A Request for Cooperation from Ehrenfest: Part 1

Upon returning to the dormitory, I immediately gathered my retainers and informed them of the Zent’s stance. This was something that also needed to be reported to my father without delay.

“She truly said it would be acceptable even if the ditter were canceled?” one of my retainers asked, clearly troubled. “Even though the gods seem irritated?”

It was reassuring to see that they shared my concerns. I let out a quiet breath as I nodded.

“She stated that so long as the blame falls only upon an individual, it is not her concern. As Zent, she said she cannot show favoritism toward any one duchy or person.”

”…In other words,” Cordula said gravely, listing off examples from myth, “she means that even if those plotting the cancellation have their schtappe sealed, lose the use of their arms or legs, are denied blessings to their descendants no matter how fervently they pray, or if an Aub arises who can no longer touch their foundation… that is all acceptable?”

The examples she gave were grave punishments, the sort often spoken of in tales of divine retribution.

Though such penalties seemed far too severe for merely scheming to cancel a ditter, according to what the Zent had said, as long as the entirety of Yurgenschmidt would not suffer, she apparently saw no issue.

“Indeed,” I confirmed softly. “Moreover, she said that she does not intend to support either side, so Dunkelfelger taking action to prevent the ditter’s cancellation is perfectly acceptable. In that sense, her stance is fair.”

At my explanation, my retainers exchanged glances and nodded, their expressions easing slightly.

“If that is the case… well, then…” they murmured in agreement.

“However,” I continued, my tone turning serious again, “if we are to prevent the cancellation of the bride-stealing ditter, we must act swiftly. We need to investigate the other duchies and, above all, Lord Ortwin’s current situation.”

I furrowed my brow slightly, recalling Lady Eglantine’s words.

“She also mentioned that Drewanchel’s succession conflict has intensified. Yet… I do not know what information that statement was based on.”

The information gathered so far by Dunkelfelger’s students revealed nothing unusual about Lord Ortwin’s behavior.

Most likely, it had simply become more difficult to obtain accurate intelligence regarding enemy duchies with the bride-stealing ditter rapidly approaching. Not only Drewanchel, but also Korinthsdaum, Gilessenmeyer and Hauchletzte—what little information we had from them was likely only surface-level.

“Have we received anything from my Father regarding the other duchies yet?” I asked carefully.

“Not yet,” came the reply. “And to be honest, we still don’t know when and in what form his information will arrive, either.”

Andrea pointed out that if the other duchies were compiling and filtering their information before sending anything to Dunkelfelger, it would naturally take several days. Luitpold nodded in agreement beside him.

“The quickest way would be for us to speak directly with students from those duchies,” he added thoughtfully. “But at the moment, we don’t even know which duchies are open to sharing information, nor whom to approach and when.”

“In other words, no matter the method, this will take some time.”

I gave a small sigh and then straightened, regaining my composure.

“For now, let us focus on strengthening our connections with the duchies unrelated to the bride-stealing ditter. It may turn out that I will be able to return to my classes and gather information personally before any reports from Drewanchel reach us.”

I lightly touched my cheek in thought, and as I did, Cordula stared at me before noting that It appeared as though almost all traces of the goddess’ power had faded.

“If you wish to keep the matter of your second descent completely hidden, it would be safest to resume your classes the day after tomorrow. Also, this has arrived from Ehrenfest. They propose holding a tea party three days from now.”

“I see. Very well.”

“With how often you’ve been urgently summoned by the Zent lately, it is refreshing as your retainer to be able to prepare in advance for ordinary social gatherings.”

I smiled softly at those words. Yes… a normal tea party, planned without haste, sounded almost luxurious in comparison to the constant tension as of late.

Idonalitte spoke in a quietly sentimental tone, and though I felt a restless impatience at the idea of having to wait three whole days when I so dearly wished to gather information as soon as possible, my retainers all shared soft, understanding smiles at the relief normal social duties brought.

“Your classes begin again today, don’t they?”

As I prepared myself mentally, Rasantark stepped forward and offered his hand to escort me, though his expression seemed somewhat clouded. I tilted my head in curiosity.

