Whether To Try or Not

They must have noticed the change in my complexion. The gazes of those around me grew sharp.

“Lady Hannelore, you have thought of something, have you not?”

“No. I merely recalled Lady Charlotte’s words—that after Lady Rozemyne’s long absence, events tend to move forward rapidly. What happened at the tea party truly was exactly as I wrote in the report. Lady Rozemyne was quite troubled by the impact the descent of the goddess had on the lessons, and she even said that the bride-stealing ditter was not something I ought to agonize over…”

I insisted that Lady Rozemyne had said it was something my father and the Zent should handle, that she had even declared, “Please leave it to me,” and that in response I had explained that, since it was difficult for adults to come and go from the Royal Academy, it was the responsibility of the archduke candidates.

“With only that much of a conversation, who could possibly have imagined that Lady Rozemyne would decide to summon Aub Dunkelfelger and the Zent to the country gate and hold a meeting?”

At my insistence, my retainers’ expressions shifted to ones of understanding.

“Indeed, it would be impossible to predict a summons to the country gate from so little.”

“Besides, if adults cannot freely enter and leave the Royal Academy, then to think of simply gathering at the country gate instead… That is not something anyone but Lady Rozemyne, who holds the Grutrissheit, would come up with.”

Kenntrips and Cordula both wore exasperated, troubled smiles. I understood. There was likely no one besides Lady Rozemyne who would think of so casually making use of the country gate.

“Though this meeting is unexpected, adjusting the bride-stealing ditter places a heavy burden on you as an archduke candidate, Lady Hannelore. Your classes have also been significantly delayed due to the goddess’s descent, have they not? If we consider only your personal circumstances, would this not be a relief?”

Luitpold’s words were not mistaken. Since Lady Rozemyne was thinking of ways to lessen my burden, it would indeed be a great help to me personally.

…Though I imagine it will be quite trying for those around her.

“Yes, milady’s burden will surely be lessened. Above all, matters will proceed more quickly if the Aub and the Zent speak directly, and there will be fewer misunderstandings. It is sudden, forceful, and rather outlandish—but I believe it to be an effective measure.”

Since Cordula seemed convinced, it appeared unlikely that I would be scolded unreasonably. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Whether it was sudden or whether the meeting place was unexpected, it was Lady Rozemyne who proposed it, and my father and the Zent who accepted, was it not? In that case, there is no way I could overturn it now.”

The letter from my father inquired about the circumstances, but it did not seek to cancel or refuse the meeting, nor did it request that I accompany him. In other words, this was not something for me to agonize over. If this meeting allows duchies unrelated to the bride-stealing ditter to enjoy an ordinary social season, and if it helps Dunkelfelger’s students gather information more efficiently, then I have nothing further to say.

“Cordula, I would like to ask my father to permit one of my retainers to accompany me to the meeting. Do you think that would be accepted?”

“I do not believe it will be a problem. Since you must act as an archduke candidate at the Royal Academy, it is necessary for you to grasp the situation.”

At Cordula’s reply, I nodded and decided to write a letter requesting that one of my scholar attendants who remained at the castle be allowed to accompany me.

And then, the following day, a reply arrived from my mother. It stated that the meeting with those gathering via the country gate would be held in a conference room located inside the boundary gate just before it. As it was not very large, the number of participants and the retainers permitted to enter would be limited. I was therefore informed that I would not be allowed to send any of my retainers for me.

“Apparently my brother and his retainers will not be permitted to accompany them either. Once the meeting concludes, there will be a report session for the archducal family and the upper ranks. It says to have any retainers we wish to attend wait at the castle. As for me, I have been ordered to remain at the Royal Academy…”

“Since the meeting was proposed by Lady Rozemyne to lessen your burden, milady, it seems that Aub and Lady Sieglinde believe you must not be made to move. It would go against Lady Rozemyne’s wishes otherwise.”

They would be discussing matters concerning me in a place where I was not present. How could I not be intensely curious about the contents? Even so, if this was deemed a meeting between the Zent and the Aub—one that even my brother could not attend and for which he must wait for the report at the castle—then there was no possibility that my own retainers would be permitted to accompany them.

