"What a mountain of stuff today,"
The basket was stuffed with clothes wrapped in fabric—
The set I'd bought yesterday was cute and sort of had a folk-costume look to it, with no patchwork, beautiful embroidery, long dangling sleeves, and lace trim. It was nothing like what the children around here wore. If I wandered around dressed like that, there was no telling what kind of accusations someone might throw my way.
After getting warnings from my family too, I decided to go to
The further north you worked, the more expensive your clothes and belongings inevitably became. It was unavoidable, since that was simply the standard equipment everyone used up there. But if you weren't careful, and word got out that you were carrying expensive things around regularly, the trip home could become downright dangerous.
Children who had just completed their
"So with that in mind, could I possibly rent a cheap room from you as well?" I asked.
While Lutz was changing in his room, I was asked to wait in the back room, so I took the opportunity to make my request to Benno.
Benno, who had been battling with a wooden tablet, made an incredibly complicated face and glared at me.
"I don't mind renting you a room, but if 'cheap' is the requirement, that means the attic. You really think you can haul yourself up to the attic every single time just to store your stuff and change clothes?"
The memory of how out of breath I got on the fifth floor of my own house came rushing back, and I flinched with an "Ugh."
"If I go slowly, I think it'll be fine."
"You really don't look fine. Wouldn't it make more sense to get a room at the
"Guests?"
I only planned to visit the Temple to pour magic into things and read books, so I had no expectation of ever hosting visitors. When I tilted my head in confusion, Benno set down his pen and looked my way.
"When they come to pick Lutz up, they should normally be shown to your room, right? How was it handled before?"
"...Lutz was made to wait outside the Gate, and a gray Priest came to the Library to fetch me. So, um, are you saying I should try to negotiate for the Library to become my room?"
"How does that follow!?"
"It's just a wish—a hope that it might work out that way," I admitted.
I knew perfectly well there was no chance of the Library, with its shelves of precious books, ever becoming my room. It was purely a fantasy.
"Haah. Fine. ...If you don't have a room of your own, then go to the Chief Priest today and request to borrow one."
"Huh? Today?"
"Talking with Fran about managing your health is Lutz's job today."
"Understood. I'll discuss it with the Chief Priest."
When the conversation calmed down a bit, Benno picked up the bell on his desk and rang it. A female worker poked her head through the door at the back.
"You called?"
"Help her with her change. Mine, use the folding screen over there to change. The attic's out of the question for you."
Wait—change here?!
I swallowed the words that had already risen to my throat. After issuing his order, Benno picked up his pen and got back to work. The woman briskly unfolded the screen to create a changing area. Everything had been set up so matter-of-factly that I was the odd one out for hesitating, and no clever excuse came to mind.
"Um, Benno? You really don't need to worry—I'll be fine if I just go slowly."
"Don't waste what little stamina you have before we even set out."
My tiny act of resistance was obliterated by a single sentence from Benno.
He was showing concern, after all. It was a kindness. And I was a little girl. So there was nothing embarrassing about this... right? No, no, it was absolutely embarrassing!
"Um..."
"Which one is your change of clothes? This one? ...There, all ready. This way, please."
"Get changed before Lutz gets here."
Before I could refuse, everything was already prepared. Resigning myself to it, I headed for the screen.
"...Then I'll gratefully accept your help."
I wanted this embarrassing situation over with as quickly as possible. Behind the screen, I got changed in a flash with the help of the older woman. I threw off my dress and threw on the blouse—since it was long enough to reach my thighs, anyone could see me from now on and it wouldn't matter.
The woman helped me with about half of the tiny buttons, adjusted the skirt's length and waist, and tied the cord on the bodice. Finally, I put on the hair ornament Benno had given me, and the change was complete.
"Benno, I'm done. Thank you very much."
I folded up my old clothes and held them in my arms, stepping out from behind the screen. Benno raised his head and slowly looked me over from top to bottom.
"...Well, you look the part."
"Huh? Huh? The part? Like a noble lady? Am I cute?"
"That's assuming you keep your mouth shut."
"Huh?"
As I closed my mouth and tucked my old clothes into the basket,
"Pardon the intrusion, sir. Oh, Mine. You've already changed?"
"Benno helped me."
"...Sir?"
"Mine, you idiot! Way too much abbreviation! I only called for
Benno scratched his head vigorously while glancing toward Matilda, who was tidying up the screen. "Ah," Mark said with a knowing nod, then pushed Lutz—now in his apprentice outfit—forward.
Benno glanced at Lutz, confirmed he had a wooden tablet in hand, and gave a slight nod.
"Then, Lutz's job for today is to go to the Temple and speak with Fran, Mine's Attendant, regarding the management of Mine's health. Have you finished the summary of what needs to be reported?"
"Yes, sir."
Lutz bowed just as Mark did, then picked up my basket and headed for the door. Seeing him act with proper shop-dealer manners made me feel a tiny bit like a parent at a school observation day.
Wow, Lutz's really grown.
"Lutz, your posture and the way you speak have gotten so much better."
"It's still a work in progress, but this is a job after all."
Lutz let a proud smile slip across his face. Being able to take pride in your own effort is an amazing thing. I need to learn from that.
