With the Holy Book safely retrieved, the autumn
"Chief Priest, what should we do about this?"
"Simply reply in Egmont's name that I brought it to the ceremony but never actually opened the Holy Book. I look forward to seeing how many nobles we'll reel in during the winter social season."
The Chief Priest was smiling with the corners of his lips turned up, looking quite amused, and
...In a way, isn't Hartmut the most dangerous noble of all?
I had Monica write a reply posing as Egmont's attendant. It was apparently a Magical Tool letter—once I wrote the reply and placed it in the envelope, it turned into a white bird and flew away.
"After the winter Baptism Ceremony ends, we'll have to move to the castle right away to prepare for the social season, but the thought of nobles sneaking in again makes me worry about the
Even after we've moved, nobles will still be coming from the south for the winter social season and passing through the Temple. Some might even cause trouble. This time, I decided to have
This lord's family conference is meant to share the information obtained from Viscount Daldorf with the upper echelons of the knights' order and finalize the plans for the winter purge. Since it's being held in the strictest secrecy, we're only allowed to bring one retainer per category—civil official, attendant, and guard knight—each of whom must be tight-lipped and the most trustworthy. The three accompanying me are Hartmut, Richarda, and my brother
My adoptive father explained the plans for the winter purge and discussed the nobles we intend to capture.
"Father, what do you intend to do about the nobles who have sworn their names?"
Wilfried asked with a tense expression. Given how difficult it had been to bring the former Veronica faction into our camp up until now, it was immediately obvious that the number of nobles who had sworn their names was far beyond what Ehrenfest would consider normal.
"Those who swore their names to Veronica, the first wife of the previous Lord, will not face any particular punishment so long as they were not involved in misconduct."
My adoptive father had apparently determined that since Veronica couldn't issue new commands as long as she remained in the White Tower, those nobles were no different from others who hadn't sworn their names.
"Um, can't we have Lady Veronica return their names?"
I'd heard that when the Chief Priest entered the Temple, he tried to return his name to
"Rozemyne, do you really think she'd let go of her own exclusive vassals so easily? If we approach her about returning the names, she'll likely start making strange demands and deals. Isn't that more trouble than it's worth?"
"Besides, something that important is probably stored in a hidden chamber. If Mother ascends to the far above, she could open the hidden chamber with its magic stone, but in that case the nobles who swore their names would also end up heading to the far above together. We don't want any unnecessary deaths, and as long as they swear to work for Ehrenfest, that's enough."
My adoptive father said "However," and his deep green eyes glinted.
"Those who swore their names to my sister are a different matter. My sister is the first wife of
I'd heard that Viscount Daldorf was told by his parents to swear his name. If that was the case, there might be children who were told to swear their names to
...Were they all okay?
"There are some who will be punished by association even without having sworn their names. But considering that during last year's award ceremony, all of the children were able to enter Rozemyne's shield, none of them harbor hostility or ill will toward the lord's family. I want to save as many lives as possible. I need you all to persuade the children to swear their names to the lord's family so they can avoid being punished by association."
At the
"I too want to save as many as I can."
"I'll do my best too, Father."
"Father, I think the children at the Royal Academy can be left to make their own decisions, so that shouldn't be a problem. But what do you intend to do about the children in the dormitory?"
My adoptive mother smiled gently at my question.
"I'll be handling that side. For now, I plan to take all of them in and have them live in the dormitory. While they're there, I'll explain their parents' crimes and the dangers involved, and let them choose between accepting punishment by association or living in the castle dormitory with the others."
Young children who don't have a Stoff have no way to prepare a name-swearing stone, so there's absolutely no chance they've sworn their names. If they've completed the Baptism Ceremony, they'll already have Magical Tools and rings, so the minimum necessities for living as nobles are in place. My adoptive mother said that if we guarantee their livelihood for the few years until they enter the Royal Academy, they'd start receiving wages as apprentices, which would allow them to get by as nobles.
If they have surviving relatives, those relatives might take them in, and even if they don't, there's apparently a plan to look after them until they can stand on their own as nobles. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was short-lived, as I began worrying about the children who weren't included in that plan.
"Then what about the children who haven't completed the Baptism Ceremony? They aren't officially recognized as children until they do, but how we treat their existence will make a big difference in the number of nobles a few years from now."
