#dunkelfelger

[yurgenschmidt]

[maskedtwilight]

@honzuki-exchange @ludrol

For this Spring Prayer 2024 Honzuki Exchange, I drew Myne as Stancyzk for Ludrol/https://bookwormstory.social/u/ludrol

The Dunkeldoos look to be celebrating! Whatever they're reading must have joyous news! Surely our court gremlin will rejoice as well, right...?

[tassjis]

Spoilers for Hannelore 5th Year

Oh, I can't wait for the feudal lords bride stealing ditter happen. Looks like it will be the Aubs and their family from Corinzdaum and Drewanchel fighting each other, and that means Adolphine can physically fight her ex-husband in a game of ditter to stop him from marrying hannelore.

That does mean Ortwinn may end up with Hannelores hand but still just to see Adolphine kick Sigiswald further in the ground would be great

Still praying Kentrips thread stays intertwined with hannelores that being said she has two hands the other can be held by Rarstark.

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'Ascendance of a Bookworm' #17 (4.5)

Ascendance of a Bookworm, Vol. 17 (Part 4, Volume 5) by Miya Kazuki

adventure

fantasy

magic

library science

librarian

royal academy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An intriguing pattern has emerged in terms of Lady Rozemyne's tendency to demand change, as well as of the authority of those who recognize the significance of the change she demands. Notably, the individuals who attune themselves to Rozemyne's wild ideas, and rightfully discern her curiosity as worth revering, are usually two or three degrees removed from positions of high authority. Meanwhile, most people who scoff, disregard, or glance askew whenever the young woman's ideas come to the fore are usually those with the power to make change happen.

ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v17 completes the remainder of seasons in-between Rozemyne's first and second years at the Royal Academy. She visits the northern region of Groschel, to further establish the paper-making industry, and she tends to myriad events at the castle, including the welcoming of two ladies of Ahrensbach, whom have now married into the family. But Rozemyne's standards for industry growth are high, and her tendency to forget her directives and chat up suspected enemies on tangential topics gives everyone an ulcer. In short, the usual.

The current volume is another collection of awkward and interwoven castle affairs. Naturally, many such events threaten to spiral out of control but never do, which speaks well of the author's sprawling network of subplots, but doesn't do much for readers interested in some decent drama.

For example, when Rozemyne goes to Groschel, she leans on her attendant, Brunhilde, who is native to the area. But their visit is replete with problems: the lower city is deeply impoverished, the nobility is stiff and uncompromising, and the local water supply is polluted. Will the paper-making industry forsake setting down roots in an area with so little social progress? Brunhilde doesn't see much of a problem with simply ordering the commoners to do the tasks and then blaming them when things go wrong. But Rozemyne, careful not to offend but conscientious of the need to be truthful, sets the young woman straight: The people are responsible for the work, true, but the nobility is responsible for the people and their environment; it's all connected.

ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v17 reinforces the novel series' most essential emerging theme: egalitarianism. Quintessentially Japanese though not without other cultural precedence, the equal delegation of opportunity, the equal expectation of good work, and the shared consequences of failure are fundamental convictions of this novel series.

Counter-navigating an ambush during a wedding ceremony? Appeasing the anxiety of a newlywed woman who once felt trapped in her own home? Staying mindful of the watchful gazes of the surrounding duchies once the new school year begins? In each of these scenarios, Rozemyne must rely on her own wits, as well as the untested virtue of individuals who do not always have the station or authority to make a change. When Lady Aurelia of Ahrensbach marries into the family, will she be bitter and ambitions, or will she be uncertain of her position? When Adolphine of the Duchy of Dunkelfelger keys on Rozemyne at the Royal Academy, is it because she's upholding a promise to the now-graduated Lady Eglantine, or is it because she spies value in the tiny blue-haired girl that no one else sees?

The number of scenes that lend one the impression of foreshadowing are high, but the number of scenes with legitimate action or drama are minimal. Readers may have to wait another volume to see if Philine's brief military training comes in handy, or if Ferdinand's warning about the conflict between the old factions' children usurping their parents ever comes to pass, or if Lady Adolphine's role swerves from pleasant nuisance to legitimate knave.

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews || ahb writes on Good Reads

[likesdoodling]

Doodles from the last few days :D - (Clarissa would be on here too, but I only felt like drawing one retainer each from Rozemyne and Ferdinand :D)

[ojamajoprincess]

Hannelore is just so cute. I’m so glad she’s getting her own installment, even if I won’t be able to read it anywhere near its release date since im sticking to US pub novels and Junior Bunkos.

[ship-of-skitties]

thinking abt dunkelfelger myne au. more under the cut, i'd appreciate your thpoughts

ok so. first off. as is, just copy-pasted, myne would not survive dunkelfelger as a commoner. she'd die very quickly. so, how do we fix this?

commoners in dunkelfelger kill feybeasts, right? so it'd make sense if they had feystones. this gives myne a small mana sink - and assuming merchant apprenticeship still happens - gold dust which could be incorporated into products.

but how do we get to the part we want, the royal academy? well first we have to get through becoming a noble. ferdinand isn't here, nor does she discover the temple bookroom (because i say so).

i saw something in a fic recently and im stealing the idea for this. at some set time of year, nobles can make requests of aub dunkelfelger - if they are able to beat another person making a request/one of the the archduke family in ditter (presumably a dueling, 1v1 form?), they get their request granted (it's the ditter duchy. you should expect this).

myne hears about it offhand and her train of thought goes "nobles have books. people make requests to the aub. if i beat someone in whatever 'ditter' is, i can read books!" and thus her Rampage begins

how does she get in the castle to do this? mixtures of unethical and possibly forever harmful substances in little projectiles she shoots with a slingshot! invading the royal castle? attacking a noble? what's that?

no-one calls for aid with rott or anything else because... i mean that's a toddler. that's a baby. what could a baby do with a slingshot? turns out lots and lots and lots and lots

so she eventually gets to the room where it's happening (100% comically struggles with the door until she opens it with something stretchy like elastic) and the nobles are like. Hey What The Fuck. Why Is The Door Open. And Why Is There A Fucking Toddler

AND THEN this little fuckin child. this small pillbug of a human being. uses this meeting usually used as an excuse to play ditter and get power. To Ask The Aub To Give Her A Book

like. who's gonna fight a child. so they're just sitting there in stunned silent until the aub asks whose kid this is. and ofc none of them answer (note as im typing this: it feels like im writing a comedy skit.)

myne then insists on fighting for it. and bc no-one else wants to fight A Fucking Toddler aub dunkelfelger agrees to do some dueling ditter

the aub's like Christ I Need To Go Really Easy On This Kid. I'll Just Walk Over And Tap Her And She'll Fall Unconscious. so they go to the field! and as soon as it starts he starts getting pelted by not only Horrible Fucking Skin Irritants and Chopped Onions 2.0, but by gold dust from small feystones (pocket sand 2) so he's just rolling around on the floor blinded by all these Horrible Little Curses Of Mortal Men and soon he's just. Unconscious.

and they ask her What The Hell she did to the aub. the answer is I Poisoned Him. With Plants. And Threw Dust In His Eyes

she did incapacitate the aub, so she won the bargain, and i cannot think of anything past this point

[salmalin]

The sheer number of similarities between Ferdinand and Myne's narratives really are staggering.

