Ascendance of a Bookworm

As I toured the workshop, I found that the children who gave me the picture books were counting the number of sheets of paper and giving instructions for the next task to the free hands.

"Why are those two children giving instructions?

"One side serves and one is a merchant apprentice, but they are both bellies raised by Rosemaine. I am in a position to receive instructions directly from Rosemaine, move the workshop and report on it. Compared to their children around the same age, they are both growing significantly, either because of the heavy burden or because they are aiming for Rosemaine. Maybe Rosemaine has the talent to raise people."

Ferdinand, who only says things to me that make a fool of him, praises the kids in the workshop and praises Rosemaine for raising them. I felt like the back of my chest was burning.

"Five bells. I'm going back to my room. Good job, guys. As I will continue to encourage."

"I'm afraid so."

Those who were in the workshop in Ferdinand's words knelt down on the spot with a proud grin.

Grab a picture book and I'll head back to the temple chief's room. Usually after 5 bells is free time after afternoon study. I went back to my room today and wondered if it would be free time, and Fran piled up a few wood tags on the table.

"What is this?

"It's a blessing you have to remember as you go to the Fall Harvest Festival. A lot of precautions are not necessary for Wilfried, who never actually goes, but the words of blessing can also help you in using magic, so go ahead."

Lamprecht, who glanced at the words of blessing written on the wooden plaque, rounded his eyes and pointed at the wooden plaque.

"... no way Rosemaine remembers this?

"Naturally. Master Rosemaine is the head of the temple."

Fran didn't move one expression and nodded in the face that it was really natural.

"You know that once a bad rating is given among the nobles, it goes all the way around, right? Failure will not be tolerated by Lady Rosemaine, who has become the adopted daughter of the Lords. You have to remember a new word of blessing every ritual for a year, so it's tough, but try very hard."

Fran counts the number of rituals in which the temple chief performs the blessing as he breaks his finger. Rosemayne became the temple chief because of the summer platter, she says she has only experienced one season.

Still, they're supposed to perform star knot rituals, mitzvahs, baptisms, and then head to the harvest festival. There is incredible much that the Temple Chief needs to do.

"I can't because I can't read"

I shook my head when I saw a wooden plaque with words of blessing written on it. Rosemaine may be something I have to remember, but it's not something I have to remember.

When I returned the plaque to Fran, Fran received it and offered it to Lamprecht.

"Now read to Lamprecht, recite and remember. I'll be at dinner when I remember."

"Become!?

"If you get serious, it's something you can remember.... Chief Cleric, I would like to make you some tea. You must be tired."

That's what I said. Fran just heads to the kitchen. Angry at Fran for not trying to hear my demands, I shouted at my back.

"I don't like it! I don't remember anything like this!

When Dan and I stepped on the floor and yelled, Fran frowned and looked back like he was in a little trouble. The moment he opens his mouth to say it thoroughly, Ferdinand divulges a deliberately loud sigh.

"Ha...... Fran, I hear Vilfleet doesn't need dinner. If you can't remember 6 bells ringing, pick up dinner first. We won't be able to make it in time to turn the grace of God."

"Yes, sir."

... you Ferdinand, do something extra!

Bite and stare at his critical back teeth, but Ferdinand just looks back with a cold half-eye and doesn't try to be afraid of me at all.

... This is why I hate Sysage!

I scream in my heart the words my aunt used to say, lowering my drink just a little bit.

Anyway, where I couldn't remember the words of prayer, there's no way dinner could really be drained. I've never been treated that badly before, even if I don't remember the letters, or if I'm out of time to study. All you have to do is wait until Ferdinand leaves the room.

6 bells rang. It's mealtime, and Ferdinand's leaving the room.

A glimpse of Fran, who was dropping off Ferdinand, saw Ferdinand start moving at the same time as he left the room.

... Again. I am determined to take more care of myself than Ferdinand's words.

Hung, and snorted, and I waited for my meal support to end. Lamprecht also seems to be looking forward to eating "because the meal here is better than the Knight's Dorm".