"Hmm. If a child has high Magic Power, there may be nobles willing to take them in, but few would want to adopt the child of someone punished for a crime. And for those who are too young, wouldn't it be difficult for them to survive without a mother?"
Without undergoing the Baptism Ceremony, they wouldn't officially be counted as children, and there was no telling how many there were like Conrad, who had their Magical Tools taken away or never given to them. And there was no way of knowing how many people and how much budget would be needed to raise them. My adoptive father said that regarding them, they would be treated as though they had never been born.
"In that case, would it be acceptable to take in the pre-Baptism children at the orphanage? Even children without Magical Tools can prolong their lives by dedicating themselves to the divine instruments. And if the number of children with Magic Power increases, the dedication ritual will become a bit easier. With the winter purge, I think the situation at their homes will change, and the number of blue-robed priests will decrease."
"Blue-robed priests, hmm..."
My adoptive father murmured that he hadn't considered that far. It was probably because most nobles didn't consider blue-robed priests to fall within the category of nobility.
"If the number of blue-robed priests decreases any further, the Temple will be in serious trouble both financially and in terms of Magic Power. At the very least, I'd like to secure the children with Magic Power for the Temple."
"How do you intend to pay for raising them? Raising noble children costs money. You can't possibly take in that many."
I smiled brightly at my adoptive father's words. The money for raising children should obviously come from their parents.
"Please allocate their upbringing costs from the assets of their parents. It shouldn't cause much trouble to redirect what's been set aside for them to the orphanage, right?"
"...Well, I suppose that's true. It doesn't seem like you'd waste the money either, Rozemyne. Very well."
My adoptive father gave a wry smile and agreed.
"If they're raised at my orphanage, they'll receive an education comparable to that of a mid-ranking noble's child by the time of their Baptism Ceremony. ...I suppose it would be difficult for them to attend the Royal Academy without Magical Tools given at birth, but for gifted children who do have Magical Tools, we could provide scholarships and allow them to undergo the Baptism Ceremony as noble children."
I proposed that they undergo the Baptism Ceremony without parents, with either the lord or the orphanage director serving as their guardian, and after the ceremony, live in the castle dormitory to learn the ways of the nobility.
"What about the children who can't become nobles?"
"Children with Magic Power can operate Magical Tools. Even if they can't live as nobles, they can work at the Temple pouring Magic Power into the divine instruments. If the Aub provides them with the same amount given to the blue-robed priests who pour Magic Power, they'll have more than enough to live on."
Just because they're doing the job of pouring Magic Power doesn't mean they need to live at the same standard as the blue-robed priests. They could be made to live in the orphanage and do the job of pouring Magic Power, just as the previous High Priest had wanted me to do. And with subsidies from the castle, they could hire a carriage and a cook, allowing them to take on work at the Prayer Ceremony and the Harvest Festival.
"Even if the number of blue-robed priests increases again and there's no more work for pouring Magic Power, there are other jobs like delivering my books through teleportation circles or writing letters that require Magic Power. I intend to eventually have the orphans hired by merchants."
If we prepare jobs that use Magic Power, they can live on as Commoners. There was no need to kill innocent young children by association, nor was it necessary to raise them all as nobles.
"...I see. So you're not entirely thoughtless after all."
I pouted my lips in irritation at the Chief Priest's rude remark, but since I'm basically thoughtless, it was hard to argue.
"Understood. If you can look after the young children, then it's fine to secure them at the orphanage."
"Thank you."
Just when my adoptive father gave his approval and the treatment of the children was more or less decided, a civil official requested permission to enter. Everyone fell silent and fixed their eyes on the official who entered.
"Lord Aub Ehrenfest, an urgent letter has arrived from Aub Ahrensbach."
We had literally just been discussing the removal of Ahrensbach-linked nobles. Tension rippled through the room at the sheer coincidence of the timing. Everyone must have felt the same foreboding.
"They request a reply as soon as possible."
My adoptive father took the letter with a stern expression and quickly skimmed through it on the spot. Furrows carved themselves between his brows, and his complexion changed. Then, raising his gaze, he looked at the Chief Priest with a troubled expression.
"Lord Aub Ehrenfest, if this concerns me as well, might I be permitted to see the letter?"
"...Yes."
The Chief Priest read through the letter, lightly tapped his temple, and slowly let out a breath. The sight of the Chief Priest's telltale gesture when confronted with trouble sent a shiver through the depths of my chest. We didn't need any more problems from Ahrensbach, but something must have happened again.
