Chapter 3: The Succession Ceremony

…It’s morning.

Although the scenery outside is always an unchanging white landscape, the sunlight reflected in the sky has always been quite honest.

While the chandelier illuminates the room to some extent, ultimately, the greatest light source in this era is still the sun.

Therefore, what always informs me that I’ve reached the time called morning isn’t a servant or an alarm, but the light emanating from the sun.

Using the mysterious power of magic might make it possible to set an alarm for a desired time, but that’s a more expensive endeavor than one might think.

Even though Grand Duke Weiss is dead, the desire to spend money lavishly just because the person I needed to be wary of is gone isn’t part of my mindset.

From my standpoint of not particularly wanting to buy or possess anything, all I needed was a single space where I could waste time.

Given that the room the Grand Duke gifted me is quite spacious, and although somewhat cold, still cozy, all my desires have already been fulfilled.

I always wake up earlier than the time the servant knocks on the door.

Therefore, even though it’s morning, there was still plenty of time left to burn meaninglessly.

Knock, knock—

Of course, that’s only in typical cases.

“…Come in.”

Today was a slightly special case.

About a month after the funeral ended.

Because today was the day of the Sword Seat Succession Ceremony, the one the Cardinal asked me to take the role of transferor for, rambling on with all sorts of useless words.

“…You were awake. Today’s schedule is—”

“I’m well aware, so there’s no need to elaborate. Is the ceremonial attire prepared properly?”

My mind hasn’t changed at all.

Whatever it is, it’s all just a bothersome procedure, so I only wish to finish it quickly and return here.

“………Yes, it has been prepared without issue. Then, I will assist you with adorning yourself according to the arranged order.”

Cutting off the servant who seemed intent on dragging things out unnecessarily, I grab the cane resting in a corner of the room and follow her guidance.

Perhaps because I swung it around a lot last night, the handle felt a bit smooth, but since I didn’t have a spare cane, there was nothing to be done.

Arriving at the guided location, I remove my clothes and immerse myself in a bathtub filled with fragrant oils.

After this step comes adornment, and after adornment, makeup, I suppose.

It’s something I go through every time, but there’s truly no procedure quite like it.

Complicated, cumbersome embellishments.

I’ve had a few similar experiences in the past, in my previous life, but it’s not something one gets used to.

From my perspective of detesting troublesome and time-consuming tasks, there’s nothing I dislike more than decorating my body, but nonetheless, I have no choice but to entrust my body to the servant.

Throwing a tantrum and making a scene about not wanting to be adorned falls into the much more diligent category, so wouldn’t choosing the less bothersome option be best?

…Thinking about it, that method might actually work, because the base material, that is, Eleonora Weiss’s body, possesses such outstanding beauty that it makes one wonder if adornment is even necessary.

It’s a beauty stunning enough that in my past life, she could have likely garnered considerable popularity as a celebrity or an influencer.

Using the expression ‘beauty that could overthrow nations’ wouldn’t be an exaggeration, and my personal feeling is that even if she had an enemy, she might be able to make even that enemy fall in love with her.

The dark circles from lack of sleep might be a flaw to some, but seeing how even those are sublimated into a decadent image, it makes one wonder if there’s any image that wouldn’t suit her;

she’s somebody that barely needs adornment.

…Of course, stubbornly trying to persuade the servants using such reasoning felt rather obnoxious and troublesome, so I merely kept such grounds to myself.

Therefore, always like a doll, quietly gazing into the void and silently entrusting my body to the servant’s hands was my only option.

“…It is done.”

As I was burning time lost in deep thought, I heard the servant’s voice as she seemed to finish the adornment and removed her hands from my body.

Looking into the mirror before me, an appearance that certainly shows some level of adornment meets my eyes.

Since it wasn’t a joyous occasion, the attire was neat, styled without separate accessories, so it seemed to take less time than usual.

Perhaps because she received a slight rebuke from me earlier, or perhaps because she felt guilty about something herself, the servant who listened to me bowed her head slightly and quietly stepped back.

However, from my perspective of having no intention to reprimand her for the latter reason, it didn’t matter for now.

Actually, excluding a few, quite a lot of people had received my ‘forgiveness’.

The comedy was that none of them came to apologize.

After getting up, drinking the medicine I always took, and grabbing my cane, my brother was standing there.

Perhaps his preparations finished faster than mine; unlike usual, my brother, dressed quite splendidly, could be seen awkwardly adjusting his clothes.

What meaning could there possibly be in this waiting, that he waits for me even on a day like this?

At this point, even my indolent self was starting to feel a growing curiosity.

“…Little brother.”

“Yes. Sister.”

“I’m saying this just in case, but after today, you shouldn’t wait like this anymore.”

Before the succession ceremony, it didn’t particularly matter, but now that he will become the Grand Duke, it’s generally not good form for him to personally step forward like this.

It doesn’t matter to me as I’m used to it now, but from others’ perspectives, it’s a situation where he could unnecessarily gain a bad image.

If that happens, that still naive kid will likely struggle to maintain his position.