They were both in Yurhenschmit due to events that occurred on another world.

They were both doomed to die and become a feystone due to the circumstance of their birth.

Being adopted by the Archduke saved them, at the cost of their family.

Speaking of, they both have dimming memories of their original birth mother, who they can never see again.

They were constantly under attack in this new space, and expected to excel while being promised none of what was to be given to their new siblings.

Their very presence created a schism, so they did whatever they could do inform the people around them they had no invention of taking the duchy for their own.

This didn't work.

They both invent a string of things that could upend the whole country, but are luxury items to the point that no normal person could possibly own them.

Upon attending the academy, they performed feats that baffled people and had their honor doubted due to traps they set.

While in school, they were courted by a Royal, but things didn't turn out and that's probably for the best.

They're both heartthrobs who have multiple people romantically interested in them.

They both have multiple weirdos following them around, swearing their names to them. These weirdos are also weirdly competent in unorthodox ways.

They also have a member of Dunkelfelger beating down their door wanting to watch them in action.

They're both Freaking Weird.

There's def more than that, but honestly this could go on forever. I really love that everything we learn about Ferdinand is so strangely similar to Myne. The biggest difference between them is that she knew what love was, and I think it's very poigniant that this is ultimately what drew him to her—to bask in the very thing he lacked.

[rozemynelovebot]

Connection between duchy cape colors and the gods

Something I noticed about some of the most major-character duchies in AOAB is how I think you could argue that their cape colors correlate to the Supreme Gods and the Eternal Five respectively. The duchies that I consider to be the most frequently mentioned/closely involved in the story are Ehrenfest, Dunkelfelger, Alexandria (both on its own and also in holding the position of former Ahrensbach), Klassenberg, Drewanchel, and the Sovereignty. I think that the general outlook of these duchies or their major characters can be pretty easily tied to the god/goddess that their respective cape color correlates to, which I’ll explain further below-

—

The Sovereignty: Black

The divine color of the God of Darkness. Just as the God of Darkness is King of the Gods, the Zent rules the Sovereignty. The AOAB Wiki also has some potential etymology for Rozemyne’s name for the God of Darkness, Schicksantracht, to be translated as “unity/harmony,” which could tie in to how the Sovereignty, or at the very least the royal family that rules it, is meant to unify the duchies and bring harmony to Yurgenschmidt. Anastasius, member of the royal family and currently prince-consort to the Zent, also often likens his wife to the Goddess of Light, meaning that he by default falls into the role of the God of Darkness, and their romance is often compared to that of the Supreme Gods.

Drewanchel: Green

The divine color of Flutrane. Duchy of scholars, could tie into the “change” association with Flutrane as such an intelligent duchy continually seeks out new and changing research and ideas. Individual character mention in Adolphine, who boldly seeks to and accomplishes in changing her own marriage circumstances for the better.

Dunkelfelger: Blue

The divine color of Leidenschaft. Deeply in line with Dunkelfelger values and general temperament, a duchy of hot headed and battle-obsessed nobles who even receive more divine protections from Leidenschaft and his subordinates than any other. Pretty much any major Dunkelfelger character mentioned could be tied in here aside from Hannelore.

Ehrenfest: Ochre (Dark Yellow/Gold)

There are two angles to view the associations in Ehrenfest, tying it to the Goddess of Light’s divine color of Gold, and tying it to Schutzaria’s divine color of Yellow.

One of the main associations with the Goddess of Light is motherhood, and Ehrenfest has strong ties to both positive and negative examples of motherhood. The overarching plot of Veronica, Georgine, Sylvester, and Ferdinand is focused around the core conflict of an abusive mother and her victims. Veronica haunts the entire narrative of AOAB despite never really being physically present in any non-flashback scenes, and her misuse of her position of “mother” is what shaped many of the main characters and various plots throughout the series. Additionally, as AOAB is a very story very heavily focused on familial themes, Rozemyne also has close relationships with multiple mother-figures as she grows up both as a commoner and as a noble. Effa’s unconditional love for Myne is a large part of what shapes her into who she is, and Elvira’s love and motherly support once Rozemyne is baptized into noble society is essential to her, both socially and emotionally. The main printing industry in Ehrenfest is largely advanced thanks to Elvira’s “motherly love” for Rozemyne as well, meaning that even Ehrenfest’s economic, technological, and social advancements are founded on a mother’s affections for her daughter.

In terms of associations with Schutzaria in line with Ocher being considered a Dark Yellow, I looked for associations between Ehrenfest and Schutzaria’s association with protection. Ehrenfest’s archducal family is seemingly much closer than other duchies’ archducal families. Spearheaded by Rozemyne, who is forever hellbent on protecting what she holds dear, Ehrenfest can be considered a duchy that values protecting its own perhaps on a higher level than other duchies. For example, when Ferdinand is engaged into Ahrensbach, despite his own relatively weak political position, Sylvester tries his best to stand up to the Zent to protect him and is devastated when he is ultimately unable to. While other duchies seem to think that nobles, especially female nobles, marrying out of one’s home duchy for political power is a given, Ehrenfest tries to protect Rozemyne by keeping her in their own duchy through her initial engagement to Wilfred. They do originally intend to marry Charlotte into another duchy, but in what seems to be an unusual fashion asked of him by Rozemyne, Sylvester still tries to protect Charlotte by trying to give her as much freedom of choice in her partner as possible. Rozemyne protects Wilfried from the consequences of his trip to the Ivory Tower, and Charlotte from her kidnappers. Sylvester protects Myne when Bidewald attacks her. The first spells Rozemyne casts or is taught are all protective in nature as well. Overall, Ehrenfest’s nobles seem especially inclined to protect those close to or associated with them, just as Schutzaria is a goddess known for her shield and strong protective power.

Klassenberg: Red

The divine color of Geduldh. Color associated with warmth, compassion, and femininity. In P5V1, Rozemyne remarks that perhaps all Klassenberg women are kind and gentle like Eglantine, Hortensia, and Primevere, implying that at least the women of the duchy are in line with the divine association.

—

The only one missing from the Supreme Gods or the Eternal Five is Ewigeliebe, with his divine color of White. The closest I could think of for a duchy with story relevance and a white cape was perhaps Jossbrenner with their cream capes, as there is no duchy represented by the color pure white, but as Jossbrenner was only brought up a few fleeting times (and regardless is not what I would describe as one of the “major character” duchies to begin with), I couldn’t think of any particular ties to Ewigeliebe.