After my adoptive father shut his eyes tightly for a moment, he looked at the Chief Priest with a blank, emotionless face.
"
"I appreciate the consideration. Please give me time to think it over."
"Lord Ferdinand, what happened?"
As the meeting ended and people were leaving, I grabbed the Chief Priest's sleeve and caught him. The Chief Priest looked around, and after a long silence, muttered, "I can't exactly say this doesn't concern you," then told me to come to his office. I headed to the Chief Priest's office with Hartmut, my brother Cornelius, and Richarda in tow.
"...It seems the Aub Ahrensbach is in increasing danger. The letter says she'd like me to come to Ahrensbach if possible, because she wants to establish even minor connections with Ahrensbach's nobles during the winter."
"My time in Ehrenfest is already short—will it be cut even shorter?"
Compared to a normal betrothal period, it had already been significantly shortened at Ahrensbach's convenience. And now they wanted to shorten it even further?
"It is a request saying 'if possible,' so I don't think it would be impossible to refuse, but personally, I'd like to go to Ahrensbach."
"Why?"
"First, all the information we need for the winter purge—details on the nobles who swore their names to Georgine, the reasons for purging them, the evidence—is already gathered. After this, the knights and the Aub should be able to handle things without me. Besides, I've more or less finished handing over Temple duties."
The Chief Priest said that while our fighting strength would decrease without him, he'd done what he could to set things up.
"And I can sense Georgine's intention of wanting to pull me away before things reach
Viscount Daldorf's wife's disappearance was known among the nobles. The Chief Priest murmured that they should be able to deduce something had happened if a grey priest failed to arrive at the designated location.
If their scheme at the Temple had been thwarted, they would have recognized that the Chief Priest was making moves. Indeed, when I'd searched Egmont's memories and when I'd gone to Viscount Daldorf's mansion, the one making all the conspicuous moves wasn't me but the Chief Priest.
"They've been quite cautious. I don't know how much information they've gathered, but they might be thinking of eliminating me—the dangerous one who keeps foiling their plans—without realizing it was really you who was doing it."
Did they think it would be easy as long as the Chief Priest was gone? And they weren't entirely wrong—I had only noticed the oddities, and it was basically the Chief Priest who handled everything else.
"This is exactly the kind of opponent who sets trap after trap. I don't want you going to such a place, Lord Ferdinand."
"If I stay hidden, they'll just do whatever they please. We have to take action on our end too. If I stay in Ehrenfest, all I can do is defend when they make a move, but if I go there, I can do something. At the very least, I can learn Georgine's movements and send information, or at least provide some deterrence."
We couldn't launch any sort of offensive toward a large territory with which we had weak connections. We'd be stuck on defense the whole time. The Chief Priest might be right that going to Ahrensbach would allow him to do something there.
"...But even if you go, it doesn't have to be immediately, right? Spring would be fine."
"Spring would likely be too late. It's certainly true that Aub Ahrensbach is in danger. Since she's calling me to educate
Once the Aub was gone, Georgine's power would only increase. The Chief Priest said he wanted connections between the nobles established before that happened.
"Above all, if it's winter, Dietlinde will be away at the Royal Academy. I'll be able to move without interference. That's a major advantage."
During my summer stay, I wanted to observe Georgine's movements, but Dietlinde clung to me the entire time. If the same thing happens in Ahrensbach, I won't be able to accomplish much. The Chief Priest declared that having a period of Dietlinde's absence would be a tremendous help.
"Lord Ferdinand, you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
"...There's one thing that concerns me."
"What concerns you?"
"If I go to Ahrensbach, I'll have no choice but to recall you for the dedication ritual."
The Chief Priest made a complicated face, noting that this year I was supposed to be able to spend my time at the Royal Academy without having to return for the dedication ritual, but this would nullify that arrangement.
"Even if I have to return for the dedication ritual, it would be just like every other year, so I don't mind—"
"Lord Ferdinand, this year we know there will be a large number of criminals with abundant Magic Power, plus many motivated blue-robed priests. If we have everyone use magic stones and recovery potions during the ceremony, there won't be any problems."
"Hartmut..."
"Lady Rozemyne, please enjoy your life at the Royal Academy."
