The Visit to Gresschel and the Star Binding Ceremony

After the dinner at the Italian restaurant concluded without incident, I gave Frieda and the Plantin Company the recipe for gelatin and my stationery ideas as a reward for their two years of hard work.

"Stationery for organizing large quantities of paper? That's wonderful!"

Benno, who was already using Plant Paper for work, was delighted by the storage goods idea and said he'd have them made as soon as possible. He wanted some for himself first, apparently.

"The Ottmar Company will need to prepare a workshop for making gelatin, won't they?"

"Since it has a strong smell, it'd be better to build the workshop in a town near farming villages where there are lots of pigs, rather than in the middle of town."

"Thank you. I'll take that into consideration."

Once gelatin could be made, the range of dishes would expand dramatically. I also bought the improved recipes Ilse had developed, and the whole transaction ended up being practically a wash in terms of money.

The Ordonnanz delivered Wilfried's proud voice right after the Spring Baptism Ceremony.

"The final check is done, Rozemyne! We're departing for Gresschel!"

Right behind the Ordonnanz that flew over with the still-palpable excitement of finishing one job, another Ordonnanz arrived from my mother, the person in charge of the printing business. It said the final check was complete, and that I should head to Gresschel once I finished the Summer Baptism Ceremony.

I immediately relayed the schedule to the Plantin Company, asked them to inform the Gutens, and had them arrange for the Gray Priests who'd be traveling to have their outfits prepared by the Gilberta Company. I also sent word to the workshop through Gil, and informed the Chief Priest of my plans.

Using Ordonnanz, I coordinated with the attendants at the castle, and decided to bring Brunhilde along this time since she'd be returning to her family home. The remaining party would be two apprentice scholars and two guard knights.

And then, two days after the Summer Baptism Ceremony, the day of departure for Gresschel arrived.

Just like when we headed to Hardensel, I was to meet the Gutens at the front entrance of the Temple. Since all the Gutens were coming and there was a lot of luggage, the Lesser Bus this time was configured as a large bus.

"Wow, what is this?! It's amazing!"

Heidi, her eyes shining, left the loading of luggage to her husband Josef and was the first to board the Lesser Bus. Even as Josef's voice echoed behind her shouting, "Help out, you idiot!" Heidi didn't seem to hear, running her hands all over the interior of the Lesser Bus and exclaiming with excitement.

"It's soft! It feels nice to touch, and it's so squishy! What material do you think it's made from?"

Ingo watched both the Lesser Bus and the frolicking Heidi with the expression of someone viewing something eerie. However, upon seeing not just Benno, Damian, and Lutz, but also Zack and Johan loading luggage with practiced efficiency, he clenched his fist once to steel himself, then began helping with the loading.

"Lady Rozemyne."

Following Gil, the Gray Priests carrying the workshop's luggage arrived at the front entrance as well. Since they'd be working outside the Temple and occasionally appearing before the scholars alongside the Plantin Company, I'd given them secondhand clothes of the same quality as what the Plantin Company apprentices wore. The Gray Priests who'd returned from the small Hasse temple occasionally touched their collars or pulled at their sleeves—I noticed them doing this frequently.

"They don't wear anything other than work clothes and Gray Priest robes, so they're bewildered by having to wear nice clothes."

Gil shrugged and said they'd get used to it soon enough. Unlike the other Gray Priests, Gil was completely accustomed to this—he frequented the Plantin Company often.

"It's been a while since I've traveled far with Lady Rozemyne. It feels rather nostalgic."

"It's been since Ilgner, hasn't it?"

Gil hadn't gone to the Dedication Ritual at Hardensel, so it had been a long time since we traveled together. I was starting to feel a bit of an excursion-like excitement.

Once the loading was finished, Angelica took the passenger seat while the Gutens boarded the rear. Those with stiff, tense faces were riding a ride beast for the first time, while those who quickly buckled their seat belts and were already relaxed were the experienced ones. Heidi, who was the most excited of all with her boundless curiosity, was in a category of her own even among ride beast novices.

"Well then, even during casual conversation, don't forget to build up Wilfried as much as possible, and be careful not to go off on your own."

"Understood. While I'm away, Hugo has been assigned to the Chief Priest's kitchen, so you should be able to enjoy new dishes for a while."

Seeing me off with the Chief Priest, Fran, and the others, I set the Lesser Bus in motion. And just like when we headed to Hardensel, we stopped by the castle, joined up with my mother and the scholars, and headed for Gresschel under the protection of the knight order.

This time, Wilfried and Charlotte were staying behind, and the lower-ranking scholars who hadn't been able to accompany us to Hardensel were joining. Among the scholars riding their ride beasts, I could spot Damuel's older brother, Henrik.

