After our Contract Magic was dissolved, a new Contract Magic was established so that Aub Ehrenfest could lead the expansion of the papermaking and printing industries.
To ensure that the Lord could handle papermaking and printing businesses even after succession, the contract was made not with
Under the new contract, Aub Ehrenfest had effectively purchased the rights I previously held to steer the papermaking workshop, as well as the selling rights Lutz had held. The Plantan Company would continue to receive a portion of the profits related to papermaking and printing. Of course, the ratio was not what it had been before, and sales could now be handled by other companies as well.
"...Plantan Company—are there no issues with this?"
Benno, who had been glaring intently at the new Contract Magic document presented to him, nodded.
"We are deeply honored by Aub Ehrenfest's consideration and this exceptional treatment of the Plantan Company."
Benno was expressing his gratitude for the new contract terms, which he said showed the utmost consideration for the Plantan Company and everything we had built together.
...Exceptional treatment, he says.
The moment Lutz was excluded from the new contract, this was anything but exceptional in my eyes.
After Benno signed and pressed his Blood Seal, I also signed to show my agreement. Finally, Aub Ehrenfest, who had received the Contract Magic document from the official, signed as well.
The new contract was sealed in golden flames of Contract Magic.
Lutz's name was not on it. Mother had said I should build new connections through the new contract, but I couldn't build any new ones. After everything we'd been through together, this felt like having it shoved in my face just how far apart Lutz and I had grown, and my heart grew cold.
...I want to give Lutz a big hug.
I wanted the reassurance that nothing would change. Physical contact, warmth—things I could no longer have as a noble. I wanted them desperately.
...I want to go home.
After the Contract Magic was completed, an official spoke about improvements to the lower town. He explained in roundabout terms that while it would be fastest to rebuild everything at once with Creation Magic, they lacked the Magic Power to spare for the lower town, so they would have to make do with manual labor.
At the mention of rebuilding the entire town at once, the Guild Master and Benno turned pale and immediately declined, saying, "It would be far too much trouble to burden Aub Ehrenfest with such a task. Please allow us to handle everything on our end."
Of course they would. The Guild Master and Benno had witnessed the small temple in
I stepped in between the official and the merchants and spoke.
"I will arrange for the budget to be compiled through the official's office, but the actual work will be carried out by the people of the lower town, under the supervision of the commercial guild's Guild Master, Gustaf. This will be a major project. I would like to begin along the main road from the West Gate to the East Gate, where there is the most foot traffic. As for how to beautify the town, we can discuss that at a later date."
"As Lady
The merchants bowed their heads at my words. I could hear the relief in their voices.
They were then told to disperse, and the officials ushered them out of the room. There was no hesitation in their movements as they left the audience chamber. I watched everyone carefully, but Lutz never once looked my way.
Once the meeting with the merchants was over, I was immediately summoned to the Lord's office. Surrounded by the leadership team and numerous officials, I listened as one of them delivered a report on the day's discussions, directed at the Chief Priest and the mothers who had not been present.
"As requested, the new contract provides the Plantan Company with the utmost consideration."
Apparently, the normal practice was to purchase all rights and end the arrangement. Yet even though it was only a portion, they would continue to provide profits going forward—to a company that had only been established a few years ago.
The official had insinuated that they had only agreed to such generous terms because the Plantan Company was Lady Rozemyne's favored merchant, and it irritated me. He knew nothing of the hardships involved in creating new technology, nothing of all the support Benno had given us when we had nothing, and he spoke as though it were mere favoritism. My eyes narrowed involuntarily.
"Rozemyne."
The Chief Priest made a subtle gesture with his hand—a signal to rein it in. I took a slow breath, let it out, and put on a dazzling, perfectly practiced smile.
"The contract I just concluded with the Plantan Company pertains to the manufacturing and sales of papermaking and printing, correct? It does not include technology transfer?"
"...Rozemyne?"
"Moving forward, I will be sending instructors from the Mine Workshop to have the Plantan Company establish the Ehrenfest Paper Association and the Printing Association, thereby opening workshops across the region. As for technology transfer fees, I will determine the amount myself and collect it from each Giebe's territory. From those collected funds, I will then pay appropriate amounts to the Plantan Company and to Ilgner, who cooperates by providing instructors."
Everyone's eyes went wide at my sudden proposal. My adoptive father blinked in confusion.
