Chapter 130: Year-End Visit

Matching the slow bass rhythm played by Estelle, who had started ahead of me, I began to play the guitar.

The song is Ben E. King’s Stand By Me. It goes without saying that it’s a masterpiece shining brilliantly in the history of modern music.

In the 1980s, it also became the theme song for a coming-of-age movie.

This Stand By Me is famous not only for its high degree of perfection as a song, but also for being easy for beginners to play. Of course, “easy to play” just means that; without employing various techniques, it won’t reach a high level of perfection.

Even so, this somehow nostalgic rhythm and gentle melody give me an indescribable sense of fulfillment while playing. It makes me think, “Music is wonderful.”

“Yes, very good. You’re gradually getting better. Lady Sakuraile, you had a few mistakes in the latter half. Lady Estelle, please keep in mind to consistently maintain the same rhythm.”

After we finished playing, we received strict words from Pamela-sensei. It’s true that I made many mistakes in the latter half. Once I make a mistake, I panic, and trying to recover just makes me make another mistake…

“It’s definitely more fun playing together than practicing alone!”

Estelle said with a smile, but on her end, there were almost no mistakes. She’s overtaking me in the blink of an eye… Well, there’s no point in comparing the bass and the guitar, though.

“Let’s practice more so we can perform properly at the New Year’s Banquet.”

“Yes!”

“Yeees…”

Unlike Estelle, who answered energetically, I gave a rather gloomy response.

The ‘New Year’s Banquet’ is a party to celebrate the arrival of the new year. However, the ‘New Year’s Banquet’ Pamela-sensei is talking about isn’t the New Year’s party held at the castle, but a private party held among close associates.

This year, it was decided that our Philharmonie Ducal House would host it, gathering the nobles of the ‘Royalist Faction,’ and it was also decided that we would hold a concert during that event.

Well, since we’ll have to perform in front of people eventually, perhaps it’s parental consideration thinking it would be easier on our nerves to start with a party full of close associates… but no matter the situation, performing in front of people is bound to be nerve-wracking…

I really need to become able to play it through to the end without making mistakes… I think I could play much better in my previous life… Is it because I’m in a child’s body?

“Just bass and guitar might be a little lonely. We really want drums or a keyboard. As expected, at the New Year’s Banquet, I should…”

“Umm.”

As if interrupting Sensei’s words, Bianca, who happened to be sitting on a chair observing our lesson, raised her voice.

“Um, could you let me play the drums?”

“Bianca?”

Eh? You’re going to play the drums? Bianca is?

“When I played at Lady Sakuraile’s store, I somehow felt this might suit me better…”

You were certainly playing the drums, but… wasn’t Bianca learning the flute?

“I was told from the beginning that I wasn’t really suited for the flute anyway. As long as I could play one or two songs, it was fine for the tea parties at my house…”

Ah… Bianca’s house is definitely surrounded by other knight peerage tea parties… Since many of those families are martial-oriented, they probably don’t place much emphasis on music in the first place.

“Also, if it’s the keyboard, Ritsu might be able to do it. She’s been learning from the senior maids, and she can play simple songs now.”

“Eh, Ritsu can?”

Surprised by those words, I instinctively looked at Ritsu, who was sitting next to Bianca.

It’s true that our music room is open to the servants, and anyone can use it if they ask.

Since many of our servants originally come from noble families, a lot of them can play instruments. I had heard that Ritsu was learning instruments from the senior maids, but she became able to play that quickly?

As a test, we had Ritsu play the keyboard, and although it was halting, she could properly play a simple practice piece. Eh, it hasn’t been that long since you started learning, right!? Isn’t that too fast!?

We also had Bianca play the drums, and while rough, it was generally taking shape.

“That’s wonderful. Then shall we form a band with the four of you and try practicing together?”

“U-Um… Is it really okay for me to join, Lady Sakuraile?”

Perhaps lacking confidence in Pamela-sensei’s proposal, Ritsu asked hesitantly. I guess she’s wondering if it’s acceptable since she wasn’t born a noble…

“It’s fine. We aren’t going to be invited to perform at some other family’s party; it’s just going to be close associates, so there’s no problem.”

Yes, there’s no problem. No problem, but… If I don’t practice like crazy, I might get overtaken in no time, and I could end up being the worst one…

And so, the four of us ended up forming a band. It feels like we’d be named something like ‘The Villainesses with Heroine’…

◇ ◇ ◇

The end of the year was gradually approaching. Father was busy with preparations for castle ceremonies, and Mother was frantically preparing for the New Year’s Banquet.

On Earth, it would be almost Christmas around this time. Unfortunately, there is no custom of Christmas in this world, so we don’t eat cake, nor does Santa bring presents.

In its place, though, there is a custom called the “Year-End Visit,” where people thank the Gods for being able to spend the past year safely. Well, it just means going to church and praying.

It seems to be like the “Year-End Shrine Visit” in Japan. We didn’t have such an event in the slums. I guess that’s obvious since there wasn’t a church, though.

