The Beginning of the Winter Social Season

I could feel winter steadily approaching. The wind had grown cold enough to sting the skin, and even with the fireplace going, it was that season where leaving the futon in the morning was sheer agony.

Recently, I'd been watching carriages heading to the Noble District arrive one after another through the window, passing through the Temple Gate and entering the Noble District through the Noble Gate. The nobles had finished the autumn Harvest Festival and were now relocating to the Noble District for the winter social season.

Last year I'd been in the orphanage director's room, so I hadn't noticed at all, but from the High Priest's room, the view of the Noble Gate was quite clear.

"Fran, what does my schedule look like? Did the Chief Priest say when I'm to move to the castle?"

"Lady Rozemyne will be moving her residence to the castle after the Winter Baptism Ceremony is concluded," Fran replied, and Zom, who had come to relay the Chief Priest's message, nodded lightly as well.

"Commuting between the Noble District and the Temple through the snow is quite difficult. Please do take care of yourself."

After the Chief Priest's intensive training of the priests had settled down somewhat, Zom had been assigned to become my Attendant. I'd essentially begged the Chief Priest to let me have him.

It seemed that whenever Zom had come to deliver messages from the Chief Priest before, he'd been helping Fran with bits and pieces of her work, so Fran said it would be a great help to have Zom as an Attendant.

Since Gil was at the workshop almost all day, for Fran—who worked in a room with a high ratio of women—having a same-gender colleague she could chat with was apparently a particular joy.

The Chief Priest, while also handling Temple duties, had been pouring the free time he gained from no longer going to the Knight's Order and the castle into training the blue and grey priests. It had gotten to the point where grey priests gossiped that "if you become the Chief Priest's Attendant, you'll become first-rate whether you like it or not."

The Chief Priest truly was an excellent workaholic. The moment he'd stopped going to the castle, he'd apparently gained so much free time. Recently, he'd stopped relying on medicine, and he looked positively vibrant. What new assignment to give next—he seemed to be enjoying creating new tasks, which was all the more reassuring.

The Kanfel and Fritark I'd recommended were in tears over the intensive training, but since payment was made simultaneously with task completion, they were working hard to improve their livelihoods. Their own Attendants were being trained alongside them as well.

Remarkably, the one doing the intensive training wasn't only the Chief Priest. His own Attendants had all banded together to help educate the newcomers too. It was heartening.

Furthermore, because they faced the common enemy of the Chief Priest together, Kanfel and Fritark had deepened their bonds with their own Attendants, and seeing master and servants united in tackling their assignments was rather heartwarming.

As a side note, whenever I looked on with a warm smile, assignments would come raining down on me too, so I had to be careful.

"Lady Rozemyne, today we have a delivery from the Gilberta Company."

Fran glanced at me and said that. I let out a soft "ufufu." That's right—today was the day Turi and my mother were coming to deliver the hair ornaments for the winter debut.

Until the fifth bell rang, I had to practice the prayers for the Winter Baptism Ceremony and review the points of caution. After that, though, it was time for the delivery in the hidden room. I'd also prepared souvenirs for Turi and Kamil this time, so I was practically bursting with anticipation.

"Lady Rozemyne, may we move to the orphanage director's room?"

Fritz, who had recently become an Attendant, came to call me. Fritz had dark brown hair and deep brown eyes, with a very calm, gentle appearance. Apparently a few years back, he'd served as the Attendant to a rather willful blue priest in the Temple, which had given him tremendous patience—he almost never became emotional.

It was Fritz who mediated when Gil and Lutz had minor squabbles, and he'd apparently been a quiet but indispensable presence in the workshop all along.

Even though Fritz was now my Attendant, he still went to the workshop with Gil every day, so the only times I saw him were during the morning and bedtime reports. Moreover, he was the type of grey priest who believed deeply in the Saint legend, so whenever he met my gaze, he became extremely nervous, and both his smile and tone of speech turned stiff.

"Monica, Fritz, please watch your walking speed."

"Understood, Fran."

As soon as I arrived at the orphanage director's room, Gil returned from the Gate with Lutz, my mother, and Turi in tow.

"Thank you for waiting, Lady Rozemyne."

