Ascendance of a Bookworm

“Welcome back, Rosemine!”

“Father, that’s enough.”

“Please stop, Master.”

While grandfather greeted me with a smile, I sensed Angerica and Father glaring sternly beside him. I recalled how last year, grandfather had gotten so excited he almost threw me into the ceiling, making me instinctively tense up.

“Step back, all of you! What reason is there to hold back praise for my granddaughter who’s been top of her class two years in a row!?”

“If Father doesn’t hold back, Rosemine might end up dead.”

Chastened by those around him, grandfather looked a bit downcast. As much as I appreciated his wholehearted praise, my safety was important.

“Grandfather, please open your hand like this. You absolutely mustn’t grip it.”

I had grandfather open his hand wide, then clasped his index and middle fingers. I wanted to hold his hand properly, but his hands were just too big for that.

“With this, we’ll head to the room. Let’s go to the North Wing together.”

“U-um.”

“Master, please don’t squeeze my hand.”

“If Lord Bonifatius clenches, Rosemine’s fingers would easily snap.”

While the guard knights watched nervously, I managed the feat of walking hand-in-hand with grandfather.

“Well then, let’s talk again at dinner.”

After parting from grandfather at the corridor, I returned to my room and introduced the newly assigned attendant, Roderich, to my close aides.

“I am Roderich, the civil official apprentice who has been appointed. I will be living in the knight dormitory from now on. Darmel, please guide him there later. Foster Father has been informed, so the room should be ready.”

“Understood.”

“Roderich, please ask Hartmut and Filine about the duties of a civil official.”

Since everyone had just returned from the dormitory today, they were busy unpacking, and actual work would begin tomorrow.

“Lady Rosemine, the tea is ready. Would you like to move to the tea party room?”

Otilier, along with Wilfried and Charlotte’s attendants, had apparently prepared it. Knowing this was just to pass the time while my close aides unpacked, I quietly went to the main building’s tea room with Angerica and Otilier.

Wilfried and Charlotte were there too, similarly waiting out time.

“Melchior’s room was prepared.”

The North Wing was structured like the noble academy dormitories, with women upstairs and men downstairs. Charlotte and I were upstairs, but Wilfried was alone downstairs, so he was glad Melchior would join.

“By the way, I heard the baptism ceremony will be held during the spring celebration banquet. As head priest, I will be the one to bless it.”

I had only seen Melchior after dinner when brought for bedtime greetings, but his aura resembled that of Foster Mother. His hair color was a strong blueish purple like Foster Father’s, so it wasn’t strange he resembled him more than Wilfried. Still, he didn’t at all remind me of the “Mini Jill” I had imagined when I first saw Wilfried.

Being an adopted daughter and not a full sibling, I wasn’t allowed in Melchior’s room in the main building. Although we hadn’t interacted much, I hoped we could get along.

It had become customary to have dinner with grandfather and the high priest when I returned to Ehrenfest. Tonight, I sat beside grandfather again. I told him about the territory competition, the Ditter duel between Heisshitze and the high priest, the surprise attack at the awards ceremony, and Brother Cornelius’s sword dance. Thinking back, so much had happened in just a few days.

“...Perhaps next year I should stay home and let Ferdinand go to the territory competition?”

Grandfather said seriously after hearing about the knight apprentice who wished for my blessing despite the black weapons ban. He was outraged I still lacked knightly discipline despite Ditter’s exploits.

The high priest, told to stay home next year, shrugged lightly and smiled softly at grandfather.

“If that can be arranged, I would be most grateful. Rough business is not my forte.”