Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.6 - Chapter 6

Magic Tools for Children

Elvira and I spent ages together in the hidden room. I told her how Cornelius had spent his time at the Royal Academy, where she hadn’t been able to keep an eye on him, and what Eckhart had used to do when visiting the temple, among other things. In return, she told me about Siegrecht and Aurelia, and how hard Brunhilde was working.

Our conversation went on for such a long time that I ended up exhausted. I slept better than ever that night. In fact, I overslept. When the estate attendants informed me that it was almost third bell, I wanted to cry out and ask why they hadn’t roused me sooner.

As it turned out, Elvira had instructed them to let me sleep, since she had kept me up later than usual. Still, it was unbelievably embarrassing to have overslept after my guard knights came to get me.

“G-Good morning...” I said as I entered the dining hall.

“You took your time,” Cornelius replied, teasing me for oversleeping. “Everyone else is already here.”

I apologized to the guard knights, then worked my way through my fairly late breakfast.

“It is good to know you slept well,” Elvira said, casually sipping her tea as I ate. “Do you have a moment to talk before you return to the castle?”

We launched into a discussion about the printing industry’s handover. Muriella was standing behind Elvira and doing what appeared to be some very scholarly work. I could guess from how bright and enthusiastic she looked that things were going well between them.

“If we can manage commoner meetings without you, then I do not expect us to encounter any problems worth worrying about,” Elvira said. “Which reminds me, Rozemyne... You said that you plan to leave your temple attendants with Lord Melchior, but what of your artist?”

“I will summon Wilma to the Sovereignty when we start printing there,” I declared. “Don’t expect me to hand her over, Mother. She is mine.”

“My, what a shame...” Elvira sighed, not sounding disappointed at all. Then she chuckled. “Do you not worry that someone might buy her after you leave the temple? She will have even less of a place in the Sovereignty than your laynobles, so perhaps you could purchase her now, then entrust her to somebody here. That should put your mind at ease until you come of age, should it not?”

“And it would also give you plenty of time to request her services,” I said, having seen right through her.

Elvira chuckled again. She clearly took great interest in Wilma’s artistic talent.

I mean, she’s right—that would put my mind at ease—but I’ll need to see how Wilma feels about it.

“Wilma has been looking after the orphanage,” I explained, “so we will need to find someone to take her place. And she will need to agree, of course.”

“You are mistaken, Rozemyne. Once you leave, I will obtain her. And as a gray shrine maiden not in the service of a noble, she will have no choice in the matter. Keep that in mind as you make plans for your attendants.”

I was immediately reminded of the way that other gray shrine maidens had been treated upon losing their noble masters. I’d assumed that the temple would continue to operate as I pleased as long as I gave instructions before leaving for the Sovereignty... but that had apparently been naive of me.

“Very well,” I said. “I will consider this carefully.”

“That would be wise. Subsequently... I informed Damuel of our conversation last night.”

I turned to look at Damuel, who remained stone-faced as he stood guard. “I will respect your wishes,” I said to him, “so please tell me when you make a decision.”

“Yes, my lady.”

As our conversation continued, an ordonnanz from Sylvester arrived. Twelve magic tools for children had arrived from the royal family.

“Not only is this sudden, but they have sent fewer than we agreed upon,” I noted. “Why would they do this and risk our agreement falling through...?”

“I do not think they intend to sabotage your adoption; rather, they have sent you a portion of your payment now to reinforce its legitimacy. Considering how desperately we need new nobles, and the problems that waiting another year would cause for us, I cannot see Ehrenfest being able to refuse these tools. It would be best if you returned to the castle at once. Come back when you have the time, though; then we may speak again.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Immediately upon my return to the castle, I was summoned to an archducal family meeting to discuss what we should do with the newly received magic tools. We decided to accept them—in large part because we needed to increase Ehrenfest’s noble population as quickly as we could, but also because we had nothing to gain from refusing them. For the royal family to have sent us an advance payment in the first place, they must have been determined to secure my adoption—and sending back the tools wouldn’t change that fact. Refusing would only delay our plans by an entire year, and it would mean more children who couldn’t be baptized.

“Given how many we received, could we not send some to the orphanage?” I asked Sylvester.

“Unless they can obtain mednoble levels of mana by their baptisms, it would only be a waste of potions. And then there’s the enormous amount of strain it would put on their bodies. Rather than using the magic tools now and ending up with a bunch of extra laynobles, we’re better off saving them for any mana-rich children who might be born in the future.”

I wasn’t surprised; I’d expected an outright refusal. But then he raised an eyebrow at me and continued.

“So if we do send the tools to the orphanage, they’ll need to be given to orphans who have adequate mana and won’t cause trouble. I’d advise getting Hartmut to interview them. I won’t be able to trust your evaluations, since you have such a soft spot for those kids.”

