Published: July 26, 2025
Several days had passed since Delia began her work as an attendant. Except for earth days, which were designated rest days for both my mother and Tulli, I went to the temple every day.
Items I had ordered through Benno arrived, and I needed to write recipes on wooden tags to teach the chefs new dishes. I also wanted even a little time to read books.
During those days, the division of labor among the attendants was gradually settling.
Delia took care of my patrol duties, including baths, toilets, and washing expensive clothes, as well as cleaning the second floor. Recently, it seemed she was learning how to prepare tea from Fran, so she started handling tea preparations as well.
Gil was mainly responsible for cleaning the first floor and the outside areas, as well as supervising the chefs. Fran was currently drilling him on proper language and etiquette.
When I mentioned that Lutz had practiced writing and math during the winter, Gil got competitive and declared, "I'll do it too!" But according to Fran, there was a mountain of things he needed to learn first.
By the way, Fran managed all the other tasks, including confirming the work of the two apprentices. Reading recipes to the chefs and checking stock to prevent embezzlement or theft were also Fran’s responsibilities.
Fran and I spent the mornings in the high priest’s room doing paperwork. After delivering leftover lunch to the orphanage, she explained the afternoon menu and checked ingredients with the chefs, then accompanied me to the library.
Fran took care of managing my health, responding to Benno’s visits, educating the two apprentices, and even teaching me, who had no knowledge as a noble, everything. She was essentially handling everything.
Worried about Fran’s excessive workload, I asked, “Isn’t it too much work for you?” She replied, “It’s easy since I’m not suddenly called in the middle of the night.” Fran was just too capable. My gratitude, trust, and salary for her were skyrocketing, and I couldn’t thank the high priest enough for assigning Fran to support me.
Today was supposed to be a day off, but I had come to the temple. A marble bath, said to be popular among nobles recently, was being installed in what I thought was just a storage room upstairs, and I had to pay for it.
Honestly, carrying hot water seemed tough, and since Tulli and I already washed each other at home, I didn’t think a bath was necessary in that room. But when I said, “Isn’t a washbasin enough?” Delia scolded me, “Geez! What are you saying? Even the attendants of the head priest use much better baths!”
Delia wanted to try the newly installed bath right away, so I said, “Go ahead.” But she scolded me again, “You can’t use it before your master! Geez!” Apparently, for blue shrine maidens, they could use both water and firewood, but gray shrine maidens could only use water.
“Then, could you prepare it?”
Since hot water had to be carried from the kitchen, preparing it seemed a lot of work, but Delia, usually grumpy, was moving around happily. I decided to let her do as she pleased.
Delia washed me with Rinshan water, dressed me, dried my hair, and after admiring its shine, she said, “I’ll use the leftover bathwater,” and went into the bath. I think she was really focused on self-care.
“Lady Myne, please be careful not to trust Delia too much. She still has ties with the head priest.”
While Delia was bathing, Fran came with drinks and warned me with a frown. I laughed quietly at her serious expression.
“I know. Delia was in a good mood saying she talked with the head priest’s attendant.”
Delia proudly puffed out her chest, thinking no way they’d abandon adorable me. But she wasn’t going back to the head priest’s room; instead, it seemed she was shifting her base of life here. The reason was to get plenty of information from me and because the work was easier with better treatment.
Apparently, at the head priest’s room there were two gray priests and three gray shrine maidens. Including Delia, there were three apprentice attendants there. The head priest’s room had six people to care for, including the head priest and three apprentices.