Published: September 6, 2025
Name offering is a vow of unwavering loyalty to one’s sole master. It entrusts the right over life and death to the master, demonstrating that one is an absolute subordinate. One cannot change masters just because the times have changed.
“Aub Ehrenfest, I... wish to offer my gratitude and loyalty to Aub, who has shown the path to save our clan.”
After Jeremias’s firm declaration, there was a moment of silence before Viscount Dardorf clenched his fist tightly. With his eyes shut hard, the viscount remained kneeling and bowed his head.
“...Aub Ehrenfest, I cannot do it.”
“Father!?”
Jeremias’s eyes widened in shock at the viscount’s words. Even I never expected Gibe to refuse the path to save their clan. We all stared in surprise as the viscount let out a painful groan.
“I no longer have a name to offer.”
It seemed the viscount had already offered his name to someone else. I had heard from the high priest and his close aides that name offerings were rare, but perhaps that wasn’t the case. I looked down at Viscount Dardorf with a strange feeling.
“If you have no name to offer, then Dardorf...”
“However! I will show all the sincerity I can for the clan’s sake. I will definitely find the Sacred Scripture and prove that we bear no hostility or malice.”
He pleaded that the path to avoid implication not be closed off. Foster Father narrowed his eyes and glared at Viscount Dardorf.
“...To whom did you offer your name? That determines whether you can be trusted.”
“To Lady Veronica.”
Although Gabrielle came from Arensbach through marriage, estranged from Ehrenfest, she forced her loyal servants and their children to offer names. She needed unwavering subordinates to support and protect her children.
“I was told that compared to Ehrenfest, name offerings occur more frequently in Arensbach. My mother, who came from Arensbach with Lady Gabrielle, was raised believing that servants who fail to offer their names are untrustworthy.”
When Viscount Dardorf reached the age to offer a name, his mother named Veronica and Georgine as the recipients. This was before Foster Father was born.
The viscount had chosen Veronica, already the principal wife of the lord, as the target of his name offering.
“So, like you, those with Arensbach blood offer names? To Mother and Older Sister?”
“Yes. To counter Reizegang, they had to support Lady Veronica, who carries Arensbach blood, and strengthen unity.”
Hearing why the mid-ranking nobles who form the core of the old Veronica faction refused to change sides gave me mixed feelings. Apparently, there are major differences in name offering customs between Arensbach and Ehrenfest.
“You did not allow your child to offer a name, right?”
“Since Lady Veronica held enough power to suppress Reizegang and the faction had grown large enough that such unity was unnecessary, I didn’t feel the need... Aub Ehrenfest, I will do all I can. Please show mercy to my clan...”
As the viscount pleaded, Foster Father waved his hand calmly.
“Retrieve the stolen Sacred Scripture. Everything starts from there. I will watch your efforts closely.”
“Thank you.”
The implication issue was put on hold, and the search for the Sacred Scripture began. Viscount Dardorf immediately sent Ordnance messages to nobles nearby, asking, “My wife, who was supposed to go to the Noble District earlier, is missing. If anyone knows anything, please inform me.”
Then, the viscount brought his wife’s mana stone to confirm the corpse was hers. Afterwards, at the high priest’s request, the secret room of the viscountess was opened for thorough searching.
“Lady Rosemine, what kind of item is the Sacred Scripture? I intend to order the servants to search as well, but I have rarely seen it up close. I doubt the servants know what to look for either.”
I explained the size and binding of the Sacred Scripture. The chief attendant gave orders to the servants, and a large-scale search began inside the mansion.
As Viscount Dardorf handled the returning Ordance messages one after another, I spoke with Jeremias about what we knew of the viscountess’s actions.