Perhaps it could be theorized that, like how the shrines in the Royal Academy have one singular consolidated shrine for both Geduldh and Ewigeliebe, Klassenberg’s men could relate to Ewigeliebe in the same way that its women relate to Geduldh. I don’t have any concrete evidence for this though, so it’s just a silly idea to make up for Ewigeliebe not having a corresponding duchy of his own…

—

Aside from the Supreme Gods and the Eternal Five, Alexandria could be tied to Mestionora (obviously), arguably the most important of the subordinate gods or goddesses in AOAB, so I’m including it as well-

Alexandria: Dark Blue

Ties to Mestionora’s hair color, though her divine color could possibly yellow instead due to her position as a Wind subordinate. Specific character reference is obviously Rozemyne, Aub and divine avatar of Mestionora, who constantly and gluttonously desires new written knowledge, as well as secondarily Ferdinand who continually seeks out greater knowledge through his research.

[ming-sik]

in general i think that dunkelfelger mostly stumbles because it was clearly designed to be about five characters who are fun to have around during the academy, but when they actually are supposed to participate in the political drama they just... stay the school sports group, which doesn't make sense for an entire duchy, and just compounds the climax's problem of not having any stakes because it's literally a game to them. my fixes would be:

i'm still either consolidating lestilaut into hannelore or switching their personalities. giving hannelore his personality lets her clash with dunkelfelger's expectation that women serve primarily to hunt down and then reign in men by contrasting that with someone who's insane on her own. also lets her be a more direct foil to rozemyne by using her weakness to cute girls to trick her into spending time with a character her age who can actually stand up to her, which the academy arc otherwise really lacks.

clarify that dunkelfelger-the-school-faction is really into ditter the same way most places are into their regional sport. there's definitely a ditter culture and a lot of the students are really into it, but the only time everyone in dunkelfelger is a ditter fan is during the interduchy tournament. the rest of the time there are people who are unathletic or who actively don't care about ditter because they think everyone else being into it is annoying, you know, the way real people in places with heavy sports cultures act.

maybe yurgenschmidt needs more than one sport. they have worf but maybe they could have a third sport. perhaps dunkelfelger could even have many kinds of sports or if we must do ditter at least have a few really weird kinds with fun rulesets so it's not just different kinds of treasure and then the actual game is just anything goes combat. the rules are part of the fun, i really think we could've used a Sports version of ditter rozemyne can't just win by hiding in her car because there's like.... rules.

the actual duchy needs to have other stuff going on. completely spitballing my proposal would be for there to be a faction war between people who want to find a strong zent candidate from dunkelfelger(probably backing magdalena and hildebrand) and people who want to back the current candidate as hard as possible. they both want to avoid the civil war reigniting because of a weak zent or treason. instead of the bride stealing ditter plot being lestilaut just being insane it could be the first faction trying to bring rozemyne in specifically so she or her kid could be the strong dunkelfelger zent they're looking for and they're trying to marry her to lestilaut. also with the sibling personality swap you can have their own succession conflict where maybe hannelore is better suited to the role but she'd rather go the bonifatius route whereas lestilaut is default considered but there's some concern if he's suited for it, so the first faction wants hannelore as the aub for her strength and then lestilaut can marry rozemyne and their kid becomes the zent while the second faction wants lestilaut to become the aub because he's less controversial outside the duchy and no nothing re: the zent no treason here no sir. the first faction presents itself as the hannelore faction but she reveals that not only does she not really want to be aub but also that they'll still expect her to settle down once she "finds a man stronger than her" to marry and they mostly care that she can have strong kids, so she'd actually prefer the second faction since she could become the knight commander if lestilaut's the uncontested aub.

[ehrenfest]

Just a few of the Q&A's from the new fanbook that I thought were interesting. Spoiler up to P5V12, but none for the spinoff. Translated with MTL

1. How did Trauerqual and Sigiswald decided on the names of their new duchies, official colours, or crests? 

A. Actually Blumenfeld was originally going to use dark blue since they were going to ask Dunkelfelger for aid and were in the area of influence of the Darkness gate. But it was rejected because Alexandria applied for dark blue first. There wasn’t much time left to submit the base colour so Trauerqual suggested “Why not use a dilution of the black we’ve been using already?” so it became grey. Since it was just a dilution of black Trauerqual didn’t have to go through any trial and error to create it. Korinthsdaum said, “If the Zent is using white now, why can’t I use black?” Eglantine rejected it with a smile saying, “Considering the influence from the boarder gates, dark red or dark yellow would fine. Should I choose?” Since Sigiswald was absolutely against using a colour that would make it appear he was under Ehrenfest’s influence he chose the red. 

2. Do the women who come from Lanzenave to Aldalgisa arrive knowing what is done in that place (having children outside of marriage with royals and Aubs, and that any sons become feystones)?

A. They only know it’s to give birth to the next king of Lanzenave, and to secure as many feystones as possible.

3. How is a flower of Aldalgisa perceived in Lanzenave? Is it a prestigious position carrying on the family name? A pitiful human sacrifice? An object of scorn?

A. She’s a princess who has won the honour of carrying on the family name and giving birth to the next king.

4. It seems that when the princess arrives from Lanzenave, the previous flowers are turned into feystones. Are the princesses also to be turned into feystones, just like the flowers who are born there, once they’re past childbearing age?

A. Yes.

5. Are the practical skills for a boy’s bedchamber education in the Central Temple compulsory? Are there any students who refuse the practical part because they have a fiancée in a love marriage (or a sweetheart) or they have an aversion to flower offerings?

A. It’s required. Since this is education to successfully proceed with a marriage with a noblewoman I think it’s taken more seriously by those who have a fiancée or lover they want to take care of. It's quite scary for a woman to entrust herself to a self-centred man who doesn't want to learn how to treat women, such as how much mana flow is painful depending on the degree of colour matching, and how to alleviate discomfort caused by the difference in attributes.

6. Now that Rozemyne is Aub Alexandria, can she make Damuel and Philine into mednobles? Or does Damuel remain a laynoble due to marrying into Philine’s family?

A. Since their medals are registered as laynobles they can’t be treated as mednobles even if they move to another duchy. Family rank can’t be raised if they are the only ones who have mednoble-level mana. If the family can demonstrate mednoble levels of mana for three generations in a row then they can be elevated.

7. Ferdinand sometimes calls a hidden room a workshop, depending on the intended use, but aren't there a minority of nobles who would make their hidden rooms into workshops? Hidden room = where you want to keep secret what you’re doing, so you wouldn't use it for making recovery potions or magic tools that everyone knows about, would you?

A. That’s right. For archduke candidates, they use the castle’s brewing room because they usually have their scholars assisting them. In Ferdinand’s case, since he was making recovery potions and antidotes to Veronica’s poisons, he would brew in a hidden room out of fear of interference from those following her will. Few people use hidden rooms as workshops.

