Ascendance of a Bookworm

There was a whole day without any lectures, and I tried to ask if I could go to the library, but—just as I expected—Richarda rejected my request. So instead, I focused on preparing the manuscripts for printing. I converted stories that were originally told in childlike spoken language into proper written language. This way, printing from spring onward wouldn’t be a problem.

The next day, I had a music practical in the afternoon. The teacher assigned a piece, and if you could play it, you would pass. Since it was a piece I had already practiced thanks to an assignment from the high priest, I rehearsed it a few times while looking at the sheet music, then performed in front of the teacher and immediately passed.

“Lady Rosemine, you practice not only your own pieces but many other pieces as well.”

“I merely practiced as instructed by my musicians and teachers.”

“You'll be bringing your musician along too, won’t you? I’m looking forward to the tea party.”

“Both my musician and I are so honored and excited to be invited to the teachers’ tea party that we can hardly sleep.”

“Oh my.”

We exchanged such remarks as I finished the music practical. Actually, Rosina, who was busy composing and arranging new songs, seemed to be cutting back on her sleep. She was looking forward to the tea party, and her expressions occasionally showed an excited anticipation she couldn’t conceal.

“Rosemine finished quite early.”

Wilfried was struggling with a piece he had never played before. He was frowning over the sheet music and working hard. When he saw me return to my seat after passing, he shrugged lightly.

“You handle everything so easily. You must have a talent for magic tools.”

“That’s not true. Lord Ferdinand keeps piling on more difficult assignments. I practiced this piece right after the recital.”

“Right after the recital?”

The piece Wilfried performed at the recital was about the right difficulty for children his age. He must have realized the difference in skill at that point, as he blinked his eyes.

“If you want to become a master of magic tools, would you take lessons from Lord Ferdinand? Each season, he assigns five or six pieces, and we practice desperately with Rosina so that we’re ready whenever he tells us to perform.”

As the end of the season approaches, we grow anxious waiting for the moment he says, “Bring your magic tools.” We practice each day with nervous anticipation. When we pass, a new, much harder assignment is given. Wilfried closed his eyes briefly and shook his head.

“You’re probably the only one who can keep up with my uncle’s demands so easily. I’d rather not receive music education from him. I’m fine as I am.”

“It’s not exactly easy for me either…”

Then, the next day.

The reference books for the second-year students were almost completed. Since most of the work involved organizing the information collected last year, borrowing reference books from the library via those who could go, and properly compiling notes from Eckhardt Brother and the high priest, it didn’t take much time.

“Compared to the time of the high priest and Eckhardt Brother, many lectures have changed quite a bit.”

Until now, I had only looked at materials related to knight apprentice theory for the “Raise Angelica’s Grades” club activities, so I hadn’t noticed. But comparing first- and second-year materials from recent years, several lectures had drastically changed their content.

As I said this while comparing the manuscript for the reference books we created together, Filine shrugged lightly.

“It seems there were teacher replacements after the political upheaval, so it’s not surprising that lecture content changed significantly.”

Usually, teachers have assistants, and when a teacher retires or dies, the assistant becomes the new teacher and continues similar lectures.

However, during a political upheaval involving large-scale purges, since teachers and their assistants belong to the same faction, they are all dismissed together. This sometimes causes a break in the continuity of lecture content.