Under the guise of having returned to the
This book featured all manner of magical creatures, and how each one had been defeated was described in grand fashion, interspersed with poems praising the gods. It felt less like a knight's tale and more like a subjugation diary with accompanying poetry. The gods who appeared were essentially all dependents of
...So this land really does favor ditter.
...Hang in there, Dunkelfelger boys!
While I was reading the borrowed stories, the Chief Priest finished his round of socializing and returned to the Temple. He said he would spend his time until the Dedication Ritual studying the magic circles Hartmut had drawn. Since the preparations for the Dedication Ritual were being handled by Kanfel and Fritak with the Gray Priests, there would be no problems, and he planned to take a brief rest.
"After the Dedication Ritual, I'll be returning to the Noble Academy and will be busy, but wouldn't this be the perfect time for the Chief Priest to take his rest?"
When I suggested he rest during the time I wouldn't be around to cause trouble, he glared at me with those pale golden eyes and said coldly, "Fool."
"Imagine not being able to keep an eye on you or rein you in, only to read reports of what mischief you've gotten up to. Those days will give me enough headaches as it is—how could I possibly rest?"
"My, I'm sorry about that."
Being able to hole up here reading books like this made me perfectly happy, but at the Noble Academy, things never seemed to go smoothly. When I said as much, the Chief Priest turned to his attendant and held out several sheets of paper to me.
"An order form from the Giebes Trading Company and a letter of inquiry from
I looked over the order form the Chief Priest handed me.
"I'll call for the Giebes Trading Company when the blizzard dies down a bit. I also need to place an order for my spring outfit."
I wanted to see Turi for the first time in a while. Besides, since neither Hartmut nor
"I'm not unaware of what you're thinking, but we're short on time. For the sake of the artisans as well, hand over the order form along with the invitation as soon as possible."
"Yes, ma'am."
I handed the order form to Monica and asked
"I received an invitation to a tea party from Lady Hannalore of Dunkelfelger. She wishes to share the Noble Academy's romance stories with her friends at the tea party. Since the books belong to my older sister, may I lend them to others with my authority? (Charlotte)"
Hannalore had apparently enjoyed the romance stories from the Noble Academy very much and wanted to recommend the books to her friends. She wanted to recommend books she loved and then discuss everyone's reactions at another tea party.
...What's that? I'm so jealous! Right now, at this very moment, I want to go back to the Noble Academy and have a tea party with Lady Hannalore!
"
"But it's the tea party I most want to attend, and it's being held while I'm away from the Noble Academy! That's just too cruel."
"The only image I have is of you getting so excited you collapse. Holding it now was the right call. Wasn't spreading the books Charlotte's job?"
Being looked at with such exasperation by the Chief Priest, I pursed my lips in a pout. I understood everyone's concerns—I couldn't keep collapsing at every tea party—but what was wrong with wanting to attend a tea party where I might make book-loving friends?
Of course, I was all for spreading books throughout the Noble Academy, so I wrote Charlotte a reply granting her permission to lend them. Since I couldn't attend myself, I added a request for stories to bring back as souvenirs.
"There is no problem with lending them under Charlotte's authority. Please spread them far and wide. Also, please bring plenty of apprentice scribes along and collect romance stories from the others at the tea party. I'll be looking forward to hearing all about it. (Rozemyne)"
The Chief Priest said he would send this reply to the castle.
The order form was delivered to Gil, and it was decided that we would meet with the Giebes Trading Company when the blizzard subsided a bit. Looking forward to seeing Turi for the first time in a while, I spent my days checking outside the window every morning. During that time, I was asked by both my own attendants and the Chief Priest's attendants to share lunch with the Chief Priest. Since he apparently hadn't been coming out of the workshop again, I ended up having lunch in the Chief Priest's room today.
I was the one who wanted to be in a foul mood about having my books taken away, yet the one in a foul mood was the Chief Priest himself.
"Chief Priest, please limit your research. Your attendants are getting quite worried—I've been called in for lunch like this, after all."
If
"I hear this lunch was arranged precisely because you refuse to part with your books. You're the one who should stop troubling your attendants so much."
From the attendants' perspective, both of us were equally to blame. The Chief Priest and I looked at our respective attendants, and almost simultaneously,
The conversation over lunch was basically about the Chief Priest's research. Anything else, and he wouldn't really respond.
"Chief Priest, Raimund's assignment is progressing smoothly, isn't it?"
"Indeed. He shows promise. He keeps coming up with quite interesting improvement ideas."
The ideas born from having limited magic power were apparently fresh to the Chief Priest, who solved most problems with sheer magic power. If the Chief Priest was praising him, Raimund must be quite skilled.
"When you have time, could you please create a small teleportation circle with reduced magic power consumption for Raimund's assignment? I'd like to ask you to do that."
"What for?"
"To distribute to the Printing Association so they can send me books. Just something like an improved version of the tax-collection magic circle—small enough to carry a few books would be fine."
