A Tea Party of Bookworms

A Tea Party of Bookworms

A Tea Party of Bookworms

“Good morning, milady. How are you feeling today?” Rihyarda asked.

Better than I’ve ever been! Eheheheh.

After chugging the ultra-nasty potion and staying in bed so obediently that even Rihyarda was surprised, my fever had completely vanished. It was a good thing too, since my health was more important than anything for making this bookworm tea party a success. I got out of my bed and allowed Brunhilde to dress me.

“I am glad to see that you have recovered,” Brunhilde said with a smile as she started doing my hair. “We shall go with two hairpins today—I wish to use flower ornaments that match the ones added to Schwartz’s and Weiss’s clothes.”

Meanwhile, Lieseleta was preparing my clothes with a quiet smile. These, too, seemed to match what Schwartz and Weiss were now wearing. It appeared that she had added embroidery along the hem of my skirt which was similar to that on the shumils’ clothes—not the magic circle embroidery, of course, but rather the floral embroidery along the hems of their skirt and pants. Her dedication was clear to see.

Of course, I don’t really care how much our outfits match, so long as we’re all wearing our Library Committee armbands.

My armband was fastened in place once again. I would give one to Hannelore as well, and then we would all be matching.

“Lady Rozemyne, please raise your chin so that I may put on your scarf,” Lieseleta said. “I shall tie it into a bow for you.” From a distance, she seemed fairly composed, but she was speaking faster than usual, and one could tell when she came nearer that her cheeks were flushed red with excitement.

“Lieseleta, I see that you embroidered my clothes as well as those of Schwartz and Weiss,” I said. “That must have been quite the endeavor.”

“My greatest fear was that you might not approve,” she replied. “The embroidery itself was trivial.” But no matter how I looked at it, “trivial” was a gross understatement; I certainly wouldn’t want to attempt what she had accomplished myself.

Lieseleta’s love for shumils sure has been explosive.

As I examined the embroidered skirt, Brunhilde went through the final checks for today’s tea party. “We are going to be bringing two kinds of sweets with us: pound cake, with honey and apfelsige varieties to choose from, and cookies, with tea and walnut varieties.” She had also asked the kitchen for jam, cream, and rumtopf as condiments.

“As previously promised, Rosina will be playing music of your composition,” Brunhilde continued. “This way, Dunkelfelger’s musician may learn them as well.”

“Have we confirmed that Lady Hannelore is bringing her musician?” I asked.

“Of course.”

Because I was going to be leaving the Royal Academy sooner than anticipated, we had made several last-minute requests of Hannelore—including that we exchange books and that she receive my songs during our tea party rather than at some later date. She had agreed to them all without any problems.

“Rihyarda, do we have the book to return to Dunkelfelger and the new book to give her?” I asked. “Our plan is to lend her Royal Academy Love Stories .”

“They are ready, milady.”

“Take care not to forget the manuscript of the book we borrowed from them rewritten in modern vernacular; I will need to consult Lady Hannelore on whether I may print it. Oh, and her committee armband too...”

“All prepared,” Rihyarda said with a chuckle. “We also intend to let Prince Hildebrand borrow our collection of knight stories, correct?”

I had consulted Ehrenfest over whether I could lend an Ehrenfest book to Hildebrand, and their response had been that I could choose anything except the picture-book bibles, since they were too relevant to our classwork. In fact, they had even ordered me to pay attention to the prince—to avoid speaking exclusively to my bookworm friend for the entire duration of our tea party. They actually wanted me to speak with Hildebrand, even if that meant recommending him a book.

Ferdinand was right. I need to do my best to convert the prince into a bookworm who loves reading too!

Our tea party was scheduled for third bell, so at second-and-a-half bell, when morning classes began, it was time for us to go. I headed for the library with my luggage-burdened retainers.

“Milady’s here.”

“Tea party today.”

As per usual, the two shumils were there to greet me.

“Please use the table in my office. My attendants are getting everything ready as we speak,” Solange said, leading the way for us. We were having today’s tea party in her office, and additional chairs were already being brought in.

“Let us hurry and complete our own preparations,” Rihyarda said. “There is not much time before third bell.”

And so, my attendants got right to work. We had to be more disciplined this year, since we knew there was going to be royalty in attendance. The apprentice scholars secured space to take notes, while Rosina began preparing her instrument and practicing before the guests arrived.

