It was similar to the Starbinding Ceremony, but with far more people present. We walked through the center of the great hall, subjected to curious gazes that sized us up as if appraising our worth.
Feeling as though the music played by the musicians was urging us to walk faster, I hurried my steps as much as I could, trying not to fall behind
On the center of the stage, an altar had been set up, and the Chief Priest, dressed in ceremonial vestments, stood before it. To the left of the stage, the Lord and his wife stood lined up alongside their guard knights and Attendants. Spotting my adoptive father and adoptive mother, and noticing Father looking my way, I offered a small smile.
The Nobility gathered in the great hall could be broadly divided into those wearing the same knightly attire as Father on stage, the official robes worn by
Judging by the quality of fabric and ornamentation, those closer to the entrance appeared to be lower-ranking Nobles, and the closer one got to the stage, the higher their rank. While they seemed to be loosely grouped by knights and civil officials, each cluster invariably contained women in lavish attire, children in Festive Clothing, or children like Brother
...I wonder if Mother and my brothers are near the front?
As I pondered this and moved forward, I spotted Mother near the center of the front row, with Brother
On that same right side of the stage where my two brothers stood, musicians lined up holding fespiels, and nearby I could see Nobles wearing Magical Tool rings. This made it clear that relatives of the children receiving the
...Where are Richarta and
Richarta and Oswald, who had guided us to the door of the great hall, were the Head Attendants and should have been right there. As I was thinking this, the two of them appeared from a different entrance, parting the crowd of people around them and taking their place among the relatives.
Once we stopped in front of the stage, the Chief Priest gestured with a small wave of his hand, signaling for us to come up. Following his instruction, we climbed onto the stage and stood in a row.
Including children of Nobles too far away to bring a Priest, four Baptism Ceremonies began. Although there were multiple children, the proceedings were nearly identical to my own.
After the Chief Priest recounted the myths in his resonant voice, he called each child's name.
"
The girl called stepped forward. She was the same girl who had looked at me with a troubled expression in the waiting room earlier. Philine grasped the Magical Tool rod extended by the Chief Priest. It was the same Magic Power-absorbing Magical Tool I had been given during my own Baptism Ceremony. When she held it and made it glow, applause erupted.
Apparently, if a child lacked sufficient Magic Power to light this Magical Tool, they would not be recognized as Nobility.
Children had their Magic Power measured shortly after birth, and then measured again as they grew, with several checks along the way, so it was almost unheard of for someone's Magic Power to not light up during the Baptism Ceremony.
After that, the Magical Tool was pressed against a medal to register their Magic Power. By registering their Magic Power on the medal, the child was officially recognized as a Noble of Ehrenfest.
"As my daughter, recognized by the gods and all here, I present this ring to Philine."
Philine's father ascended the stage and placed a ring designed to release Magic Power into Philine's hand.
"To Philine, the blessing of Gedulhild,
Receiving the Chief Priest's blessing, Philine poured her Magic Power into the ring, which held a magic stone smaller than mine.
"I am honored."
She then returned the blessing to the Chief Priest. A small, soft puff of red light floated gently toward him.
Judging from the applause that rose from the Nobles behind her, this modest blessing must have been the standard way of returning one.
...Huh? That was enough?
The blessing I had been made to perform by my trio of guardians to create the Saint Legend had been on a completely different scale from what everyone else did. There had been only about two hundred Nobles present at the time, but I had blessed every last one of them.
...Everyone should have been in an uproar during mine! No matter how you looked at it, that was not normal!
If I had seen a typical Noble's Baptism Ceremony first, I never would have done something so far beyond common sense. But it was too late for regrets. Besides, the Chief Priest, who had intended to create the Saint Legend in the first place, had talked me into it, and the outcome would have been the same regardless.
After all the Baptism Ceremonies concluded, came the Debut.
This was a ceremony to celebrate the Noble children who had undergone their Baptism Ceremony during the past year, marking their entry into Noble society, and to pray for the continued blessings of the gods through music. Fundamentally, the children would perform and sing a song dedicated to the god of the season in which they were born.
We, who had been lined up on stage, were moved to the left side of the stage. The Lord's Attendants moved into position, and a chair was placed at the center of the stage.
"Philine."
Called by the Chief Priest, she was to play in order of rank, lowest first, just as Richarta had told me.