"Just like Lutz uses polite language at the shop, I need to use lady-like speech at the Temple, right?"
"...Can you pull it off?"
"Benno didn't say I failed, so I don't think it's that strange. But I need to practice until it fits naturally. ...When I switch to lady-like speech at the Temple, don't laugh at me if it doesn't suit me."
If Lutz laughed, my lady-like speech—already barely clinging together—would crumble in an instant.
"...Do I have to speak politely too?"
"Benno was so good at noble speech it was honestly impressive. Maybe it's worth putting in some effort to be polite at least?"
"Oh, uh..."
When I arrived at the Temple, all of my Attendants were waiting in the plaza beyond the Gate. I hadn't sent any word—so why were they here? I was wondering about this when Lutz explained that the
Now then, what greeting should I use? "Good morning"? "I'm home"? Hmm...
"Heh heh, you're stuck, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
I'd planned to handle the Temple in lady-like speech, but Deria shut me down before I could even start. As I tilted my head and let out a clueless sound, Fran stepped forward, pushing past Deria.
"Welcome home, Lady Mine. We have been eagerly awaiting your safe return."
"Fran, I have returned. Was anything amiss in my absence?"
Regaining my composure, I spoke to Fran. He crossed both hands in front of his chest and dipped his waist slightly.
"All is well."
"What do you mean, all is well? Showing up to greet a guest without any Attendants present! You must have been so embarrassed, right? Heh heh, serves you right."
The proud expression on his face was probably very unfortunate-looking, but I felt no embarrassment whatsoever. If anything, I was grateful that Fran was competent and that I didn't have to deal with any troublemakers.
"...Fran was there for me."
"Hmph! There's only so much one person can do. He couldn't even offer flowers. Your guest must have been terribly disappointed."
Offer flowers? What did that even mean? I didn't want to find out from context, either. Benno had apparently struck up a relationship with the Chief Priest, the gift had been well received, and he'd taken the lead on profit distribution for the Mine Workshop—so he was completely satisfied?
I didn't really understand, but Deria clearly wanted me to say I'd been troubled. Not wanting to deal with it, I decided the quickest way out was to just give her what she wanted.
"Ah, yeah. Troubled. I'm very troubled right now."
"Heh heh. I knew it."
"Lady Mine, about what—"
"Deria's a pain in the neck. That's what I'm troubled about. Right now."
Fran lowered his eyes as if accepting my words. I glanced at the clothes still sitting inside Lutz's basket, then looked at Deria and slowly tilted my head.
"What would it take to get you to actually work seriously, Deria?"
"As if I'd work for you! Are you out of your mind? You're too stupid for words."
Deria flashed a smug grin, spun on her heel, and sauntered off somewhere. Not a single greeting, doing whatever she pleased. If I ended up having to chase her off someday, at least I wouldn't feel any guilt. It was almost refreshing.
"...Hey, Mine. What was that?"
"She's technically an Attendant."
"Huh? An Attendant can be like that?"
Lutz pointed in a daze at Deria's retreating back. His resolve to use polite language seemed to have crumbled. I understood the feeling. I'd need to psych myself up all over again if I wanted to get back into lady-like speech.
"I apologize, but she is the exception," Fran said.
Taking the remark as an insult to his profession, Fran rebutted immediately. If the job of a proper Attendant was what someone like Fran—a capable person—did, then Deria, whose aim was to become the High Priest's lover, really was the exception.
"Fran is an excellent Attendant. Deria has issues, but..."
"So not all of them are like that. Good."
Lutz had barely finished expressing his relief when the next problem child barged on in, pointing right at Lutz with a sharp glare.
"And what's the big idea with you, barging into the Temple like that?"
"...Who are you?"
Lutz scowled. But given the other person's build and the fact that he was standing right here, Lutz had to have some idea who Gil was.
"An Attendant."
"Consider him another exception, please."
"So you're the only one who's worth a damn?! What's with this place?!"
Fran immediately said Gil was an exception too, but there was no recovering from that. For Lutz, who had never seen anything but the unusual exceptions that made up my Attendants, Fran—the competent one—was actually the minority.
With both me and Fran holding our heads in despair, Gil barked at Lutz.
"What's your problem, punk?! You're an outsider!"
"I'm Lutz, associated with Mine. I mainly manage Mine's health. Today, at sir's request, I came to speak with Mine's Attendant about her health management. But an Attendant who can't even manage a proper greeting..."
For Lutz, who had been psyching himself up to deliver a polite greeting to nobles, this must have been a colossal letdown.
"Sorry, Lutz. It's because I'm still lacking as a master."
"Isn't supporting you the Attendant's job? If someone can't even do the work they've been assigned, they're unnecessary. Get rid of the ones who have no motivation. That woman back there was only thinking about making trouble for Mine."
Lutz was right, of course, but they were Attendants who had been assigned by the other side. I couldn't just send them away so easily.
"Well, her stupidity is actually helpful in its own way, so it's fine for now."
"Stupidity?"
"Deria is the High Priest's mole. The fact that she openly reports everything she does is a lot better than having someone sneaking around doing things in secret behind my back."
