Rosina's Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"Lady Mine, what will you do about your coming-of-age ceremony?"

One day, as winter approached its midpoint, Fran suddenly said this on the way back to my room after finishing the dedication ritual.

"Coming-of-age ceremony? I just finished my Baptism Ceremony, you know?"

"Not yours, My Lady. I mean Rosina's coming-of-age ceremony."

It seemed Fran had inadvertently laughed, and she quickly covered her mouth and corrected herself. I stared wide-eyed at the unexpected words, mouth hanging open.

"...Rosina's coming-of-age ceremony?"

"Yes. Rosina will come of age at the end of this winter."

"I... I didn't know that..."

I couldn't hide my dejection at being such a hopeless master that I hadn't even kept track of such a milestone for my own Attendant.

"When she comes of age, she'll be issued daily attire from the Temple as a Gray Priestess. For a Shrine Maiden Apprentice at the orphanage, that would be the end of it, but a Gray Priestess who serves as an Attendant may also receive a gift from her master."

Fran explained the details of the coming-of-age ceremony at the orphanage. They perform a purification rite early in the morning, don the newly issued clothes, and offer prayers and thanks in the chapel. All of this is to be completed before the Third Bell, which signals the start of the coming-of-age ceremonies in the lower city.

In other words, while I'd been practicing with the feushpiell, the orphanage children had already finished both their Baptism Ceremonies and coming-of-age ceremonies.

"I... I haven't done anything at all to celebrate for the orphanage children..."

As the head of the orphanage, that was a pretty poor showing. I'd been busy since coming to the Temple, but I knew that was no excuse. My face drained of color, and Fran gave a soft laugh.

"As an apprentice, you're basically unable to attend Temple ceremonies, so there's no way you could have known. The summer coming-of-age ceremony, the autumn Baptism Ceremony—both ended while you were bedridden, and the autumn coming-of-age ceremony fell when you were busy with Winter Preparations. Besides, there have never been any celebrations before, so if you suddenly started giving gifts, it would create disparities."

The orphanage children needed to be treated equally as a rule. Fran said creating disparities was a problem. Still, even if I couldn't give gifts, I felt I could at least have offered some words of celebration.

"Lady Mine, please don't worry about gifts for the orphanage. It might become a big problem down the road."

While I remained head of the orphanage, I might be able to give gifts, but once the head changed, they could disappear. Fran pointed out that once I turned ten, my enrollment in the Royal Academy was already decided, so I wouldn't be head of the orphanage for much longer. She wanted me to think about what came after.

"Also, regarding gifts for Attendants—since you regularly give items as bonuses to your Attendants, I simply thought you might also want to give something for such a milestone. It's not necessarily required."

She had gone out of her way to tell me because it was clear I hadn't noticed. Fran was right. I hadn't kept track of which season any of my Attendants had been born in. I'd known Rosina's coming of age was approaching, but I'd had no idea when the ceremony actually was.

"Thank you for telling me, Fran. I'll think about what to give Rosina. ...Fran, when you had your coming-of-age ceremony, did the Chief Priest give you anything?"

"He gave me a pen and ink. I still use the pen to this day. At the time, I felt truly recognized as an adult, and I was so happy."

Fran beamed as she spoke. It was precisely because she had that happy memory that Fran had offered me advice about Rosina's ceremony.

As the master, I needed to find a gift that would truly delight Rosina. My instincts were off more often than not, so I'd need to research what kind of gifts were customary for coming-of-age ceremonies.

I'd start by asking people close to me.

First, I thought of Lutz—but with the blizzard still raging, Lutz wouldn't be coming for a while. The only person close at hand within the Temple was the Chief Priest.

"Chief Priest, one of my Attendants is coming of age. What kind of gift is customary to give as a celebration?"

When I asked my question at the end of our work session, the Chief Priest raised his eyebrows slightly. "...That's an unusually sensible question, coming from you," he muttered with an insult, then cleared his throat.

"If you're giving a gift, something the recipient can use for a long time is best. It's a celebration of becoming an adult. Something useful for their daily work would be appropriate. I gave a pen and ink."

"Something for daily work, thinking about Rosina's duties... would it be an instrument?"

Hmm, as I tried to recall Rosina's daily routine and answered, the Chief Priest narrowed his eyes with a cold glare.

"You fool. What kind of Attendant receives an expensive instrument they don't own as a coming-of-age gift? Before you buy a gift for your Attendant, buy one for yourself first."

