The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 42
The reason she knew was because she had seen it in an encyclopedia.
As she gently touched the smooth petals of the flower, she suddenly noticed that the color of this flower was slightly different from what she had seen in the encyclopedia.
‘It was red in the encyclopedia… but this camellia is pink.’
She didn’t need to ask who had placed it there.
Since he wasn’t a man to hide his actions.
Amber’s gaze shifted to the note under the vase.
[When you wake up, you’ll be surprised.]
A fluttering feeling stirred in her chest.
With a light touch, she swept away the scrawled message with her fingertips and then heard a knock at the door.
“Madam, have you woken up?”
“Is it Betty? Come in.”
“The Master specifically instructed me to assist you with your dressing.”
Betty, who was older than Nora, was always calm and composed.
Igmeyer knew that there were only two maids serving her, and if Igmeyer had specifically ordered Betty to be present, it must be for an important event, most likely a banquet.
“Yes, please help me.”
Besides the flowers, Amber wondered what else Igmeyer had prepared.
* * *
After a moment, when she stepped out of the bedroom, she could sense a different scent in the air.
It wasn’t that her nose was acting strangely, but this was the scent of sulfur and fire.
In other words, it was the smell of the blacksmiths.
‘He really took my words to heart!’
Feeling ecstatic, she descended the stairs, and the scent of iron became even stronger in the wind.
“Betty, what’s going on in the castle?”
“Some young blacksmiths who have just completed their apprenticeship have gathered here.”
Betty’s polite response made it clear that this event was not just an ordinary gathering of blacksmiths.
Listening carefully, she could hear the blacksmiths singing in the background.
She briefly stopped walking and listened closely as Betty added one more thing.
“This is a song they sing when they’re tempering steel.”
“I see. Have many blacksmiths come?”
“I thought you might ask, so I found out in advance. There are a total of thirty novice blacksmiths, and three craftsmen each of them has more than ten years of experience.”
Betty was definitely useful.
Amber nodded in approval and pulled out the plain silver ring she was wearing.
“Take it. I would appreciate it if you continue to do this in the future.”
“I am grateful.”
Betty’s reaction to the gift was quite different from Nora’s.
Nora was eager to please and sought recognition, which was only natural for a servant who wanted to earn her favor.
However, Betty was different. She was meticulous, ambitious, and wanted recognition for her abilities. Amber didn’t mind rewarding her for that.
“Igmeyer.”
Once she reached the first floor, there was a commotion among the people.
Among the many men she didn’t recognize, one man stood out conspicuously.
He didn’t seem at all overwhelmed by the other blacksmiths, who were tall and burly. On the contrary, he seemed to dominate them all—Igmeyer.
As soon as he spotted her, he greeted her with a smile.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yeas What’s all this about?”
“We’re in the middle of the Trial of Fire. It will take about a week… Today is busy because of the Welcome Banquet, but starting tomorrow, they’ll spend all their time in the forge, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“The Trial of Fire?”
She had a vague idea.
With a questioning look, she stared at him, and he politely offered his arm as an escort.
It was probably better to see it for herself than to listen to a hundred explanations.
“To become a proper blacksmith, they need to work as a forger for five years and learn.”
“Five years?”
“It’s about seeing if they’re trustworthy. They can’t teach their skills to those who lack patience and perseverance.”
Even the newcomers are remarkable individuals.
Just before heading outside, Igmeyer took off his cloak that was draped over his shoulders and placed it around her.
She was already wearing a light beige cloak, and adding his made her feel a bit burdened, but she didn’t want to refuse his kindness.
Igmeyer adjusted the cloak’s straps and continued speaking slowly.
“As time goes by, among the novice blacksmiths, there are some who are skilled enough to take on a lot of work right away. Skills vary greatly.”
“Huh.”
“That’s why in the North, we’ve created an additional rank between novice and artisan. We call them ‘skilled workers,’ meaning they have excellent skills despite their limited experience.”
Forger.
Novice blacksmith.
Skilled worker.
Craftsman.
There were four ranks in the blacksmith’s hierarchy.
So, this Trial of Fire is about selecting skilled workers.
“The Trial of Fire has always been held at Niflheim Castle for generations. There’s a forge in the backyard that’s used for the test.”
“I’ve seen it before. I thought it was too large for a forge, but I guess there was a reason.”
“We don’t use it regularly. Right now, it’s quite busy.”
Igmeyer answered casually and opened the heavy door with one hand, allowing Amber to exit easily.
Amber took in the cool air and breathed deeply, her chest swelling with a sense of anticipation.
Something was changing.
If things continued to change like this, her fate in the end would be different too.
She couldn’t predict the future, but the sense of accomplishment from gradually changing the things she had regretted in the past life lifted her.
“Amber, wait a moment.”
Before reaching the forge, Igmeyer stopped her. Wondering what was going on, she raised an eyebrow, and he chuckled before lowering his head and placing his lips near her ear.
“Make a face as if we’re having a confidential conversation. There are many watchful eyes.”
It seemed like it was something that should not be overheard by anyone else.
Quickly grasping the situation, Amber covered her lips with her hand and chuckled softly. Pretending to smile was all too easy.
