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Chapter Text

It was another boring day in the nobles quarter; Irmhilde resided in a mansion she requested near the castle. She was expected to move into the castle upon her starbind as she was now engaged to her half brother and current Aub, Adelbert.

Though I am doubtful that Veronica will allow this union to come to fruition. She thought. 

It was no secret among the Leisgangs that Veronica and her faction would not share power in the duchy; they were currently the main political power and any second wife that Adelbert took would cause them to lose some of the power they currently monopolized. This was why it was general consensus that whoever was daring enough to try to become the second wife would sentence themselves to death, as Veronica and her faction would never allow such a woman to make it to their starknot. This was the predicament that Irmhilde found herself in. Her two older brothers had suggested that she take the role of second wife without completely understanding the greater implications that such a role would have on her. 

Her now fiance Adelbert was a weak but kind man who valued peace and family above all else, however he was rather naive and he was unable to believe Irmhilde whenever she would discuss the ruthlessness of his wife Veronica. He assumed that she exaggerated her claims as she and Veronica never got along seeing that they were both heads of their respective factions. It did not help that he was surrounded by those in Veronica’s faction, so word of her misdeeds never reached him. Her other brother Bonifatius was able to believe her, but he still only believed a fraction of her claims; he mainly relied on his instinct and he had no aptitude for scheming or politics. Without the women’s perspective of politics, they missed the true extent of Veronica’s malice and lust for power. It was because of these circumstances that Irmhilde came to the realization that her brothers were hopelessly foolish and naive.

“You would choose for me to die?” She had told her brother the day he brought up the proposal. 

“No need to be so dramatic. I know you are displeased having to settle for a man you so willingly call foolish but there is no other woman better suited for the role. This move is to appease the Leisegangs, you are their current figurehead, you should know that this political marriage is necessary for peace within the duchy. I would be more than willing to take another woman if you are able to find one, however, I have asked many within the faction and none were willing to offer up their daughters.” he said. 

How foolish, to offer up their daughters is to willingly choose for them to die needlessly. I have told this to you before Adelbert but you refuse to listen. Alas, Irmhilde had long given up on convincing her brother of his wife’s misdeeds. After he had sent Georgine off to Ahrensbach, he had learned of Veronica’s namesworn and aptitude for poison; yet he still struggled to believe the claims. It could be safely said that her charms had thoroughly convinced him that she was a victim in the grand scheme of things. Irmhilde would not be surprised if he had even convinced himself that Georgine was grateful for losing her seat as aub and being sent to Ahrensbach.

“You have no other suitors, Irmhilde, I understand that Veronica is known to hurl insults to those she dislikes, but such petty harassment is no excuse for running from your duties. You will have to bear with it for the good of the duchy.” Bonifatius added. 

Irmhilde was seething with anger, it took all of her might not to grind her teeth and to hold her tongue. That was the last thing she wished to hear from Bonifatius, of all people, who had given the seat of Aub to Adelbert due to finding the position “troublesome”. Both did not know of the trouble Veronica had caused the women of her faction, her harassment extended to those in the academy and such harassment had chased away any suitors that Irmhilde had. The rumors that Veronica had spread were so damaging that most men would not approach her and the ones which did were those of the Veronica faction, sent to court her in order to destabilize the Leisegangs. Her brothers had always assumed that, due to her cold and strong personality, no man wished to court her, especially since she had no patience when it came to foolishness. However this was a front to chase away pests that Veronica had sent her way. 

Due to her family’s treatment by the Leisegangs in her youth, Veronica only desired revenge and sought to torment those at the helm of the faction, therefore, Irmhilde felt the brunt of Veronica’s machinations. Her brothers knew nothing of her torment, she had taken it without complaint as she saw it to be her duty to protect those within her faction, such a duty entrusted to her by her predecessors upon their untimely deaths, at the hands of those serving under Gabrielle.  

She needed to make sure her brothers understood the dire state of the duchy, they had been turning away from the truth for far too long. Adelbert had been completely fooled by Veronica acting the pitiful victim, while Bonifatius did not involve himself in anything outside the Knights Order, he was even unable to see the trails his own son was put through. It was at that realization that Irmhilde was resolved to take this duty. “I understand brother” she said with a chilly smile, “I shall accept my duty, however, once I am to climb the towering staircase, it is my hope that Ordoschnelli may grace you and your Dregarnuhr may continue to weave once again”. Both of her brothers opened their eyes wide in confusion, as if her statement had been unwarranted but she had no time for their foolishness, she would have to pass her duties to another so she quickly left the meeting room after her engagement was decided. 

A few days later, she had resolved to discuss such matters at the scheduled tea party for her faction. It was there that she informed her friend, Elvira, of her engagement, to which a palpable dread filled the room immediately. Only trusted women of the Leisegang faction were present at this tea party; some went visibly pale, some even openly quivered in fear.

“I see”, Elvira had said, her eyes had become noticeably blank along with the pallor of her face becoming pronounced. She drew her tea cup to her lips but she did not take a sip, merely holding it in place, with the ripples of the drink being the only indicator of her inner turmoil. Irmhilde would have usually scolded her for so openly showing her emotions, but she could not bring herself to, she knew of her fate and so did all of those present. 

It had been no secret that Adelbert was hoping to appease the Leisegangs through marriage, but no one was willing to bear that burden, as it would be certain death; the fact that Irmhilde had chosen to bear this burden was tantamount to suicide. Everyone understood that she had done so to protect those in her faction from receiving this fate. Many looked at her with pity and sadness in their eyes. 

“I will soon begin to prepare to move into the castle, so it is my hope that in the coming seasons I may act as your Erwachlehren when it comes to matters of the faction. I am aware that this is rather sudden and unreasonable as you currently assume the role of Wiegemilch, however this trial thrust upon me by Glucklitat came rather sudden and I can trust no other. I suspect that once my starknot approaches, I will be unable to participate in these matters freely. However, you may refuse if your current duties would hinder such things.” Irmhilde implored with a blank smile, a smile which showed that she had accepted her fate. Elvira was younger and her children not even baptized yet, however she was the only one with enough skill and influence to replace her. 

Elvira drew in a sharp breath, and trembled visibly. She had witnessed first hand the burden Irmhilde shouldered as the head of the faction, it was not a job desired by anyone without a strong will and mind as they would no doubt crumble under the constant harassment. To be the head of the Leisegangs was to have your current plights ignored by the current aub and to be on the receiving end of Veronica’s ire. Irmhilde would understand if Elvira refused, she expected this from someone so young, however after a moment she steeled herself and agreed to her friend’s selfish request. “Understood, I will shoulder this burden with you. I only hope to ease some of your worries before….” she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence before discreetly covering her mouth and lowering her gaze. Irmhilde gave a melancholy smile and responded “I thank you ever so much, my dear friend.”

The rest of the tea party continued with a somber atmosphere, with many offering hesitant congratulations for her engagement. She had hinted that she was in need of new staff and many began to offer up some of their older relatives and personnel, with the understanding that they would likely not be returning. 

“It is my hope that with this engagement that Ordoschnelli may finally carry word of the plight of the Leisegangs to the current Aub” one woman remarked. 

“May Anhaltung reveal those shrouded by Verbergen,” another added. 

No one spoke of what would happen after the starknot for they dare not foolishly dwell in Schlaftraum’s realm. 

It was with these preparations complete that Irmhilde now waited for the Veronica faction to move; it was all she could do at the moment and the passing days became tense as she waited for an inevitable confrontation. She had been willingly confining herself to her mansion out of self preservation, as she could not risk socializing at this moment of time. Luckily she had a sizable collection of books to keep her entertained, but they were just momentary distractions to ease the stress which had been building from her impending doom. It was during one of these tense days that she received a summons from her brother, the Aub. 

“There is a task that I can only entrust to you, please come to the meeting room at third bell”, the ordonnanz repeated. She agreed to the meeting, however she could not shake the feeling of dread. What could be so pressing a matter that she would have to visit so suddenly?

When it was time for the meeting, she was taken to the meeting room where only Bonifatius and Adelbert remained. Her retainers were dismissed and sound blocking tools were distributed. 

“Irmhilde, I have an unreasonable task to give you but there is no room for negotiation. This task was given to me by a messenger of the Goddess of Time.” Adelbert began. 

Irmhilde, having a very rare moment of losing her composure, stared at her brother with wide eyes. Have my ears deceived me? She thought, but her brother stared at her with eyes more serious than she had ever witnessed before. She recomposed herself and urged him to continue. “Within the next three days, I will request to collect my son from the Palace of Adalgisa; from then, you will adopt him once we are starbound.” He concluded.

A wave of shock hit her once more. She had known that her brother had been called to the Palace of Adalgisa after a princess had selected him years ago, it was a fact that he hid from Veronica due to shame, however he had confided this to Irmhilde and Bonifatius. Such a summons could not be refused and he had shared his displeasure during that time with them both. It was extremely rare for those who sired children with those princesses to ever return for them so she could not see the benefit in this task. 

No doubt Bonifatius would disagree with this decision. She looked to see Bonifatius with a grim expression; he likely had disagreed but that look said that he could not argue with Aub's decision. She swallowed and managed to press the meeting forward.“What led you to this decision?” she eventually asked.

Adelbert began to explain: whilst he was in mana replenishment hall by himself, a beam of light filled the room, with the silhouette of a girl on the cusp of autumn appearing from a collection of golden thread. Once she fully emerged, he could fully see her appearance to which he could only describe as other worldly; golden eyes which resembled the moon, dark blue hair which glimmered as brightly as the night sky, and riding clothes equipped with many tools, as if she was prepared for battle. She met his startled eyes with a stern glare, then she began to make demands: “I come as a messenger of the Goddess of Time”, she had said with a bell-like voice, “You are to go to the sovereignty and retrieve your son from the Palace of Adalgisa.” Adelbert had begun to protest, saying that it would likely not be allowed and such moves would threaten the rule of his son once he became Aub, but she silenced him. 

“This child would be vital to the stability of Yurgenschmidt as determined by the Gods. Fear not, he will not pursue the seat of Aub, in fact, he will serve as a vital pillar of support for Sylvester in the near future. “ She stated. 

The fact that she already knew Sylvester’s name gave credit to her claims. This eased some of his reservations but when he began to mutter about convincing Veronica to adopt such a child, she began to crush him. “Veronica will be an obstacle in this endeavor, she must not be trusted with this child as she would no doubt attempt to take his life, you must find another to bear this responsibility. “ She declared, only ceasing to crush him when he nodded in understanding. 

“So that is why you have called upon me, I gather. “ Irmhilde stated after a moment of silence. She could understand why the messenger had not trusted Veronica, but this request would put her in quite the predicament; she had been evading Veronica’s attempts to have her disposed of but with a child under her care, she was unsure if she would be able to evade her faction’s attempts on her life. This move would likely hasten their attempts as having a son under her with the backing of the Leisegangs would be seen as directly opposing her. However, she knew even if she brought up this fact, this would not likely dissuade her brother. She had a feeling that nothing could at this moment. 

“Brother I do not think this is a wise decision”, Bonifatius interjected, “Such a burden surely is too great for Ehrenfest to bear, and to ask Irmhilde to adopt a son would likely rally the Leisegangs into causing more trouble than they already do. Surely that would put Sylvester in more danger and threaten the stability of Ehrenfest.” But to this Adelbert merely shook his head. He had brought this point up to the messenger to which she revealed that without the support of this child, Sylvester would be unable to stabilize Ehrenfest. He shared no other details but he wore a grim expression, which Irmhilde could sense, hid darker implications.

“When should we expect this to occur?” Irmhilde asked, changing back to the more pressing subject. She had already accepted that she had no say in preventing this from happening, so her only option was to cope with repercussions. “I assume such requests of the Sovereignty would take about a month considering Ehrenfest's current ranking.” Ehrenfest was a bottom ranking duchy, so the Sovereignty would not move to ordain such a request in a timely manner. 

Adelbert looked at her hesitantly. “I had told the messenger a similar time frame, however she revealed that she would request the king himself to see it out much sooner. I sent in my request earlier today and I have already received a reply which stated to come three days from now, at third bell.” he stated. 

So soon! Only an upper rank duchy would be seen so soon, to think that the messenger had really appeared. Irmhilde had half begun to think her brother had been poisoned or gone senile, with talks of some strange woman appearing from thin air, but to see such a response from the Sovereignty themselves almost cemented his claims.  

“You two will accompany me to the Sovereignty, however only Irmhilde will be allowed in the meeting room with me, Bonifatius you will serve as my guard to escort us there.” Adelbert stated. This was understandable, as Bonifatius could not be trusted with such talks. “Talk of this to no one”. He then turned to Bonifatius and dismissed him, merely stating that there were things that he needed to discuss about the meeting with only Irmhilde. Begrudgingly, Bonifatus left. 

“There is one more thing of great importance that I could not mention in front of Bonifatius.” He said, for a moment resolving himself then continuing, “The messenger will ensure the child is educated to an acceptable level worthy of an archduke candidate, so she states that she will accompany the child to Ehrenfest, disguised as an attendant. I must entrust you with her care as you are the most capable person for the job.”

Irmhilde was taken aback; she was not sure how to be accommodating for a messenger of the Gods, such a thing was rather hard to imagine, however the more she thought about it, the more she began to realize: Surely taking care of the messenger of the Goddess of time along with the child important to the future of Yurgenschmidt will ensure my safety during this dire time? She steadied herself; the thought that she may survive a little longer reinvigorated her drive somewhat and made the unreasonable demands of her brother seem worthwhile. 

“I understand, however I will likely need some additional funding if I am to meet the standards required to house one favored by the Gods” she stated plainly. Veronica had taken the funding needed for her move to the castle so this was a way to redeem some of this back; since Adelbert wanted to keep this secret, he would need to handle such funding himself. This would prevent those scholars within Veronica’s faction from further siphoning her funding. “Additionally, I would ask that you closely monitor Veronica during this time as to make sure she does not find out about this child prior to his baptism.”

“Of course, I will personally ensure that this is done so as to not earn the ire of the Gods.” He stated. “However, even though this messenger is to be the attendant and personal mentor to this child, I ask that you treat her as a guest and accommodate her however she desires.” 

Irmhilde scoffed, “I would not be so foolish as to mistreat someone sent from the Gods” I am not Veronica, she almost muttered but such childish remarks and rebukes were beneath her so she abstained. She was tempted to request more personnel, however, knowing Adelbert, he would send those within Veronica’s faction foolishly and wash away all her effort in carefully selecting those she trusted in her mansion. Her current entourage was full of older family members who understood her predicament and were willing to risk their lives during her time of need. They provided Irmhilde with much comfort as she trusted them with her life. She would need to plan this out with Elvira, however, such meetings would be nearly impossible without raising suspicion. She put this to rest for now as this would take more consideration. 

As she began to make calculations of the things that needed to be done, her thoughts were interrupted, “You look more lively than I imagined you would be..” Adelbert remarked, staring at her with confusion. She blinked at him then came to the realization: she had only been spending the past few weeks waiting for her end. She had accepted it without much fuss, with her only solace that those she left behind would benefit from her end as her brothers would finally take her warnings about Veronica seriously; She was the head of the Leisegang faction and they always assumed her words were biased but such could not be further from the truth. Now that she had a chance of causing Veronica headache with a child guaranteed to play an important role in history, her mind could not stop racing. Adelbert on the other hand looked worn down.

Irmhilde gave a sardonic smile, “I am pleased that you now understand what it is like to have unreasonable demands hoisted onto you without regard to your personal standing or feelings, brother. Oh, how I have longed to see you grow.”

He frowned, and heaved a deep sigh, “There you go again treating me like a child. Do you truly hate your older brother? Do you enjoy seeing me tormented? Well, as long as you no longer speak of meeting your end so freely, I was truly beginning to worry once you shut yourself off from the world in your mansion but seeing you lively now has eased some of that worry. Veronica told me that you likely wished to run away and that she wouldn’t be surprised if you up and disappeared one day, since you blatantly disapproved of the engagement.” He said, breezing through the veiled implications of Veronica’s statement as if it meant nothing. 

Irmhilde immediately adopted a stern look, which caused Adelbert to jump somewhat in surprise. “Brother, you know me to never run from my duties. If I am to disappear one day without a word, assume I have climbed the towering staircase at the hands of one of my enemies.” He blinked at the sudden turn in conversation, but Irmhilde did not falter as she continued “I have reason to suspect that I will not make it to our planned starknot. It would be a great benefit to the Leisegangs if I am to become the second wife of the archduke, so there would be absolutely no reason for me to disappear, that I can assure you. Promise me that if I am to disappear, you will handle the investigation yourself along with Bonifatius.” Her words left no room for argument, it was with her serious demeanor that Adelbert straightened up and gave a reluctant nod. 

“Good. I will ensure that my household is prepared under the shroud of Verbergen. May we meet again at the agreed meeting time” And with that, Irmhilde left the meeting room before Adelbert had time to protest her words. 

I suppose if I am to become a mother I am to possibly think of a name for the child. She mused. 

Irmhilde had long given up on the possibility of becoming a mother due to the turmoil within the duchy and her prospects of marriage being nonexistent until recently, but she would be lying if the idea had never appealed to her. When she was younger she was rather sickly, so much so that many were unsure that she would bear children in the future. She had not been told for certain that this would be the case, but those in the Veronica faction preached this as fact, making her prospects for a marriage that was not white almost none. She had seen the love Elvira had in her eyes when she spoke of her children and even a woman as cruel as Veronica was able to appear caring when she took care of her son. She did not expect to take too quickly to the idea but perhaps one day she may have the same look in her eyes when talking about her son.

Chapter Text

Quinta looked outside his window, as he always did. Such was his only form of entertainment, the only source of change in his life.

Within the palace, children were told from birth what they were fated to become and what Quinta understood was that he was to become a feystone; He had accepted this without complaint, as it was all he knew.

He leaned against the window in the hopes of relieving some of his fever; He had been getting them more frequently as of late. His attendants usually gave him some stones to help with the discomfort but these were coming less and less frequently. His discomfort had been growing as well, but any word of complaint or requests for more stones were met with dismissive answers.

“You will soon fulfill your duty, there is no need for more stones,” they would respond. He had no choice but to accept this, there was nothing else for him to do. 

The only human interaction he received was that of his attendants, who only came in when it was time to bathe him, change him, and feed him. Even then, conversations were limited by the time and patience of his attendants. He was so starved of entertainment that he would listen intently to conversations happening outside of his room; bitter arguments and somber cries were the things he could hear on a regular basis, however he had determined this to be normal.

So monotonous was his schedule that the days felt as if they bled together; he often had trouble recalling individual days due to the smell that often permeated the palace at times, which seemed to cloud his mind, but it was not as if he could complain.

It was during one of these normal days that a knock on the door suddenly came.

He looked at the door in confusion. Now was not the time for his attendants to come into his room, he was keenly aware of the time such things would happen and this definitely was not one of those times.

Slowly, the door opened revealing one of his attendants with his face contorted into an expression he could not understand, but he understood it to be something different than his usual blank expression. His attendant beckoned him towards the door. 

“You have been summoned by an important guest, please be on your best behavior.” His attendant said, with some drops of water visibly running down his face. Has he just bathed? Quinta wondered, but before he could ask, a woman appeared at the door. 

Her eyes reminded him of the moon with their golden hue and her hair looked as if she had adorned a piece of the star-filled night sky upon herself. So lustrous was her hair that he could not help but let out a tiny gasp in awe. Like the speckled stars of the night sky, she wore feystones in her hair and on her hands; he had never known feystones could be used in such a manner. She wore clothes which were rather strange, nothing like the clothes he or his attendants had worn, or even the clothes he had seen the princesses wear on the few occasions he had seen them. 

She peered down at him with an expression he had never seen before. New expressions were often hard for him to decipher, as he was told that it was rude to ask questions when someone held a new one he did not recognize, so when he did encounter a new one, he often found them unsettling. However, this woman’s expression did not unsettle him at all, in fact he wished to see more of it and to ask her what it meant.

She crouched down to meet his eyes; a sweet scent, different from the sickly palace scent he was used to, carried down with her. Having her so close made his face warm and his heart began to beat rapidly for a reason he could not understand. 

“I have been tasked with taking you away from here, may I ask your name?” She asked gently. Her voice had been so soothing despite the surprising nature of her words.

Quinta grew nervous, he looked to his attendant who only nodded in response. 

“I am called Quinta by my attendants.” He eventually responded; he could only guess that this was the response she wanted. Her expression faltered slightly and her eyes seemed to show what he understood to be sadness. 

“I see. Well Quinta, I am to be your new attendant. I will be teaching you everything you wish to learn. In three days, your father will take you away from this place to your new home.”

Quinta could not believe his ears; for as long as he could remember he had wanted to go outside but he never dared utter such wishes. He was to become a feystone, there was nothing else he could hope for. He wondered for a moment if he was somehow sleeping, but he doubted even he could dream up such a mysterious woman. 

“Truly?” He finally managed to whisper, his eyes wide with hope. The woman looked at him with her expression that radiated warmth. “You will be able to live as you please. You will have the freedom to follow your heart, find a dream, and shape your own life, that much I can promise you, Fer–...” She trailed off at the last second but she quickly recovered. “I promise you.”

It was that day that Quinta’s life had changed forever. The woman returned with clothing similar to his attendant’s clothing and she began to ‘teach’ him. He had been very excited as all of the questions he asked, she answered; never had she appeared annoyed or angry. 

“What is that expression you have on your face? What does it mean?” He asked when it was just the two of them in his chambers. 

“It is a smile, it usually means happiness or kindness.” She answered with a smile. 

“What is happiness or kindness?” He asked when her answer had more words he was unfamiliar with. Her smile broke for a second, which filled him with fear for a moment, but she crouched down and smiled once again. 

“It is hard to explain, it might take you some time to understand.” She said, “but I can demonstrate so that you might come to understand one day.”

“Okay I will try my best to understand.” Quinta nodded nervously. He did not wish to anger or annoy her. 

Then suddenly she wrapped her arms around him, and then gently began to stroke his hair.

“This is kindness, it is doing something to ease the worries of another without caring of the benefit to oneself, “ she explained.

Quinta’s heart began to beat harder and his face felt unbearably hot, it was similar to when his mana began to rise but different somehow. He could feel the warmth and softness of the woman as her scent washed over him entirely; he could hear his heart in his ears and his body instinctually stiffened from surprise. Thankfully, the woman let go and he was left there standing there in a stupor. He found his mind more dazed than when the usual scent of the palace filled his chamber, and for some reason he felt that it would take him sometime to understand the meaning of kindness. There was only one question which arose in his mind after her explanation. 

“What is your name?” He asked sheepishly.

Her eyes widened for a moment, but after a moment she smiled once more and responded, “ You may call me Roze for now. “ 

Roze, I will remember this forever. His other attendants had never shared their names, not that he had ever asked for them. This was the first name of someone who seemed to truly look at him, and that realization alone filled him with a feeling of warmth in his chest which he had never felt before. He could feel his expression morph into a smile.

Is this happiness? He wondered. 

The next few days were filled with him asking questions and Roze answering them. She also taught him new things that filled him with awe. She talked of the seasons, magic, the gods, and nature, all of these things she promised to show him one day. She explained the seasons and answered all of the questions he had about the changes he saw outside his window. All of the questions which he had kept to himself were slowly being answered by Roze, and she never once showed annoyance or anger. 

When his food would arrive, she would likewise be brought food and proceed to eat with him in his chambers. He never knew that eating along with someone could fill him with happiness. 

When the time came for him to sleep, he worried that she would disappear once he awoke. It was because of this fear that he began to tremble when she put him to bed during their first night together.

When she asked him what was wrong and he shared his fear; in response, she merely smiled and sat on his bed where he lay. She stroked his hair, promising that she would be the one to wake him up in the morning, but her words could not ease the fear he held inside him.

Upon seeing this, she slowly began to speak in a strange way. When he asked what she was doing, she stated that she was singing him a lullaby. It was the most soothing way he had ever heard someone speak and he wished to listen forever. She said she would sing him a song which guaranteed sweet dreams. 

O Schlaftraum~, O Kunstzeal~
Dance me a tune~

Lead me to slumber
In the most pleasant of rooms~

Paint for me a dream~
Never seen before
Use the finest colors
That shake me to my core

May I wake in the morning
By the Goddess of light’s gleam~

When she sang, small lights drifted down upon him and he slowly felt himself drift off to sleep with her gently stroking his hair. It was as she said, he had pleasant dreams that night, and when she came to wake him the next day, he could not help but smile with happiness. 

“You are a fast learner, very good.” She would say when he was able to use the new knowledge he was given.

Her words would always make his face and ears feel very warm and his heart throb momentarily. He could only nod in acknowledgement as he would not bring himself to mutter any words. He thought about asking her about this strange feeling, however he did not feel confident yet in being able to describe it in words and the thought of asking her, for some reason, made his face feel even more unbearably hot. He resolved himself to ask her later when, surely, he would grow used to these new feelings. 

She taught him about the outside world, about noble society, noble greetings, and about the home of his ‘father’ and his new home. 

“I will accompany you to the outside and I will ensure that you obtain the knowledge needed to become a capable archduke candidate.” She said the day of the meeting. She kneeled down to meet him at eye level, “I will be in the room with you so do not worry, just do what I taught you. I know you will succeed without fail, I have faith in you.“ 

Quinta knew he was nervous: not only was this the first time he was stepping outside of his designated chamber, but this was the first time he had interacted with someone who was not his attendant. Roze had emphasized that he must treat his father with ‘respect’ and that there may be another person sitting with his father. All he could do was put faith in Roze’s teaching and hope that he did not fail. 

He was changed into heavier clothing, which he was not used to, but after some practice he grew accustomed to his new outfit. He was determined not to make Roze sad or displeased, so he could not allow himself to fail. Thus, the time for the meeting soon approached, and with Roze by his side, he approached the meeting room. 

Chapter Text

They arrived in the academy a little after first bell. One would argue this was much too soon, but there was no precedent for meeting a messenger of the Gods themselves. As it stood, there was no one within the dormitory as it was the off season. They needed to ensure that knowledge of this meeting was kept to an absolute minimum, especially from the eyes of Veronica.

Since the Palace of Adalgisa had no meeting rooms and other women, besides those who served there, were not allowed in there, the meeting was decided to be held in the Ehrenfest meeting room. It was quite the strange arrangement, but Irmhilde would guess that the royal family just simply wished to wash their hands of this responsibility. Apparently, the messenger herself had recommended this arrangement and they fully supported the suggestion. Basically, the royal family had given full responsibility to Ehrenfest to handle the messenger, which only made Irmhilde think about what the messenger had done to make them fear her so much. Regardless, this made it easier with their small entourage as now they only needed to travel within the dormitory. 

The few attendants they had taken with them worked tirelessly to prepare the meeting room, using the most expensive items they had on hand to prepare the room to an acceptable level. Adelbert held his stomach, no doubt feeling the pressure of accommodating someone who might rank as high as the royal family. Irmhilde began to suspect that he might rely on her more than she would like during this meeting; she was more accustomed to holding an inscrutable demeanor, even during pressing situations, but having her brother acting so actively fearful would not bode well for negotiations. 

“One must not act like such a fearful child, Adelbert, it is unsightly. You are Aub Ehrenfest, you must act the part. Do you wish to offend the messenger so she may crush you once again? I never knew you to be someone who enjoyed such punishment, however since you are my dear brother, I will not judge. I simply ask that you do such things without me present,” Irmhilde sneered.

“Your callous remarks never fail to distress me, sister. Is that any way to talk to your fiance? Good grief. Had you been born a man, I have no doubt in my mind that even those in the knight's order would fear your heartless sentiments,” He retorted. He heaved a sigh, but despite his words, he seemed to relax somewhat. “I was told to evaluate the child somewhat before I am to take him in to determine if he has potential, though, I am fearful I will not be allowed to refuse even if the child does not meet my standards. “

Irmhilde thought for a moment, then responded “Since the messenger will be staying with me in the immediate future, I suppose it would be better if I speak to her regarding these matters. I have no qualms about offering advice to someone of high standing since you seem as if you would be unable. Simply state that I will be his future guardian and I am under duty to oversee his education.” 

Adelbert gave a conflicted expression, but after a moment of consideration, he agreed but warned that she should not treat the messenger rudely like she usually treated him and Bonifatius. To this Irmhilde merely scoffed “How do you suppose I became head of my faction? If I threw around such careless remarks, I would no doubt be unable to lead my faction. Do not be so foolish.“

They were able to finish preparations, then came third bell. Right on cue, there was a knock at the door; Bonifatius peered in with an unsettled look on his face and announced that their visitors had arrived. Once it was agreed to let in the visitors, many servants entered first with rather pale faces, followed by the messenger disguised as an attendant with the child at her side, and finally sovereignty knights at the rear. The woman approached with the boy at her side, and kneeled in front of Adelbert. He stiffened somewhat but somehow remained composed. It was the boy who started the greeting. 

“Aub Ehrenfest, may I pray for a blessing in appreciation of this serendipitous meeting, ordained by the vibrant summer rays of Leidenschaft, the God of Fire?”

“You may.” 

“O Leidenschaft, may this meeting, which heralds an era of new beginnings, be blessed.” He concluded, continuing to kneel until Adelbert signaled for him to rise. They all sat at once, with the messenger helping the boy into his seat first, then sitting down herself. Usually attendants would not sit alongside their charge, but everyone present was aware of her identity so no one uttered a word of complaint. 

First the meeting commenced with the servants that entered the room first placing different documents and contracts on the table. Irmhilde looked over the contracts, one of which was already signed by the Zent himself; it pertained to the adoption itself with some added conditions such as one that stipulated that the origins of the child would not be discussed with anyone. The fact that she had already made the Zent sign this contract was enough to make a shiver run up Irmhilde’s spine. Likewise, Adelbert had all the color drained from his face. Does this girl rank above the king himself? Does such a position exist?

Irmhilde remained composed, she remembered her task for this meeting and steeled herself. She began first “I am Lady Irmhilde, I have been tasked with adopting Adelbert’s son once I am to be star bound in Spring. We shall discuss details of his education together, as you both will be entrusted to my estate prior to his baptism.”

She looked at the boy in question; he wore a sociable smile which one could deem acceptable for someone of his age. His light blue hair was cut to shoulder length and his pale gold eyes did not show any immediate signs of fear. Very good, his demeanor is passable. If she had to say, she could see some resemblance to Adelbert, but surprisingly his lighter colored hair somewhat resembled her own. From an outside perspective, one may assume that he was indeed her and Adelbert’s child. But in the back of her mind, she understood that this would also likely give rise to unsavory rumors that she had engaged in premarital relations with her brother. She internally sighed, but what was one more rumor to the myriad rumors Veronica held against her. 

“Erwachlehren will always appreciate words gifted by Anhaltung, Lady Irmhilde. For now you may refer to me as Roze.” she answered with a serene smile. Irmhilde had expected someone of a more intimidating presence, but she found that this girl was rather pleasant to talk to. 

They looked at the adoption papers and saw the supposed name of the boy: Quinta. Such a name would cause too much suspicion, as she had suspected, so it would be prudent to give him a new name. “Roze, if I may be so bold as to request that this boy’s name be changed, I fear not changing it may raise suspicion of his origins.” Irmhilde requested. Adelbert tensed in the corner of her eye, she was not sure if he was fearful of her making demands of the messenger or because he had not thought that far ahead. To this request, however, Roze’s look softened further and she merely nodded in agreement. 

“May I ask if you have any names in mind?” She asked, looking between Irmhilde and Adelbert. Adelbert slightly tensed, no doubt being unable to come up with suitable names on the spot, but luckily Irmhilde had a handful prepared. 

“I have a few, such as Friedrich, Bernhard, Anselm…however” she looked at the boy. Out of all of the names she had prepared ahead of time, only one seemed suited at that moment, “I am more partial to the name Ferdinand. What do you think, Adelbert?” She looked to the man in question, who was deep in thought. After a moment, he looked at the boy and then nodded. “I agree, that name does seem to suit him best. We will baptize him under the name Ferdinand come spring.”

They both looked at Roze, who wore an extremely pleased expression. It gave the impression that she already knew what name would be chosen, and she was pleased that they had arrived at the correct answer. The boy’s eyes grew wide in surprise, as if he had not expected to be given a new name, but soon a pleased smile spread across his lips and he too accepted the name. He lowered his head and seemed to whisper the new name to himself, cherishing every syllable. 

Once his name was decided, they proceeded to sign the required documentation for his adoption. Once these were completed, the servants took all that was required from the Sovereignty’s side of things and left promptly with the Knights escorting them back. Their eagerness to leave made Irmhilde wonder if the Sovereignty was actually rather cowardly. The only ones left were those from Ehrenfest, the messenger, and Ferdinand. 

They discussed the details of his education plan for the upcoming two seasons; He had not been exposed to much outside his chambers, so for one season, Roze would handle the bulk of his education while Irmhilde would mainly handle his studies when it came to noble society. Irmhilde and Adelbert would be tasked with finding retainers and attendants to serve him when he eventually had to move to the castle; she already had to prepare for her move to the castle so she would be able to move around under this pretense. During the second season, they would determine the gaps in his knowledge and teach him accordingly together. After those two seasons, it would be determined if he possessed enough knowledge to be considered an archduke candidate. 

They also discussed Roze’s living arrangement. Surprisingly, she had little care for where she stayed, she was even willing to stay in the servants quarter if need be, but luckily Irmhilde and Adelbert were able to convince her into staying in the guest room. Both Ferdinand and Roze had basically no luggage with them, only the items they themselves carried. It would be easier to sneak them around the palace without others noticing, but Irmhilde could not but feel some pity for the boy who was not even afforded possessions by the age of six. 

With all matters settled, they concluded the meeting. Together, they left and began to head towards the teleportation hall. Roze led Ferdinand by the hand and they walked together side by side, close to where the other attendants walked. He began to look all around him with wonder, as if every little thing was new and interesting to him. He met eyes with Roze who gave him a fond smile causing him to reflect an abashed smile in return. Rather cute I must say, Irmhilde thought to herself, though she would also have to scold him later for so openly showing his emotions. 

In the front, Bonifatius gestured subtly and passed sound blocking tools to both Adelbert and Irmhilde. They both accepted and he began to ask about how the meeting went. 

“It proceeded without incident.” Adelbert stated, “were there any incidents on your end?”

“No, but..” Bonifatius trailed off as he discreetly looked in the direction of Roze, “Who is that woman? When I was guarding the door, I thought they were going to arrive late as third bell approached but after looking away for a second, they appeared. It was as if they appeared out of thin air. Additionally, that woman is wearing quite the engagement stone; are you sure it is wise to allow such a woman into the duchy?” 

Irmhilde had not noticed before, but the woman did wear an impressive engagement stone which was of all the elements. That alone had raised Bonifatius’ suspicion despite their effort to keep him from the meeting.

“She is from the Sovereignty so she is of a different standard to attendants from Ehrenfest. The King likely entrusted one of his own personal retainers to us to ensure we did not fail in educating the child. Though I will discuss her hiding her engagement stone for now as to not raise further suspicion from those within Ehrenfest. “ Irmhilde deflected. This response seemed to satisfy Bonifatius to a degree and Adelbert loosened his shoulders in relief. Though, she had to wonder how such a large group had managed to sneak up on Bonifatius of all people. 

They made it to the teleportation room, where some guards Bonifatius himself had chosen greeted them. “You must not let anyone know that this meeting took place, is that understood?” Bonifatius glared. The two guards nodded in response and sent them off with a salute. They proceeded to the transportation circle where gold and black lights enveloped them until they finally arrived back at the castle. 

Irmhilde sighed in relief, but this momentary relief was short lived as a familiar troubling voice could be heard down the hall. 

“Oh dear me, what could be so important that you cannot allow me to investigate?” Veronica probed a guard from outside the room. “I heard my Husband had used the teleportation room earlier today, I only wish to see if these reports are true and to welcome him back once he returns. I order you to step aside as first lady of Ehrenfest. 

Good grief, how troublesome. It seems we will be discovered immediately. Irmhilde began to dread and she bit her lip in frustration, her plans were about to go up in smoke. She had stationed some of her guard knights in a vacant room near the servants quarters; she planned to at least make it there with Ferdinand and to lay low until the God of Darkness’ cape descended on the sky. It was risky being without guard knights, but being escorted by Bonifatius to the planned meeting location would make up for this as it would be easier to sneak around the castle with a smaller group of people. Had someone told Veronica that she was seen in the castle?

“I shall greet her with Bonifatius, when she is distracted, you three try to sneak your way around if you are able.” Adelbert stated, but his demeanor showed that he was not confident that this would work at all. Veronica would no doubt either push her way through, or even if she did not, she was likely accompanied by her retainers so they would no doubt spot the group even if they managed to slip by them. 

Unease began to pool in Irmhilde’s stomach, but just then, Roze spoke. “Fear not, we will sneak away under the cloak of Verbergen. We will not be discovered here.”

Adelbert and Bonifatius looked at her in confusion, but she urged the two of them forward while the rest of them hid in the corner. 

“You all must link arms and not let go. Do not touch anything or the illusion will break. It may feel inappropriate at the moment but this is our only way of not being detected.” She looked to Irmhilde and the attendants, who all needed to sneak past Veronica without being noticed. Ferdinand looked up to her and asked “Like last time, correct?” 

She smiled and nodded. He reached for her hand and gripped it, then extended his free hand to Irmhilde. She took it reluctantly, noticeably crouching down somewhat due to how short he was. She then linked arms with the attendants and they did the same with those closest to them with confused looks on their faces. Roze took an amulet from her pockets and began to channel mana into it. Nary a moment later, Veronica stormed into the teleportation room, looking around the room as if looking for something. 

“Veronica! I told you to wait!” Adelbert cried from the outside. As predicted, he had not been able to contain his wife. He reentered the room, his eyes betraying his panic, but then looking around the room in surprise. 

Veronica turned around to look at him, with some visible annoyance beneath her veil, but soon her demeanor switched to that of a caring wife. “I had received reports of a suspicious individual in the nearby area, I just worry ever so much for your safety, dear husband. “ 

“Even so, Bonifatius is more than capable enough to protect me. To charge into a room you suspect to be dangerous…” Adelbert began to argue, but Veronica simply moved to embrace him gently and began to stroke his hair. 

“I understand I am being unreasonable, I do hope you will forgive me. I promise to make it up to you later.” She responded in her sickly sweet voice. Of course, he could not stay mad at her and he simply sighed. They both retreated out of the teleportation room and soon only silence accompanied them. 

After waiting a few moments, everyone let out a sigh of relief. 

“Good grief, how foolish” Roze whispered under her breath, but within the silence of the room, most had heard her remark. One of the attendants towards the end of the chain could not help but let out a breath of amusement. Soon, the other attendants began to chuckle at her small remark while Roze blushed ever so slightly. 

“I agree. “ Irmhilde chuckled. Ferdinand simply looked on in confusion, not quite understanding what was so amusing. 

Roze cleared her throat and recomposed herself, “We will maintain this formation as Veronica likely has many in her faction keeping watch of the doors. Only when it is safe can we break formation. “

They then proceeded to exit the teleportation room slowly. They made their way through the castle and as suspected, Irmhilde could spot many of Veronica’s faction roaming the halls. 

Strangely, Roze seemed rather familiar with the layout of the castle. After many twists and turns, they finally made it to a secluded part of the castle. They were able to dismiss the attendants Adelbert had brought after swearing them to secrecy. After they were out of view, Irmhilde began to speak once more. “We must make our way to my mansion, but with Veronica so actively searching for anything suspicious, it may be best we lay low in the castle until the God of Darkness descends upon the sky. It would be risky placing so many people on a single high beast in order for that amulet to work. Unless you have a second one on hand, waiting may be our best option. “

Roze turned to her and smiled in confidence, puffing out her chest “Fear not, my High beast is made to accommodate many passengers.” From the corner of her eye, Irmhilde could see Ferdinand grimace slightly. What matter of high beast could unsettle a boy who knew nothing of the outside world?

Roze drew in a small breath and closed her eyes, she searched her cage and took her highbeast feystone out quickly, summoning her highbeast immediately. Irmhilde looked at what she could only describe as a monstrosity; it was as if someone had mounted the head and limbs of a grun on a strange carriage. She felt herself become unsettled and she was suddenly thankful that the amulet would prevent anyone from seeing this monstrosity. 

“Is it common practice, where you come from, to form one’s highbeast into such an unsightly creature. I can certainly see the merit of such a move, as it could serve as an intimidation tactic during battle. To think, someone as young as yourself has already seen battle…” Irmhilde suddenly looked to Roze with pity, as she had convinced herself that this was the only reason someone would model their highbeast after a grun. 

“Lessy is not unsightly, he is very cute….” She weakly protested. Ferdinand stepped out from behind Irmhilde and shook his head, “The highbeast looks scary on the outside Roze, see? I am not the only one.”

This last remark from Ferdinand seemed to completely decimate whatever argument she had left and she slumped her shoulders in defeat. 

Seeing Roze so openly display her emotions made Irmhilde silently glad she had decided to handle Ferdinand’s noble training. Finally, the three of them climbed into the strange highbeast, and, under the cloak of Verbergen, they safely retreated to Irmhilde’s mansion. 

Chapter Text

Descending from the sky, they finally made their way to the mansion. Ferdinand had been quite overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new things he had seen that day and it took all of his will to not ask any questions; Roze had told him that other people were not so patient when asked so many questions so he was told to wait to ask questions until they were alone again. She told him that he would need to find people he ‘trusted’ to teach him things he did not know. All he knew at that moment was that Roze was the only person he trusted at that moment. 

He looked to Lady Irmhilde and internally wondered if he could come to trust her too. Her expressions hardly ever changed so it was much harder for Ferdinand to understand what she thought of him. She merely looked at him with her dark gold-brown eyes, as if carefully judging him. She was rather tall for a woman, taller than Roze at least, and she never smiled with any happiness. The only time he had seen some modicum of expression out of her usual calm demeanor was when Roze had muttered a particular comment under her breath. Only then, did Ferdinand see her expression soften somewhat. 

They exited Roze’s strange highbeast, which she quickly put away, much to Ferdinand’s relief. He had seen different fey beasts on occasion outside of his window, some looking more intimidating than others, but whatever fey beast Roze had modeled her ‘Pandabus' after, was unlike anything he had seen before. It was quite unsettling, and he could not help but show his fear when he first saw it before the meeting. He felt guilty at first, but it seemed that everyone else who saw it, likewise, had similar expressions. 

Lady Irmhilde took out a yellow feystone and tapped it with a stick she materialized out of nowhere. The stone turned into a white bird before she began to speak, “Adrianus, I have managed to return to my estate without issue. Return once you are certain you will not be spotted.” The bird flew away as Ferdinand looked on, in awe. 

Before them was a white building that was smaller than all of the buildings he had been inside of, at this point. He was unsure what the normal sizes of buildings were, but judging based on the buildings they passed on the way to this mansion, this one was fairly big. They entered, and there to greet them were a handful of attendants, all kneeling as they entered.  

“Preparations have been completed, I assume?” Lady Irmhilde inquired. The attendants all confirmed and began to guide Ferdinand and Roze to their designated chambers. Ferdinand could not help but notice that all of the attendants were rather slow and most had white or silver hair. He would have to ask Roze why this was the case. 

They first made their way to the room that Ferdinand would be staying in. It was much more spacious and filled with things he did not recognize. He looked around, his eyes wide in surprise. “All of these items are now yours, Ferdinand. Do with them what you wish, and should you require anything, simply ask and I will see that it is provided.” Lady Irmhilde announced. 

These things are mine? I can obtain more things if I ask? This statement had shocked Ferdinand to his core, he was unsure how to respond for a moment, before he remembered one of the things Roze had taught him. 

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Lady Irmhilde, your kindness truly moves me, “ he responded after kneeling and crossing his arms. Roze smiled gently and Lady Irmhilde simply nodded in response. 

They continued throughout the mansion, showing the ‘dining room’, ‘washroom’, and ‘tea room’. There were so many rooms that he had not recognized the use for because he was used to being confined to a single room and only recently had he used two other rooms. 

They finally made their way to the ‘lounging area’ where there were four ‘bookshelves’ that lined the wall. Suddenly, Roze clasped her hands together in delight and her ring began to glow, which then caused a light to shoot up into the air. Gentle golden lights began to rain down on the room, creating a rather captivating sight. The attendants and Ferdinand looked on in awe, but Lady Irmhilde seemed to put on a face of slight displeasure. “I suppose she would be abnormal to be favored by the gods, “ she muttered. 

“My apologies, I was not sure when the next time I would see so many books, so I lost control of my emotions for a moment…“ Roze shyly explained. She looked at the bookshelves again and began to smile excitedly. 

Roze excused herself and approached one of the bookshelves, gently running her fingers along the items within the book shelves. She picked up one of these items and looked at it with a gentle look in her eyes and extreme happiness in her smile. Her cheeks were tinged with a delicate shade of pink and she slowly held the book to her chest and sighed. 

Ferdinand found himself captivated by her expression, but also had confusing thoughts within his head; it made him slightly displeased that he had never been able to coax out such an expression from her himself. He wished to see her with this expression more, but only when she looked at him instead. He pursed his lips slightly, unsure what expression he should be making with these confusing emotions. 

Looking around the room, the attendants looked unsure of what to do and were whispering amongst themselves. He looked at Lady Irmhilde, only to find her looking at him, with her hand covering her mouth somewhat. She had a particular look in her eyes, one that he could not identify, but for some reason he felt unsettled. She looked away and cleared her throat. “If you wish to read one of these books later at your leisure, you are welcome to it, but such matters can be done after we have finished our tour, surely. “

Roze snapped back to attention and offered words of apology. After a moment, the attendants continued with the tour. 

“You all must be famished no doubt, the chefs have been working since third bell preparing for lunch once you all were to return. We shall prepare the dining room for you Lady Irmhilde and you Lady Roze, as you are to be treated as a guest during your stay here. Lord Ferdiand, your food is to be served to you in your chambers.” One of the attendants relayed. 

Ferdinand stiffened, he did not really wish to eat without Roze, but it would seem like he had no other choice. He began to nod reluctantly, but then Roze interjected, “I am Lord Ferdinand’s head attendant, I cannot eat until he has eaten.”

The attendants looked between one another, with the expression they held before in the lounge area. “To wait until Lord Ferdinand has eaten would mean delaying yours and Lady Irmhilde’s meals. That would be rather…'' one of them began to trail off. Apparently, Lady Irmhilde and Roze had to eat together, but Ferdinand could not eat without Roze serving him and she could not eat without him eating first. It was a rather confusing situation to which Ferdiand was unsure there was an answer to. 

Suddenly, Lady Irmhilde waved away the situation, “It is simple, Ferdinand shall simply eat in the dining room with me and Lady Roze.”

Her attendants began to protest, to eat with an ‘unbaptised child’ was supposedly strange, but she merely shrugged in response. “He is to be baptized come spring and I am to be starbound then as well. Before then, I have been tasked by Aub Ehrenfest to oversee his noble training, this no doubt falls under such lessons, does it not? Additionally, those of you present are aware of my situation, I will likely not have the chance to teach him any other time. “ She emphasized. The attendants went silent, and some looked down with a sad look in their eyes. Roze seemed to notice as well and she frowned slightly. 

Lady Irmhilde ignored this and turned to Roze, “Do not worry, I ask that you prepare Ferdinand for lunch. You are permitted to attend in your attendants clothing as you no doubt lack any other attire, I likewise will assume more casual clothing if you do not mind. One of my other attendants will retrieve you two once everything is prepared. '' She turned to her attendants and they all began to follow her up the stairs. 

Roze took his hand and led him to his room. She began to change him into some of the clothes they had within the room already. There were many outfits present, many of different sizes and colors. “These must have belonged to Sylvester…” He heard Roze murmur under her breath. 

She had him try on a few until they eventually found one which seemed to fit his frame enough to satisfy Roze. She nodded and led him to a strange window near the wall, opposite of his bed. Except when they approached, it seemed to serve to reflect him much like water did sometimes. This was the first time he had taken a good look at himself; he had sky blue hair, similar in color to Lady Irmhilde’s and his eyes were a paler yellow than Roze’s. The outfit chosen for him was navy blue with white sleeves, Roze had explained to him that the current season was that of the God of Fire and his divine color was blue so his clothes were chosen with this in mind. His pants were a light green and he wore a dark brown belt to hold them up since he was slightly smaller than whoever they were originally made for. He was given some ‘leather shoes’ and socks, which he needed Roze to put on for him. Lastly, she took out a yellow cloth which she explained was a ‘cape’ and draped it across his back, securing it in place by tying it in the front. She motioned for him to spin and nodded in approval as he complied. Soon, an attendant came in to announce lunch was ready and led them into the dining hall once more. 

There was a circular table now in the dining room's center with three chairs surrounding it. There was a fair amount of food covering the table which looked rather good to Ferdinand. Lady Irmhilde sat down first, followed by Ferdinand, who was hoisted into his seat by Roze, and finally Roze herself sat down. They said their before meal prayer, that Ferdinand had gotten used to saying during his meals with Roze, and ‘poison checks’ were carried out before they began to eat. 

