Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 2.4 - Chapter SS3

Arno—Fran and I 

It was yesterday that an outsider noble had entered the temple, caused a stir, drawn the attention of the archduke, and then been sent away to prison with the High Bishop. The High Priest had sent all of his attendants out of the room, including me, his head attendant, and thus I spent the night not knowing the details of the situation at all. 

“Arno, tell Myne’s attendants to take this to the Gilberta Company. This is a top priority,” the High Priest said. 

“As you wish.” 

It was after breakfast and right around second bell that the High Priest gave me a letter of invitation to deliver. From the way he looked, and from the fact that he had prepared a letter like this so early in the morning, I could tell that he had spent all night working without sleeping much at all. 

“If anyone else asks about what happened last night, tell them I’ll give an explanation to everyone some other day,” he said before leaving his room. 

Yesterday, Fran had come on urgent business while the High Priest was in his workshop. The High Priest had told me to inform visitors that he was absent, and while it would have been easy for me to contact him from outside, I instead chose to ignore Fran, which led to quite the fuss in the hallway. In the end, he thought I was just being inflexible. I wonder what face he would make if he knew I had ignored his needs on purpose. 

“Good morning, Fran.” 

I had found Fran and Gil drawing water from the well. Myne’s chambers must have really been lacking in personnel if her head attendant was doing such menial chores. Delia’s absence was putting quite a strain on him, and I couldn’t help but leak a faint smile at that fact. 

Fran looked at me with surprise after pouring the water he had drawn into Gil’s bucket. He had a tall and muscular body that would have disappointed Sister Margaret to no end, but when he widened his eyes like that, it was easy to remember what a frail little boy he had been while serving her. 

“Good morning, Arno. What brings you here this early...?” 

“An errand from the High Priest. He would like you to deliver this letter of invitation to the Gilberta Company as soon as possible.” 

Fran took the letter from my outstretched hand, then immediately passed it to Gil. “Understood. Gil, please change, then go and deliver this.” 

“Got it. Be right back.” Gil rushed back to Myne’s chambers, the letter in one hand and the bucket of water in the other. It was nothing short of bizarre to see what was once the greatest problem child in the temple doing his duties as an attendant so eagerly. 

“It must be rough, having so few attendants now.” 

“We will be taking on two new attendants today. I would like to think things will get easier once they’re here.” 

It seemed that they were replacing Delia. What a shame. I would much rather you continue struggling for a bit longer, I thought as I turned my back to Fran. “Until next time.” 

On my way back to the High Priest’s room, the blue priest Brother Egmont spotted me and immediately came rushing over. “Arno, what in the world happened yesterday?! The High Bishop’s room is locked, there are no gray priests standing by the door, and nobody I’ve asked knows what has happened. Surely the High Priest has some idea of what’s going on!” he yelled, spit flying out of his mouth. He was one of the High Bishop’s cronies, and would sometimes even act haughty around the High Priest when he had the High Bishop there for protection. 

I resisted the urge to wipe my face while repeating what the High Priest had instructed me to say. “He will explain the circumstances to everyone when the time comes. Unfortunately, I was cleared from the room and so do not know the details myself.” 

“That means you know something though, right?! Come now, tell me!” 

“I do not know the charges, but the High Bishop was imprisoned by the archduke and the Knight’s Order. I truly do wonder what happened...” I said in a curious tone, all the while observing Brother Egmont, who paled on the spot. His haughty behavior had only been permitted thanks to the High Bishop’s protection, and now that he was gone, the High Priest would no doubt be the next High Bishop. 

What miserable fate now awaited Brother Egmont? I could not wait to find out. There was nothing quite so refreshing as trash getting what they deserved. 

I started making my way back to the High Priest. Just as I was approaching his room, I saw him leaving with Zahm, another of his attendants. I walked over to them. 

“High Priest, where might you be going?” 

“I believe today is the funeral, and I would like to be at the chapel for it. Arno, prepare to welcome the Gilberta Company.” 

Funerals that involved going to the temple’s chapel tended to be for commoners, and the High Priest practically never went to receive the report of death himself. So why is he going out of his way to attend this time? I wondered as I returned to his room and began preparations. 

