Chapter Text
At the Archduke Conference following Rozemyne's fourth year at the Royal Academy, Alexandria was officially recognized as a new duchy. It was publicly revealed that Rozemyne possessed the Grutrissheit, and after being formally inducted into the royal family, she was appointed as the first Aub Alexandria by royal decree.
While voices were naturally raised questioning a minor female becoming an Aub, the fact that she held the Grutrissheit—and the fact that the upper-ranking duchies had been lobbied in advance—led to a smooth approval.
Ferdinand, as Rozemyne's fiancé by royal decree, stood by her side to support her. The reactions of those watching were varied: some ladies' eyes sparkled at his "charming" smile, some compared him to Gervasio, and others simply trembled in fear.
The duchy rankings announced at this conference were: first, Klassenberg; second, Drewanchel; third, Dunkelfelger; fourth, Gilessenmeyer; and fifth, Haufletze. Alexandria took the sixth spot. Gilessenmeyer and Haufletze held high ranks for now as they were the home duchies of Trauerqual’s first wife and Naerache respectively, but the system was gradually shifting toward meritocracy. As the gap between the winners and losers of the civil war was slowly closing, rankings were expected to remain volatile for some time.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that Gervasio had also obtained the Grutrissheit. According to what Gervasio had previously told the royal family, some of the citizens who immigrated from Lanzenave wished to reopen the Country Gate to resume trade, while others hoped to return to Lanzenave to rule as royalty. He explained that he had obtained the Book to keep those factions in check.
"Those voices represent only a small fraction; the vast majority of my people are satisfied with their current peace. My only wish is for the people who moved from Lanzenave to live tranquil lives as nobles of Yurgenschmidt. I have absolutely no intention of opposing the Sovereignty."
Gervasio had no desire to reign as Zent. On the contrary, he felt grateful to Trauerqual for accepting them peacefully.
The duchy led by Gervasio had risen from the bottom of the rankings to fifteenth. With Gervasio’s first wife and three children joining the Archduke family and the duchy's increasing wealth, its rank was predicted to keep rising.
Once the day's meeting concluded, the venue turned into a space for information exchange. Gervasio approached Rozemyne to exchange greetings as fellow Archdukes. The crowd watched intently as these two much-discussed men, Gervasio and Ferdinand, came face-to-face.
After a brief exchange of information between Aubs, Gervasio shifted his gaze to Ferdinand.
"Ferdinand."
"Is there something you require?"
While responding with a brilliant, glittering smile, Ferdinand subtly stepped in front of Rozemyne to shield her. Though he didn't expect a sudden physical attack, he remained wary of this man, whose powerful mana he could clearly sense.
"There is no need for such vigilance. Ahrensbach and Lanzenave have long shared deep ties. Our positions have changed, but I simply wished to say that I look forward to our continued relationship as neighboring duchies."
"I see."
"Furthermore..."
Gervasio glanced at Rozemyne, whom Ferdinand was protectively trying to hide behind him, and let out a small chuckle.
"My wife is more beautiful."
Nearby, noblewomen could be seen blushing. Gervasio was too young to be called an "old man," yet he possessed an air of adult maturity that was far beyond a mere youth. The dark, somber aura he once carried had vanished, replaced by a lively expression. Unbeknownst to him, he seemed to have gained many secret admirers.
Both Gervasio and Ferdinand were born in the Sovereignty and were heavily blessed by the God of Darkness. Was he trying to reassure Ferdinand that he had no designs on Rozemyne, or was he simply boasting about his own wife?
As Gervasio turned on his heel and walked away, Rozemyne tilted her head curiously.
"He is very much like you, Ferdinand."
"He is nothing like me."
"He is, you know. I wonder if you will look like that when you get older."
"I will not."
Rozemyne fell silent at the sight of Ferdinand's blindingly "perfect" smile. She would never breathe a word of the fact that she had briefly projected an older Ferdinand onto Gervasio and felt a tiny flutter in her heart. That would be dangerous in many ways.
