The Next Archduke and Foundational Magic

One day in the middle of spring, an emergency meeting was held in Dunkelfelger with the archducal family and the higher-ups of the Knights’ Order in attendance. After the meeting, the higher-ups sent orders to their subordinates to assemble in the training grounds while they themselves hurried there with serious expressions. Although Hannelore usually waited inside the meeting room until most of the people had left, she quickly left as well.

“Lord Lestilaut, it appears that everyone is in quite a rush. Might I ask what transpired in the meeting?”

Upon the return to my chambers, my retainers eagerly sought information about the meeting. Due to the limited space in the conference room only a select few of the archducal family’s retainers were allowed, with a maximum of three per member. Father kept the agenda of the meeting a secret, probably to keep Mother in the dark until the last minute.

I understood their impatience to find out the details. I gestured to my scholar who had attended the meeting with me and said, “Weingert, give everyone an account of what happened during the meeting.”

“Aub Ehrenfest utilized the magic tool for emergency communication between aubs to request the assistance of Aub Dunkelfelger. A game of true ditter will commence between Ehrenfest and Ahrensbach tonight.”

Weingert proceeded to summarize the discussion, referring to the notes he had taken on a wooden board during the meeting.

“What? A game of true ditter?!”

“In this day and age? Are they insane?! How did such a thing even come to pass?”

“They sent a request for support? Who will be going?”

My retainers appeared to be as shaken as the knights in the meeting room. It felt as though I was experiencing the same commotion again. If we took the time to answer each of their questions individually, we would never be finished with this report.

“Be silent. I understand your shock, but hold your tongues for now. Weingert is not an ordonnanz.”

I scolded my retainers and warned them that Weingert would not repeat himself even if they missed something while making a fuss. I then instructed Weingert to continue with his report.

“News has reached us that Lord Ferdinand has been poisoned in the Ahrensbach Mana Replenishment hall, allegedly by Lady Detlinde’s hand. In response, Lady Rozemyne has pledged to steal Ahrensbach’s foundation to gain access to the Mana Replenishment hall. Dunkelfelger has been recruited to assist in this endeavor.”

“Eh? And Lady Sieglinde has agreed to such a request?”

Rasantark, an apprentice knight in my service, muttered to himself, his chestnut-colored eyes widening in surprise. Surely no one would have expected Mother to allow such an action unless they knew the details of what was discussed in that meeting. I would have had similar doubts had I not been present at the meeting.

“Indeed. Lady Sieglinde has agreed to the alliance between our duchies, as long as Lady Rozemyne does indeed appear at the country gate and has the royal family’s permission. ”

“The country gate?! But that’s… Umm… Doesn’t that imply that Lady Rozemyne has obtained the Grutrissheit?”

My retainers started to get restless once again. But that was understandable. Who would have thought that an Ehrenfest archduke candidate would be the one to acquire the Grutrissheit, when she was not even a member of the royal family?

However, my parents and I had received a report from Hannelore that there were several accounts of the Grutrissheit in documents left behind by the Zents of old. She had discovered this information during last year’s Archduke’s Conference while making modern translations of ancient documents stored in the underground archive of the Royal Academy’s library. We also knew that Rozemyne had worked alongside her on the translation, and that the royal family had asked Hannelore to leave the room so that they could have a private discussion with Rozemyne. Rozemyne had undoubtedly discovered the method of obtaining the Grutrissheit while translating the documents.

Hannelore mentioned that Rozemyne had been ill for a long period of time, but it is possible that she just needed that time to acquire the Grutrissheit.

There was an account in an old Dunkelfelger book of a Zent candidate that was not chosen, even though they had obtained their own Grutrissheit, as it took them far too long to learn how to use it properly. I recalled my memories of reading such records and being surprised that simply finding the Grutrissheit was not enough to gain command of it.

