The flight to
"Then, we'll go ahead and prepare your rooms and meals."
"Understood."
Once the luggage was unloaded, we headed straight for the winter lord's estate. Hovering above it, I frowned.
...Huh? Nobody's here?
Last year's Harvest Festival had seen the sports-ground-like square decorated for the celebration, packed with people bustling about as they waited. But this year, there were no signs of festival preparations and not a soul in sight.
...Did I get the date wrong?
I had sent a letter beforehand saying "I'll be coming on this day," but maybe I'd written the wrong date, or perhaps they'd misread it.
As I was tilting my head in confusion,
"High Priest, welcome."
Once I had everyone dismount, Fran, Ahim, and
I put away my riding beast and turned to Richt.
"Richt, aren't you holding the Harvest Festival?"
"...Well, Hasse is currently under the Lord's scrutiny, so we've restrained ourselves from holding anything large-scale. We were hoping you would simply conduct the taxation and the ceremonies."
According to Richt's explanation, the gazes of locals and passing merchants made it difficult to hold their usual celebration.
Even so, they couldn't skip the
"I see."
Thinking about how the residents had endured a year without blessings, now denied even the one annual celebration they looked forward to, all while being monitored by the grey priest acting as my proxy, I frowned a little.
...Is it really safe to put those two into a winter estate this brimming with resentment?
My gaze drifted toward Ahim and Egon almost involuntarily, and Fran stepped forward, introducing the two to Richt and the others.
"These are the grey priests who will be serving as my proxies, staying here through the winter."
"My name is Ahim."
"My name is Egon."
Ahim and Egon crossed their hands over their chests and bowed slightly.
A flicker of tension crossed the faces of Richt and the others. Even if they were grey priests, they were my proxies and serving as teachers. They were probably on guard, wondering what kind of people would determine the future direction of Hasse.
"Richt, would you show them to their rooms? They need to put away their luggage, and I'd like to see the kind of accommodations they'll be staying in as well."
"Of course. This way, please."
I entered the winter lord's estate and began walking toward the room assigned to Ahim and Egon. The attendants carrying the wooden crates, the guard knights, and
One of the village mayors, following Richt's instructions, hurried ahead like a herald. At the same time, the chattering noise and the children's excited voices gradually fell silent.
...I can feel stares from all around.
Climbing the creaking stairs and entering the residential area, I caught sight of children peeking from behind doors and around corners, watching us. When our eyes met, I smiled, but they either looked startled or darted away in a flash. It seemed I was perceived as something terribly frightening.
...It's not wrong to teach children that nobility is something to be afraid of, but seeing the way some boys approached out of bravado made me incredibly anxious.
Some doors were ajar or had gaps, allowing glimpses inside. From what I could see, the atmosphere reminded me of my old home in the lower city — the old one, specifically.
Basically, each family shared a single room, though the rooms varied greatly in size. In some, more than a dozen people lived in a classroom-sized room with straw for bedding, while others were small but at least had beds.
"This will be your room. I've prepared the one closest to my office... so that contact with the residents can be minimized if desired."
Richt showed them a two-person room. The presence of two beds told me he had prepared a relatively comfortable space.
Fran, Ahim, and Egon unloaded the wooden crates, and all three furrowed their brows slightly.
"Pardon the intrusion, but we'd like to tidy up the room. Could you please tell us where the cleaning supplies are and where the well is?"
Having known only the well-maintained
I watched one of the mayors run off, eyes spinning, to ask a woman where the cleaning supplies were kept, and I shrugged lightly.
"Ahim, Egon. Feel free to make this room as livable as you can. However, do not try to impose the Temple's ways on anything outside your room. This is not the Temple."
"Understood."
When one of the mayors brought back the cleaning supplies, all three of their faces fell. Perhaps I should have cleaning supplies included as part of their standard provisions.
"Ahim, Egon. I'll have a full set of cleaning supplies brought over from the small temple tomorrow. If you need anything else, let Fran know."
"We are grateful for your thoughtfulness."
It seemed they had decided to endure for tonight and start a thorough cleaning from early morning tomorrow. Watching the three grey priests seriously discuss not only cleaning supplies but also whether they needed washbasins to wash up, and whether they had the necessary laundry tools, was a little amusing.
"Richt, are the ceremonies ready?"
