Published: September 6, 2025
“...That may be true, but...”
Looking up at Eckhardt Brother with a dissatisfied expression out of concern for Leticia, he glared at me sharply and shook an eavesdropping prevention magic tool right in front of my eyes.
When I took the magic tool, Eckhardt Brother’s face returned to an ordinary expression, as if nothing had happened. But deep in his eyes, I could see an uncontrollable anger.
“Lord Ferdinand’s orders come first. You must not concern yourself. If I hadn’t told myself that, I might have cut her loose.”
“What!?”
Startled by such a grim statement, I gasped and looked up at Eckhardt Brother. His face showed nothing unusual. It gave no hint that he had nearly abandoned Leticia.
“The two of them entered the mana replenishment chamber alone, yet a message came from Lord Ferdinand warning of a life-threatening situation. I don’t know the exact circumstances, but the only culprit who could have endangered his life is Lady Leticia. At least when I was handed the Offering Stone by Lady Leticia, Lady Dietlinde was not in the replenishment chamber.”
I blinked several times. The mana replenishment chamber in Ehrenfest is located behind the tapestries in Aub’s office, so unless he is absent due to the lords' council or the like, Foster Father is usually there.
“Just the two of them? Isn’t the replenishment chamber in Arensbach Aub’s office?”
“No, it is in Aub’s office. But Aub’s office and Lady Dietlinde’s office are separate. It was built deliberately near her personal chamber. She said she preferred bureaucrats to come to her instead of going to a distant office.”
Aub’s private chamber and office are separated to prevent untrustworthy nobles from entering the lord family’s living quarters, but Dietlinde apparently doesn’t mind.
“When Lord Ferdinand conducts Leticia’s mana supply training, he is extremely cautious to prevent dangerous individuals from entering. This afternoon, both of them entered the mana replenishment chamber together, while we stood guard outside Aub’s office.”
Even in Ehrenfest, only the closest aides—high-ranking nobles related by blood to Aub—are allowed into the office during mana replenishment. Both inside and outside the door, Guard Knights stand watch, creating a tense atmosphere. Similarly, in Arensbach, Eckhardt Brother and Justox, being from other regions, are not allowed inside and must wait outside the door.
“Then, Leticia, looking pale and trembling, opened the door and came out.”
Apparently, Leticia said, “Lord Ferdinand said... go...” while handing the metal basket containing the Offering Stone to Justox. Lord Ferdinand only returns a name when he senses a life-threatening danger. It was prearranged that this would be done to avoid involving vassals and to ensure the information reached Ehrenfest securely—this made them realize the crisis.
“When I immediately tried to detain her on the spot and interrogate her about the details, her Guard Knight who came out with her stopped me, and Justox grabbed me by the collar.”
While standing guard outside during the mana replenishment, suddenly, from behind, Leticia was brought out holding Ferdinand’s Offering Stone, ordered to “go.” Eckhardt Brother must have been extremely shaken, and I understand why he felt he had to seize Leticia. But I also understand why Leticia’s Guard Knight and Justox reacted immediately to stop him.
…When Lord Ferdinand is involved, Eckhardt Brother is seriously terrifying.
“Normally, I should have seized her, even if I had to shake off the Guard Knight present, and made her reveal everything about how the situation that forced Lord Ferdinand to hand over the Offering Stone arose. But Justox shouted that Lord Ferdinand’s orders come first. If I have complaints about not securing her or the information, I should complain to Justox.”
I thought there was no way to complain about Justox either. Keeping Eckhardt Brother and Leticia together in such a state would be very problematic. I think Justox’s decision to separate them was wise.