“Cordula, please attend the report meeting with the usual three head retainers. I shall do my utmost to finish my lectures as quickly as possible so that I may enjoy the Royal Academy’s social season with Lady Rozemyne.”

“Very well. In that case, I shall return to the castle and bring back your garments and accessories, milady. There are not many days left until Earthday, and we must decide at once…”

“What garments?”

When I tilted my head in confusion, not only Cordula but Andrea and Idonalitte widened their eyes in disbelief.

“Milady, if you are that unaware of it, then Lord Kenntrips truly is to be pitied.”

“You decided to attend the graduation ceremony as Lord Kenntrips’s escort partner, did you not? We have neither commissioned a graduation outfit to match Lord Kenntrips, nor do we have one here at the Royal Academy.”

It may be true that I had not given much thought to my attire for the graduation ceremony, but I have been thinking about Kenntrips as well—at least a little. Ever since Lady Rozemyne told me, “At the very least, you will know whether you suit each other if you kiss,” I find that, if I let my guard down, that is all I can think about.

“Ah, well, um… I have simply been preoccupied with Lady Rozemyne’s tea party and the meeting. It is not that I have not been thinking of it at all.”

Was it because I tried to gloss it over? Because my gaze wandered? Or because my face grew warm from the thoughts that had slipped into my mind? Cordula shot me a sharp glare.

“Milady… surely you are not considering trying what Lady Rozemyne suggested?”

…How did she know!?

Struggling desperately to keep from flinching at Cordula’s sharp remark, I replied with a smile. “Surely not…”

“Because of Clarissa’s actions, people in Ehrenfest and Alexandria have come to misunderstand, thinking that all women of Dunkelfelger confirm compatibility by kissing men. If you were to attempt such a thing, milady, it would only affirm that the rumor is true. Please do not even consider trying it.”

With as solemn an expression as I could manage, I nodded. I, too, would find it most displeasing if women of Dunkelfelger were thought of in such a manner by those of other duchies.

…And yet, on a personal level, I cannot help but want to know about such various things.

Romantic feelings, compatibility of mana, and—well—what exactly Lady Rozemyne learned from that kiss. Is it not only natural to be curious?

No matter what excuse I might offer, I can plainly see that I would be scolded. Keeping my inner thoughts carefully concealed, I shifted the topic to my graduation ceremony attire.

“It is true that I have not been thinking about the graduation ceremony since my classes are not yet finished. However, graduating students prepare long before they depart for the Royal Academy, so Kenntrips’ outfit must already be decided, must it not? Would it not suffice to match mine to his?”

“That is precisely why I wished to confirm whether you would like to use this as an opportunity to spend time with Lord Kenntrips by asking him directly, or whether you would prefer for your attendants to simply exchange the necessary information among themselves.”

…An opportunity to spend time together.

Kenntrips is currently quite busy working to obtain qualification for the knight course. Though I do see him taking meals in the dining hall, our schedules rarely align for class escorts, and we have scarcely had any time to meet face-to-face.

“I feel somewhat guilty taking up his time with questions about attire when he is so busy…”

“You should use the graduation attire as a pretext to spend at least a little time together. It is important to deepen your relationship with your prospective fiancé.”

Just as Elusia smiled and encouraged me to interact with Kenntrips, Andrea fixed me with an unusually serious gaze.

“Lady Hannelore, respect and neglect are not the same. Precisely because he is busy, you should speak to him at least once. If he refuses on the grounds that he is occupied, that is one thing—but it would be far more troublesome if, after assuming you were being considerate, he later says he had preferences regarding the graduation attire.”

“Andrea, that sounds rather… firsthand.”

“I am pleased if my experience can be of use to you, Lady Hannelore.”

Andrea’s smile seemed to say, Please do not inquire any further, and so I closed my mouth. A glance around me made it clear—every one of my retainers wished for me to spend more time with Kenntrips.

“I shall ask Kenntrips directly.”

“Very well. We will make the arrangements accordingly.”

My retainers promptly sent an ordonnanz to Kenntrips inquiring about his availability. In accordance with his reply—after dinner—a meeting room was prepared.

When the appointed time arrived, Kenntrips came to the meeting room accompanied by his attendant, who carried a box containing his attire. The garments were then carefully spread out across the table.

