Dinnertime

Dinnertime

Dinnertime

After getting changed, I wrote Bonifatius a letter of gratitude just as Ferdinand had suggested. I was using allegras paper—that is, paper with red clover-like allegrases mixed into it—which was now being made exclusively for my use thanks to Elvira having negotiated with Benno. I relied on my Earth memories to structure the letter properly, then folded it as I would the notes I used to pass to my school friends.

It’s a good thing I remember how to fold paper into a heart shape. This looks a lot like the leaves of an allegras, which makes it even cuter.

I wrote “Grandfather” on the heart as a finishing touch, then got in my highbeast and drove to the big dining hall where we were having dinner. I would not only be eating with the archducal family today, but with Karstedt’s side of my family as well.

“You seem excited, milady.”

“Indeed. My father and brothers usually serve as guard knights during dinner at the castle, not to mention during ceremonies and feasts, but this time we will finally be eating together in the same dining hall. I really am quite excited.”

The cherry on top was that we were going to be eating Hugo’s new recipe and Ella’s new dessert. I couldn’t wait.

“Lady Rozemyne has arrived,” a servant announced, opening the doors to the dining hall for us. Inside were the archducal family and Karstedt’s family, including both Ferdinand and Bonifatius.

“Rozemyne!”

“Sister!”

Both Wilfried and Charlotte called out to me, then Wilfried rushed over. He looked so much more like an adult now, having grown quite a bit taller over the past two years; in fact, he hardly even resembled the little prankster in my mind anymore. In the past, we had just about looked the same age thanks to me having repeated my seventh year—albeit with him being on the bigger side and me on the smaller side—but that was evidently a thing of the past. The height difference between us was now so significant that we looked like a fifth grader and a first grader standing next to each other.

Aw... No way are people going to believe we’re in the same grade now.

“Hm? Were you always this tiny, Rozemyne?”

“I-I’ll grow taller too! Just you wait!”

Since seventy to eighty percent of my mana clumps had now dissolved, exercising wouldn’t make me abruptly pass out anymore; I’d finally be growing at the same rate as a normal girl.

“I’ve worked hard the past two years so that I can protect you. I think I’ve pretty much caught up to you now,” Wilfried said with a confident grin. I wanted to shoot back that he was still far behind me, but I couldn’t act smug until I’d seen how much he’d really improved for myself. After all, I wasn’t even ready for the Royal Academy yet.

“You don’t need to grow any taller, Sister. You are more than cute enough as you are now,” Charlotte chimed in. She had grown as well, having transformed from an adorable child into a beautiful young woman. She was taller than me, enough that if we stood next to each other, everyone would think I was her little sister.

I wanted to cry. My pride as an older sister was in tatters.

“I wish to protect you now, Sister, so I have worked even harder than Wilfried.”

“No! I’m your older sister! I’m going to protect you , not the other way around!”

“Oh my!” Charlotte exclaimed, her indigo eyes gleaming with excitement as she looked down at me. I could tell from her expression that she thought my declaration was cute; from her perspective, I was just a little child trying to look tough.

How could this be happening? I’m supposed to be the big sister here...

I slumped over sadly, at which point Ferdinand rested a hand on my shoulder. “Rozemyne, they are only being enthusiastic; it is not yet possible for them to surpass you. Show them your dignity as an older sister now, before you depart for the Royal Academy. Leave no doubt in their minds that you are on an entirely different level from them.”

I’ll study as hard as I can before leaving for the Royal Academy and show them what a real older sister is made of. Sure, they’ve learned a lot over the past two years, but they’re just kids. I can burn through everything they’ve learned without any trouble at all. I’ll have Charlotte’s respect again in no time.

I shot my head up and clenched my fists, steeling my resolve, and it was then that I noticed Bonifatius impatiently clearing his throat. Status dictated that I greet the archducal couple first though, so I stepped before them and knelt.

“My deepest apologies for any worry I’ve caused you,” I said.

“Stand, Rozemyne. I cannot see your face like that,” Sylvester replied with some audible bemusement. I did as he asked, only for him to get on his knees to meet my gaze.

A stir ran through all those present while I merely blinked in surprise. It was unthinkable for the archduke to kneel before someone of the duchy. I had no idea how to react, but Sylvester ignored the commotion entirely. He placed his hands on my cheeks and pulled me a little closer, carefully peering over my face before pinching my cheeks.

“Yup, it’s good to see you’re better. Ferdinand didn’t let anyone else check on you after you were put in your hidden room in the temple, y’know. We were all worried about you.”

I could certainly remember Ferdinand saying something about eliminating all those who would attempt to disturb my sleep. He had apparently taken this duty very seriously, having stopped even the archducal family from checking up on me.

“Rozemyne, there’s something I’ve wanted to say to you every day for these past two years,” Sylvester continued, letting go of my cheeks to take my hands instead. It came so suddenly that I had to fight the urge to reflexively pull away.

“What might that be?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

“I’m saying this not as the archduke, but as a father. Thank you for saving my children. Thank you,” he said, pressing his forehead against my hands. The gesture was presumably a very significant way of expressing one’s gratitude, as his retainers standing by the walls all gasped.

You’re grateful, I get it! Let go already! Everyone’s staring!

I looked to Florencia for help, since she was standing a step behind Sylvester, but that only made things worse. “You have my utmost gratitude as well,” she said, kneeling beside him. “You are more than the Saint of Ehrenfest to me. In my eyes, you are my savior—the saint of my family.”

This was killing me. I’d gone on an irresponsible rampage to save my cute little sister; I hadn’t done anything to deserve the archducal couple bowing their heads to me.

“That will do for now. Rozemyne is clearly petrified,” Karstedt said, saving me in my time of need.

Sylvester stood up, now having to look down at me again as per usual. “Ferdinand has told me you need to make up for the two years you have lost before you leave for the Royal Academy. That will not be easy, but I trust you to accomplish what you must.”

“You often push yourself much too hard,” Florencia added. “I think you would do well to respect your body just a little more.”

That concluded our greetings, and so I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

“You may now speak to those who were worrying about you,” Sylvester said. But as I turned to Karstedt and Elvira with a nod, he stopped me with a whisper. “Bonifatius is next. As the son of a former archduke, he’s higher in status than the knight commander. Don’t mess this up.”

Oops... That was close.

I changed direction mid-step. If Sylvester hadn’t stopped me, I wouldn’t have noticed until it was too late. The thought alone made me break out in a cold sweat.

“Um, Grandfather... I wanted to express my gratitude for you saving me the other— ahem —for saving me two years ago. Ferdinand informed me that, had you not found me, I might have died.”

Bonifatius gravely nodded. “I am glad to see you well again,” he said with a stern expression.

“This is a letter of my gratitude,” I continued, nervously holding it out to him. “Will you accept it?”

“Yes, of course... Hm? This is an unusual shape.”

“Aha, it’s a heart. Don’t you think it’s cute?”

“A heart...? I do not believe hearts look like this,” Bonifatius said, examining the origami with a clear look of confusion.

I gave a big nod, then used my thumbs and pointer fingers to recreate the shape. “It’s a symbolic heart that represents love,” I explained.

Bonifatius froze in place, his eyes wide open. It took him several seconds to slowly return to life, then he glared at my letter with a conflicted expression.

“I-I see...”

The silence in the hall as Bonifatius stared at the letter weighed down on me like a boulder. Did he not like the heart? He was a military guy through and through, having continued working with the Knight’s Order even after his retirement, not to mention having served as a representative of the archduke. Maybe I should have made a tough-looking shape instead of a cute one.