Published: September 6, 2025
As soon as I returned to the temple, I barged into the high priest’s room. Even though the high priest gave me a fierce glare, I wasn’t intimidated and managed to say, “Let’s talk.” I want to give myself credit for that.
With a clearly reluctant motion, the high priest opened the door to the workshop for me, and I stepped inside. The workshop was as cluttered as ever, filled with mixing tools and materials. I quickly tidied up the bench to secure a place to sit.
“I’m glad we can finally talk.”
“You’re the only one happy about this,” the high priest grumbled, but he sat down as well.
“So, what exactly do you want to know?”
“First, I want to know the current situation in Arensbach in detail. Since you’re headed there.”
The high priest had been bracing himself, perhaps expecting questions about Adalgeisa, but a bit of the tension in his shoulders relaxed.
“I thought I already explained it.”
“It’s not enough. I’ve heard that Aub Ehrenfest won’t live much longer, but there’s also the possibility that Justox’s information is wrong and he might live longer, like Great-Grandfather. If that happens, can Dietlinde really become the next lord? I think Leticia, who was adopted from Drevannel, has stronger backing and faction support and is more suitable as the next lord.”
Leticia has the backing of the faction of the late principal wife who was originally from Arensbach, as well as support from Drevannel, her true mother. Then there’s Georgine from Ehrenfest, who suddenly rose from the third wife to principal wife, and Dietlinde, who wasn’t considered an heir until Georgine became the principal wife. If asked who is more suitable as the next lord of Arensbach, the answer seems clear.
“You’re right. The king has no choice but to demote his two sons to high nobility by purge, so he arranged for Drevannel’s granddaughter to be adopted by Arensbach and for Prince Hildebrandt, who is age-appropriate, to marry into the family to save Arensbach.”
I heard that Hildebrandt’s coming of age and marriage to Arensbach was announced at the recent lords’ council when he was introduced.
“It would have been fine if Aub remained healthy until Leticia came of age. But he must have realized he doesn’t have long. What happens if Aub dies before Leticia’s adulthood?”
“Um, if there is no lord candidate of age, the principal wife acts as a temporary guardian until the candidate reaches adulthood and then that person becomes the next Aub. In Arensbach’s case, Georgine will act as temporary guardian until Dietlinde comes of age, and she will assume the Aub title immediately upon adulthood.”
Recalling what I learned about heirs from preparatory lessons for lord candidates, I answered, and the high priest nodded approvingly.
“In Arensbach, when the lord changes, the previous lord’s candidates become high nobility. If Dietlinde becomes the next Aub, Leticia will be promoted to high nobility. To keep her as a candidate, an adoption must be arranged with the Aub. In other words, the role required of me is to marry Dietlinde, adopt Leticia, and act as a temporary guardian and educator until Prince Hildebrandt marries in.”
So, when Dietlinde becomes Aub, she will adopt Leticia and receive education to become the successor.
“We need to pass down the oral tradition to the successor as soon as possible, but Dietlinde alone, who wasn’t originally educated to be the next lord, cannot support Arensbach. For Aub Ehrenfest, making Dietlinde the next lord—even temporarily—is a last resort.”
They need someone capable of supporting Arensbach, preferably someone who can also educate Leticia. The high priest, who acts as the saint’s guardian in Ehrenfest and has greatly improved Ehrenfest’s performance, seems to be the perfect candidate.
“Poor Leticia. Please go easy on her. Don’t treat her the way you treated me.”
“Why do you worry about Arensbach’s lord candidate?”
“If the precious candidate is crushed by the high priest’s strict education, it would be terrible. Filine, who was often ordered to redo things under your sharp gaze, was teary-eyed.”