The move from the castle to the
"Well, this shouldn't be a problem."
By the time my fever finally dropped in the evening, I was mounted on the Chief Priest's steed with
"Damuel, did you find a partner?"
I asked about his results, since he hadn't managed to find anyone at the venue the night before. Damuel's brow furrowed slightly as he shook his head.
"...No, I'm afraid not. Even though I've been appointed as Lady
True enough, it would be hard to consider Damuel as a marriage candidate while he spent a year demoted to apprentice knight. He had become the guard knight of the Lord's adopted daughter, so the noble ladies really should have reserved him before his punishment was lifted. With the blessing effect boosting his Magic Power—something precious to nobles—he was quite the bargain.
"Well then, I look forward to next year."
"I can't say I'm feeling very optimistic, but I intend to do my very best. ...How about Brigitte?"
Having witnessed Brigitte's behavior at the venue, I cautiously glanced in her direction. When our eyes met, Brigitte quickly lowered her gaze.
"...I once had a broken engagement after my father died. I probably won't find anyone next time either."
Brigitte's rigid, strained expression made me want to do something for her all the more.
Stepping through the Noble Gate and returning to the Temple,
"Welcome back."
"Fran, how did you—I didn't even send word..."
"I could see a steed flying in from the direction of the Noble Gate."
Fran said this as though it were the most natural thing in the world, but I was sure he had been watching intently the whole time.
*What a model Attendant*, I thought as I looked up at Fran, only to see him furrow his brow slightly and kneel. He squinted to peer at my face, then knit his brows even further.
"...Lady Rozemyne, you don't appear to be looking well."
"Do I not? I took the medicine and the fever has gone down."
As I touched my face and hand to check my temperature, the Chief Priest gave a slight shrug.
"Fran's assessment is more accurate than your own words. Fran, put Rozemyne to bed. Don't let her do anything else today."
"Understood."
Before I could even get a word in, the two of them had already made up their minds. If this continued, I would be forcibly tossed into bed.
As Fran carried me back to my room, I pleaded with him.
"Fran, I need you to send a messenger to the
"Please do it tomorrow."
Fran shook his head, using the Chief Priest's words as a shield. While it was true that I wasn't feeling well, I had things that needed doing, and this was a problem.
"It's urgent. The date for my adoptive father to visit the restaurant has been decided. I need to let them know the date and time."
"That can wait until tomorrow."
At Fran's unyielding response, I pursed my lips in a pout.
"My adoptive father and my father will both be stopping by the Temple before heading to the restaurant, so I'll report to you tomorrow as well, Fran."
Fran's shoulders twitched. The moment it became his problem too, his expression turned to one of barely contained anxiety.
"Hey, Fran. Can you guess when they might arrive? If it's too sudden, the preparations for receiving them will be difficult."
"Understood. I'll send the messenger. However, only a letter—please refrain from meeting in person. ...So, when are they arriving?"
"The day after tomorrow."
Fran's eyes went wide, and he hurried back to the room at a brisk pace. If they wanted to prepare properly for receiving the Lord—confirming tea preferences, preparing refreshments—the current stock might not be of sufficient quality.
"Lady Rozemyne, once you've written the letter, please go straight to rest."
"Yes, I know."
With Fran's permission, I quickly wrote a letter to
"
"Understood."
With Monica's help, I changed into my night clothes and got into bed. She also warned me that I absolutely must not come out before the dinner.
"Monica, how was the festival at the orphanage? Did the children all enjoy themselves?"
"Yes. This year,
As I lounged in bed listening to Monica tell me about everything that had happened during my absence, Gil returned from his errand with a reply.
"Everything is already prepared. Just come anytime!" ...or so the message said.
As he spoke, Gil handed me a letter from Benno. Relieved by Benno's characteristically dependable words, I opened the letter.
It informed me that the Guild Master and Frieda would be participating as co-investors in the dinner. The two of them knew that Mine and Rozemyne were the same person. The letter said I should inform the Lord of this beforehand.
The next day, since I still wasn't feeling well, Fran forbade me from going to either the Head's office or the Library and kept me confined to bed.