Since the ensuing result would also create work for me, it was better to take this one step now for the sake of future indolence.

“…I know. From next time, I will have a servant do it.”

For once, he yields his stubbornness.

Has he matured somewhat now that his position is changing?

That’s fortunate.

If he had refused, I would have had to go through the trouble of explaining the reasons I thought of above, word by word.

I brushed my brother’s shoulder once and readjusted my grip on the cane.

“Then that’s a relief. Well, let’s go.”

Together with my brother, who matches his pace to mine, I walk towards a location not far from the mansion.

The place where the future of the duchy is discussed based on its present would today become the place where the past is handed over to the present.

I was about to walk silently as usual, but considering the occasion, for the sake of maintaining a suitable sisterly image, I decided to initiate conversation today.

“Are you nervous?”

“…Yes.”

The kid’s eyes widened for a moment, then after a brief hesitation, he answered my question.

“That’s rather surprising. A kid who trains so ferociously with a real sword gets nervous about merely picking up a sword.”

The procedure for the succession ceremony is simple.

In truth, it was just a matter of raising the sword.

Since the choice was ultimately the sword’s job anyway.

The holy sword of the Weiss family, bearing the moniker Sword Seat (Geomjwa), Batory.

When the transferor, meaning the current head of the Weiss family (or designated proxy), drops their blood onto the sword, the sword itself moves directly towards the one who will become its next master.

Batory’s criterion for choosing the next master is, naturally, suitability for the position of the next Grand Duke Weiss.

Since wise individuals with outstanding swordsmanship were typically chosen as its master, all successive Grand Dukes Weiss have held high positions through both martial prowess and intellect.

Because this had continued for many long years, the duchy was always stable, and it was the reason heirs could raise the sword that came before them without doubt.

“…To call it just a sword, isn’t its qualification quite heavy? And even if training is done with a real sword, it’s carried out based on the trust that the opponent will appropriately control the danger.”

A long answer comes from my sullen brother’s mouth for the first time in a while.

Perhaps me initiating conversation was the solution to the breakdown in communication.

Is he going through puberty or something?

Good thing.

If I had spoken first before, the conversation would have dragged on.

“Then shouldn’t you just have trust this time as well? Trust that the sword will choose you, and that you will become a good Duke.”

“………Aren’t you speaking too easily? If one thinks like that, wouldn’t there be nothing in the world to be nervous about?”

“That’s why I’m not nervous. I took my medicine properly on time, and above all, I believe you will do well.”

Truthfully, the former reason is the major one.

As long as I’ve taken the medicine that stabilizes this frail body somewhat on time, there’s no chance I’ll cause any problems.

As for the kid brother, well… he’ll manage somehow.

Though I wonder if there’s even anything to ‘do well’ when he’s the only candidate for heir.

“……………”

However, the reason I added ‘above all’ can be attributed to playing the sisterly role a little.

Fortunately, it seems to have worked well; my brother stops walking for a moment and looks at me.

His expression seemed to hold a hint of melancholy.

“………Sister.”

“Yes, little brother.”

I looked at my brother, smiling for a change.

Since the Grand Duke’s death, I hadn’t really had a reason to smile, so facing my brother with what must have seemed a slightly melancholic expression would be the first time in a while.

However, it’s not the same smile as usual.

Just as intricate artworks are defined by their details, this expression also contains considerable effort.

Lower the corners of the mouth slightly, lower the position of the eyes a little.

Doing this should add a touch of unnaturalness to the smile itself.

Normally, this would act as a flaw, but in the current situation, it was actually a good thing.

After all, wouldn’t it be difficult for a girl who has lost three parents to smile naturally?

At least, that was the situation as I calculated it.

“…No, it’s nothing. I just had a childish thought for a moment.”

For a moment, something seemed to well up in my brother’s eyes, but then, seeing my appearance, he briefly rubbed his eyelids.

After doing so, he opened his eyes again, bit his lip slightly as if having decided something, and looked at me.

It seems he’s been growing rapidly lately, but perhaps because he’s still in his growth period, he hasn’t surpassed my height yet, so our eyes are at the same level.

To say something sentimental, perhaps this moment too won’t last very long.

“…Sister. After today passes, I will do my utmost to prevent the things you worry about, at least. Father would have wished for that too.”

…Hmm, does he even know what I would worry about to say such things?

Since nothing is more tiring than worrying about the future, to a lazybones like me who forgot about worry long ago, this was quite an amusing play.

“…Yes, thank you.”

Of course, I couldn’t just laugh it off, so I maintained my expression and offered words of gratitude.

I couldn’t know what worries my brother thought I had, but doing just this much was enough for me to have fulfilled the sisterly role adequately.

So, there’s probably no need to delve deeply into that.

From my standpoint of just wishing the succession ceremony would end quickly, I didn’t have the capacity to include even that in my thoughts.

Following my brother, who now walked with more force in his steps than before but still matched his pace to mine, I walked towards the location where the succession ceremony would be held.

***

The site of the succession ceremony.

