Chapter 38

The Count and Countess of Orsain were as shameless as ever.

Before the banquet at the castle after the spring festival, they asked me to bestow a blessing upon them.

Lord Joshua had declined, saying he was tired, but I insisted, singing that the temple bestows blessings equally.

Lord Joshua joined in the singing, and we blessed everyone present.

There hadn't been a blessing song until last year.

Surely, there isn't even a blessing ceremony in the Orsain territory, is there?

Since there was an orchestra prepared for the night, it was fine.

What the Count and Countess of Orsain brought up was about the traveling shrine maiden ceremony.

They wanted to add their daughter, Camilla, to the choir.

The choir is under the jurisdiction of the temple, but when it involves crossing regions, I can't make the decision alone.

Lord Joshua seemed to be deeply thinking, listening with eyes that showed no emotion.

In principle, there is at least one temple in each territory, and the lord is responsible for protecting it.

The central temple conducts tours upon the request of each lord.

This time, the tour was an opportunity to revive the dormant choir in Carving, but in territories with deep faith, the choir is always present, bestowing blessings to the people.

There is no qualification required to join; anyone of any status can equally bestow blessings.

However, the caretaker is usually a lord or someone of equal standing.

There are fewer temples with priests than without.

Therefore, in principle, the choir members are limited to the residents of the territory.

The reason they brought this up is that Camilla wants to participate in the shrine maiden's blessing ceremony.

After the hymn ceremony, the choir bestows blessings along with the song maiden. Camilla wants to join this.

There is a common misconception that participating in this ceremony will get one scouted as a song maiden. Therefore, families of lords or influential people who haven't received singing training are sometimes forced into the choir.

However, being called by a song maiden during the blessing ceremony does not guarantee becoming one.

Moreover, only girls under 15 can be selected as song maidens. Camilla, who is well over 15, shouldn't have such expectations.

She probably wants to stand on the same stage as the shrine maiden, especially next to her.

It's shameless.

Absolutely shameless.

"Is it alright, Priest? This is a rare opportunity. We want to receive blessings directly from the shrine maiden."

The Countess of Orsain said this in a domineering tone.

She probably thinks this is normal, not that she is trying to belittle me.

Why are they asking me? And why isn't Lord Carving helping?

Also, just because you participate in the blessing ceremony doesn't mean the shrine maiden will definitely call on you.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot make that decision."

I deliberately answered in a troubled manner and deferred to Lord Joshua.

It's troublesome.

I don't want to be involved in such political talk. It's exhausting.

Our eyes met, but I deliberately turned away and swirled my wine glass.

Is it water?!

It was definitely wine when I refilled it!

Is this harassment? Harassment?!

Glancing sideways, I saw Lord Joshua smiling elegantly without meeting my eyes.

"The central temple hasn't informed us of the detailed itinerary yet. Are you saying the shrine maiden's tour won't include the Orsain territory?"

Finally, Lord Joshua took over.

Good, but I won't forget the wine incident.

"Yes, yes."

"Have you made a request for the tour ceremony?"

"Um, yes, right?"

The Countess stammered, trying to shift the blame to Lord Orsain.

Lord Orsain also mumbled, mumbling.

They haven't made a request? I'm surprised.

If they haven't, are they trying to piggyback on the tour to Carving?

Just for themselves.

The visit of the shrine maiden is an honor, but it's a very labor-intensive job.

The shrine maiden and the song maiden, along with about 15 ladies and their double in number of guards and caretakers, make up a total of at least 50 people.

Moreover, the shrine maiden has a status comparable to the king, and there are many high-ranking nobles among the song maidens, priests, and guards.

The requesting side must prepare, of course.

But entertaining such a large number of people requires financial, intellectual, and physical strength of the territory.

That's why, no matter how much the people enjoy it, it can't be done too frequently.

Of course, the temple side doesn't burden disaster-stricken areas, so they are flexible, but this time, it's not a tour for consolation, so the territory will have to bear all the costs.

I know this in detail. I've been a song maiden for a long time.

"Is that so? Normally, if they come to the border, they would stop at the temples along the way, wouldn't they? Right, Arietti?"

Again.

Don't ask me!

If you want to talk, give me some wine!

"Yes, that's often the case. If they stop along the way."

"Surely there must be a plan to stay in the Orsain territory. Or is it a different route?"

