finally being able to visit the library, and... ahem... my mana became a blessing that flew out of me. The next thing I knew, I was registered as Schwartz’s and Weiss’s master.”
“Even your description is incomprehensible,” Anastasius sighed. He shook his head again before glaring at Solange. “How have masters been decided in the past?”
“The previous master would select a successor and give them permission to touch Schwartz and Weiss, whereupon the successor would touch the feystones in the two shumils’ foreheads and register their mana. For Lady Rozemyne to have registered her mana with them through only a blessing is a sign of Mestionora’s own intervention.”
“...I see. That is enough.”
It seemed that Anastasius had abandoned trying to understand the situation at all. I had most likely done something very abnormal, so anyone who hadn’t seen it happen for themselves would probably never understand.
“I too was selected to be Schwartz’s and Weiss’s next master by my predecessor, but I could not keep them moving on my own,” Solange admitted. “I am able to touch them, and I believe I am offering mana just fine, but it seems the most I can do is maintain the power of their charms.”
Even though she had known they would not move, Solange had diligently continued offering up her mana to the library’s valuable magic tools so that they would not be stolen. “Could it be that your mana lacks Light and Darkness, Professor Solange? One of my scholars mentioned that one needs both attributes to become their master,” I suggested.
“Why would they know that?” Anastasius asked, staring at me in surprise.
“Every new master needs to give Schwartz and Weiss new clothes. In order to fulfill this duty, I brought them both from the library to the Ehrenfest Dormitory to be measured.”
“Could you not have just measured them in the library?”
“I thought the same, but the professor said that would not be ideal.” I glanced over at Solange, who slowly nodded in agreement.
“Schwartz and Weiss end up defenseless when their clothes are removed, since those very same clothes are protective charms. It is therefore tradition for their masters to handle the measuring and fitting of clothes on their own. I would have liked to have given permission for this to be done in the library, but...” Solange paused for a brief moment, her face clouding over. “As I am a mednoble, there are many students who could simply enter the room against my will. And while Lady Rozemyne is an archduke candidate, Ehrenfest is only ranked thirteenth. Considering that Dunkelfelger or Ahrensbach—the second- and sixth-ranked duchies, respectively—can simply force their way into the room, I could not allow the measuring to be done in the library.”
Considering that Dunkelfelger had indeed ended up using force, one could say that Solange’s concerns were well-founded.
“I see,” Anastasius said with a nod. “But how did you know about the attributes, Rozemyne?”
“When we removed Schwartz’s and Weiss’s clothes to measure them, we discovered many magic circles on their torsos. They are why Professor Hirschur abandoned her afternoon classes.”
Anastasius frowned. “She may be an excellent researcher, but as a teacher...?” he muttered. As much as I wanted to say that we Ehrenfest students were suffering the most with her as our dormitory supervisor, I really wasn’t so sure.
“The magic circles embroidered onto them seem to be exceptionally old,” I explained. “Professor Hirschur and the apprentice scholars with her said that Schwartz and Weiss likely wouldn’t have moved for someone without both Light and Darkness attributes.” I then went ahead and added that Hirschur had described the magic circles as incomplete and full of gaps, meaning there might have been other conditions as well.
“You might have avoided all that fighting if you had mentioned this to Lestilaut. I believe he lacks Darkness,” Anastasius noted.
“Perhaps, but this is information that I learned through a personal investigation after removing their clothes. I did not want to say anything that the library might have been keeping secret.”
I was simply following the golden rule of not saying anything that didn’t need to be said. As a noble, it was essential to know what information could be shared and what had to be kept under wraps.
“All this aside, Lord Lestilaut is not keen on visiting the library, so he would never be suited to serve as Schwartz’s and Weiss’s master,” I continued. “They need to be given mana once every three days or so, and nobody who wants them solely for the prestige will ensure that.”
“Oh my. You do not have to shoulder the burden alone, Lady Rozemyne. If there is another noble with the proper attributes, you would surely have an easier time with them serving as a master alongside you,” Solange suggested, looking at me with concern. “In the past, there were three Sovereign archnobles handling Schwartz and Weiss. I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to support them alone. Perhaps the young woman from Ahrensbach I mentioned before has the proper attributes?”
In my eyes, however, nothing was worse than someone from Ahrensbach being a match.
“I did think it was unusual how often they need replenishment...” I commented. “The previous librarians must have filled Schwartz and Weiss with an immense amount of mana for them to have moved on their own for a full year. It was likely a process done over a considerable time span, but still—the amount must have been staggering.”
Solange gave a sad smile, lowering her eyes to the floor. “That would be because the three librarians brought themselves to the verge of death while filling them with mana before leaving their posts.”
“‘To the verge of death’...?” I echoed, my eyes widening at how drastic that sounded.
Anastasius let out a sigh. “The librarians were connected to archnobles who supported the first and fourth princes. That is why they cannot return.”
It was only then that I realized the three librarians who had entrusted Schwartz and Weiss to Solange hadn’t just been moved to work somewhere else—they had climbed the towering stairway, nearly killing themselves to fill Schwartz and Weiss with mana in one final act of dedication. I pressed my lips together into a flat line.
Solange nodded. “We are unlikely to receive any replacement librarians for quite some time, which leaves us with only your goodwill to keep Schwartz and Weiss active for the moment, Lady Rozemyne.”
