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Brunhilde had become the Second Wife of Aub Ehrenfest, but one could hardly call her relationship with Sylvester "good."
"I just want to get it over with quickly."
Brunhilde was in her room, grumbling to Muriella, her former colleague whom she had invited over. She was complaining about her nights in the bedroom with Sylvester.
"You really shouldn't say such things, Lady Brunhilde."
Muriella admonished Brunhilde, telling her it was unseemly. When they were both retainers for Rozemyne, they spoke casually, but now that Brunhilde was the Second Wife, that was no longer possible.
"I just can't stand it. When he laughs, his face overlaps with Lord Wilfried's."
Sylvester’s smile reminded her of the countless acts of disrespect and incompetence she had suffered from Wilfried during their time at the Royal Academy.
"Even so, as the Second Wife, you have no choice but to suppress your feelings."
"I know that. That is why I am venting to you like this."
Muriella sensed that Brunhilde was under a considerable amount of stress. However, seeing that even the perfect Brunhilde had a side of her that couldn't suppress her emotions made Muriella feel a sense of kinship.
"But... it seems the Aub visits you whenever he has free time..."
"Yes. He comes to visit me night after night, only to engage in pointless chatter."
"Chatter... you say?"
"Yes. He asks about how I am doing, or digs into stories from my time at the Royal Academy... thoroughly. Surely, someone like Lord Sylvester, who employs excellent scholars, could easily obtain information about me without asking."
Brunhilde sighed as she sipped her tea. In contrast to Brunhilde's uninterested reaction, Muriella’s eyes went wide.
Sylvester wanted to hear about Brunhilde directly from Brunhilde herself.
That was different from how Muriella understood Second Wives were usually treated.
And then, a feeling welled up inside Muriella.
(Way to go! Aub Ehrenfest!)
That night, Brunhilde was having trouble falling asleep.
She remembered the book Muriella had given her during the day. She took the book from her desk, having received it from her night guard.
Reading in bed made Brunhilde think of Rozemyne, filling her with nostalgia.
The book was a story about a noble daughter and a knight. On her way to the castle, the girl is attacked by bandits, only to be saved by a passing knight. The ending reveals that the knight is actually the prince of the country, and the two live happily ever after.
"Ridiculous."
Heading to the castle implied she was a laynoble, or a mednoble at best. Guard knights weak enough to lose to bandits. Furthermore, a prince who is supposed to inherit the country traveling around without studying? It seemed to her he lacked any self-awareness of his burden to the state.
"It is impossible."
She muttered this, but she knew that most noblewomen could not choose their own partners. Brunhilde herself was in a political marriage. Thinking about that, she could understand the feelings of women who sought salvation in stories like this.
I am also a bird in a cage.
With that empty feeling in her heart, Brunhilde eventually drifted off to sleep.
She was woken in the morning by her attendants. Because she had been reading last night, she felt sleep-deprived.
Just as she finished changing, her attendant informed her that Sylvester had arrived.
The thought of having to face Sylvester first thing in the morning made Brunhilde feel gloomy, but she was accustomed to switching gears and not letting such emotions show on her face.
The retainers were dismissed from the room, and Sylvester entered.
"Brunhilde. We are going to the lower city."
Brunhilde didn't understand the meaning of his words and asked him to repeat himself.
"To the lower city?"
"Yeah, that's right. We're going to sneak out of the castle and head downtown. Get on my high beast."
Before she could even resist, Brunhilde was placed on Sylvester's high beast and they flew off from the balcony.
"If you sneak out of the castle like this, imagine what the retainers will say later..."
"It doesn't matter. If I say it's for the sake of making the meeting request from Aub Alexandria a success, they won't say a word."
"If it is about that matter, aren't preparations proceeding without issue?"
"Don't be stupid. Do you think that thing wants a normal meeting? She is asking to be entertained as Aub Alexandria, you know? As a former retainer, surely you understand how unique a meeting that satisfies her would be? One of the examples she gave was a tea party with Rihyarda."
"I suppose she feels like she is returning to her parents' home to play and wants to be hosted accordingly. I can easily imagine her making a disgusted face if we show any signs of clumsy negotiation or trying to extract information."
"Also, it seems Ferdinand wants to use this to teach her how to behave as the Aub of a greater duchy. Ferdinand thinks that since Ehrenfest is Rozemyne's hometown, even if she makes mistakes or causes problems, we can manage it somehow."
"Are we being used as practice dummies...?"
