Eckhart's perspective

A tea party with the Archduchess candidate of Alexandria had to be suspended after the organizer collapsed. Her retainers apologised for their rudeness and responded to the concerned people in a familiar manner, saying that it happens all the time, that being said, she fainted while their hands is still holding in front of her and Lord Ferdinand seems to be very concerned. The next day, Justus went to deliver the letter of sympathy that Lord Ferdinand had written and the book he had intended to lend at the tea party, but it was five days later when he received a reply.

The letter in reply contained an apology and a word of thanks, followed by a beautifully written letter expressing regret that she had fallen ill without being able to talk about books properly, even though it was a book-loving tea party, and her joy at having been lent a book.

"Lady Rozemyne really likes books."

"So much so that they're developing a new paper to make more books…Isn't it better to call it book madness?"

Lord Ferdinand says in a voice of dismay to the impressed Justus. Indeed, they were talking about it at the tea party. I was not so much interested in the new Alexandrian paper, which was shared with me, "if you like it", but the scholar apprentices, Justus and Heidemarie, were gazing at it, checking its texture and trying to see through it.

Having finished reading the letter, Lord Ferdinand folds it up, lets out a small breath of relief and walks into the hidden room. Afterwards, I saw Justus, who was struggling to get the Lord, who did not come out easily, to eat somehow, muttering with a wry smile, "I am glad to see that you are feeling better", and it occurred to me that Lord Ferdinand had been unable to concentrate on his research for the past few days.

Although I hated her more than a little for making the Lord lose his tune, I thought I could give her some credit for certainly making a difference to Lord Ferdinand, who doesn't have much of an emotional swing in his life. When in contact with her, Lord Ferdinand seems somewhat happy, as if he is in front of unknown research material.

Well, so the letter arrived, but a few more days went by without her being seen.

"It's completely become a routine to go to the library."

Lasfam, who is transcribing the contents of a book instructed by Lord Ferdinand at a slightly larger desk on the second floor of the library, said this after a pause. Heidemarie sits directly opposite Lasfam, and Justus sits diagonally opposite, also transcribing a book. I am in the middle of escorting Lord Ferdinand, who is reading a book that he is not allowed to take out from the bookcase, which is just a few feet away.

As Lasfam says, these days Lord Ferdinand is a regular visitor to the library. Not long ago, he used to go to the library to collect materials assigned by Professor Hirschur, but after that, it was becoming a habit for him to visit the library once a day, go round the reading room, then read while letting the Justus and others copy books from the closed stacks, and then leave.

No one would be so wild to ask, as the purpose is obvious, but Justus grinned too much and has caused Lord Ferdinand's displeasure more than once.

While Lord Ferdinand was reading, it had become a regular practice for the four of us retainers to exchange opinions, using sound-blocking magic tool while escorting him. There are not many opportunities for the four of us to speak alone at the Royal Academy.

The only time we can talk without the Lord is when Lord Ferdinand is in his hidden room or when he goes to bed, but in either case the place is upstairs, so Heidemarie, a woman, cannot come.

"Lady Rozemyne is not here today. Is she still not fully recovered?"

"The attendant apprentice over there who brought the letter said her fever had gone down. Are they being cautious, or are they still stuck?"

Justus replies to Lasfam, who lowers his eyebrows in concern. I let out a sigh, "It appears that the term 'unparalleled frailty' is neither an exaggeration or anything."

Various rumours have been circulating over the last year about the Archduchess candidate and that she was physically weak, but I honestly didn't expect it to be this bad. She seems to have an abundance of magical power, but it would be hard to use them without such physical strength.

"For that matter, it is almost ten days since the tea party. Is everything ok? After the blessing, we saw each other quite often, so it's not surprising that Lord Ferdinand is feeling a bit restless."

Heidemarie's words raised somewhat mixed feelings in my heart. The Lord's change is certainly a joy, but unlike us, she is likely to gain Lord Ferdinand's trust without any name dedication. As a self-confessed loyalist, I have to admit that I am envious.

Perhaps it was because I was thinking about this that I found myself uttering genuine words of frustration.

"... We are being pushed around too much, aren't we, when it hasn't been long since Lord Ferdinand started interacting with Lady Rozemyne?"

"So much had happened in such a short period of time."

Lasfam chuckled and counted his fingers as he thought back over the events that had taken place so far. He has received a huge blessing at the library, a tea party, and then was approached to collaborate, after that a stroke, and now is still jittery that she hasn't shown up.

"After all, that pick-up line at the tea party was the most powerful one I ever heard."

"Sure, that one worked."

