59 Winter's Visit




While I was watching the storm that was raging in the palace from above, the season was quickly accelerating into winter. The wind blew with a hint of withering of the trees, and in the mornings and evenings, there were rare flakes of snow. The snow will probably not start falling until the new year, but for those who seek warmth, this is the beginning of the season of endurance.

In contrast to the dismissal of the former chief consort Maris and the thorough investigation and punishment of those working in the inner palace, there has been little change in the outer palace, apparently. It was my parents, Chris, and some free double-dealer who told me this.

It seems that the crown is being kept under wraps. The guy who bought it was pressured from behind the scenes and 'voluntarily' gave up his lands and job.
The people who were connected to the High Priestess are also going through some interesting things. The people who were connected to the chief lady have been going through some interesting things. Oh, the vice minister of the Ministry of the Interior? The vice minister of the Ministry of the Interior said he resigned his post due to a chronic illness.
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...... All of these are double-cloak-and-dagger stories.
It is time to seriously reconsider the definition of double-cloaking. The information he gives me is not limited to the Peony side these days, or even to the royal court. I'm wondering if it's possible to have such a convenient 'double agent'.
She wonders what he's thinking and why he's so willing to work outside of his duties. Deanna has been thinking about this a lot lately.

"...... Dear Deanna? Are you listening to me?
"Oh, ...... I'm sorry, Mrs. Magnum. What were we talking about?

I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I'm sure you're thinking about it. Deanna, who grew up in an unpredictable household, is vulnerable to someone like Mrs. Magnum who respects etiquette and common sense. She bowed her head honestly.

I'm sorry, .......
You can think all you want, but you have to understand what I'm saying.
"I'll be careful. ...... So?
"It's about Les Armeniastes.

Deanna tilted her head. If you're talking about the descent.

I'm sure Madame Magnum has taken care of all the preparations for the festival.
As for the inner palace, that is my domain, of course, and I am making preparations.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who's in charge of this.

Descent - Les Armeniastes.
Amenos, the all-knowing and all-powerful god of light, who descended from the world of the gods to this world and is said to have brought light, given knowledge, and laid the foundation for human life. This is the festival of thanksgiving and prayer on the day his god descended to earth. That is the Advent Festival.
The Kingdom of Ergeland is not a very religious place. The main deity is Amenos, but if you want to pray for fertility, the deity Lyr appears, and if a girl wants to be beautiful, she asks the god Flodi. There is a different god for each kind of request. The sense of religion is very general and appropriate.
However, among them, Amenos has a strong presence as a 'light' who watches over us anytime and anywhere, and supports us when we are in trouble. Amenos is also enshrined as the main deity in temples around the world.
The 25th day of the last month of the year (generally called "Mori-zuki") is designated as the "Lord's Day," and the period from the 20th to the 29th days before and after the Lord's Day is designated as a festival period, during which various events are held in various places. Specifically, houses and rooms are decorated, special dishes are prepared, and squares are filled with stalls every day. Every year at this time, the whole country is in a festive mood, as the farming season is over and the year is drawing to a close.

Surprisingly, the only day when all this excitement dies down is the 25th, the "Lord's Day. People go to the nearest temple in the morning to pray to the god Amenos. The ideal way to spend the "Lord's Day" is to relax with your family, exchange gifts with each other, and end the day in a happy mood.
This may be the only "day of faith" in this country that does not place much importance on religion. Even people who usually don't pay attention to temples naturally pass through the gates of temples on this "Lord's Day". This is the mystery of the Advent.

Of course, the nobles also participate in this event.
However, they do not join the people in browsing the stalls (except for a few eccentrics). For the nobles, the festival is basically a "day and night party. In a sense, they are worse than the people who sleep well at night.
At this time of the year, the nobles party all day long at their respective residences. They visit the houses of their good friends one after another and enjoy themselves until they are satisfied, and then go to sleep when they reach the limit. In the house of a great nobleman, the party continues even though all the family members are out of the house, and strangers are having a party in the main room.
And again, the mysterious "Lord's Day" effect makes the 25th a quiet day. In the section of the capital where the nobles live, there is also an independent temple, where they pray mysteriously on the 25th.

--Incidentally, the Crester family did not participate in these series of disturbances. It would be a pity for both sides if they asked their good friends (because, unlike "socializing," the feast of the Descent is supposed to be enjoyed only with friends who can be trusted), and those who want to actively befriend the "Evil Lord" want to refuse to do so themselves. This is because it is the least disruptive thing to do.
And during this vacant period, the entire Crester family is secretly flying to various territories to see if any problems arise from the festivities. Under the guise of ......, they are enjoying the festivities of the people. Only on the 25th, he returns to his home base in the Cresta and goes to the nearby temple to pray. On the last day of the year, the thirtieth day of the forest month, all the noblemen participate in a night party at the royal palace (which lasts until the first day of the starry month, the new year), so each of them returns to the capital in time for the party. This is how the Crester family spends the Descent Festival.

--This is how the Crester family spends the Passover. To put it bluntly, Diana has only a very limited knowledge of the Passover of ordinary nobles.

"Is it really that hard for the royal court to do at Advent?
"There is nothing much to say about the Advent alone. At most, we decorate the palace, take care of the royal family, and prepare a special meal. The people who work for us also take turns taking vacations during this time.
Oh, ......, but this year we have the palace.
But this year, we have the Inner Palace. I've already told the workers that they won't be given leave until after the new year.

As you can see, he is a very experienced leader. You can't go wrong with Deanna's make-shift "Red Rose".



