Of course, I was busy too. Up until now,
Between discussing printing matters with my mother and preparing for the trip to Klinenberg, I was living through days where I realized all too keenly just how much Ferdinand had shielded me from the noble-side coordination work—so keenly it was almost nauseating.
…I know it's impossible, but Ferdinand, please come back!
And then, the day after the Spring
I couldn't take a craftsman who hadn't received education for interacting with nobles into the castle, but since the
"Wouldn't it be better to use the orphanage director's office, since it's easier for Commoner craftsmen to enter? Commoners who aren't permitted through the castle gates would find the Noble District rather difficult to navigate."
Thanks to Hartmut's suggestion, the order with Guildberta's was placed in the orphanage director's office. I found his attention to detail reassuring, so I asked
"I would like to accept the Plantan Company's request, but…"
At my words, Hartmut lowered his gaze slightly in thought. Then, with a somewhat uncomfortable expression, he said, "That would be difficult." Fran and Zaum both looked relieved.
"Is it because children who haven't received their Baptism aren't allowed into the Temple?"
When I pressed further, Hartmut shook his head. "No. That's beside the point."
"In the near future, the number of Blue Priest Apprentices will increase, and
…That would be impossible!
If Camille suffered some injustice, I had no confidence in my ability to stay calm. In the face of noble logic—counting pre-Baptism children as non-existent, insisting Commoners must obey unconditionally—there was absolutely no way I could shield Camille without going too far while simultaneously negotiating as a noble.
"I understand completely. I'll apologize to the Plantan Company for my own inadequacy."
…Ugh, Camille would surely be disappointed. I was pretty crestfallen myself.
Hanging my head, I resumed my work when I heard Hartmut's voice call out to me, somewhat tentatively, "Lady Rozemyne."
"Until the Prayer Festival where the number of nobles increases… it may still be considered relatively safe."
"Chief Priest!"
Fran and Zaum's eyes went wide, but Hartmut slowly shook his head and then put on a strangely refreshed smile.
"There's nothing to be done. Fulfilling Lady Rozemyne's wishes is my duty, after all."
…Hartmut is cool!? …But wait—why does it feel just a little bit creepy?
With Hartmut's single remark, Fran and Zaum reluctantly conceded, and Camille's observation permit was granted. I was happy about that, but it felt as though I was being pushed firmly from behind along a line that Ferdinand would have scolded me over and forbidden in the past. A shiver ran down my spine at the sensation that I needed to hold my own ground.
"…N-No, I'll decline after all. It would be better not to expose the Plantan Company to any danger."
"That's a shame."
"Why are you the one who's disappointed, Hartmut?"
I was disappointed because I wouldn't be able to see Camille, who was my actual younger brother, but I couldn't understand why Hartmut would be disappointed. When I tilted my head, his orange eyes gleamed and he wore an extremely suspicious smile.
"There is no particular reason."
…Hartmut's eyes look kind of scary! There's definitely a deeper meaning! Camille, run!
As a result of all this back-and-forth, it was settled that Camille could tour the workshop after the Baptism Ceremony was over and the Plantan Company brought their apprentices along. I was a little down since I'd been hoping to see Camille, but thinking of it as having protected him from the nobles—Hartmut foremost among them—I felt somewhat relieved.
"Blessings upon the thaw. May the Goddess of Spring bring forth great bounties."
On the day we placed the clothing order with Guildberta's, all of the escort knights and attendants—every last one female—moved to the orphanage director's office. The first to enter and greet the merchants was Corina, and behind her stood several tailors, Turi, and my mother. It had been a long time since I'd seen my mother up close.
…Hey, Mother. It's been ages. Look over here. Ah, our eyes met.
My mother had pulled slightly away from everyone after I offered just a small smile, but simply being able to see her face again made warmth well up deep inside my chest. I watched my mother while the tailors measured me from every angle. In the meantime, Liselotta, who was accustomed to dealing with Guildberta's, began discussing the required garments with Corina, and Grete observed their work intently.
"Doesn't the spring attire also need a few alterations? If we attach lace to the skirt hem, or replace this back section, the length seems like it would be a bit short."
"Indeed. Also, this part on the back—instead of buttons, could you alter it to be adjustable with a cord?"
