Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume Short Story-1 - Chapter 7

Rihyarda — My New Lady

A previously unpublished chapter that takes place between Part 2 Volume 4 and Part 3 Volume 1, and was originally posted online as part of a collection of disconnected short stories. After imprisoning Veronica and throwing the castle into chaos, Sylvester sends Rihyarda a summons. He wants her to serve Rozemyne, his soon-to-be adopted daughter!

Author’s Note: We received a lot of very passionate requests for a Rihyarda short story. As a result, to celebrate the release of Part 3 Volume 4, I wrote this chapter about the events leading up to her becoming Rozemyne’s head attendant.

In an event that shook Ehrenfest to its very core, Lord Sylvester imprisoned his own mother, Lady Veronica. He had disappeared from the Archduke Conference with his guard, the knight commander Lord Karstedt, in tow.

Everything had come so suddenly that not even Lord Sylvester’s own retainers had expected it. The castle was now in chaos—understandably so—and it was in the midst of this turmoil that I received a summons from Lord Sylvester.

I stared at the yellow feystone which had just moments ago been an ordonnanz. “What in the world does he wish to discuss with me?” I wondered aloud.

“Rihyarda, learn as much as you can of the aub’s intentions. We cannot do our jobs properly if the situation remains so unpredictable.”

It was obvious why the other retainers were so concerned: at no point prior to the event had Lord Sylvester suggested that he might carry out such an act, and without consulting any of them.

Considering that Lord Karstedt had already known the plan, that the incident had occurred in the temple of all places, and that the Knight’s Order had moved as swiftly as it did, we could predict that Lady Veronica’s imprisonment was part of a hidden plot between Lord Sylvester, Lord Karstedt, and my boy Ferdinand... but some things were not to be done in secret.

I will need to scold all three of them. “Put more thought into how your actions will impact those around you!”

It was true that Lady Veronica should never have used the aub’s seal without permission and for personal gain, and perhaps it was natural that she be punished for it. The problem was that Lord Sylvester had laid none of the required groundwork. He had escalated the situation by involving a noble from another duchy and subsequently thrown Ehrenfest into chaos. A lecture on finding more elegant solutions was definitely needed.

“Lord Sylvester, it is Rihyarda,” I called. “I have arrived at your summons.”

I entered the room to find that it had already been cleared of everyone except Lord Karstedt, Lady Elvira, and Lord Sylvester himself. A sound-blocking magic tool was handed to me, revealing that this was an extraordinarily secretive discussion... and what I was told next made me doubt my ears.

“You are adopting a daughter?!”

“That’s right. Karstedt’s daughter, to be precise. She’s due to be baptized this summer.”

“Lord Karstedt does not have a daughter, does he?” I asked, looking between him and Lady Elvira. “Or could this be a child that even I am unaware of...?”

Lord Karstedt put on an unassuming expression and said, “She’s the daughter of my deceased third wife, Rozemary.” It was a lie. As the woman who had raised him, I could tell in an instant.

“Lady Rihyarda, her origin does not matter,” Lady Elvira said. “She will become my daughter upon being baptized.” Her expression was stiff, but the resolve in her eyes made it clear that this decision had reached a level that could no longer be contested.

Still, as Lord Sylvester’s former nurse and educator, I needed to query him on these matters. There were few who could question the aub directly.

“Lord Sylvester, would you throw the castle into even further chaos? Put more thought into how your actions will impact those around you. Rather than adopting a daughter now, you should be thinking about Lord Wilfried, who was raised by Lady Veronica, and what recent developments mean for him. If you are intending to adopt a daughter to strengthen his position, can that not wait until they are about to enter the Royal Academy?”

Lord Sylvester already had three children with Lady Florencia, and it was clear as day that adopting a Leisegang noble here and now would throw the nobility into further disarray. The current state of disorder needed to be dealt with first.

“Tell me, what did Lady Florencia say about adopting a daughter now of all times?” I asked.

