Ascendance of a Bookworm

I, Aub Ehrenfest, was currently waiting for Rosemine to return from the noble academy. Ever since she went there, a series of incomprehensible and extremely unsettling reports had been arriving one after another.

Usually, a wooden tag stating "Nothing noteworthy" would be delivered every year, so I never paid much attention to the academy’s developments. But this year was different.

...It's been this frustrating only since the first lords' council meeting! Hurry up and come back, you troublemaker!

The first report from the noble academy arrived on Earth Day, before even the promotion ceremony had started. It informed me, via Wilfried, about the appointment of Rosemine’s close aides, which hadn’t been decided before her departure.

Since I still hoped Wilfried would become the next lord, I intended to entrust him with the dormitory’s management. I advised him to secure as advantageous a position as possible before Charlotte enrolls next year. It shouldn’t be too difficult if he cooperates with Rosemine.

...Hmm, looks like they're doing their best.

I skimmed through the initial report. Though some parts seemed hastily written, I understood the content.

Regarding the close aides, a certain selection had been made since the news of Rosemine’s impending awakening. Except for the junior noble civil official apprentice and the mid-level noble knight apprentice, the choices aligned with the plan.

"Charlotte, Rosemine’s close aides have been decided. Do you know what kind of people Filine and Judith are?"

At dinner that day, I asked Charlotte, who was eager to hear about her siblings’ situation at the noble academy. Since Charlotte was diligently overseeing the children’s quarters during winter, I thought she might know.

"Judith is a knight apprentice who admires Angelica, my older sister’s Guard Knight. I asked if she could become my Guard Knight, but she declined, saying she wished to serve my older sister just like Angelica."

Charlotte smiled knowingly. As for Filine, she was the civil official apprentice most devoted to Rosemine’s picture book creation in the winter children’s quarters. She tirelessly gathered stories for Rosemine’s awakening and awaited her with great anticipation.

"Filine pledged her loyalty at the start of this winter. My older sister didn’t seem to fully understand, and Filine appeared to have only made a declaration of intent. Given the strict scrutiny, I thought a junior noble wouldn’t be appointed as a close aide, but my older sister made Filine one."

It seemed both were loyal to Rosemine. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling reassured regarding the close aides.

However, my relief was short-lived. The regular report from Hilsure, a week later on Earth Day, contained numerous brief and cryptic entries.

"At the promotion ceremony, all female students from Ehrenfest had remarkably shiny hair, and attention was drawn to the young-looking Rosemine, who wore a hair ornament never seen before."

"All first-year students passed their academic exams on the first try. Teachers are now gossiping about the study methods used at Ehrenfest."

"Rosemine’s composed music caught the teachers’ eyes, and she was invited to a tea party."

"When Rosemine created a mount for Greun’s Mount Creation class, the supervising teacher claimed to have been attacked by the mount."

"Please teach me Rosemine’s method of mana compression."

"Rosemine became the master of the library’s magic tools. It is said to be by the gods’ guidance."

"Rosemine collapsed in the innermost chamber where god’s will is collected, prompting a search party led by teachers."

I was strangely impressed that Hilsure could report something other than “nothing noteworthy,” but mostly, I just wanted to bury my head in my hands wondering what on earth Rosemine was doing one after another!

...Every item is about Rosemine!

Most could be understood as trends and improved grades. It was understandable that a teacher might be alarmed by Greun’s mount. Regarding mana compression, I suspected Hilsure had skillfully glossed over it, and given Rosemine’s weak post-illness condition, I could picture her collapsing.