Published: August 10, 2026
"Rosemine has no obligation to guarantee Drevanchel's profits in connection with the marriage of Prince Sigiswald and Lady Adolphine. Please discuss that within the royal family."
When Ferdinand refused, Adolphine smiled and said, "I know."
"However, Lady Rosemine is also connected to the premise of this discussion. After the political upheaval, Classenburg and Dunkelfelger each received neighboring lands as a reward. Since Drevannel had no adjacent land it could be granted, it was decided that its influence would be increased by sending many high-ranking nobles to the Central."
Classenburg and Dunkelfelger, which had to govern lands divided by border lines, had it rough, but Drevannel, which had contributed a large number of high-ranking nobles to fill the gaps left by the reduced central nobles, also seemed to have a lot going on behind the scenes.
"Now, Classenburg and Dunkelfelger are redrawing their border lines, and it has been decided that the lands they have managed will become part of their own territories. Then, what will become of the central nobles after the Central lands are reduced and the Central Temple is moved to the noble academy?"
As Adolphine asked whether Drevannel's rewards as one of the winners would be guaranteed just as they were for Classenburg and Dunkelfelger, Ferdinand's expression became a little troubled.
"With the Zent moving to the noble academy and the royal family becoming aub, we plan to send all central nobles other than the royal family's close aides back to their respective territories for the time being. After that, nobles will again be dispatched from each territory to the Central, but whether they will be accepted as central nobles or not will be left to Lady Eglantine and Prince Anastasius. Also, from now on, central nobles will use the dormitories in each territory as their residence."
After hearing Ferdinand's explanation, Adolphine seemed to have anticipated that development and nodded slowly.
"Since you are returning the azure priests, I thought the central nobles would also be sent back to their respective territories once. I have no objection to the new Zent choosing those placed around them, nor to housing the central nobles in the dormitories of each territory to lessen the burden. However, in that case, unlike Classenburg and Dunkelfelger, Drevannel will lose not only the benefit that should have come from my marriage, but also the benefit it should have gained during the political upheaval."
Adolphine said she would talk with Drevannel based on that information, nodding several times. Seeing that, I opened my mouth before I realized it.
"...I understand Lady Adolphine's situation. Lady Eglantine, Lord Traocval, Prince Sigiswald. Please also consider Drevannel's interests."
"Rosemine, this is not your place to speak."
Ferdinand gave me a light glare, as if my support now would be equivalent to an order, but I did not regret it at all.
"I know I'm being presumptuous. However, I sympathize with Lady Adolphine's anxiety and desperation. Please allow me at least this much support."
Adolphine's current situation was like if I had entered into adoption with Traocval, only for all the benefits that were supposed to be granted to Ehrenfest to be completely nullified. If it were me, I would definitely be furious and say, "That's a breach of contract." If I had been made the adopted daughter of the Zent, only to be downgraded to the adopted daughter of an aub in a fallen territory, and if I then had to ask Ehrenfest for cooperation and impose a burden on it instead of bringing it any benefit, I would seriously consider severing the adoption.
...Though unlike adoption, marriage also has a lot to do with a woman's honor, so the circumstances would be different...
"Lady Adolphine's marriage was political, so I understand the situation. However, is it really wise to decide on divorce right here and now? It greatly affects the territory's intentions and your own future, so I don't think it's something that should be decided hastily..."