04x12 - Fuyu no Shakôkai to Ohirome

[bunniefuu]

Rosemyne looks forward to the
completion of the printing press

as she welcomes her first
winter as a noble.

Here is the item you ordered.
Please take a look and confirm.

This is the hair ornament for my debut.

It is exactly as I ordered.

Would you put it in my hair?

Does it suit me?

Of course!

It suits you quite well.

Everything will be fine, as
long as I have this hairpin.

I'll pull off the debut
without a problem.

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Episode 12
The Winter Social Season and Debut

This year, once again, the
Goddess of Earth Geduldh

has been hidden by the
God of Life Ewigleben.

We must all pray for
the coming of spring.

Today is the beginning banquet.

Rosemyne.

Welcome the new children of Ehrenfest!

Let's go, Rosemyne.

We shall now begin the
Winter Baptism Ceremony.

This ceremony where seven-year-old
children are welcomed into nobility

is held according to the
season of their birth.

Philine, may you receive the blessing
of the Goddess of Earth Geduldh.

I am honored.

It's completely different from me...

No wonder everyone's been
fussing that I'm a saint.

Darn you, High Priest!

We shall now begin the winter debut.

All the children who had their baptism
ceremonies this year will go on stage.

Offer your prayers to the gods by
performing a musical offering.

Yes.

The offering of music proceeds
in the order of rank,

starting from those of lower status.

As each child took their turn, the
performances became increasingly skillful.

Wilfried.

Yes.

Strictly speaking, it
should be my turn next.

We are having you perform last in
order to formally notify any giebes

that may be unaware that you
have been adopted by the Aub.

Besides, placing you last ensures that
others do not pale in comparison to you.

Since the high priest said that, show him
what you're made of Brother Wilfried!

What I offer to you is my heart

- Truly impressive, Lord Wilfried...

- I offer this prayer and my gratitude

- Yes. It's deeply moving to see
how much he's improved, Oswald.

Rosemyne.

Yes.

As I have already informed you, I have
adopted Rosemyne as my daughter.

Rosemyne's compassion, giving work
to the children of the cathedral,

has in turn brought a new
industry upon Ehrenfest.

She is truly the Saint of Ehrenfest!

I'm sick of Project Saint already...

You'll do wonderful, Lady Rosemyne.

Now, offer your prayers to the gods
by performing a musical offering.

That's right.

Mother Elvira can no longer
stand in the family area...

What I offer to you is my heart

- This is the level of a student
from the Royal Academy!

- I offer this prayer and my gratitude

- Of course. She has been receiving
her education under Lord Ferdinand.

- You can do it, Rosemyne!

- May your holy protection
be bestowed upon us

- Huh?!

- Leidenschaft, O God of Fire,
akin to dazzling flame

- Wh-What the heck is going on?

- This is more spectacular
than the baptism ceremony.

- Was Rosemyne asked to
bestow a blessing again?

- Illuminate the path I walk

- Well, I haven't heard anything
about such a thing.

- This is going to ruin
Lord Wilfried's debut...

This reaction... Could it be
that I messed up my debut?

Blessings upon the Saint who
brings prosperity to Ehrenfest!

Blessings!

Blessings!

Wave. Smile.

I really didn't want to fuel the
legend of the saint any further...

Splendid! As expected
of my granddaughter!

Let Lady Rosemyne become the next Aub!

What was that blessing about?

I do not know. It happened on its own.

It didn't happen during practice.

Well, I didn't pray earnestly
during practice.

Excuse me.

Everyone in the great hall
is talking about the saint.

Rihyarda.

It is hardly the proper atmosphere
for the Gifting Ceremony,

so we have decided to have lunch first.

Young Master Ferdinand, please
go and change your clothes.

I leave the rest to you.

You did very well, Little Princess.

But...

As a noble, having a vast amount of
mana is something to be proud of.

You should not look so troubled.

You simply need to hold your
head high with confidence.

Yes.

Don't you think Father and Mother
have changed since Rosemyne arrived?

You think so?

Yes. Father stays at home more often now.

