Published: August 15, 2025
After the defeat of the lord of winter, the number of clear weather days gradually increased. That said, there were still days with snowfall, and the cold remained harsh.
Around this time, more and more students began returning from the noble academy. It seemed those who had finished their assigned lectures and tasks were the ones coming back.
Knight apprentices participated in the knights order’s training sessions or showed up at their gatherings, while civil official apprentices helped with clerical duties or attended their meetings. When free, they sometimes visited the children’s quarters, so the older children’s presence became more frequent.
Currently, the students back from the academy were playing karuta against Wilfried and the others. The faces of the students, who had lightly dismissed their younger siblings as illiterate and were now thoroughly defeated, looked quite pale.
“…Alright! We won!”
“Yes, Lord Wilfried. I defeated my older brother!”
The students had accepted the challenge casually but were shocked at how few picture cards they managed to capture. Since the match was between experienced and novice players, it was no contest.
Some students were utterly overwhelmed by their younger siblings, clutching their heads in despair.
“See, everyone, you’re strong enough to win against your older brothers and sisters, aren’t you?”
So far, I had yet to lose a karuta match. Wilfried was starting to feel frustrated at never being able to beat me, so I prepared worthy opponents to satisfy his pride.
“Since the older brothers and sisters can already read the characters, once they memorize the picture cards, the matches might quickly turn around, but during this winter, you won’t beat us. Please do your best too.”
Wilfried, as the lord’s son, was one thing, but losing to younger siblings seemed to affect the older siblings’ dignity, and the returning students surprisingly began to take the karuta matches seriously.
“Lady Rosemine.”
Because we were in the children’s quarters where others could see, Brother Cornelius addressed me respectfully. I tilted my head gently.
“It seems there are multiple sets of this karuta. Are they for sale? I haven’t seen such before…”
“Oh? Brother Cornelius, you hadn’t seen them? Brother Wilfried was using them as study materials to learn the characters, which I brought to the castle in mid-autumn.”
My Guard Knight was not allowed into Wilfried’s room and had been waiting outside, so Brother Cornelius hadn’t seen the karuta.
“You said it’s for learning characters, but it looks like the children have memorized the names of the gods as well.”
“Yes, of course, they know the names of the gods, and I believe they also understand which retainers belong to whom and what those gods govern.”
I showed them picture books and karuta while explaining what we had done during the winter.
“This is the content I will study at the noble academy next year…”
Glancing around at Cornelius’ words, several students looked crestfallen as they examined the karuta. Apparently, the noble academy’s curriculum this year focused on the gods, and memorizing it had been quite challenging.
“Then, it seems the children who played karuta this winter will become quite excellent students. We planned to sell these at the castle at winter’s end, but perhaps we should advance the schedule and sell them to the academy students?”
I murmured that competition was necessary for growth, and Brother Cornelius nodded strongly. He clenched his fist, determined to have an easier time next year. Suddenly, I worried about Angelica, who had once said she disliked studying and became a knight instead.
I requested a meeting with Foster Father to seek permission for sales.
He said he also had matters to discuss, so an appointment was arranged immediately.
“Ah, Rosemine. Good of you to come.”
It had been a while since I met Foster Father. During the winter, I rarely saw him—even at lunch or dinner—because of numerous banquets and meetings.