Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.1 - Chapter SS

Fantasy versus Reality

“Are you really reading one of those books again, Lady Muriella?” Lord Barthold asked. He took me by the shoulders and shook me, dragging me from the world of Royal Academy Love Stories and back into the Ehrenfest common room.

I furrowed my brow. All I wanted was to indulge in the sweet world of fantasy, but the past few days had been filled with nothing but people interrupting my reading. Books provided a fantastic insight into worlds I had previously known nothing about. It was only through these heart-throbbing stories that I could avert my eyes from the realities I wished not to see and rest my soul. The last thing I wanted was to be pulled from my distraction.

But, sadly, ignoring him will only make things worse.

Lord Barthold was an apprentice mednoble of the former Veronica faction. Our mothers were on good terms, so he was considered a potential marriage candidate for me. However, he always wanted to be the center of any group. He was also very controlling and would always try to get me to obey his demands, so I wasn’t very fond of him.

“How about considering the future instead of reading?” Lord Barthold asked.

Having little choice but to acknowledge him, I gazed up from my book and attempted to hide my displeasure with a smile. “Oh, but I am considering the future. I have decided to give my name to Lady Rozemyne.”

“Why her? You’re an apprentice scholar; go with Lord Wilfried instead.”

Upon being told that he would need to give his name to avoid being punished alongside his family, Lord Barthold, as a profound worshipper of Lady Veronica, had said that he would give his to Lord Wilfried. He could not trust the aub who had imprisoned his own mother, and, in his own words, no other archduke candidate would understand the pain he felt over losing his parents.

Though I doubt Lord Wilfried will continue respecting Lady Veronica forever, especially when she committed crimes that not even the aub could cover and has been imprisoned for many years now.

I had already experienced how easily the hearts of people could change with their environment, so my faith in familial “love” was nowhere to be seen. The characters in my fictional stories were one thing, but one could not trust the hearts of real people.

“I appreciate the concern, Lord Barthold, but I wish to serve Lady Rozemyne, the creator of these wonderful books,” I replied. In truth, I would have rather given my name to Lady Elvira, but I needed to swear my loyalty to a member of the archducal family to avoid punishment. Lady Rozemyne had said that she would ask the aub about realizing my wish, but I was far from hopeful that anything would come of it.

Lord Barthold harrumphed. “I can’t believe you’re having fun reading books when your parents might be executed soon.”

“It is precisely because my circumstances are so painful that I would rather avoid reality,” I said with a smile, then returned my attention to the book in my hands; I did not feel like speaking to Lord Barthold any further. He continued to rattle on about something or other, but I had already escaped back into another world—one where there were only wonderful men, and aggressive people like Lord Barthold were nowhere to be found.

The archducal couple were visiting the dormitory, and five students had been summoned to a meeting room. There were Matthias, Laurenz, Barthold, Cassandra, and me. That alone told us everything. Our parents had been punished, and we would need to give our names to escape a similar fate.

Lady Rozemyne said that the blame for a crime should stay with those who committed it and not extend to their families, but we knew better than anyone how hard that would be to put into practice. After all, our faction had aided Lady Veronica as she forged vile acts and punished Leisegang nobles for them en masse.

The air in the meeting room was tense, and the archducal couple’s guard knights were on high alert, their eyes narrowed as they scrutinized our every move. The other nobles would surely look at us the same way if we were to return to Ehrenfest.

Ah. I can feel myself getting depressed already.

Aub Ehrenfest explained the immense danger of those who had given their names to the first wife of another duchy. He then noted that, while a group centered around Giebe Gerlach had been planning something together, he had sent the Knight’s Order in a hurry to capture them.

“Matthias, it is thanks to you that we were able to capture the traitors within Ehrenfest without being harmed,” he continued. “You have my gratitude. Under normal circumstances, every one of you would be considered guilty by association and executed. However, if you give your names to the archducal family and swear that you will remain loyal, then I intend to spare your lives. I expect you have already heard the same from the archduke candidates, but what do you say?”

Indeed, we had already discussed this, so we replied that we would give our names to the archducal family without any particular fuss. The archduke candidates must have already mentioned our willingness to comply, as our response was accepted without a hint of surprise.