8. Is there fortune telling and such based on mana attributes or birth season, similar to blood types? [Japan has astrology-like personality types based on blood type]

A. Yes, if it’s common mana aptitude-type fortune telling similar to Type A being meticulous. It’s said that someone with a strong darkness aptitude is individualistic and secretive. A strong light aptitude is formal and overserious. A strong water aptitude is kind to their own people and harsh to their enemies. A strong fire aptitude is caring but pushy.  A strong wind aptitude is inclined to seclude themselves and focus only on their own interests. A strong earth aptitude is seriously patient and tends to live for others. A strong life aptitude is tenacious and treasures their own sphere.

9. If each parent has dedicated their name to a different person, would this affect the mana of their baby? For example, was this part of the reasons why Shikikoza had so little mana?

A. No, the change in mana due to name dedication only binds the surface so it does not affect a child’s mana.

10. Depending on the image, waschen can erase the effects of Trug. But if you imagine it erasing all the poison in someone’s body would it be possible to use it when rescuing Ferdinand in the replenishment hall without needing an antidote? It would ruin the story though.

A. It’s possible, but unlike with Trauerqual, who was muddled but conscious and who they could observe as he struggled to breathe and almost drowned, you would pour it on Ferdinand from outside the room as he was dying and barely conscious, right? Probably Ferdinand drowns before the waschen gets rid of the poison. It would ruin the story in the sense that it would become Rozemyne putting an end to Ferdinand.

11. Were blessings other than greetings or healing well known among the nobility even before Myne became a noble?  Given that neither Shikikosa nor Damuel seemed very surprised and described it as adding mana, I was wondering if there are other nobles who give blessings besides Rozemyne.

A. Sometimes a lower status knight would do something like give mana (offensive power) to a higher status knight. It’s not a blessing prayed to the gods, it’s more like handing over mana when it’s asked for, but it looks very similar.

12. In Fanbook 2 Overflow Q&A, it said, “If consciousness is lost in the middle of the use of magic and the magic is not completed, the released mana may explode.” If Rozemyne’s mana was depleted first before completing the large-scale magic, how large of an explosion would have occurred?

A. Hmm, if the use of Gramp’s hair to designate the range works well, it would be contained to Alexandria alone….. possibly? If the use of the rainbow-coloured feystone to expand the effect has an influence, I think around half of Yurgenschmidt would become collateral damage.

13. Is there a magic tool for forcibly squeezing out mana that is only used on criminals? I would like to know about it.

A. It looks similar to the magic tool for children. It sucks mana out through shackles and into a paired feystone container. The children’s magic tool only absorbs overflowing mana, but the tool for criminals has no limiter and everyday sucks out an amount to the point where they struggle and suffer.

14. Why does the Lord of Winter appear in two places, but the Lord of Summer in only one?

A. It’s in the gods’ nature to do so.

15. If Rozemyne had lost and was placed in the Sovereign Temple, was there any possibility that she would have been made to give birth to Gervasio’s and the Lanzenave Royal family’s children?

A. Most likely. Because for Gervasio, that's how women in Yurgenschmidt are treated.

16. Ferdinand has loved research since he was in the Royal Academy, was there an event that triggered his love for it?

A. Being able to detoxify Veronica’s poison with medicine he mixed himself is what got him into research.

17. Who taught Ferdinand how to make a hidden room?

A. It was Irmhilde. That’s the reason he knows the way for an adult and child to register mana together.

18. Did Ferdinand initially call Sylvester “brother” and use honourifics with him? Was there some episode that triggered him to start addressing him informally and without honourifics, even if only in private?

A. At first Sylvester told him to call him “brother”, but when he did Veronica viciously beat him so he stopped. When he called him “Lord Sylvester”, Sylvester selfishly replied “I don’t like it because it doesn’t sound familiar”. When his retainer began saying “Well, do I need to report to Lady Veronica that you're defying Lord Sylvester” Ferdinand was at a complete loss. Karstedt, well aware of how Veronica operated, arranged a place for the three of them to talk alone and showed him the example of how to break down language and manners. Karstedt scolded Sylvester in his capacity as an older cousin, mercilessly beating him on the head. As a result that’s what Ferdinand imitated, his attitude became one without a shred of respect.

19. What was the reason that Sylvester and Bonifatius both cradled their heads before the engagement ceremony?

A. For Sylvester, it was being clearly told “I didn’t want to be engaged to Wilfried”. At the time of Wilfried’s emotional outburst she put up with it without saying what she really felt, and just said “It would be nice if I had freedom of the library.” He realized how naive he had been to think that because she spoke bluntly about everything that there was no problem. Bonifatius was torn between wanting to say “You’re just not aware of it, that’s all!” and not wanting to make her aware of it.

[aspecofdust]

I feel bad for kinda derailing your "trans in Yurgenschmidt" post with my knee-jerk reaction, so I want to actually talk about it! Ignoring the transphobic possibilities, looking at some of the canon information means that it could actually be cool!

In a fanbook, Kazuki-sensei clarified that gay relationships aren't discriminated against, it's just that gay marriage isn't a thing because in Yurgenschmidt, marriage is a purely political and child-focused thing. So theoretically, as long as the union could produce a child and be beneficial to the families involved, it should be allowed. It would just mean that all straight marriages with trans people would need to be T4T (honestly pretty awesome). It also technically unlocks certain gay marriages.

Also considering that there are rituals to bring about spring and whatnot, I think Flutrane and her subordinates could definitely have a ritual to trans your gender 🤔

All good thoughts :3

I think potions made using ingredients that align with water could definitely be out there to help with it. If being trans needs to be kept in secrecy, they could do some identity laundering and undergo adoption with a close member of the family/fake a childhood death and later be re-added to the family as an "adopted" child. Though it would be cool if trans people could just exist openly, taking potions and praying to the Gods. If Flutrane was so gracious as to help her trans children, it could even mark trans people as favored in a way. Though given everyone's reactions to a later event, those kinds of blessings probably aren't given commonly. Could chalk that up to nobody praying anymore though, if we wanna have generous headcanons...

Drewanchel and Dunkelfelger are probably the two duchies (that we know of) that would be the most accepting to trans people. ("Woah.... We should research how you were able to do this!" And "Woah.... Can we play Ditter now?")

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[orii-blogs-stuff]

More stuff about the Demigod au

So the Demigods go to their own school that is called Divine academy (thanks @insert-clever-username-1133 for the idea!) and it takes up hald of the Sov while the Royal academy takes up the other half as shown bellow:

the map shows the duchy dorms and the Godly dorms in their duchy/godly colour, how do the godly dorms work? Say for example your parent is Angriff, God of war, since he's a subordinate of Lidenschaft, the demigod will go to the Leidenschaft/blue dorm. The Red dorm on the outer edge is Geduldh's dorm and that's where all the student's who's parents who aren't subordinates of the supreme couple or the Eternal five (well, four in this case) such as childen of apprentice gods or even Chaocipher.