After being scolded by the Chief Priest, I decided to beat a hasty retreat.

"...You're right. Thank you for your advice. I'll think of something else."

Several days after being scolded by the Chief Priest, on a day when the blizzard had weakened, Turi, Lutz, and Benno all came to my room together.

"Mine, you doing okay?"

"Turi, Lutz! ...Oh, Benno too."

"I'm going to study at the orphanage, but these two said they had something to discuss."

Turi only said hello before heading to the orphanage to study, but Lutz and Benno came inside.

When Benno noticed Damuel's presence, his expression shifted.

"Lady Mine, I would like to request that you take on one apprentice who is nearing the end of his training for server duty."

Benno explained that he wanted me to train an apprentice named Leon at my place. I turned to Fran, who would be in charge of the server training.

"Fran, would it be acceptable to take on this request?"

"Recently, I've been able to entrust Rosina and Wilma with office work, so teaching server duties only during the lunch hour wouldn't be a problem."

I noticed that Fran's expression had stiffened ever so slightly, and I let out a soft sigh.

"Understood. ...Benno, I'll only be teaching server duties here, so please send someone who has already completed all training other than that."

"Training other than server duties?"

Benno looked puzzled. At Gilberta Company, staff were thoroughly trained to maintain proper conduct toward customers. This had been enforced even back when I and Lutz first started coming and going.

Benno had treated us as honored guests, escorting us to the back rooms, so I'd never been brushed off by any shop employees. That was probably why Benno assumed anyone he sent would be fine.

"Fran will serve as the instructor, but she is a Gray Priest and was born in the orphanage. We will firmly refuse anyone whose training is lacking to the point where they would look down on or scorn her for being a teacher."

While the staff were thoroughly trained in customer service, Fran had told me that only about half of them could maintain a polite demeanor with servants as well. She said that while I conducted business in the back rooms, the employees waiting at the front occasionally shot her unpleasant looks.

"Oh, is that so? It sounds like our staff training has been lacking, and I apologize most sincerely. If Leon turns out to be that sort of good-for-nothing, I'll terminate his apprentice contract immediately, so please let me know right away."

"Fran, is that acceptable? Is there anything else you'd like to request?"

"Well... I don't mind having Leon serve during lunch, but we won't be able to provide meals here. The food here is for Lady Mine's sake."

"...I understand. Regarding meals, I'll take care of things just as I do for Lutz, so please don't worry."

As Benno and Fran began discussing the details of the server training, I beckoned Lutz over and whispered.

"I need to ask you something, Lutz."

"What is it? Are you planning to cause trouble again?"

A faint look of wariness crossed Lutz's face, and at his words, both Benno and Fran stopped their conversation and turned to look at me.

"Cause trouble? That's harsh. Rosina's coming-of-age ceremony is coming up. Do you know what kind of gifts people give for coming-of-age? Your brother Zasha must be coming of age soon too, right?"

"I think I'd give Zasha brother work tools. The ones given at the Baptism Ceremony are for kids, so they're a bit small."

In a craftsman's family, the tools given at the Baptism Ceremony were made slightly lighter or smaller so even a child could handle them. Some people bought new ones partway through, and some received hand-me-downs. If neither of those applied, then work tools befitting an adult were given at the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Work tools for a craftsman, huh? Benno, what do merchants give as coming-of-age gifts?"

"In my case, I gave decorative accessories to family members. For apprentices, clothing. Both were given as necessary items so they could appear before nobles."

"Nothing for Dürer?"

"No."

For apprentices who would definitely be needed at the shop going forward, he gave coming-of-age gifts and would later take them along to meet nobles. But for Dürer, whose contract would simply end, there was no need to go out of his way to give a celebration gift.

"Decorative accessories and clothing aren't bad either... but Rosina doesn't really use those things."

"But once she comes of age, she'll start pinning up her hair, right? Wouldn't a comb or a ribbon work?"

A small hair ornament with delicate decorations might do the trick. I noted that down on my slate along with grooming tools.

"If you'd like to place an order, just have Lutz relay it early and I'll arrange for it to be prepared."

"That's very kind of you."

Benno finished his meeting with Fran and returned to the shop, while Lutz said he was heading to the orphanage. I decided to go to the orphanage as well, accompanied by Fran and Damuel, to check on Turi.

"Turi's working really hard. Mine, next time could you write her a letter using simple words?"

"Sure, I will. Thanks, Lutz."

