Chapter Text
Even after returning to the temple, I receive a good night Ordonanz from Charles every night.
Recently, in addition to greetings, they have begun to exchange diary-like updates. It seems that Charles has been meeting with nobles, learning about the printing industry from Elvira, training in magic, and falling off Sylvester's beast.
...Eh, foster father, what are you doing?!
I can't help but want to reply to the Ordonanz that arrive, and the Ordonanz from Charles arrive right away, so the Ordonanz come and go.
And I end up going to bed late. Fran got angry with me, so I've been banned from using Ordonanz since the seventh bell.
Isn't this just like a love story between middle and high school students? It reminds me of a classmate from my Urano days who was banned from using a terminal at night by her parents. Now I can keep up with that love story! Wow, my girl power is increasing!
Today, I'm going to my workshop to discuss costumes for Schwarz and the others.
I was surprised when Angelica asked Ferdinand if she could embroider a magic circle for me. I was no match for Angelica in terms of femininity.
Ferdinand explained the materials and magic circles.
"You, as the master, must embroider the magic circle."
"What?! I can't do that!"
If I had time to embroider, I'd rather read a book. The magic circle Ferdinand pointed to was complicated and intricate, with more than ten of them.
It was a complete lie that my femininity had increased. I take back what I said!
"True, treat it as your bridal training and do your best."
"Ugh... I can't do that no matter what."
"Hmm. Charles will be disappointed if your embroidery is poor."
"?!"
Charles' face came to mind and my heart shook. I wanted him to say, "You're amazing, big sister," and smile at me.
Seeing my reaction, Ferdinand turned up the corner of his lips. It pisses me off that they think I'll listen to them if they use Charles as a bait.
But I won't give in!
"Charles doesn't mind if my embroidery is bad! My fiance is very generous! So let's dye it."
Ferdinand holds his temples, and Damuel sighs, wondering if he's bragging, and Justus grins.
In the end, we decide to make ink and draw a magic circle. My persistence wins.
"Even so, the princess has a lot of trust in Charles, doesn't she?"
Justus asks with a smile after the discussion in the workshop is over.
They're teasing me!
I wish they'd stop trying to get me to brag in front of Damuel. I feel sorry for him.
"Yes, Justus. I'll change my answer from before. If I were to compare Charles to something, it would be Schwarz and Weiss."
Last time, I answered that Wilfried was a chair without a backrest and Charles was a fluffy cushion, but recently my opinion has changed.
"Schwarz and Weiss?"
"They come up to me when they see me, they help me when I ask them, and above all, they're so cute that I want to stroke their heads."
"I see. It seems like you really like them."
Justus nods with interest.
Yes, Charles is cute. To be honest, I'm glad that Wilfried isn't my fiancé. I can't say such things in front of Sylvester, so this is top secret, though.
"Princess, which do you find more useful, the chaise lounge or the Schwarz?"
What a strange question to ask. There's no comparison.
"If possible, I'd like to read on the couch with Schwarz and Weiss on either side of me. Even if I accidentally fall asleep on the couch, I think that with Schwarz and Weiss there, my body won't hurt all over."
I see, Justus seemed to be pondering something.
One day, Charles came to the temple.
I was called to the high priest's office and there Charles was there.
"Charles! What's the matter?"
"Sister. It's been a while."
He smiled, but somehow he seemed more tense than usual.
Ferdinand told me to sit there, so I did. Lothar served me tea as well. After a little chat, Ferdinand said.
"Rozemyne, Charles wants me to train him in preparation for entering the noble academy. You should help him."
Huh?
I looked at Charles next to me in surprise. Wanting to be trained by Ferdinand is crazy.
"Charles, well, Lord Ferdinand is quite strict, is that okay?"
"If he's not strict, then what's the point? Your uncle trains you too, isn't he? It's embarrassing that you can stand your sister but not me."
"Did something happen?"
Charles's expression suddenly cleared of emotion. He then smiled and became the Charles I knew.
"It's nothing worth telling your sister."
Does that mean something happened?
Ferdinand continued without paying any attention to our exchange.
