Sharing Information With Ortwin

Even though Letizia looked thoroughly relieved after our tea party, I, on the other hand, found myself frowning more than ever as I began to consider what my next steps should be. Sharing information with Lord Ortwin was necessary—but even after an entire day of contemplation, not a single good idea had come to mind.

…It’s just too awkward! I did reject his proposal of courtship, after all. Approaching him now would be incredibly uncomfortable!

It may be awkward, but I still wanted to share the information somehow. I couldn’t accept Lord Ortwin’s courtship, but I did promise to fight alongside him in the bride-stealing ditter. If forming an alliance with Dunkelfelger is necessary for him to become the next Aub, then I had no intention of withholding my support.

…This is the most I can offer—the only help I can give—as someone who cannot take his hand.

Even if I managed to speak with him in private, Lord Ortwin had always looked at me with very kind, very sincere eyes. And every time he did, it tugged at something inside me—something I didn’t quite understand, and didn’t know how to handle. If we ended up talking too long, I worried I might hurt him again. That thought alone made it difficult to take the first step.

…But still, I have to find a way.

For the sake of Dunkelfelger, for the sake of our shared goal in the ditter, and for the sake of protecting Lord Ortwin’s position, I needed to make sure we were aligned. Carefully. Quietly. Without suspicion.

…Seriously, how am I supposed to do this?

“Hannelore, you should still be able to continue without taking a break.”

The mana recovery break held during the classes for archduke candidates was, for some reason, being monitored by Professor Anastasius to prevent me from making contact with people from other duchies.

“Whenever you and Rozemyne get involved, things tend to spiral out of control. Until the bride-stealing ditter is over, do not cause any further disturbances with other duchies.”

Professor Anastasius glanced briefly toward the seat where Wilfried was supposed to be resting. Judging from his pointed look and words, it seemed that Wilfried had returned to his duchy in connection to his recent statement that he would “fully support Lord Ortwin.”

…I didn’t think Lord Wilfried’s statement was my responsibility.

But since I had tried to arrange a meeting with the Zent and sent letters in an effort to somehow secure Kenntrips’ participation, I seemed to have drawn his full attention. I had no choice but to give up on secretly speaking with Lord Ortwin during the archduke candidate course, where retainers were excluded.

“Milady, what are you pondering so absentmindedly?”

”…Right now, I’m wondering how I might persuade Father.”

Since I hadn’t been able to properly share information with Lord Ortwin, I was now focused on Kenntrips’ eligibility to participate. I had expressed my wish to return to the duchy on Earthday to speak with Father directly, but Cordula had rejected it. She had pressed me with, “How exactly do you intend to persuade the Aub?” and followed it up with a completely serious, “And you truly believe that would work?”

“Set aside the problems you can’t solve for now, and since lunch is over, please prepare quickly for this afternoon’s practical lesson,” Cordula said.

Startled by her voice, I looked down to find an empty plate in front of me. Judging by the taste lingering in my mouth and the remnants on the plate, I guessed it had been some kind of meat stewed in milk—but I couldn’t remember at all what I had eaten for lunch.

“This afternoon’s practical is potion brewing, right?”

When I asked after returning to my room, Idonaltte, who was in the same year and took shared classes with me, nodded.

“Yes. It’s been a while since we’ve had a class together, hasn’t it, Lady Hannelore?”

By the fifth year, most classes were specialized, and shared lessons had become quite rare. On top of that, I had missed classes due to the advent of the goddess, so this potion brewing practical was truly my first in quite some time.

“Thanks to you and Heilliese for keeping me updated. While I was studying in my room, I was able to transform seasonal materials into magic stones, so I’ll be able to join everyone in making the jureve.”

“You have so much mana, Lady Hannelore—you dyed the materials much faster than I did. I only just managed to turn the winter material into a feystone last night.”

It seemed Heilliese was sulking because I had finished creating the feystones needed for jureve before she did, despite her being the one who had informed me of the lessons progress and what to prepare for next time. Watching this, Andrea chuckled quietly.

“Taking the creation of jureve seriously is important. You never know when you might need it. The sooner you make it, the better.”

“Yes, even you and Heilliese might need it if a goddess were to descend suddenly,” I said, nodding deeply to affirm Andrea’s opinion.

However, the person in question shook her head.

“I was thinking more about a suddenly occurring true ditter, or this current bride-stealing ditter—not divine descents. That’s a bit out of the scope.”

“Eh?”

”…Honestly, I don’t think divine descents have anything to do with us. That’s just for you, Lady Hannelore.”

I felt as though my retainers had pulled the rug out from under me, and I pouted slightly.

“I used to think the same way as Idonalitte. Even knowing that a goddess descended upon Lady Rozemyne, I didn’t believe it had anything to do with me. Now, I believe it wouldn’t be strange if it happened to anyone.”