Being told that I couldn’t be trusted was kind of annoying—but at the same time, I couldn’t protest. More people than I could remember had told me I was too soft on those I cared about. So, it was decided that Hartmut would be responsible for the final interviews, wherein he would check whether the orphans were ideologically aligned, so to speak.

“Isn’t that nice, Rozemyne?” Melchior asked with a smile. “The magic tools won’t just go to people from our faction. I’m glad to have more friends in the temple.”

I nodded. Then, after borrowing a mana-measuring tool from Sylvester, I went to the temple with Melchior and his retainers.

“Welcome back, Lady Rozemyne.”

“Thank you, everyone.”

After my attendants greeted me, I went to the High Bishop’s chambers and changed into my robes. Then it was time to listen to everyone’s reports. The blue apprentices and orphans were spending their days without incident, and, thanks to Kampfer and Frietack, the preparations for the spring coming-of-age ceremony were now complete.

“I am relieved to hear that there have been no problems,” I said. “As for me... I have a grave announcement to make.”

As my attendants all stood up straight, I explained that I would be leaving Ehrenfest in a year’s time, and that Melchior would be taking my place as High Bishop. I didn’t include unnecessary details, like where I was going or the fact that I was being adopted by the king. Gray priests and shrine maidens were obligated to answer any questions put to them by nobles, so it was best to give them as little information as possible.

I continued, “It is my hope that you will all serve Melchior in his new position and strive to maintain the temple’s current state to the best of your ability.”

“We were already working under the assumption that you would resign from your post upon coming of age. This will simply require us to accelerate our schedule,” Fran said, then gave a sad smile. “In any case, I am used to those I serve leaving me behind.”

My heart ached. “I would have liked to move you all into my library, but you told me before that you feel uncomfortable in the Noble’s Quarter, did you not? I do not know who will manage my library once I am gone, and since I will not be heading to another temple, there will not be anywhere for you to stay.”

In an ideal world, I would obtain the Grutrissheit, dissect Ahrensbach, and then return Ferdinand to Ehrenfest, whereupon he would take all of my temple attendants into his care. But with the future being so uncertain, it was safest to leave them with Melchior.

“Indeed,” Fran said, “I only know how to live in the temple. No matter where you are headed, it would not suit me. I am content with the idea of serving Lord Melchior; based on his words and actions up until this point, I do not expect to encounter any issues.”

“Were I moving to another temple, I would certainly have brought you all with me,” I assured everyone.

Fran let out a quiet chuckle. “And after visiting Hasse’s monastery, I would certainly have accompanied you.”

“There is one exception, however: Wilma will need to make a choice.”

“A choice...?” Wilma repeated, looking overcome with concern. Although she had come a long way in conquering her fear of men, it had yet to disappear completely.

“Over the next year, you will need to decide whether to become my mother’s or my personal artist,” I said, then conveyed the details of my discussion with Elvira.

“But... what will happen to the orphanage?” It said a lot that her first question was about the children.

“To preserve its present condition, I intend to negotiate for either Monika or Lily to become Melchior’s attendant and take over as its manager.” After all, they were the ones who knew Wilma’s philosophy best.

Upon hearing my explanation, Wilma thanked me for my consideration and smiled—though it wasn’t a sincere smile of relief. A quick glance around the room revealed that Monika and Fritz were looking equally as uneasy. But when I met Fritz’s eye, his expression suddenly became peaceful.

“Lady Rozemyne, there is no need to be concerned about us,” he said. “We can sense from your demeanor that this move has come suddenly for you as well, and that you do not want to go. We also understand that you show us far more compassion than anyone else would.”

Zahm nodded. “We do not expect the orphanage to be treated poorly under Lord Melchior. However, with how quickly these positions of authority change hands, we do not know how long he will remain the High Bishop. Our concern is a less considerate figure coming into power, and who knows how long they might remain?”

It was impossible to say when a noble like the previous High Bishop would take control of the temple. Just as I’d wiped away Bezewanst’s influence in the blink of an eye, it wouldn’t take too long for someone new to wipe away mine.

“Melchior is a boy,” I said, “so he’s unlikely to be taken out of Ehrenfest. Still, I will devote myself to this handover so that you can all rest easy.”

“We thank you.”

Next up were the magic tools for the orphanage. It was agreed that Wilma would inform the children born to nobles that they had a chance to receive one if their mana quantity was high enough and they were able to pass an interview.

“One must fill the tools with a certain amount of mana in order to become a noble,” I said. “If we do not give them to the children posthaste, they may fail to meet this requirement. How soon can we hold the interviews?”

“The children are currently visiting the forest, but any time from tomorrow onward will do,” Wilma replied. “We can ensure they are ready as long as we have a date.”

