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The Light Novel series is the source material for the adaptation of the Anime and Manga series. The information and terminology on the article will be based on the source material rather than the adaptions. |
The previous Giebe Leisegang is Karstedt's grandfather and Rozemyne's great-grandfather. He formerly served as the governing noble of the Ehrenfest province of Leisegang, but the position has since passed to his grandson. Despite his advanced age, he still remains a leading member of the Leisegang political faction.
Appearance
The previous Giebe Leisegang is a very old man and has grown infirm due to his advanced age. He barely ever leaves his mansion and needs a stick to walk when he does.[4] According to his retainers, he collapses quite often, to the point where they seem to consider it normal.[5]
He used to have reddish-brown hair, but had gone completely bald by the time Rozemyne first met him. It is unclear whether his eyebrows still retained any colour or had gone white.[1]
Personality
To Rozemyne, the previous Giebe Leisegang appeared like a good-natured, doting grandpa, but one should not underestimate him. He is a very cunning and politically savvy man and a master-manipulator, who is still a major factor in Ehrenfest's political landscape, despite his advanced age and poor health.[6]
He has a tendency to use his disabilities and age as a shield. When things he does not wish to hear are said, he often pretends not to have heard it due to his poor hearing. He even sometimes entirely ignores the presence of people he is not fond of. It is at times difficult what he is genuinely unaware of and what he pretends to not notice out of obstinacy.[7]
History
The previous Count Leisegang's daughter was once married to the son of the Fourth Aub Ehrenfest, who was expected to become the next archduke. Despite having been wed as the first wife, the arrival of Gabriele of Ahrensbach led to her being demoted to the position of second wife. On top of that, her husband was eventually removed from his archduke candidacy for fear of causing political strife in the duchy, and became the first Count Groschel.
At the same time, the then-archduke had instructed the previous Count Leisegang to wed his youngest daughter to Bonifatius, hoping to appease the Leisegangs and bring order back to the duchy. However, Bonifatius renounced his claim to the seat of archduke and actively surrendered it to his younger brother, Adelbert, who became the Sixth Aub Ehrenfest.
Then, the Sixth Aub Ehrenfest married Veronica, the daughter of Gabriele. Not only did she have Ahrensbach blood, but she ended up mistreating the descendants of the previous Count Leisegang and rallying her political faction against them. As a result, the previous Count Leisegang became vehemently opposed to those of Veronica's descent and determined to see an archduke of Leisegang descent in Ehrenfest.
During the reign of the Sixth Aub Ehrenfest and later under Sylvester, Veronica mistreated basically anyone who wasn't a clear ally to her, with the Leisegangs in particular due to their influence and open opposition to anyone with Ahrensbach blood. This fall from grace and decades long abuse has fostered a deep hatred for all of Gabriele's descendants in the previous Count Leisegang, even when the individual in question never personally wronged him or his kin.[7]
Story
Part 4 Volume 3
When Rozemyne gathered an expanded circle of nobles to teach her mana compression method to, the previous Giebe Leisegang fought with his grandson, the current Count Leisegang to attend as well and was ultimately successful. But in truth learning the mana compression method was only an excuse, since he really wanted to meet his great-granddaughter at least once before his death. When he came face-to-face with Rozemyne and the two exchanged noble greetings, they both seemed very happy to meet each other, but only for a moment since he collapsed before Rozemyne could fully voice her response. His retainers assured Lady Rozemyne that she was not at fault and that it was quite common for him to collapse like this, before carrying him out of the room to care for him.[5]
Later at the yearly book fair, he is first in line and buys one of every available book.[4]
Despite his failing health and retirement he is still involving himself in Ehrenfest's politics, very actively advocating for Rozemyne to become the next Aub. He already got Haldenzel and Groschel on his side and is current working to convince Illgner to join him as well, which due to how much Rozemyne helped that province has a good chance of success.[6]
After the announcement of Rozemyne's and Wilfried's engagement, most nobles abandoned the idea of Rozemyne becoming the next Aub, but despite this setback, the Leisegangs and the previous Giebe Leisegang in particular keep at it.
Part 4 Volume 8
In the spring following her second year at the Royal Academy, Rozemyne, Wilfried, and Charlotte visit Leisegang for Spring Prayer and to put the finishing touches on the establishment of the printing and paper-making industries. During this visit, the three archduke children also personally visit the previous Count Leisegang to attempt to convince him to stop trying to make Rozemyne the next Aub Ehrenfest.
During the meeting, he collapses multiple times, though Rozemyne is unsure whether he genuinely fell unconscious or was just pretending. Even just getting him to acknowledge Charlotte's and Wilfried's very presence in the room took some work. Once Rozemyne managed this, Wilfried assures him that he will do everything in his power to right the wrongs of the past and not repeat his predecessors' mistakes. To this end, he reveals that should there ever be another incident like with Gabriele, with a woman from a higher-ranked duchy forcing a marriage with Wilfried resulting in Rozemyne's demotion to second wife, any child of Rozemyne and him would be adopted by Sylvester to preserve their archduke candidate status, even though this would almost assuredly enrage the new bride and her duchy.[7]
Part 5 Volume 4
Shortly after Ehrenfest's internal purge of the former Veronica faction and those aligned with Georgine, the previous Count Leisegang passes away peacefully, his thirst for revenge against Gabriele, Veronica, and their ilk finally sated by the reprisals meted out in the purge. Due to seeing his wish to have Rozemyne made the next Aub Ehrenfest as his dying wish, rather than calming down, several of the older members of the Leisegang faction are reinvigorated in their attempts to make this happen, either not knowing or not caring that this is the last thing Rozemyne herself wants.[2]
Trivia
- The previous Giebe Leisegang hated Gabriele so much, he installed a large painting of her in the primary Leisegang estate to ensure that all Leisegang nobles would never forget their hatred.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ascendance of a Bookworm. Fanbook 6. Q&A with Miya Kazuki
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 5 Volume 4. Prologue
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 5 Volume 9. Florencia — At the Ivory Tower
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 4 Volume 3. Chapter 18: The Book Fair and the Follow-Up Meeting
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 4 Volume 3. Chapter 16: Philine's Family Circumstances
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 4 Volume 3. Epilogue
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 4 Volume 8. Chapter 10: Visiting Great-Grandfather
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm Light Novel. Part 5 Volume 12. Chapter 11: Aurelia's Situation