Published: August 25, 2025
Seeing Roderich’s tense face, so much like when he first said he would dedicate his name, I couldn’t help but feel nervous myself. Whether I could muster the resolve to accept the name of Roderich, whom I once considered as a close aide, would greatly affect my future. My throat moved with a small swallow.
“Princess, please be sure to prepare your heart well before making your wish,” came Richarda’s quiet voice. When I turned around, she smiled gently.
“Dedicating one’s name is a very serious matter. That goes for both the one who offers it and the one who receives it. Preparing your heart is important, Princess.”
Richarda must have thought the same as I did when she saw the determination on Roderich’s face. I nodded to the elder’s words, and Roderich slowly shook his head.
“I don’t intend to dedicate my name right away. For now, I want to talk with Lady Rosemine.”
“What is it that you want to talk about?”
If not to dedicate his name, then what? I couldn’t think of any reason. Seeing me tilt my head in confusion, Roderich looked around thoughtfully.
“…It’s about the circumstances that made me want to dedicate my name, and my thoughts up to now. I was told by Lady Rosemine’s close aides that unless I explain it to her, she wouldn’t be able to decide whether to accept my name.”
When I glanced involuntarily toward Judith and Filine, Judith shrugged slightly and muttered, “It’s Hartmut, you know.” Apparently, Hartmut was working behind the scenes. Still, it was necessary to hear Roderich’s story.
“Richarda, please prepare a private room.”
“Understood, Princess.”
“Honestly, it would be better to talk alone, but there will be Guard Knights and attendants present. Please forgive me.”
“I understand that since I belong to another faction, I am a subject of suspicion,” Roderich replied.
While Richarda secured the private room for the conversation, I averted my eyes slightly and gathered the papers I had been studying. Filine, perhaps catching my nervousness, began tidying up her writing tools while glancing back and forth between Roderich and me.
Accompanied by the Guard Knights Judith and Filine, we moved to the private room Richarda had prepared. It was a small room, and Roderich was offered a seat as we faced each other.
“So, what is it you want to talk about, Roderich?”
Roderich lowered his eyes once, then raised his face, looking at Filine, Judith, Richarda, and finally stopping his gaze on me.
“Matthias told me to think carefully, but I do want to dedicate my name to Lady Rosemine. Of course, that depends on whether Lady Rosemine will accept it. I know that Lady Rosemine does not wish to have her name dedicated. I have been told that my dedication would be nothing but a burden.”
I exhaled lightly, thinking that must have been Hartmut who said that, and nodded.
“At the same time, I was told to do my best to explain so that Lady Rosemine would understand, because it’s something only possible while we’re at the Noble Academy… That’s why I want to talk a little.”
Roderich’s quiet words as he searched for the right expressions were quite different from the mischievous impression he gave at our first meeting.
…At first, he seemed like a playful kid.
Roderich left a strong impression as a friend of Wilfried. I think in our first year we played and ran around together. He was one of the children who threw snowballs at me. Regarding borrowing materials, I believe he preferred karuta and playing cards rather than picture books. After causing Wilfried’s mishap, Roderich undoubtedly underwent a significant change.
“My first children’s room was a lot of fun,” Roderich began with those words. The many toys he saw for the first time, the delicious sweets handed out regardless of status if you won games, the study environment that motivated him by letting him check others’ levels, and the materials lent not for money but in exchange for stories I didn’t know.
“At first, it was because I wanted karuta. If I could borrow materials just by telling stories, then karuta would be better, so I started talking to Lady Rosemine. But midway through my story, I lost track of the plot. In a hurry to finish somehow, I improvised and continued talking.”