Once the measurements were finished, I began discussing hair ornaments with Turi.
"Your Ladyship's features seem to have changed somewhat. What shape would you prefer for the summer ornament? What flowers shall we use?"
"My preferences haven't particularly changed, so please choose flowers that suit me as I am now. Ideally, I'd like it to match the fabric dye."
The summer fabric hadn't been dyed yet, so I turned my words toward my mother, who was standing a little distance away, hoping she could join the conversation. But she only received my message through Turi and didn't come any closer.
My mother had never received education on the speech and behavior required for interacting with nobles, so it seemed that she and I couldn't speak directly in front of my noble retainers. There was nothing I could do to avoid my mother being pushed away on grounds of rudeness or disrespect, but having to relay everything through Turi was frustrating.
…At least it's better than with Camille—I can at least see her.
Once the hair ornament and summer clothing consultation was done, Monica stepped forward and asked Corina to handle alterations to the High Priest's garments.
"Please have the ceremonial robes ready before the Prayer Festival. I'd like the everyday garments repaired during the Prayer Festival period."
"I understand."
Corina wrote the schedule into her letter board. With the summer clothing needing to be completed by the end of spring, she looked quite busy.
…I mean, the ceremonial robes just need a hem adjustment, not a full reconstruction, so it shouldn't be that demanding.
"These are protective charms I've given to my personal staff. I'm entrusting them to Corina and Renaissance, who serve as my personal tailors. Please wear them whenever you can."
"That is most kind."
I gave the charms to my mother and Corina, and the clothing order was concluded.
As the Prayer Festival drew near, carriage traffic in and out of the Temple carrying furniture increased. These were the furnishings for the Blue Priest Apprentices and Blue Shrine Maiden Apprentices who would be living at the Temple after the Prayer Festival. Melchior's furniture was naturally among them, and I could see his Attendants bustling about to arrange his rooms.
"Big Sister Rozemyne."
"Welcome, Melchior."
He had contacted me two days prior to say he was coming to the Temple to inspect his room for any deficiencies. While his noble-side Attendants and the Temple-side Attendants discussed the room, I had Melchior donate the Magic Power of two small Magic Stones to the Divine Instrument. We started with an amount that wouldn't strain his body.
Once the offering was complete, I used the excuse that "if you're hungry, you might collapse," and we drank tea together. One must never let one's guard down.
"A cook has been dispatched from the Ottomar Company. He's currently training in my kitchen, but once he's learned the basics, I'll have him prepare meals in your kitchen, Melchior."
"Yes. Also, I asked Father whether I could accompany Big Sister Rozemyne to your Prayer Festival, and he said staying overnight was out of the question."
They had to prepare carriages to transport the Temple-side Attendants, as well as food, cooks, and other necessities. Even though it took money and time just to arrange the Temple rooms, preparing for the Prayer Festival placed an enormous burden on the Attendants.
…It's because there are hardly any underage retainers.
With three older siblings above him, Melchior had very few retainers of student age. There were only two in grades below mine.
"I thought I might be permitted if it were a day trip and I rode on the retainers' steeds, but I was told what's the point of going without ceremonial robes. Brother
He asked me if I would lend them.
"I don't mind lending them, but those robes have a flower pattern on them. That's exactly why Brother Wilfried had his own robes made, you know."
"Flowers…?"
Melchior made a somewhat strained face, then raised his head with determination.
"Please lend them to me. When I asked Big Sister why I should attend your ceremonies, she said that since everyone takes turns performing duties, I rarely get the chance to see what the ceremonies actually involve. She told me your ceremonies are very educational and that I should watch carefully."
…Huh?
This called for a bit of enthusiasm, didn't it? I asked Monica to bring out the blue ceremonial robes that had been carefully stored and lent them to Melchior.
"Now you'll be able to observe the rites."
"Yes. Please watch well, as you will be the next High Priest."
A few days after Melchior's visit, word came that Flutark would be returned to me. I went to the knights to pick him up and flew him back to the Temple on my steed. Rather than Flutark being spared from punishment, it was Kampher—burdened with filling the gap Flutark's absence had left—who was truly glad of his return, I think.