After several negotiations with Fran about how I couldn't rest without books, I managed to get him to bring me books from the Library, and I spent the day lounging around reading. It was a blissful day.
In the evening, Leon came to pick up the natural yeast, and
On the day of the dinner, I had heard that
I had been practicing with
"Please keep to the agreed-upon time, Adoptive Father."
"Rozemyne is right. How many times do I have to tell you we have schedules to keep!?"
"Fine, fine. As long as we arrive at the restaurant on time, there shouldn't be a problem."
Sylvester brushed it off lightly, while Father sighed behind him, muttering, "I've actually been holding back quite a bit." From behind Father, Brother
Since Father would be sitting down for the meal as well, additional guards were deemed necessary, so Brother Eckhart had been slated to come as a guard from the start. But there hadn't been any plan for Brother Cornelius to come.
"Brother Cornelius, you're joining us too?"
"I'm Rozemyne's guard knight as well."
He stood with his hands on his hips, chest slightly puffed out, wearing a stern expression, but his face practically screamed, "This looks like fun—don't leave me out."
As I furrowed my brows and looked at Brother Eckhart, he was glancing down at Brother Cornelius with a teasing look, as if to say, "Guards take turns eating, so apparently he's also serving as my replacement."
It seemed Brother Cornelius had more or less forced his way along.
"Well, he's here now, so there's nothing to be done. Host him here. Rozemyne, he's your family."
"But Adoptive Father, you're the Chief Priest's family too, aren't you?"
"...I'll take him after the meal."
"Understood."
While Fran served tea, I left Adoptive Father and the brothers to look around the room—"So this is Rozemyne's room. Not that different from the rooms at the mansion"—and immediately set about writing a letter to Benno.
I needed to inform them of the change in the number of guards. The ingredients had been prepared with a buffer, so one extra person shouldn't be a problem, but having advance notice versus not would make a difference in their preparation.
I also wrote down what everyone would roughly be wearing, asking that the Guild Master and Frieda be informed as well. It would be best if everyone followed the same dress code. Being the only one sticking out would be extremely uncomfortable.
"Rosina, please give this to the person who comes to pick it up."
"Understood."
Rosina was serving as the musician for the dinner, playing the feschpil throughout the meal. She would be heading to the restaurant one step ahead of us when the third bell rang, as a carriage from the Gilberta Company was arranged to pick her up. The light blue dress Benno had purchased for today's occasion suited her very well.
"Then, Lady Rozemyne. I'll be on my way."
Before the third bell had even rung, Rosina departed with an elegant smile, escaping from this room packed with high-ranking nobles.
Nicola, who had been in a mild panic despite having heard about it in advance, watched Rosina's departure with envy.
"Nicola, please serve cookies to everyone. ...Taste them first and pick the best ones, please."
"Yes!"
As Nicola, lured by the prospect of tasting, headed off to the kitchen with a smile, I suppressed a wry laugh and went over to Sylvester, who was savoring the tea Fran had prepared for him.
"Adoptive Father, allow me to brief you on the guest list for today's dinner beforehand."
I informed him that the Guild Master and Frieda would be attending, that both of them knew Mine and Rozemyne were the same person, and that Benno had asked me to let him know in advance.
"Hmm. Shrewd merchants, those two. ...Very well. I'll decide how to treat them once I've seen their faces."
Even though it was before lunch, Sylvester was popping cookie after cookie into his mouth while declaring, "These are delicious"—cookies that Nicola had served. Brother Cornelius, standing behind him as a guard and therefore unable to eat any, watched with an envious expression.
Around the time the fourth bell rang, a carriage from the Gilberta Company pulled up. One for me, the Chief Priest, Adoptive Father, and Father. One for the brothers, Damuel, and Brigitte. And one for Fran and the Chief Priest's three attendants. Three carriages—a large entourage—made their way to the restaurant.
"What on earth is this carriage!?"
Unlike the carriages in the Noble District, this commoner carriage rattled and jolted, making Sylvester's eyes go wide.
