"If you are to hold the
The one who broke the heavy silence was the Chief Priest's proposal. Not quite understanding what he meant, I tilted my head.
"A name?"
"Indeed, keeping it as is would reflect poorly."
Apparently, nobles required long, elaborate names. In other words, all the new noble acquaintances I would inevitably make would have long names.
I worried whether I could memorize them all. But I'd managed to remember the names of the gods, so maybe I'd be fine. Hopefully.
"It should be a name where Mine would be the natural nickname. That way, even if someone from the
At
"...Mine Two, New Mine, Red Mine... nothing particularly good comes to mind."
"Do any of them have meaning?"
The Chief Priest furrowed his brow. Just as he'd predicted, I was using English from my previous life, so the meaning was lost on the three of them.
"It means Mine the Second, a new Mine, and a red Mine."
"What's with 'red Mine' at the end? Your colors are blue if we're talking about birth, dark blue or black for hair, and gold for eyes. Where does red come from?"
Sylvester looked puzzled, but since this was something my childhood friend from my previous life had told me, I didn't really know the reasoning. My mother in my previous life had also practiced the red underwear health method, so I figured it was something similar.
Incidentally, red was supposedly good luck for competitive exams. I'd received red underwear for my entrance exams but was too embarrassed by my parents' love to wear it. Fortunately, I passed anyway, and my mother had prayed to the red underwear, but on that day I'd been wearing light blue. Sorry for being an unfilial daughter, Mom.
"I'm not entirely sure why people say this, but apparently red makes you stronger or faster."
"Red is strong!? When it comes to strength, the noble color of
Sylvester's eyes went wide as he pressed his hand to his forehead, and Karstedt adopted a somewhat distant expression.
"Red is the noble color of
...Yeah, when you apply this world's common sense, that's exactly what you'd conclude.
I'd intended the name to convey an image of growing stronger and making a new debut, incorporating my wish to become a bit sturdier, but the meaning didn't land with anyone.
The Chief Priest tapped his temple with his fingertip, then glared at me.
"Strong, fast—these are hardly befitting of a woman's name. The disappointment is beyond measure. This is the name you'll be using for the rest of your life. Think carefully, you fool."
"...I'm sorry. But honestly, I have no idea what kind of names nobles use or how to go about choosing one."
Back in
When I asked, all three tilted their heads in unison.
"Some people name their children after famous historical figures, others take names from ancestors, but there aren't any hard rules to speak of."
As I nodded along to Sylvester's explanation, Karstedt, who had been sitting quietly thinking beside him, slowly looked up at me.
"If we take part of the parent's name... what about Rosemary? Taking from that, how about Rosemine?"
"Oh my, that sounds quite like a young lady's name! I think it's lovely. Far cuter and more feminine than anything I could come up with myself."
"It seems Mine needs to work on her aesthetic sensibility."
The Chief Priest let out a small chuckle and stood up. Apparently, in the time before the family arrived, we would be handling the name change and preparing the paperwork for the Contract Magic.
Just as the Chief Priest finished preparing the documents, a small bell chimed.
"You may enter."
At the Chief Priest's permission, the door was opened by an Attendant who had been waiting outside.
"Mine!"
Turi pulled her hand free from Father's and came running over with a radiant smile.
"Turi."
I caught Turi as she threw herself into my arms and hugged her tight. After holding me firmly in return, Turi pulled back to check me for injuries.
"Father was hurt really badly and came to get us with such a scary face, and then Mother and Kamil had to come to the
Turi was happily celebrating my safety with innocent joy, but Mother, upon seeing the three nobles in the Chief Priest's room, seemed to grasp the situation. She closed her eyes tightly with a pained expression and knelt down, still holding Kamil.
"Turi, everyone here is a noble. You kneel too."
Father tapped Turi lightly on the shoulder as he spoke, then knelt on the spot. Turi blinked in surprise, looked around the room, spotted the three well-dressed, composed figures seated at the table, and hurriedly knelt as well.
"Arno, Fran, withdraw."
The gray-robed priests who had guided the family were dismissed by the Chief Priest and left the room. As the door closed firmly behind them, Sylvester—the most powerful person present—waved his hand lightly.
