Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 5.12 - Chapter 13

Temple Attendants

I’d just eaten breakfast the next morning when Elvira’s seamstresses arrived with a slew of new clothes. I was surprised, to say the least—there were far more items than I’d ordered, some of which bore designs I’d never seen before. I expressed my curiosity and found out that many of the garments belonged to Florencia and to Bonifatius’s late first wife; Elvira had asked the seamstresses to gather and alter them for my use during the Archduke Conference.

I tried on the clothes and gave my thoughts. My next tasks for the day were to eat lunch and then head to the temple, where I would inform my attendants and the Gutenbergs of our plans for the move, make various arrangements, and meet with the new head of the Plantin Company.

Elvira’s attendants took the table and chairs out of my hidden room. I waited until the room was empty before touching its magic circle and closing it for good.

“We are glad to see you leave the nest but sad as well,” one of the attendants told me, clearly emotional. They had taken care of me since I first came to the estate as Rozemyne. “Your growth must feel so abrupt because we have known you since your baptism. Though you spent relatively little time here, many wonderful changes have come about since your arrival. I hoped we might see you more regularly, but alas...”

The attendants here had assumed they would see more of me once the divide between the Leisegangs and the archducal family was resolved and socializing with my extended family became less of an issue. It was unfortunate, but the aub of another duchy would be treated as a visitor in Ehrenfest’s castle and certainly wouldn’t be able to visit an estate such as this.

“It is a shame that faction politics prevented me from coming more often,” I said. “Still, I am grateful to all the staff of this estate.”

“You are grateful to us...?”

“I was raised in the temple, so this estate was my first experience with noble society. Had you all mocked me or looked down on me because of my background, I might never have been adopted.”

It was because everyone in this estate had accepted me that I’d reached my adoption without realizing how much noble society looked down on people raised in the temple. My status as an archducal family member had protected me from then on, but I didn’t even want to imagine what might have happened to me without their support. Elvira and Ferdinand would have looked out for me, sure, but the attitude of the attendants in one’s room was especially important.

“Attendants,” I said, focusing on them, “I thank you ever so much for accepting me as a daughter of the estate. Be proud; you raised Aub Alexandria.”

“Ohoho, I suppose I am. My children will not hear the end of my boasting, I assure you. I am proud to have spent this time with you, Lady Rozemyne.”

The attendants began discussing their old memories of me.

“Even back then, she was an exceptionally quick learner.”

“Remember when she picked out clothes for her baptism? Lady Elvira couldn’t decide between two outfits, so she ordered them both!”

“Lady Rozemyne was so eager to see the book room that she collapsed in the hallway.”

“To think she’s engaged... It feels like only yesterday that she was too scared to go to the bathroom at night.”

It wasn’t going to the bathroom that scared me—it was those slimy things inside the toilet!

As much as I wanted to correct them, I wouldn’t gain anything from it; they would smile and nod at my “obvious excuses.” I wished they wouldn’t discuss all these embarrassing memories right in front of me, but most of what they remembered about me was from my early days at the estate. We hadn’t really done much together since.

I proceeded to the entrance hall while the ladies continued to exchange stories. My guard knights had apparently come to get me.

“Over here, Lady Rozemyne.”

I spied Judithe and Angelica waiting by the door. Philine had gone to the temple ahead of us. Muriella was with them, carrying the tools of a scholar.

“You intend to meet with your merchants in the temple, no?” Elvira asked. “Please let Muriella go with you. I wish to form my own connection with the new head of the Plantin Company.”

I nodded and said, “Certainly. Let us go, Muriella.” The future of Ehrenfest’s printing industry depended on Elvira’s relationship with the Plantin Company.

Before taking my leave, I turned to the line of attendants who had gathered to say farewell. I would still see Elvira in the Royal Academy’s dormitory and during the Archduke Conference, but I would never see these attendants again.

“In the past, female archduke candidates leaving their home duchy would entreat Jugereise the Goddess of Separation for her divine protection,” I said. “I would ask you to pray to her, not to Dregarnuhr the Goddess of Time.”

“As you wish, Lady Rozemyne. May you be blessed by Jugereise the Goddess of Separation.”

“I thank you ever so much.”

And with that, I set out for the temple.

“Welcome back, Lady Rozemyne.”