"What's this all of a sudden? Why are you suggesting this?"
"Based on how our discussions have gone, I doubt anyone will pay proper compensation or technology fees if the Plantan Company and craftsmen are moved around under the pretext that it wasn't in the contract. I find it very hard to believe that noble officials could understand the hardship merchants and craftsmen face—having to participate in a new venture that requires deploying numerous employees from spring through autumn, while still fulfilling their usual workload."
This was supposed to be a major commission from the Lord, not a charity project. But I couldn't believe that proper budgets would be allocated and that the
"Commoners and nobles are different, after all."
The official seemed to interpret my words—which were meant to convey that I couldn't trust them with the project due to their lack of understanding—as something slightly different. I mentally stamped him with a "complete failure."
"You're quite right. I cannot entrust my important projects to people who have no intention of understanding from the start. I will train the officials who will be involved in the printing and papermaking industries myself."
My smiling declaration made the Chief Priest's eyes bulge.
"Rozemyne, calm down. That's not your decision to make unilaterally."
Since this was now a project led by Aub Ehrenfest, my words would undoubtedly be seen as overstepping and disrespectful. But whether it was disrespectful or not, I would not tolerate the Plantan Company and the Gutenberg craftsmen being worked to the bone.
"If I don't decide, then who will,
...Though I suppose it's easy enough to tell just by looking at the level of the officials here.
It seemed my inner monologue had been leaking out completely. My adoptive father, who hadn't touched papermaking or printing matters during the two years he'd left everything to the Chief Priest, averted his gaze, while the Chief Priest pressed his temple and let out a groan.
"...
"Then I'll train officials with Justus at the center."
Justus was an oddball who would risk his life for information gathering, but he had little aversion to the lower town and liked new things, so his aptitude for new ventures might actually be quite high. He could surprisingly be a good fit, I thought with a smile—but the Chief Priest shook his head.
"He's useful to me. I can't have you taking him."
"Rozemyne, Justus is Ferdinand's aide. You cannot simply use him as you please. Use the officials here for the business."
My adoptive father said I could use whoever I wanted, but no thank you. I had no use for the incompetent. I immediately shook my head in refusal.
"Aub Ehrenfest, papermaking and printing are industries I have been involved with and nurtured for a long time. Making paper, printing, crafting the tools for it—this is all the work of commoners. In fact, it was something that didn't even need noble involvement until now. I cannot stand by and watch ignorant nobles meddle and crush the merchants and craftsmen. I have absolutely no intention of leaving this to officials who don't understand the importance of the Plantan Company or the value of the craftsmen, who would only push them beyond their limits, shirk responsibility, and destroy everything."
"So you're saying the officials here won't do?"
"I am. I'm fully aware of the shortage of personnel, but I would at least like to work with people who show more promise."
As I listed the qualities I needed—those who didn't avoid visiting the
"That has absolutely nothing to do with the skills required of our current officials."
"Of course it doesn't. Our current officials could never manage businesses involving commoners."
When I told him that what he considered competent and what I considered competent were entirely different things, my adoptive father nodded.
"...Understood. I'll leave the training of personnel for the papermaking and printing industries to Rozemyne. You certainly know more about it than anyone in Ehrenfest, and frankly, I don't understand the qualities you're looking for."
"I'm grateful."
Richilda, who had been listening quietly, placed a hand to her cheek and spoke.
"Wouldn't it work to train the lower-ranking and middle-ranking officials that territorial nobles use as stewards?"
"
Everyone turned to look at her at once. Almost everyone present was a noble born and raised in the Noble District. Other than the daughter of Giebe
"Compared to nobles raised in the Noble District, they have more opportunities to interact with commoners. And if they can see how new industries could enrich their own territories, I think they would study the work earnestly."
"...That's a good idea. I'll consider it."
It might be a good idea, but collecting technology transfer fees from various Giebes could prove difficult. As for the officials' aptitude, it might work. Worth looking into. I would consult Benno about it.
That night, I had a dream.
I was walking along a path. A long, long, flat road that stretched on endlessly, and I trudged along it with plodding steps. There was a star shining like the North Star, and I walked toward it.
At first, I was alone. Then my family grew, and Lutz was there, and Benno and
Lutz carried me on his back, Father carried me on his shoulders, Benno and Mark lifted me up, and even though I was slow, I walked together with everyone. We all smiled, chatting about silly things and laughing.