"Thank you for waiting, Lamprecht. Your meal is ready. Master Brigitte said it would be good later, so are you sure you want to join Master Dermuel?

"Oh, I don't mind being with Darmuel..."

Let Lamprecht come and go between me and Fran in such a hurry.

"Don't worry, Master Brigitte will watch over Mr. Wilfried instead. I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Wilfried can't be served, so we've prepared a meal in a separate room for the escort."

I had an indescribable shock at Lamprecht's gaze and Fran's words. Fran seems to be really not going to feed me, as Ferdinand put it.

"Fran, you think you can do that!?

"I thought I told you that meal preparation comes after remembering the words of blessing? That's what Ferdinand ordered me to do."

That's what Fran said with a flat face. If you serve the castle, you change your complexion and follow me, but Fran doesn't listen to me at all.

"Which one do you think is great, me or Ferdinand!?

"Isn't it up to Master Ferdinand"

"Colour!? I am the rightful son of a lord! Don't be with Sysage!

The castle tells me I'm better than Ferdinand, the Sysage. I didn't know you didn't even know that, but I screamed.

Now I know, or I thought, Fran narrowed her eyes much, and still, she didn't turn her opinion around.

"No, you are now Lord Rosemayne's replacement temple chief. We are under strict orders from Rosemaine not to be the son of a lord, but never to spoil him as the son of a lord, to treat him in the same way as Rosemaine."

"Sweet... su?

I looked out for unexpected words. The word Rosemaine told me at lunch comes back to the back of my brain. "I'm not spoiled." "Then you don't have to spoil my side of the service." "Of course," he said.

"... is it sweet that I say I want to get a meal?

"It is sweet to try to escape by shaking your identity, both from the challenges you have been given and from the punishment. If that's the norm, unlike Lady Rosemaine, you've been spoiled a long time ago."

Fran turned to Lamprecht when he said so without a bite.

"Have a meal. We have to transport our meals here to the orphanage, so it's difficult if we're too late."

"... I..."

"You should entrust Master Wilfried to others once. Because with you, who are everyday to Wilfried, it's really sweet."

With a quiet grin, Fran took Lamplecht to a separate room with or without an unspoken atmosphere.

I'm left in a space where I don't know anything and I can walk away.

"Dear Wilfried, may I read it? All this side service is gentle with the main idea, but it's never sweet. Mr. Wilfried would be surprised."

A lady knight took a wooden plaque and stood next to me. Indeed, she is a female knight appointed as an escort knight from Rosemaine's baptism ceremony. This man would teach us the temple with his eyes as a nobleman.

"Is the side service here tough on Rosemaine, too?

"Yes, as the daughter of the lord, as the temple chief, we treat Master Rosemayne not to do anything wrong. At the beginning of my service, I also complained to Fran that Rosemaine was too burdensome. But they told me it was a tip-off."

Brigitte grinned bitterly with the wooden plaque in her hand. If this is a situation where the escort knight wants to pinch his mouth "overburdened," I guess Rosemaine's life is really tough.

"Does Rosemaine remember more than this?

"Yes, in addition to these words of blessing, wooden plaques were piled up on the table that summarized the ritual progression, precautions, the subject of blessing and even its number. … you did a fine job that day."

I was stunned by the difference between the environment surrounding Rosemaine and my environment. No way, I really didn't think I was so spoiled or anything like that.

"... read it"

"Yes, sir."

Ask the female knight to read, recite and memorize the wooden plaque.

Lamprecht, who came back after his meal, circled his eyes and looked at me.

"You've worked very hard. It's wonderful."

A meal for one is prepared at the table by Fran, who smiles for the first time. It was on the verge of 7 bells ringing that I managed to remember the words of blessing.

Even though it's a late dinner for just one person, there's a warm looking hot air standing. They said the cook was waiting for me so I could eat it deliciously.

... I see. Is this what you mean by gentle but not sweet?

Eating a warm meal, I sigh softly.

