Published: August 10, 2026
I had just decided to become an aub. And I had first declared that decision to the foster father who would be most affected by my becoming one.
I had braced myself, thinking that I would have to talk it through with him so that he would understand how I felt, so why did he say, "I already know"? I did not understand it at all.
"You already know...? Foster Father, does that mean it is all right for me to go to Arensbach? To Ehrenfest..."
"Of course it is, Lady Rosemine. We have already received permission from Aub Ehrenfest."
...Ah.
From Hannelore and Heisshitze's smiles, and from my foster father's slightly distant expression, I instantly understood. The lord family had already been convinced under the pressure of a great territory. In Ehrenfest, which had always conducted diplomacy with upper territories from a very humble position, they must not have been able to resist Dunkelfelger's persuasion.
"It would be extremely unreasonable to grant permission to seize Arensbach's foundation, and then forbid someone from becoming aub. Besides, know that a candidate for Zent who has obtained the Gultrishite stands above the current royal family, who do not possess the Gultrishite. ...So they say."
Wasn't that logic only accepted in Dunkelfelger? I was a little worried whether this was really all right. But Hannelore had said she would stand behind me. At the very least, this must be a unified opinion within Dunkelfelger.
"If the Gultrishite is brought to Jurgenschmidt, then whether your destination is the central district or Arensbach, you will still be leaving Ehrenfest. I have heard that moving baggage and personnel will be almost the same either way."
"Yes. I will move a few gray priests and gray shrine maidens in order to improve the temple, but unlike blue priests, there will not be any particular changes in mana. I also plan to continue training my successors."
When Hartmut, with a lively expression, began saying, "Even if there are a few more or fewer, it is only a matter of moving the baggage and personnel that were already prepared," my foster father shook his head with a tired look and muttered, "I already understand."
"I am glad Aub Ehrenfest understands."
Seeing Hannelore's satisfied smile and my attendants looking so accomplished, I felt like I had to apologize to my foster father from the bottom of my heart.
"Foster Father, I am terribly sorry for making you so tired. I never imagined that things would turn out like this when I headed to the temple..."
"No, there is no need to apologize. If Ferdinand has resolved to negotiate with the royal family so that Ehrenfest will not be disadvantaged, and the two of you are going to Arensbach together, then I have no objection. Now that Georgine has been driven off, the only things that cause me stress are the royal family and the two of you. I have plenty to say about being tossed about by circumstances as they keep changing one after another, but that can wait until after the lords' council is over and everything has been settled."
While waving his hands as he complained, my foster father gave Ferdinand, who was standing beside me, a sidelong glare.
"Was it not you who wished for me to stop clinging to Ehrenfest and to prioritize my own happiness in Arensbach? I have simply decided to live as you wanted."
After saying that with a straight face, Ferdinand grinned and said, "Brother." My foster father's cheek twitched, and with an expression that seemed to mix irritation and joy, he glared lightly at Ferdinand.
The exchange between the two of them had the same atmosphere as if they were speaking after sending everyone else away. It was so casual that it almost seemed like they were not even performing for Hannelore and the others.
"Do as you please."
"Foster Father, as for Lord Ferdinand's Gedrurihi..."
"I already know that too. You ended up having to build three or four research institutes, did you not?"
My foster father was saying it as if to say he was throwing his hands up because he was glad Ferdinand was enjoying himself, but he had misunderstood. The truth was that I had wanted a research institute in Ehrenfest, but it had been rejected, so I had no choice but to try to secure one in Arensbach.