"Take a seat. You may sit."
"Thank you very much."
As a soldier, Father performed a soldier's salute before sitting down. Watching him, Mother followed suit shortly after. Turi, sensing the tense atmosphere, glanced around nervously and sat down beside me.
Sylvester crossed his legs and slowly let out a breath. Then, deliberately, he spoke.
"To put an end to this entire affair, it has been decided that Mine will become my adopted daughter."
"...Yes."
"The commoner Mine will be publicly declared dead."
Turi's head snapped up. Her face went pale as she looked at me.
"Is it my fault!? Is it because I went to pick you up that you were attacked?"
"No, Turi. The attacker was already in the Temple. Even if you hadn't come to get me, I would have been attacked."
I explained as earnestly as I could, trying not to let Turi carry the burden of guilt. I told her about the danger, about having attacked nobles, and how my sin would extend to my family and Attendants.
"If anything, I'm sorry for dragging you into this. Turi, you were scared, weren't you?"
"I was scared. I was... but, adopted daughter..."
Turi hung her head, tears falling one by one. I reached out and stroked her hair. Sylvester looked at Turi with a pained expression, his face twitching for just an instant, before he spoke in the composed tone of a Lord.
"To Mine, who will become the daughter of a high-ranking noble and adopted daughter of the Lord, you all are an obstacle. I considered having every one of you disposed of to prevent any future complications, but that would likely cause Mine to spiral out of control, so I have decided to let you remain. However, from now on, you must not meet as family."
The family flinched, their bodies jerking. They stared wide-eyed at Sylvester, their lips trembling.
"Mine Workshop will continue operating as the workshop that produces paper and books. This room in the Temple will remain as well. So long as you complete this contract, meetings will be permitted."
Sylvester smoothly produced the contract document for the Contract Magic—the one the Chief Priest had been preparing moments ago.
"Mine, read it for them. It will be more trustworthy coming from you than from us."
Commoners who couldn't read often suffered losses from contracts they couldn't understand. I'd heard that some merchants had been swindled by contracts embedded with language only nobles could comprehend. Having a trusted person read the document aloud was crucial for the illiterate.
I stood up and walked to the side of the table where the pen and ink were laid out. To my left sat the Chief Priest, Sylvester, and Karstedt. To my right, my family sat in a row.
Looking at both sides, I picked up the contract. I pressed my lips together tightly. Reading aloud the contract that severed my ties with my family was agonizing.
"The contents of the contract are as follows: The surrounding public will be informed that Mine has died. Henceforth, even if Mine and the others meet, neither party shall acknowledge the other as family. Additionally, Mine shall be treated with the deference owed to a noble. That is the entirety of the contract."
When I placed the contract on the table, tears began falling from Turi's eyes once more, she who sat farthest away.
"If you sign this, Mine won't be my sister anymore?"
"No. Even without the contract, I won't be your sister anymore."
The Contract Magic only permitted us to meet—my adoption was already decided and could not be undone.
"I don't want that!"
"Neither do I, but I don't want to put you in danger anymore, Turi. This time I was saved, but next time I might not be. Maybe next time, it'll be Mother or Kamil who's in danger. ...Because of me."
The terror of the attack must have resurfaced. Turi gasped, her face going rigid. It hadn't been that long since the assault. Her fear was entirely natural.
"I don't want to expose my family to danger. Please understand, Turi."
"But..."
Turi bit her lip and let out a frustrated whimper, refusing to accept it. I felt tears welling up in my own eyes.
My vision blurred, and a tear fell.
"Hey, Turi. Write your name here. If you don't, we'll never be able to see each other again. Even if we're not family anymore, even if I can't call you my little sister, I just want to see your face. That's enough for me."
"Huh?"
Turi's eyes went wide. She stood up with a jolt and hurried over to my side on tearful, quick footsteps.
"I'll work really hard to make picture books and toys for you and Kamil. Please come visit the orphanage or my room. Just let me see your face."
"Mine, don't cry."
Turi hugged me tightly, her words broken by sobs as she desperately tried to comfort me.
