"
"Yes."
In addition to Richalda, who had been waiting in the room, there was another attendant—a woman around Mother's age, apparently named Ottilie. The two of them worked together to undress me from my one-piece.
I simply let them do as they pleased. They changed my shoes and dressed me in the High Priest's ceremonial garments. They seemed quite accustomed to dressing children, and both of them worked quickly, so quickly.
These were the same ceremonial clothes that Monica and
When the box holding the complete set of prepared garments was empty, Richalda took a step back from me, looked me over from head to toe, and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "That should be perfect."
Inside the mirror, amid the High Priest's outfit, there was one part that remained completely untouched. I slowly raised my hand and gently touched my hairpin.
"Richalda, the hairpin—could I trouble you to swap it for the one from that family... the one using summer noble colors?"
"This one, I believe."
After having her replace it with the hairpin my family had made for me, the outfit was finally complete.
"Then, shall we go?"
I was led by Richalda as we headed for the grand hall. Naturally, my guard knights
"Hyah!"
"Careful!"
Just after leaving the room, as I was about to descend the stairs, I stepped on my hem and nearly tumbled down. Cornelius caught me with a startled expression.
"Thank you, Brother. Normally I wear knee-length clothes, so I don't really know how to walk in something like this..."
"You simply lift it slightly, like so, and walk, My Lady," Richalda instructed, showing me how to lift the skirt just a little. I had assumed it was forbidden since nobody else was doing it, but apparently it was perfectly fine to raise the hem a bit.
I thought that just might work—when suddenly Richalda's warning flew at me.
"Please be careful not to lift it too high. Your legs will show."
Since I normally wore knee-length clothes, I didn't think showing a bit of ankle was a problem, but... I kept that objection to myself. Richalda was someone who could even best the Chief Priest. There was no way I could win against her.
I lifted my skirt just slightly, being careful not to step on the hem, and waddled along slowly—when Richalda, looking exasperated, stepped in front of me and crouched down.
"My Lady, pardon me."
"Huh?"
Suddenly Richalda scooped me up, and before I could even process what was happening, she was walking at a speed that would put Grandma to shame.
"At your pace, the seventh bell will ring before we reach the grand hall."
It seemed the seventh bell marked the start of the Starbinding Ceremony, and she had determined we would be late at this rate.
I blamed the castle for being far too large. The living quarters in the northern wing were simply too far from the grand hall where official events were held, for a child's legs. On top of that, we had to go all the way around, adding even more distance. I thought carriages really ought to exist for inside buildings.
Richalda carried me nearly all the way to the grand hall, setting me down just before we entered the main floor.
Richalda checked my outfit from every angle for any wrinkles or disorder, all the while telling me what to expect.
"I can only accompany you this far. Walk straight down the carpet and ascend to the stage.
"Yes."
One step past the corridor corner, and I was in the main hall, brightly lit by what appeared to be lamps. In the lower town, even candles were too precious to use, so it was simply taken for granted that everything went pitch-black once the sun set.
But in the Noble District, there were tools like these lamps, and they seemed to be used in great numbers. The light from these lamps wasn't as bright as electricity, but even that modest glow felt quite bright when reflected off the all-white walls surrounding us.
"...It's so bright."
"Maybe there weren't many in the
At Cornelius's explanation, I nodded lightly and pressed forward. The door connecting the hall to the grand hall was thrown wide open, and I could already see a large crowd gathered inside.
"The High Priest has arrived."
The grand hall was as vast and high-ceilinged as a gymnasium. Down the center ran a black carpet edged in gold, and on either side, the families of the brides and grooms and unmarried adult nobles chatted happily.
Exposed to curious stares, I fixed my gaze straight ahead and walked as quickly as I could. Even so, the fact that Cornelius quietly cheered me on with "You're doing great" suggested that to everyone around me, my pace was still quite slow.
Then I ascended to the stage. Since I was lifting my hem, I managed the stairs without stepping on it. I already felt like I had accomplished something monumental.
"Rosemine, come here."
Just as Richalda had said, Sylvester sat on a chair on the stage with a composed expression. Father stood behind him.
I was gestured to take the seat prepared for me and sat down in the chair next to the Lord.
"Rosemine, where is the Holy Book?"
Sylvester asked me with a deeply worried look, and I tilted my head.
"What about the Holy Book?"
