Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.4 - Chapter 8

Changing Surroundings and the Feast Celebrating Spring

Sylvester took immediate action against Giebe Groschel and the Leisegang faction. It was possible that Rihyarda was hurrying him, or maybe having her by his side had made it easier to speak with the Leisegangs. Perhaps he was simply able to move freely now that Bonifatius had departed for Gerlach. Though I wasn’t entirely sure of the reason, one thing was clear: it was happening.

Brunhilde received a summons from her family the next evening while Cornelius and Lamprecht were summoned by Elvira for questioning. Everyone around me had suddenly become very busy... but I was still stuck in the northern building. This gave me an unusual abundance of spare time, so I started reading the books that Hannelore had lent me.

The first volume contained religious tales that hadn’t made it into the bible, and they were really entertaining. Most of the stories in the bible were about the gods performing heroic and awe-inspiring feats, but these were more about their relationships with one another.

Surprisingly enough, among the stories contained in the book was one we had gathered during Operation Grimm. In it, Flutrane the Goddess of Water bathed with her subordinates, sharing her power with them and washing away Ewigeliebe the God of Life. She had given her healing to Leidenschaft and Schutzaria as well, apparently. The tale also mentioned there being a barrier to block all men—a consequence of Leidenschaft’s subordinates trying to peek while the women were bathing—and a feyplant called “sielore,” which extended its branches and produced white flowers, from which green droplets fell. The droplets had potent restorative properties, which reminded me of the rairein nectar we had gathered.

Speaking of which... Ferdinand and the other boys encountered a barrier at The Goddesses’ Bath, didn’t they? They could still see us, though, so maybe it wasn’t working right... I wonder, is there another bathing spot like that in Dunkelfelger?

I continued to read, comparing the stories to similar ones we’d gathered from the provinces, until an ordonnanz flew into the room. It was from Matthias and the others.

“We are doing fine. Using his masterfully honed instincts, Lord Bonifatius is moving the investigation along.”

“Grandfather sure is incredible,” I replied. “I hope you can all return soon.”

For some reason, from that point on, I started to receive frequent ordonnanzes about Bonifatius’s many achievements. It seemed pretty obvious that he wanted me to praise his efforts. I did my best to oblige him, for the sake of Matthias and the others.

But you know, Grandfather... all these reports are interrupting my reading.

I got Hartmut to convey Bonifatius’s grand achievements to Sylvester. He was no doubt receiving similar reports from the Knight’s Order, but hearing things from another perspective was sure to be of use to him. At least, that was the excuse I was going with; my true intention was to sneak him intelligence about the Leisegangs and the state of the northern building. Doing so would give me enough leverage to have him give back the blue priests who didn’t have any concerning memories.

In particular, I really wanted to have Frietack returned to me. He had developed into a real expert when it came to temple work.

Two days after Brunhilde’s return to her home estate, Sylvester contacted me. He said that we had an important matter to discuss and that I was to eat dinner in the main building today. This was obviously to do with their engagement, so I got ready and went to the dining hall. It was a little strange to see Rihyarda standing behind Sylvester, busily directing attendants while serving his food.

After we had eaten, Sylvester made his announcement: “I will be taking Brunhilde, the daughter of Giebe Groschel, as a second wife. I already have the giebe’s permission and am steadily obtaining the approval of the Leisegangs. Our engagement will be announced after the feast celebrating spring.” He declared that this was his decision as aub, described the importance of working with Leisegang and Groschel, then put emphasis on his intention to compromise with the Leisegangs.

“Brunhilde?” Wilfried asked, furrowing his brow at me. “Rozemyne, isn’t she one of your apprentice attendants?”

I nodded. “Her father asked that she return home at once, and now I understand why. If only I had been consulted... I could have provided my support, but alas.”

Sylvester seemed to notice what I was doing and shrugged. “It might have been easy with your support, but I needed to prove that this decision to align with the Leisegangs was my own. I regret having to take one of your attendants, though; there were just so few Leisegang girls of the right age.”

