Published: September 6, 2025
“I’ve been studying like this. How do you find it, Lady Rosemine?”
Clarissa said this as she showed me the work she had been doing lately. During the lords' council, she worked as a negotiator with the Gilberta Trading Company’s civil officials alongside the Lord and Lady Aub in dealings with Dunkelfelger. Now that the council has ended, she has been working in my room, handling tasks for me.
Although I will fully start my activities after coming of age, I’ve already decided to begin the printing business once I go to the Capital. I might even visit the Central Temple and, depending on the state of the orphanages and gray priests there, possibly get involved in charitable work. To facilitate a smooth start in the Capital, Clarissa has been compiling noble-side materials related to the businesses I have been involved in.
Specifically, she’s collected information on negotiations that Ferdinand conducted with the nobles at the time, contracts that were signed, records on the number of shops operated and staff involved, and using the interactions between Dunkelfelger and the Capital as a reference, she’s planning how best to start a printing business in the Capital and which department’s civil officials to approach.
“Clarissa has done remarkably well researching all this in such a short time. When I set up the workshop at the orphanage, I had no idea how Ferdinand was managing things behind the scenes.”
Looking at the materials showing Ferdinand’s efforts while Benno and the others were rushing around, I realized how narrow my perspective had been. Although I found it bothersome to book meetings that took days amid constant demands for reports, it was something necessary and important.
“I can’t be outdone by Filine, who became the orphanage director and is always helping Lady Rosemine.”
Filine is still at the temple today, handing over duties with Monica related to the orphanage director’s work. Like when Hartmut became the high priest, she took the oath ceremony and received the Blue Robes. She is now a proud blue shrine maiden apprentice.
By the way, Roderich, under my instructions, has been listing how much shop space will be needed in the Capital based on requests received from the Plantin Trading Company and Gilberta Trading Company about the shops there, the new tools required, the number and size of rooms needed for accompanying staff, and so on. He is even working here during the tea party.
After confirming that Liselotte and Grethia had prepared for the tea party, I asked Otilier to watch the room. Darmel, who guards outside, is to inform me once Wilfried and Melchior leave the room, so I’m on standby until then.
“Lady Rosemine, Darmel has reported that Lord Wilfried and Melchior have left the room.”
Angelica, who had left the room briefly, returned with the report. I gathered my attendants and guard knights and left the room to attend Charlotte’s tea party.
“Everyone, please step back.”
After greetings and being shown to our seats, and once the poison tasting of the tea and sweets was done, Charlotte instructed her close aides to withdraw. We ordered our own supporters to step back accordingly. Now, only us lord candidates remained in this room.
“We’ll use this one today.”
Saying that, Charlotte tried to activate a range-specific eavesdropping prevention magic tool. I hurriedly stopped her.
“Charlotte, if you use a range-specific one, the burden falls solely on you, right? Wouldn’t it be better to use the personal type?”
“No, sister. The range-specific one is better today. Melchior might get tired from long usage. I’ve heard they often perform mana offerings at the temple.”
…What!?
Since Ferdinand had handed me a personal eavesdropping prevention magic tool from the start, and I’d never felt burdened by it, I didn’t know that using such a personal magic tool for extended periods could be taxing, especially for children before entering the noble academy.
…That kind of consideration? I’ve never had Ferdinand-sama show me that!