"You can't hold the ceremony without the Holy Book, can you? What are you going to do?"
"I have the prayers memorized, and
If anything, I hadn't realized I was supposed to bring the Holy Book. It simply wasn't on the list of "items to prepare for the Starbinding Ceremony" that the Chief Priest had written for me.
At my explanation, Sylvester let out a soft breath.
"...As long as you can give the blessing, that's fine. Besides, I will be the one reciting the myth."
"Oh, is that so."
Once I reached the stage and had a moment to look around, I got the same feeling as looking out from a pulpit into a classroom—the grand hall was laid out before me in full view.
...Ah, there's the Chief Priest.
"It's supposed to be a banquet for finding a marriage partner, yet there are no women anywhere near Ferdinand."
From a distance, I could see women clamoring and swooning, but not a single one dared approach him. Perhaps his notoriously difficult personality was widely known? At this rate, I didn't think he would ever escape Richalda's habit of calling him "little lord."
"At a venue for finding a marriage partner, would it not be foolish to approach a priest everyone knows will never marry?"
At Sylvester's perfectly reasonable point, I nodded in agreement. Then what on earth was he doing wandering around the venue for?
"Do you want Ferdinand to marry quickly, Rosemine? He must be drowning in work at the Temple, being worked to the bone and tormented. That man is harsh, you know."
"No, if anything, it's the opposite. Right now, if Ferdinand were to resign as Chief Priest, the person who'd be in the most trouble would be me. I know it's unfair to Ferdinand, truly, but I'd be ever so grateful if he stayed single at least until I come of age."
Looking around for anyone else I knew, I spotted
"What happens if she can't find someone here?"
"It depends on the family and the circumstances. ...Ah, you mean your guard knight. That would be difficult indeed."
Sylvester turned his gaze toward Brigitte, the wallflower, and furrowed his brow.
"Difficult in what way?"
"For one, her family situation."
According to Sylvester, Brigitte's father had passed away three years ago, and her brother, who had just come of age, had inherited the title. Brigitte had been engaged, but that man and his family had noticed her brother was still young and tried to seize control of the household.
Disgusted by his family, Brigitte broke off the engagement. They were of roughly equal standing, but the other side had more experience and was far more cunning. Brigitte's young and inexperienced brother was apparently still struggling on many fronts.
Though breaking the engagement had prevented the takeover, the fact that it had caused her brother so much hardship left Brigitte deeply distressed.
She wanted to help her brother even a little, and was desperate to ally herself with those in power—that was why Brigitte occasionally visited the lower town, and why she had been the very first to volunteer as my guard knight when no one else wanted the post.
She was the sort of person who, if it meant protecting her family and the livelihood of her people, was willing to go where everyone else refused—the lower town.
As I listened, feeling tears welling up, Sylvester looked at me and opened his eyes wide.
"Why are you crying!? Where in that story is there anything worth crying about? It's a perfectly ordinary tale!"
"B-but..."
I'm just weak when it comes to stories about family bonds. Especially now.
When the patriarch—the backbone of the family—passed away, the family's life fell into hardship overnight. It was the same in the lower town. Especially when the heir was still too young to take over.
"I had no idea Brigitte was going through all that... Adoptive Father, Father, what can I do for Brigitte?"
"If she could form even a modest connection with a better family, things might change somewhat, but given her temperament, I think it would be difficult. ...She cares greatly about appearances, yet she's a bit off in her own way. You can see it just from today's outfit, can't you?"
At Sylvester's words, I took a closer look at Brigitte.
There were many women around her wearing similar outfits, so I could tell she was dressed in the latest fashion, but the clothes simply didn't suit Brigitte very well.
"She's following the trends because she cares about appearances, but wearing something that doesn't suit her cuts her charm in half."
Honestly, I thought she looked far more impressive and attractive in her usual knight attire.
"She's large and sturdy, so women's clothing simply doesn't suit her," Sylvester said.
"That's not true at all. If you consider the cut and the color, there are outfits that would suit Brigitte perfectly. They might not be what's trendy, but..."
"Then you should just create the trend yourself. A woman's marriageable age is short. By the time she's twenty, people will say she's missed her chance."
...Create a trend? That's another impossible ask.
Puffing out my cheeks, I pondered outfits that would suit Brigitte while scanning the room further. It wasn't just Brigitte—
As I looked around, I spotted Brother
"Brother is surrounded by women. Won't he be able to marry by next year?"
