Today we're all going out together. We're meeting at the
"What about Turi?"
"Have her go to
With Benno's instruction, Turi was sent off to ask Corinna about making winter hair accessories. When Benno rang the bell, a young female servant came out from the back and led Turi away.
"...For now, I've arranged for two pigs this morning, plus two craftsmen from the butcher shop. With no craftsmen on hand, it'd be hopeless with nothing but beginners, wouldn't it?"
"Really!? From one day to the next!? Benno, you're amazing! You work so fast! I'm so impressed!"
I clapped and praised him effusively, and Benno puffed out his chest with a smug grin, demanding "Praise me more." I'd be placing huge orders soon enough, so I might as well really butter him up.
"Benno, you're wonderful! If you gave me a discount, you'd be even cooler."
"Rejected, you idiot."
"That's way too obvious, Mine."
I tried negotiating a commission reduction, but both of them shot me down with exasperated looks.
"About the smoking house, it should be available any time in the next ten days or so. Since everyone wants to make their preserves right before winter hits, it tends to be fully booked come then. When works for you?"
Thinking about how pork processing was really winter-preserved food preparation, it made sense that few people would want to do it early. In my neighborhood, they'd often wait until snow was practically falling.
With the cellar already half-cool now, the real issue wasn't quality but the risk of eating everything before winter actually arrived. Worst case, we'd run out halfway through.
"Three days from now, please. My father and Turi both have that day off."
"Got it. We'll plan for three days from then. I've been ordering tools since it was decided we'd work together on this, so most things are in stock. I can lend you what's missing, and you can use whatever you've got at home too."
"Thank you. And this is everything the orphanage needs for winter besides firewood and food."
Benno peered at the list I'd written on a wooden tablet and furrowed his brow with a groan.
"...That's quite a lot."
"It's our first time preparing properly, so there's not enough of everything. There are a lot of people too..."
"If you've managed without it this far, maybe you don't really need to go out of your way to prepare?"
At Lutz's words, I gave a vague smile.
"That's what I was planning for the orphanage—just prepare firewood and food, and gradually stock up on the rest. But once I'm shut away in the temple, my family wouldn't let me off the hook."
In the end, this meant expenses kept piling up beyond what we'd planned.
"Well, you do tend to collapse and end up bedridden. Thinking about what'll happen when you're out of sight, your family's worries aren't entirely wrong."
"Mine's room is definitely missing all the small stuff you'd need to actually live there."
Since meals are provided, food-related things are covered, but the shortages in bathing and bedding supplies really stand out. There's no linen at all—no towels, no sheets to swap out. The futon is there, but there's no blanket either. Bringing things from home would make the atmosphere completely different, and they'd run short at home, so we'd have to buy new ones.
Troublingly, there weren't any carpets or rugs for the autumn-winter flooring either. The ones left by the previous occupant had grown mold, so I was told they couldn't be used.
"Mine, want me to lend you some money?"
"No, no. Money and friendship shouldn't mix."
When the third bell rang,
"We'd better buy clothes quickly or it'll be a problem."
"Right? I feel like for winter, the coat matters more than what's underneath. As long as you've got a good coat, even priest robes underneath shouldn't be an issue."
Benno's eyes went wide at my words.
"Hey, hold it. That won't do. Buy a proper full set."
"I was just saying!"
"With you, eight out of ten times you're dead serious."
I averted my gaze from Benno and headed outside, while Lutz dashed up the stairs through the back door to call Turi.
"Turi and everyone else gets one outfit each, okay? Find something you like!"
"Okaaay!"
Turi and
"...Is this alright, Lady Mine?"
Fran sidled up and asked quietly, looking worried. I calculated my remaining funds and nodded. Buying clothes here wouldn't be a problem. Then I glanced briefly at the bag Fran was carrying.
"This part is fine. ...Besides, if it comes to that, I'll just sell more books. Why don't you pick something out for yourself, Fran? You could wear it in your room when it gets cold?"
Since I rarely get to play the part of a proper master, I told him not to hold back today, and Fran averted his eyes helplessly.
"You ask me to choose my own clothes, but I don't know what basis to use..."
When it came to choosing his master's clothes, Fran could pick the right dress code based on the venue, season, occasion, and the person being visited—all sorts of information. But apparently, that skill didn't apply to himself, since as a servant he always wore gray priest robes.
Smiling gently at Fran's ineptitude with anything personal, I gave him criteria to work with.
"First, something that fits your build. Then the material—pick something warm since it's winter. Choose something that fits well and keeps you warm, and after that I'll help you pick out what looks best on you."
"That's very kind of you."
As Fran bowed his head, I recalled what my mother had said the night before.
