My Son's Growth

Today marked the coming of age ceremony for our third son, Ralph. Zasha brought his family, and even Sieg showed up to celebrate their brother’s special day. The only one not present was our youngest, Lutz, as usual. Nevertheless, the family came together, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of the days when there were four sons in the house.

After all that, the house now feels too quiet in comparison.

Well, since it’s about time for the kids to hit the hay Zasha and his family wrapped up dinner and headed out Sieg is busy preparing for his upcoming Starbind Ceremony this summer. He’s gearing up for a new chapter in life with his fiancée, he went back to his house after declaring that he’d rather go back to his cute fiancee than sleep with his little brother. My husband Deid has had his fill of booze after a day of celebrating, and is already in a deep snore-fest in our bed. The lone soul left in the kitchen is none other than today’s star, Ralph.

“How about you go to bed, Ralph? You’ve had quite a bit to drink, haven’t you?”

Cup in hand, Ralph continued his muttered lament, “Why Lutz, seriously…” …grumbling under his breath. The whole engagement affair with Tuuli and Lutz had been a source of ongoing complaint from Ralph since its winter announcement. Dealing with him on this matter had become quite a tiresome routine. Today, with the added influence of alcohol, the frustration seemed to bubble up even more, and an audible sigh slipped from his lips.

“Stop your constant whining—it’s pathetic.”

“If it were any other guy, I wouldn’t be complaining! But Lutz? He still hasn’t gotten over Myne from all those years ago! He’s so confused, in fact, that he says the High Bishop looks just like Myne! In what way does she look like Myne?! He must be blind! Tuuli will be wasted on someone like him!”

Upon hearing the mention of the High Bishop resembling Myne, memories flooded back of the time when Lutz ran away from home, and I was summoned to the temple. It dawned on me that they were one and the same. I can’t explain why or how Myne became the aub’s daughter, but I just know. Call it a woman’s intuition.

Nobody would believe it no matter who I tell, and I don’t want to deal with the potential trouble.

Lutz’s involvement with wealthy merchants is already a hassle, let alone getting involved with nobles.

“Deep down Lutz still clearly has feelings for Myne, yet somehow he’s engaged to Tuuli! I can’t be the only one who thinks that ain’t right!”

“You’re quite persistent. Tuuli didn’t object to the engagement with Lutz, and it’s already decided. And you have your own girl, so why continue complaining about your brother’s engagement? It’s getting annoying.” I said that while taking Ralph’s cup. I drank the remaining alcohol in one gulp.

“Hey, Mom. That was mine…”

Ignoring his resentful expression, I glanced down at Ralph, who was struggling to get up from the table in his current state, and casually waved my hand dismissively. “But seriously, you shouldn’t be whining this much. Your job isn’t even on the same level as Tuuli’s.”

“Mom, that was a low blow!” Ralph’s voice cracked as he responded. Despite having grown taller after coming of age, my son is still a boy. I brushed off his protest with a single snort.

“I’m just suggesting you come to terms with reality. Tuuli is an apprentice at a well-known store, and she’s the exclusive hairpin craftswoman for the aub’s daughter. If you were like Lutz, with a strong financial backing, I would’ve recommended Tuuli get engaged to you instead. To me, it doesn’t matter which son it is.”

I remember Ralph having a crush on Tuuli when he was a child, but it’s undeniable that Ralph right now is not a suitable match for her.

The craft of making hairpins is currently booming in Ehrenfest, with many up-and-coming craftswomen. None of them, however, have yet been able to match Tuuli, who has been refining her skills since the early days. She remains the only one who is able to take requests from royalty and aubs of other duchies.

Many girls around here aspire to become hairpin craftswomen like Tuuli. Because Lutz has ties with the Gilberta Company, we’re occasionally approached to make introductions. However, since Lutz has forged his own path to become an apprentice merchant, we lack the connections that he has, leaving us with no option but to decline.

“Besides, since Tuuli is the exclusive craftswoman for the archduke’s daughter, she’ll end up moving far away with her Lady in a year or two.”

“Huh? Then what about her engagement with Lutz?!”

“Well, of course, Lutz is going with her. He is her Lady’s favorite ‘Guten-something’.”

The other day, Gunther, who got the call from the Gilberta Company, shared some news with me. It seems there’s an order to move Tuuli to another duchy in sync with their Lady’s plans. Even Effa, the exclusive dyer, is moving, and since the aub permitted the relocation, Gunther mentioned he’s resigning as gate commander and making the move with his family. Beginning a new job in an unfamiliar town naturally comes with some friction. Gunther explained his intention to take on work at the Gilberta Company as a guard, safeguarding Tuuli and his family.

Moreover, it appears that the Plantin Company has received a relocation request as well, and Lutz is of course involved in that move. Lutz will be invaluable given his experience working in distant towns. Gunther also mentioned that when Lutz comes back in the fall, we, as his parents, might be called to the Plantin Company for further details. Supposedly, if we relocate together as Lutz’s family, they can assist us in securing employment.

Even if they offer us such things, I just can’t bring myself to go.

The foundation of our lives has been built in this town, and both Deid and I have our own careers. Our children and grandchildren are here, and I can’t just leave everything behind like Gunther to follow Lutz’s move.

“Ralph, it’s not like you can pack up your things and move like Tuuli, can you?” At my words, Ralph’s face twisted in frustration.

“Right now, it might be impossible, but I also work in a Gutenberg’s workshop. In a few more years, I could become a Gutenberg.”

Upon reaching adulthood, Ralph also made the choice to switch workshops. Ingo’s workshop is indeed the most popular among woodworking workshops, which is quite an accomplishment and a big deal for the local girls. However, he still falls short when it comes to being a suitable match for Tuuli in terms of marriage.

“Even though you joined the workshop, aren’t you just a lehange? But I suppose you have been filling in for your master, so that means you are often taking the orders from Lutz, right? I wonder when you will truly become a Gutenberg.”

He must work as a Lehange, then become a Leherl, and then get introduced to the aub’s daughter through his master, and then he must gain recognition from her—only then can he earn the title.

“Anyway, a woman’s prime is short. Tuuli can’t wait for you to become a Gutenberg for many years, you know? You’re probably not even in her sights”

“Uggghhhh…”

“Well, Ralph, if you become a Gutenberg quickly, I’ll have two sons with such important titles. That would make me so proud.”

“I’ll become one right away!” With that, Ralph charged towards his bedroom, acting no different from before he came of age. I gave a wry smile and, at the same time, unintentionally muttered, “You don’t have to become so important,” letting out my true feelings.

My youngest entered the Gilberta Company, then joined the Plantin Company as an apprentice leherl, and then gained a prominent title—I’m so proud of Lutz, my ambitious son. People around us praise him for being amazing, and my heart swells with pride.

However, since he spends more than half of the year in remote towns within the duchy, he rarely comes home. I can’t help but think he’s been growing up way too fast. I would actually be happier as a mother if he settled down near us like Zasha, started a family, and came over to visit all the time. That way, I’d be able to see the cute faces of my future grandchildren.

“I wonder how long Ralph will stay in our home…”

Today, Ralph has come of age. I don’t know if he’ll marry his current girlfriend, but like Zasha and Sieg, he’ll eventually leave this house and start a family. My children’s growth brings both joy but also a touch of loneliness.

I poured some alcohol into the cup I was holding, then gulped it down all at once as I let myself get washed away by these sentimental feelings, and then briskly cleaned the cup before I put it away.