Ascendance of a Bookworm

“Would it be alright to place the magic tool for preserving food here? That way, the wagon can pass through without any problems.”

“There has been no change in the number of close aides coming from that side, correct?”

The close aides who had returned from the territory competition were meticulously preparing the tea party room. I glanced around the room and nodded once. The preparations were perfect. Foster Father and Wilfried were also present, waiting for Ferdinand’s arrival.

“You students must have your own preparations for dinner, so please withdraw to your rooms for now.”

Richarda, who was directing the preparations for this tea party room, said this, and the students present stepped back to prepare their meals. The ones who remained were adult attendants like Richarda, Foster Father’s close aides, and the knights order who would guard us during dinner.

A small bell chimed softly beyond the door.

“Lord Ferdinand has arrived.”

An attendant of Foster Father, standing by the door, said this as he opened it. Justox, Ferdinand, Eckhardt Brother, and another unfamiliar person pushing a large preservation magic tool on a wagon entered. That man must be the close aide assigned to him at Arensbach.

“Welcome back, Lord Ferdinand.”

I greeted him, and Ferdinand blinked in surprise before answering, “...Ah.”

“Lord Ferdinand, please say ‘I have just returned’ instead of just ‘Ah.’ Greetings are important, aren’t they?”

“...I have just returned.”

He said this hesitantly with a reluctant expression, averting his gaze from me and beginning to greet Foster Father and Wilfried.

“Sorry for imposing. I’ll be in your care for tonight. Justox and Eckhardt, you know Wilfried, right? This is Zelgius. He serves me at Arensbach and is the son of Lady Leticia’s chief attendant.”

Though he was a close aide from Arensbach, it seemed he was not part of Georgine’s faction. I looked up at Zelgius, who had teal hair and light green eyes, with a gentle, attendant-like smile.

“Pleased to meet you.”

After the introductions and greetings of the close aide from Arensbach concluded, Foster Father invited Ferdinand to take a seat. He also told Wilfried and me to sit, then began preparing to leave the room himself.

“I must withdraw now to have dinner with the students, but don’t scold Rosemine too much today, Ferdinand.”

Foster Father said this as he left the tea party room quickly. Watching his hurried departure, Ferdinand muttered softly,

“If you’re coming here later, there was no need to wait for me...”

“You probably wanted to see me even with little time... By the way, Lord Ferdinand, I took first place as you told me. And I was even awarded in our joint research. So, please praise me.”

I wanted to receive praise before any scolding. If I got that, I was ready to listen to any reprimand. Foster Father taught me that boasting about taking first place would earn praise, so I puffed out my chest and proudly showed off my achievement. Then, I got a sharp tap on my forehead. I didn’t understand.

“Why are you hitting me!?”

“I think there are many things to question or scold before praising, don’t you?”

As he said this, he reached out, bent his hand toward my cheek as if to pinch it, so I quickly put both hands on my cheeks to guard against it.

“Foster Father said not to scold today. Please put off the scolding and praise me first. I’m ready to hear a full lecture.”

“It’s more important to have the mindset not to do things that would cause scolding in the first place than to prepare for being scolded.”

He said this shaking his head with a “good grief” expression, and I puckered my lips in frustration. Strange. I boasted about taking first place, but not a single word of praise came from Ferdinand’s mouth.

“So, I’m telling you to praise me first and lecture me later. If you don’t praise me even for first place, how am I supposed to get praise?”

When I exploded with dissatisfaction, Ferdinand gave a very flat “...Very good” as praise.