It was better than having someone I couldn't handle. Lutz muttered, "What a pain," and shrugged.
"...Hey, runt. Are you looking down on us?"
Gil narrowed his eyes into triangles and glared at me and Lutz. If Gil was calling someone a runt, he probably meant me, but I had no obligation to respond.
"Fran, there's something I'd like to ask—"
"What would that be?"
"Don't ignore me! Don't look down on me!"
Gil screamed and yanked my arm with all his might. The difference in build and strength was enormous—someone with Gil's physical power pulling recklessly on a body with the size of a four- or five-year-old sent me flying.
"Wha—?!"
Lutz, who happened to be standing right there, caught me before I went sprawling, shielding me with his body. I tumbled with Lutz as my cushion, and for a moment had no idea what had happened, blinking rapidly.
Slowly looking around, I saw that Fran—who had been facing me in conversation—had reached out with a sharp intake of breath but apparently hadn't made it in time, and was still standing there with his arm extended, staring. Gil, apparently not having expected me to fly so easily, was looking at his own hand and then at me with evident surprise.
"Mine, are you hurt?"
"Lutz shielded me, so I'm fine. What about you, Lutz?"
"Mm. That guy's your Attendant, right? He's seriously lacking in discipline."
Lutz's eyes were burning with anger, even though he'd spoken in his usual tone. His irises had gone slightly pale. I could tell he was furious, and I flinched.
"He's completely lacking in discipline, but I don't have the time, energy, or affection to spare for that... and I have no strength or stamina to speak of."
"Then I'll do it in your place."
Speaking quietly, Lutz helped me to my feet, checked that I wasn't hurt, and then handed me over to Fran.
Immediately after, Lutz lunged at Gil and landed a solid punch.
"You idiot! What if Mine had gotten hurt?!"
Scrapes between kids from the lower town were common enough, but there was an unspoken rule that you had to size up your opponent before picking a fight. In the lower town, where your body was your capital in every respect, going too far was strictly taboo.
This time, Gil had clearly crossed the line. If it had just been a war of words, Lutz would have shrugged it off. But Lutz had been told by his family and by Benno to protect Mine, and Gil had laid hands on someone right in front of him—and on me, who was supposed to be the master, no less.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"That's what I should be saying! An Attendant raising a hand against their master—what the hell do you think you're doing, you idiot?!"
Since Gil had thrown the first punch, it was only right for him to get hit back. So I watched in silence as Lutz pummeled him. I kept thinking, If only this would make Gil behave...
"Lady Mine, please, you must stop Lutz—"
"Why? Isn't disciplining Attendants the master's job? He said he'd do it for me. That's a relief, really. I have no strength or stamina to speak of."
—I have no motivation either, I added silently. Fran looked back and forth between me and Gil, who was getting slapped around, with a worried expression.
"Discipline, ma'am. Like sending him to the reflection room to reflect on his actions, or restricting his blessings from the gods for one time..."
"The reflection room?"
"That is, violence is not permitted."
It seemed there were major differences between the lower town and the Temple when it came to discipline.
"Lutz, that's enough."
"He still doesn't get it! He's acting like he doesn't even understand why he's being hit!"
"He's not allowed to raise his hand here."
"Huh? It's discipline!"
"It's apparently different here."
At my words, Lutz clicked his tongue with a "Tch" and let go immediately.
Aside from the initial punch, it had all been open-handed slaps, so Gil didn't have any visible injuries.
"Tch. On top of not doing his job, he goes and hurts Mine—unforgivable. You can't keep an Attendant like that anywhere near Mine. Fire him."
"You're just as useless! You're not giving her what she's supposed to get!"
Gil stood up, clutching his cheek, and glared at me.
It seemed like once again, there was some piece of common sense I wasn't aware of.
"Hey, Fran. What exactly is this thing I'm supposed to be giving?"
"What do you mean—wait, you don't even know that?!" Gil shouted before Fran could answer. When Gil was screaming, the conversation couldn't advance at all. It was painfully obvious I lacked Temple common sense, yet the only thing he could do was scream about it. His intelligence was truly bottomless.
"You know, Gil, I think you really are stupid."
"What did you say?!"
"Think about it. You said it yourself—I have no common sense. So why would you assume I'd know? I'm a Commoner. It should have been obvious from the start that I wouldn't know Temple common sense. What exactly were you expecting at this point?"
"Guh..."
Gil seemed at a loss for words, staring at me and grinding his teeth.
Lutz stepped forward in front of me, shielding me from Gil, and faced the Attendant.
"What's this about something you're supposed to give? Who are you to act all high and mighty? You haven't even done your job, and you think you deserve something? The real problem is thinking you should get something when you've done nothing!"
"Blessings from the gods are given equally to everyone! When your rank increases, you receive your blessings sooner, but everything is equal! It has nothing to do with work!"
"Hah?!"
I had no idea what Gil was talking about, so I exchanged a look with Lutz and then turned to Fran, who was standing beside me.
"Fran, may I ask you something? What is this thing I'm supposedly supposed to give?"
Lutz lost it.
Fran was panicking over the violence unfolding before his eyes.
Next time: What must be given.