"Hey,
I asked while eating lunch, and Fran furrowed his brows with a troubled expression.
"For the other Blue Priests it might be different, but the Chief Priest already has Attendants stationed at his mansion in the Noble District, so there's not much for us to do. We just stay behind and watch the place. Meals are pretty much the same as usual. He tells us we should take it easy, but with nothing to do we can't settle down, so in the end all the Attendants gather together and talk about work."
The Chief Priest's Attendants all seemed to be serious workaholics. The Chief Priest was trying to give them a bit of a break, and the Attendants were so bored without work that they couldn't relax—a bit of a mismatch that almost brought a stingy tear to my eye.
"I find it more comfortable staying at the
He added those last words quietly, and I gently lowered my eyes. The discrimination must run deep in the Noble District. I was starting to feel a bit reluctant about going there.
As I sipped my post-meal tea with a slurp, I heard the sound of several footsteps approaching from beyond the door. The only rooms past mine were the ones used for the Winter Dedication Ritual, so it had to be someone coming for me.
The Chief Priest burst in with an impatient expression, his voice raised in irritation.
"
"I'm going right now!"
I quickly gulped down my tea, slid off the chair, and hurried out of the room with
For this Starbinding Ceremony, we were supposed to spend the night at the Lord's Castle. Father and Mother had already sent over clothes and accessories and prepared the room for me, so I'd been told there was nothing I really needed to bring. As long as I had the ceremonial outfit of the High Priest, that would be enough.
Rosina rode in the same carriage as the other Attendants, while I boarded the Chief Priest's carriage with the Guard Knights. Dameul and
We passed through the wide-open Noble Gate and traveled by carriage to the castle. Then, after passing through the massive, tall-walled gate deep within the Noble District, we arrived at the Lord's Castle.
The castle sat a little way past the gate. It was made of the same white material as the Noble District and the Temple, giving it a clean, dignified beauty. From the outside, it looked to be three or four stories tall.
Having lived in the Lower Town with its densely packed six- and seven-story buildings, the castle itself didn't look as big as I'd expected. It was probably the lack of height that made it feel less imposing.
But it was wide.
It was so expansive that you'd need a carriage just to get from the gate to the castle—so much space that I felt like you could give some of it to the people of the Lower Town, who all lived crammed into narrow lots. This sheer expanse must be the proof of wealth.
Between the gate and the castle, several buildings of unclear purpose dotted the grounds.
"There are residences for the gardeners and forest managers, as well as farms and orchards. There are also training grounds for the knights and several tea party gardens. The detached wings house the knights' dormitory, the North Wing where you'll be staying, and the West Wing where the Lord's second and third wives will live."
We rode past the knights' training grounds and beautifully maintained gardens and arrived at the entrance on the north side of the castle. The south side's main entrance was for work purposes—where civil officials, knights, and nobles with business for the Lord would come and go. The Lord's family and very private guests were supposed to use the north entrance.
It would indeed be hard to say "I'm home" to civil officials busily hard at work.
While I was looking out from the carriage, I saw Rosina getting out of the Attendants' carriage and having a servant carry several bundles of luggage inside. Rosina was the only one who disembarked, and once the luggage was unloaded, the Attendants' carriage drove off toward the Chief Priest's mansion.
Once Rosina's preparations were done, the door of our carriage opened and Dameul and Brigitte stepped out.
Then the Chief Priest emerged and extended his hand to help me down. Come to think of it, Dameul had tried to escort me like that too. As I was recalling this and lowered my gaze to check my footing, the Chief Priest scolded me in a voice so quiet no one else could hear.
"Don't look down."
"I can't help it. I have to check where I'm putting my feet, or I'll fall."
I whispered back in protest, and the Chief Priest briefly closed his eyes before lifting me up with a swoop and setting me on the ground.
"My apologies."
I beamed and thanked him sweetly, but the Chief Priest's only reply was a sigh.
While I was climbing down from the carriage, I saw the north-side entrance door open and several people come out to greet us. Normally there would be even more people, but I was told that today everyone was extremely busy with the Starbinding Ceremony.
An elderly man who looked like a butler knelt at the front, and everyone else knelt in unison.
"Welcome, Lord
"You may."
