The moment I opened my eyes, I was greeted with a full course of scolding. Starting with
...But I really wished they'd skip the scolding-that-came-in-the-form-of-visits-while-I-was bedridden with a fever. Just let me sleep.
Of all the lectures, Damuel's was the longest and most intense. Apparently he'd been terrified that the Higher Priest would judge him as a knight who couldn't follow his superior's orders, since I—the person he'd been assigned to guard—had simply collapsed. He'd scolded me with tears in his eyes, saying, "I truly felt like I might be executed this time. I can't even describe how awful it was."
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I'll go ahead and apologize now, but I'm planning to start actual printing soon, so I expect something similar will happen frequently."
"You haven't reflected on this at all, Shrine Maiden Apprentice!"
"I am reflecting—on the fact that I need to build up my stamina so I won't collapse again."
"That's the wrong thing to be reflecting on!"
Everyone scolded me so relentlessly that the excitement over the metal type wore off quickly, and my fever subsided faster than I'd expected.
But even after my fever went down, the scolding continued. Sick of hearing the same things over and over, I found myself wanting to go home. The snow was gradually melting and carriages could move again, so I figured it should be fine to return soon.
"I just want to go home already..."
To go home, I first needed to write a letter requesting an audience with the Chief Priest. But just as I was thinking about that, a letter arrived from the Chief Priest requesting a meeting. Not that the Chief Priest would come to my room—it was an invitation asking me to suggest a convenient date and time.
"Fran, it's rare for something to arrive from the Chief Priest, so it must be urgent. I'd like to meet as soon as possible, but when should I say? I'm free starting right now."
"Even if you're free now, it would be troublesome for the Attendants preparing the reception. Tomorrow should be fine, I think."
Fran said this with a wry smile, so I wrote back agreeing to tomorrow.
"Should I bring some kind of gift? They sent me a get-well gift too, didn't they?"
Under the guise of a get-well visit, the Chief Priest had brought in a massive amount of food. Since the snow was already starting to melt and I was thinking of going home soon, I no longer had any use for it. I planned to move about half of it to the orphanage basement when I left.
"I think bringing some of the sweets we've been making here would be appropriate. The Chief Priest seemed quite fond of the cookies."
"Then what about the pudding I made the other day?"
When Turi came to visit, I'd attempted both pudding and ice cream. The result? I was reminded that ice cream is meant to be eaten in hot weather. The ice cream eaten by the kotatsu was tasty, but eating it in front of the hearth gave me the impression of "cold" more than "delicious"—it just made me chilly.
"Well... pudding can be enjoyed once you get used to that texture, but it does make people hesitate before putting it in their mouths. I don't think it's the most suitable gift for someone trying it for the first time."
They don't really have steamed dishes here, so
"Then let's have Ella bake the cookies that the Chief Priest liked so much."
The gift was settled on cookies. I decided to prepare two varieties: plain cookies and cookies made with tea leaves mixed in. My personal favorites.
With the gift decided, I could focus on the printing press design. Since the early printing presses had originally been modified from grape presses used for making wine, I figured it could be relatively easy to build one here too. The problem was that I didn't remember the precise measurements or structure.
"Let's see, you need something to apply the ink, right? Something with a handle like this, and a leather surface stretched over here... And there's a place to set it on the side like this, and a spot for placing the paper like this... The place to set the assembled type was something like this...?"
I desperately tried to dig through my memories, but everything was far too vague to be called a design. Even if I could explain the general idea, there was no way I'd remember specific measurements. I'd just have to measure as I went and write everything down.
"Chief Priest, do you think he could use that Magical Tool that searches memories?"
While I muttered to myself at the desk, the Attendants busied themselves with their respective tasks.
"Good morning, Chief Priest."
Along with my greeting, I thanked him for the get-well gift and handed over the cookies. His expression barely changed as he said, "Sorry for the trouble," so I couldn't tell if he was actually pleased or not.
"
At the Chief Priest's call, Arno brought out a plate and set it on the table. Fran opened the bag of cookies and arranged them on the plate. Fran then took out the cups she'd brought from the room, and Arno poured tea from the same pot into both the Chief Priest's and my cups.
"Please, Lady Mine."
Arno smoothly brought the plate of cookies in front of me. Not understanding what was expected of me, I looked toward the Chief Priest.
"The proper etiquette among nobility is for the guest to open what they've brought on the spot, and for the guest themselves to taste it first as a poison check. ...I thought you should know, since it's likely an unfamiliar custom to you."
...Poison check? How terrifying.
Since I'd brought the food myself, I could eat it without hesitation, but hearing that kind of thing made me dread eating or drinking anywhere else.
"You may not touch the tea until the host has taken a sip first."
