Rozemyne perspective

"I was prepared for the possibility that nothing would happen when Lady Rozemyne went to the library, but…"

"She is able to surpass the imagination of us mere mortals….That's what I'm talking about, Lady Rozemyne!"

After the commotion in the library, I returned to the dormitory and was awkwardly listening to Cornelius and Hartmut talking in opposite tensions while drinking tea Lieseleta had made for me in the multipurpose hall.

... I didn't expect the blessing to pop up so plentifully, I didn't expect it myself.

In the momentum of my excitement about the library, I prayed to God and the result was a blessing that overflowed...So far, my retainers and myself have predicted it. What I did not expect was the sheer volume of it, and the fact that the magical power of the overflowing blessing was mostly absorbed by the library's magical tools, the Schwartz and Weiss forehead magic stones, which led them to recognize me as their master.

According to the librarian, Professor Solange, it was because my magical power level exceeded the amount of magical power that the archnoble librarian, the original master of Schwartz and Weiss, was supplying to the two animals, and it would return to normal after some time.

I came back after apologizing down with my retainers, but I'm worried about being blacklisted as a person of note or something. Just thinking about it is enough to make me shudder….

"It was bad enough that Ehrenfest saw it. I didn't expect to see students in the library this time of year."

"I hope they don't start some strange rumors."

Matthias and Laurenz cross their arms with a difficult look on their faces.

Yes. That wasn't supposed to happen either.

I was so excited and moved to be able to enter the reading room that I was completely blind to my surroundings, and naturally did not notice that people were coming down from the second floor. I heard that his retainers rushed to stop him, but it was too late.

I'll never forget the faces of Ehrenfest's members as they gazed in amazement at the blessings glittering down from overhead.

"Lord Ferdinand has promised not to mention it, so I think it's okay."

"Lady Rozemyne is too optimistic. You should not trust too easily."

It is Matthias who counters with a raised eyebrow.

"But it didn't look bad, though..."

As I muttered, Matthias come to my side with a serious expression and got down on one knee.

...What? What's wrong?

While I am suddenly flustered, Matthias begins to speak with his hands in the chest position.

"It is wonderful that Lady Rozemyne tries to see the essence of people without being bound by status or faction. I am very proud to serve by your side. Attracted by your heart, many more will continue to gather. However, there are also those who approach with evil intentions to take advantage of an archduchess candidate of a large territory for their own gain. We must carefully assess whether he is someone we can trust."

I cannot take Matthias' eyes as he sincerely spins his words.

"This is the royal academy. There are many people from other territories. We need to be even more vigilant than we were in Alexandria. Do you understand?"

……ugh…It hurts when people look at me like that…! Because I was wrong! Just give me a regular sermon! Don't admonish me with such a prominent stance.

"Oh, I'm sorry…."

When I am not careful, I tend to treat others as I did in my Urano days, and I have been called good-natured and unguarded by those around me. I try to be careful, but long-standing sensations are not so easily changed.

….It's hard, aristocratic society…

While most of the retainers was looking at me with a wry smile, Laurenz, who had a grin of his own, put his hand on Matthias' shoulder.

"I think you'd be a lot more popular if you were aware of that part of you and could demonstrate it well."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Laurenz?"

It was Ottilie who stopped Laurenz, who was about to open his mouth to say something more to Matthias, who looked doubtful.

"All right, Laurenz. Please don't stay like that forever Matthias and please stand up. The Princess is in trouble."

I am sure that this kind of situation would be ideal for girls who admire knights like those in the stories. However, I, who lived a life far from love even during my Urano days, it's just bad for my heart.

"My apologies"

Laurenz shrugged his shoulders and backed off plainly. When Matthias stood up and I was finally released from my embarrassment, I regained my composure and asked everyone.

"So, let us carefully discern what Matthias says. Does anyone know anything about Lord Ferdinand?"

The first to open their mouth was Judithe, one grade below Ferdinand.

"As I recall, wasn't he the best last year and during his first year?"

"Yes, he was the best of the first grade, so this is the second consecutive in a row that he have won best in grade "

It was Brünhilde who supplemented me. I hear that Brunhilde was also selected for excellence for the second year in a row. She said on the day of the promotion ceremony that from this year, the third grade, will be divided into specialized courses and that she would work hard to get the best in the attendant course.

"Then again, harspiel's skills are quite good. During music lectures, when Lord Ferdinand starts playing the harspiel, everyone forgets that it is a lecture and listens to it as if they were at a concert. I have heard that Princess AnnaMaria is quite fond of it."

…… Is he a good student with excellent grades and good at musical instruments? He looks slender and didn't seem athletic.

At the moment, the image is that of a cool liberal arts guy. Speaking of liberal arts, he came down from upstairs in the library, but I wondered if he were doing any research. Professor Solange said that the materials upstairs are not related to lectures, so he might be there for research.

