The Royal Family and the Library

The Royal Family and the Library

The Royal Family and the Library

As I was waiting for the royal family to summon me again, I decided to be proactive. First, I created a questionnaire for the Dunkelfelger apprentice knights helping with our joint research. My scholars made all the necessary copies and prepared the answer sheets for me, and through this process they learned the general format of a questionnaire and how to make their own.

Moving on, I purchased the schematics of the improved magic tool from Raimund, since it had received a passing grade from Ferdinand. I could use these to make one of my own. The tool itself was compact enough to be held in a single hand, and while the standard version played its recording when the lid was opened, this one simply required the recipient to touch the exposed feystone. Not to mention, it could record several messages instead of just one.

“However, the more messages you want to record, the stronger a feystone of Wind, Earth, and Life you will need,” Raimund noted.

“That won’t be a problem.”

The earth at Ehrenfest’s gathering spot was rich with mana, perhaps because of how frequently I was regenerating it. Plus, according to the apprentice knights’ reports, the increased quality of our ingredients meant that the feybeasts coming for them were growing stronger as well. At the moment, the knights were hunting there daily as training for their upcoming ditter game against Dunkelfelger, forced upon us by our joint research project. I needed only to buy the feystones I required from them.

“Ngh... I wish I could buy feystones that easily...” Raimund groaned.

“You will be able to soon. If others want the magic tool detailed in these schematics, then I will pay you an information fee.”

Raimund received my explanation of royalties with a look of absolute confusion. “Huh? But you’ve already bought the schematics, Lady Rozemyne. What’s all this about?”

“Schematics such as these that are bound to see such wide and extensive use are worth the extra cost, are they not? If we do not foster good relationships with our researchers and compensate them well, then I do not believe they will stay motivated.”

“Your idea is very wonderful indeed, Lady Rozemyne,” Raimund said, his eyes sparkling. Hirschur looked just as amazed. It seemed that they were only used to one-and-done sales.

I promptly started making my own sound-recording magic tool, listening carefully to Raimund as he talked me through the process. After dumping in some feystones, I was finally done.

“Could we perhaps put this in a stuffed toy that speaks when one touches the head or stomach?” I asked.

“If you keep the feystone exposed, yes, but what would be the point of that?” Raimund replied, tilting his head at me. Beside him, Lieseleta leaned forward, her deep-green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“A stuffed toy that would speak upon being stroked would be wonderfully cute, would it not?” she said. “Just imagine it.”

“I know, right?” I replied. “Thus, in keeping with my tradition, I shall make it a red pan—”

“It has to be a shumil, yes. That will certainly be the cutest,” Lieseleta interjected, giddy with excitement. She then fixed me with an unyielding stare. “Do allow me to assist with making the stuffed toy.”

Unfortunately, I was far from being a talented seamstress, so I swallowed my suggestion that we should make the stuffed toy a red panda and went with a shumil instead.

Red pandas are cute, but there’s no helping this. It’s hard to make things like that on your own.

Days passed, and we soon reached the date of our meeting with royalty. This was a summons rather than a tea party, so I only had to prepare enough sweets to present as a gift. Our load was light, but my heart was heavy.

“I did not think I would end up returning to their villa so soon...” I said.

Brunhilde gave a troubled smile. “You are the one who decided to inform them of what could have been kept private, Lady Rozemyne.”

“There was a report of Aub Ehrenfest agonizing over this as well,” Rihyarda added, looking equally strained. “However, if this information will aid the royal family even the slightest amount, then it would not be wise to keep it from them. Milady, I am of the opinion that your decision was just and ideal.”

My retainers had heard of the royal family’s struggles from Anastasius before the tea party for bookworms. They were very sympathetic to the current king, who was running himself ragged trying to supply mana to the foundation despite having never been raised or educated for his position. Apparently, they saw his situation as similar to my own, comparing his ordeal to my grueling work supplying mana to Ehrenfest as the archduke’s adopted daughter and the High Bishop despite having been raised in the temple and not receiving a noble’s education.

Though I doubt I’m struggling even half as much as King Trauerqual.

Unlike the royal family, who didn’t know what to do after losing such crucial information, I was receiving the expert guidance of so many people. I was truly blessed to have them.

“This may be a summons from royalty, but at least it’s with Prince Anastasius,” I said. He had graciously forgiven me for all my previous blunders, whether it was reading too deeply into his intentions with Eglantine or collapsing in his presence. Knowing that he wouldn’t suspect me of treason or planned usurpation when I told him what I knew made this a lot more comforting than if another member of the royal family had summoned me.

“Do not let your guard down, milady,” Rihyarda chided just as we arrived outside the door to the villa. Oswin was there to welcome us inside.

“We have been waiting, Lady Rozemyne of Ehrenfest.”

We were taken to a room where three people were sitting in wait. Among them were Hildebrand, who met me with a smile, and Anastasius, who quietly muttered, “She’s here.”

Between them was someone I didn’t recognize: a man with light-golden hair like Anastasius, and deep-green eyes complementing a peaceful smile. The clothes he was wearing and his position between the two princes immediately told me who he was.

AIEEEEEE! It’s the first prince! Come on, Prince Anastasius! You should have warned me that he was going to be here!