I wanted to go back to the castle asexually. I wanted to report it to my father and mother. I wanted to be praised for bragging and doing well that I remembered the words of blessing today.

"... one meal is a little unplugged."

"That's what Lady Rosemaine said."

"Right. Is Rosemaine eating alone here?"

When you finish your meal, take a hot bath and get a report on your work of the day from the side service.

It was the first time such a thing had happened. Because my side is always either attached to me or looking for me. In a place where I'm not around, there's no such thing as another job.

When I'm done reporting, I'm finally going to bed. Slowed down. I've never been so tired. I've never used my head to get tired before.

Earlier than usual, but my consciousness dropped.

"Dear Wilfried, it is morning"

With such a voice, the tent was opened all the time. A bright light comes in and I close my tight eyes.

"Still sleepy"

"Wake up time."

"I'll be persistent. I'm still saying I'm going to sleep!

As I pulled the futon up to my head and dived inside, I was stripped of the futon with strenuous force. When I opened my eyes thinking who would wake me up in such a violent way, there was a completely different face there than the one I was used to seeing.

A lightly narrowed eye, Fran, forced my body to wake up and pull it down from the bedroom.

"I said it was wake-up time. Get dressed and get breakfast. I've waited till critical time."

The temple morning was early. And it's also the first time I've ever had someone beat me up.

Fran makes me change and arrange breakfast. Usually it's still bedtime, so I took breakfast with a slightly blurry head.

"When you're done with breakfast, it's Fesspiel practice."

That's what Rosemaine's musician said and brought a fesh peel. Probably used by Rosemaine, look at the fesh peel for kids, I blush.

"I don't like fesh peels. I don't like it."

"Then you won't improve unless you practice more. Music is a taste of nobility."

"I know that much"

I knew that the instrument was an aristocratic preference. But Calstead, who specializes in horizontal whistles, said he's not all good at fesh peels, and in time, you just have to find the right instrument for him.

When I said so, the musician tilted his neck tightly.

"Master Calstead and I used to be together at prayer ceremonies, but we're just not good at fesh peels compared to lateral whistles, and it's not like we can't play them, is it? Remembering scales, songs, and songs in Feshpeel is fundamental, and on top of that, look for the right instrument for you. Looking for other instruments is not a good reason not to practice fesh peel"

"Hey, what?

Neither Calstead nor my musician said such a thing.

"Besides, Master Wilfried has finished his baptism ceremony, so like Master Rosemayne, we have a revelation this winter, right?

"What's that?

"At that time, I had heard from the chief cleric that there would be a ceremony for the children to play. Doesn't it even seem to practice fesh peel, to be ashamed that you can do everyone around you but not just Master Wilfried?

To the musician's words that I can't only do one, I remembered the scene of Karta yesterday when I couldn't read only one letter.

Just thinking about the same scene being repeated in front of the other nobles makes me feel so bad, pitiful, regrettable, hot in the face and head.

"Does Rosemaine practice every day?

"Sometimes I have plans and I can't, but when I'm at the temple, I'm practicing indispensably. Because if you don't practice, your fingers won't move any longer."

That said, the musician brought the score.

"There's no way we can improve all of a sudden. Daily practice is important. Practice so that you can play only one song during the winter. I don't think about anything else, it's just one song."

... If it's just one song by winter, we might figure it out.

Even though the training of the day was Feshpeel practice, he never touched Feshpeel, and he kept being sung the scale until he recited it.

When the 3 bells ring and the practice is over, the musician praises me with a beautiful smile.

"Very good. When you get back to the castle, practice moving your fingers to match that scale. Mr. Wilfried remembers very well because he was able to recite it in this short time."

I felt terribly tickled because I don't usually get compliments. "If this song can be played, if it's the first unveiling after the baptism ceremony, it's enough," he encourages.

If you're in the castle, the morning teacher is coming. But there are no teachers here. Free time at last, or as soon as I exhaled a ho relief, Fran came with all sorts of things in his hand.

"It's time to help the Chief Cleric."

"... what?