“I have observed that you must carry out rather thorough poison checks,“ Roze began, apparently the poison checks were more thorough than she was used to, “Am I to believe that your attendants are favored by Verdraeos due to this?”

Lady Irmhilde nodded, “Unfortunately, it is as you suggest. Such attempts have become more frequent as of late. We have determined the problem to occur during the delivery of goods, however, our attempts to thwart such schemes have failed as my enemies possess a seemingly endless amount of resources and dedication to continue their endeavors. I fear my attendants will continue to require the blessings of Verdraeos for the foreseeable future.” 

Roze pondered for a moment, then made a suggestion. “Lady Irmhilde, if I may be so bold to suggest that I may provide a means to transport such goods in the future. My highbeast was designed to carry as much as I require. If it is once a week, then it would not trouble me too greatly. It would no doubt offer us both peace of mind.”

“I would never wish to impose such demands on you, however…” She paused a moment to look at Ferdinand, then she continued, “considering the circumstances at the moment, such attempts may become more frequent and intense so I am inclined to agree. We will discuss such matters with my head attendant, Bertha, once the God of Darkness’ cloak descends.”

“Might I also recommend some particular vendors within Ehrenfest which I trust, they are rather diligent and I know I would be able to trust them with other matters such as the clothes which Ferdinand will need tailored to his size. “ Roze added. 

To this, Lady Irmhilde’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded in agreement. “I welcome suggestions which will ease your mind during your stay here. I will have some scholars look into these suggestions in order for us to determine whether we should switch vendors.” She then turned towards Ferdinand, “During the times that Roze is gone, I will oversee your care. If not me then you may trust Bertha. Is that understood?”

Ferdinand looked behind Irmhilde to look at her attendant, Bertha, a small woman with pink hair and large streaks of gray hair. She nodded when he met eyes with her and gave a gentle smile. “Understood,” he responded. 

Roze began to fidget somewhat, hesitating for a moment, but she began to speak again. “I have a few recipes that I wish to share with your chefs, if you would let me be so bold.”

Irmhilde blinked in surprise, then began to question Roze, “Do you wish for me to buy some recipes from you? I cannot imagine that you would freely give away such valuable information. “ 

Roze shook her head, “It is the least I could do while I am in your care. Do not even consider trying to pay me for such things. I imagine I will begin to make many demands one may find unreasonable, so consider this compensation for that.” She smiled then added, “there are some ingredients that I require even now, before I am to bathe. The ingredients are rather easy to obtain, and the product itself is rather easy to make. I will allow you to use it as well if you wish to possess hair like mine.” She demonstrated by running her fingers through her silky blue hair. Ferdinand had noticed that Roze had hair like no other, to think there was such a secret to it. 

Irmhilde leaned forward; she did not change her expression but he could tell that she was eager. “Feel free to write these things down, I will provide the materials and my attendants. I will of course do whatever necessary to ensure your stay here is as comfortable as possible. Of course such products and recipes will stay within the walls of my estate, so we do not draw attention from our enemies.“ Bertha covered her mouth as she looked at her master's apparent eagerness.

“Of course, I trust such matters to you Lady Irmhilde.” Roze replied. 

Lady Irmhilde began to ponder for a second, “I suppose that there may be many more secrets that you cannot even share with me. I will accompany you to your room and help in the creation of your hidden room.” She turned towards Ferdinand, “I will also help in the creation of one in your room as well Ferdinand. Do you understand what a hidden room is?”

He considered the question for a moment, and answered to the best of his abilities, “I am unsure, as I have never heard of such a room before today. Might I guess that it is a room where certain things someone might require to do, can be done secretly. ”

Lady Irmhilde nodded then smiled slightly, “A good answer, that is exactly its purpose. To be more specific, it is a space created with mana, that nobles use to carry out certain actions in secret. There are requirements that one can add to the entryway to ensure only certain people who meet the requirements are able to enter.” 

Ferdinand smiled in relief, he had answered the question to her satisfaction. But then Irmhilde began to chide him, ”Ferdinand, your expressions are much too open. From what I have observed, you are a fast learner so I ask you to learn from example. This is one of the most important lessons I will teach you before your baptism. Other children have been given a much longer chance to learn such things so I unfortunately must be harsh with you, but it is necessary as you will no doubt learn in the near future.” 

He felt slight unease at being scolded so openly, but he straightened his back and responded, “I understand Lady Irmhilde, I will take your teachings to heart.”

Roze, from the corner of his eye, gave off a relieved sigh and smiled gently at him. But then suddenly, Lady Irmhilde’s gave a chilly smile and turned towards her. “Lady Roze, I understand you are to teach him a great many things, but open expression of his emotions should not be one of them. It would be counterproductive to my teachings, would you not agree? In noble society, such openings would only be exploited.” Lady Irmhilde began to go on a lecture about the importance of containing one's emotions in noble society. Roze’s eyes glazed over after some time, as if she was used to such long winded explanations. 

“Good grief, I hope that I will not be forced to teach you as well, Roze.” Then she looked up as if recalling something. She looked towards Ferdinand, and flashed a smile that he could sense held no good intentions, then she turned back towards Roze, “Once I create your hidden room, might I suggest you hide your engagement fey stone. You see, it is omni-elemental and of high quality so it might raise some suspicion if you are to interact with some outside of my estate. Might I recommend you create a temporary one for your disguise, one only possessing at most two elements. “ 

Roze looked at her in surprise and gently touched the feystone in question. She seemed to consider a few things for a moment, but then shook her head, “I apologize, Lady Irmhilde but I would never even consider taking it off, it is much too precious to me.”

“I see, I understand.” Irmhilde nodded, covering her mouth while shooting Ferdinand a few pitying looks. He did not know why, but he slowly became more annoyed at her glances. Irmhilde considered something for a moment then made a suggestion, “You need not take it off then, simply conceal it. Perhaps by creating a longer chain so it can be better hidden under your clothes. I do still suggest you create a decoy feystone so no man will try to make any advances on you.” She looked towards Ferdinand at that last statement and shook her head sadly. Berthe and the other attendants likewise also began to shake their heads sadly. Collectively, and wordlessly they seemed to agree on something that Ferdinand did not understand. He made sure to hide his displeasure underneath his smile. 

“I see, I will make sure to do so. I will request brewing equipment and other furniture for my hidden room. I likewise would request the same of Ferdinand’s room as he will likely begin to use such tools in the future. “ Roze replied. 

“I would like to delay providing any brewing equipment for him until he is able to control his mana to a degree. I have never heard of a child learning to brew at such a young age, so I am doubtful he will need such tools until he enrolls into the academy. However, if he shows enough aptitude for such things, then I would certainly consider obtaining such items early.” Irmhilde responded. 

She turned towards Ferdinand and made a motion to her attendants. One stepped forward and handed her some items; after she checked the contents, she nodded and the attendants proceeded to come towards Ferdinand.

“Hold out your left hand.” She commanded. He did as commanded and the attendant placed a green ring on his middle finger. It adjusted to his size which surprised him, but he tried his best not to let it show. A second attendant came forward with a tool of some kind and placed it in his hands. “This ring indicates that one is a noble, I am giving it to you now so you can better practice your greetings. This magic tool is for storing your excess mana, depending on how much mana you possess, this may be essential for you to do certain tasks. It will take me some time to determine how much mana you possess, but be warned, if you do not possess enough worthy of an archduke candidate, you will face much scrutiny. “

Ferdinand looked at the tool, wondering how to use it. He thought about the heat that would rise in his body and imagined putting some of it in the tool. He closed his eyes and focused on pushing some of it out. To his surprise he was able to push a fair amount into the tool, enough that he could feel some of the burden he felt before being lifted. For some time, his fevers had been getting worse as his mana started to get hard to control; he had to imagine squishing it into his body constantly when he was denied additional feystones. 

He sighed in relief after he finished pushing out the excess that had been making him uncomfortable. When he opened them again, he realized that Lady Irmhilde had risen from her seat and had been peering into the tool. “It is full…” She muttered. Her eyes became sharp, evaluating the tool carefully, then she slowly returned to her seat. 

She considered her words for a moment before looking at Roze. “This boy has a fair amount of mana, I will have to make arrangements to ensure that he has somewhere to place his excess mana, but it will take some time to make a child tool suited for someone of his capacity. But I am glad that we need not worry about whether he possesses enough mana befitting of an archduke candidate.” 

“I understand. I will teach him how to contain and manage it and I will find ways for him to safely use his excess mana. '' Roze responded. Many of the attendants now became rather worried, and Lady Irmhilde’s expression, likewise, reflected some worry. 

“His mana capacity is great enough that he may be on the receiving end of ire and envy of his peers as he goes through his summer. I will need to ensure he has a place among my faction so there are always those he can turn to and trust. However, as it stands now, I cannot introduce him prior to his baptism and my starbind…” Lady Irmhilde now looked slightly bitter, but she continued, “But I will try my best given the circumstances. I have a close friend within my faction, she will be the best choice to offer her support as she has a son close to his age and she herself is keenly aware of the threat my enemies pose. For now, I will lay the groundwork needed for such communications. “

They continued to talk of what needed to be done before they ended lunch. Lady Irmhilde retreated to her room while Roze escorted Ferdinand back to his room. Some of the attendants had set his room up with some wooden boards, strange black boards, and some white pieces of stone. In the corner were two strange looking devices made of wood which had many strings attached to them. 

Roze turned around to face him. She smiled brightly, “Now we shall begin our real lessons!”

Chapter Text

‘To mend the broken thread, we must use part of yours. Until those threads have been mended, you must remain in the past. We estimate this first break will take two seasons for you to fix. We will aid you when necessary, but act so as not to disturb the current pattern of the weave, otherwise you may erase your own existence…’

Those were some of the last words the Goddess of Time had said to her before she was left in the past. Rozemyne could guess that she was about 20 years in the past based on how old Ferdinand was currently. 

The Goddess of Time had told her that she needed to ensure Ferdinand’s adoption by Aub Ehrenfest during this break, without much other hints or direction. It had been rather difficult to convince both the Aub and the Zent of this time to let Ferdinand into Ehrenfest, so much so that she needed to request the help of the Gods to make it seem convincing. First, she convinced the Aub by cornering him in the Mana Replenishment hall when he was by himself; he was the easier of the two, in her opinion, as she just had to talk about how Ehrenfest would fall if he did not listen to her and maybe crush him slightly. 

Then she had the Gods teleport her to the Sovereignty; she was having a difficult time deciding how to convince the king himself, but she just remembered the last time she had convinced a King that she ranked above him and decided to ask the Gods for a little help. When she materialized before the King, all the knights immediately tried to pull their weapons on her. “I come on a mission from the Goddess of Time, do not interfere unless you wish to earn the ire of the Gods and bring about the fall of Yurgenschmidt!” She had declared, still bathed in the beam of light. 

The King became pale, only then was he willing to listen. She took out her book of Mestionora and made it shine really brightly, in order for it to make it seem like she was reading the declarations of the gods. This seemed to further convince the knights around them and they put their weapons away and began to kneel before her. A little of an overreaction but that’s okay I guess. She had thought.

It was then that she was finally able to discuss how he would receive a request from Aub Ehrenfest to retrieve his son from the Palace of Adalgisa and he would have to accept it no matter what. Everytime the King would protest even a little bit, she would crush him slightly until he eventually agreed. Unfortunately for him, he looked like the Royals she knew from her time so it made it rather easy to do so. 

For three days she had to stay within the Palace of Adalgisa and she better understood why Ferdinand only spoke of it when necessary. It was an extremely depressing place for a child and it was even more depressing knowing that she would be unable to save any of the other children there. Anything she did out of turn might affect the weave and the Goddess of time said that she would not allow that. 

‘...you may erase your existence….’ The words were vague enough to serve as both a warning and a threat. She could not test it out with Ferdinand’s life and everyone else’s future hanging in the balance. 

It was hard to sleep in such a place, but the only ray of happiness that she had during this time was teaching baby Ferdinand.

Ughhhh he so cuuuuteee, I’m gonna dieeee!!! Cuteness is Justice! Truly! Praise be the gods!

He was so curious and openly expressive during this time of his life that she wanted to squeeze him so much. Unfortunately, when she tried to hug him when she was teaching him about the word kindness, he did not seem to like it much. His body stiffened and he wore a truly conflicted expression. It was a stark reminder that this was not the same Ferdinand she knew and he would have to be introduced to these things slowly. 

But he’s so cute right now, I want to hug him so badly! 

She settled on just pampering him to her heart's content. Any question he would ask she would answer straight away, and any request he made of her she would complete it without complaint. Being so neglected had left him terribly underprepared for even venturing out of his room; he was never short of any questions to ask. Attendant’s work was more tiring than she expected, especially when dealing with such an energetic child, but witnessing his unfiltered emotions while he was so cute made it so worth it. 

When she had left her time in the future, her Ferdinand was on the verge of disappearing. Upon seeing this, a dark coolness had washed over her as she made sure he and his name-sworn retainers were placed in their jureves. She changed into her customized riding clothes and, wordlessly, entered her hidden room to begin collecting items to help her confront the Gods. Luckily, word from the Gods themselves came after the Goddess of Time possessed Hannalore. She felt bad that her friend had to get involved, but the Gods had assured her that she would not be dyed in the same way she was. The Gods were willing to let Rozemyne fix Ferdinand’s thread: The only price she had to pay was some of her thread in order to help Ferdinand, but that was a no brainer for her, she could not live without him that much was obvious. 

Though, I am not sure how to explain that Sterrat has tied our threads together and we’re now married already, but that is a problem for later. 

It was the day of the meeting with the Aub that she met Lady Irmhilde. In truth, she looked like a female Ferdinand; it was as if Fernistine herself leapt out the pages of the book. I wonder if Elvira knew Lady Irmhilde….

After talking with her more, the similarities became more clear. She was a strong woman with a no-nonsense attitude, very strict and to the point. Even though she could tell Aub Ehrenfest was still scared of her, Lady Irmhilde did not even appear bothered and even spoke frankly to Rozemyne when it came to her duties. She was unflappable, even in the face of a messenger of a God. It seemed that she was the person who had given Ferdinand his name, truly she was an extremely capable mother. 

Ferdinand never talked about his mother, all I know is that she disappeared before his baptism. I don’t know how much of an influence she had on him, but even if he can’t remember her, it was no doubt quite a lot. They act so similar…

The more she saw of Lady Irmhilde, the more she was sure that her character influenced Ferdinand greatly. Even with her obvious distaste for people like Veronica. Though, unlike Ferdinand, she has a sense of humor, somewhat…

When they finally were able to make their way to Ferdinand’s (or rather Lady Irmhilde’s) estate, the similarities just became more apparent. He is so similar it is almost scary, so why did he never talk about her? Does he not remember her….

Rozemyne began to wonder about how Ferdinand would remember these things when she reappeared in the future. He had never once mentioned having known her in his past, he would have trusted her faster if that were the case. Then, the realization hit Rozemyne like a ton of bricks: To keep the pattern of the weave, the gods would have no problem altering the memories of those she met in the future. If Ferdinand forgets all instances of time with her, then he might forget the times he spent with Irmhilde. She did not have much to go off of, except the Goddess’ words, but that was the only conclusion she could come to. If she was to ensure that Ferdinand retained some memories of his mother, she would have to make sure he spent some of it alone with her. 

She was sure that he would not forget the lessons she taught him, considering how exceptional he would become, but ensuring he retained more precious memories with his mother was high on her priority list. That is why she decided to become more involved with the maintenance of the mansion with tasks that would ensure Irmhilde and Ferdinand interacted without her around. 

I’ll be busy, but it is worth it to make sure Ferdinand retains more precious memories of his mother!

It was after their first lunch together with Irmhilde that she would begin her real lessons with little Ferdinand. She started first with the alphabet and taught him how to write his new name. Even though Irmhilde had scolded him earlier about showing his emotions openly, he could not help but beam with joy after learning how to write his name. His expressions were so cute, Rozemyne could never bring herself to scold him, she would rather die. 

He was a quick learner too, it did not take too long for him to memorize his name and a few letters of the alphabet. She did what she usually did when she was teaching: switching up the lessons every so often. However, she found that there was little need for this because Ferdinand found the process of learning any new information exciting; there was nary a moment where his eyes were not shining with excitement or focus. At this rate, he would learn to read in half a season, half the time it took her to teach the orphans. Be it numbers, music, or writing, he seemed to pick up new information extremely quickly. This must be what it was like to teach child prodigies, Rozemyne would often think.

His singing voice was so lovely as a child, she now completely and wholeheartedly understood the heartbreak the professors had felt when his voice began to crack. She made a note to savor it as much as possible. She was half tempted to make a magic recording device to record it but she decided against it for now. She was not even sure she could take things from the past with her. 

While he would be focusing on practicing his letters and numbers, Rozemyne made sure to write down the recipes she had planned to give to the kitchen and attendants. They were mainly recipes that she had made with her lower-city family, things that could be made on short notice, and she wrote detailed instructions that were easy to understand, so that the attendant could assist if the kitchen staff could not read. She also wrote the process for making rimsham; She had been staying with Ferdinand for the past few days and her hair was starting to lose its luster without it. She called one of Irmhilde’s attendants and passed the information over. She hoped that at least the rimsham would be ready by the time she had to bathe Ferdinand. He would look even more adorable with his hair shiny. He could be mistaken for a girl with his cute face!

When it was finally time for dinner, Ferdinand seemed disappointed that he would have to stop his lessons for the day. Rozemyne crouched down to look at him, “Do not worry, we will continue our lessons tomorrow. There are many things for you to learn, afterall. “ 

Ferdinand looked up, his eyes shining with an innocent smile stretched across his lips, “Yes Roze, please teach me more tomorrow!”

Ugh he is too cute, this is a direct attack on my ovaries!!

She directed the attendants that were spared for her to clean his chambers and readied him for dinner. 

They made their way to the dining hall once more, and there, the attendants wore excited grins. Irmhilde was already seated at the table, looking at the food that was spread out, her eyes betraying her curiosity. They sat down again and said their before meal prayers. Irmhilde took a reproachful bite of the Caprese salad, with her eyes opening slightly wide, betraying her surprise for its taste. Rozemyne had made a point to include recipes that Ferdinand had taken a liking to in her time, so a less time intensive consomme was included, along with hamburg steak. 

She began to closely watch Ferdinand’s expression as he scanned the new dishes. He took a bite out of his Hamburg steak and his eyes began to sparkle in amazement. Next he gave a quizzical look to the consomme, but after trying a spoonful, his expression quickly changed to one of glee. “It is very good!” He exclaimed with a smile, before he covered his mouth. He glanced worryingly at Irmhilde, but she simply shrugged in response.

“I will not harshly scold you for now, as I too lost some composure a moment ago. This meal is of a finer quality than even I am used to, I feel quite guilty for not giving any gold in exchange.”

Rozemyne shook her head in response, “I do not mind sharing these recipes with you now, as long as they do not leave this estate. As long as your attendants and kitchen staff are aware of this, then I see no issues. You have been quite accommodating to us both, it is the least I can do. May I ask if the product I discussed earlier has been prepared?”

Irmhilde motioned for one of her attendants and they quickly returned with a jar filled with rimsham. After checking its contents, Rozemyne smiled to herself and nodded. “Very good. May I demonstrate how to use it with one of your attendants when I am to bathe Ferdinand? I will be seeing him off to bed early as he is no doubt tired after such a long day.” 

“I see, yes if you do not mind. Truly, Roze, your kindness knows no bounds. I am quite glad that I have the pleasure to oversee you within my estate.” Irmhilde gave a slight smile and continued to eat her meal with elegance. She made a point to ask Ferdinand about the things he had learned after lunch, to which he answered to the best of his abilities. Whenever his expression would slip, he would quickly correct himself to which Irmhilde would simply nod in silent encouragement. Despite her stern glares and lectures, she seemed rather gentle at times like these. 

Dinner finished without incident and as they began to make their leave, Irmhilde called out to them again. “I almost forgot, I will accompany you to help you make your hidden rooms. I have made the arrangements to use some of the furniture we had in storage so they will be furnished somewhat at least. Roze, once you have sent Ferdinand to bed, notify my attendants and I will help in establishing yours.” 

“I thank you ever so much.”

Once they set up the hidden room for Ferdinand (much to his amazement), Rozemyne went to give him a bath where she would teach Irmhilde’s attendant to use rimsham. The servants had quickly moved the furniture into his hidden room and left soon after as well. 

She changed him into his sleepwear and got him ready for bed. Unfortunately, he was much too energized to go to sleep. Being surrounded by so many new things had seemed to unlock his mad scientist quirk and he continued to ask an innumerable amount of questions. Rozemyne was not sure how to convince this Ferdinand to go to bed, so she decided to follow her lower-city mother’s example. 

Swiftly, she laid him down, tucking him in tightly into bed. She laid next to him and began to recite the story tale of the star children, the one her mother had told her many times. She gently stroked his hair which did seem to soothe him to a degree. Once she finished her story, she slowly rose, and, perhaps taking too much from her mother’s example, kissed his forehead. Any sleepiness he had prior was unfortunately blown away in an instant as he looked at her with wide eyes. 

Ah, I got too carried away!

Rozemyne quickly scrambled for a cover for her blunder, “That was a charm someone taught me for sweet dreams, I apologize for scaring you. I will give you a proper blessing instead as that would be more effective.” She took out her schtappe and chanted “O Schlaftraum, God of Dreams - May Ferdinand be blessed with pleasant sleep and joyous dreams.”

A white light drifted down on him, he seemed like he was going to say something but soon his eyelids grew quite heavy and he fell asleep rather quickly. It would seem like he was quite tired in spite of his fervor before. I hope I don’t end up traumatizing him or something, hopefully he forgets this mistake. 

She left Ferdinand’s room a little after seventh bell and called for one of Irmhilde’s attendants. She had not gotten the chance to see her room, as Ferdinand was not allowed to see the room during the tour and leaving him alone would be rather sad. As she walked into her room, she found Irmhilde already waiting for her. 

“He was too excitable to be taken down quickly, I presume?”

“Yes, it took some time to coax him into Schlaftraum’s realm but it ended without too much issue.” Rozemyne did not want to mention her blunder as she might be labeled as some degenerate. 

They made the hidden room, and the servants began to bring in extra furniture along with an extra set of brewing materials. After all of the materials were taken in, Irmhilde bid Rozemyne a good night and quickly left to her own chambers, no doubt eager to try out the rimsham. 

An attendant that remained back announced that her bath was ready and she offered to help her bathe, but she politely refused as she would be able to handle bathing herself. She did not need to keep up appearances here as she mainly wore an attendant's uniform, so she did not require the help of others at the moment. They provided her with some sleepwear that was unfortunately too big for her, but she was assured that she could find the time to look for extra clothes with some provided funds; the only other clothing she had brought with her were a few spare attendants uniforms and all of her battle garments and tools. 

Rozemyne did not know how many breaks in Ferdinand’s thread there would be, so she reasoned that she would have to get used to bathing herself. She only hoped that she would not fall ill during her stay here, luckily since she had her more adult body, her fevers only came once a month or two.

After her bath, she entered her hidden room. There were basic supplies there, including feystones and brewing materials. Even though her feystone phobia had not been fully cured when she went into the past, she was able to push herself when it came to helping Ferdinand. She no longer trembled violently at the sight of them, and she could summon her highbeast if she simply closed her eyes. Ferdinand had worked patiently with her to help her overcome some of her fears, so it would go without question that she could push herself harder for his sake. She looked to the cage on her belt, the only stones she had decided to take with her were for her highbeast and Ferdinand’s namestone.

She sat down and began making a longer chain for her engagement stone. It was in no way fancy like the charms and accessories Ferdinand had made for her, but it would have to do. She gazed down at the stone, looking at the engraving. Tears trickled onto the stone, and she could not help but hold it close to her heart. She was still so worried about her Ferdinand, having seen him in such a horrid state before she left. 

She had assured herself that she would be able to save him, but when she came to this time period, she had been told that Ferdinand was soon to become a feystone. It had gnawed at her heart every time little Ferdinand recited what he had been told by his caretakers: that he was to become a feystone soon. They had apparently become neglectful in these recent weeks due to his ‘duties that he would soon fulfill’ that they left him in the discomfort of his overflowing mana. He had been so used to the discomfort and pain that he uttered no words of complaint, he merely accepted it.

If all of his breaks would be during moments he was most vulnerable, would she have to save him from the brink of death over and over again? It had been distressing enough when she had to save him in Ahrensbach’s replenishment hall, but if he would end up in a terrible state like how he found him during this time, with a vacant stare accepting death, she was not sure she could handle it. How many times would she have to see him on the brink of death? These thoughts made her shake with despair, however, she knew, deep down, that no one else would be able to save him, it could only be her. She stopped her tears and slapped her cheeks, all in order to get a hold on herself. 

Rozemyne put the chain around her neck and let it hang down; unfortunately, she had made the chains too long and it was now fixed between her breasts but it was nonetheless hidden so she considered it a success. She placed the decoy feystone on as well, one she made (half closing her eyes) with a generic engraving that only contained two colors. She clasped her hands to her chest, resolving herself to help Ferdinand the best she could. 

I will carry your burden with you, Ferdinand. I will do everything in my power to make sure you survive!

Chapter Text

Ferdinand’s first day was so exciting, that when he was told he needed to sleep, he wanted to refuse. There were still so many questions lingering in his mind that sleeping seemed impossible at that moment. 

However, Roze could always overcome the impossible; she quickly laid him down on his new soft bed and began to gently caress him. She told him a new story, which he found interesting with its strange concept, but coupled with her soft, melodic voice, sleep began to beckon him. When she finished her story, she moved to get up, he was about to reach out to her to beg her to stay and tell him more stories, but she again did something incomprehensible to him. She delicately parted his hair from his forehead and pressed her lips to it. 

He experienced the strangest feeling that day, where his mind was both flooded with questions and thoughts but anything pertaining to what he should do next drew a blank. She had said it was a ‘charm’ for sleep, but he could not imagine anyone being able to sleep after receiving such a ‘charm’. His heart was beating not only fast, but vigorously, and the heat he had felt before when she had held him slowly began to permeate his entire body. Before he even tried to compose himself, Roze materialized a strange stick and chanted something strange. He could not hear it very well over his heartbeat, unfortunately. Like when she first sang to him, white lights began to rain down on him. His body became heavy, and slowly he began to close his eyes. 

He had a dream like no other, where he was being taught new things by Roze in his chambers. They ate good food and she smiled the same way she had smiled when she looked upon a book, except this time she directed her smile towards him. She would praise him as much as he wanted and she would stroke his hair with her radiating smile. He turned to her and asked her to teach no one but him and to stay with him forever. In response, she drew him in close, and placed her lips on his forehead once again, “Of course, I promise you Ferdinand.” For the rest of his dream, she held him in her arms, her scent filling his nose and he could practically feel the softness and warmth of her body like he had in real life. 

A nice warm, fuzzy feeling stayed in his chest when Roze finally woke him in the morning. Just being near her made him want to smile, but he managed to restrain himself. He did not want Lady Irmhilde to scold him again. 

After he ate breakfast, Roze told him what his schedule would be that day and the next coming weeks. Today, Wind day, he would spend the first half of the day with his usual studies with Roze, but after lunch, he would join Lady Irmhilde in the lounging area for his ‘noble training’. Lady Irmhilde was going to be busy this season, ‘laying some groundwork’ as she had explained, so she could only be present to teach Ferdinand half of Windays and Firedays, but she would teach him all of Earthday so Roze could run some ‘errands’ for the estate. 

Ferdinand was hesitant to leave Roze’s side, but he understood that he could not be near her during all parts of the day. 

Roze taught him more of the alphabet that day, along with some more numbers he quickly memorized. Harspiel practice he found more difficult, but this was primarily due to him becoming distracted by Roze. She would strum the strings with elegance and grace, it was hard not to get lost watching her, but ,with effort, he learned what was expected of him. 

Lunch soon came around, and after a rather tasty meal, the three of them made their way to the lounging area. Lady Irmhilde signaled to her attendants and two came forward. “Roze, I would like to offer you the opportunity to take some well deserved rest. You are a guest here, yet you have had nary a moment to rest. You are free to borrow some books to read at your leisure until dinner time. Adel and Elke will tend to you during that time. Please rest well while I oversee the noble education entrusted to me.”

Roze smiled, then nodded, “I thank you ever so much, Lady Irmhilde, I will use this opportunity to rest until dinner time. However, I must admit that I tend to get lost in reading so your attendants may struggle in that regard. I must apologize ahead of time. They may feel free to do whatever necessary to pull me away so they need not worry about being rude. “

Lady Irmhilde raised her eyebrow slightly, but she nonetheless agreed to Roze’s strange suggestions. The attendants picked a couple of books for Roze, and she once again flashed the radiant smile she had the day before. Ferdinand could feel an unsettling feeling rise in his chest somewhat and he could not help but draw his eyebrows slightly together. His break in expression, would get him scolded again if he was not careful, so he looked to make sure she had not seen. Unfortunately, she was indeed watching him intently. She is going to scold me no doubt, he thought silently accepting his fate.

Roze soon left the room, and he soon sat together with Lady Irmhilde. She was to sip the tea first, as he had been told, and they would begin their lessons. She began with the topic of hiding one's emotions, as it was necessary in noble society. 

“As a noble, openly expressing one’s emotions would only prove as a weakness for others to exploit. This concept would no doubt be difficult for you to understand at the moment, as you have never known conflict or malice, but I will make sure you understand fully. Do you understand what having enemies entails?”

Ferdinand thought for a moment, he did not know what an enemy was, but it appeared to be negative, and something to avoid. He answered to the best of his abilities. “Is it something that one would be better avoiding? Much like that woman from the teleportation hall?”

Lady Irmhilde smiled slightly, then nodded. “A good answer and astute observation. To be precise, one's enemies are those who have goals that conflict with your own. They will cause trouble to not only you but also those you hold dear. You must hide your emotions, especially from your enemies.” She took a sip of her tea, then continued, “I have not known you for long, but I can see that you are rather close to Roze. What do you think of her?”

Ferdinand thought that this question was rather sudden, but he soon replied, “She teaches me everything I wish to know, without her I am unsure what I would be able to accomplish.”

Lady Irmhilde’s expression softened as she questioned him further, “I can see that your fondness and admiration runs deeper than that. You seem rather jealous of the books she looks at with such compassion.”

Jealous? Was that the dark feeling he had felt during that time. She leaned in closer, her smile unbreaking, “Doth Bluanfah dance for you I wonder? For your Erwachlehren, no less. Unfortunately, any rafels which may sprout for you will no doubt be fruitless, as she is promised to another.” He looked at her with confusion. Seeing this, she continued, “I suspect you feel your heart beat faster when she is near. When you stare at her or think of her, what is it that you feel? You may be unfamiliar with such feelings so I will gladly explain them to you. Getting answers from the person they pertain to would no doubt be embarrassing. “

She knows about these feelings? Ferdinand felt some relief, someone understood the strange feelings he could not decipher. “Yes, I feel my heart beat quite fast when she offers me praise, my face feels rather warm if she meets my gaze, and my chest hurts somewhat when she must leave my side. Do you understand what these feelings may be?”

Lady Irmhilde covered her mouth while nodding, her attendants had similar reactions, whispering excitedly amongst themselves. “I see, it is as I suspected. It seems you have the beginnings of what might be called love, in crude terms. Nobles understand this as nurturing ‘rafels’ for another. I am not sure if you understand the full implications of nurturing such a romance in your heart, but seeing as you are a child, it is natural you would come to understand as you develop through your summer. Though I am not sure I will be able to explain why such feelings will no doubt be fruitless. There is much you do not understand so I will have to take my time with this matter, but it is necessary. “

She leaned forward, and her expression immediately turned sharp, “it is when you let your guard down, like you have just a moment ago, those who wish you harm will act. If I were your enemy, this information you have just given me would be used to its fullest extent. I do not much like wasting time on hypotheticals, but such would be necessary for you to understand. “ She paused, getting some pouch from her side and placing it in front of her. “I want you to imagine spending the rest of your days with Roze by your side.”

He closed his eyes, remembering his dream and he began to imagine spending the rest of his life with her like that. It filled him with warmth and happiness. Lady Irmhilde continued, “Now imagine, now that your enemies know what you hold dear, they decided that the best way to harm you would be to harm Roze. Imagine what you would do if you could never see her again because your enemies decided to take her from you. “

The thought of never seeing Roze filled him with sadness and despair, but the thought that someone would go out of their way to do such things to watch him suffer filled him with a feeling of disgust and anger. So tumultuous were these emotions, that he did not notice that Lady Irmhilde had come to his side to press a feystone to his head. 

“You must learn to control your emotions lest you wish to harm those around you. “ She chided. Ferdinand tried to calm himself, he could feel his mana rampaging so he tried his best to force it back the best he could. After a few steading breaths, he succeeded to a degree. Lady Irmhilde offered him a few extra feystones and he accepted them. 

Lady Irmhilde sighed in relief, then slowly returned to her seat while fixing her appearance. She placed a hand on her forehead and began to speak again, “I failed to take into account your abundance of mana, so your outburst is a blunder on my part. But such lessons are necessary, if you wish to protect those you hold close to your heart. This is why you must work hard so no one can decipher your emotions. I will help you forge your noble mask, so you temper it as needed and use it as a powerful weapon against your foes.”

Ferdinand had been wondering before about the point of these lessons, but now it had become perfectly clear. He needed to protect Roze. He nodded, stealing his resolve once again. “I understand clearly, Lady Irmhilde. Please teach me.”

“Very well, we will continue our lessons until dinner.” She looked to the side for a moment in consideration, then turned her eyes back to him. “You will have many thoughts and feelings that you may not be familiar with, I now understand that. You may be hesitant to discuss such things with even Roze, especially if such thoughts involve her, that is why I would be willing to lend my ear.” She motioned to her attendants and one placed a small tool in his hands, explaining how to use it. He grasped it, as he was told. 

“This is an eavesdropping magic tool, it makes it so only I can hear your voice, and vice versa. There may be some capable of still deciphering what one has said by movement of lips alone so do not think that this is a concrete way of keeping your secrets hidden, but for now within my estate it will do. It shall serve its purpose to spare you the embarrassment of having my attendants overhear. If you ever find yourself overcome with emotions again, I suggest you use your hidden room“

Ferdinand understood that she was doing him a kindness, so he made note to use these tools when he only had particular people he wanted to give a message to and for important information. He gave the tool back after he nodded in agreement. 

They continued their lesson, discussing noble euphemisms commonly used, events nobles tended to attend, and what behavior was expected of a noble. He was told that his manners were rather good for his age, but his manner of speaking needed improvement. 

“Due to your lack of general knowledge of the world, one can quickly detect your naivety. Many will take advantage of this if you are not careful, that is why you must carry yourself in a way befitting a noble.“

He listened intently to her wisdom until eventually they finished for the day. 

“Your kindness warms my heart, Lady Irmhilde. I hope our lessons will continue to be fruitful.”

Lady Irmhilde, in a rare instance of emotion, smiled warmly.

The rest of the week continued much the same. He had lessons every day, which he enjoyed to his heart's content. When Earthday finally came, he was only able to spend breakfast with Roze; as much as he wanted to help her with her ‘chores’, he was aware that he likely could not. He made sure not to show his disappointment on his face during his lessons with Lady Irmhilde. 

Despite her strict attitude, she was rather easy to talk to; he made sure to model his behavior to hers somewhat as she was the best example of a noble he knew of. It was seldom that he could read her true emotions and her face remained neutral throughout their interactions. That day she had decided to teach him more in depth euphemisms, along with common insults one may use during tea parties.

‘Anwachs does not hold you in his favor is see’, ‘It would seem you are rather bereft of both Mestionora’s and Grammaratur’s blessings’, ‘You are Ewigeliebe in spring, as one would say’, and ‘ Your Dregarnuhr no longer weaves, has Ordoschnelli not informed you of such matters?’....

After learning of the subordinate Gods during his lessons and what they were associated with, one could decipher what these insults meant. 

‘You fail to grow I see’, ‘You lack both words and knowledge’, ‘You are useless’, and ‘ Your information is out of date, has no one told you?’...

Irmhilde had him guess the meanings behind such phrases, which she noted were rather easy and straightforward insults. Overtime she would teach him to detect more indirect insults, but she praised his progress. She also taught him ways to handle the insults, as he would receive them a lot given Ehrenfest’s current ‘ranking’. She stated that she would wait a season to teach him the politics of the ‘duchies’, but understanding noble culture thoroughly would be greatly beneficial in that regard as well. 

The day ended without incident, and when Roze was tucking him into bed, she asked him if his day went well. He smiled and nodded. “Lady Irmhilde has a stern face but she is kind and patient when she explains things to me. She teaches me almost as well as you do Roze.”

Roze smiled at him fondly, her eyes radiating warmth. “I’m glad.”

Chapter Text

Irmhilde could not shake her suspicions as time wore on. She had known Roze for a month at this point of time, but it was even on the first day they met that she began to suspect that she was originally from Ehrenfest. She seemed to intimately know particular locations within Ehrenfest itself along with being rather familiar with particular people within the duchy. Irmhilde had just assumed that the Goddess of time had spoken to Roze at random and made her carry out her decree, but the more she thought about it, the more that seemed unlikely. 

Roze navigated the Palace without the guidance of others, and when they were going to her estate, she seemed to be familiar with the noble quarter and even looked as if she knew where the estate would be.

She could tell that Roze herself possessed a fair amount of mana, based on the mana requirements she placed on her hidden room and likely how she reasoned with the King. Given that her engagement stone was omni-elemental, it was likely that she possessed all of the elements as well. 

She had an aptitude for teaching and she seemed to possess a great amount of knowledge; she had freely given recipes to Irmhilde’s staff along with the rimsham recipe, all of which would no doubt be popular and profitable trends among even high ranked duchies, but she elected to keep it confined to the estate. 

If she was an Ehrenfest noble, Irmhilde would have heard of her in some capacity. She of course used an Alias, but there would be talks of someone within the academy with her skills. Her looks alone would likely draw attention so Irmhilde had begun to doubt her thoughts. 

But then came the first Earthday where Roze ran errands for the estate. She had begun to recommend particular stores for the estate to possibly place orders to, places she ‘trusted’. But according to the attendants Irmhilde had lent to her, many of the companies she listed had never catered to noble customers before, one was even currently being overseen by a boy, who had recently come of age, after his father died in an accident. 

They took her recommendation for the grocer that would supply them, but they could only wonder how she had come to know of these merchants. Her attendants spoke at length to describe how she had tried to convince them to give business to these shops, but seeing how new some of these shops were, it was impossible to trust them with items to be used by archduke candidates. 

It was with this new fact that made Irmhilde realize: She had been summoned by Dregarnuhr, the Goddess of time, so she could be from any time period of Ehrenfest, most likely from the future. Irmhilde could surmise that the reason she knew so many details of Ehrenfest’s future and the future of Yurgenschmidt, was because she had been taken from the future and she had already lived through these events. This realization made her head spin, and a headache shortly ensued. 

But why now and why is she still here? Why was she specifically chosen? These were questions Irmhilde had wanted answers to, but she would have to make sure Roze trusted her enough if she ever wished to receive these answers. After a month of gaining some of her trust, she felt some confidence in approaching Roze with her questions. She had little to lose afterall. 

It was after dinner that she had invited Roze to her hidden room under the pretense of discussing Ferdinand’s future. She had left the wording rather vague on purpose, but Roze still agreed after a few moments of consideration. 

Irmhilde mainly used her hidden room to sort sensitive documentation relating to her faction, as well as information regarding the Veronica faction. However, she made sure that there was a small tea table for discussions with people she trusted. Her attendants set the room up for tea before Roze finally entered after seventh bell. 

After the usual greetings were exchanged, Roze began first. “I understand that you wish to discuss Ferdinand’s future…May I ask what information you specifically wish to discuss.”

She was on guard, but this was to be expected. Irmhilde took the first sip of tea, then proceeded right to the meat of the discussion. Being direct was a better course of action, no doubt. “In truth, I wish to discuss some suspicions I have. May I ask where you are from?”

Roze stiffened at once, likely not expected to have questions directed at her, but Irmhilde continued, “I have observed that you have a rather intimate knowledge of the places and people within Ehrenfest, I doubt the goddess of time would need to share such details to carry out a simple decree. The only explanation one could surmise is that you originate from Ehrenfest as well. However, seeing as I have never heard of a person such as yourself, the only conclusion I have been able to come to is that you are from the future itself. Am I wrong?” She looked at Roze, observing her reaction. 

Roze’s eyes opened wide and her mouth hung slightly open in stunned silence. She finally hung her head after some silence and simply nodded. “As expected of Ferdinand’s mother.”

“I am simply his guardian, I have yet to become a mother. “

Roze looked up with a wry smile, “Yes but he takes much after you, it is hard not to see the resemblance.”

Irmhilde simply blinked in surprise. Ferdinand did look somewhat like her, but to hear his personality resembled hers somewhat was rather surprising. She would like to think it would be because of the amount of time they spent together, but Irmhilde knew another reason he might be similar to her; her personality was a result of the torment Veronica’s family had placed her through most of her life, he likely would receive the same treatment. Some bitterness arose within her as she responded. “In truth, I had the resolve to approach you because, even if you needed to have me dealt with because of my accusations, it would not steal away too much of my thread that I know I have been afforded.”

Roze’s eyes seemed to waver, “What has brought you to that conclusion, if you do not mind my asking?”

Irmhilde smiled, if she was from the future it was possible she already knew of her fate, but she nonetheless continued. “For quite some time now, my enemies have been taking many attempts on my life. It was determined sometime ago that I was the best candidate for the position of second wife of the Aub, however, the Veronica faction would never allow any shift in their power, when they are so heavily favored.”

Roze became extremely bitter at the mention of the Veronican Faction, “is it because…” She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. This girl is much too caring, Irmhilde thought, but she would not rebuke her for it. 

“This engagement was decided before I was afforded the opportunity to care for you two. I must confide, before you two came into my life, I had resolved to die unceremoniously. I could only hope that my brothers would finally see the threat that woman poses to the stability of Ehrenfest.” She reached out and grabbed Roze’s hand. Irmhilde had never been one to engage in physical affection, but she needed to convey her gratitude. “But with you two in my care, I have resolved myself to live a little longer. You need not feel guilty for the pattern the gods weave, I am not someone who would run or cower from my duties.” She still doubted she would make it to her starbind, but she would fight her fate for as long as she could. 

Roze smiled sadly, as if she understood her fate and cast her eyes down. “I do not know how much the Gods will let me share, but…” She raised her eyes to meet Irmhilde’s gaze, “Know this, Ferdinand plays an integral role in imprisoning Veronica in the Ivory tower and her faction loses all of their power in the future.”

Irmhilde was shocked, she never thought for a moment that when Adelbert mentioned the stability of Ehrenfest in the future, it meant ridding the duchy of Veronica’s influence completely. She felt emotions stir deep within her, and for the first time in a long time, her eyes began to water. Will my duchy know peace once again?

It was after a moment of silence that she recomposed herself and smiled at Roze. “This clarifies some of the questions I have, I thank you for sharing this with me. However, I still must know what your relationship to Ferdinand is in the future and why the Goddess of time chose you to carry out her will.” 

Roze paused in thought, considering if this information was safe for her to share, and then proceeded, “I am his fiance in the future, actually. Due to unknown reasons, his thread was cut in certain places during his past. He has been integral to the history of Yugenschmidt so, since my thread was so similar to his, I was asked to repair his thread with my own. Sterrat bound us in the realm of the gods and Dregarnuhr sent me to repair the break during this time. For each break in his thread, I must remain in the past for however long it takes to repair it.” 

This information stunned Irmhilde into silence, and her mind went completely blank. Such concepts were rather hard for her to process and she found that many more questions arose within her at once. She drew the cup of now cold tea to her mouth and tried her best to organize her thoughts to continue the conversation forward. 

“Are you aware of how long you will remain for this particular break?” She finally managed to ask. 

Roze looked down and replied, “I was told that this break would take two seasons. I do not know why, but I was told that the length for this particular break was the longest.”

Two seasons, huh? The timing would indicate that she would leave around the time moves would be made to move Ferdinand to the castle before his baptism. 

“You are engaged to Ferdinand in the future, yet he never told you that he met you in his past. I would have expected he would mention at least knowing someone who resembled you before your engagement…”

“Actually, no, he never mentioned such a thing. When I asked him the circumstances behind his adoption he stated that his father had told him it was due to the interference of the Goddess of time, but he gave the impression that he did not believe his father. Beyond that he did not know, it seems. The gods told me that they would like to ensure that the weave retains its current pattern so it would not surprise me if they simply erased all memories he had of me in the past..” She looked to Irmhilde with worried eyes, “It worries me that, since our interactions tend to overlap, he may forget some memories he has of you as well.”

Irmhilde smiled at that, it would not matter much to her if he forgot some memories he had of her, she was just his guardian afterall and if she did not make it to her starbind, she would remain so. 

“There is no need for you to worry about me, memories naturally fade from one’s childhood so I see little issue in this.” Irmhilde leaned back in her chair, ruminating for a moment, then continuing, “You carry much on your shoulders, even though you have not reached your autumn yet. It would be ludicrous for me to ask you to shoulder more, in fact, might I ask you to share some of your burden with me? You do not hide your emotions well, so I am able to ascertain that more things weigh heavily on your mind.”

Roze looked at Irmhilde, her moon like eyes wavering with emotion, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She looked away, covering her eyes which were now filled with tears, “Ferdinand was right, you are very kind. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to my troubles.” She silently sobbed for a few more moments, while clutching Irmhilde’s hand. It was after a few moments that she was able to recompose herself, and look up. “I do not wish to keep the atmosphere somber, shall we discuss some other matters? We did come here to discuss Ferdinand’s future, I would be glad to discuss such matters to the best of my abilities. Though, if it would not trouble you, I would find interest in continuing these talks on a regular basis, when you are able to find the time of course.” She looked away shyly at her last request. 

Irmhilde smiled, “But of course, I find interest in becoming better acquainted with the woman Ferdinand is fated to be starbound to.” She looked around for a moment recalling Roze’s words, “Though I suppose Sterrat has already bound your threads, meaning that even now you are starbound.” She found the concept strange, thinking that this small child was already technically starbound without his knowing. A pang of guilt hit her for telling him that his rafel would not bear fruit, but at the time she felt it important. He clearly fancied Roze, so Irmhilde wished to squash those feelings before they got out of hand. Most noble marriages were carried out with politics in mind, so she did not wish to fill him with the unrealistic expectation that rafels would always bear fruit, as, sadly, this was not always the case. 
 
How am I to use this information…I suppose it would serve as good motivation in his studies. Irmhilde grinned as she began to plan her next lesson. 

“Would you please tell me about Ferdinand’s accomplishments in the future? They may provide a good basis for the things I will need to teach him before his baptism.”

Roze seemed to perk up at this request as she went on to extol the accomplishments of Ferdinand. It would seem that he was a gifted archduke candidate during his years at the academy: ranking first in the three courses he took, forming connections to the upper ranked duchies, and earning the respect of the professors within the academy. She seemed to glow as she described all of the tales that she had tirelessly collected, about his time in the academy. All of the sorrow she had seemed to wash away in an instant, replaced with the joy and excitement she felt when discussing Ferdinand. 

I’m glad someone nurtures a rafel so sweet for him, it fills me with relief. 

Roze turned to her, her eyes wide. Irmhilde covered her mouth. Incidentally, she had said her thoughts aloud. 

Roze began to look around nervously, after some time, she began to speak, “I have always found it hard to imagine such things. It is true that I care for him a great deal, but I have always thought of him as family; before we were engaged, he served as my Erwachlehren. I cannot say that I have ever witnessed Bluanfah’s dance. The feelings I have for Ferdinand are not the same I often read within stories.” She looked down, as if she deflated herself with her own words.

Irmhilde looked at her quizzically; The way she looked while she was discussing Ferdinand and the fact that she did not hesitate to offer her own thread to fix his would make this argument look rather foolish, but something told Irmhilde that she needed to approach this topic with care. 

“Do you have doubts that he feels affection towards you?” She doubted this, seeing how he acted now, a child who seethed with jealousy even towards books, but perhaps this would change in the future. 

Roze shook her head reluctantly, “He told me at length that he did anything in his power to ensure that no one questioned his role by my side and he remarked that he could not stand another man taking his role by my side…The intensity he had in his eyes when he told me these things, I am not sure I could ever match them.”

Ah, quite the Ewigeliebe I see, this is why she is unsure. Irmhilde sighed. 

Roze was someone who was too emotional at times, she seemed to lack understanding in certain subtleties unless they were explained to her. Additionally, she seemed to think that all the experiences written in books would be the same as her own. She was indeed a girl still on the cusp of autumn, there could be no other answer for her naivety. She likely did not understand the full extent of others' affection for her as well as not fully understanding her own. Irmhilde paused in deep thought, lightly touching her hair, wondering how to get through to someone who practically lived in the world of books. 

“It is said that Flutrane and Heilschmerz heal in their own ways, the same could be said about rafels being nurtured in different ways. Do not think about the words of others or the books you read about such topics, they would only serve to confuse you.” 