Seeing Ferdinand looking—to anyone but Rozemyne—sullen, she gave him a soft, resigned smile and squeezed the hand escorting her a little tighter than usual.
As Rozemyne plotted how well a story based on Gervasio might sell, and as Ferdinand watched her from the corner of his eye, sensing she was up to no good, the two left the venue together.
In the summer following the Archduke Conference, Hildebrand was participating in a "Father and Sons' Gathering"—a meeting for the male members of the royal family. While officially titled a report session, its true nature varied: sometimes they held serious discussions, and other times they simply vented their frustrations to one another. Meetings were held over tea in the afternoon or over drinks at night. Due to their status as royalty, there were almost no other occasions where they could speak as a family without their attendants present. In their previous lives, their ranks and territories had been so disparate that such interaction was impossible. Considering that, spending time relaxing and talking here was a pleasant experience.
As it was evening, his father and two older brothers held wine cups in their hands. Although Hildebrand possessed memories of having reached adulthood in a past life, he was currently a minor and could not drink, which felt a bit lonely.
"Hildebrand, you will be entering the Royal Academy next winter," Trauerqual remarked.
"Yes, Father. As a member of the royal family, I will surely become an honor student and receive an award from you. I wish to increase my divine protections and mana, and I must visit the shrines. Above all, I must secure enough time to frequent the library."
"You certainly seem enthusiastic."
"Yes! I heard that if I become an honor student, I can receive a 'Very Good' from Ferdinand!"
"Wait, what?"
"After I enroll, I plan to join Professor Hirschur’s laboratory and apprentice under Ferdinand. In Ahrensbach, the best I could get was a 'Passable,' so I will absolutely earn a 'Very Good' this time."
The passion radiating from Hildebrand made his father and brothers recoil slightly. For that matter, Ferdinand—who was not present—was also feeling bewildered. Had this been Rozemyne, becoming an honor student after multiple stints at the Academy would be treated as a matter of course; she would say "Please praise me," and he would reply "It would be strange if you didn't achieve it, you fool." Hildebrand, however, remained blissfully unaware of this dynamic.
"Hildebrand, do you intend to obtain the Mestionora’s Book?" his father asked.
"Of course, Father. I will strive to obtain it."
"Then, once you have it, you should become Zent."
Naturally, Sigiswald was the one to object to that statement.
"Father?! Was it not decided that I would be the next Zent?"
"But you do not possess the Grutrissheit. It is deeply regrettable that the position fell to you, but you should hand it over as soon as possible."
"No, I will not."
"Think of it as acting as a temporary regent until Hildebrand reaches adulthood."
"I refuse."
As usual, the two began their bickering: "I am the next Zent" versus "You are unfit without the Grutrissheit." Since this was a common occurrence, Anastasius and Hildebrand paid them no mind. The tea-bound Hildebrand snacked on appetizers while Anastasius sipped his wine slowly.
"Brother Anastasius, your face is flushed. Are you drinking too quickly?"
"Indeed."
"Did something happen?"
"Well, you see..."
The other three turned their attention to the hesitating Anastasius.
"Eglantine is pregnant."
"What?"
Trauerqual and Hildebrand widened their eyes at this development, which had not occurred in their previous lives.
"I apologize for the timing, as I know the mana supply is a burden, but I will do my absolute best to help..."
Hildebrand offered his congratulations to Anastasius, who looked apologetic yet couldn't hide his doting expression. Trauerqual, however, looked grim, while Sigiswald awkwardly averted his eyes.
"Brother Sigiswald?"
"No, well... it's just..."
"Is something the matter?"
"The thing is... Naerache’s pregnancy was also just confirmed."
"What?!"
While it was a joyous occasion, the royal family’s mana shortage remained a reality, even if the situation was better than in their previous lives. Having two wives unable to provide mana simultaneously was a significant blow, and Trauerqual could not hide his bitter expression.
"You two... while this is something to be celebrated, can you not read the room as royalty? Especially you, Sigiswald. You are meant to ascend the throne at the next Archduke Conference, are you not? You cannot be without a First Wife."
