Chapter 30

As I got off the carriage, Lord Joshua gently pulled me closer and whispered,

"Stay as close as possible. Pretend that your foot is injured."

Ah, there’s a way to decline like that.

True to Lord Joshua’s declaration, he declined all the dance invitations for me.

The invitation came from Lord Zadkiel, the Margrave of the southwestern region adjacent to the Carving territory. He was an experienced elder, about as many years older than Lord Joshua as a grandfather is to a grandson.

Most of the Margraves were gathered there. Among them, Lord Joshua was unusually young.

Given that they were allowed to have private armies and manage the borders, it was clear that they were all seasoned warriors, not to be trifled with.

Even among them, Lord Joshua stood tall and unflinching.

He had spent his time in the capital being doted on by these wily old men. No wonder he became so cunning.

Sure enough, I was still made to perform the march. I’m glad I practiced.

I thought the conversation would turn to the march performance, but it took an unexpected turn.

It has become quite rare for a songstress-turned-priestess to be sent to the border regions. While it’s not common for a songstress to become a priestess after retiring, it’s even more unusual for one to leave the central region and come to the border as a temple priestess rather than a lady of the manor. That’s quite exceptional, isn’t it?

My face must have tensed up a bit.

But the conversation broadened to the topic of how often songstresses end up marrying into foreign noble families.

This has been happening for some time now.

As the worship of the goddess spread, more songstresses began to marry into foreign noble families.

To be honest, songstresses, known as the pinnacle of lady education, are popular even among foreign nobles.

Lady Romelia is a good example. The former High Priestess, who was once a source of disappointment, was courted enthusiastically by Mr. Peyan, a wealthy merchant from a neighboring country.

I’ve heard that many of the priestess candidates who served Lady Romelia have ended up in foreign countries.

And there are rumors that even active songstresses are marrying into foreign noble families one after another.

"How do so many foreign nobles manage to win the hearts of our songstresses? It’s difficult enough to arrange a match even in our border regions."

"Perhaps the foreign nobles are particularly charming."

I thought, "Why are you asking me this?" but I smiled slightly and tilted my head.

"I haven’t entered society, so I don’t know what kind of encounters there might be."

"But that march you performed is from the Bastoma Empire. Since priestesses tour foreign lands, perhaps they are chosen there."

If it were that easy to be chosen, I wouldn’t be here.

"I rarely go abroad. I’ve been in the temple for ten years, and during that time, I’ve only toured foreign lands twice."

"Then where do they meet? Everyone hopes that they will return to their own territories or serve domestically like you, rather than going abroad."

"Indeed. It’s an honor for a songstress to come to a territory. It’s a shame to let them go abroad. Perhaps they are sent abroad to spread the worship of the goddess?"

Hmm... Should I say something here?

I’m a new priestess, so I don’t want to say too much.

"Do you know something, Priestess Smith?"

Sure enough, these wily old men don’t let you off easily.

The sharp, pressuring gazes of the lords who have long governed the difficult border regions were focused on me.

"The temple does not actively send priestesses abroad to spread the worship of the goddess. At least, the current High Priest, Aginels, does not have such intentions."

I can say this with confidence. I spoke with the High Priest just last night.

"The temple performs tours when requested, both domestically and abroad. However, the temple does not see the need to send young women on long, dangerous tours abroad."

"Does the temple not see the need to spread the worship of the goddess?"

The worship of the goddess is the foundation of our country. This phrasing could be seen as questioning the very core of the country.

"The goddess created this world to see people sing and be happy, and she blesses us. We, the temple, are the ones who carry on her will. However, spreading hymns is not the same as spreading the worship of the goddess, according to High Priest Aginels. I agree with this view, as I have been educated in this way. Music is an expression of people’s joy. As long as it encourages and supports people, it is blessed by the goddess, regardless of its form."

High Priest Aginels has served as the High Priest for a long time.

The current interpretation of the doctrine is based on his views, but it is also somewhat different from the norms of the noble society. However, the High Priest does not strongly enforce his views.

He believes it will eventually collapse on its own.

It is not reasonable to confine music, which is a natural expression of human emotion, to a single form. Such attempts are arrogant and will eventually backfire.

Therefore, the temple’s role is to ensure that people do not forget how to sing and enjoy music.

Instruments and hymns are just methods. Any form is acceptable as long as the joy of singing is conveyed.

"Therefore, I don’t think it is necessary for the central temple of our country to send songstresses. The doctrine is simple: people in each region should sing and be happy. The role of a songstress is to encourage those who sing, as a representative of the goddess."