Irmhilde paused; she did not have much experience with such topics herself, she found them only necessary to talk about during her tea parties which she mainly attended for intelligence gathering. Her friend Elvira was more in tune with such topics. For Irmhilde, she found the concept quite foolish and a waste of time. She too had never felt the intense emotions one would describe as ‘Bluanfah’s dance’; she shared affection for her brothers and her close companions so she could not for certain describe such things with clarity. All she knew of those caught foolishly in the dances of spring, were those she had witnessed; her brother and her nephew were such fools.

“I am not an expert on such matters, but from what I have seen of those lost in the depths of spring, it means acting like a fool for the one they hold affection for. They care not of the trouble they cause for others, as long as they are able to see their love happy. “ She looked to the side, trying to gather from her own experience, the best she could. “Personally, I think it to be a rather sneaky trap, once you have found yourself ensnared, you no longer listen to reason. All that matters is if you can protect the happiness of the other person, even if it only brings you sorrow. They constantly play on your mind, and to live without them is to live in agony.”

Her friends had always told her that she was too soft on Adelbert, that she did too much for him without anything given in return. She would simply think that he was her brother, it was a given she did whatever he asked of her, but there were times when she was unsure. He was too lost in his spring for Veronica, it was not like he would notice any of her efforts anyway. 

She turned to Roze, who was now staring intently at her, hanging on her words as if searching. Irmhilde smiled, she was just as unsure as Roze was, “You need only think about protecting his happiness and the answers will one day come to you. I am sorry that I do not hold the answers you seek, I am just as inexperienced when it comes to these matters. The best I can offer is my ear to listen to your troubles.”

In turn, Roze smiled and offered the same. They continued their talks, losing track of the time until 1st bell. When they finally departed, Irmhilde felt as if some weight was lifted from her own shoulders. 

Chapter Text

Ferdinand had become quite confident in the last month; he was supposedly progressing at a rate faster than most children his age and Roze would praise him endlessly. She had told him that he was the most gifted student she had ever had the pleasure of teaching, and this filled him with great pride. If she continues to praise me, I will no doubt become the most important person in her eyes. 

On this Earthday, Roze had gone off to complete the errands she was tasked with doing and she saw him to his lessons with Lady Irmhilde before she departed. He waved her goodbye until she was completely out of view, then proceeded to the table where Lady Irmhilde waited. 

They gave their usual greetings before he was given some boards for memorization. He had learned to read somewhat so he was confident that he would be able to read them on his own in a few weeks. 

“Today’s lesson is about factions. As I am currently head of the Leisegangs, this will be important for you to learn where someone’s loyalties lie. This will serve to aid you in finding allies you can trust. You will also be expected to learn the names of those in the opposing faction, the Veronica faction. Here is a list of names of giebes of the Veronican faction; by the end of today, I expect you to know their names, along with the names of their wives and children. “

Ferdinand listened to the instructions and nodded. “I understand, but may I ask what a wife is? I am unfamiliar with the term, please forgive me.”

Lady Irmhilde nodded, “I expected as much. I suppose I have yet to discuss the concept of marriage to you so it is not unusual that you are not accustomed to such terms. Listen closely, I will give this explanation only once. “ She looked at him, making sure he was indeed listening, and placed a saccharine smile on her lips. “A man and woman who are joined in marriage are referred to as husband and wife, respectively. Marriage is the term to refer to the union of those who are starbound to one another. One may only become starbound once they have come of age and have been engaged to one another for a set period of time. One may usually spot the engagement feystone of someone starbound or yet to be starbound on their necks. After the required period of engagement, those who are to become recognized couples attend the starbinding ceremony where they are blessed by the gods for their union.”

Ferdinand looked at Lady Irmhilde, his breath hitching as he recalled the stone on Roze’s neck. He asked a question reluctantly, “I suppose becoming starbound means to devote one to another.”

“Why, of course. For most, it means that you devote the rest of your life to your beloved, there is no other who is quite as important as the one they are starbound to. Well I suppose, besides their children.” Lady Irmhilde said, still smiling. 

Ferdinand’s heart seemed to stop beating for a moment and he nearly forgot to breathe. He found his words, after a moment, “Is there any way for marriages or engagements to be broken or cancelled?”

Lady Irmhilde looked at him, amusement in her eyes. “Why of course, it can be canceled if one or both parties finds a viable reason.” He sighed in relief, but Lady Irmhilde began to grin with a more mischievous look in her eyes, “What could have brought this line of questioning I wonder? Is it perhaps because you wonder about Roze’s engagement?”

Ferdinand stiffened. Lady Irmhilde liked to tease him whenever it came to his attachment to Roze, so he was not sure how to proceed. Lady Irmhilde placed a hand on her cheek and looked at him, as if she was troubled. “I do not wish to be the bearer of bad news, but I am doubtful Roze would ever wish to break off such an engagement, nor would her beloved for that matter.”

Ferdinand felt the hope, he just had a moment ago, shrivel up and die. He did not wish to listen any longer, but she continued, “She passionately extolled his accomplishments to me. He is a rather capable knight and scholar who placed first in his class every year in the academy. He is her protector and he makes sure all of her dreams come true. One could not hope to ask for a better partner, and it would be rather foolish to think one could surpass such accomplishments.”

Of course someone would have to be as amazing as Roze to think about being starbound to her, this went without question. He had been lulled into a false sense of security because of the amount of praise Roze was giving him; he had not thought that he needed to strive to greater heights to gain her affection all for himself. His mind began to race, thinking of ways to surpass this man he had never met before and how to become so great that Roze would want to break that engagement and become betrothed to him. 

Lady Irmhilde looked at him, chuckling to herself as if she had heard his inner turmoil. “Do you wish to surpass this man and take Roze for yourself? I will warn you, this task will be by no means easy.”

Ferdinand looked up at her, with a new drive to push himself faster and further, “Yes please teach me! I will become an even greater scholar and knight so that I can protect Roze better than any other!”

Lady Irmhilde smiled, “I believe it rather naive and foolish for a child to think he can overcome a full grown man in skill. Though I will not stop you from trying. However, know this: Roze still very much sees you as a child, you will have to grow up into a reliable man if you wish to support her properly.”

“I will!” He said clenching his fists. Some of the attendants around him began to clap, truly moved by his words, while others shook their heads with troubled hands on their cheeks. He looked down, realizing now that he should have asked for the sound-blocking tool before he got carried away. 

He thus began to throw himself into his studies and also requested Lady Irmhilde to help him begin some of his studies to become a knight. She agreed, but in exchange for some of his time he spent with Roze. He agreed to the arrangement, bitterly. 

Come the next day, Waterday, he had resolved himself to tell Roze of his desire for her to wait for him until he came of age. He wished to challenge her betrothed on fair grounds. However, to his dismay, another attendant had come to wake him in the morning. After he had been changed and sat down for breakfast, there was still no sign of Roze. He asked Adel, the attendant who had taken her place that morning.

After some hesitation, she answered, “Milady is indisposed at the moment, milord. You need not worry about your lessons for today, we have been told to give you free time doing as you please.”

Ferdinand looked up in shock, he was not sure about the implications of the word ‘indisposed’, but panic began to seize control of his heart. “In that case, I wish to visit Roze.” 

Adel looked at him with worry and shook her head, “It would hinder her from recovering, I must decline such a request, my apologies milord.” 

His memories of his talks with Lady Irmhilde began to run through his mind. What if she had been hurt by one of his enemies? What if he could never see her again? The turmoil in his heart caused his mana to surge and he could not suppress his despair.

Adel began to press some feystones to his forehead, however as she realized she could not contain his mana, she called out to the hallway for assistance. A minute later, Lady Irmhilde appeared at the door with more feystones. She placed a sizable one to his head, but cursed to herself when it was filled almost immediately. “Ferdinand, control yourself! Why are you in such a state!”

“I want to see Roze, I need to know that she is okay!”

Lady Irmhilde grimaced but then picked him up and headed to Roze’s room. They knocked on the door and quickly entered. Roze sat up in her bed, puzzled. 

“I am truly sorry about this Roze, but I cannot get him to control his mana, please help him regain control.” Lady Irmhilde looked to her attendants and reluctantly dismissed them. Soon after, she exited the room as well. 

Roze looked at him with worry in her eyes, “Ferdinand, are you unable to control your mana. Come here, I will help you.” She grabbed some cloth that was near her and moved over so he could sit next to her. 

“I want you to imagine gently folding your mana like so.” She began to gently fold the cloth to demonstrate. He closed his eyes, and began to imagine folding his mana like she described. After a few moments, he could feel his mana fall back under his control. 

He sighed in relief, not only from having his mana back under his control but also from knowing that Roze was indeed okay. 

“You got the hang of that rather quickly, are you used to containing your mana in such a manner?” Roze asked. 

He nodded, he had grown used to it during his fevers whenever he was denied feystones. “I am, I usually try bunching it up inside of me.” He grabbed the sheets and began to scrunch it up to demonstrate what he usually envisioned whilst suppressing his mana.

She looked to him, with worry still in her eyes, “What made you lose control of your mana Ferdinand? Are the Feystones and tools that I have been giving you not enough?”

He shook his head, “I heard that you had been unwell and I grew worried, I apologize. I acted foolishly…” He hung his head. This was no doubt what Lady Irmhilde had meant when she called him naive and foolish. 

Roze giggled softly, then began to pet his head. “I am glad that you worry for me, it warms my heart. It is my fault for falling ill, it tends to happen often when I do not watch my health properly. I should have warned you ahead of time that I might fall sick suddenly so you were not caught unaware. Forgive me for my lack of foresight. “ She wiped his cheek where tears that he had not realized had fallen. 

Ferdinand understood that she was trying to comfort him. It was these small gestures that he admired so much about her, but it also filled him with slight bitterness. 

Please don’t treat me like a child. But he recognized that he had no right to demand that much of her. He, even now, was acting like a child. If he wanted her to treat him like her equal, he would have to become reliable, like Lady Irmhilde had said. 

“Roze, I have resolved myself to become more reliable. I will become a great knight, scholar, and archduke candidate, and blow all of my competition away with my accomplishments. I will ensure that all of your dreams come true and bring you the happiness you deserve.” He looked her in the eyes, brimming with determination, “So please, wait for me.”

Roze looked at him, her eyes opened wide in stunned silence. His heart began to throb as it agonized for her answer. After what seemed like forever, a smile like he had never seen stretched upon her pink lips; in her eyes laid a gentle fondness, and her cheeks tinged ever so slightly with Geduldh’s noble color. Her beauty in that moment stole his breath away. “Okay, I will wait for you.” She replied. 

He felt an overwhelming happiness enveloping his heart and his body began to feel restless, as if he wanted to jump for joy at that very moment. He contained himself to an extent and simply smiled. 

“I apologize for troubling you while you are unwell. If there is anything I can do, feel free to ask. Shall I call the attendants?”

Roze nodded and shifted back into her bed. He called the attendants back into her room and then swiftly exited. 

Waiting for him outside was Lady Irmhilde, with anger upon her countenance. He froze somewhat, but he knew he could not run from the inevitable scolding. 

They walked in silence to his room, where she sat him down. She dismissed the attendants and sat down in front of him. 

“Need I state why you are here, or are you more foolish than I was led to believe?” she opened, not even concealing her anger and impatience. Ferdinand gulped but then answered. 

“I lost control of my emotions, I endangered those around me, and acted foolishly by troubling Roze while she was unwell.” He replied plainly. “I was being childish, forgive me.”

Lady Irmhilde gave an exasperated sigh and pinched his cheeks in frustration, “You understand your foolishness then, I cannot say I am glad. You gave everyone quite the scare, you will need to apologize to all of them. And as for your punishment…” She let go of his cheeks and thought for a moment. She looked at him with a malicious grin, “I will have you give up one of your Roze days in its entirety, you will spend that day training with my guard knights instead. I will advise them to work you like an apprentice knight, as you so desired. “

He grimaced, but he maintained composure. He had already resolved himself to work hard to be worthy of Roze’s affection so he simply nodded in agreement. Lady Irmhilde did not seem to like that he seemed so willingly accepting of his punishment. She sat back, ruminating for a moment before turning back to him with a sneer. “My, I hope that you have not troubled Roze too much. She tells me that she is prone to sickness, your little outburst may have extended her sickness by another day I worry. She assured me that she would be better by tomorrow, but if she is to take another day, well I suppose we will know the cause.”

Ferdinand began to twitch and dread filled his stomach, but she continued, “I suppose it should be alright. She would never scold a child, she did not even scold you for seeing her in her sleepwear. Were you a man, she would have been quite flustered, but since you are a child she felt no such feelings.” Her words were like a dagger, plunging into his heart everytime she said that he was a child in Roze’s eyes. She still continued, still not satisfied in his torment. 

“You will not be a man until you come of age, which is not for another 9 years thankfully, so we need not worry.” She finished with a smile that radiated malice.  

He hung his head in defeat, she had truly dropped him into the pit of despair in that moment. He again had become too confident in Roze’s words and had not looked at the reality of the situation, which was that she still saw him as a child. He had a long way to go. 

Chapter Text

Adrianus had been Lady Irmhilde’s guard knight since she was rather small; So strong was his loyalty that he never considered leaving her service even when she offered her retainers a chance to leave. He was getting close to the age where one would consider retirement, but he knew that now, more than ever, she needed his service. 

So many had opted to leave her service due to her engagement with the Aub; Veronica’s attempts to have her dispatched grew almost maniacal and they would certainly grow more frequent as her starbind soon approached. 

Adrianus and Bertha had both asked their lady to retreat into her estate and to avoid the castle at all costs. She had taken refuge somewhat, by refusing to attend any social gatherings, but she still kept up with her duties in the castle. 

Her attendants had grown frustrated in the Aub’s inability to see the lengths at which their lady went for him, as she risked her life constantly to ease his burden as Aub. Since both Georgine and Constanze had left the duchy, the archdukal family was in dire need of mana so they enlisted the help of Lady Irmhilde. Of course their lady could not refuse her brother, especially now that she was to be starbound to him. 

“If only the Aub could see the lengths that our lady went for him, the devotion she holds for him.” said Lena. She was a scholar that Lady Irmhilde had let go due to her engagement. She was head of her household so Irmhilde did not want to put her life at risk due to her predicament. However, Lena still served her lady by gathering intel for her and giving it to Adrianus when she could spare a moment. She had decided to serve Elvira once she became head of the Leisegangs, but she knew bitterly when that would be. 

Adrianus nodded in agreement. He had watched Gabrielle’s family torment his lady while she was young. The Aub was free from such harassment due to Veronica’s fancy, so he did not know the anguish their lady faced when she was young. She had to watch her predecessors perish at the hands of Gabrielle’s faction and she was thrust into the role of head of the Leisegangs as the half sister of the Aub. Adrianus watched as, overtime, her emotions took the back seat to her duties; she had once been a child brimming with happiness and trust, but due to the machinations of her enemies, she became bitter and guarded. 

Unless someone was close to their lady, they would be unable to understand how kind she truly was, and how devoted she was to her faction. Even now, as she retreated to her estate, she tried her best at thwarting the plans of Veronica, all for the sake of those in her faction. 

Her retainers’ bitterness would deepen when news arrived that the Aub had requested Lady Irmhilde care for his unbaptised son from a mistress.  

“The fool! Does he truly wish for our lady and this child to die!” Adrianus exclaimed, gritting his teeth. Bertha simply shook her head in exasperation. 

“I agree, but the child is not to blame, Veronica would no doubt kill the child the instant he was in her care. This order is something the Aub could not refuse, as he was apparently told that the messenger of the Goddess of time had made this request herself.”

The messenger of the Goddess of Time…has he gone mad? Adrianus looked at Bertha in pure bewilderment, but she looked at him with complete seriousness. Only a few of those within Lady Irmhilde’s staff would know of the identity of this messenger. 

“We have no say in this, Adrianus. The best we can do is carry out our Lady’s will and orders to the best of our abilities.” 

He bit his tongue and nodded. Truly, before her starbinding, that was all they could do. No one expected her to make it to her starbinding, not even Irmhilde. She knew of the implications when she accepted the engagement. Even if she gave her faction the smallest of chances, she would gladly accept her fate, he knew this but it did not mean that he was not bitter. 

When the day came for them to sneak into the castle, they had done so under the cover of night. The plan was for Adrianus and one other guard, Gerrit, to wait in a vacant room near the servants quarters. Once their lady and the child were able to make their way to them, they would lay low until night fell once again. It was their best chance at not being spotted by Veronica or her faction. 

He did not hold out hope for this to work, however, as the castle was crawling with those within her faction. He waited with baited breath, but then he heard the distant voice from down the halls. It was Veronica. 

Gerrit did everything to hold Adrianus back, saying they could not cause their lady any more trouble by rushing Veronica’s guards. They waited and waited. It seemed as if they were to wait for eternity, but then an ordonnanz flew in and perched on his arm. 

“Adrianus, I have managed to return to my estate without issue. Return once you are certain you will not be spotted.”

He and Gerrit both had their mouths open in shock. But how?

It took him some moments to recompose himself, but he sent his reply and began the tedious journey back to the estate. It took about a bell's worth of time for him to sneak away with Gerrit, so they were both itching to know how she accomplished such a feat without her guards. 

When he finally managed to ask Lady Irmhilde, she simply replied, “It was thanks to the messenger of the Goddess of Time. She used the cloak of Verbergen to conceal us.”

This messenger of the Goddess of time was supposedly going to oversee Lord Ferdinand’s education until he was to move to the castle. Adrianus was not sure who she was, but she had saved his Lady some trouble so he was at least appreciative of this fact. 

“I suppose she shall be of some use to us. I have also heard from Berthe that she wishes to help with the food shipments to the estate. Though, I am unsure how she means to do this. “ It would be immensely helpful if they could secure their food supply as the many hands that exchanged the products would leave areas of vulnerability. Their staff was now used to finding poisoned items within the shipments that it was rare to find a shipment that was not tampered with. 

“She operates a rather strange highbeast, one which takes the appearance of a carriage shaped grun. I must say that it is rather disturbing, but it certainly has its uses. She was rather insistent that she provide the estate help during her stay and I likewise determined it was best to minimize the risk for poisoning during her stay here. I must ask you to accompany her for such endeavors however, it is mainly to observe her behavior and to make sure she does not do something unruly. “ 

He was unsure how he was supposed to treat this messenger, but Irmhilde seemed to think of her as slightly unpredictable. Nonetheless, he agreed to his Lady’s request. 

It was the first Earthday of their stay that he finally met the messenger. She was a rather small young woman on the cusp of autumn with midnight blue hair and gold eyes. He was reminded of a shumil for some reason, but he did not utter such rude comments. They discussed their plans for that day; she wished to do some shopping within the city afterwards, but first she would get the necessary groceries at a company she recommended. Lena had investigated this said company and she had deemed it trustworthy enough. 

They had determined it best for the messenger, Roze, to order the groceries. From there, a carriage would bring the goods to a warehouse they had secured near the outskirts of town where they would load the items into her high beast to take straight to the estate. It would seem tedious from an outsider's perspective, but the amount of days it would cut back on for poison checks would no doubt be worth it. It would free up her attendants’ time a great deal and therefore afford Lady Irmhilde more leeway in her scheduling. Adrianus was rather pleased with these plans and nodded in approval. 

The only thing he did not fully agree with was having to ride in her high beast. She only possessed one cloak of Verbergen so he, the attendants, and the servants they were taking would have to ride the strange monstrosity. Truly, it was something envisioned only in nightmares…

Just when he was beginning to think she was rather competent, Roze started making strange demands; she wished to see particular companies which were newly established or were in a tumultuous state that one could not understand as to why she insisted on seeing them. It took Adel, who had accompanied them, to put her foot down.

“Milady, would you not bring a great burden to those who have never served nobles before? It would be rather foolish to expect them to cater to the levels expected of an archnoble, let alone an archduke candidate, please be considerate at least to the merchants who cannot refuse nobles.”

To this, Roze deflated like a child and nodded in understanding. Adrianus wondered if she was familiar with someone within these companies and she only wished to meet with them. It was rather ridiculous, but he could not think of any other reason. The restlessness she displayed reminded him of what one would see from a child wishing to see their friend again after so long. This was just conjecture on his part however. 

Slowly, overtime, Roze and Lord Ferdinand settled into the estate. What was unexpected for him, though, was his Lady’s change in demeanor. Before, she had the vacant eyes of those who understood death awaited them, now that could not be further from the truth. She seemed to have determination in her eyes once again and Adrianus had seen her smile more than she had in years. 

Her attendants had also noticed the change. “It is like her will to live was revitalized.” Berthe commented, wiping a tear from her eye. 

“Truly, I wish we could see this fire within her continue for a little bit longer.” He said somberly. 

His Lady had found the resolve to live as long as she could, but such things could not change the impending fate which loomed overhead. As much as they tried, Veronica would not stop in her attempts, and word grew that she was becoming more impatient as the seasons wore on. No doubt by winter, she would make her moves.

It was a month into their stay that Adrianus was tasked with training Lord Ferdinand. He had never seen the young lord before as he mainly served to escort Lady Irmhilde to the castle. To be frank, Lord Ferdinand did resemble Lady Irmhilde quite a bit; had he not been told, he would have thought he was her biological son born from wedlock. This will no doubt cause unsavory rumors to arise, I can already tell. 

“So you wish to be a knight? It takes strong resolve to commit oneself to protecting another. Is there someone you wish to protect?” he asked the boy. 

“Yes, I wish to protect Roze! I wish to defeat those who stand in my way to accomplish my goals!” Lord Ferdinand replied passionately. 

The attendants had been gossiping that Lord Ferdinand had a one sided rafel for Roze. They found it adorable but also tragic as it was likely to end up fruitless given their age gap and the fact that she was already betrothed to another. He would not say as much though, his lady told him that it would serve as good motivation for the boy. She received endless entertainment from teasing the boy as well, so Adrianus would help him carry on his fantasies for her sake. 

“I see you wish to best an opponent when it comes to vying for the affection of another, correct? Then you will need to grow big and strong in order to leave no question in her mind that you are the best. Now show me what you are capable of!” Adrianus handed him a wooden practice sword and motioned his arms forward in encouragement. However, Ferdinand seemed rather puzzled. 

Ah, yes, I forgot that this boy knows nothing of the world yet. I was told to be patient but I am not sure I am the best teacher.

He went over to the practice dummy and motioned for him to step forward. “Hit your opponent with a ‘bang’ and a ‘boom’. They will never know what hit ‘em!”

Ferdinand looked even more puzzled and began to tilt his head in confusion, unsure how to move forward at Adrianus’ instruction. 

Perhaps it is better if I show him? I am no good when it comes to giving instructions..

He picked up a spare practice sword for adults and swung at the dummy with an over the shoulder downward strike followed by a forward thrust. He stepped aside and motioned for Lord Ferdinand to try, not confident that he would understand this either. 

However, much to his surprise, the small boy copied his motions precisely. 

He demonstrated a few more simple strikes and thrusts, all of which Lord Ferdinand copied exactly. 

He is worth teaching afterall! Lady Irmhilde requested I put my all into his teachings, so now I do not have to hold back!

He grinned as he made the young lord run multiple laps around the garden, swing his sword 100 times, and complete endless push ups. At the end of the session before they broke for lunch, Lord Ferdinand was sitting rather inelegantly on the floor, gasping for breath. 

Ah, maybe I pushed him too far. I’ve never taught a child before, I had just been training him like the knight apprentices I had under my care before they transferred divisions. He had always been told that he did not understand the limits of others so he was unsuited to teach others. He realized he probably made the boy regret wanting to become a knight, he might perhaps quit early into his lessons as most children did. 

“When are we… to continue our lessons?” Lord Ferdinand finally managed to ask between pained gasps. “After lunch, at fifth bell?”

Adrianus looked at the boy in surprise. Beyond his expectations, he had a look of determination burning in his eyes. Most children would just whine and complain or run from their duties, but this boy had resolve. He could now understand why Lady Irmhilde wanted to use Roze as a motivator for him. If he remained this determined, then he would never allow this boy to become disillusioned. 

“Yes! Return at fifth bell so we may continue your training.”

He could understand Lady Irmhilde’s reignited will a bit better. Truly, these two were worthy to be under her care. 

Chapter Text

Rozemyne knew she had messed up; She had tried her best, but somehow Irmhilde was able to piece together the fact that she was from Ehrenfest in the future. She knew part of her blunder had been because she had pushed a little too much to see Benno and the others, but she wanted to see them desperately. It also did not help that she learned that the Gilberta company was in an especially precarious place at the moment; she wanted to see if she could help, but it was true that it was best she kept away. 

She had tried her best to hide the fact that she was from the future, so as to not affect the pattern of the weave, but it seems as if it was destined to happen. But after Irmhilde had confronted her, instead of being unsettled, she offered to be someone Rozemyne could talk to. 

Rozemyne felt a great deal of weight lift from her shoulders as she confided to her about her troubles and worries. They would meet regularly in the hidden room to discuss certain things they both had some uncertainty about. One such topic was relationships as, even in her Urano times, she had absolutely no experience and frankly she did not have someone she could work out her feelings with; she outranked almost everyone around her and everyone was quick to say she was obviously in love without explaining why they came to that conclusion. 

Irmhilde had described love as a ‘trap’ so Rozemyne could piece together that she most likely had bad experiences when it came to such matters. I wonder if she has unrequited feelings for the current Aub. If he's anything like Sylvester, then he only has eyes for one woman so I can see why she described it as something in a negative light… 

Truly, Irmhilde felt like a friend she could talk to about matters of the heart as they both seemed unsure of the true extent of their feelings. They both had never experienced the ‘dances of Bluanfah’ or anything so blatantly obvious that would indicate the true nature of their feelings. 

Irmhilde would talk about the familial fondness she would have for her brother, as, even though she was his half sister, he treated her like his family regardless. Usually, siblings from different mothers would hardly talk to one another, but he made the effort to reach out to her, especially in her darkest moments. He would praise her for her studies and give her gifts for her accomplishments. Irmhilde seemed to soften her expression a great deal as she reminisced about different memories she had of him: How he would get sick often and she would send him gifts for his health, how she would scold him when he tried to sneak away from his office, and how he often praised her for being an honor student when she was in the academy. She had often been told that her fondness for her brother was different but she too could not understand why others would say as much. 

“People often say to imagine the one of your supposed affections with another, but I find this hardly helpful.” Irmhilde admitted, “He is already with someone I detest as a person, so it would be impossible for me to distinguish any resentment I would have for the union from the disgust I feel towards her.” This made sense, if Veronica was anything like Detlinde, then Rozemyne understood this feeling all too well.

“I have also been told as much and I too find such things hard to imagine because of similar circumstances.” Rozemyne had already told Irmhilde about how she came to steal the foundation after Detlinde poisoned Ferdinand in Ahrensbach, so she was aware of how despicable she was; However, in contrast, Ferdinand detested Detlinde as much as Rozemyne did. Imagining those days just made her bitter about his treatment; she had been more worried if anything. “Ferdinand has never had good experiences with women so for a time, I thought he would never hold romantic feelings for anyone.”

“Until you, am I correct?” Irmhilde teased. For some reason, she had taken a liking to teasing Rozemyne about Ferdinand’s affections towards her. Rozemyne could feel her cheeks warm, and she glared at Irmhilde, unamused, but she nonetheless nodded silently. 

“You were right, such hypotheticals do not clarify things in the slightest. How am I supposed to distinguish familial love from romantic love? From my perspective, I treat him the same as I do my other family members, but from others’ perspective, that is not so. For once, books have also failed to clarify things for me! I wish to know for certain what these feelings are but it seems as if nothing will help me understand them!” She ruffled her hair slightly in frustration. 

Irmhilde pondered for a moment, holding her loosely bound hair in thought. Rozemyne noticed that she was much more open with her expressions during their chats together. “The experiences within the books themselves may not be of any use to you as they are often exaggerated in order to appeal to more people, however, maybe the feelings you feel towards books may provide a better example.” She looked around, formulating her words carefully, “Perhaps imagine yourself treating and looking at him like you do books, or conversely, imagine him treating you like a book.“

Rozemyne looked at Irmhilde in bemusement, but she complied with the strange request. She closed her eyes and thought of both situations. 

She found the first situation hard to imagine as all she could imagine was Ferdinand pushing her away before she got too close to him. He had been really hesitant to provide her hugs as of late and often pulled her away before she got her fill, with an exasperated look upon his face, so she doubted she would get close enough for her to theoretically rub her cheek against his or smell him deeply as that would anger him, no doubt. 

She then began to think of the latter situation, and she imagined him pulling her close to him and gently stroking her cheek, smelling her neck, and rubbing his cheek against her. She felt heat rise throughout her whole body as her heart rate began to surge to an uncomfortable level. Her mind began to run wild as she imagined him holding her in his arms and him looking at her as if she was the most interesting tale he had ever read, a fond smile creeping on his lips. She clapped her hands against her face and her eyes shot open; she violently began to shake her head to clear her thoughts like some kind of etch-a-sketch. She, for once, regretted being such a weirdo when it came to books. 

“A-anyone would be embarrassed to be treated like t-that!” Rozemyne said, trying her best to hide her embarrassment behind her hands. 

“That is true, you are rather perverse when it comes to books. Perhaps imagine the same situation with one of those other suitors you’ve had in the past, see if they compare.”

Rozemyne frowned at her snide remark but did as instructed. She imagined Wilfred and Sigiswald doing the same to her and immediately frowned in disgust with a shiver running down her spine. She did not even want to imagine touching either one of them. 

Irmhilde chuckled, “I believe it is fair to say that you at least favor him over any other man, that much is obvious.” 

Rozemyne knew that she would favor a political marriage with Ferdinand over anyone else, but the fact that she also did not mind him touching her in a romantic way was news to her. She began to fidget slightly at the revelation and quickly tried to deflect. 

“How about you Irmhilde? Let us try the same with you, imagine Adelbert treating you the same he treats Veronica or the same way I treat books. Then imagine being treated in the same manner by another man you are close to.”

Irmhilde raised an eyebrow but she continued with the thought exercise. After a few moments, she opened her eyes. It would seem as if she had no change in reaction to most other people, but Rozemyne could see a slight tinge of pink grace her cheeks and she raised her cup to her lips, sipping for a moment longer than most. 

She cleared her throat, “Regardless, I hope some of your feelings have been clarified. Shall we talk about Ferdinand’s studies now?” Her eyes indicated that she wanted to change the topic. 

Rozemyne chuckled, then nodded in agreement. To this, Irmhilde frowned slightly, then donned a teasing smile which held no good intentions. 

“He is rather easy to teach, now more than ever, would you not agree? Do you have any idea where this sudden drive came from?”

Rozemyne looked at Irmhilde, on guard “He told me that he found the resolve to become a great knight and scholar. I will admit, I was rather happy to find that he always had the drive to be someone reliable. He always gave the impression that such things were the result of Veronica’s harassment but finding out it was always his desire made me glad. “

“It gladdens me as well, but there is a particular reason he wishes to become so reliable. You see, when I began to explain the idea of marriage, the topic of your engagement came up. My, how you should have seen the distress he displayed when he realized you were betrothed to another. He began to beg me for a way to end your engagement so that you could become betrothed to him instead. It was rather amusing to watch him declare that he would become a greater man than your betrothed. It took all of my strength to not laugh at the irony.” Irmhilde revealed.

Rozemyne blinked in response. Does baby Ferdinand have a little crush on me? It was rather cute but also jarring as she realized that he would forget her after she left this time period. “Surely it is just a mere crush most children possess for someone they hold dear, I do not think that such a thing would warrant -”

“At this point it is no mere crush I must argue, he is rather infatuated with you. He often confides to me how his heart beat seems to quicken when you are near and how it aches when you must leave. He declared that one day he would manage to make you look at him like you do books. Adrianus often shares how he wishes to become a man more quickly and the length he goes in his training to do so.“ Irmhilde interrupted, her amusement apparent. 

In response, Rozemyne furrowed her brow in thought. I haven’t noticed anything in particular that would indicate that he liked me like that…Maybe that is why he asked me to wait for him, I thought that he just wanted me to be patient with him….

Irmhilde smiled, “See if you can notice his reaction next time you are too close to him. It will become apparent once you start to notice it, I promise.” Rozemyne had no choice but to reluctantly agree. 

“I have been wondering if I should let him help with my brewing. He cannot learn magic yet, but perhaps I can get him acquainted with the basics. He will no doubt be required to offer mana to the foundation once he is older as well, so it is better for him to learn at least the prayer for dedicating to the foundation, as it is rather long. It would likely also benefit him to learn how to use feystones for dedicating mana, so I will try to let him do so while I brew.” She said, changing the topic. She knew that Ferdinand would enjoy these lessons and she kind of wanted to see his reaction when he first learned how to brew. It would take some negotiating on her part though, Irmhilde seemed against teaching a pre-baptized child magic. 

To this Irmhilde tilted her head. “Prayer? I often help when dedicating to the foundation since Georgine and Constanze have left the duchy, but I have never heard of a prayer being said during the dedication…”

Hmmm? Really? Should I tell them the dedication prayer? Rozemyne had to think for a moment, considering if she was allowed to share this information. After a short while of consideration, she remembered that Sylvester had mentioned that they didn’t always say the prayer during dedication. 

“I will write down the prayer for you, you can determine for yourself if this information is worthy enough for you to share with the aub. However, I recommend you use such valuable information when negotiating for certain terms in the future. It would be wise to use it as a bargaining chip.“ Irmhilde agreed to her terms and Rozemyne was given a wooden board to write the prayer on. 

“I will agree to the brewing lessons for now, since you have shared such valuable intelligence with me. I suppose it is alright seeing as he has blown through most lessons one would learn before they entered the academy, teaching him some extra lessons would not do too much harm.” She looked to Rozemyne in consideration. “But I ask that you teach him carefully. The instructors in the academy are specifically trained to carefully watch students as they can hurt themselves if they are not careful.” Irmhilde showed slight concern for Ferdinand's safety, which made Rozemyne smile.

She could only nod happily having receiving Irmhilde's permission. With that, she accomplished the one thing she had set out to do. 

Chapter Text

Roze had informed him that they would be adding something new to his lessons as he had blown through most of his studies. She stated that she would let him help her ‘brew’ some of the potions she used often. 

“I think you will like this lesson very much, but we will have to carry it out in my room as you do not have your own tools and Lady Irmhilde has not permitted me to grant you any, as of yet. However, if you show aptitude for it, I am sure she will reconsider.” Roze had told him with a smile. 

Roze’s room, huh? He remembered her room very clearly, despite being rather emotionally distressed when he first saw it. Her scent permeated the whole room and he felt a great deal of warmth just being inside of it. 

She guided him to her chambers, where she then opened her hidden room. He mainly used his hidden room to sneak in extra studying lessons, after Roze had left his room, but hers seemed to be used for a multitude of different things. It seemed to hold the majority of her personal items as well as items he had never seen before. Clear jars lined the walls, filled with materials he did not yet know the use of, and different tools were organized on the shelves. She additionally held a small bookcase filled with books that she had borrowed from Irmhilde. 

There were things already organized for their lesson that day, with a small step stool for him to observe. 

“I am going to teach you how to prepare ingredients for a basic potion. You will no doubt need stronger potions in the future, but these simpler potions have their uses. One could sell them to people who do not have the time or resources to make their own, so it would still benefit you to learn how to brew these potions.”

She began to show him how to prepare the materials, by cutting them into even pieces. He was presented with a knife that he would be using, and, after channeling mana into it, he was able to start using it. 

“You will have to be careful as to not cut yourself, the knife is rather big for you so I will help you.” Swiftly, she moved behind him and overlapped her hand with his, helping him get a firm grip on the knife and ingredient. “You will have to curl your fingers to ensure that you do not cut them, like so and hold the knife firmly like so.” She continued right next to his ear. 

He could feel himself flush completely as she was so close to him and her warm breath tickled his ear. She let go and turned to face him, but then she blinked in surprise as she laid her eyes on him. He tried to affirm with his mouth but Grammaratur seemed to fail him at that moment, all he could muster in response was a stiff nod as he did as instructed. 

She prodded his cheek, “Are you embarrassed?” she asked. 

He looked at her, with wide eyes, his cheeks burning even more. Of course he was, she made him nervous and restless beyond words. Unfortunately, before he could express as much she simply giggled, “You are very cute, Ferdinand. I can’t say I’ve ever seen you so flustered.”

His heart began to race even more unsteadily as he did not know how to process her comment. “D-Do not tease me like a child.” He cried. 

She only giggled in response and patted his head. “I only speak the truth Ferdinand, I only wish for you to be more open with your emotions with me. When you are older, promise me that you will only show such cuteness to only me. We are in a hidden room, Irmhilde will not scold you here.” She said with a serene smile. 

He blinked at her, and began fidgeting in place. She wants me to show my emotions only to her? Perhaps she does show me some favor…

He nodded sheepishly in response and finished cutting the ingredients as instructed. She nodded cheerfully in approval and assumed her previous position. 

Next, she brought over a cauldron and began to mix the ingredients within the cauldron. Any lingering embarrassment was washed away as he watched this process, completely transfixed. 

She began to explain the different attributes of the ingredients and why they were included in the brew. She explained their purpose and how they interacted with the others. 

“Flutrane and her subordinates are associated with healing, so it goes without question that potions such as these should contain a particular element. Can you tell me what element that would be?”

“Water! Both Flutrane and Heilschmerz offer healing, correct?”

“Very good! Both goddesses are prayed to when healing is needed, but both heal in their own ways. For example, Heilschmerz is often prayed to when healing the wounded while Flutrane is prayed to when healing and mana is needed. I will teach you the spell for Heilschmerz healing, however, you will likely not need to use it until you are at the academy. Additionally, you will have to be used to channeling your mana through your ring as you will not obtain your schtappe for some time.”

“This schtappe is the stick you and Lady Irmhilde materialize, correct? What is the difference when using one's schtappe?”

“Hmm, it is difficult to explain, but ones schtappe lets one’s prayers reach the gods, use more complex spells, and have better control of their mana. I would describe using a schtappe as pouring water into a cup with a teapot while using one’s ring would be like using a bucket.”

He continued to ask questions regarding the nature of magic and how to use the concepts in his brewing. It was not long until the cauldron flashed to indicate that the process was complete. 

She poured it into a vial and handed it to him. “Offer this to Lady Irmhilde, let her know that you aided in its creation and tell her everything you have learned so far about magic. You must show that you are ready to learn about magic before she enables you to have your own brewing stand.”

He tingled with excitement, nodding very passionately. He loved to learn new things, but this he found an even higher level of interest in than his normal lessons.

“Of course, you will have to read more fluently before you are able to read the magical textbooks, do not worry I will help you with this, we will read together!” She said, her smile radiating passion. 

Ferdinand grimaced slightly, though he did like to read with Roze, he always had to sit on her lap when she read to him and it was rather distracting. He sincerely wished to read with her, but he had to constantly lean forward as, if he leaned back, he could feel her soft curves pressing against him. It not only bothered him how flustered he would be, but it also bothered him that she felt no such feelings with him. It was a grim reminder that he was still, in fact, a child.  

“Okay…But only if you sit next to me as I read to you. I only need you to help me with new words I do not understand and I also wish to practice reading on my own from now on…” 

Roze smiled at him fondly and nodded in response. 

He was not sure what the trigger was, but Roze seemed to take a liking to teasing Ferdinand more openly when he would blush in her presence. He knew the likely culprit was: Lady Irmhilde. 

Curse you, Lady Irmhilde! Must you constantly relish in my torture?!

It was worse because he knew that she only looked at him like a child, constantly poking his cheeks and calling him ‘cute’ or ‘adorable’. It was like she was stabbing a dagger into his heart when she said these things, but then Roze would say things that would always bring him back from his despair: ‘I am certain that you will grow into a fine, reliable man, do not worry too much.’ or ‘I am certain that you will become the most reliable person I will ever know once you have grown’. He knew them to be words of comfort, but she looked at him with such certainty that he could not help but be drawn in. 

Despite the constant teasing, he blazed as fast as he could through his studies, vowing that he would definitely show all of those who doubted him that he would achieve his goal. 

He confronted Lady Irmhilde about Roze’s change in attitude one Fireday after lunch. 

“Well of course she would tease a child, it goes without question. With your emotions so blatantly showing, one would only think to either scold or mock you for them. You have no choice but to place more effort into suppressing your emotions, even those which are so overwhelming you know not what to do with them. “

He flinched, it was true that he did not like the teasing they both did, but Roze had told him that she wished for him to be more open with her and to only show such sides to her. 

“I will continue to make sure my noble mask does not fall when I am in the presence of others, but I promised Roze that I would remain open with my emotions with her, especially in the future, and that I would only show such things only to her.”

In response, Lady Irmhilde placed a hand over mouth then took a rather long sip of tea in thought. She returned from her thoughts with a malicious smile. “I see, well then we shall make sure that you remain true to your words. Make it so that even I am unable to tell what you are thinking. I will use any and everything to wretch any lingering emotions you have to the forefront. “

He remained composed but needless to say that he was slightly unsettled. He took a sip of tea and replied, “Then I will be in your care, Lady Irmhilde. Teach me your methods, as you will.”

Chapter Text

Irmhilde had been careful to avoid Veronica for an entire season, but come the beginning of Autumn, Veronica seemed to become more impatient. It was during one afternoon, after she had finished dedicating mana in the replenishment hall, that Veronica extended an invitation for a tea party amongst her and a few within her faction. 

“We have not had a moment to properly discuss the duties you will be entrusted with as second wife. As the first wife, it falls upon me to oversee such things, it is only proper. I do hope you do not abscond from your duties, I know you to be rather reserved but surely even you know not to run from your responsibilities. The archdukal family has no use for those who run from their duties or do not serve their purpose.” 

Irmhilde had no choice but to agree; She knew she could not run from meeting Veronica forever. The tea party proceeded like most did with those within Veronica’s faction. Of course the food had been tampered with to a great degree, with an extreme amount of spice from Ahrensbach. One was not allowed to talk ill of the host, Veronica, or they would be on the receiving end of her ire. Irmhilde had developed a rather high resistance to spice so she would manage the best she could, making sure not to show any reaction or Veronica would begin to sneer at her, mocking her for not possessing superior Ahrensbach blood, like she did. 

“My, to see a water goddess so meek, not even Ewigeliebe would need to fear a spring that will never come.” One woman sneered.

“I suppose Jungereise has those she favors as well” The women at the party began to throw insult after insult, not even veiling them to any degree. Irmhilde just smiled and nodded, not even attempting to parry any of the insults. Her only objective was to survive the tea party. 

She had made it home after the women grew tired of mocking someone who refused to react. However, it was when she arrived home that she began to feel unwell. She had to skip dinner that day to rest in her bedroom.

Let us see, I do not believe it was my food as none of my attendants have shown the same symptoms. It must have been something I made contact with. I recall only touching six things, all of which were touched by other people, so I doubt I will be able to discern which item it was. 

Irmhilde sighed. She could tell that the poison was rather mild, as all she felt was general malaise and feverishness. This was likely to ensure that no one in the party was similarly exposed and to simply act as a form of harassment. 

Compared to last poisoning, which lasted two weeks with me losing consciousness, this one seems to be rather mild. 

She hoped that she would not be incapacitated for too long though, she needed to continue to work in the castle. One of the benefits she had for working within the castle was to be in the position to reject forced water goddesses that the Veronica faction had been attempting to place in the houses of her followers. Such women placed in these houses would only sow chaos within these households and it was often that she would have to console unfortunate women who had lost their children before they were baptized; Poisoning attempts would increase with these women within these households and she found the unease among the women of her faction rising. These requests had become more frequent as of late and she worried that she would need to make more frequent trips to the castle at this rate. 

She laid in bed, frustrated with her inability to help those within her faction more effectively. Soon a knock came on the door. Berthe soon peeked into the room and requested entry for Roze; Irmhilde agreed, and the young woman entered soon after. Her eyes betrayed her worry as she slowly approached Irmhilde. She sat up in bed and Berthe brought a chair next to her bedside. She swiftly exited, leaving the two of them in her room. 

“Lady Irmhilde, I have been told that you are feeling unwell. You came back from a tea party with the Veronica faction, correct? Could it be that you have been poisoned to some degree... “ She said, her voice trembling. 

Irmhilde sighed. Her attendants must have told Roze of the tea party, so she would of course come to this conclusion. “There is no need to worry, if I have been poisoned, it has been with one that is rather mild. I presume that it was only to serve as a form of harassment of sorts. I am quite used to them by now and have built up a tolerance. I will likely recover within a few days. “

Roze looked bitter, and began to grind her teeth. “If only I could help you more, perhaps I can make some potions to help in your recovery. Though I guess I would need to identify what poison was used…Ferdinand never taught me such things directly…”

Irmhilde smiled at Roze’s consideration, “It is quite alright, Berthe has already given me some potions which should help in my recovery. Do not feel bad about being unable to identify poisons, Veronica has a talent for finding obscure poisons that most of my attendants themselves are unfamiliar with. I am doubtful that most scholars would be able to identify such things either; she goes to extreme lengths to use those many would know nothing about.”

Her attendants, too, had lamented at their inability to protect Irmhilde from all the attempts Veronica had made on her life. She could never consol them, but she never once dared to blame them.

“I have made great efforts to avoid Veronica this past season, but she no doubt will seek me out more often as winter approaches. I hope you do not grow emotional as these attempts become more frequent, anything that happens to me is not your responsibility. I am doubtful you will be able to help, lest you change the pattern of the weave.“

Roze looked at her, her eyes watering with frustration at her words. At once, she lowered her head and her eyes seemed muddled with a whole assortment of emotions. She balled her hands tight into a fist on her lap and furrowed her brows in distaste. “Maybe I should just get rid of Veronica before she does any harm to those I hold dear…” She snarled under her breath, killing intent bleeding from her expression. 

At once, Roze stood up, as if pulled by some unknown force. She looked as if she hung slightly in the air for a moment before she stood on the tips of her toes, holding her neck gasping for breath. Irmhilde looked on in horror as it appeared as if a shining golden string tightened around her neck before slowly disappearing. Roze sat on the floor at once, still holding her neck. 

She looked at Irmhilde. However, instead of the usual fear and terror one would have seen in any other person, Roze’s face adopted a look of profound sadness. With tears streaming from her eyes, and with her countenance seeping with sorrow, she began to speak weakly, “The gods will not let me help those I care about, am I destined to watch those I love suffer at the hands of that woman without being able to do anything? Do I have to watch you and Ferdinand fall victim to her countless times, all the while watching from the sidelines, being absolutely useless?! I can’t! I’m not strong enough to endure such sadness alone! I don’t want you to die! I don’t want Ferdinand to lose his mother and suffer endlessly at the hands of Veronica! I know it is fated to happen, but being unable to do anything to prevent it is agonizing!” Her words spilled out from her like a torrential rain, as her fears, that she had no doubt been bottling up inside, began to slowly reveal themselves. Her eyes began to change color indicating her inner torment and she clutched at her heart in utter despair.

Irmhilde hurriedly opened the drawer on her bedside which hid reserve feystones and began to press them to Roze’s forehead. She grasped her shoulder with her free hand and shook Roze so she would focus. “It would be rather ridiculous to think killing the first lady would solve everyone’s problems, do not be so foolish! If anything, it would cause me more problems if you attempted such things as her faction would retaliate and the duchy would fall into chaos. You promised me peace in the duchy, this is not a way I would wish to obtain it! Do not think so foolishly.”

Roze’s tears began to slow, as she began to hear some reason. “But it is true that I am useless, is it not? I cannot aid you when you are in need of it, in fact I only cause you trouble…”

Irmhilde shook her head. “Such childish notions, there are more ways to be of use to someone. In truth, you ease my worries a fair deal so I am not constantly lingering on the thought of my eventual passing. It may be a harsh reality to swallow, but such a fate was given to me before you arrived, and it will no doubt be the case for when you leave. I would much rather cause as much trouble for my enemies as I can before I am to ascend the towering heights than merely accept my fate as I once was. That is something you have afforded me the option to do. “

Roze slumped her shoulders somewhat at the harsh truth that was dealt to her, but she nodded slowly in understanding. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then looked to Irmhilde, “Then I will research poisons more in depth and work with your attendants to better detect such things. Perhaps I can even create a magic tool that will help you detect such things before you make contact with them. I will work hard so you can live comfortably for as long as I am able!”

Irmhilde smiled and nodded at her friend’s new resolve. She knew that she still harbored a deep sadness, but she still tried her best not to let it show. 

Irmhilde returned to her bed and Roze returned to her chair. They continued to talk about lighter topics to lighten the mood somewhat, like the training Adrianus was putting Ferdinand through and the gossiping her attendants participated in. There was still a somber atmosphere which lingered in the air, but both friends pushed through for the sake of the other.

Chapter Text

It was after Roze had visited Lady Irmhilde while she was unwell, that Ferdinand noticed Roze seemed rather sad. She still carried on her usual smile, and spoke in the same way, but he felt as if she had something constantly in her mind. He began to wonder if it was due to the reason Lady Irmhilde had fallen sick; She was a rather independent and reliable woman, so her falling ill due to the same reasons as Roze did not seem likely. 

He asked Lady Irmhilde when she returned to his lessons after a few days.