Not long after, I received a report that the Gilberta Company’s carriage had arrived at the back gate. I headed to the entrance to welcome them inside. 

“Thank you for coming today,” I said, guiding them to the room and then leaving. The High Priest seemed to want to proceed with as much secrecy as possible, and was once again clearing the room of all attendants. Truly, what had happened last night? I knew nothing outside of the fact that we would be visiting Sister Myne’s room in the afternoon. 

“It’s time, Arno.” 

“Understood.” 

Once their meal was finished, I followed the High Priest’s orders and headed for Sister Myne’s room with the sheets of plant paper he had handed me. The High Priest knit his brow tighter than usual; his heavy frown made it quite clear that he was conflicted about something, but since I knew nothing of the circumstances, I decided there was no need for me to think any more about it. 

I walked down the hallway and stood in front of the door to the orphanage director’s chambers, which took me back to when I was the former director’s attendant. It still felt so strange having to ring the bell of arrival just so I could enter. And when I did, Fran answered the door, just like he would back then. 

“Please come inside, High Priest,” he said. 

The hall was unchanged from when Sister Margaret had lived here, perhaps due to Sister Myne reusing the furniture. These similarities made my memories of the past even more vivid, and I smiled nostalgically as the High Priest began talking to Fran beside me. 

“How is she?” 

“She has a small fever, but she is dressed and ready. I have gathered all of her attendants as requested.” 

I climbed the stairs with Fran and found myself instinctively looking around for Sister Margaret. In my mind’s eye I saw her rich golden hair and her deep-blue eyes, crinkled in a smile that never left her face. The beauty mark above her lips was as sensual as anything I had ever seen, and her gesturing hand was enough to make my heart pound. 

But unlike in my memories, it was Sister Myne and her attendants inside the director’s room, the former looking a little more flushed than usual, perhaps due to her fever. There were two girls among them who I didn’t recognize, both of whom were looking this way anxiously. They were most likely Delia’s replacements. As they were not yet of age, there had been few opportunities for us to meet. 

“Who are these two?” the High Priest asked. 

“Monika and Nicola,” Sister Myne replied. “I spoke yesterday about taking them on as attendants to replace Delia. They will take care of me and help the chefs in the kitchen.” 

“I see. In that case, let us discuss the future.” 

What the High Priest said next was truly shocking: Sister Myne was in fact the daughter of an archnoble who had been sent to the temple and disguised as a commoner for her own protection. Her true name was “Rozemyne.” 

Despite having seen her commoner family several times before, my first reaction was not surprise, but rather understanding. The temple was ruled by the oppressive whims of the blue priests; there was no point in arguing with their unreasonable expectations and demands. The decisions they made became the proper way of the world. 

Regardless of what they thought on the inside, the attendants of Sister Myne, or rather Lady Rozemyne, all nodded in understanding. It was surely easier for them to understand serving an archnoble than a commoner. 

“Rozemyne will be baptized in her father’s mansion this summer, and at the same time be adopted by the archduke. She will then assume the position of High Bishop,” the High Priest said, which made many of Sister Myne’s... er, many of Lady Rozemyne’s attendants blink in surprise. It was clear from their expressions that they had heard what he said, but could not understand it. I felt the same way. 

It was not particularly rare for nobles to hide or be forced to send their pre-baptism children to the temple, where adult blue priests would serve as their guardians. Since nobles announced their children at their baptism ceremony, it was normal to send children who would never be announced to the temple before it happened. The idea that an archnoble’s daughter had been hidden and raised in the temple with the High Priest as her guardian made perfect sense and was readily agreeable. That said, it was a bit much to say that Lady Rozemyne would be replacing the High Bishop. 

“The High Bishop has earned the ire of the archduke through multiple criminal acts, and is already imprisoned as we speak. I will assume the duties of High Bishop until Rozemyne is formally adopted by the archduke and can assume the position herself.” 

He said he would assume the duties of High Bishop, but since he was already doing over half of his work, that wouldn’t increase his workload much at all. In fact, the lack of complaints and tedious instruction would likely mean a decreased workload overall. 

“Rozemyne will be educated and trained in her father’s mansion until her baptism ceremony. There will be an inauguration ceremony for her afterward, which all of you will need to prepare for as her attendants. The High Bishop’s room will also need to be prepared for her. These chambers will be used as a meeting place when residents from the lower city such as those from the Gilberta Company are summoned.” 