“Gathering the necessary materials will not be a simple matter, so we do not expect you to give your names right away,” noted the first wife. “However, it would be ideal for you to be treated as retainers of the archducal family sooner rather than later. Your attendants must be uneasy, and we intend to preserve their lives as well.”

She went on to describe how the attendants we had brought to the Royal Academy with us would be treated. Matthias’s report had driven a wedge between us and our adult attendants, and there was now constant pressure between us. Once we were the retainers of the archducal family, however, they would not be treated poorly. Furthermore, some had resolved to work hard in the presence of the archducal family so that their own punishments would be reduced. It was clear that they were taking great care to not dramatically disturb our lives, and that was relieving.

“This will not be until after you return from the Royal Academy,” Aub Ehrenfest said, “but we will request your assistance as blood relatives to search the giebes’ summer estates.”

“Understood.”

“That’s all from me. You may leave. Except you, Muriella.”

Hm?

It would have made sense for Matthias to stay behind as the reason all this was happening in the first place, but why me? I could only blink in surprise as I watched everyone leave, and a sudden loneliness washed over me.

Once everyone else was gone and the door was firmly shut once again, Aub Ehrenfest continued. “Muriella... Er, this is by no means easy to say, but your mother gave her name to the first wife of another duchy and was executed for fear of what danger she might represent.”

Because my little brother was still so young, Mother had not met with Lady Georgine during her visits. She had not participated in the latest of Giebe Gerlach’s meetings either and was apparently free of any and all wrongdoings.

“I realize you must think it unreasonable for her to have been punished without committing any crimes,” Aub Ehrenfest continued. “However, I cannot trust a noble who will act according to the orders of someone from another duchy. This was my decision as the archduke. I apologize.”

Unlike the other executed nobles, my mother was completely innocent. She was the only one who had been executed purely based on the future crimes she might have committed, and those in her family were not deemed guilty by association.

“You would normally not need to give your name, but...”

“Father took only my brother and rejected me, I presume?”

The aub hesitated for a breath and then said, “That’s right. Your father refused to accept you, saying that you are not his child. He returned you to your blood family—to Giebe Bessel, who had both given his name and attended the meeting. Giebe Bessel and his family have already been executed as a result of their crimes; only you and a pre-baptismal granddaughter of his remain. You have been brought down not due to your mother, but due to Giebe Bessel.”

The aub spoke with a bitter expression, but the only emotion that arose in my chest was resignation. I had completely expected this turn of events; my blood mother had been Giebe Bessel’s third wife, and she had given me to the giebe’s younger sister, who had been unable to have a child herself, soon after my birth. At most, I had spent just a year being nursed by my blood mother. After the birth of my younger brother, I was treated entirely as though I did not exist. It was far from unusual that Father had used this opportunity to refuse to take me in.

“You may be pained by these events, Aub Ehrenfest, but I am not shocked in the least. I expected that my father would cast me aside as well in his attempt to sever any and all ties to Giebe Bessel.”

“You may have expected this, but that does nothing to ease the pain.”

The aub was looking at me sympathetically—and somehow, I actually felt consoled. He was a truly sentimental person, although that could be both good and bad. On the one hand, he had been unable to control Lady Veronica for years, but on the other, he treated his adopted daughter, Lady Rozemyne, as an equal to his blood children and ensured that they all worked together.

“There is no need for concern,” I said. “Judging by how Lord Roderick has been doing as a retainer, I expect this future will bring me much more happiness than returning home.”

“There is still some work that must be done before this can happen, but... I intend to permit you to give your name to Elvira after you come of age. You are being forced to give your name, so it seems only fair that you should be able to serve someone of your own choosing.”

“I am deeply grateful for this consideration that few others would have shown me.”

And so my conversation with the archducal couple ended with an agreement: I would serve as Lady Rozemyne’s retainer until my coming of age. My parents had always shouted at me whenever I tried to enjoy Lady Elvira’s books, saying that it was unthinkable for me to read something written by the Leisegangs. All of my reading had been done stealthily at the Royal Academy as a result, but no longer. Now, I could immerse myself in such books whenever I wanted.

“The plan is for everyone to greet Lady Rozemyne tomorrow, but there are some key points I think we should all discuss before you begin serving her.”