"Hey, Fran. My mother has mentioned wanting to come by my room to pay her respects sometime. When would be convenient?"
I relayed how my mother wanted to see the room and confirm whether I'd be able to live there properly through winter, and Fran lowered his gaze with a troubled expression.
"...Lady Mine, if at all possible, I would prefer you decline."
"Why?"
"As I believe I've mentioned before, there are many in the orphanage who have complicated feelings toward pregnant women or families."
Come to think of it, Fran had warned me about this when my mother had been excited about her pregnancy.
"Delia, who finds the orphanage uncomfortable, is also very sensitive about these matters, and it could lead to unnecessary information reaching the High Priest. If she wishes to meet, I will go to her instead."
"...I see. I'll tell her that."
After glancing over at Delia's cheerful, lively voice for a moment, I slowly nodded. As Fran headed toward the men's section, Benno approached with unhurried steps.
"You're going to be shut away in the temple, right?"
"Yes. I can't exactly get by with nothing but cheap clothes for temple life."
The biggest expense for my winter preparations would be clothes. If it were just everyday casual wear from the usual thrift shops, I could buy as many as I wanted with no problem. But assembling multiple outfits suitable for the temple would require a pretty hefty sum. A serious blow to the wallet.
"Obviously. You'll need casual room wear, visiting clothes for when you visit others in the temple, sleepwear, and going-out clothes, right? Plus decent-quality undergarments. And thick socks—winters in the temple are freezing."
"Ouch, that's going to hurt. It's not like anyone's planning to see my undergarments, so does it really matter if they're worn out? As long as the visible parts look presentable—"
I'd barely finished when Benno's eyes boggled and he snapped.
"Don't be an idiot! Don't cut corners there! And you're already prone to health problems—layer up properly."
"You mean I should buy clothes worth layering over?"
If I wanted to wear multiple layers, I'd need enough layers to actually stack. Thinking about the cost made my head throb.
"For undergarments, have your mother or Turi sew some from fabric you buy from the shop. Your sewing skills are decent, right?"
"Well, yes, but... I don't have the budget for that much. Benno, when we get back to the shop, please buy five of those books from before."
If I tried to outfit everything in new undergarments, we'd be completely over budget.
"Then why not print more than five? If you've got ink, you can use the same plate, right?"
"...Ah, well, for printing, you have to do it all at once in one go."
"Hmm?"
As I hung my head remembering the disaster at Mine Workshop, Benno raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"The ink dried and the block curled up, making it unusable. The carving on that illustration was incredibly fine. Unlike wood or metal, you can't wipe or wash the ink off the material, so once it dries out, it's apparently ruined."
Making picture books required a good number of sheets. I'd planned to use thirty as test copies, and if they turned out well, mass-produce the paper and print again. But the block had been ruined. It was so painful I nearly cried.
"Next time, I learned I have to prepare a large batch of paper and do it all in one go."
"If you need paper, you could buy it from our workshop?"
"...It's too expensive. I'll have Mine Workshop produce it and buy it from Lutz."
I puffed out my cheeks in a pout, and Benno laughed ruefully.
Just then, from deep in the shop came the sound of Lutz and Gil shouting: "I told you it's mine!"
Benno's cheek twitched.
"...Mine, go settle that."
"It is causing a scene in the shop, after all. Be right back."
I waddled toward where Benno pointed and found Lutz and Gil engaged in a heated argument. Their similar builds meant they were apparently fighting over the same piece of clothing.
"You two are so loud. Knock it off—you're causing trouble for the shop."
Spotting me, both of them came rushing over, still clutching the garment and jostling for the lead.
"Mine, which one of us does this look better on? It's me, right?"
"No way! It looks better on me! Right, Lady Mine?"
They shoved their faces close, looking intimidating. I looked at the light-blue coat they were holding and let out a deliberate sigh, shaking my head.
"Neither of you."
"Eh!?"
They clearly hadn't expected that answer. Both of them stared with wide eyes, mouths shut.
It wasn't that the design didn't suit them. Both had light-colored hair, so in winter clothes, a light blue just made them look freezing cold. It would've been fine for summer, but for winter, no.
"Listen, Lutz. Remember what Benno said before? That some colors look warm and others look cold? Which category is this? And which would you rather wear in the dead of winter?"
"...Ah."
As if struck by realization, Lutz released his grip on the coat. Gil tilted his head, still holding the light blue.
"Gil, put the light blue one back and try matching this reddish-brown jacket with the brown trousers. That looks warmer, don't you think?"
"Got it. Let me try it on."
Gil turned on his heel to put the blue one back.
Lutz slumped his shoulders slightly as he compared the clothes I pulled out. The camel-colored coat looked thin at first glance, but the lining was brushed fleece, so it should be warm.
