Published: August 3, 2025
“Hey, Fran. What’s the starbinding ceremony like in the Noble District?”
I asked while having lunch, and Fran furrowed her brows in a troubled way.
“Other azure priests might have duties, but for the high priest, the Noble District mansions already have attendants, so we don’t have much to do. We just stay behind at the mansion. Meals aren’t much different from usual. The high priest says we should rest, but with no work, we get restless. In the end, all the attendants gather and talk about work.”
It seems the high priest’s attendants are all severe workaholics. The miscommunication between the high priest, who thinks she’s giving them a little break, and the attendants, who are too bored and restless without work, almost brought a salty tear to my eye.
“I feel more at ease staying at the temple... The Noble District isn’t a very comfortable place for gray priests.”
She added those words softly at the end, and I quietly averted my eyes. There’s probably strong discrimination in the Noble District. I found myself a little reluctant to go there.
As I sipped my post-lunch tea, I heard footsteps approaching beyond the door. Beyond my room is only the room used for the winter dedication ceremony, so anyone coming means they want to see me.
The high priest stormed in, her face showing impatience as she raised her voice irritably.
“Rosemine, how long do you intend to eat? I told you to hurry! You’re last!”
“I’m coming right away!”
I hurriedly gulped down my tea, slipped off the chair, and left the room with Rosina. The two guard knights, sitting upright at the high priest’s angry voice, followed us.
For this starbinding ceremony, we would stay overnight at the lord’s castle, but my father and mother had already sent clothes and accessories and prepared the room, so I was told I didn’t need to bring anything. Only the high priest’s ceremonial outfit was necessary.
Rosina rode in the same carriage as the attendants, while I got into the high priest’s carriage with the guard knights. Darmel and Brigitte seemed smaller than usual, perhaps due to their lower status or because they have been trained by the high priest as knight apprentices.
We passed through the grand Noble Gate and traveled by carriage to the castle. After passing through a large gate with high walls deep in the Noble District, we arrived at the lord’s castle.
The lord’s castle was a little further inside after the gate. It was entirely white, made from the same materials as the Noble District and the temple, with a pure and beautiful look. From outside, it looked like a three or four-story building.
To my eyes, used to the packed six- and seven-story downtown buildings, the castle didn’t seem that large. Probably because it wasn’t very tall, it lacked an imposing presence.
Still, it was spacious.
The distance from the gate to the castle was wide enough that you couldn’t walk it without a carriage. I wanted to give some of this land to the crowded downtown folks. It was vast, a clear symbol of wealth.
Between the gate and the castle, several buildings were scattered whose purpose I couldn’t guess.
“There are residences for gardeners and forest caretakers, farms and orchards, training grounds for the knights order, and tea gardens. The castle’s wings include the knight dormitory, the North Wing where you will live, and the West Wing, where the lord’s second and third wives reside.”
Watching the knights training and the beautiful gardens from the carriage, we arrived at the north entrance of the castle. The south main entrance was for business — for officials, knights, and nobles with administrative business with the lord. The lord’s family and very private guests came and went through the north entrance.
It would be hard to say “I’m home” to busy officials working hard.
As I looked out of the carriage, I saw Rosina step out of the attendants’ carriage and have some servants carry a few pieces of luggage. She was the only one to get out, and after the luggage was moved, the attendants’ carriage drove off toward the high priest’s mansion.