Return to the Temple

Even though the Lord's Conference wouldn't arrive until spring, the snowstorms were growing stronger in the heart of winter, and the subjugation of the Winter Lord still hadn't concluded. Even if we wanted to summon commoner merchants, it wasn't a situation where they could be called at the drop of a hat.

"Once the subjugation of the Winter Lord is finished, we'll be issuing invitations under Aub Ehrenfest's name, so Rosemine, give Benno and the others advance notice. They can't very well be caught completely unprepared, can they?"

The Chief Priest murmured that the state Richarda had been in when summoned to Giebe Haldenzel's estate had been pitiful. Come to think of it, I'd heard she'd had a terrible time conducting business negotiations surrounded by high-ranking nobles while setting up a workshop in Haldenzel, where my mother's family lived. Even from the Chief Priest's perspective, it apparently had been a situation impossible not to sympathize with.

"Also, coordinate the number of people ascending to the castle with Benno, and report back. Have a scribe prepare invitation letters for that number of attendees."

"Understood. ...Foster Father, the representative of the Gilberta Company has already changed, but shall we invite that representative as well?"

"Ah, I'll leave coordination with them to you. You'd feel more at ease handling it yourself rather than leaving it to another scribe, wouldn't you?"

"I appreciate your consideration."

"Then return to the Temple tomorrow, Rosemine. We need to get things in order before the Winter Lord begins its full-scale movements."

"Understood."

That evening, Grandfather and the Chief Priest joined us for dinner, giving it the feel of a family gathering for the Lord's household.

Charlotte asked me what the Noble Academy was like, so I enthusiastically talked about the Library and about Schwarz and Weiss.

"The magical tools shaped like large schumils that help in the Library? That must be very cute."

"Yes. They're extremely popular with the female students. The new owners are planning to give them new outfits, and we're all in the middle of designing them right now. We're planning to dress them in boy's and girl's outfits, but we absolutely must have them wear the Library Committee armbands. I'm planning to wear matching ones myself."

"Matching armbands? I'd love to see you walking through the Library together with your owner, the Lady. I'm looking forward to next year."

After my lively conversation with Charlotte ended, Grandfather, looking quite excited, asked me about the Ditter match. Knights certainly seemed to have a great deal of interest in Ditter—Father, standing behind Foster Father, also appeared to have a bit of a gleam in his eye.

"Rosemine, you used an unconventional strategy to defeat Dunkelfelger, didn't you? What sort of strategy did you employ?"

"It was a one-time-only, unorthodox Treasure Stealing Ditter, so I was able to use strategies that wouldn't normally work. First, I had the magical beast serving as the Treasure bound with a staff so it wouldn't rampage, and I requested it not be so large that it would die from the binding."

"But then a single attack would kill it, wouldn't it?"

When Grandfather tilted his head with a puzzled look, I answered proudly.

"That's why I had it placed inside my Lord's Beast to keep it protected from being killed."

"Inside your Lord's Beast!?"

"Yes. As long as my magic power exceeds theirs, they can't break the Lord's Beast and steal it, so as long as I'm riding it, I won't lose so easily."

Judging by Father and Grandfather's stunned expressions, it was clear this wasn't the kind of strategy a knight would come up with. I could see the Chief Priest nodding with admiration, muttering, "Who would have thought that Grün had such a use..."

Then I began describing how I'd launched a surprise attack on the enemy as they were returning from hunting magical beasts. Grandfather, who had been listening intently, made an incomprehensible expression once more.

"...From what you're telling me, it sounds like all you did was attack the opponent who had returned from hunting magical beasts inside the arena. That doesn't really sound like a surprise attack at all, does it?"

"In the current Noble Academy, speed-based Ditter has become the norm, so there weren't any knight apprentices who had experienced Treasure Stealing Ditter on either side. That meant no one considered the possibility of being attacked while transporting the Treasure."

That's precisely why it became a surprise attack, I explained, but Grandfather's expression grew stern. "Amateurish... far too amateurish." It seemed like an unacceptable level of sloppiness for a Ditter match. I could only imagine how terrifying things must have been back when Treasure Stealing Ditter was the dominant format.

"However, that amateurish surprise attack was only half successful. The Ehrenfest knight apprentices had absolutely no teamwork, and Dunkelfelger was able to immediately regroup."

"...Ah."

Father nodded as though the reason hit close to home, rubbing his chin. I decided to seize this opportunity and ask Father to intensify the training for the apprentices.

