Ascendance of a Bookworm

“Otilier, please untie the obi.”

“Yes.”

Besides Richarda, who was waiting in the room, there was another attendant. She was a woman around the same age as Mother, named Otilier. The two of them took turns helping me out of my dress.

I let them do as they pleased. They changed my shoes and dressed me in the high priest’s ceremonial robes. They seemed very experienced with dressing children, moving swiftly and efficiently.

The ceremonial attire that Monica and Nicola had struggled with in the morning was put on beautifully and quickly by Richarda and Otilier. The obi was tied over the carefully arranged folds, and layers of cloth like a sash and decorative cords were added one after another. I could tell just by looking in the mirror.

Once the box containing the entire outfit was emptied, Richarda took a step back to view me from head to toe and nodded with satisfaction.

“Is this acceptable?”

In the reflection of the mirror showing me in my high priest robes, one part remained untouched. I slowly raised my hand and gently touched the hairpin.

“Richarda, please use the one with the summer noble color for the hairpin.”

“Here it is.”

They switched it to the hairpin my family had made for me. Now, it was truly complete.

“Then, let’s go.”

Led by Richarda, I headed toward the grand hall. Of course, Brother Cornelius and Angelica, my guards, accompanied us.

“Yikes!?”

“Careful!”

Just as I was about to descend the stairs immediately outside the room, I stepped on the hem of my robe and nearly fell. Brother Cornelius caught me with a startled look.

“Thank you, Brother. I usually wear knee-length garments, so I didn’t know how to walk in this.”

“You lift it just a little when you walk, Princess.”

Richarda showed me how to hold up the hem slightly while walking. Since no one else was doing this, I had thought it was forbidden, but apparently, it was allowed to lift the hem a bit.

Just as I thought I could manage, Richarda’s warning flew at me.

“Be careful not to raise it too much. Your legs will show.”

Since it’s usually knee-length, I thought showing my ankles wouldn’t be a problem, but I kept that argument to myself. Richarda was someone who could stand up to the high priest—there was no way I could win.

Holding my skirt lightly, I carefully plodded forward to avoid stepping on the hem and falling. Looking troubled, Richarda stepped in front of me and lowered her waist.

“Excuse me, Princess.”

“Huh?”

Before I knew it, Richarda suddenly lifted me up, leaving me blinking in surprise, then started walking at a speed you wouldn’t expect from an old lady.

“At your pace, the seventh bell will ring before we reach the grand hall.”

Apparently, the seventh bell marked the start time of the starbinding ceremony, and she judged that I would be late if I continued like this.

I blamed the castle’s vastness. The residential North Wing where I lived and the public grand hall were too far apart for a child’s legs. Plus, I had to take a roundabout route, increasing the distance even more. I thought a carriage was needed inside the building.

Richarda carried me close to the grand hall and put me down just before the entrance to the hall.

She checked my clothes here and there for any disorder and told me what to do next.

“I cannot accompany you any further. Walk straight along the carpet and ascend the dais. Lord Sylvester will be there.”

“Yes.”

Stepping out from the corner of the corridor, I found myself in the hall brightly lit by lamp-like devices. In the downtown, even candles were considered a luxury and rarely used, so it was normal for the surroundings to become pitch black after sunset.

But the Noble District seemed to use many such lamps. The light wasn’t as bright as electricity, but even the modest light was enough to brighten the white walls, making the place feel quite bright.

“…It’s bright.”

“Didn’t the temple have many? It’s a magic tool that amplifies the tiny flame of a candle.”