“You look troubled, Rasantark,” I remarked gently.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said, Lady Hannelore… but it’s difficult. I now understand how much I am lacking, yet I have no idea how to fill those gaps, or how long it will take to do so. Compared to me, Kenntrips seems so far ahead… I can’t help but feel envious.”

I could tell he was feeling down, but I wasn’t sure how to comfort him. After all, I myself still had many shortcomings.

“Rasantark, you say you envy Kenntrips, but in the past, Kenntrips often envied you as well,” I said softly. “He used to say things like, ‘Unlike me, Rasantark can become an apprentice knight,’ or ‘If only I could think as straightforwardly as Rasantark, life would be easier.’”

“But it’s different now, isn’t it?” Rasantark replied with a sigh. “Now that he’s set his goal, he’s charging straight toward it without looking away… he’s so busy he doesn’t even have time to listen to my worries.”

I had heard that Kenntrips was currently busy taking one knight course exam after another, making it difficult for him to escort me to and from classes for the time being. It had become common to see him in the dining hall, discussing test plans with Professor Rauffen.

Moreover, his tireless efforts to somehow qualify as a candidate and participate in the bride-stealing ditter were viewed very favorably within Dunkelfelger.

…Ugh. Isn’t it exactly what Lord Ferdinand once said, “People favor honest fools”?

Those words, which I had thought were nothing but an insult, turned out to be entirely true.

I, too, found myself supporting Kenntrips as he worked desperately hard, and seeing him steadily pass exam after exam filled me with admiration.

Still… I truly didn’t want to recognize my own “Dunkelfelger-like” nature through something like this.

“I want to show you my good side too, Lady Hannelore…” Rasantark muttered bitterly.

“Then, do your best,” I replied firmly. “At the very least, I do not find a sulking Rasantark charming in the slightest.”

“Ugh…”

Looking up at Rasantark’s pitiful expression as he gazed down at me, I couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“Everyone has their own worries, I’ve been envied by those of other duchies for becoming the second avatar of the goddess, but even so, it has brought me many troubles. I worry whether I will be able to finish my lessons without issue, what will happen with the bride-stealing ditter, and how I should overcome my shortcomings as an archduke candidate … Still, I intend to face them and resolve each one little by little.”

Rasantark blinked a few times, and then a gentle smile spread across his face, as if warmth was slowly filling him.

“I won’t give up either. I’ll push forward as much as I can,” Rasantark declared, his brown eyes regaining their brightness as he lifted his face with determination.

At that moment, the classroom for the archduke candidates course came into view.

“Milady, you remember my warning, don’t you?” Cordula asked firmly.

I nodded quietly in response.

Because I have a tendency to become too focused on a single matter, I had been told to be especially careful during classes not to carelessly approach Lord Ortwin.

If I were to try gathering information and our connection appeared too close, it could lead others to suspect our cooperation—something that might force Dunkelfelger to abandon Lord Ortwin altogether.

Cordula still looked worried, but during the archducal candidate course lectures, it was impossible to approach Lord Ortwin anyway. Professor Anastasius was always watching closely. Perhaps because he himself, despite being the Zent’s spouse, was excluded from discussions related to the gods, the gaze he directed at me was extremely stern.

…Even so, just being able to check on Lord Ortwin’s condition with my own eyes should help ease my mind a little.

With that thought in mind, I stepped into the classroom.

“Good morning, Lady Hannelore.”

“Oh, Lord Wilfried… Good morning. Are you feeling better ?”

As I entered the classroom, someone called out to me, so I turned around. The last lesson I remember was on brewing, during which Lord Wilfried was absent at the time. He nodded in response to my question, saying, “I’m fine now.”

“Lady Hannelore, please allow me to apologize.”

Lord Wilfried seemed eager to use an anti-eavesdropping magic tool and offered it to me. Since he said it was for the sake of an apology, I could not refuse.

As I accepted it, he let out a relieved breath and then adjusted his expression solemnly.

“I deeply apologize for my careless words the other day, which led to confusion within Dunkelfelger.”

“I have already accepted Ehrenfest’s apology. Please do not worry about it any further, …More importantly, Lord Wilfried, you are close enough to have considered supporting them during the bride-stealing ditter, correct? If you know anything about Drewanchel’s current situation, could you please share it with me?”