“If it is this shade of green, then perhaps Lady Hannelore should wear green as well? I believe the outfit commissioned last year would match nicely.”

“But the graduation ceremony is at the end of winter. Would it not be better to choose a red tone in accordance with Lady Hannelore’s birth season? That green would be more suitable for a spring celebration. It will likely become an engagement ceremony alongside the declaration of victory in bride-stealing ditter.”

“Then shall we use the outfit worn at the Feast for the Beginning of Winter? If the two of you coordinate the color of your accessories, it would create a sense of unity.”

“I personally believe the pink gown commissioned for winter socializing suits Lady Hannelore best. It was prepared for use after returning from the Royal Academy, so it has not yet been worn…”

As my attendants exchanged their opinions while looking over the garments spread across the table, I found myself overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and took a step back. I noticed Kenntrips sending his own attendant from the room.

“It looks as though this may take some time. There is no need for you to wait here until it is finished. I will call for you when we are done, so you may return to your room.”

“As you wish.”

…Even I can predict that Cordula and the others’ discussion will take a while. Even once the outfit is decided, there will still be accessories and shoes to deliberate over.

For a fleeting moment, I wondered whether it might have been better simply to borrow the garments and have my attendants examine them in my own chambers. Then I recalled what I had been told—to spend time with your prospective fiancé. The purpose this time was to use the graduation attire as a pretext to interact with Kenntrips.

…And yet, it hardly seemed as though there were any opportunity for either Kenntrips or me to voice an opinion regarding the clothing.

Perhaps noticing that I had withdrawn a step from the circle of female attendants energetically exchanging views, Kenntrips approached me.

“Do you have no opinion, Lady Hannelore?”

”…I think it will be fine as long as it is suitable for me to stand beside you, Kenntrips. Honestly, unlike my attendants, I do not know every detail of my own attire. Do you, perhaps, have any opinions or preferences regarding my outfit?”

I asked, remembering Andrea’s warning “It would be far more troublesome, if he later says he had preferences.”

“Regarding coordination, my attendants are already considering that, and they seem to know more than I do, so I think it is fine to leave it to them. However, I would like to give my opinion on the outfit for next year, your graduation ceremony, Lady Hannelore, and I would also like to request that Lady Rozemyne prepare the hair ornaments.”

He brought up next year rather than this one, and I felt an indescribable tangle of emotions. I, who had been swept along as my imagined future shifted with even the smallest changes, could not help but feel that Kenntrips’s casual mention of next year treated everything too lightly, as if he were not taking it seriously.

…After all, we still do not know whether he will earn his knight qualification, and I certainly cannot declare beforehand that we will definitely win the bride-stealing ditter!

We will give it our all as a duchy skilled in martial matters, but that is one thing. Having suffered defeat multiple times by Ehrenfest, I know all too well that I cannot predict what cunning strategies or unexpected twists might arise in this year’s bride-stealing ditter.

“Please speak of next year only after you have won this year’s bride-stealing ditter.”

“Oh? That is quite a show of confidence. Have you already secured your qualification for the knight course, Lord Kenntrips?”

Startled by the sudden interruption, I flinched, and Kenntrips chastised Luitpold. “That was improper.”

“My apologies. I simply thought perhaps neither of you were aware that a magical tool for the prevention of eavesdropping could be used during a conversation between lovers.”

“Kenntrips is a prospective fiancé, not a lover. And we do not speak of anything that would trouble our attendants if overheard!”

I was taken aback at being called lovers, but right then, all I intended to do was to discuss the graduation attire. If anything, it was necessary to relay our opinions to our attendants.

Yet Luitpold paid no mind to my objection, fixing Kenntrips with a sharp, unyielding gaze.

“I see. My apologies. I’ll make use of it.”

Raising his hand slightly, as if admitting defeat, Kenntrips handed me the magic tool for preventing eavesdropping.

“It’s meant to remind you to behave at least a little like a prospective fiancé.”

He spoke just as I took hold of the tool.

“Also… Luitpold once told me to behave like a lover so that, when Lady Hannelore chooses me as her fiancé instead of Rasantark, she could cite romantic feelings as her reason.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Luitpold had told me to set aside emotions when choosing as an archduke candidate—so how could he now say to use romantic feelings as a reason?