"Well, practically speaking, there is that much of a gap between Ehrenfest and Alexandria. That said, in order to have Rozemyne leave in a good mood after the meeting, wouldn't it be best to inform her about the current situation of the commoners in the lower city she was connected to?"
"I see! That is a wonderful idea. Actually, I am surprised you came up with it! Ordinary nobles would never think to want information about commoners."
"Right? But I only thought of it last night. I rushed to arrange the urgent matters for the lower city, but there are likely many things missing. If you notice anything while we're there, I want you to tell me."
"Understood. However, going to the lower city without guards is..."
Sylvester summoned his schtappe and chanted, "Lanze."
"Are you dissatisfied with me as your guard knight?"
Sylvester, hoisting the spear, overlapped with the knight she had read about in the book last night. Brunhilde felt her cheeks heat up.
"I-If you are as strong as Lord Ferdinand, then I am relieved!"
Brunhilde blurted out something nonsensical in the spur of the moment.
"Good grief. Don't say stupid things. That guy has the skill to go toe-to-toe with Dunkelfelger knights. I'd be in trouble if you compared me to him... Don't tell me, are you pining for Ferdinand too, just like Rozemyne...?"
"That is impossible."
The heat in Brunhilde's cheeks vanished instantly.
"I would like to decline anyone so calculating, whose true thoughts are completely indecipherable. But, isn't there a possibility he might take a second wife?"
"Ferdinand? That's impossible, right? He's a man who lives for Rozemyne."
"He would take a second wife for Rozemyne. If it were a woman capable of bringing down the gods, the chance isn't zero. And he would promise that second wife a life of no discomfort, and he surely wouldn't lay a hand on her so that no affection develops."
"Isn't that practically keeping her as a prisoner?"
"Yes, it is. I believe he would utilize her as a substitute in case Rozemyne has to bring down the gods. He would keep his involvement with the second wife to a minimum so that he could cut her off without hesitation when the time came. If it is Lord Ferdinand, that is."
"...He is my younger brother, you know. Don't go that far. Though, your resolution of Ferdinand's character is so high I can't even deny it, which makes me feel sorry as a brother."
"You are going to pretend to be a commoner in the lower city, are you not? Right now, I am the commoner Brunhilde. Please accept this as the ramblings of a commoner."
"Heh... Don't make me laugh. A commoner saying that would be even more of a problem. But you make jokes like that, huh? I definitely prefer the you right now over the you in the castle."
"Hah? What are you say..."
"Brunhilde! We're going down to the temple. We'll change into commoner clothes at the temple, then head to the lower city."
At the temple, commoner clothes prepared by Melchior and his retainers were waiting.
The two quickly changed into the clothes and boarded a carriage.
"This is rather rushed, isn't it?"
"I told you, didn't I? I thought of it last night. Anyway, there's no time. Brunhilde, put this on."
What Sylvester handed her was a simple bracelet.
"Apparently, if you wear that, your hair and eye color will change. It's a magic tool Ferdinand invented. I bet Ferdinand and Rozemyne disguise themselves like this to go out into the lower city of Alexandria."
Brunhilde immediately put on the bracelet. Her hair color began to change.
"It really changed. Lord Sylvester."
Brunhilde had become completely engrossed in this incognito outing.
"You put it on without hesitation. I thought you'd be a little wary. Also, call me Jill in the lower city."
"Now that you mention it, that is true. I trust that you are not a person who would hand me something to harm me... Would 'Hilde' be appropriate for me?"
"Hmph, what is this? You're really different today. It looks like coming here with you is going to be more fun than coming alone."
"Do you go to the lower city often? The Aub? Alone? What are you thinking?! Do you have any self-awareness as the Aub!?"
"Good grief, leave that for later. Karstedt's nagging is enough. More importantly, it's Melchior. He's billing me, his father, for the commoner clothes and the carriage to the lower city. He's becoming so much like Rozemyne, I can't win."
"Oh? Is that so? Isn't that a legitimate demand? If Lord Melchior thought of it, good; if his retainers advised him, it means he has excellent retainers attached to him. Either way, isn't it something to be happy about?"
"Good grief. Spoken like a true former retainer of Rozemyne."
Brunhilde was beginning to enjoy the conversation with Sylvester in the carriage heading downtown.
In the castle, she had to behave as the Aub's Second Wife, but now it was different. That seemed to be liberating Brunhilde.
"If I knew my hair color would change, I would have chosen a hairstyle that suited the color better..."
"No, you're plenty cute as you are."
"Wh-What are you saying?! Saying such things right to my face..."
"I just voiced what I thought?"