So obvious.

There's more than one route to Gil-Ganzena!

"Um, yes. I haven't heard where they will stay."

From Lord Joshua's tone, it seems the itinerary is mostly set. He definitely knows where they will stay.

Of course, since he oversees the southeastern region, he would have to go out if there were an accident along the way.

Sigh. But the Count of Orsain's incompetence is beyond irresponsibility.

I can't deal with this.

Because of people like this, Carving was in such a mess. When I arrived, no one from top to bottom was reliable.

After hearing the love-hate suspense story, their very existence is unsettling.

Does the Countess of Orsain know about the affair?

If she knows and can still come to Gil-Ganzena Castle with her family, what kind of mental structure does she have? I can't, no, I really can't understand.

Absolutely, don't ask me, Lord Joshua!

"Then, let's investigate. The central temple will tell us if we ask. Since the guards are usually from the royal guard, we should also ask the royal temple."

Lord Joshua smiled and said.

"The visit is six months from now. If we start now, we might be able to arrange a schedule for the Orsain territory's temple. The people would want to receive blessings during the tour."

Wow, he's really pushing it.

The Countess of Orsain's mouth is opening and closing. What? What? What do you want to say?

"But, but, is it really just a request from us?"

Huh? What are you trying to say?

The temple doesn't accept bribes.

Besides, it's just a matter of scheduling the time since the routes are the same.

"Of course. Aunt. Since the lord of the Orsain territory is making the request, it has meaning. We haven't sent any other requests besides the letter to Carving, have we? Uncle?"

Eh? I doubt it.

This tour must involve more than just a request.

The Countess's words tell the story.

Hmm?

From the way it sounds, the request letter wasn't written by Lord Joshua? If so, it's even more...

Somehow, the meal has moved to dessert.

Isn't the pace too fast? It seems not everyone has finished eating.

I've finished, though.

I like this dessert. It's a bavarois made with a liqueur from tree fruits, which has a bit of a unique flavor.

While everyone was listening to the conversation between Lord Joshua and the Count and Countess of Orsain with interest, I enjoyed my meal.

Before the dessert, I took a glass, thinking it was wine, but realized it was water.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue in my mind and put the glass back without drinking.

I made eye contact with Viscount Leopold. He opened his eyes wide for a moment and smiled.

Your master has a bad personality!

"But, but, I want to learn to sing hymns properly. Especially if the shrine maiden is coming!"

Camilla suddenly said in a loud voice.

Practice?

You can read sheet music, and you can hire a teacher for vocal training.

After all, as the daughter of a count, you are in a position to invest in such things.

This is something you should do during the social season in the capital, where people gather from all over the country during the parliamentary session.

"Oh, I see. Indeed, our territory's priest is an excellent instructor. Without his exceptional guidance, many in our territory wouldn't be able to read sheet music."

Don't ask me! Don't ask me! Absolutely, don't ask me!

The bavarois is losing its flavor!

"Then, let's do this. If the Orsain territory's temple sends someone, we can practice together with the choir at the Etua temple."

"Yes! I will come."

Camilla enthusiastically volunteered.

"Since we have an excellent choir trained by our priests, it would be a waste to have only you. Please bring a few others."

It's troublesome.

First, I haven't been watching the choir practice recently.

With the marching performance, we've developed reliable people, so my role has decreased.

If I keep relying on me, a part-time person, they won't become independent.

Oh, maybe he knows?

"But, what if the shrine maiden's tour doesn't include the Orsain territory? Then, all the practice will be wasted!"

The Countess of Orsain shouted.

"It won't be wasted. Singing is to encourage the people. It's not just for the shrine maiden, as our temple always says."

Lord Joshua smiled.

I get it! You want me to take it!

I've finished eating!

"I teach hymns to convey the will of the goddess to the people. That's all I can do. If that's acceptable."

I said as humbly as I could.

"Hmph. Thank you. I want to sing the same song as the shrine maiden. The priest can sing the same song as the shrine maiden, can't he?"

Yes, well, we are contemporaries.

But it's according to the sheet music.

But why so condescending?

The shrine maiden is chosen from among the song maidens and represents a hundred song maidens.

Looking down on other song maidens could be disrespectful to the next shrine maiden.

I can't understand what these people want to do.