Published: September 6, 2025
Since I had given the guild a mana stone engraved with the crest, I decided to give one to Nicola and Wilma as well. Nicola was planned to move along with Filine after her coming of age, and Wilma would be entrusted to her mother for the time being and taken in after her own coming of age.
I called the two of them into the head priest's office and handed over the mana stones. Nicola looked delighted and said, "No matter where I go, I will do my best for Lady Rosemine," as she gazed happily through the mana stone at the crest.
"Wilma, will you become my exclusive artist? Or would you prefer to be your mother's exclusive artist?"
"I want to be Lady Rosemine’s exclusive artist. Lady Elvira is a good client, but my master is Lady Rosemine."
Wilma smiled brightly and took the mana stone. That was a relief. As Wilma and I exchanged smiles, the jingle bell on the other side of the door sounded, signaling Hartmut’s arrival.
"Lady Rosemine, it seems Lady Charlotte is about to return."
"Oh, she came back earlier than planned. I’ll go to the entrance to greet her, so please prepare tea and sweets."
Among those who went to the harvest festival, Charlotte was the last to return. I went to the main entrance with Hartmut to welcome her. Hartmut’s neck also glowed with a mana stone engraved with a crest. Although he was coming along, he insisted he wanted one and had brought two mana stones, one for himself and one for Clarissa. Actually, these are usually given as a guarantee of status for those brought along later, so I thought it was odd to give them to Hartmut and Clarissa, but Darmel was worried about anyone who received the crest being bullied, so I engraved them anyway. Hartmut seemed very pleased.
"I'm back, older sister."
"Welcome home, Charlotte. The journey must have been hard, right? Would you like some tea?"
"I’d be delighted to join you."
I invited Charlotte into the head priest's office and listened to her talk about the harvest festival while enjoying tea and sweets. Apparently, since the ritual to call spring started in the north, the harvest yields have greatly increased, making residents’ lives much easier.
"Now that Greschel’s development is complete, I reported that from next year, once mana accumulates, we might be able to rebuild the ritual stage. If we take a little time, it seems we can bring the northern nobles into the lord family’s faction."
...Charlotte really is amazing at noble social interactions.
While listening to Charlotte's report, Nicola brought a tea refill. She was wearing a mana stone with the crest hurriedly tied around her chest. Seeing a gray shrine maiden, who normally does not wear ornaments, wearing a mana stone made Charlotte’s eyes widen.
"Isn’t that the Rosemine Workshop’s crest? Hartmut was wearing one earlier too. Does it have some meaning?"
In response to Charlotte's question, I explained that I gave it to those I would bring along when I came of age, so they wouldn’t be sold off or thought abandoned by their master. I also mentioned that Hartmut and Clarissa wanted one themselves and brought their own mana stones.
"Older sister, I want one too."
"Huh? Charlotte, you want one as well? But those are given to my close aides and those I bring along..."
I blinked in surprise, not expecting Charlotte to say something like Hartmut and the others. Charlotte nodded shyly.
"Yes. I can’t go with you, and I intend to stay in Ehrenfest. But those are like a mark of protection from you, showing that you are the master even when apart, right? I want something that shows we are sisters even if we are separated."
Charlotte’s words about wanting something that shows sisterhood rather than a master-servant relationship struck a chord with my sisterly heart. This was definitely something I had to work hard on.
...Because it’s a cute little sister’s request! She wants something that shows we’re sisters even when apart! I have to make it! As her sister!
"What kind of thing do you want, Charlotte? I’ll do my best to meet your request!"