"Apart from ritual blessings, the chief priest performs the bulk of his duties as temple chief. So Master Rosemayne is here to help you with your clerkship in any way you can. Hurry up, Lamprecht."

Fran rushes me and Lamprecht into Ferdinand's room.

Ferdinand's room had many sidelines to serve and everyone seemed to be doing their jobs. If you're going to work like everyone else here, it looks like you've joined the adults and you're going to feel a little proud.

Ferdinand looked up and looked at us when he stepped in to work like the kids we saw in yesterday's workshop.

"Oh, are you here? Wilfried sat there practicing letters. Now that you have prepared your example, practice your handwriting on the tablet. Lamprecht is our calculation."

When Ferdinand points to the table, the surrounding side servings carry stone slabs, paper and wood plaques and pile them up before Lamprecht and me. Soon wooden plaques, ink and calculators were arranged on the table.

"The writing of letters!? Isn't that helping you with your job?

"Fool. What the hell can you do to help someone who can't read or write letters?

Without raising your gaze from the paperwork, that's what Ferdinand said.

"Rosemaine is..."

"That was before I taught it. At least I could write all the basic letters. I remember as soon as I told you about the word, and when I put it in the library, I was loading the scriptures with great joy, so I rarely taught the letters"

Rosemayne wasn't even taught by Ferdinand, she was able to write letters. What the hell is that, my sister?

"And Rosemaine is good at calculating for dealing with merchants in the workshop. What I piled up before Lamprecht is the work that Rosemaine usually does. Do better than I said I'd replace you."

Lamprecht has his eyes wide open on the wooden plaque stacked before his own eyes. With regard to my studies, I meant Lamprecht, who said, "I know you don't want to, but you have to". I'm sure you're not good at calculating.

"You think it's a job, it's a letter practice? Can you do that? I don't know."

The moment he jumped out of the chair and tried to escape, as usual, Ferdinand took out the stamp and said something with a quick mouth.

"Dear Ferdinand!? What the hell!?

A band of light jumping out of the Starp wraps around me so as to block Lamprecht's hurried voice. I could never move into a belt of magic that I could never unravel, and I rolled to the floor like no other.

As Ferdinand grabbed hold of me and took charge of me like luggage, I put it down slightly in a rambling motion on the chair.

"Trying to escape, I won't let you. He said he'd take turns for the day. Take responsibility for your words."

After being sat in a chair wrapped around with magic and tied to a chair with real strings, the band of light is unraveled.

I was stunned by how abusive and disrespectful the treatment was. I have no idea why you're allowed to do this to me.

"Lamprecht, calculate quickly. Don't blur. A waste of time."

If I stretched my spine out and saw Lamprecht, who started the calculations, I didn't like the fact that I couldn't beat Ferdinand. I have no choice but to take the stone brush too.

It was a quiet, tight space where pens ran, calculators moved, and just whispered to Ferdinand for permission or to submit finished objects. I'm going to catch my breath.

I tried practicing the letters first, but my hands were getting weak, so I put the stone brush down.

You noticed that, Ferdinand takes a seat and looks down at the tablet.

"… to this extent"

"Be very diligent for Master Wilfried, Master Ferdinand"

Yes. I practiced so well that I couldn't think of anything else. Lamprecht, tell him more.

As I supported Lamprecht in my heart, I turned the cold gaze Ferdinand was pointing at me towards Lamprecht.

"You idiot. Because they spoil it, they grow up to be lazy fools."

Lamprecht takes his breath and looks lightly at him. And then I opened and closed my mouth several times trying to argue, biting my back teeth off all the time.

Looking down at such a lamprecht, Ferdinand, who snorted hun, turns his cool-cut golden eyes at me.

"Wilfried, there will be nothing else to say in the castle, so let me teach you reality. He is a foolish, exhausted child who draws the Lord's blood without feeling, readiness or effort at all."

Even I feel like a lord's child. Besides, nobody but Ferdinand calls me "a stupid, impatient kid" or anything. It is Ferdinand who is wrong.

"Ferdinand, you're being disrespectful!