"I'll come visit. I'll work hard to learn to read so I can read the books you made for me."
"Yeah. Come visit, and it would make me so happy if you took picture books and toys home with you. Kamil can't come to the Temple until his Baptism Ceremony, so I'd like you to deliver them to him."
A smile curved my lips despite the tears as I looked up at Turi.
Turi sniffled loudly and promised.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll definitely deliver them."
"And Turi, you're joining Corina's Workshop, right? Practice a lot, and when you become a top-notch tailor, I'm going to order clothes from you. Someday, I want you to make them for me."
Turi's eyes lit up with determination. She gazed at me steadily with her red, tear-filled eyes and nodded.
"I promise. I'll definitely make clothes for you."
"I love you, Turi. You're my proud big sister."
We shared one tight embrace, and then, sobbing, Turi signed the Contract Magic document. The letters I'd taught her during winter coming in handy like this was somewhat ironic.
Turi took out her own knife and pressed a firm Blood Seal onto the document. Wiping her tears with effort, she returned to her seat.
"Mine."
Mother set Kamil, still in the sling, into Father's arms and stood up. She knelt before me, where I still stood in front of the contract, and embraced me gently from her kneeling position. Was it the scent of her breast milk? Enveloped in a sweet, nostalgic fragrance, I wrapped my arms around Mother's back.
"Mother..."
I held her tight, unable to find the right words. As I clung to her silently, Mother murmured in a troubled tone.
"You're leaving your parents' arms too soon."
"...Sorry, Mother."
Held in her embrace, I could hear both her heartbeat and her voice at the same time. Gently stroking my hair as though lulling me to sleep, Mother began listing her usual reminders—even now.
"You always get sick, so take care of yourself. If something happens, talk to the people around you. Listen to what everyone says and don't cause trouble. Don't go rushing off on your own. Do the chores you can manage properly, and don't rely on others too much. And..."
I'd always brushed off these little lectures with a perfunctory "yes, yes," but knowing I'd never hear them again was unbearably lonely. Still clinging to her, I nodded at each one, but there were so many reminders—some looping into repeats of the same points—that I almost started to laugh.
"And lastly, this is the final one."
"There's more?"
When I pulled back and couldn't help but let out a small laugh, Mother's previously smiling expression crumbled, and tears pattered down her cheeks.
"Don't push yourself too hard. Be well. ...I love you, my Mine."
"I love you too, Mother."
Mother held me tightly for a while longer, then slowly released me and stood up.
"Mother, shall I write your name for you?"
Father could write from work, and I had taught Turi, but Mother shouldn't have been able to write. When I asked, Mother slowly shook her head.
"I practiced with Turi over the winter too. I wanted to be able to read your letters, Mine. Now I can at least write our family's names."
Smiling shyly, Mother picked up the pen and, with an unsteady hand, wrote her own name and Kamil's name on the contract, then pressed her Blood Seal.
Father approached Mother and me, Kamil still in the sling. He must have been handing Kamil to Mother. Mother stood waiting without returning to her seat.
"Can I hold Kamil?"
"Of course."
Father awkwardly moved his stiff left arm and, with Mother's help, removed the sling and handed Kamil to me.
I held him in the way I was just getting used to, and peeking down, I saw that Kamil's eyes were open. When I nuzzled his cheek, he smelled sweet, the way babies do. I breathed that scent in deeply and pressed my lips to Kamil's adorable little forehead.
"I don't think you'll remember this, Kamil, but I'll make lots and lots of picture books for you, so make sure someone reads them to you."
Before Kamil could fuss and start crying, I returned him to Mother in the sling. Mother frowned as she made a tiny cut on one of Kamil's fingers and pressed the smallest amount of blood onto the space above Kamil's name.
As Mother soothed the crying Kamil and withdrew, I turned to Father. His burned left arm seemed weak—when he hugged me, it was only with his right arm.
"Father, is your arm okay? It must hurt. I'm sorry—this is all my fault, this injury..."
"No. I'm your father, and I was too weak. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Mine."
Father spoke in a low, groaning voice, his face twisted with anguish as tears streamed down. I could feel the strength in his right arm as I shook my head again and again.