“If a Zent candidate, in possession of the Grutrissheit, has requested Dunkelfelger’s assistance, we are obligated to provide it. Aside from that, the following items were also discussed: Lord Ferdinand, who was sent to Ahrensbach by royal decree, has been attacked; Lady Detlinde has committed treason by inviting a foreign threat into the country; and there is a possibility of an incident in the Sovereignty as well. Dunkelfelger will be responsible for coordinating between the greater duchies in the event of an emergency. The aub has declared that Dunkelfelger must participate in the suppression of the nobles of Old Werkestock as well, since our duchy is also responsible for overseeing their territory.”

My retainers seemed convinced after hearing the report. There were already a number of people who considered Ahrensbach’s actions dangerous. Detlinde had activated a mysterious magic circle during her dedication whirl and then declared herself a Zent candidate. Her actions during the late aub’s funeral indicated that she was in collusion with a foreign country, and she showed nothing but contempt for the man who had become her fiancé by royal decree… And now there was the chaos she caused today.

“If the threat of foreign invasion is our reason for going into battle, then we must be on guard against trouble brewing in the Sovereignty as well as in Ahrensbach, right? What are the aub’s priorities in this regard?”

My apprentice scholar, Kenntrips, looked at Weingert and asked if the aub was giving priority to King Trauerqual, who did not have the Grutrissheit, or to Rozemyne, who had acquired the Grutrissheit but was not yet recognized as Zent.

“We will assist in both matters, but the aub will not act until he receives a request from the Sovereignty. Aub Dunkelfelger cannot act on Lady Rozemyne’s orders alone, as she is still only an archduke candidate.”

“So he will only be dispatching knights to support her?”

“Not exactly. A representative of Dunkelfelger’s archducal family must be present to take responsibility should Dunkelfelger’s knights cause trouble in a foreign duchy. This precaution is warranted in case Ehrenfest’s claim proves to be unfounded, or we incur reprimands from the Zent for proceeding without substantial evidence, or worse, for losing in our game of ditter.”

Kenntrips frowned upon hearing Weingert’s reply.

“So a member of the archducal family will be sent with the understanding that they will be abandoned to their fate if matters take a turn for the worse? Are you saying that Lord Lestilaut’s name was put forward for such a role?”

“No, Lord Lestilaut will not be going into battle. The aub has entrusted him with protecting the foundation.”

Weingert immediately denied Kenntrips’ assumption. The next moment, judging by the expressions on my retainers’ faces, they found this news more shocking than anything else they had heard all day.

“The foundation?! Does this mean that Lord Lestilaut is confirmed as the next archduke?”

“Huh? Has the decision really been made?”

“Has Lord Lestilaut truly been given charge of the foundational magic? Is this not a much more severe situation than we first perceived?!”

Hannelore was heavily criticized for allowing her duchy to be defeated in a game of ditter and then forgoing the benefits she would have received from such an action, but to a lesser extent, the nobles of our duchy also considered me unworthy of becoming the next archduke because of our defeat. In addition, there had been a lot of discussion after the last Archduke’s Conference, where a change in the timing of the acquisition of students’ schtappes had been announced. Since it was preferable to receive one’s schtappe after many prayers to the gods and receiving an abundance of divine protections, there was a possibility that the children of the aub’s second wife would grow up to be superior to myself or Hannelore, as we had received our schtappes during our first years at the Royal Academy.

Despite a growing number of voices within the duchy calling for the selection of the next aub to be postponed, it was suddenly decided that I would inherit the position of archduke. Undoubtedly, my loyal retainers who had fought alongside me at the Royal Academy were more surprised than anyone else by this unexpected turn of events.

“When will you be inheriting the foundational magic? Should you not require some time for preparation?”

“It would be wise for you to complete the process before other nobles begin to interfere.”

“Calm yourself. It is likely that I will not inherit the foundational magic until Father has contacted the Sovereignty and the other greater duchies. At the moment, he is dedicated to bringing things to a point where decisive action can be taken. Rest assured, it will not be long before he summons me…”

My retainers fell silent at my words, but they could not hide the vague sense of unease that hung over them.