"This is what carriages in the commoner district are like. The ones in the Noble District must use Magical Tools, right? The roads are also straight and smooth."
"Rozemyne, can't your knowledge do something about this? Forget about making books—renovate this first!"
"...Carriages are such ancient vehicles to me that I have absolutely no familiarity with them. I wouldn't know how to go about renovating them."
I had never had any interest in the structure of carriages, since I never rode in them. I vaguely recalled reading somewhere about a carriage design that reduced jolting by suspending the cabin, but I didn't remember it in enough detail to place an order with
"And besides, the smell is just as awful as always."
Sylvester grimaced as they passed through the commoner district on the way to the forest for a hunt. Father and the Chief Priest also had furrowed brows and stiff expressions, apparently thinking the same thing.
"If that's how you feel, then allocate some of the budget to sanitation in the commoner district."
"If we allocate budget, will it actually help?"
Father's eyes lit up with interest as he looked at me. Being gazed at with such expectations was a little troublesome.
"...If we could install water and sewage systems, it would improve dramatically. But I don't know the specifics."
"Is there nothing in that head of yours besides how to make books!? Your knowledge is really quite useless!"
Sylvester shouted at me. Even if he called it useless, my interests hadn't changed since ages ago. Books came first, as always. The rest could be considered once things settled down.
"How could I possibly remember in detail things I have no interest in and no need for? Do you remember everything, Adoptive Father?"
"I leave that sort of work to
While we were having that utterly useless conversation, we arrived at the Italian restaurant. I composed my face into a proper expression for insiders only and kept my mouth shut.
Located in the north of the city, the shop was fairly spacious, but being six stories tall wasn't particularly unusual for the area. From the outside alone, one would never guess that the interior was modeled after a noble's mansion.
First, the attendants climbed down carrying their luggage. Next, the guards descended from the carriages. The area in front of the shop had been swept clean and purified, making it easy to walk on.
Father and the Chief Priest stepped down from the carriage, I was helped down by Father, and lastly, Sylvester, the Lord, climbed down.
With three carriages lined up, they were the center of attention for everyone passing by. Even those who didn't know who was inside could tell at a glance that these were people of extraordinary wealth. The onlookers, keeping a cautious distance, continued to multiply.
"Let's go inside quickly, Adoptive Father."
Once inside and the door closed, the outside smells were considerably blocked out. And with that, we escaped the curious stares, and I felt a wave of relief.
On the other side of the door, Benno and
It had been quite some time since I'd last seen Frieda, but I was no longer Mine, so I couldn't even greet her with "It's been a while." As I felt a touch of sadness, I listened to Benno, as the representative, deliver his lengthy greeting.
"On this blessed day, bathed in the glory of the Fire God
"Blessings."
The last time I had visited the Italian restaurant, the interior had been nothing but bare walls. Now, with ornate doors and window frames fitted in, carpets and tapestries adorning the walls, and flowers and paintings adding color, it looked like an entirely different establishment.
Several long benches and individual chairs had been set up in what served as both a reception room and an entrance hall, furnished with various pieces that Rosina and Fran had selected.
"This will be the room where the guards take their meals. As we didn't anticipate hosting nobles, it is a somewhat lower-class room today—please forgive us."
There was a slightly oversized table with chairs, but it was a simple room. It was apparently intended for attendants to take turns eating or to wait when they had been dismissed from the main party. Since it wasn't designed for guests, it was rather too simple for today's guards, but there was nothing to be done.
"This is the dining room."
"Oh my, it has the feel of a room belonging to a mid-ranking or lower-ranking noble. You wouldn't think it was in the commoner district."
"Your words honor us greatly."
At the Lord's words, Benno's face relaxed slightly. Having Sylvester render his verdict on the shop—which had required considerable money and time to build—was a significant evaluation.
The walls had been fitted with waist-high paneling featuring intricate carvings, and matching decorative shelves lined the walls. Alongside expensive-looking plates and vases, the picture book I had made and the celebration cranes I had folded long ago were on display.