The schools are connected at the large circle where the garden of beginings are (and a long corridor) where Nobles could get their schtappes and demigods could go talk to Erwaermen to get news from their godly parents, bet the tree gets lonely, so now he gets to talk to a bunch of students~ Aren't I so nice? :)

There are 2 aus I'm imagine:

Nobles fogot demigods exist and due to magic and the hall that connects the two sides of the schools get sealed up, only the connection to the garden of beginings remain but nobles and demigods dont go through the other's eist, also Nobles can't see pass the blue line cuz there's this heavy fog but the Demigods could see just fine

Demigods and Nobles co-exist and know of eachothers existance, and while plenty of nobles look down on the demigods for their commoner background, lines of communication are still open between the two groups and there's no heavy fog stopping the nobles from seeing the demigod side or any wall from stopping them from mingling

For the sake of this post, let's go with the second option where demigods are remembered.

The Leidenschaft and Dunkelfelger's dorms are very close so they have ditter atleast thrice a week (Where Leidenschaft dorm wins almost every single ditter).

The Cuococalura kids (and kids of Cuococalura's apprentices) all get together to make breakfast, lunch and dinner for all the Godly dorms.

Kunstzeal and Vulcanift (plus apprentice) kids are in charge of the decorations

and those whose parents are responcable for harvest and hunting and blooms and stuff grow the food or hunt feybeasts for the meals.

Demigod-nobles, who's mortal parents are nobles are expected to finish their studies as fast as possible and then spend atleast 2 days a week on the demigod side of the RA/DA.

Also, while plenty of nobles look down on the demigods for their commoner origins, plenty more nobles order their children to make demigod connects or to even marry a demigod because of their high mana capacity and high attributes and bits of their godly powers shine through in the next generation.

E.g. A Drewanchel archnoble or archduke candidate might be told to woo a child of Mestionora or those of Dunkelfelger might try their luck with someone from the Leidenschaft dorm or a child of Leidenschaft even.

Imagine Rozemyne, who isn't a demigod but people think she's a demigod anyways cuz of her uncanny resemblence to Mestionora and her love for books ends up in the DA: Rozemyne: I don't think I should be here... I'm in the wrong place.. Student: Nonsense! You're at the right place! Rozemyne: I'm really not- Student: hushes her shhh... It's ok... It can be very hard being away from your parents firstie... Would you like to read the book from our library? Rozemyne: Remembering how sylvester said she can't go to the library until everyone passes Nevermind! I'm in the right place! I'd love to read!

Also, fun little snippit between a Dunkelfelger Archnoble and their Child of Angriff Fiance:

DA: What should we do for our wedding? CAF: Well we must have a celebratory ditter to celebrate our engagement DA: Ofcourse Dear CAF: And our pre-marriage because it's commoner custom to celebrate becoming married by having a bachelor party with our friends and what better party than a ditter? DA: Couldn't have said it better! CAF: Then we shall have an after marriage ditter where all the guest will participate DA: Lovely idea~! Shall we have a honeymoon ditter? CAF: But ofcourse! But first, we must have a pre-honeymoon ditter so we could come to a decision on where to spend our honeymoon! DA: Swooning marry me already! CAF: Not before our engagement celebration ditter or our pre-marriage ditter!

[readsquirrel]

Watched the first episode of Apothecary Diaries this week and it’s been fun. I like the no-nonsense tone of the main character, some of the creative use of her knowledge and of course the yes, step-on-me dynamic between her and Jinshi.

However, the beautiful, shiny, colorful detail of the animation is making me jealous for what we could have had for Ascendance of a Bookworm. Imagine the glint there could have been on the books!

So, here’s my compromise - we keep getting episodes of Bookworm with the same just fine animation for part three. Flat colors, okay linework.

And then when we get to part 4, start it the same until Hartmut shows up. Then I want the full Hartmut Filter - animation kicks in overdrive with saturated colors, dynamic lines, the full sparkle to every single blessing. Her practice dedication whirl going hard, with enough gleam to spike love into the heart of a Dunkelfelger man. Let’s do this.

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'Royal Academy Stories' (First Year)

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Royal Academy Stories: First Year by Miya Kazuki, You Shiina, Quof

adventure

fantasy

magic

library science

librarian

royal academy

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ortwin the innocent. Angelica the humble. Hannelore the disastrous. Traugott the insincere. Solange the optimist. ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM: ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR), though bereft of drama and lacking much meaningful narrative, successfully bevels the sharpest corners that define several characters that lend color and shape to the Royal Academy. The most intriguing characters in this collection of short stories are those whose self-awareness and grasp of their role in the grand scheme of things shifts just enough for readers to glimpse a critical, lonely truth they might not otherwise have witnessed.

This volume is a serviceable middle-ground between offering the best of what this novel series has to offer and ultimately maintaining a brisk and healthy pace for the long haul. The novel series spends so little time on major events that readers must often pull together the tiniest details through various epilogues or character-specific narratives. Spending a single volume on Lady Rozemyne's first year at the Royal Academy certainly wasn't enough. And neither was the single volume dedicated to her second year. Fortunately, a few crumbs yet remain.

ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) holds a few overlapping tales, but readers will find their events largely in sync. For example, when Dunkelfelger reacts to losing a game of treasure-stealing ditter, readers view the fallout through the eyes of the duchy's dorm supervisor (Rauffen), a fourth-year apprentice archscholar (Clarissa), and a first-year archduke candidate (Hannelore). It's a puzzle worth assembling.

Rauffen reacts with surprising placidness, and his discernment regularly and authoritatively puts Lestilaut in his place (Rauffen: "Did you really gain nothing from that game of ditter except petulant anger? [..] If so, no way I can deny that you lack the self-awareness and mindset required of a proper aub," page 81). This insight into Rauffen's disposition outside of games and warfare establishes him as a credulous and genuine figure, a perspective otherwise missed in the course of the novel series' regular narrative.

Hannelore, hilariously, has no idea what she's doing. She's a mediocre person, and frequently chides the gods for her inborn lack of confidence and her terrible sense of timing. Hannelore tries her utmost to stay out of the way, but she often incites others into action by sheer accident. One should hope she marries away from Dunkelfelger. But alas, that appears to be the fate of Clarissa, a duchy peer whose high affections for the so-called Saint of Ehrefest means she has set her sights on gaining access to the inner circle of Rozemyne.

Another highlight of ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) is a startlingly emotional profile of Angelica. The medknight confesses to receiving consolation from temple attendants with greater sincerity than she ever found at home. "Now I really understood why Lady Rozemyne preferred staying in the temple instead of the castle," she says to herself. "That was maybe the first time anyone had said they were pleased to have my company in particular" (pages 143, 151).