"Lutz, pair these dark brown trousers with the camel—or actually, the ochre or green coat—whichever you prefer. Try them on and decide. They differ in material, so consider what you'll actually be wearing around the house and choose accordingly."
"Then isn't that already decided from the start!"
Lutz grabbed the camel coat and glared at me. The green one was obviously premium fabric—not something you'd wear around the neighborhood.
"Right? And when you think about the criteria for choosing clothes, light blue is even more out of the question."
"...Grr."
Lutz clenched his teeth in frustration, then draped the camel coat over his shoulders. It looked a little big, but with layers underneath and the thought of wearing it again next year, a bit of room was better.
The brushed lining must have felt warm, because Lutz's expression softened into a grin.
"Pick out some sweaters and vests too, maybe? If you wear something warm underneath, you'll be toasty all winter."
"Will do."
While Lutz was satisfied with his camel jacket, Turi came over holding dresses in both hands.
"Hey, Mine—which do you think is better, this one or this one?"
One was a deep green dress with vibrant flower embroidery; the other was a simple navy blue. Personally, I'd love to see Turi as a maid-type in the navy dress with a white apron.
"Turi, why did you pick these two?"
"This one's cute! See, the color and the embroidery are so nice, right? I think it'd suit my hair too. But this one has great material and is really warm."
From Turi's explanation, it was clear that if she were being practical like usual, she'd pick the navy one—but what she really wanted was the deep green.
"If you walk outside in the cuter one, you might stick out, but you'll be wearing a coat over it in winter. Since it'd be underneath, the coat would hide it, so either way—go with whichever you prefer. Personally I'd prioritize warmth over cuteness, but you want the cute one, don't you?"
"Mmm, this is so hard..."
In terms of developing her eye for sewing, I thought buying clothes she liked would be good. But Turi, still bound by her old way of thinking, found it hard to choose appearance over practicality.
"Lady Mine, I want this one!"
Delia came over with a cute pink outfit, complete with a warm-looking coat. What a shrewd little thing. But I could tell Delia was practically glowing with excitement, so I had no intention of saying a word. Today, I'd just play the wallet.
"Got it. Delia, it's decided."
"Thank you, Lady Mine! Hehehe~♪"
Delia stared at the dress with a beaming smile, humming happily, joy radiating from every pore. When someone's that happy, you start thinking the price isn't so bad after all. I never wanted to understand the feeling of spoiling a cute girl, but here I was, understanding it perfectly.
"Mine, I'm getting the cute one too!"
Seeing Delia so delighted with her outfit apparently clinched it for Turi. She thrust the deep green dress firmly toward me.
"Fine. But Turi, if I buy your coat here, it'll stick out around the neighborhood and workplace, so give up on that. Instead, pick a warm shawl or scarf. Your mother's and father's too."
"Okay! Thanks, Mine!"
I watched Turi bounce away through the shop, then headed over to where Rosina was browsing alone.
Rosina had apparently already picked her outfit. She was holding a crimson dress in one hand while staring intently at a plain navy blue one. She'd said she didn't want to dress up, preferring drawing supplies to clothes—it was the kind of no-frills dress that even Vilma might wear.
"Rosina, for Vilma's clothes..."
"As expected, she says she doesn't need any. She mentioned she still can't go outside, so there's no need."
"...Right."
"Apparently she's been able to visit the workshop occasionally, so perhaps a secondhand outfit that can get dirty—the kind you'd wear going down to the workshop—would make her happy? ...Vilma does have an aversion to dressing up."
It was such a waste when she was such a beauty, but if she didn't want to, I couldn't push it.
"There's no need for you to feel down, Lady Mine. The fact that the children can go to the workshop is already tremendous progress."
As I walked back toward Benno's counter with Rosina, who gave me a gentle smile, I spotted Fran standing frozen in the men's section.
"Fran, have you picked something?"
"...Lady Mine."
This shop seemed to cater to that demographic, since it had the most men's clothing. Fran looked overwhelmed amid the options.
"Among clothes that fit you, which ones caught your eye?"
"From here to here."
"Ah, with that many, no wonder you're struggling."
Chuckling, I compared the clothes alongside Fran.
"You have a calm demeanor, so for something simple, this or this. If you want to go a little more stylish, this or this."
"...Lady Mine, please just decide for me."
"So you do have things you don't like, Fran."
As I smiled wryly at his defeated demeanor, Rosina's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward with a swish of her auburn hair.
"Fran must also learn to overcome his weaknesses."
"...You look like you're having fun, Rosina."
"Besides, it seems I can be of help to Fran."
"Then let's leave it to Rosina. I've given my input."
