Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.7 - Chapter 2

The Winter Playroom and Another New Term

The beginning of winter socializing meant the children would start using the playroom. I went to greet them, as always, then played games and studied with them. In particular, I wanted to make sure that none of the children from the former Veronica faction were being left out or bullied.

The children old enough to attend the Royal Academy treated their peers from the former Veronica faction as they would anyone else—maybe because they had spent time together at school, or maybe because they wanted the atmosphere at the Royal Academy to stay the same no matter how much the outside world changed. In any case, their juniors followed their example, showing no signs of discrimination whatsoever. Everyone was focused on getting sweets, either by winning the games they were playing or trying to secure top grades.

“I expected the mood to be much heavier, so that was a pleasant surprise,” Charlotte said.

“Sure was,” Wilfried added. “Charlotte was worried the playroom might end up the same as when you were asleep. Seems that hasn’t happened.”

The archducal couple was too busy socializing to join us for dinner, so it was just us children tonight. It gave us a chance to leisurely reflect on the playroom and plan for the Royal Academy. We were using an area-affecting sound-blocker so that we could freely express our opinions.

Wilfried and Charlotte were relieved that the playroom’s atmosphere had stayed positive. Melchior was also enjoying his time there.

“There might now be an unspoken rule among the children that they will only allow themselves to be wrapped up in the adults’ faction disputes while they are here in Ehrenfest,” I said. “That way, they will spend their time at the Royal Academy working together to surpass the other duchies. I hope their attitude lasts.”

Charlotte nodded. “Assuming they hold on to that perspective as adults, it might be the case that future generations focus more on interduchy politics than internal power struggles.”

Wilfried nodded, then turned to Melchior. “I was most surprised to see how well you led the other children, Melchior. I was worried that you might face some issues, since you were hidden away in the northern building for last year’s purge, but everything has been going swimmingly.”

“Brother, I think that’s because I spent so much time speaking and playing with everyone in the temple orphanage,” Melchior replied with a smile. “There are more kids here, but the experience is more or less the same.”

As he had said, his time spent in the orphanage was paying off. He was able to keep an eye on his surroundings rather than being completely absorbed in his games.

“I’m more concerned about how our upcoming first-years are going to find their classes,” I said. “There weren’t many chances for them to study during last year’s playroom, were there? Are they going to be okay?”

Plenty of work had already been done toward preparing for their written lessons, so I wasn’t worried about those. I wasn’t sure everyone would obtain the highest grades possible, but they would all at least pass on the first day. One thing that had stood out to me, however, was that they hadn’t practiced the harspiel enough. There was an aggressively large skill gap between the new students and our current first-years.

“Sister, there is no point worrying about that now,” Charlotte assured me. “We will get them to practice while our musicians are here. Then we can keep a close eye on each student’s progress.”

“So you’ll make sure everyone’s up to scratch, huh?” Wilfried muttered. “Just don’t repeat the nightmare of our first year.”

How rude. The library isn’t at stake, so I obviously won’t go on another rampage like that.

“I was worried about Dirk and Bertram not fitting in, but they both seem to be doing fine,” I said. They had played cards and karuta at the orphanage, so they had won a few games in the playroom and celebrated over the sweets they’d received as prizes. Nobody had treated them with any obvious malice either, though maybe that was because we were keeping watch.

Only half a year had passed since Dirk resolved to become a noble. He was good at playing cards, but he was lagging behind when it came to history and geography—not to mention the harspiel. Above all else, though, there was still plenty for him to learn about noble common sense.

As for Bertram, he had needed to seriously reevaluate his position. If not for the purge, he would have been a mednoble bordering on an archnoble. Now that he had been baptized from the orphanage, however, he was at the very bottom of the mednobles—a tremendous step down from his previous status. He couldn’t even call Laurenz his brother anymore. It was easy to see where his uncertainty had come from.

“This is the first time the aub has baptized nobles from the orphanage,” I said. “Melchior, they are bound to face some discrimination, but please keep an eye out to ensure it does not develop into anything serious.”

“Yes, Sister.”

The apprentice blues staying at the castle weren’t really being inconvenienced either. One of the shrine maidens had said that while she didn’t mind their current living arrangements, she felt more relaxed at the temple where she had an attendant. On the whole, it seemed as if the apprentice blues had all bonded with their servants over the course of the Harvest Festival, so they found it a little upsetting to be apart from them. I got sad whenever I needed to leave Fran and the others, so I understood exactly what they meant.