Father used to avoid coming home
because he hated being caught

in the middle of the squabbles
between his second and third wives.

Mother has always struggled
because of that.

That's why I was so worried
when she took Rosemyne in...

Mother is probably in a good mood because
Lord Ferdinand visits with Father.

Mother has quite a soft spot
for Lord Ferdinand, after all.

Yes. Although that's true as well...

I love the way Mother and Father are now.

Your performance was the best, Rosemyne.

Thank you kindly.

I have been able to reach this day safely
thanks to both Father and Mother.

What I mean is...

I am truly grateful for all the kindness
you've shown me, without exception.

I am grateful to Elvira for that as well.

Though she does lack a certain level
of fragility or feminine charm

that would make one want to protect her.

What are you saying?

Father, you are the commander
of the Knight's Order.

An unreliable woman like that would
never be suitable as your first wife.

You need someone who can
firmly protect the family

when you are away fulfilling
your duties in times of crisis.

I've never looked at it that way...

You were splendid, Rosemyne.

Thank you kindly.

Yes, you weren't bad.

I don't feel like I'm
being praised at all.

Was that a situation worthy of praise?

You should consider the headaches
you've caused me from

this unexpected turn of events.

We shall now begin the Gifting Ceremony.

And so, my debut came to a close.

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Lord Wilfried's debut was a success.
He managed to avoid being disinherited.

Yes.

Now, we need to continue following the
steps to make Lord Wilfried the next Aub.

However, the nobles of
the Leisegang Faction...

Let Lady Rosemyne become the next Aub!

I am overjoyed at the birth
of an archduke candidate

that carries the blood of Leisegang.

The entire clan must rally in support.

Lady Rosemyne has no
desire to become Aub!

That may be what Lady Elvira says,

but shouldn't we win over the
nobles of the Veronica Faction

for Lord Wilfried while we still can?

No, wait.

It's still unclear how the nobles
of the Veronica Faction will be treated.

We should be cautious.

I agree.

That matters most for Lord
Wilfried right now is securing

capable retainers and establishing
his leadership of the playroom.

After all, handling those tasks will
show his aptitude as the next Aub.

Retainers?

Yes, while the adults
engage in socializing,

the children will spend
their time in the playroom.

You must select and groom the retainers

you will be spending your time
with at the Royal Academy.

You are not expected
to decide immediately.

Please make your choice within the next
three years, before you enter the academy.

However,

serving as a retainer of an archduke
candidate is a shortcut to advancement,

so parents will often scheme to place
their children in those positions.

Never forget that there are parents
standing behind all of those children.

I understand.

Also,

I hear that a relative of Rosemary

has been claiming that
Lady Rosemyne is his niece.

We do not know how he may approach
you, so please be careful.

Yes...

Little Princess, right this way.

It is a pleasure to meet you.

I am Hartmut, son of Leberecht.

Lady Rosemyne, please allow
me to pray for a blessing

upon this precious meeting guided
by the God of Life Ewigleben.

You may.

O, God of Life Ewigleben, may you bestow
a blessing upon this new meeting.

It is nice to meet you.

I exchanged greetings with
a total of eighty children.

- Have you already decided whether you
will become a scholar or a knight?

- If you're aiming to become a scholar, the
magic circle lectures are mandatory.

- Professor Rauffen took an interest
in you? That's rough...

- Damuel, what made you decide
to become a knight?

My older brother is a scholar,

so I thought
I would be of more use as a knight.

What about you, Brigitte?

My family home of Illgner has
many mountains and forests

that are teeming with small feybeasts.

My family would be happier if I mastered
the skills to subjugate them.

I see.

Brother Cornelius...

What about you, Cornelius?

Since my father and older
brothers are knights,

the idea of becoming an attendant or
scholar never even crossed my mind.

What about you, Angelica?

I didn't want to study.

Huh?

Becoming a knight was the best way to
avoid as much studying as possible.

I-I see...

You really can't judge
a book by its cover.

I wish to become a scholar and
become the castle librarian.

Lady Rosemyne, you must follow
the archduke candidate course.