"Knight Commander, I know this isn't exactly dinner-table conversation, but I think the knight apprentices' training should be reviewed as well. Over the past few years, Ditter shifted from Treasure Stealing to speed-based competition, so even though we study teamwork and role assignments in lectures at the Noble Academy, none of it connects to actual practice."

"I see. So there was a reason for the rapid decline in quality recently. We had been prioritizing the training of the Lord's family's guard knights, so education for the apprentices was put on the back burner. We should review this promptly."

The upper echelons of the Knight Order were fundamentally the Lord's family's guard knights. If they were being repeatedly dragged into Grandfather's intensive training, it was perhaps inevitable that education trickling down to the lower ranks had become somewhat neglected. After all, with the attack on the castle having occurred, training for guard knights naturally took priority over educating apprentices.

"Dunkelfelger's teamwork was superb. Whether it's because their territory has solid education, or because Dorm Manager Ruffen trains them with everything he has, they're simply incomparable to Ehrenfest. If things continue like this, I thought that even if we raise individual magic power, it would be difficult for Ehrenfest to win at Ditter."

I added that the only ones capable of coordinated movements had been the Lord's family's guard knight apprentices, and Grandfather's blue eyes glinted sharply.

"Hmm? Well then, if it troubles you that much, Rosemine, the Lord's family's guard knights have received sufficient training for now. Shall we shift our focus to training the apprentices going forward?"

"You trained Angelica and Cornelius so thoroughly. I'm counting on you, you know."

"Hm? Mm, leave it to me!"

Grandfather accepted with a reliable smile, and with his intensive training reaching a natural conclusion, the Knight Order would finally be able to devote attention to educating the lower ranks. I believed the apprentices would grow considerably stronger from now on.

"Rosemine, you must have failed the surprise attack in the end, right? What happened then?"

Foster Father urged the story forward, and everyone's eyes turned to me.

"I executed Surprise Attack Number Two."

"Surprise Attack Number Two?"

"Yes. I figured that if I made the Treasure's magical beast go berserk, Dunkelfelger would have to ease up on attacking us, they wouldn't be able to hold back against a powerful magical beast, and it would become easier to hunt it—so I caused the magical beast to grow enormous."

"What!?"

I announced what I had done to the wide-eyed onlookers.

"I took a piece of Luer fruit infused with my magic power and dripped several drops of Ferdinand's most horri—I mean, most effective recovery medicine onto it, then had it launched by Juditte. I'd thought that if I dropped it nearby, the magic-starved magical beast would eat it on its own, but Juditte managed to launch it right into its mouth. Impressive, wasn't it?"

As I was boasting about Juditte's skill, Foster Father spoke up with a deeply troubled expression.

"...Ah~. So you restored the magical beast, then made it grow enormous and go berserk?"

"That's right. While Dunkelfelger was dealing with the Treasure that had suddenly grown enormous, I had Cornelius and Angelica restore their magic power, then they poured everything they had into the magical beast and won."

In the dead silence that fell over the room, the Chief Priest alone was nodding with great interest.

"A fairly interesting tactic among your first experience with Treasure Stealing Ditter. You truly never cease to impress me with your ideas."

"Ruffen told me it was a strategy reminiscent of Ferdinand."

When I asked what kind of tactics he had used, I was promised a look at documents regarding Ditter strategies once more.

"Hmm, it may be an interesting strategy, but it wouldn't work against the Winter Lord."

"...Using this strategy would only make the Winter Lord even stronger."

I shrugged at Father's words. It was unfortunate that I couldn't be of use.

When I returned to my room in the castle after dinner, Ottillie was there to greet me. Ottillie was Hartmut's mother. Looking closely, I could see the resemblance in their features.

The bath was already prepared, and I was undressed and helped into the bath.

"Today I'll be removing the magical tools as well."

When Richarda told me this and removed the magical tools, my entire body became heavy all at once, and I couldn't move the way I wanted. Still, compared to the completely bedridden state where I couldn't move at all, I felt I'd recovered to about seventy percent. My legs trembled, but unlike before, I could stand on my own.

I was lifted by Richarda and Ottillie and placed in the bath in my dependent state.

"Rosemine, thank you so much for adding Hartmut to your retainers. However, I can't help but worry that my foolish son is burdening you. Is he proving useful to you?"