After the Chief Priest drank from his cup—poured from the same pot—and I ate one cookie, we could each reach for whatever we fancied.
Just as Fran had said, the Chief Priest seemed to genuinely love the cookies. His expression didn't change, but the cookies disappeared a bit faster than everything else.
For a while, we talked about inoffensive topics—the weather, reports on the orphanage. And then, after enjoying a full cup of tea, he gradually steered the conversation toward the real purpose of the meeting. I liked to think I'd gotten at least a little accustomed to noble customs.
"Um, Chief Priest. I was thinking of going home soon..."
Before I could finish with "Would that be all right?", the Chief Priest set down his cup and shut the idea down immediately.
"No."
"...What?"
Even though the snow was gradually melting, I couldn't understand why my request to go home was being refused, and I tilted my head.
The Chief Priest stood with a click. After surveying the room once, he headed toward the bed.
"Come here."
This apparently wasn't a conversation he wanted the Attendants to hear. I quietly set my cup on the table and stood, following the Chief Priest through the door he opened.
I sat in my usual long chair, and the Chief Priest took a seat as well.
"Is it something you don't want the Attendants to hear?"
"...That's right. I'd prefer as few people as possible to know about this."
After saying that, the Chief Priest slowly took a breath.
"The truth is, I received word the other day that
At the word "died," I involuntarily swallowed. But since I had no idea who this was important person was, I slowly tilted my head.
...Who's Wolf?
"You have absolutely no idea, do you."
"Um, Chief Priest, forgive me for asking, but who exactly is Wolf? The name sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it..."
Even after hearing the name, no face came to mind, so I figured they couldn't be someone I knew well. The Chief Priest spoke as if it were obvious for him to know this person, so they had to be someone important, but I drew a complete blank.
The Chief Priest stared at me in disbelief, then let out an exaggerated sigh.
"...Wolf was the president of the Ink Association."
"The president of the Ink Association? That suspicious person?"
Speaking of the president of the Ink Association, they were the one who'd been snooping around for information about me and pestering Lutz—the very reason I'd ended up shut away in the
"...He's passed away?! Why?!"
"You're slow on the uptake!"
The Chief Priest and Karstedt had apparently been investigating which noble had ordered Wolf to investigate me, and how much of the dark rumors were true. However, just as they'd narrowed it down to a few suspects, Wolf suddenly died.
"Wolf had apparently heard from somewhere that a Commoner Shrine Maiden Apprentice was serving as Workshop Head."
The Chief Priest emphasized the "from somewhere" part. Come to think of it, he'd mentioned before that my background wasn't widely known among the nobility. The number of people who knew would be quite limited.
"He seemed to be searching for various information—whether this Workshop Head truly had a connection to Benno, what they looked like, and so on. But you were quickly shut away in the Temple. And on top of that, you were originally frail and didn't have much interaction with those around you, correct? The results of his investigation were apparently not very productive."
My heart skipped a beat at the Chief Priest's words. A noble had hired Wolf to gather information on me, the results were unsatisfactory, and the Chief Priest and Karstedt had begun investigating the connections—and right at that moment, Wolf died. The ominous feeling was hard to shake.
"...Was Wolf's death the work of a noble?"
"Most likely."
The Chief Priest nodded slowly, but without hesitation.
Anything deemed an obstacle was disposed of immediately. To nobles, Commoners were simply not equals. I'd known that, but having it thrust so abruptly and matter-of-factly before my eyes made me shudder. I hugged myself and rubbed my upper arms where goosebumps had formed.
"...So a noble is targeting me?"
"Various nobles are certainly targeting you, but very few know who specifically is doing so and for what purpose."
The Chief Priest's words made me tremble.
"Nobles in charge of rural territories are all mobilizing for the upcoming Spring Prayer. The most troublesome thing would be if you were taken out of the city. I want you to remain sheltered in the Temple until the number of nobles in the city has decreased somewhat. Once the noble population thins out, it'll be easier to keep track of their movements."
"...Yes."
It wasn't that I could never go home. Comforting myself with that thought, I agreed to remain in the Temple until the Spring Prayer.
"Also, I must inform your family about the extended stay and the matter of your adoption. Give them this."
"...Understood."
Obviously I couldn't casually mention to Turi or my father—who'd come as my helpers—that I was going to be adopted as a noble's daughter. I'd planned to discuss it properly once I got home, but it seemed the Chief Priest would be broaching the subject before I could leave.
I stared at the invitation the Chief Priest had handed me and sighed.
"I'm sure you understand, but don't speak to anyone about Wolf or the adoption matter. Not all of your Attendants can be trusted."
I couldn't argue with that.