I said that I would decide on one with Hartmut, then dispersed my attendants. They all went off to carry out their respective jobs.

“Fran,” I said, “I wish to speak to Benno of the Plantin Company regarding my move. Meeting with him in the orphanage director’s chambers would be ideal.”

“Understood. I will contact them and schedule a meeting.”

“Zahm, go to the High Priest’s chambers and arrange a date to interview the children.”

“As you will.”

“Fritz, I will need a tremendous amount of paper this year. Gather as many taues as you can.”

“Very well.”

As I gave one instruction after another, I inspected various letters and documents that Monika had brought over. Things soon settled down, at which point Philine approached me.

“Lady Rozemyne,” she whispered, “what about the rejuvenation potions for the orphans who will receive the magic tools?”

“I intend to prepare them myself. Oh, actually... Someone told me it was problematic that I only ever entrust my apprentice scholars with paperwork, so perhaps I should leave the brewing to you and Roderick.”

For obvious reasons, I couldn’t assume that Sylvester would conveniently magic up a stash of rejuvenation potions for the children. As the orphanage director, I would need to bear this burden myself.

“I cannot prepare rejuvenation potions for Konrad on my own,” Philine said, “so I’d given up on him becoming a noble whether we retrieved his magic tool or not. However... if we are giving rejuvenation potions to the children of the orphanage, I would ask that we give some to Konrad as well. Please, Lady Rozemyne.” She wanted nothing more than to give her brother a chance to live as a noble.

I turned to face her. “My understanding is that this process will put great strain on the body of any laynoble who attempts it... but if that is what Konrad wants, I shall allow it.”

“Truly? I thank you ever so much.” A broad smile spread across Philine’s face; she wouldn’t have been able to gather the necessary ingredients and brew enough rejuvenation potions to make Konrad into a noble on her own. Still, as adorable as she was, she was letting her love for her brother distract her from reality.

“Philine... did you not say that you would give your name to me and purchase Konrad so that you could accompany me to the Sovereignty? What will happen after Konrad is made into a noble? I could not bring a minor with me unless he, too, offered up his name.”

“Wha...? Oh.”

“It costs a fortune to raise a child as a noble. Will you be able to fund his upbringing and pay for him to attend the Royal Academy while you are still a student yourself?”

Philine fell silent and gazed down at her hands. The salary of an apprentice layscholar who had run away from home with nothing would scarcely make a dent in the cost of educating two people at once. She had been building up her savings by doing translation work and selling information, but it was hard to live as a noble without the established wealth of one’s forebears. She wouldn’t even be able to afford an outfit for her coming-of-age ceremony unless she started putting money aside now.

“If you intend to make Konrad a noble, then I would suggest returning home with him.”

“Lady Rozemyne?!”

“Your father married into your family, did he not? And you are the house’s true successor. Mother told me everything.”

By returning home and taking her estate back from her father and stepmother, Philine would acquire the magic tools and learning materials her forebears had left behind, as well as outfits that could be altered to fit her. She wouldn’t have an extravagant life by any means, but it would be better than renting a room in the castle while struggling to support two people alone.

“Now that Konrad has entered the orphanage, I certainly am the true successor of my house,” Philine said. “However, I will need to wait until my coming of age before I can take over. Returning now would once again put me at the mercy of my father and Lady Jonsara—and in any case, I am unsure how many of my mother’s belongings are even still in our possession.” As it turned out, her father and stepmother had sold plenty in order to support themselves.

“Konrad could be baptized in the orphanage and live in the temple as an apprentice blue priest,” I suggested, “but that would make him an orphaned noble under the aub’s care. If you wish for him to be your younger brother, then you must see him returned to noble society before his baptism. You should start thinking of a way to resolve your issue, whether that be by staying at home and asking Mother to support you, or by marrying an adult man and getting him to protect you from your parents.”

As I’d said, baptizing Konrad in the orphanage would sever the sibling ties between him and Philine, who was now looking truly miserable. It was sad to see, but it wasn’t my fault that baptisms determined one’s parents, or that the aub became the guardian of children baptized in the orphanage. I wasn’t in any position to change these facts either.

“Before we can proceed,” I said, “you will need to have a very serious conversation with Konrad. Will he really want to drink rejuvenation potions nonstop and endure so much suffering for the sake of being baptized as a noble? And if so, would he rather be baptized in the temple or return home?”

Philine already had the magic tool that was her mother’s heirloom; and since we were distributing rejuvenation potions to the orphanage, I didn’t mind giving some to Konrad as well. I couldn’t take his future into my hands, though. I wasn’t his guardian—and in just a year, I wouldn’t be the orphanage director either.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Damuel was frowning. He had been listening to our entire conversation.