Philine wasn’t the only one awaiting our arrival—all of my temple attendants had gathered with her. It was a rare sight, considering that Gil and Fritz were usually so busy in the workshop.

“Thank you,” I replied. “Fran, Zahm—I suspect Philine and the others have already told you, but it has been formally decided that I shall become Aub Alexandria.” I asked them to come with me, and they smiled warmly in response.

“We have also been told that the gods granted you and Lord Ferdinand their guidance,” Fran said.

“Yes, indeed... Erwaermen and Mestionora were bad enough, but then all those other gods got involved. It was awful.”

My brow lowered into a bitter frown as I remembered shining from the divine power, losing my memories, and very nearly dying. Fran and Zahm must not have expected my response because they both stared at me like they couldn’t believe their ears.

“Hmm...?”

“Lady Rozemyne, we meant to congratulate you on your engagement to Lord Ferdinand...” Zahm said, looking troubled. “You did get engaged, did you not?”

“Oh, I see... Yes, we completed our engagement ceremony. This is my engagement feystone, which nobles give to one another when getting engaged.” I presented my necklace in an attempt to distract them from my blunder.

“Lady Rozemyne,” Judithe whispered, “nobody else would think he meant a genuine encounter with the gods.”

That may be true, but still... I thought they were bringing it up because it was a cool and really interesting thing to happen to someone!

I turned around. Judithe smiled and gestured to Fran and the others, indicating that we should continue our conversation inside.

Philine gave a firm nod. “Lady Rozemyne, shall we discuss the move in the High Bishop’s chambers? There have been so many major changes to our plans that Judithe said we should get everyone on the same page before speaking with Lord Melchior. That is why I gathered all of your temple attendants here today.”

Fran and Zahm made their way into the temple. I tried to follow them, but a child’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“You’ll be late if you don’t hurry up!”

“We’re coming! We’re coming!”

Surprised to hear shouting inside the temple, I turned toward the source of the noise. Dirk was calling up to the third floor while a group of apprentice blue shrine maidens rushed downstairs.

“Dirk, we have guests visiting the temple,” Fran said, chastising the boy. “You must speak quietly when outside your room. Children’s voices produce especially loud echoes.”

Dirk and the apprentices recoiled, then sincerely apologized.

Fran turned to the attendants and said, “It is important to prepare ahead of time so that the one you serve does not need to rush.”

“Oh, Lady Rozemyne! Welcome!” Dirk exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear the moment he saw me with Fran. As adorable as he looked, it wasn’t appropriate behavior for a noble. I still remembered all the times people scolded me for not keeping my emotions under control.

“It is good to see everyone so lively. I am told you worked very hard during Spring Prayer,” I said. “Is there somewhere you need to be?”

“There’s a study session about religious ceremonies being held in one of the meeting rooms,” Dirk replied, doing his best to sound polite. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really must be going.”

He took his leave, having found the perfect opportunity to escape Fran’s lecturing.

Together with the others, I continued through the temple until we reached the High Bishop’s chambers. I would normally change immediately upon my arrival, but Fran pointed to a work desk.

“Over here, if you would.”

There were boxes piled in the corner of the room. Monika and Nicola were preparing tea instead of my High Bishop robes.

“Do I not need to change?” I asked.

Fran shook his head. “Once it was clear that Ehrenfest would need to perform Spring Prayer without you, Lord Melchior was formally inaugurated as the High Bishop.”

Melchior had taken over as the High Bishop while I was fighting in the Sovereignty and meeting with the royal family. It was the right choice, without a doubt, but it saddened me to think that the temple had changed without me. Not having to wear the robes meant there was no longer a place for me here.

“Then I will need to close this sooner rather than later,” I said, heading not to the desk but to the chambers’ hidden room. Anyone with an approved registration brooch could access it, so it had already been cleared out. I double-checked to make sure it was empty before closing it. I really had spent a long time in there, if one counted my two years in a jureve.

“Lady Rozemyne, what are these ‘major changes’ you wish to report?” Fran asked once I was seated at the desk, speaking as everyone’s representative.

“I was going to move to the Sovereignty as the king’s adopted daughter but decided to become the aub of Old Ahrensbach instead. Following that, the temple of my new duchy will need to be revolutionized to meet our standards.”