"The child should be born by then. It will be a burden on Naerache, but I plan to have her persevere through the conference. More importantly, isn't Anastasius a bit premature?"
Sigiswald turned a reproachful eye toward Anastasius.
"Eglantine was scheduled to return to the Royal Academy as a teacher, was she not? To not even consider the timing..."
"The one who should consider timing is you, the 'Next Zent,' Brother."
"I am the Next Zent, so you should have yielded the turn to me."
"The 'turn'? If the Next Zent is to be prioritized, would you like to switch places with me?"
"Do so, Anastasius!"
The father joined in on the sibling rivalry. Of course, Anastasius had no intention of becoming Zent; it was a slip of the tongue allowed only in this private setting. Trauerqual continued to scold the two about their responsibilities as royalty.
Listening to the three of them shouting at each other, Hildebrand could only sigh and take on the role of the peacemaker.
Less than a month later, another Father and Sons' Gathering was held with the same members.
"Brother, how is Lady Naerache feeling?"
"She seems to have morning sickness and has lost her appetite, so I ordered some easy-to-eat fruit from Alexandria. I asked Rozemyne secretly, but Ferdinand found out and gave me quite a glare."
"That sounds rough."
"If you need some, shall I share?"
"That would be a great help. Eglantine looks pale every day, and it pains me that I can do nothing for her."
The two brothers had completely reconciled and were now animatedly discussing their wives. Trauerqual, looking incredibly awkward, waited for a lull in the conversation to speak.
"Um, you see..."
"Father, is something wrong?"
"The truth is... Magdalena is pregnant."
"HUH?!"
From the father who had lectured them so harshly at the last meeting about mana shortages and "considering the timing" came the announcement of his own wife's pregnancy. The three sons stared at their father, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
"Father, what happened to 'responsibility as royalty'?"
"You were the one saying those things, Father!"
"I... I apologize, Sigiswald, Anastasius."
It was only natural that the two older brothers stared at their father with deadpan expressions.
Hildebrand let out a long sigh, concluding that there wasn't a single sensible man among the male royalty.
Winter at the Royal Academy began; Rozyme was now a fifth-year student, and Hildebrand had finally enrolled. At the royal seating area during the socialization ceremony, Anastasius and Hildebrand sat side-by-side as usual, with Rozemyne—now an Aub—seated beside them. Perhaps because Rozemyne was on the same dais, Hildebrand’s cheeks were slightly flushed.
"So, Lord Anastasius, you are the instructor for the Archduke Candidate course again this year," Rozemyne remarked.
"Indeed. I have many other duties, so I would have preferred to graduate from Royal Academy oversight if possible."
"Is that not your own fault, Brother?"
Hildebrand looked exasperated, while Anastasius wore a bitter expression.
"Since Hildebrand has enrolled this year, he should be the one handling any trouble that arises."
"Pardon? I heard nothing of this, Brother!" Hildebrand cried.
"It is the responsibility of the royal family members currently in attendance to oversee the Academy. I have already dealt with the numerous disturbances caused by Rozemyne. Now it is your turn."
"My, I have never caused a disturbance of my own volition," Rozemyne interjected.
"And yet, you are always at the center of them. By the way... the Goddess of Time truly won't descend this year, correct?"
"It will be fine. I have already negotiated with the Goddess."
In the previous timeline, this was the year a massive uproar occurred when a Goddess descended upon Hannelore, leading to Rozemyne traveling into the past. Anastasius held his head in his hands at the fact that she could so casually claim to have "negotiated with a Goddess," but if she said it was fine, he had no choice but to believe her.
"Since the threads were already repaired in the previous life, she won't be summoned in this one."
"I see. Very well. ...As you heard, Hildebrand, there are supposedly no incidents planned, so I leave it to you."
While Hildebrand was still blinking in surprise, all the duchies had gathered, and Klassenberg—ranked first—came forward to offer greetings. They were followed by Drewanchel in second place. Letizia, who had once been an Archduke Candidate of Alexandria, came to greet them as a candidate of Drewanchel. Rozemyne watched her with deep affection, mixed with a hint of loneliness.