"Yes,
The great hall of the winter lord's estate was not as high-ceilinged as the castle's main hall, and since it was apparently a frequent venue for banquets, stains from various soups or oils decorated the walls and floor in patterns. There was a faintly strange smell, and everything was rather dirty overall, but it was tolerable.
...They probably cleaned like mad just to get it this far.
Festivals were normally held outdoors, so the Temple had never anticipated priests and tax officials entering the interior of the winter lord's estate.
A stage had been set up in the hall, with access to the platform. Just as at last year's Harvest Festival, I, the tax official Justus, the two guard knights, and Fran, who would also assist with the ceremonies, all climbed onto the platform.
Even though the ceremonies were held indoors, the rites themselves were largely unchanged. Children approaching the Baptism Ceremony were brought to the platform, the stories of the gods were told through picture books, and blessings were given. The coming-of-age and wedding ceremonies followed the same pattern.
However, the faces of those celebrating these milestones were pale, and the atmosphere in the great hall was oppressively heavy.
"People of Hasse, I believe you have worked hard this past year without receiving any blessings. The Lord wished me to keep a close eye on all of you here at the winter estate, so he dispatched two grey priests to serve in that role — Ahim and Egon. They are my proxies, serving as monitors, but they are also your teachers."
After completing all the ceremonies, I called Ahim and Egon to the stage to introduce them. At the word "teachers," I could feel a ripple pass through the hall.
"Recently, there was a serious problem in our written correspondence with Hasse. The language used could have warranted anger if addressed to other nobles. The previous mayor's mistakes stemmed from not knowing how to deal with nobility, and Hasse was about to make the same error without any ill intent."
Voices rose in surprise — were they going to incur the nobility's wrath again? — mixed with anger at the mayors for their negligence.
"To prevent the people of Hasse from repeating such mistakes, I have decided to dispatch grey priests who are well-versed in dealing with nobility and to educate the mayors. If the mayors study diligently, there should be no more mistakes going forward."
Having been given an opportunity for education rather than punishment, the residents' anger gradually subsided. But once they were relieved, I needed to drive the point home.
"Grey priests may be orphans, but they are my proxies as High Priest. If you find their presence truly unbearable, you are to go to the small temple. I trust that the people of Hasse, with their punishment nearing its end, would not do something so foolish — but do be careful."
From the stage, I could clearly see the dark expressions and emotions on the faces of the gathered people — feelings of "Will this punishment really end?" and "How much longer will it last?"
...They'd been working hard for a whole year without any blessings. Surely a little enjoyment was in order.
Pursing my lips in thought, I made my way from the center of the stage to where
"Eckhart."
"Yes, Rozemyne?"
"Would it be all right to grant permission for bowl fights? I think too much self-restraint isn't good for their mental well-being."
At my suggestion, Eckhart made a bitter face, saying "If you act on your own,
Adopting Justus's opinion, I led Ahim and Egon over to Richt.
Then, after positioning Ahim and Egon behind Richt with a "Follow Richt's lead," I lowered my voice and spoke to him.
"Richt, self-restraint from the festival is fine, but if they don't let off steam to some degree, won't the long winter of being cooped up become unbearable?"
"...Perhaps so."
"I'll be having a meeting with Richt in the conference room. If the people of Hasse make a ruckus outside, we certainly won't notice, will we? If we don't see it, there's nothing to reprimand, is there?"
Not sure which way to take my words, Richt looked troubled, and I turned to Ahim.
"Ahim, time to get to work. Please explain to Mayor Richt what I mean."
Ahim blinked in confusion, then murmured, "They don't understand this?" Egon also widened his eyes in surprise.
"The people of Hasse have already made plenty of mistakes, so they're just unsure how to interpret things. It's not that they're completely clueless."
"Is that so? Mayor Richt, Rozemyne is saying she will turn a blind eye to whatever commotion happens outside while she is in the conference room."
"I've received permission for bowl fights."
At Ahim and Egon's words, Richt's face lit up.
"I'm grateful. There are many hot-blooded young people here. They'll be overjoyed."
Richt left one of the mayors in charge of organizing the bowl fight tournament and escorted us out of the great hall toward the conference room. The moment we stepped outside, a loud voice boomed from behind us.
"The High Priest has given her permission! Prepare for the bowl fight!"
