Published: September 6, 2025
“Lady Rosemine finished the lord candidate lectures quite early. I was truly surprised,” Eglantine said with a gentle smile. Then she asked, “Since you’ve finished your lectures, would it be alright to invite you to a tea party?”
“I’m very sorry, but I have to take the civil official course next. It won’t be possible immediately,” I replied.
“I see. Then let’s have the tea party after you finish the civil official course.”
“Yes.”
While nodding with a smile, I thought to myself that the tea party with Dunkelfelger should take priority over the one with Eglantine. I still had to discuss our joint research with Dunkelfelger, talk with Clarissa, and also address the change of Schwarz and his group’s master to Lady Hannelore. As I considered all that, it struck me.
“Um, Eglantine-sensei, the change of management for the library’s magic tools was a royal family matter, wasn’t it? I believe it required the presence of the royal family when I changed it to Altansia-sensei…”
At my words, Hannelore, sitting next to me, flinched and shook her shoulders. Her face showed that she hadn’t heard it was a royal family matter. On top of that, Altansia is the principal wife of the central knights order commander. It would be better to inform Eglantine, a royal, before speaking to the library.
“As a matter of fact, regarding the management of Schwarz and his group in the library…”
I explained that Hannelore had been supplying mana before entering the reading room, that Solange had wanted cooperation from allies, and that there had been no explanation from the library side. Hannelore had only cooperated in good faith, but had ended up becoming the manager.
“Lady Hannelore became the manager…?”
“I’m very sorry, Eglantine-sensei. I didn’t know it would come to this…”
Hannelore was pale. I supported her beside her.
“Lady Hannelore meant no harm.”
“Yes, I understand. Not only Lady Rosemine but also Lady Hannelore has been quite cooperative. Now I understand why Solange-sensei was so pleased to have allies.”
Eglantine smiled and said, “Thank you for supplying so much mana.” I could tell the tension drained from Hannelore’s shoulders; she had been nervous about what reprimand might come from the royal family.
“Eglantine-sensei, I was a bit concerned after hearing Lady Hannelore’s story. I don’t think Altansia-sensei’s mana supply is sufficient. If she supplied mana to Schwarz and his group every day, no matter how excellent a lord candidate Lady Hannelore is, she wouldn’t become the manager.”
“There are many magic tools in the library, so maybe there were tools prioritized over Schwarz and his group,” I said, tilting my head. Schwarz and Weiss are quite important for library work; it seems strange to deprioritize them. Especially since it’s time to change the manager at the royal family’s instruction.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady Rosemine and Lady Hannelore. I heard that in the past, three or more senior librarians were needed. A single person has limits to their mana. Let’s ask the librarians about the current situation.”
“Thank you, Eglantine-sensei. …Maybe this was something we should have told Prince Hildebrandt?”
Hildebrandt was attending the noble academy as a royal family member and had said he was capable of performing his duties even when the manager changed.
“We will inform Prince Hildebrandt from our side, so there’s no problem,” Eglantine assured. I asked her to handle the communication with Hildebrandt, too. This way, as instructed by our guardians, contact with the royal family would be kept to a minimum.
“Thank you for telling me, Lady Rosemine. I didn’t think it was a royal family matter…”
Hannelore muttered that if the library had reported this and the royal family had summoned her, it might have caused a commotion including Aub. I felt very apologetic.
“I remembered that the royal family’s presence was required when changing the manager. Since we meet most often in lectures, I should have told Lady Hannelore about what happened in the library. I apologize.”