“The same thing as you,” Lord Sylvester replied. “She demanded to know what I was thinking—and she wasn’t nice about it. But the decision to adopt is final. I won’t be changing my mind.” His dark-green eyes weren’t wavering in the slightest.

I was well aware that once Lord Sylvester made a decision, he couldn’t be stopped. He was pursuing this adoption even against the wishes of his beloved Lady Florencia, so what hope did I have of changing his mind? My only option at this point was to learn as much about the subject as I could in the hope of minimizing the damage.

“I see... Then let me ask, what manner of girl is this soon-to-be daughter of yours? For you to be adopting her at the height of such a turbulent period, there must be something special about her.” I made sure to put my hands on my hips as I asked, and fixed Lord Sylvester with a glare that said, “Don’t even think about lying.”

Lord Sylvester paused for a moment, then glanced at Lord Karstedt. “She’s rich with mana, has knowledge from the world of the gods, and is even considered the Saint of Ehrenfest.”

“Be serious, please.”

“I am. She boasts enough mana to increase crop yields all across the Central District and is bringing new industries to Ehrenfest. It’s already been decided that she will be made the new High Bishop, with Ferdinand supporting her as the High Priest. She was raised in the temple, however, so she isn’t the slightest bit knowledgeable about the ways of noble society. That’s why I want you... to be her head attendant.”

“You are adopting a girl who was raised in the temple and making her the High Bishop?!” I exclaimed, feeling light-headed in the face of Lord Sylvester’s blasé attitude. “If you have this child enter the castle, she will need to endure great disdain and merciless rumors. You must understand that much. And the very idea of putting a girl who has yet to be baptized through such misery... Lord Karstedt, this is your own daughter! Is it not your duty to protect her?!”

Just thinking about how unstable her position was going to be—and about all the nobles who would treat her with such contempt—sent a chill down my spine. But no matter how fiercely I barked, Lord Sylvester and Lord Karstedt simply exchanged glances. They showed no signs of budging.

“The fact is, Rihyarda,” Lord Karstedt began, “there are things that Rozemyne can only protect through this adoption, no matter how much it hurts her or how merciless the nobles may be.”

Lord Sylvester continued, “Rozemyne chose to be adopted to protect what she cares about; I won’t tell her to abandon it all when she’s already come so far. Even keeping her in the temple as the High Bishop is for her own sake. It’s better for her to have something tying her there... or at least, that was what Ferdinand said.”

From their statements, I was able to draw a few conclusions: this girl was trying to protect something—or someone—in the temple, and this thing or person she treasured so deeply had been intimately involved in the recent incident there. As many understood it, an archnoble from another duchy had caused a stir. This child presumably needed the status of an archducal family member to resolve the matter smoothly.

“Rihyarda, on top of all the ills of the world, she has Ferdinand as her guardian,” Lord Sylvester stressed. “There’s no one else I can trust with this job. Can I count on you?”

My boy Ferdinand received cruel abuse at the hands of Lady Veronica, and there were few to whom he could entrust someone under his protection. In this situation, I was the only person who met all of the necessary conditions. I was at the behest of the archduke, a natural pick for looking after Lord Karstedt’s daughter, and someone my boy Ferdinand could rely on.

“Understood,” I said. “I shall accept this duty.”

“This means you’ll have looked after two consecutive generations, Rihyarda,” Lord Karstedt remarked with a smile. “Thank you.”

Lady Elvira looked just as relieved and added, “I thank you ever so much, Lady Rihyarda.”

Their expressions made their worry for this young lady coming to the castle all too clear. I would need to do everything in my power to ensure the temple child was as safe in the castle as possible.

“Lady Elvira, there is no need to be so formal with me,” I said. “Please just call me ‘Rihyarda’ from now on. I am going to be your daughter’s attendant, after all.”