"Fire God Liedenschaft, bless the new master. …It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am
Flutters of blue light flew toward me. As I received them, the kneeling man at the front introduced himself as Norbert. I'd thought he looked like a butler, and he apparently was one.
"I am Rozemyne. I look forward to working with you as well."
Norbert finished his greeting and rose to his feet.
"Now then, it is time for the change of Guard Knights."
"A change?"
For some reason, the Guard Knights were to be swapped out right then and there. The suddenness caught me off guard, and as I blinked in confusion, the Chief Priest explained.
"Dameul and Brigitte are unmarried adults, so they must attend the evening banquet following the Starbinding Ceremony. It's almost time for them to change at the knights' dormitory and begin preparing."
"I see."
The evening banquet was probably like the ones in the Lower Town—a place for unmarried adults to find potential marriage partners. After this, apprentice knights who were not yet adults would be assigned as my guards instead.
At Norbert's call, two apprentice knights stood up and stepped forward. One was Cornelius-brother, and the other was a girl who looked about his age. She had pale blue hair and deep blue eyes. Unlike Brigitte, who had a clear air of a female knight about her, Angelica—well, she might pass as a female Attendant, but she didn't look like a knight by any stretch of the imagination. She was a small, slender girl.
"These are Cornelius and Angelica, who will be serving as your guards from now on. You already know Cornelius, so I'll spare the introduction. Please think of Angelica as your guard for the duration of your stay in the Noble District. With her appearance, she's well-suited for escort duty at tea parties and banquets."
From the Chief Priest's words, I could guess she must be skilled, but I simply could not see the lovely, beautiful girl Angelica as a female knight.
With the Guard Knights swapped out, we walked through the castle. Though even then, all I could see were stark white corridors and staircases. Blue carpet had been laid and tapestries hung on the walls to add color, but no one would explain what lay behind any of the doors we passed.
We went up to the second floor and continued walking along the corridor, where I could see a separate wing through the window. The Chief Priest pointed at the building.
"Rozemyne, that building over there is the North Wing."
The North Wing, connected to the main building by a covered walkway on the second floor, would be where I'd be living from now on. I thought we'd head straight for the walkway leading to that wing, but Norbert stopped in front of a door just before it.
"This way, please. Allow me to introduce you to your Attendants."
The two Guard Knights took up positions in front of the door, and I entered with the Chief Priest and Norbert.
The room was like a waiting area with a long sofa, several single chairs, and a table. Inside, a woman stood who was more of a grandmother than an aunt.
The moment I saw her, the Chief Priest's face twitched ever so slightly. What a rare reaction.
"Richalda, is she Rozemyne's…?"
"Yes, Lord
As I compared the Chief Priest and Richalda with my gaze, Norbert introduced her.
"Lady Rozemyne, this woman is Richalda. She is the Head Attendant."
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
I performed the courtesy my mother had drilled into me, and Richalda's face lit up with delight.
"Oh my, what a well-educated young lady Lord
"…Lady?"
"Yes, you've been adopted as the Lord's daughter. It's only natural to be called 'Lady,' isn't it?"
Is it? It didn't suit me at all—and it actually felt even stranger than being called High Priest.
Cold sweat trickled down. Could I really live here, in a place like this?
In front of me, lost in anxious thoughts, Richalda briskly issued instructions.
"Is that the young lady's personal musician? Lord Sylvester told me she's quite skilled. Norbert."
"Yes, Richalda."
"Please take the musician with you. No matter how many people we have today, it won't be enough."
At Richalda's instruction, Norbert crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Then, Richalda, I leave the rest in your hands."
Led by Norbert, Rosina left the room. Apparently she was being taken to where the musicians were rehearsing for the banquet performance.
"Now then, allow me to explain today's schedule."
At Richalda's words, I snapped to attention.
"After this, first comes the bath. Your hair will need to be restyled to the current fashion. After the bath, you'll change and have the formal dinner. Following that, you'll change into the ceremonial outfit and attend the Starbinding Ceremony. The moment the ceremony ends, you'll return to the room, have another bath, and go to sleep. Do you have any questions?"