In order to make good use of the submission system, I needed to sort out the distribution. Right now, it was only a few books a year, so if they brought them during the winter social season, it would be manageable. But as printing workshops increased, transporting them would become difficult. Before that happened, I wanted a small teleportation circle for carrying books.
"The number of books that can be printed isn't that large, so couldn't they just be transported along with the tax collection?"
"Right now, all the printing workshops combined produce only a few books a year, but before printing workshops multiply and this becomes a major industry, it would be wise to think carefully about distribution."
The Chief Priest dismissed my clenched-fist passionate argument with a single snort.
"Hmph. A most splendid justification, but it sounds to me like you're simply saying you can't wait until winter for books that already exist in various locations."
...Spot on. He saw right through me.
"I learned from working with my adoptive father that having a fine-sounding rationale is important."
When I gave a bright smile, the Chief Priest pressed a finger to the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh.
"You really do only pick up
"For the time being, I'd like to ask the scribes involved in the printing industry. In the future, I want it to become a job for Gray Priests like Self-Eating or
I'd been told that because the number of nobles was currently low, even those with little magic power were valued, but that it would become a problem once the noble population grew. If they had no way to survive, I should just create jobs that would let them support themselves.
"...I'll discuss it with Sylvester as well and look into it."
"Thank you."
After several afternoons like this—where I would propose ideas, the Chief Priest would offer corrections or rejections, and he would occasionally mutter about his research progress as if organizing his thoughts—the blizzard finally subsided a little, and the Giebes Trading Company came to visit.
After lunch, I moved to the orphanage director's room. The view from the window was truly white as far as the eye could see. The blizzard had died down, but snow was still fluttering.
They probably figured they should come while there was even a little less snow. The Giebes Trading Company party arrived relatively early. It was five people:
"Did you receive the order form without any issues?"
"Thanks to Lady Rozemyne informing us in advance, preparations went smoothly. I hadn't expected another order from the royalty this year. The artisans are currently crafting the hair ornaments with great care."
As Otto spoke, he glanced toward Turi. She had grown even more mature since the last time we met and gave a modest smile with a small nod. It seemed the letter about magical tools I had sent had been useful.
"Unlike last year, we also need to add arm badges to the hair ornament order, correct? Is that going well?"
In addition to the hair ornament for
Receiving Otto's gaze, Turi immediately brought forward a wooden box and placed it on the table, then carefully opened it. Inside, for some reason, were three arm badges.
"...Wait? There are three arm badges?"
I hadn't expected three arm badges, and when I looked up at Turi in surprise, her blue eyes seemed to say "Pretty impressive, huh?" with a touch of pride.
"These are additional arm badges. You mentioned wanting to give them to friends at the Noble Academy, so I anticipated that extras might be needed and prepared them in advance. Which arm badge would you prefer?"
...Turi, you're amazing!
As I was marveling, Corina smiled and said, "Turi really does have foresight."
Apparently, since there might be orders from the royalty and high-ranking territories again this year, she had started thinking up hair ornament designs from autumn. Thanks to that, she had been able to start working on this year's hair ornaments without any rush. Turi gave a bright smile.
"I had prepared expecting that Lady Rozemyne might bring in a large order."
...My Turi is literally an angel. She's too reliable!
Her proud expression seemed to say "Just leave it to your big sister." Still wearing that proud smile, Turi brought over another wooden box.
"And here are the spring hair ornaments I made for Lady Rozemyne. How do you like them?"
Not only the arm badges but the spring hair ornaments were already done as well. True to the order, they evoked the image of fresh new leaves budding.
"If you'd like to have an outfit made to match these hair ornaments, wouldn't it be best to choose the fabric from here? In addition to the fabric from the three artisans you ordered in winter, Lady Rozemyne, I've prepared fabrics with similar textures."
At Corina's signal, Leon took fabric from the wooden box and spread it across the table. These were fabrics dyed by artisans who had considered my preferences in pursuit of the Renaissance title, based on the winter order reference. They were all so similar that I couldn't tell at all which one was Mother's fabric.
...I was planning to give Mother the Renaissance title this time.
Frowning in thought, I turned my gaze to Turi. I noticed that Turi's blue eyes were fixed on a particular direction. Probably, Mother's fabric was in the direction she was looking. While keeping an eye on Turi, I picked up one of the fabrics in the direction of her gaze.
...Doesn't seem right.
I could see panic rising in Turi's eyes that said "That's not it!" I pretended to examine the fabric carefully, then set it down and picked up the next one. Turi was visibly nervous, so I set that one down too.
...How about this one?
The moment I picked up the next fabric, Turi's eyes lit up. Looking at it more carefully, she was gazing at it with a sweaty-palms expression, completely absorbed. This was definitely the one.
"Please have my spring outfit made with this fabric. And I would like to give the Renaissance title to the artisan who dyed this fabric."
