New Orphans

After taking in the orphans and returning, the first thing was baths. They were split between the girls' wing and the boys' wing, where they were washed with soap. Then they had to change into the prepared Gray Priest and Shrine Maiden uniforms, or they wouldn't be able to eat lunch.

While converting the Lessar Bus back into a magic stone, I turned my gaze to my Attendant.

"Nicola, take the girls to the girls' wing, and Gil, take the boys to the boys' wing, and clean them up. The soap and clothes are..."

"The same as at the Temple. Everything was already prepared," Fran said, and the two replied "Understood" before setting off. I smiled warmly at the four children standing frozen with anxious expressions.

"Once you're cleaned up, we'll have lunch. You must be hungry, right?"

At the word "lunch," the orphans swallowed hard, glancing at each other as though afraid to part, yet still separated by gender and went to be cleaned.

We headed to the dining hall and took our seats. The innermost area was the noble seating. Fran had covered the wooden boxes and table with cloth, so it didn't look too meager, but it was still just a board laid across wooden boxes for a table and wooden box chairs.

At the Temple, the nobles eat first, then their Attendants eat, and after that, God's blessings flow to the orphanage, so if we didn't eat, no one else could have their meal.

Being served by the Gray Priestesses and Fran, we began our meal. Being nobles, Damuel and Brigitte also ate with us. They didn't have the luxury of separating their meal times and locations from their knights.

"...Rozemyne, did you teach the Gray Priestesses how to make this food too?"

The Chief Priest, who had paid money to buy the recipes, scowled as he tasted the food.

"It originally started during the Winter Attendant period, when there was only one cook at the Temple, so I used the Shrine Maiden Apprentices as assistants. But once they can make delicious food themselves, they'll make the same things when they return to the orphanage, right? That's just how it spread. I didn't set out to teach them."

I added that the Blue Priests had no interest in the orphanage at all, so they simply didn't know, and the Chief Priest's cheek twitched.

"You've taught them literacy and arithmetic, and now you know cooking recipes too? If the nobles found out, purchase requests would pour in."

"My children are expensive. They come with lots of special skills. I also need them as the printing industry expands, and for future plans to improve educational environments, so I won't easily sell them off to nobles either. I have that much authority right now."

The former High Priest might have sold them off one after another, but I was currently training Priests and Shrine Maidens for my grand plan of expanding the printing industry and building Bookstores and libraries. I had no intention of letting them go.

"What is this 'plan to improve educational environments'? I've heard nothing of the sort."

"If the number of people who can read books doesn't increase, then the number of people who can write books won't increase either, right? It's a grand plan to raise the literacy rate throughout the territory. Nothing's been finalized in detail yet, though."

I had some ideas, but they would have to wait until the printing industry had expanded to a certain degree.

The Chief Priest wiped his mouth and glared at me.

"When you return to the Temple, submit a formal proposal."

"Huh? But like I just said, it hasn't been finalized in detail yet..."

"Charging ahead without deciding the details is just like you. Even a rough outline, or just a general aspiration for what you'd like to do—report on the plan regardless."

Unable to argue, I quietly replied "Yes," all while glaring at Damuel and Fran, who were nodding in complete agreement.

"...Even so, this looks more troublesome than expected. What are you going to do, Rozemyne?"

At the Chief Priest's sighing words, I blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about that little tyrant who's convinced he has authority all on his own. He's the type to hold grudges, cling to things with spite, and generally be a pain."

Hearing the Chief Priest's words, I let out an understanding "Ahh."

"...He's similar to the former High Priest, isn't he? Selling girls for money, mistaking his backers' authority for his own, wanting to stand at the top of his little world and do whatever he likes—I thought they were quite alike."

The Chief Priest gave a short, sharp laugh and nodded. "Certainly."

"The scale of his backers' power is completely different, but the petty tyrant act is very similar."

