Chatper 26: Student awards and the feast celebrating spring
Award ceremonies were always more fun when one was among the awarded. I breathed in the celebratory atmosphere as the honors students were being announced.
Anyone that was at least a bit skillful in their socializing should have already known the outcome, but when Estelle stepped on the stage, I could still hear a few surprised reactions. It made me quite delighted.
They will definitely gasp for air with me. I smirked.
“And the first in their class…” Sylvester’s voice reverberated in the hall.
I moved towards the stage, and yes, a few gasps could be heard. Though, I continued without acknowledging them. There was only my content victory smile on my face.
Soon after I joined the line of honor students, Sylvester began proceeding with the awards.
Hey, we aren’t even skimping on the feystones. I was pleasantly surprised that the awarded feystones weren’t smaller than last year’s.
I had been a bit nervous with such an increase in students to award. That one Sylvester’s remark at the dormitory had only reinforced my worries. Though, as it seemed, Ehrenfest had managed. It was rare for this duchy not to let me down.
However, this wasn’t the end of our performance. Once we were done with the awards, the archduke candidates moved to the center of the stage, and called for their retainers. One couldn’t have made it look more official than that for the audience.
Four groups formed. One around Wilfried, one around Charlotte, one around Rozemyne, and one still walking awkwardly down the stage, holding their prizes. Watching their backs made me feel a bit guilty. It would have been way better if they had sent us all away, and then called the retainers who achieved honors back.
However, I didn’t have time for critique. I was trying my best to maintain my facade and look like a proper retainer.
“You all did so well. I am overjoyed to have you in my service,” Charlotte praised us in a quiet voice before we followed the other groups down the stage.
I wasn’t a knight, so I could depart from Charlotte’s group and rejoin my family. Unlike Estelle, who was already walking beside Cornelius as Rozemyne’s guard knight. Well, it was less about Estelle’s profession and more about appearances. Just like when I had escorted Charlotte to the playroom during my first day of practice, it was better to hammer that point down.
“Lady Meredith, I must really commend you on your role of Erwachlehren,” one of the nobles nearby remarked. “All the students you have sent to the Academy acquired their honors.”
“You are being kind.” Mother smiled politely. “Erwachlehren has an easy time when Anwachs is aided by Brennwarme in their search for Mestionora.”
Yep, we are totally passionate little bees. I was nodding in my head.
The nobles around us bestowed their praise just like last year, although I did notice that they switched from praising my brother directly to praising our mother. It was probably the closest I could get to direct praise from the general public. Not that I minded.
It would probably be weird. “Hey, you, we ignored you before, but you did really well.” Yeah, I think I prefer the indirect way.
I listened to Sylvester as he kept announcing the news. Apparently, our study results had brought us attention on the country-wide stage. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the next winter to see whether this had been just a one-off or the start of a new trend. As such, he encouraged all the current and future students to try their hardest.
He also mentioned the renovation of the lower city, and how Ehrenfest would finally avoid the embarrassment in the eyes of the foreign visitors.
Good, properly framed. I noticed a lot of approving nods.
I was pretty sure that most of them would not have cared at all if Sylvester hadn’t talked about the reputation damage among other duchies.
Speaking of reputation damage…
I carefully looked around, gauging everyone’s reaction to Sylvester’s next point.
“…and we would like to confirm this finding during next year’s divine protections ritual. In preparation for this outcome, Rozemyne, as the High Bishop, agreed to welcome children and students before their third year who wish to work on their divine protections in the temple. Public visits, led by the archduke candidates, will occur a day after every seasonal baptism ceremony, and also after the Starbind Ceremony in the summer.”
A bunch of nobles around us scoffed.
I don’t know what I expected. I smiled wryly.
The more I focused on enhancing my hearing, the more discontent I heard.
“This will be great!” an excited voice announced right beside me.
Well, with one exception.
I turned to my left, where Erenit beamed a happy smile.
The neighbors looked at her with weird looks, but then they merely shrugged with a light shaking of their heads. As if to say: “She doesn’t understand yet.”
Mother’s smile also wasn’t entirely genuine, but she tried to sound supportive of that idea as well.
I mean, a bunch of kids have already visited. We just had to normalize it by repeating the process. Hopefully, the next trip wouldn’t be just the archduke candidates and my siblings.