Gresschel was located across the river to the west of Ehrenfest, a ride beast flight away. It had originally been a direct territory, but when the princess of Ahrensbach married in, the ruling candidate who was removed from the line of succession was given the land and became the Gebe of Gresschel. That was how it all began.

If the princess of Ahrensbach hadn't married in and that ruling candidate had become lord in the normal order of things, Brunhilde might have been the ruling candidate. In other words, Gresschel was the home of extremely strained relations for both Veronica and the former High Priest, and the Gebe of Gresschel was the count who had refused to take in the former High Priest's belongings.

Incidentally, the furniture the former High Priest had left behind had few takers even within the Temple, due to the Blue Priests and their families sensing the shifting political winds and refusing to claim it. It had been sitting in storage, but on the Chief Priest's proposal, it was decided to put it to effective use in a Temple meeting room for scholar discussions. Currently, the pieces were being repaired—reupholstering chair covers, polishing, and so on.

Because the former High Priest had used furniture befitting his family's rank, the meeting room was quite opulent. Perhaps it might even be so intimidating that the lower-ranking scholars would feel nervous using it.

"Welcome, Lady Rozemyne. And Brunhilde, it's wonderful to see you looking well."

The Gebe of Gresschel greeted us. After the lengthy noble introductions were completed and my mother was talking with the Gebe, Brunhilde hurried off to prepare my room. She seemed to want to show her family that she was working impeccably as an attendant, putting their minds at ease.

After seeing Brunhilde off, I introduced the Gutens to Gresschel's scholars in charge of printing. Just as during the long stays at Ilgner and Hardensel, the Gutens were to stay in the detached building that priests used during the Dedication Ritual and Harvest Festival.

Once the introductions were complete, everyone except Benno and Damian carried their necessities to the detached building and began settling in.

"I'd like to move the luggage into the workshop today. It's such a hassle to unload everything from the ride beasts and then load it all again tomorrow."

"What? Lady Rozemyne, you're going to the lower town?"

Benno, Damian, and the scholars including myself had begun discussing our plans going forward, but the lower-ranking scholars were so shocked that the conversation wasn't progressing at all.

"I need to take a proper look at what the printing workshop is like. I visited for inspections at both Hardensel and Ilgner, and Wilfried should have already gone ahead to inspect things here in Gresschel, so it shouldn't be all that surprising, right?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

"I toured the workshop at Hardensel as well. I'll be inspecting Gresschel too."

I emphasized the importance of personally visiting the site and ordered the scholars to accompany me. Since my attendants Philine and Hartmut immediately complied, the other scholars fell in line as well.

"As lower-ranking nobles, we often handle communication with the lower town, but I never imagined that a higher-ranking noble or ruling candidate would actually speak with commoners."

"Starting tomorrow, the Gutens will get right to work, yes? How long do you think the contract with the Plantin Company will take to finalize?"

"...I don't think it's something Lady Rozemyne need concern herself with."

This was a place that had originally been a direct territory, where a ruling candidate and a princess from another territory had arrived. The atmosphere was different from Ilgner and Hardensel, where people lived alongside commoners. Gresschel's castle gave the impression of being a second Noble District, with a sense of separation between the castle's interior and the lower town outside.

"If the contract with the Plantin Company isn't finalized, we won't be able to return to Ehrenfest. I can't very well leave my precious Gutens in a place where there's no guarantee of anything."

This place might not go as smoothly as Ilgner or Hardensel. With a smile, I made sure to apply some pressure: the Gutens are essentially personal assets of mine as the Lord's adopted daughter, so please treat them accordingly.

"I don't think it's necessary for Lady Rozemyne to attend, though..."

Brunhilde, who only knew the me that attended castle meetings, showed reservations about me heading to a venue where commoners would also be present. However, it would be problematic if the nobles starting the printing business in Gresschel showed no interest.

"Since many of the scholars are new to this and aren't accustomed to it yet, I need to oversee things properly as someone in a position of leadership. Won't you come check out the new business venture starting in Gresschel, Brunhilde?"

"...I'll accompany you."

And so, drawing surprised looks not only from the Gebe of Gresschel and Brunhilde but also from the lower-ranking scholars who'd grown up in the Noble District, I traveled with the Gutens to the printing workshop built in the commoners' district aboard the Lesser Bus loaded with luggage. The Lesser Bus left the people of Gresschel absolutely dumbfounded, and the man who was to become the Workshop Head greeted us with his mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"These are the Gutens who will be instructing you from now on. The period the Gutens can be lent to Gresschel extends until the Harvest Festival. Within that time, please master the skills thoroughly and learn to operate the printing workshop."

