Published: September 6, 2025
Afterwards, I continued talking with Mother in the secret room. I told her about the times I spent with Brother Cornelius at the noble academy, which she rarely got to see, and what Brother Eckhardt had been doing when he came to the temple. In turn, Mother told me about Aurelia and Siegrecht, and how Brynhildr had been working hard.
We talked a lot until I got really sleepy, and I felt strangely refreshed as I fell asleep. I was surprised myself by how deeply I slept. But when I woke up, I had completely overslept. One of the attendants in the house told me, “The third bell is about to ring,” and I couldn’t help but shout, “Why didn’t you wake me up!?”—I had slept so well.
Apparently, because we talked late into the night and I ended up going to bed later than usual, Mother instructed them not to wake me but let me sleep. Even though she had told the guard knights to come and fetch me, I still overslept, which was utterly embarrassing.
“...G-good morning.”
“Quite late this morning, Rosemine. Everyone is already here,” Brother Cornelius teased me about oversleeping. I apologized to the guard knights who came to pick me up and quietly had my late breakfast.
“I’m glad you slept well. Before you return to the castle, I’d like to have a little talk if that’s alright.”
While I was eating, Mother sipped tea and began discussing the handover of the printing business. Muliera was standing behind her, working diligently like a proper civil official. The cheerful atmosphere reassured me that the master-servant relationship was going smoothly.
“If the negotiations with the commoners can be managed without you, nothing else seems problematic... By the way, Rosemine, you mentioned you would leave the temple attendants behind for Melchior, but what about your painter?”
“When I start printing in the capital, I plan to bring Wilma along, so I won’t be leaving her with you.”
I asserted that Wilma was my painter. Mother said, “Oh, that’s too bad,” with a smile that didn’t sound too disappointed.
“But once you leave the temple, someone else might buy her, right? It’s difficult for someone below lower nobility to find their place even in the capital. Why don’t you purchase her as your painter and keep her with us? It’s worrisome until you come of age.”
“So you intend to have Wilma paint under your direction during that time?”
When I glanced at Mother, she chuckled softly. Since she acknowledged Wilma’s talent, it was definitely safer than entrusting her elsewhere.
“I have entrusted Wilma with the orphanage, so if there is someone who can take over managing it and if Wilma wishes, then we will arrange it accordingly.”
“No, Rosemine. When you leave, I will get the gray shrine maiden I want. A gray shrine maiden who has lost her master and is no longer an attendant has no choice. Understand that well and think carefully about what you will do with your attendants.”
“...Yes.”
After being advised about the treatment of the gray shrine maidens, I was told that Darmel, who came to fetch me, had been informed about what we talked about last night. I finished my breakfast and looked up at Darmel, who was calmly carrying out his guard duties.
“I respect Darmel’s wishes. Please let me know once you have reached a decision.”
“Thank you.”
While we were talking, my Foster Father sent over some ordnance. To my surprise, twelve children’s magic tools arrived from the royal family.
“That’s a sudden and rather awkward number. Even though you might not become an adopted daughter, they sent these first...”
“Probably, they don’t intend to cancel the adoption. By sending the reward upfront, I think it’s their way of showing they are determined to make you their adopted daughter no matter what.”
Mother said that since they want to increase the nobles as soon as possible, and losing a year before the coming-of-age ceremony for baptism would be significant, Ehrenfest wouldn’t refuse.
“Return to the castle for now, Rosemine. Come anytime if you have time. Let’s talk again.”