There was always the possibility that the parents who had been pushed by peer pressure to sign their kids up for the last excursion would decide against further trips. It was why the offer had been extended to include the students before their third year. Their addition should help compensate for lost attendance somewhat by pooling from a larger group. Lower attendance would have looked bad—like a dying trend.
Naturally, it was a somewhat risky proposition. Because of their age, the students didn’t have that easy deflection of childish naivete. They could be targeted by nasty rumors. My experience from the Academy could attest to that. And, of course, since the students already had their schtappes, their presence made for a nonzero threat.
Although, I couldn’t see anyone from my year, or the year above, being hostile and trying anything stupid. They definitely knew how to behave.
As the last point, Sylvester mentioned the archducal family’s effort to bring earlier spring to Haldenzel through an ancient ritual. Though, just like all the mentions of rituals and prayers before, it didn’t gain much traction.
After lunch, I set out to find Gretia in the crowd. She had been really distraught about her return from the Academy, so I wanted to ask about her situation.
However, during my search, I was stopped by Wilfried of all people. The archduke candidates no longer kept to a single defensive group. Though, each of them was surrounded by enough of their retainers that it was hard to approach them anyway. Unless, of course, they initiated it.
“So it looks like you have chosen Charlotte after all,” Wilfried remarked with a pensive smile.
“Indeed,” I nodded, feeling a bit dejected. “As a retainer, I will no longer treat you equally. Although, since Lady Rozemyne is back as the head of the printing industry, it shouldn’t be a problem at all.”
It was no longer my job to think about the work distribution or how the credit would be assigned, but it was still a bit weird saying out loud how I would support only one of them.
“Will you also push for Charlotte becoming the next aub?” Wilfried wondered.
“A retainer’s job is to help their lord or lady to fulfill their wishes. Is it not?” I didn’t know why I had said it in such a roundabout way. I had already told him a bunch of times who I thought was a better candidate.
“Despite the aub’s decree?” One of his adult retainers frowned at me.
It was definitely easier to refute him and all the other adults in Wilfried’s retinue. I definitely didn’t feel any regret with them.
“I respect the aub’s authority, which also encompasses his power to change his decrees,” I replied with a polite smile. “As such, I will work hard to make his decision easier.”
“I see.” Wilfried nodded.
“But of course, nothing has changed my belief that Ehrenfest benefits the most when the archduke candidates cooperate. The competition should be about who improved the most and became the best candidate, not who managed to tear others down. If you are still interested in my help, like education for your scholars, I am more than happy to raise their competence.”
Charlotte couldn’t run the duchy’s bureaucracy with just Marianne and me. We needed as robust a pool of competent scholars as possible.
“As if…” Someone began with a dismissive tone, but they didn’t manage to finish.
“I am ever so grateful,” Roderick said hastily.
“Me too. I appreciate your help,” Ignaz added with the same intensity.
The older retainers stared at them in confusion.
“Right, we will definitely cooperate,” Wilfried declared, his smile becoming more enthusiastic.
It pretty much shut up anyone who wanted to protest.
Should I start right now and tell him to chastise his retainers for trying to interject in our conversation? I decided not to ruin the moment and inform him some other time.
After leaving Wilfried’s group, I noticed Gretia only five or six meters ahead of me, so I quickly reached her.
“You managed to become an archducal scholar after all,” she pointed out with a smile.
“It really makes me happy. Giving advice to scholars while not being a retainer, or even an apprentice scholar, has always felt a bit rude.” I was pleased with the improved authority.
Naturally, it wouldn’t fix all my interactions, but it was definitely a more solid position than just being a random girl who did her practice for a year… as an attendant.
“Do you think it improves your standing with them?” Gretia wondered with a dubious voice.
I glanced in the direction of the two adult retainers who made their remarks against me. They hadn’t really treated me any differently, even though I was now a fully-fledged retainer.
“I guess not.” I shrugged. “Though, it’s more about my own perspective.”
I definitely felt more secure. The others’ opinion was kind of secondary.
“Right.” Gretia smiled knowingly.
“What about you? Did you benefit as an honor student at home?” I asked eagerly.
“Yes, my situation improved.” She widened her smile.
Her expression was fine, though I had a bit of a weird feeling about that response. Probably because her previous smirk felt so genuine, while her current smile not so much.