After the introductions of the Gutens and craftsmen were complete, the parts of the printing press were carried in by the Gutens and Gresschel's craftsmen. Once the unloading at the printing workshop was finished, next was the papermaking workshop. We unloaded some equipment at the papermaking workshop, which had been built right beside a small stream, and I introduced Gil and the other Gray Priests.

From the next day onward, I oversaw the progress of the Plantin Company contract. During the few days it took to finalize the terms, whenever I found the time, I took my attending retainers and the lower-ranking scholars, beginning with Henrik, on tours of the workshop, demonstrating how to interact with commoners.

Brunhilde had been reluctant to enter the lower town, but when I told her, "This printing business is going to be the next big trend," she followed along with an expression of someone biting back their words.

"Your passion for trends is genuine, Brunhilde. I'm impressed."

"Lady Rozemyne, were you testing me?"

Looking straight into her narrowed amber eyes, I gave a big nod.

"Yes. I wanted to confirm how much I could entrust to you. Regarding trends, it seems I can leave as much as I want to you. I'm relieved."

Brunhilde showed a complicated smile—partly happy at being recognized, partly troubled at being praised for going to the workshop out of sheer stubbornness.

In the background, Damuel gave a light shrug toward Henrik and the others, who were still reeling from my methods that were completely different from how higher-ranking nobles typically did things.

"I told you that Lady Rozemyne is revolutionary and that you'll get swept off your feet even if you think you're prepared, didn't I, brother?"

"I understand now. ...This shift in mindset is quite difficult."

Henrik said this with a wry smile, but he had been chosen precisely because he was relatively accustomed to interacting with commoners.

After visiting the workshop several times and watching me mediate between Gresschel's craftsmen and the Gutens, Philine asking questions of the craftsmen, and Hartmut listening to the Gutens' explanations, Henrik gradually became able to hold similar conversations.

...Henrik, just like Damuel, seemed to have flexibility. As expected of brothers.

"I chose scholars for the printing business based on the consideration that they would be able to listen to the opinions of commoners. Henrik can hold conversations with commoners without being high-handed, so I'm glad—he'll be a great asset in the printing and papermaking businesses."

When I praised him like that, the other scholars immediately began following his example. If I continued to train them at this rate, developing scholars who could listen to commoners' opinions to some degree seemed feasible.

On the last day, the Gebe of Gresschel, with whom I'd only had contact during mealtimes, told me, "I see. I now understand what Brunhilde and Elvira meant when they said your fundamental way of thinking is different." He probably meant that I wasn't very noble-like, but from my perspective, the outcome was satisfactory, so there was no problem.

I left the Gutens behind and returned to Ehrenfest with only Benno.

Word came that the papermaking workshop was completed, and as I exchanged Ordonnanz with Ilgner and sent members of the Plantin Company and Gray Priests over, the days continued to pass swiftly.

"Tomorrow is finally Hugo and Ela's Star Binding Ceremony."

"Since there'll be a ceremony in the Noble District as well, we need to make thorough preparations."

Fran said this with a light sigh. Since two of the dedicated cooks were getting married, tomorrow's cooking would have to be handled by Nicola alone.

Hugo, who had been summoned by Fran, opened his mouth with a smile of barely contained joy.

"It's fine. I've already finished all the prep work for tomorrow so that Nicola can handle it on her own."

It seemed Hugo had been helping with the prep work, but that didn't change the fact that Nicola would have a tough time. She'd need to time things just right after the ceremony ended to prepare my lunch.

"Nicola said she'd do her best for the two of them. Hugo, tomorrow, be sure to protect Ela from the Tau fruits."

In the lower town, after completing the Star Binding Ceremony at the Temple, there was a Star Festival where Tau fruits were hurled at the newlyweds. The groom had to protect his bride from the Tau fruits and race into their new home.

Just like with Hugo until now, the bachelors who hadn't been able to get married hurled them with all their might, full of jealousy—so escaping wasn't easy.

"Leave it to me. I'll laugh off the spite of every unmarried man out there."

Hugo was grinning, looking as if he was thinking, "Finally, it's my time to shine." He seemed eager, which was all for the best. Ela, who had been busy with wedding preparations, was taking today off, but tomorrow she would appear in the Temple as a bride.

I noticed Damuel, still an unmarried man, looking at Hugo with resentful eyes, but I deliberately ignored it. I'd already made arrangements with my mother, so there was nothing more I could do for Damuel.

And then, the next day. I had to get ready early in the morning to perform the Star Binding Ceremony.

"Lady Rozemyne, I'm heading to the orphanage."

"Fritz, I'm counting on you with the children."

Since Gil was away on assignment in Gresschel, Fritz had taken on the role of leading the orphanage children to the forest to gather Tau fruits. He'd done the same thing when we were away on assignment at Ilgner and Hardensel, so Fritz was used to it.