“Your concern warms my heart. However, I am unsure if I should share such details with you now. You are still but a child and such needless worries would only just weigh on you during your studies.” She responded, calmly. 

“If it is something that concerns the health of my guardian, I feel as if it would weigh more heavily on me if I did not understand the reasons behind it, do you not agree? Please do not treat your health as something trivial, I can assure you it is not and I would say Roze does not think so either.”

“Oh? So you have noticed the difference with her. I would commend you, but I must regretfully inform you that even if I shared such matters with you, you would be unable to help me or Roze for that matter.” She stated coldly, her expression unwavering. 

He tightened his grip on his cup, but he maintained his expression. It bothered him that Lady Irmhilde wanted to keep him from knowing such things, but he could not argue with her assessment. However, he nonetheless carried on with his questioning. “One could conclude that such matters have to do with noble society, to which you are my instructor. You attended a tea party with an opposing faction and fell ill afterwards, so it would not be baseless for me to conclude something at this tea party was the cause of your illness, am I correct?”

Lady Irmhilde took a long sip from her teacup, her eyes not leaving Ferdinand’s gaze. After a minute of neither saying anything, she sighed and answered. “I suppose I will have to reveal such truths eventually. I would rather you learn such things from me beforehand rather than through experience, I suppose. Alright, I will tell you, but do not say that I did not give you the option to live in ignorance.” She motioned to the attendants, who passed sound-blocking magic tools. Once both accepted, she started again. 

“As you know, the Veronica faction opposes my own faction. They are the current faction that holds the most power at the moment due to Veronica being the only wife of the current aub. However, that is due to change come the end of spring with my own starbinding. So I pose this question to you, what would a political faction, which wishes to consolidate their power, do to someone who threatens it?” Lady Irmhilde asked, her eyes stern gauging his response.

Ferdinand’s eyes widened at the revelation. Lady Irmhilde had taught him that some people would need to be dealt with if they threatened the stability of the duchy or one’s home. If Lady Irmhilde marrying the current aub to become his second wife would threaten the power of the Veronica faction, then she would be targeted, naturally. He gritted his teeth, “Was your sickness due to an attempt on your life?”

“That particular incident was nothing more than petty harassment compared to the previous attempts I have endured. Poison has many effects once consumed or touched and the harsh reality is that once you are close to your baptism, you will begin your move to the castle. It is there that there would no doubt be attempts on your life in a similar fashion. Come this winter, you will begin your move there. There is no other option as you are the son of the current archduke.”

This news hit Ferdinand rather hard, he did not wish to move to a place where there were only enemies. He had grown rather attached to the mansion, so the idea of leaving it was unimaginable. Lady Irmhilde continued, not letting him process this information. 

“Additionally, Roze will not be accompanying you to the castle.”

Ferdinand froze as he was given something even more unimaginable to process. He balled his hands in his lap and looked up with a glare. “I do not wish to live somewhere without Roze!”

“Oh? And you would willingly bring her to such a dangerous place? If you were such a fool I would have nothing more to say, but I know you are not. Think for a moment, will you be able to protect her when you can hardly protect yourself? She would no doubt feel as if it is her duty to protect you and put herself in harm's way to protect you due to your selfishness. What would you do if she gave her life to save you I wonder…”

His heart dropped and he began to tremble. He wanted to protest; his heart did not want to be separated from Roze for the foreseeable future, but in his mind, he knew it was the best course of action if he wanted to protect Roze. 

Lady Irmhilde watched him, with a conflicted expression on her face as her face faltered for the briefest of moments. She straightened her back, exhaled, and addressed him once again. 

“Ferdinand, there will be duties that you wish not to follow, but you must. They will be for the benefit of those you care for, the duchy, and the future. It is a burden that many will not be able to overcome.” She looked down at her teacup, hesitating for a moment, “it is the will of the Gods, sometimes, that we must suffer. As much as you wish to run from your fate, you must fulfill your duties to the best of your abilities and support those you care about.”

He looked at her. In that moment, he felt as if he could perceive everything she alone had to shoulder and he began to wonder if he would be that strong. “Is that the situation you find yourself in? How can you carry on as normal knowing only suffering awaits you?”

She smiled, taking on a more gentle nature for the first time in the conversation, as her eyes filled with kindness. “There are those of us who knew nothing but darkness, but then came those who illuminated our cold lonely paths. They taught us warmth and looked at us with kindness, it would go without question that we would do anything to protect that warmth. I feel as if you are the same as me; someone who finds comfort in knowing that the person I love is able to carry on without worry, even if that means I must suffer. I dare not ask for more, as I feel my selfishness would steal away their happiness. As long as they are happy, I am content with the choices I have made. I am strong enough to bear that burden for them, and I carry on everyday hoping that I have protected them in the only way I understand how.”

Ferdinand looked down,and began looking inward, wondering if he had the same resolve. It was likely that he would be unable to help Lady Irmhilde as he was now; she had already resolved to be a protector herself, so it felt as if he was to take up the mantle as well. The best he could do was resolve to protect the things she wished to protect along with her, once he was capable enough to do so. 

Lady Irmhilde entered his field of vision and reached for his hands. It was a rather awkward motion, going to show how little experience she had doing so, but she nonetheless met his eyes and continued. “All I ask of you, for now, is to find those you care about and who care for you in turn. Once you understand who they may be, do everything in your power to protect the warmth they share with you once you are strong enough to do so.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. He knew that he cared for Roze and Lady Irmhilde, but he also understood that he was much too weak and naive to do much for them now. For Lady Irmhilde, he would have to become strong enough to protect the things she also wished to protect alongside her. The gap was much too wide for him to be any use for her now. He wished to protect Roze, but she was promised to another and he currently would not compare to this person. For both of the people he cared for, he would have to become stronger and more reliable much faster, but he had no idea how. 

“Will living in the castle make me stronger?” He asked. 

Lady Irmhilde thought for a moment, then answered reluctantly, “Yes, in a sense. If you are able to evade your enemies successfully, you will no doubt have more resources and learning materials there than you would ever at the estate. It is a wealth of knowledge for those who know where to look. However, it will be painful. I assume you have resolved yourself to become stronger for those you care for. Will you be able to do that, even knowing that you will suffer endlessly? That you may never know peace again?”

He thought of the warmth he felt as he ate dinner with Roze and Lady Irmhilde, how much he wished to protect such moments. He clutched his fists and answered, “Yes! I will become stronger for you and Roze, that is my promise, Irmhilde.”

Irmhilde blinked, as if she did not expect his answer, but she quickly began to smile genuinely.  She shifted back to her spot, letting go of his hands and cleared her throat. Ferdinand learned over the past few months that this was her way of showing that she wished to change topics. 

“I am glad you have shown your resolve, but I must ask you to do me a favor. Roze has become quite troubled lately. It seems that she understands now that I will likely have more attempts made on my life and that you will receive the same treatment once you have entered the castle. She feels rather helpless, knowing that nothing she can do will stop the inevitable suffering we must endure. That girl is much too caring, she cannot bear to watch those she cares for suffer.” Irmhilde leaned forward, giving Ferdinand a stern look. Her neutral smile quickly shifted to her more teasing one. “As the man who wishes to become betrothed to her in the future, would it not be your duty to see that she is happy. You may not be able to ease all of her worries, but I ask that you try to ease some of them.”

Ferdinand looked down in consideration. Now that he thought about it, he had never had to consol Roze before. She had only consoled him, so this would be rather hard to do. “How does one go about that? I have no experience with such a thing, but I wish to know the best course of action.”

She looked at her tea cup and considered her words briefly, “I have become quite accustomed to consoling many in the past several years. Such sadness must be handled carefully, so it takes a considerable amount of time. The best course of action would be to find a moment to talk to her about her worries and try your best to ease them. You could also gift her things that may take her mind off of them or take her somewhere which could offer the same. Since your are still a child, however, I suppose you are limited, so just take these as suggestions.” She looked at Ferdinand and smiled mischievously, “She once told me of how her betrothed gifted her a library filled with books. You would be hard pressed to compete with that, so I would advise you drop that idea entirely. “

Ferdinand furrowed his brows and leaned forward. Books were a sure-fire way to Roze’s heart, it almost felt like cheating. He felt as if his opponent had not worked hard enough to earn her affections and had merely bribed her to become her fiance. He grew irritated. “Then I will offer her more books! How big was this library? I will build a library that I will dedicate to her!” 

Irmhilde hid her mouth, but he could hear her snickering, “I suppose it was as big as this room. It will take many years to fill this room with books, as well as money, so I ask that you wait until you are older to begin plans for such a thing.”

He nodded, “Of course, I will just remember to collect books when I am able. For now, I will find a moment to talk to Roze in the hopes of easing her burdens.”

“And right now, you are to continue your lessons with me, as we have gotten off track. Unless your previous promise was just mere words.”

Ferdinand nodded, then handed back the magic tool. Mentally, he began to note that his list of things to do became ever so longer. 

Chapter Text

Rozemyne had been tirelessly researching poisons since her visit with Irmhilde. She was able to find a good amount of information in her book of Mestionora, but it would be a good idea for her to leave a physical copy of the information within the mansion for the attendants to use. She was fairly certain that any of the things Irmhilde had would go to Ferdinand at some point, so it would also benefit him as well. She began to ask the attendants if there were any books on herbology or poisons so she could compile some notes for future use. 

After a few weeks, Adel and Gerrit had both carried through as they were able to find some books on the subject. 

“Would you and the other attendants be willing to attend an occasional lecture based on the notes I have compiled?” She asked Adel. In response, the older woman nodded fervently. 

“It would be a great help for us, milady. We, too, wish to help Lady Irmhilde in whatever ways we can. We are already quite adept in detecting well known poisons, but the rarer kinds tend to elude us.” 

And so, after a week of staying up late researching after completing her duties with Ferdinand, Rozemyne had been able to compile some good notes of more rare poisons. She made sure to include how they would be administered, how they could be detected, and how to prepare an antidote for them. Her memories of Ferdinand dealing with poisons had helped her as well as she was able to locate the plant which would help with the detection of rare poisons, like the one that was smeared on the bible. 

She had attempted to make some poison detection amulets, but she did not have the materials she needed to produce it and it would require too high a mana capacity for it to be viable for anyone other than her. She lamented the fact that she was not as skilled as Raimund when it came to simplifying magic circles; she could really use his skills at that moment. The best she could provide were purification amulets which were rather simple in function and could help with milder poisons. She still left her incomplete notes in the library, just in case Ferdinand could have some use for it later but she was not sure he would be able to. 

She had been contemplating creating protective charms for both Irmhilde and Ferdinand, but once again, her lack of materials and funds had been a great hindrance. She already had to create a less effective rejuvenation potion as the materials Ferdinand used were too expensive for her to ask Irmhilde to buy on a regular basis. She had then resolved to make less effective magical protection charms, but Irmhilde had stated that she already had quite a few and arrangements had already been made to provide Ferdinand with some when he began his move to the castle. Even if Rozemyne wanted to create more effective ones, she would be unable to as she had not yet been taught how to create the more refined tools Ferdinand often gifted her. 

She had also considered putting magic ink on some of Ferdinand’s capes, however, Irmhilde had also shot that down as he was going to be receiving a new wardrobe once he entered the castle and he would soon outgrow those capes. The only cape family members embroidered were the ones from the Gifting ceremony. Plus, it would be more likely that Veronica would use poisons; if she did resort to physical violence, and the stronger charms injured Veronica, then it would do more harm than good for him as she would use that to sway opinion of him further, as Irmhilde had explained.

Irmhilde only had two guard knights that knew of Rozemyne’s existence, which meant that she lacked manpower and the time that would be needed to collect any materials. Her appreciation for Ferdinand’s impressive collection of materials deepened, and she truly wished she had access to it again. Unfortunately, due to her limited presence there, the best she could do was provide a limited guide on producing protective amulets. She hoped that maybe Ferdinand would have some use for it, but her confidence in her abilities began to dwindle with every passing day. 

I am quite useless when I am needed most…

It was no secret that Rozemyne was losing sleep; between caring for Ferdinand, researching poisons, and writing study guides, she had little spare time for even reading. In addition to that, her nightmares began to resurface as she dreamt about finding Ferdinand near death in the mana replenishment room. She also began to dream of Lady Irmhilde being found in a similar state, in her bed, motionless. These dreams always woke her up in a cold sweat, and it was always difficult to fall back asleep afterwards. 

However, even though she was feeling terrible, she would never willingly show this to the others. She made sure to maintain her noble mask; it seemed as if no one suspected a thing, well that is except for Ferdinand and Irmhilde. They both looked at her with worry and began to ask her if she was okay. She would always answer that she was indeed okay and that there was nothing to worry about, but they still showed concern. Rozemyne would rather they not find out that her worry for them was the reason for her sleepless nights, as they would just feel guilt. That was the last thing she wanted.

“I have had problems in the past with sleep, those problems have simply resurfaced. It should not last long, however, so there is no need for you to worry. These problems will solve themselves.”

They looked at each other, then looked at Rozemyne. “My concerns have only risen…”

“Roze, you can take a day off from teaching me if you are unwell. I will use the day for knight training or reading studying materials…”

Oh no, I should have been more vague!

She shook her head in response. “It would make me feel terrible if I inconvenienced you two, please just carry on as normal, I do not wish to fall behind in schedule.”

They dropped the issue, but they both held the same look of concern for the remainder of dinner. 

The next day, she was up early, getting Ferdinand ready for the day. It was a full day of studying for the two of them so she had the room prepared with study materials. As they were going to begin their lessons, however, Ferdinand approached her. 

He looked hesitant at first, but soon steeled himself and began to speak. “Roze, I know that I am just a child and you may not wish to speak with me on such matters, but I ask you to please tell me what worries you so.”

His eyes were filled with concern and he wore a sad frown. Rozemyne felt herself wavering for a second, but shook her head. “I have no concerns, just some difficulty sleeping. There is no -”

“Is it because of what happened with Irmhilde? You seemed different after that happened and I have spoken with Irmhilde on such matters, but I wish to confirm with you first…”

Ah, he is sharp as always. Rozemyne sighed, she could sadly not hide these problems forever. Irmhilde had probably already told him about things, knowing her. 

“How much do you know? Did she include such things in her noble training?”

“She was reluctant to share such things with me at first, but I insisted. I wished to know about the troubles that you and Irmhilde were facing, so that is why I asked.” He cast his eyes down, and clenched his fist. “I have resolved myself to become stronger so I can protect those I care about. I wish to help carry some of the burden Irmhilde carries within the duchy and protect you from those who wish you harm. Do not feel bad about any damages that may incur upon me, I will grow strong enough to endure it. It is the path I have chosen for myself, no one else.”

Rozemyne’s blood ran cold and her eyes widened. Was this where he got this mindset? Did he have this mindset from the beginning? Ferdinand always felt the need to shoulder everything and never utter a word of complaint. He would sooner roll over and die from overwork than ask for help. Irmhilde was the same, both took after each other in the worst way. Rozemyne grabbed Ferdinand’s shoulders and shook her head. “I do not want that for you! I do not want you to walk alone and suffer in silence! Be more selfish! Prioritize your own happiness, please!” 

She knew her words would not stick, and it filled her with bitterness. He would always be fated to prioritize others instead of himself. She wished he would be more selfish and speak his mind more freely, to rely on her more rather than attempting to shoulder everything. Her Ferdinand had begun to live for his own desires, but he still fell into this habit of shouldering as much work as he could. 

Ferdinand looked at her in bewilderment and concern, as if not understanding her words. “My happiness comes from knowing that you are happy. If I do not shoulder some burden, then I cannot make your desires come true, and thus I cannot make you happy…”

Rozemyne blinked, and gave him a questioning look. Is this how he thinks? Not just now, but in the future? Well, I need to clarify this! Her expression grew stern, then she began to poke his cheek for emphasis. “Listen, I cannot be happy if you are suffering! Your well being shall always be a priority for me and if I see you neglecting yourself or trying to shoulder too much burden, then I will get angry and sad. If you wish to make me happy, then think of your own happiness as well.”

Ferdinand gave a blank stare, as if he did not understand what to make of this new information. “Your happiness..is my happiness? I do not understand, if I must endure some suffering to ensure your happiness, then you will also be unhappy…” In his mind, he did not know how to account for this new statement. 

Rozemyne gave a tired smile, “Allow me to shoulder your burdens with you in the future, and you mine. We will ensure each other's happiness. It is not hard to understand.”

In response, her words seemed to embarrass Ferdinand. He looked down shyly, and nodded. “I will try my best, I promise. “

Rozemyne sighed in relief. Even though she knew that he would most likely forget her words, in the back of her mind, she hoped that if one day he recovered his memories, then maybe her words would truly reach him. 

Ferdinand looked up again, with a more stern expression and a social smile. “Part of my happiness is knowing that you are well, Roze. However, I see that you are neglecting yourself and that has made me quite sad.”

She began to sweat, not expecting her words to be used against her immediately. He continued, “It is obvious that you are in need of dire rest. Fortunately, I know a lullaby which will guarantee sweet dreams. I will continue to read the study guide as you rest in my bed.”

She blinked in surprise, but he pointed to his bed with a stern look on his face. She chuckled and complied. It was true that he would just worry for her during the rest of their lesson so sleeping would most likely be for the best. She laid down on his bed and he tried his best when tucking her in. 

He got out his harspiel and began to sing her song back to her. He used a simple tune, but it was obvious that he had come up with a tune that would accompany the words perfectly. He sang slowly and melodiously, and gradually she began to fall asleep. As she drifted off to sleep, she could feel something cool touch her forehead. 

Chapter Text

It was another late night chat with Roze; These chats had stopped momentarily after the poisoning incident. It had taken Irmhilde quite some time to ease Roze into continuing these chats due to Roze’s strange sense of guilt. She had to tell Roze that these chats were cathartic for her, but in truth, it felt as if Roze needed these chats more. She decided to get Roze to open up about her life and Roze began to chronicle her life up until that point of time. This was the third session of such talks. 

“So, in short, you completed an ancient ritual to expel the remaining goddess aura from your vessel and using medicine, Ferdinand was able to dye you his colors….” Irmhilde said, pinching the bridge of her nose, truly exasperated. She was glad that she had decided to spread these talks over a course of multiple sessions, as she was now harboring a headache. “Then you established your new duchy with Ferdinand as your fiance. Which brings us to current events, where you were sent back in time to mend Ferdinand’s thread…”

From an outside perspective, it was completely far-fetched, and she hardly believed it herself, but considering that she was indeed sitting with someone who traveled back in time, she had no choice but to believe such a story. Roze was using broad terms when describing the story in order to prevent leaking information that may affect the weave, but even the general outline of events gave Irmhilde a headache. She began to pity Ferdinand in the future. 

“Yes, do you have any questions?” Roze asked, more chipper than she had been before. Whenever Irmhilde steered the conversation towards topics regarding Ferdinand, Roze would momentarily forget her burdens and worries and adopt a more cheery attitude. She had taken to bringing him up as often as she could and making sure to thank Roze for her efforts. After many days of sulking, Irmhilde and her attendants had made sure to inform her that her efforts indeed had prevented a few instances of poisonings that would have otherwise been missed. She felt some relief from the help she gave, though she had the tendency to undermine her own efforts. 

Irmhilde began to think for a moment. She had many questions, but she chose to steer away from questions pertaining to major events that involved Ehrenfest; anything that might spur her into action would be risky as she may work to prevent such things from occurring. The battle Ehrenfest would be a part of was one of those things: Roze had described that another duchy invaded Ehrenfest in order to steal its foundation but she did not specify which one. Irmhilde would guess that it may be Ahrensbach, or rather more likely Georgine due to how desperately she had wanted to become Aub. However, she decided not to confirm her suspicions. It was better if she did not know such things in their entirety or she would have no choice but to act on it, not that she could do much about it. 

“Why were you able to be dyed so easily and why did it not fade over time? Normally, after being dyed, such effects would fade over the course of a month at most, so why did it not seem to fade for you?” She eventually asked. 

“When I was younger, I came close to death many times. Due to this, I obtained the mark of Ewigeliebe, which means that once I am dyed, I am dyed permanently. So, after being dyed by the Goddess mana, my body would continue to produce such mana, but it was too much for me to handle and everytime it surged, it would cause me pain. My vessel could not handle it, so we had to expel all of my mana because of this fact, and I had to be redyed by Ferdinand with medicine. “ She explained. 

“So you are still dyed his colors?” Irmhilde teased. “My my, how scandalous.”

Roze grimaced slightly, and she averted her eyes in embarrassment. “Oh, that reminds me, during my dyed state, I felt a strange pressure coming from Ferdinand and the Foreign King, do you know what this may have been. I never did receive an explanation and I never felt the sensation again…”

“Pressure? Do you mean that you sensed them?” Irmhilde blinked, does she not know what mana sensing is?

“Oh, that was mana sensing? I admit, I did not put those facts together in the moment due to all that was happening…But why have I not sensed anyone else since then? I would have expected to at least feel Ferdinand..”

“Hmm, that is peculiar, when did you first develop this? Perhaps your mana sensing was still developing?”

“Still developing?” Roze blinked in confusion. 

Irmhilde could only blink back in confusion. Honestly, has no one explained mana sensing in depth with this girl? No wonder she is so confused!

She heaved a deep sigh, she did not expect to have this conversation but it was probably best she explained these things. “What do you know about mana sensing, if you do not mind my asking?”

Roze began to think for a moment, “It is when one begins to come of age, their body begins to telegraph to those within range of their mana capacity. That is what I know of it.”

That was a very bare bones explanation, it would appear to Irmhilde that she did not know of the sensations associated with mana sensing and how long it took to develop. “Has no one explained such things in depth? When you experienced it, do you recall what it felt like?”

“There were some things in my noble training which may have been skipped during my time in the jureve…When I felt it for the first time, it felt as if it was a pressure which indicated the presence of someone around me. It felt rather strange.” She explained. 

Hmm, so she had started to develop it not too long ago…Irmhilde cleared her throat, and began to explain.

“I will not judge your mothers for not explaining this to you in depth, as it was most likely overlooked for more pressing matters, so I myself will explain the details of such things.” She looked at Roze, who nodded in response, eager to learn. She continued, “Mana sensing can develop differently in many people, but you should be able to tell how much more mana someone has by the mana which surrounds them. It is easier for one to sense the ones who are in the higher range of their compatibility first, and overtime, you will sense those of equal mana capacity, then those of lower capacities. As it refines, it increases your sensitivity to the mana of others. My guess is, that moment, you were just developing your mana sensing. What were you doing when you sensed Ferdinand? If you felt him then, I wonder why you have not been able to afterwards…”

“I felt him after expelling some of the Goddess mana. Was it perhaps because he was in the upper range of what I could sense? “ She reasoned. 

Irmhilde nodded in response, “That would make sense, since at that time you would be only able to sense those of greater capacity. If Ferdinand’s capacity is closer to your own, it will take you some time to sense his as your mana sensing refines over time.”

Roze seemed to consider something for a moment before responding, “Our mana is nearly identical, will I still be able to sense him?”

“Of course, siblings tend to be able to sense one another even though their mana is similar, I see no reason for you not to be able to. If anything, your similar mana colors should make his presence feel rather pleasant.” Irmhilde reasoned. 

Roze sighed in relief. Irmhilde chuckled in amusement, then she leaned forward, “You required a tailor for your garments a few weeks ago, correct? You are still developing even now, it would not surprise me if you could sense him once you return.”

Roze sipped her tea with her brows knitted together, “Well what about you and –” She stopped herself and bit her lip after catching herself. Irmhilde had noticed this; overtime she began to mention hers and Adelbert's relationship less and less. Irmhilde must have shown some bitterness whenever they conversed about it as her feelings became harder to ignore; considering what she knew her fate would be, such revelations would be more of a curse than a kindness. It became painful to talk about such things, it was better to live in ignorance in Irmhilde’s opinion. That is why she could not urge her friend to continue. 

“The Aub does not appreciate you enough…” She whispered under her breath. Irmhilde could only smile at her friend’s open slight of Adelbert. 

“As you get older, you will come to understand that you can still love someone and still be disappointed in the things they do…” Irmhilde answered as she looked at the reflections within her teacup. The two of them had a moment of silence hang between them. 

She shook her head, wanting to change the topic. “Ferdinand must find it hard to wait two years for your planned starknot. Even though the gods have bound your threads together, you will no doubt still have to hold a ceremony upon your return. However, seeing as you have already been dyed his colors, it is as if you have welcomed winter.” Irmhilde teased. 

Roze closed her eyes and her face began to burn crimson, she shook her head. “I-I am doubtful he desires such physical affection! When I try to embrace him, he pulls me away and looks rather displeased!”

“My, my, do you wish to welcome winter yourself?! To seek such an embrace would be seen as an invitation by most. It is no wonder he is displeased, you tempt stoking the flames of Beischmacht!” Irmhilde was flabbergasted that no one told her as much. She found it quite scandalous that Roze seemed to breezily state that she, who was now developing her mana sensing, and her fiance, who was already an adult, were engaging in such embraces freely. 

“Bwuh?!”Roze’s whole body seemed to turn crimson, her mouth began to open and close in a fruitless attempt to defend herself, however in the end, she failed spectacularly. She settled for covering her face in defeat. 

Irmhilde sighed, “You are lucky that he has some sense not to take advantage of your ignorance, he is a true gentleman. You may not be able to sense him at the moment, but he can certainly sense you and feel your mana mixing with his during each embrace. He must pray to Dultsetzen often. Does he not attempt to reciprocate any physical affection?”

Still covering her face, Roze shook her head slowly, “The most he does is play with my hair… and bring it to his lips…”

“Ah, I spoke too soon! He is very tempted I can see, are you simply too foolish to see such things! He has been indicating to you that he wishes to reciprocate such advances, but as he is older and you have not come of age, he is not able. Such would be unacceptable. However, he has settled for indicating as much on a part of you which you would not feel his mana enter your body. He is being both courteous and forward, how scandalous!” Irmhilde could only hold her forehead, she could not fathom how these problems had not been pointed out to her before. 

Roze pressed her head to the table, most likely as a failed attempt to cool her face. “I-I am foolish, please forgive me Irmhilde, Ferdinand…”

“Make sure to apologize to him for your ignorance.” Irmhilde nodded. 

“I-In my defense, I have not had my current physical appearance for an entire year yet, I tend to fall into habits that I had when I was physically much younger. I-It would be hard for anyone to adjust their habits in such a short amount of time.”

“That does not change the fact that Ferdinand does not see you that way anymore, does it not? My, I recall you described him as family and held confusion when others said otherwise, no matter how much you denied their claims. You show such closeness, yet deny the possibility of advancing your relationship. Such agony he must live in to be sent such confusing messages, I truly pity him…” Irmhilde shook her head sadly, her pity for Ferdinand in the future only grew. 

Roze’s shoulders slumped further. Irmhilde felt slightly bad for chidding her, but when affection flowed one way, she knew that it could be painful to hope in such a manner. 

“It still confuses me how he could have feelings for me…He used to complain how much trouble I caused him…” Roze muttered to herself. 

Irmhilde heaved a deep sigh. Need I explain this too? “How could he not? He had accepted his death when he was trapped in the replenishment hall of a foreign duchy, and it would have been his fate had you not saved him. You showed such concern over his safety that you rallied the help of a greater duchy and obtained permission from the royal family in order to save him. No one in the history of Yurgenschmidt would go to such lengths for a single person. It was likely that you were the only one in his life that had ever shown such concern for him, as you prioritized him over anyone else at that moment. You were willing to sacrifice your freedom to afford him the chance to return to Ehrenfest and protect him. To witness a beautiful woman go to such lengths for him…anyone would find it difficult not to harbor feelings after such a display. “

Roze did not lift her head, she remained sulking. Irmhilde exhaled and shook her head, “He said he was okay with your current arrangement of being family, so I will not force your hand on this. Might I just suggest being wary of the amount of physical affection you share. Surely you would be satisfied receiving such affections from your female relatives, it would be far more soothing would it not? If you do not wish to advance your relationship beyond what it is, you should be able to abstain from receiving such affection from him.”

After a moment of silence, Roze lifted her head and began to pout. She shook her head stubbornly, “I will not stop embracing Ferdinand, he is the only one I wish to embrace sometimes…”

To this, Irmhilde could only raise a brow, “You may have come of age since you have resided here as you are no doubt still growing and aging. He may return some of your physical affection out of temptation; seeing that he is your fiance and you send such invitations, no one would say anything on the matter.” Irmhilde doubted that Ferdinand would actually act on such things but she needed to clear on the possibilities. 

Roze was still shaking her head and still pouting, “E-even if he tried to k-kiss me, I would still want him to hug me…I would not be…mad…”

Irmhilde’s eyes widened in bafflement, “Are you saying that you wish to further your relationship with him?”

Roze looked away, her embarrassment apparent. After a minute of silence, she answered meekly, “I..do not..know…”

Ehhhhh?! Irmhilde cradled her head in order to prevent an inelegant sound from escaping her. She felt as if she was on the course of a breakthrough, but she did not know what would be the final push. She was at her limits for such talks and it did not seem as if Roze would wish to continue the conversation. 

They both sat in silence for a great deal of time, sipping their tea and not making any moves to continue the conversation. It was finally Irmhilde who broke the silence. “I do not blame you for being unable to look at him in a romantic light, after you were forced to grow by the gods, you had to re-evaluate your relationship with your Erwachlehren. You were not afforded the chance to grow into those feelings naturally and only recently have you begun to develop your mana sensing. I am sure that Ferdinand understands as much as well, he knows you better than anyone else. You yourself have said as much. Do not feel bad about reciprocating his feelings, that is not your responsibility, and it is something that cannot be forced. I am sure that you will find the answers to your worries on your own; you may act foolish at times, but you are still very gifted. If you wish to continue protecting his happiness, that is all I can ask for, as his mother.” 

Roze looked down, deep in thought and nodded. “I will try my best to come to my answer, Irmhilde, I promise.”

Chapter Text

Rozemyne lay in bed, horrified. She recalled the talks that she had with Irmhilde, where she was informed that she was actively sending invitations for welcoming winter to Ferdinand whenever she gave him hugs. She was so embarrassed that she prayed to Verfuhremeer to help ease her embarrassment and to cool her head. 

Stupid Ferdinand, you should have told me! This is like the misunderstanding with Eglantine again! But…I’m sorry for putting you in such an awkward position! Aaagggh!

Rozemyne began to wish that there was a book that listed out these things so she could avoid such misunderstandings, but alas, it did not exist. She just had to accept that she was too dense for these matters. 

What had surprised her most during her conversation was the information that she was developing her mana sensing. No one had the foresight to explain these things to her before and it was for some reason overlooked. Luckily, Irmhilde was kind enough to enlighten her, but now she could only wonder if she would indeed be able to feel Ferdinand’s mana when she returned home. However, since she had begun to sense mana, this meant that Ferdinand could also feel her. Apparently, he could feel her mana whenever she hugged him which made her even more embarrassed. 

Will I feel his mana whenever we hug from now on? His hugs feel nice and calming already, what will they feel….NO! Don’t think about it!

She tried to stop thinking about such things, but she found it impossible. She couldn’t after her answer to Irmhilde when she was advised to stop. She had refused, and even went as far as saying that she would not be mad if he kissed her in response. 

Why did I say that?! I could’ve just said no and left it at that but I just had to add that at the end! So stupid!

She rolled on her bed in embarrassment. After a few moments of her flailing, she stopped to think. Why had she said that, why did she sometimes want hugs only from him? The deeper she looked inward, the quicker the pace of her heart became. The palpitations became so thunderous that she had to pray to Verfuhremeer again to calm her down. 

Do I see Ferdinand like that? I suppose I do think about him a lot, and I feel lonely whenever we have to be apart…

She had thought that when she entered the academy for her 5th year, she had felt quite lonely, but she had assumed that it was because she was in a new dorm with Ahrensbach nobles. She had some of her retainers, but her siblings and her other retainers were in the Ehrenfest dorm; She missed the warmth of the Ehrenfest dorm and there was still hesitancy from the Ahrensbach students to accept her. However, even in the past, this loneliness did not fade, and it would only become more apparent whenever she would think about Ferdinand. She began to suspect that it was not loneliness, but longing that she felt. 

She shook her head to erase such things from her mind. She did not need to feel this way, baby Ferdinand was here and he was cute enough to ease her worries!

Ah, and when he blushes in embarrassment, it is just adorable! So cute!

She had taken to teasing baby Ferdinand by prodding his cheek whenever he showed his embarrassment. He was just so cute that she could not help herself! He would become so bright red in bashfulness it was hard not to notice. 

Rozemyne stopped in thought and began to wonder if she could make her Ferdinand blush so strongly that his cheeks turned red too. She imagined him looking at her in embarrassment, and, for some reason, a hunger woke up within her. 

…I kind of want to see that….ehehehe. 

She could not help but imagine Ferdinand, covering his face with his hand and angrily shooing her away as a poor attempt to hide his embarrassment. She began to smile to herself as she imagined more images of blushing Ferdinand. 

Just imagining things to myself is not so bad, ehehehe…. If only I knew how to get those reactions out of him…

She began to seriously rack her brain on how to get those reactions out of him but she drew a blank. How would she be able to get those reactions? She found that she really wanted to see them now that she had imagined them. 

Maybe by sharing an embarrassing fact.. No, he would simply give a dazzling smile to hide his anger. Maybe if I give him a ki–

She stopped herself from finishing her thought and began to shake her head again in an attempt to rid her mind of its train of thought. She tried, but she began to think that maybe it wouldn’t hurt anyone if she did finish her train of thought. No one would peer into her mind and know what she thought to herself, so maybe just this once she could humor herself. 

What if I gave him a kiss on the cheek? That wouldn’t be so bad…

She imagined the scenario and found that she was not bothered by it. She added to the hypothetical by imagining hugging him while she was on his lap, then placing a kiss on his cheek. In turn, he looked at her and turned his face to the side, revealing his crimson ears. Her heart began to beat harder, but she found it bearable. She continued to think of the imaginary scenario as she imagined Ferdinand turning to her and kissing her on the lips. Her heart began to pound even harder but she could not imagine pulling away. 

It was like the floodgates had opened as she imagined different scenarios from different books she had read, even mature ones. She began to tremble as she imagined her in each situation with Ferdinand and did not find herself bothered or even feeling aversion to it. She flipped over and silently screamed to her pillow. She prayed to Verfuhremeer yet again, to still her beating heart. 

D-do I love Ferdinand?

She began to question herself. He had not done anything himself that had made her heart beat harshly like it would be described in novels, but then she started to think again. He had done two things in her recent memory that had filled her with happiness beyond comparison: Engraving his words into his proposal feystone and keeping his promise of returning her to her lower city family. In both instances, she felt her heart stir with emotion so deep that she could not place a finger on it at the time. They were in front of others at the time so she could not dwell on it, but recalling those events made those emotions resurface again. It was like a deep yearning to see and embrace him. 

She sighed and proceeded to faceplant into her pillow. She was still not one hundred percent certain, but the idea no longer sounded outlandish or ridiculous. All she knew at that moment was that she would not know for certain for now. 

If I am… then Irmhilde was right, it is rather sneaky…

When would it have first manifested if this were the case? Or was it a gradual build up? She began to fall back on her knowledge of books; she knew Irmhilde said that it would not help her, but she had no other choice. She recalled a magazine which detailed a session where women differentiated between a passing fancy and what they considered true love. She could not recall the answers the women gave, but she remembered some of the advice and questions the magazine had provided. ‘What do you like about this person and does it exceed just liking them for their looks or money?’, ‘Do you think of them constantly?’, ‘Do they understand you as much as you understand them?’, or ‘Are you happy when you are with them?’. 

She answered the questions one by one. The first one was rather easy, as of course, she liked him for things other than his money and looks; she barely even thought of those things when it came to him even though he did possess both. She liked his studious nature, his passion for research, his reliability, his gluttonous nature, his ability to seemingly do everything he set his mind to, his kindness, his loyalty, ….She had to stop herself as the list seemingly went on and on. She decided to move on before she dwelled on the question for too long…

She thought of the second question. He was on her mind constantly now that she mulled over the question, but that would go without question. She was in the past to help fix his thread so of course she would think of him all the time. Especially since she had to think of his education as she was his educator now.

She thought of the third question next. She would like to know him as much as he knew her, but he only shared his past when he was forced; he never willingly shared such things. It made her sad that he never opened up to her unless absolutely necessary, especially when she shared everything with him. Perhaps that is why she felt hesitant to say for sure that she saw him in a romantic light? She had to pay students to search for tales of his school days and he only shared some emotionally impactful moments with her when he showed her his memories. She could not bring herself to blame him for such things, as she was aware that his childhood was not a happy one. It would take some time for her to coax stories out of him, but she found that she really wanted to know more. Maybe she could learn more while she traveled in time…I did find out about his cuter side afterall…

Finally, she thought of the final question. She ruminated for a while and she could only say that , yes, she did feel happy when she was with him. Not only could she rely on him, but he always tried his best to make her dreams a reality. She felt calm and at ease next to him, and she never felt lost when he was nearby. He was especially more courteous to her now, which did make her feel rather flustered the more she thought about it. 

She sighed and held her face as she stared at the ceiling. She had answered all the questions positively, but she could still not say for sure. She began to find her own indecisive nature frustrating. 

They were now a month into autumn and her time in this time period would come to a close soon. Perhaps she would know for certain by the time she left.

She slapped her hands to her face and began to pump herself up. 

For now, I have to continue to teach baby Ferdinand whatever I can before I leave! Maybe I should take him with me to collect some basic materials so he knows what to do once I do have to leave…

She began to mentally take note of all the things she had to teach baby Ferdinand and things she would like him to know. 

I would like to teach him more magic because he has the basics down. It would be nice if I could teach him about poisons but I do not think he would be able to grasp those lessons now…I will have to discuss with Irmhilde to make sure his retainers in the castle know how to detect poison and are not of the Veronica faction…

Rozemyne began to slowly nod off as she thought up a plan for Ferdinand.

Chapter Text

The only times Ferdinand was let outside was when he had to practice in the garden of the mansion. Adrianus had explained that this was in order to prevent his presence from being known by his enemies, but Ferdinand could not help but wonder what lay beyond the walls of the mansion. He did not have to wonder for long as Irmhilde had finally approved of a short gathering trip outside in the nearby forest. 

Needless to say that he was incredibly excited; only the first night of his stay in Ehrenfest had he seen the forest from above and he was extremely happy that he would be able to explore it finally. 

Adrianus was going to be the only guard knight accompanying them, as Irmhilde could not lend out too many. Roze had stated that this would be fine as she had a way to protect them both from harm. Ferdinand was so excited for the planned trip that he almost could not go to bed the night prior. 

Roze had him ride in her high beast, but Adrianus was able to ride on his own this time around. Roze had apparently been able to create one more charm of Verbergen, which she had complained she barely had enough materials for. She had verbalized that she hoped to find materials that would create a suitable charm for him but he had told her that he did not want her to work more than she had to and that he would refuse it. She looked saddened by his response, but she had too much on her plate already and he did not want to be another reason for her sleepless nights. 

They finally touched down in the forest and removed the effects of the amulets. Roze put away her highbeast quickly and Adrianus put away his as well. Apparently, his was a dark blue ‘horse’ with wings, which was rather common as Roze had explained. He had little experience with animals and feybeasts, but Roze had assured him that he would come to know more over time. 
 
“Okay! I shall survey the area to ensure you two are not interrupted by feybeasts or other nobles. I will signal if we need to hide our presence.” Adrianus instructed. They began to walk within the forest, with Adrianus taking the lead and Roze and Ferdinand walking closely behind. Adrianus looked back, rather worried. “I am unsure if I will be able to prevent something from approaching from the rear, so please voice any concerns you may have.”

“Fear not, I am wearing my protective amulets today, nothing will be able to lay a scratch on us!” Roze responded confidently. 

Adrianus blinked and let out a hardy laugh, “I can tell at a glance that your charms are rather elaborate and effective. Who knew that you were so skilled at making protective charms!”

Roze shook her head, “It was not I who made these charms, but rather my fiance. He is rather skilled in the creation of protective magic tools; he even made this hair piece which doubles as a protective charm. I wear it all the time, even though it cannot be seen under my attendant clothing, it is quite important to me.” She moved her head slightly to show off the charm. Roze was wearing more breathable clothing today, the garments he recalled her wearing when he first met her. She donned a similar hairstyle to when he first encountered her as well, with the rainbow colored feystone hairpiece that perfectly complemented her hair. He could also see other charms on her arms that only accentuated her beauty even more. 

“I-I see…” Adrianus flashed Ferdinand a look that screamed, I’m sorry young lord, I shouldn’t have asked!

Ferdinand waved away his concerns. He already knew his opponent was a formidable one, this much was not new. He would just have to match these skills in the future, though said list of skills was getting rather long…

They continued down their path and eventually found a clearing which had some ingredients that they would be able to harvest. Roze indicated where they would be gathering and Adrianus began to look around the area. 

“O Goddess of Wind Schutzaria, protector of all. O twelve goddesses who serve by her side. Please hear my prayer and lend me your divine strength. Grant me the shield of wind, so that I might blow away those who mean to cause ill." Roze chanted under her breath. 

A yellow dome like structure formed around them and Ferdinand let out a breath in awe. Roze giggled and stated that the dome would protect them from everything that would do them harm. 

Adrianus looked at the shield after it appeared and began to ask a handful of questions. After he seemed satisfied with the answers, he returned to his duties with a more relaxed demeanor. It seemed as if he was worried if he would be able to protect them, being the only guard knight available, but the shield had made such things easier.

He soon encountered a small fey beast called an Eifinte, to which he then summoned his sword from his schtappe and swung at the beast. With one strike, it disappeared into a feystone. 

Ferdinand’s breath hitched slightly as he watched. He had practiced somewhat with feystones, but he had never fully understood how they were harvested. He began to recall the ‘duties’ his attendants used to inform him about and he felt a slight stir in his stomach. 

If Roze hadn’t rescued me would that have been my fate?

He swallowed hard at the revelation and began to sweat slightly, but he soon shook his head and began to recompose himself. Roze had given him a chance at life and he would utilize it to its fullest potential. He looked down to where Roze was crouched in order to focus on her lecture, only to find her in a daze. She was watching Adrianus with slight panic in her eyes and pallor visible on her face. 

Is she scared of the feystones as well?

Roze always seemed to close her eyes or hurriedly look away from the feystones during her lectures on magic. Ferdinand had always assumed that it was due to them being so mundane in her everyday use that maybe she saw no reason to look at them intently, but perhaps he was wrong. Roze was so kind, gentle, and caring, maybe watching a feybeast turn into a feystone was too much for her. He did not have much to go on, but he felt as if this was the case. 

In a swift motion, he lifted his cape and obscured Roze’s vision. She looked up at him in surprise, which caused him to avert his gaze slightly, “There is no need for you to see something so crude. I will make sure that you do not have to witness such unsightly things, so please…do not worry.”

He looked back at her sheepishly. She responded with a sincere smile and her eyes began to glisten with fondness and gratitude. “Thank you, Ferdinand. I can always count on you.”

He had to look away again to keep his calm, “O-of course, that much you can be certain of.” He briefly met eyes with Adrianus, who now wore a smug look on his face. He flashed Ferdinand a thumbs up and continued his clearing of the area. Ferdinand could only grimace slightly in annoyance, but he at least felt some relief in knowing that he had done the right thing. 

Roze began her lesson while Ferdinand kept his cape up to obscure her vision. When it came time for them to leave, they had collected a fair amount of items that would be used in their lessons during the latter half of the day. 

They made their way back to the mansion, with Adrianus sneaking in a few playful grins that said: Good job, young lord!

After lunch, Roze began her lecture on potions and basic magic tools. She outlined how to create an ordonnanz. 

“What sigils do you think will be required for the creation of this particular tool?” She asked. 

Ferdinand thought for a moment, then answered, “I assume the sigils for the Goddess of the gale and Goddess of Couriers. Ah, and perhaps the Goddess of Advice in order for it to seek out its recipient.”  

“Correct, please draw out the magic circle that will be required for you to create the tool.” She handed him a piece of parchment paper and a magic pen. 

He had worked hard to be able to read magic circles and even devoted late nights in his hidden room to studying them. He found the topic to be rather interesting and it was rather easy to learn whenever Roze taught him. He was now able to create simple magic circles with ease. He created the magic circle with care and showed it to Roze. 

She nodded in approval, then smiled. “Now we shall follow the steps required to create the tool. Please place this wind infused feystone into the brewing pot then wait until it has melted completely so you can add the magic circle.” She held out a yellow colored feystone. He grabbed it immediately and tried his best to cover it before he placed it in the pot. 

Roze gave a heartfelt smile when she observed his actions. He did as instructed, and once the brew flashed in completion, he stated that it was done. She picked up the tool and tested it immediately with her schtappe. She nodded that it was perfect and praised him for completing the task on the first try. 

They continued brewing basic items like potions before they stopped their lessons for the day in order to eat dinner. He made sure to show Irmhilde all of the things he had made that day and he excitedly discussed the different sigils he had used for the magic circle. She usually would scold him for his expressions, but she decided to let such things go on that particular day. 

“Normally, an archduke candidate would entrust their retainers to do such work, but seeing that you enjoy such tasks, I will overlook it for now. I have chosen some retainers for you when you enter the castle, however, as you near the age for you to enter the academy, you will need to evaluate which retainers you wish to take on. Some may not appreciate their lord doing such tasks themselves, so you will have to make it clear that you wish to handle such brewing yourself. Find those who are accepting of that particular quirk.” Irmhilde cautioned. 

“Understood.” He nodded, “When will I begin my move to the castle?”

Irmhilde closed her eyes for a moment in thought, then answered, “I have already informed the archduke that you have learned everything one would expect from an archduke candidate prior to their baptism. In my opinion, you may be closer to one ready to start their lessons in the academy, but that is to be expected. Because of this, you will move some of your belongings around the time that I will also be moving my belongings to the castle. Of course, you will be provided new items and clothing once you move so there will not be too many things that you will take with you. You will just need to be mindful of how you instruct the servants to handle your items. That should come a few weeks into winter, so about a month or so from now.”

Ferdinand was still unsure about his move, but he understood it to be necessary. He could not leave Irmhilde alone in the castle, he wanted to make sure he could protect her as well. He affirmed the plans, and dinner concluded not long after. 

Roze had changed him after his bath and they began to talk a little bit about his up and coming move. 

“I will pray for your safety before you depart. I hope you will be able to find those who you trust within the castle, as it will be fraught with danger. Please be on your guard…” Roze noted, sadly. She was so apprehensive about him leaving for the castle, even when Lady Irmhilde had stated that she would ensure that his attendant in the castle would be well versed in checking for poisons. He was aware that not all poisons could be checked for and he would maybe one day be poisoned, but he also knew that Irmhilde lived with that as well, and she was able to manage somewhat. He still thought it to be for the best if he entered the castle, that was the only way he would grow more knowledgeable. Even if it meant leaving Roze behind in the mansion. 

Ferdinand reached up to stroke her hair, “I know that there will be danger and suffering, but it is my duty as an archduke candidate. I do not wish to leave Irmhilde alone in the castle to protect what she holds dear by her lonesome. I will learn to help her bear that burden, so please understand that it is necessary for me to grow into someone capable of such things.”

Roze flashed him a melancholic smile, then wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. He almost let out a gasp in surprise but he was able to stop himself. “I see that you are, and will always remain kind and considerate, no matter how old you are. That is something I admire deeply, and I know you will never change. I still hope that you will rely on me more in the future, but we will have to wait and see…” She let him go and led him to his bed. She proceeded to tuck him in and sing him her lullaby. At the end, she placed a kiss on his forehead and thanked him for his consideration for her feelings. She flashed one more kind smile before leaving his bed chambers. 

Ferdinand stared at the ceiling, processing all of the contact he had with Roze in quick succession. Not only had she embraced him, but she also gave him a kiss on his forehead. He smiled to himself as he remembered the sensation of both displays of affection. His heartbeat was fast and his face warm, but he had a clear mind in that moment; Now he felt more confident in his decision to become more reliable and his drive to learn even more hastened once again.

Chapter Text

It was approaching the end of autumn, and Irmhilde was deep in preparation for her and Ferdinand’s move to the castle. She had been dropping hints to Elvira about her duties becoming complicated. When her friend finally decided to question her in greater depth, they decided to hold a private discussion between just the two of them. 

“You have stated that your duties have become more complicated…May I ask you to elaborate further?” Elvira began to broach the subject. 

“How to begin…I suppose I should state that I have been asked to adopt my brother’s illegitimate son upon my startknot.” Irmhilde immediately dropped. 

Elvira’s eyes nearly shot out of her head, she looked so stunned. Her mouth hung open for a moment before she proceeded to cover her mouth in order not to forget herself. After a few moments of silence, Elvira began to question the decision, “I will not ask where this child may have originated, however, I must ask why this duty was pushed upon you. Why does the Aub constantly place too much of his duties upon you with not offering anything in return?! He has already cemented your fate at the hands of the goddess of chaos, this child will hasten her schedule!” she placed a hand in her pouch which was fastened to her belt, and she held her forehead in frustration. “With every passing day, my hope for the duchy dwindles. I worry for the future of my children…That child will no doubt die prior to his enrollment at the royal academy. Does the Aub not realize as much?!”