Looking at Sylvester's smile, Brunhilde no longer saw any traces of Wilfried.
Sylvester was also enjoying the fact that his conversation with Brunhilde, which had been mostly one-sided until now, was flowing so well.
Their time talking passed in the blink of an eye, and the carriage carrying the commoners Jill and Hilde stopped.
"Is this... the Italian Restaurant?"
"Yeah. That's right. You came here with Rozemyne before too, right?"
Brunhilde's heart raced at visiting the Italian Restaurant after so long.
She recalled the events of the time Rozemyne used it for Ferdinand's farewell party.
"Welcome. We are delighted to have you. Please, right this way."
The two were guided by an employee to a private room in the back. Brunhilde remembered that this was the female employee she had seen at the farewell party.
"Sorry for the sudden visit today. I wish I could have told you a little earlier."
"Not at all. You are special customers. Besides, we have received payment with a surplus included from the High Bishop, Lord Melchior."
"That Melchior... he plans to bill me for all that surplus too."
"Fufu. I suppose he does."
Brunhilde laughed at Sylvester, who was making a sour face.
Two servers were waiting in the private room. They were attendants prepared by Melchior who were accustomed to dealing with nobles.
Once Sylvester and Brunhilde took their seats, the food was brought out.
The female employee explained the appetizer.
"This is carpaccio of zill and prosciutto."
The presentation was slightly different, but Brunhilde immediately realized it was the menu from Ferdinand's farewell party.
She combined the prosciutto and zill, dipped it in the sauce, and carried it to her mouth.
She felt it tasted even better than it had at the farewell party.
"It's been a while, but it's still delicious."
"I believe this is the same dish Lord Rozemyne ate at Lord Ferdinand's farewell party before."
"You guys did something like that?"
"Yes. Lady Rozemyne's retainers all adored her, so we were all very close."
"Well, that thing was exceptionally distinct. And now she possesses the Grutrissheit. She has the qualifications not just for an Aub, but for a Zent. It's natural she would be adored."
"That said, if asked whether Lady Rozemyne had any desire for promotion, I could only deny it. And she never did the kind of socializing her retainers wished for."
"That sounds about right. She lives freely. You could say she's only managing to be a proper Aub because Ferdinand is by her side, right?"
"...I suppose so. All the retainers, including the former ones, are grateful that Lord Ferdinand got together with her."
As the conversation with Sylvester bounced along, they finished the appetizer. The dishes continued.
"This is consommé soup."
What was brought out was the consommé soup that Ferdinand had favored. Brunhilde was now convinced that this course menu was indeed the items served at Ferdinand's farewell party.
"They are recreating the meal with Lady Rozemyne. It is a very happy consideration. You are the employee from that time, aren't you? May I ask your name?"
"Thank you. Yes. I was indebted to Lady Rozemyne. My name is Frieda."
Brunhilde murmured 'Frieda,' then took several sheets of paper and a pen from her bag.
"I will have an opportunity to meet Lady Rozemyne soon. It is impossible for you to meet Lady Rozemyne, but if there is anything you wish to convey, please write it on this paper. I will give it to her when I meet her."
Frieda's face turned to one of surprise.
"But, if a letter written by someone of our status contained any rudeness, imagine the trouble it would cause Lady Rozemyne..."
Brunhilde smiled gently at Frieda.
"Oh my. Was Lady Rozemyne the kind of noblewoman you are describing? If it is the Lady Rozemyne I know, I think she would be delighted to receive a letter. Including any typos, omissions, or commoner phrasing."
Hearing Brunhilde's words, Frieda's eyes sparkled as she accepted the paper.
"If possible, could you also get words from any of Lady Rozemyne's associates that you know?"
"Brunhilde, who is going to receive these written letters?"
Brunhilde turned a surprised expression toward Sylvester.
"Oh? Please bring me here again soon. That would solve the problem, wouldn't it? Besides, isn't 'Jill' my guard knight?"
"...Good grief. Don't use me as a guard knight just because it's convenient. We'll come back in 10 days. Can we make a reservation?"
"Certainly."
Bowing deeply, Frieda walked away looking happy.
"A letter from a commoner to Rozemyne, huh? You came up with a good thing."
"Yes. An ordinary noble would never think of a letter from a commoner. These are the kinds of gifts Lady Rozemyne rejoices in. I can simply censor the letters myself; I wouldn't want a scholar who doesn't know the circumstances to read them."
"As expected of a former retainer of Rozemyne. Besides, I am also happy to be able to come to this store with you again."