Flutark had become the first Blue Priest with no financial support from his family, meaning he had to earn his own keep. But between the subsidy granted to an Aub, the income from the Harvest Festival, helping with administrative work, and copying the books I had borrowed from the Noble Academy, his livelihood seemed manageable so long as he didn't live too lavishly. He resolved himself to work hard.
Due to lacking various preparations for the Prayer Festival, Flutark would not be participating in this one and would stay behind at the Temple to keep watch and carry out duties.
"After I've departed, Brother Wilfried and Charlotte should be coming to collect the Small Holy Cups, so please hand them over to them."
Other than Klinenberg, which
Having Hartmut around would have sped things up considerably, but Hartmut happened to be absent at that time. He was heading to the Boundary Gate with Clarissa and her family, where he had to hand over goods and offer apologies to Frebelterk.
Since both Clarissa and Philine would be gone, I had contacted my adoptive mother to arrange for Philine to return to Temple duty during the Prayer Festival "because the Temple's workload is quite heavy during the Prayer Festival." Philine was apparently delighted, saying, "It's been a while since I've done any copying."
…I understand. Copying is so much more enjoyable than regular office work.
I received reports on Clarissa and Philine from the Library, and both seemed to be working hard. Since Clarissa was an adult, she would also be accompanying the Lord's Conference, and she was cramming materials into her head to be ready for negotiations with
Drawn in by Clarissa's intensity as she scoured through documents and fired off questions about various situations, the people around her had apparently also begun preparing for the Lord's Conference with all their might. "It seems that Clarissa has developed a habit of researching down to the finest details, and the younger civil officials have been considerably influenced by it," Philine had told me.
Since Philine couldn't accompany the Lord's Conference, her main role was assisting with daily operations. It was the same kind of office work she'd done at the Temple, so it was apparently not much of a hardship. She had many opportunities to speak with Richarda as well, and just the other day, she told me that my adoptive father and Wilfried had gotten into quite a heated argument. Richarda had said, "That's fairly normal for boys that age," but she had been clearly worried.
…I guess Wilfried's going through his rebellious phase?
I had some idea of what boys that age were like from watching
The morning of the Prayer Festival began, as always, with seeing off my Attendants, the Gray Priests, the cooks, and the carriages loaded with food, clothing, and other supplies, along with my father and the other escort Soldiers. I had already informed the Small Temple through the Plantan Company about Melchior's visit, so they should have made various preparations.
After seeing off Kampher, who carried the Magic Stone infused with my Magic Power and the Holy Cup, I set off in the afternoon for
The escort knights for the Prayer Festival were, as always,
"It's surprisingly close, isn't it?"
When the town of Hasse came into view, Melchior said this. It felt quite close when traveling by steed, but I doubted it would feel nearly as close by carriage.
The weather was fine, so we dismounted directly in the square where everyone had gathered. I urged Melchior along—he was blinking at the sheer number of people—and stepped onto the stage.
"Lady Rozemyne, we've been expecting you."
"
I exchanged greetings with Richt, the town mayor of Hasse, and introduced Melchior. After showing Melchior where to stand, I turned to Fran and gave a single nod.
"We shall now begin the Prayer Festival. Would all the village heads please come up on the stage."
At Fran's call, five people carrying sealed buckets roughly the size of ten-liter pails climbed onto the stage. In previous years, the large table that should have held the golden Holy Cup—the Divine Instrument—was empty.
I stepped onto the table, drew my Stab, and intoned "Eldgrayl," producing the Holy Cup. Gasps of surprise arose at the sight of it appearing from empty space. This wasn't just the people of Hasse—even the retainers of nobles who hadn't participated in the offering ceremony at the Noble Academy were equally stunned. Amid the exclamations, I offered a prayer to the Water Goddess Fliutreine.
"O Water Goddess Fliutreine, bringer of healing and change, O twelve Goddesses who serve at her side, grant power to nurture new life unto your sister,
My Magic Power flowed into the Holy Cup, which blazed with a brilliant golden light. Gazing upon it, I continued to pour in more and more Magic Power.
"I offer unto you a song of joy that delights life. Dedicating prayer and gratitude, may you bestow your pure divine protection, and fill all things upon the vast, boundless earth with your sacred hue."