Solange left us to our preparations and opened the door, such that we could now see the rest of the office and the reading room from where we were seated. In contrast to last year, however, there were no students here today.

“It certainly is rare for there to be no students at all...” I remarked.

“There was a report of a ternisbefallen being encountered the other day, so most dormitories are standing guard in shifts to ensure their gathering spots are safe,” Solange replied. Since only the Sovereign knights could deal with such beasts, detecting them as early as possible was key. “Are the students of your duchy not doing the same?”

“We were told that the ternisbefallen was defeated and that there were no signs of any others nearby. We have not made a particular effort to protect our gathering spot, and those among our students who need to gather are doing so. If, by chance, another ternisbefallen appears, we will discover it then.”

The public story was that the Sovereign knights had defeated the ternisbefallen, since if news spread that we from Ehrenfest had slain it on our own, other duchies would most likely get fired up and try to do the same themselves. It was definitely for the best, considering that the professors were refusing to teach the spell for making black weapons.

“When unusual feybeasts appear on the Academy’s grounds, most apprentice knights remain on guard even when the threat is said to have passed,” Solange said with a refined giggle. “I see Ehrenfest has a far calmer demeanor.”

Behind us, Cornelius muttered, “We have our hands full enough trying to keep Rozemyne under control.” Solange didn’t appear to have heard him, but that didn’t make it any more excusable.

Oh, come on! I haven’t done any rampaging lately! Well... I haven’t done much, at least!

Before I could turn around and pout at Cornelius, Solange smiled at me and continued. “I am especially pleased that Prince Hildebrand has offered his assistance,” she said. “Keeping Schwartz and Weiss supplied with mana is not something that a single girl should need to handle alone. Also, Lady Hannelore is an archduke candidate from Dunkelfelger, is she not? Given the incident last year, I had worried that problems might arise, even if she has no ill intent herself.”

I noticed that Solange’s blue eyes were tinged with sympathy. She had feared that Dunkelfelger would make some unreasonable demands, no matter how Hannelore felt about the matter... but with Hildebrand now in the picture, she could finally rest easy.

“Perhaps if the Sovereignty learns of the state of the library through Prince Hildebrand, they will send archnobles of their own to serve as librarians. Manpower is scarce all over, but they may prioritize sending support to locations that have earned the favor of royalty,” Solange continued. Even with Schwartz and Weiss providing their assistance, managing the library was a difficult task for a single mednoble like her.

“If there is anything I can do to help, you need only say so.” I tapped my armband demonstratively. “I am a member of the Library Committee, after all.”

Solange gave a small, happy smile. “Oh, you are already helping more than enough,” she said. It seemed that, although I wanted to do more traditional committee work, she was fine with me just supplying Schwartz and Weiss with mana.

Rihyarda and the others finished their preparations while Solange and I talked, and soon enough, third bell started to ring. Rosina stopped practicing, and a quiet calm returned to the office just as Hannelore and her retainers arrived. I welcomed her, a little taken aback that she had arrived almost immediately after the bell chimed.

“Welcome, Lady Hannelore.”

“I thank you ever so much for inviting me, Lady Rozemyne, Professor Solange. I have been very much looking forward to this tea party,” Hannelore said with a smile as we exchanged greetings. “Lady Rozemyne, I thank you ever so much for striving to keep your promise despite being busy with your upcoming return.”

“I apologize for any shock that Prince Hildebrand’s abrupt participation might have brought you,” I replied. Last year, when I saw Anastasius at the tea party with the music professors, I was so shocked that it took me a moment to regain my ability to speak. Hannelore had no doubt been just as shocked when she learned that royalty was going to be attending today, and she was probably battling with all kinds of anxious feelings.

Or so I thought.

Hannelore smiled and elegantly shook her head. “It did catch me off guard, but you are not to blame, Lady Rozemyne. Requests from royalty simply cannot be refused. It was just a small, small case of unfortunate timing.”

Golly... Hannelore sure is kind. I called royalty over without her permission and she doesn’t mind at all.

As I stood there, allowing Hannelore’s radiant smile to heal my soul, she instructed the musicians she had brought to prepare seats next to Rosina. She could see that Hartmut and Philine were seated and ready to take notes, so she directed her scholars to join them, making her own preparations in short order.