“So, the orphanage meeting is being held today... then I’ve got my meeting with the Plantin Company tomorrow...” I said to remind myself.

Hartmut nodded; he was carrying the mana-measuring tool as we both made our way to the orphanage. “And it won’t be long before the spring coming-of-age ceremony or the summer baptisms. Once those have concluded, the aub will need to go to Ahrensbach, so time really is of the essence.”

Philine was also accompanying us. She was holding her mother’s heirloom, which she planned to give to Konrad if he decided that he wanted to become a noble with everyone else.

Fran and Zahm, who were at the head of our group, opened the door to the orphanage for us. Inside were five kneeling children between the ages of three and six, all of whom had yet to be baptized. Dirk and Konrad were among them.

I could only assume that Wilma or Hartmut had already explained the situation to the kids, as they all tensed up when they saw the magic tool we had brought with us.

“The mana measuring will now begin,” Hartmut announced, then went straight to the oldest of the children. “State your name and age.”

One’s mana capacity naturally increased as one grew older, so we had unique requirements for each age. Hartmut checked whether the gathered children had met Sylvester’s criteria, then divided them into two groups. Dirk and another boy were on the left, while Konrad and two boys were on the right.

“The two of you on the left have met the aub’s mana requirements,” Hartmut declared. “If you wish, he will provide you with magic tools.”

The boy next to Dirk was an especially tiny three-year-old who needed Wilma’s support just to stand. It was unlikely that he even understood what was being said to him, so Hartmut gave up on questioning his intentions and instead turned to Wilma.

“Wilma, that boy has the mana quantity of a mednoble, and there is still adequate time before his baptism. It would be best to give him a magic tool; he is still too young to come to a decision on his own, so we should keep his options open.”

Of course, Hartmut was more concerned about securing the duchy more nobles than about giving the boy more prospects. He then focused on Dirk, who was standing stiffly in place.

“Now then, Dirk—your mana quantity surpasses the aub’s criteria. Do you wish to receive a magic tool?”

“Wait!” one of the boys on the right shouted. “Dirk isn’t the son of a noble. He’s just an orphan. It isn’t right for him to be given a magic tool!”

Dirk said nothing in response; he merely grimaced and cast his eyes down.

Hartmut blinked at the boy a few times, then cocked his head in a deliberate show of confusion. “What are you saying? All of you are orphans. Dirk is one, as are you.”

“You’re wrong. My parents are nobles, so—”

“A child who has not been baptized as a noble has no right to act like one,” Hartmut said, easily undermining the boy’s protest. “Here, you are an orphan like anyone else. You should know that a noble’s worth is their mana, and with that in mind, Dirk is more valuable than you.” He then returned his attention to Dirk. “Allow me to ask again: Do you wish to receive a magic tool?”

The tenderness with which Hartmut had previously looked upon the orphans was gone. Now, as he tried to determine whether Dirk wished to be a noble, he wore the scrutinizing expression of an interviewer.

Dirk’s eyes wandered the room before finally coming to rest on a single person: Delia. She was at the back of the dining hall, chewing on her lip and clasping her hands together, awaiting his answer with bated breath. She looked as pale as when the previous High Bishop had stolen Dirk, and her silent pleas resounded throughout my mind.

“Please don’t ask for a magic tool. Please don’t leave my side. I don’t want to lose my brother.”

Dirk looked away from Delia and back at Hartmut. Then, after taking a slow breath...

“I do.”

“No!” Delia shrieked, her eyes wide with terror. Everyone turned to look at her... except Dirk. He alone continued to face Hartmut, meeting his gaze head-on.

“Lord Hartmut, I wish to receive a magic tool.”

“For what purpose?” Hartmut asked quietly. “Because you are starting so late, dyeing a feystone will prove to be a long and arduous process. There is also your beloved elder sister, who does not wish for you to become a noble. Why do you seek this path nonetheless? What do you intend to do upon joining the nobility?”

Dirk balled his hands into tight fists, then declared, “I want to become a noble. Then I want to become the High Bishop, High Priest, or orphanage director.”

“Oh?” Hartmut replied. He’d raised an eyebrow in slight amusement, but his eyes were as sharp as ever.

“The orphanage was an awful place before Lady Rozemyne came along. She’s the reason we have food to eat and don’t freeze in the winter.”

“A very wise—and very true—observation,” Hartmut remarked with a few brisk nods, sounding a lot like a teacher praising a good student.

“Not only that, but Lady Rozemyne was the only noble willing to help us when the gray priests were in danger. And she can only serve as the High Bishop while underage because of the High Priest supporting her.”

Hartmut was thoroughly satisfied with that answer. I couldn’t protest, since Dirk was speaking in my favor, but I couldn’t help but think that his speech was a teeny bit... off. Had he fallen victim to Hartmut’s brainwashing?