Lady Rozemyne’s adoption was going to take place during the upcoming summer baptism, so we retainers were all very busy preparing her chambers. For children of the archduke raised in the castle, this process was done gradually as an opportunity for them to get used to using their retinue. Lady Rozemyne’s situation was unique, however. We would not have enough time to prepare her room if we waited until she arrived at the castle, so we needed the help of her mother Lady Elvira to be ready when it became time to welcome her.

“Lady Elvira, might you tell me Lady Rozemyne’s preferences?” I asked.

“She seems to have grown to like her current chambers, so something of the same style would be preferable. Perhaps it will bring her some relief.”

“Ah, she is still midway through her education. What kind of girl is she? I ask for your thoughts because the opinions of men simply cannot be trusted on these matters.”

Lord Sylvester and Lord Karstedt only ever told me that Lady Rozemyne was “an exceedingly intelligent and equally as strange child.” It was more than just that “Saint of Ehrenfest” tomfoolery, but I still didn’t have a firm grasp on her character.

“Just as Lord Ferdinand warned, Rozemyne was unable to carry herself as an archnoble when she first came to our home. Since then, however, she has grown with startling speed. She has tremendous focus, and her teachers and I regularly find ourselves speechless. If she continues at her current pace, it will soon be impossible to tell that she was raised in the temple before her baptism.”

“A hard worker with excellent skills, then.”

“Indeed. Cornelius seems to find her presence somewhat inspiring—there is no mistaking the oddness of her character. Perhaps because she was raised in the temple, the way she approaches situations is very different from what one would normally expect. At times, it is hard to tell what is running through her mind. If you pay very close attention, the logic on which she operates becomes clear... but it can be very difficult to unearth.”

It seemed that Lord Sylvester’s vague phrasing had not been an attempt at deception; as he said, Lady Rozemyne was a very talented, very diligent, and very strange girl who was nonetheless a hard worker. But what I found most surprising was that Lady Elvira had found out so much about her over such a short period, and her countenance was becoming more motherly by the day.

“I can tell from your words and the look on your face that you truly care for her,” I said. “It seems you have grown quite invested in this child, even though she is not your own.”

“The atmosphere of our estate has changed considerably since Rozemyne arrived. As I see it, she is my very adorable daughter. Especially since Lord Ferdinand is so very concerned for her.” Lady Elvira gave a refined laugh before elaborating.

“He visits her every couple of days?” I repeated.

“Indeed. It has been every three, on occasion, but he always comes without fail. He eats dinner with us, questions her tutors about her progress, asks her whether there is anything she is struggling with, and then checks on her health. One might very well say he is taking Karstedt’s place in these respects. I was aware of Lord Ferdinand protecting Rozemyne, but I never would have imagined that he would check up on her so often.”

From the sound of things, Lady Rozemyne was rather attached to Ferdinand and relied on him considerably. It was certainly hard to believe. My boy had always kept his guard up around others, never allowing anyone to get close... yet here he was, being so openly considerate?

“To think he would be so attentive to a young child...” I said. “Just what did Lady Rozemyne do to lower the barriers around his heart?”

“Perhaps it is simply because she is so young and frail. She would die without a watchful eye looking over her, so he naturally filled the role.” Lady Elvira went on to explain how often Lady Rozemyne became unwell; then she fell silent, placed a hand on her cheek, and sighed. “She is an exceptionally good girl. Severing her remaining ties to the temple and raising her as a normal noble would be ideal, but Lord Sylvester, Lord Karstedt, and Lord Ferdinand are all against it. I cannot help but feel they want her to have some critical weakness to ensure that one of Lady Florencia’s children becomes the next aub.”

One could assume Lady Elvira was saying that, without some such weakness, Lady Rozemyne had a chance at becoming the next aub. For a female archduke candidate to attain that seat over men with a similar claim to it, she and her husband would need to be extraordinarily talented to overcome the unique disadvantages that female aubs inherently faced. It was not something I could easily swallow after seeing Lady Georgine weep at the unfairness of gender disparity.