Heidemarie, with a giggle, raises the edge of her mouth in agreement. When he was approached to collaborate with Alexandria at a book-loving tea party, I was so shocked that I can still vividly recall the scene: 'It has to be Lord Ferdinand'.

"At first I thought she had invited Ehrenfest to collaborate with her in order to take credit, but it seems less alarming."

"It was the first time I had ever seen Lord Ferdinand in a thoughtless state."

"Me too."

"Yeah."

There was a smile on everyone's nodding faces. For Lord Ferdinand, who grew up without proper love from his family, and who was envied and mistreated for his excellence from an early age, she must be a very puzzling, yet had an incredibly dazzling presence who so openly affirms herself and declares her need for him.

"Is he going to be a son-in-law to the next archduchess large territory? I thought it would be just a dream, but it's starting to become a bit more realistic, isn't it?"

"Mm. There are many enemies, but Alexandria is about meritocracy, so the odds are in our favour."

"The only one who has been approached outwardly is Prince Ludwig so far?"

It is a well-known fact that Prince Ludwig, a fellow same grade student, has been seeing her at fellowship gatherings, hitting on her during lectures and inviting her to the pavilion wherever she goes.

"What on earth is Prince Ludwig up to? How is it possible that Lady Rozemyne, the next Archduchess, would ever marry into royalty?"

"A play on being in school….Or he is seriously considering grooming himself for Alexandria…I don't know."

"Whatever the case, Lady Rozemyne does not seem to be taking any notice of them. We'll see how things go for a while."

The Prince and Lord Ferdinand have had no direct contact so far, other than exchanging greetings at this year's fellowship gathering, but if he's messing with her, there will be occasions when they will confront each other. If he interfere with Lord Ferdinand, even if he is a royalty, I will not condone it.

"...Eckhart, you must be thinking of something dangerous right now?"

" What's that?"

I respond to Justus's question with an expression of not understanding what is being said. As always, it is a matter of good intuition. We looked at each other silently for a few seconds, but I was the one who broke first.

"...Don't worry, I won't do anything on my own without the Lord's command."

"if that's the case then"

Justus laughs in relief, but he has enough sense not to bother nailing it. Otherwise, that woman would have risen to far greater heights by now. I no longer know how many times I have put my hands on my head.

"It is the responsibility of the retainers to ward off the Lord's sorrows. Don't be complacent and create your own sorrow. But I am prepared to do things even if I have to stab them in the back if I am ordered to. That part (of the argument) is non-negotiable"

"Something must be done before the situation becomes so dire that Lord Ferdinand has to issue such an order."

As soon as Justus chuckled, lights of various colours poured into the library. It's a signal that the afternoon lectures are about to start. Lord Ferdinand and us have already finished all our lectures, so we don't have to worry about time, but today we are going to Professor Hirschur's laboratory.

As I was quickly putting away the sound-blocking magic tool , Lord Ferdinand stood up, glanced at me and said, "Are you done with your discussion?" he said in a voice that the others could not hear. Apparently he could see that we were sneaking around talking.

"You've noticed."

"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"... it's inexcusable"

"It doesn't matter. As long as you do your job properly, I'm not going to say this and that... I know you're burdened by this small number of retainers, so time can be spent effectively."

I thought I would be reprimanded for refraining from having a private conversation while under escort, but this was not the case. Indeed, Lord Ferdinand has small retainers, so there are no replacements. Strictly speaking, the scholars and the attendant can be somewhat coordinated because Justus can do both, but I am completely alone as an escort knight.

It is very difficult to understand, but this is probably Lord Ferdinand's own way of expressing his labour. When I blinked my eyes in surprise because I hadn't expected to be told such a thing, Lord Ferdinand, who wrinkled his brow, stared at me.

"What is it?"

"No, it's nothing……Are you heading for Professor Hirschur's laboratory?"

"Yeah."

As I waited for the three who had gone to return the books in the closed stacks to the librarian to return, and struggled to suppress a smirk on my face as I walked behind the Lord, a witty Justus was looking at me with a look of wanting to say something.

... I'll talk to them later, even if I'm in no rush.

I couldn't control my expression more and more as I imagined the reactions of the three of them later, so I ended up being seen with suspicious eyes by Heidemarie, who walked next to me until we reached Professor Hirschur's laboratory.

In the end, the Archduchess candidate of Alexandria did not appear in the library until the day of the music teachers' tea party. She was found on the day of the tea party, in the corridor on the way to the room to which she had been invited. Lord Ferdinand's steps are lighter than they have been in a long time as he hurries towards her, who has noticed us and stopped.

"Lady Rozemyne."

"Lord Ferdinand, good day to you. I apologise for startling you the other day."

"I am glad to see that you are able to move….But you still look pale…Are you feeling well?"