Well, she may be quiet and fluffy, but there’s no mistaking that she’s an archduke candidate from a greater duchy.

It was then that I noticed she was occasionally glancing toward the wide-open doors to the reading room, where Schwartz and Weiss could be seen. I waited for her to finish giving her instructions and then said, “Lady Hannelore, shall we register you as a member of the Library Committee before the tea party? That will allow you to touch Schwartz and Weiss.”

Hannelore blushed, as if embarrassed that I had seen through her, and then nodded. “Yes, please,” she said quietly.

“Schwartz, Weiss,” I called to the two shumils in the reading room, “register my friend as an assistant.”

“Milady’s friend.”

“Register.”

Schwartz and Weiss walked over, their heads characteristically swaying from side to side. Hannelore’s eyes sparkled when she saw them closer, and she said with a smile, “Their clothes match yours, Lady Rozemyne.” I mentioned that Lieseleta had put her all into the embroidery, and by the time I was done, the registration was complete.

“Lady Hannelore, now you need only put on this Library Committee armband and touch the shumils’ feystones,” I explained as I passed an armband to one of her attendants, who helped Hannelore to fasten it around her arm. It was perfect. She made a perfect Library Committee member. “And now you are matching as well,” I said, tapping my own armband.

Schwartz mimicked me, tapping their armband as well. “Hannelore matching.”

“Oh my!” Hannelore exclaimed. She placed a hand over her mouth and giggled with amusement. “How cute.”

Our surrounding attendants were looking at Schwartz with warm eyes. Meanwhile, Hannelore reached out to touch the shumils, since she was now able to without consequence. She stroked their foreheads with her eyes closed, basking in delight.

“So am I now a... Library Committee member?” Hannelore mused aloud. “I truly look forward to working with you, Schwartz, Weiss.”

“One of us, Hannelore,” the shumils replied. Seeing them standing on either side of the now-beaming Hannelore made them look like one big family, which was indescribably heartwarming.

Aah. I’m so glad that I invited Lady Hannelore to join our committee.

“Lady Rozemyne, what do Library Committee members do?” Hannelore asked. “I know of no duties except supplying Schwartz and Weiss with mana.”

“That is our most important duty. This can wait until you are done with your classes, Lady Hannelore, but please visit the library while I am absent and stroke their feystones.”

“So it is our job to dote upon Schwartz and Weiss?” Hannelore said, her eyes widening as she looked between Solange and me.

Solange nodded with a smile. “One requires both Light and Darkness affinities to activate Schwartz and Weiss. I cannot do this myself, so what I appreciate most is your assistance doting on them and providing them with your mana. The shumils will certainly appreciate visitors while their master Lady Rozemyne is absent, so please feel welcome to visit.”

“Understood,” Hannelore replied, returning a smile that was brimming with excitement.

It was at this point that Hildebrand arrived. His attendants handed some sweets that they had brought with them to Brunhilde, who was standing in front of everyone, while Hildebrand trotted over to where we were doting on Schwartz and Weiss.

“I have much looked forward to this blessed day. Thank you ever so much for inviting me,” the prince said, albeit rather stiffly, as though he were simply reciting lines he had been taught to say. He looked between Schwartz, Weiss, and me several times, then smiled brightly. “I see you are all wearing matching clothes today!”

“One of my attendants embroidered them to be similar,” I replied, pinching my skirt up a little to show off the embroidery. “Wonderful, isn’t it?”

Hildebrand broke into a wide smile. “Yes, it’s very cute. Oh? And I see Hannelore is wearing the same armband.”

“Indeed. It is the armband of the Library Committee.”

Hildebrand seemed to compare Hannelore’s arm to his own for a moment and then gazed down at the floor. He looked so sad that I wanted to offer him my own armband, but I swallowed the urge; it would be exceedingly rude for me to give him a possession of my own without his asking for it. At the very least, it would need to be a new one.

“If you would not find it rude of me, Prince Hildebrand, I could request to have an identical armband made for you,” I noted. “What do you say?”

“You could do that?” the prince replied.

“Indeed. Unfortunately, I cannot offer you the one I am using myself. And, erm... it would not be rude of me to provide you with a new one, would it?”

I recalled my lectures from Brunhilde about not making decisions without first consulting my attendants, so this time, I turned my attention to those accompanying Hildebrand. The prince noticed my gaze and turned, gazing up at his retainers with hopeful eyes.