"Rude? It's just a fact. After the baptismal ceremony, you cannot read, write, or calculate the letters, and you are just incapable of running away from everything by wielding the position of son of the lord? You're so useless and incompetent that you can't even let me help you with your job as lord."

Uggu, roaring, I glanced up at Ferdinand. That's not true, I wanted to argue aloud, but I don't have enough words to argue with.

"Dear Ferdinand, that's about it..."

"Lamprecht, what are you dashing about too? That much, Rosemaine, is already over. It's too late, my lord. We can't use it."

That's what Ferdinand said and when he trumpeted Lamprecht, he looked straight at me.

"Wilfried, his father felt bad about his inheritance problems, so he wants him to inherit his eldest son if he doesn't have problems with his magic power."

I know that. My father said he was going to take me as his heir.

"Even if those who stand above are incompetent, Zilvester seems to think that if they consolidate their surroundings with excellence, they can handle it, but it's a different matter of bringing together the excellence and the excellence will stay and support them. Unlike Zilvester, it doesn't seem that appealing to them."

"To a toddler like this, I say too much"

"Even so, the christening ceremony is already over. Besides, it's not just a toddler, it's a lord's child. By nature, Vilfreet must be more conscious and responsible than Rosemayne, the adopted daughter."

I was too right.

If you're here, you don't like it. Rosemaine excellence and daily effort. Side service unites, imposing numerous challenges so as not to embarrass you as a temple chief and daughter of a lord.

In comparison, what the hell have I done?

"Dear Ferdinand, you are certainly right..."

The moment Lamprecht speaks out, Ferdinand turns a grim gaze. Ferdinand's eyes seemed much more filled with anger than when he was looking down at me.

Ugh, and the breathtaking lamprecht is hardened and immobilized as if tied with his gaze, trembling small. As Ferdinand rode himself out a little and approached Lamprecht, Lamprecht groaned bitterly small.

"Wilfried is not the only incapacitated person who doesn't try. Neither do they. If you think for the Lord, tie him to a chair, but let him learn, Lamprecht."

The next moment I looked at him, Ferdinand just glanced at me for a moment.

"Rosemaine is special in many ways, so she's not for comparison, and I'm not telling Vilfleet to get the same results. But if you're the son of a lord, you should try as hard as Rosemayne to be recognized around. Didn't I?"

"... you're right"

Lamprecht squeezed out the words in agony. Ferdinand seems to be cursing me, but Ferdinand doesn't even have a stamp right now. I don't know what Ferdinand is doing to Lamprecht, and only unspeakable fear builds up in my mind.

"I got a report from Fran, but last night, Wilfried did the challenge of remembering the words of blessing and doing a Feshpeel recipe. I also changed my perception that I wasn't stupid from the start. I can if I do it, and it's not like I can't try. Then it is those around them who are spoiling and raising the Lord to fools. Be aware that you are responsible for them!

As soon as Ferdinand exhaled all the time and laid his eyes down, Lamprecht collapsed to lay low on the table.

"Lamprecht! Ferdinand, who, what..."

"Vilfleet"

Blocking my words, Ferdinand called me with a sloppy, weighty voice. It may be strange to feel the weight on your voice or something. But it was really a heavy voice that came all the way to my shoulder and stomach.

And with a dark, cold golden eye, ruthless, with no warm feelings at all about me, I was small and breathtaking. My teeth rattle tiny unknowingly in the frightening eyes that no one has ever pointed at me before.

"I forgive the Lord for not making any effort, and for not knowing the difficulty or hardship. If it is better to hold the position of lord as it is now, I will raise his siblings and crush them with all my might."

My father and aunt said I was the one who picked it up, so I thought I was definitely the one who picked it up. I had never even thought that there existed anyone who tried to defy that word. I get knocked in that my position is not absolute, and I want to cry.

"Being a lord is inherently the most magical of the sons of a righteous wife. Remember."

4 bells start ringing when I drink gokuri and spit.

It was the end of a day I promised to change my life.