I'd been thinking it was nothing but changing clothes, but the word "bath" jolted me. I needed to make sure they had the rinse. I hadn't forgotten what had happened when I used regular soap and my hair turned rough and straw-like.
"Um, Richalda. I need a special rinse to wash my hair. Did Mother prepare one? Without it, my hair gets damaged. If it's between damaged hair and a hairstyle that's slightly out of fashion, I'd rather stick with the way it is now."
Richalda's eyes went round at my words, and she let out a little giggle. "Oh my, you do fuss so…"
"Then, consider it a favor from Richalda—won't you go check with Lady
You're sending the Chief Priest on an errand, Grandma Richalda!? And did you just call him "Ferdinand dear"!? The Chief Priest is "Ferdinand dear"!? It doesn't suit him at all!
I carefully averted my gaze from the Chief Priest, suppressing the urge to laugh. If I looked at him, I definitely wouldn't be able to hold back.
"…I can't refuse a request from Richalda. I'll go, but could you please stop calling me 'dear'?"
"When you're married, I won't."
The Chief Priest had completely lost! Amazing, Grandma Richalda! I wanted to roll on the floor right now, pounding it with my fists while howling with laughter.
The Chief Priest seemed to sense what I was thinking. He shot me a frigid glare, then stepped out onto the balcony. He transformed a magic stone into a riding beast, leapt aboard, and took off through the sky.
"He'll be back soon, so shall we wait while enjoying some tea?"
Richalda said this as she swiftly prepared the tea.
"Um, Richalda, if you don't mind my asking—what is your relationship with Lord Ferdinand and my adoptive father?"
"Of course. I served as Lord Karstedt's caretaker when he was young, and afterward I was the Lord's wet nurse. Those two really loved running around, and they could never sit still—it was quite the handful. I've known Lord Ferdinand from when he first came here to be raised as well."
So there was someone who had known all three of them since childhood!
Richalda was a high-ranking noble widow who apparently already had grandchildren. After finishing her work as Sylvester's wet nurse, she had continued to serve as an Attendant. This time, at Sylvester's personal request, she had become my Head Attendant.
…I just hoped this didn't mean the Lord had lost his brakes.
After a while, the Chief Priest returned with a small jar in hand. He stepped down from the balcony, turned his riding beast back into a magic stone, and came inside.
"Richalda."
"Dear, forgive me."
"I keep telling you to stop… Haa, I'm heading to Sylvester's office. I'm leaving Rozemyne in your care."
"Very well."
I watched the rare sight of the Chief Priest retreating with a sour expression, hurrying away as if fleeing, before I was led toward the North Wing.
The North Wing, connected to the main building by a covered walkway, was where the Lord's children lived after completing their
It was decided that males would leave the North Wing upon reaching adulthood. The next Lord would move his room to the main building, while the others would establish residences outside the castle. Females, on the other hand, were allowed to stay until they married.
The moment we entered the North Wing, there was a staircase. I glanced around and spotted Guard Knights standing in front of a door a little further in. That was probably Wilfried's room.
I started looking for
I went up to the third floor, and the room nearest the top of the stairs was mine. The moment I opened the door, I could tell it had been arranged by Mother. It had the same feel as my room at home and the High Priest's chambers—cute, with red and pink flowers everywhere.
"I made it feel just like your room at home, so there shouldn't be too much of an adjustment?"
Richalda said this as she prepared the bath and led me to the bathroom. My clothes were briskly stripped off, and my hair was scrubbed with the rinse.
She apparently just wanted to get the styling product out of my hair first. She scrubbed with the rinse, then rinsed it off generously with hot water. If I opened my mouth, it would be trouble. I endured the vigorous washing like a vegetable being prepped, bracing myself through the splashing.
"Lady Rozemyne is so well-behaved—she's so easy to work with. The others were nothing like this."
The vigorous washing style apparently came from years of doing the same for Father and Sylvester. She squinted fondly, as if reminiscing about old times. There was unmistakable warmth in her eyes, and I felt a little happy.
"Oh my, your hair really is silky smooth! Is this from the rinse?"
"Yes. Once I learned about it, I couldn't stop."
I recommended the rinse to Richalda, who was drying my hair.
"For today's formal dinner, please wear this."