“Lord Lestilaut, who has been chosen by the archducal family to lead the knights that will be dispatched to Ahrensbach? If your role is to inherit and protect the foundation, then it is not possible for you to be sent. Will my father go instead?”

Rasantark tilted his head curiously. As a member of the archducal family, his father would customarily have been dispatched when both my father and I were unable to go. But this was not the case.

“No, Hannelore will go to Ahrensbach.”

“Lady Hannelore?!”

“It is inconceivable for her to lead the knights in such a dire mission!”

Had Hannelore’s engagement into Ehrenfest gone as planned, perhaps she could have spared herself from being so disdainfully regarded by the knights.

Hannelore willingly left our base and caused the defeat of our duchy. It is only natural that the knights hold her in contempt and do not consider her worthy of their protection.

I remembered how quickly Hannelore left the room after the meeting. The game of ditter that I initiated left a stain on her honor, and to some extent, guilt crept into my conscience. Simultaneously, I felt anger towards her for not realizing her ambitions even after causing our defeat. While Hannelore’s indecision proved vexing, my anger was more vehemently directed at Ehrenfest and Wilfried in particular, who, after inviting her to Ehrenfest, abruptly renounced his desire for marriage.

“The dishonor incurred in one ditter match can only be redeemed by triumph in another. In the worst case, she may have to take the blame, but if she emerges victorious, she can redeem her reputation. There is little point in discussing it now if she is firm in her decision to participate.”

Until now, I had considered Hannelore and Rozemyne to be similar in nature. In my eyes, they both had a tendency to put the wishes of others before their own, to protect others even at the cost of harming themselves, and to invariably always lose.

Are you really okay with that?

I thought about the words I had withheld from Rozemyne during the awards ceremony. As an adopted daughter, Rozemyne was treated differently than the archduke’s true children. Her unguarded innocence in freely sharing information with the royal family practically assured their intention to take her for themselves. I suspected that both her duchy and the royal family would exploit her until she had nothing left to offer. While she showed no hesitation in handing over her achievements to Wilfried at the awards ceremony, her face betrayed discontent when the results of their joint research were being claimed by Detlinde. It seemed to me that her thoughts were always focused on others, and that their well-being took precedence over her own.

But that wasn’t the case at all.

Rozemyne showed unwavering devotion to her desires. In her current predicament, she chose to steal Ahrensbach’s foundation in order to save Lord Ferdinand, going so far as to utilize the Grutrissheit for the task. I could sense her fierce determination to do whatever it takes to make her wishes come to fruition.

Rozemyne was not merely a pawn. Her position and influence gave her the power to carry out her ambitions. It painfully dawned on me that there was no need for me to rescue her, be it from Ehrenfest or the clutches of the royal family.

Similarly, Hannelore, who had habitually portrayed herself as shy, wearing a troubled expression, and seeking refuge behind others, had undergone a transformation. She evolved into a capable independent woman, no longer tied to the words of those around her. Although she is in a position where the fate of the entire duchy rests on her shoulders, she refrained from approaching me in tears of despair and seeking my protection, despite the distinct possibility of failure.

“It was decided that Heisshitze would accompany Hannelore to Ahrensbach as commanding officer. He must be at the training grounds right now, busy selecting the personnel to accompany him and preparing for departure.”

My guard knights, upon hearing Weingert’s words, evidently expressed a desire to participate in the ditter match. This feeling was especially pronounced among my adult guard knights who were unable to participate in the ditter match at the Royal Academy. I looked at their faces and sighed.

“Should any of the knights present wish to accompany them for information gathering, they are welcome to proceed to the training grounds.”

“Would it not be more prudent to discreetly integrate them into Lady Hannelore’s security detail instead? While gathering information is undoubtedly crucial, I assume your primary concern is to ensure that Lady Hannelore has the maximum protection possible.”