"We'll have our conversation this way."

I gestured toward the hidden room, and when I looked at Damuel and Gil, the two of them, understanding perfectly, nodded lightly. Brigitte took a step back, and the other Attendants likewise retreated smoothly.

Once inside the hidden room and the door shut with a snap, Lutz carefully placed a wooden box on the table with a precise gesture.

"This is the item you ordered. Please verify it."

Inside the wooden box Lutz opened was a hairpin, just as I'd ordered. Large red flowers had been gathered into a lace bouquet-like arrangement, adorned with white bird feathers. It was a hair ornament to match winter's noble colors of red and white.

Since winter clothing used that color scheme, I'd thought I might as well coordinate. When I first saw the design featuring red as the base color with fur trimmed around the wrists and neckline for warmth, my honest thought had been, "Is this Santa Claus?" But Rihyarda had been so excited choosing the design that I couldn't say, "That color scheme is a bit..." Besides, even if I had, nobody would have understood.

"It's just as you ordered. ...Would you put it in for me?"

"Certainly."

My mother helped me pin the hairpin in. When I tilted my head slightly and asked, "Does it suit me?", Turi clenched her fist and said, "Of course!" Then, as if remembering herself, she corrected: "...It suits you very well."

"Well, you made it, so of course it suits me."

When I gave a pleased "Nhufufu," Turi narrowed her eyes as if to say, "Exactly."

"Lady Rozemyne, my husband was so delighted to be appointed to the escort for Haldenzel. Apparently, since they distribute travel expenses, competition among the Gate Soldiers is fierce."

"He told me the food he ate at the Temple was delicious."

Listening to my mother and Turi talk about my father, I too softened my expression and narrowed my eyes warmly.

"I'm glad he's pleased. I'm planning to send priests back to Haldenzel in spring, and I'd like to request his escort again then."

Talking about my father and the orphanage children, I also heard about how Kamil had grown. Apparently Kamil was now working hard trying to stand while holding on to things. In my memories, I only had images of him sleeping and being held on the other side of the Temple door, so the speed of his growth was astonishing.

But I'd heard that Dirk in the orphanage had taken his first steps recently, so it was only natural that Kamil was growing too.

"Once he can grab and throw things, you might make him a round ball filled with bells out of cloth. ...Gil."

"Here it is, Lady Rozemyne."

Gil placed the wooden box he'd been holding on the table and opened the lid. Inside were the souvenirs for Turi and Kamil.

I took out the cloth ball I'd made with Deria and Wilma and tapped it lightly on the table. The bells inside jingled with a cheerful chime.

"This way, it makes noise when thrown so it's fun to play with, and since it's made of cloth, it won't hurt if it hits anyone, right? Why don't you use this as a model and make a few more?"

If they weren't being used, there should still be bells left at home. My mother, sensing my intention, accepted when I offered it as a model for Kamil to use.

"Also, as thanks for the hair ornament, I present this to Turi. I look forward to working with you going forward."

With that, I handed Turi the third picture book, with a letter tucked inside.

Watching Turi put the picture book and the cloth ball into her beloved tote bag, I noticed my mother standing up and gazing at me intently.

My mother half-reached out, then clenched her hand tightly, furrowed her brows with concern, and narrowed her eyes.

"The season has grown bitterly cold. Please take care of your health so you don't come down with a fever or have to stay in bed for long."

"Yes, please take care of yourselves as well."

And so, after the autumn Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended and the snow began to fall, the Winter Baptism Ceremony concluded. I'd told them not to come because I'd be worried if Kamil caught a cold. When Lutz relayed a message that Kamil was energetically swinging around the cloth ball, I was satisfied.

After the Winter Baptism Ceremony ended, I issued instructions to the blue priests in the Temple about what needed to be done in my absence. Kanfel and Fritark were piling up assignments and gasping "Hieeeh," but they couldn't refuse the Chief Priest's smile, so they accepted.

The day came to head to the castle for the winter social season.

Ella and Rosina boarded the carriage, and before I climbed in, I turned to look at the Attendants who had come to see me off.

"Gil, Fritz. I'm counting on you with the orphanage. Especially the winter handicraft printing—please give it your all."