I explained that Alexandria’s temple had many of the same problems that had once plagued this one, that I intended to take in those orphaned during the war, and that I wanted to set up my own temple classrooms.

“Um... My apologies, Philine, but I need to move Fran and Zahm to Alexandria before I come of age.” I’d wanted to leave one of them behind to support her, but revolutionizing the temple meant I needed as many of the attendants who had improved things here in Ehrenfest as I could get.

“They are both ready to leave, but what of Monika and Nicola?” Philine asked. “Do you plan to take them too?” She understood that Fran and Zahm would probably move with me; Ferdinand and Hartmut had approached them both after the Defense of Ehrenfest. Thinking about all the work they must have done for my sake made me feel a little guilty.

“I wish to bring Fran immediately—and preferably Zahm as well. Monika and Nicola, however, must remain here until you come of age. They are welcome to move with you, should they so desire.”

“As long as they stay with me, I should be fine... but I would appreciate at least one more attendant who is good with paperwork,” Philine said hesitantly.

I saw nothing wrong with her taking a new attendant, especially when I was taking Fran and Zahm, who were both known for their paperwork skills. I gave her permission, then looked to Wilma and Gil.

“I spoke of purchasing the two of you after coming of age, but the circumstances have changed. Now, I would ask you to come with me and spend time living in Alexandria’s temple.” I needed Wilma to help look after the war orphans in the girls’ building and set up an appropriate learning environment, while Gil was important for his knowledge of operating the workshop. “Perhaps you could remain a gray shrine maiden and priest, move with the Plantin Company, and assist with the reform. I could purchase you afterward.”

“That is fine with me,” Wilma replied. “I would feel much safer in the temple with you than in the castle, and the essence of my role—caring for children who have lost their parents—would remain the same.” It was an easy decision for her, as her greatest fear had always been having to leave the temple.

My eyes turned to Gil, whose shoulders were slumped.

“I don’t mind moving with you, since that was the plan from the start, but I was hoping to leave the temple...” he said.

Zahm gave his fellow attendant a pat on the back. “I know you want a change of pace, but you understand the temple workshop better than the rest of us. I would not be much help in setting up a new one, and the same goes for Fran; we each have our own areas of expertise.”

“Yeah, that’s true...” Gil said, crossing his arms with a nod. “The temple is its own separate world, and no one is better equipped to start a new printing workshop than I am. Not to mention, having a history of working with the temple should make it easier for the Plantin Company to get along with the Merchant’s Guild. I know Benno and Lutz were worried about developing their store in a new duchy.”

Gil was of the opinion that the Merchant’s Guild wouldn’t be able to look down on the Plantin Company when I consistently depended on them for work. It was a perspective unique to him, for he was raised in the temple but had experience going out into the world of merchantry.

“I promise to purchase you and grant you freedom from the temple when I come of age,” I said. “Until then, I ask only that you help with its renovation. You were the first to plead with me to change the temple, were you not?”

“Ah...”

It was Gil who first asked me to save the abused orphans when he learned about the harrowing state of the basement. I smiled, remembering when Ferdinand asked me whether I was resolved to become the orphanage director and the anxiety that had overwhelmed me as a result.

“Gil,” I said, “I want you to be a role model for Alexandria’s orphans.”

The temple’s workshop had only done so well because Gil actively cooperated with Lutz. His work with the Plantin Company and the other Gutenbergs had given him a life outside the temple, and I hoped that would continue in Alexandria.

“You can inspire the orphans by leaving the temple to work in the lower city, like Volk did when he left to start a family. Fewer people will mock grays and orphans once they are on equal terms with the children of merchants. Do provide your support until the new workshop finds its footing.”

Gil stuck out his chest, showing not a trace of worry that he might be kicked out of my attendants. His self-assured grin spoke to his growth, and I could tell at a glance that he took great pride in his job. No one who saw him now would guess that he had once been the temple’s worst problem child.

“Understood. As someone used to your crazy demands who set up workshops all over the duchy—not just in the temple—I guarantee that you can count on me. Of course, I doubt I can manage on my own, so I wish for at least three assistants to accompany me.”

Gil then turned to Fritz, already thinking about the future. “Running the workshop on your own won’t be easy. You should ask Lady Rozemyne to let you take a partner.”

