Published: August 10, 2026
I had been told not to wander around aimlessly, so all I could really do was practice the dedication dance and memorize the contents of the demands to be made to the royal family.
I didn't often get the chance to leave my room. The only times were when I spoke to or encouraged the knights of Arensbach when they came to eat, and during meals.
Ferdinand came to the dormitory at mealtimes under the pretense of reporting on the detached palace. Because of that, just as when I had been in the castle, the lord family ate in a private room rather than the dining hall, and meal times became opportunities to exchange information.
The first time I went to the dining room, Mother and Charlotte, who saw me up close, both looked somewhat intimidated, but only Father said, "You've changed completely," and then, "What is this glow? How does it shine like this?" before beginning to stare at me with naked curiosity. Mother scolded him, but I felt a great deal of relief that even in the face of the power of the goddess, he remained the same.
"With your permission and the mana stone, I activated the teleportation circle in the detached palace a short while ago. I have sent a messenger, so at the earliest, a close aide carrying your belongings should arrive here in about one bell."
By the way, permission to use the detached palace had already been obtained. It seemed it was originally supposed to be the detached palace granted to me, so the royal family had told Ferdinand that it was fine to use it however I liked. Ferdinand informed me of this with a smile that looked like the height of bad temper, but I was simply relieved that the Arensbach people who could not enter the dormitory would not have to camp outside.
"Thank you very much. I am grateful, Ferdinand. As for my belongings, and as for the belongings of the close aides who accompanied me to Arensbach, many of them were probably sent to Arensbach, so there were likely some things that would have been troublesome without them. And it would be a problem if only Arensbach could not come and go... Is something wrong, Father?"
When I tilted my head, it wasn't only Father who looked strange. Everyone around us seemed off. Father and Mother were behaving suspiciously, exchanging looks with Father, and Charlotte looked like she wanted to say something but was flustered. Father wore a bitter expression and, I wasn't sure what signal it was, but he glanced at Mother. Uncomfortably, Father gave a small cough and opened his mouth.
"Ahem. Rosemine. Ferdinand said he activated the detached palace teleportation circle..."
"Yes. It was necessary for the rescue, so Ferdinand's mana has already been registered in the supply room. I didn't expect the descent of the goddess to change my mana, so having Ferdinand's registration there helped me."
Ferdinand was the only lord family member in Arensbach right now, and he was busily running around in my place. You never knew what in life would turn out to be fortunate.
"Ferdinand, does that mean... that is, in other words, does it mean what I think it means? You did not even greet the supreme deity, and you hastened the arrival of winter without waiting for autumn?"
"What are you talking about? Calm down a little."
"You are too calm. I can't make any sense of this!"
...I'm the one who can't make sense of it, though.
As I stood there blankly, Mother cut in between us with a gentle, smiling expression.
"Lord Sylvester, please discuss the details with the men. We are in the middle of a meal."
On the morning of the day the discussions with the royal family were to take place, Gilberta Trading Company delivered my outfit. It was made from dyed cloth from Ehrenfest and the sheer Arensbach fabric Ferdinand had given me. It even came with a hair ornament to match the outfit. Exactly as I had ordered.
"It looks as though a soft glow is shining through the sheer fabric, and it's very beautiful. Tulli's hair ornament is as wonderful as ever."
"Yes, it's truly lovely."
...Who is Tulli? My hair ornament artisan?