I asked Lord Wilfried about Drewanchel, hoping to gather information while I had the chance. I could not bring up Lord Ortwin by name.

“Ah… I’m sorry. The truth is, I was ordered to return to my duchy by the Aub, and I only resumed my classes yesterday.”

Lord Wilfried hesitated as he explained that he had been away under orders from his Aub. It seemed that his previous remarks, which risked creating a rift with Dunkelfelger, had been seen as an issue.

“Also, it seems Ortwin has already finished the archduke candidates class.”

”…Ah!”

How thoughtless. I hadn’t even considered the possibility that Lord Ortwin would finish his lectures while I was unconscious.

However, now that I thought about it, I recalled that my brother had also completed his lectures around this time when he was in his fifth year. It wasn’t strange that Lord Ortwin had done the same.

…This is troubling.

With this, I could no longer even confirm Lord Ortwin’s safety with my own eyes. Now that he had finished his classes, it would be extremely difficult for Dunkelfelger to know what he was doing or if anything was happening to him.

“Um, Lady Hannelore… did something happen to Ortwin?”

“It’s not that anything has happened,” I replied. “I simply heard that the succession struggle in Drewanchel for the next Aub has intensified, so I became a little concerned. If you happen to know anything…”

Lord Wilfried thought for a moment with a worried expression, “I’ll ask Charlotte,” he said.

“Since she has been at the Royal Academy the entire time, she may know something. Please try asking her at the tea party. As for me… I’ve been ordered by the Aub not to get involved with Ortwin until the bride-stealing ditter is over. I’m also forbidden to interact with you, Lady Hannelore, except for offering my apology. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

Lord Wilfried said this and then retrieved his magic tool.

As I watched his back as he walked away, I quietly let out a breath. Though I understood Ehrenfest’s caution, being so openly distanced still left me feeling lonely.

…So this is how easily everything can fall apart.

Until the bride-stealing ditter was over, it seemed unlikely that we could interact as casually as before. The time we spent at the gazebo that marked the beginning of all this already felt like something from the distant past.

…And besides, the atmosphere in the classroom…

It wasn’t just Lord Wilfried and Lord Ortwin who had become difficult to interact with.

The archducal candidates from the duchies that had once applied for the bride-stealing ditter were also keeping some distance from me.

Even those who had been close to them seemed to avoid showing any signs of friendly interaction in front of me.

The classroom, once filled with light-hearted chatter, was now heavy with silence and tension, as everyone carefully watched each other’s moves.

…Given that this tense atmosphere, driven by awareness of Dunkelfelger’s gaze, was directed more at Dunkelfelger itself than at me personally, it was only natural that gathering information from other duchies would prove difficult.

While feeling the many watchful gazes from around the classroom, I focused on making up for the lessons I had missed during my absence, in a silent room where not even idle chatter was heard during mana recovery.

With the atmosphere so heavy and information gathering impossible, I found myself all the more eager for the upcoming tea party with Lady Charlotte.

“Please allow me to once again apologize for my brother’s careless words. He has been reprimanded by the Aub and is reflecting on his actions,” Lady Charlotte said as she handed me an anti-eavesdropping magic tool at our tea party, and offered yet another apology.

“I already received Lord Wilfried’s apology personally, so I am not concerned about it,” I replied. ”…However, seeing you, Lady Charlotte, offer the apology on behalf of your duchy in the auditorium made me realize that Lord Wilfried is no longer the next Aub.”

Of course, I had already heard this directly from Lord Wilfried when I obtained the conditions for his proposal, but I chose not to mention that.

“The change of successor has nothing to do with this particular incident, It was the result of my brother’s own decision.”

“Lord Wilfried’s decision…? Ah, yes. I heard that because he and you share the same parents, yet he was raised by your grandmother due to the Aub’s judgment, he ended up in a different faction. I understand that he chose to step down from the position of next Aub himself, thinking it would benefit the duchy. That is truly admirable,” I said, recalling what I had been told when he proposed.

I wished to praise Lord Wilfried’s decision and convey that I did not see any issue in our relations going forward, despite his careless remarks earlier.