Any who had already come of age would affect Florencia’s unborn child, but that wasn’t the main problem. Most of them, like Leonore, were already engaged—and they couldn’t just cast their fiancés aside to become the aub’s second wife. In more ways than one, Brunhilde was the perfect catch.

“I am glad that Brunhilde accepted your proposition,” Florencia said. “After the ravaging impact of the purge, it would have been difficult to take a second wife from an influential duchy. Further, from now until the day I give birth, Brunhilde has offered to socialize with Ehrenfest’s noblewomen in Rozemyne’s stead. She worked with Charlotte in the Royal Academy and said she would like to continue that cooperative relationship.”

I had been most worried about how Florencia would react, so it was reassuring to see her welcoming Brunhilde with such open arms.

Charlotte gave a relieved smile. “Brunhilde has yet to come of age, so the actual Starbind Ceremony will not take place for some time. I also believe that a daughter of Giebe Groschel will make a perfect partner for our duchy’s aub. Congratulations, Father.”

Melchior spoke a few words of congratulations as well, though his poor understanding of the situation made it clear that he was just copying Charlotte. Meanwhile, Wilfried said nothing. He offered no more than a look of uncertainty... and with that, our meal came to an end.

So arrived the feast celebrating spring. We were waiting in the room closest to the grand hall, having been told to join everyone as late as we reasonably could. Our retainers arrived a short while later.

“Matthias, Laurenz, Muriella—welcome back,” I said. “Only five days have passed, but it feels like forever. Your work must have been very taxing. You may have tomorrow off, so please do your best for today’s feast.”

“We are honored.”

The feast was meant to be an occasion for all nobles to gather, so it had been postponed until the Knight’s Order returned from its investigation. I could only imagine how exhausting it must have been investigating the giebes’ estates under the time constraints. The reports I’d received hadn’t mentioned much beyond Bonifatius’s achievements, but their efforts had apparently borne fruit.

Muriella was drained, and rightly so—she had needed to fly back to Ehrenfest after seventh bell and was now going to participate in the feast without a moment of rest. Matthias and Laurenz, on the other hand, both seemed quite lively—though there was a particular woodenness to Matthias’s expression.

“Matthias,” I said, “you have on a most intimidating face. If you have already informed the aub about your investigation, then you may relax. You can report to me some other day.” It was already more or less confirmed that Giebe Gerlach was still alive, so the details could wait. At the very least, we didn’t need to rush through them right before the feast.

Soon enough, Ottilie guided us into the grand hall. The Leisegangs were grinning from ear to ear, doubtless having heard about the former Veronica faction’s eradication and Brunhilde’s engagement to the aub. And, indeed, Brunhilde was at the center of them all, wearing a spring outfit that made her crimson hair stand out wonderfully. She was speaking brightly to the elderly nobles, her back straight and her expression regal, while Elvira offered support beside her. I also spotted Bertilde, who was watching her big sister carefully.

Seems safe to leave the Leisegangs to Brunhilde, but we’ll need to deal with the nobles over there.

In contrast to the beaming Leisegangs, there were plenty of nobles lurking by the edges of the room, wearing sullen or otherwise antisocial expressions. They were presumably those of the former Veronica faction who had been punished less severely.

“I can’t tell whether it’s because fewer were executed than I thought or more have returned from their sentences but... it doesn’t seem like the noble population has changed much at all,” I said.

“You only think that because you’ve been insulated from it all,” Wilfried replied, focused on the crowd. “Even those who managed to avoid execution by association were still punished. I was made to distance several of my retainers. It hurt, having to turn my back on people who have supported me my whole life, even though they did nothing wrong.”

I followed his eyes to Oswald, his former head attendant. He had resigned two days after our return from the Royal Academy, saying that he could not risk creating an opening for the Leisegangs to exploit.

So... Wilfried ended up losing retainers just like Sylvester did.

