The First Cousins' Tea Party

“Lord Wilfried, today is the cousins’ tea party. Members of the archducal family cannot avoid building relationships with blood relatives in other duchies. In particular, Lady Detlinde is an archduke candidate of the greater duchy Ahrensbach. Let us strive to leave as favorable an impression as possible.”

I nodded at the reminder from my head attendant, Oswald.

“What should I do to leave a good impression?”

“First, while the term ‘cousins’ might suggest an equal relationship, there is a clear difference in rank. An archduke candidate is expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their standing.”

Ahrensbach is the duchy my great-grandmother came from, and I’ve heard that the Aub Ahrensbach of that time acted as a parental figure to my grandmother after she lost her mother at a young age. It is also where Lady Georgine, my father’s eldest sister, was married into.

The relationship is quite long and deep, and I’ve heard that when interference from other duchies occurs at the Archduke Conference, Ehrenfest is often protected or assisted by Ahrensbach.

Frenbeltag is my mother’s home duchy and the one my father’s second sister, Auntie Constanze, married into. While the blood ties are quite strong, its rank as a duchy is lower. As a result, it seems that Ehrenfest is more often the one providing assistance.

“Please do not directly deny Lady Detlinde or go against what she says. Keep your answers as vague as possible, and make avoiding her displeasure your top priority.”

…That was the same thing I had been told to be careful about during tea parties with Grandmother.

“And as for Lord Rudiger of Frenbeltag, while he is from a lower-ranked duchy, he is an archduke candidate in the upper years. He will likely try to gather as much information as possible through gentle, indirect phrasing. There is also a high chance he will ask for aid. Be careful not to reveal any information beyond what has been agreed upon in advance.”

“Understood.”

As I recalled the model answers I had memorized in advance, I made my way to Ahrensbach’s tea party room where the cousins’ gathering would be held. I couldn’t suppress my nervousness. Today, I must not speak carelessly, guided by my own interests or emotions. In my mind, I recalled my failure during the farewell greeting when Lady Georgine visited Ehrenfest about two and a half years ago. I had no intention of making the same mistake again.

…Father, I will see this through safely today.

“Ah, Wilfried, Rudiger. Welcome.”

Lady Detlinde received us, and Lord Rudiger and I were shown to our seats. Her gestures and manner reminded me of my grandmother, filling me with a deep sense of nostalgia.

“Wilfried, you are quite capable. I have heard from the dormitory supervisor that you are highly regarded even among the professors.”

Lady Detlinde was clearly prioritizing me over Lord Rudiger in the conversation. It felt somewhat blatant, but perhaps this was simply how one was expected to act in accordance with a duchy’s rank. I still had little experience in socializing as an archduke candidate, so I would have to learn as much as possible from Lady Detlinde, a fourth-year.

…If the key was to avoid displeasing her, just as with Grandmother, then I simply needed to praise her. Right!

The moment I steeled myself, however, Lady Detlinde cut me off.

“So then, how did Ehrenfest manage to improve its results so dramatically?”

“Eh? Well, that would be Rozemyne’s achievement—”

“Oh my, I said this during the dedication whirl as well, but that cannot be the truth, can it? Even while that child was said to be asleep in the jureve, the professors were already taking note of Ehrenfest’s rising performance.”

Her deep green eyes, smiling beautifully, seemed to say, “Was the story about her being asleep a lie, perhaps?” I had been told not to speak about the karuta, the picture books, or the education in the children’s room, yet I had no idea how to respond. My smile stiffened.

“Lord Wilfried, I have heard that Lady Rozemyne awoke at the end of autumn. Are you saying there is a way to have even laynobles pass between the end of autumn and the first day of classes?”

“No, that’s not the case.”

Even though Oswald had warned me, I immediately and firmly denied Lord Rüdiger’s words. Both Lady Detlinde and Lord Rüdiger frowned slightly.

…This is bad. I need some kind of excuse… something to deflect…

I desperately searched for an answer. When it came to the overall improvement in our results, it was undoubtedly due in large part to the various educational tools and the studying we had done in the children’s room. Without that foundation, even if we had formed the study group to improve our grades, we would have lacked too much basic knowledge to pass on the first day.

“Not from the end of autumn, but from before she entered the jureve—Rozemyne had been making various preparations to develop the abilities of her retainers, and… it was because of that groundwork that we were able to achieve these results… As for why it became so exaggerated, perhaps it was because her retainers were acting on their own initiative…”

Though I stumbled over my words, I somehow managed to give an answer. By concealing information about the education in the children’s room and the educational tools, I felt I had managed to get through it without telling an outright lie.

