Published: September 6, 2025
“Wilma, Lord Hartmut is calling for you.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Monica. I’ll be right there.”
At the temple, the handover of the head priest took place, and Lady Rosemine departed for the castle. Between then and the start of the Winter Social Season, Angelica and Darmel, Lady Rosemine’s Guard Knights, took turns guarding the head priest’s office to monitor the entry of nobles. Once the Winter Social Season began, all the nobles gathered at the castle and became busy with socializing, so the Guard Knights also headed to the castle.
However, Lord Hartmut, the newly appointed head priest, still occasionally visited the temple even after the Winter Social Season started. He issued instructions to the azure priests and summoned Lady Rosemine’s attendants for reports. Since this was Lord Hartmut’s first dedication ceremony, and Lady Rosemine would not be returning for this year’s ceremony, he expressed his wish to relay temple news to her through letters as much as possible. His thoughtfulness was deeply appreciated.
“Lord Hartmut, this is Wilma.”
“This is sudden, but soon some new children will be brought in. How is the orphanage’s readiness for accepting them?”
“The rooms are prepared. However, as I reported to Lady Rosemine, supplies like food, firewood, and bedding are insufficient. Fran or Zaam should have compiled a list detailing what and how much is lacking.”
Lady Rosemine had said that once the rooms were ready, she would handle the rest. Lord Hartmut jotted down my report on a wooden tag.
“Understood. These children have all suddenly lost their families and are understandably unsettled. Caring for them will be challenging, but please do your best.”
Lord Hartmut smiled warmly as he spoke. Though he was a close aide to Lady Rosemine and a high noble, he was humble and very kind to everyone at the orphanage.
In the early days, Lord Hartmut often visited the orphanage with Lord Justox. Justox, a noble who managed the workshop and orphanage as a proxy for the head priest while Lady Rosemine was in a long slumber, was easy to talk to and lacked the typical arrogance of nobles. He was well-liked in both the orphanage and workshop.
Still, I believe the children prefer Lord Hartmut more. He often talks to them about Lady Rosemine, whether when she was in the lord’s castle or the noble academy. The children love certain stories so much they ask him to repeat them again and again. I worry he might get tired of it, but he never shows annoyance and always smiles as he tells the same stories repeatedly.
When I heard Lord Hartmut would be the new head priest, everyone at the orphanage rejoiced. Usually, the head priest is selected from among the azure priests, so there was a risk of someone mistreating the gray priests and shrine maidens. We are grateful to Lady Rosemine for appointing her own aide and to the lord and previous head priest for permitting someone outside the azure priests to take the position.
“Also, Wilma, is that item ready?”
“It’s almost finished. Since we are to accept many children, I thought it best to complete it before then. However, this season has been busy, so I planned to finish it as winter handwork.”
Lord Hartmut had commissioned portraits of Lady Rosemine. Both from her time as a blue shrine maiden and her current role as head priest. The blue shrine maiden portrait shows Lady Rosemine playing the Fischpiel, and the head priest portrait depicts her holding the Staff of the goddess of water Flutlene. Lord Hartmut gave very detailed instructions, showing his deep attachment to these images. I am gradually shaping them into something I’m proud of.
“Indeed, more children will make things busier. I will collect it during the dedication ceremony when things have calmed down a bit. Is payment in new paints acceptable?”
“Thank you kindly.”
Since money is useless inside the orphanage, I always ask for things I want as payment. Lord Hartmut ordered two portraits of Lady Rosemine, and Lady Elvira requested one of the former head priest Lord Ferdinand playing the Fischpiel. From spring through autumn, those were truly busy but rewarding days.