Published: August 3, 2025
Until the starbinding ceremony, I stayed inside the temple and didn't leave. I memorized the prayers for the ceremony, had Nicola report on the progress of the natural yeast, discussed with Lutz and Benno in the orphanage director’s hidden room about the menu for the banquet and the report and budget proposal for the lord, and compiled everything.
Today, Benno and Lutz from the Gilberta Trading Company had come again, and we held discussions in the hidden room.
“Since we’ll be going to the Noble District for the starbinding ceremony, I’ll ask Foster Father about the date and time then.”
“Ah, please do.”
Before the banquet, most of the things that needed doing had been completed. Although Benno looked a bit lifeless, it seemed he could rest up until the banquet. He let out a big sigh, rubbed his brow with his finger, and said, “Well, that’s about it. We managed somehow.”
“...Hey, what about the Star Festival for you, Lutz?”
“I plan to do it the same as last year... but only if you’ll let me have lunch at the orphanage.”
If it was just preparing lunch for Lutz and having him eat together in the orphanage’s dining hall, I could arrange that. But with Benno so busy he looked like he might work himself to death, could we really ask him to take care of the orphanage?
“Aren’t you busy? Are you okay?”
“I finished what absolutely had to be done, and I can’t rest at home on the festival day, right? The orphanage is still more relaxing. Plus, the food is delicious...”
The Star Festival was a city-wide event. Except for the bride and groom and their families, everyone rushed to the gates at the start to pick up Tau Fruit and throw them around wildly. After that, they would be busy preparing meals for the square and setting up for the evening festival. If no one in your family was getting married, you couldn’t just relax at home — you would be pushed and pulled into helping.
“Don’t throw all the Tau Fruit; leave a little behind.”
“I know.”
Lutz smiled brightly, just as he always did, but the family I wanted to see didn’t show up at all.
I had wanted to meet them under the pretext of asking them to take care of the orphanage children, but on the Star Festival day they refused, saying they had plans. Though Toori had said she would visit the orphanage, she hadn’t come even once.
“...Toori isn’t coming.”
When I said this quietly, Benno snorted, “Of course not.”
“Toori’s busy now. She works at the workshop where she signed the employee apprentice contract, and on her days off, she helps at Corinna’s workshop, supposedly studying sewing.”
“What?”
“According to Corinna, she’s absorbing the skills with incredible greed... Becoming a top-class seamstress was her final promise, right?”
Hearing from Benno about Toori’s determined efforts—something I couldn’t glean from the letters—made my eyes sting. To keep her promise to me, Toori was working desperately.
“Uncle Gunther’s having a tough time too.”
“Really?”
“Because they let nobles from other places in, the knights order investigated, and the sergeant at the East Gate was punished for failing to pass on important information.”
Dad had informed each gate’s sergeant that no more permits would be issued due to the lord’s absence, and testimonies from the gate sergeants confirmed this. At gates other than the East Gate, the gate guards had received the information properly.
The East Gate was the busiest and most crucial gate to guard, and although its sergeant received the information first, he neglected to pass it on. This was judged to be a grave failure.
Considering the loss of his daughter and his efforts to capture the intruding nobles, Dad was promoted to fill the sergeant vacancy at the East Gate.
“He said his work hours increased, he’s busy, and he can’t even eat properly with his family... He broke down crying about it the other day.”
“...I can picture it.”
I sighed, thinking that everyone was just too busy to come. Lutz lightly tapped my head.