”…Kenntrips, keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Perhaps owing to his status as my cousin, Kenntrips had a tendency to express opinions that were best left unsaid. As a result of his words, all of my guards looked at me with an affectionate gaze. Even when I cast a disapproving glance in his direction, he simply feigned obliviousness.

“Lord Lestilaut! In that case, I shall stand guard over Lady Hannelore!”

“Sorry, Rasantark, but underage apprentices are not allowed into other duchies.”

All of my underage guard knights looked crestfallen as I informed Rasantark of the cruel reality. In contrast, my adult guard knights seemed even more fired up. It was quite brazen of them, considering their critical opinion of Hannelore for her mistake during the ditter match.

“Lord Lestilaut, allow me to discuss this matter with Lady Hannelore’s retainers. Given her limited number of adult guard knights, I find it unlikely that she would refuse.”

Most of the archducal family’s retainers were of the same generation as their respective masters, allowing them to accompany them to the Royal Academy. As a result, Hannelore probably only had a handful of adult guards at her disposal. If I were to offer her some of my guards, she would probably not refuse outright.

“While you’re at it, tell her she can make use of my scholars if she needs assistance preparing for battle.”

As my adult guard knights departed my chambers, the younger knights watched with obvious envy. I couldn’t help but scoff at their pathetic expressions.

“As the future archduke, I intend to bid farewell to Hannelore when the time comes for her departure. Those who wish to join me should prepare for a nocturnal outing. Our rendezvous at the country gate is set for midnight, and those who are minors must obtain parental approval.”

Those of a younger age are not given much autonomy. Rasantark and the others seemed annoyed as they made arrangements to contact their parents.

Now then, I wonder how many will gather at the country gate tonight.

If Rozemyne were to arrive through the opening of the country gate after it had been closed for more than a decade, it would surely become a spectacle. Not only the nobles, but also the commoners would make a fuss.

◆

The decision of who among my guard knights would accompany Hannelore was finalized, and some of my scholars started to help her retainers with preparing rejuvenation potions and magic tools. Even though I had permitted my scholars to assist her, I still needed to keep a bare minimum of retainers by my side.

The present retainers are those permitted when summoned by my father. It was conveyed that only those allowed during mana replenishment would accompany me when inheriting knowledge of the foundational magic, necessitating them to be archnobles with blood ties to the archducal family.

It was a challenge for me to find composure as I contemplated the impending summons. This feeling seemed to resonate with my retainers as well. Upon the arrival of a white bird in my chamber, a wave of apprehension swept over them, and they anxiously awaited its message, hanging on its every word.

“Lestilaut, make your way to the archduke’s residence as swiftly as possible.”

“It seems Father has finally found a moment of free time. The moment has come for me to inherit foundational magic. Reginault, Rasantark, Kenntrips, join me immediately.”

I directed my retainers to accompany me as I exited the room. We departed from the northern building, making our way towards the main building housing the archduke’s living quarters. The imminent inheritance of the foundational magic, signifying my role as the next archduke, stirred an indescribable unease within me. Kenntrips seemed to have discerned this sentiment.

“Lord Lestilaut, it is still quite surreal to think that you will become the next archduke.”

“What’s the matter, Kenntrips? Does that thought dissatisfy you?”

“No, I harbor no dissatisfaction. It’s just that not only did you lose the ditter match at the Royal Academy, but the timing for students to obtain their schtappe has been changed. Frankly, I felt your position was very tenuous. I am merely relieved, or perhaps I should say it feels somewhat… anticlimactic.”

Undoubtedly, it posed a formidable challenge for a prospective archduke to rectify his errors in the present era. I never anticipated ascending to this position under such circumstances. In the past, I might have regarded it as my birthright, accepting it without hesitation. However, now that I understood the magnitude of responsibility that accompanies this role, a sense of reluctance creeped in. Simultaneously, I recognized that, at that time, I was the sole individual qualified to fulfill this duty. If Rozemyne had indeed acquired the Grutrissheit, that revelation would undoubtedly reverberate throughout all of Yurgenschmidt. There was the distinct possibility that my tenure in this position would be temporary, until stability was restored to the situation.