"Well then, Lady Rozemyne. Let's head to the chapel."

Called by Fran, I made my way to the chapel, being careful not to step on my trailing hem.

Along the way, Damuel spoke up in a low voice.

"Lady Rozemyne, will Lady Elvira be introducing you to someone tonight?"

"You'd have to ask my mother about that."

"...Please ask her for me."

My mother was busy managing the estate, expanding the faction, running the printing business, and also preparing to welcome Lamprecht's bride. All I could do was pray that Damuel hadn't been forgotten.

"High Priest, you may enter."

With the Chief Priest's voice, the gray priests opened the door. Once the door opened, the conversation with Damuel was over. Clutching the Holy Book that Fran handed me, I entered the chapel.

As the light sound of bells rang out, I walked straight ahead, passing in front of the newlyweds and the Blue Priests, and ascended the altar.

The Chief Priest read aloud the mythology in his resounding voice. It was the story of the supreme god, the Darkness God, and the Goddess of Light marrying each other. Though various problems arose after their marriage, the part where they overcame them together was the tale behind the Star Binding Ceremony.

Listening to the Chief Priest's voice, I gazed down from the altar at the newlyweds lined up in the chapel. Since they each wore the noble color of the season they were born in, the Star Binding Ceremony was the most colorful and visually delightful of all.

Ela and Hugo were visible in the very front row.

Ela was wearing Festive Clothing in emerald green—the noble color of spring—and gazing up at the altar. In her reddish-brown hair, the hair ornament that Turi and I had chosen swayed gently. Compared to the other brides around her, it wasn't so lavish as to stick out, yet it had turned out to be just the right level of elegance and eye-catching.

Normally I only saw her in work clothes, but with her outfit all arranged, Ela looked truly lovely. Perhaps it was because she frequented the Temple and interacted with Nicola on a daily basis, but her posture was better than the surrounding brides, giving her a poised and graceful air.

Unlike Ela, who smiled happily when our eyes met, Hugo, in his dark green Festive Clothing, had a stiff expression from being utterly nervous. It was completely different from his cheerful, proud expression yesterday.

...Ela seemed fine, but was Hugo going to be okay?

As I watched Hugo with concern, I noticed Ela glancing up at him from time to time and laughing softly, as if teasing him. It was such a heartwarming scene that I immediately stopped worrying about Hugo.

...He has a lovely bride who worries about him. There's no need for me to worry, is there? I hope they'll be lovey-dovey forever!

With those thoughts in mind, I wove the words of prayer to bestow my blessing.

"O supreme god, the divine couple of Darkness and Light who govern the lofty, towering sky—listen to my prayers and bestow your blessing upon the birth of this new couple. We offer you their thoughts, their prayers and gratitude—grant them your sacred protection."

When I prayed for the blessing of the supreme divine couple, golden light and black light scattered from my rings and rained down upon the newlyweds.

I could see Hugo and Ela, seeing my blessing for the first time, their eyes wide open in astonishment.

"Your beginning, having received the blessing of the supreme god, shall be bright."

With the Chief Priest's words, the Temple doors were creaked open by the gray priests. The dazzling summer sunlight poured in all at once, reflecting off the white walls, and the chapel instantly became bright and clear.

At the same time, the Magical Tool of Silence lost its effect, and excited voices began to rise from the newlyweds' mouths.

"Yes! A real blessing!"

"We got the High Priest's blessing. Now all we have to do is escape the Tau fruits."

"I feel like we can definitely win!"

Facing the festival about to begin, the grooms steeled themselves and filed out of the Temple. Hugo, too, raised his face with renewed determination, turning once to look back at me. While I was watching Hugo, Ela, standing beside him, also turned to look back at me in the same way.

"High Priest, thank you so much for the wonderful blessing!"

Hugo's loud voice echoed through the chapel. As if drawn by it, the other newlyweds who had been about to leave the chapel stopped in their tracks. Voices of gratitude for the blessing began to rise.

I had given blessings here several times before, and while I'd heard amazed voices of "That's incredible," this was the first time I'd been thanked like this. My cheeks relaxed into a smile before I could help it.

"May happiness come to all of you."

When I replied to Hugo and the other newlyweds, "Wooo!"—a cheer erupted, and the atmosphere there became electric.

"Let's go, Ela. I'll protect you today for sure."

"Not just today—you'll always protect me, right?"

Hugo said, "Yeah, that's right," and swept Ela into his arms as they dashed out of the Temple. I really hoped they'd keep this up all the way to their new home.

I went to Gresschel and left the Gutens there.

Starting with Henrik, all the scholars felt their common sense being turned upside down.

And finally, Hugo got married. With Tau fruits flying through the streets, he dashed off with Ela in his arms.

Next is Lamprecht's wedding.