“That is nice to hear.” I nodded.
I had brought a sound-blocker to the feast, but I decided to have this conversation somewhere more private. The second piece had already been left with Muriella.
“Would you fancy a tea party, let’s say, a week from now?” It was actually stressful to invite someone, but I treated this more as a precaution for Gretia’s sake, which made it better.
I’m just making sure everything is fine.
“I would like to, although, I don’t know if there will be an available carriage at the time,” Gretia mused.
I tensed—was this a subtle hint not to push it, or was this really just a logistical issue? This is why I hate inviting people. “There is no need to worry, I will send one,” I added nonchalantly.
“I’m grateful.” Gretia smiled.
“Benefits of a driveable highbeast—I don’t really need my carriage,” I said in jest.
It was nice. I actually managed to invite a friend for socializing. Sure, I had an underlying reason, but we could still just spend time like during a normal tea party.
After Gretia, I focused on my next target. Matthias stood a few groups of people away from me, but that was fine, Muriella was just about to approach him. I looked away and powered my sound-blocker.
“Lady Mila?” Matthias’s voice reached me a few moments later.
I covered my mouth as if I was in a deep thought. “Apologies for contacting you like this, but I assume your parents might have a problem with you talking with me.”
We could hide and all in such a large crowd, but why risk it?
“Yes, that’s true,” he replied with a serious tone. “Did something happen?”
“I thought hard about your compensation—a ritual, which would pose no risk to you—and then it occurred to me: you haven’t witnessed the temple rituals at all.”
Currently, it was quite unlikely that Rozemyne, Estelle or I would visit Gerlach and conduct proper ceremonies.
“I was thinking that Spring Prayer might be a nice option. It won’t be a ridiculous ritual, but people say the ceremonies are quite divine.” I hoped it wasn’t a letdown for him.
Maybe I should offer the ceremonies from the Harvest Festival on top. Or maybe… It sounded a bit tacky. He might not like the first one, so it was better not to make some weird invitation for multiple similar events.
“Would you meet me at the town called Knurt during spring? It is located in the south of the Central District, close to the border with Joisontak. You could merely tell the people at home that you are going to gather ingredients in some faraway location.”
Based on our previous encounter in Joisontak, I didn’t think he would be randomly followed by someone.
“You want to meet alone?” Matthias asked with a flustered voice.
“If you do not count my two attendants and the population of multiple towns and villages attending the ceremony, then yes, we will be alone.” I smirked even though he couldn’t see my face.
“Yes, I would like to see the ceremony,” Matthias replied after a small pause.
“Great. Once I’m assigned my travel schedule, I’ll inform you through Lady Muriella about the time. You do not have to worry about receiving an ordonnanz from me or my attendant.”
Ordonnanzes weren’t exactly great for hidden messages. Hmm, what about combining a sound-blocker with ordonnanz so only the target hears the message? If I include my… wait, ordonnanzes can’t be modified. I shook my head.
Then again, I did have my own version that didn’t care about ivory buildings’ barriers. That one could be modified to my heart’s content. I pulled out my notes.
“I appreciate the courtesy,” Matthias’s voice sounded in my head as I wrote that down.
Another invitation I managed to arrange. I’m social. Well, Matthias was the one who had asked to be invited. But even then, I felt like I leveled my socializing a little.
With a feeling of accomplishment, I headed Charlotte’s way. By this time, all three archduke candidates stood closer to each other, which was a telling sign that they would soon depart from the hall. Their knights already looked prepared to merge into a single formation so they could plow through the crowd.
Though, for now, Charlotte was still talking with Claudio and his wife. I was glad to see them together. Despite Haldenzel being in Leisegang camp, they didn’t focus solely on Rozemyne but engaged others as well. This way, the upcoming trip to their province looked like a group effort.
Charlotte was putting on a mature facade and using a polite speech, though she was still eight, so she had the same problem as Erenit. No matter how serious she tried to act, she just looked cute.
I stopped nearby and just listened in on them.
“I heard you and Lord Wilfried participated in the Dedication Ritual as well,” Claudio remarked.
“Indeed,” Charlotte nodded proudly. “Supplying mana was quite tiring to me, but I hope to improve before the next winter.”
Claudio scratched his beard. “It seems the archducal family truly takes their temple involvement seriously. Many were saying it was mostly to distance Lady Rozemyne from the castle.”
