Chapter 7

Looking down from the window facing the courtyard, Coco rested her cheek on her hand and watched the housekeepers, who were hired by the convent, busily hanging out the laundry.

"I have a free place to live and free meals because I'm living here, so I can't really complain, you know."

"Hmm."

Natalia came to the window and looked at the scenery with Coco. It was the usual scene of work.

"Is something wrong with the laundry being hung out?"

"Yeah. Even Natalia thinks so... I wonder if this convent has something to teach besides manners."

"Huh?"

Occasionally, Coco would say things that Natalia couldn't understand and be satisfied with herself. Though originally uneducated, Coco now has several tutors who have drilled her in various subjects. She might know something that Natalia doesn't.

When the young nun, still in her early years, tilted her head in confusion, Coco, noticing the inquisitive gaze, turned around.

"No, I was just thinking again how blessed it is to live in this convent."

"Hmm..."

Natalia, who still couldn't understand what Coco meant, tilted her head again.

◆

The Margrave Women's Convent is both an independent convent and an annex of the Gotland Cathedral. Specifically, it is the highest-ranking women's convent under the direct jurisdiction of the Papal See, integrated with the cathedral.

The convent's dedicated area, which is a corner of the maze-like cathedral that has been repeatedly expanded, is near the church of the first saint. It is said that one of the several courtyards houses a dilapidated chapel.

In the vast dining hall of the convent, the nun on duty loudly recited a prayer of gratitude to the goddess.

(Ah... I just want to eat freely.)

Coco, folding her hands together and bowing her head like everyone else, listened to the singing-like recitation of the holy verses. Every time she bowed her head in meditation, she thought about how troublesome the table manners, which were like a ceremony, were.

Using cutlery was fine; she had already learned that.

What she found uncomfortable and couldn't get used to, even after a long time, was the religious complexity of the convent.

After everyone gathered and sat down, the abbess's speech and prayer of gratitude before the meal.

The silent procession, where one faced forward, ate quietly without making a sound, and signaled the serving staff.

The obscure custom of tearing off a piece of bread, praying, and then putting it in one's mouth.

The rule that everyone must start and finish eating at the same time, even though they couldn't look at each other.

During this time, with over fifty people present, there was complete silence, naturally without any sound.

Coco never got used to this gloomy way of eating, which was unique to the convent.

(I understand that we shouldn't be wasteful and live in poverty... but isn't it also wasteful to create an atmosphere that makes the food taste bad?)

She didn't ask for a band to play a song like in a tavern. However, since it was a meal, couldn't they at least enjoy some casual conversation?

Coco, who couldn't shake her commoner's sensibilities, thought that meals should be the most enjoyable and relaxing time of the day.

But for the convent, this time was more like a form of training than recreation.

(Well, I can still accept the rules of the convent... but...)

There was something else that Coco found most tiring about the convent's meals.

(Why do I have to eat with that old lady...)

Due to the seating arrangement, the nun next to the saint was Sister Veronica, the abbess.

She was a straightforward nun who had dedicated her entire life to the goddess, a personification of discipline, the most inflexible and strict nun in the Margrave Women's Convent, with a keen ear and a penchant for corporal punishment to maintain discipline...

Is there a girl in this world who would want to eat next to a fussy and strict old lady, regardless of whether she is well-behaved or misbehaved?

Relieved that the recitation was finally over, Coco quickly took a piece of bread, pretended to pray, and quickly put it in her mouth.

◆

"Coco, you like having lunch when you're out, don't you?"

When Natalia said this, Coco looked puzzled and asked back.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. When you visit, you seem brighter than usual during mealtime..."

Hmm... After looking up for a moment, Coco smiled and answered Natalia.

"Perhaps it's because the food tastes better when I enjoy it with the lively children."

While the surrounding orphanage staff, who took the saint's flattering words to heart, were delighted, Coco secretly pinched the attendant who had asked the impertinent question.

With a saintly smile, she whispered to Natalia, who had tears in the corners of her eyes.

'Are you an idiot, Natalia? Can I enjoy a meal with Sister Veronica at the head table?'

'That's right...'

(Well, it's not just that...)

Coco swallowed the rest of her words and took a spoon with a smile.

