Philine’s Family Circumstances

Philine’s Family Circumstances

Philine’s Family Circumstances

“Sylvester, Ferdinand, may we go rescue Philine now?” I asked.

“...Oh yeah, one of your retainers didn’t come. What’s all this about rescuing her?” Sylvester asked, his brow furrowed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t provide many details; I knew only what I had heard from the ordonnanz.

“I’m not sure what the full situation is, but I received an ordonnanz this morning. A woman was informing me that Philine was ill, but in the background, I could hear Philine screaming about her money being taken.”

Ferdinand, who had been tapping his temple as he listened, lowered his hand and stared at me. “And you did not run off immediately?” he asked, blinking incredulously. “Gods, have you actually matured somewhat?”

“All of my retainers gathered together to stop me, and my emotions have calmed somewhat since then.” Or rather, my thoughts had been dominated by the sight of my great-grandfather collapsing in front of me. “Now tell me, how can we rescue Philine while respecting her position and not bringing her more trouble? She worked so hard to earn money specifically so that she could attend my lecture. Her parents weren’t going to cover the costs, and so she gathered information in the Royal Academy, transcribed books, gathered stories from other duchies, and ultimately put everything she had into saving up. She was so happy about getting to learn the method too...”

Not once had it occurred to me that Philine’s parents might interfere instead of celebrating her growth. She had earned the money on her own terms precisely because her family was poor, and she knew that they wouldn’t be able to pay for her.

“Her parents actually took money from their kid...?” Sylvester asked.

“In laynoble families, income is generally expected to go to the house—especially the earnings of underage children who still live at home,” Damuel said. As a laynoble himself, he was able to give us some valuable insight.

Sylvester sighed. “You should have held on to the money for her, Rozemyne.”

“Perhaps, but she would have needed to make such a request herself. Had I made the suggestion, it would have come across as an order, no?”

In truth, I had at one point considered subtracting the cost of my mana compression lecture before giving out the payments. Sylvester had said that this would make things easier for us, since we wouldn’t have needed to prepare as much money at once, but I was of the opinion that it was more satisfying—and in turn more motivating—for one to receive the full amount. By having them physically pay for the method themselves, with money they had earned and not just received from their parents, I had hoped to teach the students the importance of self-investment.

Of course, my decision to pay everyone the full amount had unfortunately backfired.

“I understand how you feel, but the situation has already progressed. I don’t know how I feel about you interfering with someone else’s family matters,” Sylvester said.

“Philine is my retainer, and it is my duty to protect her from misfortune. Is that not what lords and ladies must do? I was taught as such when Lady Eglantine protected me in the Royal Academy.”

“Hm. Your thought process is not incorrect. You cause nothing but problems, but I see that you are at least learning in the process,” Ferdinand said, beginning to tap his temples once again as he fell into thought.

“I understand the role I must play, but how exactly can I protect Philine? I wish to resolve this matter peacefully, without causing her any harm.”

“You getting involved in a domestic matter will make it quite a scandal. If you wish to settle things peacefully, I would suggest having your retainer earn the money again and telling her to entrust it with you this time,” Ferdinand said plainly. Doing nothing about it was the most peaceful option, but we were having this conversation specifically because I refused to turn a blind eye to this.

I anxiously bit my lip, and that was when Hartmut interjected. “Oh no. I’ve just realized something terrible,” he said, speaking in a monotone voice like an intentionally bad actor. “I cannot believe I’ve done this, but I gave Philine the wrong money. She must have taken home the funds we were going to pay to the students of other duchies. In other words, I gave her money that rightfully belongs to Lady Rozemyne, and Lady Rozemyne the money that Philine was going to spend.”

I knew for a fact that this wasn’t true—I had paid everyone in Ehrenfest already, and the money for the other duchies was safely in my possession. I blinked, confused, only for Ferdinand to chuckle.

“That is terrible indeed,” he said. “Rozemyne, it seems that your retainer took home money that was intended for other duchies. This could escalate into an interduchy scandal if something is not done. Go forth and retrieve that which is rightfully yours. And this time, do not forget to keep the money meant for the mana compression lesson separate.”

It was only then that I understood what was going on. “Oh my, it certainly would be terrible for this to escalate into an interduchy scandal,” I said. “I must go to Philine’s home at once and apologize for the mistake.”

“An unannounced visit would only escalate matters. I will explain the reason for your visit to Philine’s father, Kashick. Return here when the money is prepared.”

“Right!”

Now with justice on my side, I climbed into my highbeast and flew to my room at once. Rihyarda and Ottilie welcomed me with wide eyes, having declined to learn the mana compression method themselves.

“Rihyarda, please fetch the money for the other duchies,” I said, explaining the situation to them as they carried out my request. From those funds I took out exactly as much as I had paid to Philine, and from that amount I took out the fee for my mana compression method and a small silver. I thought it only fair for Philine to get a little money to spend on herself, rather than it all going straight to her house.

