Chapter 49

The day of the shrine maiden's tour departure has passed, and finally, a detailed itinerary from the central shrine arrived.

It's too late.

Summoned by Lord Joshua, I looked at the documents as if devouring them.

In my hands was the list of participants for the tour.

Shrine Maiden.

37 Song Maidens.

5 Priests.

10 Maids.

20 Guard Knights.

37 Song Maidens!?

I counted the number several times and sighed.

Are they crazy!?

Why do they need so many?

And the number of guards is too few.

The ratio should be double the number of Song Maidens, at least.

If there are nobles involved, it should be even more.

When Cecilia, who is of royal lineage, participated in the tour, she brought her own knights.

The more people there are, the more work it creates, so she rarely participated in the tours.

And the number of maids is too few.

"Is there a more detailed list with the Song Maidens' and priests' backgrounds? And a schedule for the groups?"

I asked Lord Joshua, who had been silently watching me, and he had the clerks fetch them.

Several documents were handed to me, listing names, ages, positions, and the allocation of carriages and lodgings.

The familiar format suggested that they were using the same one.

"There should be a list of the advance party and the order of the carriages. Do you have those too?"

Lord Joshua smiled slyly and silently handed over the documents.

I was a bit irritated.

Give me everything.

It's so troublesome to ask for each one.

"You're very detailed. It's as if you've made this before."

"Yes, I have."

Actually, I was involved when this format was established. That's why I know how the tour operates.

"I see," Lord Joshua muttered.

"You're too competent."

"It's an honor."

I flipped through the list and read it.

"Do Song Maidens do all this?"

No, I had free time because I didn't have to socialize.

Also, I've been a Song Maiden for a long time.

During the tour, the work is divided, but the shrine maiden is responsible for overseeing the entire journey. I often assisted in managing the itinerary.

I sometimes wondered if this was a job for an older priest, but I was always assigned it, and I didn't know much about the past.

Even if I doubted it, it wouldn't reduce my workload. Working hard would make the tour more comfortable.

"The basic principle of a Song Maiden is to do things for herself. During the tour, everyone shares the work. I handle the overall progress."

It was fortunate that this experience would be useful.

The further we get from the capital, the more unfamiliar the areas become.

Food, clothing, hygiene, and health management.

Moving with a large group is already prone to trouble, and special considerations for young women add another layer of complexity.

That's why we borrow guards and palace guards from the royal palace.

I noticed the name of Lord Gandolf Du Kickerne on the list.

He was the former fiancé who denounced Lady Romelia.

"Lord Kickerne?"

He is the son of the prime minister but has no official position in the temple. He's not a knight either.

Looking at the list, his name was listed as a priest.

Why?

Priests can be included even if they don't have an official position, such as instrument repair specialists or doctors for health management.

However, I didn't think Lord Gandolf was involved with the temple.

And another name caught my attention.

"…Lord Kiriam."

He's not the head priest, but he's listed as attending the shrine maiden.

I sighed.

Sure enough, there's more than one complication.

There was another request from the temple.

They wanted to invite neighboring countries to a welcome banquet.

"Lord Kickerne personally requested that we invite Lady Peyan from Gaine Port. As a friend of Arietty, you."

What!?

"Why?"

"Who knows?" Lord Joshua replied indifferently.

Well, he wouldn't be interested.

In other people's love lives.

This man is surprisingly cold and dismisses things he's not interested in.

But, but! I'm involved in this!

It's deeply connected to Shrine Maiden Alicia!

"Lady Romelia was Lord Kickerne's former fiancée. She was in the position of having her engagement broken off by him."

"Yes, I know."

You knew!?

Then, show a bit more interest!

They're trying to do something at the banquet you're hosting?

"The previous shrine maiden tried to harass and belittle the current shrine maiden Alicia. It's a well-known story."

My chest ached.

"Lady Romelia's actions tarnished the shrine maiden's reputation, and when Lord Kickerne heard about it, he broke off the engagement. She fled the country afterward. That's the rumor I know."

Lord Joshua said coldly.

A dishonorable rumor. A dishonorable shrine maiden.

Lady Romelia will never be able to return to this country with dignity.

It's frustrating.

But these people believed the rumor and sided with Alicia.

"What do you think?"

When asked, I looked up.

Lord Joshua's expression was unreadable.

At such times, he has the face of a ruler, one that doesn't tolerate youthful arrogance.

I want to earn this man's trust. He has an aura that makes me want to do so.

"Lady Romelia was strict with herself and with us. She was proud to be a Song Maiden. She wasn't the type to secretly harass others."

Lord Joshua's expression was the same as those I respected, one of whom was Lady Romelia.

Even if Lord Joshua despises Lady Romelia, I believe in her.

Even if her actions tarnished the shrine maiden's reputation and she was blamed and fled the country, I didn't see her harass anyone.

I didn't see Alicia being hurt.

I can only believe in the Lady Romelia I saw.

"Then, I will believe you."

Lord Joshua smiled beautifully.

"I don't know Lady Peyan. But you respect her, don't you?"

"Yes."

The five years I served her.

I always looked up to her back.

Her efforts to live up to the respect she received, equal to that of the king.

As the representative of 100 Song Maidens, she performed the arduous tour every year, bringing blessings to the people.

She was my goal.

"You are a trustworthy person. That's why I believe in you. In the Lady Peyan you believe in."

Thank you. I bowed my head.

"It's good to send an invitation to Gaine Port."

What?

What was the point of that conversation?

Lord Joshua chuckled.

"Strange face."

Huh!?

What? What? That brat-like face!

I thought for a moment that I could rely on him!

"Anyway, she'll probably decline. But we can't not send it. We need to explain to Lord Kickerne. Write the invitation as you see fit, as a friend of yours."

And it would be better if she declines. Lord Joshua smiled coldly.

"Are you not going to decline? Inviting a foreigner."

There's no need to accept such a presumptuous request.

"I won't decline. I need to see what they're trying to do in someone else's castle."

Ah.

Cool.

My heart skipped a beat at his expression.

Why can a young man make such a wicked face?

It would be more enjoyable if I didn't have so many conflicting feelings.

Suddenly, Lord Joshua pinched my cheek.

It hurts!

"Trust me more. I won't hurt the things you love."

Ah.

Why do you say such cool things!?

I want to believe.

I want to believe in you.

But.

You're the one who hurt me the most?

When you refused my request to go to the border as a lord's wife, and even now.

After that, the days passed in a torrent.

Messages from the carvings I had scattered in the tour destinations came one after another.

On the third day of the tour, it rained.

This is a rare occurrence since I became a Song Maiden.

During the shrine maiden's tour, it doesn't rain where the group goes.

Especially during the festival.

Only those who understand the temple's doctrine and internal workings would recognize this as a rare event.

Lady Alicia has lost her qualifications as a shrine maiden.

This is a fact I am certain of.

I hope she realizes this and changes her attitude before she arrives here.