A lot happened this year… Or rather, too much happened.

The old pharmacist lady who raised me passed away, I returned to the Ducal House, received my ‘Gift’, was bestowed the [Holy Sword], and defeated the Dark Dragon.

On top of that, I defeated the Black Knight of the Magic Sword, went to the territory and prevented an epidemic, and became friends with the Imperial Princesses at the Autumn Cooling Party… This past year has been way too intense…

I hope next year will be a peaceful one, but with various ruin flags still remaining, I have a feeling it won’t be that easy…

For now, I have to avoid Pamela-sensei’s death.

For the past few days, under the pretext of everyone practicing instruments for the ‘New Year’s Banquet,’ I’ve been seeing Pamela-sensei every day.

So far, no particular incident seems to have occurred. Will it happen after the new year begins? No, I can’t let my guard down.

“Sakura-chan, are you ready to go? Are you all set?”

“Ah, yes. I’m ready.”

Answering Mother, who peeked her face through the door, I had Ritsu help me put on my cherry blossom-colored down jacket.

The Ducal House is going to do the ‘Year-End Visit’ today.

For the ‘Year-End Visit’, you just have to go to the temple to pray during the last week of the year. In Earth terms, it means you can go anytime between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Wanting to get it over with quickly, the Ducal House decided to go on the very first day.

Carrying Father and Mother—who somehow managed to wring out half a day off—along with me and Kohaku-san, the carriage bearing the Ducal House’s crest headed straight for the church.

Eventually, the church in the First District, which looks exactly like the Cologne Cathedral, came into view.

How nostalgic. It feels like it’s been years since I received my ‘Gift’ there. Even though not even a year has passed yet.

In front of the church, carriages bearing the crests of several noble houses were lined up. Like us, they’re impatient people who want to get their visit done quickly.

Since the church here in the First District is basically visited by upper and middle-class nobles, the upper-class nobles include the Royal Family, Dukes, Marquises, and Margraves, while the middle-class nobles are Counts and Viscounts. Well, there are very few middle-class nobles who can afford to maintain a residence in the First District, though.

Since it’s the social season, most nobles have come out to the Royal Capital, but Margraves like my Grandfather are often in their territories, so they do their ‘Year-End Visit’ at the church in their territory.

We got off the carriage and entered the church.

Proceeding in a different direction from the small room where I received my ‘Gift’ last time, we arrived at a solemn chapel.

At the front was beautiful stained glass, and along the walls were multiple altars lined up, adorned with statues and paintings.

At the front altar, nine pillars stood surrounding it, and beautiful statues of the Goddesses were displayed.

Those are the ‘Nine Goddesses of Creation’, right? The only ones I’ve met are the four Goddesses: Linzeveil-sama, Sakuracleria-sama, Leenbelte-sama, and Yuminaria-sama, but none of them seem to resemble them… I mean, they’re beautiful, sure? But they lack distinctive features, somehow.

Especially around the chest area… Leenbelte-sama and Yuminaria-sama were more, well… modest, I think. Were they padded?

『They don’t look alike at all.』

“Shh!”

I pressed a finger to my lips to silence Kohaku-san, who had muttered that under his breath.

The church officials know that Kohaku-san is a Divine Beast. They’ve been sending passionate gazes from afar since earlier, after all.

If they heard Kohaku-san say ‘They don’t look alike,’ those Goddess statues would undoubtedly be removed and new ones made.

Fortunately, it seems he wasn’t heard, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

If he had been heard, he—meaning Kohaku-san—would have ended up being endlessly questioned about what the Goddesses look like.

Well, since no one has ever met the Goddesses, they probably had no choice but to make them from imagination, so it can’t be helped that they turned out like this.

Even the Saints in the Gospel Kingdom can apparently only hear their voices.

Inside the chapel, there were already several other nobles, offering their prayers earnestly.

“Listen, Sakuraile. Kneel and pray to the Goddesses. Then, recall the events of the past year and give thanks for being able to spend it safely.”

“Understood.”

Is the etiquette for worship like the ‘two bows, two claps, one bow’ at a shrine? Following Father and Mother, I kneeled, pressed my hands together, and closed my eyes.

Umm, safely this past year… Safely? Yeah, well, I give thanks that I was able to spend it safely.

I look forward to your continued favor next year… Wait, that sounds like a New Year’s greeting.

“Well, it’s still a bit early for ‘Happy New Year’.”

“Eh?”

When I opened my eyes at the unfamiliar voice, the sight of that familiar, beautiful garden jumped into view.

In the large gazebo in front of me were Sakuracleria-sama, Linzeveil-sama, Leenbelte-sama, Yuminaria-sama, and another person—a slightly short woman with long, blonde, wavy hair. She looks a little bit like Yuminaria-sama.

“Nice to meet you. I am Suetiara. Best regards.”

“Ah, y-yes, best regards…”

Ah, it is one of the Nine Goddesses. Suetiara-sama, the Goddess of Life who cherishes the lives of all creation.

Or rather, why am I here…?