"Ooooooh!"
It was a rough, triumphant roar, as if all the suppressed resentment and emotions had exploded at once.
Ahim and Egon flinched and turned to look back at the hall, shoulders trembling. Having never heard such earth-shaking shouts in the Temple, they must have been genuinely shocked.
I hoped the people of Hasse would vent their frustrations to their heart's content outside, so that the two priests' lives going forward might be at least a little peaceful.
In the conference room, we discussed this year's harvest yields, taxes, and the portion of donations designated for me.
Though the harvest was lower than surrounding areas, it was impressive given that they had worked without blessings.
As with last year, Justus would transport the shares to the castle in Erenfest the following morning. Part of my donation portion was to be allocated as winter provisions for the two priests, with the remainder — rather than being sent to the castle — to be delivered to the small temple at Hasse for its Winter Preparations.
The outdoor bowl fight tournament had apparently ended. I could hear lively, boisterous voices and a charged atmosphere drifting over. The voices sounded bright, tinged with a bit of fun, so granting permission for bowl fights had been worth it.
After this, dinner was to be held in the great hall. Having seen how the grey priests had congregated at Ilgner, I decided to join them for the meal. I would need to teach them about life here.
Dishes were spread across a low table made by laying boards over two wooden crates. People sat on straw scattered on the floor, and everyone began eating as they pleased. A knife for cutting meat sat beside the dishes, but apart from that, the only utensil was a wooden spoon resembling a rice paddle. Other than when eating soup-like broths, most of it was done with bare hands.
As I'd expected, Ahim and Egon were frozen, stunned by this unfamiliar world. They had been serving Eckhart and Justus, but their eyes were wide with shock, and their hands had gone still.
Eckhart and the others were equally affected. Until now, the food had been served at the outdoor stage or far from it, and always when it was getting dark, so they had never seen it this close. They furrowed their brows like the Chief Priest seeing the grey priests' eating habits for the first time.
"If it makes you uncomfortable, you'd better keep it out of sight. This is normal for them."
Fran, who was attending to me, shrugged lightly.
"I can keep it out of sight, but I can't block out the sound."
"Rozemyne, where should we eat going forward?"
Ahim and Egon asked with worried expressions. We had a table and chairs prepared in the noble seating area, but the grey priests had nothing of the sort.
"It would be difficult to adapt to these customs all at once, so if you find it too much, feel free to eat in your room. I'll ask Richt to provide a table and chairs. For today, just like at the Temple, eat after we're done, using this table."
"Thank you, Rozemyne."
Ahim and Egon let out a visible sigh of relief.
Sending grey priests to the winter lord's estate for the Grim Plan might prove difficult after all. Setting up a suitable living environment for them was quite the challenge.
"Richt, the two of them need a table and chairs for writing. Either put a table in their room or designate a room with a table as their office."
"Understood."
"And just as Richt doesn't know the ways of nobility, grey priests who grew up in the sealed world of the Temple don't know the ways of the outside. Even something as simple as how to eat or how to clean is completely different. Please try to keep an eye on things."
By the time my meal ended — eaten rather sparingly so that Ahim and Egon could take turns — the people of Hasse had been drinking, and their tongues were loosening. Whether they had grown bolder or simply couldn't see us on the stage, small complaints began to surface.
"I spotted an orphan who was sold to the Temple the other day. The orphans who went to the Temple seem to be eating better than us. They looked so much healthier, even a bit plump."
"Man, I'm jealous. If I could eat my fill, I'd go to the orphanage too."
Hearing such words, Fran's brow twitched with displeasure. On the other hand, my eyes lit up with excitement, and I clasped my hands together in front of my chest.
Even though I'd moved four people to Hasse, I still wanted more labor. The books I'd made had sold well among nobility, so my finances were comfortable. Being treated as an orphan meant being a target of complete discrimination, so nobody would voluntarily seek out the orphanage. But if there were people who actually wanted to join, I would be thrilled.
Eager to recruit, I called out from the stage.
"Please do come! You would be most welcome. As it happens, with the printing press having expanded, I've been looking to increase my workforce."
"Huh?"
They clearly hadn't expected a response from the High Priest herself. The group that had been chatting instantly sobered up, and their faces gradually drained of color.
Ignoring their reaction, I did my best to appeal to the benefits of the orphanage.