“Greetings, Lord Lestilaut. Kindly follow me. The archduke awaits your presence.”

Accompanied by my father’s head attendant, who emerged to welcome me, I ventured into the archducal residence after a considerably long absence. We traversed the corridor, passing the nursery where I had resided until my baptism, then beyond my mother’s quarters, and ultimately reached the entrance to my father’s chambers. I observed my father’s knights stationed in a protective stance at the door—a familiar arrangement employed during our mana replenishment sessions.

“Aub Dunkelfelger, Lord Lestilaut has arrived.”

“Approach. Ah, only Lestilaut is allowed beyond this point. The rest of you, remain here.”

I was granted permission to enter his chambers, but it appeared that our retainers were not granted access any further. Our respective groups of retainers withdrew simultaneously. Observing this, Father continued into his room and I silently followed.

“This is the entrance.”

Several doors were arranged in a row, and Father gently tapped on one. It bore a resemblance to the entrance to a hidden room, likely owing to the magic circle engraved upon it.

“This is the key to unlock it.”

With a gentle press on the feystone attached to the bracelet he wore at all times, Father effortlessly produced a key. Using the key, he unlocked the door, revealing nothing but darkness within. The atmosphere was that of a hidden room.

“Access is granted solely to those possessing this key. Lay your hand here.”

Father held out his hand, the key in his palm, and I placed my hand on his. Together we crossed the threshold into the room, holding the key together. It felt unusual to join hands with my father at this stage of my life. Although my hands were now similar in size to his, the strength and solidity of his hand conveyed that I still had a long way to go to match his prowess.

Crossing the threshold, I found myself in a small, immaculately white room—a confined space surrounded by pristine white walls, devoid of any furnishings. Expecting the foundation to be similar to what had been presented in my classes at the Royal Academy, I involuntarily took a small breath at the unforeseen scene.

“Exercise caution and refrain from touching anything.”

I acknowledged my father’s caution with a nod and made sure my body remained still. I limited my movements to turning my head as I surveyed the room. All that met my gaze were the surrounding walls and nothing beyond.

“Use of the key from the bracelet grants access only up to this point. Consequently, there may be fools who seek to harm the archduke, believing that the key alone can facilitate the theft of the foundation. However, the key’s effectiveness is limited. The fools who manage to reach this stage will undoubtedly be perplexed.”

The manner in which he conveyed that gave me the impression that he deemed me one of those fools for being puzzled by this space adorned solely with white walls. I glared lightly at him.

“When the Zent establishes a new foundation, the duchy’s first aub determines the method to proceed further. In essence, each duchy should have an exclusive approach beyond this stage.”

That makes sense. In the midst of the political upheaval and purge, there were undoubtedly misguided fools who killed the aubs of the fallen duchies and stole their keys, but failed to extract the knowledge of how to access the foundation. They probably assumed that the key alone would suffice, only to discover that they could not go any further. A Zent without a Grutrissheit would be unfamiliar with how to access it, and would be unable to create a new foundation from scratch. As a result, overseeing the fallen duchies became an even more daunting task.

“To attain Dunkelfelger’s foundational magic, one must first register their mana with this key. Channel your mana into this key.”

Accepting the key given to me by my father, I channeled my mana into it. Due to my strong compatibility with my father’s mana, I quickly dyed the key without encountering much resistance.

“Grasp the key in your left hand and press it against the adjacent wall, then channel your mana through it.”

Adhering to my father’s guidance, I pressed the key against the left wall. The feystone on my ring began to glow, and a magic circle materialized on the wall, centered around the key.

“Should I happen to touch any of the other walls, what consequences might unfold?”

