Kairos

I return to the orphanage with additional people. Following close behind me are Melissa, Mr. Theo, Mr. Weiss, and a squad of knights in civilian clothes, dispatched discreetly to assist with the tea plantation and defend the church.

The first thing we need to do is divide our tasks. Melissa and the knights are assigned to search for as many low wooden crates as possible—the kind local merchants use to sell fruits and vegetables in the market. Those crates are essential for moving the mature tea bushes and their root balls from my master’s old cabin without damaging them.

I stay inside the church to sketch out the blueprint for the planned tea plantation in front of Father Graham, Mr. Weiss, and the nuns. With the landownership document laid out on the table beside me, I pull out an empty parchment and map out the walkways and irrigation layout as concisely as possible.

By late afternoon, two large transport carts provided by my grandfather arrive in front of the orphanage. We immediately begin loading the wooden crates onto the carriages, lining them securely and tying them down with hemp ropes so they won't shift during transit.

“This might take two trips to transport them all,” I tell Mr. Theo. “Since you are already familiar with the tea leaves, would you mind transporting the second batch of tea bushes without me? I should stay behind to plant the bushes from the first shipment right away.”

“As you wish, My Lady,” Mr. Theo replies with a respectful bow.

I board the carriage alongside Mr. Theo, Melissa, a few knights, and a handful of the older children, while leaving the others behind to continue clearing weeds, plowing the land, and digging irrigation channels.

We arrive at our destination by the following afternoon. The familiar path brings a wave of nostalgia as the quiet estate comes into view. The tea bushes Master Long Kai and Mr. Theo cultivated stand vibrant and healthy. Without wasting a moment, Mr. Theo and I begin demonstrating how to carefully dig around the base of each bush, keeping the root balls intact before cradling them securely into the wooden crates.

Late that night, we finish loading the first batch. Seeing the children begin to grow sleepy, I sing a soft lullaby for them while Mr. Theo and a few knights drive the carriages back to the chapel.

Once we arrive, I remain at the chapel to oversee the immediate planting of the first shipment. I guide Father Graham, Mr. Weiss, the nuns, and the younger children as we set the root balls into the tilled soil before watering them thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Mr. Theo, Melissa, and the older children turn the carts around to head back for the second and final batch. I suggested they rest and set off the next day, but they insisted on leaving immediately.

When the morning sun washes over the field, the newly planted rows of tea bushes fill the vast yard.

“While we wait for Mr. Theo and Melissa to return with the second haul, let me teach you how to properly tend these bushes.”

The nuns listen to my explanation attentively, parchment and charcoal stubs in hand, ready to record every detail I provide. Mr. Weiss, on the other hand, remains stoic as he prepares much finer paper and an expensive pen.

“First, green tea bushes require consistent moisture, but their roots will rot if water pools around them,” I explain, gesturing toward the shallow drainage channels we dug along the edges of the plot. “Water them early in the morning before the sun gets too high. During the dry season, check the soil daily with your hand—if the surface feels too dry, give them a generous drink.”

Mr. Weiss then asks me, “When will we know it is time to harvest the leaves?”

I smile, picking up a branch from our earlier pruning to demonstrate. “Every seven to ten days during the growing season, new shoots will emerge at the top of the branches. You must pick only the flush—the top two young leaves and the unopened center bud.”

I gently pinch the tip of a stem between my thumb and forefinger to snap it cleanly.

“Do not tear or pull the branch, or you will damage the tea’s growth node. Use your thumb and index finger to snap the tender stem cleanly. The best time to harvest is early in the morning, before the midday heat wilts the fresh leaves.”

The children listen attentively, their eyes wide with awe. “Big sister is so cool! You’re not much older than us, but you are… so amazing!”

“If you work hard, you can be even more amazing than me…” I grin at the boy who spoke.

After finishing the lesson on how to take care of the plants, I am hit by a powerful wave of drowsiness.

“Are you okay?” Father Graham asks, holding my shoulder to keep me from falling.

“It seems not getting any sleep last night is finally catching up to me.”

“Yes… You need to rest. Please follow me.”

Father Graham leads me to a small guest room with a single bed, and I fall asleep the moment I hit the mattress.

When I open my eyes, late afternoon light pierces through the window. I realize with a start that I've slept far longer than intended.

Stepping outside, I find the children already tending to the tea bushes under the gentle guidance of the nuns, putting their new knowledge into practice with genuine enthusiasm. Mr. Weiss and the remaining knights assist the children while observing the process.

“Lady Luminera… Good afternoon. I hope you had a good rest.”

“Father Graham… I thank you for your approval and enthusiasm for this project.”