I swallowed the words "He's accelerating the Saint Legend," and instead conveyed that Hartmut was compiling the results of the inter-territory tournament, teaching Philine and the other scribe apprentices how to gather information, and working hard as a senior scribe apprentice.

"That boy is truly devoted to you, Rosemine. If he ever seems to be getting carried away, please stop him immediately. I can just picture him getting excited and rushing ahead for your sake, and it makes me deeply anxious."

From what Ottillie described, the Rosemine inside Hartmut's heart sounded like a completely different person—a saint who was merciful, humble, and generously showered blessings upon everyone around her. I made a firm decision to shatter that fantasy as soon as possible, but then I recalled Hartmut's words and actions and tilted my head.

...Surely living at the Noble Academy and seeing the reality must have shattered the fantasy by now, but I don't feel like it has all that much. I can't quite figure it out.

After finishing the bath and changing into pajamas, I was promptly ushered into bed by Richarda. More accurately, I was put to bed without having the magical tools put back on.

"At the Noble Academy, with all the eyes around us, we couldn't remove the magical tools. But tonight, without them, you should understand clearly what state your body is truly in. You push yourself so hard with a body like this."

When Richarda told me that watching was giving her chills, I was struck speechless. At the Noble Academy, I'd worn the magical tools the entire time, so I hadn't been conscious of my body's lack of recovery. But with the magical tools removed, it became painfully obvious that even though nearly two months had passed since I'd awakened, I hadn't recovered much at all.

"Please rest well tonight. Since you'll be returning to the Temple tomorrow, your busy days will continue, won't they?"

"That's right."

There was so much I needed to do—write letters to Benno and the others, and ideally meet with them in person to discuss things directly. I wanted to check on the orphanage, see how the workshop was doing, the Dedication Ritual was approaching, and there was certainly plenty of help needed by the Chief Priest.

"That's precisely why I'll be stepping back after seeing you off to the Temple, Lady. I've been so worried about you while you've been constantly busy."

"You've been at my side constantly throughout the Noble Academy, Richarda. Go and stretch your wings for a bit."

"Thank you for your kind words. But please, Lady, do take care of yourself. Unlike the Noble Academy, in Ehrenfest your health will be the top priority."

With those words, the light was extinguished, and I retired for the night slightly earlier than usual.

The next day, I was told they would move to the Temple once the snowstorm weakened, so I prepared everything to be ready to depart at a moment's notice and sat writing letters to Benno.

I informed him that since the Noble Academy had become the trendsetter, the rinshan, hair ornaments, quatre-quarts, and Plant Paper were likely to become topics of discussion at the Lord's Conference. I also let him know that once the snowstorm calmed further, there would be summons from the Lord to the Guild Master, the Gilberta Company, and the Plantant Company.

I wrote about my plan to remain at the Temple until the Dedication Ritual on the next Earthday, and that if the weather cleared, I'd like to speak in person.

I wrote similar letters to Otto and the Guild Master.

I also enclosed an order form for hair ornaments to the Gilberta Company. I wrote that I wanted them crafted from the finest thread into red-themed collarelie flowers meant to be worn at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

"That should do it."

I tucked the letters into my jacket pocket and gave a satisfied nod.

Now then, it seemed I had some spare time. I was wondering what to read when Richarda, apparently having read my thoughts, picked up the key to the book chest. Ottillie said, "Please open this one," and had Richarda unlock one of the chests.

"Rosemine, you've received two books from Lady Elvira. They're books printed in Haldenzel."

I was told that new books had arrived in the book chest, and when I eagerly peered inside, there were two books made from Plant Paper side by side. The covers were simple, labeled only as "Selected Knight Stories" and "Noble Academy Stories."

Each book had a letter enclosed, along with a note from Mother saying that they were only to be read in the castle room where the Chief Priest couldn't enter without the Lord's permission, and never to be taken outside the room.

A quick skim revealed that the first book was a collection of Mother's personal favorite knight stories, with illustrations modeled after the Chief Priest—though drawn by a different artist, not Wilma. Whether it was based on the painting Wilma had gifted as thanks for the art supplies, or whether Mother had intervened, I wasn't sure, but the Chief Priest in these illustrations was roughly thirty percent more sparkly than when Wilma drew him.

The Selected Knight Stories were, without question, stories about knights, but every single one was weighted heavily toward romance.

And according to Ottillie, it was the second book—the Noble Academy Stories—that had been secretly sold at a faction tea party using the first book's success, gaining momentum during the excitement. It was a collection of short campus romance stories filled with love rumors from the Noble Academy that Mother and others knew. The writing had been done by Mother and volunteers.