When I said this to Otto with a serious expression, Turi's face broke into a smile. Otto gave a wry grin, having realized that I had chosen the fabric while watching Turi, and said, "I'll pass that on to the artisan."
...Now Mother will be exclusive too. Ha!
After deciding and placing the order for the outfit design with Corina and Turi, I decided to ask about news from the lower city. Considering that opportunities to meet had decreased and that the scribes weren't there today, this was the perfect chance for a more in-depth conversation.
"Otto, I heard that a merchant's daughter from
"Understood."
Saying that, Otto flashed a grin at Corina, and Corina let out a small laugh.
"Her name is
"Approximately one year?"
Apprentice contracts were normally for three years. I had no idea why it was only for one year. Moreover, "approximately" meant it wasn't even a fixed one year. As I tilted my head in confusion, Otto suddenly dropped a bombshell: "Marriage was proposed."
...Who's getting married? What?
"Ehrenfest currently has numerous items conceived by Lady Rozemyne that sell not only to the Nobility but also to Commoners."
The merchants from the Central District and Klassenberg who had come in the summer were taken to the Italian restaurant in carriages with reduced jostling by the Guild Master, who sought to build at least some rapport for the city. They stayed at high-end inns and the homes of large shop owners and were shown the water well pumps.
"Since the name is carved into the pumps, they learn it right away. When they ask in detail about Lady Rozemyne and
Otto said that my close relationship with the Plantan Trading Company was immediately apparent.
"A Klassenberg merchant who had discovered numerous new things and realized that great business opportunities lay in Ehrenfest wanting to forge a connection is hardly surprising. The easiest way to forge a connection is through marriage."
That the owner of my most favored trading company was single must have made him look like quite the catch to a large-territory merchant. Apparently, a formal proposal had been made through the Guild Master.
"But Benno turned it down. In addition to concerns about information leaks, he originally had no intention of getting married."
"...Of course."
And then, when the merchant finished his business and returned to Klassenberg, he apparently left his daughter Karin behind at the inn.
"What kind of heavy-handed tactic is that?!"
Karin said, "I can't cause trouble for the Plantan Trading Company. I'll stay at a cheap inn with the money I have and chase after my father," and to sell her clothes and accessories, she visited the Giebes Trading Company. While they assessed her clothing and accessories, Otto had served as Karin's conversation partner to glean as much Klassenberg information as possible.
The moment Karin, smiling boldly, said, "It will cost money, but if I take a boat across the river, I should be able to catch up before reaching Freveltag," Otto was apparently struck with surprise.
"When you came to say goodbye last time, you said you wouldn't be using a boat?"
Otto noticed Karin's expression instantly change at her own words. Having been a traveling merchant, he knew. He knew just how difficult it was for a young woman only a few years past adulthood to travel alone.
Saying "You'll be fine" while trying to rush out of the shop, Karin was held back. After contacting Benno and holding a meeting that included the Guild Master, the decision was made: until her father came the following summer, she would be taken in as a live-in Plantan Trading Company apprentice. Of course, various things had happened before that decision was reached... Benno, who had lost his own father because he ventured outside the city for business, was reluctant to let Karin leave the city alone, and the Guild Master had exploited that weakness to smooth things over.
"Benno is desperate not to let information slip, and Karin is equally desperate to gather as much information as possible with her eye on becoming Benno's wife. Watching them is genuinely entertaining."
"...Karin wants to marry Benno?"
It wasn't just her father acting on his own? When I blinked in surprise, Corina tilted her head gently.
"Something must have happened at the end of autumn. Karin's eyes had clearly changed from before. Benno is trying desperately to escape, but I have a feeling he'll be tied down by winter's end. From the outside, they actually seem to get along quite well."
To keep the orphanage workshop and the printing secret, Benno and Karin's battle of wits continued. Hearing about their back-and-forth—which looked like playful bickering from the outside—I grew worried.
"If Karin is working as an apprentice, she'll naturally gain access to various information, won't she? I trust Benno, but since the other party is a Klassenberg merchant, I'm a bit concerned."
Ehrenfest had been thrown into chaos simply by having a large number of merchants from a major territory passing through. While I trusted Benno's skill within Ehrenfest, I wasn't sure how well it would hold up outside of it. When I voiced my concerns, Otto's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Benno said that in the worst case, he would eliminate Karin to protect the information. He wanted you and the Lord to know that he had accepted Karin with that level of resolve."
Benno wasn't the kind of man to lie about such things. He had taken Karin in, fully prepared to handle everything himself if it came to that.
"...Understood. I'll leave Karin's matter to Benno."
And after completing the Dedication Ritual that Kanfel and Fritak and the others had prepared, my life of reading in the Temple came to an end. The Chief Priest and I returned to the castle.
It had been a while since I'd seen Turi and the Giebes Trading Company crowd.
Turi's ability to predict
Since the scribes weren't there this time, we were able to have a more relaxed meeting for the first time in a while.
Next, I'll handle the small miscellaneous meetings and return to the Noble Academy.