Published: September 6, 2025
“Foster Father also told me, so I have to read the letter and write a reply as soon as possible. But I accidentally sent the package containing the letter to the library, so I’ll go to the library tomorrow.”
After finishing dinner and returning to my room, I informed my close attendants of the plan for the next day. Otilier looked worriedly at a box filled with lots of fabric and asked, “What shall we do about sorting these?”
“After the attendants select the noble colors suitable for each season for me, let’s choose the fabrics for Foster Mother, Charlotte, Mother, and Aurelia,” I replied.
“To present the fabrics, an afternoon tea gathering must be held. What shall we do about that?”
“Eh? Afternoon tea?”
Apparently, when distributing gifts like this, it is considered best to give them individually as much as possible to avoid comparisons or making someone feel their gift is inferior.
...Ugh, what a hassle. I can’t hold multiple tea parties just to hand out souvenirs!
“Otilier, I don’t have time to choose, hold tea parties, invite each person, and hand over the fabric personally. Please think of another way.”
My close attendants understood very well that I was too busy with the handover to find time for multiple tea parties. They pondered what to do.
“I hesitate to trouble the heavily pregnant Foster Mother, but how about after selecting my fabrics, giving all the rest to Foster Mother and having her distribute them to everyone?”
“That’s not very appropriate. It would no longer be a gift from Lady Rosemine, but from Lady Florentia.”
Considering faction and power relations, Otilier said it’s better to maintain the appearance that the gifts are from me.
“...But since I will leave in a year, it’s better to entrust them to Foster Mother for future faction formation. Foster Mother’s position is the most unstable right now.”
I hadn’t realized this until the tea party with Hartmut, but the biggest problem caused by breaking off my engagement is Foster Mother’s position.
Wilfried wanted to cancel the engagement with me. He said he didn’t want to become the next aub. After breaking off the engagement and becoming unstable, he must be satisfied that his wish came true. Charlotte and Melchior were also glad to have more options for their future, so it was not an issue.
However, Foster Mother had been able to remain composed because I was backed by the Reizegang faction and was to be Wilfried’s principal wife. Since the biological son was to become aub, and through me as his adopted daughter, Reizegang nobles would be allies, bringing in Brynhildr as the second wife was no problem.
Since Brynhildr and I are close in age, even if Brynhildr had children, if Wilfried and I had children, it was clear which Reizegang would prioritize. Foster Father welcomed her as the second wife.
But if my engagement with Wilfried is canceled, all assumptions are overturned. Reizegang nobles would flock to Brynhildr, and if children were born there, the chance for Foster Mother’s bloodline to produce an aub would drastically drop.
“...Lady Rosemine, as a Reizegang noble, wouldn’t you prioritize your close attendant Brynhildr? If you break off your engagement with Lord Wilfried and your adoption by the aub, the only connection you have left in Ehrenfest is your family... that is, Reizegang.”
Otilier quietly looked at me and asked. I could tell the close attendants were waiting for my answer. I understood my response would greatly influence those remaining in Ehrenfest.
“I want to strengthen the positions of Foster Mother and Charlotte.”
Looking around at my attendants, many of whom are Reizegang-affiliated nobles, I spoke clearly. I do not want Foster Mother’s position to become unstable, nor for Charlotte, who chose to stay in Ehrenfest as a mediator, to suffer.
“Brynhildr wanted to be second wife to unite Reizegang and stabilize Ehrenfest. She did not wish to threaten Foster Mother’s position. I support Foster Mother as the principal wife, not Brynhildr.”