Published: August 15, 2025
On a morning when the dream was too happy, and I felt very lonely upon waking, I stood in front of the row of carriages, tilting my head in confusion. I couldn’t tell which of the carriages lent by the temple side was the one to carry my luggage to Hasse, to be transported by the Plantin Trading Company.
“Benno, which carriage is mine?”
“This carriage was borrowed from the temple, Lady Rosemine.”
After breakfast, I loaded my attendants except Fran and my personal staff, along with the luggage, into the carriage and sent them off to the Winter Hall in Hasse. Just like last year, we were to join up with the carriages of Eckhardt Brother and Justox’s attendants and head to the next Winter Hall.
After that, the Plantin Trading Company’s carriage would carry the young orphans moving from Hasse to the temple’s orphanage. I tipped the escorting soldiers and saw them off. The brief moment of contact with Father was over.
Then, I entrusted the novices and shrine maidens of Hasse with purifying the small temple. Fran and the adult priests at the small temple loaded cleaning tools, washbasins, soap, and other daily necessities that needed to be delivered to the Winter Hall. They rode the mini bus with me, and we departed for the Winter Hall.
“Aheim, Egon. Is everything alright now?”
“Yes, Lady Rosemine.”
“If it’s before the snow falls, it’s still possible to pick up things from the small temple, so if there’s anything else needed, prepare it early.”
After handing over the daily necessities, the two nodded happily, saying, “This will make purification much smoother.” Apparently, they planned to devote themselves to cleaning their quarters now. I hoped they would clean to their heart’s content. Hopefully, seeing that, the people in Hasse would also take a bit more interest in cleaning.
“Licht, here is the food for the two of them, as we discussed yesterday. Please manage it as part of the winter preparations.”
“Understood.”
For Aheim and Egon’s winter preparations, I entrusted part of the donated food to Licht. The rest was given to the gray priests to load onto the mini bus. It would be used for the small temple’s winter preparations.
“Well then, I will return to the small temple first.”
After greeting Eckhardt Brother and Justox, who were overseeing the tax collection transfer to the castle, I transported the luggage to Hasse’s small temple.
...I did heavy labor since morning.
Fundamentally, I just moved the mini bus, but I was already tired. In my room at the small temple, I took a break with Fran, who made me tea, and the guard knight Brigitte.
“I was a bit worried about Hasse’s winter preparations, but it seems Nora and the others know the procedures. The orphanage people have done this for the third winter, so they seem somewhat used to it. Everything is progressing smoothly.”
I nodded lightly at Fran’s report.
Right now, the priests in Hasse were busy carrying the donated food that would become their winter supplies into the storeroom and preparing it for processing. If I left my room, they wouldn’t be able to move freely, so it was best to stay quietly tucked away.
“Hey, Fran. Is it alright if I read a book until Eckhardt Brother and the others arrive?”
“...I’m very sorry. The books you prepared to pass the time were sent off with the carriage.”
“What?!”
It was unexpected that the copies of books from the castle library and the knight’s tale I planned to use for the next work had already departed ahead.
Since I couldn’t carry bulky books throughout the ceremony, Fran seriously took out the Sacred Scripture Picture Book she had on her.
“The only picture book here is the one for reading aloud during ceremonies, but if that’s okay, please take a look.”
“Thank you, Fran.”
I flipped through the picture book, following the text with my eyes. Just that alone brought a very peaceful feeling. It made breathing easier, gave a sense of truly being alive—I really think reading is essential to life.