Lutz had apparently been tutoring Turi on occasion. He said he was just doing what I'd done for him last year, and thanks to that, Turi could keep up with her studies without falling behind the other orphanage children.

"Now then, let's try calculating this."

Today's Temple classroom seemed to be practicing calculations. I glanced sideways at Turi making a difficult face in front of her Calculator, then headed to where Wilma was.

Wilma and Rosina had served under the same master. If I asked Wilma what she'd received for her coming-of-age, it might give me some ideas.

"Ah, come to think of it, Rosina comes of age this winter, doesn't she?"

"Yes, she does. I've been troubled about what gift to give her. Would it be all right if I asked what you received when you came of age, Wilma?"

When I asked, Wilma gave a complicated smile.

"When I came of age, it was right after Lady Christine had departed the Temple, so I didn't receive anything special."

"...What? Then we should give you a celebration too..."

I hadn't expected her to have received nothing. As I flusteredly proposed this to Wilma, she let out a soft chuckle.

"Lady Mine, if you worry about things like that, you'll end up having to give gifts to all your other Attendants."

Deria and Gil, who had been at the orphanage, hadn't received any Baptism Ceremony gifts either, Wilma pointed out.

"If you give gifts to me, Gil, Deria, and everyone else, won't it overshadow the celebration for Rosina who's actually coming of age? Besides, Fran, who received nothing, might feel a bit conflicted as well."

"Mmm..."

All I wanted was for Rosina to be happy, but this was complicated.

Wilma peered at my troubled face with her usual gentle smile.

"Anything you receive from your master is a joy. Besides, the things Rosina has always wanted have been music-related. ...How about some new sheet music, perhaps?"

"New sheet music! That might be a great idea."

"...Though unless it's a particularly rare piece, it might be difficult, since Lady Christine had quite a collection."

Preparing rare sheet music was easy enough. The next day, I visited the Chief Priest.

"Chief Priest, I'd like to give Rosina new sheet music as her coming-of-age gift, so please teach me how to write it."

"What song are you planning to write sheet music for?"

"...Well, naturally, a song from my memories."

If it was difficult to find here a song that Christine, who had been a Shrine Maiden of the Arts, didn't own, then I could simply transcribe the songs from my memory into sheet music. Once I knew how to write it, preparing sheet music wouldn't be so hard.

"A song? From those dreams of yours?"

"Yes. I can't think of any songs that Rosina wouldn't know aside from those."

"Fran, bring the feushpiell from my room."

"As you wish."

While Fran went to fetch the instrument, the Chief Priest taught me how to write sheet music.

The notation here was, of course, different from what I remembered. If it were just the scale, I could manage by referencing the sheet music I'd received before, but I had no idea what the other symbols and conventions meant.

"I've returned."

"Thank you, Fran."

I plucked the strings of the small feushpiell Fran had brought, searching for the melody in my memory.

"Hmm? That's not quite right. Maybe this way? Ah, yes, yes. Something like this... la la la~..."

Once I'd figured out about a measure's worth of melody, I asked the Chief Priest about the notation and wrote it into the score.

"Chief Priest, is the notation here correct?"

"...Enough. Hand the feushpiell over to me."

The Chief Priest quickly lost patience with my method. He snatched the feushpiell from me with an irritated expression when I had completed five measures.

Holding the small feushpiell meant for children, the Chief Priest glared at me.

"You sing. I'll capture the notes. Besides, it would be far faster for me to write it than to teach you the notation."

Under the sharp gaze urging me on, I hummed the tune. When the Chief Priest raised his hand lightly partway through, I stopped.

He then began playing the portion up to that point on the feushpiell. As I sat gaping at the flawless succession of notes, the Chief Priest played it through a few times, added suitable arrangements to make it work well on the feushpiell, and jotted it all down in notation.

...The Chief Priest is basically good at everything.

Not just the main melody of the classical piece I'd hummed, but a fully arranged score for the feushpiell was completed in the blink of an eye.

"Don't you remember any other songs?"

"...I don't have enough memorized to play them myself, but if humming is enough, I know quite a few."

The Chief Priest nodded with satisfaction at my answer.

"Then, sing."

"Huh?"

"I've been wanting some new songs myself. Let's see... three should be enough."

While I was at it, I quietly slipped in some anime songs too. Just watching the Chief Priest play through them to check the notes and add arrangements was oddly entertaining.

"You should copy these out by hand and give them as your gift."

"Thank you."

I tucked the Chief Priest's handwritten scores into my desk drawer and, watching for the right moment while Rosina was doing paperwork with Fran, began secretly copying them out.