"W-Well, the food at this store is delicious. And more importantly, I must receive the letters! It is part of my work!"
Brunhilde felt her chest heat up every time Sylvester spoke so straightforwardly.
Each time, she was flustered by her inability to maintain a noble composure.
"This is the lasagna."
The heat peculiar to a freshly made dish radiated from the lasagna the server portioned out.
"Lord Sylvester, it is hot, so please be careful. There was a retainer who burned their tongue before."
"Only someone gluttonous would do that. Should I let it cool a little first?"
"You just need to eat it little by little. Look, like this."
"Good grief. Don't treat me like a child."
"Fufu. It is just that you are decidedly easier to talk to than Lord Ferdinand, so I got carried away."
"Don't compare me to him... Hot!"
"That is why I told you to be careful."
Their enjoyable time passed by. Then, the main dish, veal cutlet, was brought out.
"You aren't going to use the sauce? Is just the ziine enough for you?"
"Yes. I prefer eating it with ziine. Lord Ferdinand also ate it with ziine, but you use sauce, Lord Sylvester."
"Preferences vary even among brothers. You remember Ferdinand's eating habits well. Are you sure you aren't pining for..."
"That is impossible! Lady Rozemyne also ate it with ziine, and remembering such things is part of an attendant's job!"
"Kukuh, you really are cute when you get defensive."
"Hah? What is that supposed to mean!"
"Quiet down a little. You're cute, so what's wrong with saying you're cute?"
Brunhilde was aware her cheeks were turning red. She wasn't used to being praised or having affection directed at her like this.
Between the delicious food and the constant compliments on her appearance and gestures, she felt like she was going going crazy.
"This is today's dessert, waffles. Please enjoy them with this maple syrup."
She had expected a mont blanc using tanye cream, but it was different.
"This 'maple syrup'..."
"Ah. It's a sweetener that they started harvesting in Haldenzel during the winter. This shop has a special arrangement to buy it."
"Oh my! It is my first time tasting it!"
"Rozemyne taught them how to harvest it, so you could call it a parting gift. Giebe Haldenzel is very grateful to Rozemyne for the printing industry and for reviving the Spring Summoning ritual. He's a pro-Rozemyne Giebe. He's even suggesting offering Blenrus fruit this time."
"Lady Rozemyne is the daughter of his full sister, after all. Speaking of pro-Rozemyne Giebes, Giebe Ilkner is one too."
"Yeah. The printing industry is doing great. He's a Giebe who has come to hold significant power within Ehrenfest due to Rozemyne's involvement. I intend to do what needs to be done, but there will be times when I have to suppress them."
"Fufu. At that time, I will also lend my efforts. Please leave it to me."
"I'm counting on you. This waffle pastry... it's quite good. The maple syrup is just right."
"Yes. Thinking that I can eat this again in 10 days makes me look forward to it already."
After finishing the meal, the two decided to stroll through the lower city. They thought the information Rozemyne wanted was the current state of the downtown area.
"From here on, we are the commoners Jill and Hilde. Watch your language."
"Yes. That is true... Right, Jill."
"Good grief. Are you okay? Hmm? What are you doing?"
Brunhilde had held out her hand for an escort.
"That's a noble escort, right? Commoners do this."
Sylvester linked arms with Brunhilde and pulled her body close.
"Eh? Wait, we are going to be this close!?"
"Look at the young people around us. This is normal."
"I-I suppose so. Understood. I will endure it."
"What do you mean 'endure.' Let's go."
As they walked through the lower city, they spotted goods that appeared to be imported from Alexandria.
Alexandria was developing at an astonishing speed thanks to Rozemyne.
They were easily made to understand that.
"This place... is where the dyeing competition to decide Lady Rozemyne's exclusive, 'Renaissance,' was held."
"Oh? Knowing Rozemyne, she did something crazy, didn't she?"
"Yes. Lady Aurelia, who had just married in from Ahrensbach, was with us. The conversation turned to making a veil for Lady Aurelia."
"Don't tell me Rozemyne said she would gift a veil to Aurelia?"
"That is exactly what happened. All of us retainers were surprised. Normally, her husband, Lord Lamprecht, would be the one to gift it."
"Well, she would do that. Rozemyne has no common sense regarding those things."
"After that, Lady Aurelia was worried about her sharp facial features, and do you know what Lady Rozemyne said? She told her that since the veil hides her face, she didn't need to worry about it."
"Kukuh, that's just like Rozemyne!"
"We all tried to suppress our laughter, but it was truly a very Rozemyne event."