"Lady Rozemyne, and, um, do your best at... your duties."

I returned Gil's encouragement with a smile.

"Lady Rozemyne, please prioritize your health above all and don't overexert yourself."

"Thank you, Fran. You all take care of your health too."

While I was exchanging words with my Attendants, the Chief Priest was also giving his own Attendants detailed instructions.

"I've left the preparations for the dedication ceremony to Kanfel and Fritark, but I need you to assist."

"Understood."

Before I knew it, writing boards had become standard among the Chief Priest's Attendants too. Apparently, it had started when Zom asked Fran, who had Gil order them from Lutz. Now they seemed to be an essential item not only in our household, but among the Chief Priest's, Kanfel's, and Fritark's Attendants as well.

"Then, I'll be going."

"We look forward to your swift return."

On the day snow began to fall in Ehrenfest, I moved my residence from the Temple to the castle.

"Welcome home, Lady Rozemyne. And welcome, Lord Ferdinand."

Butler Norbert greeted me and guided me to the reception room nearest the northern wing. Rihyarda was waiting there, and over a leisurely cup of tea, she briefed the Chief Priest and me on the winter schedule.

"The Baptism Ceremony is in three days, on Earthday."

The Winter Baptism Ceremony, I learned, was the event that heralded the start of the social season. After that came the debut of all the children who had undergone the Baptism Ceremony throughout the year. In a gathering of all the nobles, the children joining noble society would be introduced.

"...The Baptism Ceremony? Could it be that I'm performing it?"

"No. This year's Winter Baptism Ceremony also doubles as the debut, so Rozemyne will attend the debut and I will conduct the Baptism Ceremony. You'll be doing it next year, so watch carefully."

"Yes."

This year the Chief Priest would be conducting the Baptism Ceremony as acting High Priest. Ah, if only I'd sold those illustrations, I could've made a fortune, I thought—and immediately caught a sharp glare from the Chief Priest.

"Rozemyne, you're making that face again, aren't you? Thinking something you shouldn't."

"There's no point since I can't act on it even if I think about it. Haa."

I'd briefly considered inserting an illustration into the feischpiel concert's financial report, but that was shot down immediately. When I asked if it was alright to distribute them for free without selling, I was scolded as a fool.

"My Lady, please put aside such thoughts and listen to what we have to say. At the debut, musical dedications to the gods will be performed to celebrate the growth achieved thus far and to pray for future blessings. The order proceeds from those of lower noble rank to higher."

"Then I'll be before Brother Wilfried."

Nobles placed great importance on rank. As the Lord's biological child—and, provisionally, the heir—Wilfried outranked me.

That was precisely why I'd said aloud that my debut should come first, but Rihyarda gently shook her head.

"No. To announce that Lady Rozemyne has been adopted, your debut has been placed last. After all, nobles who couldn't attend the Summer Baptism Ceremony will be gathering for the winter one."

"Well, that would be better."

"Why? Wouldn't disrupting the order be undesirable?"

I tilted my head, finding it odd that the Chief Priest had nodded at Rihyarda's words.

"The introduction of the adopted daughter is merely the official reason. And officially, the Lord's children have no set order—it hasn't even been decided who the heir is yet."

"But surely being an adopted daughter is different from being a biological child?"

"Exactly—which is why the real reason is different. Having Rozemyne finish before Wilfried means he won't be overshadowed. Isn't that right, Rihyarda?"

Rihyarda exhaled softly and nodded.

"Lord Wilfried has shown remarkable growth as well, but when compared to Lady Rozemyne, who has been working hard for years, a boy who hasn't even been at it for a single season—the difference is clear. It's better for Her Ladyship to go last."

"I understand."

After Rihyarda briefed me on my roles during the Baptism Ceremony and the debut, the Chief Priest relayed the Temple's dedication ceremony schedule to Rihyarda.

"You must be quite busy traveling between the Temple and the castle."

"Build the schedule around Rozemyne's health as the top priority. There will likely be many requests for audiences as well, but I'll leave that to Rihyarda's discretion."

"Understood, Lord Ferdinand."

