Published: August 15, 2025
I am Ferdinand. Over the past few days, Rosemine has remained immersed in Yureve's blue potion, occasionally opening her eyelids briefly, only for her unfocused eyes to close again immediately. I knew her awakening was near, but her body, still submerged in Yureve, had yet to surface.
During the Harvest Festival, I returned several times on my mount to check on her condition, but progress was frustratingly slow. Finally, after a slow blink, Rosemine's eyes focused, and her body began to float up slowly, as if signaling that no further treatment was possible.
I reached into the Yureve and helped Rosemine up, tapping her back since she was struggling to breathe properly. The Yureve that had gotten into her mouth and airway was expelled, making breathing easier. After coughing a bit, her breathing stabilized.
“It hurts, High Priest,” she said, looking at me with eyes full of resentment.
I didn't understand why she had to look at me like that.
In any case, I was glad Rosemine had awakened before the Winter Social Season began. I had worried whether she would make it in time for the noble academy, but it seemed manageable.
“Call me when your bath is finished. We need to talk about the time you were asleep. If you have any questions, ask then.”
I lifted Rosemine out of the Yureve and left the workshop. When I handed her to Fran, who had been eagerly awaiting her mistress’s awakening, I returned to my quarters.
“The head priest has awakened, hasn’t she? This small handprint here must be hers, right?”
An attendant pointed to the spot Rosemine had grasped, leaving a clear small handprint. Because I had been helping to raise Rosemine, moving her and rousing her from the Yureve, my priestly robes were in a terrible state.
“High Priest, should I prepare a change of clothes?”
“Yes, please.”
The attendant, who had brought the clothes, seemed relieved that Rosemine had awakened and even cracked a rare joke. It seemed their own attendants had been waiting for Rosemine’s awakening as well.
…Once she wakes, she won’t be bothered by that mess anymore.
I sighed and looked at the pile of yellow mana stones accumulating on a corner of the office desk.
The number of Ordnance messengers demanding to know when Rosemine would awaken over the past six months was truly overwhelming, to the point of frustration.
I was just as irritated by Rosemine’s stubborn mana that refused to resolve quickly. If anyone, it was I who wanted to scream, “When will you wake up?”
I was relieved she was safely awake, but there was still anxiety. Given she had been immersed in Yureve, it was only natural that she showed no change at all. Her consciousness and memories were intact, but her appearance was still frozen two years ago.
Just earlier, Rosemine had been surprised by the growth of her attendants, eyes wide, looking up at me with a deeply anxious expression as she grabbed my sleeve. Now came the real challenge: Rosemine had to reconcile herself with the progress around her and her own state.
“We’re scheduled to go to the head priest’s office later for an explanation of the past two years. Let them in when their attendant arrives.”
“Understood.”
After changing, I went to the office and began lightly tapping the yellow mana stones piled there with a stave, infusing them with magic. Transforming about twenty mana stones at once into Ordnance messengers, the room was soon filled with white birds. I then spoke out.
“Rosemine has awakened. If her condition remains stable, we will bring her to the castle around the third bell in three days. She is not yet at full strength, so do not come to the temple.”
With a wave of my stave, the Ordnance flew off in unison. By the way, about a dozen of these messengers were for Lord Bonifatius.
I pictured Lord Bonifatius hearing the same message repeated 30 to 40 times, as each messenger repeated the same words thrice. That thought eased my tension a bit. This was a small revenge for the nearly daily Ordnance inquiries over the past few months, asking if Rosemine had awakened yet.