Published: August 3, 2025
“Myne-sama, an attendant must move into their master’s room. You cannot continue living at the orphanage. How do you plan to convince the high priest?”
As soon as I left the orphanage, Fran’s stern voice called out to me.
“Since there’s no gray shrine maiden currently looking after the children, I will have my attendant keep an eye on the orphanage. After all, some children suddenly develop fevers in the middle of the night.”
“…So you hadn’t completely thought it through, then. I’m somewhat relieved.”
I puffed my cheeks in response to her surprisingly blunt words, and Fran hurriedly added,
“Myne-sama tends to act immediately upon having an idea, so I was worried about how I should explain this to the high priest…”
“…Fran, do you agree with leaving Wilma at the orphanage as an attendant? Or do you oppose it?”
“Breaking precedent is involved, but considering the current state of the orphans and Wilma’s situation, I think it would be good if we could make it happen.”
With Fran’s approval, I sent a letter requesting a meeting with the high priest. Since I also wanted Fran’s opinion on how to handle Wilma, he replied that it would be better to meet in your room rather than the secret room, and set the appointment for the fifth bell five days later.
In the meantime, I worked energetically.
I asked the guild to have thick paper made at the Myne workshop for creating picture books, and promised to purchase it through Lutz.
At the same time, I read my mother’s bedtime stories aloud at the orphanage to see which would be easier to adapt into picture books and which ones the children liked. However, the children reacted with constant questions like “What’s that?” at the words, so they didn’t really enjoy the stories. Wilma said she couldn’t illustrate them because she didn’t understand city life. The gap in common sense and lifestyle was greater than I expected.
Moreover, it seems the temple doesn’t even have the concept of anthropomorphized animals. When I told stories like The Seven Little Goats or Momotaro, they asked, “How do you speak to animals?” So it’s difficult to have the familiar fairy tales illustrated.
It seems best to have Wilma paint scenes related to the Sacred Scripture.
…After all, it’s the first picture book I’m giving to my younger siblings; maybe I’ll draw the pictures myself?
Also, since Hugo and Ella have memorized most of the recipes, a new chef has joined. A man around the same age as Hugo struggles, making confused sounds like “Eh?” and “Wait!?” as he tries to catch up.
Ella, assisting him, said with a reminiscent expression, “It’s okay. You’ll get used to it soon.”
Then, on the day of the meeting, I couldn’t go to the library in the afternoon because of an appointment, so I spent the time reviewing the proper manners for welcoming the high priest and the kind of tea he prefers with Fran in my room.
Suddenly, much earlier than expected, a bell rang outside the door. It was the bell carried by attendants to notify those inside of visitors.
“That’s a messenger from the high priest.”
“How do you know?”
“There’s a difference in the sound and how it’s rung.”
Fran said this and went downstairs. The high priest was busy, so maybe the meeting time had been changed.
I leaned out to look downstairs and saw Delia quickly walking toward the door from the kitchen. Handling visitors is a job for the trainees.
After some exchange at the door, Delia opened it, and gray priests carrying large boxes entered one after another.
“These are gifts from the high priest. Where should we carry them?”
“To the second floor. Please bring them to the master’s room.”
With Delia’s voice, Fran led the way as the luggage was brought in. I hurried back to my office desk and plastered on a refined smile like a young lady.
“Excuse me, Myne-sama.”
Arnaud came to greet me, and under Delia and Fran’s directions, the gray priests placed the boxes. Arnaud squinted nostalgically as he looked around the room.