04x09 - Wilfried's Day as High Bishop

[bunniefuu]

Rosemyne finds a solution
to the problem in Hasse.

Then, one day...

I received permission quite easily.

Indeed. After all, you were practically

on the verge of collapsing
since the castle is so vast.

Rosemyne, is that you?

This voice...

What's this?

This is my highbeast.

A highbeast?!
Even I don't have one yet...

It's necessary for my
duties as a high bishop.

Father has given me permission
to use it within the castle.

Father again?

That's unfair!

Brother Wilfried, since you
insist that it's not fair,

why don't we swap places for a day
until the fourth bell tomorrow?

Huh? What do you mean?

I will attend your classes in your place,

while you work as the
high bishop in mine.

Oh! Rosemyne! That is a great idea!

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Episode 9
Wilfried's Day as High Bishop

Wow! So this is what it's
like outside of the castle!

She's able to come and go from
the castle as she pleases,

spending her days playing at the
cathedral instead of studying...

It's unfair that only Rosemyne
always gets to do this.

I'm going to spend the entire day today
as I please, just like Rosemyne!

Even if it's for just one night,

the idea of a young lady spending
the night in a young man's room...

I just wish to experience the daily
life of the children of an archduke.

You sent Young Master Wilfried to the
cathedral for something like that...

Knowing you, I'm sure you have
an ulterior motive in mind?

Eek. She totally saw through me!

Nothing of much consequence!

I've never eaten desserts
like this before!

As I thought, Rosemyne has it so good!

I assume that you have
already heard from Rosemyne

that Wilfried must do all the
duties of the high bishop today.

Be sure to serve him diligently.

Yes!

Now, come along.

Next, regarding the matters that will
carry over to the following month...

All of this has nothing to do with me.

Idiot.

Receiving the reports of everyone
regarding their respective posts

is the duty of the high bishop, Rosemyne.

Which means it is currently your duty!

Lamprecht.

Shut up, sit, and listen.

Why can't he stay still?

All he needs to do is listen.

I-I'll listen, so let go!

Do not waste my time any further
with meaningless things. You fool.

Damn you, Ferdinand!

And that is the end of my report.

It's finally over...

I still have a few matters to
discuss with the high priest.

Would you like to play some karuta
with the children while you wait?

What's karuta?

It is a type of game.

I'm good at games!

The Goddess of Earth, Geduldh...

Yes!

The God of Fire...

Yes!

The Goddess of Wind...

Yes!

This is a game you can only
play if you can read letters.

I'm surprised you can read them.

Since Lady Rosemyne created
karuta cards and picture books,

everyone can read at the orphanage.

All of you can read?!

Everyone except Dirk over there.

You're the high bishop,
but you can't even read?

A humiliating and crushing defeat.

This is all you amount to
when you go against children

that aren't told by their
parents to please you.

Lord Ferdinand! Your words are...

The truth. Let's face it.

The inspection of the workshop is next.

Damn you, Ferdinand!

This is the printing
workshop run by Rosemyne.

- Please move forward with that.

- About this...

- Understood.

- Let's confirm with Lutz.

Why are they the ones giving out orders

when there are a lot
of adults around them?

They are trusted aides that are
being cultivated by Rosemyne.

They receive direct instructions
from Rosemyne, manage the workshop,

and report back to her.

Some children?

They're both growing at a remarkable pace
to live up to Rosemyne's expectations.

Perhaps Rosemyne possesses a
talent for nurturing people.

This guy only ever has
mocking words for me...

Lutz. Gil.

We have just finished a new picture book.

We'd be honored if you accepted one as
a token of our friendship, Lord Wilfried.

Lady Rosemyne started this project
of making picture books herself.

Another thing that Rosemyne made?

It seems you work under Rosemyne.

Can you all read as well?

Of course. We can't get any
work done if we can't read.

I studied very hard!

Could it be that it was rude of
us to offer a book as a gift?

Of course, all succession
candidates preparing for their debut

are able to read.

A book as a gift is by no means improper.

Thank goodness.

Even commoners can read...

Lord Wilfried can't even write the
basic letters of the alphabet?!

Noble children should be far
past this point by now...

Perhaps he's so talented in mathematics
that he focuses on that instead?

No, he's not proficient in either...

Then, are you mainly focusing
on his harspiel lessons?

In winter, the newly-baptized
children make their debut

and it's customary for each
child to play the harspiel.

No, he has yet to learn
the music notes...

Not even music notes? Will he be okay?

Oswald! Moritz!