"I... had no idea Mother had this kind of talent."

"Lady Elvira has been skilled at this sort of writing since she was a scribe apprentice. Recently, she's been saying she's found an enjoyable hobby, and she's been quite lively."

"Have you been reading this book too, Ottillie?"

"Yes, I'm enjoying it very much."

Overwhelmed by the passion of a woman who would build everything from a Plant Paper workshop to a printing workshop on her family's land just to create a book for the Chief Priest, I flipped through the pages.

...For a campus romance set in the Noble Academy, I really don't think you need to make every illustrated male character the Chief Priest, Mother.

I had just finished reading one knight story when I was told it was time to return to the Temple, so I closed the book.

My retainers accompanied me to see me off. The Chief Priest, Brother Eckhart, and Justus were waiting, and as I stepped toward them, Damuel and Angelica emerged together.

"Angelica, you're going to the Temple too? But you haven't even had your Coming-of-Age Ceremony yet—is it alright to assign you to guard duty outside the castle?"

When I compared the Chief Priest and Angelica with a glance, the Chief Priest looked down at an eager Angelica and gave a light nod.

"Her Coming-of-Age Ceremony hasn't been completed yet, but she's already turned fifteen. She seems to have finished the lectures everyone was worried about, and she's motivated herself. More importantly, being without a female knight is rather problematic."

Unlike when my parents had selected attendants for me at the Baptism Ceremony, I was now at an age where I had to choose my own retainers. I was told that for a female knight, I could choose one after the Dedication Ritual if I wished.

"Rosemine, I can finally be assigned to guard duty. Please let me do it."

"If the Knight Commander and Foster Father have given their approval, I have no objection."

When I brought out the Lesser Beast, Ella—who was already accustomed to it—climbed into the back seat first, and Angelica climbed into the passenger seat just as Brigitte had done before.

I showed them how to fasten the seatbelt, and as I gripped the steering wheel, the Chief Priest's work tools were gradually packed into the back seat.

...There's more luggage than mine.

"Rosemine, are you ready?"

When I nodded at Damuel's words, Damuel raised his hand sharply. The Chief Priest saw this and turned his gaze to Norbert, who was standing by the door.

"Open the door."

At Norbert's command, the door was thrown wide open. Although the snowstorm had weakened, snow was still falling. Blue and ochre cloaks darted out into it, and I stepped on the accelerator so I wouldn't lose sight of them.

From behind, I heard the words, "Safe travels, Rosemine."

"Rosemine's Lord's Beast is so comfortable. I'm surprised."

"Heh heh. Isn't it? It's a wonderful thing—cute and convenient."

Glancing at the back seat, now packed with Ella, cooking utensils, my belongings, and the Chief Priest's work tools, I raced toward the Temple through the snow.

"Angelica, all the attendants at the Temple are Gray Priests or Gray Priestesses. However, they serve me with the same dedication as Damuel and you."

The nobility's contempt for the Temple was strong. Damuel had come to the Temple in the form of demotion to atone for his own failure, and Brigitte had become a guard knight with a willingness to endure anything for Ilgner's sake, so neither had ever been openly harsh toward the attendants.

That was precisely why I was always cautious about bringing new guard knights into the Temple.

"...I'm not quite sure I understand. What would you like me to do, Rosemine?"

"I just ask that, as people who both serve me, you refrain from showing obvious disdain for one another."

"Um, disdain? Obvious? ...I think I kind of understand."

...You don't understand at all!

"It would make me happy if you could work together amicably with the priests and priestesses who serve as my attendants."

When I said this concisely and stole a glance at Angelica, the expression on the melancholy beauty's face instantly brightened.

"Understood. Leave it to me."

"Welcome back, Rosemine."

Upon returning to the Temple, Fran and the other attendants had come to greet me. Alongside the Chief Priest's attendants unloading luggage from the Lesser Beast, my own attendants sprang into action. Wilma helped Ella carry the work tools, and Monica began carrying my belongings.

"Rosemine, may I help them with the luggage?"

Zaim offered to assist the Chief Priest's attendants, so I gave a light nod. There was quite a lot, and if the luggage wasn't unloaded quickly, I wouldn't be able to put the Lord's Beast away. Fran and Fritz also began moving to carry the luggage into the Temple.

"Then I'll help as well."

"Gil, please wait."