“Last spring,” Dirk continued, “the gray priests and shrine maidens were very concerned about the new High Priest. They didn’t know how the temple or the orphanage were going to change.”

I’d managed to make so many sweeping changes as the orphanage director because Ferdinand, the High Priest at the time, had given me his permission. The fact that I’d needed to consult him about every little thing in the first place showed which of the two roles held the most authority. Everyone had worried that the new High Priest might oppose my suggestions or even return the orphanage to its old ways. The adult gray priests who could remember those bleak times were the most concerned of all.

“But then, Lady Rozemyne chose you to perform the role, Lord Hartmut. Everyone rejoiced, for you were a kind man who carried out her will to the letter in all things. I must admit, though—at the time, I was ignorant of what things were like before Lady Rozemyne, so I struggled to understand why the adults were so overjoyed.”

Dirk was launching into what sounded more and more like a planned speech. He hadn’t left the orphanage before his baptism, and my retainers were more or less the only outsiders who visited, so he’d never had the misfortune of meeting any cruel nobles. He hadn’t been able to empathize with the adults’ concerns or their subsequent relief as a result.

This had also been true when Konrad arrived at the orphanage; while the adults had worried about the appearance of a noble child, Dirk had simply been glad to have another kid who was his age around.

“Konrad was the same as the rest of us,” Dirk continued. “Before he arrived, I was the only one who used the black stones that Fran brought us. But then I wasn’t alone anymore.”

As someone with noble origins, Konrad needed to use black feystones to keep his mana from overflowing. This had come as a pleasant surprise to Dirk, who similarly had to use black feystones to deal with his Devouring. He’d quickly made a new friend, and it hadn’t even crossed his mind that they had such different backgrounds.

“But the noble children who came in the winter were nothing like Konrad. They were arrogant, and they didn’t listen to what the adults said. They would demand to know why they had to do things, all the while declaring that living here was just a temporary embarrassment before they returned to noble society.”

The noble children had made it painfully clear that they looked down on the adults and orphans, despite having become orphans themselves. That had been the first time that Dirk—someone who had grown up in an environment that valued equality—had experienced the harshness of status discrimination.

“Konrad asked me what we would do if a similar noble became the orphanage director or the High Priest,” Dirk explained, “and that was when I finally understood.”

For an entire season, the nobles left in the orphanage had refused to change, and that had made Dirk realize something—few noble-born children would ever embrace the perspective of the orphans.

“Wilma told us that you and Lady Rozemyne are leaving the temple next year. She also mentioned that she’s going to be purchased, and that Lord Melchior is becoming the High Bishop.”

Indeed, so many important roles were about to change hands: the High Bishop, High Priest, orphanage director, and orphanage manager. This news had naturally thrown the orphanage into a panic. Even the adults known for their composure had grown frantic, which had made Dirk absolutely terrified.

“I thought about what I could do to help out, but nothing came to mind. The best outcome would be for a good noble who cared about the orphanage to be put in charge, but there aren’t many of those to begin with, right? I don’t want things to go back to how they were...” He turned to his sister. “Especially because Delia can’t leave the orphanage.”

Delia’s love for her brother was so strong that she had once committed a crime for him. By all rights, she should have been executed alongside the previous High Bishop, but my intervention had convinced the aub to simply confine her to the orphanage instead. Her life would change dramatically if something happened to the way things were being managed.

“For her to live in peace, both the High Bishop and the High Priest need to be good nobles,” Dirk concluded.

“There is no requirement for the High Bishop or the High Priest to be nobles,” Hartmut noted in a quiet voice. “Both positions used to be given to blue priests. There is no need for you to become a noble.”

Dirk shook his head. “That was how it used to be, but our current High Bishop is a member of the archducal family, and nobles now visit the temple on a regular basis. Things have changed. Only nobles can fight back against nobles. Am I wrong?”

“No, not at all. A blue priest would stand no chance of resisting the will of a noble unless they were a noble themselves.”

The former attendants who had returned to the orphanage after the purge had made it clear that there existed an impassable barrier between the blue priests and noble society. And now that there were noble children living in the temple as apprentice blue priests, moved there for their parents’ crimes, a common blue priest would have no means of defense.

“I want to protect the methods that Lady Rozemyne taught us, and protect the orphanage so that Delia and everyone else can live happily. That’s why I need to become a noble, then the High Bishop or High Priest.”

It wasn’t enough to simply want to become a noble; Dirk understood this, and it was why he had given up on ever going down that path. But now... he had a chance. If he could pass the tests and challenges before him, he would actually be baptized as a noble.

“I... can’t miss this opportunity...” Dirk said.

Hartmut nodded. “Indeed, never again can we expect so many noble children to enter the orphanage, or the aub to provide them with magic tools to return to noble society.”