From among the outfits Mother had prepared, Richalda selected an elegant dress. There was the Starbinding Ceremony on top of the formal dinner, so apparently I needed to dress properly.
My hair was once again pasted down with pomade and styled, and a hairpin was inserted. This was the hairpin Mother had ordered from the
"This is also quite rare, isn't it?"
"It was custom-made."
Given that Richalda was eyeing it with such interest, if I—the Lord's daughter—wore it, it would surely become fashionable. "Sorry,
Once I was finished changing, Richalda guided me to the dining hall. Sylvester and the Chief Priest were already seated, engaged in conversation. I was directed to the seat next to the Chief Priest.
"Rozemyne, you're here."
"It's been a while, Father. I have a few questions, if that's all right?"
"Sure."
There, I asked about the date and time for the dinner party at the Italian restaurant. It might already be settled in Sylvester's mind, but I hadn't received any information yet.
"…Tomorrow there'll be cleanup from the ceremony, right? The day after that, the see-off for the newlyweds who are leaving. Then, the day after that. Head to the Temple by the third bell, and arrive at the restaurant by the fourth."
"Understood. Regarding the menu, are there any items you'd like or anything you cannot eat?"
As I asked the questions Benno had asked me to raise,
"Something I've never eaten before."
"…I'm not sure what you've eaten so far, Lord Sylvester?"
"Something like what we had at the Dedication Ritual."
I knew Sylvester liked new and unusual things. The menus we'd settled on so far seemed fine.
Just as the conversation wrapped up, Wilfried entered. He saw me and his expression relaxed with visible relief. He really had been quite worried after all.
Once Wilfried took his seat, Sylvester stood up.
"Everyone's here. Then, let's begin."
With a sharp, lordly expression, Sylvester began speaking—greetings to the gods, details about today's Starbinding Ceremony, and so on.
While he talked, servants bustled about elegantly, carrying large platters and serving portions.
Sylvester had said everyone was here, but Wilfried's sister and brother were nowhere to be seen. Present were only Sylvester, Florencia, Wilfried, myself, and the Chief Priest as a guest.
"Lord Ferdinand, where are the other children?"
"Those who haven't completed their Baptism Ceremony cannot attend."
Apparently, noble children who hadn't been baptized couldn't even eat meals with their families. They weren't allowed to sit with adults until they'd been properly disciplined and learned their manners.
…I thought I wouldn't want to be part of such a family, because I loved eating meals together with mine. It sounded so lonely.
But it seemed I was the only one who felt that way. Everyone here was a noble who had received that kind of education—even Wilfried was sitting properly. He'd been taught that he must not leave the table until the meal was finished.
My own Baptism Ceremony, of course, had ended with a rampage that caused quite the disaster.
Today, the formal dinner started earlier than the sixth bell. It was quite early for supper, but since it was a formal dinner, it was conducted at a leisurely pace. This dinner was the last meal the person getting married would share with their family.
When the meal was over,
"Goodnight, Father, Mother."
"Goodnight, Charlotte. Goodnight, Melchior."
A light embrace and the goodnight greetings were exchanged. Then they left immediately. That was apparently the only moment of physical contact they had. I stared in wide-eyed astonishment at how sparse it was.
"Goodnight, Father, Mother."
Wilfried stood and offered his goodnight greeting. He too would be leaving now. I followed his example, said my goodnight, and headed back to the North Wing together with him.
Wilfried wouldn't be allowed out of his room, but I had to change into the High Priest's ceremonial outfit and head to the Great Hall where the Starbinding Ceremony would be held. As I was thinking about this, at the foot of the staircase, Wilfried murmured softly.
"…I'm glad Rozemyne seems well. I'm sorry."
"Lord Ferdinand gave me healing and medicine, so I'm perfectly fine now. Please don't worry."
Wilfried looked relieved after apologizing and headed to his room. I went upstairs and entered my room. The moment I opened the door, Richalda was waiting with an outfit in her arms.
"Now then, Lady, please change quickly. The bride and groom are arriving one after another."
I wasn't going to make it to the ceremony in time no matter what.
The formidable Grandma Richalda makes her entrance. She's the one person who can keep those three in check.
Next time: The Starbinding Ceremony. For real this time.