Published: August 10, 2026
Unfortunately, my negotiation results did not seem to be very well received.
"Just one book..." Several small, incredulous voices rose up, not only from the royal family. It was obvious they thought my idea was useless.
...It's because they never read books that the royal family never got very far in studying the ancient language! Hmph!
"Um, Lady Rosemine. I have a question, if that would be all right?"
Eglantine placed a hand against her cheek and looked at me and Ferdinand.
"I remember that when I spoke with the two of you before, you said that if we conducted a large-scale verification of the dedication dance and candidates for Zent began to emerge one after another from lord candidates all over the country, it would become a seed of unrest. ...And yet the two of you now say that the next Zent should be chosen from outside the royal family. How do you view the possibility of unrest? May I ask?"
It was such a question from Eglantine, who wanted to avoid unrest above all else. It had been among the anticipated questions, so I gave the answer Ferdinand and I had already discussed.
"If one of the royal family can become Zent, I still think that would be best. We don't need any unnecessary seeds of unrest. It has been nearly a year since we learned the means to reach the Book of Mestionora, but has the royal family managed to obtain it?"
When I stopped speaking there, Ferdinand gave me a light glare.
...But it's hard to say something sarcastic like, "The one closest to the Book of Mestionora was Lady Eglantine, wasn't it? She was born with all attributes." It wouldn't be wrong, though.
"No, that is..." Eglantine began. "But it had already been decided that if Lady Rosemine were adopted into the royal family, the Book of Mestionora would be brought to them..."
"Lady Eglantine, that would not be the royal family obtaining the Book of Mestionora. At the time, I truly believed that the royal family should obtain it, but I never imagined they would be so utterly lacking in the aptitude, effort, and dignity needed to become Zent."
"Ferdinand!?"
My foster father, who had been watching my outburst with a faraway look, widened his eyes and tried to stop Ferdinand. But Ferdinand only brushed it off with a smile.
I thought the prepared answer I was supposed to give was quite combative as it was, but Ferdinand was even more provocative. I had not expected the Ferdinand who had always been so scrupulous about surface etiquette toward the royal family to so directly call them incompetent, and I blinked in surprise.
"Lady Eglantine, at that time I told the royal family the clue to reaching the Book of Mestionora so that they could obtain it without causing unrest. And in order to show that I had absolutely no hostility toward Lord Traocvahl, I accepted the royal decree of engagement. But..."
Ferdinand broke off there, his smile deepening.
"The royal family, having learned the clue, did not try to obtain the Book of Mestionora themselves, but instead tried to force it on Rosemine. I was told that Rosemine, who had promised to protect Ehrenfest in my place while I went to Arensbach, would become the king's adopted daughter and obtain the Book of Mestionora, while being forced into what was practically the worst marriage imaginable, like a nightmare. Do you understand how I felt then, Lord Traocvahl? I would very much appreciate it if you could at least imagine how I felt after being sent away to protect Ehrenfest, only to have Ehrenfest stirred up and meddled with by the royal family."
Rather than Eglantine, who had asked the question, Ferdinand was looking straight at Traocvahl. Traocvahl pressed his lips together and lowered his head.
"That is far too rude, Ferdinand."
"Magdalena, you are merely unaware because, as the third wife and someone who rarely appears in social gatherings, you do not know the full extent of what I was forced to endure."
At Traocvahl's restraint, Magdalena fell silent with, "It seems I spoke out of turn. I apologize."
"Lord Traocvahl, would you tell me what exactly you forced Ferdinand to do? As his brother and as Aub Ehrenfest, I believe I have the right to know."