Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke Episode 4: How to Collect Donations

The episode opens with Rozemyne, fragile and overwhelmed, having just hosted a noble tea party. The sheer volume of conversation and social energy from the high-ranking women drains her completely, leading to a collapse. Despite her physical weakness, the event is a resounding financial triumph, with significant donations secured for her expanding printing venture. Her ladies-in-waiting, Elvira and Florencia, celebrate the bounty, while Ferdinand expresses his predictable displeasure at her poor health.

Rozemyne, ever the pragmatist, has a sudden vision: Ferdinand, transformed into a charismatic idol, playing his feshpiel to a swooning audience of noble ladies. She wastes no time proposing a charity concert, arguing his musical skill makes him the perfect performer. Ferdinand, with his usual disdain for social obligation, immediately rejects the idea, seeing no personal benefit. It takes the stern intervention of Rihyarda, the head attendant, to bring him to heel, reminding him of his lord's involvement.

With Ferdinand reluctantly on board, planning for the concert begins in earnest. Rozemyne dispatches magical messenger birds to coordinate schedules, revealing a surprisingly efficient organizational streak. She proposes a revolutionary idea to Elvira and Florencia: selling tickets for the event, turning a simple social gathering into a formal commercial enterprise. Elvira is impressed by this novel concept, recognizing the astute business acumen behind it.

Ferdinand leads Rozemyne to a cold training hall for her magic lesson, intending for her to create a 'Highbeast' for travel. He instructs her to pour her formidable mana into a dull magic stone, which soon swells to an immense size. Her focus wavers, thinking the stone might pop like a balloon, and it shatters into pieces. Yet, Rozemyne refuses to yield; she kneads the fragments back together, physically reshaping the magic through sheer force of will, an act that stuns Ferdinand.

Following her magical exertions, Ferdinand forbids Rozemyne from reading any books for the rest of the day, a punishment she finds truly barbaric. Her reaction is immediate: she decides to use an extreme close-up of Ferdinand's handsome face for the concert program cover, a small act of vengeance. Later, Rihyarda catches Rozemyne trying to sneak-write in the middle of the night, reminding her of the pervasive surveillance that comes with her new noble status.

Back at the temple, Rozemyne vents her frustrations to Lutz and Benno about her reading ban. She then shifts to business, introducing 'Gariban,' her term for mimeograph printing. She explains how this new technology will allow for detailed illustrations alongside text, an impossible feat with their current woodblock methods. Benno, ever the shrewd businessman, quickly grasps the immense profit potential, especially for selling concert programs to Ferdinand's future fans.

Lutz and Gil report on their progress with stencil paper, noting that the wax coating process still needs refinement. Benno commits Lutz full-time to solving these production issues, understanding the urgency of the upcoming concert deadline. In a thoughtful gesture, Benno presents Rozemyne with a beautiful, high-quality writing slate, thanking her for connecting his guild to the nobility. Rozemyne is genuinely overcome with joy, cherishing the gift more than expected.

As Rozemyne prepares to enter the temple workshop, she confronts her noble guards, Brigitte and Damuel. She politely explains that the workshop contains valuable trade secrets that cannot be exposed to outsiders. Brigitte, initially offended, accepts the logical explanation that her family's status would compel her to share any learned secrets. Inside, Rozemyne looks at her new writing slate, brimming with determination, envisioning the concert's success and the mountains of gold it will bring.

In a comedic final scene, Rozemyne explains the nuances of concert ticket pricing to Elvira and Florencia, detailing how different seating tiers will maximize revenue. Elvira's eyes glow with fervent devotion as she declares her intention to purchase the most expensive, front-row seat to see Ferdinand up close. Her intense obsession takes both Florencia and Rozemyne by surprise, highlighting the unexpected power of Ferdinand's reluctant 'idol' status.