We had only arrived at our current situation through a string of unlikely events: the purge, our resolve to save the noble-born children, our decision to replenish our damaged noble population as quickly as possible, and the royal family’s agreement to send us magic tools. Most important of all, this had all occurred now, before Dirk’s baptism. In many ways, this really was his only chance.

“However,” Hartmut continued, “it seems that your sister whom you care so much about is opposed to you becoming a noble.” He gestured to Delia, who was weeping and shaking her head in protest.

Dirk looked very troubled.

“Please, Dirk!” Delia wailed. “Reconsider! If you get baptized as a noble, I won’t be able to see you anymore. I won’t be able to call you family! For the rest of our lives, status will require me to treat you only as my superior. I don’t care how bad things get here. I’ll survive, so please don’t leave me!”

Each word that Delia cried out broke my heart a little more. It was like watching myself sob about not wanting to be taken away from my loved ones. I was well aware how agonizing it was to be not just separated from one’s family but also forbidden from even calling them family in the first place.

Dirk... don’t do this. Stay by her side. She really loves and cares about you. Having emotional support is more important than you know!

In my heart, I was crying out to him as well. I couldn’t actually voice my feelings, though; everyone would assume I was ordering him to stay. On top of that, while it was easy to forget, Hartmut was in the midst of carrying out his interviews. I’d said time and time again that I would respect the children’s choices, so I couldn’t just interject.

After obtaining Hartmut’s permission, Dirk went over to Delia and tenderly stroked her crimson hair. She clung to him all the while, begging him not to go.

“Delia,” Dirk said, “you’re the one who taught me what Lady Rozemyne gave us and what she did to change the orphanage, aren’t you? You told me how she protected us from high-ranking nobles and the nobles of other places.”

I’d always been on guard against Delia when she served as my attendant, since she’d quite openly spied on me for Bezewanst. We hadn’t been close at all... but according to Dirk, she had only nice things to say about me.

There was a fire in Dirk’s dark-brown, almost black eyes, as though I were his personal hero. “Lord Hartmut always says the same things as you when he visits the orphanage,” he said. “He tells us how amazing Lady Rozemyne is, and how hard she’s working for our sakes.”

Excuse me?! Hartmut?! What have you been doing in the orphanage?!

I swiveled my head to look at him. He was nodding along with an extremely satisfied smile.

“Lord Hartmut said that Lady Rozemyne became the archduke’s adopted daughter to protect the people she cared about. I want to be like her. I want to become a noble so that I can protect everyone I care about here in the orphanage. Please, Delia. I need you to understand.”

Delia broke down in tears. She didn’t want to be separated from her brother, but she also couldn’t hold him back any longer. She was caught between two worlds, and as she desperately tried to figure out what to do, her hold on Dirk loosened.

Dirk slipped out of his sister’s arms and returned to Hartmut, not looking back even as Delia reached out to him. “I don’t want the changes Lady Rozemyne made for the orphanage to be undone,” he said, his eyes unwavering. “Please, Lord Hartmut, make me into a noble.”

Hartmut gazed straight back at him. “Trying to increase your mana with rejuvenation potions is going to be painful enough, but if you choose to be baptized in the orphanage, even in the future, most people will assume you are the child of criminals. Noble society will not look upon or treat you kindly.”

Dirk would be baptized alongside the children of the former Veronica faction, and Sylvester would become their guardian. The nobles would see them all as the children of criminals, and the others baptized with him would almost certainly mock him for being a commoner.

“Above all else,” Hartmut continued, “Lady Rozemyne won’t be here to protect you. Half-hearted resolve won’t be enough for you to become a noble.”

“As an orphan, I would not have stated my wish without being completely sure.”

Orange and dark-brown eyes clashed. Then, after a pause, Hartmut’s expression softened into a smile. “Very well. I will consult the aub and obtain a magic tool for you.”

Dirk finally relaxed. He crossed his arms and knelt, then went back to his sister. “Er, Delia...”

She looked up and glared at him in complete silence, her blue eyes full of tears. Dirk had been so confident before, but her unfaltering stare made him waver.

“Are you mad...?”

“I won’t respond,” she said. “Not to ‘Delia.’ Call me ‘Sister’!”

“Whaaat?!”

Delia pouted and turned away out of spite, her raised chin the picture of prickliness. “From now until you become a noble, I won’t respond to you unless you call me ‘Sister.’ This is your punishment for making such an important choice without consulting me—your family—first. Geez! You always mimic Lady Rozemyne’s worst traits!”

“They’re her coolest traits!”

“You did something major on a whim, without even warning anyone! That’s definitely one of her worst ones. Geez! Lady Rozemyne has always been like this!”

Wait, what?! You think this is my fault?!

