Lunch Meeting and Business Day
It was two days after the Starbind Ceremony, and the book sale was being held this afternoon. Word had spread during the ceremony, resulting in more nobles staying behind in the Noble’s Quarter than last year, but this also meant there was plenty of time for rumors surrounding Damuel’s proposal to circulate through the castle. Now all sorts of people were teasing him.
Women were fairly fond of the event, since it had been like watching a storybook romance unfold before their very eyes, but men thought it impossible for a laynoble like Damuel to get enough mana to match a mednoble like Brigitte. They were mocking him for clinging so hard to doomed love, but even then, they did praise him for defending her honor from her ex-fiancé. On occasion, I even saw some slap him on the back and say, “Can’t wait to see what happens next year,” with broad grins on their faces.
Brigitte herself was saying that, regardless of whether or not Damuel managed to build up enough mana over the next year, she was grateful for him protecting her honor. The look on her face made it clear that she thought he would never actually achieve his impromptu promise, and that it had been made only to protect her in the moment.
“Just one year... Damuel, do you believe you will make it?” I asked. Everyone’s mana capacity increased at a different rate, and while I had taught him my compression method, I wasn’t sure how helpful it would ultimately be. In fact, I didn’t even know how big the difference was between him and Brigitte.
“I don’t know, but... I’m just glad to have more time,” Damuel replied, his resolve steeled now that he had given himself a deadline. His firm expression was pretty cool compared to his usual—let’s face it—lame demeanor.
On this busy sales day, I was also having a lunchtime meeting with Giebe Illgner. He had asked for some of my time to thank me for the dress I made Brigitte, which was perfect timing for me; I already wanted to discuss my trip to Illgner and introduce him to the Plantin Company, so scheduling on the same day as the book sale was more than convenient.
“Ferdinand, Giebe Illgner—it is a pleasure to see you both today,” I said as I entered the dining room. Now that Ferdinand was officially my guardian, he was participating in meetings related to the printing industry to ensure I didn’t cause any bizarre problems or get dominated in conversation by other nobles.
As my adoptive father, Sylvester was my primary guardian, but the archduke obviously didn’t have the time to attend every meeting I was involved in. My secondary guardian was Karstedt—my actual father, as it were—but since he was the archduke’s guard knight, he couldn’t attend every meeting either. That left Ferdinand as the only man for the job, and you’d better believe he was already grumbling about how he should never have rejoined noble society in the first place.
Well, you have my sympathy, Ferdinand.
After exchanging our long noble greetings, lunch was served. I naturally took the first bite, allowing Ferdinand and Giebe Illgner to pick up their cutlery as well.
No sooner had Giebe Illgner taken a bite himself than a heartfelt smile spread across his face. “I was shocked by the delicious flavors of your recipes when I first enjoyed them last winter, Lady Rozemyne. Brigitte often brags about getting to eat your food, so I have been eagerly awaiting this lunch meeting.”
Brigitte shot him a stern glare, her cheeks tinged red with embarrassment at her secrets being revealed. Giebe Illgner smiled back at her before getting straight to the point.
“Lady Rozemyne, I am grateful beyond words for you gifting my little sister a new fashion of dress for this Starbind Ceremony. Your kindness has restored her honor and given her new hope for marriage,” he continued, glancing over at Damuel. From the subtle mirth in his grin, I could guess that he had witnessed the famed proposal firsthand.
With that, I also glanced toward Damuel, who was standing behind me as my guard knight. “I exited as soon as I completed my blessing and was thus regrettably unable to see the proposal. What happened, exactly?” I asked, prompting Giebe Illgner to elaborate.
He went on to tell me what happened from his perspective as Brigitte’s brother, making it sound a lot more like a hero striking down a villain than a love story. It was pretty entertaining to hear how much his narration differed from Elvira’s interpretation of events.
Once he had finished, lunch came to an end.
“I know not whether this is enough to repay you, Lady Rozemyne, but Illgner is ready for your visit at any time. We would like to prepare as much wood from as many trees as possible for your sake,” Giebe Illgner said as we sipped our post-meal tea. I was going to pounce on the opportunity, but Ferdinand raised a hand to stop me.
“Rozemyne, be aware that Giebe Illgner intends to use your visit to show Brigitte’s former fiancé that they have your full support, thereby discouraging him from causing any further problems. Please keep this in mind as you respond. There is a considerable chance of you becoming embroiled in their conflict,” Ferdinand explained, quietly eyeing him. But I had been fully prepared to back up Brigitte from the moment I designed that dress; I didn’t have any problem with Giebe Illgner exploiting my interest to benefit his province.