"No, Father always protected me. When I get married someday, I want someone who protects me the way you do."
Hearing my words, Father furrowed his brow with a helpless expression and shook his head with a tearful smile.
"Mine, when that time comes, you're supposed to say you want to become Father's bride."
"Yeah. ...I want to be Father's bride."
I hugged Father tightly, and when I said those words, he pressed his face against my shoulder.
"Is that so... I always wanted to hear my daughter say that, but now that the dream has come true, it's painful that Mine will be gone."
Father's words, spoken by the man who had always cherished and raised me, made my tears flow without end.
"I'll be changing my name, and I won't be able to call you Father anymore... but I'm still Father's daughter. So I'll protect the town and everyone in it too."
"Mine."
Father held me tight, and my emotions overflowed beyond control. At the same moment, the ring I had borrowed from the Chief Priest filled with Magic Power and began to glow.
"What!?"
"Mine!?"
Father pulled back in surprise, looking back and forth between the glowing ring, me, and the three people who had risen to their feet—the Chief Priest holding a glowing baton, Sylvester, and Karstedt.
"Mine, suppress it!"
"I can't. ...This Magic Power has to be used. It overflowed because I was thinking of my family, so it has to be used for my family."
The moment those words left my lips, the ring's glow intensified further. My lips half-unconsciously began murmuring a prayer.
"O Supreme God who governs the lofty, towering sky, the divine couple of darkness and light; O Five Great Gods who govern the vast, expansive earth—Water Goddess
As I offered my prayer to the gods, I slowly raised both hands. Along with the gods' names, a faint, pale yellow light began to overflow from the ring, shimmering.
I watched it and prayed with all my heart. Blessings for my family, from whom I was being separated.
"I offer my heart unto you—offering prayer and gratitude, may you grant your holy protection: the power to heal wounds, the power to press forward toward one's goals, the power to repel malice, the power to endure hardship. Grant these to those I love."
The pale yellow light filled the room like fine powder, showering down in a glittering cascade. It seemed to head not only toward my family but also toward the people who were dear to me—a portion appeared to fly outside as well.
"The wound... it's gone..."
"It's the healing power of Flutrane."
I gently stroked Father's left arm, where the magic burn had vanished without a trace.
"Mine, you are my pride and joy. Use that power to protect the town."
"I promise I won't use it in a way that would make Father angry."
After bumping our fists together gently, Father turned to the contract and signed it with trembling hands. After pressing his Blood Seal with the knife, he clenched his jaw and lowered his head.
I picked up the pen and looked at each family member in turn.
Turi, watching me with eyes as red as they could be; Kamil, whose wounds had been healed by the blessing and who had stopped crying, now back in his sling; Mother, cradling Kamil and watching me in silent tears; and Father, standing beside me, head bowed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
"Father, Mother, Turi, Kamil. I love you."
Spread before me were two contracts—the document severing my family ties, and the one renaming me from Mine to Rosemine.
I clenched my jaw, signed both in one breath, then held out my open palm to Father. Through his tears, he made a small cut on my finger with a resigned expression.
I pressed the welling drop of blood onto both contracts.
The signed contracts burst into golden flames, burned, and vanished.
"The Contract Magic is complete. The person before you is Rosemine, daughter of a high-ranking noble."
The family, who had been watching the Contract Magic's completion engulfed in golden flames with astonishment, now lowered their eyes and knelt at Sylvester's words.
"Then, we shall take our leave."
"Please take care of yourselves and stay well."
"...Goodbye."
As the daughter of a high-ranking noble, I was no longer permitted to meet their eyes.
They wouldn't understand the meaning. But I didn't care. At the very least, I wanted to convey my own respect and gratitude, so I bent at the waist ninety degrees and bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much for today. From the bottom of my heart, I hope there will come a day when we can meet again."
The people who had been my family departed, and I—now Rosemine—was left all alone.
With this, Part 2: Temple Shrine Maiden Apprentice comes to a close.
Details regarding my future plans will be shared in an activity report.
Next time: Part 3, The Lord's Adopted Daughter.