Published: August 10, 2026
"Now that the new Zent has been decided, let us discuss what will happen from here on. Prince Sigiswald, please take your seat as well. We are also going to discuss redrawing the borders and the new territories, so it would be troublesome if you, the prince who will be taking up the position of aub, remained bound like that, would it not?"
"So you mean to place Prince Sigiswald, who treated the avatar of the goddess in such a way, as the new aub of the fallen territory? Is that really all right, Lady Rosemine?"
Trauerqual sent a confirming glance toward me and Ferdinand sitting beside me. I smiled and nodded.
"Prince Sigiswald is of the royal family. Even if he bears the divine power of the gods, if we judge his conduct toward me as a member of the lord family, it would not be something worthy of punishment. Besides, if Prince Sigiswald were punished now, it might also affect his two wives."
...It would be sad if the ladies had to suffer any more because of Sigiswald.
If Sigiswald were condemned here, Adolphine and the others, who would already be falling in rank from being the wife of the next Zent to merely the wife of an aub, would see their future grow even darker. I would like to hope that the two wives will work hard to educate Sigiswald properly.
"Isn't making Prince Sigiswald, who does not know how to show deference to his superiors, the aub of a fallen territory a bit too much for him?"
Adolphine said that with a very worried expression.
"We promised that we would grant Gultrishite while minimizing the royal family's guilt in this incident as much as possible. Besides, while Prince Sigiswald was unqualified to obtain Gultrishite, he is not guilty of any crime."
"Yes..."
Adolphine slightly lifted her face and looked at me. Was it my imagination, or did her amber eyes seem to be probing for something? Feeling that Adolphine was quietly thinking about something, just as Eglantine had when she ran for Zent, I shifted my gaze to Prince Sigiswald.
"If Prince Sigiswald causes any trouble after becoming aub in the future, the new Zent will undoubtedly hand down appropriate punishment or disposition. It may be difficult to suddenly change your mindset, but let us hope that you quickly learn how to behave as an aub."
"How truly merciful you are, Lady Rosemine."
Such voices rose from the royal family, and Trauerqual removed Sigiswald's restraints while saying, "Be grateful for Lady Rosemine's mercy." Sigiswald apparently came to realize that his own standing had already been cut off from both the next Zent and the royal family, as the discussion continued without his existence ever really entering anyone's awareness. He politely thanked me and sat back down.
...It's not mercy, though.
I murmured quietly in my heart. The reason I had Sigiswald's restraints removed was because if there were no one to take up the role of aub for the fallen territories Central was holding, Ferdinand's plans would be thrown off course. If we had to rethink the plan to fill that gap, my library city plan would be pushed even farther away. I wanted to finish this discussion with the royal family and the granting of Gultrishite as quickly as possible, recover my memories, and advance the library city plan.
"Let us also decide on the public announcement. Nobles from the various territories are currently gathering to seek information, so Lady Eglantine, please make the Offering Stone as soon as possible. Once the Offering Stone is ready, Gultrishite will be given and the acceptance ritual will be performed."
If the aubs from various territories were gathering here, then the acceptance ceremony should be possible.
"Wouldn't it be fine to not rush so much? We could simply inform the aubs that it has been decided that Gultrishite will be bestowed by the avatar of Mestionora, and hold the ceremony itself during the lords' council. I do not think the preparations for the auditorium and such will be completed in time..."
At Eglantine's words, Ferdinand shook his head with a stern expression.