As the place where the Duke and vassals usually discuss state affairs, its history and role were also quite significant.

Well, there’s no nation without a deep history.

Even if a country was established by overthrowing its predecessor, they share roots, so its history would naturally be deep as well.

It’s my first time in this space, but I feel no particular emotion.

I wasn’t the right kind of narrator to express sentiments like, ‘Wow, so this is what it feels like to be overwhelmed by a space.’

Rather, if I were to think of an assessment someone like me would make, it would probably be something like, ‘Maintaining this vast space to sparkle everywhere must cost a tremendous amount of budget.’

And today, that vast space is filled with quite a lot of people.

Excluding the collateral branches of the Weiss family who couldn’t arrive yet, most are the duchy’s vassals and their families.

Or figures from the duchy’s knight order.

Nevertheless, the reason it’s quite large-scale is likely because while the duchy’s supreme ruler is technically just the Grand Duke, its power is substantial enough to be called a kingdom.

Therefore, it’s probably unavoidable that my brother, who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, is nervous.

Proving and establishing one’s abilities in front of others would likely be a considerably burdensome situation for ordinary people.

Still, well, I gave him some support, so I just hope it’ll be okay.

Rather, the possibility of problems arising was higher for me, who only now realized I had to walk without a cane.

“Everyone, please maintain silence.”

Those who had been chattering shut their mouths at the voice echoing from the center of the space.

The owner of the voice, heavier than last time as if trying to set the mood, was undoubtedly the Cardinal.

Although Batory belongs to the Weiss family, a holy sword is a holy sword.

Bestowed by God, well… anyway, it has a history long enough to forget, and is an important item for the church as well, so the progression of the succession ceremony had historically been overseen by the Cardinal.

“Today, we—”

It was obvious he was about to launch into a lengthy speech filled with predictable words, so I decided to drift into thought for a moment.

Honestly, they’re all obvious words, so why bother listening?

I didn’t particularly want to focus on hearing about God this, history that, the duchy whatever.

Averting my gaze from the Cardinal, who was diligently reciting lengthy words again today, a single throne placed prominently at the far center of the hall caught my eye.

Its simple yet authoritative appearance didn’t seem carelessly made, but something else stood out more.

A longsword thrust into the ground before the throne; that must be Batory.

As if proving the seat itself was modeled after Batory’s form, it looked ordinary yet exuded its own authority.

Normally, Batory rests thrust into that spot, reacting only to the hand of its destined master to be drawn, its blade then enveloped in a blue light resembling the North.

As it’s not merely a decorative sword, the power its master can wield upon drawing it isn’t something easily measured—or so I vaguely remember.

Therefore, unless something major happens, it usually remains undrawn, and instead, its presence thrust into that spot symbolizes the status of the Grand Duke Weiss family.

Thus, it’s practically the true throne of the duchy, hence ‘Sword Seat’ (Geomjwa).

As for why its name is Batory, I wasn’t interested enough to look it up—

“—Will the one who seeks to become the successor please step forward!”

Ah, it seems to have started.

Following the words of the Cardinal, who unnecessarily raised his voice to boast his position, my brother slowly walks out from the open door.

“Next, will the one undertaking the role of transferor also please take their place.”

I, who had been waiting on the stairs below the throne since earlier, slowly ascend the steps according to the Cardinal’s words.

Normally, the Grand Duke Weiss, who should now be called the former Grand Duke, should have been sitting there, but unfortunately, he departed to the same place as my parents.

Therefore, as someone not from the previous generation, I had to stand beside the throne to conduct the ceremony.

“May the one seeking to be the successor and the transferor once again contemplate the divine will bestowed upon this place… Transferor, please carry out the ritual.”

I carefully open the vial containing the Grand Duke’s blood, which had been stored at the temple.

Now, by letting the blood flow onto the hilt, the most crucial task I had to perform is essentially finished.

Afterwards, the sword, reacting to the blood and the Cardinal’s blessing, would fly to my brother, followed immediately by the succession ceremony proper, and other such events, but that’s none of my business.

The excellent excuses based on ‘time to take medicine’ and ‘not feeling well’ were magical cheat codes that allowed me to leave the scene anytime.

Therefore, I can cheerfully perform this abnormal act of pouring blood onto the sword hilt according to etiquette.

If I just endure this slight bother, I was certain to spend the time being much like before the Grand Duke died.

—!

Just as I finished pouring all the blood, the Cardinal completed his blessing.

Simultaneously, the sword began to resonate with a hum, and the quietly embedded blade drew itself out and started to move.

Now, that sword will go to my brother.

Having put on a slight smile to match the mood appropriately, my only concern now is figuring out the timing for my exit.

—!

When would be good?

Right after the official succession is the worst timing.

I should at least show my face.

—!!

Then perhaps right after the banquet starts would be best.

Around that time, it would likely be nearing my medicine time.

—!!!

Or… Something seems incredibly noisy, even if my brother is young, does nobody stop the chatter during the succession ceremony—

Ttanggeurang—!

……Ah?

………What is this.

Why is it in my hand.