Chapter Text
Rozemyne POV
I released my hands from the dedication magic circle, and saw that Ferdinand was already standing.
“How are you feeling?” he said.
“Much better. I seem to have lost control of my mana after doing the Divine Protections ritual again, so having this outlet is greatly appreciated.” I had almost fifty subordinates’ blessings now, which had increased my mana efficiently enough to start causing problems again.
“It is very saint-like to release blessings seemingly at random. Why do you not simply embrace this?”
“It’s very embarrassing, Ferdinand. Isn’t there something else I can do to control my mana? Last time it was receiving my schtappe, but that’s no longer an option.”
“Indeed…” Ferdinand stared at me for several moments. “Rozemyne, how would you like to acquire the Book of Mestionora?”
“No. I love books, but they aren’t worth people’s lives,” I responded immediately and robotically. He asked this question every year when he read my mind. It was a little strange to bring it up in this setting, but perhaps he was having a paranoia episode.
“I see. What if I ordered you to?”
I narrowed my eyes and pouted slightly. “Ferdinand, I thought our relationship was at a point where you didn’t have to play these loyalty games with me anymore.”
He smirked. “Oh, it’s not a game, Rozemyne. Erwaermen has ordered me to find more Zent candidates. Who else could I trust with this duty?”
I scoffed. “Obviously your namesworn are more trustworthy to you than I am.”
“They can no longer meet the basic requirements to obtain the book.”
I narrowed my eyes in annoyance. “What requirements?”
“Being omni-elemental before schtappe acquisition and having sufficient mana capacity.”
I racked my brain. Who else was omni-elemental? Hannelore, maybe? Eglantine? Ferdinand would never trust either of them with the book.
He’s probably going to get mad at me for something stupid afterwards. This is so unfair.
“Besides,” he continued. “There are a few time consuming administrative tasks that require it, such as filling the country gates, and your mana control issue will be fixed by the process of acquiring it.”
“I thought you already filled all the country gates, though.”
“They require refilling every two years or so. The Earth gate is next.”
“You know, filling the country gates would be much faster if you didn’t insist on staying for a week each time.”
“Refusing the local aub’s hospitality is poor optics. Likewise, they must offer it.”
He put a hand up to prevent me from retorting. “I understand your trepidations, Rozemyne, but I am serious. I obviously cannot refuse an order from Erwaermen, and I have already made my decision.”
I sighed. “You’ll find a reason to be paranoid, even though you ordered me to do this.”
“I will act reasonably. You have my word.”
Praying to the six shrines and receiving the seven tablets had grown my schtappe and solved the mana control problem. The book itself wasn’t difficult to get either, but even though it only felt like I was in Erwaermen’s realm for a bell or two, I was gone for over a week.
“How was the process for receiving your wisdom, Rozemyne?” Ferdinand said after dinner the day I returned.
I hesitated, glancing towards the sound blocking tool in the table.
“Rest assured, Rozemyne. Everyone in this room is allowed to know.”
“He said I received about 80%, and I should go back in a few years to complete it.”
He nodded. “You still have a few years left to grow your mana organ.”
“The strange thing is, I recognized some recent events while it was streaming into my mind, so the missing portion isn’t in chronological order.”
“Interesting. Show me your book.”
I took a breath. “Just remember that you ordered me to get this. Grutrissheit.” A glowing rectangular tablet appeared in my hand.
I heard some mild gasps around the room, but they weren’t as surprised as I thought they’d be. Some of them must have guessed the reason for my weeklong absence. Justus didn’t even react.
Eckhart, however, started sputtering and struggling. The whole room turned to him, and I heard Damuel take a step closer to me. The last time this happened was two years ago when I convinced Ferdinand to let Eglantine marry Anastasius. Eckhart hadn’t done anything since then, so I really thought he was warming up to me. I mean, I hadn’t done anything treasonous, and I figured he would notice that.
The room was tense with Eckhart’s continued struggle, but Ferdinand just stared at him with narrowed eyes and a frown. Was he about to let Eckhart die from this?
“Ferdinand?” I said. “I think he wants to say something.”
“I can see that,” Ferdinand said. “However, I do not know whether he will be worth listening to.”
Eckhart was blue in the face now, and swaying slightly.
“Surely his life is worth more than a few words, right? Please just let him speak. His hostility stems from loyalty to you.”
“You must realize how dangerous it is to extend compassion towards your enemies.”
I shook my head. “He is not my enemy. He is your loyal namesworn knight and is therefore my ally. Even if he doesn’t like me.”
