Ascendance of a Bookworm

"I've been waiting for you, Aub Aerenfest. And Master Ferdinand. Already the princess of Arlensbach has arrived and will wait inside."

A border gate soldier gives our arrival a relief look. Calstead and several knights first enter the boundary gate, where Gilvester and Florencia take their sides. I'm headed to the border gate with Eckhardt. Yustokus must give instructions to carry his luggage, so he will not accompany him inside the boundary gate. Looking back, I could see Rosemayne riding herself out of the horseman.

"Justkus, where is the easiest way to carry your luggage to stop a horseman?

"Then please come this way, princess"

... Don't shout. They think the Arlensbach have no merchandise, fool.

I can't even pay attention out loud from here, so I end the sigh in one. I can already feel no standing at all like the Virgin who gave the blessing of all the attributes before I left. Apparently, that fantastic and beautiful sight was an illusion in my eyes that was becoming patterned and sentimental by leaving Aerenfest.

... I'd like to study that beautiful magic formation that I've never seen before.

It was a magical formation of all attributes but with a beauty that was completely useless. Draw the magic formations that are burning in the back of your brain with your fingertips over your hands, where you stop thinking once. I shook my head and shook off the magic formations I had in mind. I'm not heading to a place where I can afford that. We're going to have to hang out with Dietrinde and Retizia as we cross with Aub Ahrensbach and Georgine.

"It's an honor to meet you."

When I headed to the room where I heard the Arlensbach people were waiting, the earliest sounded was a young voice.

"... is Master Retizia acting on his behalf?

The representative of Arlensbach who picked me up was Retizia.

The addition and subtraction of Aub Ahrensbach was not good, and Dietrinde was not in a very exitable situation during the packing of lord education, and Georgine was supposed to come, but he fell ill, and Lettizia was supposed to come abruptly.

"I am not even admitted to the House of Lords, but I will represent Aub to the best of my ability"

I held my temples gently as I looked down at Retizia, who greeted Zilvester firmly as she was young. It would not be a mistake for Aub Ahrensbach to be ill or for Dietrinde to be packed with education. The thing that bothers me most is Georgine. I think all sorts of things about the Bible are connected to her. Maybe that's not the end of it.

... You're very concerned about what the hell she's up to.

"We are preparing a carriage on the street where we received an offer from Aub Aerenfest. Which is the Aerenfest carriage?

"... it's not a carriage. We brought them from Aerenfest by horseback."

We go out once with Retizia, who looks like she doesn't understand. Rosemaine, who moved the horseman to make it easier to carry the luggage, nearly opened the back part wide loaded with a lot of luggage.

"Um, Aub Aerenfest. Is that a horseman?

"That's right. Can't you still see a riding beast in Arlensbach?

"... I've heard the story, and a few people in lower grades in the House of Lords use riding beasts. But I've never seen a riding beast that big before."

"It would not be possible to change the size freely unless it was still Rosemaine"

Gilvester laughs small and explains Rosemaine's horseback. Retizia was listening with interest. Apparently, unlike Dietrinde, you can listen to others. As for the position that has been appointed as an education clerk, I would relieve myself a little on that point alone.

"Please reload Master Ferdinand's luggage"

"Ha!"

The accompanying knights and the knights at the border gate begin to reload their luggage with instructions from Retizia to reload their luggage.

It seems to us that the familiar Rosemaine horsemanship is also rare for the knights of Arlensbach, and a surprising gaze is poured on Rosemaine's horsemanship. It's already become a natural sight in Aerenfest, and there's not a lot of people to look surprised by. For this reason, the knights carrying the load looked a little funny while alerting Rosemaine's horseman, who looked like a fat Grune.

Yustox and Rosemaine are giving instructions, but the snow is chilly. Rosemaine better get to the border gate early.

"I will give the instructions. Rosemaine, tell them to get inside the border gates."

"Ha!"

Looks like one of the knights ran off and preached the word to Rosemaine. After Rosemaine sees me, she walks slowly.

"Isn't Master Ferdinand better to interact more with Arlensbach? I can carry the baggage if you want."

"It's snowing today. What if you're out there on a climatic day when even healthy people are about to get sick? Get inside now."

"... it was an opportunity for me to help."

I silently followed Rosemaine's mouth complaining. Soft and comfortable to pinch, so I cage my strength and move it around with my pinch on, but Rosemaine's cheeks are not easy to grasp.

"Yippee!

"If you don't get in, you can't even get a vilfried in the same position. Leonore, Angelica. Bring Rosemaine inside now. Brunhilde, Lieselator. Prepare hot tea because your body should be cold. Like a man helps carry luggage."