“Hopefully, as we align with the Leisegang nobles, we also start hiring skilled nobles of the former Veronica faction soon,” I said. “Then you can take them as retainers again.”

We had suggested that underage retainers be spared punishment and those who hadn’t committed any crimes be given jobs to accelerate the generational shift. It was up to Wilfried and Sylvester to carefully consider the situation and decide both whom to hire in the castle and where to direct the nobility. I wished him luck in those endeavors so that he could get his retainers back.

“You make it sound as though it has nothing to do with you.”

“I simply have my own work to do. My orders are to keep my head down and entrust such matters to you, our next aub. Not to mention, I’m leaving female socializing to Brunhilde and Charlotte. My intention is to hide in the temple and stay as far away from the public eye as I can.”

Wilfried escorted me to the front row with a stiff expression—and, not long after, the archducal couple seemed to appear from behind us. Without giving anyone time to greet him, Sylvester announced the beginning of the feast.

“Flutrane the Goddess of Water’s pure streams have washed away Ewigeliebe the God of Life and rescued Geduldh the Goddess of Earth. Blessed be the melting of the snow!”

First came an announcement of our grades at the Royal Academy. I was the only one from Ehrenfest to have come first-in-class this year, but we had plenty of honor students. We three archduke candidates and several of our retainers climbed onstage to receive praise and rewards, as was now the norm.

“It is a joyous occasion for there to be so many skilled students among those who will one day support Ehrenfest,” Sylvester said. “Hone your talents and maintain your grades.”

Sylvester then told the gathered nobles what had occurred at the Royal Academy this year. He mentioned the students receiving an extraordinary number of divine protections, our decision to research the phenomenon with Dunkelfelger, the royal family’s participation in our Dedication Ritual, and that several graduating students had obtained new protections after repeating their protections ceremonies. The family members who had visited the Academy for the Interduchy Tournament already knew some of this, but the others were a lot more surprised.

“The newfound role that religious ceremonies play in obtaining divine protections has led the Sovereignty to reevaluate them en masse,” Sylvester announced. “Ehrenfest is at the forefront of this trend, since our archduke candidates play such an active role in our duchy’s own ceremonies. Thus, as Rozemyne will retire from her position as High Bishop upon coming of age, I am assigning Melchior to spend the next three years as an apprentice blue priest in preparation for taking her place.”

The Leisegang nobles cried out in surprise when they heard that the royal family had participated in a religious ceremony and that ceremonies as a whole were under review. They also seemed pretty accepting of another archduke candidate following in my footsteps and going to the temple; they were all wearing very bright expressions.

“Rozemyne, when am I going to the temple?” Melchior asked.

“We’ll start going together after we’ve discussed things with those in the winter playroom. Once we’ve checked the rooms in the temple and made sure there is enough space and such, we will need to select attendants to care for you.”

By the time I returned my attention to Sylvester, he had already moved on. He stated that the purged giebes were being replaced by Leisegang nobles and that they would need to undergo a three-year trial period before their new titles were finalized. This, too, was accepted with cries of joy.

“This winter, the crimes of many were exposed all at once,” Sylvester said. “Tragic though it was, I do not want this to be the end for those who were innocent but punished through association, those who resigned willingly out of tradition, or even those who committed minor crimes and have already served their punishment. My intention is to provide you all with jobs suited to your skills. Do not allow this stumble to keep you down for good; work hard to earn your status once again.”

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to relax a little—but that was quickly undone when Sylvester began to focus on the purge. He explained that, while the dangerous nobles who had given their names to the first wife of another duchy had all been targeted, some had escaped to that other duchy and remained a threat to Ehrenfest.

“The Leisegang nobles assigned as giebes are to oppose that threat,” Sylvester announced. “If you notice anything unusual or suspicious, contact the Knight’s Order at once.”

In other words, the Leisegangs would be held responsible for any failures. A sea of previously overjoyed faces hardened as they realized that life still wasn’t entirely good, even now that the former Veronica faction was destroyed.

