Ascendance of a Bookworm

Today, the mini bus was larger than usual. Along with my attendants Fran, Monica, and Nicola, our exclusive chef Hugo and four castle chefs were onboard, as well as two attendants of the high priest. There was also a large amount of luggage loaded — the divine relics necessary for the starbinding ceremony, ceremonial robes for me and the high priest, food and change of clothes for the attendants, and so on.

Accompanying us from the castle side were Otilier, Brynhildr, Hartmut, and the Guard Knights Angelica and Leonore. Since we were staying at Reizegang, priority was given to relatives and those of high status.

Darmel, Judith, Filine, Liselotte, and Richarda stayed behind to watch over the castle.

Brother Cornelius was not acting as my Guard Knight today, but accompanying as a relative of the groom’s side. Likewise, Father was not acting as knights order commander today, but as the groom’s father.

Foster Father’s Guard Knights were organized mainly around the deputy commander.

We were told that the lord family would be participating, so it wasn’t just the lord and lady—they were joined by Wilfried and Charlotte as well. If we’re talking about the lord family, Count Bonifatius should have accompanied us too, but since he had publicly retired, he was staying behind to guard the castle. With so many people each bringing their own close aides, the castle was noticeably understaffed.

There was the temple group performing the ceremony and their attendants, the lord family with their close aides, the knights order for protection, and not only Brother Lamprecht from the groom’s side but also a man named Froebelthark and his family.

When I was briefed about this large group accompanying me, I was really surprised.

“That’s an awful lot, isn’t it?”

“If Arensbach hadn’t pushed the fact that Aub is their niece and heightened tensions between the territories, it wouldn’t have been this large a scale,” the high priest explained.

According to the high priest, for ordinary nobility entering from another territory, after obtaining permission from their respective lords, only close relatives go to the boundary gate to greet each other and bring the bride or groom home. At this point, the couple are still engaged—they do not complete the marriage until the summer starbinding ceremony.

“What situations are different from the normal nobility?”

“The marriage of lord candidates and royalty is different.”

Since marriage involving royalty or lord candidates requires not only the lord’s approval but also the king’s, during the lords’ council, the head priest from the Central Temple comes to perform the starbinding ceremony. The ceremony takes place in the chapel where the altar used for receiving god’s will is set, and afterwards, the territory only holds a presentation.

In any case, it seems there is usually no ceremony performed right on the border line as with this case.

“Why has this bride-entry been made such a big fuss? I think it’s because Aub Arensbach is worried about her cute niece and insisted on conducting the starbinding ceremony at the boundary gate to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

I believe it’s a message from the Arensbach side not to neglect Aurelia, who is marrying into the Reizegang family, like what happened with Gabriele.

“But I don’t think that’s the sole purpose. According to Lamprecht, the bride is the daughter of Froebelthark’s third wife. There’s no need to make such a fuss. The main goal is probably to check and curb Ehrenfest, which is trying to distance itself from Arensbach by making deals with the central government and Classenburg. Arensbach must be feeling pressured.”

The high priest sighed and said this.

“For decades, the Veronica faction—essentially a faction heavily influenced by Arensbach—held the greatest power in Ehrenfest. And when Sylvester, who has Arensbach blood, became lord, that was supposed to become solidified. However, Sylvester saved you and condemned the former head priest and his mother Veronica, cutting off the faction that had been his base.”