Published: August 15, 2025
Two days after sending off the members of the Gilberta Trading Company and the priests to Hasse, on a morning I departed in a carriage carrying the attendants and chefs of the high priest and myself, heading toward the small temple of Hasse. The reason for the two-day difference in departure from Benno and the attendants was to have Benno deliver a letter addressed to the mayor of Hasse.
The letter specified the charges against Hasse, the announcement of the punishment, and the date of departure for Hasse. There was no need to wait for a reply. Although I had written the date myself, it was an official order stamped with the lord’s seal.
I planned to head to Hasse on my mount by the fifth bell, and the letter should have already arrived. By now, the people of Hasse were probably so tense and anxious that they couldn’t even swallow their lunch. Honestly, I felt a heavy heart knowing I had to convey the charges and condemn the mayor.
I let out a slow sigh and put down my pen. Gathering the finished papers, I handed them to Fritz.
“Fritz, here is the text for the winter picture book. Please give it to Wilma and ask her to draw the illustrations.”
“Understood.”
I had asked Fritz and Gil to prepare picture books for the autumn and winter retainers by the summer starbinding ceremony. The autumn retainer book was nearly finished and mostly just needed printing, but the winter retainer book still lacked illustrations.
The only attendants left in my room, after sending out the others early this morning, were Fritz, who manages the workshop, and Fran, who was to accompany me on my mount.
Besides the two of them, a few gray priests who usually worked in the workshop had gathered in my room. I had gathered gray priests with experience serving the azure priests to help because the exclusive chef was sent off to Hasse, and the high priest, who had very few attendants left, was invited to lunch today.
“…Fran, are you sure about the cooking? I think it should be fine if we leave it to Hugo…”
For today’s lunch, since Ella had departed for the prayer ceremony, I asked the Guild Master and Frieda to lend me Hugo and another assistant. It seemed like the successor to the Italian restaurant’s chef was growing up, and Hugo wanted to build a connection with me, so he agreed to this request without hesitation.
“Although this kitchen is unfamiliar, the layout isn’t very different from the orphanage director’s kitchen, so I’m cooking without issue. The high priest will likely be satisfied as well.”
“And Eckhardt Brother and Justox too, right?”
Today’s lunch guests included the high priest, who had sent the exclusive chef to Hasse. After lunch and a short rest, I planned to head to Hasse on my mount by the fifth bell, so there was no real need to invite Eckhardt Brother and Justox. However, Ordnance, who expressed great expectations, had come flying in, so I had no choice but to invite them.
“More importantly, you need to finish writing quickly—the high priest is here.”
“That’s true.”
I added to the letter I planned to give Frieda as a thank-you note some seasonal menus that Hugo and Ella had made often last year, along with a note that I’d visit again after the prayer ceremony.
Once sealed and handed to Fritz, he would likely give it to Hugo when settling today’s travel expenses.
“…Is that the high priest?”
A bell rang beyond the door, signaling a visitor. Fritz opened the door to find Zaam and the high priest, followed by Eckhardt Brother and Justox.
“Rosemine, sorry to leave lunch preparations to you.”
“No, I am grateful to the high priest for accommodating my selfish wish to travel on mounts.”
“I apologize for the preparations made even for us.”
Eckhardt Brother entered next with a bright smile. Like Father, he had a hearty appetite, and I wondered if my wish for him to show even a little regret was just my narrow-mindedness.
After finishing Hugo’s long-awaited lunch, we drank tea prepared by Fran and discussed the upcoming trip to Hasse.