His retainers was carrying quite a lot of wooden bills. Depending on the nature of his research, is he a science major rather than the arts? I was thinking about how I don't care either way, when I suddenly realized something.

…..If he was in the library at this time of the year when students are rarely seen, perhaps Lord Ferdinand likes books?

Why didn't I notice it sooner? If so, I might have the bookish friend I've always wanted. When I thought of the scene in the lovely library of the House of Lords, exchanging books and discussing what we had read, my depressed feelings about worrying about being blacklisted surfaced.

…..Here comes my chance to get some book-loving friends! Yosh!

While I was thinking about how we could get along with each other, Hartmut, who was a short distance away from me and had been making the other students feel uncomfortable by exaggerating what had just happened in the library, somehow came near me.

"Is Lady Rozemyne interested in Lord Ferdinand?"

"Yes, I do. He is in the library at this time of the year. Maybe Lord Ferdinand probably likes books? I was looking forward to making book-loving friends at the House of Lords. But Matthias had just scolded me for trusting others so easily, I want to have some basis for determining if he is trustworthy. Does Hartmut know anything about Lord Ferdinand?"

Hartmut smiled and nodded.

"Last year and the year before, he researched, presented, and sold a number of magical tools that he created himself at the Interduchy Tournament. It attracted quite a bit of attention not only from students but also from adults. Ehrenfest was busier than ever, with apprentices working left and right to handle the situation"

….. He make it, sell it, and make his own money!? Suddenly I feel incredibly close to him!

Alexandria is a research city, but I can't get a lab or research funding without a track record, even if I am a member of the archducal family. When I made plant paper as a first step to promote my book, I started by selling instructions on how to make hair ornaments to Corinna, my personal seamstress, in order to earn money.

Thanks to my efforts, the printing business took off, and I was given a laboratory and research funding to study ink and paper, but the early years were tough. I don't know what Ferdinand does with the money he earns, but since many aristocrats are resistant to earning their own money because they consider it an "imitation of a commoner," I didn't expect to find such a person among the archduke candidates other than myself.

"...Unfortunately, I am not sure if he likes books, but he frequently goes to the library. He has been studying under Professor Hirschur, Ehrenfest's dorm supervisor, and has been a research assistant since his freshman year, so he is probably being sent out to collect research-related materials."

"Since freshman year. Lord Ferdinand's excellence is outstanding."

"He is no match for Lady Rozemyne. However, this year, in addition to the archduke candidate course, he is also taking the scholar course and the knight course, so he may possibly win the best in all courses, not just three years in a row."

"Is it possible to take three courses and then win the best in all of them?"

….He is good at study, exercise, and music, Lord Ferdinand is a really versatile person!

Hartmut's smile deepens as I can't conceal my surprise.

"He is certainly out of standard that he makes everyone around him think, "Lord Ferdinand could do it". However, despite his excellence, he does not seem to be very good at socializing. Because of his appearance, I see him being fussed over by female students from afar, but he seems to basically keep others at a distance.

He doesn't have any special close friends…..What concerns me is that some of Ehrenfest's aristocrats have a very light attitude. The position in the territory may not be very good. That's all I know right now. If you would like more detailed information, I can go ahead and gather it for you."

I was concerned that the number of entourage members was too small for an archduke candidate, but I think there is a connection. There may be circumstances that make it impossible to place many of them.

…..But how does Hartmut know so much about it?

"That's enough for today. I was surprised to find much more information than I had expected. Does Hartmut routinely gather information about all the archduke candidates in the royal academy?

"No, indeed, that's as far as it goes. I'm also wondering about what Lady Rozemyne thinks, feels, wants, and how she would act. I even considered the possibility of contacting someone who frequents the library. I'm honored to be of service."

….It's a great look up for the mindset of the entourage, but why is it so weird when Hartmut says it?...

As I was pulling a face, I heard a weary sigh from behind me. She is Hartmut's mother, Ottilie.

When it came to choosing an entourage in preparation for entering the royal academy, I honestly wondered whether I should choose Hartmut. It was not a matter of ability or humanity, but because it had been decided that the only adult retainer that could be taken would be Ottilie.

The situation where parents are always present in the royal academy would be like visiting a class every day in the Urano era.

…It's hard enough to have parents at school, but when they're in your inner circle, they're going to see a lot of things up close and personal. Isn't that pretty tough to do?

So, I asked Hartmut about the option of joining about being my retainer after he came of age if he so desired, but he replied, "Please make me a retainer immediately".

At the time, I just thought, "If he's okay with it, so be it," but it seems that it was Ottilie, not Hartmut, who was going to be in trouble…Please, I pray that Ottilie will be safe and sound for the next two years until Hartmut's graduation!

I prayed to the gods in my heart.