The goddess had descended merely from me holding my charm and saying goodbye. It had just happened to be me—but it wouldn’t have been odd if it had happened to someone else.

“I don’t think divine descent is something that could happen to just anyone,” Cordula said, “but since the bride-stealing ditter is coming up, taking your jureve creation class seriously is important. I’ve already prepared the container for preserving the jureve. Once your brew is complete, inform me before placing this magic tool into the cauldron.”

Receiving the magic tool from Cordula, we finished our preparations for the brewing and headed to the entrance hall.

“Milady, let us go.”

We moved with my retainers to the classroom where the practical brewing lesson would take place. Rasantark, who escorted me, also seemed to be looking forward to attending the class with us.

“Kenntrips isn’t here today?”

“I’m not sure what happened, but he’s been completing all of his classes at a tremendous pace. He said he wants to dedicate himself entirely to preparing for the bride-stealing ditter…”

…And yet, I still hadn’t secured his right to participate in the ditter.

I had been rejected by the Zent, my request to speak with Father had been denied by Cordula, and I still hadn’t come up with a good plan. Even so, Kenntrips had already begun making preparations for the moment I succeeded in fulfilling his conditions.

…What must I do for Father to accept this?

Just as Cordula had said, asking for a meeting without any sort of strategy would certainly fall on deaf ears. First, I needed to involve Mother, and if possible, secure the cooperation of my brother—Kenntrips’ lord. If I could manage that, perhaps I could make something work. Still, persuading Mother and my brother would not be easy.

…Where should I begin? The road ahead looked grim.

While these thoughts tumbled around in my mind, we had already arrived at the classroom, and before I realized it, Professor Hirschur was already present.

“The preparation of the Jureve will be done in pairs,” she said. “You must continuously stir while adding the next ingredient at the right time. Considering status and mana compatibility, I have decided the pairings. Please move to a cauldron in the order your names are called.”

At Professor Hirschur’s concise instructions, we all hurried to gather our things and stood up to be ready to move.

“Among the archduke candidates, Lady Hannelore and Lady Rozemyne, Lord Ortwin and Lord Wilfried…”

“Professor Hirschur, may I speak?” I raised my hand and offered my correction. “Lady Rozemyne is currently absent.”

At the same time, an archnoble from Ehrenfest also raised a hand.

“Professor Hirschur, Lord Wilfried is absent today as well.”

It was only then that I learned Lord Wilfried was absent again. I had been lost in thought and surrounded by fellow Dunkelfelger students, so I hadn’t paid any attention to the others.

”…I see. In that case, Lady Hannelore and Lord Ortwin, please pair up.”

Professor Hirschur stated it offhandedly and continued listing the other pairings one after another. When it was decided that I would be paired with Lord Ortwin, both Rasantark and my retainers visibly balked. But it was clear Professor Hirschur had not considered our personal connections in the slightest.

“It’s only a brewing exercise,” I said, trying to reassure Rasantark and the others. “There’s no need to worry.”

While soothing them, I stepped toward Lord Ortwin, thinking this was the perfect opportunity to share information. Working in pairs meant we could discreetly speak using an anti-eavesdropping magic tool, and Professor Anastasius wasn’t here to interfere.

I marched forward boldly, focusing only on the need for information exchange—but the moment I stood face-to-face with Lord Ortwin, my courage faltered. It was far more awkward than I had imagined.

…This is a lesson. Just a lesson! Besides, I have to share this information…

“Lady Hannelore, I look forward to working with you today,” said Lord Ortwin.

“Likewise. Um…”

“Would you like to start the brewing, Lady Hannelore?”

“Ah—yes, I suppose so. Thank you kindly.”

Though we both felt awkward, it was still a lesson. I laid out the materials I had brought for the potion in the correct order for adding them during the process. Then, I reviewed with Lord Ortwin the proper sequence and how each ingredient should react. We were doing nothing more than what was necessary for class, yet I could feel the glances from those around us, watching us carefully.

“Then, I’ll begin.”

I placed the feystone made from the spring ingredient into the mixing cauldron and drew out my schtappe. “Beimen,” I chanted. Beimen was used during brewing to create a mixing stick used for combining the ingredients. Using a schtappe helped ensure consistent mana flow, which greatly reduced the chance of failure.

Back when schtappes were only granted in the third year or upon graduation, students used magic tools to brew, and had to consciously control their mana flow. I had heard that back then, failures were frequent and students had to train extensively just to avoid failing their courses. This was why the older generations were said to be more skilled in mana control.

…In Dunkelfelger, we often heard rebukes like, “Those who received their schtappes at a young age have it easy in brewing and training lessons, and thus their control over their mana is rather imprecise.”