Out of all of the baffled attendants, Fran was the first to recover. “What is needed for the High Bishop inauguration ceremony?” 

“Your job is simply to prepare the High Bishop’s room for Rozemyne’s use. I will prepare the clothes myself.” 

Fran nodded, took out his diptych, and began writing something. Meanwhile, the High Priest turned to Lady Rozemyne. 

“Rozemyne, I have already discussed this with Benno, but we will need to look into other orphanages that we can use to spread your printing business to other cities. Those sent need to understand the inner workings of your orphanage workshop. Who would you choose for this job?” 

Lady Rozemyne looked around at her attendants, and a smile touched her lips as her gaze fell upon Gil, whose eyes were shining in anticipation. “I think I might ask Gil to handle this. He is more deeply involved with the workshop than anyone else, and has spent the most time with the Gilberta Company.” 

That surprised me. It was truly hard for me to believe that she trusted Gil enough to do work outside of the city. I had been sure that she would send Fran, but perhaps he wasn’t needed here as much as I thought. 

“Fran, you have to train Nicola and Monika on top of preparing the room for me, don’t you? I know this will be putting an extra burden on you, but without Gil here, I will need you to keep the workshop running as well.” 

“As you wish.” 

Oh. He was instead being crushed under the burden of all of the remaining work. That pleased me, but the small smile on his face was infuriating. He was serving a blue shrine maiden, just like he had been when he served Sister Margaret as an apprentice attendant, and yet he seemed much happier following Lady Rozemyne’s orders. It was a stark contrast to the Fran who would bite his lip and frown tearfully whenever Sister Margaret gave him orders. It made no sense to me. 

“...If Gil will need to travel outside the city to help establish workshops, should I select a gray priest to manage the orphanage’s workshop in his place?” Lady Rozemyne asked. 

“That is not something you need to decide right away. It is more important that we get a musician for the baptism, as there will be many tea parties and feasts in your future. I was thinking you could buy Rosina as your personal musician. What do you say to that?” 

“Sister Myne— Erm, Lady Rozemyne. Please, oh please buy me.” Rosina’s face beamed with excitement. It was exceptionally rare for shrine maidens to be purchased as anything but servants, with music teachers being no exception to that. It seemed the High Priest truly did respect her talents as a musician. 

“That seems fine to me. I would love to have Rosina as my musician, especially as it will be nice to have someone I know by my side. But I would like for her to continue helping Fran until I move to the Noble’s Quarter.” 

“I thank you ever so much,” Rosina said. Her leaving Lady Rozemyne’s attendants would greatly increase the burden on Fran, especially since she had just come of age and become used to her work. It was clear that Fran wanted to congratulate her but could not, and his conflicted expression brought a smile to my face. 

“Moving on—here. Benno sent these for you.” 

Lady Rozemyne scanned the documents given to her, then put a hand on her cheek. “I was planning on taking Ella with me to the Noble’s Quarter to make sweets for me, and Hugo and Todd will be sent to Leise’s place to learn more noble recipes for the Italian restaurant. I wonder whether I can leave the cooking here to Nicola and Monika.” 

“They may not be skilled enough to serve you yet, Lady Rozemyne, but they should be fine as long as their food is edible for us attendants,” Fran replied. It seemed that her attendants were forced to cook as well. Just how low on manpower were they? 

I blinked in surprise, but the High Priest just shook his head in exasperation. “Rozemyne, that is nothing to worry about. You can just take on more attendants as needed.” 

“High Priest, this is the best I can do with my income.” 

“Think, fool. You now have an archnoble as your father, and will soon become the High Bishop with the archduke as your adoptive father. Up until now you have had to earn all of your money yourself, but it should be obvious that this will no longer be the case,” the High Priest said, the exasperation in his tone now much clearer. 

Lady Rozemyne was attempting to settle things using exclusively her own money despite becoming both the daughter of an archnoble and the High Bishop. It seemed she was having difficulty adjusting her mindset to her new circumstances. 