"Lady Mine?!"
Leaving behind the cheerful Rosina and the desperate, pleading Fran, I returned to Benno. Piles of selected clothes sat on the counter, but I couldn't see the others anywhere.
"Huh? Benno, where are Lutz and the others?"
"Oh, they were making too much of a ruckus, so I told them to go pick out Mine's clothes."
Apparently, Lutz and Turi had gone at it again, sparking flew, and they'd both gone searching for clothes—then Delia and Gil jumped in because they were attendants.
"I'll need two or three casual outfits, one for visiting, and one for going out, right? There probably won't be a winner, so just pick whatever."
"...Expensive. The clothes I need for myself cost the most."
"If you want to pass for nobility, that's just how it is. You're already called commoner-looking—if you dress like an obvious pauper, you'll only further bruise the blue priest's pride. You'll just have to get closer to noble standards yourself."
Benno's logic was airtight, so all I could do was slump in defeat. While I was desperately counting money at the counter, Lutz and Turi came over, competing to present their choices.
"Mine, how about this?"
"This one's better, right?"
Both of them held thick-fabric blouses, skirts, and vests. Last time, they'd been told there were other clothes besides dresses, so they'd gone looking specifically for non-dress options. Then Delia and Gil arrived with their selections.
"Lady Mine, this one is so cute!"
"Lady Mine, what about this?"
Dresses, tunics, and more kept appearing. Children's clothes in my size were scarce to begin with. Which meant every outfit in the shop that fit me was now spread out on display.
...Now what?
I was thinking over which to pick while four pairs of eyes stared at me, when Fran and Rosina finished their shopping and came to the counter. When I told them I needed help choosing my clothes, they went down the line of garments one by one, making their selections.
"For clothes to wear within the temple, I'd suggest around this area."
"Just after spring arrives, there's the Prayer Ceremony, isn't there? You'd be wise to prepare these two visiting outfits as well."
"During the Prayer Ceremony, you'll be leaving the city with the High Priest, so anything less wouldn't be appropriate. These two, I think."
Without me making a single decision, Fran and Rosina selected everything I'd need for temple life. They were incredibly reliable attendants, but my wallet was in serious trouble.
As I mentally groaned, Benno beckoned Lutz over with a finger and whispered something. Lutz's face lit up, and he clapped his hands together.
"I'll buy Mine's clothes."
"Lutz!? Benno, what did you put in his head!?"
I glared daggers at Benno, but he just snorted and flashed an amused grin.
"My money came from half the profits Mine shared when she invented new products, plus she helped fix my family. Consider it repayment. Lending and borrowing are one thing, but gifts are fine, right? I've gotten plenty from Mine too too."
Lutz puffed out his chest proudly, but I felt the amount was way beyond a reasonable gift. Besides, having a boy who wasn't even family buy my clothes—something I'd never experienced even in my
As I fretted over what to do, Benno nudged Lutz along with a smirk.
"Don't make such an ungraceful, embarrassing scene by refusing a gift from a man in front of all these people, Mine."
He said it teasingly, but he was right—refusing here would humiliate Lutz. I didn't know how to decline smoothly.
Glancing around for help, I found Delia with her hands on her hips, scolding me.
"Geez! Lady Mine, just smile and accept it graciously! A woman's value goes up when a man spoils her!"
"Delia, please. Stop talking."
The way she said it made me sound like some kind of femme fatale leeching off men. Now it was even harder to accept.
Lutz lightly patted my shoulder.
"Just give up—the payment's done. Okay?"
...When did you get so smooth? Share some of that!
As I rubbed Lutz's head with a grin, saying "Good job," I realized Benno's influence was running deep. Slumping in despair that not a single shred of polish had rubbed off on me despite all of Rosina's noble education, I finished paying for Turi and the attendants' clothes.
The attendants took turns in the fitting rooms, changing into their new outfits and packing away their old ones. Mine would be kept at the temple, so the attendants would divide up the packing later.
While everyone's attention was on their new clothes, I slipped over to Lutz.
"Lutz, thank you. That really helped. ...Truly."
"Don't worry about it. Benno had talked to me about it before."
"What about?"
Apparently, Benno had pointed out to Lutz that while we split the profits on paper, picture books, hangers, and writing boards fifty-fifty, we'd never split the initial investment the same way.
"He told me to stay quiet until I noticed or hit a wall—but you've definitely hit a wall now, so it's fine, right?"
...I had no idea! Not a single clue!
And so, I received half the cost of the initial investment from Lutz and used it to buy fabric for my own undergarments, replacement sheets, and warm winter bedding.
After that, we also hunted down winter clothes for the orphanage children and bought various small daily necessities.
Next time: manning the pork processing.