Published: September 6, 2025
“We have been expecting you, Aub Ehrenfest. And Lord Ferdinand. The Lady of Arensbach has already arrived and is waiting inside.”
The soldiers at the boundary gate showed expressions of relief at our arrival. Karlstedt and several knights entered the boundary gate first, followed by Sylvester and Florentia with their respective close aides. I headed toward the boundary gate with Eckhardt. Justox had to give instructions for unloading the luggage and did not accompany us inside. When I glanced back, I saw Rosemine leaning out from her Mount.
“Justox, where is the best place to park the Mount for ease of unloading the luggage?”
“Please come this way, Your Highness.”
...Don’t shout so loudly. You’ll make the Arensbach people think you lack refinement, fool.
Since I couldn’t reprimand her loudly from here, I ended it with a sigh. The saintly aura she had shown before departure, blessing all attributes, was completely gone. It seemed that the fantastical and beautiful sight was just an optical illusion caused by my sentimentality upon leaving Ehrenfest.
...I want to study that beautiful magic circle I saw for the first time.
Though it was a magic circle of all attributes, it possessed a flawless beauty. I traced the image of that magic circle burned into my mind on my palm with my fingertip, then stopped my thoughts there. I shook my head to dispel the image. I was not heading somewhere where I could afford such leisure. From now on, I would have to contend with Aub Arensbach and Georgine, and associate with Dietlinde and Leticia.
“It is an honor to meet you like this.”
When we approached the room where the people of Arensbach were said to be waiting, the first voice that echoed was a young one.
“...So, Leticia is the representative?”
The representative of Arensbach who came to meet us was Leticia.
Aub Arensbach was not feeling well, Dietlinde was immersed in intensive lord education and couldn’t come out, and Georgine was supposed to come but had fallen ill. So, Leticia was sent at the last minute.
“Although I have not yet enrolled in the noble academy, I will do my best to fulfill my role as Aub’s representative.”
Leticia bowed firmly to Sylvester despite her youth. Watching her, I lightly pressed my temple. Aub Arensbach’s poor health and Dietlinde’s intensive study were no doubt true. The one I was most concerned about was Georgine. I believed all matters relating to the Sacred Scripture connected back to her. Maybe it wasn’t over yet.
...I’m very curious about what she is scheming.
“We have prepared the carriage as requested by Aub Ehrenfest. Which carriage from Ehrenfest will you be using?”
“...Not a carriage. We came by Mount from Ehrenfest.”
Leticia looked at me with a face of disbelief as we stepped outside again. Rosemine had moved her Mount to make unloading easier and was opening the rear compartment wide after loading many items.
“Um, Aub Ehrenfest. Is that really a Mount?”
“Yes. Ride-in type Mounts haven’t been seen in Arensbach yet?”
“...I’ve heard about them, and several young students at the noble academy use ride-in type Mounts, but I have never seen one as large as that.”
“Only Rosemine can change its size at will.”
Sylvester chuckled softly and explained about Rosemine’s Mount. Leticia listened with interest. Unlike Dietlinde, she seemed able to listen to others’ words. As someone appointed as her tutor, that was a small relief.
“Please help with unloading Lord Ferdinand’s luggage.”
“Yes, sir!”
Following Leticia’s instructions, the knights accompanying us and those at the boundary gate started unloading the luggage.
Our familiar Rosemine’s Mount seemed a novelty to the Arensbach knights, who looked at it with astonishment. At Ehrenfest, it was an everyday sight, and few showed surprise. Thus, the knights carrying the luggage eyed the Mount that looked like a fat Greun with caution, which looked somewhat comical.
Justox and Rosemine were giving orders, but the snow was falling lightly and the cold was biting. It would be better if Rosemine entered the boundary gate quickly.