“I cannot let this opportunity pass, Lady Luminera. If I miss this kairos—this critical moment—there may never be a second chance for us to help more children. I am deeply in your debt, Lady Luminera. Please, ask anything of me—I will help you in whatever way I can.”

It's as though my mouth is moving on its own…

“Do you know anything about a Great Spirit called Chaos?”

“I have no knowledge of a spirit by that name… However, a record of it might exist within the Holy See of Verecia’s Grand Library.”

The Holy See’s Grand Library—a sanctuary built over two thousand years ago. Inside the structure lie records and documents dating back even further than the building itself.

“Father, I need to be honest with you… my true name is Lucia du Verdun.”

“Lucia… As in the First Princess who passed away five years ago?”

“Yes. The one who killed me was a man bound by a contract with that very Great Spirit, Chaos.”

I tell him my story—from the moment Chaos pierced my torso with those terrifying, dimension-cleaving threads, to how Perrie saved my life, and finally how I forged a pact with Chronos to seal Chaos once again.

Father Graham stares at me, his eyes wide with profound shock before his expression hardens into deep contemplation.

“Chaos… and Chronos… Great Spirits that are unheard of. If such Great Spirits exist, it must have been the Church that chose to suppress the information. If someone managed to unseal those Great Spirits, then the Holy See itself might be deeply entangled in this affair.”

“How did you come to know such things?”

“I was once a candidate for Cardinal… However, after witnessing how men betrayed one another—even taking the lives of rival brothers simply to secure the title of Cardinal for themselves—I walked away.”

We look over at the children, who are happily playing after finishing watering the tea bushes.

“Look at the children. I came to believe that raising these orphans would be a far truer service to Heaven. And perhaps I was guided here not only for these little ones, but to stand beside you as well… The world moves in wondrous, mysterious ways.”

Honestly, I am humbled by the sheer nobility of the man standing before me, quietly resolving to become someone more like him in the future. “If a former Cardinal candidate like you doesn't know anything about them, then…”

“Most likely, it is the work of one of the three current Cardinals. They are the only individuals across the continent who likely possess knowledge surrounding these two ancient Great Spirits… The only logical conclusion is that someone with unrestricted access to the Holy See of Verecia’s Grand Library's forbidden archives leaked the locations and the means required to break those seals.”

The scale of this conspiracy is far greater than I had anticipated. Even as the former First Princess, gaining access to the Holy See's Grand Library would have been nearly impossible.

“I promised to repay your kindness. I shall quietly conduct research regarding Chaos, the Great Spirit of Space. I still maintain several contacts within the Holy See of Verecia who can grant me access to the Grand Library’s forbidden archives. But I need some time for this.”

“Thank you very much, Father Graham! I cannot ask for more when you have already been so helpful.”

After that, I start helping with whatever I can around the orphanage until the next morning, when the second batch arrives just before lunch.

“They’re back!” one of the little girls squeals softly, prompting the other children to rush outside to welcome them.

Mr. Theo pulls the horses to a stop, leaping down from the driver's seat with Melissa right behind him. Despite the long journey back and forth from the estate, neither shows a hint of exhaustion.

The older children, who have been resting inside the carriage, stir as it comes to a halt. Stumbling out, they immediately help to unload the low wooden crates bearing the tea bushes.

We start to plant the second batch immediately. Working alongside everyone, we carefully set each remaining root ball into the fertile soil. Row after row, the backyard is now completely transformed into a proper tea plantation.

By the time the lunch hour ends, the final tea bush is firmly rooted in the soil. But I haven’t finished yet…

I pull out a handful of tea seeds from my bag and walk over to a small, remaining plot of empty land near the fence. “I’ll plant these as well. While the mature bushes will support us right now, I hope these seeds grow to become a strong foundation for the orphanage in the years to come.”

After I finish planting the tea seeds, I stand up. Father Graham stands behind me and gently takes my dirt-stained hands before offering a prayer. “May God bless our beloved princess. I know she will overcome any obstacle in her path. Amen.”

For some reason, tears well up in my eyes as he offers his blessing. “Thank you, Father… I will do my best!”

“Tony has prepared a meal!” Melissa shouts as we see Tony carry several batches of soup out to the orphanage, celebrating the happy occasion.

After finishing my meal, a man who appears to be one of the undercover knights hands me a parchment—the intelligence that I requested from my grandfather days ago.

…Principal Orphus.

With only a day remaining until the academic orientation—and my duel with Principal Orphus at the Levre Arena—I bid my farewells as it is time for me to return to the academy grounds and prepare for my next move.