“Furthermore, I will be taking responsibility for the entwickeln in Groschel, which will be held this autumn. I shall arrange for a more concrete discussion with the giebes of the surrounding provinces and ask for their support, such that we are not looked down upon by the merchants visiting Ehrenfest from other duchies.”

Sylvester had chosen his words wisely. Saying that we didn’t want the nobles of top-ranking duchies to look down on us would have elicited responses of “But we’re a bottom-ranking duchy; they’re going to look down on us no matter what.” Implying that commoner merchants would turn their noses up was another story. Brunhilde often said that even the slightest change in phrasing could go a long way.

“As you can see, I intend to clasp hands with the Leisegang faction—to work with its nobles to lead Ehrenfest. At the same time, I wish to hire members of the younger generation to work in the castle, for they are better used to interacting with other duchies. To prove my resolve, I am taking as my second wife the daughter of Giebe Groschel. During her time serving Rozemyne as an apprentice attendant, she has contributed more than any other to dealing with the royal family and top-ranking duchies.”

At once, those of the Leisegang faction began to cheer and applaud. Some of the nobles were watching in wide-eyed surprise, but there had been such firm pressure on Sylvester to take a second wife that nobody criticized his decision.

“Brunhilde, to the stand,” Sylvester said, beckoning her over.

She glanced once in my direction, then ascended the stage with her attendant, holding her head much higher than usual and wearing a resolute expression. Her attendant was carrying a small box, which I took to mean that she had obtained a proper engagement feystone.

Brunhilde slowly knelt, then her attendant did the same and cast her eyes down. Rihyarda was carrying Sylvester’s feystone and, when she saw that Brunhilde was prepared, delicately opened up the box it was sitting in. Sylvester took the feystone from within and held it out to his bride-to-be.

“O Brunhilde, daughter of Giebe Groschel, chosen by Erwachlehren the God of Guidance—will you become our Flutrane, to support and heal this shaken duchy?”

Sylvester was alluding to the Goddess of Water’s duties of supporting the Goddess of Light and healing the Goddess of Earth. Ottilie had said that second wives were more often compared to minor subordinate gods, so I could only assume that Brunhilde was very highly valued. She had also said that second wives were never to be compared to the Goddess of Light in public; such a privilege was reserved for first wives.

“I will assume the duty with honor,” Brunhilde said, accepting Sylvester’s feystone before offering her own. “I am here by the will of Erwachlehren the God of Guidance. Aub Ehrenfest, if you desire me as Ehrenfest’s Flutrane, then that is what I shall become. It is all by Erwachlehren’s guidance.”

Sylvester accepted the feystone from his smiling new fiancée and then offered her his hand. She took it and stood at his side.

“Thus, the engagement is formed,” Sylvester concluded.

The audience clapped and shone their schtappes in celebration. Of course, I did the same.

Please let Brunhilde find happiness in this union...

“Ah!”

All of a sudden, a blessing shot out of me that was a little too bright. It seemed that I’d prayed too much.

“Rozemyne!”

“It’s fine, Wilfried. It won’t stand out that much.”

“Of course it will.”

I rushed to put away my schtappe and tried to look innocent, but all the nobles looking my way suggested that Wilfried was right. My shoulders slumped—this had only happened because it was harder for me to control my schtappe now—but Philine gave me a comforting smile.

“This is an auspicious day for one of your retainers, Lady Rozemyne. That you would grant her a blessing was well within our expectations. This much is more than acceptable.”

“Philine is right,” Judithe added. “That was a far cry from the pillars of light we saw in the Royal Academy and nothing at all compared to giving a random blessing during class. Everyone will forget about this in no time!”

For some reason, their words didn’t console me at all. It felt more like their weirdness sensors were completely busted.

“If given the chance, I believe you could have filled the entire grand hall with your light,” Hartmut said. “Clarissa and I would be over the moon if you could follow your heart and grant us an overflowing blessing during our Starbind Ceremony.”

Now I’m worried about Hartmut and Clarissa’s Starbinding!