Ferdinand sighed. “Very well. Eckhart, you may not make any threatening moves, but you may speak.”
Eckhart gasped and took several deep breaths as the color returned to his face. “My Zent! Even if this was done under your orders, you must increase your guard against her. A second possessor of the Grutrissheit is an existential threat to your reign and the greatest possible security risk!”
Eckhart paused, as if for Ferdinand’s acknowledgement, but there was no response. My retainers all tensed up, as if preparing for battle.
He continued. “Princess Rozemyne has repeatedly demonstrated both the ability and the willingness to manipulate you. She may not be able to overpower you herself, but she is a very capable and dangerous schemer.”
Still, Ferdinand remained silent.
“Please, my Zent. I am only voicing my concerns, as the situation has escalated.”
This was extremely awkward. Eckhart was withering in place, shooting the occasional glare my way, while everyone else in the room just glared at him.
Eventually Ferdinand spoke. “Are you finished?”
Eckhart nodded, sad like a kicked puppy.
“Eckhart, go to my chambers and stay there until further notice. Do not make any detours or do anything else. We will continue this conversation later.”
The tension in the room instantly dropped when Eckhart left. Several retainers let out relieved sighs, and Damuel took a step back. I also took a deep breath. My facade had slipped slightly.
Ferdinand turned to me with a smile. “Do you still believe him to be your ally?”
I nodded. “He is your loyal-”
“Rogue namesworn aren’t allies, Rozemyne. They can sabotage you while following your every order.”
“I understand, Ferdinand, but I trust you to allow Eckhart to protect you without allowing him to harm me.”
“I see,” he said, sipping at his tea. He then motioned towards my Book of Mestionora, which had stayed in my hand the whole time. “Regarding your wisdom, I have notified Aubs Klassenberg, Jossbrenner, and Gilessenmeyer about refilling the Earth country gate, and I assign this task to you.”
My eyes widened. “You want to publicize my second book?”
“Yes. Did I not tell you that these tasks will fall to you before you even acquired the book?” He smirked.
“But this will lead to the exact thing Eckhart was worrying about!” I had nearly shouted, so I took a few moments to calm down.
Ferdinand chuckled. “And why is that, Rozemyne? Are you planning to scheme against me and collaborate with my enemies?”
He thinks this is funny, doesn’t he? “Of course not. I will always remain loyal to you. But won’t public knowledge of a second Grutrissheit invite potential rebellion, whether or not I support it?”
“Of course.” Ferdinand nodded, as if he were referring to whether he’d eaten and not a civil war. “We will destroy them when they reveal themselves.”
Who’s we? I’m not fighting in your damn war!
My hands were sweating a little, so I dismissed the book to dry them on my handkerchief. “If they were going to be peaceful otherwise, surely it’s better for the country to just avoid the conflict. Their power will diminish over time, and so will the memory of a royal family.”
Ferdinand shook his head slightly. “They will be drawn out sooner than later, Rozemyne. Erwaermen was clear in his order to bring forth more Zent candidates. He will only be temporarily satisfied with you as the second. If we don’t deal with the issue now, we will have to do so later with less cooperative Zent candidates.”
Ah, stupid Erwaermen! Why is he so impatient? None of this would have been an issue if he could just wait a few more decades.
“In fact, Rozemyne, you should flaunt your copy in public. The earlier people scheme against us, the earlier we can suppress them. You may also find use in the many powerful magic circles inside.”
I sighed. “I understand. How should I act if people hint towards rebellion in my presence?”
Ferdinand smiled as he raised his teacup to his mouth. “You should always prioritize your own safety in those situations, Rozemyne.”
What is that supposed to mean?
He put down his cup and nodded at the door. “Go ahead and dedicate alone today. I will head to my chambers and speak with Eckhart.”
Ferdinand POV
Ferdinand marched into his chambers with his namesworn in tow. He sat in a chair facing Eckhart, who was standing rigidly at the center of the room, and Justus activated the area sound blocking tool.
Flanked by Heidemarie and Heisshitze, with Justus observing from the side, Ferdinand began his standard orders: “Nothing I say here will be shared in any capacity with anyone else. Do not discuss it outside this room.”
He saw everyone nod and continued. “Justus, Heidemarie, Heisshitze, feel free to interject if you have anything to add. Eckhart, you must speak only the truth throughout this conversation. Now, tell me. What is the cause of your continued hostility towards Rozemyne?”