“As I, too, do not wish for Brigitte to marry anyone who would cause her harm, I have no qualms with my influence being used to intimidate her former fiancé. Being able to research plant paper in Illgner is of great use to me, and I do not mind assisting Illgner in turn.”
Giebe Illgner wanted my political support, and I wanted Illgner’s wood and hospitality for research purposes. We both served to benefit from this operation, which meant I could send the Plantin Company there without any worries.
“Research plant paper, you say?” Giebe Illgner asked.
“Indeed. Paper is an essential component in printing. I must establish plant paper workshops before I can spread the printing industry throughout Ehrenfest.”
“And you will be entrusting that to Illgner...?” he asked, blinking in disbelief. I was offering him an opportunity to join the duchy’s new business from the very start; there would be no better way to show other nobles that he had my support. And meanwhile, I would be able to research plant paper to my heart’s content.
“I shall of course share with you how to create plant paper as research on new varieties progresses within Illgner. You will be able to invest in the printing industry before any other province with forestry.”
“I thank you,” Giebe Illgner said, his expression softening as he realized my support here was genuine. I smiled back at him, but capitalizing on this opportunity wouldn’t be trivial—paper-making took work.
“Giebe Illgner, I will have you support merchants of the Plantin Company as they establish workshops and conduct research in your province. You have buildings for housing priests during Spring Prayer and the Harvest Festival, correct? Assuming those are ready and supplied, we can begin at once.”
“At once, you say?” Giebe Illgner repeated, surprised.
I nodded with a broad smile. “I have been studying geography as of late, and if my memory serves me correctly, I believe Illgner is one of Ehrenfest’s most southern provinces. Its climate is such that its rivers do not freeze even in winter, and if this is true, you may be able to turn paper-making into winter handiwork.”
“That would be... a very appealing prospect.”
“The Plantin Company will provide more information on how the paper profits are to be distributed. Since shipping costs will presumably be involved, I imagine your workshops will not make exactly the same amount as mine. Ottilie, I believe the Plantin Company should have already arrived at the sales room. Please summon Benno for me.”
The Plantin Company was in another room preparing for the upcoming business discussion, and after a brief wait, Benno arrived alongside a young man whom I didn’t quite recognize.
“Blessed be the vibrant summer rays of Leidenschaft the God of Fire, who guided us toward this serendipitous meeting. I am Benno of the Plantin Company. It is an honor to meet you.”
“May the Plantin Company be blessed by Leidenschaft the God of Fire,” Giebe Illgner responded, spawning the lights of a blessing which floated to both Benno and his companion.
With the greetings done, I explained to Benno why I had summoned him. There wasn’t a trace of panic in his expression, since I had told him ahead of time that he was very likely going to be called in during my meeting with Giebe Illgner.
Even I’ve grown a little by now. Eheheh.
“Benno, I was discussing the paper research with Giebe Illgner. When will the Plantin Company be ready to depart?”
“As soon as you wish, Lady Rozemyne. We have prepared both the tools and the men we need,” Benno replied. I praised the speed and quality of their work before looking over at Giebe Illgner.
“Lady Rozemyne, if we need only open the doors of our buildings for them, then we are ready for you at any time. But may I ask how long they expect to visit? The priests will need the buildings when they arrive for the Harvest Festival, and there is much more we will need to prepare if your merchants intend to stay over the winter.”
“They are due to stay until Illgner’s Harvest Festival. I shall visit and perform the ceremony myself, using the opportunity to hear the results of their research and bring the Plantin Company back along with the workshop workers.”
This approach would preclude any significant problems, and by breaking my pattern of merely performing ceremonies in the Central District, I could make my alliance with Illgner even clearer.
“Ferdinand, please take care to schedule me for Illgner during the Harvest Festival.”
“I shall make it so,” Ferdinand said with a nod, voicing no objections.
“We will depart as soon as my workshop is prepared. Brigitte can inform you of the precise dates by ordonnanz when the time comes.”
“Understood. I will await your arrival,” Giebe Illgner replied. And with that, Benno asked for permission to speak.
“Lord Ferdinand, Lady Rozemyne, Giebe Illgner—may I introduce a Plantin Company merchant who will be heading to Illgner?”
“You may.”
“His name is Damian. He is the grandson of Gustav, guildmaster of the Ehrenfest Merchant’s Guild. It is my understanding that he met Lady Rozemyne once several years ago,” he announced.