I knew that Delia was only trying to hide her embarrassment, but I couldn’t help feeling exposed. My guard knights were chuckling to themselves as she listed all the things I’d done in the past, while Dirk retorted that my actions had ultimately been for the best. It was a classic argument between siblings.

“I see you have always made important decisions on a whim, Lady Rozemyne.”

“You haven’t grown since before your baptism.”

“Oh no, she has,” Hartmut said, not even attempting to mask his pride. “Her influence has spread immeasurably and now engulfs the entire country. What is that if not growth?”

That isn’t helpful in the slightest!

While everyone was using the siblings’ argument as fodder to embarrass me, Philine quietly spoke up. “Lady Rozemyne, may I speak with Konrad?”

I said that she could.

Philine walked over to her brother, their mother’s heirloom in hand. “Konrad, do you have a moment?”

“Yes, Sister.”

Philine nodded, then held out the heirloom. “This is the magic tool that Mother left for you. Lady Rozemyne has agreed to give you the rejuvenation potions I could not prepare on my own. You can be a noble again. Will you be baptized as my little brother?”

He tilted his head at her. “Even if we have rejuvenation potions, how can I be a noble without money? Wilma told us that the children who receive the archduke’s magic tools will get to have him as their guardian, but that won’t include me, will it?”

The children baptized with the archduke as their guardian wouldn’t need to worry about funding their own educations—any money or learning resources they required would be seized from the purged nobles. Konrad wouldn’t receive this privilege, though; he hadn’t met the archduke’s mana requirements.

Konrad continued, “You always said it would be really expensive to gather the materials needed to attend the Royal Academy. I don’t think we’d be able to prepare everything. It would cost so much that we’d need to sell the hundreds of sheets of paper we make.” Even he understood that, as a minor, Philine would struggle to support him while also supporting herself.

“Konrad, if you choose to become a noble again, we will return home. There’s a chance that Mother’s belongings are still there. We could use them to support you at the Royal Academy.”

Philine had already bought her own learning materials; if she could find some more at home, then Konrad would be able to attend the Academy with her. It would even be possible to use her status as my retainer to wring money from her father.

“Sister, Father doesn’t care about me, and it was because Lady Jonsara took my tool away that I wasn’t able to become a noble in the first place. I don’t want to go back there.”

“You know... this is your last chance to become a noble. The orphanage won’t be given any more magic tools, nor will you have Lady Rozemyne here to provide you with rejuvenation potions. Plus, life as a noble is so much different from life as a gray priest, right?”

Konrad shook his head. “Save that magic tool for your own child.”

Philine furrowed her brow, squeezed her eyes shut, then let out a melancholy sigh. “If you choose not to become a noble, there won’t be a future in which we can live as siblings. For us to spend time together, I’d need to purchase you.”

“Purchase me? But I won’t be of any use to you.”

“I would do it as an indulgence, simply so that I could spend time with my little brother,” Philine said. Then, with a smile, she held up four fingers. “There are four paths ahead of me. The first is to leave you in the orphanage and give my name to Lady Rozemyne so that I can go with her. The second is to stay in Ehrenfest until my coming of age, then leave you in the orphanage to serve Lady Rozemyne. The third is to return home and support you in becoming a noble. And the last one, if you decide not to become a noble, is to stay here in Ehrenfest to be with you. Before I can choose one, I must know your plans for the future.”

“I...” Konrad trailed off, his mouth flapping open and shut as he struggled to decide whether he should voice his true feelings.

Philine gave him a troubled smile. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll just follow my own selfish desires.”

“I want to dedicate my life to the orphanage. I don’t want to live with you; I want to stay here with all the people who were there for me when I was hurting most.”

“I see...” Philine whispered, slumping her shoulders. “Thank you for telling me. And what will you do in the orphanage?”

“I want to become a blue priest like Brother Frietack.”

As it turned out, Konrad already had a goal to work toward. He wanted to be like a certain blue priest—someone who could earn money on his own and support himself, who had the trust of the High Bishop and the High Priest, and who looked after the temple in their absence. He was valued so highly that they had even fought to retrieve him when he was taken away during the purge.

Konrad sees Frietack as his role model...? I never would have guessed.

He continued, “Lutz from the Plantin Company said that they need more blue priests who know how the workshop functions. That’s what I want to become. Also, I made a promise with Dirk. If he can become a noble, I’ll work to become a blue priest who can support us both. Then we can protect the orphanage together.” There was a distinct sparkle in his eyes, which were so much like his sister’s. “If you don’t mind me voicing my selfish desires, I want you to stay in Ehrenfest until you come of age. I want you to help me become a blue priest after my baptism.”