“I can only hope that nobody who resents the former Veronica faction has been assigned as a playroom attendant,” I remarked. “Florencia chose them, correct, Charlotte? Do you know who is looking after the children staying in the castle?”

“Fear not, Sister—my adult attendants will join them upon my return to the Royal Academy. There is nothing for you to worry about.”

Florencia’s attendants would be busy taking care of the newborn, so Charlotte had assigned her own attendants to replace them. That was nice to hear.

“Oh, that reminds me—Charlotte, the smith has delivered my order.”

“Already? I’m ever so delighted, dear sister.”

Of course, I was referring to the pendant emblazoned with my crest. It was a precious gift, and we had come up with the design ourselves, so it was no mere medallion. Instead, it was fairly extravagant, boasting openwork that depicted Charlotte’s maternal symbol and the sigils of the gods whose divine protections she sought. Decoration of such a precise and detailed nature was Johann’s specialty, so the finished product was fairly wonderful.

We had also asked for the inclusion of a small socket among the sigils so that Charlotte could insert her own feystone. For charms meant to obtain divine protections from the gods, it was best to use one’s own feystones to facilitate the flow of mana and make it easier for one’s prayers to reach the gods.

“Your order?” Melchior probed.

“Charlotte asked me for something that would demonstrate our connection as sisters even when we are apart, so I got my personal smith to make her a pendant marked with my crest.”

“Can I not have one too?” he asked. His face was clouding over, but whether or not I ordered another was entirely up to him.

“Charlotte’s pendant was the product of my excitement that she wanted us to remain sisters even after my departure. Most other nobles in her situation would consider me a stranger once I am gone, doubly so with my adoption being nullified, so I can only hand out mementos to those who request them.”

Making the crests on demand was fine, but handing them out unprovoked risked my intended recipients refusing me with a curt “But we are going to be strangers once you leave.”

“I respect you as my elder sister, Rozemyne, and will miss you when you’re gone,” Melchior said. “I want your crest too.”

“Then I shall order another. If we make the request now, Johann should be able to finish it over the winter.”

The settled snow was still quite shallow, so our order would reach Johann without issue. I’d heard that he had plenty of spare time over the winter—as was often the case when you were trapped indoors—so he would probably be glad to have work to do.

Melchior’s face lit up with a smile. I explained the nuances of Charlotte’s design, then worked with him to come up with a new pendant.

All of a sudden, Wilfried started drawing beside us. “I want something like this,” he announced.

“What? You want a connection to me as well, Wilfried...?” I asked, frowning. The requests from Charlotte and Melchior made sense—they actually liked me, after all—but Wilfried had loathed our engagement and even bad-mouthed me quite a bit. I didn’t understand why he would want my crest.

“Like I said, I still love you as a sister,” he explained, looking slightly awkward. “That’s become especially clear to me over the past few days.”

Gone was the tense atmosphere that had always hung over him. Perhaps, by speaking his mind, he had managed to grow out of his prickly rebellious phase. But was this not way too sudden? Not once over the course of our entire engagement had we acted like a real couple, so my feelings hadn’t changed before or after it was canceled. I couldn’t understand why his were flip-flopping so much.

“Dear brother,” I said, “your attitude has changed drastically since our engagement was canceled. Is there really that much separating a fiancée from a sibling?”

“Of course,” he replied. “Ah. Are you still unaware, maybe? It should become clear soon enough. I didn’t understand it when we first got engaged either.”

“But you understand it now?”

“Yeah. Couples and siblings are worlds apart, so this outcome was always inevitable for us. It wasn’t something I could endure.” He looked me over, then smiled contentedly. “Hopefully it won’t be long before you grow up as well.”

He then held out the design he wanted, looking truly enlightened. I couldn’t help feeling a bit envious that he had grown up before me.

Oh, but I see he hasn’t outgrown his love for pointlessly cool designs.

I sent a letter to the Plantin Company the very next day, informing them of my urgent orders for Johann. Then I spent the rest of my time before the new academic term observing the playroom, having discussions over dinner, studying for my classes, and going over the steps for the upcoming Dedication Rituals.

On the day the fourth-years were scheduled to leave, Wilfried and I teleported to the Royal Academy.