"Unlike the High Priest, his backers are unclear, which actually makes it harder to gauge his influence. How far do we need to remove him before his influence disappears? How will the town change after we remove him... I hope it changes for the better for the small Temple."

The High Priest's authority had been basically limited to the Temple. He rarely went to the Noble District, and his pride wouldn't allow him to mingle with the lower town, so his influence was quite contained. And since there was a Chief Priest who could fill the void after his removal, there was no problem.

But this time, the opponent was the town mayor of a Commoner town that nobles rarely entered openly except for tax collection and ceremonial prayers. Removing him could be done by citing class differences, but afterward, there was no telling what would happen to the town.

"Rozemyne, it's useless to just hope things will work out conveniently for you. If you want them to go well, you have to move things along yourself."

"...Is that how the Chief Priest makes plans to ensure things work out conveniently for himself?"

"Self-reliance."

It was all in how you phrased things. I pouted my lips slightly and glared at the Chief Priest, who just gave a casual shrug.

"There are surprisingly few situations where pretty words alone will get you by."

The Chief Priest's words carried a weight I couldn't refute—he had lived in a noble society where pretty words alone were never enough, and had entered the Temple to protect himself.

"Lady Rozemyne, the cleaning is finished."

Just as the delicious smell of food began to drift through the dining hall, brought in by the Gray Priestesses, Nicola came to report, leading Nora and Maltha, who were now dressed in Shrine Maiden Apprentice uniforms. Having been cleaned and given new clothes, the hair colors of the two—which had been too grimy to tell before—were now clearly visible, and their pretty features stood out.

"Tell me your names and ages."

When I spoke to them, Maltha moved to hide behind Nora. Seeing this, Nora narrowed her eyes as if to say "this helpless child" and turned around lightly. Her hair, a blue with a hint of light purple, swayed gently.

After lightly patting Maltha's head, Nora looked at me and softened her blue eyes.

"I'm Nora, fourteen years old. I was supposed to be sold off as soon as I came of age, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you for taking us in."

Unlike me, who smiled and nodded at Nora's words, the Chief Priest frowned with displeasure.

"Her manner of speaking..."

"Chief Priest, please don't be unreasonable with someone who hasn't received an education. The people in the lower town are far worse. She'll learn over time."

It was natural that orphans raised at the Temple and other orphans would differ greatly. Since there were no Blue Priests here to correct their manner of speaking and behavior to make them presentable, they wouldn't be forced into proper etiquette. Unlike Ehrenfest's lower town, which had the Noble District deeper inside, they wouldn't have been taught how to address nobles either.

"And your name and age, hiding back there?"

Maltha stayed hidden behind Nora, shaking her dark green hair as though reluctant.

"This child is Maltha and..."

"No, Nora. You have to let her answer for herself. Up until now, maybe saying she was shy or timid was enough, but in the Temple orphanage, if a noble asks a question and she doesn't answer, she could be considered to be in defiance. Defy a noble and you'll be disposed of on the spot. That's simply how it works."

"Th-that can't be..."

Nora looked around with a stunned expression. But the only people around her were the Chief Priest, who had deeply furrowed lines between his brows at the unpleasant manner of speech, and the two knights, who felt irritated by her attitude toward nobles but were holding their tongues because I was handling it.

Fran and Nicola were eating quickly and wouldn't take Nora's side.

"I do interact with Commoners in the lower town, so I understand Nora's perspective. However, as I live as a noble, I cannot accept it. Absolute obedience to nobles. If you don't remember that, you could die at any moment. Now, tell me your name and age."

Thinking that I really did seem like the villain here, I peered at Maltha's face. Pushed forward by Nora, Maltha looked like she was about to cry as she squeezed out a small voice.

"...Maltha. Eight years old."

"You did well. Your life is going to be completely different from before, so I imagine it will be hard to adjust. However, I won't sell you off to anyone, and meals will be provided. I'll guarantee your livelihood as much as possible, so please both try your best as well."

"Yes."

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they understood, Thule and Rick came running over, their faces pale with alarm.