“Spears will be propelled from it. I was informed that should your reflexes and luck forsake you, the consequences may prove fatal. Your only chance of survival would be to vacate the room immediately. I keep the bracelet containing the key on my left hand to prevent myself from forgetting that.”

It seemed rather dangerous, but if such measures were necessary to protect the foundation, then so be it. As I watched my father gesture toward the designated wall, I resolved to wear the bracelet on my left hand once I inherited the foundational magic.

Once the magic circle was fully formed, text materialized before my eyes. Observing the ancient language inscribed upon it, I recited the words aloud, “Pledge your oath to Leidenschaft, the God of Fire.”

There was no need for me to inquire about the pledge I must make. I cast a glance at my father, and he met my gaze with his red eyes narrowed in a smile.

“This is precisely why the members of Dunkelfelger’s archducal family are obligated to study the ancient language. Now, without further delay, utilize your stylo to inscribe your pledge. Those unfamiliar with the correct pledge are deemed unfit for the position of the next archduke.”

I formed my schtappe and chanted, “Stylo,” to form a pen, which I then used to write my pledge in the ancient language.

“As the Zent’s sword, Dunkelfelger exists to vanquish the enemies of the gods-anointed king, and safeguard the peace of Yurgenschmidt.”

Upon completing my inscription, the wall in front of me dissipated, revealing an iridescent film in its stead.

“Oh? You inscribed it more swiftly than I expected. Despite your rebellious demeanor, it appears that you have indeed studied the ancient language adequately.”

This was primarily a result of Rozemyne effortlessly translating Dunkelfelger’s history book, and Hannelore being summoned to aid the royal family in their work within the underground archive. However, I had no intention of saying that aloud.

“Is this riddle not overly simplistic for a member of Dunkelfelger’s archducal family? It could be perilous if disagreements were to arise among the members of the archducal family regarding the rightful successor to the position of the next archduke.”

Lessons in the ancient language were an integral part of the education of every member of Dunkelfelger’s archducal family, and the pledge of Leidenschaft was repeated so often among its members that it had become a common phrase. If a member of Dunkelfelger’s archducal family obtained the key, the likelihood of successfully accessing the foundation was greatly increased.

“If there were a dispute between members of the archduke’s family regarding the next archduke, they could easily settle the matter by playing a game of ditter. The real concern lies in the potential interference of nobles from other duchies trying to lay claim to our foundation. Furthermore, if a retiring archduke does not have the time to adequately prepare his successor, making the inheritance of the foundational magic too difficult could be a significant problem down the line. The simplicity of the riddle is designed for members of the Dunkelfelger archducal family, ensuring that it remains an easy task for them, while proving challenging for individuals from other duchies. This arrangement is intentional.”

“I see.”

“More importantly, let us continue. The foundation awaits just beyond this point.”

My father gestured towards the rainbow-colored film, and we advanced through it. The room on the other side was quite spacious, yet devoid of windows, enclosed by white walls on all sides. Seven feystones, identical to those found in the Mana Replenishment hall, floated in the air, captivatingly moving about.

“The feystones, radiating with the divine colors, are connected to the Mana Replenishment hall. They transform the mana supplied by the archducal family into golden dust that cascades down onto the foundation below. It is a sight of exquisite beauty.”

My gaze traced my father’s outstretched hand, following it to the suspended feystones and the foundation below. Beneath the feystones of divine colors, a massive globe came into view. It seemed as if a section of the ground had been removed, revealing the globe partially submerged beneath. Although its shape resembled the foundation I had encountered in my studies, its sheer size was beyond comparison. Furthermore, the large, globe-shaped foundation seemed to contain a liquid that emanated a gentle, pale blue glow.

Dyeing this with my own mana would be no simple feat.

Rozemyne had said that she intended to settle the matter within two bells, but I found it hard to believe that she could dye the foundation of another duchy in such a short time when she had absolutely no compatibility with the mana of the current aub.