Hartmut flashed a bright smile, declaring that the blue-robed priests would be made to handle the dedication ritual no matter what. I was getting quite worried about the blue-robed priests.
"I'm starting to feel like I should go back, you know..."
"No, you don't need to come back. Hartmut said he'd do it for you, and he certainly will."
The Chief Priest waved his hand dismissively and said he'd leave the Temple's dedication ritual to Hartmut. It felt like he had an awful lot of trust in Hartmut. He'd never trust me with something like that.
"Rozemyne, if there are no issues with the Temple or with you, I'll be heading to Ahrensbach. But even if they tell me the necessities are in place, I can't take that at face value. For my own protection, I'd like to prepare my luggage here as quickly as possible. I'm sorry to impose during this busy time, but could I ask you to help transport my things to the border gate?"
This would buy three days of time before replying, and using the Lesser Bus instead of a carriage would buy even more days. The Chief Priest said he wanted to make as many preparations as possible during that time. If the Chief Priest had decided to go, trying to stop him would only be a nuisance. I wanted to be of help rather than a burden, if possible.
"...Understood. I'll help as much as I can."
"That would be helpful."
Once he'd made his decision, the Chief Priest moved quickly. He wrote letters to his own mansion, ordering clothes and daily necessities to be prepared, and sent an ordnung to my adoptive father confirming he'd head to Ahrensbach. He emphasized that the reply to Ahrensbach would go out in three days.
"Lord Aub Ehrenfest, I'm sorry, but I'll be taking Rozemyne back to the Temple. There's a lot that needs to be rushed, such as closing the workshop."
"Yes. It's like cutting into enemy territory. Don't let up on your preparations."
"Understood."
The Chief Priest rose with an expression that seemed to ask, "Who exactly are you talking to?" as he sent the ordnung. Just as he was about to head back to the Temple, another ordnung flew in. This time, it was for me.
"Rozemyne, have Richarda and
The Chief Priest made a very displeased face at my adoptive father's ordnung. I also pouted a little for good measure.
"In other words, Father's words mean that just having me around isn't enough of a woman's perspective, right?"
"Indeed. That is certainly insufficient."
...How cruel!
Having determined that I wasn't enough, the Chief Priest looked at Richarda, who was standing behind me.
"Richarda, that's the situation. Could I ask you to help select the gifts to bring to Ahrensbach? We can't carry too many, but we can't go empty-handed either. I have a list here of high-quality items and who would be appropriate to give them to. I'd like you to use it as a reference."
The Chief Priest took out the gift list he'd compiled before and handed it to Richarda, saying, "If you need extra hands, use my civil officials."
"Leave it to me, Young Master Ferdinand. ...No, since your marriage has been decided, I should be calling you Lord Ferdinand from now on."
The Chief Priest's eyes widened slightly at Richarda's words. Richarda gave a soft, wistful smile.
"I had always thought I'd feel much happier when the time came to change how I address you. I never imagined it would be this anxious feeling, seeing you off in such a rush."
"I didn't expect that being called 'Young Master' by Richarda would still feel like a small comfort either."
The Chief Priest gave a bitter smile, then turned his back to Richarda.
"I need to close the Temple's workshop. After that, I'll be packing at the mansion. I'm sorry to impose, but I'm counting on you."
"Understood, Lord Ferdinand."
Back at the Temple, the Chief Priest quickly put away his riding beast and headed briskly toward his room. "Please wait, Chief Priest," I called out, stopping him.
"Chief Priest, I need a Magical Tool that stops time. I have to pack it full of meals and sweets to bring to Ahrensbach."
"...Are you really planning to prepare food in the next few days?"
"Of course I am. You always put off eating when you're busy, so I'm sure you were planning to cut meal preparation from the list again this time, weren't you?"
Hit right on the mark, the Chief Priest narrowed his eyes slightly and shut his mouth.
"I'll prepare everything, so please lend me the time-stopping Magical Tool."
"I'll have Yustus bring it over later. Is that alright?"
Watching the Chief Priest give orders to his attendants in long strides, I put away my own riding beast and asked
"Nicola, I need you to prepare a large quantity of sweets and meals. I have to make enough food to fill every time-stopping Magical Tool before Lord Ferdinand's departure. Please also request support from the
"Understood."
After Nicola rushed off to the kitchen, I immediately began writing a letter to the lower city. By the time I finished writing, the attendants summoned by Fran had gathered in the room.
