Published: September 6, 2025
Hannelore excused herself with a word before smoothly rising from her seat. She slowly made her way toward Restiraut.
“Brother, what exactly did you say to Lord Wilfried?” Hannelore asked quietly.
Restiraut raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wilfried, muttering, “It’s nothing.” His nonchalant attitude caused Hannelore’s expression to darken.
“There’s no way Lord Wilfried would raise his voice over something insignificant. You must have said something quite rude, brother? I sincerely apologize, Lord Wilfried.”
At Hannelore’s apology, Wilfried’s expression changed as if startled, and then he smiled.
“There is no reason for you to apologize, Hannelore. It was my own foolishness to take the bait during Gewinnen. I was the one at fault. Please forgive me.”
After apologizing to Hannelore and Restiraut, Wilfried slowly sat back down and turned to face Restiraut, who sat opposite him. He moved one piece.
“Father… Aub Ehrenfest does not consider making Rosemine the Aub. He would never do such a cruel thing.”
“Making her the Aub is cruel?” Restiraut narrowed his red eyes suspiciously at Wilfried as he moved his piece. Wilfried nodded once and moved another piece.
“As you know, Rosemine is a frail younger sister who has fainted multiple times at tea parties. Father isn’t the type to make a daughter with health concerns the Aub and force her into heavy duties. I hope you understand that.”
…Is this Brother Wilfried’s campaign to improve Foster Father’s image? Indeed, even his own child wouldn’t be made an Aub if she had health problems.
From Wilfried’s words, I understood that he was provoked over rumors about Foster Father and the next Aub. I too was irritated by the persistent negative gossip about Foster Father during the tea party, so I totally get his feelings.
…I want to say, don’t fall for provocations, but Wilfried took the bait to try to siphon mana during the ritual, which ended up causing the dedication ceremony of Zent’s descent. So it’s hard to scold him.
After Hannelore intervened once, Wilfried seemed to regain some composure, but Restiraut’s provocation did not stop.
“I thought the one with more mana and who brings more benefit to the territory would naturally become the Aub… I see. Because of health concerns, regardless of ability, you are the next Aub, huh?”
I could feel the strength in the fist gripping the stave Restiraut used to move Gewinnen.
I stood up and positioned myself between Restiraut and Wilfried at the table where Gewinnen’s pieces hovered.
“If the mana supporting the foundation is sufficient, isn’t it natural for a healthy gentleman to become the Aub? What’s so strange about that?”
Even though I am somewhat healthier now, I am still frail and have periods when I cannot perform duties due to pregnancy and childbirth. It seems more natural for Wilfried, who achieves excellent results at the noble academy, to take up the Aub position rather than me.
Restiraut’s red eyes directed at me gleamed with a bit of amusement. It felt like he was enjoying this or trying to size me up, which made me uneasy and I hesitated for a moment.
“So, despite possessing such outstanding excellence, you are content to remain as the principal wife?”
“‘Content’ is not the right word. I have never sought the Aub position.”
“I see. Then what do you desire?”
I smiled brightly at Restiraut’s question. I already knew what I wanted.
“I want to become the principal wife of the Aub and serve as the librarian. I intend to steadily increase the number of books in my own library.”
That’s why I started the printing business. The noble academy began gathering various stories, new books have been produced every year, and readers are steadily increasing from among the nobles. If I can get nobles into reading, next will be the commoners. From the wealthy with high literacy to eventually everyone being able to read. I have grand ambitions. Though I desire the position to achieve this, I don’t want to do much work beyond book production, so I have no intention of becoming the Aub. Being head priest is already more than enough for me.