To begin with, it was because Hartmut had spread various rumors that Rozemyne came to be called the “Saint of Ehrenfest.” It seemed he was also the one who began attributing the improvement in grades to her achievements, so my excuse was by no means incorrect.

“So, in other words, her retainers were simply capable?”

Lord Rudiger spoke in a puzzled tone, but Lady Detlinde nodded. “A retainer’s accomplishments belong to their lord, so that is only natural.”

Their reactions were mixed, but it seemed they had accepted my explanation for the time being, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“Then, regarding the lustrous hair for women and the new musical compositions said to have been devised by Lady Rozemyne—are those not truly the accomplishments of her retainers and personal musicians?”

“Eh? Ah, well…”

…Oswald, how am I supposed to answer this without denying it, while still being vague, and yet say that Rozemyne created them!?

Even remembering the instructions, I didn’t know the crucial model answer. As I searched for a response, my gaze wandering, Lady Detlinde nodded several times as though she had come to a conclusion.

“As I thought. Avoiding a clear answer is the answer, is it not?”

“No, that’s not—…”

I wasn’t allowed to deny it. Lady Detlinde shot me a sharp glare, and I instinctively fell silent. From the slight twitch of her brow, I sensed the same shift in mood I had seen when my grandmother’s temper turned.

“No matter who devised them, they are trends of Ehrenfest, are they not? Then, as someone related to me by blood, you should have unveiled them at this tea party with me first. And yet you prioritized Klassenberg and Dunkelfelger!”

“No, I was primarily attending social functions for men. As for the tea parties, it was not me but Rozemyne who was invited. In particular, the matter with Dunkelfelger was an unavoidable misunderstanding…”

I desperately explained that the invitation had not named Rozemyne directly but had been addressed to an archduke candidate of Ehrenfest, and that since Rozemyne had already returned by the time it arrived, I had no choice but to attend in her place.

“Oh my, how troublesome… Then, regarding the magic tools in the library, are others being inconvenienced by that child’s actions as well? My retainers were quite upset that they were not even allowed to touch them. She is monopolizing such adorable magic tools, is she not? Don’t you think that’s unfair?”

When Rozemyne entered the reading room, she had been so overjoyed that she scattered the light of blessings everywhere, causing the magic tools to activate and recognize her as their master. Having seen that, I couldn’t possibly think it was “unfair.”

“In my personal opinion, those magic tools are best enjoyed by simply looking at them. They may be cute in appearance, but for ordinary people, they offer no benefit to either the individual or the duchy.”

They required being provided with new outfits—ones incorporating complex magic circles and made from many valuable materials—and one could end up being entangled with Dunkelfelger and forced into a ditter match, or even summoned by the royal family.

“What do you mean? They are magic tools of the royal family. Has Ehrenfest not earned their favor?”

”…I was summoned by Prince Anastasius for questioning, but whether we have earned their favor is… In the first place, the one troubled by the magic tools not functioning is Professor Solange; the royal family is not particularly inconvenienced. Rozemyne was told that if she wishes to activate the magic tools to help Professor Solange, she may do so as she pleases, but there will be no reward in return. She is merely a volunteer acting out of goodwill.”

I had not accompanied her to meet Prince Anastasius myself, so I did not know the details, but Rozemyne had said something along those lines.

They must not have expected there to be no reward. Not only Lady Detlinde, but Lord Rudiger as well widened his eyes in surprise.

“If someone has the attributes to operate the library’s magic tools and can go to supply mana about once every three days, Rozemyne seems willing to hand over the role of master. If Lady Detlinde has the aptitude and the motivation, then please petition Prince Anastasius to transfer ownership. Ehrenfest has no objections at all.”

“Is there truly no consideration from the royal family?”

Lady Detlinde looked at me with suspicion, but there really was nothing to be gained for the duchy. If mana were to be provided elsewhere, I would prefer it be done in a way that benefits the duchy, but Rozemyne had not thought that far.

…To Rozemyne, supplying mana to the magic tools for the Royal Academy library was more important than filling small chalices for Ahrensbach or Frenbeltag, despite their blood ties to Ehrenfest.

“Come to think of it, I heard that Professor Solange felt quite apologetic about receiving mana from an archduke candidate during the lesson period. It seems the burden of supplying mana could interfere with her studies…”

“With no compensation and the possibility of it interfering with her classes, why did Lady Rozemyne agree to become the master of the library’s magic tools?”