“If the prince wishes...” one finally said.

“I do.”

“Then I will have one prepared,” I said. “My personal seamstress is quite talented; I believe it will be ready by the time I return to the Royal Academy. Now, shall we begin the tea party?”

Once everyone had been guided to their seats, I signaled Rosina with a glance. She gave a brisk nod in response and then started to play the harspiel. I could tell that Dunkelfelger’s musicians were staring at her hands, focusing their minds on every note.

Our attendants began pouring tea while I described the sweets we had brought with us. “Today, I prepared sweets that are currently popular in Ehrenfest,” I said. “This is pound cake, of which we have brought two flavors: honey and apfelsige. You may eat them with jam and cream of your choosing. These over here are called cookies. Again, we have two flavors: tea and walnut.”

Once my explanation was complete, I took demonstrative bites of the sweets to indicate the lack of poison.

Hildebrand was a child who had only recently been baptized, so I had prepared pound cake on the sweeter side for him. Hannelore had eaten these sweets during our tea party last year and swiftly ordered her attendant to pile her plate with apfelsige pound cake and jam. Meanwhile, Solange had her attendant fetch her some honey pound cake and rumtopf.

Rihyarda started putting apfelsige pound cake and cream on my plate, moving carefully so that Hildebrand’s attendant could observe and emulate the process. That, as well as the demonstrations from Hannelore’s and Solange’s attendants, seemed to have been enough; Hildebrand’s attendant successfully plated some honey pound cake and jam, as per the prince’s request.

Once everyone had enjoyed their tea and tasted the sweets, we could finally enter a real discussion. Of course, the first item on the agenda was committee work. “I can now relax during my absence, knowing that the both of you will be assisting me as fellow Library Committee members,” I said.

“Prince Hildebrand is receiving not only an armband, but also a position in the Library Committee?” Hannelore asked, her red eyes widening in surprise. “Erm... Will that be possible?” It seemed that she had interpreted my earlier offer of an armband as a kind gesture and nothing more; she hadn’t realized that the prince was already registered as a committee member. She seemed worried about whether he could carry out the accompanying duties while needing to hide away in his room to minimize contact with students.

“As you know, I can’t keep coming to the library for much longer,” the prince said. “It won’t be long before too many students start coming here, but let’s work together until then, Hannelore.”

“I would be honored to work alongside you, Prince Hildebrand,” Hannelore replied. “I presume we will only have a few opportunities to meet in the library—unlike Lady Rozemyne, who came first-in-class last year, I am not so quick to finish my lessons—but I am glad to be here with you nonetheless.”

Solange listened to their conversation with a smile, no doubt relieved that she wouldn’t need to worry so much about the shumils’ mana supply. “I am truly glad that the both of you joined the Library Committee,” she said. “This library quickly falls apart without Schwartz and Weiss.”

“In what way?” Hildebrand asked, a serious expression on his face.

Solange gave an even broader smile. “The books of this library all belong to royalty, so we ask that students return them by their due dates. However, when Schwartz and Weiss are not functioning, many are not returned, and many students remove books without going through the required procedures.”

“Oh my. So they do not return the books despite the fact they belong to royalty?” Hannelore asked, blinking several times as though the very idea was foreign to her.

“The archnobles of the bottom-ranking duchies know that Professor Solange cannot approach them too harshly no matter what they do,” I explained. “Their behavior is highly improper as a result.”

“Something must be done about that,” Hildebrand declared, exuding a masculine sense of righteousness. “They’re making a mockery of the royal family.”

I clapped my hands together in realization. “What if Prince Hildebrand were to send the reminder ordonnanzes this year? The students will surely be tripping over themselves to return their books if a member of royalty personally orders it.”

“Ah...?”

As everyone stared at me in astonishment, Hildebrand alone clapped in response. “That’s an amazing idea!” he said, his purple eyes sparkling. “That way, I can be like a proper royal, even when I can’t stay in the library for long.”

“Prince Hildebrand has made his support clear. What do you think, Professor Solange?” I asked excitedly, thinking this would work even better than having Ferdinand send the messages.

Solange placed a hand on her cheek and gave a troubled smile. “I imagine it would prove very effective, but... Would it really be acceptable for Prince Hildebrand to take such public action?”