“Lady Florencia has another son,” I noted. “One not raised by Lady Veronica.”

“Yes, I am aware. Lady Florencia consulted me for advice regarding raising boys when he was born, you know. But a daughter belonging to Lord Karstedt and me will have the full support of the Leisegangs. Those whom Lady Veronica abused will rise up in full force and put Lady Rozemyne in a position to become the next aub, if she so desires it.”

I could tell that Lady Elvira was concerned about there being a battle for the seat of the archduke, but I smiled and shook my head. “I trust that Lord Sylvester and the others gave this situation a lot of very careful thought before deciding on the adoption. Ehrenfest’s first wife has borne more than one son; Lady Rozemyne will never become the next aub.”

“I wish I could share your confidence, for Lady Florencia’s sake, but Lady Rozemyne is so abnormal and extraordinary that I find myself wondering what kind of an upbringing she must have had. It is almost uncanny.”

“Well, she is receiving an education from my boy Ferdinand. His strictness is surely the reason. He always holds those around him to the highest of standards and raises them to his level.” I recalled when my son Justus resolved to give his name to Ferdinand in order to become his attendant. Ferdinand gave him all sorts of tasks and conditions to complete first, and I was sure he had done the same with this young child.

“He certainly does give her all sorts of assignments to do,” Lady Elvira mused. “That said... I believe they are essential to her future as a member of the archducal family. Rozemyne takes it well, though; she says that she does not mind as long as she can read books. I cannot help but pray that she does not get embroiled in any further conflict.”

Lady Elvira and I continued to arrange the chambers as we spoke, and our conversation soon turned to Lady Rozemyne’s attendants. One such position was going to Ottilie, who was Lady Elvira’s friend, apparently.

Because of Lady Rozemyne’s connection to the temple, her other retainers were going to be selected with extreme care. One was often closer to those in one’s service than to anyone else, so we could not risk someone untrustworthy being assigned to the role.

“Rihyarda, will you be attending the baptism ceremony?” Elvira asked.

“Indeed. I wish to see what kind of person Lady Rozemyne is with my own eyes.”

And so, Ottilie and I went to Lady Rozemyne’s baptism. I wasn’t going to be introduced as her attendant until she was brought to the castle, but Lord Karstedt and Lady Elvira had granted my desire to meet her ahead of time.

But alas, disaster struck. Lord Wilfried dragged Lady Rozemyne away shortly into the introductions and ended up wounding her gravely. The ceremony was brought to a swift conclusion, meaning I would not get to meet Lady Rozemyne until our first exchange at the castle.

“Rihyarda, are you to be Rozemyne’s...?”

“That’s right. Lord Sylvester personally asked me to look after her.”

My boy’s reaction had come immediately after Norbert brought him and Lady Rozemyne into the room to see me.

I’d thought as much during her baptism, but Lady Rozemyne truly looked young for her age. Her golden eyes were sparkling with curiosity as she looked at me and then up at Ferdinand. Lady Elvira had been exactly right when she had said the girl was attached to him. Oh, what a heartwarming sight it was.

“Lady Rozemyne, this is Rihyarda,” Norbert began, introducing me. “She will be your head attendant here.”

“I appreciate your service,” Lady Rozemyne said. She lowered into a curtsy, and her unbelievably glossy hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her every movement bespoke such considerable practice that I struggled to believe she was raised in the temple. She had apparently only been on the level of a mednoble when she first met with Lady Elvira, so I could guess she had been working immensely hard to adjust to her new position as a member of the archducal family.

Lady Rozemyne was wearing a tense expression when she looked up again. My boy Ferdinand was also awaiting my next words with some uneasiness.

Oh my... He certainly has changed.

I channeled my desire to welcome my new lady into a kind smile—and at once, I noticed Ferdinand start to relax.

“I see that Lord Karstedt has raised you right. I always like to see someone who has such good manners. Lady Rozemyne, I am Rihyarda. It will no doubt be a pleasure to serve you.”