As Rozemyne predicted, no Goddess descended. She continued to pass her classes with lightning speed, displaying an overwhelming excellence in the Archduke Candidate lectures that seemed to say, 'This is only natural for one who is to become an Aub.' Her performance thoroughly crushed the confidence of the other candidates, leaving Anastasius, in his role as teacher, to spend his time constantly encouraging the students. Consequently, Anastasius—who should have been a distant royal and a strict instructor—was instead perceived as a "kind teacher," and he ended up buried under a never-ending stream of consultations from troubled students.
"Rozemyne, because of you, I spend all my time listening to the students' woes lately."
"Is it not a good thing that they feel close to you?"
"The other day, someone consulted me because they loved someone from another duchy but couldn't get their parents' permission! Do something about this."
"Tell me more about that story, please."
"As if I could!"
"What a pity. It sounded like perfect material for my next book."
Ehrenfest, now without Rozemyne, was united under Wilfried and Charlotte. Though their grades had slipped slightly, the students looked healthy and energetic. Conversely, while Alexandria’s grades had risen significantly compared to the Ahrensbach era, the duchy still felt somewhat fragmented.
Hildebrand, meanwhile, was quickly seduced by the charms of ditter. Two years ago, during Rozemyne's "bride-taking ditter," he had grumbled that he was "different," but it seemed he could not resist his Dunkelfelger bloodline.
"Lately, Hildebrand is nothing but 'ditter, ditter, ditter.' It's exhausting," Anastasius grumbled to Rozemyne during a practical Archduke Candidate lesson. Without pausing her hand as she drew a magic circle, Rozemyne replied with an air of total detachment, "That sounds like quite a handful."
"Hannelore, you are a candidate from Dunkelfelger—do something about him."
"Professor Anastasius, I am troubled as well," Hannelore replied, picking out feystones after finishing her own magic circle next to Rozemyne. "The apprentice knights say they cannot refuse an invitation from royalty, and they head off to gather materials or play ditter with unrestrained excitement. An Archduke Candidate cannot stop a Prince, so please, Professor, you must be the one to do something."
As Hannelore gripped a feystone, it crushed under her strength, and gold dust trickled through her fingers. Seeing this, Anastasius’s face twitched for a moment. Rozemyne let out a long breath as she finished her circle.
"Prince Hildebrand is of Dunkelfelger blood, after all. ...Wait. Does this mean the Prince will grow up to be a buff Dunkelfelger knight too?"
As Rozemyne fretted over the future of the "adorable" Prince Hildebrand, Anastasius furrowed his brow as he visualized the possibility.
"No... he seems to idolize Ferdinand. He’s more likely to be the type who devises and dictates vicious strategies."
"Like Lord Ferdinand? Prince Hildebrand becoming vicious and buff... No! That must not happen!"
"Rozemyne..."
Though her imagination was incredibly rude toward the Prince, Hannelore couldn't help but let out a giggle.
At the Dedication Ceremony that year, Hildebrand took on the role of High Bishop. The amount of mana drawn out was slightly higher than usual to compensate for the royal family's shortage. However, when Hildebrand apologetically explained that he was still learning to adjust his strength for his first ceremony, no one complained.
In truth, this was Rozemyne’s idea. In exchange for the extra mana, she taught the students a more efficient way to pray, which actually made them quite happy.
At the Interduchy Tournament, ditter shifted from a race for speed back to a "treasure-taking" competition. Hildebrand was so captivated by the match that his father scolded him, saying, "Socialize as a royal should!" He then gazed longingly from afar at the sight of Ferdinand and Rozemyne sitting together in the Alexandria booth, only to be scolded by his mother, who said, "Royals must not show favoritism!"
Sigiswald walked through the various duchies with his usual practiced smile, Rozemyne took the top honors, and Hildebrand also became an honor student. Thus, the winter at the Royal Academy came to an end.
Around that time, Eglantine gave birth to her second child, a boy.