Eckhart began what seemed to be a prepared speech. “My Zent, I understand that you adopted Princess Rozemyne for her usefulness. Her mana was abundant, and her knowledge was groundbreaking. I despised how she constantly opposed you, but I kept silent due to her lack of threat. Her attendants were loyal to you, her despicable behavior was always controllable by you, and the country knew she was subservient to you.
But now, she’s a danger to your reign! Her guards are more numerous than yours and loyal to her alone. She’s even swayed your other namesworn!” He glared at the others in the room before continuing.
“In her constant opposition, she has somehow found a consistent way to manipulate you. The country calls her Wiegenmilch to your Verdraeos, and now she even holds the Grutrissheit! How can none of you see the imminent threat? She could send her guards to assassinate you tonight, and all of Yurgenschmidt would thank her for it!”
Ferdinand frowned. “My relative lack of guards is an issue I have not noticed, but the other problems are not relevant. I am aware of her attempts at ‘manipulation’, and the country’s perception of her as Wiegenmilch has already proven useful many times.”
Eckhart had an expression of dread as he shook his head. “I simply can’t understand you anymore. You would have never tolerated any potential risk to your reign. How could you let her lower your guard like this?”
“Eckhart, I am as careful as I was before. Do you think I would have given Rozemyne any consideration had I believed her capable or willing to harm me?”
“The fact you don’t believe that is what worries me.”
Justus spoke. “I have also conducted my own investigations under Verbergen's shroud, and I have found no reason to believe her to be a problem.”
Heisshitze nodded, and Heidemarie sighed. “Eckhart, my dear. We are as loyal to the Zent as you are. Over the past two years, the princess has had many opportunities to betray the Zent, but she took none of them.”
“She has the Grutrissheit now,” Eckhart growled. “That changes everything! She won’t need the Zent to power the country’s foundation - she could hold it herself!”
Ferdinand scoffed. “I have interrogated her mind, Eckhart. What grounds do you still have to doubt me?”
“Would you trust a compromised interrogator?” Eckhart pleaded.
Ferdinand grimaced, tapping his temple in thought. There was no doubting the fact that Rozemyne obtaining the Book of Mestionora had changed the situation considerably. However, there had been many similar cases throughout the past two years which also warranted such caution, and the annual circlet usage had revealed that Rozemyne had never faltered in her loyalty. Even the annual loyalty checks were probably unnecessary at this point.
In addition, the visceral betrayal he felt from Rozemyne’s mind in the Schlaftraum’s blessing fiasco had stayed with him. That had been surprisingly painful, as he had never felt betrayal in that manner. One had to trust in order to be betrayed, and he only trusted his namesworn.
And Rozemyne. The notion that he trusted her came naturally and inexplicably.
Maybe Eckhart is right. I would never tolerate being this vulnerable to anyone else. I will check her mind one more time. However, if her loyalty remains with me even after obtaining the wisdom, there will no longer be a reason to doubt her again.
“Thank you for bringing up your concerns. Some of it has been helpful.”
Eckhart’s eyes widened in surprise, clearing the dread from his face. “I only ask that you treat this security risk with the seriousness it deserves.”
“I will expand my guard and interrogate her mind again. Eckhart, maintain your professionalism, regardless of how you feel about Rozemyne.”
“Yes, my Zent!”
Rozemyne POV
Ferdinand wanted me to flaunt the Book of Mestionora, and there was no better place to do so than right in the middle of the Royal Academy Library. He also had Heisshitze join my guards to lend official support.
“Rozemyne, time to read?” Weiss hopped over as I entered.
“Yes. Somewhere in the open today, like there.” I pointed to an empty table. There were a decent number of students at the library today, and reading in the open rather than using a carrel would certainly make most of them extremely uncomfortable.
I’m so sorry, Mestionora, for bringing politics to your sacred place! I shot off a quick blessing as an apology before sitting down.
“Grutrissheit,” I said at a volume barely acceptable for a library. A large tome, based on the book held by the Mestionora statue on the second floor, appeared in my hands. Ferdinand had suggested I use this appearance for recognizability.
Startled gasps and whispers sounded around the library, and my guards tightened their formation around me. My mission was a success.
Now to read.
Belinda placed a mana inkwell and a stack of feypaper in front of me for transcribing magic circles, and I dug in.
I had noticed while acquiring it, but most of the “knowledge” in this book was garbage. Why Mestionora wanted to preserve information about the seventh Zent’s third daughter’s favorite desert was beyond me. It was even more annoying when I found a powerful food preservation magic circle immediately afterwards, which looked similar to ones in time-stopping tools.
