The sales event ended on a high note. After quietly cheering as Mother began her various schemes, I returned to the
Once back at the Temple, I needed to assemble a transfer unit for Ilgner. I called
"Gil, don't forget to prepare clothes. You'll need summer sets and autumn sets, so be careful. It gets pretty cold around the Harvest Festival, right?"
"Yes."
"Lutz, I'd like you to prepare several sets of clothes for the Gray Priests to go outside in. They don't need to be expensive, but I think they need clothes they can wear outside of working in the workshop. Unlike the Temple, they probably won't be able to go around in those drab robes."
"Got it. I'll pick some out after selecting the people."
As the two of them wrote on their respective writing boards, I thought about other necessary items.
"Make sure to bring the dishes. With this many people added at once, we'll run short, and the Gray Priests have never had a meal without cutlery, so they'll be really stuck when there aren't any."
Lutz, who knew what it was like to eat with bare hands at downtown restaurants or share dishes, was different from the Gray Priests, who were noble-born and therefore well-raised. Just as the orphans in
"You should tell
"I'll come to pick everyone up around the Harvest Festival... probably after the autumn material collection."
After last year's failure, I'd supplemented Lutz's share while he sniffled and grumbled, which I had to comfort him over. Remembering that, Lutz shrugged and looked down at me.
"Don't fail again this year."
"Ugh... The Chief Priest will be with me this year, so it'll be fine."
The Chief Priest had said he planned to borrow my father, the Knight Commander, from my adoptive father for several days around this year's Star Binding ceremony. Since the Chief Priest and
Before that, there was the summer material collection.
"Oh, also, from our side — from now on, Damien will be coming and going from the workshop. It wouldn't do to negotiate with the Giebe of Ilgner without even knowing how paper is made."
"If
At my warning, Lutz shrugged. "It's not like you — nobody in their right mind would go wandering into the noble quarter." Being the Guild Master's grandson and someone who routinely handled noble relations, he had to watch out for leaks of profit, but apparently he understood what was and wasn't acceptable when dealing with nobles.
"Oh, right. The Guild Master said he wanted to greet you before the Ilgner dispatch. Can you make time?"
"I could manage if he just comes to see us off on departure day, but setting aside dedicated time would be tough. There's a lot to do before we leave for Ilgner, and besides..."
If I were being honest, I already knew I had more authority than him now, but his impression of me as pushy and overbearing was strong, and I still hadn't shaken off my discomfort around him.
"I feel like he'll dump some unreasonable request on me when we're already pressed for time."
"Nah, you nobles are the ones who make unreasonable demands." Lutz immediately shot back with a retort. Sorry for adding to your workload. Sorry for all the work that got moved up.
"...Well, fine. I'll let the Guild Master know he can come to see us off."
And so, four Gray Priests were selected by Lutz and Gil for the Ilgner dispatch, and papermaking tools to be brought along started being transported to the workshop. At the same time, Damien began coming and going from the workshop, but since I rarely went there, our paths didn't cross.
In the High Priest's office, Ordenanz messages flew back and forth frequently between
And then, the morning of departure day.
In the Temple's back garden — which, viewed from the town below, was actually the Temple's front courtyard — luggage was piled up on the white flagstones. It was a wide area near the workshop where rideable beasts could be brought out.
"Good morning, Lady
"Good morning. Is everyone here?"
Looking around, I spotted Frieda and the Guild Master mingling among the Gray Priests and Plantan Company members who had come to help load luggage.
"I'll be releasing a rideable beast, so please step back a little."
As I assessed the amount of luggage, I released the Lessar Bus — large, about the size of a bus. Immediately, under Benno's direction, luggage was loaded one piece after another.
Frieda watched this with an astonished expression.
"...Lady Rozemyne, what exactly is that?"
"It's my rideable beast. I'll be using it to head to Ilgner. Isn't it cute?"
Frieda looked back and forth between me and the Lessar Bus several times, then cocked her head to one side.
"A rideable beast...? It's quite different from the rideable beasts I know."
"Everyone says that."
I was already used to people giving me puzzled looks. If anything, I was surprised that Frieda even knew about rideable beasts. You rarely ever see them.
I received a report on the current state of the Italian restaurant's operations and heard third-party perspectives on the Plantan Company's activities. It seemed Damien had already reported on how the sales event went.
"So it was Frieda who recommended Damien to the Plantan Company?"
"Yes, that's right. The ventures you've started, Lady Rozemyne, were launched at the Lord's behest. Since the success rate is high, joining in is only natural. Please use my brother as much as you like. I'm sure he'll be of great help."
"Oh my, Frieda."
I was somewhat taken aback by Frieda's relentlessly bold and commercially-savvy attitude as always, when Damien smoothly slid between us.
"Frieda, even though Lady Rozemyne has been gracious enough to allow it, you shouldn't be overly familiar. You're no longer pre-baptism, you know."
"My apologies. I'll be more careful."
Damien may have noticed that I was pulling back. While cautioning her about her attitude toward the Lord's adopted daughter, he casually steered Frieda away from me.
"Once the luggage is loaded, get on. Anyone who's ridden before, teach the newcomers how to use their seatbelts."