Meanwhile, Ortwin, a fist-year archduke candidate from Drewanchel, grows close to Wilfried when the two young men learn they each have sisters with wildly uncontrollable personal agency and senses of individuality. Ortwin's sister, Adolphine, is a bit different though. Destined (cursed?) to wed Sigiswald, next in line for the throne, Adolphine equally dotes on and pushes her younger brother to be the best. She lost her opportunity to rule the duchy, but she won't see her kid brother suffer the same fate. This intrigue will likely remain an underplayed splinter plot, but the repeating affairs of a royal prince potentially forced to marry someone he does/does not love keeps coming up. Ortwin's anecdote of feeling helpless, watching his sister sob, as the news of her engagement reverberates, carves an indelible image.

The current volume features regrettably little from older students at the Royal Academy. And further, the only adults readers hear from are Rauffen, of Dunkelfelger, and Solange, the librarian. Episodes related by Prince Anastasius would have been entertaining, as would have events narrated by anyone else of status close to Lady Eglantine. Further, when one considers all of the nicknames students have for the legendary Ferdinand during his days at the Royal Academy (e.g., "Lord of Evil," "the lonely genius created by overwhelming misfortune," and "the Master Tactician of Ehrefest"), a few reminiscences from other professors may have proved illuminating.

Side stories are fun, but one doesn't anticipate many of these characters returning with any significant influence on the greater narrative. Hopefully, readers will see more of Ortwin, and hopefully, readers will see the more sensitive and pragmatic Angelica, but the odds aren't in their favor. On the plus side, ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) includes one of the most phenomenal intersections of character writing and novel translation to date: A single instance in which Wilfried (pathetically) attempts to explain pound cake to a group of girls, uncomfortably rationalizing the unadorned and unflavored plate as "puh-lein." The scene is an achingly comical exhibition of Wilfried's sad detachment from commonality, as well as a strikingly brilliant example of a novel translation and adaptation team that knows its source material inside and out.

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews || ahb writes on Good Reads

[tada-no-honzuki]

Ascendance of a Bookworm (29) Part 5 Volume 8 Chapter 1 

This translation is not supposed to replace the official releases of the light novel series and is purely made for my own entertainment. Please purchase the official light novel when it becomes available!

Joining forces

After finishing my discussion with Dunkelfelger and discussing the treatment of Justus and Eckhart with Sylvester, I left Sylvester's office and joined Cornelius, Hartmut, and Lieseletta. Since I wasn’t feeling confident yet that I would be able to walk swiftly with the elegance expected of a young lady, I formed my highbeast and got in. We were in a hurry.

"I have secured Dunkelfelger's assistance. We are leaving tonight.” I declared, before asking, “Oh, and before I forget, do you know what became of the archducal family meeting?"

Cornelius nodded and quickly explained, “Florencia required all the attendants and knights in attendance to sign a magic contract that prohibits them from further spreading the confidential information you accidentally spilled in the spur of the moment. As people were signing the contract, we received an ordonnanz from Aub Ehrenfest relaying that you secured Dunkelfelger’s assistance and would be leaving for Kirnberger at midnight and that he would be leaving for the Royal Academy at once. I presume something else happened on your end?”

I nodded, "I shall explain the details later, but it's not bad news."

It would be foolish to discuss the arrival of Justus and Eckhart right here in the hallway. After skillfully preventing Cornelius from making any further inquiries with a smile, I turned my gaze to Hartmut, who was walking on my other side.

“Hartmut, please inform my guard knights to gather in my room at once.”

“I presume you wish to hold a strategy meeting?” Hartmut asked with a calm and collected face. “I have already contacted everyone. I informed them time is of the essence, so even those who were stationed at the temple should be arriving about now. I told Roderick and Philine to stay as they are.”

Somewhat taken aback by his efficiency, I involuntarily did a double take at Hartmut.

"...w-well done."

“I am glad to be of use to you, Lady Rozemyne.”

As Hartmut had predicted, everyone was already there when I returned to my room. However, it did not escape my eye that the knights who had rushed over from the temple still seemed slightly out of breath.

“Um, Lady Rozemyne. Hartmut informed us there was some kind of emergency…”

"Yes,” I said. “I know this comes rather suddenly, but I'm going to attack Ahrensbach’s foundation tonight.

"……excuse me?"

The situation had changed considerably since this morning. It was not something I could have predicted either, so their reaction was to be expected. I quickly explained the current situation to those who hadn’t attended today’s meeting. That Ferdinand lay collapsed in Ahrensbach’s replenishing hall, that Georgine would likely use this opportunity to invade Ehrenfest, that I would be going to Ahrensbach tonight to rescue Ferdinand, that I secured Dunkelfelger’s assistance with the help of Sylvester, and that Justus and Eckhart had arrived at the Royal Academy and would join us later.

There was no denying it, this was an emergency. As everyone's face tightened, I started giving instructions. There was little time until departure.

"First of all, for my attendants, I ask that Lieseletta and Gretia accompany me to my Library. Ottilie and Bertilde, please stay here and pack my highbeast-riding clothes, shoes, and any feystones and magic tools in this room I might need. Also, since I shall be taking dinner and a nap at my library, please arrange to move my personal chefs as well.”

“Lady Rozemyne, how many people shall be having dinner at the library tonight?” Ottilie asked. “I believe it would be wise to prepare extra ingredients as well……”

As I looked around and started counting, Lieseletta quickly stepped in.

“Ottilie, please pack as many ingredients as possible. I shall check with the chefs at the library. If it turns out we don’t have enough, I shall contact Lady Elvira. It seems Lord Eckhart shall be returning, so I’m certain she will be happy to cooperate."

Ottilie and Lieseletta had quickly divided the work between them. So, I moved on.

"When you are done, I would like you to assist Florencia, Charlotte, and Brunhilde to collect information and prepare for Georgine’s invasion.”

"Understood," Ottilie smiled. “Better not waste any time then”, and immediately got to work. Bertilde, yet unaccustomed to my reckless behavior, hurried after Otillie in a fluster.

“Then, Lady Rozemyne,” Lieseletta asked. “Would you like Gretia and me to go to the library and assist Lasfam with the preparations to receive our guests?”

"Yes, indeed,” I replied. “You are very perceptive, Lieseletta. Eckhart and Justus shall be having dinner with us and taking a nap as well. I will leave the preparations to you."

"Understood. Since there is little time, we shall go ahead,” Lieseletta said, then added, “Oh, and please don’t accidentally send all your retainers off on errands. Be sure to keep a guard knight to accompany you to the library.” before leaving the room with Gretia.

"Hartmut and Clarissa, I would like you to distribute the magic tools and rejuvenation potions you have made so far, and after that..." I began, but I was interrupted by Clarissa.

"Please rest assured!” she enthusiastically declared. “We have prepared enough magic tools and rejuvenation potions to last us. So, we can leave at any time. Once we have distributed everything, Hartmut and I shall take turns to take a nap."

Setting aside Clarissa, a scholar of the sword from Dunkelfelger, it surprised me that she thought Hartmut would be included as a member of our invading party as a matter of course.