Damian, who was standing behind him, smoothly crossed his arms and knelt. He had light, chestnut-colored hair and amber eyes, and was about as tall as Benno. The fact that he was remaining calm in the presence of so many nobles despite looking as though he had just come of age a few years ago showed that he was from a rich and powerful family.
His introduction erased all possible doubt that he was Freida’s older brother, but I couldn’t unsee him as a roughly ten-year-old kid. He hadn’t been this tall back then, nor was he an adult.
“I did meet him once while in the care of Gustav and Freida, but he looks quite different from what I remember.”
“Yes, he went through a growth spurt that changed his appearance entirely in the span of a single year,” Benno explained.
With the introduction finished, I took out my diptych to read out the important details for our stay. “In return for instructions on how to make plant paper, we entrust the preparation of meals to Illgner. We shall instruct one gray priest to help with the cooking each day. Would you care to discuss with Benno the specifics of the plant paper sales and distribution of profit once work in Illgner has begun?”
From there, the conversation proceeded mainly between Illgner and the Plantin Company. I mediated and occasionally proposed amendments to ensure that each side received a fair amount and Benno’s merchant perspective was understood in full.
“Rozemyne, it is almost fifth bell. You must depart for the sales room,” Ferdinand warned, having probably looked at something to determine the time.
Benno and Damian promptly exited the room, after which I said my farewells to Giebe Illgner. His verbose statements could be summarized as: “Do take care of my little sister now that she’s the center of attention.”
When I headed to the sales room, I found that many merchants were there already. I didn’t recognize any of them except Benno and Mark, who were walking around and giving instructions. The others were probably the lehanges sent from other stores; they all moved and spoke with well-trained grace.
I think Lutz might need a little more training in places like this to reach their level...
Preparations for business had mostly been completed, and products were lined up on each table. There were the books on the seven primary gods, the ones on their subordinates representing the different seasons, a selection of the knight short stories not yet bound into a single collection, and the sheet music for six unique songs—all thanks to the hard work of those in the orphanage and Hasse’s workshop. We were also selling karuta, playing cards, and reversi sets that had been made as winter handiwork.
“Lady Rozemyne,” Benno said upon seeing me. He knelt, and the other merchants quickly followed suit.
“No need for any greetings, given that we just saw one another. How are the preparations going? The customers will be arriving soon.”
“We are almost ready. Do you observe anything that is lacking?” he asked. Meanwhile, the merchants swiftly stood up to finish the last of their work. They moved smoothly, and the final touches were steadily completed before my eyes.
“Benno, have you prepared what we discussed earlier?” I asked, shooting a meaningful glance his way.
He grinned and nodded. “Of course.”
Business would begin at fifth bell, but nobles began arriving a little earlier than that to get greetings out of the way. I was of course forced to oblige.
“Lady Rozemyne, thank you ever so much for granting my request. I have yearned for books of each season for so long now,” one noble child said.
I had announced this book sale ahead of time in the winter playroom, so students and their parents were rushing to buy picture books on the subordinate gods of each season. In any case, their greeting washed over me, and I instead used the opportunity to recommend my products.
“According to my guard knight, reading these picture books will make third-year courses significantly easier. I wish you luck in your studies.”
The girl, hugging the picture books on the subordinate gods to her chest, pointed at another product with the silhouette of a man playing the harspiel on the cover. “What is this, might I ask?”
“That is harspiel sheet music,” I replied. “Those with a woman on the cover are practice songs for children, arranged by my personal musician, while those showing a man are songs debuted by Ferdinand during his concert. I believe those who attended will find those songs in particular quite nostalgic.”
The songs written by Rosina were arrangements of school anthems I had sung and played for her. Printing for them was already complete by the time I returned to the temple following the Archduke Conference.
“Oh my. You wrote the songs yourself, Lady Rozemyne?”
“I would not go that far, no. I simply, ah, hummed songs for Ferdinand and my musician to arrange.”
“That is still quite impressive,” the girl replied, selecting a fairly difficult piece from the selection of children’s practice songs to buy.
A mednoble—or perhaps a laynoble—woman soon came over, her young son eagerly pulling her hand. “He just wants playing cards ever so much. I have heard great things about them during tea parties, so I believe I shall be buying a set now.” She had apparently bought some karuta last winter to help her son learn to read, and now he was dying to have a set of playing cards too.
“They help one learn math, and since victory is rewarded with sweets, everyone is desperate to improve. Perhaps with these you will win next winter,” I said to the boy.
“I’ll study as hard as I can and get the sweets for sure!” he replied with a happy smile, victoriously holding up the playing cards.