“Indeed. Lady Rozemyne, would you ask Lord Melchior or Lord Kazmiar to take Bartz as a workshop manager? I would rather Dirk take him, but I realize that is out of the question.”

Taking a new attendant significantly increased one’s cost of living. Bartz would spend most of his time as a manager in the workshop, and Dirk didn’t have the funds to provide for an attendant who wouldn’t really tend to him in his room.

“Certainly. I shall ask Melchior. Fritz, would you take issue with serving him?”

“Not at all. It would be tough to protect the workshop without being the High Bishop’s attendant, and I would appreciate a position where I can speak directly to the archducal family.”

I took a moment to absorb my attendants’ stances and then sighed. My destination changing from the Sovereignty to Alexandria had caused all sorts of complications. I expected Benno to give me a stern glare during our looming discussion, but I needed to ask him to help Fran and the others move sooner than expected. Having them set out on such a long-distance trip on their own wasn’t an option.

And all these wooden boxes need to be moved.

“My belongings are mostly ready for transport, so I plan to borrow carriages and servants from the castle and give this room to Melchior posthaste.” I wasn’t the High Bishop anymore, so I couldn’t keep monopolizing these chambers.

“If you do that, Lady Rozemyne, we will not have anywhere to ourselves until we leave...”

“Aah...” In my hurry to hand over the chambers, I’d completely forgotten their connection to Fran’s and the others’ rooms. “Philine, could they borrow the rooms in the orphanage director’s chambers until then?”

The orphanage director’s chambers had two floors for its attendants; those of the same gender as their charge stayed on the upper floor, while everyone else slept on the floor below. It would aid us greatly if we could use the rooms that had once gone to Fran and Gil.

My idea caused Judithe to frown. “Lady Rozemyne, living with men not in her service will only tarnish Philine’s reputation. They might be on separate floors, but it still counts as the same chambers.”

Gah! Noble standards!

They had completely slipped my mind. I was racking my brain for a solution when Muriella interjected.

“Does she need to sleep in the temple? She has rooms in the castle and Lord Karstedt’s estate.”

“Good point,” Philine replied. “We aren’t so busy that I need to live in the temple, and it was already my intention to stay in the castle before Lady Rozemyne’s departure. Fran and the others are welcome to use the orphanage director’s chambers.”

I nodded. Now that Philine had given her approval, my temple attendants could use the orphanage director’s chambers when I gave the High Bishop’s chambers to Melchior. I was relieved to know they were going to be okay.

“Lady Rozemyne—though I am reluctant to ask, could you stop by the orphanage? Delia wishes to speak with you.”

“Someone from the orphanage is summoning Lady Rozemyne?” Judithe and Muriella asked together, their eyes wide with shock.

“Only out of necessity,” I explained. “Aub Ehrenfest has forbidden Delia from ever leaving the orphanage. We have time before fifth bell, and I was hoping to see the orphanage one last time before my departure. I will go there now.”

Wilma set out ahead of us to deliver the news. Gil and Fritz headed to the workshop.

“Philine,” I said, “I need documents summarizing how many Gutenbergs are moving with their families and whatever information we’ve obtained about the new head of the Plantin Company. Can you fetch them for me?”

“We have the information you seek, but we’ve yet to actually compile it.”

“Please have it done before our meeting with the merchants at fifth bell.”

“Very well. I shall return to the orphanage director’s chambers at once.”

“Lady Rozemyne, may I accompany Philine?” Muriella asked. She was here as a scholar, having been sent by Elvira, and would certainly be of more use formulating documents than visiting the orphanage.

“Certainly. Do what you can to assist her.”

The pair departed with Monika and Nicola, while I went to the orphanage with Fran and the others.

“Lady Rozemyne...” Fran said. “I am glad to have been asked to move with you and Lord Ferdinand, but I grow more anxious as we near the end of our preparations. It feels like I am giving up my place here.”

“I know how you feel,” Zahm added. “As much as I look forward to my new life, it makes me terribly sad to say farewell to all the people and places I care about.”

Gil would eventually leave the temple to live elsewhere, but not Fran and Zahm. They must have been even uneasier than they were letting on, and it fell to me as their lady to support them. I steeled my resolve as we arrived at the girls’ building.

“Welcome, Lady Rozemyne.”