Soon after, Naerache gave birth to a girl, and by the middle of spring, Magdalena also gave birth to a girl. The royal family had become very lively indeed.
At the Archduke Conference that spring, Sigiswald’s coronation ceremony was held. By raising the Grutrissheit for all to see, Sigiswald’s claim to the throne was intended to be—and indeed became—unshakeable.
The one who had crafted that Grutrissheit was Adolphine. To be precise, it was a magic tool that, upon chanting the word "Grutrissheit," took the form of a book that looked the part. Its pages were blank, and it possessed none of the true functions of the Book of Mestionora. If anyone ever caught a glimpse of the inside, they planned to simply claim that the contents were visible only to a Zent. It was, for all intents and purposes, an exceptionally dignified-looking notebook.
In creating this imitation, Adolphine had fully utilized the negotiation tactics she learned from Rozemyne, securing from Sigiswald a vast amount of gold and goods, as well as a promise of "royal mediation" once he ascended the throne.
It went without saying that Adolphine disliked Sigiswald. However, as someone aiming to become the next Aub, she knew she could not remain on permanently bad terms with the man destined to be Zent. She understood the necessity of maintaining a cooperative facade.
"It is finished. It may not be exactly what you desired, Lord Sigiswald, but the book will manifest whenever you call its name."
When she handed over the magic tool in a private room cleared of attendants, she added a slight sting to her words, aimed at the man who had failed to obtain the true Book. Sigiswald took the tool and gave a wry smile.
"Adolphine, you have my gratitude."
Adolphine was somewhat taken aback by his straightforward thanks.
"I am well aware that you dislike me, and I do not intend to ask for your forgiveness at this late stage," Sigiswald continued. "However, the title of Zent should carry some weight. Once I have officially taken the throne, I will do whatever I can to assist you should the need arise."
"I shall look forward to it then," Adolphine replied, not expecting much.
Sigiswald’s expression softened as he stroked the magic tool he had received from her.
"You, who actually obtained the Grutrissheit, could have become Zent yourself. Yet, you did not oppose my ascension."
"Indeed."
"Since we likely won't have many opportunities to speak privately like this again, I wish to tell you: I am grateful to you. I hope we can continue to build a good relationship as nobles supporting Yurgenschmidt."
There was no diplomatic mask on Sigiswald’s face; his expression was sincere. Adolphine realized that this was his own way of showing sincerity.
"You have changed, Lord Sigiswald."
"Perhaps. A great deal has happened, after all."
"Yes, a great deal indeed. I should also tell you: I still find that our personalities simply do not clash well. However, envisioning your face has helped my mana compression immensely and even increased my divine protections, so I suppose I am not entirely ungrateful."
"Adolphine..."
Sigiswald’s face went blank for a moment before he managed a strained smile.
"That said, I have high expectations for your skill as the Zent of this era. For my part, I am willing to aid the royal family if it serves the interests of Yurgenschmidt."
Sigiswald’s expression relaxed in relief. Adolphine, however, did not forget to add one final condition.
"Provided, of course, that there is also a benefit for my side."
Both of them had been well-taught by Rozemyne that "profit must be met with profit."
Sigiswald let out a chuckle. Adolphine was surprised to find that her own expression had become quite peaceful.
Sigiswald secretly thought Adolphine looked beautiful in that moment—a thought he would keep strictly hidden from Naerache.
As for Adolphine, she wondered for a fleeting second if things might have been different had she been wed to this version of Sigiswald in her previous life, but she shook her head to drive the thought away.
At the conference hall, Naerache stood beside Sigiswald as his First Wife.
Since the time-leap, Naerache had realized something. Until now, she had believed that a wife's role was simply to obey and serve her husband—that being a "good woman" meant acting exactly as he wished. She now knew that was a grave mistake.
She recalled a conversation from a tea party for ladies during a past Archduke Conference.
"You must make him believe he is the one in control, while in truth, you are the one leading him. A wife's duty is to subtly guide her husband so he does not stray down the wrong path."
At the time, she hadn't understood the words of the high-ranking lady who said them. But now, she understood. Merely following him was not enough.