Along the way,
What annoying grass, I thought, pouting as I looked down—only to realize that at some point, my family and Lutz had parted ways onto a different path.
But we were still walking in the same direction, and we could still talk while walking together, so I kept heading toward the star without changing course.
...We're getting a little too far apart.
We were still holding hands, but little by little, the distance grew. Everyone's pace kept getting faster and faster. Trying not to get my feet tangled in the grass, I struggled to keep up.
...Wait. Wait. Don't leave me behind!
The further I walked, the more our paths diverged. Everyone was smiling and having fun, and they didn't seem to notice I was falling behind. At some point, our hands had come apart, and I was alone.
...Father, Mother, Turi, wait! Lutz, Lutz, don't leave me!
Pushing through grass as tall as myself, searching for everyone and crying as I continued down the path, someone called out to me—called me "Lady."
"...Richilda?"
Shaken awake, I opened my eyes to find Richilda peering at me with concern. I had apparently been crying in my sleep. My pillow was cold.
Slowly sitting up, I wiped my eyes. I shook my head several times, trying to dispel the dream's imagery, but it clung to my mind as though burned there, refusing to fade.
"My Lady, you were quite restless in your sleep. Are you alright?"
...I'm not alright at all.
The back of my head was throbbing with a tingling numbness, and I could feel the Magic Power inside me boiling with heat.
"Richilda, please send word to Ferdinand that I want to come home."
"...As you wish."
Without worrying about how early it was, Richilda immediately sent an Ordonanz.
I washed my face, was helped into fresh clothes, and ate breakfast. During the meal, an Ordonanz returned from the Chief Priest. The white bird repeated the same message three times in the Chief Priest's voice.
"Rozemyne, I received Richilda's request, but I have a meeting scheduled with Giebe Haldenzel today. Can you hold out until after the meeting?"
I didn't think I could hold out. Giebe Haldenzel was the person who hadn't been able to build a papermaking workshop with Contract Magic during the expansion of the printing business. If he told me "I'm glad the Contract Magic was dissolved" in my current state, I wasn't confident I could keep my emotions in check.
"This is Rozemyne. I will return by myself before any problems arise."
When I sent my Ordonanz, this time a response with a sigh came back from the Chief Priest immediately.
"I'll come pick you up after canceling the meeting. Don't do anything on your own. Get ready and wait."
"...Understood."
I still have to wait? I clenched my back teeth hard. Richilda gently patted my shoulder.
"Come now, my Lady. Please finish your breakfast quickly. Given the way Ferdinand-sama looked, he'll surely come to pick you up soon. You wouldn't want to be scolded for not being ready after calling him over so early in the morning, would you?"
Richilda was clearly trying to lighten the mood, and I nodded, reaching for the rest of my breakfast.
In the meantime,
"Your face is even paler than usual today. The Temple must suit you better, my Lady. Please take your time and rest easy there."
"Richilda..."
Richilda smiled, a touch sadly.
"Rozemyne, are you ready?"
True to what Richilda had said, the Chief Priest arrived to pick me up almost immediately. If I'd still been dazing over breakfast, I probably would have been scolded.
"I'm ready."
As for preparations, each of us had our own daily necessities at our respective locations, so I didn't have much luggage to transport myself. The largest item this time was the Linfa paper gifted to me by Giebe Ilgner.
"Then let's go."
"Safe travels, Lady Rozemyne."
With the Chief Priest and
Pushing my pace as urgently as I felt, we returned to the Temple, where Fran was waiting to greet us.
"Welcome home, Lady Rozemyne."
Before I could even dismount from my ride, the Chief Priest, having already put his own away, approached Fran.
"Fran, did you get in touch?"
"It's already been taken care of. The other Attendants went to prepare the orphanage director's room."
"I see. She's been bottling up quite a lot. Skip the pleasantries and take us directly to the hidden room."
"Understood."
When I dismounted, the Chief Priest handed me a leather pouch.
"Rozemyne, put your hand in here and drain as much Magic Power as you can. You wouldn't want to lose control and hurt someone, would you?"
"Thank you."
I took the leather pouch from the Chief Priest and headed straight for the orphanage director's room.
"An early-morning letter from the Chief Priest arrived, and all of us Attendants were truly startled," Fran said with a wry smile. He couldn't use an Ordonanz on someone without a staff, so it seemed he had been commanded via a flying Magical Tool letter to summon the Plantan Company.