I stopped Gil from moving to do the same as Zaim, and handed him the letters from my pocket.

"While the snowstorm is weak right now, please hurry and deliver these to the Plantant Company. Tell them that one letter is for the Gilberta Company and the other is for the Guild Master. If you mention that there will be a summons from the Lord, they should understand the gravity of the matter."

"I'll go immediately."

Gil, who had traveled with me to Ilgner and Haldenzel, had the closest ties to the Plantant Company and Gilberta Company. Having witnessed their struggles firsthand, and as the workshop representative who'd been roped into their noble-related demands, Gil turned pale the moment he took the three letters and dashed off.

With everyone cooperating, the luggage was quickly carried into the Temple. After handing the rest over to the Chief Priest's attendants, I took my own retainers and returned to my room. Nicola, who had gone ahead, had prepared tea and sweets.

I then introduced Angelica as the knight who would be taking over Brigitte's guard duties at the Temple.

"I hope we can work well together, as people who both serve Rosemine."

When Angelica said this with a serious expression, Fran and the others looked slightly taken aback. They seemed at a loss for how to deal with Angelica's un-aristocratic demeanor, but when they saw Damuel pressing his temple and letting out a sigh, they seemed to sense this was not ordinary, and Fran twisted his mouth into a wry smile.

"I am Fran, the head attendant of Rosemine. I am delighted that Rosemine has a guard knight like you, Lady Angelica. I look forward to working with you."

Damuel and Angelica stood before the door, going over various details about guard duty at the Temple. Just talking about it wouldn't be enough—there were many things Angelica wouldn't understand without seeing and doing things in practice.

"Fran, please give me the reports from while I was away."

"As you wish."

Several children at the orphanage had caught colds, but everything had apparently concluded without major issues. The winter handiwork and printing at the workshop were proceeding smoothly, with no particular problems.

"When the snowstorm subsides and spring draws near, the Plantant Company and Gilberta Company will be summoned to the castle. So I expect requests for meetings to come in before the Dedication Ritual. The meetings will likely be held when the snowstorm is weak, so please have the Orphanage Director's room prepared at all times, ready for whenever a meeting might occur."

"Understood."

By the time I'd finished hearing reports from everyone, Gil returned covered in snow. I had him deliver his report by the fireplace so he could warm up, as he was shivering violently.

"Benno said, 'So they've come after all.' He plans to contact the Guild Master and the Gilberta Company as well, and wants to meet when the snowstorm weakens tomorrow."

"Lutz will probably have given them advance notice, but Gil, please help prepare the Orphanage Director's room too."

"Yes."

I announced that I would visit the orphanage that afternoon to check on the children and the progress of the handiwork, then looked at Gil.

"Now then, Gil, go change quickly. You'll be busy soon, and it would be terrible if you caught a cold."

"Understood."

True to my word, I toured the orphanage after lunch, marveled at how much the children had grown, and asked Deria if there were any issues with Dirk. There were no particular problems, and Dirk was apparently growing up healthily.

"He's been getting naughtier lately and doesn't listen as much as he used to."

"He listens to what Deria says, though. I'm a good boy, Rosemine."

"Oh my! Dirk, you're such a liar!"

Even though Deria said this in an angry tone, she was smiling. It was reassuring to see that they had such a good sibling relationship.

The next day, when Fran noticed the snowstorm weakening around the time the third bell was approaching, he set down the luggage to be brought to the Chief Priest on the table and instead picked up a book.

"Rosemine, let's move to the Orphanage Director's room. You can read while we travel, and we should arrive before you know it."

Just as Fran said, before we reached the Orphanage Director's room, a message came from Gil that "they're coming now."

The Orphanage Director's room had been kept warm in preparation for their arrival at any time, and I began reading.

"You've arrived, Rosemine."

From the Plantant Company came Benno, Mark, and Lutz; from the Gilberta Company came Otto, Theo, and Leon; and the Guild Master with two of his aides—all of them walking through the snow, covered in it head to toe.

They removed their coats and hats and came upstairs.

"Thank you so much for taking the time today. I'm deeply grateful."

Looking at the tense faces lined up before me, rigid with the pressure of a task that couldn't afford failure, I gestured for them to sit.

Sorry about that. I pulled a "delayed chapter" for the first time in a while.

While writing about the goings-on at the castle, I got carried away and never made it to the discussion with Benno and the others.

Tomorrow, for sure, it'll be the summoned merchants.