“It will be difficult for you to manage the magic tools and potions loaded inside your highbeast by yourself,” Hartmut pointed out. “Even more so if you wish to distribute them to Dunkelfelger as well. So, please allow me to tag along, so you may focus on rescuing Lord Ferdinand."

"...I appreciate the offer,” I replied. “But I do not believe this battlefield is a place for scholars to go." As I folded my arms and slightly tilted my head, contemplating whether he would do all right on the battlefield despite lacking any ditter experience, a smile appeared on Hartmut’s lips.

“Oh, do you truly believe that to be the case, Lady Rozemyne?” he asked in an amused tone. “Aren’t you an archduke candidate and a scholar apprentice yourself?”

"Ugh... Time is of the essence, if you slow us down, I will leave you behind!” I declared in frustration, unable to argue with him.

Hartmut smiled calmly in response, “That won’t be a problem since I will be riding inside your highbeast, Lady Rozemyne, to manage the magic tools.”

"Just leave it to us!” Clarissa proclaimed. “…I suppose it’s time to fully demonstrate my true strength. I have traveled from Dunkelfelger to Ehrenfest without rest once before!"

……NOOOO! That’s not something to be proud of!

Since I wanted to increase our stock of antidotes as much as possible before departure, I decided to let Hartmut and Clarissa do as they wanted and sent them off to the library. Then, I looked around at the knights who would be accompanying me to Ahrensbach.

"Laurenz, since you are still a minor, you have a choice,” I said. “Would you prefer to come with me or stay here?"

“I have given my name to you, Lady Rozemyne,” he stated with a bitter smile. “Please do not leave me behind.”

As if on cue, Judith’s hand shot into the air, "I don't want to be left behind either!"

However, as things were, I could not give her permission to accompany me. Knight apprentices were not allowed to work outside the noble’s quarter to begin with. For my sake, Sylvester had made an exception and included the temple to be within their scope of action. He had also given permission to bring them along should I be visiting their birthplaces for work. However, invading another duchy was most definitely not on the list of allowances given.

"Judith, since this is an emergency situation, you will need your father's permission. I cannot bring a minor to fight a battle in another duchy without their parent’s approval.”

"Why! ... I will send him an ordonnanz at once, to get his permission!" Judith exclaimed with teary eyes, before rushing out of the room.

I took this opportunity to give orders to my guard knights.

“I would like all of you to take turns going to the knight’s dormitory to have dinner, take a nap, and prepare for departure. Damuel will be the only adult knight to remain in Ehrenfest.”

My guard knights gave Damuel a surprised look, then gathered to discuss their rotation schedule. Damuel was left to stand on his own. I softly tugged on his cape and handed him a sound-blocking magic tool.  

"I want you to stay here, because there is something only you can do."

“Lady Rozemyne?” Damuel asked cautiously.

“Please protect my family,” I said. “They are more important to me than anything else in Ehrenfest. Georgine and her lackeys kept contact with the former high bishop. So, there is a chance she knows about my family and their whereabouts in the lower city. She may have realized they are my greatest weakness.”

If one carefully studied the circumstances surrounding my entering the temple, Charlotte’s rescue, my connections in the lower city, my choice of exclusive craftspeople, and my trends, it would be abundantly clear who were the most important people in my life. Considering that Georgine was planning to sneak into the temple and seize the foundation, as the high bishop, I was probably the biggest obstacle in her way. Objectively speaking, taking my family and the Gutenburgs hostage would be the most effective way to block any resistance on my side.

"Damuel, I cannot ask this of anyone else. You are the only one who knows. Please."

“Understood.” Damuel sighed. “… I made the same promise to Lord Ferdinand after all.”

"To Lord Ferdinand?"

As the question left my lips, Damuel gazed into the distance, presumably in Ahrensbach’s direction.

“Before he left for Ahrensbach, he told me I would become the only one who directly knew you from your shrine maiden days.”

Both Sylvester and Karstedt knew that I was a commoner as well, but when I was still an apprentice blue shrine maiden, we had only met face-to-face a few times, not daily. Even though Ferdinand had given them reports on my life in the temple, they likely did not fully understand how much I cared about my family.

“Therefore, he ordered me to protect your heart, Lady Rozemyne,” Damuel continued. “He also told me to keep tabs on Hartmut’s information-gathering activities, to keep him from stepping out of line. A truly unreasonable request, if you ask me."

Damuel looked down at me with a bitter smile. I suddenly realized his face was a lot closer than it used to be. Back in my shrine maiden days, our eye levels had been completely different.

......when we first met, I only reached up to Damuel’s stomach. I couldn’t look him in the eye unless he kneeled.

As the thought crossed my mind, Damuel kneeled before me. Rather than making eye contact, however, I could only see his brown hair.

"I suppose that as your guard knight, I should advise you that staying here in Ehrenfest is the safest option…" Damuel paused for a moment. Then he raised his head and looked me in the eyes. “Take care, Lady Rozemyne. Stay true to your desires and be sure to save Lord Ferdinand. May you have the blessing of the gods.”

"Thank you, Damuel. You are truly a knight of the finest sort."

As Damuel returned the sound-blocking tool and left the room, Cornelius gave me a curious look.

"Where is Damuel off to?"

“He is off to protect my most important things. Damuel is a guard knight too, after all,” I smiled. “Have you decided in what order you will take your naps?”

After confirming the knights' rotation, I headed to the library.

“Lady Rozemyne, I have been waiting for your return. I heard about Lord Ferdinand…”

As soon as Lasfam finished his greeting, he quickly came over to inquire after Ferdinand. He must have heard about it from my retainers who had arrived earlier. Anyone would get anxious upon hearing that their Lord was on the verge of death far away in another duchy, let alone a name-sworn retainer. Until now, I had rarely seen anything but a smile on his face, but today Lasfam’s expression was stiff, his green eyes betraying his inner turmoil.

“I understand your concern, Lasfam. However, I have obtained permission from Aub Ehrenfest to invade Ahrensbach to rescue him, and secured assistance from Dunkelfelger. I also expect Justus and Eckhart to arrive here by sixth bell."

As we walked toward my room, I inquired Lasfam about the status of the preparations.

“Are the guest rooms for Justus and Eckhart ready? The number of people eating dinner here has increased significantly, are there enough ingredients? Have the chefs arrived yet?”

As I rattled off my list of questions, Lasfam assured me the preparations were proceeding smoothly.

"I was hoping to have everything ready before they arrive,” I said, then added, “And if I inquire after the situation in Ahrensbach over dinner, that should leave sufficient time to prepare any additional things we may need.”

"Understood. I will have everything ready by sixth bell."

I noticed the tinge of unease had disappeared from Lasfam's voice. So, I added another task to the list.

“Also, if possible, please contact Eckhart and Justus’ family homes to see if any of their clothes are still left in Ehrenfest. I presume they did not have the chance to bring any.”