The tables had been polished to a shine, with napkins and today's menu prepared for each seat. In the center of each table, a low vase with seasonal flowers was arranged so as not to block the view of the person seated across. A charming bell for summoning the servers had also been prepared, and I nodded with satisfaction.
"Then, please—this way."
After Sylvester had surveyed the entire shop to his satisfaction, we were shown to our seats. Brother Eckhart took up position on the inside of the door, Brigitte stood on the outside, and Damuel and Brother Cornelius headed to the guards' waiting room.
"Allow me to introduce the co-investors of this restaurant. First, Lady Rozemyne, the Lord's adopted daughter. Today's menu was also conceived by Lady Rozemyne. Next, Guild Master
Facing the Lord, Benno introduced those who would be sharing the meal. This was where I learned for the first time that the Guild Master's name was Gustav.
"So it's you two."
Sylvester fixed the Guild Master and Frieda—who knew that Rozemyne and Mine were the same person—with a sharp gaze. In my memory, the Guild Master had been so much more imposing, but now he shrank back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Gustav, and Frieda. I hear the two of you are quite capable. You can read the times and seize opportunity. If that's the case, you should understand what it is you must do. Am I right?"
"Of course. We intend to provide every assistance within our power."
"Hmm. Then, my adopted daughter is about to embark on a grand venture. I'll be counting on your support as well."
Watching Sylvester issue his orders without beating around the bush—telling them to smooth things over with Benno—it was clear he had no particular intention of doing anything to the Guild Master. He was a money-grubbing man, but he was also, in a sense, the person who had saved my life, so I felt relieved that things would continue as they were.
Once the Lord's warning had been delivered, Frieda seemed to relax a little, and our eyes met. We shared a small smile. Frieda had said she planned to live in the Noble District once she came of age, and I wanted to maintain a good relationship with her.
While Benno was making his introductions, Fran and the Chief Priest's attendants had begun preparing the tableware from the luggage they had brought along. The servers for Benno's party were being set up efficiently by the restaurant staff. Among them, I could spot Leon, whom Fran had trained.
The dishes were brought in on wagons, served from large pots and platters. Then the attendants and servers would portion them onto plates and serve them at the table.
Today, Fran was serving as Sylvester's server, and
Since there had been the most time to coordinate beforehand, and Fran was accustomed to my dishes, he took charge of serving the Lord, while the others watched and followed suit.
"So this is today's menu."
Sylvester picked up the card that had been placed on the table like a wedding menu and studied it with great interest.
The array of unfamiliar dishes had him smiling from ear to ear.
Leon served freshly baked, fluffy bread. The aroma that rose with the steam whetted the appetite, and I found myself desperate to eat. Father and the Chief Priest blinked at the sight of the bread, and the Guild Master and Frieda's eyes went wide as they looked at me.
Fran quietly placed a plate before Sylvester.
On the right, potato salad tossed in handmade mayonnaise was arranged in a round mound. On the left, steamed chicken and vegetable salad drizzled with an Italian-style dressing was plated in a crescent shape.
"We offer our thanks and prayers to the supreme deity who governs the vast, towering sky and bestows upon us the blessing of countless lives as our sustenance, and to the five great gods who govern the broad, expansive earth. With the will of the gods in our hearts, we receive this meal."
Once all the plates had been distributed, we offered the pre-meal prayer, and I picked up my fork. As a form of taste-testing—and because the guest of honor should be the first to try it—I brought the food to my mouth. ...Mm, delicious.
As I chewed, I could see Sylvester immediately starting to eat. Rather than the familiar vegetable salad, he went straight for the potato salad he had never seen before—a clear sign of his adventurous personality. Quite the opposite of the Chief Priest, who always reached for the salad with the familiar appearance first.
I watched Sylvester intently, waiting to see what his reaction would be.
He took a large bite, chewed a few times, then his eyes widened slightly as he whipped his gaze toward me.
"...Rozemyne, what is this? I've never tasted anything like it."
Seeing his deep green eyes sparkling with delight, it was clear the potato salad had won him over.
At last, the culmination of all of Benno's hard work—the dinner at the Italian restaurant.
The Guild Master's name made its first appearance.
Next time: The Lord and the