"Joining the orphanage entitles you to three meals a day, plus bedding and clothing. Education is thorough, so I imagine your speech and manners would become quite refined. Children who have completed the Baptism Ceremony can be serving nobility within a few years. The literacy rate among children raised in the orphanage and who have completed the Baptism Ceremony is a full one hundred percent. Everyone can read and write and perform at least basic calculations. To help with learning to read and do math, we also have picture books, card games, and playing cards in full supply."
It all sounded like a wonderful environment, but there were drawbacks too. I had no intention of hiding them. I wanted to be honest about the facts and have people come to the orphanage on that basis.
"Of course, there are downsides. Once you enter the orphanage, society will look down on you as orphans. Furthermore, as Priests or Shrine Maidens, you must always be mindful of the nobility's movements and live under their direction. It's completely different from rural life — the first orphans from the villages had a terrible time adjusting to such different norms."
"Um..."
"Uh, High Priest...?"
As they wavered, I considered whether there was anything I had forgotten to mention.
"Ah, yes. At the Temple's orphanage, you won't receive land even after coming of age, you won't be allowed to marry, you get no days off on Earthday, and every day exists for the blue priests — the nobles among the clergy. Being suddenly sold off to unfamiliar nobles is not uncommon, and the orphans have no right to refuse."
"...Wha—"
"Huh?"
Their expressions shifted from confusion to outright fear.
"Currently, I serve as both High Priest and orphanage director, so the food situation is managed so that everyone's bellies are at least somewhat filled. But before I took on the role, conditions were dreadful. If I were to step down as High Priest, there's no telling what would follow. The orphanage is that kind of place, which is why there are virtually no volunteers. If anyone does wish to come, I will welcome them with open arms!"
Come on! Come on over! I spread my arms wide in a gesture of wholehearted welcome.
And yet, despite the utter sincerity of my invitation — not a single lie among them — the assembled crowd politely declined with full conviction.
"N-No, I've been granted land here in Hasse. Right?"
"Yeah, I'm getting married next year. Can't make her cry, can I?"
"Uh, well, for all its faults, there's nothing like the land you're used to."
I understood their reluctance to leave familiar Hasse. I hadn't wanted to leave the lower city either. No matter how inconvenient or impoverished, there are places you simply can't leave.
"I understand the feeling of not wanting to leave your hometown. It's a shame you won't be joining the orphanage, but there's nothing to be done about it."
As I withdrew, looking regretful, every person present visibly relaxed. Then, in an awkward but lighter atmosphere, they raised their glasses once more.
Looking down from the stage at the banquet scene, it inevitably reminded me of gatherings in the lower city, and I clenched the sleeve of my dress tightly.
...I suddenly really missed Father.
"Richt, I'll be heading back to the small temple soon."
Hearing my words, Eckhart knelt as though addressing his lord.
"Brigitte is here, so the guard will be fine. Please come here tomorrow morning for the transport of the donations."
"Yes."
After dismissing Richt, I returned to the small temple with Fran and Brigitte.
The small temple's dinner party was also in full swing.
I left my care to Monica and
I took a notebook made of white paper bound together and a pen from my room, headed to the dining hall, and had Monica bring a chair near the soldiers' table.
"
I had already compiled a collection of Mother's bedtime stories, but I had rarely heard Father's tales. "Come to think of it, there were stories my mother told me when I was little," Father said after thinking it over for a moment, looking up.
"Once upon a time, there were two siblings who were very close. Their names were Turi, Mine, and Camil..."
What began with this introduction was the tale of how siblings Turi and Camil set out to rescue Mine, who had been abducted by a forest magical beast.
"...And so, Mine was able to return to her family, and the siblings lived happily together forever."
"What a wonderful story."
I wiped my misty eyes and sniffled as I noted down Father's tale. Soon the other two soldiers were also vying to share their stories with me.
By the time I had recorded all three tales, it was already a little past bedtime. Fran called out to me, and I rose from my seat.
"Goodnight, everyone."
"Goodnight, High Priest. Have a good dream."
That night, I had a dream.
It was a dream of Mine, returned to the lower city home, laughing together with her family — a deeply happy dream.
--- For the grey priests, it was the beginning of hardship.
And it was a long-overdue reunion with Father.
Next time: A retry at autumn ingredient gathering.