I watched the luggage carried out one after the other, ordering the proximity to just get Rosemaine inside, who was softly pointing her lips and stroking her cheeks. Luggage is diminishing while we're having a crappy exchange with Rosemaine as we look at it. It was a true indication that the time I could be in Aerenfest was diminishing by an instant.

"Ferdinand"

Once Zilvester opened his mouth to say something, he bit his back teeth all the way down and laid his eyes down. I lay my eyes down a little too, seeing the habit that Zilvester is doing well when he bites the emotion that builds up within me.

"As I said the other day, if you go outside in marriage, you will treat them as Arlensbach people, just like your sister."

... Your eyes are moist, Zilvester. What if Aub can't hide his emotions?

That's what I wanted to say to make fun of you, but for some reason I didn't get the word out. My throat feels a burning sore, gobbling and spitting.

Zilvester looked at me resentfully and opened his mouth.

"Ferdinand, I said everything I wanted to say that night. … I don't know if I remember it better."

Reminds me of the last night I had an audience with Gilvester and Calstead. "We've been dating a lot lately. A little cause to talk to him," Calstead took me out and arrived in Zilvester's private room, waiting for me with Zilvester completely drunk, apparently drinking a lot already.

"Coming, Ferdinand. Come on, drink!

"I don't have time to get ready for Arlensbach," I glance at Zilvester, as he pokes his booze cup vigorously and gives a little face to the fact that the splash has flown. As for the real deal, I wanted to get away early because it seemed like such a pain in the ass to hang out with a Zilvester in this state.

But if Zilvester grudgingly tells me, "You mean you don't have time to drink with me because you have time to make that amulet for Rosemaine," I'll just have to take the cup. I remembered I had to ask for Rosemaine.

"Ferdinand, you're more flirtatious."

"Have you figured it out by now? Whatever it takes, it's too late."

"That's not a cute place. I wanted to be the brother I could count on."

A laugh leaked unexpectedly, very similar to Rosemaine's words, who wanted to be Charlotte's dependent sister and was trying like an idiot.

"I'm counting on you."

"Don't say the right thing!

"... you know just how drunk I am? But it's not a complete lie."

With that said, slowly bringing the cup closer to your mouth will give rise to a woody scent reminiscent of a mature barrel, which will be even stronger if included in your mouth only once. At the same time, the puffy, aromatic taste spreads through his mouth and goes through his throat with soft bitterness. They prepared a lot of good liquor for my taste.

Gilvester laughs as she is good at another sip as she loosens her mouth.

"What do you say? Isn't it delicious?

"Oh, it tastes good"

You cared for my affirmation, and Zilvester sighed the same way as he laughed at Humph. I saw Zilvester calm down a little. Calstead also takes the cup with a bitter smile.

"After I leave, it is they who can protect Rosemaine, etc. I let him have all the amulets he could, and I'm going to give him my library as a library to tie him to Aerenfest so he doesn't flutter out to other realms, but I still don't feel sorry for him in Wilfried"

Zilvester looks out for my words.

"... would it be a museum given to you by your father? I was going to manage, but give way to Rosemaine?

"I have no children. Would it be reasonable to give way to my guardian, Rosemaine?

"That's right, but I didn't think Ferdinand would give way to others"

I exhale softly after being seen by two surprised people, Gilvester and Calstead, and feeling a little bad butt.

"It bothered me, too, to give up the pavilion I had given my father. But from now on, I thought Rosemaine needed a visible weight in order to be able to repel the seduction from the center. Engagement with Wilfried isn't enough."

Rosemaine said I was the one in the aristocracy who worried me the most. I mean, I've been thinking a lot about making chains that connect rosemary to aristocratic societies, but that doesn't do much good.

"I can't count on aristocratic common sense because I'm from. Then I'll have to chain myself up, recognizing that Rosemaine is just like my family. That's why I acted as family as Rosemayne wanted me to be."

"... the result of that?"

Calstead sighed like he was frightened for some reason.

"If Rosemaine looks old enough, I can't help thinking she's proposing."

"I'm still a guardian, and I don't have a problem with it because it looks like it. I wouldn't have had a problem if I could make that much amulet on my fiancée, Vilfleet, but I just don't have too much time to tap into it, and Vilfleet doesn't have enough magic or material."

"Don't be impotent!

I snorted one at the words of Zilvester. Exactly. I thought I was impotent, too, so I didn't make any demands on Wilfried.

"Besides, I made it for people who are busy with winter plans, because I thought it was harsh. If Wilfried just grows up and makes a change, there's no problem, and if he graduates from the House of Lords and marries, he won't have to worry about a cross spear from the center, so you can take off my amulet."

It's been a hassle. When I waved gently and said so, I started complaining again that Zilvester was responsible for his inability to resist the pressure of King's life and Ahrensbach. Similar complaints go on and on.