"I see. So there are no tours to regions where music is already thriving."

I nodded.

Often, requests are made for tours because a wonderful band has formed in a certain territory, but these requests are often put on hold.

Some criticize this as cold, but such regions are usually where priestesses are easily selected, and there are opportunities for triumphant tours.

"But if hymns are not sung, can it still be called the worship of the goddess?"

"It is not the intention of the temple to impose hymns written in the language of our country. The language has changed over time, and even within our country, it varies by region. The goddess does not want to hear songs praising her; she wants to see people be happy. Therefore, during tours, we always include songs that have been passed down in the region, so that the goddess can sing and be happy with the people of that land."

The eldest Margrave nodded in understanding.

"The goddess is tolerant and kind. The worship spread because the doctrine was simple and tolerant. People want to judge, but the goddess of our country saves even those who have been judged."

People hold grudges, belittle others, and sometimes even take lives that can never be returned. This is not allowed.

As long as people live, it must never be allowed, as a law of humanity.

In the doctrine of the goddess, causing suffering and taking away joy and song is the greatest sin, and is judged by customary law.

However, there are times when it cannot be avoided.

Sometimes the situation forces people to make difficult choices.

When such choices are made, only the goddess can forgive.

Through the simple act of singing, one can be forgiven for living in this world with the goddess.

These can be songs of repentance or mourning.

The temple teaches that it is enough to sing in one’s heart, even if not aloud.

In this way, people confess their sins to the goddess, receive the means to live in their hearts, and sing the hymns of the goddess.

"I understand. Thank you, Priestess Smith. I was almost forgetting the will of the goddess. That’s why there are so few songstresses and priestesses. They don’t think guidance is necessary."

The eldest Margrave nodded, and the other Margraves seemed to understand as well.

I’m glad they understand.

There are many nobles who, despite this, still misunderstand the role of the temple.

As rulers, nobles should be the ones most influenced by the temple.

Otherwise, the nobility of this country would not have developed.

Power lies with the rulers, and authority with the temple.

It is because they respected each other that people were able to live in stability, as I was taught.

This should be common knowledge among nobles.

Yet, now, the temple is mistakenly seen as a place for music education.

The temple does not teach music. It only enjoys music that people want to sing.

In regions where music has disappeared, the temple goes to plant the seeds.

The people of the region and their lords, the rulers, are the ones who nurture these seeds.

In reality, the temple does not take anything from the land.

There are donations, but the temple does not directly collect a fixed amount for the purpose of nurturing music.

In the past, there were times when this was done, but it led to deteriorating relations with the king and lords, and even the division of the country. This is why songstresses and priestesses study history.

"But I still don’t understand. Why do songstresses end up going abroad? What drives them to do so?"

I don’t understand either.

I thought it was a coincidence, but young women who are secluded in the capital’s temple and immersed in music don’t often have the opportunity to meet foreign nobles or influential people.

"Do you want to marry into a foreign country, Priestess?"

When the eldest Margrave asked me this, I hesitated a bit.

"To be honest, I am interested in foreign countries. There is a lot of music that I can’t hear in this country."

I thought of Lady Romelia’s wedding.

It was the first time I saw a male-only singing group. The deep, powerful sound was a shock.

And the fast-paced violin dance music.

This was not the chamber music of our country, but passionate melodies.

Such things can be a source of inspiration for creation.

When making a play, adding such elements can expand the atmosphere.

"Hmm, I see."

The elder chuckled. Lord Joshua gave me a bitter look.

It’s fine, it’s just an honest opinion.

"But it would be a shame to send you abroad. When your service in Etua is over, I would like to welcome you to my territory. My land is ancient, and your understanding of the old language would be appealing. Of course, you would be treated no less than a priestess."

No, that’s not necessary. I’ve already been tricked once.

Isn’t it the pattern where, after the elder retires, things turn around?

To be honest, I want to quit being a priestess.

I don’t want to be toyed with by nobles.

"Please don’t try to take her, Lord Zadkiel. She is a priestess who has just come to our territory. I won’t let her go easily. I would be hated by the people."

Lord Joshua firmly warned the elder. The wily old men laughed.

They often say this, but they will kick her out in a few years.

Unable to hide my frustration, I pretended to quench my thirst and drank the wine.

Oh, this is delicious.

The aroma that lingers after drinking is good.

But I can’t be fooled by such things.

Even if I can’t have luxurious meals, I don’t want to be a plaything for nobles.