Next came a noble on the fairly older side. “Oho, so these are all printed, hm?” he asked while peering down at the cover art of each book with great interest.
“Indeed. These are printed goods—the products of an industry that is soon to become a central pillar of Ehrenfest. You may pick them up and look inside, if you would like.”
Unlike during our sale at the winter playroom, we weren’t prioritizing children this time, so both nobles interested in printing and those attempting to form connections with me were in attendance. The older nobleman flipped through the pages of one book, curious about what printing was, and ultimately bought the text-heavy knight stories.
“Oh my, this is the sheet music for the songs Lord Ferdinand played at his concert? Consider them sold. And... you wouldn’t happen to have any more illustrations like those you sold back then, would you?” another young lady asked in a hushed whisper.
“Unfortunately, I do not,” I responded clearly, before gesturing with a smile for Benno to bring me what we had discussed earlier. “This knight story is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. While these may look familiar, I can assure you they are not who you think they are.”
Mark handed me a file made from thin wooden boards, which I opened in front of the young woman. Inside were the illustrations for the knight stories. Since you could only see the covers when browsing the lined-up books, I had made this collection of selected art. It very helpfully allowed customers to pick which story to buy based on the illustrations they liked the most, since beneath each one was the title of whatever tale it was based on. I had considered putting them up on the wall like posters, or making stands to hold up the illustrations behind the books, but I was afraid that Ferdinand would notice and forbid their sale entirely, so I was keeping it somewhat secretive for now.
“Lady Rozemyne, might I purchase this collection of illustrations?”
“It is unfortunately not for sale, but the stories certainly are.”
After staring at the illustrations to her heart’s content, her eyes positively sparkling as she examined the pictures, the young woman bought one of the knight stories. Once the transaction was complete, I handed the file straight back to Mark. The young woman must have immediately gone off and told all her friends about it, as we were soon struck by a wave of young women clamoring to buy copies themselves. They all wanted to see the file, too.
Eheheh. Good! Good! This is what I like to see.
By the time the book sale came to an end, we had sold a ton, with Ferdinand’s sheet music ultimately being our best seller. More noble wives and young women than I expected had wanted the songs, particularly since they had only ever been performed once during the concert and were originals that couldn’t be heard anywhere else. Some wanted to practice them on their harspiel while reminiscing about the concert, while others wanted to listen to their personal musicians play them. A few men had even purchased the sheet music hoping the songs would help them court women, which was pretty funny to see.
The knight stories sold better with women than men, just as I expected. The most popular one was the tale where the knight defeated a feybeast and offered up its feystone to the princess; his sweet smile as he proposed to her had apparently stolen the heart of all the women who read it.
While the knight may have been modeled on Ferdinand, the Wilma Filter had turned him into an entirely different person. Ferdinand never gave sweet, considerate smiles like that; he gave scary, venomous ones.
“It truly is a shame that you cannot sell the illustrations on their own,” Elvira said with a melancholy sigh after having bought every single knight story.
“I share your pain, since they sell better than anything else we have available, but Ferdinand was quite clear when he forbade me from printing them.”
“But the world yearns for them. Is there nothing that can be done?” she asked, glancing my way. But the matter was out of my hands. Out of... my hands.
I shot my head up. “Unfortunately, Mother, there is nothing I can do. Nothing I can do,” I repeated, placing deliberate emphasis on my words.
Elvira gasped, her eyes beginning to sparkle as she placed a hand on her cheek in sudden realization. “Oh my, of course. Indeed, indeed. There is simply nothing that you can do.”
“Unfortunately so. As much as it pains me, my hands are tied.”
It seemed that my intentions were adequately conveyed. I smiled brightly, and Elvira smiled back in turn.
“Rozemyne, it would be right of me to say that Aub Ehrenfest himself wishes for printing to be spread, yes?”
“Of course, Mother. He wishes to spend the coming decade or two spreading it across the entirety of Ehrenfest as an important industry.”
“Then I shall ask my older brother, Giebe Haldenzel, if he would be so kind as to help his beloved niece with her work. Will you assist me in discussing matters with him this winter?”
“Absolutely.”
It was the will of the archduke that printing be spread throughout the duchy, and he would have no qualms with more nobles getting involved with the establishment of additional workshops. And were those new workshops to theoretically begin printing illustrations of Ferdinand, well... that didn’t have anything to do with me.
Elvira and I exchanged conspiratorial grins, her eyes shining as she began plotting out her next moves, starting with finding her own illustrator posthaste.
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