I had the Chief Priest's invitation delivered to my parents through Lutz. Lutz said, "They're summoning you from the Chief Priest's office? What on earth did you do?" but it wasn't the kind of thing I could casually explain. I kept the adoption matter secret and simply sighed.
"The Spring Prayer isn't over yet, so I can't go home. It's about that."
That was something I could share publicly. In fact, I needed to explain it to the Attendants properly or it would cause problems with daily life.
"Well, what about food?"
"The market should be opening soon, and there's still food left from the Chief Priest's get-well gift, right?"
The food the Chief Priest had brought during his visit had apparently been a thoughtful gesture to ensure I could remain sheltered in the Temple even into spring.
Three days after I sent Lutz home with the invitation, my parents arrived. I waited in the meeting room near the gate and saw my mother for the first time in what felt like ages.
Her unchanging smile and her belly—so large she could give birth at any moment—sent a rush of warmth surging through me.
"Mom..."
"Lady Mine, this is not your private chamber. ...I understand your feelings, but please consider your position."
Fran pressed down on my shoulder with a troubled expression. My mother, who had been reaching out, quietly lowered her hand, and my father placed an arm around her shoulder comfortingly.
"Allow me to guide you."
Fran took the lead, I followed behind her, and my parents came after.
As I walked, fighting the urge to look back, something gently stroked my head. The soft touch—different from my father's—made my cheeks relax. When I tried to turn around, pressure was applied to my fingers, as if saying "face forward."
The silent exchange of hands—pulled away just before Fran could turn around—was delightful. Taking turns with a large, rough hand, the wordless contact continued all the way to the Chief Priest's room.
"Good morning, Chief Priest."
"We've come in response to your invitation. What is this about?"
When my father rendered a soldier's salute, the Chief Priest nodded lightly and offered them seats. Across the table, a long chair and two individual chairs had been prepared. Normally, the parents would sit in the long chair while the Chief Priest and I each took an individual chair.
My mother sat down gingerly in the long chair, her large belly making it somewhat difficult, and my father gently helped her.
"All of you, step back."
As soon as the tea was brought in, the Chief Priest dismissed everyone. On top of that, he used a Magical Tool that defined an area to set up what amounted to a soundproof barrier.
My father looked around uneasily.
"Wh-what is this?"
"This prevents voices from leaking out. Mine, the Attendants have been dismissed, so you may sit between your parents. You've held back long enough, haven't you?"
The Chief Priest explained the barrier to my father while pushing me—still standing, unable to decide where to sit—toward my parents.
"Thank you, Chief Priest."
I sat down beaming between my parents, looked at their faces one after the other, then quietly hugged my mother.
"Mom, it's been so long. I missed you. And look at you—you've gotten so big, you could give birth at any time!"
"Not yet. It'll get a little bigger."
"Really?"
I rubbed my mother's swollen belly, was held in her embrace, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"...You seem satisfied. Shall we begin the discussion?"
"Yes."
I turned my face toward the Chief Priest sitting across from me and straightened up.
"Then let me skip the roundabout pleasantries and get straight to the point. Understood?"
Having dealt with me before, the Chief Priest apparently understood that pleasantries with Commoners were pointless, so he skipped all the noble-style formalities entirely.
"Mine will remain in the Temple's care until the Spring Prayer is over."
"Wait a moment. Why is that? It was only supposed to be for the winter."
As my father leaned forward, the Chief Priest spoke with an expression so flat it looked cold.
"Because now is the most dangerous time."
The brief, quiet answer told my father that the situation was serious. He straightened his expression and clenched his fist tightly on his knee.
"How is it dangerous, exactly?"
After telling my father that this was absolutely not to be repeated outside this room, the Chief Priest explained the various things nobles had been doing in relation to me from autumn through spring. It was all stuff I'd already been told.
"Mine's Magic Power far exceeded my expectations. For this city, which suffers from a shortage, it is incredibly valuable magic. That is precisely why certain nobles desire it, and certain others find it troublesome."
Hearing that I was being targeted by nobles for various reasons turned both my parents' faces deathly pale, and I could feel their hands on my back trembling slightly.
"The greatest problem right now is if Mine is taken out of the city. To prevent that, various changes were made to how nobles pass through the gates.
My father, caught completely off guard, stared wide-eyed at the Chief Priest.
"...Yes, I'm aware. There have been significant changes to noble travel procedures. The Knight's Order..."
"Ah, the one who would likely try to take Mine would be someone of noble rank—whether from this territory or another, there's no way of knowing yet. That is why, through the Knight's Order, we petitioned the Lord to impose restrictions on noble movement."
Over the winter, the Chief Priest and Karstedt had apparently been busy—mobilizing the Knight's Order, imposing restrictions on noble passage, and making various other moves.