"I expect he'll be single a while longer. The girl he exchanged vows with at the Noble Academy is from another territory and hasn't come of age yet. Even after she does, if her family won't allow it, the marriage won't happen."
Father told me this quietly. Apparently, Brother Lamprecht had a sweetheart in another territory. A long-distance romance? Huh? What did "family circumstances" mean? Romeo and Juliet? I wanted to hear more details. I had no romantic prospects of my own, so other people's love stories were the best.
"Brother
"He's been wanting me to find him a second wife for a while now, but it seems it'll take a bit longer."
"Huh!? Nobody told me!"
Brother Eckhart had been married once before and had lost his wife. I realized I knew far too little about my new family.
"She's still sensitive, so we don't bring it up much at home. Rosemine, please refrain from mentioning it as well."
"Understood..."
As startling new information poured out one after another, I continued searching for Damuel. But he was buried in the crowd and impossible to pick out. He had to be somewhere, but I simply couldn't find him.
Just as I was earnestly searching for Damuel, the seventh bell rang out.
Sylvester rose swiftly, flipping his mantle as he stepped forward.
"We shall now begin the Starbinding Ceremony. Brides and grooms, approach!"
Eight pairs of brides and grooms filed into the grand hall. Compared to the lower-town ceremony held that morning, the fabrics were far more luxurious and the designs completely different, but each still wore the noble colors of the season they were born in.
Clad in garments of every hue, the brides and grooms walked forward at even intervals. Cheers and applause filled the air, congratulatory words were called out, and joy overflowed from every corner.
Once the couples lined up before the stage, Sylvester began reciting the myth in a clear, resonant voice. Given what I had seen in the Holy Book, he was considerably condensing it, but he had clearly memorized it all. The previous High Priest really had been hopeless.
When the myth of the Darkness God and the Light Goddess concluded, Sylvester called out the names of this year's brides and grooms.
"Baron Gratz's son, Bernedett, and Baron Bron's daughter, Raguetta."
The called couple ascended to the stage. Sylvester confirmed their intent to marry, then handed them the pen from the magical tool that had been used during my adoption. The moment they both signed the documents, a golden flame engulfed them, and the contract vanished.
Eight contract documents burned in gold before disappearing entirely, and a great cheer rose up.
"Let the High Priest give her blessing to the newlyweds."
Finally, my turn. I stood and walked—slowly—to take my place beside Sylvester.
"Do a bit more than last time," Sylvester whispered from above. So he was shouldering his part of the Saint's Legend too. I channeled a bit more magic power into my ring than I had at the Temple.
I exhaled slowly, breathed in again, raised my hands, and began to pray.
"O supreme divine couple who govern the lofty and vast sky—the Darkness God and the Light Goddess—hear my prayer and bestow your blessing upon the birth of this new union. I offer you their devotion, their prayers, and their gratitude. Grant them your sacred protection."
As I prayed for the blessing of the supreme divine couple, a swirl of golden light and black light spiraled up from my ring, just as it had at the Temple, soaring toward the ceiling. Then the gold and black twisted together, overlapped, and burst.
Every last wisp became tiny particles of light that scattered and rained down upon the brides and grooms.
"Ohh..."
An awed murmur rippled through the grand hall.
Then, after a single beat, the hall erupted in cheers.
Judging from the expressions of wonder and joy on the faces of every couple present, I could safely say my blessing had been a success.
"The High Priest will now depart. Blessings to the young High Priest who gave such a grand blessing!"
At Sylvester's voice, every person in the hall pulled out a glowing baton, infused it with magic power, and raised it high—like concert-goers waving glow sticks. The sight was beautiful, but knowing it was all directed at me was almost unbearably embarrassing.
Walking through that with composure would be nothing short of penance. Overcome with mortification, I wanted nothing more than to flee, so I hurried out of the grand hall as quickly as I could.
As I departed, the doors to the grand hall closed behind me. From here on, it would be an adults-only banquet.
Having completed my duty and let my guard down—combined with the fact that I normally would have been asleep by now—my body grew incredibly heavy all at once.
"Rosemine, are you alright?"
"Brother Cornelius, I'm about at my limit."
Cornelius, who knew I would slip into unconsciousness at any moment, quickly scooped me up. Though he said our builds were different, he still wasn't that strong yet.