This is also the reason why Deanna is lavish in her praise of Madame Magnum. At the time when she was officially appointed as the head mistress, it was just over half a month until the end of the year. From this point on, it is usually impossible for her to control people's minds and finish the preparations for the Advent and New Year's Eve (as you can see from the dates, these two events are consecutive).
Madame Magnum dealt with this difficult situation without raising an eyebrow. With so many people to dispose of and so little manpower, I don't know how she did it, but she got everything ready with amazing speed, and now the whole palace looks beautifully decorated and sparkling.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bit of trouble with the whole thing.
It's ...... inevitable, I suppose. But is it okay? This year you will have less time to prepare because of the palace.
Don't worry. We've already set up the duties during the Descent Festival, so we should be ready in ten days.
I'm glad to hear that.

If necessary, Deanna was afraid that she would have to ask the king to send his wife home temporarily. It would be lonely for them to spend the descent festival with nothing to do.

...... So there are no special events at the palace other than the Lord's Day service?
That's what I'm here to talk about today.

The new headmistress, who was always ready for anything, nodded her head and opened her mouth again.

During the Advent Festival, I will arrange for refreshments and sweets to be served in the salons and tea rooms of the palace so that the ladies of the court can enjoy themselves to their heart's content. In the east courtyard, we will invite the merchants of the capital to enjoy the atmosphere of a small market.
"I see, that sounds wonderful.

In the current palace, there are both noble daughters who respect the old customs, and daughters who are more like common people. I guess Madame Magnom wanted to make sure that both of them could enjoy the festival.
Deanna smiled and nodded.

I have no objection to that. You may proceed as you wish.
"Very well, sir. --And, 'Master Red Rose'.

The lady's voice changed distinctly. She rarely calls Diana 'Red Rose' in the first place.
I have a bad feeling about this," she said, just as Diana was about to pull back.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

...... A super-sized bomb.

It was Rita who came to her senses more quickly than Diana, who had been modestly waiting in the background, listening to the conversation. She leaned forward with a look of surprise.

What do you mean? What do you mean? Why would Master Diana need to do such a thing with you?
...... I don't suppose you and Rita are aware of the role of the royal family in the advent festivities?

Rita and Deanna, who had worked hard to come back to reality, looked into each other's eyes. I'm sure you'll be able to tell from the way they look at each other that they don't know each other, without the need for words.

I'm sorry I'm not familiar with .......

When I implored her to tell me, the intuitive Mrs. Magnum chuckled in annoyance.

If I may ask, are you aware of the legend that the royal family of this country is descended from heroes who were entrusted with this land by the god Amenos and founded it?
Yes, I am aware of that.

It's a common myth. Of course, Diana doesn't believe it. She believes that the royal families of the past wanted to unite the country by claiming that they were the chosen people who were given this land by the gods.

In other words, the royal family of Elgrand is inseparable from the god Amenos. That's why it is customary for the king himself to go to the Temple of Mist on the Lord's Day of Pentecost to worship his god.
I just learned that the main temple of the Armenian religion is the Temple of Mist.
I've just learned that the main temple of Armenianism is the Temple of Mist. ...... That's something you should know as a matter of common knowledge.

I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it. However, there are always exceptions to the rule.
However, there are always exceptions to everything, and the only thing Deanna avoids is religion. The reason for this is simple: praying to God will not change reality, and if you want to change it, you have to do it yourself.
Incidentally, this is a tendency seen not only in Diana, but in the entire Crester family. Born with a "bad face" and destined to be misunderstood regardless of their own intentions, they basically live in the realm of surrealism. Therefore, they do not pray to God, except once a year on the Lord's Day.

Mrs. Magnum almost sighed at Diana's blitheness, but she too was a long-time friend of Fiona of Crester. She seemed to have made up her mind that common sense would not work with this family, and continued with her explanation.

On the twentieth day of the twentieth month of the forest, the first day of the Advent Festival, the royal party will head for the Temple of Mist and travel northward through the kingdom for five days. After arriving at their destination on the 24th, they will purify their bodies and minds for worship, and on the following day, the 25th, they will perform a ritual to worship Amenos.
"...... Are you saying that His Majesty will be in a carriage for most of the ten days of the Advent?
Yes, sir. There is still room on the outward journey, so he may visit the festivals in various places.

However, His Majesty the King can't join the people to attend the festival. The annual festival was held without the king.

It's tough being a king. ......
"It's not personal. Master Diana will be accompanying you this year.

The reality that she had been trying to escape came back with more direct words. This time, Diana shouts.

"So why me? Isn't this your duty, Your Majesty?
"I never said 'His Majesty only'. I said "the royal family.

Think back to our previous conversations. ...... That's what Master Magnum said.
--But...

I'm not officially a member of the royal family!
"But I am the Red Rose.

"But I am the Red Rose," came the reply, a fact he had recently forgotten. She tried to say something back, but couldn't find the words to say anything, so Deanna fell silent.



We can't ask Her Majesty to go to the shrine alone when there's a Red Rose in the palace, even if she's not the Queen. The descent festival is a time to give thanks to the god Amenos, and at the same time, it is a time to reconnect with family and friends who are always there for us.
...... What does His Majesty think about this? I don't think she wants to have a heart-to-heart with me at all.
I'm not sure that she wants to have a heart-to-heart with me. I think she agreed.

...... I really wish he would have said, "Why do you think I'm a 'Red Rose'? I was hoping that you would have rebuked me as before. If His Majesty the King has no objection, how can Diana, his wife, refuse to accept it?

Seeing Diana completely unable to refute, Master Magnum apparently decided that she was satisfied. With a formal bow, she told her unceremoniously.

Our departure is the morning of the day after tomorrow. Please prepare for your journey.

--Deanna had a strong feeling that this was going to be the most troublesome advent festival of her life.