It wouldn’t be as expensive as becoming a noble, but becoming an apprentice blue priest would cost money too. Konrad was a laynoble—and one without much mana, at that—so he wouldn’t be able to supply much after his baptism. The duchy offered subsidies based on how much mana the children provided, so he would need help until the time came when he could earn enough to support himself.

“My mana quantity is so low that even my own father abandoned me,” Konrad said. “I think that becoming a blue priest and supporting Dirk and Lord Melchior would be so much more meaningful than trying to become a noble again.” He had set his sights on a life in the temple that wouldn’t involve becoming a noble. He wanted to be a blue priest and support himself, not live as one of the grays who could easily be bought and taken away.

“Very well,” Philine replied with a bright smile. “I will stay here in Ehrenfest until my coming of age, to look after you and assist you in protecting the orphanage.” It was a relief to see that they had each chosen a path that would make them happy.

Now I just needed to help Philine as her lady. This would include laying the groundwork for Elvira to support her, and requesting the assistance of the archducal family as the highest authorities in Ehrenfest to ensure that the nobles visiting the temple wouldn’t cause any damage.

Where should I start...?

My mood brightened as I watched the two siblings. Konrad was glad to have both communicated his wish and received his sister’s approval. He seemed a lot more open with her than before.

“Sister, you said that nobles are attending meetings with merchants now, right? I want to know what they discuss, and the many ways that Lady Rozemyne has participated.”

“Very well, but... do you wish to attend such meetings yourself?”

It was hardly the job of a blue priest to meet with merchants, but Konrad looked so excited that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. Not to mention, if he did end up becoming a blue priest who frequented the workshop, there was a genuine chance that the Plantin Company might ask him to attend so that they could consult him on various matters.

“The Plantin Company merchants who visit the workshop have been teaching me about business, bit by bit,” Konrad explained. Then, with his fists clenched, he declared, “I want to be a cutthroat negotiator with the soul of a merchant, just like Lady Rozemyne!”

Uh, Konrad...? Isn’t that a pretty messed-up goal to have?

“A blue priest capable of negotiating on Lady Rozemyne’s level...” Philine glanced over at me, then giggled. “You are going to have a long and very difficult road ahead of you, Konrad.”

“You certainly were composed when you faced your brother,” I remarked to Philine. In contrast to how confused and distraught she had seemed when consulting me, she had come across as calm and collected during her earlier discussion with Konrad. She had doubtless been fighting against a storm of emotions raging in her heart, but she hadn’t let that show.

A blush reddened Philine’s cheeks as she replied, “Damuel scolded me.”

“Oh?”

“I was already having such a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do next year, so when this chance arose for Konrad to become a noble again, I... leapt forward without thinking things through. Before, Rihyarda and the others would work through these things with me, but she and Brunhilde are gone now, and my situation with my brother isn’t something to be discussed with those at the castle.”

Most nobles would simply declare that Konrad wasn’t her brother anymore now that he had moved to the orphanage, and that there was no need for her to give him any more thought. That kind of attitude wouldn’t have led to a fruitful discussion.

“I thought you were the only one I could rely on,” Philine continued, “but Damuel scolded me for that. He said that your responsibility for Konrad ended the moment he entered the orphanage, and that I should not trouble you with this matter.”

Everyone had scolded me for “getting too involved with Philine” after I went to her house to rescue Konrad. With that in mind, Damuel had explained that it was unreasonable to expect even more of me.

“You are busy enough preparing for your move; whether I would choose to make Konrad a noble or bring him with me to the Sovereignty was for me to figure out. I am well aware that, as my lady, you will always be considerate of my choices and my future, and think things over for me if consulted... but I must not be so quick to depend on you. You are not Konrad’s guardian as you are mine, and I should not request even more help with an orphan.”

Damuel had walked Philine through her options and the support she could hope to receive. But first and foremost, he had said, she should ask Konrad what he wanted to do.

Holy cow! What?! Since when did Damuel get so cool?!

“He told me that if my heart was set on making Konrad a noble, he would propose to me and support me as my fiancé.”

“What?! He proposed to you?!”

“It was more of an offer to help me than a formal proposal—a way of expanding my options.” She smiled shyly and continued, “But I thought that relying on Damuel would be even more unacceptable than relying on you. He always helps me when I need it most, but the time has come for me to graduate from being a pitiable girl who must always be protected. If I am to walk beside him, I would rather do it with my head held high. Thus, I chose the path that will not force him to offer more assistance than is reasonable.”

Damuel certainly hadn’t featured in any of the paths that Philine had mentioned to Konrad. However...

Wouldn’t that make Damuel assume she was rejecting him?

“Once I am an independent woman, I will propose using the method that Clarissa told me about,” Philine declared.

I glanced across the room at Damuel, who was facing away from us. Should I warn him of what’s to come? I really hope you like knives, Damuel.