However, Lady Charlotte briefly showed a surprised expression, as though I had said something unexpected, before quickly smoothing it over with a polite smile.

“Oh my, was I mistaken?” I asked. “I hope it wasn’t a misunderstanding or anything serious…”

There had been times when small miscommunications with Ehrenfest had turned into major problems later on.

When I checked, Lady Charlotte showed a deeply troubled expression. I could see her fingers pressing tightly against the table.

”…I cannot say you are entirely wrong, and that may be how my brother sees it,” she began hesitantly. “However, some inconvenient parts for him have been left out, making it sound as though only our father was at fault, which surprised me. For the sake of our duchy and the Aub’s honor, please allow me to correct this.”

It seemed that although she would rather not say so to someone from another duchy, letting Lord Wilfried’s version of events stand as the truth would be problematic for her.

“I cannot share the details,” Lady Charlotte continued. ”…However, my brother originally belonged to the same faction as our father, the Aub. In the end, only his faction became different from the rest of the family, but that was because even after our father took action to improve the duchy, my brother continued clinging to ties he should have severed and allowed himself to drift toward the easier path.”

…He was originally in the same faction as the Aub? And ties he should have severed?

Though she was vague and did not explain in detail, I could tell that Lord Wilfried had diverged from the path chosen by the Aub.

From Lady Charlotte’s perspective, it seemed clear that her brother was also at fault.

As I found myself uncertain about how much of Lord Wilfried’s words I could truly trust, Lady Charlotte briefly lowered her gaze and softly exhaled.

”…How should I put this? My brother tends to be somewhat self-centered and unaware of his surroundings. That side of him strongly surfaced this time, which is why he ended up causing trouble for Dunkelfelger as well.”

…Ugh, those words struck painfully close to home.

Though I had reflected on many things lately, I too had often caused trouble for those around me with my own self-centered words and actions. Even though Lady Charlotte was clearly speaking about Lord Wilfried, her words cut me deeply.

“If he were inherently malicious or spiteful, it would be much easier to stay wary or deal with him. But because that is not the case, his careless words often cause trouble and confusion for those around him,” She said with a wry smile.

Her deep blue eyes, however, were gentle. Despite her troubles with Lord Wilfried’s careless remarks, it was clear she did not dislike him.

…However, if Lord Wilfried’s careless remarks were not uncommon, would that not risk deepening rifts between duchies or factions, or even drawing unnecessary hostility?

Before even considering factional matters, I could not help but feel that such a disposition seemed ill-suited for an Aub. I would rather not imagine an Aub who might unintentionally damage interduchy relations with careless words during the Archduke Conference.

“This time, though, it seems that causing great trouble for both you, Lady Hannelore, and Lord Ortwin, who are his friends, has finally made him realize the consequences of his actions. In his own way, my brother appears to have learned his lesson,” Lady Charlotte said softly.

“I see… If he has come to realize something, then that is good. I have had my own share of struggles as well, and I have learned some things thanks to Lord Wilfried…”

Hearing my words, Lady Charlotte blinked several times in surprise. Then, relaxing her shoulders slightly, she brought her teacup to her lips and took a sip.

“I am glad that any misunderstandings have been cleared up. I hope we may continue on good terms from here on. …Also, my brother mentioned something to me. He said that you are seeking information about Lord Ortwin, Lady Hannelore.”

I gasped unintentionally. I had deliberately phrased it as “information about Drewanchel” when speaking to Lord Wilfried so that it would not seem as though I was seeking details about Lord Ortwin personally. And yet, how had it become framed as seeking information about Lord Ortwin?

“Um, Lady Charlotte… I am not seeking information limited to Lord Ortwin himself. Since I heard that Drewanchel’s next Aub succession struggle has intensified in relation to the bride-stealing ditter, I asked Lord Wilfried if he knew anything about that matter.”

“Oh my, that sounds quite different. Honestly, brother…”

Charlotte let out a sigh in exasperation.

“It is precisely these minor discrepancies that gave rise to misunderstandings and strange rumors. I can not allow it to be thought that I was particularly concerned about Lord Ortwin.”