Philine sat down on the chair at the center of the stage, and a musician carrying a fespiesel ascended the stage. Handed the fespiesel by the musician, Philine positioned it to play.
...Huh? She's not that good?
At first, I thought it was just this one child who was unskilled. But the next one, and the one after that, were no better either. Halfway through the performances, I tilted my head in confusion. What exactly had been the point of the task Wilfried and I had been assigned?
The expected level of refinement among Nobles was lower than I had imagined. I thought this, but once the performers passed the halfway mark and the ranks grew higher, the skill improved noticeably.
I realized the sound and resonance of the fespiels was completely different, and in that instant, it all made sense.
...It's a difference in educational investment.
Of course. If the lower-ranking ones played first, having it the other way around would be unfair to them.
The difference in musicians and teachers one could invite, as well as the difference in instruments, directly determined the expected level of refinement. The reason Wilfried and I were held to a higher standard was the same.
If you grew up surrounded by top-tier teachers and instruments and then lost to someone of lower rank, you would have no dignity left in Noble society.
"...I'm glad we practiced, Brother Wilfried."
"Mm."
The children of upper-ranking Nobles were, as expected, quite skilled. Only slightly more so than Wilfried, who had been cramming. In other words, the gap was not enough for Wilfried to look bad.
"You'll be fine. You worked hard for this."
The Chief Priest called out "Wilfried."
When I gave him a gentle nudge from behind, Wilfried walked straight to the stage and sat in the central chair. His personal musician brought a fespiesel to him.
Wilfried received it, positioned it, and began to play.
Perhaps it was in his blood, but he was the type who performed well under pressure and remained composed even when the attention was on him. Wilfried played the fespiesel with composure before a large audience. His bearing was befitting of the Lord's son.
When I glanced over, I saw my adoptive mother gazing at Wilfried with glistening eyes and a warm smile. That gaze brimming with a mother's love was so radiant that it reminded me of my own mother, and I felt a small twinge of envy toward Wilfried.
Wilfried's performance stumbled in a few places, but he finished playing the fespiesel without panicking. He descended the stage with a smile of accomplishment on his face.
"Rozemine."
Called by the Chief Priest, I too took the seat at the center of the stage. The moment I did, the rows upon rows of Nobles came into view whether I wanted to see them or not. I had heard that Nobles totaled around eight hundred, but it felt like there were even more.
Scanning the hall, I caught Mother's and Brother Eckhart's eyes from the front row center. Both wore relaxed smiles that showed not a trace of worry. I could also see Justus right beside Brother Eckhart.
Rather, it was Daumel and Brigette, seated in the relatives' section, who looked anxious. Brother Cornelius and
While I was looking around the hall, my adoptive father delivered an explanation to the assembled Nobles, recounting the circumstances of my adoption and embellishing the Saint Legend even further than what had been presented at the Baptism Ceremony.
...Stop! Don't embellish it!
Screaming internally, I forced myself to maintain a smile.
Just before my tolerance for being stared at gave out, the mortifying introduction finally ended, and Rosina brought me a fespiesel.
"If it's you, Lady Rozemine, you'll be just fine."
Rosina smiled softly, as if to encourage me.
"Don't forget to smile," she whispered. I forced a grin into place and positioned the fespiesel.
"Now, let us offer our prayers to the gods and dedicate our music."
Since the ceremony involved giving thanks through music to the god of the season in which one was born, the song I would play was dedicated to
What I had been made to practice was an anime song that the Chief Priest had arranged in a slightly simplified version.
To me, it was a familiar tune that was easy to play, but this little prank I had played on the Chief Priest had come back to bite me.
...I'll pour my heart and soul into it, so please forgive me, God!
I played, pouring my entire heart into it so as not to be disrespectful to the gods.
And I sang with all my heart.
The moment I did, I felt my Magic Power being drawn out through my ring, just as it had when I had spoken the words of blessing.
...Wh-what is this!?
My Magic Power spread outward in time with the lyrics, becoming a blessing. I panicked and tried to stop the flow, but it was too late.
Blue light leaped from the ring, cascading down as a blessing over the stage and throughout the great hall.
Every face turned toward me was frozen in shock, stunned bewilderment, utter dumbfoundedness.