After the discussion ended, the Chief Priest stood to return to his home in the Noble District. I thought he would leave right away, but he began rattling off instructions.

"I'll leave medicine with Rihyarda, but be sure to watch your health. Don't enter the Library—have books brought to your room instead. Don't speak directly to nobles you don't know—leave that to your Attendants. And also..."

"My Lord, I'll gradually tell her all of that myself, so that's enough for now. If you say too much at once, it won't sink into Her Ladyship's head."

Rihyarda clapped her hands together to cut off the lecture, and the Chief Priest murmured, "Come to think of it, there are others here besides me who will be keeping an eye on her," before leaving the room.

My next meeting with the Chief Priest would be the Baptism Ceremony in three days. It seemed I'd have some peace and quiet without his lectures for a little while.

After changing in my room, I was to go check on Wilfried—Rihyarda's suggestion.

"Lord Wilfried has grown tremendously in a short time, but it's gone to his head a bit, and he's been slacking off again lately."

He really does remind me of Lord Sylvester, Rihyarda said, with a complicated expression that was equal parts troubled and nostalgic.

"Brother Wilfried, I hear you've made great progress? May I see your assignment sheet?"

"Here, look. See? I'm amazing, aren't I?"

He thrust the sheet at me with a smug "Hmph." The sheet was almost entirely filled in, making his hard work immediately obvious.

At the same time, because he could see the finish line, I could also spot the complacency creeping in—the sense of "once I get to this point, I'll be fine." Around him, people had probably been saying, "You've done enough up to here." For anyone who knew the old Wilfried, this level of effort might be impressive, but for the Lord's child, this assignment sheet was the bare minimum.

"Well, you've truly worked hard. But you were just a little short."

Five assignments remained unfilled. It was a borderline case—could he finish or not? Rather than say it was borderline, I told Wilfried he hadn't made it and tried to console him.

"That was close, Brother Wilfried."

At my words, the Attendants rustled with murmurs, and Wilfried's eyes went wide.

"What!? N-No, it wasn't close! There are still days before the debut, aren't there!"

"...Only three days. Can you really make it?"

"Of course! Let's go, Moritz."

Spurred on, Moritz seemed to catch fire with determination. Wilfried called him over and began studying, so I quietly slipped out.

I returned to my room and had my luggage from the Temple unpacked, then had Rihyarda bring me books from the Library and enjoyed a leisurely reading session.

At dinner, Oswald reported that Wilfried had completed one more assignment, and our parents praised him. Wilfried puffed out his chest and looked at me.

"There, Rozemyne. I can do it if I put my mind to it."

"Yes, that's wonderful. As Brother Wilfried says, if you don't do anything, nothing gets done. Coming to realize that is the greatest progress of all."

I was quite satisfied with myself for stoking Wilfried's motivation, but then Sylvester approached me with a bitter expression, voicing his complaints.

"Rozemyne, do something about Ferdinand."

"...Do something? What do you mean?"

I didn't know this, but apparently Sylvester had been sending SOS messages via orduanz to the Chief Priest, asking him to "help out." Each time, the Chief Priest had bluntly refused with, "I cannot go without the High Priest's permission."

"I tell him to take it up with the High Priest, but he makes excuses—saying the High Priest is absent, or busy—and won't relay the message."

Ah, I could picture the Chief Priest's dark smile.

But if I sent the Chief Priest to help at the castle now, nothing would change from before.

"There are plenty of civil officials at the castle—surely they can manage? The Chief Priest originally entered the Temple to signal to everyone, both inside and outside, that he wouldn't be involved in politics. Wouldn't it be stranger for him to be going in and out of the castle and getting involved in work?"

Even if it was done secretly, it was something that shouldn't be happening in the first place.

"The Chief Priest is currently enjoying himself training the next generation at the Temple. I heard that due to a major political upheaval, many nobles were lost. Compared to that, this place—being in a neutral position with fewer repercussions—is relatively peaceful, isn't it? It would be better to use this time to train people and build up strength."

In the current state of relying entirely on the Chief Priest, if trouble broke out nearby, things would fall apart immediately.

"...So in other words, you have no intention of sending Ferdinand to me?"