In any case. Lady Rozemyne becoming the High Bishop meant that Fran would become the head attendant of the High Bishop, which in turn would make him of a higher status than me. That was not entirely pleasing. It reminded me of how Sister Margaret had given him more affection than she had given me, and valued him more as an attendant. 

...Allow me to correct myself: it was extremely displeasing. In fact, it was so frustrating that I would not be content simply bullying and tormenting him in subtle ways so that the High Priest would not notice. 

The High Priest had entered the temple after the death of Sister Margaret, so he did not know that the mere sight of a blue shrine maiden had made Fran feel sick for some time, nor that he had traumatic memories in the orphanage director’s chambers. That was exactly why I had recommended Lady Rozemyne stay in these chambers, and why I suggested Gil serve alongside him. 

It had been more than entertaining to see Fran’s displeased, pained, and miserable expressions during the trombe extermination mission and the Dedication Ritual, and while Lady Rozemyne was suffering as a result of my malice, that was a sacrifice I was willing to make. And yet, Fran was now serving Lady Rozemyne entirely as though he had conquered his past. The sight of him calmly spending time in this room was a clear sign of how much he had grown, and while that frustrated me to no end, I hid my irritation beneath an expressionless mask. 

The High Priest took out a magic tool—a ring with a large blue feystone embedded into it. “Rozemyne, have this. It is a gift from your father.” 

Rozemyne took the ring from the High Priest’s hand and placed it on her finger. The feystone was large enough that it looked odd on her small hand. 

“Use it to register your mana with this door. Follow me.” 

The High Priest pulled aside the canopy of the bed to reveal another door, just like the one in his room. The very sight was nostalgic, frustrating, and sent waves of emotions through my heart. I quelled them and looked toward Fran. 

As expected, his face had paled, and he was looking at the door with fearful eyes. Despite how calm he had been acting before, it seemed he had not entirely conquered his past. I could feel a dark joy spreading through my chest. 

“What’s wrong, Fran? You look unwell,” Lady Rozemyne said, giving Fran a concerned look. 

“It is nothing. Pay me no mind.” 

“Surely it’s something. You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” 

Fran’s expression twisted into a troubled frown as everyone looked at him worriedly. That was to be expected; he certainly didn’t want anyone to know about his past, where Sister Margaret had called for and taken him into that room practically every night. 

“High Priest,” I interjected, “I will spare everyone the details, but Fran does not have good memories in that room.” 

“It will be fine, Fran. The room is created by magic, and will not be the same one you are familiar with,” the High Priest said casually, unaware of Fran’s circumstances. He then shifted his focus to registering Lady Rozemyne’s mana with the door. 

Considering that just seeing the door was enough to drain the blood from his face, Fran would surely feel an enormous amount of stress regardless of what was inside. But nobody seemed to notice that—all thanks to Fran working as hard as he could to appear calm on the surface, no doubt. 

“And that concludes the registration. You may use that room when you wish to discuss matters you want no one to hear, even your attendants, as voices out here can be heard elsewhere even if you clear this room.” 

“Can anyone go inside?” 

“Unlike my workshop, there are no special restrictions in place.” 

It was likely that she would be using the room daily from now on. The sight of Fran enduring his stress and fear alone, unable to say a word of complaint, made me very pleased. 

“Are you okay, Fran?” I asked. 

“...Thank you for helping me there, Arno.” 

“I will have to explain your situation to the High Priest if he asks. My apologies, Fran, but my hands are tied.” 

...I intend to tell him everything regardless of whether he asks. How does it feel to know that the High Priest you respect so much will know the secrets of your past that you want to keep hidden more than anything else? I offered a small smile, hiding the poison beneath it, and Fran gave a defeated nod. 

“I imagine that the High Priest will ask for details, but nothing can be done about that. I will just have to be thankful that Sister Myne, or rather Lady Rozemyne, has not heard about it.” 

...Oh, so you are more concerned about Lady Rozemyne finding out than the High Priest? Aah, I wonder when and where I shall inform her, then... 

Fran had received the affections of Sister Margaret that I desired so much, and yet rejected her. 

Fran just watched as Sister Margaret fell into despair, having become unable to return to noble society due to sleeping with a gray priest. He did nothing to stop her from killing herself. 

Fran thanked the gods in utter relief when Sister Margaret died. 

I have not forgiven you, Fran.