Published: August 15, 2025
At dawn, the small temple began to bustle with activity. This morning, the small temple was to be sealed off.
The kitchen was in full swing preparing breakfast and lunch, and since they also had to finish cleaning up, it was extremely busy. Breakfast consisted of bread and soup, placed out for everyone to eat on their own.
Brigitte and I received serving from Monica and Gil and quickly finished our breakfast.
The priests loaded their own daily necessities like futons and dishes onto the wagons and cleaned their rooms. The soldiers were tasked with tidying up their futons and rooms as well, and the people from the Gilberta Trading Company were busy preparing for both cleanup and business.
If I were there in the middle of all that, I'd just be in the way. After finishing breakfast, I promptly retreated to my room. I had no choice but to wait until we were ready to depart.
"Lutz, please take care of the workshop. The materials for winter craft at Ingo's workshop should be completed soon, right?"
"Yes. Also, I wanted to ask Ingo to improve the printing press. Is that alright?"
"Of course."
It seemed Lutz heard my unspoken encouragement to just keep going because he smiled broadly. The improvements to the printing press were based mainly on the feedback of those who used it, so my presence didn't really help. Still, I always told them to speak up about any inconvenience or ideas for improvement. If they were satisfied with the status quo, the printing business wouldn’t develop.
"Gil, please take charge during our absence. Watch over the workshop and also look after Nora and the others who are going with us, so they can adjust well to the orphanage."
"Understood."
It seemed the gray priests and shrine maidens were closely guiding Nora and the others on how to spend their time at the temple, so they appeared quite adapted. But living among many unfamiliar people in the orphanage, unlike before, would surely bring a different kind of stress.
"…Gunther."
I'm still not used to calling Father by his name without honorifics, and I have to muster up some courage to say it.
"I entrust you with guarding the priests. Please ensure their safe delivery to the temple. Thanks to your agreeing to my request, I can send the priests out with peace of mind."
"Leave it to me."
I distributed the money Benno lent me as travel expenses to the soldiers, handing it over with the words, "Please take care of the temple." The soldiers’ eyes shone brightly; they would surely do their job well.
And so, the group bound for Ehrenfest departed. After seeing them off, Benno and Mark also began to move.
Benno and Mark acted separately. During the morning, while conducting business in Hasse, they spread rumors: “It seems the residents of Hasse attacked the small temple built by the lord. Isn’t this considered treason? I don’t know who ordered it, but how many people will be held responsible...?” Then they planned to quickly return to Ehrenfest.
"Benno, Mark, be careful."
"We appreciate your concern."
As Benno and Mark headed toward Hasse Town, I sent my attendants and personal staff by wagon toward the town mayor’s mansion.
"Monica, Nicola. Meet up with Eckhardt Brother’s and Justox’s attendants and head toward the next Winter Hall. I’ll wait here for the brothers."
After sending everyone off, Brigitte and I waited alone in a room in the small temple until our ride arrived. Ella had prepared cookies, sandwiches for lunch, and a thermos with freshly squeezed juice, so we spent a bit of a leisurely time.
"Brigitte, what is your family home like? I’m still not very familiar with the geography, so could you tell me about it?"
Hearing firsthand from someone who actually lived there would surely make studying geography easier to grasp. When I expressed my desire to chat for a while, Brigitte smiled with a troubled expression.
"The Ilkner Viscountcy is located to the southwest within Ehrenfest. It’s quite spacious but rural with a small population and no remarkable specialty products. They specialize in timber, but the surrounding areas are the same."