I emphasized again that what I needed was information on Drewanchel. Then, I smiled faintly and brought a pastry containing laure to my mouth. It was a signal that this had become Dunkelfelger’s true topic of interest.

Andrea quietly moved to a position where she could better observe Charlotte and the others’ reactions.

“The problem I have is that it has become difficult for Dunkelfelger to directly interact with hostile duchies or gather information from them.”

Perhaps something came to mind, as Lady Charlotte averted her gaze and quietly lifted her cup again. Seeing her reaction, I leaned forward slightly.

“Specifically, I am seeking information on Drewanchel, Korinthsdaum, Hauchletzte and Gilessenmeyer.”

At my words, Lady Charlotte thought for a moment before lifting her gaze. “Why those four duchies in particular?” she asked, tilting her head slowly.

Only Dunkelfelger had received marriage proposals and notifications of withdrawal related to the bride-stealing ditter. Most likely, the other duchies were not even aware which duchies were still participating at this stage.

“After the Zent’s announcement, those four—Drewanchel, Korinthsdaum, Hauchletzte, and Gilessenmeyer—are the ones who have yet to withdraw their applications.”

”…Please wait a moment,” Lady Charlotte said as she released the magic tool and called out to her apprentice scholar. “Marianne, bring it here.”

She swiftly turned and left the tea room. Not long after, she returned carrying a stack of papers in her arms.

“And these are…?”

“This is the information that has been gathered and compiled in Ehrenfest. It was originally a method started by my sister, Lady Rozemyne,” Charlotte explained.

With a proud smile, Lady Charlotte quickly flipped through the stack of papers. However, rather than reading the contents, her deep blue eyes gave the impression that she was carefully selecting which information to share and how much of it to reveal.

“I must apologize, Lady Hannelore, while I convey this information, I cannot use the anti-eavesdropping magic tool. Will that be acceptable?”

“Yes, I have no issue with that.”

I returned the magic tool and, together with my retainers, focused intently on the information Lady Charlotte was about to provide. I could sense a wave of tension from the apprentice scholars as they readied themselves to take notes.

“Um… let me see. Yes, regarding Drewanchel, the most relevant matter to the bride-stealing ditter would be that the number of people pressuring Lord Ortwin to withdraw is increasing. I, too, have heard about this recently.”

…Not only Lord Lansrit and his other half-siblings?

The word “increasing” caught my attention, and I narrowed my eyes slightly. I had been told that the succession struggle in Drewanchel had intensified, but this was the first I had heard that those pressuring Lord Ortwin were growing in number.

“Lady Charlotte, do you know who exactly is pressuring Lord Ortwin to withdraw?” I asked carefully.

I smiled softly. Lady Charlotte returned the gesture with a gentle smile of her own. It was clear we were both carefully probing one another — each weighing how much to reveal, how much to draw out, and how to guide the conversation in a favorable direction.

“The majority of pressure is coming from within Drewanchel itself, There are concerns that Lord Ortwin’s life is in danger and fears about drawing the ire of Dunkelfelger. These worries have sparked debates over who among them is truly acting in the best interests of their duchy. As a result, the succession struggle has apparently grown even fiercer.”

I furrowed my brows. From what Lady Charlotte was saying, it sounded as though Lord Ortwin was under considerable pressure.

“Is there any indication that duchies other than Drewanchel are involved? I suspect that Korinthsdaum’s influence is particularly significant…”

Lady Charlotte’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She studied my expression for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“Yes, it seems that Korinthsdaum’s influence is indeed substantial. Hauchletzte and Gilessenmeyer have also been encouraging Lord Ortwin to withdraw. While you might assume they are doing so to reduce competitors and gain an advantage in the bride-stealing ditter, it appears their true goal is to have the ditter itself cancelled.”

It was just as I had suspected — Korinthsdaum, Hauchletzte, and Gilessenmeyer were indeed working together to force the cancellation of the bridal capture ditter. While this was expected, hearing it confirmed so clearly made me realize that Lord Ortwin was under even heavier pressure than I had imagined.

”…What do you think about this, Lady Hannelore?”