“But... Schwartz and Weiss are heirlooms of royalty. Is that not enough reason to secure help?” I asked. “They must be valuable and culturally important.”
Anastasius raised his chin, turning his head slightly to one side. “More magic tools were shut down after the civil war than I can count. The Royal Academy’s library is not the only place suffering as a result, and there are more essential tools out there that take priority.”
I could guess the number of magic tools that had stopped working was roughly equivalent to how many nobles had been executed. The civil war had taken place a long time ago, far from Ehrenfest, and yet even I could feel its repercussions.
“I doubt we have the resources to send any workers capable of supplying the library’s magic tools. If you want them to keep functioning then you will need to keep filling them with mana out of the goodness of your heart,” Anastasius explained with another sigh. “This would be much simpler if only you weren’t an archduke candidate.”
Had I not been an archduke candidate, I would have become an apprentice scholar in my third year, and then moved to the Sovereignty as an apprentice librarian, settling this matter entirely. But archduke candidates all played crucial roles in their own duchies, so outside of marriage with royalty, they were never moved to the Sovereignty. It was a rule decided long, long ago to prevent skilled and powerful successors from being sucked into the Sovereignty.
“Since you are an archduke candidate, we cannot entrust them to you in full,” Anastasius elaborated. He then went on to explain that making me the official caretaker for Schwartz and Weiss would result in the two shumils becoming Ehrenfest property, which would earn us even more impassioned complaints from the other archduke candidates. “You are simply a helper providing assistance out of goodwill. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my liege. In that case, I shall do what I can to help with the running of the library.” I was more than willing to help out with mana contributions; my goodwill for the library was certainly in no short supply.
Upon hearing my promise to help, Solange gave a warm smile. “I thank you ever so much, Lady Rozemyne.”
“Solange, you may leave. Rozemyne, you will stay for now,” Anastasius said.
“As you wish. If you will excuse me...” Solange respectfully knelt, said her goodbyes, and then exited the room.
“What is this about...?” I asked.
“One moment,” Anastasius replied. He fell silent, searching for words while I drank tea and ate sweets. His princely visage from before was nowhere to be seen; he now gave off the impression of an everyday man thinking about the woman he liked.
To be honest, I didn’t want to talk to Anastasius about romance. I had already infuriated him during the tea party with the professors; I certainly didn’t want to mess up again. Without Eglantine here to restrain him, one wrong move could spell the end of me.
And yes, this is definitely going to be about Lady Eglantine. Just let me go already...
My perhaps traitorous thoughts were interrupted by Anastasius hesitantly beginning to speak. “Rozemyne, I expect Eglantine to invite you to a tea party.”
Eglantine was a beauty who could only be described as the Goddess of Light reborn. She had a gentle demeanor, was pleasant to talk to, and possessed serious talent for whirling. Attending a tea party with her sounded positively delightful, especially considering that she was an archduke candidate for Klassenberg. Considering that it was a greater duchy with more influence than Ahrensbach, an association with her would massively benefit Ehrenfest, and none of my guardians would complain about us bonding. I definitely needed something to smooth over the lectures that were no doubt on the way for all the incidents I had already caused.
“A tea party with Lady Eglantine would be lovely.”
“Right. And so... could you, ahem... ask her what her intentions are?” Anastasius asked. He looked up at me with a lighter expression than before, as though he were mentally patting himself on the back for having finally choked out the words.
“Her intentions for what?”
“Y-You... What...?” The prince wavered as he was stunned into silence by my response, looking at me with eyes that demanded to know how I could possibly be so oblivious. I could tell it was crucial that I explain my situation to him, otherwise I would just risk making him properly mad.
“My two years spent asleep mean I have socialized far less than one might expect, so I do not quite understand subtle turns of phrase as easily as most others. I am also unable to ask my retainers what you might mean, since they are not here.”
“Speak of this to no one!” Anastasius snapped. “I cleared the room exactly so that none of your retainers would know about this!”
“Then please tell me what exactly you wish for me to ask. I am admittedly feeling a great deal of shame after having exposed my ignorance to none other than a member of the royal family.”
We were both embarrassed here; there were few greater failures to a noble than being forced to admit that you could not do something.
Anastasius cradled his head, as if agonizing over having to elaborate, but he ultimately glared at me with an embarrassed look. “I want you to ask her about her future plans—especially who she plans to have escort her during the graduation ceremony.”
Now that he mentioned it, I seemed to recall that the two princes were both battling for Eglantine’s heart; after all, she was an important piece in securing the throne.
To think Lady Eglantine has to make such a heavy decision. She has my sympathy.
“Perhaps you should make this request of someone more socially adept,” I said. Then you wouldn’t have needed to embarrass us both.
Anastasius just glared at me. “Do you really think I have not already done that? She has always said only that she wishes for more time to think. But we are graduating this year, so time is running out. It seems to me that Eglantine might lower her guard around you, considering that you look so young and she took such a liking to you after just one tea party.”
I really, really doubted that the archduke candidate of a greater duchy would ever lower their guard just because someone looked young. Men in love sure looked at the world through rose-tinted glasses—they saw everything exactly as they wanted to see it.
“I do not know how she will answer, but I do not mind asking her the question...” I conceded.
“Yes. Good.”
It’s not like I could turn down a request from a prince anyway. Ugh... This might end up being a real pain in the neck.
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