A precursor, maybe? I sighed internally. If magic circles were going to be mixed in with the everyday lives of random ancient nobles, it would take forever to get anything useful. I’ll just look for magic circles specifically.
One Zent had attempted to combine the brewing acceleration circle and the time-stopping tool circle to make an adjustable time-speeding tool where she could stay inside to gain extra planning time against her enemies. Unfortunately, the circle she made entered a positive feedback loop, sucking up all the mana in a huge area and causing a massive explosion. It was essentially a terrorism circle. I glanced at the feypaper. Ferdinand knows how dangerous some of this stuff is. Does he want me to blow myself up? Surely regular ink and paper would’ve been fine.
A less dangerous circle, please. Maybe one that refills mana instead of destroying it? The book flipped to a circle that allows one to steal mana directly from another person. Interestingly, the time period had several vampire-like folk tales amongst Sovereignty nobles. It wasn’t exactly what I asked for, but it was pretty interesting. Some of the tales were similar to Dracula.
How did he sneak into people’s bedrooms without getting detected? Another magic circle, one that conceals the target from attention. The Zent who made it put it on an amulet. This “Verbergen Amulet” was extremely useful, so I began transcribing it.
I bet Ferdinand has Justus sneaking around with this. I wonder if there’s a way to detect users? The book flipped to another circle while I was transcribing! I sighed. Was there a copy-paste spell in here? The book didn’t move. Of course. Though maybe I could make one?
I used my fingers and mental imagery to draw a yellow rectangle across the detection circle. “(Copy and place)!” I dragged the rectangle to the feypaper and tapped it, creating an exact copy.
It worked! I double checked the book to make sure there wouldn’t be any sudden explosions, then channeled mana into the circle and looked around.
Sure enough, Justus was in a corner of the library carrying a small box. A student standing next to him yelped upon noticing him. He smiled upon being caught and walked towards us.
“Congratulations, Princess Rozemyne,” Justus said, handing the box to Belinda, who performed the standard poison checks. “The Zent instructed me to hand you this gift if I were to be found.”
I could tell that my retainers were extremely confused. From their point of view, I just turned around and saw him standing there; it probably looked like the dumbest hide-and-seek game in history. If I were reading in a private room, it would have been more impressive.
Belinda handed the object to me as Justus left the library. It was an Amulet of Verbergen! I recoiled slightly upon the realization.
“Princess?” Belinda asked, concerned.
“I was just surprised.” I said. “It’s something I recognize from the book.”
I would have expected him to ban me from using circles like this, but he instead gave me one of the most dangerous items here! What was he thinking?
I examined the amulet closely. This must be some trick. Is the circle tampered with? Maybe it’ll bind me if I activate it or trigger an explosive. Or maybe it’ll send an alert to Ferdinand and he’ll strike me down himself.
A nagging optimism crept into my mind. He had been escalating his displays of trust ever since the Schlaftraum’s blessing incident. It started with paperwork and his food. Then he let me share my compression method with my retainers with only a contract to not share it. At some point, I was even allowed to make some binding decisions for a few lesser duchies.
Yes, he used the circlets on me yesterday, but he apologized for it afterwards when there was nothing to feel guilty over. I mean, even I would have wanted to confirm the loyalty of another Grutrissheit holder.
What am I thinking? That weird apology was probably just a manipulation tactic! It makes no sense otherwise.
I had to dispel these naive thoughts from my mind, so I dove back into the book for any information about Ferdinand. Many of his enemies were now dead, their memories stored in the book. They’d know firsthand of Ferdinand’s tricks and schemes.
Indeed, most entries were from traitors he’d defeated, but a few others stood out. Seradina, his mother from a truly vile human breeding farm run by the former royal family. Adelbert, his father who brought him to Ehrenfest. Veronica, his stepmother and tormenter. As I read through their entries, I was horrified.
There had not been a single person he could trust in his entire lifetime. Seradina did not have the power to protect him. Adelbert did, but he did not care to. Veronica used everyone in Ehrenfest to hurt him, even his own brother Sylvester.
I had a family. Ferdinand, however, was always alone, and yet, somehow, he had found it within himself to save this country from collapse. Every precious life in Yurgenschmidt was rescued by someone who was never given a reason to care about anybody. Between the two of us, who really was the better person?
Ferdinand covered his soul with frozen walls to protect his heart, but in saving Yurgenschmidt, he proved that it was still beating softly through the ice.
I had a new sense of determination.
They call me Wiegenmilch for a reason. I shall carve a path to my Verdraeos!