Zilvester stuffed me as a thin person who would not consult at all, regretting my endless position, and eventually reopening it to himself, his unreliable brother, and becoming impassively emotional when he said, "I'm in trouble if I go, don't go".

"... it's called Zilvester, it's called Rosemaine, it's a real pain in the ass."

"I can honestly take about a straight favor without a back, Ferdinand. The twister smiles more like that. Somewhat aware of favors, I guess?

Though I try to make a musty face to Calstead's allegations, it's true that I feel a little bit more familiar with what I need so much. It may be as Rosemaine pointed out to me that I am a little unwilling, but dull on the favor that can be directed at me.

"Ferdinand, the Gedurlich of them, is Aerenfest. As his brother, I will never admit anything else! Remember that!

That's how Zilvester screamed and fell asleep.

"... I remember"

The only thing I remember is not that night. My father just brought me here, accepting me as my brother for the first time I saw him, letting me blow my brother wind and pull me around. He tried to shelter me from Veronica, who pointed me in the eye, from the powerless. He swallowed my suggestion that Aerenfest needed it, and took civilian children as adoptive daughters. I don't want to do me to Ahrensbach, resisting the superior Aub, and I also know against the king that I was going to stand on the arrow and reject him.

Father, now that he's dead, all I can say is family to me, Zilvester. But if I go to Arlensbach, Zilvester will have to treat me like an Arlensbach. I pay people to sneak up on them in my private room with a horseback, drink, talk about no other love, work out a ploy... I can't do the same thing I've done before.

... Isn't that what you knew? It is more wrong to feel lost now.

Zilvester watched me smile sarcastically with a serious face. I notice that and tighten my expression. Zilvester exhaled softly, looking at me as she cared.

"Then don't stick to Aerenfest and make your happiness in Aerensbach your top priority. That's all I want from them."

Neither Zilvester nor Rosemayne have mentioned "my happiness" too much, even though they have never thought of such a thing in years to come.

... Aren't Aerenfest the top priority over such a thing?

That's what I said and I could poke around, and I could refuse. But right now, I can't speak of it for any reason, and I speak once.

"... I won't forget that word, brother"

I return my heels when I break up with Zilvester. Inside the boundary gate, I saw Rosemaine saying something to Retizia. Retizia and Rosemaine, who are not in the House of Lords, are not much taller.

... Is Rosemaine a little higher now?

I think Rosemaine looked a little lower when I saw him in Lamprecht's star knot ritual. In comparison this way, I also found that Rosemaine has grown a bit, which does not seem to have changed much.

A hair ornament similar to Rosemaine is shaking on Lettiezia's blonde hair. Isn't that what Rosemaine was preparing when she said she would make it a gift from me?

... what if I give it to you?

As I approached them with a sigh of relief, I found that the neighbors surrounding the two, who looked about the same age, looked laughable. Wilfried, who found me, changed his complexion and tried to stop Rosemaine, but controlled it and stood behind Rosemaine, trying to clear his ears as to what he was talking about.

"... and as such, Master Ferdinand's kindness is revolving around and very difficult to understand. Besides, it's educational enthusiasm and it's very demanding, but it's in the hope of Letitia's growth. If it's too harsh, please don't hesitate to tell me so I can ask you to improve it if you report it to me."

"Rosemaine, what the hell are you talking about?

"Hiccup!?

The moment he speaks, Rosemaine literally jumps up as a vick, retreating jizzily with a pulling grin.

"I didn't say anything bad. I was just stating the precautions that I think should be taken so that Master Ferdinand is not misunderstood. Right, Master Retizia?

"Huh? Right"

Retizia's face obviously looks like she's saying "stay out of it," but Rosemayne says when she's doing something extra, "Found it!" in the face.

... I know the whole thing even with a fixed smile on my face, fool.

Tell me honestly what you were talking about, and I would usually just stick my cheeks together, but in front of the Arlensbach people, I will stop that.

"Don't take Rosemaine's words too seriously. … then it looks like we're done reloading our luggage"

The moment I said that, Rosemaine's hand grabbed my sleeve. I'm shaking my mind that I can't help but worry, just like Zilvester in the golden eyes I'm looking up to.

"The letter is delivered via Rymund.... I will keep my word, so take care of yourself."

I said that with Rosemaine's hand off my sleeve, Rosemaine nodded quietly and stepped back. There is a vilfried in the place where we have fallen back.

"Vilfleet, I'll take care of it later"

"Yes, uncle. Uncle, how are you?"

And without looking back, I crept through the boundary gate and got into the carriage. Next door is Eckhardt, and across the street is Retizia and her escort.

Slowly the carriage began to move, and a little while later I could see the beast flying simultaneously at the Aerenfest side of the window. Rosemaine's riding beast stands out in the distance. I feel terribly strange that I'm not in there.

"... Um, Master Ferdinand. What does Master Rosemaine look like?