"Yes, because my fever has gone down. I felt better after reading the book I borrowed from you. Thank you very much for your lovely sympathy."

The smiling figure looks as usual to me, but she seems pale. Come to think of it, there seems to be a slight lack of dominance in her voice.

"It is the harspiel that worries me more than my physical condition. I hope I didn't fall on deaf ears."

Perhaps to reassure Lord Ferdinand, the Archduxlchess candidate of Alexandria deliberately shrugged her shoulders and changed the subject. Lord Ferdinand does not pursue the matter any further, but just gets on with the conversation. We arrived at the tea room as she was walking, talking and matching her slow steps.

"Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me."

"Good afternoon Lady Rozemyne. And to you too Lord Ferdinand. Welcome to you both"

"Excuse me"

Soon after, Princess AnnaMaria arrived and the tea party began. Tea was drunk, sweets were eaten, and at the behest of the music teachers, Lord Ferdinand performed a harspiel, which everyone present was intoxicated by the magnificence of the performance.

…..How's it going? Lord Ferdinand would be great.

It feels very good to seethe Lord being rightly valued, regardless of his rank or origin in the territory. All of us the retainers were proudly listening to the surrounding praise for Lord Ferdinand.

The tea party was going well. Until that intruder showed up.

"Excuse me."

Prince Ludwig appeared through the door, which had been opened without even signalling his arrival.

"Oh, Prince! What's the matter all of a sudden?"

"I heard that her sister had been invited to a tea party for music teachers, so I followed her. Do you mind if I join in?"

The Prince's lack of tea party etiquette and behaviour is met with a stern gaze from his sister, Princess AnnaMaria.

"Ludwig, it is impolite for someone uninvited to turn up unannounced like that. Go home."

"Isn't it terrible to treat a healthy little brother who has followed his sister with such disregard?"

"I know your personality. So who leaked it to you, even though I kept quiet about it?"

The princess glared at her brother's retainers.

"Well, well, Princess AnnaMaria, isn't it good? Since he came all this way, he should join us. This way please, Prince Ludwig."

The teacher interceded with them and had an attendant bring a chair and prepare a new seat, but the prince ignored them and took the seat where Lord Ferdinand had been sitting. Lord Ferdinand is now sitting in a chair in the space prepared for the performance.

The unexpectedness of the situation puzzled many, but it was the archduchess candidate of Alexandria, who was suddenly seated next to him, who showed the most surprise. They were quickly mended, but the originally large eyes were so wide open that they looked as if they were about to fall out for a moment.

"I prefer it here. Is that alright with you?"

The Prince's words are directed to Lord Ferdinand, not the teachers. The obviously condescending attitude almost made me feel like I was going to get my hands on him, but I clenched my fists and held back.

Lord Ferdinand approves with a social smile, re-carries the harspiel and begins to play the next song. I watched through gritted teeth as Justus lowered Lord Ferdinand's tea cup.

When the performance is over and Lord Ferdinand takes his newly prepared seat, everyone's tea is replaced. Lord Ferdinand was now in bad mood, although he didn't show it on his face. The social smile is even deeper, as evidenced by the fact that it has become even more profound.

The Alexandrian archduchess candidate looked momentarily frightened when he saw Lord Ferdinand. After a cup of tea and some banter, she is nominated next and walks slowly to her seat for the performance. Music lessons are held jointly with the archduke candidates and archnobles, but different grades do not have the opportunity to hear performances.

None of us had heard her perform as none of us were in the same year as her. She was quite good at playing a tune that was new to her, different from the one the musician had played at the book-loving tea party.

"How many new songs does Lady Rosemine have? That was a different tune to the one you played during the lecture."

"That was a lovely song."

"Harspiel's skills are excellent, too. If you keep practicing like this, you'll be a master."

Everyone verbally praised her performance, to which she replied shyly, 'I'm sorry'. Lord Ferdinand also liked the performance, and the sharp air that had been surrounding him softened before he knew it. However, the relief was short-lived.

"I told you so, didn't I, sister? Rozemyne's performance is fantastic."

The prince praises her in a tone of voice as if he were taking credit for it. The princess took one look at her brother with a dazed look before turning towards her.

"That was a very beautiful performance, Lady Rozemyne."

"I am honoured by your compliments, Princess AnnaMaria."

"I would love to hear the music played during the music lecture, would that be okay?"

"Yes, with pleasure."

When asked to play, the archduchess candidate of Alexandria, who was willing to listen to the princess's wishes, offered her a proposal, if she would be willing to accept it.

"Would you like me to play with the musician? In fact, this song was originally a duet."

"Well, that's lovely! I'd love to hear it."