Following the archducal couple’s departure, Roderick had gathered together all those due to start serving the archducal family. We had not yet given our names, but from this point on, we were being treated as retainers—in a sense, at least. We were all members of the former Veronica faction, so Roderick had been selected to explain, as it would be easier for us to ask him questions.

“Going forward, as coworkers, we will all address each other without titles,” Roderick continued. “Do your best to maintain this even with Rihyarda and the other archnobles.”

It seemed that, on his first day, Roderick had struggled to omit the “lord” whenever addressing Hartmut. The situation had become a source of much stress for him, and I understood his feelings well; I was sure that I would struggle with the same. In that regard, it was a bit of a relief to me that Hartmut had already graduated.

“For now, Lady Rozemyne’s position is considered secure due to her engagement, and she is on very good terms with the other members of the archducal family. However, it is impossible to say what political shifts might change this. As an adopted daughter, she must continually prove her worth.”

That was the case for all families. After all, familial affection was nothing but an illusion—a transient veil of sand that would collapse from the lightest touch. I did not expect Lord Barthold or the others to agree, but I empathized with Lady Rozemyne for the life that had been forced upon her: prove your worth or be tossed aside.

She and I will also be able to discuss books, so I am certain that our relationship will be a good one.

“Lady Rozemyne is already hesitant to participate in tea parties for fear of disturbing those around her. Thus, we must take care to prevent her from learning that her apprentice attendants are seen as ill-prepared whenever she collapses and that points are deducted from their grades as a result.”

Roderick was speaking in all seriousness. In his words, Brunhilde and Lieseleta were taking care not to add to the emotional burden that Lady Rozemyne was already having to carry.

“This next warning applies to both apprentice scholars and knights,” he went on. “Lady Rozemyne is already enduring enough pain from losing her guardian and striving to save children from the purge. Her attendants will not allow her to suffer any more, and to that end, they know no mercy. Be very careful.”

“It sounds as though you’re speaking from experience...” Laurenz said with a smirk. “Let me guess, Roderick—did you bungle something and get a stern talking-to?”

The light vanished from Roderick’s brown eyes, and his expression darkened all at once. “Lady Rozemyne asked me why not many apprentice attendants wished to serve her, but when I began to answer, Lieseleta forcibly silenced me with a waschen. Brunhilde dragged me out of the room soon after and gave me an angry lecture while Crushing me with all the might of an archnoble...”

Yes, I can imagine that...

I had personally witnessed Lady Rozemyne’s retainers bind a first-year with light and attempt to forcibly send him home to his potential execution. It seemed that their strict policy of eliminating anything that might trouble their lady extended not only to those of other factions, but to their coworkers as well. A scolding with that intensity must have been terrifying.

“You’ve gotten carried away and caused problems for yourself ever since you were young. I see you haven’t grown much,” Matthias observed.

Roderick grunted, his shoulders slumped. He had been the lowest in status even among those of the former Veronica faction and had always needed Matthias or Laurenz to protect him. I could not help but smile upon seeing that the bond between them existed even to this day.

“These tales of your failures will help us to avoid the same fate, at least,” I said, giggling. “Do you have any others?”

Roderick gave a sullen look. “Yes. Many. First of all, although it may be hard to understand things not at all rooted in common sense, it is crucial that you learn. For one, Lady Rozemyne does not value status. Leonore heads the apprentice knights here in the Royal Academy, but Damuel takes the lead in Ehrenfest.”

It was surprising to imagine a layknight giving instructions, but apparently that was normal among Lady Rozemyne’s retainers.

“Furthermore, regarding the printing industry and new trends, the thoughts of the commoners making the goods and the merchants selling them are valued above those of the nobility.”

“So she appoints a layknight to leadership and values the thoughts of commoners over nobles,” Matthias mused. “I see. That explains why Father and the others looked down on her so much.”

Lady Gabriele had been very proud to have come from Ahrensbach, a greater duchy that was higher in status than Ehrenfest. Lady Veronica had inherited that blood, taken pride in her position as the archduke’s first wife, and attempted to bury the Leisegangs. As for the nobles who strove to raise their status as her retainers, well... Lady Rozemyne, with her appreciation of commoners and laynobles, certainly would not mix well with nobles of the former Veronica faction.