“Please relax here for now, Lady Rozemyne,” Lieseleta said. “Gretia and I shall prepare your room.”

This year, Lieseleta had taken Rihyarda’s place as my adult attendant. This was so Brunhilde could focus on business with the royal family and top-ranking duchies, and Ottilie could remain in Ehrenfest to keep Clarissa in check. It would also be a good opportunity for Lieseleta to interact with Sovereign attendants.

“Lieseleta, please confirm that rooms have been prepared for Hartmut and the others who will be joining us for the Dedication Rituals,” I said.

“As you wish.”

As she and Gretia went off to put my things away, Brunhilde guided me to the common room. She would only be acting as my retainer here at the Royal Academy. Back in Ehrenfest, she had a room in the western building and was now being treated as a member of the archducal family. This meant she couldn’t enter the northern building without the archduke’s permission, so we seldom saw one another.

For the first time in quite a while, Brunhilde prepared some tea for me.

“How are things in Groschel?” I asked.

“Thanks to the archducal family’s help and Clarissa’s supportive circles, everything looks so much better. In the autumn, one carpentry workshop after another sent us its completed products, and our buildings had doors and windows in the blink of an eye. Father was especially glad to have approved the wider roads in the business district when he saw the abundance of carriages passing through it. Our plan is to finish the interiors over the winter, with the aim to have all manner of stores ready come spring.”

As craftsmen and merchants had streamed into Groschel with instructions, so, too, had supplies for the winter. The rapid increase in the city’s population had made it quite busy indeed.

“Also,” I said, “in regard to your little sister, Bertilde—how am I expected to interact with her?”

“Bertilde has been eagerly serving Lady Elvira in anticipation of becoming your attendant. I would be grateful if you decided to take her as a retainer, even if only for this winter.”

Brunhilde wanted to give her sister an opportunity to serve as my apprentice attendant. It would only be for a short while before my departure, but I accepted at once.

“You mean to train her yourself, correct?” I asked. “Perhaps you could involve Melchior’s retainers; I intend to borrow those who will serve him at the Royal Academy, but they will not be able to enter my room. At the very least, I wish to give them the opportunity to witness the preparations and groundwork that go into tea parties with top-ranking duchies. There is much they will need to see to understand.”

Out of all of Ehrenfest’s students, Brunhilde had the most experience dealing with top-ranking duchies. It was important that she train her successor as much as she could before graduating.

“As you will,” she said. “This is for Ehrenfest’s future; I shall do the best I can.”

Brunhilde went on to inform me that she had received some Ahrensbach cloth through Florencia, then praised my decision to prop up the first wife. “The Leisegang elders’ indignation was quite troublesome when we were beginning the generational shift. And after I promised the aub during our engagement that I would support Lady Florencia, I am pleased beyond words that you chose to bolster her over me.”

Brunhilde and Florencia were of the same faction. It wouldn’t have been wise to drive a wedge between them when the duchy’s women had finally been unified under a single banner.

“I do not expect to be of much use, considering my lack of socializing skills,” I said. “Still, I will do everything I can to support you—to minimize the impact my move has on Ehrenfest.”

“Your kindness is appreciated, Lady Rozemyne, but...” She gave a refined giggle. “As your attendant, I am meant to support you.”

Brunhilde then took a step back, allowing Muriella to approach me in her place. She had given her name to Elvira and was, to my knowledge, rather busy with the printing industry. She, too, served as my retainer only at the Royal Academy.

“May this term be a peaceful one, Lady Rozemyne,” she said.

“Indeed. This may be our last term together, but I am looking forward to it. How is the printing industry, might I ask?”

“We scholars are puzzling over the use of mana-efficient teleportation circles to send your books to the castle. Frequent testing has caused rapid degradation, and my current task is to make the circles require even less mana to use.”

According to Muriella, Elvira was working hard to ensure that new books could easily be sent to me as part of my deposit system.

Oh, Mother!

“You may wish to ask Raimund of the Hirschur Laboratory for advice,” I said, sincerely moved. “Perhaps you could even do some research with him. I will be busy making magic tools for my library.”

Charlotte returned to the Royal Academy the following day—then Theodore came a day later. He told us about the Gutenbergs staying in Kirnberger.