From the Plantan Company: Benno, Lutz, and Damien — three people. From my attendants and exclusive staff:
Those were the members heading out this time.
In the passenger seat was Brigitte, looking happy like she was going home for the first time in a while. Damuel, who would be guiding us on his rideable beast, had a somewhat tense expression. Knowing he wanted to make a good impression on her family was a bit endearing, but he'd probably make some clumsy mistake if he tried too hard, so I wished he'd relax.
"Then, we'll be heading out now."
As Frieda and the Guild Master watched with gaping mouths while the Lessar Bus took off, I gave a light wave and departed.
We stopped once for a lunch break along the way as the Lessar Bus flew onward.
Ilgner was just as Brigitte had described and as I'd studied in geography — a land with many forests and mountains. Rivers flowed from the mountains into a lake, and houses were scattered along those rivers in small clusters.
Among the settlements visible from above, I could see a large white mansion in the biggest one. That was the Giebe of Ilgner's summer estate. They seemed to have been waiting for our arrival, as several residents looked up at the sky and waved.
"They're calling for Brigitte, aren't they?"
"...They're all like family."
Brigitte said this as she squinted fondly, looking down at Ilgner.
Unlike Ehrenfest, where walls separated the nobles' mansions from the Commoners' residences, seeing them wave and call out to Brigitte with such broad gestures made it feel like the relationship between the people and the nobility was quite close.
"Lady Rozemyne, you may find it a bit jarring. It's quite different from Ehrenfest... The Commoners might seem overly familiar and close, but none of them mean any harm."
Brigitte said this nervously, worried that the residents might be viewed unfavorably — she knew all about what had happened in Hasse. But I shook my head, saying there was no need to worry.
"If the Chief Priest were here, he might have frowned, but I was raised in the Temple and frequently visited the orphanage. I even snuck into the town to meet merchants and craftsmen, so I'm not bothered by closeness at all. Every face here looks like it holds you in great affection."
Whispering in a small voice, "At the Hasse Harvest Festival, I ate together with the Commoners too, didn't I?" — Brigitte blinked several times, and then broke into a radiant smile.
It was a rare sight for Brigitte, who usually kept a composed expression and didn't show much emotion or let many words slip — a smile where her true feelings showed through completely. Honestly, it was so endearing I wanted to show it off to Damuel.
When the Lessar Bus touched down, more than a dozen residents surrounded us. According to Brigitte, they worked in the forests and fields while also doing menial work at the Giebe of Ilgner's summer estate.
"Welcome home, Lady Brigitte."
"Welcome, Lady Rozemyne."
Their eyes as they surrounded Brigitte were warm, brimming with affectionate admiration. Brigitte, who rarely showed such a straightforward smile during work, returned their welcome with one.
"I've returned. Everyone, this is the Lord's adopted daughter and my Lady, Rozemyne. Please be on your best behavior."
Starting with the man who said, "The Lady's mistress, is she? Then we must be careful indeed," the residents chimed in one after another.
"My, my, our wild young lady has become quite refined."
"She may have found a sweetheart."
"The young lady who preferred running through the wilds with a knife over practicing etiquette — how splendidly she's turned out..."
All the stories pouring from their mouths were old tales about Brigitte. Brigitte hurriedly tried to stop them.
"That's enough! Stop chatting and show everyone around. I'll be taking Lady Rozemyne to see my brother."
"Yes, yes. Shall we head this way then?"
Laughing heartily, they led the way to the wing and opened the door for us.
The others, who only knew the distance between nobles and Commoners in Ehrenfest, looked pale or wore bewildered expressions, unsure how to respond.
"Um, Lady Rozemyne."
Seeing Fran's face about to voice objections, I gave a light wave.
"Fran, this is different from Ehrenfest. As long as there's no danger, there's no need to be strict. Please accept this as simply how things are here."
"But..."
"If anything does seem truly problematic, don't say it directly to the residents — bring it to the Giebe of Ilgner or to Brigitte first. If relations with the residents go sour, the Plantan Company members and priests who'll be staying here for a while will have an uncomfortable time."
Having judged that no trouble would arise since I accepted the residents' behavior, Benno gave his orders, and members of the Plantan Company and Gray Priests began unloading luggage from the Lessar Bus. They needed to set up the wing, or tonight's lodgings would be a problem.
Brigitte, who had returned to her family home, and I, along with Damuel as a noble, had rooms prepared in the summer estate.
Monica was assigned to my room, and Fran to Damuel's, so they would stay in the summer estate. Gil and Hugo, who would be traveling with the Plantan Company going forward, couldn't enter my quarters since they were male, so they'd be staying in the wing.
As I watched everyone carry their luggage in, I put the Lessar Bus away and, following Brigitte's lead, set foot in the Giebe of Ilgner's mansion. The furnishings weren't the artistic pieces where craftsmen competed for skill like in Ehrenfest — many had a simpler, warmer feel, handmade and full of heart.
"Lady Rozemyne, welcome to Ilgner."
"Thank you for the invitation, Giebe Ilgner."