"What are you going to do to my sisters!?"

"I'm not doing anything. Stand down."

Damuel and Brigitte lightly brushed aside the two as they charged toward me. They were sent tumbling and crashed noisily into the wooden boxes that had been placed to serve as chairs.

"Thule! Rick!"

"Charging at a noble like that... There are limits to recklessness. If it had been any other noble, you would both be dead by now."

I supposed their rashness came from having grown up in a town without nobles around, but it was dangerous. They could die in an instant.

"The two of you—even if something displeases you, self-restraint is crucial when dealing with nobles. It's completely different from defying the town mayor among Commoners. You won't just be beaten—it's summary execution. Your lives will simply end."

As I stood protectively before them, the knights revealed their weapons, and the four children's faces went pale instantly.

"I asked Nora and Maltha, but could you two tell me your names and ages?"

"I'm Thule. Eleven years old."

Thule, who refused to budge from his position protecting his older sister, glared at me with the same blue eyes as Nora. Nora and Thule shared a strong resemblance in both coloring and features. Nora, with her pretty face, had likely been pursued by all sorts of men up until now, and Thule had been protecting her. That sense of justice and family love was endearing, and I hoped they would cherish it—as long as my knights and Attendants didn't get angry.

"Rick. Twelve years old. Maltha's older brother."

Rick and Maltha also shared a strong resemblance. Both had dark green hair and gray eyes. Their facial features were different, though. Rick had thick eyebrows and a bold, striking face, while Maltha had a quiet, cute face that perfectly reflected her timid personality.

"I am Rozemyne. I recently completed my Baptism Ceremony and was appointed High Priest of Ehrenfest. I look forward to working with you. Now, let's put off the room tour and have lunch first. Gil, please eat here. Thank you for your hard work."

Fran rose from his seat as he finished eating, and Gil sat down in his place. A Gray Priestess brought Gil his meal, and he began eating.

Just as Gil finished, the Gray Priests' meals began. Since the number of orphans brought today was small, there was plenty of food left.

"When do we get to eat!?"

"...I'm hungry."

It was sad to see the four of them watching with rumbling stomachs, but they would have to get used to the Temple's way of doing things.

"Gil, please explain the Temple's order of precedence to them."

I left the explanation to Gil, who among my Attendants knew the most about the lower town, and Gil nodded and began explaining to the four.

"At the Temple, meals are called God's Blessings. The Blue Priests, who are nobles, eat first. Then their Attendants eat what remains, and whatever is left over is brought to the orphanage. The orphanage has its own order too—the adult Priests and Shrine Maidens eat first, then the apprentices, and lastly the children who haven't had their Baptism Ceremony yet."

"All four of you are apprentice age, so for a while, you won't be eating at different times. You can rest easy on that front."

When it became the apprentices' turn to eat, meals were placed before the four. Normally, they would serve themselves, but since children with no understanding of common sense might do anything, it was decided to explain first.

"Not yet. You need to say a prayer of gratitude to the gods first."

I stopped the four as they lunged for the food and had them repeat the prayer after me. This too was standard at the Temple, and they would have to get used to it. It was a path I had walked myself.

Their eyes gleaming, they wordlessly shoved food into their mouths with no regard for manners whatsoever.

Everyone except me watched in astonishment. The Chief Priest made no effort to hide his displeased expression. I was reminded of how, the first time I saw the neighbors gathered around a well eating together, I had been so stunned by their complete lack of manners.

"They must have been starving rather badly. I know it's unpleasant for the Chief Priest, but this is what uneducated people are like. We'll just have to teach them gradually. It really drives home just how outstanding and important the education of the orphanage children is—they've been trained so that Blue Priests won't be displeased."

"...You're right. Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this bad. The people from the lower town I know are mostly from the Gilberta Company, so..."

The Chief Priest murmured softly, and I sighed lightly.

He was comparing against the wrong group. In the slums, this was nothing out of the ordinary.