“You will all likely be visiting the temple as well. You will only need to go there once to see that things are nowhere near as bad as the rumors say, but until then...”

“I planned on visiting anyway, since my half-brother’s there, but... given how I’ve been raised, the first step’s definitely gonna take some courage,” Laurenz said with a weak smile.

It was openly said that the temple was a place for outcasts who failed to become nobles—a house not of the gods but of perversion and filth. Lady Rozemyne being raised there had made her seem base in the eyes of those of the former Veronica faction, who had said that she was unfit to be adopted by the archduke and that the Leisegangs had forced the aub’s hand.

“You will need to worry about your behavior more than the temple itself,” Roderick said. “Lady Rozemyne will not tolerate anyone looking down on the gray priests and shrine maidens or treating them poorly whatsoever.”

“She won’t tolerate it...?” Laurenz repeated. “I mean, they’re commoners, right? Can we at least keep our distance from them?”

“I once thought the same, Laurenz, and similarly tried to keep away from them. I was imprisoned by the common sense that had been drilled into me since birth and could not understand how Hartmut and Philine were happily going to the orphanage. Lady Rozemyne will not scold you for avoiding the commoners, since that is not mistreating them, and she will not force you to associate with them. However”—Roderick sighed, his expression now one of regret—“as I did not associate with the gray priests and thereby failed to earn their trust, Lady Rozemyne forbade me and me alone from entering the orphanage when an incident occurred. If you wish to truly serve her, then you will need to treat commoners and those of the temple as your equals.”

Hartmut was apparently of the opinion that “commoners and those of the temple are Lady Rozemyne’s arms and legs.” Nobles may have spread new trends, but it was the commoners who made them, meaning nothing could be done without them.

“Just as Lady Rozemyne treats commoners and gray priests well, she will also be considerate to the families of criminals. However, attempting to use your status as a weapon will only earn you her wrath. According to Hartmut... Lady Rozemyne cared nothing for Lord Traugott and got him to resign simply because he looked down on Damuel for being a laynoble, saying that he was not worthy to serve as a guard knight for the archducal family.”

“I’m glad you started serving her before we did, Roderick,” Matthias said. “We really will need to change our mindsets on just about everything.”

Indeed, our common sense was no longer common at all. My parents had always said that commoners, with their lack of mana, were nothing but leeches draining time and energy from the nobility—that we looked after them as one would a pet. In truth, there was so much that could not be discerned from an outside perspective. Just how unusual was it for an adopted daughter to have been raised in the temple?

There was a lot I would need to know before greeting Lady Rozemyne formally.

We had each completed our name-swearing and could now begin our retainer work in full.

Now I can finally read books as I please.

My first goal was to exchange thoughts with Lady Rozemyne’s retainers, who were in a position where they could read Royal Academy Love Stories before anyone else. I went to the retainers’ room and promptly approached Gretia.

“I happen to love Royal Academy Love Stories; what are your favorite stories from it, Gretia?”

“My apologies; I haven’t read it yet. I should get around to it since I’ve just become Lady Rozemyne’s retainer, but there are so many new jobs I need to learn...”

I had hoped that we could socialize as fellow newcomers, but oh well—I could just ask the others. I repeated my question to Lieseleta and Brunhilde.

“I find all of the stories to be wonderful. My heart melts for each one.”

“I have read them all, but my preferences depend on the person I am speaking to. Which are your favorites, Muriella?”

Lieseleta and Brunhilde replied with smiles. Their answers made it more than clear that they cared very little for Royal Academy Love Stories.

“To think apprentice archattendants need to change their favorites based on their conversation partner...” I said. “I, myself, am lacking such dexterity.”

“Oh my. But such a skill is necessary for being an excellent host—and as you will be attending tea parties with greater duchies as well, Muriella, I would suggest reading not just Royal Academy Love Stories, but every book printed in Ehrenfest. Discussions with friends are one thing, but do not make your tastes so apparent during tea parties. You must focus on engaging with the guests’ topics of conversation and entertaining them.”

My attempts to spark a discussion about a book I enjoyed had only resulted in a lecture on how to behave during tea parties. This had not been my intention.

What a blunder...

After listening to this long speech with Gretia, I moved on to Judithe and Leonore, the apprentice guard knights.