"I understand"

Seeing a smile and a nod, the musician started to prepare for the performance, but without a pause, a still voice rang out.

"Wait."

"What is it? Ludwig."

"Sister, since we have a group of master harspiel players who have been nominated by the teachers, why don't you let Ferdinand play that piece, instead of the musician?"

At the prince's words, the golden eyes widen again. As if in a panic, the teachers stopped them.

"Prince, isn't it too much to ask him to suddenly play a song he have never heard before, no matter how much you've heard of it?"

"Yes, it is. Especially if it was made to be played by a musician…If you would like to hear the two of them play, we can ask them to do so another time. "

"Ludwig, for goodness sake. To take part without permission and then make such a reckless statement."

Teachers and princesses spoke to him, but the prince didn't stop.

"Sister is always praising Ferdinand's skills, isn't she? You wanted him to be a resident musician if he wasn't an archduke candidate. It should be easy enough to play it for the first time, since you say that much. Well, if he says he can't do it, I have no choice, so I'll give up too. What do you think, Ferdinand?"

Those around him are watching the proceedings with some trepidation, but there is no way Lord Ferdinand would refuse after being told this much. As expected, Lord Ferdinand's mouth turned up slightly as he met the Prince's challenging gaze head on.

"I don't mind. Can I see the music score?"

Did he think Lord Ferdinand would say he couldn't do it? The prince pretended to flinch for a moment, but immediately returned to his pompous demeanour and crossed his legs arrogantly.

"I'm looking forward to it. Let's see what you've got, shall we?"

After receiving the music score, Justus takes it to Lord Ferdinand, who looks it over while the music teachers' retainers sets up the performance area. Sitting down on a prepared chair, Lord Ferdinand strummed the strings to check his fingers in a couple of places, pointed to the Alexandrian archduchess candidate sitting next to him and asked her some questions while pointing to the music score, and then finished his preparations by fine-tuning the position of the harspiel.

"Are you ready to go now?"

"Anytime."

They looked at each other and breathed in unison, and the first ping sounded simultaneously. Everyone was soon drawn into the performance, which was so well matched that it was hard to believe that they were playing together for the first time.

When the singing began, Ferdinand's slightly low voice, which had a slightly infantile quality to it, overlapped with a slightly more extended voice, and the sound became even more beautiful and harmonious. As well as playing, the two of them enjoy it so much that it is hard to take your eyes off them.

……..I didn't realise that it's not inferior at all when she stood alongside Lord Ferdinand….

Retainers, teachers, Princess AnnaMaria…… With one exception, everyone in the room gazes at them enraptured. It was made for a duet with a musician, and despite the difficult technicalities scattered here and there, Lord Ferdinand played it with ease. I inwardly sneer at the Prince, who is staring at Lord Ferdinand, the only one who is not amused.

….It would be reckless of him to try to bring Lord Ferdinand down.

When the performance ended, the room was immediately filled with applause.

"I have never been so sad to see it end…"

"It was a brilliant performance that annoyed Gramaratua."

While everyone is immersed in the aftermath of the performance with a flurry of comments, the sound of a chair being pulled vigorously out of the way blasts the air and ruins it. It was within my expectations, but the archduchess candidate of Alexandria shook her shoulders in a jolt.

"Hmm, boring. I'm going back."

"Ludwig!"

I feel like a sucker for the prince, who ignores his sister's call and leaves the room with an angry shoulder. Lord Ferdinand was also looking at the door that was about to close with satisfaction, but his expression immediately changed to one of impatience when he saw his neighbour.

"Is it okay? You were very angry with me, though……."

"Please don't worry about it. It's just selfishness and should be left alone. More importantly, I'm sorry that my foolish brother put a damper on a lovely performance!"

The Archduchess candidate of Alexandria had so much paleness on her face that I could see it. The prince appears to have turned blue because he left in anger, but perhaps that is not the only reason.

After all, as Lord Ferdinand had observed, she was not fully recovered. It seems to me that it would be better to give her a quick break, but it would be a indeed bad behaviour to leave in a middle of a tea party attended by a royalty.

Her retainers look at their Lady with concern.

"Princess AnnaMaria. Apologies are fine, but wouldn't it be better to go after Prince Ludwig? Only you his sister, Princess AnnaMaria, can appease the him."

"that may be so, but …"

Lord Ferdinand's quick wit shows that her retainers are clinging to her, waiting for the princess's reply. With a single sigh, the princess opened her mouth.

"It can't be helped. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I must leave you here. I would have liked to hear more, but it's a shame."

As the princess walked out, surrounded by her retainers, the tension in the place relaxed at once. Lord Ferdinand nodded to one of her retainers as if encourage to say 'take her away quickly'.