Published: September 6, 2025
“Sorry for summoning you all of a sudden.”
After exchanging greetings, I was invited to sit on the long bench. Oswin immediately began preparing a mana sphere-type eavesdropping prevention magic tool, so Father, the Guard Knight, looked at me with concern and stepped back with Richarda.
Eglantine, having dismissed her close aides, sat on the long bench directly opposite me and stared straight at me. Apparently, Anastasius was also attending the graduation ceremony, so the only person to talk to was Eglantine.
“Lady Rosemine, we don’t have much time. May I ask you something straightforward?”
I appreciated her being direct; vague euphemisms and misunderstandings only cause trouble. I nodded, “Of course.”
At lunch, the head priest and high priest of the Central Temple claimed that the magic circle was for selecting the Zent. This caused quite an uproar. The veteran close aides, who had long insisted that King Traocval deserved the Gultrishite, and those uneasy about Dietlinde becoming Zent after seeing today’s events, expressed their doubts. Additionally, some claimed it was all Ferdinand’s conspiracy—if he couldn’t control Rosemine of Ehrenfest, next he would try to control Dietlinde.
“Many opinions were voiced, but Traocval stated that Gultrishite is essential to govern Jurgenschmidt, and that if Dietlinde truly acquired Gultrishite, he would not try to take it from her but would willingly give up the throne.”
“Then why would Dietlinde be handed the throne, yet Ferdinand, who was suspected, was sent to Arensbach?”
If Ferdinand intended to yield the throne to someone with Gultrishite, I didn’t understand why he was suspected.
“That can only be explained by differences in territory. Ehrenfest was recognized for its contributions and will be treated equally to territories that sided with the political upheaval at the next lords' council, but at that time, it was a neutral mid-level territory. The response differs if a lord candidate of the large territory Arensbach, which sided with the upheaval, gains Gultrishite.”
Even if Ferdinand obtained Gultrishite and became Zent, it’s uncertain how many territories would support him. Considering Ehrenfest’s rank, the number of nobles present, and the attitude of its territories, Ehrenfest was deemed unsuitable to support Zent. Also, there’s a high possibility that someone will attempt to seize the Gultrishite Ferdinand gained, causing another disturbance in Jurgenschmidt, Eglantine remarked.
“The political upheaval reportedly began when the first prince, dissatisfied with the second prince inheriting Gultrishite, tried to seize it.”
However, even after killing the second prince, the first prince did not obtain Gultrishite, and the third prince, their brother by the same mother, was suspected and challenged.
“Many families and close associates were lost in the conflict over Gultrishite. That’s why the royal family wants to avoid disputes as much as possible. Even if Dietlinde acquires Gultrishite, there are many uncertainties. But Traocval seems to believe that with Ferdinand’s knowledge and support as her husband, she could perform her duties as Zent.”
…Please stop that. Ferdinand’s eyes might become vacant and never recover.
“However, we don’t know if the Central Temple’s claim is true. We urgently need to gather information on that magic circle… Lady Rosemine, do you think the Central Temple’s claim is accurate?”
Eglantine’s orange eyes fixed on me, as if trying to detect lies or evasions. Facing her gaze, I gave a noble-like forced smile.
“I’m sorry, Lady Eglantine. The dedication dance at the coming-of-age ceremony is a ritual performed only at the noble academy; it is not held in Ehrenfest.”
Eglantine sighed disappointedly, “You didn’t know that either, Lady Rosemine?”
My chest ached slightly for keeping secrets, but I wasn’t lying. Ehrenfest does not perform the dedication dance at the coming-of-age ceremony. Judging from the phrase ‘those who wish to become king’ in the Sacred Scripture, I assumed the magic circle was related, but I didn’t know the details nor had I investigated, so I couldn’t say more.