“Royal Academy Love Stories? Well... it feels like with each volume, the chance of the protagonist’s love coming true goes up. I want my own accuracy to increase just like that.”

“Um...”

“Oh, sorry. I prefer the knight stories with a splash of romance to actual love stories.”

In other words, Judithe had no interest in the book either. I turned to Leonore next; she was engaged to Cornelius and actually in love, so surely she had a strong opinion or two. Perhaps she even used the book as a reference when having secret romantic rendezvous.

“Muriella. You wish to serve Lady Elvira because you love Royal Academy Love Stories, correct?”

“Well... yes.”

“Then take great care. Before you know it, you may find yourself a character within the stories you are trying to enjoy.”

“E-Excuse me...?”

She had given me this advice with a serious expression but said nothing about the book itself. As she turned her back to me, I realized that she, too, was not someone with whom I could discuss my thoughts.

How can this be? To think that her female retainers would be so disinterested in Royal Academy Love Stories...

“Roderick, Philine—as scholars, surely you understand the wonders of Royal Academy Love Stories,” I said. “The splendid whirling of the spring goddesses, the description of the pouring light, the exhilarating moment when the God of Darkness’s cape spreads within the gazebo...”

I saw the apprentice scholars as my last hope, but Roderick shook his head. “I study the text to learn writing techniques, but I’m not that interested in romance, so... I think those books are more for girls. Really, what I want to know about are your thoughts on A Ditter Story.”

“A Ditter Story? I suppose our tastes do not mix...”

My apologies to Roderick, but I had not yet read that book. I was the kind of person who read her favorite stories over and over again, so I did not bother with those that were not to my liking.

“Philine—stories you gathered were turned into a book. You must take an interest, surely.”

“I do enjoy love stories, but I focus my search more on those similar to the ones my mother told me. I do not read them with the same passion as you, Muriella. Incidentally, Lady Rozemyne largely appreciates the stories as, um... What was the phrasing she used...? As ‘cash cows.’ She did not seem too absorbed in them and appeared to like the Dunkelfelger history book more.”

I had thought that becoming Lady Rozemyne’s retainer would allow me to discuss love stories. It had never even crossed my mind that literally nobody would be interested.

“I feel so disappointed,” I moped. “I was convinced that we would passionately discuss Royal Academy Love Stories...”

“If that is what you want, then perhaps I could introduce you to someone with more similar tastes,” Philine said, watching me quizzically as I bemoaned my fate. “My work gathering stories means I have connections with many apprentice scholars from other duchies. I can think of several who adore love stories just as much as you do.”

I gave a firm nod of appreciation. “As expected of an archduke candidate’s retainer. Please do introduce me.”

Up until now, my status as a member of the former Veronica faction had prevented me from joining anything connected to archduke candidates—and on top of that, all the apprentice scholars from other duchies with whom I was acquainted either wanted to borrow Royal Academy Love Stories or know what stories it contained. There was nobody I could actually discuss the book with.

No sooner had we arrived at the library than a female student wearing the cream cape of Jossbrenner came over. It was as if she had been waiting for us.

“Lady Philine, are you here because you are handing out more crest-certified work for Lady Rozemyne this year?” the girl asked. She was referring to the specific tasks that students could complete to earn themselves money. The name “crest-certified work” had stuck because on the work order detailing the student’s name and task was a crest seal to ensure they would receive payment.

“Yes, Lady Lueuradi,” Philine replied. “Lady Rozemyne is gathering stories once again this year. Oh, and allow me to introduce you—this is Muriella, her new retainer. She has a particular fondness for Royal Academy Love Stories.”

“Oh my!” the girl—Lady Lueuradi—exclaimed with glee as she turned to face me. Her orange, almost-yellow hair swished gracefully through the air, and there was a distinct sparkle in her light-green eyes.

“Muriella, this is Lady Lueuradi, an apprentice archscholar from Jossbrenner. She is in the same grade as Lady Rozemyne and me, and we get along very well. She organizes crest-certified work in Jossbrenner on my behalf.”

Lady Lueuradi and I gazed into one another’s eyes as we were being introduced. We hadn’t spoken at all yet, but I could already feel a mysterious bond between us.

How should I put this? We are like... birds of a feather? Compatriots? Comrades in arms? Goodness, I can sense that we are of the same blood!