“Milady, would it not be wise to grant Philine a room in the castle?” Rihyarda asked, looking notably concerned. “If she is with a family that will send false reports to keep her from work, she will one day fail to carry out her duties, even if it is not her fault.”

She was certainly right, but Philine had a little brother as well. It was hard to imagine that she would abandon him and enter the castle alone.

“I will grant Philine a room if she asks for one, but I expect she will not wish to enter the castle alone.” I gave the money for Philine’s family to Hartmut and then brought out my highbeast. “Let us go.”

Naturally, I couldn’t impose upon a laynoble’s estate by arriving with all of my retainers. I needed to bring all of my guard knights, given that I was leaving the castle, but of my scholars and attendants I would only be bringing the fastest and most flexible thinkers: Lieseleta and Hartmut.

“We will prepare a room for her just in case,” Brunhilde said. “It would not do for there not to be one available.”

“Please do.”

Despite being an archnoble, Brunhilde worked with and cared for Philine as a fellow retainer in the Royal Academy. With clear worry in her amber eyes, she saw us off to the room where Ferdinand was waiting.

“My apologies for the wait, Ferdinand.”

“I have finished explaining the circumstances. My sympathies, Kashick; Rozemyne has certainly thrown you into the fire with her mistake.” Ferdinand directed his second sentence at a pale-faced layscholar who was practically groveling after receiving such an abrupt summons. It was Philine’s father, and as he made his submission clear, I apologized for my mistake.

“I truly am sorry for this. If we do not have the proper sum at hand, this could escalate into an interduchy issue.”

“I-I had no idea,” Kashick stammered. He had apparently spent the winter busily gathering information about mana compression, to the point that he had returned to his estate only to sleep. He consequently knew nothing of what was happening there and was beyond dismayed to learn that they were involved in such a large-scale diplomatic issue.

And so, with Kashick’s guidance, we all flew to Philine’s home on our highbeasts. Ferdinand was accompanying us both to apologize for my mistake and to observe the proceedings.

“Here we are,” Kashick said as he landed at an estate in the southmost area of the Noble’s Quarter, where the laynobles lived. His house was so much tinier than the castle that the two couldn’t even be compared, but from a commoner’s perspective, it was large and overall quite attractive. In terms of dimensions, it was likely larger than the Othmar Company.

“Oh my. Welcome,” Philine’s stepmother said once we arrived in the parlor. She looked quite young, as one would expect from a second wife, but also rather exhausted—likely because she had given birth during the summer just passed.

“This is urgent, Jonsara,” Kashick said. “Philine apparently brought home a lot of money; do you know anything about it?”

“Has that girl done something? She lied about being the retainer of an archducal family member yesterday and came home with a small fortune. It was quite strange—after all, Lady Rozemyne would surely never accept a laynoble into her service. Philine must have become delusional after her vow in the playroom was rejected. The truth was just too much for her to bear,” Jonsara spat. She then apologized to me for all the trouble.

“You seem to misunderstand,” I said. “Philine truly is my retainer. She was officially assigned as such at the Royal Academy.”

Jonsara offered no response; she merely stared at me in wide-eyed surprise.

“Philine spoke the truth,” I restated, speaking more slowly this time to ensure there was no confusion. “She is my retainer.”

Jonsara shook her head in disbelief. “But... But that can’t be...”

“Philine isn’t feeling well today, correct?” I asked with a smile. “Do allow me to see her. I will need to explain that this situation is not her fault and then have her return the money from yesterday.”

“B-But... She is still unwell. Someone of poor constitution such as yourself would be at risk attending her. If you are in a hurry, I will fetch the money for you right away,” Jonsara said, panicking in such a blatantly suspicious manner.

I glanced over at Ferdinand, who subtly gestured to Hartmut with his chin. He was telling me to send Hartmut in my place, so I nodded and deepened my smile.

“I appreciate your concern for my health. Hartmut, accompany Jonsara and ensure the proper sum is being returned. Lieseleta, go in my place to express my well-wishes to the ill Philine. I will wait here, so you need not worry.”

If going to see her myself wasn’t an option, I could just send my retainers. I had no intention of going home until Philine’s safety was ascertained, especially now that I had seen how maliciously Jonsara acted toward her. Damuel and Judithe would be following Hartmut and Lieseleta as guards; when it came to money-related problems, the more witnesses, the better.

Not long after they all exited the parlor, we heard a large slamming sound and a scream come from somewhere deeper inside the house. I instinctively went to get up from my seat, but Ferdinand extended a hand beneath the table to stop me. Meanwhile, Angelica and Eckhart drew their weapons and assumed defensive stances.

However, nothing followed but silence. The lack of any report or contact made me feel sick.

“My apologies. I will go check on them,” Kashick said. Just as he moved to leave the parlor, however, Damuel shouted, “Get out of the way!”

“Philine!” I cried.

Damuel entered the room with Philine wrapped in his cape. There was a painful-looking mark on her face, and her grass-green eyes were wet with tears. Behind them were Lieseleta and a young boy of around five years of age, who was clearly not being treated well.