Lady Charlotte brought a sweet to her lips and then looked at me, asking for my thoughts. Though she smiled gracefully, I could sense a certain tension in her expression. She undoubtedly had her own intentions, and she was likely gathering information on me and Dunkelfelger as well.

“I find it strange, why would they go so far as to pressure others to withdraw, just to have the bride-stealing ditter cancelled? If they do not wish to be involved, should they not simply withdraw themselves? If they were to do so, they would no longer need to concern themselves with the matter at all…”

I neither agreed nor disagreed about cancelling the ditter, but instead worded my response so that it cast blame on Hauchletzte and Gilessenmeyer, who were suspected of working alongside Korinthsdaum.

Honestly speaking, if those two duchies were to withdraw, things would become much easier. Since we had already agreed on cooperating with Lord Ortwin, the outcome of the ditter would practically be decided. If possible, I wished they would simply step down quickly.

”…I have heard that there are some duchies which wish to withdraw but cannot, It seems that withdrawing before Drewanchel would make things difficult for them, given their ties to Lord Sigiswald…”

The hand grasping the papers filled with gathered information was trembling slightly. Perhaps she wished to ease Dunkelfelger’s anger even a little by explaining the other side’s circumstances.

I thought about Lady Charlotte’s relationships, wondering which duchy she would be inclined to defend.

“Ah, Lady Charlotte, you are quite close with Lady Luzinde of Gilessenmeyer, aren’t you? Are you perhaps well informed about her duchy’s circumstances? If so, perhaps there is some way I could be of assistance.”

When I looked at her with as worried an expression as I could manage, Lady Charlotte inhaled sharply, tension evident in her posture.

”…Lady Luzinde has been lamenting that she cannot defy Lord Sigiswald’s orders, she has been caught up in something most troublesome, and because of that, many of her connections have been severed. An archduke candidate can only obey the decisions of their Aub, and nobles cannot easily oppose the words of royalty. Surely even those of Dunkelfelger understand this?”

Though I nodded once in response to Lady Charlotte’s appeal that Lady Luzinde herself was blameless yet trapped in a difficult position, and softly sighed, saying, “It seems there are many troubled by Lord Sigiswald,” I did not take her words at face value.

…As I thought, he is making full use of his authority as a former royal.

However, that does not mean I can simply trust everything Lady Charlotte says without question.

It is an undeniable fact that Gilessenmeyer and Hauchletzte made marriage proposals. Moreover, there has been no formal notice of withdrawal, nor have they appealed to Dunkelfelger or the Zent claiming that “we are troubled by Lord Sigiswald’s orders.”

There is also the possibility that, having already gained certain benefits, their Aubs are cooperating with Lord Sigiswald of their own accord in pursuit of an advantage for their duchies.

…At this point, the only thing I can reasonably trust is that Lady Luzinde herself is troubled on a personal level.

“Um, Lady Hannelore… I heard from Lady Lutzinde that if Lord Ortwin, who was the starting point of the bride-stealing ditter, could be made to withdraw, then the ditter itself could be cancelled. Is that correct?”

“If Gilessenmeyer and Hauchletzte are merely collaborators with Korinthsdaum and not true suitors for my hand, then it may indeed be possible to cancel it.”

…After all, Lord Sigiswald would likely prefer to propose marriage using the authority of his former royal status rather than through a bride-stealing ditter.

When I presented the conditions under which it could be cancelled, Lady Charlotte’s face brightened as she exclaimed, “Oh my, is that true?”

Her cheerful tone conveyed clearly that she truly believed those two duchies were cooperating only due to Lord Sigiswald’s orders—and that she herself found the idea of cancelling the bride-stealing ditter preferable.

“I do hope it can be cancelled as soon as possible. At this point, no one aside from Lord Ortwin and his retainers even desires the bride-stealing ditter anymore.”

…No one, she says!?

I lightly drew a breath in surprise.

Whether Lady Charlotte’s words were merely exaggerated or grounded in fact, I had to confirm it.

I found myself tempted to reach out and look at the wealth of information she held in her hands, but instead, I carefully chose my words to draw out as much as I could.

“Lady Charlotte, saying ‘no one’ seems a little excessive, does it not? Are there truly so many who do not wish for the bride-stealing ditter?”