“Um... which is your favorite story, Lady Muriella?” Lady Lueuradi asked.

“She often says how much she loves the story of Dunkelung completing her engagement challenge,” Philine replied on my behalf. “I expect the two of you will get along swimmingly. Now, this seems as good an opportunity as any for you to discuss your thoughts on Royal Academy Love Stories.”

Philine encouraged us both to leave the reading room, so we started making our way to the scholar building.

How should I begin? Would it be wise for me to rave passionately about the stories? What if we do not share the same favorites...?

My heart was overflowing with the urge to speak, but my mind had gone completely blank. Perhaps the stern warnings of Lady Rozemyne’s other retainers had me on edge.

“L-Lady Muriella...! U-Um, I love the story of Dunkelung as well. What were your favorite parts?” Lady Lueuradi asked. I could guess from how her voice had cracked and the way she was eyeing me nervously that she was feeling the same tension as I.

My anxiety eased a little knowing that we both thoroughly enjoyed the same story. I decided to probe her tastes while eyeing her in turn.

“I am most taken with love stories where one does not give up on love even when their parents oppose it. Dunkelung overcomes many obstacles to get her engagement to her lover Herrschen approved. What do you like about it, Lady Lueuradi?”

“The way in which she prayed to Leidenschaft the God of Fire while working hard to achieve her dream of serving as a guard knight of the archducal family. Those descriptions are simply to die for. The author, Lady Elantura, has such a beautiful way with words...”

“I know, right?!”

I had cried out despite myself. “Elantura” was Lady Elvira’s pen name. I revered her so much that I genuinely wished to give my name to her.

“As the Gods of Summer prompted her growth, I could not help but feel that it was my first time seeing them as such welcome allies outside of the battlefield. My heart trembled when Dunkelung was enveloped by the blue flames of Anwachs the God of Growth.”

“There was also the bittersweet scene when she had to leave the Royal Academy despite it being the only place she could be with Herrschen. At that moment, I daresay I found myself praying to Ewigeliebe the God of Life alongside her.”

I repeatedly bobbed my head in approval of those thoughts. That scene had been so, so wonderful that I could repeat Dunkelung’s lines by heart.

“‘O my subordinate, may all that is be enveloped in ice and snow. Through mine efforts I shall entomb Geduldh, so do thine utmost to distance Flutrane.’”

“That was it! Ah, how wonderful!”

From there, our conversation only intensified. We relocated to a room in the scholar building and even found ourselves shocked when sixth bell rang to tell students to return to their dormitories.

“To think it is sixth bell already...” Lady Lueuradi said. “It seems that Dregarnuhr the Goddess of Time’s weaving was unfortunately swift today.”

“Indeed... But when might she guide us together once more?”

“I... happen to be free in the afternoon the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh, what a coincidence. As am I...”

We looked at each other and smiled, our plans made, then speedily started walking back to our dormitories.

“I can hardly wait for the next volume,” Lady Lueuradi said. “It will surely be filled with many more wondrous stories.”

“I cannot agree more. Ah, and this year’s volume had such a wonderful description of the God of Darkness’s cape being spread... I was blushing so fiercely that I actually had to close the book.”

Lady Lueuradi pressed her hands against her cheeks and gave a dreamy sigh. “Oh, how envious I am that you get to serve as Lady Rozemyne’s retainer.”

“I, too, consider it good fortune. I would not have had this opportunity otherwise.”

Even I was surprised by how blissfully fun it was to share thoughts with someone who shared my interests. For the longest time, I had assumed that the enjoyment of a book began and ended on the page, but gaining a friend with whom I could actually discuss the stories I so enjoyed had done something wonderful. Fantasy and reality had suddenly come together.

To think that such joys could exist! I am so pleased that I chose to serve Lady Rozemyne.

Had I not, then I would not have had the means to connect with Lady Lueuradi, an archnoble from another duchy. Even if we had met by chance, without Philine there to give us such a prompt introduction, it would have been a very long time before we could discuss our passions so freely. Perhaps my world would expand even further once I gave my name to Lady Elvira and became more directly involved with making books.

I had entrusted my body to the pleasantness of hope—and upon returning to the dormitory, I picked up a book with entirely different feelings than usual.