Fran gently tilted the Holy Cup, and as was the custom, a liquid glowing green flowed out and was poured into the buckets lined up in order.
"Prayers and gratitude to the Earth Goddess Gedulrihi and the Water Goddess Fliutreine!"
…Yep. Works perfectly fine with my own Holy Cup.
Satisfied with how the ceremony had gone, I noticed Melchior looking at me with a worried expression.
"Big Sister Rozemyne. Will I be able to make a Holy Cup by next year?"
"That's probably impossible. You'll need to go to the Noble Academy and obtain a Stab first. Brother Wilfried and Charlotte both use the
As I spoke, I drew my Lesser Bus and climbed aboard. Melchior boarded with his escort knight as well. It was only a short distance from the Prayer Festival venue to the Small Temple.
"The other day, we did an offering to the Divine Instrument together, didn't we? When you offer Magic Power over and over, praying to the gods, one day when you want to use a Divine Instrument, the magic circle will just float naturally into your mind. Some of my retainers have even learned to create Divine Instruments."
At my words, Angelica said with a touch of pride, "I've learned to make Leydenshaft lances." They didn't hold together very well yet, but she was hoping that eventually she'd be able to perform the Blessing acquisition ceremony using a Leydenshaft lance. And then, she said, she would defeat her grandfather. It was an ambitious goal, and I admired that.
"You'll also need to work hard on Magic Power compression to reach a level where you can handle it in rites. But first, start with offerings and prayers."
"I'll do my best!"
Melchior said this with an eager expression. What a straightforward, pleasant answer.
Upon arriving at the Small Temple, everyone was there to greet us. I introduced Melchior on the spot and went inside. The Attendants had already arranged the rooms, so I gave Melchior a tour of the Small Temple.
"Are there no children here?"
"Even the youngest among us is an apprentice close to adulthood."
Most of those transferred from Ehrenfest and Hasse were adults, and Marte, who had originally been an orphan in Hasse, was nearly grown as well. There were hardly any children who looked obviously young.
"I suppose once we Lord Candidates began making rounds of our directly governed territories, the harvest yields increased and the people who had been forced to abandon their children disappeared. Even the Ehrenfest orphanage wouldn't have had so many children if not for this winter's purge."
"Is that so…?"
I showed him the men's quarters where the Soldiers were preparing their lodgings, let him tour the workshop, and took him around the vegetable garden—our pride and joy, where delicious vegetables grew.
"This is probably your first time seeing a vegetable garden? This is where the vegetables you eat in Hasse are grown. The vegetables from Hasse's gardens are incredibly delicious. Also, over there in the forest, we gather all sorts of things. Melchior, you should try gathering in the noble forest too—it's good experience."
After completing a full circuit, we went inside for tea. The noble seats and the Soldiers' seats were separate, but the fact that everyone used the same dining hall was apparently a surprise to Melchior's retainers. They compared the table where my father sat to ours.
"At the Winter Lodge where the farming villages gather and the Summer Lodge for the giebes, the priests' seating is separate, but at Hasse, we eat together like this."
"At least separating by time, perhaps…"
I looked up at Melchior's escort knight and smiled.
"Listening to the voices of the common townspeople here is important too. This is where I asked for cooperation to make the Entwinkel in the lower town succeed."
I turned my gaze to Melchior. A greedy light, eager to absorb everything and make it his own nourishment, gleamed in his blue eyes.
"This Small Temple was built by my adoptive father. And my adoptive father has the admirable quality of broad-mindedness—he doesn't dismiss the opinions I heard here as 'just Commoner opinions,' but rather considers how they might be put to use in his governance. Melchior, I hope you'll learn from the best of what my adoptive father does, and aim to become a High Priest who can continue to hear the voices of the Commoners even after I step down."
At my words, Melchior nodded with a solemn expression.
Packing in as much of the surrounding changes as I could, I concluded Melchior's tour of the Hasse Prayer Festival.
Melchior, who now harbored the goal of creating his own Holy Cup and performing the Prayer Festival himself.
Which would come first—him, or Angelica learning to perform rites with her self-made Leydenshaft lance?
Next, we depart for Klinenberg.