I couldn’t decide whether those words were meant as praise or another jab from the giebe. Well, the vagueness was probably the point.
“That is simply untrue,” Charlotte countered with a firm smile.
“Yes, it seems so.” Claudio nodded. It was relieving that he didn’t just push it more.
“Did you not struggle with reputation?” his wife asked.
“Rozemyne proposed splitting the ritual between men and women, so during my time, I had only encountered the shrine maidens. Just like my brother only encountered the priests.” Charlotte glanced at her siblings.
“I see, so you offered mana with the blue shrine maidens,” Claudio mused out loud.
Charlotte blinked at him, not knowing where he was heading.
“Wouldn’t it be interesting if the same arrangement happened during the ritual in Haldenzel?” he proposed.
What are you trying… wait, I’m one of the shrine maidens! Was he trying to get me involved? I wanted to march forward, but at the moment I was paralyzed, not knowing how to interject. There was too much status to consider. I couldn’t just crash into a conversation between an archduke candidate and a giebe; I wasn’t my noble father.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Charlotte replied cheerily. “Naturally, I cannot speak on behalf of my sister’s retainer, but when it comes to mine, I am more than happy for her to participate.”
Nooo! Charlotte, why would you agree before making sure it’s feasible?!
I was supposed to be “busy” during the Spring Prayer, and “regretfully” not make it to Haldenzel. Just like last year.
I glanced at Rozemyne. She seemed to overhear the conversation. Her face was quite clearly saying, “Now, what?”
Can I somehow salvage this? But I didn’t know how. My main excuse was supposed to be my route during Spring Prayer, but the meeting where the blue robes would discuss the routes didn’t happen yet. I had no justification other than me being forbidden to go. And as a retainer, I couldn’t just contradict my lady in public. That would have made her look incompetent.
Even worse, Claudio began discussing details, which was pretty much locking the decision. He hadn’t even approached Rozemyne to ask about Estelle first, which made it pretty clear I was the target. And Charlotte didn’t seem to be the wiser about his goal.
Dammit, this is the result of you throwing yourself at all these opportunities.
Charlotte wanted to match Rozemyne, but in her eagerness, she cast aside her biggest superpower: thinking things through and acting reserved like a noble. Slowing down and making sense of the crazy stuff that was pushed by people around her was vital. We couldn’t build a stable foundation on mere passion; we actually needed, well, the stable foundation.
Now, it will be harder to criticize Wilfried if my own lady made the same kind of mistake. This was probably the outcome of my own hubris after I had goaded her into all those new developments. Though, when I looked at Wilfried, he was merely listening. He didn’t seem to be aware that there was some kind of mistake being made.
Wait, is it even Charlotte’s mistake? Just like Wilfried, she didn’t seem to know that I had been barred from coming to Haldenzel. I was sure that if she had known, then she would have reacted properly. I looked around through the crowd, with irritation building inside me.
Finally, my eyes locked on Sylvester. Why didn’t you inform Charlotte about this?!
They had been planning this whole event for more than a season, making countless meetings and arrangements while I had been in the Academy. You must have discussed the guest list and logistics ad nauseam. Do you want to tell me that not once you mentioned this to your kids?
As I was looking his way, one of his attendants whispered something to him. Sylvester looked in the direction of Charlotte and closed his eyes. No doubt sighing in annoyance.
Don’t sigh at her! I got even more annoyed.
As if someone could rely on proper communication in this place, I grumbled inside my head. But if one knows that the communication in the castle is unreliable… I widened my eyes in a sudden realization.
This is my fault.
Why had I expected that someone had informed Charlotte? I was her retainer, so I should have informed her first, as was proper. Not to just blindly expect that her family had informed her.
She could have easily made an informed decision if I had just told her that I had been forbidden to go. Instead, I had just proceeded with business as usual. I had cleared things with Ferdinand and Rozemyne as I had always done. In short, I hadn’t acted as someone’s scholar at all.
It made me feel ashamed.
I’m sorry. I looked at Charlotte, who had just ended her conversation with a content smile.
I needed to improve as soon as possible; she definitely deserved better than this. First, I needed to take the blame for this fiasco, and then I had to fix it somehow without damaging my lady’s reputation.
Charlotte, from now on, I will try to be an actual retainer.