In the reception room prepared for guests, the Giebe of Ilgner and his family were all assembled, waiting for our arrival. Brigitte's mother, the Giebe of Ilgner's wife, and their son were present.
"On this blessed day, radiant with the glory of the Fire God
"You have my permission."
Along with the family introductions, I received greetings from Brigitte's mother and the Giebe of Ilgner's wife, after which the Giebe indicated the prepared tea.
"While your attendants settle your rooms, perhaps some tea? There is much I'd like to discuss."
I compared Brigitte, who was serving as my escort knight and couldn't even have a proper family greeting, with the Giebe of Ilgner, who treated this as natural, and the other family members who were visibly itching to speak with Brigitte.
"Hey, Brigitte. I'll leave my escort duties to Damuel, so let's consider you on vacation until the day we return."
Brigitte whipped her face toward me and shook her head several times.
"I will accompany Lady Rozemyne."
"I'd be happy to have Brigitte along since she knows Ilgner well, so I do intend to request your company. However, I also have various questions I'd like to ask. You can't really talk during escort duty, can you?"
An escort knight prioritizing anything other than their escort duties would be dereliction of duty. Naturally, the serious Brigitte didn't chat much during work.
"Besides, since you're at your family home, please give your family some time with you. ...This is an order. Brigitte, go change and come have tea with me."
"As you command."
Brigitte smiled resignedly, knelt before me once, crossed her arms, then left the spot to change into different clothes as I had ordered.
The Giebe of Ilgner, who had been watching our exchange, furrowed his brow in puzzlement.
"Lady Rozemyne, you are a curious person. Quite different from the highborn nobles I know."
"As the Giebe of Ilgner is well aware, I was raised in the Temple and am different from ordinary highborn nobility. I've interacted with the children in the orphanage and met merchants and craftsmen in the lower town, so this tranquil atmosphere suits me very well."
The scenery and air were lovely, and the residents' temperament seemed relaxed and gentle. It was more calming than being in the castle, which was full of scheming people. Though with the Library there, it was hard to give up on the castle entirely.
Once Brigitte had quickly finished changing, we discussed plans for the following days over tea.
While doing so, Monica notified us that the rooms were ready.
"Lady Rozemyne, shall we have you change as well?"
"Yes. Then, I'll excuse myself for a bit."
If I withdrew to my room, the family could have their conversation.
I stepped out of the reception room and the door clicked shut behind me. As I started walking, a voice called from behind: "Welcome home, Brigitte." Feeling the family love in that voice, I suddenly wanted to go home too — to that house in the lower town.
After changing from the outfit I wore for visiting nobles into clothes I could walk around in the countryside in, Fran and Gil came in.
According to their reports, Damuel's room was also ready, and the setup of the wing was nearly complete.
"Today's sleeping arrangements are secured. Right now, they're deciding the location for the workshop near the river and setting up equipment."
"The Plantan Company would like to discuss the Plant Paper Association with the Giebe of Ilgner. They've also submitted a request that you, Lady Rozemyne, mediate and attend the meeting to ensure no disadvantage for either side."
During the recent discussion at the castle, it had been established that in Ilgner, where barter was the primary form of exchange, establishing an association would be the best way to ensure reliable income. This was so the paper they'd crafted could be bought and sold at fair prices.
Since meetings with nobles took time, we should book appointments well in advance. I immediately wrote a letter requesting a meeting and had Fran deliver it.
In the meantime, I relayed to Gil the schedule I'd heard during the earlier tea.
"Tomorrow, one of the knowledgeable residents here will show us around. If there are any trees that could serve as paper material, I'd like to collect some, so we'll be heading into the forest. Please prepare baskets and knives."
"Understood."
"For dinner, we'll be having grilled meat and vegetables from the local harvest on iron plates. They're holding a welcome banquet for us. Tell Hugo to help with meal preparations."
As I was going through several items, Fran returned with an expression that couldn't hide her bewilderment.
"Fran, what's wrong?"
"...The Giebe of Ilgner would like to see us right now."
In Ehrenfest, when handling things as a noble, you'd make an appointment considering the other party's schedule — booking several days ahead and exchanging letters. But since both parties knew their schedules, waiting several days would serve no purpose, apparently.
I found it helpful to get things done quickly, but Fran, who had been raised fully immersed in noble society's ways, simply couldn't adjust to the rural approach.
"Fran, don't overthink it. Benno can't be away from the shop for too long either, so getting business done quickly is a help."
"That may be true, but..."
I had Gil fetch Benno, and with a sighing Fran, headed to the Giebe of Ilgner's office.
Benno and Damien also had slightly startled expressions — "Right now?" — but they were accustomed to nobles making sudden demands, so while they were surprised, they weren't flustered the way Fran was.
"Giebe Ilgner, thank you for making time for us."
The representative of the Plant Paper Association was Benno, so I simply stood by as a witness while Benno and the Giebe of Ilgner talked. Damien would be staying in Ilgner as the Plantan Company's representative going forward, so he wanted to review the contract terms carefully.
Since much of the discussion had already been held at the castle, the contract was concluded swiftly.
--- It was Frieda for the first time in a while.
And now, we've moved to Ilgner.
Next time: Brigitte of Ilgner.