After several helpings, they held their greatly distended stomachs as though in pain, yet wore satisfied smiles. I gave them a tour of the orphanage.

Since we were in the dining hall, we started with the rooms in the girls' wing. It was normally off-limits to men, but to show that there was no difference in treatment between boys and girls, it would be good to let them see each other's environments.

We went up the stairs and opened the nearest door.

"This is the apprentices' room. The adult Shrine Maidens use private rooms further inside, but the apprentices share rooms."

"With this much space, we could all sleep together!" Thule said with a grin.

I shook my head.

"You cannot all sleep together."

"Why not!?"

Thule and Rick stepped forward protectively in front of their sisters. At the same time, my Attendants and knights took up defensive positions.

I raised my hand lightly to calm both sides and explained.

"This is the girls' wing, and men are not allowed inside. Men are only permitted up to the dining hall. I gave you this tour today to show that the facilities are the same in both wings, but normally, men are not allowed in here."

Thule's blue eyes flashed with anger.

"We're siblings!?"

"I know. But that is a separate matter. This is the girls' wing, so even family members—male entry is not permitted."

"What!?"

The two siblings had presumably lived their lives trying to stay as close as possible, using each other as an anchor. It made my heart ache, but I could not give permission.

"To the other Gray Priestesses, both Thule and Rick are men from outside who are not family. Just as Thule wants to protect Nora, I want to protect my Shrine Maidens."

"Neither Thule nor Rick would ever do anything like that," Nora said, shaking her head, her light purple hair swaying. She pleaded desperately, trying to make me understand, as she defended the two.

"Yes. My Gray Priests are not those kinds of people either. But even if you say that, Nora, would you accept it?"

Nora choked on her words, slowly lowered her head, and shook it softly.

I too understood Thule and Rick's desire to protect their sisters, but I could not allow men into the girls' wing.

"If you absolutely insist on being together, male and female, the only option is to sleep in a corner of the dining hall."

"That works! Let's make our room in a corner of the dining hall!" Thule said brightly.

Nora and Maltha looked at me uneasily. When they asked "Can you make us a room?" I shook my head.

"I won't build a room. I'll only lend the space for sleeping. The dining hall is a place anyone can enter, so just as Thule and Rick can go in and out, so can other men. Since it's not your room, I can't restrict entry."

When being rejected again and again finally pushed Thule past his limit, he set his jaw and let his anger show.

"This place is huge—what's wrong with making our room in the dining hall!? Don't you understand how it feels not to want to be separated from your family!?"

The moment I clutched my chest tightly, a sharp smack rang out as Thule's cheek was slapped—almost simultaneously.

"...Fran?"

I looked up at Fran with wide eyes. Fran, who had always said that violence was never acceptable, had struck Thule across the face.

Fran's dark brown eyes burned with fury as he coldly looked down at Thule. His anger was so intense it seemed to lower the temperature around them—completely identical to the Chief Priest.

Fran narrowed his eyes slightly and took one decisive step forward.

"No one understands that feeling more than Lady Rozemyne."

"Wh-what are you..."

Thule recoiled as though physically pressured, taking a step back. Fran closed that step in an instant.

"Lady Rozemyne's abilities were recognized, and she was separated from her family at her Baptism Ceremony to become the Lord's adopted daughter. Upon being appointed High Priest, she has been living between the castle and the Temple, bearing the loneliness of not being able to see her family."

The four children stared at me in shock.

Fran shifted his position slightly, as though shielding me from their gaze.

"Lady Rozemyne ensured that your sister would not be sold, and while the sleeping quarters are separate for boys and girls, she made it so you could all live in the same orphanage. Further rudeness toward her—even if Lady Rozemyne were to forgive it, I, as her head Attendant, will not."

The new orphans had grown up in a town without nobles, so they lived by yet different values than the lower-town children. There would surely be many more clashes to come.

And so it was Fran who was unstoppable.

Next time: handling the orphans and investigating the town.