"Could those changes have been made for Mine's sake?"
"There are a few other reasons as well, but the only reason I can share with you is Mine's protection. Besides, that should be enough for you to know."
My father nodded slowly and relaxed ever so slightly.
"The nobles in this territory will also head to their respective lands for the Spring Prayer. Once that happens, the noble population in this city will decrease, and we'll be able to keep a closer eye on things. Until then, I need you to bear the separation. ...It's for your daughter's sake."
The Chief Priest's words were earnest and carried weight. Perhaps the best way to describe it was that he was accustomed to commanding and moving people. As someone who'd served under others in the Knight's Order, my father was accustomed to following orders from those in command, and he responded with a salute.
"I'm deeply grateful for your extraordinary consideration. But why go to such lengths for Mine...?"
"Didn't I say? Magic Power is what's needed right now. If Mine would agree to become a noble's adopted daughter, none of this trouble would be necessary."
The Chief Priest let out a deliberate sigh. My father's eyes went wide in shock, and my mother's grip tightened.
"Adopted daughter?!"
"Gunther, what do you think about Mine becoming a noble's adopted daughter immediately?"
"..."
The sound of my father clenching his teeth rang out. He gripped my hand so tightly it hurt, unwilling to let go. Even without saying a word, his answer was clear.
"The parents and child give the same answer, then..."
The Chief Priest murmured, "I had hoped that if the parents released her, perhaps she'd give in a little..."
"Mine also insisted that she couldn't bear to leave her family, so I've granted a grace period until she turns ten. However, since her Magic Power is far too dangerous for a Commoner's Self-Eating, she will become a noble's adopted daughter at age ten. This is a final decision."
"What..."
Being told this was decided without any parental consent, my parents stiffened as if struck. The Chief Priest who said he wanted to protect me was simultaneously declaring he'd make me a noble's adopted daughter unilaterally—they didn't know what attitude to take.
"Uncontrollably excessive Magic Power is dangerous to the individual and to everyone around them. If it's determined that leaving her here is dangerous, Mine will be disposed of."
"Disposed of?!"
"It's only natural for those who protect the city to eliminate dangers, isn't it? As a soldier, you should understand."
My father couldn't possibly believe his own daughter was such a dangerous person, and he looked at me in bewilderment. My mother, too, furrowed her brows with a sorrowful expression.
"In order to avoid that outcome, Mine must learn techniques to control her Magic Power. That is the purpose of the adoption. Until she turns ten and must enter the Noble Academy, she can remain with her family. After that, nothing you say will change anything. Noble adopted daughter or execution—one of the two will happen."
"...Age ten."
At the deadline of just over two years, my father murmured in a daze. The Chief Priest slowly exhaled.
"The family adopting her is one I have a close relationship with. I will ensure she is not treated poorly. I promise you that."
At those words, my mother looked up as if struck. After gazing steadily at the Chief Priest, she nodded.
"...I understand. I'd like to entrust Mine to the Chief Priest."
"
Despite my father's startled voice, my mother kept her eyes fixed on the Chief Priest, not looking away.
"This winter, when I learned that Mine would have to stay in the Temple, I couldn't imagine she could endure it given how frail she is. But according to Turi, Mine has been getting along well thanks to everyone's support. It must be thanks to your care."
Having been forbidden from going to the Temple, my mother had no choice but to hear updates from my father and Turi. Yet she said that the fact I'd made it through the winter without being bedridden and unable to fulfill my duties was entirely because everyone had looked after me so well.
"Effa, you...! But still, an adopted daughter..."
As my father tried to protest, my mother quietly reached out and placed her hand over his mouth. After lowering her gaze once, she slowly shook her head.
"No, Gunther. Think about it carefully. At ten, some children already live away from home as apprentices. I would rather Mine not become a target for disposal as a dangerous entity. Being abducted by nobles who don't truly know her would be far more life-threatening in my view. The Chief Priest has been sincere in his dealings with us all this time. If she must leave our hands, I want her to be with someone we can trust."
My mother turned to the Chief Priest and crossed her hands over her chest.
"Chief Priest, please take care of Mine."
At my mother's words, my father's shoulders dropped in acceptance. Then he brought his right fist to his left chest twice in a soldier's salute. And so, with the parents' approval, it was decided that I would become an adopted daughter at age ten.
"I really don't want to turn ten..."
Even knowing it was for my own good, an indescribable loneliness pierced my chest. Trying to shake off the clinging sense of melancholy, I held onto my mother for a long while.
The extension of my stay at the Temple and the adoption matter were officially decided.
Next time: Spring Prayer Preparation Edition.