Every day, freshly harvested wheat is brought in from various regions, filling the city of Northernford with lively excitement.
One morning at breakfast, Mother made a bold announcement.
“This year, we’ll have a grand Midsummer Festival!”
“Ha ha, you really seem fired up this year.”
“Ufufu, last year’s poor harvest meant we couldn’t have a lively festival, after all.”
In this region, the winter wheat is harvested in June, so the Midsummer Festival—held in gratitude to the sun—also doubles as a harvest celebration.
Last year’s poor yields meant there wasn’t much of a festive mood, and the Midsummer Festival was carried out quietly.
The Midsummer Festival is a celebration of the harvest, but if it can be held in grand style, it seems to carry many other meanings as well.
Once, when I asked Smith the steward about the Midsummer Festival, he told me, “When the Midsummer Festival is celebrated grandly, people from all over gather here, so it also becomes an opportunity to find a companion.”
It makes sense; in this world, people don’t usually leave their own towns or villages.
A festival that gathers folks from everywhere is indeed a chance for young men and women to meet.
This year, when Father proclaimed that the Midsummer Festival would be held in full splendor, the city of Northernford burst with excitement.
Out on the streets, all anyone talked about was the festival.
“Yes! There’ll be a bustling Midsummer Festival this year!”
“I want to eat lots of delicious food.”
“This year, I really have to find someone special!”
It seems everyone has their own hopes for the festival, but the joy is shared by all.
At the city’s central square, carpenters have started building stalls in a ring around the outside, as festival preparations steadily progress.
When word spread that this year’s festival would double as a harvest celebration, people began flocking in from neighboring towns and villages as well.
Every inn in Northernford looks like it’s about to be fully booked.
Finally, the day of the Midsummer Festival arrived.
The cobblestone grand square at the heart of Northernford was packed with people, overflowing with excitement.
In the center of the square stood a stone statue of the Great Mother Goddess.
In this country, the goddess of creation is also worshipped as the deity of the earth’s bounty.
Come to think of it, since I have been reborn I haven’t heard the voice of any gods but from time to time, I do go to the church to offer my thanks in prayer.
During the Midsummer Festival, it’s customary for the Fairchild Family to line up in front of the goddess statue.
Teo was among them, too.
Teo tried to hold back, saying, “I am not part of the family,” but Mother insisted, “Teo is family all the same,” and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
That day, Mother was dressed differently, wearing ceremonial festival robes.
Her outfit was loose and layered with white cloth, and on her head she wore a crown of flowers.
In some ways, it looked like the clothing of ancient Greece that I saw in my previous life.
Mother slowly walked towards the goddess statue.
Behind her, a procession of church sisters in matching white robes followed.
In Mother’s hands were stalks of wheat harvested just this year.
Offering the harvest to the gods is a role passed down through generations of Margrave’s wives.
You could say the star of the Midsummer Festival is none other than the Margrave’s wife.
Even cheerful, ever-smiling Mother wore a serious expression for this occasion.
It was like she had become a different person, separate from the bright, fun woman we know.
Usually, she ties up her long silver hair, but today she let it flow freely.
Just then, a gentle breeze caught her hair, making the beautiful silver strands flutter and spread around her.
“Lady Mary, how beautiful you are!”
“She’s as lovely as ever!”
Cries of admiration rose from the townspeople.
Holding the wheat stalks in both hands, Mother stepped up to the altar in front of the goddess statue.
The sisters, and we who stood behind her, all knelt on one knee.
“Mother Goddess, through your grace, we have received a bountiful harvest from the earth. We give thanks that, by the blessings of the sun and the land, our lives continue. With the utmost respect, I offer this year’s wheat to you.”
Mother presented the wheat stalks to the goddess statue.
Just then, a single shaft of sunlight pierced through the clouds.
Bathed in sunlight, Mother looked even more beautiful—almost divine.
All those gathered in the square closed their eyes in prayer.
After a short while, as everyone lifted their faces, Father made his proclamation, “Now then, let the festival begin!”
“Oooh!”
The people answered with a roar of joy.
Mother, too, returned to her usual mischievous smile.
As if they had been waiting for this, music began to ring out all over the city.
The notes of flutes and lutes filled the air, and the sound of drums echoed as well.
In every corner of the city, people began to dance to the music.
At the stalls encircling the grand square, vendors called out loudly, trying to attract customers.
The two people awkwardly talking in front of a stall must have just met.
Everyone’s faces beamed with happiness.
Festivals really are wonderful.