Published: August 15, 2025
The gathering of the Luel Fruit was a failure, and the next day I was bedridden, relying on medicine, but the harvest festival itself ended without any particular problems.
Returning to the temple, seeing Gil’s face as he greeted me, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Welcome back, Lady Rosemine.”
“I’ve just returned, Gil. Did anything change while I was away?”
“There are several things I’d like to discuss.”
At Gil’s words, Fran stepped forward smoothly.
“Then, Gil, please escort Lady Rosemine to the orphanage director’s room and discuss the matters there.”
Fran suggested that the orphanage director’s room would be more peaceful than the rooms where luggage was being carried in and out continuously after the harvest festival.
Being indirectly told that tidying up would go faster without me, I carefully followed Gil to the orphanage director’s room, which had been cleaned and arranged neatly.
“Please, Lady Rosemine.”
While drinking the tea Gil brewed in the orphanage director’s room, I listened to his report about the period I was absent. Gil’s tea brewing skills had improved considerably—still not as good as Fran’s, but much better.
After reporting on the number of papers and picture books already made, the amount of ink in stock, and other inventory details, the topic turned to trombe.
“The other day, when we went into the forest to make paper, the trombe sprouted suddenly, so everyone cut them down. They had grown quite large, and even the soldiers were mobilized.”
“Did no one get hurt?”
“No. The soldiers praised us, saying we did well. They said they didn’t need the young, thin branches, so we brought those back, and they’ve already turned into black bark.”
Lutz had negotiated with the soldiers and got all the young trombe. Well done.
“Also, a craftsman named Ingo came to the workshop and was discussing things with Lutz and the gray priests. I believe Lutz will report the details.”
“That sounds exciting.”
Just thinking about improving the printing machine fills me with joy. I wonder how it will change.
“How are Hasse’s children? Have they adjusted well? Would it be alright to go and check on them?”
“...If you’re concerned, shall we go to the orphanage?”
“Yes, I have things to ask Wilma and requests to make, so let’s go.”
Accompanied by guard knights, I moved to the orphanage. Wilma was surprised by the sudden unannounced visit, but when I explained how busy the attendants were with cleanup after the harvest festival, she chuckled.
“Lady Rosemine has fewer attendants, so it’s inevitably tough.”
“...Fewer? I’ve heard that most azure priests have about five attendants.”
I also recall the former head priest having about six. About six attendants seemed like an average number, especially since I was unsure whether to count Delia as part of my attendants. I thought my number was average.
“For a normal azure priest, five is enough, but Lady Rosemine has many responsibilities—as head priest, orphanage director, and workshop master—so you probably need about three attendants for each role.”
The workshop work is handled by Gil, orphanage work by Wilma, and for head priest duties, Fran, Monica, and Nicola assist. Considering Nicola often works as a cooking assistant, each person’s burden does seem heavy.
“I will consult with the high priest and Fran and increase the number of attendants if necessary. Meanwhile, how was this year’s harvest festival period? Was there enough food?”
“Yes. Thanks to Lady Rosemine’s preparations, we were able to get through it without any problems.”
Even if the chefs were busy elsewhere, there were already several gray shrine maidens capable of cooking. As long as the ingredients were well prepared, the festival passed without issue.
“How are Hasse’s children doing? Have they settled in?”
“At first, they seemed confused by the unfamiliar routine, not knowing what to do. But as the shrine maidens and priests who had been with them at Hasse offered advice and help, the others realized they were different.”