Irmhilde shook her head, “Adelbert is quite clueless when it comes to such matters. Chaocipher whispers in his ears and obscures his vision, as long as her faction runs the castle, the true extent of her deeds will never reach him. However, I truly believe that this child will be instrumental in her eventual downfall. He is simply that brilliant.”

Her friend blinked in surprise and began to carefully inspect Irmhilde’s face. “I have noticed that you have looked rather well for someone in your position. Your hair is glistening and you have a much more lively nature to you.” She paused in thought, “You seem to truly value this child. I find it hard to believe that you are the same person I saw when you first revealed your engagement.”

Irmhilde smiled. It was true, she had been enjoying her time with Roze and Ferdinand. She truly felt as if time would stand still during these days, she would be quite content; it was a nice retreat from her harsh reality. “I do value that child greatly. Even if he does not consider me his mother, I truly consider him my son.”

Elvira looked moved by her words for a moment, but after a second of thought, bitterness soon washed over her. “How cruel the gods must be to bestow upon you a gift that you may never savor to its fullest extent. The spooling of your thread draws to its end and they see fit to rub salt into the wound.”

Irmhilde could only look down in response. It was rather cruel for the gods to make her wish to live to see her son grow up so close to her imminent death. She would not dwell on such matters, however, she had work to do. “I have come to ask you to offer him your support, not as a Leisegang, but as a fellow mother and as my friend. I may not be able to witness his accomplishments myself, but I ask you to sing his praises when no one else will. Watch him mature as if he were your own son, all I wish for him is to grow up healthy and meet the ones who truly hold him dear.”

Elvira’s eyes began to water, she covered her mouth again. “Should I ensure that he is accepted into our faction? If the Leisegangs rally behind him, perhaps…”

Irmhilde shook her head. “The terms of his adoption were under the condition that he support Sylvester when he becomes Aub. I also do not believe he would ever wish to pursue the seat.” She thought for a moment, considering her next words carefully. “Even though I ask you to support him, I do not wish for him to be part of the Leisegang faction.”

Elvira looked at her in puzzlement, she likely could not understand her reasoning so Irmhilde continued. “He will already have enough strife just being an illegitimate son of the Archduke; if I am not to make it to my starbinding, then Veronica will absolutely refuse to claim him at his baptism, that much I am sure of. He will be motherless. There would be no reason for the Leisegangs to back him once I am gone as they would be unable to interact with him within the castle, nor would they likely try. Additionally, I suspect that the Veronica faction will do to him what they have done to me and run his reputation into the ground.” This was part of the reason Irmhilde did not want him to be part of the faction. In truth, she would rather he live more freely without the burden of leading a faction; it was a selfish wish that she did not utter to anyone. 

Elvira nodded in response, deeming Irmhilde’s reasoning to be sound. “I suppose I am hearing about this now because he will be baptized soon and he will begin moving to the castle. I would suggest adding Karstedt to his entourage in the castle during the winter time as he does not have much to do once Sylvester leaves for the academy. Rihyarda would also be a good fit to serve as his attendant in the castle as Sylvester no longer skips his lessons after he began pursuing Florencia from Frenbeltag. She also has a son who has finished the academy who took both the attendant and scholar courses, however he is rather odd from what I hear so perhaps not.” She began to consider something, then sighed and continued. “I also have a son close to him in age, however he is rather distant and seems to lack the proper drive to do things that are not required of him. This may change in the future, but if your son is anything like you during your time in the academy, trusted retainers will be in short supply.” She let out a troubled sigh, whether it was due to her own son or Irmhilde’s, she could not say. 

Elvira looked up and let her eyes meet Irmhilde’s. “I will ensure that this boy’s accomplishments are valued, I will praise them in your place. I will witness his growth in your place and wish the same things for him as you do. That much I can promise you. “

A smile played on Irmhilde’s lips, which underneath hid genuine gratitude for her friend who always listened to her selfish requests. She accepted her request that she help lead the Leisegangs and she was accepting the request she made for her son, all without asking for anything in return. 

She felt as if she had to provide her with something in return. “I do not believe that this may come to fruition, but if Sylvester is able to court Lady Florencia, then she will need backing from the Leisegang’s. Veronica has been insisting Sylvester marry a woman from Ahrensbach and for the first time, he has gone against his mother’s wishes. This is a wedge we must exploit so I advise you to help build an opposing faction around her and her children. The boy is so lost in his spring, I am doubtful that he will take a second wife for quite some time, much like Adelbert. Additionally, as these children will be directly related to her, she would likely not seek to have them dealt with, so there is less danger for them to be backed by a rival faction.”

Elvira sighed and placed a troubled hand on her cheek, “That is quite valuable information, I will definitely utilize it. However, I cannot help but feel as if you provided it as compensation for your demands. You have always been like this Irmhilde, honestly, you could strive to be more selfish. You deserve as much at the very least.”

Irmhilde blinked, then proceeded to drink her tea while averting her eyes. They both chuckled and continued their conversation, this time, with it ending in a much more hopeful light. 

Irmhilde made her way to the castle meeting room to discuss Ferdinand’s castle retainers with Adelbert. They cleared the room, after they finished some of the office work, and began to discuss the matter. 

“I would like to ask you to include Rihyarda and Karstedt to his entourage.” Irmhilde demanded. Adelbert raised an eyebrow and began to shake his head, but she stopped him, “I am aware that both currently serve Sylvester, but Rihyarda is no longer required as he takes his studies more seriously and Karstedt has not much to do when Sylvester is away at the academy during the winter.”

Adelbert began to consider things for a moment, then nodded. “Alright that sounds reasonable. Though, Bonifatius may say something as he has been trusting Karstedt with more duties expected of the next knight commander. Plus, he will be needed during the lord of winter fight, but that much is obvious. He will need more guards and at least one more attendant. I have a list of some retainers that I–”

“I reject those retainers. I have a few retainers which are more neutral and Leisegang leaning.” Irmhilde interrupted. 

He could only sigh in response, “Irmhilde do you not trust my judgment on retainers?”

“I do not, that much should be obvious.” She responded, flatly. 

His sigh deepened and he leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You are rather steadfast today. I take it that you have grown rather attached to this boy. Your hair is very lustrous as of late and there is more cheer in your step. “ He leaned forward and adopted a smug smile, “It is like you are his mother already. You are so overprotective and you just have that motherly glow to you.”

Irmhilde smiled fondly and confirmed, “I do feel as if he were my own son. I wish to watch him grow, obtain happiness, and thrive. I feel pride in my heart knowing that he will bring peace to my duchy, it is obvious that I must protect him.” She cast her eyes down. “The gods can be rather cruel, at times.” She muttered under her breath, in a voice quieter than a whisper. 

Adelbert looked at her with open bewilderment as he had not expected her to give such a response to his teasing. She looked back at him and smiled. “If you let me choose all of his retainers, then I will bestow upon you a method from the messenger to greatly lessen the mana consumption required to fuel the foundation. I have been testing it out for myself and may I say that it reduces the mana consumption by at least 30%”

Adelbert seemed to agonize for a few moments but he reluctantly agreed. “You should have given this information for free, I am Aub y’know.”

“You are Aub, but you never listen to me. I needed some insurance when it came to this matter, speaking of, I will not provide the method until I have confirmed that you have indeed chosen the retainers I suggested.” She shot back. 

They bickered for a few more moments before concluding the meeting after agreeing on the date for the move. 

“Are you sure that you wish to move so early in the winter? At the same time? Surely it would be better for you two to move at separate times…”

Irmhilde shook her head, “I am rather overprotective you see, I refuse to let anyone other than myself oversee his move. I will stay in my estate until spring, as I plan to only move into the castle after our starbind. The plan is for me to coordinate the items for my room in the castle, while overseeing Ferdinand’s move to the northern wing. “ This was the half truth; Irmhilde knew that if Veronica saw Ferdinand moving into the northern building, she would wish to target him if he moved in first. If Irmhilde moved in at the same time, overseeing his luggage, then Veronica’s ire would be directed at Irmhilde. Veronica would see the need to have her dispatched as overdue and the subsequent investigation would put those in the castle under much scrutiny, preventing any attacks on Ferdinand for some time. 

“Oh, I almost forgot. I would like to leave something in your care.” Irmhilde reached into a pouch she had at her side and handed a key to Adelbert. 

“What’s this?” He asked, looking at the key in confusion. 

“It is a spare key to my estate, if I am at any point indisposed, then I would ask you to handle my affairs.” She answered.

He gave her a stern glare, “Why would you –”

She held a hand up, “I am merely being cautious, one can never be too careful. You are Aub, you should know as much. Though, I would ask that you handle my estate with care if that ever were to happen. If Ferdinand ever wished to have an estate of his own, I would bestow it upon him, though that will not be for some time.”

Adelbert looked at her with some wariness, but he nonetheless accepted her key. 

She left the office with her guard knights and began listing off the last few things she had to complete before winter. 

Ah, as his mother, I suppose there are some things which I can gift him. Usually, one would wait until a child was officially baptized as their child, but seeing as she would likely not be able to reach such a point, Irmhilde planned to give Ferdinand a keepsake when he would begin his move to the castle. 

It should not take long for me to complete, if I make time for it…

Chapter Text

Ferdinand had already completed most of his course work, however, Roze had made it a point to teach him as much as she could before his planned move for the castle. She created extra study guides to take with him to the castle, so she could teach him even when they were apart.  

It was the end of Autumn, with preparations in full swing in the estate. Irmhilde was rather busy now, as she was ordering the necessary items for not only Ferdinand’s room within the castle, but her own. She was going to be married during the spring while he would be baptized towards the end of the winter, as was normal for archduke candidates born in the spring. He had wondered why Irmhilde would be moving at the same time as him, but she waved away his question by saying it was easier this way. All she tasked him with, during his move, was to get to know his new retainers and to make sure that none of his items were tampered with. 

In order for him to get used to the new attendants he would be receiving, Roze had proposed that he get used to someone other than her serving him. Adel had taken the mantle as she would join him in the castle in order to support his other castle attendants. She was due to retire once he entered the academy when he would no doubt have male attendants who served him. Even though he was hesitant at first, he knew it was necessary to slowly stop relying on Roze too much. He wanted them to be equals afterall, not master and servant. 

Irmhilde was cramming more lessons with him whenever she was not busy with preparations. Within the span of a few weeks, he learned a great deal about the internal struggles of Ehrenfest as a whole as well as some general knowledge of the other duchies such as those allied to Ehrenfest. He learned about the royal family and the ranking system for the duchies. Since Ehrenfest was a lower ranked duchy, they would have to know their place when it came to those who ranked above them. 

She taught him some of her skills as well, such as gathering information beneath the scenes to use against others and setting up traps for your enemy. Irmhilde would always lament that she had to teach him such things at such a young age, but she did not think that anyone else would teach these things to him. He, however, made sure to listen very intently. 

“Suppose you wish to set up a trap for one of your enemies? Where would you start?” She questioned.

He considered for a moment and tried to remember things from his lessons. “I would suppose that it depends on how cautious they are of me. If they do not know me, then I would pretend to get into their good graces and learn all that I can from their careless trust in me. If they were a more cautious person like you, I suppose I would watch their actions from afar and gather intelligence indirectly through those they interact with. “

Irmhilde nodded in satisfaction. “A fair answer. That is the most basic approach to gathering intelligence to use against your enemies. One must also build a network of trusted allies and retainers who can make up for your own weaknesses. Use every tool at your disposal in order to be ahead of those who wish you ill.” She paused to adopt a more stern expression. “I have no doubt that you will have struggles finding those who you trust, as I did in my past. Trusted retainers and allies are hard to obtain, and they require a great deal of vetting in order for you to accept them.“

“I understand. As you have told me, I will have to come up with my own standard for retainers and allies.”

“I have chosen some retainers to serve you at the castle, but once you enter the royal academy, you will need to choose your own retainers. Your castle attendants may recommend some which may fit your standard, but only you yourself can be the judge.” Irmhilde stated. She began to take on a harsher tone, “There is one person I must caution you against. I recommend you avoid her at all costs.”

Ferdinand looked at her serious expression and was reminded of the first day he arrived at Ehrenfest. At that moment, she wore the same expression she had when the strange woman entered the teleportation room. “Is it that woman from the teleportation room?”

She nodded slowly in confirmation, “Her name is Veronica and she is a rather cruel woman. You may know her from our lessons, as she is the current First lady and the head of the Veronica Faction. “

Ferdinand began to ball his fist. She was the one who tried to poison Irmhilde, it was without question that she would be his enemy. 

“She will be your greatest obstacle within the castle, as she treats those who are not her immediate family, very cruelly. She commands those within her faction, so there will no doubt be those within her faction who will offer themselves to you. You must not accept anyone from her faction, that is why I have gone through such lengths to teach you all of those who follow her. Be it women or children, she uses every tool she can to ensure that those she despises suffer greatly.”

Ferdinand nodded. He had been sure to memorize all the families within the Veronica faction so identifying them would be easy. “Am I to trust the Leisegangs as they are your own faction?”

Irmhilde thought for a moment, then answered. “I will provide the names of those I trust within my faction. They will do everything in their power to protect you. Even though I would like to say you may trust everyone in my faction equally, I am not one to think so foolishly. Every noble will work to take what they can from you and toss you aside once they have obtained all that they desire. I have worked for countless years within my faction, but I can say with certainty that there are only a handful of those who I trust with my life. Those names I will entrust with you.” She motioned to her attendant and they brought forth a wooden board of her trusted allies. Additional boards were brought out but these only possessed names of those who had the same goal as her, which was to work against the Veronica faction. He understood the need to differentiate immediately. 

He studied the names and committed them to memory. “Understood, I will evaluate these people to see if they meet my standards.”

Irmhilde smiled, as if he had passed some sort of test she had put out for him. “Very good.”

They continued their lessons, with Irmhilde drilling into his mind the different things that were expected of a noble deeply involved in politics. 

He worked hard to memorize as much as he could before he moved to the castle, so much so that his room would always be filled with wooden boards of things he had to memorize. Roze had begun to grow worried about adding more to his lessons, but he insisted that she continue teaching him. It was already bad enough that he had to see her less due to someone else serving him for his daily needs, but if she decided to teach him less then he would lose all motivation to study. He wanted to spend as much time with her before his move. 

“Roze. Once I move to the castle, will I be able to visit you and Irmhilde?” He asked one evening. 

Roze looked at him, her eyes faltering before she answered, “I cannot say for sure Ferdinand. I do not know when the next time I will see you after you move, but-” She grasped his hands and looked at him head on,”I will make sure to save you if you ever find yourself in danger. When things have calmed down, then we will no doubt be able to spend all the time we want together. I promise you.”

When things have calmed down, huh? It was perhaps meant to refer to all of the chaos of the estate at that moment during the move, but for some reason he felt as if it meant something deeper than that. He did not really warm to the idea of her saving him when he was in danger as that would likely put her in danger, but he held his tongue. He had promised to share their burdens with one another, if he objected, then that would make her sad. He just hoped that he was not put in that kind of situation, which would place her in danger as well. 

He looked down, dreading the idea of not seeing Roze for an extended period of time. He did not like the idea, but he was under no illusion that he could bring her with him. Roze must have noticed his inner turmoil and apprehension, as she wrapped him in a warm embrace. She began to stroke his hair and speak once again. “I understand what you feel right now. I feel the same, but there are some things that we cannot change. If I could keep you by my side forever and ensure that you never saw harm from your enemies, then I would be happy. However, I know I cannot delude myself with such selfish wishes, you cannot become the person you were meant to be if I stay with you forever. It saddens me, but I know it to be true.” She hugged him tighter, emphasizing her unease, “I can only hope that you will find those who you trust within the castle as soon as possible. I hope that you will not be alone and you will know those who truly cherish you.” 

Usually, her tight embraces would only go to make him restless, but this one seemed to deepen his sadness. He began to hug her tighter in response; up until this point, he had been maintaining his composure whenever the topic of his leaving was brought up, however, each time brought him greater and greater heartache. Her statements seemed to open the dam for which he stowed away all his dread and sorrow as tears began to endlessly stream from him. He was scared; so terrified, in fact, that he began to tremble as the emotions and thoughts he had suppressed began to surface. 

He did not know how to live without her and he was scared of these enemies he had never even met before, who would hate him for merely existing. He clutched at her back, not wanting her to look at his face while he looked so unseemly. However, it was likely that she felt his tears as she began to stroke his hair and rub his back, all in an effort to sooth him. Ferdinand would usually protest being treated like a child, but for once, he felt as if he needed it at this moment. They stayed like that, embracing for what seemed like ages, before his tears finally dried and he could finally speak again. 

“I will try my best to keep safe. I will work hard to find those who I trust and make sure that I take care of myself so you will not need to worry about me.“ He declared. 

She looked at him, her eyes seemingly still reflecting uncertainty for a brief moment before she gave him a fond smile and nodded back at him. “I know that you will. You always try your best no matter what, that is something I am sure of.” She gently reached her hand over his eyes, her warmth ebbing away at his fatigue, then she proceeded to chant a prayer for healing. 

Chapter Text

It was about a week until Irmhilde and Ferdinand would begin their move to the castle; Roze had begun to walk around in her riding gear, along with carrying a small satchel of items she would take with her, such as extra clothes, poison antidotes, and camping materials. She had stated that she was unsure how or when the gods would summon her, so she would just have to carry all of her things with her at all times. 

“Maybe I will be able to help you move, the gods have made no moves to summon me.” Roze had said one evening after she had sent Ferdinand off to bed. They were once again within the confines of Irmhilde’s hidden room. 

Irmhilde furrowed her brow slightly and shook her head. “I doubt the Gods would allow you to do that, as that would likely lead to you coming into contact with Veronica. It seems that they even understand that you two should never meet. I have my carriages in order, so there is no need for you to worry. “

Roze began to sigh, with a bitter frown. “If only I could protect you both. I wanted to give you charms, but I cannot even do that…” She looked up for a moment, as if a brilliant idea had dawned on her. She clapped her hands together in realization, “I can give you a blessing! A powerful blessing that can protect you from all harm!” She summoned her schtappe and transformed it into a pen; without hesitation, she began to trace a magic circle. 

Irmhilde, in response, stopped her; She gently placed her hand on her drawing hand in order to prevent her from continuing. Roze looked up at her in confusion. 

She had been avoiding confessing these things to Roze, but there was a reason that she had rejected all of Roze’s efforts to protect her. While she had told Roze nothing but the truth when it came to avoiding using strong charms with Ferdinand, as Veronica getting injured by one of these charms would indeed bring him harm instead, the same did not apply to Irmhilde. Veronica would send others to dispose of her, so such charms would in fact prevent that. But therein lies the problem, as she knew that she was not part of Ehrenfest’s future. The reason that the Gods and Roze had no problem in her knowing about the future was because she had no part in it.

She looked at Roze and shook her head sadly. “I have a question for you. And I ask that you answer truthfully.” Roze looked at her hesitantly but she nodded. Irmhilde smiled gently and continued in a softer voice. “I am not a part of Ehrenfest’s future or Ferdinand’s future, correct? In fact, I surmise that you know when I will die, which will likely be before Ferdinand’s baptism, am I wrong?”

Roze’s breath hitched, dread and sorrow painting her face. She began to open and close her mouth, likely trying to protest, but she uttered not a single sound. Her mouth drew into a line and her eyes began to water with frustration and resignation. She nodded weakly as she fought to hold back her tears. 

Irmhilde grasped both of her hands and gripped them. She looked at Roze with as much softness and compassion as she could muster before she proceeded. “If you try to save me, you will alter the weave. The reason the Gods allowed me to know of the future is simply because I play no part in it; I have already known this to be true, as I have told you many times. I consider you a dear friend, Roze, I do not wish to see you punished for an act of compassion.” Irmhilde had seen first hand what attempting to alter the weave had done to Roze, it was something she did not wish to see again. 

Roze’s tears began to fall freely as Irmhilde finished her statement. “But maybe I-I could—” She began to say before Irmhilde shook her head. 

Irmhilde looked at the ceiling, it was getting harder to not get emotional during this conversation but she continued nonetheless, with a slight tremble in her voice, “You have told me the tales of greatness destined for Ehrenfest and my son, in the future. The peace and prosperity that will one day come after many years of hardship will be hard earned. We will not only become a high ranking duchy, but we will also seize control of another greater duchy with you and my son at the helm.” She returned her gaze to Roze, whose eyes begged her to stop, but she continued, “Such great things demand sacrifice. You cannot hope to gain endlessly without giving something in return. If I myself must pay that price, then I can accept that. Even if you could save me, I could never live knowing that I was the reason for the weave being altered and Yurgenschmidt falling into ruin.“
 
Roze grabbed her sleeve, with her tear filled eyes darting along the room, as if searching for an answer that would never arrive. She covered her mouth as she began openly sobbing for Irmhilde. 

Irmhilde sighed as she brought her hand to Roze’s head and lightly stroked her hair. She would have to admit that she was rather awkward with the gesture, but Roze at that moment needed to be consoled. “I thank you, as it was your kindness and friendliness that has eased my worries. I have lived many years in misery due to the Veronica faction, but the both of you have made me forget these hardships. I find myself filled with hope for once in my life and I am at peace with the knowledge that Veronica and her faction will be no longer in power in the future. I do not wish to be the cause of your sadness when you return to your own time. If I am the reason that you no longer smile, then I would have brought about a greater plight than Veronica. Promise me that you will try your best to smile happily again. If not for me, then for Ferdinand in the future.“

Roze was still trembling, but she nodded weakly. It was after a few more moments of her weeping that she began to speak again. “I know you have cautioned me against open displays of affection, but might I ask for an exception?” Irmhilde looked at her in surprise, but she wordlessly agreed as she opened her arms. 

Roze scooted closer and buried her face in Irmhilde’s shoulder. Even though Irmhilde was not used to this sort of embrace, she could see why Roze so often asked for them. She was a small, emotional girl who carried a great deal of weight upon her shoulder; small embraces served as a release from these tensions. She stroked Roze’s hair hesitantly as they remained sitting, silently holding each other for some time.  

After a great deal of time had passed, Roze finally composed herself enough to sit up and face Irmhilde once again. Her eyes were puffy due to the amount of tears she shed, but her expression was full of resolve. “I will make sure to keep you in my memories as you are a friend near and dear to my heart. I will never forget the lessons you have given me and I will always remember the times we spent together. I will cherish them forever.” She gave a weak smile, slightly filled with sadness but she still pushed herself in order to speak those final words. 

Irmhilde smiled. “I feel the same.”2

Though their conversation was somber, they nonetheless carried on with more neutral topics, as to not to burden the other with worry or sadness. They both rose after some time and began to leave the hidden room, but then a golden light suddenly filled the space. Irmhilde looked up in shock, looking for the source, then turning to face Roze. Roze, however, looked up in bitterness and frustration; she herself began to glow and fade into the light. She looked at Irmhilde with regret and sorrow, and she began to reach a hand out. Before she could utter a word, however, she seemingly faded into an entanglement of golden thread which disappeared with the golden light. 

This was the last time that she would see her friend, Irmhilde realized. She exited her hidden room and began to look around the estate with haste; She asked her attendants if they remembered Roze and they confirmed that they in fact did remember her. She sighed in relief, but then she remembered what Roze had said; When she disappeared from this time, Ferdinand may forget her. He was in bed now, so she would be unable to wake him up, so she had to wait until morning to confirm her friend’s suspicion. She made sure to inform her attendants of Roze’s sudden departure and ensure that no one other than her would question Ferdinand about her departure. 

How much will he forget, I wonder…Irmhilde began to feel some dread as she began to think of the worst.

Morning came around and she waited in anticipation for Ferdinand to enter the lounge area for their lessons. As she was pacing the room, Adel approached her with some worry on her face. Irmhilde gave her a sound blocking tool and urged her to state her concerns. 

Adel began to talk, “Milord has been acting rather strange. He is someone who is able to maintain his emotions rather well so I do expect him to rarely show any, but…” She trailed off, as if trying her best to describe the problem. “I cannot place my finger on it exactly, but it seems as if he has been stripped of his emotions somewhat…When I told him his plans for the day, he stoically agreed, without any of the usual fervor or resolve he would show before…”

Irmhilde’s heart dropped; Roze had speculated that Ferdinand would forget her, but to think that some of his emotions were indeed tied to his memories of her was something she did not anticipate. She would have to confirm when he came down for his lessons. 

After some time, Ferdinand was brought down. They sat down and she immediately ordered for sound blocking tools to be distributed. He showed no reaction and merely accepted the tool. 

She hesitated but she began to question him. “Ferdinand, do you recall anyone who accompanied you to Ehrenfest?” She looked at him, expecting the answer to be no. 

He blinked at her blankly, then responded. “My apologies, Lady Irmhilde, but I do not recall anyone accompanying me. Is there any particular reason that you are asking me this?”

She shook her head. As expected, he did not remember Roze at all, but Irmhilde knew she would need to search deeper to see how far his memories had been altered. “I simply ask because I vaguely recall an attendant that helped you during your arrival at Ehrenfest. Do you truly not remember anyone helping you during that time? Try to see if you can recall someone that fits that description.”

Ferdinand blinked in slight confusion, but he began to look down, as if searching his memories. He looked back up after a moment and began to shake his head. “My apologies, Lady Irmhilde, I cannot seem to recall.”

She sighed. Of course he would not remember such things, no matter how much she pressed. At that moment, her best course of action was to ensure that his memories had not been too altered. “It is okay, I do not expect you to remember such details. I shall change the subject. I made a promise to the Aub that you would be educated to the level expected of an archduke candidate so I must gauge your skills before we are to move. “

Ferdinand nodded, but then asked a worrying question, “Lady Irmhilde, what is a promise? I am unfamiliar with the term.”

Irmhilde’s breath hitched. She made sure not to show it on her face, but she was panicking internally. Were there certain words or phrases that were tied to Roze? Would he forget her lessons as well?

“It is a declaration that you will fulfill a task in the future. My apologies, but we must hurry with my assessment as there is much to do.” Irmhilde hurriedly began to ask question after question of things she knew Roze had taught him. To her relief, it did not seem as if he forgot his lessons. 

“You are quite skilled, I must say. Do you recall who taught you these things in particular? I would like to offer my praise for raising you to be so knowledgeable.” Irmhilde questioned. 

Ferdinand began to consider for a moment, but then shook his head. “My apologies, Lady Irmhilde, I do not recall who taught me these particular lessons. I did not ask their name nor do I remember their face. I do not recall which of your attendants in particular taught me these lessons, forgive me.”

She pardoned him as she assured him that he did not need to know such things. She still wished for him to remember in some capacity; she knew it was fruitless, but she could not shake the bitterness she felt for the Gods. Some desperation began to ebb away at her as she continued to ask questions he could not answer, “Perhaps you can recall their voice? Even the smallest of things you may deem insignificant, perhaps I can clarify. If you remember anything that you do not understand, please do not hesitate to ask me. “

He blinked at her, his eyes slightly widened. He began to think for a long moment, as if trying his hardest to recall something. Irmhilde was about to drop the issue and continue on with their lessons when Ferdinand finally spoke again. “I seem to recall a voice…Though I do not recall who it belonged to…” He placed a hand on his chin, before his looked up at Irmhilde once again, “Lady Irmhilde, what is a dream?”

She blinked back at him; She somewhat felt disappointment as she thought he might have been on the verge of a breakthrough, but it was to be expected. She could not change the fact that his memories of Roze were gone. Irmhilde began to thoughtlessly touch her hair as she readied herself to refocus enough to answer his question, “It is the desire for things to be a certain way…Is there anything you wish for, Ferdinand?” She could not help herself to ask, still clinging to the hope that he would at some capacity remember his wishes he had for Roze. 

He blinked at her blankly, as if not processing the question. He began to think to himself again and nodded, “I think I can live freely now, with my own dreams…”It was as if he was answering someone other than Irmhilde. He seemingly snapped out of this trance then turned to Irmhilde, “but what are my dreams?”

Maybe he did remember something…She thought to herself as she observed his reaction. However, she could tell that this was likely as far as he would get with such things, the Gods would not allow him to remember any more. She felt some sorrow and grief with this fact, knowing that this boy had an important part of his being wretched from him without his knowledge. She wondered if he would ever obtain it back, it was something that she could only dream for. 

She began to reach for his cheek, stroking it lightly and awkwardly. She gave him a fond smile as she answered, “It sounds to me like you do not have any at the moment. You may not know them now, but you will one day. Once you have found the things you desire, live to make them come true and protect them.” He looked at her with his eyes wide, as if her words truly stuck with him. 

They continued their lessons for the day. It seemed as if he learned at nearly the same capacity, but it did indeed seem as if his past fervor and resolve had been diminished. Roze was the one who was driving him to push himself during his studies so this was to be expected. 

“Very good, you will no doubt prove to the archduke that you are indeed worthy of being adopted. Your debut will proceed without issue.” She dismissed him for the day as she began to prepare for dinner.

Before she could leave the lounging area, however, Ferdinand began to speak. “Lady Irmhilde, why am I here?”

She turned around. He was rubbing his forehead, as if trying to recall something. It would have been easy to wave away his question by simply stating that the aub ordered him to be there, but at that moment, Irmhilde deemed it necessary to tell him the truth. She turned back towards him, and lowered herself to meet his eye. “Because someone wished for you to live, Ferdinand. My own wish is for you to keep living, grow up healthy, and one day meet this person.”

He looked up at her, with his eyes shining as if the words truly resonated with him. 

I can only wish that he rediscovers the emotions and memories that he has lost…perhaps when he meets Roze once more…

Irmhilde signaled to her attendant who hurriedly ran to her room to retrieve what she requested. Once she came back, Irmhilde checked the contents of the box then pulled out the item. 

She crouched back down to eye level and handed Ferdinand an embroidered handkerchief. He looked at her quizzically as she began to explain. “This is a handkerchief. It has many purposes such as acting as a barrier for things one does not wish to touch directly or something to use when they are overcome with emotion. You may not understand the full extent of its uses for now, but perhaps in the future you will be able to use it for its intended purposes. “

He nodded in understanding and gave Irmhilde a smile at last, before he departed back to his own room. 

Chapter Text

It was the start of winter socializing and, as Aub, Adelbert had to greet all of the guests within the hall. He found that he was already tired at this point, as for the past few weeks, Veronica had not relented in her insistent complaints on Irmhilde and Ferdinand. 

She deemed it a slight against her and her faction that Irmhilde dared even try to claim a child in opposition to her. She would endlessly rant about her frustrations and argue with Adelbert constantly; the fact that he had sired a son with another woman seemed to fill her with a sense of total betrayal and she immediately began to insist that the ‘bastard’ be prevented from becoming an archduke candidate. She would ramble on and on about how he would endanger the archduke family and they had no use for useless children who would contribute nothing to the family. 

Adelbert was at a loss; he was not used to this side of Veronica and no matter what he said, nothing would placate her ever rising paranoia. She refused to even greet guests with him during winter socializing. He was sighing to himself as he was approached by Irmhilde. “I see that you feel rather fatigued, brother. May I ask what troubles you so?”

He groaned in response, “Veronica has been complaining nonstop since you and Ferdinand have begun moving into the castle. Honestly, it is like she is a different person. Luckily, she has cooled to a degree as winter socializing has begun but I do not think she will stop arguing with me for some time.“ He heaved a big sigh, “Enough about me. I hear you and Ferdinand have completed your preparations for your rooms in the castle, correct? Has he begun to settle in with his new retainers that you insisted on picking for him? I have not forgotten our deal after I made sure to get all of his retainers for you.”
 
Irmhilde chuckled, she had recently started showing more of her emotions openly. Adelbert lamented that she could be cute when she really wanted to but that statement seemed to annoy her. “I have written the prayer on this wooden board.” She motioned to her attendants who handed it to his own attendant. “I always keep my promises, brother, do not forget that.”

“You should have given him the prayer for free, he is the archduke, Irmhilde.” Bonifatius interjected from behind. He huffed, but Adelbert could tell that he was by no means scolding her; As someone who also donated to the foundation, he was just as eager to learn this new prayer which would supposedly cut mana cost by 30%.

Irmhilde simply waved away his statement, “This is why you have no talent for scheming, brother; one does not freely give away knowledge that would be better used for negotiations. It took me quite some time to obtain this knowledge, I should be charging large gold coins for it but I instead asked for something easily obtainable. Be grateful.”

Bonifatius and Adelbert both sighed at their sisters' stubbornness. She flashed them a cold glare, but she softened her look as she began to talk once more. “If it would not trouble you, I would like to leave early in order to visit Ferdinand in his new chambers…”

Adelbert and Bonifatius looked at each other and grinned. They had noticed that she would use whatever extra time she had after completing her castle work to visit him. “I see you have taken to the doting mother role rather quickly, I shall send an ordonnanz to Rihyardia so she can prepare for your arrival. “ Adelbert motioned to one of his attendants who quickly sent the message and who received a reply of confirmation shortly afterwards. 

Irmhilde furrowed her brow in annoyance but she offered no retort. 

Bonifatius began to speak again, “I was not warm to the idea of accepting such a child into the archdukal family, but after seeing the changes he has brought to you, Irmhilde, I would say it was well worth it. Though, try not to spoil him too much, we do not need another Sylvester or Adelbert.” 

Adelbert knitted his brow at this slight but he also offered no retort. They all chuckled as they continued their conversation for a while longer. 

“You should be on your way now, Rihyardia has likely finished her preparations now and the boy will likely be waiting for your arrival.” Bonifatius warned. 

Irmhilde placed a hand on her cheek, “I see. I shall heed your words brother. You have many guests to greet so I shall not occupy your time for too much longer. “ She waved them good bye and began to make her way to the northern building. They both chuckled as they watched her eagerly leave to visit her son. 

It was around the time when the last guest was greeted that Rihyardia sent an ordonnanz. 

“Milord, May I ask when Lady Irmhilde’s expected time of arrival may be? I can only keep Lord Ferdinand waiting for so long.”

Adelbert felt a cold sweat run down his back as he looked at Bonifatius. Bonifatius nodded in response as he began to send a flock of ordonnanz to members of the knights' order. Someone took his place as Adelbert’s guard and he quickly left the hall. Adelbert hoped that this would amount to nothing and that Irmhilde would simply be found in mere moments but something in his gut told him that this would not be the case; The distance from the hall and the northern building was not that far, she should have arrived already. He began to grit his teeth as all he could do was wait in the hall with all of the guests. He scanned the guests for any suspicious behavior but nothing stood out to him.

After enough time had passed, the event reached a point where it would be socially acceptable for the Aub to leave. He quickly made his way to the walkway that led to the northern building. There he found Bonifatius, scolding some guards. 

“ABSOLUTELY USELESS! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO TRACE OF HER?!” He said as he lifted one of the Knights off the ground. 

The knight began to flail as he was lifted off the ground, “There are traces of magic being used to waschen any evidence away. We cannot find anything!” Bonifatius threw him to the ground in frustration and turned to Adelbert. 

“I will look on foot for anything suspicious, you go talk to the boy!” Without waiting for Adelbert to answer, he summoned his highbeast and raced off into the night. 

Adelbert turned on his heel and made his way to Ferdinand’s room. At the door, Karstedt was guarding the door with another much older knight. They turned to him in surprise as he began to question them. 

“Have you seen Lady Irmhilde pass through here?”

Karstedt blinked then shook his head in response. “We have been told that she was to arrive soon but she has made no appearance as of late.”

The older knight, a man with black hair with streaks of gray, turned rather pale. Adelbert had seen this man accompany Irmhilde to the castle on occasion. What he knew of this man was that he was more straight laced than her other more boisterous guard knight she usually was accompanied by. He seemed to look down, collecting his will to speak out, as he began to talk to Adelbert. “Milord, my name is Gerrit. I was one of Irmhilde’s guard knights before she tasked me with guarding Lord Ferdinand. May I ask what has happened to Lady Irmhilde? Please I beg of you. ”

Karstedt looked about ready to scold the knight for speaking out of turn but Adelbert stopped him. He shook his head and answered the worried knight, “I am not sure. When she was on her way to the northern building, it appeared as if she vanished without a trace along with her whole entourage. Bonifatius is currently looking for her himself. “ 

Gerrit inhaled sharply, then kneeled and began to cross his arms. “I beg of you, Aub Ehrenfest, allow me to aid in the search for her. I can accompany you to her estate and aid in Bonifatius’ search for her and her entourage, as I am familiar with all of those who accompany her.”

“You speak beyond your station, you-” Karstedt began to rebuke before Adelbert held up his hand to stop him once more. 

“I would greatly appreciate the help, once I have questioned Ferdinand, we shall depart immediately to her estate.”

The knight thanked him and assumed his initial position. They opened the door for him where he entered to find Rihyardia and Ferdinand waiting. They were both surprised by the sudden arrival of the Aub but they managed to stay composed. 

“Aub Ehrenfest, I cannot say that I was expecting to be graced by your presence. May I ask what delays Lady Irmhilde, as we were expecting her arrival soon.” Rihyardia began before narrowing her eyes slightly. “Or perhaps your visit is due to Lady Irmhilde’s apparent absence?”

Ferdinand’s eyes widened somewhat but he was able to maintain his neutral expression. He indeed seemed to take quite a lot from Irmhilde. 

Adelbert hesitated for a moment, but he began to ask some questions to the boy who was yet to be baptized. “I do not wish to alarm you, but neither I nor Bonifatius can seem to locate her at the moment. Do you know anywhere other than her estate she may visit. Anyone she trusts that may know where she would have gone?” Ferdinand hesitated for a moment, but elected to share what he knew. 

“She entrusted to me a list of her trusted allies, those who she stated she could trust with her life.” He rose from his seat and brought out a wooden board. He scribbled on a handful of names before he handed it to Adelbert.

Adelbert thanked him as he began to leave, however before he could, Ferdinand requested something. “Please, inform me of the results of your investigation, Aub Ehrenfest. She is my guardian and I worry for her safety. “

Adelbert felt himself hesitate, but he relented and agreed to the boy’s request. 

Hastily he departed from the castle with Irmhilde’s Knight leading the way. He could tell by the speed the knight flew that he too was desperate to search for his lady. They descended onto the estate where they were greeted by an elderly attendant. She looked pale as she approached them. 

“I received your ordonnanz, Gerrit, is it true that you are unable to locate Lady Irmhilde? Was Adrianus and Berthe not with her as well, what of them?”

Gerrit shook his head. “The knights of Bonifatius’ unit had noted that a waschen had been used in the area where she would have had to pass through. There is no trace left of her or any who accompanied her.” He clenched his fists in frustration as he recounted the facts to the attendant. 

The attendant clasped her hands as she began to tremble, “S-she has not returned to the estate, nor have any of those who were with her…” They both looked at each other with equal despair in their eyes. She led them into the estate where they searched fruitlessly for any trace of her. 

After a bell of searching to no avail, the attendant approached Adelbert with vacant eyes. “Milady tasked me with leading you to her hidden room if she was ever indisposed. “

“DO NOT–” He began to protest, but the attendant shook her head sadly. She had eyes devoid of all hope. He bit his lip in unease as she began to walk to Irmhilde’s room wordlessly. 

“She lowered the requirements for entering her hidden room so that even we attendants could enter. “ She noted sadly. 

He entered, wishing that she would be there, waiting for him, but of course he only entered upon an empty room. He began to search the documents, desperately searching for something, anything, to enlighten him on her location. Then he came upon a beautifully decorated box that he recognized; it was a box he had gifted her during her time at the academy. He began to tremble as he opened the box to find a letter addressed to him. He hurriedly opened the letter. 

‘Dear Adelbert. If you are reading this, then I have likely passed or I cannot be located.’ His breath hitched. Her words to him before began to ring in his mind.

 “If I am to disappear one day without a word, assume I have climbed the towering staircase at the hands of one of my enemies.”

Why had he not heeded her warning? Why did he wave away her concerns? Regret began to fill his heart as he read on. ‘I leave all of my things to you, all of the documents within my hidden room detail my communications with the giebes of my faction and better highlight the struggles of the Leisegangs. If you do not wish to keep my items, I ask that you grant this estate to Ferdinand. I know you may never favor me as much as you favor Veronica, but I ask that you listen to my selfish request.’ 

Adelbert’s eyes began to water with frustration as he realized how little his sister thought he cared for her. ‘You have been tasked with raising Ferdinand, but I ask that you care for him as much as you care for Sylvester. I, myself, wished to see him grow and accomplish great things, but I am also aware that the gods spool my thread towards its end. So please, I beg of you, cherish him as I would. He is my pride and joy.’

He slammed his fists against the desk, half due to his own inadequacy and half due to her ready acceptance of her end. Was he so incompetent that she treated her eventual death as a fact? He had truly failed her to the greatest degree. ‘The messenger was quite important to Ferdinand, in his past and future. Due to this, all of his memories of her have been severed and he has lost a great deal of emotions which he had tied to her. The messenger had also said it was possible that he may lose some memories that would pertain to me since our interactions tended to overlap. I ask of you, even if he can no longer remember certain memories of me, do not force him to recall. The Gods have made it impossible for him to recall those memories which have been severed. Unless he approaches you to ask of me, do not mention me; I do not wish for him to waste his life on revenge, he is meant for greater things. I still care for you, brother, and I do not wish you grief or worry that this boy would seek to end Veronica. I wish for him to seek his own dreams and not waste his time on such things. As long as you, Bonifatius, and my son are happy, then I can ask for nothing more.’

He reread her letter countless times, tears streaming from his eyes without restraint. Even in passing she had only thought of others, never of herself. She only asked for the bare minimum from someone she gave everything to. 

The Gods are cruel, but I am even crueler for forcing this fate upon my sister.  He sorted through some of the documents within the hidden room and saw with his own eyes correspondence between Irmhilde and those within her own faction. There were an endless stream of problems such as low harvests due to spring prayer being withheld from those in her faction and women sharing the anguish that second wives from the Veronica faction would bring their household. Irmhilde would bring these problems to him, but when he would look into it, his scholars would simply state that those claims were being inflated to a greater degree. He had always sent someone else to investigate and they alway returned with the same answer: that such claims were being exaggerated in order to extort more from the archdukal family. His incompetence was highlighted more and more as he read on. 

She had warned me and I still did not listen. She had every right to call me a fool of the greatest degree. He could see how tirelessly she had worked by the amount of detail she included in her letters and correspondence. In a notebook, she detailed notes on different poisons that she had come in contact with while she was in the company of the Veronica faction. The amount of torment she had to endure, Adelbert cursed himself for thinking that her beef with Veronica was nothing more than petty harassment. After a bell of reading the documents, he left the hidden room; he would have to sort through the documents later with Bonifatius. 

His vision was clouded with an all encompassing darkness as he felt the deepest despair grip his very being. He returned to the castle late in the night to begin his search again the next day. 

It was three days since Irmhilde’s disappearance that Bonifatius returned to the castle. The man looked disheveled and haggard, as if he had not rested for the three days he was searching. The dark bags beneath his eyes indicated that he had forsaken sleep in favor of continued searching. 

“I found absolutely nothing of value, nothing that would even gleam her whereabouts…” He slammed a fist into the desk he sat at, breaking in two. He brought his hands to his face, “Forgive me, Irmhilde… forgive your foolish brothers…” He muttered to himself, regret weighing heavy on his words.

Adelbert said nothing as he too was defeated. Bonifatius looked at him, with a harsh look in his eye, “It was the Veronica faction, without a doubt. And I believe that Veronica herself played a part in it as whoever carried this out, worked with the aid of those within the castle.”

“Don’t you think I know that! But even knowing as much isn’t enough to punish them, we need evidence! I cannot do anything unless we find something!” Adelbert retorted. He had become painfully aware that his wife had something to do with this, but he could do nothing about it. He had confronted her the day after Irmhilde went missing but she simply denied all of his claims, stating that ‘that woman’ had poisoned his mind. When he went to the hall during socializing hour to fill the minimum duties required of him before he continued his search, he was able to catch unsavory rumors which had begun to surface about Irmhilde. 

‘She fled from her duties, they say.’

‘I hear that she bore an illegitimate child with the Aub many years ago and she could not bear to have her secret unearthed.’

So great was his disgust that he had to leave before he lost himself to his anger. He could not trust anyone to squash the rumors as all of those who filled his office were of Veronica’s faction. Truly, he was useless at this very moment. He had always relented to Veronica’s desires that he did not see the problems until it was too late. 

He held his head in his hands, “I returned to her estate and found no trace of her either. She had once told me that if she were to ever disappear without warning, that I was to assume that she had climbed the towering staircase. “ Bonifatius began to grit his teeth in response to Adelbert’s statement but he continued. “I have already spoken to those she trusted most in her faction and they all told me the same. They looked at me like I was a fool who could not listen and one woman even fainted in her distress. I will carry on with the understanding that she has been dealt with, even though there is not even a body or feystone to mourn her with. “ Adelbert balled his hand into a fist with his own statement. 

He could not dwell on the fact that he had not even been afforded her feystone to remember her by, or he would descend into a state of despair that he would never return back from. What horror had she faced in her final moments? How much had she despaired when she realized that her brother’s would never find her? These were all thoughts that made bile rise in the back of this throat. 

Bonifatius took a few steading breaths to suppress his anger. After a minute, he finally answered. “I will, from this point onward, make it known that I offer the Leisegangs my support. “

Adelbert blinked at him; Bonifatius had alway made a point to stay neutral as he hated politics with a passion, his statements now were rather hard to believe. Bonifatius continued. “I will be unable to replace Irmhilde as the figurehead for the faction, but my support will no doubt suppress the Veronica faction to a degree. My daughter-in-law was a close friend to Irmhilde and a notable figure in the faction so it would not be too surprising if I offered my support. Additionally, it would help if we offered a few more positions within the castle to the Leisegangs in response to this incident. We are unable to dole out punishment, but our response should be that which relinquishes some power from the Veronica faction. The woman herself has too many name sworn that she commands so it is unlikely we would be able to punish her, even if we possessed the evidence.”

Adelbert considered his statement. It was true that they had grown complacent with the Veronica faction in the castle, so this would be the start of leaning the castle away from Veronica’s faction. “I understand, I shall also inform Sylvester that he should not rely too heavily on his mother’s faction. Though, he will have to work hard to gain the Leisegang’s favor as they despise the both of us at the moment. For now, I will carry out Irmhilde’s wishes to the best of my abilities.”

Bonifatius urged him to continue and Adelbert relayed the general idea of her letter to him. “She wished for me to be more considerate of the Leisegangs and to protect Ferdinand.” He sighed. He did not know how to tell the boy that she was gone. Irmhilde had noted that his memories had been altered, but to what extent he did not know. 

They both concluded their meeting, with plans for Bonifatius to visit the hidden room for her estate. Adelbert changed ownership for the key he was entrusted with and gave the key to Bonifatius. Once Bonifatius had sorted through the documents himself, he would return the key back to Adelbert. 

It was a few days later that Adelbert decided to visit Ferdinand. He would have to break the news to him about Irmhilde. 

He sat across from the boy, whose appearance reminded him so much of Irmhilde that it singed his heart. He could hardly look at the boy without anguish seizing his heart. 

“Ferdinand, I must apologize for informing you of such distressing news, but after our investigation, we were unable to locate Lady Irmhilde’s whereabouts. She has truly disappeared… I am to assume that she has climbed the towering staircase.” He looked into the boy’s eyes, to gauge his reaction. 

The boy seemed like he did not react, his expression was completely blank. Adelbert was thinking that perhaps the boy did not care at all when a single tear dropped from his left eye. “I see.” He said softly. 

“Milord!” An older attendant dropped by him and opened a drawer to retrieve something. She pulled out a handkerchief which had his name embroidered. Adelbert recognized it immediately as Irmhilde’s embroidery as he had received similar items in the past. Ferdinand pressed the cloth to his face to wipe his eyes, then after a moment, returned his gaze to Adelbert. 

“My apologies Aub Ehrenfest, I lost myself for a moment. I thank you for informing me of her passing, I shall mourn her as my guardian. I did not know her too well, but I do feel some loss with her passing.” Ferdinand stated without emotion, he looked as if he did not understand the full extent of his own reaction as he looked at the wet handkerchief in slight confusion. 

Adelbert wanted to ask so many things: what he thought of Irmhilde and how their days had been like together, but he held his tongue. Irmhilde wanted him to refrain from asking him these things as the Gods had tampered with his memories. He wanted to scream in anguish at that moment, but he suppressed the urge. 

“I see, I shall leave you to your own devices to allow you some space at the moment. If you have any questions, any at all, do not hesitate to ask me.”

Ferdinand thanked him for his time and Adelbert departed with a sizable hole within his chest.

Chapter Text

A lot of things had happened when Sylvester was away at the academy for the winter. He had learned not only about his Aunt Irmhilde’s passing, but also about his little brother being baptized during the Spring Celebration feast. He had not known his Aunt too well, as his mother absolutely refused to let them interact, but he could tell that his father was rather distraught from her passing. 

The atmosphere in the castle had changed so drastically, that he found himself wanting the full details of the changes that occurred over winter, when he finally found spare time. He had asked Karstedt, who was tasked with guarding his new little brother during the winter, what had happened during his absence. 