What on earth have the
two of you been doing?!

All of you, line up this moment!

Are you looking down on the
duties of an attendant?!

Do you have any intention of
properly raising Lord Wilfried?!

After that, Rihyarda
completely dominated them.

Actually, Lord Wilfried always runs
away when it's time to study...

If he runs off, then catch him!

Isn't that the very reason upper-class
nobles related to the archduke are

assigned to serve as head attendants
to succession candidates?!

Traditionally, the archduke's
successor is chosen

based on their mana capacity
and inherent aptitude.

That's why the retainers work
hard on their master's education,

all in hopes that their master
is chosen as the next successor.

However, my adoptive father hated the
succession struggle against his own sister

and designated Brother Wilfried
as his heir early on.

That's why no one ever truly scolds him.

I've previously brought up
the issue with the Aub...

However, he just tells me that he was
the same way when he was younger.

How could he be more mistaken?

Lord Karstedt and I always chased
after him with all our strength,

making him do his work,
even if he resisted...

And once Lord Ferdinand entered the
castle, he stopped running away.

He began to proactively put in effort.

He must have wanted to show off his
good side as an older brother.

I totally get that!

Lord Sylvester is likely underestimating
the seriousness of the current situation.

I shall go and arrange an
audience with him immediately!

What is this?

Memorizing prayers is another
job of the high bishop.

This content and amount is still
too much for Lord Wilfried...

I cannot read.

Then please have Lord
Lamprecht read them for you

and memorize the prayers
through repetition.

We will serve dinner after you finish.

What?!

No! I won't memorize something like this!

Lord Wilfried!

Fran, it seems Wilfried
has no need for dinner.

If he still hasn't memorized
the lines by the sixth bell,

begin dinner without him.

Otherwise, there won't be enough time
to distribute the divine blessings.

Understood.

His existence itself is offensive!
It's just as Grandmother says.

Even if I don't memorize these,

once the time comes and Ferdinand
is no longer here...

I'm sure everyone will listen to me.

It's time. I leave the rest to you.

Understood.

"We offer you this prayer
and their gratitude.

May you bless them with
your divine protection."

Stop, Lamprecht. It's time for dinner.

It smells delicious!

Lord Lamprecht, we have prepared
your dinner in a separate room.

Please eat with Lord Damuel first.

Y-Yes. I don't mind that, but...

Here, the master must
pass down their meal,

which is then distributed in turn
to the attendants and the children.

We ask for your understanding, so that
the hour does not grow too late.

Shouldn't my dinner be first?!

We have already informed
you that your dinner

will only be served after
you memorize the prayers.

Those are the orders of the high priest.

Wh-Who do you think is of a
higher rank, me or Ferdinand?!

The high priest, of course.

I am the legitimate son of the archduke!

I hold a higher rank than all of you!

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Sylvester, that one won't do.

Remove Wilfried from the list
of succession candidates.

What in the world are
you saying, Ferdinand?

At this rate, it's obvious that he will
fail miserably at the winter debut.

That would be far more pitiful.

Even you, Rihyarda?

If he fails the debut, his removal
from the succession is inevitable.

Cast him out of the castle before
any more time is wasted.

Wilfried is my son. How could
I cast him out of the castle?

I fully acknowledge you as the archduke.

That's why I believed you when you said
he would eventually become like you...

But I was mistaken.

What do you mean?

Wilfried cannot even listen
to others in silence,

nor does he make any attempt
at completing his assignments.

On the contrary, he uses his status
to evade his responsibilities.

Until now, I assumed he appeared lacking

only because he was being compared to
Rosemyne, but that wasn't the case.

That one is even inferior to
the children of the cathedral

and the commoner child of the workshop.

We cannot allow a fool that uses his
status to evade his responsibilities

to become the next archduke.

Wait, Ferdinand.

Things will improve soon enough.

When I was a child...

Lord Sylvester!

It's high time you face reality!

H-However...

The incompetent have no right to live.

A useless child of the lord cannot be
permitted to remain within the castle.

Unless they wish to be cast out,
they must produce tangible results.

Isn't that a bit harsh for a child who
just recently completed their baptism?

These are words your mother
repeatedly said to me

since I was brought into the castle
for my baptism at the age of seven.

Something like that happened?

Lord Sylvester.

Florencia...

Is this the result of taking
Wilfried's upbringing

away from my hands and
entrusting it to your mother?

Well, that's...

You've done something
irreparable to Wilfried.

I demand to have the rights of his
upbringing fully returned to my hands.