Lasfam nodded, “In that case, I shall prepare a change of clothes for Lord Ferdinand as well. He may need it.”

As I entered my room, Lasfam energetically walked off, his mind focused on what needed to be done. Since my retainers were all busy taking care of preparations, I knew I would only get in their way if I started wandering around. So, I decided to do what I could while staying in my room.

First of all, I sent an ordonnnanz to Brigitte in Illgner to inform her that it was highly likely that Ahrensbach would use Ferdinand’s incapacitation to invade Ehrenfest, and that Georgine was likely to operate in the shadow. I also told her about the silver cloth, requested she gather information from the commoners in their province, and reminded her to stay in close contact with the other Giebe.

“Grandfather is ready to provide backup at any moment. If you notice any irregularities at the border, contact us at once.”

Brigitte immediately sent a reply, “We received an ordonnanz from Lady Florencia earlier, but she didn’t relay nearly as many details. I would like to thank you for the additional and valuable information. We shall keep in contact with the other Giebe and ask our citizens to keep an eye out.”

Realizing that the Giebe’s of the border provinces hadn't received much information, I sent an ordonnanz to Florencia telling her, “Please share more details with the border provinces, and request Giebe Gerlach and Giebe Gardun to have their knights tighten their defenses.”

With the ordonnanzes taken care of, I entered my hidden room and searched the book of Mestionora for a map of Ahrensbach. I hoped to learn the location of the border gate and the temple. My efforts were rewarded, as I found a map of the duchy and the blueprint that was used to build the temple, thus learning everything I wished to know.

……it went through hell to get it, but I'm glad I did. It's amazingly useful! Thanks be to the Gods!

I copy-pasted the map and blueprint each onto a sheet of magic paper that Clarissa had prepared, thoroughly pleased with the results of my search. Understanding maps wasn’t exactly my forte. I always had trouble figuring out my current position and the location of my destination, but I was sure that at least one of my knights would be able to read it.

With high hopes, I searched for a blueprint of the castle too, so I might determine the location of its replenishing hall, but unfortunately, nothing popped up.  Since a castle’s floor plan would rarely be revised, about the only opportunity to see a blueprint of the entire castle was when Entwickeln was performed. Maybe it was in the part of the book that Ferdinand had?

“Seriously, why am I missing the most crucial information!?” I grumbled to myself.

There was no point in crying over it. Besides, Justus and Eckhart probably knew its location, so it didn’t really matter. So instead, I decided to copy-paste some magic circles that might come in handy.

After a while, the summoning tool glowed, indicating someone outside wished to speak with me.  As I exited my hidden room, Judith reported, “I was told to stay in Ehrenfest.” with a disappointed face. Considering a parent’s feelings, I hadn’t expected anything else.

"If you think that accompanying me to Ahrensbach is the only job expected of my guard knights, you are mistaken. It is also their job to protect the people important to me who I cannot bring with me."

"That's true, but..." Judith’s voice trailed.

Invading another duchy probably seemed like a spectacular job to a knight. The difference in mindset between Damuel, who was working hard on a humble job, and Judith could not be clearer.

“To allow me peace of mind, Damuel has promised to stay behind and guard my loved ones,” I said. “Judith, I want you to work with Damuel to protect the temple and the lower city. My Gutenburgs will be essential if I ever hope to expand the printing industry. They are indispensable to me. Tell yourself, “I shall not allow Georgine in.” Do not compromise on that determination as you protect the temple and Ehrenfest.”

Judith had good eyesight and specialized in ranged attacks. Stationing her at the temple, and having her attack with bug bombs, should give even a noble-born lady like Georgine a good scare. That silver cloth would not protect her.

"Understood,” Judith acceded. “I shall guard the temple.”

As I continued preparing as I saw fit, sixth bell rang. Soon after, Justus and Eckhart arrived. I immediately left my room to welcome them.

“Justus, Eckhart!”

"...L-Lady Rozemyne?"

Seeing me all grown up, Justus froze in place, left at a loss for words. Apparently, Sylvester had not informed them. However, unlike Justus, Eckhart quietly turned his blue eyes to me and softly murmured, “Rozemyne, is that you?” Then, immediately moved on and questioned me on the current state of our preparations.

……Eckhart certainly cares more about whether we can save Ferdinand and how far our preparations have progressed, than my sudden growth. No surprise there.

His lack of reaction was refreshing and reassuring.

“We have already prepared everything you just mentioned,” I told him. “I also acquired Dunkelfelger’s assistance, and we shall leave to rescue Lord Ferdinand tonight.”

“Just as I would expect from my little sister,” Eckhart replied. “It’s clear you were educated by Lord Ferdinand."

Hearing the honest praise and seeing the sparkle of hope in his eyes made me very happy. Eckhart only ever praised me whenever I was exceedingly useful to Ferdinand. In short, I was doing an amazingly good job right now.

"...Aub Ehrenfest said you have some kind of plan. Is that true?"

"Yes, brother,” I answered. “I do have a plan. And with you and Justus here, the odds of success have significantly increased."

My biggest worry was that I didn't know the location of the replenishing hall, but with their help, I should be able to get there without getting lost. Eckhart nodded in reply, “Good.”

“Eckhart, how can you completely ignore how much Lady Rozemyne has changed?” Justus asked, exasperated.

“I do not care how much she changes on the outside,” Eckhart answered. “As long as she still cares about Lord Ferdinand on the inside, I am good.” Showing no interest in the situation whatsoever, he walked over to Lasfam. In his hand, he held a metal cage containing a single name-swearing stone. I guessed it was probably Lasfam’s.

"Even then, doesn’t it intrigue you?"

Unlike Eckhart, it seemed Justus wanted to hear more details about my rapid growth. His brown eyes were gleaming with curiosity, and he started squirming in place. He clearly wanted to know more, but was unsure how to broach the subject in our current state of emergency.

"Lady Rozemyne, what happened to your body?” Justus eventually asked. “I have never heard of anyone growing that much in such a short period of time, and into such a beautiful young lady not to mention."

As Justus slowly approached me, Hartmut slipped between us, saying, "I am glad you asked." His orange eyes were gleaming with anticipation, sending a shiver down my spine.

"I doubt anyone other than Lady Rozemyne shall ever be bestowed the privilege of a miracle like this. It proves beyond a doubt how truly blessed she is by the gods. This was a miracle granted by Anwachs, the god of growth! Please allow me to explain in great detail the workings of this wonderful miracle."

“Certainly, but do stop when Justus gets tired of listening," I said.

I expected even Justus would soon get tired of Hartmut. He was in the habit of looping same-sounding compliments and overreferencing the gods, making his explanations hard to understand. In fact, my closest retainers kept dismissing him, saying, "No thanks, you already told me that before.”

……unfortunately, their evasions only motivate him to come up with new ways to express his excitement, infinitely increasing the number of unnecessary compliments.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co