I'm an adopted daughter, so
I won't become the archduke.

All children of the archduke are
considered archduke candidates.

Huh?

Does that mean I can't
become a librarian?!

Lady Rosemyne!

Stay with us!

Rosemyne!

Lord Ferdinand had already
warned me once before,

yet I've let her collapse once again.

Perhaps I really should step
down as her guard knight...

You think so? Wasn't what happened
today pretty much an accident?

If you quit over something like that,

it would mean Damuel and the others are
also unfit to be her guard knights.

That may be true, but...

Unlike the others, I have no specific
reason for serving Rosemyne.

Brother Lamprecht, why did you choose
to continue serving Lord Wilfried?

You could have walked
away from the position.

I didn't think I could serve
another satisfactorily if I left

without properly fulfilling my duties
as Lord Wilfried's retainer.

I want to grow alongside him.

However, there is no clear-cut
answer to this kind of thing.

You can only find the answer yourself.

You're quite different
from Brother Eckhard.

He's an exception. He can't
be used as a reference.

I assumed choosing a liege required
that level of determination...

I feel a little better now.

I think I'll take some more time to
think about it and find my own reasons.

By the way, Cornelius.

Do you have any thoughts
about Rosemyne's retainers?

I haven't really thought about it.

Since she won't become the next Aub and
she regularly frequents the cathedral,

I imagine it would
be difficult to find people

unless they are utterly devoted to her

or have some special circumstances.

I see...

More than half of the children left for
the Royal Academy while I was asleep.

We will be spending the winter
with this group from now on.

I anticipate this time with you.

That's the spirit, Lord Wilfried.

To help us all get along, we've
brought a game called karuta.

Let's all play together.

There's no point if everyone lets us win.

We have no need for retainers
that curry favor.

So, I will give out sweets
as a reward to the winners.

Sweets?

We get to eat some if we win?

The God of Darkness lived alone in
solitude for an unimaginably long time.

But then, he met the Goddess
of Light and night fell...

I've never seen such a
disciplined playroom before.

It's impressive.

It's on a whole different level...

Lady Rosemyne, I-I also wish
to make picture books!

Do you have any stories you'd
like to tell, Philine?

I would like to turn the
stories my mother told me

before she climbed the stairway to
distant skies into picture books.

Then, will you tell me
those stories next time?

I shall write them down.

Yes!

And then, on the day of a tea
party held by Mother's faction...

Lady Rosemyne!

Who's that?

I thought so ever since I saw
you during your debut...

You bear a striking resemblance
to my younger sister, Rosemary.

Oh, he's the relative claiming
a connection to me.

Withdraw at once, you insolent man!

I am Lady Rosemyne's
uncle, Giebe Joisontak!

I was taught not to speak
to nobles I don't know.

Oh! Lady Rosemyne!

After finishing the accounting report
regarding the harspiel concert...

Lady Rosemyne, do you have any
plans to hold another concert?

I'm thinking of buying a portrait
of Lord Ferdinand next time.

When will they be on sale?

Unfortunately, Lord Ferdinand
discovered the portraits

and forbade me from
selling them ever again.

No way...

In exchange...

Take this and fold here.

Then, you take this...

Please take a look!

Oh, my!

What must we do?

Please teach us!

Please make sure to keep this a secret.

If word was to get out,

I am sure he will never grant me
permission to print anything ever again.

Translation Angela Tamae Liu

Timing Edgar Cruz

Editing Tara Campbell

QC Alicia Ashby

FQC Michelle Tymon

Next Episode
Winter Material Gathering

High Priest! I really can't
become a librarian?!

No, it's possible if you
take the scholar courses

along with the archduke
candidate courses.

Is that even possible?

Yes.

In fact, I took the archduke candidate,
scholar, and knight courses myself.

That's impossible for me.
I'm just an ordinary person.

An ordinary person cannot
become a librarian.

You should give up if you aren't
willing to put in the effort.

No!

I'll stop being ordinary and aim to
become an eccentric weirdo instead!

Are you not already one?