Ascendance of a Bookworm

During the starbinding ceremony, just as Mother had advised me before, I secretly handed Grandfather an eavesdropping prevention magic tool and asked him to look after Darmel for me, quietly telling him, "This is a secret request, please don't tell anyone." Grandfather gladly accepted, which was a huge relief. When I reported this to Darmel, he looked stunned but gratefully said, "This helps immensely."

A few days after the starbinding ceremony ended, I returned to the temple with Darmel and took him to Melchior. I told him Darmel would stay behind in Ehrenfest and proposed making him an advisor. Although Darmel would serve under Grandfather, he could assist Filine and also help Melchior.

"If he is to assist in temple affairs, I wouldn't mind accepting him myself instead of Lord Bonifatius..." Melchior said.

"But if Melchior grows fond of Darmel and refuses to return him, that would be troublesome. Charlotte and Melchior are probably trying to recruit excellent close aides—even mine, perhaps?" I replied.

After I moved, Charlotte had secretly asked me if it was alright for them to absorb my close aides who remained in Ehrenfest. Particularly the civil officials were highly competent enough to be recognized by high-ranking territories, making them desirable recruits. However, I couldn’t afford to lose Filine, who planned to move after coming of age, or Darmel, who was expected to move after marrying Filine (though not yet decided).

"I see. That’s unfortunate. Then, while Lady Rosemine's close aides remain at the temple, I will have my aides trained," Charlotte conceded.

Melchior seemed to have given up on recruiting Darmel as a close aide, so I sighed in relief and returned to the head priest’s office. I informed my close aides that a subtle conflict was brewing behind the scenes to acquire my aides after my transfer.

"Helping the Aub couple has spread our reputation for excellence. It’s understandable that the lord family wants to recruit them," they said.

Since Foster Father ordered that no one else be informed, there would be no open negotiations. However, once I leave, the recruitment battle was likely to begin.

"We might need something to show Filine and the others that even after Lady Rosemine is gone, they are supposed to serve her once they reach adulthood," I suggested.

"Leonore?" they asked.

"If they had small items bearing Lady Rosemine’s crest or magic stones, it might be easier for Filine and the others to affirm who their lord is. It’s hard to constantly refuse recruitment attempts from lord families as lower-ranking nobles," Leonore explained.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the lords called such refusals impertinent. The same applied to the exclusive aides planned to be taken from Ehrenfest, she added.

"Nobody knows what unreasonable demands might be thrown at them. We should distribute these and make sure everyone is aware while Lady Rosemine is still here," Leonore advised.

Apart from the amulets I had given to commoners, it seemed better to have items bearing my own crest. Such items would also help assert that they are my exclusive aides in the central region.

"Since the adoption by Aub will be dissolved, the crest of Ehrenfest won’t be suitable. Lady Rosemine’s own crest is necessary," I said.

"I already have Lady Rosemine’s crest," Leonore confirmed.

We could simply use the crest of Rosemine Workshop as is. This was my personal crest, unchanged even after dissolving the adoption. It was a design I created alongside Benno and Fran, using materials like books, ink, wood for magic paper, and a flower hair ornament.

"What should we engrave the crest on?" I wondered.

"I think something that can be worn daily would be best. Something like a ring or necklace, which is less likely to be taken by others," Leonore suggested.

…Less likely to be taken… well, that’s important, I guess.

"My easiest material to work with is mana stones. When we made the amulets, we engraved magic circles on them in a similar way. Would engraving the crest on mana stones work?" I asked.