Lord Rudiger looked extremely perplexed. I understood how he felt. When I first heard that Rozemyne had stubbornly insisted on becoming the master of the magic tools even against Dunkelfelger, I was sure I had made the same expression.

“It seems it is to ensure the smooth operation of the Royal Academy library. Rozemyne loves books and the library above all else, so she could not tolerate the current situation where Professor Solange bears the burden of the library alone.”

”…So, in other words, she is offering her own mana without compensation in order to help a mere librarian?”

“Yes. Unless one is an eccentric like Rozemyne, who can devote herself entirely for the sake of the library, I doubt anyone could serve as the master of those magic tools. In the case of an archduke candidate, I believe it would also place a heavy burden on the retainers who must accompany them to the library for mana supply. At the very least, I have no desire to take on that role myself, nor would I recommend it to others.”

When I stated it so firmly, Lord Rudiger gave a troubled smile. “It seems there are various circumstances behind it all,” he said. Even I could tell it was his way of wanting to bring the conversation to a close. I was just thinking I should shift to something more lighthearted, more fitting for a family gathering, when Lady Detlinde looked at me.

“Then, I would also like to hear the circumstances behind why permission was not granted for Aurelia’s marriage.”

The sharp shift in the atmosphere made me swallow hard. I was prepared for this, though—I had been given a model answer. Just as Father had done when responding to Aub Ahrensbach at the Archduke Conference, I explained that in present-day Yurgenschmidt, where nobles were few, there were not many archdukes willing to send away their archnoble daughters, and that Ehrenfest also lacked the capacity to send out men as bridegrooms.

“Oh my, to reject it for such rigid, inflexible reasons… Aurelia’s partner is one of your retainers, is he not? Do you not wish to see their love fulfilled?”

“I would like to see it fulfilled, but both Lamprecht and I must follow the aub’s judgment.”

I had only answered as I had been instructed beforehand, yet Lady Detlinde’s deep green eyes narrowed in displeasure.

…Did that count as directly contradicting her? This is difficult! This is really difficult, Oswald!

Wondering how I would be reprimanded, I tensed without thinking. Then, as if to cut through that tension, Lord Rudiger gave a gentle smile.

“Lord Wilfried, as Lady Detlinde is also an archduke candidate, she understands that she cannot act purely on her emotions. She is simply kind-hearted, and thus wishes for those around her to prioritize their feelings as much as possible.”

“Oh my… hehe, just as Rudiger says. I understand well enough that things do not always go as one wishes.”

Lady Detlinde’s mood improved in an instant. I let out a quiet breath of admiration at Lord Rudiger’s skillful choice of words. Though he had effectively denied her by stating the position of an archduke candidate, he had done so without souring her mood by appealing to her kindness. I would need to take note of that for future conversations.

“Lady Detlinde, have you perhaps been told something by the aub regarding your own marriage partner? I have heard that when one takes an interest in the marriages of others, it is often because one’s own marriage is not going as one wishes.”

At Lord Rudiger’s question, Lady Detlinde lowered her gaze slightly.

”…I am in a somewhat difficult position.”

“Ah, yes. In that case, the aub must be quite troubled as well.”

The two of them seemed to understand something, but I did not. I had not been told anything in advance about any special circumstances regarding Lady Detlinde’s position. Should I act to gather information here? Or would it be better to remain silent so as not to appear ignorant of something that one would normally be expected to know?

“Lord Wilfried, does Aub Ehrenfest have any particular policy regarding the marriages of archduke candidates?”

…We’re first-years, you know?? There’s no way anything like that has been decided!

Holding back the urge to say that outright, I tilted my head slightly as I looked at Lord Rüdiger. What was I supposed to say in a situation like this?

“Given how much it’s already become a topic of discussion right after enrollment, there will surely be inquiries made to probe those around you, Wilfried.”

…Huh? The one drawing attention isn’t me—it’s Rozemyne, isn’t it?

“Ehrenfest has been steadily improving its performance over the past two years. There should be a fair number of nobles who have taken notice. I, of course, am among them.”

I couldn’t tell whether Lord Rudiger’s words were advice to decide on a policy early because of the attention, or an indirect proposal aimed at Rozemyne.

“I—I see. I believe that whatever policy the aub adopts will be conveyed to the other duchies around the time of the Archduke Conference.”

…Father! Father, Please decide on a policy as soon as possible! And give me a model answer!

Smiling as I sipped my tea, I was desperately calling for help from my father in my heart.