"
"Understood."
I had
Then, the next day. The time-stopping Magical Tools were brought in by Yustus, and the meals prepared by
Starting around the third bell, the Chief Priest's attendants began coming and going through my room, and several wooden crates from the Chief Priest's workshop were carried into my own workshop.
Amid all of this, a reply arrived from Benno. It seemed the long sofa Zack had accepted the order for was still incomplete, as the strong, tear-resistant fabric hadn't arrived yet. The letter said it was expected to be finished during the winter.
In addition to my usual work, I went to the Chief Priest's room to make my report, but the Chief Priest was nowhere to be found in the sparse, quiet room where most attendants had left to handle luggage and wardrobe cleanup.
"Brother Eckhart, where is the Chief Priest?"
"Lord Ferdinand is cleaning the workshop. Other than bringing out wooden crates, he's barely come out of the room at all. If it's urgent, why don't you call him? While you're at it, Rozemyne, I think you should go help Lord Ferdinand."
Brother Eckhart said this while pointing to the Magical Tool used to call inside. When I followed his instruction and called out, "Chief Priest, I have a report—may I come in?" the Chief Priest poked his head out of the workshop. Before I could open my mouth to make my report, Brother Eckhart pushed me forward.
"Lord Ferdinand, Rozemyne says she'd very much like to help."
"Eh? That's not... Well, please do let me help."
Overwhelmed by Brother Eckhart's smile, I ended up volunteering to help of my own accord. As the Chief Priest let me in and I helped organize documents, I reported on the meals and sweets I was preparing, the hair ornament, the teaching materials, and the letter from Benno.
"So that's the situation. When spring comes, I'll deliver the completed long sofa and new dishes. Until then, please eat the meals I've prepared properly."
As I was resolved to maintain the Chief Priest's healthy lifestyle this way, the Chief Priest thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"No, there's no need to deliver it. You should keep the new long sofa for yourself."
"Why?"
I blinked in surprise—after all the trouble he'd gone to in having it made because he liked the mattress. With a nicely cushioned long sofa, the Chief Priest should be able to relax at least a little. I really wanted him to take it to Ahrensbach.
"...There's a risk that the things I bring along will be confiscated. In that case, it would be better for you to use it."
Perhaps the unpleasant scenes from his past were flashing through the Chief Priest's mind. I couldn't bring myself to say, "That won't happen," and fell silent.
"Besides... if the long sofa you lean against disappears, where will you go to relax?"
"Huh?"
My long sofa is in my room. It hasn't disappeared, and there are no plans for it to. Confused, I looked up at the Chief Priest. The Chief Priest narrowed his pale golden eyes and made a displeased face, then looked down at me and let out a quiet breath.
"Aren't you the one who compared me to a long sofa? ...In a manner of speaking, it's my replacement."
The Chief Priest tapped me lightly on the head with a "Figure it out, you fool," and went to carry the wooden crates out of the workshop. As I muttered to myself that there was no way I could figure out something so difficult and roundabout, I watched the Chief Priest's back. It was the same back I'd been watching ever since I entered the Temple.
...It would have been comforting to stay behind that back.
In an instant, all my memories from the time I entered the Temple flooded my mind. The kindness the Chief Priest was leaving for me, even as he should have been busy preparing for his sudden departure, ached in my chest.
The moment the Chief Priest stepped out of the workshop, he vanished as though he'd disappeared. From now on, there would be no one standing in front of me like that. A sense of helplessness spread through my chest, like having to walk a road without a guide.
"Rozemyne, organize those documents for me."
The Chief Priest, having brought the wooden crates outside, returned almost immediately. The sense of relief at having the Chief Priest right in front of me made me want to cry.
...I don't need a replacement long sofa. Just please, put off the departure until spring.
Those words nearly spilled from my throat. It was an impossibly selfish demand I could never voice. Swallowing the words I wanted to say, I wiped hard at the corners of my eyes.
"Rozemyne, is something wrong?"
"...Hey, Chief Priest. Since you're so busy and short on time, why don't you lift the access restrictions on the workshop so others can enter?"
For the time being, I offered a useful proposal in place of my selfish wish.
Due to an urgent request from Ahrensbach, the Chief Priest will be departing for Ahrensbach.
Richarda's way of calling him "Young Master" is gone now. It's sad.
Next time: separation.