Ascendance of a Bookworm Episode 3: The Events of Winter

Rozemyne gazes from the carriage window, the lower city receding, her heart a mix of melancholy for the family she's leaving and apprehension for the grand, new life ahead in Ehrenfest Castle. Upon arrival, a retinue of new attendants awaits, emphasizing her elevated status, including the stern head attendant Norbert and her new guard knights, Cornelius and Angelica. The formidable Rihyarda then steps forward as her primary attendant, a woman who once nursed Ferdinand himself and now commands even his respect, instantly ordering him to fetch Rozemyne's rinsham with an unshakeable air. This introduction establishes the rigid hierarchy Rozemyne must navigate, even as she secretly delights in Rihyarda's ability to manage the High Priest. She is led through the expansive castle, past stories of Sylvester's mischievous youth, to her lavish new chambers in the North Wing, culminating in a luxurious bath where Rihyarda mentions Sylvester's younger children, deepening Rozemyne's sense of isolation.

Rozemyne's first formal dinner with the archducal family, including Sylvester, Karstedt, Ferdinand, and Wilfried, is a stark departure from her commoner meals, filled with rigid etiquette and silent tension. Wilfried explains that unbaptized children are excluded from such gatherings, underscoring the strict social strata that now govern Rozemyne's life. This realization brings a sharp pang of homesickness, the opulent dining hall feeling cold and isolating despite its grandeur. Later, in a quiet hallway, Wilfried offers a genuine apology for past troubles, a small gesture that signals a potential for genuine connection amidst the formality.

At the noble Starbinding Festival, Rozemyne, in her role as High Bishop, observes the festivities and notices her guard knight, Brigitte, standing alone and forlorn. Karstedt reveals Brigitte's tragic past: a broken engagement due to her fiancé's greed and her selfless sacrifice to protect her family's lands, leaving her stigmatized in noble society. This story deeply moves Rozemyne, who recognizes a kindred spirit in Brigitte's quiet strength. Ferdinand, ever pragmatic, suggests using fashion as a tool to elevate Brigitte's social standing, sparking Rozemyne's entrepreneurial spirit. The brief mention of her brothers, Lamprecht and Eckhart, and their own romantic struggles, further underscores the complex personal histories intertwined with noble duty.

As the clock strikes seven, Rozemyne takes her place on the dais, introduced by Sylvester as the High Bishop tasked with bestowing the divine blessing upon the new couples. Despite her nerves, she channels her training, beginning a formal prayer to the gods of the sky. With a powerful surge, she releases an immense amount of mana from her ring, bathing the hall in a brilliant, swirling light that leaves the assembly in stunned silence. The sheer scale of her magical output is astounding, far exceeding expectations for someone her age. However, the exertion proves too great, and Rozemyne collapses from exhaustion, caught by Ferdinand and given a bitter recovery medicine under Rihyarda's watchful eye.

The journey to the lower city for the Italian restaurant's grand opening is marked by Sylvester's comical motion sickness and complaints about the commoner district. Upon arrival, Benno nervously greets the archducal party, as Rozemyne's vision for a high-end commoner establishment comes to fruition. The investors, including Gustav and Freida, are introduced, and Rozemyne delights in seeing Freida wearing her flower hairpins, a small anchor to her past. The meal commences with a harspiel performance, and Rozemyne dutifully tastes each dish for poison before the nobles indulge. The fluffy bread astonishes Sylvester and Karstedt with its revolutionary texture, but Sylvester, ever the politician, refuses Freida's request to sell it widely, reserving it as a strategic 'winter surprise' for visiting lords.

The meal continues with a crystal-clear consommé soup, which utterly captivates Ferdinand. He meticulously examines its transparency and praises its "absolute beauty," deeply moved by the refined flavors achieved by commoner chefs. Rozemyne observes his intense focus, realizing that she has managed to impress even this discerning man with her culinary innovations. His detailed analysis of the soup's perfection, stemming from filtration and concentration, brings the meal to a high note, affirming the technical brilliance behind Rozemyne's seemingly simple ideas.

Following the meal, the conversation turns to the struggling paper-making workshop in Hasse, where Benno reports on local resistance and the need for a dedicated orphanage. Ferdinand, in a display of breathtaking casualness, declares he will solve the problem by using high-level creation magic to build a new temple. The group flies to Hasse on majestic highbeasts, stirring the local populace with their aerial arrival. In a clearing, Ferdinand initiates the ritual, scattering gold dust and chanting in an ancient tongue, summoning a glowing magic circle. Stone pillars erupt from the earth, assembling themselves into a grand, fully formed temple in mere seconds, leaving the onlookers and Rozemyne speechless. However, the miraculous construction comes with a price, as Ferdinand coolly informs Rozemyne that the gold dust consumed the entire construction budget, making her responsible for furnishing and funding the new orphanage.

In a comical post-credits scene, Sylvester and Karstedt descend into a petty squabble, each vying for Rozemyne's chef to cook for them first. Their childish bickering highlights the mundane concerns that can override even the gravest of noble duties. Ferdinand, utterly exasperated, intercedes with a logical rotation schedule, while Rozemyne stands between them, a picture of weary resignation. This brief moment underscores the amusing contrast between the epic scale of magic and politics and the very human, often trivial, desires of those in power.