“Father… Do you truly believe that Rozemyne has the capability to steal Ahrensbach’s foundation?”

“Lady Rozemyne stated that it would take her two bells’ worth of time. She has a history of winning ditter matches that we expected her to lose, so she must have some chance of success. My only regret is that I won’t be able to witness her actions firsthand. Whatever she plans, it appears to be more interesting than my visit to the Sovereignty. Curse you, Sieglinde.”

Although my father expressed his dissatisfaction with my mother’s rejection of his plans, he had no doubt that Rozemyne would emerge victorious. He waited for a situation to develop in the Sovereignty, with her victory as a foregone conclusion.

“Father, do you anticipate that you will have to go to the Sovereignty?”

“We have been informed that Ahrensbach has committed treason by inviting a foreign threat into the country. It would be best if we could apprehend Lady Detlinde and everyone from Lanzenave in Ahrensbach itself, but if they have attempted to kill Lord Ferdinand as a preliminary measure to obtaining the Grutrissheit, there is a strong possibility that they are already on their way to the Sovereignty.”

My father is uncertain whether the Sovereign Knights’ Order alone had the ability to thwart them, so he anticipated an imminent confrontation.

“Lestilaut, return the key to me.”

I relinquished the key, which I had held throughout this process, back to my father. After a brief moment of holding it, he touched it to the feystone on his bracelet, causing the key to vanish instantly.

“By providing you with this bracelet before my departure to the Sovereignty, there will be no hindrance to your inheritance of the foundational magic. While I harbor concerns about your ability to manage governmental affairs due to your limited experience, seeking the assistance of the other members of the archducal family should help resolve any challenges that may arise.”

His words made me involuntarily gulp. My gaze was fixed on the bracelet that adorned my father’s left hand. A premonition gripped me, signaling that the moment to receive it was imminent. Though I had no regrets about becoming the next archduke, a life dedicated to that pursuit and the sheer weight of responsibility attached to the magnificent foundation before me filled me with a nervous apprehension.

Is it truly Rozemyne’s intention to steal something of this magnitude, all for the sake of rescuing Lord Ferdinand?

Had Rozemyne been present, I might have been inclined to say, “Abandon such futile endeavors. Face the harsh reality.” But such advice would fall on deaf ears.

“Lestilaut, there is a matter of importance that you must understand.”

My father fixed his gaze on me and spoke, his resolute intent shining through his red eyes.

“Should Lady Rozemyne indeed emerge from the country gate, it will undoubtedly confirm her possession of the Grutrissheit, making her a viable candidate to become the next Zent.”

I have been informed of that several times today, beginning with my father’s mention in the meeting. Despite expressing my awareness to him, he insisted, “No, you do not understand.”

“You must know your place. You have insulted her many times in the past, and you forcibly started a game of bride-stealing ditter masquerading as bride-taking ditter. Based on your past actions, Lady Rozemyne certainly does not have a good impression of you. She only forgave you because you are the brother of her close friend Hannelore, and she did not want to cause her any problems. However, you are now the next archduke. For the sake of Dunkelfelger’s future, make sure you treat her with the utmost respect she deserves as a Zent candidate. Do you understand?”

My father instructed me to look back on the language and behavior I had used when speaking of Rozemyne, as well as how I had been referring to her without using a title.

Ah, I see.

Rozemyne and I found ourselves in entirely distinct positions. No longer were we members of archducal families in a duchy middle in both rank and size and a high-ranked greater duchy, respectively. She had risen as a Zent candidate, while I was on the verge of becoming the next archduke of a greater duchy. Consequently, I could no longer behave in the same manner in her presence.

“Understood. I will strive to conduct myself in a manner befitting Lady Rozemyne’s status.”

Silently, I appended the words, “Only if the country gate truly opens in the middle of the night…” without verbalizing them. Perhaps it was my pride speaking, but I was hesitant to alter my demeanor towards her until I witnessed the Grutrissheit with my very own eyes.