Ascendance of a Bookworm

“Welcome back, older sister.”

“You’re back, Rosemine!”

As I stepped out of the teleportation circle room, Charlotte, grandfather, and the attendants left behind to keep watch greeted me. Beyond them stood Melchior and Wilfried as well. Since those of higher status returned first, I could see the Lord and Lady Aub already talking together.

“Rosemine, Charlotte. The lords’ family meeting will be held tomorrow afternoon. Be sure not to be late.”

My foster father noticed my arrival and addressed us with a calm expression. Despite the fact that this meeting was to report my adoption as the king’s adopted daughter, he showed no hint of it in his face. I was somewhat impressed and replied, “Understood.”

“Rest well today so you can attend tomorrow’s meeting.”

After seeing off my foster father, who headed toward the main residence with my foster mother, I began walking toward the North Wing with my siblings, grandfather, and attendants.

“Rosemine, if done like this, wouldn’t it suffice for escorting you?”

Grandfather placed his hand on his waist and said so.

“I’m terribly sorry, Lord Bonifatius, but isn’t escorting originally Lord Wilfried’s duty...?” Leonore said with a slightly troubled look to grandfather. Grandfather retorted, “Wilfried said he would give up this rare chance to interact with his granddaughter,” and looked to Wilfried for agreement.

“...Since it’s difficult for Lord Bonifatius to escort Rosemine at a banquet or such, would it not be acceptable for him to escort you from here to the North Wing?”

“It’s dangerous to let grandfather escort Rosemine.”

“What are you saying, Cornelius!? As long as he doesn’t move the hand on his waist, there should be no problem escorting her!”

My Guard Knights were wary because they had faced danger several times involving grandfather, but grandfather kept his hand on his waist and puffed up his chest defiantly.

“Then, we’ll check whether grandfather can really keep his hand still on his waist.”

With serious expressions, Brother Cornelius and Angelica began testing the strength by trying to move his hand or hanging onto it multiple times.

...Too strict! Cornelius and the others are serious, but Wilfried and Charlotte are trying hard not to laugh!

Melchior was watching enviously and said, “This looks fun,” but Wilfried and Charlotte clearly had faces holding back laughter.

“As you can see, it doesn’t waver at all. If you hold around here, I think Lady Rosemine’s arm won’t tire.”

After some time spent verifying, Brother Cornelius reluctantly allowed me to hold grandfather’s wrist area as he indicated and walked along. Grandfather seemed careful with his pace, and I thought it at least looked like an escort.

...I say ‘escort-like’ because rather than linking arms, it feels like I’m just holding on, so from the side it looks like I’m holding a strap on a train.

My height still isn’t enough to look like a proper escort.

...Come, the blessing of the god of fire Raiden Shaft! I eagerly await my growth!

“Older sister, how was your first lords’ family meeting? I was very surprised to hear from Lord Bonifatius that not only would the starbinding ceremony be held on the first day, but a dedication ceremony would also be performed on the final day.”

“I was surprised too. The royal family specifically asked for it while we were translating the Sacred Scripture into modern language in the underground archives.”

Though it was technically us who requested it, I didn’t say that to Charlotte. Then, as we talked about translating the Sacred Scripture with Hannelore and the royal family in the underground archives, I shared what was safe to say aloud, and Charlotte and the attendants told me about Ehrenfest.

“We assisted Lord Bonifatius and performed mana replenishment. Then, along with Melchior and Lord Wilfried, we practiced memorizing the blessing incantations.”

“Oh yes, since Melchior said he must memorize the baptism ceremony’s blessing incantation... It’s more efficient to learn together than alone, isn’t it?”