I gazed around the orphanage’s dining hall while the gray shrine maidens greeted me. They could now make food and sustain themselves when the blue priests’ gifts weren’t enough. I spied bookshelves and toy boxes filled with learning materials in the corner.

Things really have changed...

It wasn’t just the orphanage that stood out to me—the people had changed too. More of them were baptized now, and some had even come of age.

Tuuli came of age too, and Lutz’s ceremony takes place at the end of summer. If he moves to Alexandria before then, won’t that mean his family can’t celebrate with him?

As I contemplated whether to postpone Lutz’s departure, I locked eyes with Delia. Seeing her filled me with nostalgia; I’d visited the orphanage countless times, but quite a while had passed since our last meeting. Once again, I was reminded of the length of my absence.

“Lady Rozemyne, may I have a moment of your time?” she asked.

I agreed, and she rose to her feet. It hadn’t been as obvious when she was on her knees and bowing her head, but she looked especially unwell. I could tell she was forcing herself to smile.

“I just spoke with Dirk,” I said. “I was relieved to see him well, but you, Delia, look a little worse for wear.”

“I cannot bear being apart from him,” she replied, then cast her light-blue eyes down. “At long last, I understand what you meant by not wanting to be separated from your family.”

Delia must have been thinking about the events of the past. Bezewanst and Count Bindewald tricking her into putting Dirk’s name on a submission contract, our fight against Count Bindewald, my imploring Sylvester to save her life... Various thoughts came and went.

There was a moment of silence before Delia looked up again. “May I keep this with me?” She held out the submission contract for Dirk we had prepared in case of an emergency. It was years old, meaning she must have kept it safe all this time. “Dirk sometimes visits the orphanage, and he is having as hard a time as you can imagine. I wish to depend on you if everything becomes too much for him.”

In short, Delia wanted to keep the contract as a protective charm or last resort. I took it from her nonetheless; I couldn’t allow her to use it.

“My apologies, but no. Dirk is no longer an orphan with the Devouring—he is a noble of Ehrenfest. I am neither the High Bishop nor the orphanage director, and soon, I will not even be a member of this duchy’s archducal family. It would not be right to bind him to me without Aub Ehrenfest’s permission.”

I was about to be recognized as the new Aub Alexandria; I couldn’t risk doing anything that might become a major interduchy incident. The look on Delia’s face told me she hadn’t expected my response.

“If something happens to Dirk, first rely on Melchior, the High Bishop, or his backer, the aub,” I stressed. “Do not mistake this order. A careless action on your part could put Dirk in a more desperate situation than before and make a resolvable problem completely uncorrectable.”

Delia paled and clasped her hands in front of her chest. In the past, she had put her faith in the wrong man, exposing Dirk to danger and almost bringing about her own execution. I could tell she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

“If you first receive Aub Ehrenfest’s permission, I will do all that I can to help Dirk,” I said. “That much I can promise you.”

“Right.”

I could see the sorrow in Delia’s eyes. Now that Dirk was a noble, she must have felt like she’d lost her purpose. She needed a duty that only she could perform.

“Delia, Dirk became a noble because he knew orphans and gray priests alone would not be enough to stand against the tyranny of nobles,” I said. “He did it to protect the orphanage—to protect you.”

“I know, but—”

“You are duty bound to protect the orphanage with him.”

Delia said nothing in response; she just stared at me like she didn’t understand.

“As a noble, Dirk will protect the orphanage from the outside. I want you to protect it from the inside.”

“From the inside?”

“If not properly managed, it could crumble even without noble interference. Its children would not have anyone to care for them. I want you to promise me you will not let that happen.”

“Um... That might be too much to promise on a whim...” Delia muttered. Though she wore a slight grimace, I could see life returning to her eyes. I couldn’t help but chuckle at how easy it was to motivate her.

“I want you to be the orphanage’s big sister,” I said, trying to invoke the same feeling as when I’d asked her to care for Dirk. “Treat all the orphans and apprentices here like family.”

Delia’s shock gave way to a chuckle, and she let out a quiet “Geez...” Then she took a deep breath. “Geez, Lady Rozemyne! You always dump so much work on me!” She was pretending to be annoyed, but her great big smile made her true emotions clear. I wasn’t scared in the slightest.

“But you can manage it, can you not?”

“Of course!” she declared. “So... I promise. I’ll become the orphanage’s big sister and protect it from the inside.”