When I snuck a desperate glance for help, the Chief Priest had his eyes tightly shut and was pressing his fingers to his temple. Judging from his expression, something truly extraordinary had just happened.
But I had no idea whether it was appropriate to stop playing mid-performance, so in the end, I continued to the very end.
Even after I finished, the applause was sparse, and most of the audience wore expressions of awkward uncertainty. The only ones clapping were those connected to me.
...Sorry for making things awkward.
I handed the fespiesel to Rosina, slowly rose to my feet, and the Chief Priest came striding over.
Wondering what was happening, I looked up, and he scooped me up in his arms.
"Let us bless the Saint who brings prosperity to Ehrenfest!"
As if responding to his voice, every Noble in the hall raised their staves in unison. Blessing light rose into the air, and I heard murmurs of "So she truly is a Saint."
...You just accelerated the Saint Legend, didn't you, this man!
I gasped, and in the same breath, he issued a curt order: "Wave. Smile." I waved with the elegant smile I had been made to practice, and this time, thunderous applause broke out.
Carried in the Chief Priest's arms, I descended from the stage, waving with a smile, and immediately exited the great hall.
After the Chief Priest, now walking at a brisk, long-strided pace, entered the waiting room that had been prepared for us, I was finally set down.
"Rozemine, take this."
The Chief Priest pulled a wiretapping-prevention Magical Tool from the jangling collection hanging from his belt and pressed it into my hand.
I gripped the Magical Tool tightly, and we both let out an exhausted sigh. Then the Chief Priest looked at me with a sharp gaze.
"Rozemine, what was that blessing?"
"I don't know. It happened on its own."
If anything, I was the one who wanted answers.
The Chief Priest furrowed his brow at my response.
"That didn't happen during practice, did it? Why did it suddenly become a blessing?"
"...Because during practice, I wasn't actually praying seriously."
I added quietly that I had been too busy trying to follow the finger movements and scales to think about praying to the gods. The Chief Priest tapped his temple lightly with his fingertip.
"So when you prayed earnestly, that happened?"
"Yes. My Magic Power was being drawn out through the ring on its own, and I was so startled that I tried to stop it, but it was a little too late. Perhaps from now on I should remove the ring before performing."
The reason my Magic Power was being drawn out was because I was wearing the Magical Tool ring. At my suggestion, the Chief Priest slowly shook his head.
"A Noble who has just completed their Baptism Ceremony not wearing a Magical Tool ring? Unthinkable. You'll either need to consciously stop your Magic Power from the start, or accept your fate and fully become the Saint. Take your pick."
"Trying to consciously stop my Magic Power sounds difficult too. It mostly flows on its own, which startles me. ...Besides, the Saint Legend should be more than enough by now, don't you think? I don't see why we need any more."
When I wavered, the Chief Priest gave a light shrug.
"It's better to have a reason for being different from the norm. ...A Saint who benefits the province won't be rejected."
As long as one possessed great power, failing to demonstrate one's usefulness could lead to exclusion or persecution. Looking at the Chief Priest's bitter expression as he lowered his eyes, I couldn't find any words to say, and I pressed my lips together.
There was a knock at the door, and Richarta entered.
"The great hall is buzzing with talk of the Saint. The atmosphere is quite unsuitable for the Enchantment Ceremony, so it has been decided that lunch will be served first. Please change quickly,
Led by Richarta, I made my way to the dining hall. Along the way, Richarta praised me, saying, "You did wonderfully, Princess."
She remarked in a light tone that everyone already knew I was no ordinary child, having witnessed it during my Baptism Ceremony, the Starbinding Ceremony, and my tutoring of Wilfried.
"There are many Nobles here who don't know you, so they were certainly taken aback, but for us, this is nothing new. ...Lady Rozemine, having abundant Magic Power is something to be proud of as a Noble. You really shouldn't look so troubled about it."
Richarta's words eased the weight on my heart a little, and I let out a breath of relief.
After finishing lunch and returning to the great hall, the next event was the Enchantment Ceremony, in which cloaks and brooches would be presented to the new students of the Noble Academy.
This year's new students numbered fourteen, far more than my own class had been.
Rosina, who had been eating lunch in a different location, rejoined us. For Rosina, who always wore her composed smile, her expression seemed slightly off.
