 |
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. |
|
“
|
I’d tutored Lord Karstedt since he was a little boy, and then I was Lord Sylvester’s wet nurse … I’ve known Lord Ferdinand since he was a young boy too, going all the way back to when he was first brought to the castle. | ”
|
— Rihyarda to Rozemyne in Part 3 Volume 1, Chapter 9: The Archduke’s Castle
| ||
Rihyarda (リヒャルダ Rihyaruda) is an archnoble attendant who serves the archducal family of Ehrenfest. Currently, she serves as Rozemyne’s head attendant at the Archduke’s castle and the Royal Academy. She is the mother of Justus and the grandmother of Traugott.
Appearance
Rihyarda has light gray hair and eyes that are almost black.[2] At age 60, she is a “truly old-looking woman,” whom Rozemyne describes as looking like “a physical manifestation of the word "granny".”[3] Nevertheless, she is physically strong and can easily pick up and carry Rozemyne when needed.
Personality
After serving as a nanny for Ehrenfest’s most powerful nobles for generations, Rihyarda has an iron will and is not easily cowed. She is one of the only people who can tell Ferdinand what to do.
Rihyarda has a strong sense of propriety and is quick to chastise Rozemyne, when she does something unladylike. She also has no patience for bad behavior and is outraged at Wilfried’s retainers, when she learns that they have failed to discipline him. When her own grandson, Traugott, fails to live up to his duties as a retainer, Rihyarda is the first to ask Rozemyne to dismiss him, even though it will leave a black mark on her family’s reputation.[4]
However, she is fond of children and has a motherly nature, taking pride in the growth of all the young people she helped to raise.
Despite being closely affiliated with a variety of nobles over the years, she never considered herself to be part of any faction. In her eyes, she is and has always been neutral and loyal solely to Ehrenfest as a whole.[5]
History
Rihyarda has served the archducal family of Ehrenfest for several generations. She knew Sylvester, Ferdinand, and Karstedt when they were children. As Sylvester’s nanny, she often had to go chasing after him to drag him back to his studying and responsibilities as the son of the archduke.
At some point, Rihyarda started a family and had two children: her son, Justus, and her daughter, Gudrun. Gudrun later married one of Bonifatius' sons, and together they had a son named Traugott.
Story
Part 4 Volume 3
When given the opportunity to learn Rozemyne's mana compression method, Rihyarda declined.[6]
Part 5 Volume 4
Due to the purge of the former Veronica faction, Sylvester lost several of his own retainers and is critically short on hands to the point that he even has to borrow some from his wife. When Rihyarda notices this, she asks Rozemyne to be assigned to Sylvester again to help him, since he needs her help far more than Rozemyne right now. Rozemyne is understanding of this and together the pair more or less force the Aub to accept this. While he is initially resistant to the idea of taking Rihyarda away from Rozemyne, ultimately he is very thankful for the change.[1]
List of Masters in Order of Service
- Lady Gretchen[7]
- Lady Gabriele[7]
- Lady Veronica[7]
- Lord Karstedt
- Lady Georgine[7]
- Aub Sylvester
- Lady Rozemyne[3]
- Aub Sylvester[1]
Trivia
- While it's usually hidden behind her noble façade, Rihyarda has a keen interest in fashion, even greater than that of most other noble ladies.[8]
- Rihyarda is the only named attendant in series that served masters of the opposite gender.
Translation Notes
- Rihyarda and her son, Justus, are among the few characters in the series to use the terms “Milady” (hime-sama, literally “princess”) and “my boy” (bochama, a “young master” or a young man from a rich family). Most notably, Rihyarda calls Ferdinand “my boy” and intends to continue doing so until he gets married, despite his repeated insistence that she stop.
- リヒャルダ is supposed to be Richarda (female form of Richard), but it is translated into Rihyarda to retain the same pronunciation among English readers.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 5 Volume 4. Chapter 7: Brunhilde’s Suggestion
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm. Fanbook. Character Design Sheets
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 3 Volume 1. Chapter 9: The Archduke's Castle
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 4 Volume 2. Chapter 11: Rihyarda’s Wrath
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm. Royal Academy Stories - First Year. Chapter 1: Cornelius - As a Guard Knight and a Brother"
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 4 Volume 3. Chapter 16: Philine's Family Circumstances
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 4 Volume 2. Chapter 3: I Want to Found the Library Committee
- ↑ Ascendance of a Bookworm. Part 4 Volume 4. Chapter 9: The Archduke Conference Approaches