"Charles, there's something I'd like to ask of you as well. I'd like you to teach Rozemyne the common sense of the nobles."
Ferdinand's words surprised me and I blinked.
I looked at Charles, who was looking at him with serious eyes.
"As you know, Rozemyne has lived in the temple for a long time and is ignorant of noble common sense. Her common sense and thinking are different from ours, and she behaves in unexpected ways. Please watch Rozemyne's actions closely and point out any strange parts. I want you to do your best to help Rozemyne quickly become accustomed to noble society."
Huh? I thought Ferdinand was supposed to do that, but he zippered his mouth. If I'm going to be pointed out for every single thing I do, I'd rather have Charles do it than Ferdinand.
Charles said anxiously.
"Do you think I can handle such an important role?"
"I don't know. To be honest, I don't know what to do either. But I think that between two lord candidates of the same age, he's more observant than I am."
Ferdinand had given up on my noble education!
"I understand. I'll do my best to help you, Onee-sama."
Charles nodded, ready to go. I had mixed feelings.
"Very well. Then you two will teach each other the basics, Rozemyne, and common sense. I'll teach you about magic."
"Am I going to teach the basics?"
"You're good at teaching, right? You can teach Charles the same way I taught you."
I was wondering what was going on when Charles smiled next to me.
"I'd rather learn from you than from you, Uncle."
Yeah. I suppose so.
The conversation came to a close, so we disbanded. I was helped down from my chair.
I thought I'd like to talk more since I'd had the chance to meet him, so I grabbed Charles' arm and said.
"Charles, please come to my room."
"...You're being too obvious in your invitation. Noble women don't invite people like that."
Huh?!
I didn't expect that comment.
Looking around, Justus was holding back his laughter, while Fran was nodding as if to say that he was absolutely right. I remembered how Fran and the others had scolded me so much when I had clung to Lutz a long time ago.
Ferdinand grinned.
"That's very good. Please continue to correct him like that from now on."
Oh...
A few days later, with Ferdinand's permission, I moved to the castle.
I was keeping some of the reference books in the children's room, and I was worried about Charles' condition.
Eckhart had complained, "If you're gone, who will bring Ferdinand out of his secret room?", but I didn't know.
When I arrived at the castle, all of his aides gathered to welcome me.
"Please tell me what happened at the castle."
When I asked Cornelius, Leonore, and Brunhilde, who are Liesegang nobles, they all smiled with ambiguous expressions. Huh, what's with that reaction?
"What happened?"
"During the meeting, Lord Charles showed great respect for Lady Rozemyne."
"So what?"
Brünnhilde and the others looked at each other.
"Since Lord Charles has a position to consider, I think it would be best to ask him himself."
"I would be embarrassed if someone told me the details without my knowledge."
"Are you saying that Charles said something embarrassing?"
My questions were ignored, and I was informed that I had explained and persuaded my relatives that I did not want to be lord, and that my relationship with Charles and the lord and lord couple was good.
"It seems that Lord Charles dislikes being of Lady Veronica's bloodline," Leonore said.
The Liesegang nobles want me to be the next lord and eliminate the Veronica bloodline from the lord's family, so they don't like Charles for appeasing me.
They're finding all sorts of nitpicks about me, like, "Why are you standing next to the Saint without any achievements?" or, "You were the cause of her two-year slumber and now you're holding her back again?"
...What a cruel thing to do to my Charles! Who is that person who would say such a thing?
I'm getting more and more fed up with it.
"That level of slander is only natural. If you marry Lady Rozemyne, you'll have to work hard to stand next to her. You look inferior."
You're the culprit!
Of course, Hartmut didn't say it directly, but there are probably many nobles who would say the same thing.
"So, if Charles works hard, there won't be a problem, right?"
My fighting spirit is roaring.
"Lady Rozemyne?"
"Lady Ferdinand has asked me to teach Charles the classroom."
Huh..., his aides twitch. "Lady Rozemyne, will you be teaching Charles the same way you did the first-years at the Noble Academy?"
"Yes. Next year Charles will pass the classroom exams in the fastest time and with the highest score."
I declared. I had already started putting together a study plan for Charles in my head.