"Rosina, is something wrong?"
When I called out to her, Rosina's look of consternation deepened as she turned to face me.
"Lady Rozemine. ...Just a moment ago, Lady
At the name of Christine, the artistic Shrine Maiden whom Rosina had previously served, I perked up in surprise.
Rosina, who had been treated like a friend by Christine and had lived immersed in art, had struggled to adapt to life in the orphanage. When she first became my Attendant, she had clashed with the other Attendants and had a very difficult time.
Watching Rosina, who seemed flustered by her reunion with Christine, I widened my eyes slightly.
"Did she say something to you?"
Fearing that something hurtful might have been said, I asked Rosina, who slowly shook her head.
"Lady Christine had apparently intended to come and retrieve me."
"...Huh?"
At these unexpected words, I blinked several times.
Rosina spoke again, her expression caught between bewilderment and barely concealed joy.
"She said that once I graduated from the Noble Academy and came of age, free to live as I wished, she planned to take me back. She said she never imagined I had become Lady Rozemine's musician."
My heart stirred at Rosina's expression, brimming with a joy she couldn't quite hide. Of course. Rosina must have been happiest with a master who was deeply versed in art and with whom she could share that passion.
"...Do you want to go back to Christine, Rosina?"
My heart was pounding. If she said yes, perhaps I should send Rosina back to Christine.
I clasped my hands tightly against my chest and looked up at Rosina, who slowly shook her head.
"No, I am quite satisfied with my life as it is now. I have no such intention. However, it felt as though the part of me that had believed Christine left me behind, that I had been abandoned, has been greatly soothed."
"I'm glad to hear that."
I was glad that Rosina's wounded heart had found some comfort.
I was glad that Rosina wasn't leaving.
As I let out a breath of relief, Rosina smiled softly with a slightly troubled look.
"Lady Rozemine. There is no need to worry. I am your personal musician."
It seemed she had seen right through my quiet fear of losing her.
Embarrassed that my small jealousy toward Christine had been so easily detected, I averted my gaze and directed my attention back to the stage.
"Now, we shall begin the Enchantment Ceremony. All new students heading to the Noble Academy, step forward!"
I looked toward the stage at the civil official's announcement, but it was no exaggeration to say I could barely see it at all. My surroundings were packed with guard knights, Attendants, the Chief Priest, Mother, and others, making it impossible for anyone else to get close.
Surrounded by towering, massive figures, I could hardly see the stage. Wishing someone would give me a shoulder ride, I peered through the gaps in the crowd to watch the ceremony.
I caught glimpses of my adoptive father walking to the center of the stage, handing out cloaks and brooches one by one, and encouraging each student to study hard.
After the Enchantment Ceremony, an official announced the transfer dates to the Noble Academy, and Brother Cornelius and Angelica each murmured their respective dates several times. It seemed the transfers were organized by academic year, and their dates were slightly different.
"Where is the Noble Academy located?"
"In the center of the city. During winter, they live there. The magic circles used for teleportation can only transport a limited number of people at once. That's why transfers are done by academic year."
The moment the Enchantment Ceremony ended, a murmur spread through the great hall, and conversations began popping up everywhere. After the ceremony, the Nobles exchanged information — it was, quite literally, a social gathering.
Wondering how I should conduct myself here, I felt a light tap on my shoulder from the Chief Priest.
"Rozemine, you don't look well."
"Quite right. You should rest in your room for the rest of the day."
The Chief Priest and Mother both leaned in to peer at my face as they said this.
I still felt fine, but I understood the hint: get out before causing any more trouble. I was escorted away, surrounded by Richarta and my guard knights.
Along the way, I caught whispered murmurs.
"She has Magic Power befitting a Saint, doesn't she?"
"Oh my, having a bit more Magic Power doesn't make someone a Saint. That's impossible."
"I would very much like to get to know her."
"That Saint is almost certainly my niece."
...The stares hurt.
No one was openly gawking, but from the corner of my eyes, I could feel glances and awareness directed toward me. I could feel it in my skin that I was attracting far more attention than when I had first arrived.
Suppressing the urge to run, I kept my head high and walked without looking down.
I'm sorry. I was wrong. I apologize for the trouble.
The Saint Legend had been accelerated once again at my Debut.
Next time: Children's classes begin.