Published: August 25, 2025
The spring baptism ceremony was held, and as I glanced sideways at the children who were about my size, I made my way toward the altar. Whispered words exchanged while looking at me were nothing new. Since this was a baptism ceremony, the children’s remarks were much more straightforward than at the coming-of-age ceremony.
…Hey, don’t say, “Whoa, she’s tiny!” I can hear you! And don’t point and say, “Look at her!”
Feeling like an animal in the zoo, I walked forward. Once I stepped up to the altar, the high priest spoke, then after the blessing, the baptism ceremony concluded. Since I had attended the recent coming-of-age ceremony, no family members were waiting by the door.
…Tulli has work too, so it can’t be helped.
“Is it over?”
“Will the high priest lock himself away in the workshop again? Since Count Reizegang hasn’t left the city yet, I heard from Brother Eckhardt that the high priest and I are supposed to remain secluded in the temple.”
Apparently, my great-grandfather and Count Reizegang wanted to marry me, supposedly a descendant of the Reizegang bloodline, to the high priest and make him the next lord, trying to purge the Arensbach bloodline even a little.
They assumed the high priest aimed to become lord because I was under protection, had become the foster daughter of the lord, and after Veronica’s downfall, the high priest had secularized and officially became my guardian.
The high priest, who was proposed marriage by Count Reizegang, apparently broke through my great-grandfather’s scheming by betrothing me to Wilfried instead.
I wondered if it was really okay for them to shut themselves away like this, but it seems that suppressing the nobles who secretly maneuver to install a convenient next lord is the job of my foster father, the current lord, and Wilfried, who they want as the next lord.
“If Lord Ferdinand had ambitions, he wouldn’t be staying in the temple but in the castle. By accepting Reizegang’s offer quietly, he would have gained support and everything would have been in place. By refraining from contact, handing all information to the lord, and entrusting the rest, he shows submission and refusal toward the lordship. There’s no better way to show non-involvement in politics than to seclude oneself in the temple.”
Brother Eckhardt shrugged his shoulders and said this while looking at the high priest’s locked workshop. It seems it’s better for me too, to avoid unnecessary contact and stay secluded in the temple to show the stance of “I’ll follow what Aub Ehrenfest says.”
“You’re more free and relaxed in the temple, so staying there shouldn’t be particularly painful, right?”
“Yes. I don’t feel any pain at all. But the high priest feels the same, right? He can research freely there.”
As the azure priests have started helping properly and the work the former head priest piled up is somewhat cleared, it’s become easier for the high priest to secure free time in the temple.
The high priest didn’t open his mouth—probably because a noble saying “The temple is more relaxing” would be inappropriate—but he gave a faint smile in agreement.
“At least when in the temple, it’s fine to spend time on research.”
“Before locking yourself in the workshop, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about that ink. After lunch, I’ll come to your workshop.”
The high priest’s expression became a little stern. Did some bad result come out? I asked Fran about today’s schedule and agreed on the spot.
After lunch, the high priest arrived carrying several small bottles of ink. I opened the workshop door to welcome him and Brother Eckhardt. Justox was absent, having gone to the castle to check on the nobles’ situation.
My guard knights, Angelica and Darmel, also came in. The high priest told them to step back to the doorway and handed me an eavesdropping prevention magic tool.
“I tried making the same ink and researched it in various ways…”