Rosemyne, you managed to teach
the children of the cathedral

to read and write in a
single winter, didn't you?

What would you do in this situation?

After that, we discussed what needed to
be done for Brother Wilfried's future.

It's pointless, no matter how
many attendants you replace

or how much you improve his environment.

Even Gil, who was once considered the
cathedral's number one troublemaker,

was able to change.

It's still too early to say.

I hate incompetent fools that
refuse to make any effort.

It makes me want to strike
terror into their hearts

and push them down into the
deepest valley of fear.

Then, is it enough as long as
he's willing to make the effort?

I assigned my brother the task
of memorizing a set of prayers.

That's impossible for him.

He'll definitely be able to do it.

I'm even willing to stake
my reading time on it.

You'd risk your reading time?

What's the basis of your confidence?

My attendants are exceptional!

I have received strict
orders from Lady Rosemyne.

That I am to ensure you memorize
these prayers without fail.

That I am not to coddle you simply
because you are the son of the archduke.

Is eating a meal considered coddling?

Allowing any attempt to evade your
tasks is considered coddling.

This is the cathedral.

And you are currently acting as the
high bishop in Lady Rosemyne's place.

Then, I should be the highest
ranking person here!

The current high bishop...

Lady Rosemyne strives
diligently every day as

the adopted daughter of the archduke,

memorizes all of the seasonal
prayers, manages her own workshop,

studies noble etiquette, assists
the high priest in his duties,

and receives the protection
of that high priest.

That is the life of the high bishop that
you will live for the day.

Shall I read them for you?

Are the attendants here
strict with Rosemyne, too?

Yes.

For every ceremony, a great
number of wooden tablets

would be piled up in addition
to the prayers themselves.

Read them for me.

If he's able to complete this task,

it'll prove that the issue lies in

his environment and he's
willing to make the effort.

Please acknowledge that and cooperate
in the plan for his education.

What do you intend to make me do?

I want you to engrave in
his heart and his mind

that he's on the edge

of a cliff and cannot succeed
his father as things are now.

Aren't you good at such things?

Why are you going to such lengths?

Leaving him like this would just
leave a bad taste in my mouth.

And... he'll finally be raised
by his own mother, right?

Wouldn't that be for the best?

You have put in a tremendous
amount of effort.

That was truly wonderful.

Let's work hard tomorrow, as well.

How many times do I need to tell
you to sit down and write?

What are you doing?!

I am the rightful heir of the archduke!

Your father may consider
you his successor...

Both my father and my
grandmother have said so!

Yet you have none of the mindset,
resolve, or diligence for it.

You are merely a foolish and selfish
child from the archduke's bloodline.

Lord Ferdinand, that should be enough...

You retainers are fools as well!

Lamprecht!

If you truly have your master's
best interests at heart,

you should make him study, even
if it means tying him to the chair!

Veronica is no longer here.

I would never pledge my fealty to
the likes of you as you are now.

If you insist on becoming
the next archduke like this,

I will crush you with all of my strength.

Mark my words!

And so, the swapping of our
lives came to a close.

In accordance with my current stance,

I demand either an improvement
in Wilfried's living environment

or his removal from the
candidates of succession.

Removal?!

Regarding this matter, let's decide after
seeing the results of the winter debut.

Before then, you must learn to write
the basic letters of the alphabet,

learn the numbers and simple
calculations with them,

as well as play one
piece on the harspiel.

If you can accomplish these tasks,
you'll remain in your position.

I understand.

Reading?!

Yes, I read books all
day in the library...

It was truly a blissful day.

Brother Wilfried, how about swapping
lives with me for another three days?

It's unfair that you get to
spend your days like that.

That's... I'm sorry...

I won't say it's unfair ever again!

Objective complete!

How satisfying!

Translation Angela Tamae Liu

Timing Edgar Cruz

Editing Tara Campbell

QC Alicia Ashby

FQC Michelle Tymon

Next Episode
First Material Gathering

- What in the world is
Lady Rosemyne planning?

- Behind the Scenes of
Wilfried's Day as High Bishop

- She definitely has
something up her sleeve.

Lady Rosemyne is really formidable
when she retaliates...

One thing's for sure, he won't dare
to cross her again, after this.

He's the guy who's always causing trouble
for Lady Rosemyne at the castle, right?

I hate the idea of our beloved Lady
Rosemyne going through such hardships!

Let's show him how amazing Lady Rosemyne
is and how hard she works every day!

Let's! Do! This!