“Quite a lot happened while you were gone, the castle has been rather tense since Lady Irmhilde’s disappearance. My father declared that he would support the Leisegang faction from here on out and more Leisegang knights have been allowed positions within the castle. Your mother especially has been in a foul mood. “

Sylvester groaned. He had been arguing with his mother more and more due to his pursuit of Lady Florencia. She was insisting that he marry an Ahrensbach woman of ‘greater value’ but, honestly, her words pissed him off. If she was in a worse mood, then he really did not know what to do. “How’s my little brother at least? I hope he is not anything like Georgine at least. “

Karstedt thought for a moment, trying to think of how to best describe him. “Ferdinand is very quiet and intelligent from what I observed; he was able to complete lessons that would be expected of someone about to enter the academy. However, it seems like your mother does not like him one bit. She tries to come by often to teach him ‘lessons’ but we were told by Aub Ehrenfest himself not to allow her entry into his room. I have never seen Lady Veronica so red with anger when we told her as much. Guarding him certainly is a full time job…”

Apparently, his mother was trying her hardest to harass his little brother, Sylvester honestly found it hard to believe. She had always spoiled him when he was a kid so he couldn’t really understand why she hated his little brother so much. He could understand the hesitation when he had learned that his mother was a mistress, but it wasn’t like it was his little brother’s fault. 

“I shall meet this little brother of mine. I didn’t get to talk to him during the Celebration feast so now is as good of a time as any.” He turned to his male attendant who sent an ordonnanz to Rihyardia to set up a date for a tea party. 

The day of the tea party arrived and Sylvester arrived at his little brother’s chambers for the first time. The table was set up with snacks that Sylvester liked, no doubt because Rihyardia was present, and also snacks that Ferdinand presumably liked as well. Sylvester noted that Ferdinand had no preference for sweets, unlike a kid his age usually would, and his taste resembled that of an old man. 

After his greeting, Ferdinand took the first bite and sip. He spoke and acted so formally that Sylvester felt like he was at the academy with someone from a different duchy. His little brother was rather cute, and had he not been told otherwise, he would have assumed that he was a girl in little boys clothing. Ferdinand’s face was so blank and devoid of emotion that Sylvester was not sure what he was thinking at that moment. 

“No need to act so formal! I’m your big brother after all. You can just call me big brother Sylvester from now on. “ Sylvester started, trying to lighten the mood

“I see. Alright, big brother Sylvester. “

“Pfft–” He actually did it! That’s hilarious! Sylvester placed a hand over his mouth in an attempt to suppress his laughter. Ferdinand drew his eyebrows slightly together in response. 

“Brother Sylvester, what brings you here?”

“No. BIG brother Sylvester.“ Sylvester corrected. 

“Sylvester.” Ferdinand corrected further. They glared at each other for a few seconds before Rihyardia interrupted. 

“You both are acting in ways unbecoming of archduke candidates! Need I lecture you both?!”

They both straightened their backs, not wanting to be lectured by Rihyardia. Well, at least he can feel SOME emotion, I guess…

Sylvester started the conversation again. “Your big brother has come to share his wisdom with you! I shall put you under my wing and teach you all the things you want to know. When you debut next winter, no one will know what hit’em” He declared, clenching his fist. 

He was determined to treat his little brother better than Georgine had treated him. Constanze was his model for prime sibling behavior, as she was actually nice to him and supported his pursuit of Florencia. 

Ferdinand cocked his head to the side, “What wisdom do you offer me, Sylvester?”

“BIG BRO–”

“Sylvester.” 

Sylvester pouted at his little brother’s refusal to call him big brother but he continued. “We can practice Harspiel together, I have been told that I am rather good. There is a girl that I have been trying to court so I have polished my skills to a great degree. She is an archduke candidate of a greater duchy so I will never gain her affections if I do not hone my skills. “ He puffed out his chest, “Feel free to lavish your big brother with praise once you witness my improved skill.”

His attendant retrieved his adult sized harspiel as Sylvester began to play the newest song he had learned for Florencia. Once he finished, he turned to Ferdinand to witness his reaction. 

He clapped in response, “Very good.”

“A rather dry response. Is that all the praise you offer your amazing big brother?” Sylvester was starting to believe that his little brother was an old man in disguise. 

“You have done well, Sylvester.” He offered in a monotone voice. 

This little jerk! Sylvester huffed internally, then pointed at the child sized harspiel in the corner of the room. “Lets see what you have to offer, dear little brother. “

Rihyardia retrieved the harspiel for Ferdinand and he began to play a song of slight complexity. He was not yet at the skill of Sylvester, but he would no doubt surpass him if he slacked off even a little bit. 

What the heck, my little brother is so talented! Sylvester got up from his seat and clapped his hands for his little brother. He then reached over and began to ruffle his hair somewhat. “My little brother is so talented! Maybe you could become the archduke instead. You certainly seem smart enough for it!” Sylvester had not known him for long, but he could tell from his small interaction with the boy that he was indeed intelligent like Karstedt had said. 

Ferdinand seemed completely surprised and not sure how to react to his praise. He raised his brow as he faced Sylvester again. “From what I understand, you would be unable to obtain the hand of an archduke candidate from a greater duchy unless you became aub, correct?”

Sylvester stiffened. He turned towards Ferdinand with a stern expression. “Sorry little brother, but I must absolutely become Aub. I will not give the position to anyone else.”

Ferdinand squinted his eyes, as if looking at something profoundly stupid. “I never said I wanted to become Aub in the first place, brother. You are older than me and slated to become the next Aub, yet you tend to act rather foolishly at times.”

What is with this sassy child?! Sylvester felt himself grimace at Ferdinand’s cruel words but the boy continued. “Good grief, it seems like I have no choice but to offer a great deal of assistance during your rule of Ehrenfest in order to keep you from running the duchy into the ground.” He shook his head and offered a sigh. For the briefest of moments, Sylvester could have sworn he saw him smile slightly. 

“No, no. Little brother” Sylvester said, waving his pointer finger. He began to prod his finger into Ferdinand’s cheek. “It is BIG BROTHER’s duty to protect his little brother, not the other way around.”

Ferdinand glared at Sylvester, not amused by his brother’s antics. 

“Oh I almost forgot, I brought a gift to celebrate your baptism.” He motioned to his attendant, who passed the box to Rihyardia. She gave a small smile as she passed the box over to Ferdinand. 

Inside was his own set of Gewinnen. Ferdinand blinked in surprise as Sylvester began to explain. “This is Gewinnen, I shall explain the rules as we begin to play.” He brought out the pieces as he began to explain the rules and how to channel mana into the pieces. He narrated very carefully as he steadily taught Ferdinand how to play. His explanation came to a close as he swiftly beat Ferdinand without mercy. 

Ferdinand stared at the board with displeasure clear on his face. “Another game.” He demanded. 

Ah, quite the sore loser, I see. At least he is easier to talk to now.

He grinned as he set up the board for another game, “Okay, but I won’t go easy on you Ferdinand, even if you are my little brother. “ 

They continued to play Gewinnen for the rest of the tea party, now enjoying the time they spent together. 

It was the next day that he got a call from his father; He could tell that his father was more tired than usual so he tried his best to listen to him. 

“I have heard that you have met your new brother. What did you think of him?” His father asked. 

Sylvester thought for a moment, then answered truthfully, “He was quiet at first but I soon learned that he is quite grumpy and stubborn! Like an old man! He’s smart at least, but still, he called me a fool! He is quite the sore loser as well. He would not let me leave until he could beat me Gewinnen. “ Sylvester began to recount his tea party with Ferdinand with a sly grin. 

His father chuckled. “I see that you two do indeed get along, I’m glad.” He adopted a more stern expression, causing Sylvester to straighten his back. His father almost never looked serious so this was a surprise for him. “Listen to me very closely, Sylvester. Your mother does not like Ferdinand very much and she will likely harass him to his wits ends for the foreseeable future. You must do your best to protect him from her, even when I am not here. “

Sylvester blinked at this. “Is she not his mother as well, I do not see why she would be cruel to someone she claimed as her own..”

His father shook his head, “She refused to claim him on his baptism so he was baptized as motherless.” He sighed, as if he was at his wits end. “She declared him as a bastard that would be no use to the archdukal family. She is convinced that he will go after the seat of Aub.”

She hates him that much? Sylvester had not known Ferdinand for long, but even he could tell that he had no interest in the seat. His mother would not listen to reason sometimes. Sylvester sighed, “I understand father, I will try my best to protect him and keep him away from mother.“

“One more thing, before you leave. I would like you to not rely so heavily on your mother’s faction when you are to take the seat of Aub. It will take you some time to gain the trust of the Leisegangs but I ask that you try your best to gain their trust over time.”

Sylvester looked at his dad in confusion. Even though Sylvester did not agree with his mother all the time, even he was not foolish enough to think that the Leisegangs would ever accept him. They hated him and his father quite a lot so this was expecting quite a lot from him. “I will try my best, father, though this will certainly be a trial from Glucklitat…”

He was still thinking about his father’s words when they joined for dinner that evening. Everything was going normally during their conversation, when suddenly one of Ferdinand’s elderly attendants collapsed during the meal, followed soon after by Ferdinand. 

Ferdinand's other attendants immediately sprung into action, with Rihyardia checking to identify what kind of poison he had consumed and the others checking on the attendant who had poison checked his food. It was as if they were used to this kind of thing, meanwhile Sylvester could only look on in horror. He managed to capture a glimpse at his mother, who had her red lips curled into a smile. 

A chill ran down Sylvester’s spine as he saw his mother enjoy this poor boy’s torment. To see his loving mother act so cruelly was like an out of body experience, he was almost sure that she was an entirely different person. 

Ferdinand’s attendants carried him off to his room and Sylvester began to follow in order to check on his little brother, but his mother stopped him. 

“Sylvester, you needn't show concern for a bastard child. It is unbecoming of the next Archduke.” She stated coldly, grabbing his hand. 

Sylvester shuddered as he looked at this creature that he thought was his mother, speaking such cruel words. He yanked his hand away, “I am going to check on my little brother. Do not try to stop me!”

He sped away to Ferdinand’s room before his mother could protest further. In the distance, he could hear his parents arguing. 

When he finally caught up, Ferdinand’s attendants had administered an antidote after making him cough up what he had eaten. He lay in his bed, recovering. 

“Will he be okay Rihyardia?” Sylvester asked, not even trying to mask his worry. He remembered when Georgine had poisoned him so he knew how painful and distressing poisonings could be.

She sighed, “Yes, he will be alright after a night's rest. These attacks have become rather frequent so he is quite used to them now.”

Sylvester clenched his fists in frustration. He’s used to them? That is something that no child should ever get used to!

He knew he could not do anything for him at that time, so after confirming his stable condition, he left for his chambers. 

At his chambers, Karstedt was guarding the door. “Karstedt, I have something to ask of you.” Sylvester began. 

Karstedt looked at him in surprise, but he nodded for him to continue. 

“My little brother is in great danger; while he is in the castle, until he enters the academy, I ask that you stay his guard and protect him from my mother and all of those she sends to target him.”

Karstedt looked down as if considering something for a moment, before agreeing. “I understand. I will do my best to protect him.” He thumped his chest and, after finding a replacement to take his place, he made his way to Ferdinand’s room. 

Sylvester had a lot to think about that night, as he now knew the danger his little brother was in due to his mother. He was not sure how far it would escalate, but he knew that he needed to protect his little brother the best he could. 

Don’t worry Ferdinand, your big brother will try his best!

Chapter Text

Elke found herself listlessly polishing the tea sets which were on display within Lady Irmhilde’s estate; There was nothing much for her to do now that her Lady was gone. 

It had been a season since her disappearance and word of her death had spread throughout Ehrenfest. Those amongst the Liesegangs knew that she had been dealt with by Veronica, but no one would dare say as much, lest they risk being tried for treason or some other crime. 

Those within Lady Irmhilde’s estate were devastated with the news; they were all devoted to their lady and to have her dealt with in such a manner, where not even her feystone could be found, was heart wrenching. 

“If they had only done something sooner!” Gerrit slammed his fist against the wall, positively livid. He was usually a man who prided himself in staying composed in the most stressful situations, so seeing him so emotional was rather rare. Elke could not blame him, however, as his frustration was something they all related to in that moment. 

“Please do not damage the estate, Gerrit. It is the last thing to remember our lady by.” Adel chided. She had no volume to her voice now, as she could hardly muster the energy; It was not only due to her despair for losing her lady, but also due to exhaustion as she now had to undertake the duties as Lord Ferdinand’s attendant in the castle. This was the first time that she had been back to the estate since their lady’s disappearance, as she was extraordinarily busy. 

It seemed as if Lord Ferdinand had been receiving the same harassment as their lady. It was lesser now, due to there being increased scrutiny following Lady Irmhilde’s disappearance, but Adel had lamented that it would likely pick up as time wore on. Ensuring his safety was a full time job for both Adel and Gerrit, so they both hardly found themselves with free time. They only managed to return due to Veronica being away from the castle for a few days and due to Sylvester currently entertaining his brother, where Rihyardia would suffice as his only attendant. 

They were all gathered now, to collect a few items from the estate that Lord Ferdinand required at the castle, so Elke was taking the time to discuss things with them. She was the only attendant tasked with maintaining the estate now that their lady was gone. 

Elke shook her head sadly, “You know that they saw no reason to, prior to her disappearance. I might say that it is because of her disappearance that there has been a change.” Both the Aub and Bonifatius had visited the estate to process some of Lady Irmhilde’s belongings; when they both left, they had darkened looks in their eyes as if they finally had a revelation they needed. 

Gerrit grimaced as he began to argue once again, “Yes, but it was at the cost of our lady and our fellow retainers. What have they done since then? It feels as if nothing has changed, to me.”

Adel finally spoke up again, looking upward in order not to let her emotions spill over, “It was subtle, but I can tell you that there were indeed changes within the castle. Not only are there more Liesegangs within the castle, but there is also more scrutiny when it comes to crimes the Veronica faction commits. Bonifatius now freely criticizes the Veronica faction and offers his support for the Liesegangs, even though he will never be able to support them in the way our lady did…” She trailed off, saddening herself with her words. 

Elke nodded mournfully. “Lord Bonifatius stationed guards for the estate in order to protect her belongings; he even dealt with matters himself when there were malicious actors trying to gain entry into the estate.” Even though she was the only attendant maintaining the estate, there were guards constantly stationed at the estate, to prevent any of Lady Irmhilde’s things from being taken. 

Gerrit was still not satisfied, “And what of the Aub? Has he done anything of note? He was the primary reason for her demise as she perished at the hands of that woman, no doubt.”

Adel exhaled slowly, but she answered, “It may be hard for you to see such things, but the Aub has been arguing with Veronica a lot more as of late. He also seems to be getting sicker and sicker, as of late. One can only wonder if she is the cause, as there has been a rift which has formed between them after our lady’s passing.”

Elke and Gerrit both opened their eyes wide at Adel’s passing remark. They were lucky that she could not be overheard as the implication of her words left a palpable tension in the air. Gerrit scoffed, “It would only be his own fault for his downfall, then. If she has lost use for one puppet, she will simply move on to the next. I cannot even muster any pity for the man, as he would suffer not even a fraction of the pain our lady felt in her last moments, no doubt. Tis’ retribution from the gods for his years of ineptitude and open foolishness, I daresay.” 

No one answered his open disdain for the Aub, as he continued with his criticism. “He does not even take the time to visit his son. At this point, that boy was more Lady Irmhilde’s than his. He did not even see fit to visit him more than once after our Lady’s passing.”

Elke could see Adel bite her lip from the corner of her eye; it seemed as if the woman had lingering frustrations for the aub as well. “I find myself sharing the same sentiments. Due to the Aub’s lack of presence, Veronica is still able to harass the boy a fair amount. Veronica has taken to tampering with his food quite regularly; even if she is unable to change his retainers, she can easily exchange his chefs without issue.”

Elke thought for a moment, then added her opinion, “This is just conjecture, but perhaps he is hesitant due to the young lord’s resemblance to our master…”

Adel and Gerrit looked at her, as if they concluded the same thing, but the bitterness had not left their faces. 

“Chaocipher tries her best to dispose of the young lord herself at times. It is a full time job making sure that he is not left to her whims. There was at least one time where she separated us from him and we feared for his life.” Gerrit recounted, frustration painting his face. 

Adel nodded, with a troubled hand on her cheek. “We cannot accompany him in certain areas of the castle, so she will find whatever chance she can to try to drag him away to places where we cannot follow. She always does so at times when lord Sylvester or the Aub are both busy. It was one particular encounter, where we could only wait with baited breath for one of them to arrive as we could not do anything to help the young lord.” Her face was heavy with sorrow as she recalled the memory. 

“How did he survive such an encounter…” Elke could not help but ask.

They both exchanged troubled glances, then answered, “We can only assume due to the interference of the goddess of time…”

“Roze must have had something to do with it…”

Elke blinked in surprise. All three of them knew of the messenger of the Goddess of time, and how she had disappeared after being called back by the Goddess. For them to be certain that she had been the one to interfere when Lord Ferdinand was in danger was quite the surprise.

“What led you to such conclusions?” She eventually asked. 

They both thought for some time, before Adel answered, “During that instance, Lord Ferdinand had been dragged to the mana replenishment hall while the aub and Sylvester were away. They could not return for a full bell's worth of time, and he remained trapped there. Lady Veronica had left already, bragging that she no longer had to worry about that ‘bastard’ anymore as she left. We were sure that he had met his end, but he himself managed to stumble out of the replenishment hall, completely fine. It seemed as if someone had treated him already and he had just woken up. When we asked how he had survived, he had simply stated that the ‘moon’ had healed him.”

The moon? Elke could only analyze the words he had used. She recalled Roze’s appearance and her large, golden moon-like eyes were the first thing that came to mind. 

Gerrit sighed and added to the mystery, “The only thing he can seem to recall is a particular dream he had. Everytime we questioned him, he would claim that the moon had healed him, or something to that extent. One could only assume that it was the messenger, coming to save him, with him forgetting her presence as soon as she left…”

They all stood in silence; all of them were aware that the young lord had lost his memories of Roze when she was called back by the goddess of time. Lady Irmhilde had sworn them all to silence, and had ensured that they would never speak of her to their lord. Elke remembered the pain on Lady Irmhilde’s face when he had forgotten about her dear friend; Elke could not even bring herself to point out that it seemed as if he had forgotten about some of his memories of Lady Irmhilde as well. The gods were rather cruel, it would seem. 

Adel sighed, interrupting Elke’s train of thought. “I can only hope that the Aub overcomes his fear of facing Lord Ferdinand soon, so he may better protect the young lord. Otherwise, he will be going against our Lady’s wishes.” She expressed bitterly. They all collectively agreed to her sentiments. They conversed for some time longer, before the two of them had to depart once again for the castle. Elke made sure to see them off, before she found herself alone again. 

She browsed the empty rooms, recalling the warmth that had once filled the estate not too long ago and found herself filled with a sense of melancholy. 

She could only hope that this estate and the things which their lady cherished would pass on to another; She hoped that maybe, Lord Ferdinand would find use in it once more and truly appreciate the love and care that their lady had for him. She had left all of her possessions to him; all of her faction notes, furniture, and all of her memories, for the son she loved dearly. 

Though he may not recall the true extent of our Lady’s love for him now, I can only hope that he may regain those memories one day and appreciate her as she so deserves...

Chapter Text

“...To conclude, it appears as if the time stopping nature of the gazebo is merely a metaphor used by those who wish to extend the duration of a single moment.” Ferdinand closed his notebook. 

He had elected to leave the Gazebo as one of the last mysteries of the academy that he investigated due to how quickly he would be able to investigate it. It was the off season at the academy so this also served as a good time to investigate the mystery, as seldom anyone would be found there. 

He did find the etchings within the gazebo rather fascinating, but the magical circle seemed to only serve as a catalyst to send prayers to the goddess of time; it was unlikely that it would have any effect or use for him. 

“Milord!” Eckhart called.

Ferdinand turned towards his guard knight who in turn motioned with his chin to indicate the arrival of some annoying guests. 

He sighed as Heisshitze and ten other Dunkelfelger students descended off of their high beasts. 

“Heisshitze, I recall that the agreed upon time was for third bell, not second bell.” Ferdinand dryly stated, not even attempting to mask his annoyance. 

“My apologies, Lord Ferdinand. I did not know that you had plans to meet with another at the gazebo. I thought you would take some time after your canceled engagement with Magdelena, but seeing you move on has filled me with relief. “ Heisshitze said with a radiating smile. This only furthered Ferdinand’s annoyance even further. 

“I think nothing of that woman, I could hardly stand her and she felt the same. And that engagement was forced upon me by your duchy’s insistence. I find myself rather relieved now that it has been canceled as I will not be relegated to a life of endless ditter requests.” The only reason he even tolerated the arrangement was because it would mean his escape from Veronica, whose harassment as of late was unrelenting, “Furthermore, you misunderstand my presence here, I was merely investigating one of the 20 mysteries. The only thing of note that this particular mystery had to offer was the peculiar etchings found within. I would gladly share my findings on these engravings, though I doubt you would be able to understand at any capacity what they entail.”

Heisshitze waved away his statements, “Tsk, tsk. One cannot fully investigate this particular mystery without bringing the one they wish to court and witnessing the effects for themselves.”

“Oh? Then first hand accounts would certainly suffice. I assume you have brought your fiance here. Though, I find it hard to believe that she would have allowed such a meeting after you lost your treasure to me so carelessly.” Ferdinand sneered as Heisshitze was finally silenced by his cruel words. He would have flourished his stolen cape for extra effect but, alas, he did not have it on at this time; he only wore Heisshitze’s cape during ditter matches as he preferred to wear the cape his father had gifted him, even if it had no protections. 

Heisshitze quickly changed the topic. “We have come early but we are here to fulfill our agreement for our last ditter match. I come along with those who lost alongside me as well as with some of the scholars of the sword who require materials as well. Our contract did not specify that others could not accompany us.” 

The knights and scholars behind him quickly let out some cheers in response. “HURRAHHH”

Ferdinand could only tap his temple. “I suppose that is true, I do not mind as long as we use the Dunkelfelger gathering spot as stated in the contract.”

In his fifth year, Ferdinand had hoped that the request for ditter games would die down during the off season, but unfortunately, Heisshitze became more desperate to obtain his cloak back from Ferdinand; Heisshitze even took extra classes in order to have more opportunities to win it back. Ferdinand made sure to use this to his advantage, though, as he rarely returned home due to Veronica’s ever increasing harassment and he certainly could do with more supplies. 

He was currently low on charms and potions due to their most recent ditter game so he would need to restock his current supply. All the recent ditter games were a drain on the Ehrenfest gathering spot, so he made a point to collect from the Dunkelfelger gathering spot whenever he could.

The sooner he finished his collecting, the sooner they would be out of his hair so they began to depart at once. However, for the briefest of moments before he left, Ferdinand felt as if a presence came from the gazebo. He looked at it with suspicion before he left, pushing away the thought as part of his imagination. 

“Milord, please instruct us on what you wish for us to collect.” Justus asked as they descended into the gathering spot. He offered a sound blocking magic tool in order to prevent sensitive intelligence from leaking. 

Ferdinand thought for a moment before he responded, “I am in need of new rejuvenation potions and sleeping potions. Additionally, I require materials for new protective charms as I currently only possess the bare minimum I require.” He began to list off all of the ingredients he would need before both Justus and Eckhart both agreed and ran off in their respective directions. They had gotten used to their routine of gathering materials so they moved without hesitation. 

It was about a half a bell's worth of time when a cry suddenly erupted from one of the scholars near Ferdinand. He looked over in curiosity, wondering if a stray eifinte had snuck up on him. To his surprise, he looked to see a feybeast which resembled wolfaniels to a degree, however, this one had a dark pelt with multiple red colored eyes moving about in its skull independently. 

The creature immediately bit down into the scholars flank before anyone could react, with eyes changing hue as it attacked. The scholar began to fight back, stabbing the feybeast with his knife that he had drawn already, however all of his attacks seemed to only embolden the beast more. It was after a few harrowing moments of struggle that the scholar’s attempts to free himself noticeably began to weaken. The beast began to grow in size as the scholar began to slump down in his weakened state. 

Ferdinand reacted first, as he drew his sword and charged at the beast, swinging it at its flank in order to force it to let go of the scholar. His attack did not seem to do much at all as it did not even flinch in pain, its wounds seemed to heal almost instantaneously. 

All of its eyes focused their attention on him, as it let go of the scholar and immediately lunged at him. Due to his close proximity, he did not have a chance to summon his shield as it plunged its fangs into the arm closest to it; his mana drained from its attack and he could feel the jaws of the beast clamp down harder and harder as his mana began to continually drain. Not even his charms against physical attacks seemed to deter it. He reacted almost instantly as he realized this, and he began to kick the beast and use his free hand to try to wretch its jaw open. He felt himself growing weaker as the beast seemed to double in size, now towering over him; its breath growing hotter and hotter as his body began to feel cold. 

“LORD FERDINAND!” He heard Eckhart yell as the knight rushed to his side. The young knight helped Ferdinand pry the beast’s mouth open and they quickly withdrew after throwing some magic tools at the beast. 

They ascended on their highbeasts but the beast seemed as if it wished to continue its pursuit as it lunged into the air, with its jaws rabidly opening and closing as it reached the apex of its jump. 

Before they could send word of the attack, multiple knights descended on the beast at once, their swords glowing as they aimed to eliminate the beast immediately. Usually, this would have been effective, but, having been at the brunt of its attack, Ferdinand understood that this feybeast was of the darkness element.  

“NO! DON’T ATTACK IT!” He tried to command, but it was too late, the knights were already in the middle of their attack as they finished their descent and released their stored up mana. A multicolored attack rained down on the beast, however it took it in stride as it absorbed the excess mana it had been gifted. The beast grew double in size again and the ground around it began to turn into black sludge as it drained more and more mana from the earth itself. 

The fools! Ferdinand could only look on in frustration as the beast began to rampage around the gathering spot. 

Heisshitze and the others soon joined them in the air as the danger the beast now represented was of the highest degree. One of the knights held the unconscious scholar on his high beast. 

“What is that thing?!” Heisshitze demanded. 

The other knights offered no answer, nor did the scholars. 

Ferdinand began to put the facts together as he recalled the description of a rare feybeast found in Werkestock. “I believe it is known as a Ternisbefallen, it is a darkness attribute feybeast. We will need the sovereign knights' order to take this beast down, but I doubt they will be able to come during the off season to the academy.” The sovereignty was embroiled in a war between the different princes, so it was not likely that anyone would heed their calls until many days later. 

“Then we need to lead it away from our gathering spot, afterward, we can call our dormitory supervisor to aid us.” Heishittze added. They had so few knights there, so it would take all of them to lead the beast away due to the beast’s new increased size. They all nodded in agreement as they began to lead the beast away from the gathering spot. 

Concussive magic tools seemed to work to a certain degree when corralling the beast away from the gathering spot. They took turns distracting it by lowering their highbeasts to lure it in a certain direction. Then, some of the scholars and Ferdinand would use their magic tools to steer the beast further and further away. Every so often, some of the knights would be unable to withdraw in time and the beast was able to graze them enough to steal a portion of their mana; almost all of the knights had sustained some degree of injury and they began to be worn down. However, due to their perseverance, they were able to slowly lead it away from the gathering area. 

As they finally secured the gathering area, they reconvened high in the air. Heisshitze pointed to two scholars to return to the dormitory, where one would bring the injured scholar with them to recover. As they began to move towards the direction of the dorm, the Ternisbefallen suddenly lunged to heights even greater than before and ensnared all three of the scholars within its maw. 

They had not noticed, but the Ternisbefallen was still growing while they were leading it away from the gathering spot. It waited until the right moment to lunge at those who were most vulnerable. 

Ferdinand, Eckhart, and Heisshitze all plunged down on their high beasts to aid the trapped scholars. The injured scholar had been thrown off the highbeast and he was now planted underneath the beast's front claws. The other two scholars found themselves in more dire condition as they were both trapped in its jaws, gripping at its teeth as their mana and strength began to drain. Heisshitze and Eckhart both assumed positions on either side of the beast and began to use physical enhancements in order to pry the beast’s jaw open. Ferdinand began to pelt the back of the beast in order to get it to release the injured scholar. He began to circle around it, hitting it with concussive magic tools, being careful not to hit any of the others. 

The beast's jaw began to slack and it lifted its paw that held the injured scholar. It shifted its weight towards its hind legs as it presumably began to stumble backwards. Eckhart and Heisshitze were able to grab the two other scholars and Ferdinand was about to do the same with the injured scholar when the beast’s eyes all began to focus on him once more. Its muscles tensed all at once as it swung its now lifted arm at Ferdinand. 

“Gete-” Before Ferdinand could summon his shield, the ternisbefallen swung its claws at full force, batting him deep into the forest. 

He felt his body crash threw multiple branches and trees before he finally came to a stop. He coughed and sputtered as the taste of copper filled his mouth. His vision began to falter as he looked at his chest where the beast had struck him; There was a sizable gash where the claws had pierced his armor. 

Earlier, he had only been able to drink a less effective mana potion after the first attack had taken half of his mana, however, this attack made him feel as if most of his mana had been drained. He tried to focus his vision as he rolled over. Now only able to utilize one arm, as his previously injured arm no longer possessed the strength to move, he attempted to get up. 

His body began to tremble as he pulled himself up. Ferdinand looked blearily to the distance where he had been, only to see a black amorphous figure barreling towards him; even in his daze, he could register that the beast had come to finish him off. He had been flung off his highbeast so he would be unable to escape in time. All he could do was prepare for the impending attack. 

Chapter Text

“O Goddess of Wind Schutzaria, protector of all. O twelve goddesses who serve by her side…”

Ferdinand felt another presence approaching him at breakneck speeds and he could have sworn that he heard a woman chanting something. All of a sudden, he heard the clang of a shield as a yellow dome surrounded him. Nary a moment later, the ternisbefallen ran into it, trying to clamp down on Ferdinand only to be flung away by some winds that seemed to originate from the shield. He looked on in utter confusion as the once imposing feybeast now tumbled away. 

He did not have a moment to process as someone approached the dome in a strange looking highbeast. It was rather compact and looked like a small carriage, but it took the form of a grun which gave Ferdinand a slight fright. A girl stepped out and rushed to his side.

If asked to describe her appearance, he would have to admit that she was an otherworldly, ethereal beauty. She had hair that resembled the night sky and eyes which were expressive and round, like the moon; Her face was delicate and perfectly symmetrical in every sense of the word. She wore clothing like someone ready for battle and flourished a midnight-colored cape behind her as she drew closer.  She looked at Ferdinand with worry and sorrow in her eyes.

“You are injured! I shall heal you at once! Streitkolben!” She summoned her schtappe immediately and transformed it into a divine instrument. She lifted it towards him but he stopped her. 

“I refuse healing from someone I do not know! I do not wish to be indebted to anyone!” He glared at her, not budging on his ideals even if she had saved him. 

She looked at him with betrayal and sadness in her eyes, which made Ferdinand falter somewhat, but he maintained his stern expression. 

The ternisbefallen began to throw itself more desperately at the dome, seeing two pieces of prey in front of it. 

“You are a nuisance… “ The girl glared at the feybeast, her expression darkening. She held out a free hand and summoned a second schtappe. She began to mutter a long winded prayer which turned her schtappe black. 

“Lanze!” She turned her black schtappe into a crackling spear and began to stare down the beast, her eyes flickering with intense emotion. The beast seemed to sense her anger, as well as the overwhelming force of the darkness weapon she now wielded, as it slowly began to back away into the forest.

Unsettling…Ferdinand shuddered as he witnessed, for the first time, a feybeast being intimidated into retreating. 

She made sure that the beast was a fair distance away before she changed her schtappe into a compact weapon that she could hold in one hand, still retaining its darkness blessing. She dispelled her staff-like schtappe and looked up which caused Ferdinand to follow her gaze. 

Justus descended into the sphere and joined Ferdinand. 

“Milord! You are injured! And what is this black sludge?!” Justus began to fret over Ferdinand and pulled out his schtappe to waschen the sludge away. He then began to chant the prayer for Heilschmerz healing but the girl stopped him. 

“You must start with Flutrane’s healing followed by Heilschmerz. Let us ascend before the beast is able to return. I shall cover you two as you ascend. “

Justus did not argue, he scooped up Ferdinand and placed him on his highbeast immediately. The girl returned to her own high beast and nodded as Justus made his ascent into the sky. Ferdinand could see the beast begin to charge at them again but then the girl fired an arrow at it. Midway to its target, it splintered into multiple arrows which hit the beast straight in its face. 

It wailed in pain and withdrew back, its eyes now focused on the girl. She made her full ascent a few moments after firing a volley of arrows at the beast. 

Everyone met high in the air, with the knights, Heisshitze, Justus, and Eckhart looking at the girl with wide eyes. 

The girl's eyes panned across the group as she once again summoned the divine instrument. The knights and scholars all gasped in awe as she began to speak. 

“I shall heal you all. We will be unable to fight the ternisbefallen with you all in this condition. “ She lifted her staff and began to chant, but Ferdinand interrupted her once again. 

“I do not accept healing from strangers! I refuse to be in anyone’s debt!” He needed the healing, but for all he knew this could be another ploy from Veronica. Maybe she had set this beast upon him in order to save him and place him forever in her debt. 

She looked at him, her eyes now full of frustration as she flashed a chilly smile. “If I were to ask anything from anyone, it would be those of a higher ranked duchy. You are free to reject my healing if you can outrun it. “ Ferdinand looked back at Justus, who held a conflicted expression; he simply looked at his lord and shook his head, indicating that he should not fight with this girl any further. Ferdinand could only grit his teeth as he realized he would be unable to outrun her. 

She lifted the staff and began to chant a long winded prayer for healing. 

“O Goddess of Water Flutrane, bringer of healing and change, O twelve goddesses who serve by her side….” Ferdinand could feel her mana surge and stir around her. There was a warmth that seemed to envelop him as her presence seemed to spread further. 

She finished her prayer and a cascade of green lights began to rain down on their entourage. Everyone looked up in astonishment as the lights drifted down to heal their wounds; Ferdinand watched as the welts on his skin disappeared and his wound began to close. The girl was still not finished as she switched to a prayer for Heilschmerz healing. 

“O Goddess of Healing Heilschmerz, of the Goddess of Water Flutrane's exalted twelve, hear my prayers…”

More green lights began to fall upon them as their wounds closed fully, not leaving any indication that they were there in the first place. The knights began to exclaim and the injured scholars let out sighs of relief. Ferdinand could also not help but sigh as all of the discomfort and pain he felt just a moment ago vanished without a trace; it was without this pain that his exhaustion began to take hold of him. He was rather low on mana and since he had been collecting materials to replenish his potions, the only potions he possessed were of the less effective variety. 

“Those who are injured shall remain in the skies, any knights who are able bodied shall fight with me! I have some extra potions for those with heavy injuries who need to recover their mana.”

The knights who had the injured scholars on their high beasts entrusted them with the other scholars, then the scholars approached the girl to ask for potions for their comrades. They took them without restraint and administered them to the injured; it would seem that they trusted her without question which frustrated Ferdinand to no end. 

She approached Ferdinand and Justus on her high beast, but Eckhart halted her approach. 

“We will accept no potions from a stranger.” He growled, drawing his weapon. 

She glared back at him, “He needs a rejuvenation potion. I assume that he does not have any otherwise he would have taken them already. “

She could tell? This girl was too observant for Ferdinand’s liking, and he felt uneasy by how easily she could read him.

She took out a potion and took half of it; after grimacing slightly she looked to Eckhart again. She tossed him the potion which he caught, not taking his eyes off of her. “That potion is of high effectiveness, made specifically for those with higher mana capacities. You can choose for yourselves if he should take it. For now, I will lead the knights to defeat the ternisbefallen.” She turned and headed towards the knights, with Heisshitze at the front. 

Ferdinand watched as she instructed the knights to follow her in prayer after they summoned their weapons; after a long winded prayer, they all possessed the darkness blessing upon their weapons. She began to chant something once more which resulted in blue lights raining down on the knights. Having finished her preparations for battle, she called the knights to attention and began to command them. 

“Heisshitze, you will attack the ternisbefallen as I distract it. Attack its limbs first then use coordinated charged attacks to finish it.“ 

Heisshitze does not seem familiar with her, but she certainly seems familiar with him… Ferdinand could only wonder how this girl had come to know Heisshitze’s name. 

They all cheered in acknowledgement then they began to descend on the ternisbefallen again. 

“She is rather formidable, I must say…” Justus could not help but comment. Ferdinand could only agree, he could hardly keep up with her insane and unexpected nature. 

Eckhart drew closer to them, with the potion at hand, still glaring at the general direction of the strange girl. “What should I do with this, milord?”

Ferdinand pondered for a bit then motioned for him to pass it over. Eckhart passed it, along with Ferdinand’s highbeast feystone that he had picked up, to Justus who then inspected the potion. He opened it, sniffed, and tested it, with his eyes opening wide in realization. “Lord Ferdinand, this appears to be your recipe!”

“What?!” He grabbed the potion and inspected it as well. After a few moments, he confirmed that it was indeed his exact recipe. He looked at the potion in frustrated confusion. 

“I suggest you take it, milord. You definitely need it and we are in dire straits at the moment. If anyone were to attack us now, you would be rather vulnerable.” Justus stated. 

Ferdinand could not argue with his logic; at that moment of time, he was a liability as he could not defend himself in his weakened state. He begrudgingly took the potion; he thought for a moment that the flavor had been improved upon as he could have sworn it tasted sweet, but then it quickly changed to its usual bitterness. Was that his imagination? He did not have time to dwell on this thought as a loud explosion rang out followed by cries of victory. 

Soon after, the knights all returned, completely exuberant following their victory against their great foe. 

“Milady! I shall take the knights to distribute the rewards!” Heisshitze stated with an excited gleam in his eye. He talked so casually to her, Ferdinand wondered if they perhaps did, in fact, know one another. She nodded as the knights hurried off, with a couple going to check on their injured comrades. 

The girl approached again, with visible relief on her face as she looked at Ferdinand. He did not understand why she seemed so fixated on his well being, but he still found himself wary of her presence. 

“I see that the potion was able to help you somewhat. I am glad.” She said with a warm smile, her body hanging out the side of her highbeast so she could better interact with them. He found it unsettling that she could effortlessly switch between emotions. 

“Yes, your concoction resembled one of my own quite closely. I should be able to pay you back for that at least. For now, I shall return your vial.” He immediately threw the vial back to the girl. 

“Wha-” before she could react, the vial bounced off her forehead, creating an audible plink against her skull before it hurled down into the forest below. They all watched as the vial disappeared into the distance. 

Ferdinand looked back at her in exasperation, so utterly confused by how the image of a truly intimidating presence could be decimated within mere moments. 

“Pfft-” He could hear Justus begin to chuckle behind him as he covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking as he suppressed his amusement. 

Eckhart looked at her in slight embarrassment; whether it was for her blunder or for himself, after wasting his caution against her, Ferdinand could not tell. 

“Bwuh?! I was not ready! I am not a knight, I do not have the same reflexes! Oh!” She covered her face in embarrassment. They all watched as she began to sputter in defense of herself, with Ferdinand raising a brow at the revelation that she was not a knight. 

She is not a knight, yet she is able to command knights effortlessly? Just who is this girl?

She was able to recompose herself before she spoke again. “I shall explain who I am and why I am here after we set up camp to rest. Follow me.”

She motioned for them to follow, while she descended first. The three of them looked at each other, before they descended as well.

Chapter Text

Justus watched in horror as the ternisbefallen clamped down on the three scholars that were leaving for the dorm. Without hesitation, his lord, Heisshitze, and Eckhart descended to help. 

“Wait!” He exclaimed, trying to stop them but it was pointless. He wanted to help, but he was by no means a knight; he would only get in the way if he tried and just be another scholar in need of help. The other knights looked on in a panic, their eyes looking around as if unsure of what to do. 

“We should help them!”

“No! There is not enough flying room in the forest for all of us to descend.” The knights began to argue amongst themselves. 

Justus was about to command them to fly to the dorms when a bright pillar of light appeared in the distance. They all turned in the direction of the mysterious light, with varying looks of concern on their faces. Before they could even process anything, a cry rang from the forest. 

“MILORD!” Eckhart screamed. 

Justus looked down to see Lord Ferdinand flying through the air after being attacked head on by the ternisbefallen. His blood ran cold as he saw the beast start to focus its attention on him. 

He descended at once, in hopes of stopping the beast on its path towards his lord. He began to throw tool after tool at the beast in the hopes of grabbing its attention, but it was a losing battle. Both he and Eckhart tried fruitlessly to distract the beast but soon they could see their lord come into view, lying on the forest floor. 

Justus tried to fly ahead in order to rescue his lord, but the beast tore through the forest at a faster rate. Eckhart tried to fly his highbeast in its path, to use his own body as a distraction, but the beast simply swatted him away like a bug. Justus’ breath hitched as he helplessly watched the beast about to lunge at lord Ferdinand. 

All of a sudden, a yellow dome surrounded his lord and the ternisbefallen was thrown backwards as soon as it touched it. Justus was taken aback by the completely unexpected turn of events; Before he could even process this, however, a strange girl appeared next to his lord in a strange carriage-like high beast. He watched from a distance as they argued with one another. 

Justus was so confused and at a total loss of what to do, he could only watch on, being temporarily unable to move due to his confusion. He snapped out of his stupor as the girl summoned a second schtappe and turned it into a darkness imbued weapon. Immediately, he began to head towards the dome; he was not sure if he would be thrown back like the ternisbefallen was, but he needed to rescue his lord. 

The beast seemed to become wary of the girl as it slowly retreated into the forest, waiting for another moment to strike. He swallowed nervously as he tried to enter the dome, only to find that he was not rejected. Before he could process why this might have been the case, he looked to his lord to see how injured he was. 

Justus began to panic as he washed away the sludge that was on him and tried to heal him. He was low on mana, but every bit of healing he could provide would be good enough. Before he could chant the spell, the girl stopped him. 

“You must start with Flutrane’s healing followed by Heilschmerz. Let us ascend before the beast is able to return. I shall cover you two as you ascend.” She said, not breaking her eyes away from the beast that waited in the forest. 

Flutrane’s healing? He was unfamiliar with whatever spell she was referring to, but he hoped that the girl could enlighten him. Justus did as he was told and began his ascent to the sky as the girl fended the beast off single handedly. 

She was completely unpredictable, he found, as she not only healed everyone present, including his lord, but also commanded the knights with ease. He was completely awestruck by her innate capabilities as she led the knights to victory against the ternisbefallen. 

However, she was not completely infallible; it turned out that she was actually rather clumsy, but this only eased the tension they all felt somewhat. Due to her completely unexpected nature, Justus found himself completely brimming with questions but, alas, he knew he would never have them answered as his lord would likely never come to trust this woman. 

They descended down to the forest, into a small clearing, where the girl exited her highbeast. Then, she once again did something unexpected as she began to grow her highbeast into the size of a small building. The three of them stared in a mix between awe and confusion, not quite sure what to make of the situation. Justus began to tremble, not from fear or anything, but from excitement! His eyes were shining as he wished to enter this strange highbeast, he was even considering begging on his hands and knees if need be.

“This is where we will camp for the night. We do not know who set the ternisbefallen upon you, but it would be safe to assume it was someone who wished you harm. “ the girl stated plainly. 

The three of them hardened their faces immediately, it was Ferdinand who began to question her. “How do we know that you were not the one who set it upon us? How are we to trust you?” He glared at her, not letting his guard down. 

She sighed and shook her head. “If I truly wished you harm, then I would have let the beast descend on you. There would be no point for me to be within your good graces, either, as what would I receive in return? And for how you may be able to trust me…” She thought for a moment, then began to speak again hesitantly. “I come as a messenger of the Goddess of time. I was sent to the past to mend your broken thread Ferdinand. I can prove that you know me in the future, but I am not sure that you will accept my proof.”

Justus and Eckhart were taken aback as they both looked at their lord. She knew his name and spoke with such familiarity that it was rather jarring. Ferdinand furrowed his brow in response. “Show this proof then. Your explanation leaves much to be desired. “

“I can explain more and answer whatever questions you have later, but for now I will offer my proof. My apologies, I had to conceal it under my clothes due to a disguise I had to wear. ” She reached beneath her clothing briefly and pulled out an engagement feystone of impressive quality. She unclasped it from her neck and handed it to lord Ferdinand. He grabbed it with one hand and undid the armor of his other. As he analyzed it, his brow began to twitch slightly and his ears began to turn red. He looked to her in disbelief, unable to process the truth to her claims. 

“Are you his fiance in the future? Did you come from that pillar of light?” Justus decided to finally ask. His lord looked hesitant to speak again so he spoke for him. 

She looked at him with a soft smile, “Both of your observations are correct, Justus.” She replied. He had not shared his name with her so the fact that she knew him as well added credibility to her claim. He looked at his lord, who was still processing the information. He recomposed himself after a moment, then handed the feystone back to her. 

“Do not think that I will trust you just because you know me in the future. My trust needs to be earned.” Ferdinand replied. 

“I know, I know. You do not need to tell me twice. It took me some time to earn your trust when I first met you so I will not force you to trust me now. I will merely carry on my duties and ensure that your thread is repaired. “ She said with a reassuring smile. She placed the feystone necklace back on over her clothes and this time it hung down rather low; it began to swing about as it now hung between her breasts. 

Justus raised a brow as he looked to his lord again. His lord’s eyes widened and his ears now burned a bright crimson. “SHAMELESS!”

“Bwuh? Why!” She blinked at him, not sure what she had done wrong. 

“To wear an engagement feystone in such an intimate area… underneath your clothes, no less! Absolutely shameless! I refuse to believe that I am betrothed to such a shameless woman!” 

“Shamel–...Listen Ferdinand, I told you I had to hide it due to my disguise! It was either that or take it off entirely!” She retorted. 

“Then you should have taken it off you fool!” He yelled back, his ears still burning in embarrassment. 

“No! I refuse! It is too precious to me! I want to wear it at all times!” She pouted, clasping her hands protectively around it, now holding the feystone closer to her chest. 

Lord Ferdinand began to shake somewhat, absolutely lost for words. His brows began to twitch and his blush now began to burn at his cheeks. They glared at each other before the girl remembered something. 

“Oh yeah, I can just change the chain…” She said, rummaging through her bag. 

“You should have done that sooner!” Ferdinand hissed, exhausted. She hurriedly changed the chain of her necklace and placed it securely around her neck again. 

“Pfft–” Justus could not help but laugh. This girl was much too interesting and amusing. 

Luckily, Heisshitze interrupted the awkward tension as he approached the strange girl. “Milady, would you like for us to give you your share now?” He gestured towards several knights which held up some bags full of her shares. 

“I cannot take anything where I am going, you are free to give my share to Ferdinand.” She waved them away as she turned towards the other knights that began to surround her. Some of the knights approached Eckhart and Justus as they handed them the shares in question. 

The knights were all excitedly discussing the subjugation of the ternisbefallen as they approached the girl. 

“You were quite impressive, milady! You could summon two schtappes, divine instruments, and a new weapon!”

“You healed everyone without breaking a sweat! And you provided blessings that aided us in battle! You should play ditter with us sometime!”

“Yes! She would do well on the ditter field!” 

Justus was starting to feel bad for the girl as she would be at the mercy of the knight’s fervor but she merely raised a brow. “Oh? I find it hard to understand why you are all so cheery while your gathering spot is in such a state.”

The air immediately froze over as the knights and scholars realized that their gathering spot was indeed decimated to a great degree. They all began to talk among themselves. 

“What are we supposed to do now that our gathering spot is in such a state?”

“That beast is not native to the sovereignty, where could it have come from?”

Justus held his breath. Would she tell them that this was an attack on Ferdinand? Would his lord be blamed for ruining the gathering spot? He turned to see both Ferdinand and Eckhart wearing grim expressions. 

The girl shrugged and shook her head. “It does not matter where the beast came from. You knights will no doubt be blamed for it. “ The knights all paled as they listened to her explanation. “You now carry the spoils of war for felling the beast, a beast which can only be subjugated with the aid of darkness weapons. If you let anyone know what has become of your gathering spot, you will not only bring suspicion to yourselves but also notify the sovereignty that you had access to the darkness spell without permission from the knight’s order. “

The knights began to panic, some cradled their heads while others began to pace back and forth. Heisshitze ran over to her, now ghostly pale. “Do you know what we should do, milady? I do not wish to see my duchy punished for this!”

She thought for a moment, then nodded, “I know of a prayer that can revitalize the land, however, I have used quite a lot of mana today so it will have to wait until tomorrow. You all sustained some degree of injury and many of you are still recovering, so it would be wiser for us to reconvene tomorrow to heal the gathering spot. Once the land is healed, many feybeasts tend to swarm the mana rich area so I will need your aid to cull their numbers. I plan to camp in the area to see if I can discern where the beast may have come from.”

The knights all looked relieved as they happily agreed to meet tomorrow at third bell. She made sure to swear them to silence as they all departed. 