I copied all four pieces, had Lutz punch holes in them, and bound them together with string.

"Done!"

And then, on Earthday at the end of winter, the day of the coming-of-age ceremony arrived.

Deria and Gil worked hard carrying water from early in the morning, and Rosina purified herself. Then she donned the new Gray Priestess attire distributed by the Temple.

The skirt, which had previously been calf-length, was now so long that only the tips of her shoes peeked out, and her hair was pinned up.

"It's a bit of a waste that we won't be able to see Rosina's hair down anymore."

I felt a little sad thinking I'd no longer see her lovely, flowing chestnut hair with its luxurious waves.

Deria watched Rosina pin up her hair with undisguised envy.

"It's not a waste at all! I want to be able to pin mine up soon too."

Unlike Wilma, who pinned hair up neatly and tightly, Rosina's style kept a soft, feminine quality, gathered loosely.

With her already mature-looking features, the moment Rosina pinned up her hair, she transformed into an elegant adult woman. Her slender white neck was exposed, and the sparkling wisps of hair left at her nape gave her an irresistibly alluring look.

"Rosina, you truly are beautiful."

As I sighed in admiration and gazed at Rosina's coming-of-age appearance, she gave a slightly bashful, shy smile.

"Oh, stop! When I become an adult, I'll get even prettier, you know!"

"Yes, you will. Deria will surely become beautiful too."

I smiled wryly at Deria's competitive remark, congratulated Rosina, and sent her off to the coming-of-age ceremony in the chapel.

"Have a good ceremony, Rosina."

"Yes, I'll be back soon, Lady Mine."

Today both the Blue Priests and Gray Priests were being mobilized for the coming-of-age ceremonies, so there was no work assisting the Chief Priest, and with Rosina absent, there was no feushpiell lesson either.

With far too much free time on my hands, I took Fran and Damuel to the orphanage and asked Wilma to make parue cake batter. I didn't intend to teach the recipe to Ella, but when the batter was baked in the basement of the girls' dormitory, the smell would attract the children. So I decided to have the batter prepared in the girls' dormitory and do the actual baking in my room's kitchen.

"Wilma, would you come to my room for Rosina's sake? There are men present, but if they're familiar faces, it should be fine now, right? I think Rosina would be happier if you, who has been with her all along, could celebrate with her too."

"...Yes. I've become somewhat accustomed to interacting with Gray Priests in the dining hall and workshop, so I'll join you for just a short while."

Wilma, carrying the bowl of cake batter, headed back to my room with us. Fran and Damuel's eyes widened in surprise, but Wilma kept a comfortable distance so as not to make them uncomfortable.

"I've just returned, Lady Mine."

"Welcome back, Rosina. I've been waiting for you."

Rosina had finished the coming-of-age ceremony before the Third Bell and returned to my room. I gently took her hand as she came upstairs and guided her to a seat.

"Lady Mine?"

"Rosina, please stay seated."

"But I can't take a seat before my master."

Looking up at Rosina as she politely refused, I wasn't sure what to do, so Fran let out a resigned sigh and pulled out a chair.

"Rosina is right, Lady Mine. If you want Rosina to sit, then please take your seat first."

When I obediently sat down, Rosina sat as well, looking somewhat uncertain. A sweet, delicate scent drifted from the kitchen toward us.

"Wilma?!"

As Rosina stared in wide-eyed surprise, Wilma smiled warmly and set a parue cake down in front of her.

Deria began earnestly pouring tea beside her.

"Today is Rosina's celebration. Lady Mine suggested it, and I baked it."

"...It looks so delicious."

After gazing at the parue cake and the carefully prepared tea, Rosina looked around at everyone gathered around the table, and her blue eyes glistened with tears.

I asked Fran to fetch the scores from my desk.

"This is my gift for you. If you like, practice them and play them for me sometime."

"...I don't know any of these songs. How did you even... Thank you so much, Lady Mine. And for everyone to gather here just for me—I'm truly, truly happy."

Clutching the bound scores I had copied by hand to her chest, Rosina broke into a radiant smile.

"Congratulations on your coming-of-age, Rosina. May the gods' blessings be upon the future you carve out for yourself."

I worked really hard for Rosina's celebration. Well, the Chief Priest did, mostly.

Since he doesn't play a big role in the main story, I won't go into detail, but Leon's server training was essentially completed during the winter.

Next time: the completion of the metal type.