We took a breather once the second-years had all arrived, then went gathering in preparation for our lessons. Some of the apprentice knights in the higher grades had gone already, but the apprentice scholars and attendants still needed materials. We had decided to go together for maximum safety.

I climbed into my highbeast, after which Judithe took the passenger seat; she was going to be guarding me for the duration of our trip. But as we exited the dormitory on our way to the gathering spot, something above us caught my eye: familiar beams of light, and the same magic circle that had taken over the sky. Curious, I started ascending to get a better look.

“Lady Rozemyne, how far up are we going?” Judithe asked quizzically. Her concern brought me back to my senses. The other guard knights were following me skyward, looking quite uncertain.

“I intended to go even higher, but this will do for now,” I said. “I would not want to worry anyone.”

I descended to the gathering spot, then partially covered it with Schutzaria’s shield. “This is the most I am going to do,” I said. “The rest of you will need to regenerate the gathering spot so that you can obtain more divine protections. The adults managed it during the Archduke Conference, so I expect you to succeed as well.”

The other duchies’ students were replenishing their own gathering spots, so our students needed to start doing the same; otherwise, they might start falling behind in the long term. Because I was leaving next year, I wanted to make sure they were up to scratch before then. Ehrenfest currently had the lead when it came to religious ceremonies, and that was something I wanted them to maintain.

“We should gather more rejuvenation potion ingredients than usual,” I said. “The Dedication Rituals will require them.”

Philine did as instructed, collecting as many ingredients as she could, then gathered with the others to take part in the replenishment ritual, a look of steely determination on her face. I taught everyone what to recite, at which point the students formed a ring and started praying to Flutrane. The laynobles and younger students had to remove their hands from the earth before the ceremony was completed, but it concluded without incident. Just as during the Archduke Conference, the gathering spot had regenerated.

“Wilfried, Charlotte,” I said, “take everyone back to the dormitory. There is something I wish to check, but I will need to go high up into the sky.”

“Can you tell us what that ‘something’ is, Sister?”

“A secret related to the royal family.”

“Understood. Be careful.”

There was no point explaining the magic circle to them when they couldn’t see it. I climbed back into my highbeast, then soared up into the air—far, far above the lines of mana.

“Lady Rozemyne, how high are we going?!” Judithe cried, once again in the passenger seat. She was trembling with fear, having never reached this altitude before.

“Just a bit higher,” I replied. “I need to see it all.”

Once we were high enough, I gazed down at the snow-covered grounds of the Royal Academy. They reminded me of a white canvas, onto which were painted the lines of divine colors that formed the magic circle. Everything beyond it was lost to a sea of clouds stretching into the distance in all directions. In a sense, it looked as though the Royal Academy had been made to suit the circle, not the other way around.

This is a selection magic circle.

Like the circles that had appeared in the bible and atop the whirling stage, its purpose was to reveal Zent candidates. It hadn’t changed at all since the Archduke Conference, nor had it disappeared, even though I’d returned to Ehrenfest after creating it.

The magic circle appeared after I prayed a ton and dedicated my mana to the gods, so it definitely has something to do with choosing the next Zent, but... I don’t know. Will it change when I’m adopted and registered as a member of the royal family?

The bible hadn’t said, nor had any new information appeared within it since the magic circle’s appearance. From what I’d seen, there wasn’t even an explanation in the underground archive. Maybe it was lurking in one of the texts I’d yet to read, but most of the documents there were just long-winded explanations from previous kings that boiled down to “We worked our fingers to the bone. Now it’s your turn.”

Mana activates magic circles, so maybe I could activate this one by showering it with blessings... Or I could drop some mana-packed feystones on it. Uh, wait... Raining stones down on the other students probably isn’t the safest idea. Mmm...

I tried to think of other ways to activate the magic circle, but nothing came to mind.

Prayers made the circle appear, so maybe prayers will make it activate. Does that mean I should return to the shrines? Or is there somewhere else I should pray? And is it just me, or have I spent so much time praying recently?

We’d performed a Dedication Ritual in the auditorium after the magic circle appeared, but that hadn’t seemed to change much.

“Did you learn anything?” Judithe asked me.

“I can see something... but I’m not sure what to do next. Let’s go back to the dormitory.”

This wasn’t the first time my lack of creativity had troubled me. I couldn’t force my guard knights to wait around while I spent an eternity contemplating my next move.

“Judithe... can you think of a good place to pray?” I asked.