"Gil saw the letter and rushed out in a panic. Will he be back with Lutz soon?"
A fire had just been laid in the hearth. The orphanage director's room, which we rarely used, was still freezing cold.
"Please don't take off your cold-weather gear yet—it's still quite cold in here," Fran said, so I entered without removing my outerwear. The room was no different from when I had been a commoner Shrine Maiden, and I felt half relieved and half terrified—seeing this confirmed the distance that had grown between us made me fear that dream would come true.
"Lady Rozemyne and Damuel, please wait in the hidden room. Angelica, I'd like you to stand guard at the door."
"Leave it to me. Fran's arrangements are perfect."
"Negotiating with merchants in difficult meetings is best left to Damuel," Angelica said cheerfully as she took her position at the entrance of the orphanage director's room. I'd expected that Fran, who bore a strong resemblance to the Chief Priest, would hold his head in his hands at Angelica's "I can't use my brain" declaration, but he didn't.
Perhaps for Fran, she was easier to deal with than
Ignoring Damuel muttering, "So I'll be witnessing that scene again," as he climbed the stairs, I entered the hidden room. The hidden room, which my Attendants were allowed to enter, had also been hastily cleaned and was already tidy.
The door to the hidden room was left wide open so Lutz could come in, and Fran offered me a chair.
"Lady Rozemyne, why don't you use the leather pouch the Chief Priest gave you? The color of your eyes is becoming unstable."
Fran peered at my face with concern as he made the suggestion. Changing eye color meant my Magic Power was on the verge of running wild. I hastily shoved my hand into the leather pouch the Chief Priest had given me.
I could feel numerous small, round objects inside. Immediately, my Magic Power was sucked away with a rush.
...What's in here?
Peering into the pouch, I saw several black magic stones, some of which had been ground into golden powder. It seemed the Chief Priest intended to suppress my magic overflow while simultaneously collecting the raw materials. Was I the only one frustrated by this Chief Priest's characteristically thorough and efficient approach?
"I've brought Lutz!"
Gil burst into the orphanage director's room with that announcement. He had clearly run at full speed, as his voice was ragged.
"Gil, Lady Rozemyne is in the hidden room. Please lead Lutz this way."
"Understood."
I could hear the sound of two sets of footsteps climbing the stairs. The two of them, who had been showing a calmer demeanor lately, had quickened their pace and sounded slightly breathless.
"Lutz, thank you for coming at such an early hour. I'll leave the rest to you."
Fran said this as he closed the door. Unable to wait for it to shut completely, I lurched to my feet.
Gil and Lutz had both clearly run at full speed. Their shoulders heaved up and down as they caught their breath.
I rushed toward them, ready to throw myself at Lutz.
"Lutz, Lutz, Lutz!"
The instant I tried to leap at him, my shoulders were grabbed firmly and stopped.
"Why are you stopping me!? Can't I!?"
"No. I'm still out of breath. At least spare me from being tackled at full force."
Once I had stopped, Lutz held me in a hug and lightly tapped my back, saying, "Calm down." That familiar gesture dissolved my anxiety, and the tension drained from my body.
I wrapped my arms around Lutz's back and let out a long, slow breath.
"Hey, Lutz. Even without the Contract Magic... you haven't changed, have you?"
"Would you change?"
My head was patted softly as he asked me in return, and I shook my head immediately.
"I'm the same way. The Contract Magic disappearing is a little sad, but what matters to me is the promise you made—that you'd think of it and I'd make it. Nothing's changed."
"Yeah. That's right. Good. I had a really awful dream today. I just couldn't hold it together, so I came back to the Temple."
At my words, Lutz let out an exhausted sigh.
"Seriously? You called me out in this early-morning emergency just because you had a bad dream...? Couldn't you find someone else for that?"
"If there were someone like that, this situation wouldn't have happened. Anxiety and work just pile on top of each other, and there's nobody around to clear them away."
"...I see."
Lutz said he had a feeling he'd be getting dragged around for a while yet, but even so, his face looked somewhat relieved.
Rozemyne exploded at the uselessness of the officials. Rights to train officials: GET.
And then, return to the Temple.
Lutz, who was called out early in the morning because the Lady had a bad dream—thank you for your hard work.
Next time: the meeting with Giebe Haldenzel.