"If it's a matter that only Lord Ferdinand can handle, and if civil officials come to the Temple to ask questions, I'll be sure to pass along the message."

I couldn't imagine civil officials making the trip all the way to the Temple unless it was something truly important. There was only one person who would happily make the trip to the Temple.

"Rozemyne, but then Lord Sylvester will—"

"Foster Mother, there's no need for such worry. Surely the Aub Ehrenfest wouldn't show such an unsightly display of a father in front of his son, who is working so hard to become the next Lord."

I drove the nail in with a firm tap, and Sylvester turned away with the exact same disgruntled expression as Wilfried.

"Rozemyne, Father is amazing. He couldn't possibly be unsightly."

The son struck back with shining eyes.

This should make it even harder for him to slack off on his duties now.

...Well done, Brother Wilfried!

From then until the day of the debut, I served as Wilfried's motivation-spurring partner while also practicing with Rosina.

And then, the day of the Opening Feast arrived.

Just as on the day of the Baptism Ceremony, I was made to bathe early in the morning. After breakfast, I was dressed in my debut outfit and had my hair done. Once the hair ornament was in place and preparations were complete, I moved from the northern wing to a room closer to the main building's grand hall.

The Winter Baptism Ceremony began at the third bell, followed by the debut of the seven-year-olds who had undergone the ceremony this year. Being made to wait quite early was the result of considering both my slow speed of movement and the fact that people would be startled by my riding beast.

I'd be waiting in the reception room where the debut children gathered. My exclusive musician Rosina had the feischpiel, and my Attendant Rihyarda was with me.

Today's guards were Brother Cornelius and Angelica, and both were wearing matching mantles and brooches. The mantles were a shade that could be called either dark gold or ochre—the same ones the Knight's Order members had worn during last year's Trombe subjugation.

"Cornelius and Angelica's mantles are matching."

"The mantle and brooch are granted by the Aub Ehrenfest when entering the Noble Academy. Anyone wearing this mantle today is a member of the Noble Academy."

Apparently, it was something like a uniform for the Noble Academy. Upon asking further, I learned that this color represented the Ehrenfest duchy, and that at the Noble Academy, each territory wore mantles of different colors.

From the reception room window in the main building, I could see riding beasts arriving, carriages pulling up, and nobles streaming into the castle from early in the morning.

"Early, Rozemyne."

"Good morning, Brother Wilfried."

Brother Wilfried came to the reception room, and then nobles trickled in, some bringing children. We were seated at the back of the room, and the two people handling the nobles were Rihyarda and Oswald.

Even when there were children my age, I couldn't hold a proper conversation. Since they had family connections, I'd been told not to speak freely.

...Oh, there's a girl too.

I gave a little smile and tried waving, but she gave me a puzzled look. I'd better restrain myself.

Eight children came to the reception room. Since the average was ten, this year's group was a bit smaller.

"Let's go, Rozemyne."

When the third bell rang, Wilfried extended his hand to me with the air of a small gentleman, his expression tense. Apparently, I was to be escorted into the grand hall by Wilfried.

"Brother Wilfried, please don't walk too quickly."

"...Wasn't it you who needed more practice walking than playing the feischpiel?"

"Perhaps so."

"Better late than never," I murmured, and Wilfried's tension seemed to ease as he smiled. With me and Wilfried in the lead, we left the reception room and stood before the grand hall's doors.

"Please walk straight."

"Yes."

When Rihyarda and Oswald stepped aside, the doors of the grand hall slowly swung open.

"Welcome the newest children of Ehrenfest!"

The Chief Priest's voice rang out powerfully, and beyond the doors, an unprecedented number of nobles had gathered, all turning their gaze toward us.

I flinched for an instant under so many gazes filled with curiosity and interest. Wilfried was probably feeling the same. Holding my breath, I pressed my hand slightly harder against Wilfried's arm. He turned toward me with a start.

"Shall we?"

Our eyes met. We gave a slight nod, and together, we took our first step forward.

The blue priests and new Attendant Fritz have appeared, but they won't be getting much screen time for a while.

The stage has shifted to the castle, and for a while, it'll be the social season.

Next up is the debut.