(Incidentally, Rozemyne—who had praised those words as "wonderful!"—was actually the one being subtly led and managed by everyone around her.)
Naerache glanced at the man beside her. Sigiswald looked radiant, having finally achieved his long-held dream. Naerache smiled inwardly, thinking how the real work of being Zent was only just beginning. But, she thought, this is the position he has yearned for all these years. Just for today, I shall overlook his overconfidence and smile with him.
From the dais, Sigiswald looked out at Rozemyne and Ferdinand. They seemed to be offering their blessings as well, and he smiled with satisfaction.
"Now, let us offer our prayers and gratitude for the birth of our new Zent!"
The nobles in the audience rose one after another as a matter of course.
"All glory to the gods!"
With perfectly synchronized movements, the vast majority of the nobility offered their prayers.
Blessings of light began to flutter through the air like snow.
On this day, a new Zent was born.
Epilogue
Various problems are brought to the office of Zent Sigiswald every day. They range from small disputes between territories to reports of declining crop yields; issues both great and small never cease. Thanks to this, the stack of wooden tags on Sigiswald’s desk never seems to disappear.
In the same room, Hildebrand handles the tags with great enthusiasm. Hildebrand has been rapidly increasing his mana, performing religious ceremonies, and strengthening his body through ditter. Since he has not yet obtained his schtappe, he does not possess the Mestionora’s Book, but there is no doubt he will obtain it eventually. Though he is still small in stature, rumors have already begun to swirl about him being a candidate for the next Zent, so Sigiswald feels he cannot afford to lose.
Of course, Hildebrand has no intention of becoming Zent. He believes his job is to support the Zent as a member of the royal family. His role model is Ferdinand, who supports Rozemyne. He never misses a day of training, aiming for that ideal.
Trauerqual, in addition to assisting with administrative duties, flies between various territories. Originally educated to support the King as a vassal, Trauerqual has shown his prowess as if he has come back to life now that he has stepped down from the throne to a supporting role. He is dissatisfied that the King he supports does not possess the Grutrissheit, and he frequently argues with Sigiswald over differences in direction, but he nonetheless works vibrantly alongside his wives.
On this particular day, a disaster of the highest magnitude descended.
"Rozemyne has been summoned by the gods?!"
"Yes. Because of that, Ferdinand is requesting permission to enter the Royal Academy. Actually, while he sent the request as a formality, he has already headed for the Garden of Beginnings. I'm going after him immediately!"
"I'm counting on you, Anastasius! Stop Ferdinand before he starts a war with the gods!"
Matters involving the gods were beyond Sigiswald’s reach. Watching Anastasius rush off, Sigiswald let out a heavy sigh and returned to his seat. All he could do now was wait for their return.
"I wonder if they'll be alright."
"Brother Sigiswald, I'm sure it will be fine. Ferdinand is there, after all," Hildebrand said.
"That Ferdinand is exactly what I'm worried about. He's the type to start a fight with the gods themselves."
"To not even fear the gods... that's amazing."
"I wish he would understand his position and learn a little fear. Sigh... there's no use thinking about it. Hildebrand, let's do what we can for now."
Sighing again, he turned his eyes back to the wooden diptychs. The work was piled high.
He had braced himself for it to take several days, but Anastasius returned within the day, accompanied by Rozemyne and Ferdinand. Trauerqual had also returned from another task and was present in the room.
"What happened?"
"Lord Sigiswald, I was suddenly invited to the Garden of Beginnings for a tea party with the Goddess," Rozemyne explained.
"A tea party..."
"The Goddess seems to like the 'pattern' of this land, so she said she would watch over us as we are for a while. Isn't that wonderful?"
Sigiswald felt a slight bout of dizziness at her incredibly carefree tone.
"Erwaermen-sama also said, 'Well done, Anastasius,'" Rozemyne added.
"Rozemyne, you don't need to mention that," Anastasius muttered.
"Ah."