“We just prayed at our gathering spot, but I think it’s more common to pray at the back of the auditorium. Where the shrine is, I mean.”

To a normal person, the chapel was obviously the best place. I was so used to praying here, there, and everywhere that it hadn’t even occurred to me. Plus, now that I thought about it, I’d prayed in the auditorium during the Archduke Conference, not the Farthest Hall where the shrine was located.

I guess we’ll need to try the Farthest Hall next. Wait, isn’t that where we’re holding the upcoming Dedication Rituals...?

Maybe they would activate the magic circle. It was a good thing I was realizing this now and not during the rituals when it would already be too late. Giving the royal family a heads-up would probably be a good idea.

“Very good, Judithe. Very good!” I exclaimed. “The whole country will thank you for what you’ve done today!”

“I, um... Huh?”

As we made our way back to the others, I couldn’t help but smile at the confusion in Judithe’s violet eyes.

It was the new students’ first day at the Royal Academy. Their seniors welcomed them with open arms and treated them as guests.

Bertilde was among the new arrivals, and she came to the common room at the guidance of the eldest students. She was brought to a seat near me and smiled as her elder sister, Brunhilde, poured her some tea. The two siblings had the same large amber eyes. They also had a common trait in their long, silky hair, but it wasn’t the same color; Brunhilde’s was crimson, while Bertilde’s was rose pink.

“Welcome, Bertilde,” I said. “Listen closely to Brunhilde as my apprentice attendant.”

“Yes, Lady Rozemyne.”

Melchior’s apprentice retainers were brought over to me as well, whereupon we discussed our future plans. As always, those in my service would need to finish their lessons as quickly as possible so they could accompany me to the library.

“As first-years, you should be able to finish your lessons sooner than the others,” I explained. “Study well and obtain good grades, for Melchior’s and your own sakes.”

“Understood!”

Nikolaus was the last of the new students to arrive. It certainly was busy today—even the senior students were in the common room. We discussed the plans for this year’s joint research; then I assigned duties to the apprentice scholars whether they were archducal retainers or not.

“Last year, we came dangerously close to losing our research results to Drewanchel,” I said. “Take care to preserve our secrets this year, and include something unique to Ehrenfest in your work.”

In the meantime, Damuel, Angelica, Leonore, Hartmut, and Cornelius arrived. They comprised the adults who would don blue robes to participate in this year’s Dedication Rituals.

“The laynobles will perform their Dedication Ritual first, then the mednobles, then the archnobles and archduke candidates,” I said. “Participating in them all will doubtless test you, but I trust you to remain strong.”

“It must be concluded before Ehrenfest’s Dedication Ritual,” Hartmut announced with a smile. “You may count on us to arrange the dates with Klassenberg and the Sovereign temple. Your studies will not be impacted in the slightest.”

At times like this, I remembered that Hartmut truly was reliable. If only he hadn’t said it while grinning from ear to ear and stroking the crested feystone at his chest.

“Ah, I see everyone is here,” said a familiar voice. “I am Hirschur, the dormitory supervisor.”

Upon her arrival, Hirschur went through the year’s schedule. The fellowship gatherings and advancement ceremony would take place as per usual. Then, once her explanation was complete, she came straight over to me.

“Lady Rozemyne, did you gather the ingredients necessary to make your library magic tools?” she asked. “They aren’t common, by any means, so I was a tad worried.”

“I did. Ferdinand already had them in his workshop.”

“Ah, of course he did. Then my research shall proceed without issue. What a relief.”

Wait, you were only worried about your research? I knew it! You and Ferdinand are two peas in a pod. Like mentor, like student!

Once again, my days at the Royal Academy began with me sighing at Hirschur.

While everyone else desperately studied, I spent my valuable free time before the advancement ceremony in the common room, reading the books we’d received from Ehrenfest’s provinces. Among them were an illustrated version of A Ditter Story, this year’s installment of Royal Academy Love Stories, and new volumes of The History of Dunkelfelger.

Since the arrangement of my royal adoption, there hadn’t been time for me to read anything but documents essential to the various handovers happening back in Ehrenfest. I couldn’t remember when I’d last been able to lose myself in a book. It was rejuvenating, as though I’d just wet my parched throat with a glass of cold water.

Aah, this is bliss. I don’t feel alive without a book in my hands.