The four of them watched as the knights faded into the distance. Justus found himself impressed by her ability to handle the knights of Dunkelfelger; the only other person capable of such a thing was his lord. She also hid the fact that the ternisbefallen had likely been targeted at their lord, so that at least made him feel some ease as the knights left their view. 

She turned towards the three of them with a smile. “Now we shall be uninterrupted.”

Chapter Text

They all entered the strange girl’s high beast with caution. Justus touched the wall briefly and felt that the highbeast was rather soft; He fought hard to contain himself as they needed to have a serious discussion. The girl soon began to remodel the high beast as they stood inside; She formed chairs, tables, counters and rooms with ease. His excitement was reaching an all time high, Justus began to tremble as he suppressed his desire to ask an endless stream of questions. 

The girl turned towards them after she was satisfied with her remodeling, and quickly walked towards them. “I would like you all to rest before we begin our discussions. I can tell at a glance that you are all exhausted. Especially you, Ferdinand. You have not been sleeping correctly, I presume? Nor eating for that matter.”

Lord Ferdinand simply glared at her, “That does not matter. You said you would explain at greater lengths why you were here.”

“I did, but I did not specify when I would do that, just that I would do it later. I refuse to answer any questions until you have rested and eaten.” She huffed, not willing to budge. 

“Oh? And what is preventing me from leaving now?” He questioned.

“We do not know who set the ternisbefallen upon the gathering spot, but I am fairly certain that it was an attempt on your life. For all we know, they may be waiting at the dorm to finish the job. It would be best to camp here. You would more easily take me down rather than an unknown party.”

“I suppose you are right, seeing as you could not defend yourself against a simple vial.” Lord Ferdinand sneered. 

The girl pouted but she offered no retort. She turned and pointed towards one of the seats. “You will sleep first Ferdinand, you are in most need of some rest so you may fully recover. I will make some food for all of us to eat once you awaken.”

Lord Ferdinand raised his brow. “Why would I eat something made by someone I do not trust? Additionally, I would rather sleep when I know you pose absolutely no threat to me. “

She sighed, clearly annoyed by Lord Ferdinand’s refusal, “Listen! You need to rest first before your retainers are able. If not for yourself, then think of them! And don’t even think about using your sleeping potions! I can smell that you have been over relying on them!”

He blinked, taken aback by her strange observations. Eckhart stepped forward. “Forgive me, milord, but I too think you need to rest before we continue our discussions. You were wounded gravely against the ternisbefallen, you still require time to recover.”

Justus decided to back up Eckhart, as the boy rarely spoke against his lord's wishes. “I agree, milord. Worry not about the girl, we both will watch her and make sure she does not do anything suspicious. You need only rest until we have prepared food for you. I will personally help in its preparation.”

His lord looked between the both of them as they offered their opinion, then returned a defeated sigh. He gestured at Justus, and he began to reach for his pouch when the girl stopped him. “I told you, no sleeping potions! Those only give you nightmares and not enough rest. I have a way to ensure he gets plenty of rest and good dreams. “ She whipped out her schtappe. 

Eckhart looked as if he was about to react but Justus swiftly stopped him, interested in what she had to offer. Lord Ferdinand took a step back, not sure what she was planning, but she simply began to chant a prayer.  

“Oh Schlaftraum, God of Dreams - May Lord Ferdinand be blessed with pleasant sleep and joyous dreams.” White lights began to drift down on his lord and slowly his lord began to lose footing. As he began to fall back, Eckhart moved forward to catch him. 

“There, he should be able to rest well. He certainly needs it, even though he tries to deny it.” She said with a soft smile, relieved that her fiance was finally able to rest. 

Justus met eyes with Eckhart as they both wordlessly agreed; They were still cautious of her, but her open concern for their lord made them silently hope that she was indeed his fiance in the future. Many women would maliciously come after their lord, be it Veronica or her lackeys, so his lord merely accepted that women did not like him. Magdalena did not help this in the slightest, as she detested their lord and shared her open disgust with his coldness. However, no matter how much their lord bickered with her, this girl’s fondness for their lord never seemed to waver. It was obvious that she cared deeply for him and Justus could tell that his lord held some attraction for the girl, even though he would not admit it openly. 

Eckhart set Lord Ferdinand down on the seating and covered him with his cape. He looked rather peaceful for once. 

The girl began to speak once again. “I require some items from the kitchen in order to prepare for when Ferdinand wakes up. Justus, can I trust you to retrieve the items I require?” 

Justus raised a brow, “From the kitchen? You are not preparing rations?” He frankly did not expect her to make something from scratch. 

She shook her head, “Ferdinand deserves a good meal to recover! He is still growing after all.”

He could only chuckle at her declaration, “Alright, but I am not sure that I will not be spotted by those who may have set the ternisbefallen upon my lord. Is that not one of the reasons we opted to camp?”

“Fear not, I have a way to prevent you from being spotted, you shall borrow my amulet which allows you to travel under the shroud of Verbergen. “ She searched her bag and handed him an amulet. She began to explain how to use it which filled Justus with excitement. 

“Milady, may I keep this once you depart?” He asked, ready to beg. 

“The goddess of time will not allow certain things from different times to leave their respective times. She got rid of all my recordings that I had of baby Ferdinand playing the harspiel.” She stated, clenching her fist as if wounded recalling the memory. 

“The gods are truly cruel, to strip you of such a valuable memento of the past.” Eckhart chimed in, feeling her pain. They both nodded in understanding of one another for the first time. 

She sighed then asked if he had a wooden board to write down her items. He obliged and she quickly began to write the ingredients and items she required him to retrieve. He left as soon as she provided the list. 

Justus was amazed by how well the amulet worked, as he could even sneak up on feybeasts without them noticing his presence. Sneaking into the kitchen was rather easy, though it was harder carrying all of the things she asked for. Luckily, once he summoned his high beast and reapplied the cloak, he was able to make his way back with relative ease. He was barely gone for half a bell. 

As soon as he arrived, she took the amulet back and stated that she would cloak her highbeast so they could all rest easy for the night. The strange girl began to work on the food soon after; Eckhart and Justus both watched her as she began to assemble the items on the counter. She turned towards them.

“You both will need to help me if you want to eat! Those who do not work, do not eat!” She declared. 

They both looked at her with confusion after her odd declaration, but they both did as instructed. Justus could not complain as he did promise his lord that he would help with the preparation of the food. 

Eckhart still had a great deal of caution for the strange girl but Justus found himself warming up to her. He started to converse with her as they all worked alongside one another, making sure to watch her actions closely to ensure that she did not do anything strange. 

“I know you stated that you would answer our questions after we ate our meal and Ferdinand finished resting, but I must ask what your name is?” He was not sure if his lord would ask himself, so he decided to do it for him. 

She seemed to think for a moment before she answered. “I have been using the name Roze while I have been in the past, so you may call me that.”

Justus nodded at that, he would make sure his lord knew so he would not feel embarrassed asking later. A lot had happened in such a short amount of time that it slipped most of their minds. 

“May I ask how you were able to find Milord so fast? Even I had difficulty locating his exact location.”

She looked away, with some redness tingeing her cheeks. “I could sense where he was so...” She stopped her sentence midway, unable to finish due to embarrassment. 

Justus could feel some relief. As far as he knew, Magdalena was the only one somewhat in his lord’s mana range, but even so, he still out classed her mana capacity. He was not sure why she was embarrassed by the mention of mana sensing, but he would not pry. 

“That beam of light where you originated from, it was quite far away. How were you able to determine that Lord Ferdinand was in danger?”

Her eyes darkened somewhat, and her usual demeanor was replaced by one of bitterness and disdain. “Each of the breaks within Ferdinand’s thread are during times where he is in great peril. I receive rather vague instructions from the Goddess of time so I must work from there. This time she merely stated that he was under attack and that this break would last for three days. I usually stay within the past until he is no longer in danger.”

Eckhart scoffed. It appeared as if he was listening to their conversation. “If you truly wish to rid him of all danger, you should eliminate Veronica and get it over with once and for all. “

Justus was about to scold the young knight for his statement but Roze began to speak again. Her eyes wavering with intense anger and killing intent, and a cruel smile playing on her lips. “You're right, maybe I should…” 

Justus could tell at that moment, she truly wished to end Veronica.

All of a sudden, Roze began to groan in pain as she was lifted slightly off the ground. Eckhart and Justus both turned to face her in horror. She grasped at her neck, which now had what appeared to be golden thread tightly wrapped around it like a noose. It began to fade after a few seconds and she slowly sank back to the ground, holding her neck and gasping for air. She stared at the ground silently, with her hands balled into tight fists. 

Justus was about to reach down to ask if she was okay when she looked up at them with a forced smile. “The Goddess of time will not allow me to alter the weave at any capacity, and she does not much care for my jokes, as you can see.” She dusted herself off and began to work once again, pretending as if nothing had happened. 

Justus and Eckhart looked at one another in complete bewilderment. Justus finally formed a fist and punched Eckhart in the arm. He motioned towards Roze, causing the knight to hang his head in remorse. “My apologies, I said something careless. You do enough for our lord, there is no need for you to do more than you already have.”

She did not respond, she merely kept working with a vacant look in her eyes as if she did not hear his words. Justus and Eckhart looked at each other in worry. 

Just how many breaks has this girl had to fix? How many times has she had to save him? Justus began to feel pity for the girl who looked as if she just came of age. She cared so deeply for her fiance, but she had been sent back in time just to watch him nearly meet his end so many times. He began to think that the Gods were rather cruel. 

They worked for almost a bell's worth of time, with a somber silence hanging over them.

Chapter Text

For the longest of times, Ferdinand had been plagued by nightmares; Ever since living in the castle and being at the whims of Veronica, it seemed that he would not be afforded peace even when he slept. He would often dream of his tormentor as her cruel words would echo endlessly in his mind. 
 
This is why he had developed a sleeping potion during his time at the academy; staying at the academy was the only time he felt at peace and ridding himself of these dreams, almost entirely as they would still wake him, made his time in the academy fairly tranquil. 

There was only one dream that he would be hesitant to lose. It only happened when he was at his most prone, such as when Veronica had managed to catch him away from his retainers. He would pass out from her attempts on his life, but find himself safe when he awoke. He could never remember anything from these incidents except for his dream, which was always the same: He would find himself laying in a field, staring up at the beautiful night sky, with a giant, golden moon above him. From the moon, countless pearl-like feystones would cascade all around him, bringing him warmth and ebbing away at his pain. A woman, cloaked in a piece of the night sky, adorned with shimmering stars, would descend from the dark sky to sit next to him, to which she would start singing a lullaby while stroking his hair. He could never remember the words, but he could remember the gentleness of her voice. He could never see her face but he knew that she was the most ethereal beauty he had ever laid his eyes upon. After some time, she would leave; he would always reach out to her and beg her to stay, but she would simply turn around, with pearl feystones falling from her face. Before she could do anything, she would be bathed in a golden light and disappear into the night. 

It was after the strange girl had put him to sleep with her strange spell that he had the same dream, except this one ended differently. When the girl got up to leave, he reached out and cried, “Don’t leave me, Roze!”

She turned around, and finally revealed her face. It was the face of the strange girl, with tears streaming down her eyes. She walked back, this time coming to lay next to him in the grass. She wrapped him in her midnight-colored cloak and flashed him a smile that one could only yearn to watch forever. “Okay, Ferdinand. I will stay with you. I promise.”

Gone were the tears that had stained her face and she now looked at him with a deep fondness, the noble color of Geduldh tingeing her cheeks. She reached out her hand, grabbed his face, and brought her lips to his forehead. He felt himself overwhelmed with a great sense of warmth as he embraced her for the remainder of his dream. 

He finally awoke to the smell of something cooking. He held his head, not yet ready to part with his dream, but then remembered what he had been doing prior. 

In a new section of the highbeast, he looked over to see his retainers and the girl looking at a pot filled with whatever food they were preparing. Justus was the first to notice that he had awoken. 

“Milord! The food is almost ready, just wait a few more moments and we will prepare for lunch.” He asked the girl something and quickly left to prepare the silverware and tea. Apparently, he had retrieved a few items from the dorm while he slept. 

Ferdinand felt some annoyance at the fact that his retainers were now trusting the girl, and slight betrayal as they so readily allowed her to use that strange sleeping spell on him. He sat upright and began to speak to Justus who was now preparing the table for lunch. 

“You two seem so readily trusting of that strange girl. It has me questioning the loyalty of my own retainers.”

Justus looked towards the girl, then responded in a low voice, as to not let her overhear, “It is not so much trust, milord, but more so pity and understanding. “

Ferdinand raised his brow, wishing for his retainer to explain, but Justus shook his head. “I shall explain later, but you would do well to treat her more cordially, milord. I have determined that her care for you is truly genuine, so it would not do well if you continue to treat your future fiance in such a cold manner.”

He could only narrow his eyes at that request; even though she had saved him, he could not see himself treating her with anything other than suspicion. As far as he was concerned, she was a stranger. He did not know the circumstances behind their engagement in the future, so as far he could tell, it was probably a political one. He could not imagine it being for any other reason, so there was no reason for him to treat her any differently than the other women he interacted with. 

Justus sighed, as if he could read his master’s thoughts. He rubbed his forehead, “As long as you do not do anything so openly antagonistic, I suppose that will do. That girl seems rather resilient, so she does not seem to be the type to be openly chased away by your usual coldness.” He got up, having finished setting up the table. “Lady Roze, I have finished setting up the table. Have things finished on your end?”

Ferdinand could only flinch at the apparent name of the girl; it was the same as in his dream. He had never asked for it, nor had anyone called her by her name before, so how did he know it? Had he overheard it in his sleep?

“It is ready to be served! Would you help me serve it?” She replied. 

Justus went over to the girl and soon came back to serve food to Ferdinand. To Ferdinand’s surprise, it was not rations as one would usually expect. He had no time to question this move as the girl freely sat next to him at the table. He reeled slightly back at her disregard for his personal space; he looked around to see his retainer’s reactions only to find that they seemingly did not bat an eye. Traitors!

He made his displeasure show on his face as everyone sat down and said their before meal prayers. They all began to eat, but Ferdinand alone looked at his meal. 

“Milord, you should eat the food while it is still hot. I can attest to its quality and I can confirm that it is rather good.” Justus reasoned. 

“You should eat, Ferdinand. You are still growing. Anwachs does not favor those who do not care for themselves.” The girl added. 

Ferdinand found himself growing irritated at her overfamiliarity with him. As far as he was concerned, she had not earned it. 

“I refuse to eat something prepared by someone so strange, lest I catch your apparent shamelessness. “ He replied coldly. “I shall make due with potions for now. “

Justus looked as if he was about to protest, but the girl spoke up first. She loudly placed her food on the table and her hands on her hips, “I said no more potions! All of us worked hard so you could eat a warm meal while you recover and you make no effort to even try it! If you keep refusing to eat, then I will force you to eat!” She huffed. 

“Oh? I doubt you could force me to eat, you would need to tie me up but seeing as I have more mana than you, I can break out of any bands of light you may produce.” He could sense that they were close in capacity, but he still beat her by a small degree.

Her cheeks reddened somewhat, but she shot back, “If you continue to act like a child, I need only treat you like a child who refuses to eat!”

Ferdinand scoffed and crossed his arms, “I doubt that would be effective on me. You have no hope of getting me to eat, so relent.” He was confident that he would get his way. 

She grabbed his food, scooping a spoonful before she began to blow on it delicately. He watched her, not quite sure what she was doing but then she softly grabbed his chin and turned towards him with the spoon in hand. She wore a gentle smile as she moved the spoon towards him. “Say ahhh~”

He opened his eyes wide in shock and reflexively gaped his mouth open. Before he could close it, however, she shoved the food in his mouth; He could not spit it out, lest he embarrass himself further. It tasted rather good, but he would never admit as much. 

“Now, are you going to feed yourself now, or would you like me to continue feeding you myself? Need I remind you that I will not answer your questions unless you have eaten?” She said innocently. 

He looked at her as he swallowed. Without responding, he grabbed his bowl and began to eat on his own, not even attempting to hide his anger as he ate. He could feel the tips of his ears burning as the girl assumed her normal position and began to eat herself as if nothing had happened. Justus, in the corner of his eye, was shaking violently, with one hand on his mouth and the other on Eckhart’s shoulder in a vice-like grip. Eckhart wore a truly conflicted expression as he stood midway between standing and sitting. Ferdinand could say nothing as he finished his meal as quickly as possible. 

Once they had all finished their food and the table was clear, they all began to ask questions. 

Chapter Text

“Why were you sent to the past to mend my thread?”, “In the future, what brings about you and lord Ferdinand’s engagement if you don't mind me asking, milady?”, “What is Lord Ferdinand like in the future?”

They all began to ask a torrent of questions as Roze sat there, completely overwhelmed. She finally put her hands up to stop them. 

“Okay, Okay. I know I said I would answer your questions but if I answer all of your questions, then we will be here all day. Justus and Ferdinand have a habit of asking an endless stream of questions so I doubt they will ever be satisfied. I would like to sleep tonight, y’know, I’m tired too…” She placed a hand on her chin, in thought. “I cannot answer all of your questions for several reasons. For one, the goddess of time will not allow me to change the pattern of the weave, so any answer that may spur you into action would be risky. Another reason would be that there would be no point as you all will forget that I existed after I am to leave…”

They all looked at her, wide eyed. Ferdinand glared at her, “Explain.” He demanded. 

She sighed and looked at him. “This is not the first time I have met you in the past. Do you remember any of the other times?”

They all looked at Ferdinand which caused him to grimace. “No, I do not.”

“I thought so. Every time I leave after fixing a break in your thread, your memories are erased. You never seem to remember me, at least… There were times where it seemed like you could remember me somewhat, but I always had to leave before I could confirm.” She looked down sadly, slight defeat in her eyes. She shook her head, as if to fix her appearance, then adopted a more neutral expression. “In the future, you never indicated that you knew me in the past, so it would make sense that you would forget we ever interacted in the past. You would have trusted me sooner, no doubt. “

Justus and Eckhart looked at her with pitying stares. Ferdinand was still not sure if he could believe her words. “So how do you suppose you answer our questions? I still have my suspicions and they will not go away unless you answer my questions.” He stated plainly. 

She placed a hand on her cheek, “Oh? You still do not trust me? Well, I suppose that I will give you 20 questions that you can ask me about the future, for now. But just know, if I deem the answer too risky, then I will refuse to explain.”

They all looked at each other, then nodded, having accepted the challenge. 

Ferdinand asked first. “Why and how were you sent to the past to mend my thread?”

She thought for a second, then began to explain in further detail. “I was in my fifth year at the academy when I received word that you had fallen under mysterious circumstances. I rushed back to the castle to check on your condition only to find that you and your retainers were transparent.”

“Transparent?” Eckhart questioned. 

She nodded, “I was preparing to confront the gods when I received word from the goddess of time that she wished to speak with me. I entered the realm of the gods, only to be told that your thread had been broken in several places and it needed to be mended or else the gods would unravel the last 20 years of history along with allowing you to cease from existing. They allowed me to fix your thread because our threads were similar in color and because Ventuhite was fond of the current weaving of history.” She hesitated for a moment before she continued. “In order to send me to the past, they asked that I exchange a portion of my thread to mend yours. Sterrat and Liebeskhilfe bound our threads and I was sent into the past to mend your thread…”

Silence filled the room, the three men could only open their eyes and mouths in complete bewilderment. The silence went on for quite some time as Roze began to sip on her tea awkwardly. 

She exchanged a portion of her thread for mine…Ferdinand found it hard to believe someone would do such a thing for him.

“You have 18 questions left. “ She interrupted their processing of her explanation.

“18??!!” Eckhart gawked. Justus and Ferdinand also looked at her, confused. 

“Ferdinand asked me why and how I was sent to the past. That is two questions. Do not think I did not catch that. Even now, I am tempted to count your interjection as another question.” She reasoned, with a peaceful smile. 

They all blinked at one another, and agreed wordlessly. They had to be careful with what they asked. Justus motioned that he wished to ask the next question, so Ferdinand nodded to let him go next. 

“May I ask how you became engaged to Lord Ferdinand, milady?” Justus asked with a smirk. Ferdinand immediately regretted allowing him to speak; he assumed that he just wasted a question. 

She placed a hand on her cheek and began to contemplate the answer for quite some time. “The answer is multifaceted and rather dangerous, as it could have a chance in altering the weave, so I will give the most bare bones answer, is that alright with you?”

They all exchanged glances at one another, with Justus losing his grin as he did not expect his question to be so deep. They all nodded for her to continue. 

“Due to circumstances, Ahrensbach was devoid of suitable archduke candidates. Because of this, the king ordered Ferdinand to marry the next archduchess who was still in the academy. They treated him cruelly, though, forcing him to do all of the work for their duchy without allowing him to return to Ehrenfest when he was still not starbound.” She looked rather angry recounting Ferdinand’s treatment but she continued. “The whole remaining archdukal family committed treason by going against the word of the king and Ferdinand was attacked as a result. He was poisoned in the mana replenishment hall with no one to help him so, in order to save him, I stole the foundation. What I did not know at the time, though, was that the royal decree was worded so that he would marry the next Aub who was young and inexperienced so by stealing the foundation, I became his fiance.”

She sipped her tea after her explanation, waiting for them to ask another question. They all sat in silence again, not sure how to process this information. Justus and Eckhart began to silently flap their mouths open, as if communicating taciturnly. Ferdinand could only silently stare at Roze, not sure what to do next. 

It was Eckhart who questioned next, now adopting a more serious expression. “So you are now Aub Ahrensbach? I find it hard to believe that the king would allow that..”

She thought for a moment again, no doubt waiting to drop another incomprehensible answer. “Yes. Both me and Ferdinand were able to negotiate with the Zent… though I cannot reveal more than that. I will say that it was an offer they could not refuse, so there is no need to worry about that.“

They all looked at each other, no doubt wondering the same thing. It was Ferdinand who asked the question with sweat forming on his brow, “What is it that you negotiated with?” He dreaded the answer. They did not know who the king in the future would be, but they knew something that the king would no doubt want. 

She paused, considering how to answer. She shrugged and answered rather passively, “I am a collector of books, you see. And there was a rather rare book I had in my possession, called the book of Mestionora, that possessed knowledge the Royal family was rather interested in. I obtained that knowledge and bestowed it upon someone in the royal family, that is all. “

Eckhart and Justus both sighed, no doubt relieved that the answer was not quite as outlandish as all the rest. Ferdinand, however, knew that this was not the truth; He had also obtained the knowledge she spoke of and he knew that it was not so easily passed. It was why he was investigating the school mysteries in the first place. Did she know that he also possessed the knowledge?

He looked at her, to which she flashed him a gentle smile and nodded as if to confirm his suspicions. He narrowed his eyes; this girl was more formidable than he gave her credit for. 

She looked up and clapped her fist against her hand, as if recalling something. She turned to Justus with a serene smile, “Justus, after you have asked your questions about the future, may I ask you to obtain some things from the dorm? You all no doubt need some change of clothes, so I will allow you to use my amulet again.“

Justus turned towards her, opening his mouth before hesitating. She smiled, “I will not count any questions about the present against you, do not worry.”

He nodded in appreciation then proceeded to ask, “Is your high beast not currently cloaked, would you like to dispel the cloak? Unless you have a second amulet…but then how would I find my way back here?”

She nodded, then smiled, “I do have a second amulet and do not worry about finding the highbeast again, I know of a magic circle which will allow you to find this place again.” She reached into her sleeve to pull out crisp, white-looking parchment paper. They all looked at her as she drew a magic circle. 

“What is that parchment? It is rather strange looking…” Ferdinand asked. 

She puffed out her chest and began to explain, “This is plant based paper, it is the specialty export of Ehrenfest in the future. This particular piece is of maximal quality. I shall demonstrate. “ She lifted the paper up and ripped it. They all gasped as they watched as the paper pulled itself back together. She passed an extra sheet to Ferdinand and he took it, very intrigued. 

Both he and Justus looked at the paper with interest, absolutely transfixed as they studied it. 

“You said this was a specialty product for Ehrenfest, who invented this? What does the common quality look like and how is it made?” Ferdinand asked. 

She began to think for a bit, “I suppose you can say that I invented it, but I don't really like to take credit for it. After all, my Gutenbergs primarily handle the production of it so they certainly deserve more recognition than I do. This paper is made by boiling young fibrous wood, pressing it, then drying it into what you see before you. The process is so simple that it's mainly produced by commoners, though the common variety is notably more crude depending on the material. “

They all gawked at her, “Commoners can make this magic tool? That is impossible.” Eckhart asked. 

“They cannot make this maximal quality paper, as that must be produced by those who possess mana. They can use the same production method used for the common variety to process feyplants and produce specialty paper which possess some of their attributes.“

“What other attributes can be imbued when using feyplants?” Justus broached. 

“Paper made from trombe wood is Fire proof, paper made from effon paper stores sounds, and paper made from Nanseb will always attract to itself if a small piece is severed.”

“How much is this paper worth? It must be quite prosperous…” Ferdinand noted. 

“This maximal quality paper is not for sale as no one would buy it, but it does sell quite well for its more common varieties. Even high ranking duchies have sought plant based paper and Ehrenfest is able to climb the rankings due to it.”

“Ehrenfest is able to climb the rankings? How far does their rank climb?” Ferdinand asked, even more intrigued. 

“They were ranked 8th when I left my time. It was due to the specialty products and the students working hard to improve their grades” She smiled, as if recalling a fond memory. 

They all gasped at that piece of information. To have a bottom ranking duchy climb so high was absolutely ludicrous. 

She flashed a truly peaceful smile, “You have 7 questions left.”

They all rose to their feet in outrage. “You said you would not count those questions against us.” Eckhart hissed. 

She placed a hand on her cheek and tilted her head, adopting an innocent facade, “Oh? I do not recall saying that. I told Justus that I would not count the questions he had about the present against him. When did I ever say that I would answer the rest of your questions freely?” She shook her head sadly, “I did not take you all for sore losers that would not adhere to the rules merely because you cannot listen to simple instructions. Truly it is a pity…”

They all grimaced as they had no retort. She had lulled them into a false sense of security and now they had less questions to work with. She likely took out that paper knowing that they would fall into that trap. 

Ferdinand found himself frustrated as he felt as if he was constantly on the back foot with this girl. She knew him better than he would like and she seemed as if she was an expert at handling him and his retainers. He wanted to fight back somehow. 

They all hesitated for some time to think of what questions to ask next; They had to use them sparingly now. 

“How did you and I meet?” He eventually asked. 

She looked at him, her eyes narrowing as she considered for some time. “I do not believe I can answer that question. All three of you will be spurred into action and risk altering the weave.”

They all looked at her with grim expressions. They wanted to know what she meant by that but Ferdinand could tell by the look in her eye that she would absolutely refuse to answer. 

It was Justus who seemed as if he wished to ask a question next. He looked at his lord for permission who nodded in turn. “You may not be able to answer how or where you met, but can you explain how close you two are in the future. You seemed to be rather angry with his treatment when he was sent away and you seem particularly interested in his well being now…” 

Ferdinand found himself regretting letting Justus waste a question again, but Roze’s reaction was rather interesting. She began to blush rather violently. 

“H-he was my mentor, my doctor, and someone I considered family, of course I would worry when he was mistreated in a different duchy! They were not feeding him well and he was subsisting off of potions, so of course I would have to send him food from Ehrenfest to ensure he took care of himself! He is my fiance now, so it is my duty to ensure that he takes care of himself. “ She declared shyly. 

They all raised a brow. She sent me food in the future even though I was in a different duchy and not engaged to her? He doubted he could have such a close relationship with anyone. Eckhart was the one who asked a question next.

“I recall you saying that Sterrat and Liebeskhilfe bound your threads before you were sent to the past…Does that mean you two are starbound even now?” 

Roze’s face turned completely red, as if he had pointed out something that she did not want them to notice. She fumbled for a few seconds, flapping her mouth trying to form an answer before settling on just nodding her head slowly, completely abashed. 

She looked at Ferdinand, who met her eyes, then she covered her face in embarrassment. He could feel his heart quicken somewhat and his ears began to burn as he watched her reaction. “Sorry.” She whispered, as if she had committed some crime against him. Ferdinand felt as if she was on the back foot now, and, for some reason, he found himself enjoying this revelation. 

Justus began to grin mischievously as he looked at his lord again. Ferdinand sighed and held up his hands, allowing his retainer to continue his questioning. 

“I see that you have quite a lot of charms. They look much like the charms that Milord is able to create himself. You seem to have no apprehension when placing his mana against your skin, are you not bothered by it? I must ask as the last person who could sense him described his mana as unpleasant, so I wonder what you think of his mana.” Ferdinand could feel his heart quicken by Justus’ observation. He had noticed that she had no aversion to his mana, but he had felt too embarrassed to question it further. 

She looked up at Justus, blinking. She began to fidget somewhat as she fitted her eyes between them. “I developed my mana sensing rather late so it did not fully develop until I was in the past so forgive me, this is the first time I am able to describe another’s mana.” She began to close her eyes with a hand on her cheek, deep in thought. “I do not find his mana unpleasant at all; if I had to describe the sensation, I would liken it to a cool breeze which heralds the beginning of spring. If anything, it is rather calming and pleasant.”

Ferdinand had to place a hand over his face and look away from her; usually he was told that his mana was ‘cold like a blizzard’ or ‘disgusting’. To be told that his mana felt pleasant to touch and be around was almost too much for him to bear. He could feel his heart begin to beat vigorously and heat rise through his whole body. He, again, was on the back foot. 

“Oho? Milord, how would you describe her mana then?” Justus asked, clearly amused. 

He flashed him a cold glare, which indicated that he would not answer. He would rather die than admit that her mana was pleasant as well. Justus stiffened somewhat to his master’s cold glare and retargeted his teasing to Roze once more. 

“I recall you mentioning that your threads were similar in color, coupled with the fact that you find his mana so pleasant…Have you perchance welcomed winter before autumn?” Justus casually asked, still wearing his sly grin. 

Both Ferdinand and Roze looked at Justus with wide eyes. Ferdinand began to grit his teeth while his ears burned a deep crimson. He did not care for his retainer trying to besmirch his future self. 

“Justus!” Eckhart growled. 

“Bwuh?!” Roze turned completely red, from head to toe. She held her hands up in front of her, again floundering when trying to respond. “No! W-we have not welcomed winter. There was a time where Ferdinand had to use medicine to dye me, but he only used medicine! Medicine! And it was an emergency!” She covered her face in embarrassment again, hanging her head as if she had been defeated. 

Ferdinand was able to compose himself as he had to ask, “What kind of emergency would require someone to be dyed by another? Perhaps if you were out of potions….”

She began to steady herself by taking some deep breaths, then she answered him, still unable to look him in the eyes. “When I was a child, I came close to death many times. Due to this, I obtained the mark of Ewigeliebe, which means that once I am dyed, I am dyed permanently. “ She glanced at him, before looking away again. “I cannot state the exact circumstances which lead to this, but at some point, a goddess descended upon me and dyed me her colors. Other gods also bestowed upon me their blessing, but my vessel could not handle it. I had to use up all of my mana then be redyed by someone or else I would have perished. That is why you had to dye me, it was an emergency. It is also why I must wear so many charms, to prevent such things from happening again.”

They all stared at her for some time. It was outlandish that she had been summoned by the goddess of time, but it was also quite the tall tale for one to be possessed by a goddess as well. They were not sure what to believe. 

She looked at all of them again, averting her eyes. “You have one question left.” She reminded them. 

They looked at one another and they began to think collectively for some time. None of them could think of something which they would be willing to waste their last question on.

She sighed. “You do not need to ask it now. I am rather tired, so once we have eaten dinner, I would like to bathe and rest if you do not mind. “

They could only agree with her request. She began to request Justus bring some things for her to bathe when he went back to the dorm. Then, they began to prepare for dinner. 

Chapter Text

Once Justus returned, they were all able to eat dinner. This meal was just as good as the last, so much so that Ferdinand was tempted to compliment Roze, if not for the awkward air between them. He found it hard to even look at her as he now began to think about the things she had said about him. It seemed that she felt the same as she made no effort to speak to him now, and whenever she met his eye, she would blush noticeably and look away. Her reactions filled him with a restlessness that he did not care for. 

They finished dinner without incident, and Roze left for her room first to bathe then go to bed. That left Justus, Eckhart, and Ferdinand in the common room where they would be staying. Justus took some time to prepare the room so they could sleep; They all changed out of their clothes and used waschen on themselves. 

“Your fiance- no- your WIFE, seems rather nice, milord. “ Justus began to tease. 

Ferdinand grimaced as he did not appreciate his retainer’s teasing. “Justus, I did not care for your line of questioning during our exchange. Do not make me invoke your name.”

“Oh? But milord, you seemed rather interested in the answers she gave and the reactions she had. I only wished to fulfill my duty as your attendant and cater to your desires, even if you yourself were unaware of them at that moment.” Justus replied, still wearing an amused grin. He adopted a more relaxed, fond smile. “She seems to treasure you deeply, milord. I’m glad.”

Eckhart nodded, “She seems as if she would fight even the gods for your sake. I find myself also approving of her. If her claims are to be believed, that is…”

Ferdinand groaned and began to tap his temple; this girl had so easily won his retainers over, but he would not relent so easily. He was not so willing to take her claims at face value, she could be fabricating them for all he knew. She had no evidence to prove that these events had occurred, so they were all hearsay in his mind. 

Something was bothering Ferdinand, however. He could not place it, but it remained at the back of his mind. There was a lingering sense of unease that hung around him. 

“So milord, now that she is not here, can you answer my question?” Justus began to snicker. He was now sitting at the table again, writing something down. 

Ferdinand raised his brow in annoyance after having his train of thought interrupted. Justus repeated his question, “She described how your mana felt to her, so how does her mana feel to you?”

Ferdinand could feel his brow twitch in displeasure. “You do not need to know that answer, why bring it up again?”

“Pure interest” Justus stated plainly. 

Ferdinand glared and crossed his arms, “Do not make me invoke your name-” He began to snap, but then a thought entered his mind again. 

Name? Mana? He had noticed that her mana felt like a warm embrace when she was near him and when she began to chant her spells, but it seemed to linger in the air around him. He had assumed that it was because he was near her, but now that she was in the other room, he could definitively say that her mana clung around him like one did when someone held their name. He sprang up, and began to speed in the direction of her room. 

“Milord! Wha-” Justus could not finish his sentence or even get up in time to stop him as Ferdinand barged into Roze’s room, making sure to close the door behind him. He did not care if it was uncordial, as Justus would say, he needed his question answered now. 

“Eeep!” Roze sat up from the seat she was laying in, using her cloak as a cover. 

He ignored her and walked up to her angrily. She looked at him in bewilderment, unsure why he was in her room. 

He did not even give her the chance to ask him a question as he began to demand answers from her first. “Do you hold my name in the future?!”

Her eyes widened at the sudden question, but she quickly adopted a stern look. “You gave me your name willingly. I tried to give it back, but you refused.”

He took a step back at her lax answer. “My father is supposed to hold my name! Why wou-” He began to ask, but she held a hand up to stop him. 

“Are you sure you wish to know the answer?” She asked. 

He stared at her with wide eyes, then he lowered his gaze and balled up his hands. Did he want to know the answer? His father had been getting sick rather often as of late. Was he ready to face the answer yet?

No, I do not want to know…

He sat down, with his head in his hands, unsure what to do. 

“Why did I give you my name?” He eventually asked, side stepping his train of thought.

“Remember when I told you that I was dyed by the Goddess’ mana? Well, everytime I grew a little emotional, the mana would surge causing those around me to be crushed. You offered me your name so you would be unaffected by the mana.” She responded. 

He sighed. Her answer did not reveal anything distressing so he felt some relief at the small possibility that his father could still be alive in the distant future. He felt relief, but another question arose within his head. 

“Why did I refuse to take my name back?” If my father had perished, then maybe…

“I am not sure. You said that it could be my Schutzaria’s shield, but I am not sure what you meant by that…”

Ah, this girl likes to besmirch my good name I see. 

He felt his ears grow unbearably hot as he began to question himself in the future, more and more. He looked at her, not amused by her effortless ability to embarrass him. He needed to get back at her after her constant attacks; He began to think of how to win against her, when an idea arose in his mind.

He flashed her a smile which made her flinch for some reason. She averted her eyes, nervously, as if she sensed that he had no good intentions. He reached out his right hand motioning for her to do the same. She blinked, and looked at him questioningly as she gave her left hand, not removing the cape covering her. 

He channeled a small amount of mana into the tip of his fingers, which caused her to flinch noticeably as she stared at him with wide eyes. He smiled at her as her blush became more apparent. 

“I truly apologize for barging in without warning. You could understand my worry, no doubt, so I hope you can forgive me.” He said with the softest smile he could muster. 

She averted her eyes, slightly covering her face with her cape as she responded. “O-of course! I will not hold it against you. So you may go back to the other room without worry.”

He began to channel mana into his whole palm now, which caused her to squirm and her whole face to turn crimson.

“I hope you are not angry with me, you seem unable to meet my eye…” He asked, innocently. 

“I-I am n-not mad…” She said, covering her whole face with her cape. 

He scooted closer, enjoying her reaction. He leaned in to whisper into her ear. “I see that you are not used to mana mixing. You stated yourself that you held Schutzaria’s shield, you need only use that if you do not like it.” He sneered. 

She looked up at him, startled. She began to think about something, before coming to some realization and sinking her head lower in embarrassment. 

Ferdinand felt triumph, having caused her some of the embarrassment he had felt. He was about to let go, when he felt her grip tighten and mana being channeled back at him. 

Before he could process what was happening, Roze used her free hand, strengthened by enhancement magic, to knock him on his back. She grabbed his left hand with her right, and pushed both of his hands on his side, near his head. Her hair cascaded around him as she loomed over him. 

“Do not fight battles you cannot win!” She declared. 

Ferdinand was reminded of tales he had heard of Dunkelfelger woman knocking down those they wished to court in order to force bridal challenges on them. He could never understand why those knights had recounted the stories with fond smiles on their faces; he found it strange and shameful, but now he could understand. 

Roze looked down at him, in her nightgown which was white with sheer fabric overlaying a more silken fabric for the main body, with only sheer fabric covering her arms. It was cinched at the waist and had a U-shaped neckline, decorated with some frills and a bow, that slightly displayed her bosom as she leaned forward. Her hair was loose after being freshly washed, with her scent pervading his senses. She straddled him, with the moonlight and folds of her clothes accentuating her curves. Feystones, that adorned the charms that she wore, began to light up, making their presence known underneath her clothing; he could sense that they were made from his mana.

He looked at her face, which was mere inches away from his own; He could feel her warm breath on him. They looked into each other's eyes, for what seemed like an eternity. Ferdinand could feel her channeling mana into both of his hands, and his body seemed to accept it without any resistance. It washed over him like warm, gentle caresses which began to massaging his body deeper and deeper over time. He could feel restless flames stoke deep within him; He dared not move, unsure of what he would do. 

Ah...This is indeed a battle I cannot win…

He swallowed and began to open his mouth, but then Roze swiftly got off of him. She covered herself in her cloak once again and began to speak. “I am glad that you understand that you have lost this battle. I hope that I have answered all of your questions. If you have no more concerns, I ask that you leave as I am very tired.” She turned her face away from him, motioning for the door with one of her hands.

He looked away as well. “Yes you have answered all of my questions, so I shall take my leave. I apologize again for troubling you.”

And with that, he hurriedly left, with his heart beat pounding in his ears and his mana stirring within him. 

Chapter Text

His lord sprang up mid conversation and angrily charged into his fiance’s room, uninvited. Before Justus could get up from his seat, he had slammed the door behind him. 

Justus immediately ran to the door, while throwing a sound blocker magic tool to Eckhart, who was watching on in confusion. 

“Why are you passing this to me?” He asked, even more confused. 

“Do you not wish to hear? I also do not wish for you to complain if I find the need to barge in and prevent them from doing something reckless.” Justus responded. He had only been joking about welcoming winter with the two, but even he knew that they both were not ready for such a thing. He was the adult there, he would be the only one with enough agency to stop them. 

Eckhart grimaced but offered no retort. 

He placed his ear to the door and began to listen in. His lord was angrily questioning Roze on why she held his name in the future. 

Justus knew that his Lord would have a hard time accepting that his father was fated to die in the future, so he felt some relief that she gave his lord the option to know the answer. She actively avoided answering him, likely out of kindness. 

He explained as much to Eckhart, and they both sighed in relief.  The Aub was getting sicker and sicker every year and it was general consensus that he would die young, but, of course, Lord Ferdinand could not accept this; it was to the point where Ferdinand was taking doctor courses during the off season in the hopes of becoming his father’s doctor once he graduated and helping him with whatever ailed him. Justus and his fellow retainers could not bring themselves to tell him that it would be pointless, as Veronica would never allow him near the aub, and if he was allowed and the aub still perished, then he would most likely be blamed for it. Their lord cared too much about his father to listen to reason at times. 

He continued to listen in, as she explained why she held his name and how she tried to give it back to him in the future but he had refused. His reasoning for refusing surprised him the most as it made him question his lord in the future. 

“I have a hard time believing my lord would say that…” Eckhart reasoned, not wishing to see his lord in such a way yet. 

“Well, if he is the older of the two, then it was likely out of courtesy…” Justus reasoned, also having a hard time imagining his lord in such a manner. Though he had a hard time believing this as Roze seemed to not understand what his lord had meant by this. 

It grew quiet in the room, as he could no longer make out what was being said. All of a sudden, he heard Roze declare that his lord should not fight battles he cannot win. He was rather confused by the declaration, but after a few moments, he heard some shuffling and her telling his lord to leave if he had no more questions. To his surprise, his lord apologized sincerely and began to hurriedly leave the room. It had happened so fast that Justus hardly had time to move out of the way before his lord left the room. 

Lord Ferdinand seemed to make a beeline to his designated sleeping area as he swiftly wrapped himself in his cloak and then layed down, facing away from them. 

Eckhart and Justus looked at each other, raising their brows. 

“Milord? What did you two talk about?” Justus began to question, coming closer to his lord who was acting so suspiciously. 

After a few moments, his lord sat up and faced them. They both gasped as they saw their lord, completely red from head to toe.

“I merely asked her a question. That is all.”

“Obviously, that is not all you did. Did you do something else?” Justus probed. 

His lord looked down as if recalling something; in response to his recollection, his nose began to bleed. 

“Milord!” Eckhart cried, rushing up to Lord Ferdinand with a handkerchief in hand. 

Their lord looked down in surprise, then grimaced in embarrassment. He held the handkerchief to his nose and tilted his head back. 

“Did she attack you, Milord? If so-” Eckhart began to ask with his eyes darkening. 

Ferdinand held his hand up and shook his head. “She did not, this is my blunder. Do not do anything reckless.” He sighed as he placed a hand on his forehead, likely to calm himself.

Usually, Justus would have taken this moment to tease his lord, but he knew that he had to be stern in this moment. 

“Did you try to do something with her, Milord?” He said, not trying to hide his impatience. 

His lord did not answer. His silence was all the confirmation Justus needed as he immediately transformed his schtappe into a paddle and thwacked his lord on the side of his head. 

“Justus! You-” Eckhart began to protest but Justus shot him a stern glare. That shut the young knight up for the moment. 

He turned back to his Lord, who was staring at him in confusion, having never been scolded by Justus before. Justus placed a hand on his hip and began his lecture, “Did I NOT tell you to be more cordial towards her? Yet you barged your way into her room without warning and tried something unsavory. You keep complaining that she has not earned your trust, but the same can be said about you, milord! May I say that you have done nothing but be cold to her and refuse her attempts to ensure your wellness. I would not be surprised if she prayed to Jungereise after your encounter. “

Ferdinand opened his eyes wide, then hung his head in response. It was harsh, but Justus needed to be clear about this. This girl had gone to great lengths for his lord, but all he could do was complain like some child and try to play games. At this rate, he would lose his fiance. 

“Y-you are right, I shall apologize right now.” His lord made the motion to get up but Justus brought the paddle down on him again. 

He held his head, but Justus fixed him a sterner glare. “I see that you have regressed into a child, milord, so I will be frank. She does not wish to see you right now. It would be best for you to wait until morning to see if she will approach you first. You will be lucky if she does, that means she truly favors you. “

His lord stared up at him, then nodded sadly in response, finally understanding. Justus sighed then sat down next to his lord. He used Heilschmerz’s healing then cleaned him using waschen. 

“Do not worry too much, milord. That girl is rather resilient and she seems to cherish you quite dearly. If you make the effort to apologize sincerely for your blunder, then I am sure that you two will reconcile.”

His lord looked down, staying silent for a few moments, before asking a question. “You two seem so ready to accept her words. It is much harder for me to accept such things without proof…Did she discuss anything with you two while I slept?”

Eckhart and Justus both looked at each other, as they both flashed similar grimaces as they recalled the memory. 

“Actually, Milord, it was my fault. I asked something careless and she suffered needlessly as a result.” Eckhart regretfully recounted. 

Ferdinand blinked and urged him to continue. They both recounted how they discussed how she mended his thread, and when Eckhart had told her to eliminate Veronica, the goddess of time retaliated when she even thought about it. 

Their lord looked down, guilt painting his features as he seemed about ready to bury himself in shame. 

Justus began to speak again. “I can only wonder how many times she has had to witness you close to death, milord. She seemed rather distraught when she recounted the memories and truly distressed when she was reminded that she could do nothing to stop your suffering. You have been too harsh on her, Milord. She is barely in her Autumn, yet she must watch her betrothed suffer endlessly. I only ask that you give her a moment of reprieve; she seems as if she truly needs it. Especially with how you have been treating her as of late, with little appreciation for all that she has done and sacrificed for you.”

His lord hung his head, then agreed. After a moment, he raised another question. “...I have never had to be cordial to someone before…How do I go about doing that?” His ears were burning red once more. 

Justus and Eckhart both looked at one another, then they both grinned as they began to give their lord some well needed advice. 

Chapter Text

It was like a haze had lifted from Ferdinand’s mind that night as memories, which had previously been vaulted, began to resurface; during his darkest of moments, when he felt as if his life was in peril, he would be saved by a woman who emerged from a tangle of golden thread - He would be too weak to move or even question this woman, all he could do was watch as she held him in her arms and moved quickly and efficiently to help him. Be it poison, bruises, or lack of mana, she would always know what ailed him.

“I’m so sorry, Ferdinand. I can do nothing to prevent your suffering.”, “If only I could help you more...”, “To watch you in pain is almost too much to bear.” She would say such things as she cradled him in her arms, waiting for him to recover. Her face would be looming overhead as she watched him, tears filling her moon-like eyes, with her midnight blue hair cascading around Ferdinand. 

When he would recover somewhat he would ask who she was and where she came from, everytime seemingly hurting her more and more as she could not answer. She would sit next to him, singing to him while stroking his hair. Tears always stained her face, a somber air always clung to her.   

During his last encounter, before he drifted to sleep, he called out to her, outstretching his hand. “Don’t leave me Roze…”, his eyes growing heavy as his father entered the replenishment chamber where he lay. The last thing he saw was the girl standing up to face his father. 

Ferdinand stirred from his dreams, or rather his memories, as Justus woke him. It was second bell of the next day and they were still in Roze’s high beast. 

He heaved a big sigh, feeling worse than he did yesterday. He had acted so rudely towards Roze; all she was doing and had been doing was help him, yet he still let his paranoia get the better of him. Justus had to point this out to him before he continued to treat his future fiance with disrespect, but he could only hope that his treatment of her up until this point would not fill her with distaste for him. These new memories he had recovered only added to his guilt and regret, and it took all of his strength not to walk up to her and apologize. Justus was right, though, he needed to wait to see if she would even be willing to talk to him. 

Ferdinand, Justus, and Eckhart all readied themselves for the day, and soon, Roze emerged from her room. Ferdinand could feel his heart freeze over when she immediately ignored him and walked straight up to Justus; she began to list things out she would need for their breakfast meal and gave him her amulet once again. 

Justus shot Ferdinand a few worrying looks before he nodded and readied himself in order to begin his trek back to the dorms. Ferdinand sat down at the table; he could only hold his head in his hands and gaze at the floor at her apparent coldness towards him. 

Of course she hates me, it is surprising that her distaste for me took so long to manifest… He was used to women treating him with scorn after they interacted with him, but for some reason this time it truly filled him with despair.

“Ferdinand…” He looked up with a jolt as Roze called out to him. She was looking down at him, with a conflicted look on her face. 

He held his breath, not sure what she was going to say next. She sat down next to him, then looked behind him, where his retainers stood.

“Would you like these, milord?” Justus approached, holding out some sound blocking tools. Roze gave him a small smile and took the tool without hesitation. Ferdinand, likewise, took the other. 

He turned back towards Roze, expecting to see her face filled with disgust for him, but instead he found her with a look of embarrassed hesitation; she began to fidget somewhat, not able to meet his gaze as she began to speak. 

“Ferdinand, about last night…” She began. 