Looking out the window, Retizia called out in a nasty manner. Around Rosemayne, who had talked about it until earlier, desperately thinking about something to talk about, maybe she doesn't have much intimacy with Dietrinde. With that in mind, I move my gaze from outside to Retizia.

"What did Rosemaine look like to Master Retizia's eyes? The first time we met was at the border gates, at the star knot, but this is the first time we've talked about it, isn't it?

"He's a brilliant lord candidate known as the Virgin of Aerenfest, who took the best of the House of Lords for two consecutive years, and I hear Master Ferdinand raised him. I also thought it was very beautiful when I was performing the ritual as temple chief, but I talked to you today and thought you were much kinder and more intimate than I had imagined. And you're really worried about Master Ferdinand..."

It seems that that fool almost lined up his attention undisturbed, saying "Best wishes to Master Ferdinand" to Lettizia the first time he met him.

"Besides, it's a gift from Master Ferdinand, Rosemayne said, but isn't this something that Master Rosemayne has prepared?

That's what Retizia said as she gently touched the hair decorations and delightfully narrowed her blue eyes. Red blossoms, the precious color of winter, adorn Letitia's blonde hair, as they can be used in the winter social world.

... you just say extra things, and do what you don't even ask for, Rosemayne.

"I'm that guardian and family alike, so Rosemaine must be worried about me, but sometimes I've been too worried lately to seem a little bothered"

Retizia laughs small as she remembers Rosemaine's precautions, then zeroes small and potty.

"Is it the same as your family? … I feel a little envious"

Speaking of which, I thought this kid had a thin relationship with his family, too. My own parents are in Drevanhell because I was adopted by my grandparents at an early age. My grandmother died and now my grandfather is trying to get to much higher heights.

The remaining relatives were originally Georgine, my grandfather's third wife, and Dietrinde, who plans to become my adoptive mother, and me, who plans to marry Dietrinde and become my adoptive father. This will not keep him or his surroundings calm.

"I know Master Retizia is quite a hard-won position to stand in. You don't have to trust me, but don't you have to trust royal life? Educate Master Retizia, and when he grows up, he shall be Aub Ahrensbach. That is the duty imposed on me by the King and Aub Ahrensbach."

It wasn't just Retizia in my words, but the escort knight next door looked surprised.

"Duty?... What are you going to do if Master Dietrinde sticks to Aub?

"I was wondering if I could wish for the king. Aub, who defies the king's life, will be disposed of more than the center."

I will not be here if it is easily forgiven to disobey the King's life. Where Dietrinde stuck to Aub, it's nothing more than having a royal life.

"You look a lot strange though?

"No, Mr. Ferdinand was a little surprised to hear from Mr. Dietrinde that he would try to achieve as much as possible if he wanted to."

... I did say it, but as far as possible, so I'm not particularly wrong.

"You'll get your own answers as to which is more important than your wife's wishes or your king's life."

"... right"

Lettiezia looked out the window as she said so. I look in Aerenfest's direction and laugh a little relieved.

"After marrying Dear Dear Dietrinde, no one touched on your personality, even if you had information about what it was like to be my adoptive father and about your accomplishments during the House of Lords. But if you are an aristocrat who knows to give priority to royal life, and you are so heartily worried, spared farewell, and admired by those close to Aerenfest, I know that I want to trust Rosemaine's words."

... I'm glad I don't trust Rosemaine's words very much.

I swallowed the words that went out to my throat. You won't have to trample on it, even though Retizia is giving you a friendly air because of it. Better get the credit of Retizia and its surroundings in order to live a little easier in Arlensbach.

I was thinking about what I could do to get a little more credit. A bunch of things that Rosemaine was suggesting come up in my brain.

... No, wait a minute. There must be something else.

I tried to make some suggestions to Retizia about the education plan in the carriage because the travel time is not inconvenient, and I don't know when I can talk about it after I arrive at the castle in Arlensbach, and it's something I'll have to do later anyway. The Inn then dines with an exchange of views, including Letitia's leading side service.

With a little bit of trust, I've been thinking about "how to make allies" other than what Rosemayne was suggesting. But even if I have ever avoided hostility in my life, I have never wanted to be an active ally, and I can't think of a plan.

"Why don't you just play fesh peel like the princess thought?

"I'm looking forward to Ferdinand's fesh peel, too," Eckhardt nods as Yustox makes himself laughable and says so.

... Wouldn't you be going to play fesh peel like Rosemaine said as it is?

In the end, I arrived at the castle in Arlensbach, even though I had been thinking about it all along the road, without coming up with a good idea after a few days. Unlike Aerenfest, Arlensbach's aristocratic neighborhood was a lot warmer and despite the fact that the winter social world was about to begin, the climate was as if it were the middle of autumn.