Published: August 3, 2025
On the morning of the baptism ceremony, it was already hectic in the downtown area last year, but in the Noble District, it was even more chaotic.
I was woken up early, taken for a bath while still sleepy, then had breakfast in my everyday clothes to avoid getting my ceremonial clothes dirty, and immediately after, I was made to change into my baptismal outfit.
“Good morning, Mother.”
When I finished my bath and went to the dining hall, Mother was the only one having breakfast.
In the Noble District, instead of going to the temple to receive baptism, they summon a priest to perform the ceremony at home. So when the baptism takes place, the entire house is in a complete uproar. Normally, the kitchen staff would serve the meal, but today the attendants are on serving duty. Judging by the timing, the kitchen must be in full battle mode.
“Rosemine, Ferdinand has brought a gift, so be sure to finish changing early.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Just after Mother finished breakfast and left, Eckhardt Brother came in. He sat directly opposite me while I hurriedly ate, and he smiled gently with narrowed eyes.
“Good morning. And congratulations, Rosemine.”
“Thank you very much, Eckhardt Brother.”
While starting on his plate, Eckhardt Brother began chatting with me, offering topics to talk about. I was a bit nervous that we’d eat in silence, so I felt relieved.
“I heard that the priest conducting today’s baptism is Ferdinand. It’ll be my first time seeing him perform the rituals, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“...Your first time?”
Among nobles, the baptism is held at home by inviting a priest. Everyone tries to invite the highest-ranking priest they can. Also, the priests receive a gratuity for these ceremonies, so it’s a valuable source of income for them.
However, the high priest has apparently never conducted rituals in the Noble District before. I must have noticed Eckhardt Brother tilting his head in curiosity. He lightly shrugged.
“Previously, the head priest would come to perform ceremonies for high-ranking nobles.”
Families like lords and senior nobles who have connections with the high priest also have ties with the head priest, so the head priest would be invited.
The high priest apparently has plenty of other duties and income, so it’s not an issue if he doesn’t get called for rituals—he delegates the ceremonies to other priests.
“If Ferdinand appears as the priest, the noble ladies attending today might get really excited.”
Since the high priest always dresses very nobly when coming to the Noble District, seeing the priest’s ceremonial robes today will probably cause a frenzy, he said.
...Screaming over ceremonial priestly robes? I guess it’s like a uniform crush? I’m used to seeing priestly robes, so it doesn’t faze me.
Eckhardt Brother seems quite knowledgeable about the high priest since they are close in age, and they served together as knights when Eckhardt was a knight apprentice and the high priest entered the temple.
“Ferdinand is perfect at whatever he does, so instead of being jealous or resentful, we admired him—or rather, he was an object of worship.”
He even apparently passed information about the high priest to Mother while at the noble academy and got an allowance for it. ...Information about the high priest might become a good source of income for me as well.
“He’s the high priest who said he’d take care of the shrine maiden apprentice, right? I’ll also cherish you like a younger sister. So, Rosemine, please take good care of Ferdinand. I want to see more allies on his side.”
“I understand.”
Before I finished my breakfast, Eckhardt Brother had already eaten quickly and left. He had been eating leisurely while chatting, so it was surprisingly fast.
Left behind by Eckhardt Brother, I hurriedly finished eating.
“Good morning, Cornelius Brother.”
On my way back to my room, I spotted Cornelius Brother heading to the dining hall.
“Good morning, Rosemine. Were you woken up early as well?”