While walking through the lower city, Brunhilde told Sylvester stories she remembered.
Sylvester listened to them happily.
Before she knew it, Brunhilde had forgotten about gathering information for Rozemyne and was simply enjoying talking with Sylvester.
"What is it? Do you want that?"
What had caught Brunhilde's eye was a silver accessory.
"No. Not particularly..."
"A set of two matching accessories, huh? Why not. Buying it to commemorate our outing like this will make a good memory."
"...Thank you very much."
As the sun began to set, the two left the lower city.
On the way back, Sylvester once again put Brunhilde on his high beast.
The distance between Brunhilde and Sylvester on the high beast was far closer than it had been on the way there.
"Lord Sylvester, today was truly fun. Thank you very much."
"I didn't think you'd be this happy."
"...Do you also go to the lower city like this with Lady Florencia?"
"Why would I go to the lower city with her? She was an archduke candidate of a greater duchy."
"That... is true."
Brunhilde felt the massive difference in status she had with the First Wife from birth.
She had never even thought about such a thing before.
Brunhilde did not realize that what she was feeling was jealousy.
"I've been going to the lower city in disguise for a while now. But, I am happy to be able to go to the lower city with you like this."
"Fufu. Me too. Next is in 10 days, right?"
"Karstedt is definitely going to yell at me, so I'm counting on you to put in a good word."
"Oh, it cannot be helped. Let's make our excuse using Lady Rozemyne's visit as the primary reason, just as originally planned."
"Reassuring. Rozemyne is Karstedt's daughter, after all. Poking at that point will be effective."
"You have quite the wicked look on your face, Lord Sylvester."
"So do you."
Saying that, Sylvester and Brunhilde looked at each other and laughed.
"I married you, Lord Sylvester, in a way that was halfway to a forced political marriage. Since none of my friends of the same generation married with such an age gap, in truth, I regretted it."
"...Well, I suppose you would."
"But now, I am glad I married you, Lord Sylvester. I thought a Second Wife would be treated with more neglect."
"When I proposed to you, I sent you words appropriate to that effect, didn't I?"
"Fufu. Thinking about it now, yes. I feel like I can believe those words now."
"Good grief. You didn't believe them?"
"Yes. We are nobles. There is no way I would take them at face value, is there?"
"Rozemyne cried at Ferdinand's straightforward words, you know?"
"Fufu. Those two are special. Lady Rozemyne and Lord Ferdinand, as well as Lord Eckhart and Angelica, are couples with large age gaps too. Come to think of it, I had forgotten there were people with age gaps close to me."
"Heh, that's right. We're almost at the castle."
I want to stay together just a little longer. The selfish whisper Brunhilde uttered while clutching the silver accessory was drowned out by the wind.
"Lady Brunhilde, you seem to be talking quite happily with Lord Sylvester lately."
Muriella's sudden words flustered Brunhilde. She intended not to let it show on her face, but she had been easily seen through.
"Is it not natural to behave harmoniously as the Second Wife?"
"Before, you were saying you wanted him to finish the bedroom affairs quickly."
"I-I would never say such an unseemly thing!"
No, she had definitely said it. But because her feelings for Sylvester had changed, she regretted her past remarks.
What embarrassing things she had said. She sighed.
"I feel the distance between you two has shrunk, especially since your outing the other day."
"...You can tell after all?"
"Yes. Because your expression is completely different before and after, Lady Brunhilde. May I ask what happened between the two of you?"
Brunhilde was not yet certain if her feelings for Sylvester were love.
And she wanted to consult someone about what had happened with Sylvester, what they did, and what she thought.
In truth, she was dying to talk about it.
For that purpose, Muriella, who loved romance stories, was the ideal partner.
"Well then, it starts from where I was put on the high beast with Lord Sylvester. That was..."
Muriella wrote down the story Brunhilde told in detail, occasionally interjecting questions and listening seriously.
Muriella's heart raced at this real-life romance story.
The story of Brunhilde and Sylvester would later become the prototype for a romance novel Muriella would write.
This story, featuring the Second Wife of the middle duchy Ehrenfest as the protagonist, depicted family problems likely to exist in any duchy and overly realistic human relationships. Within that, readers flocked to the moving process of the Second Wife, who was in a political marriage, finding happiness.
The fact that the story's title was the avant-garde "Way to Go! Aub Ehrenfest" was a factor in its popularity among young noblewomen.
It is said that when Brunhilde found out she was the protagonist of this story, she hung Muriella out to dry...