“I still do not even understand what romantic feelings are!? Shouldn’t it be enough if I simply list the qualities I desire in an archducal family member?!”

“Making that known openly to the nobility would be like publicly declaring that Rasantark lacks the necessary abilities. Regardless of the reality, citing romantic feelings as the reason smooths over many matters.”

…So that is how false notions of romantic feelings spread.

I begin to understand why, even during the period when Lady Rozemyne felt nothing for Lord Ferdinand, stories of romance seemed to take on a life of their own. It seems that, to smooth over various matters or to slip something hidden into the tale, someone’s behind-the-scenes influence was at work.

…And yet even Lady Rozemyne has come to recognize her own feelings of love

Recalling the events at the tea party, my thoughts naturally turned to her advice.

”…Come to think of it, when I asked about romantic feelings, I was told that, at the very least, a kiss would reveal whether we were compatible or not.”

Kenntrips drew in a sharp breath, staring at me as though he had just witnessed something unbelievable.

“Who—pray tell, who would speak such vulgar nonsense to you Lady Hannelore!?”

“That would be the Aub of Alexandria, Lady Rozemyne.”

“Lady Rozemyne!?”

Kenntrips’s shout sounded remarkably like the cries that had escaped us when we learned of Clarissa’s recklessness. Surely what would follow was a lecture of ‘Surely you do not intend to actually try it?’ I decided to get ahead of it and offer my excuse first.

“I only became curious because I heard a friend of the same age had already done it. I understand it is indecent. Please, do not tell Cordula—I am certain I will be scolded.”

“Not telling Cordula… Does that mean, deep down, you do wish to try it?”

Kenntrips fixed me with a serious gaze, and I quietly averted my eyes.

…No, that was not my intention—absolutely not.

“Kenntrips, um… I—”

“Everything has already been anticipated by Lady Rozemyne, so… I suppose I feel a bit vexed, or perhaps just utterly inadequate… To be honest, the negative influence on you, Lady Hannelore, is far too great, yet as an avatar of a goddess and the Aub of Alexandria, she cannot be stopped from interacting with you…”

Taken aback by the unexpected depth of his disheartened expression, I nervously stepped closer and peered at Kenntrips’s face.

“I never meant to make you feel disheartened, Kenntrips. Truly. I will be more careful from now on…”

“Then from now on, do not accept the mana of anyone other than me. Do you promise?”

“I understand. I promise.”

Because the conversation mirrored one we had in our childhood, I nodded and made the promise without much thought. Kenntrips responded with a smile that seemed to melt everything around it.

“I’m glad.”

“Eh!?”

…Being met with such a sudden, sweet smile was genuinely startling. My heart cannot handle this—please stop!

I had been the one leaning in to look at his face, so even though I wanted to protest, I couldn’t, and I found myself unable to continue the conversation with Kenntrips. Flustered, I shoved the magical eavesdropping-prevention device toward him and fled the area, saying, “I’ll go give my opinions on the attire.”

“Oh my, Lady Hannelore. What were you talking about with Lord Kenntrips?”

“Eh?”

I had rushed over to where the female attendants were gathered, and Andrea’s eyes went wide at the sight of me. Her voice drew everyone’s attention.

“Your face is completely red.”

“Before leaving the meeting room, please try to appear composed, Your Highness.”

Heilliese and Cordula’s comments made me instinctively cover my flushed cheeks with both hands.

”…I uh, perhaps I’ve caught a cold.”

“It doesn’t seem like a common cold…”

“I hope we figure out what this illness is quickly.”

Even though I claimed I wasn’t feeling well, my attendants weren’t particularly concerned. Instead, they prioritized settling the matter of the attire.

Then came the day of my classes, during which Professor Anastasius scolded me, saying, “Truly, the moment the two of you appear together, trouble is bound to follow.”

I observed the atmosphere and murmurs from the other duchies, all hoping that the Bride-Stealing Ditter would be called off soon. I also overheard the rumor that Lord Ortwin had apparently been invited to the tea room at the Erenfest.

Amid all this, the day of Earth arrived.