◆

The carriage usually only had Coco and Natalia, making it the most relaxing space for Coco outside of her private room. For Natalia, today's return carriage ride was also the most relaxing time, as Coco's true identity had not been exposed.

"Phew... We managed to get through today's visit. I'm grateful to the goddess."

"I'm the one who's been working hard. If you're going to give thanks, it should be to me."

"That's the kind of attitude that makes me nervous."

While they exchanged their usual banter, Natalia suddenly remembered the conversation from lunch.

"Still... I'm not good at the meals at the places we visit."

"Is that so? Is it because the kids pester you?"

The motherly and gentle Natalia, who seemed to embody the ideal mother or sister, was popular with the children wherever she went. Incidentally, the younger-looking Coco was seen as a friend.

"No, it's not that... It's just that the content of the meals is..."

"Ah... Well, living in Margrave can make you feel that way, I guess."

Considering the history of the establishment of the cathedral in the capital of Vigne, in a sense, the women's convent is older than the cathedral or the Papal See.

Its long history, high status as a direct jurisdiction of the Papal See, and the sense of security of being in the heart of the capital of Vigne while being strictly separated from the secular world make the Margrave Women's Convent an ideal place for the daughters of the nobility and gentry to prepare for their debut in society.

Daughters of the nobility and wealthy often spend one or two years in another place to learn manners and prepare for their debut in society.

In addition to the Margrave, popular choices include the palace's ladies-in-waiting and the maids of high-ranking nobles. Training in such places can be effective for learning practical manners and making useful connections at court. However, there are also risks.

The possibility of inappropriate advances from the master.

The possibility of forming romantic relationships due to many encounters.

The worst-case scenario is being swept away by a playboy noble.

In terms of learning manners and maintaining a good reputation, the convent is unmatched. If a girl already has a fiancé, there's no need to look for a good match close to the social scene.

Most of the young nuns at Margrave are from the upper class and have been sent to the convent for such reasons. About a third are dedicated nuns like Dorothea, who have stayed past the age of twenty.

...Natalia, who was supposed to be preparing for her debut, is an exception due to Coco.

"Natalia, hold out your hand."

"Huh? What for?"

Coco stroked the hand that Natalia, the viscount's daughter, held out palm up. Despite being often dragged around by Coco, she had slender, long fingers and smooth, beautiful skin.

"Natalia, your hands are so beautiful."

"Hehe, I take good care of them!"

Natalia, proud of her hands, puffed out her chest. Coco couldn't help but smile at her innocence.

Yes, Natalia's hands were beautiful.

Coco thought of the hands of the nuns at the orphanage she had just visited.

From the head nun to the novices, everyone's hands were rough from work.

Cleaning.

Washing.

Cooking and sewing.

Sometimes even repairs, field work, and part-time jobs to earn operating funds.

The Margrave Women's Convent specializes in taking in daughters of the upper class.

The nuns are truly only engaged in spiritual training. The labor is left to the hired housekeepers. Even though Natalia takes care of Coco, it's just personal care; Natalia doesn't wash Coco's clothes.

The young nuns are all preparing for their debut in society and are only imitating nuns for a short period to learn manners.

Thanks to the convent, even the relatively resilient Natalia found the meals at the orphanage unsatisfactory. At Margrave, a proper cook prepares a main dish with bread and soup for every meal.

At the lower-ranking convents, the meals are often made by the nuns on duty, consisting of porridge or vegetable stew, and often lack proper side dishes. If the quantity is sufficient, it's considered a good meal.

Therefore, it's natural for Natalia, who eats three meals a day suitable for the upper class, to complain about the thin, watery porridge.

When Coco visits the orphanages and plays with the children, she sometimes asks about their usual meals when the adults aren't around.

When she hears about the menus that make Natalia complain,

"Today was a bit of a feast!"

She often hears this response.

It's not that they're trying to hide it, but perhaps they want to show off a little for the saint's visit.

The top-tier Margrave and the lower-ranking convents each have their roles in society.

So, while Coco doesn't intend to say anything about the differences in treatment...

"I still want the people at the top to know..."

The feeling of looking up at the sky from the ground.

If they don't, something might break one day.

"What's wrong, Coco?"

"Hmm? Nothing."

As Coco let go of Natalia's hand, the carriage was just passing through the grand gate of the cathedral.

Their usual world awaited them.