Published: September 6, 2025
“Moreover, I feel deeply troubled and ashamed as an adult to have to say such things to you all…”
With a weary expression, Foster Father spoke while tapping the bundle of wooden tags lightly with his fingertips.
“Ehrenfest has long been a lower-ranking territory, and there are few adults who understand how to interact with higher-ranking territories. You know that, don’t you? And now, because we have risen too far in rank, we are expected to conduct ourselves as a higher-ranking territory.”
This was something we had heard repeatedly at the noble academy. We had just returned from there and all nodded in agreement.
“However, within Ehrenfest, the number of nobles has decreased due to the purges, and with those captured gone, attention has turned to who will fill the vacant positions. The nobles have begun to act secretly against each other. Before dealing with other territories, it is first necessary to settle internal affairs.”
Since Gibe Gerlach and Gibe Bessel were executed, the remaining nobles have been vying secretly to secure any advantageous positions for the next Gibe, leaving no room for attention to be paid to other territories.
“I know the children’s efforts. Your unity to improve rankings and grades helped keep the dormitory, shaken by purges, united. But, regretfully, the adults cannot keep pace with that momentum. Therefore, for a while, I ask that you maintain or even lower your rank to around tenth place at the noble academy. This is the consensus among the adults of Ehrenfest.”
I was stunned and couldn’t believe what I’d heard. I never expected adults to say not “maintain” while they work to become worthy as a higher-ranking territory, but “lower the rank,” even if just to around tenth place.
“…The consensus among Ehrenfest’s adults is to lower the rank?”
At the academy, we had worked hard in teams to raise our grades as much as possible. I pictured everyone’s happy faces when praised by the teachers for our academic achievements. Then, I recalled how our close aides had been struggling to figure out how to get along with our peers now that Ehrenfest had joined the ranks of higher territories. Did we really have to tell everyone that we want them to lower the rank?
“Rosemine, this is the will of the Reizegang-affiliated nobles who form your support base.”
Father, standing behind Foster Father, said with a somewhat bitter expression.
“Reizegang-affiliated nobles…?”
“Yes. Due to information from the noble academy, the purge was accelerated, and most of the Arensbach-affiliated nobles, who held key positions, were nearly wiped out. Satisfied with having eliminated a longstanding adversary, Former Gibe Reizegang is said to have ascended a far higher path.”
I was wide-eyed at the unexpected words.
“Great-grandfather has ascended far higher?”
“Rosemine is said to have been sent by God for the Reizegang family, and with gratitude and satisfaction, he desired you to become Aub if possible.”
I recalled how my great-grandfather harbored deep resentment and hatred toward Arensbach and Veronica. Though talking with Wilfried had somewhat relieved him, had it been in vain? Being told he died satisfied with the purge, that it was thanks to me, and that he wished me to become Aub in his will made me feel uneasy.
“Um, Father. What connection is there between Former Gibe Reizegang and Ehrenfest’s rank?”
Wilfried asked suspiciously, and Foster Mother lowered her gaze slightly.
“Because Former Gibe Reizegang has ascended so high, the conflict with the old Veronica faction has become easier to resolve. There is no longer a need to raise our rank to surpass Arensbach. From now on, we must focus on organizing Ehrenfest internally, and since the whole of Ehrenfest feels burdened by this, the Reizegang-affiliated nobles believe that no one will rejoice in further rank increases.”
I had heard that adults couldn’t keep up, but I hadn’t thought that raising the rank would be so troublesome that “no one would be happy” about it.