"Sorry, Angelica. Could you run ahead and fetch Richalda?"
"Got it."
The instant Angelica leaned forward, she vanished at tremendous speed. And she was back almost immediately.
"Richalda is on her way."
"Thank you, Angelica."
When Richalda arrived, called by Angelica, she came bustling in saying "Oh my, oh my" and lifted me effortlessly with a "there we go," then strode off briskly toward my room.
"My Lady is small and so well-behaved, making her a pleasure to carry," she said.
This was the same Richalda who had once physically hauled away the Sylvester trying to escape to the teacher's office, and who had dragged him out of bed when he mumbled "I don't want to work" first thing in the morning. She was clearly quite strong.
As I listened to these stories and swayed gently in her arms, we finally reached my room.
"My Lady, you won't be able to sleep without a bath first."
I wanted to fall asleep immediately, but leaving hair oil in and going to bed was apparently absolutely unacceptable to Richalda.
With Ottilie helping, the two of them stripped off my outfit and put me in the bath. I rested my head on the edge of the tub and soaked in the warm water while they both washed my hair with Rinshan. The warm water made me sleepier and sleepier.
"My Lady, please stay with me."
"Mm..."
After getting out of the tub, I was anointed with something like fragrant oil and massaged, by which point I had completely lost consciousness.
"My Lady. Rosemine. Please wake up."
"Okaay..."
Drowsy and wobbly, I had the oil rinsed out with water one more time, was dried off, and dressed.
Supported on both sides, I finished my bath and at last managed to crawl into bed—only to come down with a fever the very next day and be bedridden.
"Nnngh... Ferdinand, my head hurts..."
"So you did collapse after all."
As soon as breakfast was over, the Chief Priest came to check on me. I was technically supposed to return to the Temple that morning, but with my packed schedule, he had suspected I might have keeled over. Completely right on the mark.
"What are you so calm about, Young Master Ferdinand!"
Having raised nothing but absurdly healthy children like Father and Adoptive Father, Richalda was panicked by my sudden fever, which seemed to have come out of nowhere for no good reason. As a result, her voice kept getting sharper.
At Richalda's reproachful tone, the Chief Priest merely shrugged and offered up his usual medicine.
"She was busy the entire day. It was obvious she'd be bedridden for several days. Give her this, let her sleep, and that's that."
"'Let her sleep and that's that'? If you knew she'd be bedridden, why didn't you take preventive measures beforehand!?"
She demanded, in effect, that he put that brilliant mind of his to work precisely in moments like these—a rather unreasonable request. Perhaps Sylvester's own outrageous demands had been shaped by growing up under Richalda.
"Richalda, Rosemine's frailty is not something that can be prevented in advance. If it could, I would have done so already."
Normally, the Chief Priest would have shut things down with a single "Silence," but here he was, holding his forehead and making an apologetic face as he explained himself to Richalda. He truly could not beat her.
I reached out from the bed and tugged gently at Richalda's skirt.
"Richalda, please don't be angry with Ferdinand. He did prepare my medicine properly. ...It's just that he still hasn't fixed how terribly bitter it is, so he's being a little mean about that part."
"Oh my. Then please, drink your medicine and stay quiet."
Richalda smiled softly as she held out the medicine the Chief Priest had handed her. A small bottle containing a green liquid wobbled in her fingers.
I opened the cap, and the concentrated smell of the medicine hit my nose. Memories of its indescribable bitterness—the countless times I had been forced to drink it—flooded my mind.
I faltered for a moment, but steeled myself and poured the medicine into my mouth in one gulp. With this medicine, drinking it fast actually caused less suffering.
"Huh? It's not that bitter?"
It was still bitter. But it wasn't the writhing-on-the-floor, utterly helpless bitterness I had endured before.
When I tilted my head in confusion, the Chief Priest glared at me.
"I improved it. Apparently my being mean wasn't necessary after all..."
"...Ah, um. ...As expected of Ferdinand. Brilliant and kind as well. Heh heh heh heh..."
Guh, his stare hurt.
To escape the Chief Priest's piercing gaze, I quickly dove under the covers.
The Starbinding Ceremony went off without a hitch.
Damuel didn't seem to find anyone. Maybe next year... if that's even possible?
Next time, we visit an Italian restaurant.