As the black liquid of figual slowly dripped into the mixing pot, which now swirled with the colors of every season, I carefully stirred it all the way to the edges, ensuring the figual spread evenly with my mana. The moment it did, the contents of the pot began to expand rapidly.

“Lord Ortwin, the ruthika, please…”

“It’s ready.”

The instant a single drop of ruthika fell in, the previously mixed, multi-colored liquid flared with a blinding light, and the pale blue jureve was completed.

“Lady Hannelore, it seems you’ve finished. Well done. As expected of a lord candidate from Dunkelfelger—you appear to be the first to finish.”

Professor Hirschur had noticed the glow at the moment of completion and came over to inspect the quality of the jureve. A quick glance around the classroom confirmed that no one else had finished yet—everyone was still stirring their pots.

“You’ve passed. Please transfer it to the container prepared in your dormitory and clean out the pot.”

“Professor Hirschur, if I insert this magic tool, it will transfer the jureve to the container in the dormitory, correct?”

I took the magic tool Cordula had handed me. It was a white disc with a green mana stone embedded in the center—a type of teleportation circle. It connected to a magic tool shaped like a pitcher, allowing liquids to be easily transferred. I had heard it was commonly used by attendants to move water from a central reservoir to individual rooms, though I had rarely handled one myself.

“Indeed,” Professor Hirschur confirmed, “but first, contact the attendant waiting in your dormitory. And before inserting the tool into the mixing pot, make sure to cleanse it. You will be drinking that yourself, after all.”

At her instruction, I removed the mixing stick, which was still in the pot, deactivated its transformation, and sent an ordonnanz to Cordula to inform her that the jureve was complete. Then, I used waschen to clean the magic tool I would insert into the pot. By the time I had finished, Cordula had sent a return ordonnanz confirming, “Preparations here are complete.”

“I’m inserting it now.”

When I gently placed the magic tool into the mixing pot, the magic circle engraved on it glowed green beneath the pale blue liquid, and little by little, the jureve began to decrease.

“The transfer appears to be proceeding without issue. Even though Lady Hannelore finished her preparation quickly, there isn’t enough time now to make Lord Ortwin’s jureve. Let’s leave it for the next session.”

“I understand.”

Lord Ortwin nodded at Professor Hirschur’s words and took a seat on a nearby chair. I had been standing the entire time while mixing, but he had also been on his feet assisting, so he must have been tired as well.

“Lady Hannelore, while the jureve is transferring, please tidy up the table.”

“Understood.”

Once Professor Hirschur finished giving her instructions, she turned on her heel and walked away. I picked up the anti-eavesdropping magic tool, held my own, and casually dropped the other onto Lord Ortwin’s lap. Then, pretending not to notice anything, I began tidying up the empty vials and leftover ingredients into the bag I had used to carry the materials.

“Lady Hannelore, is something the matter?” Lord Ortwin asked, his gaze on the steadily decreasing jureve. As I cleared the tabletop, I began to speak using the tool.

“Lady Letizia came to me for advice. It was about her older brother, Lord Lansrit.”

I informed him that Lansrit seemed to be under the influence of Lord Sigiswald. Since Lord Raufereg had been used as a wedge to divide Dunkelfelger, it was possible that Drewanchel was being similarly targeted.

“Please be on your guard.”

“I appreciate the warning. While Lord Sigiswald may indeed be aiming for division, Lansrit likely has other motives as well.”

“Do you have any guesses?”

After thinking for a moment in response to my question, Lord Ortwin said, ”…To some extent,” but did not elaborate further.

“If I’m not crushed, it should be fine. To be honest, I didn’t expect to receive such a warning from you, Lady Hannelore. I thought it only natural that you would avoid me, due to feeling awkward.”

“When sharing information for the sake of collaboration, personal discomfort should not be allowed to interfere, should it?”

“Heh… Indeed.”

“And still, I didn’t expect Lady Letizia and Lady Hannelore to be close enough for her to prioritize you over her own brother.”

My relationship with Lady Letizia had begun during the true ditter, when we met at the castle of the then-Ahrensbach. However, I had never spoken openly about how that interaction began. To someone who only knew of our connection through Lady Rozemyne at the Royal Academy, it must have seemed surprisingly close.

“I’m merely protecting Lady Letizia in Lady Rozemyne’s place.”

“Do you have any contact with Lord Hildebrand, Lady Hannelore? You’ve said that Dunkelfelger does not personally associate with Drewanchel, who stands in opposition to us, but I can’t quite grasp their current relationship or where Blumenfeld stands in the matter of the bride-stealing ditter. Is Dunkelfelger aware of their position?”

While many rumors circulated—whether Lord Trauerqual supported Lord Sigiswald as a parent, or whether Hildebrand and Sigiswald had a connection—there seemed to be no way to obtain definitive information.