The gods recognized Anastasius, who was dyeing the Foundation, as the Zent, meaning the "beautiful pattern" of the country was credited to him. While the gods certainly acknowledged the contributions of "Maine" and "Quinta," how they viewed the other royals was beyond human understanding.
"By the way, Ferdinand, what is that in your hand?"
"Oh, this? It's a branch from Erwaermen-sama," Ferdinand replied coolly, as if it were nothing.
Sigiswald froze. "Why do you have that?"
"I pruned it."
"You pruned it...?"
"Honestly, Lord Ferdinand got into another argument with Erwaermen-sama! We are already bound by the star, and yet—"
"You, be quiet."
Rozemyne was silenced, but according to what was gathered later, the situation had been chaotic. Ferdinand had barged in uninvited, Erwaermen had complained, and then Erwaermen had suggested that since they were already bound, they should hurry up and produce an heir. Ferdinand had then "pruned" the branch, Mestionora had gotten angry, and the other goddesses were just giggling at the scene while Anastasius watched on, trembling.
"Please... just try not to meet the gods anymore."
"I'd like that too, but what am I supposed to do if I'm summoned?"
"Sigh... anyway, as long as you're safe. You may return now."
"Oh, that's right, Lord Sigiswald."
Sensing a bad omen, Sigiswald plastered on a smile. "What is it?"
"We are currently printing a book modeled after you! Oh, don't worry—we've stated that the characters are entirely fictional."
"Pardon?"
"It's a story about a Prince who leaps through time, reflects on his past, and eventually becomes Zent. Your exploits are portrayed very heroically, so please look forward to it! I'm sure your popularity as Zent will soar."
"I was not consulted about this!"
"We’re also planning a second volume about your daily life as Zent, so please work hard! See you!"
"Wait just a minute!"
Seeing the flustered Sigiswald, Anastasius let out a small chuckle.
"Ah, Prince Anastasius, I've already commissioned a romance novel about you as well. It’s not finished yet, but it’s something to look forward to!"
"What?"
Ignoring the two men who were now frozen in shock, Ferdinand offered his arm to Rozemyne.
"That's enough. Let's head home. We have work waiting for us to increase the number of books, don't we?"
"That's right!"
Rozemyne placed her hand on Ferdinand's, offered an elegant greeting, and after the two shared a smile, they departed for their duchy together.
"So, books about you two are coming out. I look forward to reading them," Trauerqual said with a chuckle, looking at his two sons.
"Father, don't think this doesn't involve you," Sigiswald countered.
"Surely a story about young men like yourselves is more interesting than one about a man who gave up his throne and retired."
"Rozemyne is trying to increase the number of books rapidly. Anyone can become a subject. Besides, Father, even though I've taken the throne, I can't have you retiring just yet."
Sigiswald turned a beaming smile toward his father. Looking at the desk prepared for Trauerqual, piled high with wooden diptychs, it seemed his peaceful retirement was still a long way off.
"To become the protagonist of a book and have it stored in Lady Rozemyne's library... isn't that wonderful?" Hildebrand said, his eyes sparkling.
The father and the two older brothers silently averted their eyes from him. The day when Hildebrand would become close friends with Hartmut, Clarissa, and Eckhart—leaving even Rozemyne and Ferdinand horrified—was fast approaching.
"Sigh... enough talking. Back to work. This stack is for you, Father. This is for Anastasius. And this is Hildebrand's share. I'm counting on you."
As the three stared at him wide-eyed, Sigiswald flashed a brilliant, glittering smile. He had learned the most efficient way to clear administrative work from Ferdinand. If they had complaints, they could take them up with him.
"I still haven't finished the matter regarding the abandoned territories, so I'm heading out now!"
"I am going to provide mana to the Foundation!"
"I have to prepare for the Academy, train with the knights, and visit the shrines!"
The three dashed out of the door like a whirlwind without taking a single diptych.
Left in the silence, Sigiswald maintained his glittering smile.
On Zent Sigiswald’s desk, the wooden diptychs were piled high again today. Letting out a single sigh, Sigiswald reached out and picked one up.
— The End —