Published: August 15, 2025
The area that the former head priest had overseen was really only the part closest to Ehrenfest among the directly controlled territories. Beyond a certain point, the attitudes of the town and village leaders clearly changed.
"Is this something that the lord wouldn't notice from their position?"
"...Because he had strong backing, he held the position of head priest for a long time and even appointed tax collectors who suited his purposes. He had more influence than the lower-ranking noble bureaucrats. As long as taxes were paid properly, relations with commoners probably weren't scrutinized much."
The high priest added bitterly, "My late father was also weak against Sylvester’s mother... The biggest reason was that he took me in."
"Sylvester has only been the Aub Ehrenfest for a few years. To displace his uncle, who had reigned as head priest for decades, and indirectly his own mother, he lacked the power and righteous cause. Nobles are troublesome. Even when doing the right thing, there will be opposition. You often need time to gather power and make arrangements. If you correct things too hastily, other parts may warp. Even if it's somewhat unpleasant, learn to leave things be and observe."
I nodded, thinking internally that deliberately overlooking unpleasant things would be difficult. The high priest glared at me.
"You don't understand, do you?"
"...If it doesn't involve books or my own family, I will try to observe and wait."
Once it’s involved, I doubt I’ll be able to casually wait and see. The high priest gave a particularly bitter expression and sighed.
Aside from giving a few stern reminders to the town and village mayors of Winter Hall, the prayer ceremony itself proceeded much like last year, with no particular problems. Of course, there were some differences compared to last year.
For example, because my blessings last year increased the harvest yield, this year wherever I went in Winter Hall I was enthusiastically welcomed. Last year I was a blue shrine maiden apprentice, but this year I’m performing the prayer ceremony as head priest, so I could feel the greater expectations in the looks and excitement around me.
Also, the itinerary was more relaxed: visiting one Winter Hall in the morning and another in the afternoon, and lodging not at noble’s annexes but at the Winter Halls themselves. During the harvest festival I stayed at Winter Hall, so there was no problem with lodging. And since it wasn’t the drugged forced march like last year, mentally it was easier.
However, since meals were taken with powerful local figures, I had to be careful and it was tiring. I was the lord’s adopted daughter participating as head priest, so I had to maintain a proper facade.
The daily routine was to arrive in the morning, perform the prayer ceremony, have lunch while talking with influential figures, head to the next Winter Hall in the afternoon for another prayer ceremony, and then have dinner with the dignitaries.
It was a more relaxed schedule than last year, but no less tiring. After dinner, I could retreat to my room early citing my youth as a reason, which was better than with the high priest.
When invited to "please stay and talk a bit longer" at lunch, I’d politely break away with a saintly smile and say, "I have heard many fascinating stories from you all, and while I would like to stay as long as possible, I wish to bestow blessings on as many lands as I can."
Since this was a daily repetition, I’d become used to wearing the saintly smile.
My attendants rode the carriage in the morning to the Winter Hall where we would lodge, but I traveled by mount. Fran and Zaam rode the mini bus with the attendants. They were entrusted with managing the divine relics and serving lunch.
For lunch, our personal chef — in my case, Ella — prepared boxed meals. One reason was to avoid putting any burden on the Winter Halls where food supplies for surviving the winter were low. Another was that meals made by the dedicated chef didn't require poison tasting.