“Blumenfeld… or rather, Lord Trauerqual has clearly stated that he intends to keep his distance from Lord Sigiswald, and he has reportedly instructed Lord Hildebrand to do the same. They will not act in any way that would risk losing Dunkelfelger’s support.”

“That is a relief. Collaborating with Dunkelfelger is a great reassurance. Have preparations for the ditter already begun?”

At Lord Ortwin’s question, I let out a small sigh. I still hadn’t come up with a way to let Kenntrips participate. However, I understood that this wasn’t something I should be discussing with Lord Ortwin.

”…There are still classes left, so let’s just say I’m making an effort. How are things on Drewanchel’s side?”

“We’re making an effort. Especially my elder sister…”

Lord Ortwin’s voice sounded slightly weary.

…Lady Adolphine?

“She says she wants to take this opportunity to drop an attack magic tool on Lord Sigiswald’s head. Since she became a Giebe and is now an archnoble, she can’t participate as part of the archducal family, but she’s putting significant effort into developing magic tools for us to use.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I pictured Lady Adolphine throwing magic tools at Lord Sigiswald. Thanks to the anti-eavesdropping magic tool I was holding, my laugh shouldn’t have been heard, but I wondered if my odd behavior had given it away.

“Ah, it’s almost done.”

After Lord Ortwin murmured those words to himself and let go of the soundblocking magic tool, I heard him say, “Lady Hannelore, the transfer of the potion seems to be almost complete.”

I turned around and peered into the cauldron. The pale blue liquid of the jureve had vanished, leaving only the magic tool used to transfer it at the bottom. With the liquid gone, the glowing magic circle had disappeared as well, signaling that its task was finished.

“Waschen.”

I washed the cauldron and the magic tool, then retrieved the latter. After placing it in the pouch, the cleanup was complete. Looking around, I saw that two others had also finished their preparations and were beginning to tidy up.

“Now that the brewing is complete, I’ll head over to where my retainers are working.” Lord Ortwin stated while looking at the table we were working at.

“Thank you ever so much for assisting me today.”

Since Lord Ortwin had left his seat, I also moved to where Dunkelfelger’s archnobles were gathered. Luitpold and Rasantark were holding their Baimen and performing the mixing side by side at a pot. Heilliese was assisting Luipolt, so I addressed her, careful not to disturb the mixing process.

“Heilliese, do you think Luipolt and Rasantark will be finished soon?”

“My, Lady Hannelore, have you already completed your cleanup?”

When Heilliese exclaimed in surprise, Rasantark turned to glance back and gave a sheepish look. “So having a lot of mana really does speed up the process.”

“I think it’s also because your mana control is still rough. You’re good at releasing a large amount all at once, but not so much at sustaining it for a long time, are you?”

“Ugh…”

“See? Your mana is about to falter because you turned around to chat. Please concentrate. Even Luitpold, who has less mana, is ahead of you.”

When I leaned over to look into each cauldron and pointed this out, Luitpold gave a wry smile as he stirred with his schtappe turned beimen.

“I’m a scholar, so I’m far more used to potion-brewing than a knight is. Ah, Heilliese. Please prepare the figual—”

“Yes.”

As Heilliese approached Luitpold’s cauldron with the figual, I stepped back a little.

“Oh? An ordonnanz?”

A white bird swooped into the classroom and circled once before perching on Professor Hirschur’s hand.

“This is Zent Eglantine. Due to an urgent matter, I have dispatched one of my attendants to the classroom as an escort. Please send Lady Hannelore of Dunkelfelger to the Royal Palace immediately.”

”…An emergency summons from the Zent? For me?”

Completely caught off guard, I was left flustered and confused.

“You heard her, didn’t you, Lady Hannelore? Leave your belongings to your retainers and head to the Royal Palace immediately,” said Professor Hirschur.

“What on earth could this be about…?”

“You’ll find out when you get there. No one here can answer that. For now, send an ordonnanz to your head attendant and have any available retainers wait at the dormitory entrance. It wouldn’t do for you to go to the Royal Palace entirely alone, would it?”

Though Professor Hirschur’s words sounded rather blunt, they were highly practical. I immediately sent an ordonnanz to Cordula, informing her that I had received an emergency summons from the Zent and that I would be heading out with her retainer acting as a guide. I asked her to send any available retainers to wait in front of the dormitory.

”…Lady Hannelore…”

Though my retainers and Rasantark looked worried, their hands were still occupied with their own mixing, and I offered them a gentle smile as I looked around.

“Please take care of my things. And no letting your attention wander during the process. Cordula will be waiting for me in front of the dormitory, so I’ll be just fine. I’m off now.”

As I walked toward the door, all eyes in the classroom followed me. Just as I approached, the door swung open wide, and a royal scholar raised their voice.

“Is Lady Hannelore of Dunkelfelger present?”

“I am on my way now.”