“I’m sorry.” He interrupted. He hung his head as the guilt and regret he had been holding onto began to seep out of him, “I entered your room without permission, treated you rudely no matter how much you helped me, and tried to mix mana with you even though I had no right to. I acted like a fool…I would understand if you harbored distaste for me after your encounter with me…”

He usually would never apologize; he did not care if he burned bridges with those who find him unlikable, but with Roze, the thought of her never wishing to see him again filled him with a fear he had never known before. He glanced back up hesitantly to see Roze’s reaction, when she outstretched her hand to his chin. 

“Please raise your head, so I can look you in the eyes when I speak to you.” Ferdinand thought for a second that she wished to see him as he fell into despair but the look on her face said otherwise; She wore an expression of deep empathy and slight sorrow as she began to speak again. 

“I will admit, I was a bit annoyed by how distrustful you were of me no matter what I did, but I would never hold that against you. You have good reason to act in the manner you do, and I would never ask you to stop something you cannot help. I know you, but you do not know me, it would go without question that you treat me with distrust. I do not find that part of you unsightly or appalling and I would never come to hate you for those things, so please…do not make that expression.” She began to caress his cheek in order to smooth out his frown. 

She does not find my callousness appalling? I see… In response to her words, Ferdinand felt his heart begin to beat quite vigorously and something he could not place began to spring forth inside of him. All his life, he had been told that his coldness and uncaring attitude would never gain him favor, so to see someone so forgiving of his usual demeanor filled him with a strange sense of happiness. He had never met someone so understanding of his true nature; He turned his face away, in an effort to calm himself. 

Roze, in response, began to prod his cheek with her index finger, “Are you embarrassed?”

He furrowed his brow and shot her a glare, “I am not. “ He denied. 

She giggled, but then adopted a more stern pout, “I am quite cross that you entered my room without my permission. You should never try to sneak up on a Lady! Had you not been my fiance, I would have been quite scared…but I must apologize for how I responded to your teasing. I’m sorry for knocking you down, holding you down, and channeling mana into both of your hands….” She began to trail off as the flush on her face became unbearable. She slapped her hands over her face, in a failed attempt to hide her embarrassment. 

Ferdinand felt the heat inside of his body bubble up once again and ignite with a passion as he recalled the events of last night. He covered his face with one hand and looked away from her cute display of embarrassment. “I entered your room without permission, you could have attacked me or done anything you wished. Anything you did at that time was…justified.” He felt his face begin to burn as he finished his statement.  

He glanced back at Roze, who was now fiddling with her hair, using it to cover her mouth. “I-I see..” Ferdinand could not see her face, but he could tell that she hid a relieved smile. 

All of a sudden, a snort sounded from the door; Ferdinand turned to see Justus hunched over, gripping the wall and his mouth in an attempt to hide his amusement. Apparently, the scholar had opted for delaying his departure in order to watch their interaction. Eckhart stood facing the wall, clutching something in his hand. 

“Justus!” He hissed in angry embarrassment. 

“My apologies, milord, I lingered in order to ensure that you apologized properly. But to think she–pfft-” He could not hold in his laughter anymore as he began to chuckle openly. Justus brushed away a few tears which formed at the corner of his eyes as he finished his statement. “She is quite bold, milord. She suits you perfectly, I’m glad.”

Roze held her head in her hands as she hid her face in embarrassment at Justus’ remark. 

“Just go get the ingredients, Justus.” Ferdinand ordered, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. At once, he departed with haste in order to escape his master’s wrath. 

After Justus returned, Roze began to make breakfast. It seemed as if she was going to make a ‘quiche’ for them all so she requested some of their aid. Ferdinand watched as she explained what ingredients she needed them to chop up for her, she even requested Ferdinand and Justus to make a makeshift oven in order to cook it ; the oven itself was of a strange design and required a considerable amount of mana, but it worked as intended so she considered it a success. Cooking was surprisingly close to brewing so he rather enjoyed the session. 

He found himself analyzing Roze to a greater degree, now that he found himself so close to her: She instructed them with ease and smiled openly when he would meet her eye; unlike any noble he had ever encountered, she wore her heart on her sleeve and embraced all of those around her with her warmth. Such things would be a weakness for most nobles, and Ferdinand would usually scoff at such foolishness, but for her, he could not help but feel drawn to her smile, her laugh, and her openness. 

Once the quiche finished, they all sat down to eat; the fruit of their collective labor tasted rather good and he found himself enjoying the meal more than he usually would. 

“It is very good.” He remarked, feeling the tips of his ears burning as he added. “I see that you are blessed by Cuococalura amongst other things…” 

He glanced at Roze, in order to see her reaction to his praise, just to see her positively beaming with a gentle gleam in her eyes; Her eyelashes seemingly fluttered as she blinked at him, her smile radiated a deep affection, and her cheeks were tinged ever so slightly in Geduldh’s noble colors. 

“Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She responded in her gentle voice. He had to turn away, as he was sure that Kunstzeal was playing tricks on him the longer he stared at her. His heart began to throb and he had to steady himself with a deep sigh. 

Eckhart was staring at Ferdinand with wide eyes, while Justus wore a sly grin. Normally he would have scolded his retainers but luckily for them, Grammaratur seemed to abandon him at that moment, so all he could do was shakily eat the rest of his breakfast.  

Perhaps I have not recovered fully from the attack yesterday… He began to reason with himself, unsure what to make of his strange new symptoms. The textbook which detailed ternisbefallen attacks did not list these particular symptoms so he made note to consult his Book of Mestionora later. 

Chapter Text

Eckhart had grown too overconfident in his abilities; Justus had lectured him time and time again that following his lord’s orders was not always the best course of action but he could not fully understand the reason until yesterday. Eckhart had recently gotten his lord to accept his name, not even Heidiemarie or Lasfam had done so yet, so of course he thought he knew his lord best at this point. 

His lord had descended to aid the captured scholars and, likewise, Eckhart followed. He took pride in knowing what his lord would do next, but because of this, he did not stop to consider that his lord would be put in danger at any point. Had Roze, his lord’s fiance from the future, not saved him, then he would have met his end. 

Eckhart found himself questioning his ability to understand his lord as everything this girl did seemed to open up a new side of his lord that he had not seen before. He try would rise to intervene in her antics, but Justus would always wordlessly stop him in his tracks, imploring him to watch on silently. During those moments, he would not understand why his fellow retainer would do so, and he thought that he simply wished to watch on in amusement, but the longer he watched on as well, the longer he could see that his lord held some attraction for the girl, despite not knowing her for long. 

It was incomprehensible; his lord, who was so capable and infallible in his eyes, would flounder so much in her presence, taking on a different demeanor. His eyes would seemingly wander in her direction, and he would hurriedly look away when she would meet his gaze with a smile. Eckhart was not sure if he liked what she was doing to his lord, but Justus had offered his perspective.   

“Lord Ferdinand has never had a chance to act like someone his own age, do you not agree? He now feels the weight of nurturing a rafel for another and almost seems like a normal boy at the height of his summer. Do you not agree that having her by his side would ensure that our lord is well taken care of?”

Eckhart could not argue with his fellow retainer. As much as he hated to admit, he was a first rate attendant and Ferdinand’s longest serving namesworn retainer; He instantly recognized his lord’s attraction to this strange girl before his lord even realized it himself. Justus strove to follow his lords desires and guide him towards the path which would best suit him; it was these skills that Eckhart envied, and he wished to obtain them for himself. In order to improve his ability to understand his lord’s desires, Eckhart decided that would watch his reactions more closely. 

It was the dawn of the second day and they all exited Roze’s highbeast in order to meet at the Dunkelfelger gathering spot. Roze turned around and began to think for a moment, likely contemplating how she would shrink her highbeast with all of their belongings inside, when Ferdinand interrupted her train of thought as he got on his own highbeast. 

“It would be rather troublesome for us to pack up our items for you to shrink your highbeast and have to unpack them later. Leave the highbeast as it is now, you shall ride with me.”

Already, Eckhart was taken aback by his lord’s unpredictable behavior; he had only known this girl for a day, but it seemed that he fancied her quite a bit if he was willing to let her ride on his high beast. Lord Ferdinand had asked how to be courteous towards his fiance, but this was not one of the things Eckhart had expected him to do so willingly. 

Roze also seemed taken aback as she responded immediately, “You are acting rather kind today. I fully expected you to treat me coldly during this break in your thread, so this is a rather pleasant surprise.” She noted.

Lord Ferdinand scoffed dismissively, “I have been told by my retainers that I must treat my future fiance cordially, I am simply heeding their words.” He turned away, but Eckhart could see his ears redden to a degree.

She giggled, likely having noticed as well,“ Alright, just let me know if you cannot see.”

He snorted in response, then outstretched his hand in order to enable her to mount his highbeast. They were close to the same height, so it did seem like she would obscure his vision to a certain degree, but she leaned forward as if she expected as much. His lord wore a conflicted face which in turn caused Justus to begin shaking somewhat; Eckhart decided not to question it. 

They all ascended to the sky and quickly made their way to the gathering area; unsurprisingly, the Dunklefelger knights and scholars were already there, waiting. They watched as they all descended, their eyes widening as they looked upon his lord and Roze sharing a high beast. 

Heisshitze wore a truly baffled look as he approached the girl, who was aided off the highbeast by lord Ferdinand. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, before he kneeled down and started to speak. “Milady. My apologies for the other day, but we knights were so caught up in our fervor that we forgot to ask you of your name. We have brought great shame upon ourselves, not even requesting the name of our savior. If it would not trouble you, would you please share your name with us and where you hail from?”

Roze took a moment to consider her answer: Before they had left that day, they had asked her if she was going to share her origins with the knights and she stated that it would not likely be a problem. She seemed rather confident that the knights would not question her, Lord Ferdinand, Eckhart, and Justus could only look at her in disbelief.

“I am unsure you will believe me if I tell you the truth, but I am willing to reveal it. Can I ask that you not share my presence with anyone once I tell you?” She began. 

Heisshitze looked back at the others, who all nodded in response. He turned back and nodded as well, “You have my word as a knight, milady.”

She smiled in response, “I see, you may call me Roze, for now. I am a messenger sent from the goddess of time in order to mend Ferdinand’s broken thread. He is instrumental in the weave of Yurgenschmidt, you see, and the gods sent me to prevent 20 years of history from being erased. I hail from Ehrenfest in the future.”

The knights all froze, some looked down processing her words, and Heisshitze stayed silent for a moment before he spoke again. “So you were sent by the gods?”

Roze nodded in response. Heisshitze looked back to the knights and began to yell for all to hear, “She was sent by the gods!”

In response, some threw their fists in the air in frustration while others began to cheer. The four of them could only look on in confusion as they began to exchange some small satchels of money between each other. Heisshitze turned to explain. 

“My apologies, since we were unable to discuss things with others, we discussed things in depth amongst ourselves. We could only speculate about your origins, so some decided to raise a wager.” He held his hand out, to which a scholar placed a portion of coin in his hand. He counted it briefly, before returning his gaze with a smile. “A few of us correctly assumed that you were sent by the gods based on the beam of light which appeared before you arrived, the fact that you could freely wield divine instruments, and the amount of blessings you could bestow effortlessly. I hope we do not appear disrespectful…”

Roze could only chuckle in response, “No, no. I would never be so prude as to not allow playful wagers amongst yourselves. Rather, I am relieved that you so readily believed my words. It makes things much easier for me to carry out my duties.”

Eckhart could see Lord Ferdinand grimace slightly in the corner of his eye. He could guess that he felt some guilt at taking so long to believe and trust Roze. 

He raised his fist slowly and whispered to his lord, “Shall I silence them or beat some common sense into them, Milord?” Ferdinand sent him a glare and shook his head in response. 

Eckhart sighed; his lord felt guilt but he could do nothing to remedy it. It was not his lord’s fault that the Dunkelfelger knights were so easily won over. 

She cleared her throat and turned to all of the knights. “As promised, I shall heal your gathering spot. All I ask, is that the knights work to cull the influx of feybeast due to arrive and the scholars gather the materials they likely still require. I will likewise gather materials as I am low on my own potions after I lent some out to those who needed them. Do not worry, I shall provide a way for the scholars to collect in peace; All I ask is that some help me gather materials for my potions.”

The knights and scholars looked at each other, then began to nod, affirming the plan. She turned towards Eckhart, Justus, and Lord Ferdinand as well in order to affirm their plans. 

Together, they all began to walk towards the center of the gathering area; Roze immediately summoned her divine instrument and planted it firmly in the ground. 

“I have to pour a fair amount of mana into the earth to heal it to its original state. Afterwards, I will likely have to rest for a bit as my mana recovers. For now, I shall place a shield for those of us who need to collect. Knights ready yourselves.”

All of the knights drew their weapons and all of the scholars gathered around Roze. 

She began to chant her first spell to summon the shield. 

“O Goddess of Wind Schutzaria, protector of all. O twelve goddesses who serve by her side. Please hear my prayer and lend me your divine strength….”

A yellow dome formed around everyone once her chant was completed, to which they all looked on in awe. She continued, closing her eyes and planting her feet firmly. 

“O Goddess of Water Flutrane, bringer of healing and change, O twelve goddesses who serve by her side. Please hear my prayer and lend me your divine strength….”

Her mana began to swell and stir around her, as the ground began to change from a ghastly black sludge to rich brown dirt. Soon, grass and small sprouts began to spread out from her feet, fanning outward to cover the whole gathering spot. 

“...Grant me the power to heal your sister, the Goddess of the Earth Geduldh, who has been wounded by those who serve evil… “

A magic circle began to rise from the ground and the wind began to circle around; her hair fluttering in the wind, sprouts of plants rising from the ground, as her voice rang clear.  

“...I offer to you our joy and songs of glee, please cast the blissful ripples of your pure divine protection. May your divine color fill the land of my wish.”

She channeled more mana into her staff, with trees, flowers, and bushes forming before their very eyes, the circle rising far above their heads. She continued on until the circle seemed to ascend no further, to which she dismissed her instrument. 

They all exclaimed in amazement, as the gathering spot now appeared better than it had before. Many of the materials looked ripe for the taking, and Eckhart could only feel slightly jealous that she had done the restoration in the Dunkelfelger gathering spot. Perhaps if they asked Roze, she would fill their gathering spot as well. He turned to see if his lord felt the same, only to see him staring at Roze, as if boring his eyes into her. 

“Oho? Does Bluanfah dance?” Justus began to tease. 

Lord Ferdinand could only narrow his eyes in distaste. “Justus, do-”

“Oh? I was not talking about you milord.” Justus interrupted. Ferdinand blinked, to which Justus motioned to some of the knights standing opposite of them. 

They turned to look at them; true to his observation, several knights were staring at Roze with longing in their eyes, shy smiles on their faces, and slight flush on their cheeks. 

Eckhart felt unease, he reluctantly looked at his lord who wore an expression he recognized; On his face, he wore a look of disgust and distaste, oozing murderous intent as his eyes darkened the more he stared at the knights. 

Eckhart slowly raised his weapon in response, “Shall I strike them down, milord?”

Lord Ferdinand snapped out of his trance and quickly adopted a more neutral expression, “No, there is no need for that.” Eckhart could only feel some dejection as he was sure that was what his lord desired at that moment. 

Ferdinand looked back to Roze, then adopted a more nefarious smirk as the machinations of his mind began to manifest; he began to walk towards Roze to speak to her, making sure to make his familiarity be known to all those around him. Eckhart could only smile enthusiastically, his lord always shone best when he was plotting something. 

Chapter Text

They had gone early that day to heal the Dunkelfelger gathering spot; Ferdinand was unsure if Roze would be able to heal the spot in its entirety, but of course, she was someone who constantly achieved things outside of his expectations. 

With her divine instrument, she poured her mana into the land, sprouting and maturing the plants within the area. She looked as if it were second nature to her, performing the ceremony with her eyes closed: The grass sprung forth as if welcoming her presence, the wind swirled around her as if dancing to the hymn she cantillated, and the flowers bloomed openly as if they were soaking in the warm embrace of her mana. Ferdinand was so enraptured by the sight, he hardly noticed the magic circle that rose up during the ritual. 

Before, the Dunkelfelger knights had seemingly come to the conclusion that she was sent by the gods, all on their own; Ferdinand had not been able to understand how they were able to come to such a consensus without being told, but now he could understand. She indeed did seem to wield the power of the gods freely, with her otherworldly beauty. It would go without question that the gods favored her.

“Oh, does Bluanfah dance?” Justus interrupted his thoughts as he stared at Roze. 

Ferdinand did not like his retainer speaking out of turn and teasing him so he began to admonish him, “Justus, do-”

“Oh? I was not talking about you milord.” His retainer interrupted him, gesturing to the group of Dunkelfelger knights. 

Ferdinand turned to see that, indeed, within their eyes one could see that Bluanfah did dance for them. They stared at Roze with deep desire in their eyes, looking like love struck maidens who swooned over noble knights as they held their hands over their hearts. 

He felt something unsavory bubble up from within him as he looked at their reactions. “Shall I strike them down, milord?” Eckhart offered, seemingly reacting to his expression. 

He forced himself to fix his expression, then told his knight to stand down. It was not like those knights could ever hope to match her skills... and she was already engaged. 

…She is engaged to me already…

He could feel himself smile reflexively as he recalled that fact and he began to think of how to shoo away those pests. Soon, a plot arose within his mind. 

He approached Roze after she had dismissed her divine instrument. She turned to look at him with a smile. 

“Is there something you need? I was going to take a potion and rest for a moment before I begin to gather some things for myself. Were you not going to join the knights to cull the feybeasts?” She questioned. 

He flashed her a serene smile which made her nervous for some reason. “I have just come to check on you; it seems likely that quite a sizable amount of mana would be required in order to restore this area, so you must be tired. You stated that I was your doctor in the future, correct? I have already completed a fair amount of those courses so I should be able to do a standard check up for you.”

Holding up her hands, she began to politely decline his kind gesture, “There is no need for you to worry about me. I should be fine after I take a potion. I do not wish to bother you as you need to gather your own ingredients, no doubt. “

Ferdinand intensified his smile, “Did I not say that I had to act more cordial today? I will not leave until I have fulfilled my duties as your fiance, so relent.”

Roze stiffened and paled somewhat, but she nonetheless agreed to his insistence as she held out her hand for him to begin his exam. He smirked and made sure to make eye contact with the foolish knights as he grasped her hand. First he pressed his hand to her forehead, as was procedure, but to his surprise, her forehead was quite hot. It did not take long for him to discover that she had a high fever, so he hurriedly began to check her other vitals and found that they indicated that she was quite unstable at that moment. 

He looked at her with a glare, to which she averted her eyes, maintaining her elegant noble mask. Irritation took hold of him as he realized that she was trying to hide her condition from him. 

He scooped her off of her feet and began to look around frantically for somewhere for her to sit. She let out an inelegant sound of surprise, but he ignored her as he jogged over to a flat stone that would enable her to rest. He sat her down and began to question her. 

“Why would you not tell me that you were ill?” Ferdinand snarled. 

“I-I did not wish to bother you…I promised to heal the gathering spot and I will not be in this break of your thread for long, so it does not matter how I feel.” She responded timidly. 

Ferdinand could only grit his teeth. Justus’ words from the night before rang in his mind as he realized that she did not trust him enough to rely on him, even when she was on the verge of collapse. 

“...Have you not been resting in between the breaks of my thread?” Sweat began to form on his brow as he began to panic internally. 

In response to his question, Roze’s eyes seemed to darken as she lowered her gaze. She gave an airy smile so as to not alarm him. “Unfortunately, the gods do not have the same perception of time nor the same common sense as us. They send me to the next break as soon as I have finished fixing another, so there are no breaks in between. But do not worry, for this break, the gods have afforded me some more leeway as I can somewhat choose when I am ready to be called back.“

A pit opened in his stomach and his blood ran cold. Ferdinand began to search the memories which had resurfaced that night; During those memories, he witnessed Roze working tirelessly to help him, watching over him as he recovered, and soothing him to ease his worries. Never once did he see her sleeping or resting. 

He tried to count how many individual memories he had of these encounters, but, frustratingly, they seemed to bleed together. So then he tried to count the number of times he had his special dream about the moon healing him, to which he came up with a number that made him shake. 

I was only checking on her to sate my own childish jealousy, I would have likely never noticed her condition until she collapsed on her own. This girl is working herself to death to help me and all I can think of is my own selfishness…

Shame and regret welled up inside of him as he analyzed his own ineptitude. He did not feel worthy of her at that very moment. 

“Ferdinand, are you okay?” Roze looked at him with worry in her eyes. Even now, she was worrying about others instead of herself. In slight irritation, he began to pinch her cheeks in order to wipe that expression from her face. 

“Do not worry about me, you are the one who is ill. I will gather your ingredients for you, as I recall that you use the same potions as myself. Simply list any other items you require and I will begin to gather them once I have helped cull the population of feybeasts somewhat.”

She looked as if she was going to protest but he flashed her a harsh glare that would leave no room for arguments. He let go of her cheeks, to which she began to rub her face with a slight pout. She sighed, then nodded in defeat. 

“Good.” He nodded in triumph. He turned around, only to find almost all of the knights staring at him and Roze in bewilderment; Justus wore his usual teasing smirk, and Eckhart looked at him with a conflicted look. As soon as they all saw him returning their gazes, they carried on as if nothing was amiss. 

Heisshitze began to approach him with hesitation as the other knights began to go about their business. “While I did say that I hoped for you to move on after your canceled engagement, I am not sure that pursuing a woman who is betrothed to another would be the best course of action…”

Ferdinand began to tap his temple as he recalled that Roze had not elaborated on their relationship in the future. “She was sent by the gods from Ehrenfest in the future, to mend my thread; The reason she was chosen to help me was because she is my fiance from the future, so it would go without question that I worry for her.”

He looked up, expecting to see more disbelief upon Heisshitze’s face, only to be met with a dazzling and understanding smile on the knight’s face. He began to nod excitedly, as if the statement made perfect sense. 

“As expected of Lord Ferdinand! You would of course be engaged to someone who matched you in skill. I am overjoyed that you will be betrothed to someone you favor so dearly and who cherishes you in turn.” He puffed out his chest as if filled with pride. 

Ferdinand could only raise a brow as he did not understand the knight’s strange reaction. Heisshitze gave him a few hardy pats on the back as he continued, “I shall make sure the other knights know of this fact. It would save you some headache, no?” He smirked; It was likely that he witnessed Ferdinand's earlier display of disgust towards those who showed Roze favor. 

Ferdinand turned his face away and scoffed, “Do as you like, I will not stop you. I have other matters to attend to so such things are beneath me.”

Heisshitze began to snicker at this answer, then he ran off to meet with the other knights. Calling upon his retainers, Ferdinand began to list off the other items they would need to collect for Roze; he made a mental note to check her condition once they met back at camp. 

Chapter Text

Justus and Eckhart were collecting extra materials within the gathering spot after Roze had restored the area; It was a rather dazzling site, if he did say so himself, watching Roze pour mana into the land. However, it would seem as if his lord was especially enchanted by the young woman’s ethereal beauty as she replenished the land. Not only that, it seemed as if he was now rather protective of the girl as once Justus had pointed to some knights that held some fancy for her, his lord grew rather bloodthirsty as he stared at them. 

Justus could only look on in amusement as Lord Ferdinand tried to mark his territory in front of the abashed knights, however, it seemed as if he grew worried after checking Roze’s vital signs. He wore the same look of worry in his eyes as he did whenever he would learn that his father’s condition had worsened. Justus watched on as his lord conversed with his fiance. 

Apparently, Roze had not been resting all that much as she fixed the breaks in Ferdinand’s thread; it was rather surprising as there was no indication that she was so overworked and tired. She seemed almost as good as his lord when it came to concealing her pain and discomfort. They were lulled into a false sense of security as she was so open with her other emotions and she spoke with no deception in her voice, they did not think for a moment that she would hide the fact that she was rather ill from them. 

When their lord had enlightened them on this fact, Justus and Eckhart could only think of this girl with more pity in their hearts. She truly cared for their lord, if she was working herself to the verge of collapse, they had to make it up to her in some way. So, on their lord's command, they worked to gather materials for her so she would be able to rest for the remainder of the day. 

Anytime Roze would try to get up to help, Lord Ferdinand, from wherever he stood, would glare at her menacingly until she slowly sat back down. She would sit down reluctantly, but she seemed rather lonesome as she sat alone. The most she would be able to do was instruct some scholars who had offered to repay her for the potions they had borrowed. Justus approached in order to check on her. 

“Is there something that troubles you, Lady Roze?”

She looked up in surprise, as if she did not notice him approaching. After a second of fixing her expression, she smiled to reassure him, “There is not much for me to do as it seems as if Ferdinand will not let me gather my own materials.”

Justus smiled in response; he wanted to make sure that she did not feel stifled by his lord so he made sure to clear the air. “He only worries for your health, I assure you. He may seem as if he is being harsh at times, but it is simply because he does not know how to act gentle.”

“I know Ferdinand’s kindness is hard to understand at times, so do not worry. I am well aware how kind he is trying to be right now.” She looked off to the distance, her smile not leaving her face, “Not being able to do anything and being left alone with my thoughts is rather…”

Justus would have thought that she liked to keep busy like his lord, but the look in her eyes gave off a forlorn feeling. 

Perhaps there is something else she is not telling us…

He began to ponder for a bit, then he thought of a question to ask her. “Perhaps there is something I can give you so you can entertain yourself. Do you have anything in mind, milady?”

“A book.” She answered immediately. 

Justus was taken aback slightly by how quickly she answered but he recomposed himself to ask her to elaborate more, “Is there a particular book you have in mind? I may be able to get a specific book later when we get back to camp. Though, it may take me some time to obtain a book right now…”

She shook her head and continued to explain with a smile, “I only require something to read. Anything really, I love all types of books and reading materials.”

He could only blink in response. Apparently, she did not care for the subject, anything Justus could give her to read would be welcome. He thought about anything he had on his person to give to her now and remembered that he still had Lord Ferdinand’s research notes. He quickly obtained the notes and passed them to her. 

“Will this do?” He asked. 

In response, she held the notes to her heart as if entranced by its presence, her smile and eyes reflected what one would see from a maiden in love. 

Uh-oh, this does not bode well for me…Justus felt a chill up his spine as he turned to where his lord was slaying feybeasts. With his glare not breaking from Justus' eyes, he slew a handful of small feybeasts with his scythe, turning them to feystones which fell all around him with dull thuds. A menacing aura surrounded him as displeasure blatantly painted his features. 

He gulped and excused himself so he could approach his lord in order to explain himself. 

“May I ask what you said to her for her to wear such an expression?” His lord asked with an icy smile. 

Justus began to plead his case, “I went to go check on her to make sure that she did not feel stifled by your orders. She seemed understanding but she lamented that she had nothing to do in the meantime so I asked if I could retrieve anything for her to entertain herself. She requested something to read so I provided your research notes which resulted in her change in expression.”

Ferdinand looked back at Roze, who was now sitting with the notes open. She seemed as if she was distracted by something as she stared off to the distance with a hard to read expression. His lord flashed some worry on his face as he looked back to Justus. 

“Is she satisfied reading my notes? Would there not be something more interesting for her to read at her leisure?”

Justus shook his head, “I asked her the same thing, but she stated that she loved all books and reading material, regardless of the topics. She seemed rather interested when I first presented it to her, so I do not know what has her so distracted now. Perhaps you should ask her?”

His lord seemed to consider the question for a moment before shaking his head, “I do not think she trusts me enough to tell me such things. For now I will try to monitor her health the best that I can for now, that is likely the extent to which I can care for her.” He spoke and held himself like he normally did, but Justus could tell that he had slight dejection in his eyes. It would seem as if his lord did want to help Roze, but due to the fact that she did not trust him to help her, he felt as if he could not.

“Do you want to help her more, Milord?” Justus asked. 

Lord Ferdinand’s eyes widened slightly, before he looked down and responded, “I am doubtful that I would be able to…”

Justus could only sigh in response; he had a feeling that he needed to spur his lord into action as he was acting rather passively right now. He cleared his throat and began to implore his lord. “My lord, I am unsure if you are aware, but Roze will only be with us for three days. Once she leaves, we will forget all memories associated with her and we will forget that she ever existed.” He made sure to give his lord a stern look in order to get his point across. “Do you wish for her to leave without her sharing her burdens with you now? Would you not feel shame in the future if you did not help your fiance when she really needed it? If you need her to trust you, you will never obtain her trust if you continue to hold your distance and continue to be hesitant to ask her about her problems.” 

His lord seemed to finally realize and understand as he adopted a more determined look as he responded. “I understand. I will try to clear the area as fast as I can then I will find a moment to talk to her once again. Can I trust you and Eckhart to collect all of our materials?”

“Of course, milord. “

Ferdinand thanked him and quickly began to systematically cull the feybeasts within the area, swiftly moving about the gathering spot to dwindle their numbers to a more acceptable amount. He swung his scythe with precision and nimbly moved about as if he was the wind itself. No one would ever suspect that he had been critically injured the day before. It was this impressive display which caused the other knights to become invigorated themselves, and soon, they all hunted the beasts with vigor. 

Justus quickly called his fellow retainer’s attention and began to discuss what he had discussed with their lord. 

“I see…That is why his fervor has seemingly increased…” Eckhart noted as he stared at lord Ferdinand, who was still tirelessly culling the numbers of the feybeasts. 

“Indeed.” He agreed. It was rather rare to see their lord so motivated; most of the things their lord did was out of necessity or survival so this was a pleasant change of pace. 

It was not long before the gathering spot was stabilized, which allowed their lord to approach Roze once more. Justus watched from the corner of his eye as they seemed to discuss a few things, however, he could only lament that he could not focus on their conversation. He would have to ask his lord how their talk went later. For now, he resolved to collect all of the materials his lord required so he could speak without worry. 

Chapter Text

It was only a week ago from Rozemyne’s perspective; She was standing in Irmhilde’s hidden room when she was called back by the goddess of time, with no warning or time to say goodbye to her friend. It would be the last she ever saw her friend. She stood alone crying in an endless room, surrounded by the image of the vast night sky full of shimmering stars. 

‘You have done well, now it is time to fix the next break in Ferdinand’s thread’

That was all Dregarnuhr had to say about her sudden departure, not even caring about Rozemyne’s anguish or despair. Just as quick as she left, she was sent to the next break, not even getting a chance to rest. 

All of the next breaks in Ferdinand’s thread were much shorter in comparison to the first, but much more harrowing as he would be in immediate peril; She had no time to think as she would have to immediately spring into action in order to save Ferdinand. He would always be alone, away from his retainers, clinging to life. 

“Who are you?”, “How did you find me?”, “Did Veronica send you to finish me off?” He would ask her such things with what little strength he could muster, becoming more and more guarded the further in his thread she traveled. He looked at her as if she were a stranger, which filled her with heartache every time. 

So torturous were these breaks, that she always broke down into tears as she watched him recover, holding his tiny frame close to her own. He would always stare up in bewilderment, not sure what to make of the strange woman who cried for him. She never answered his questions, she knew that he would forget her every time, so she just carried on healing him and comforting him the best she could. Eventually, he would drift off to sleep, and she would rest somewhat as well. Whenever she heard footsteps approaching to help him or whenever he would recover enough to stand on his own, she would vanish without warning. 

It wore down on her, and soon, she began to become so frustrated and disheartened. During the last break, as he drifted off to sleep, she heard Ferdinand whisper. “Don’t leave me…Roze…”

It was like something in her snapped at that very moment as she turned to the steps which approached them. 

It was the Aub. 

She began to yell at him, screaming about how he had failed Ferdinand. All of her frustrations began to rush out of her as she began to vent her anguish, with hot tears streaming down her face. 

“You are going to fail Ferdinand like you failed Irmhilde! Why did she have to die?! Because you refused to listen to her like you refuse to listen now! Step up! Be Better! You Failure!”

She gripped at her heart as she sobbed, feeling her mana surging as her despair became almost too much to bear. 

She was called back by Dregarhur soon after. 

‘You have done well, next–” 

“STOP!” She interrupted as she fell to her knees, angry tears falling into the endless void. “It’s too much! I need time to recover! To think! To say goodbye!”

She curled up into a ball, hugging her knees as she sobbed, in the cold, lonely void. Soon, she passed out. 

She awoke to green lights falling all around her. She did not know how much time had passed, nor did she care. Sadness singed her heart as the Goddess spoke again. 

‘I see we have been too hard on you. Our perception of time is different, so forgive me. I see you will require time to finish things on your end. I have been retrieving you once the thread has  been mended, but I see that you will need some extra time. During this break, I will be able to allow you more freedom to choose the exact time you are called back. The gazebo dedicated to me is near this next break, so once the time period is up, merely walk back to the gazebo and I should be able to retrieve you at a more precise time. You will be further away from Ferdinand, but you will be able to make it time if you act immediately. The thread will be mended in about three days, so return to the gazebo by then.’

Rozemyne steadied herself with a few breaths; this was likely as kind as the Goddess was willing to be so she took the deal. In all honesty, she would rather be near other people than the gods at that moment as the gods could hardly distinguish humans from animals, and they likely looked at her like some petulant child. 

She agreed and she was sent off to help Ferdinand during a ternisbefallen attack. 

It was now the second day of the mend and Rozemyne had noticed a change in Ferdinand; before he treated her with so much distrust and distaste, she was sure that she would leave this break without getting him to trust her. However, much to her surprise, it seemed like he warmed up to her after their apologies to one another. 

It was rather embarrassing that he had teased her and she retaliated in a bolder way, but she felt justified in that moment. She had been worried that she would be called a shameless woman again, but to her surprise, he apologized first and it seemed as if he truly regretted his actions. It made her sad that he thought that she would hate him, as he looked down with eyes filled with no self worth, but luckily she was able to clarify that she would not hate him for his frosty behavior.

In truth, even though he had been rude entering her room without permission, she was not too cross with him; Because of his rude entry, she was distracted that night and she was no longer alone with her thoughts. Whenever she was left to her own devices, she would naturally think of her friend, Irmhilde, and begin to spiral into a pit of sadness and despair. He had unknowingly helped her, so she of course could not really be mad at him. 

This was only a momentary distraction, however, as she again found herself alone with her own thoughts; she wanted to keep busy, in order to not think of the days before, but now, because she was ill, she was forced to rest and be left alone with her own thoughts. 

She did not hold this against anyone, as how could they know about how much she was hurting at this moment. Rozemyne had not told anyone either, as she did not think they would be able to help her nor did they know her well enough for that. She would have to hold herself together enough to mend Ferdinand’s thread, and then afterwards, when she could see her Ferdinand, she could cry and vent all she wanted. 

Rozemyne sighed as she stared into the distance, with Ferdinand’s notes in her hand. She had already read these notes in the future, but it was nice to have something to read. It was nice, however, she still found herself distracted; She was too distracted to read and she again found herself thinking of her friend. A pit opened up in her stomach and she felt her mana stirring with her emotions, making her dizzy as the world started to swirl as she began to pull herself into dismay. 

Soon, she was snapped out of her turmoil as she heard a familiar voice. 

“Roze!” Ferdinand called, slight worry in his voice. He grasped her shoulder, having to shake her somewhat to get her attention. She blinked as she refocused herself and forced a smile on her face again. 

“I’m sorry Ferdinand. I did not hear you approaching as I was lost in thought. Is there something you need?”

He grimaced slightly and shook his head. “I came to check on your condition, but I found you in a sorry state. Did you not notice me pressing feystones to your forehead?”

Rozemyne could only avert her eyes somewhat as she, of course, did not. Ferdinand heaved a big sigh as he sat next to her, seemingly mulling over something for a few seconds, before he handed her a soundblocking tool. She blinked in surprise, but accepted the tool nonetheless. 

“I know you do not trust me to help with your issues but, might I ask what has you so troubled?” He broached. 

Her mouth opened slightly, ready to spill all of her problems to him, but she managed to hold her tongue. She simply smiled and shook her head. “I am not sure you could help me even if I told you. I’m sorry…Your memories of the past have been erased so there is no point in me explaining. I would only waste your time.” Her eyes cast down as she recalled that fact. 

“Actually, last night, I had some memories resurface while I was dreaming. I can recall the many times you saved me when I was at my most prone…It would not sit well with me if I did not return the favor, so please tell me what troubles you.” He implored, his face marked with worry. 

Hope filled Rozemyne’s heart as she hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, “Your memories came back?! Then do you remember our dinners with Irmhilde? All the time we spent together with her?” Her heart began to race as she hoped he would remember all the conversations they all had together and how much Irmhilde cared for him. 

“I had dinner with you and Irmhilde? I’m sorry…I don’t recall having dinner with anyone before my baptism…” He looked at her, wide eyed confusion upon his face. 

Her heart sank to a new low and darkness muddled her peripherals; it was like someone took the ground from under her as she felt herself falling into a pit of despair. 

Was everything I did for nothing? What was the point if he would just end up forgetting her? Is it my fault that he lost memories of his mother?

Rozemyne lowered her head as she felt weighed down by her despair, bitterness gripping her heart. 

Suddenly, Ferdinand flourished his cape over her and hid her from the eyes of others. He obscured her face somewhat as he pressed more feystones to her forehead. 

“It seems that my words have only caused you heartache. I have never had any skill in such matters, so I am rather useless when you need me. I asked you what your problems were, but I did not think for a moment if I would be equipped to handle them ....” Guilt and sadness reflected in his eyes as he looked at her, “I am sorry…”

He wiped the tears, which rolled down her cheeks, with his handkerchief. Rozemyne took in a few deep breaths, steadying herself again. 

“You may not be equipped to help me right now, but could you still stay with me…I do not wish to be alone right now.” She looked up at him, her eyes silently begging him to stay. He looked away for a second, before he returned his gaze. 

“You would ask me to stay, even though there is nothing I can do to help you?”

She shook her head as she clarified, “There are more ways to be of use to someone. I do not wish to be alone right now and I wish to be distracted. That is more than enough for me right now. I do not think I would wish to speak about my problems even if you were equipped to handle them…please, just stay with me.”

Ferdinand hesitated for a moment, before he looked at her with resolve and nodded. Placing his hand on her eyes and chanting the spell for healing, he affirmed, “Okay, Roze, I will stay with you. I promise”

Chapter Text

It was when Ferdinand had gone to check on Roze, that he noticed her looking off into the distance, with her mana stirring. He had to press feystones to her forehead and shake her back to attention in order for him to get her back under control. Justus had advised Ferdinand to talk to Roze, to figure out her troubles, but he soon realized that he was ill equipped to handle such discussions. 

When she had heard that he had gained some of his lost memories, she felt some momentary happiness; this was short lived, however, as they were not the memories she had wanted him to regain, and anguish shortly followed this revelation. 

Ferdinand felt as if he made it worse, and it would have been better if had never approached her, but she insisted on him staying; She begged him with her big, moon-like eyes, and he found it impossible to refuse. 

He sat next to her, not really sure what to talk about. He looked around, hoping to find something to discuss with her; It was then that he noticed his research notes next to her. He raised a questioning brow as he proceeded to ask, “Did you finish reading my notes?”

Roze looked down, then picked up the notes and passed them back to him, “Yes, I am sorry for borrowing them without your permission. Justus gave them to me so I could distract myself.”

He grabbed them and shook his head, “I am not mad, I am just surprised that you would hold any interest in reading incomplete research. I have other books within my dorm room which you may find more entertaining.”

She beamed a happy smile as she nodded to his offer, “I would appreciate it if I could read those books, especially if I could discuss their contents with you. I have read your notes in the future, so I am used to reading incomplete notes. Additionally, you promised me that you would make whatever research you did in the future into books so I could fill my library, so I will no doubt read even more of your notes in the future.”

He blinked; she was able to change her expression so quickly, he could hardly tell that she had been distressed a moment ago. He looked at her more warily, “I am surprised that you would allow me to research freely in a newly established duchy, certainly there would be more pressing matters for me to attend to-”

His words were interrupted by her taking on a stern pout, as she angrily prodded his cheek, “Your happiness is very important to me, Ferdinand. I know that you are happiest and relaxed when you are researching. That is why I promised to provide you with labs for raising feybeasts, feyplants, and feyfish.” She puffed out her chest and placed her hands on her hips, “I am aub, it is my duty to make sure that you are happy. I did promise Sylvester afterall. “

My happiness is that important to her? Ferdinand could only feel his heart quicken at that revelation. Not only had she insisted that he have free time in the future, but she also offered to build him three labs. He could only question why she held such favor for him.

“Surely there would be no need for you to go out of your way to provide me with such facilities. There is little for you to gain so I do not understand the merit behind such things…”

Roze simply pouted at his question, “It should be clear by now the length I would go to ensure your happiness and wellness. You do so much for me in the future, it is only natural that I do the same for you.” She scooted closer to him, making sure to meet his eyes. He tried to look away, as she was too close now, but she gently turned his head back with her hands, “You need to know how much people value and cherish you. I will not allow you to undersell your own worth.“

Ferdinand could feel his pulse within his ears and his heart seemed about ready to leap out of his chest. Her hands were incredibly soft and warm, and he could feel the mana which surrounded her gently caress him once again. It took all of his strength not to fixate on her delicate pink lips as he found it harder and harder not to notice them. He swallowed his urges, hurriedly moved her hands away from him, and ensured that some distance was placed between them. 

“I-I understand. I will work hard to pay you back in the future.”

She placed a hand on her cheek and let out a small, troubled sigh. “I hope you do not have some strange assumption that our union will be transactional. I am with you because I enjoy your company, so there is no need for you to pay me back.”

He squeezed his eyes shut at that statement, She’s making it worse…

His heart was now throbbing, seemingly skipping beats every time she spoke. He began to seriously question what affliction the ternisbefallen had given him. As if reading his mind, she placed a hand on his forehead. Ferdinand could not help but jolt somewhat as she stared at him with worry. 

“Are you okay Ferdinand? Have you not recovered completely? You were injured quite greatly yesterday, and you do have the habit of hiding your discomfort..”

He could only furrow his eyebrows in slight annoyance at her words. He pinched her cheeks, hoping to wipe her expression from her face once more. “I could say the same about you. Think before you spout such hypocritical statements.”

Roze slapped his hands gently, in an attempt to get him to release her from his grasp. “S-sorry! I’ll try to communicate better!”
 
He let go, satisfied by her promise to voice her concerns more freely. She rubbed her face and began to pout once more, “You have to promise too, Ferdinand. If you're sick or tired, I want you to say something. It's not fair if you don’t share your concerns with me as well…” She cast her eyes downward, as if wounded by this fact. 

Ferdinand felt his heart squeeze slightly as he looked at her dejection. He looked away and began to meekly agree, “I understand. I will try…”

She smiled softly at his promise, then again began to question him, “Is there something that is on your mind? You seem uncomfortable, so if you believe that you are still recovering from that attack yesterday, please tell someone.”

He looked down and began to recount his symptoms which he was not sure of. Heart palpitations, restlessness, visual hallucinations…

He would have told her about these symptoms, but the thought of telling her such things made him uncomfortably hot. Ferdinand swallowed his words, and instead took a different approach, “I have none of the symptoms which were listed for ternisbefallen attacks, so there is no need to worry. I recovered quite well due to your care you forced upon me…” He looked at her reluctantly before he continued, “..I never did thank you properly for that, did I? It was due to your insistence and stubbornness that I recovered so well so…thank…you…”

He would have to admit that his gratitude could have been worded more graciously, but he had little experience with such things that it was the best he could muster at this time. He would have expected her to comment on this lackluster praise, like most did, but Roze seemed to take his comment in stride. 

With lips tinged a beautiful pink, which would put to shame any hue Efflorelume could muster upon any flower, she smiled delicately. Her hair fluttered in the wind which seemed to waft and carry her scent in his direction. Ferdinand watched as she seemed to radiate satisfaction and joy from his statement; Her eyes crinkled slightly from the genuine mirth she felt at that moment. “I learned from the best after all. Your genuine words make me happy. “ She giggled. 

Ferdinand flourished his cape over her again, then frantically began to look around. There was no one else looking, thankfully. 

“Bwuh?! What’s wrong?” Roze began to fumble her hands around as her vision was now completely obscured. 

Why did I do that? He began to speak in defense of himself. “Your emotions are much too open. Has no one told you as much?”

She finally managed to take the cape off of her head and began to answer, “Yes, but I only show my true emotions freely to those who I am close to. There are many who would scold me about that though…” She cast her eyes down, as if recalling a sad memory. After a fraction of a second, she shook her head somewhat and lightly slapped her cheeks to snap herself back to attention. She adorned her usual smile and refocused her attention back to Ferdinand. “Even if someone saw my noble mask slip during this time, they would simply forget once I left. I would not worry too much as those who I meet in the future would likely forget my presence here. “

Ferdinand could feel his heart sink somewhat at her reminder; he had not dwelled on that fact before as he did not trust her then, but now he found himself bitter at this revelation. Frustration also ebbed at him as he could tell now that something was eating away at Roze, but she would not tell him as he was ill equipped to handle such issues. 

He sighed and rubbed his forehead, at a loss of what to do. Roze once again looked at him with worry. “Ferdinand?”

I suppose the best I can do for her right now is keep her mind off of things and stay with her so she is not lonely…

He straightened his back, and looked at Roze again, “I was just thinking what books I should request Justus to retrieve for us once we return. Think of it as a reward of sorts for your hard work today.”

She adopted a more cheery demeanor, “If you will read and discuss them with me, then it can be any that you like!”

Ferdinand could not help but smile back. “Okay, but I enjoy those which rely heavily on research so I do not wish to hear you complaining if you do not understand.”

Roze huffed playfully in response, “Who do you think I am? I love all books, I do not discriminate.” She looked up, as if recalling something, then donned a more mischievous smile, “There is something I must do before I depart. I must ensure that I receive the help of those from Dunkelfelger.” She began to mutter to herself, planning something Ferdinand could not hear. 

He squinted his eyes and began to interrogate her, “What are you planning?”

She simply placed a hand on her cheek in response, “Your reward for helping Dunkelfelger tend to their gathering spot. Do not worry, I will make sure to negotiate for you.”

He raised his brow and was about to ask her to elaborate when Justus came to announce that lunch rations had been prepared. 

Chapter Text

Justus and Dunkelfelger had begun to prepare lunch rations for their group after culling the numbers of feybests; Both Eckhart and Justus had successfully gathered enough materials for their lord and Roze so they now were preparing the rations they all were going to eat. 

Eckhart watched as Justus went to retrieve his lord, who was conversing with Roze. They soon returned, with Lord Ferdinand escorting his fiance; Even though the sight was rather new to him, Eckhart tried not to bat an eye. Sitting in an area which would serve as their eating spot, he waved them towards him. 

Roze and Ferdinand sat down near each other and both Justus and Eckhart handed them their rations, respectively. Eckhart could not help but lament at the drop in quality of their meal; looking around, it appeared as all of them shared that sentiment. 

Heisshitze approached their group, with a jovial grin on his face. “I must thank you, Lady Roze. It is thanks to you that we may rest easy now that our gathering spot is fully replenished!”

Eckhart began to consider something for a moment: now that Dunkelfelger had their gathering spot replenished, and once Ehrenfest’s involvement was discovered, would they be blamed for the damages to the Sovereignty? Sweat began to bead on his brow as he kept his observation to himself. 

Roze placed a hand on her cheek and tilted her head in response, “Oh? I hope you are not operating on the assumption that we are done.”

Heisshitze blinked in confusion, with his once happy smile pulling into a line. Roze continued, “If you look from above, you will be able to see the cutoff from where Dunkelfelger’s gathering spot was healed to where the Sovereignty was damaged. It looks rather suspicious, does it not? An outsider would assume that Dunkelfelger had damaged the sovereignty in protest, ensuring that their own gathering spot was unharmed.”

Heisshitze’s eyes now blanked and pallor began to become visible upon his skin. He hurriedly began to implore Roze, “My duchy is still in danger! What can I do?!” He hung his head. 

Roze adopted her peaceful smile once again. “I do not wish to see your duchy punished either, so fear not, I will still aid you with replenishing the land. However, only gathering spots possess the magic circles which aid in replenishment, so it will require me to pour more mana than I did before. I will only be able to heal about half of the damage in the sovereignty today then we will finish the rest tomorrow.” She let out a sigh and looked to Ferdinand and the rest of their group, “I would ask for Ehrenfest’s continued help but I am not sure if they would find any value in that since they have already received their materials.”

The three boys blinked, not really sure where she was going with this, but she continued, “It is only fair that in exchange for their continued assistance and silence on this incident, Dunkelfelger will provide their help if I pour mana into Ehrenfest’s gathering spot. It is in dire need of replenishment as well, no doubt.”

Eckhart and Justus began to nod their heads enthusiastically at her offer; this would allow their lord to deny requests for ditter for some time as he could simply use Ehrenfest’s gathering spot for the items he required. Eckhart looked at his lord, expecting to see similar satisfaction upon his face, only to see a look of confliction. 

He was unsure why his lord held such a face; objectively, this was an offer that would greatly benefit them. 

I will have to ask about that later…

Heisshitze nodded passionately in response, “Yes, it is only fair. I will make sure that the other knights are in agreement, I doubt any would protest to such an arrangement.”

He began to step away from the group, but he stopped midway as if he recalled something. Turning back to face their group, he adopted a more stern face; discreetly, he sat down with his food in hand, talking in a low voice as to not allow others to overhear. 

“It was with our discussions last night that we came to the conclusion that this was indeed an attack on our gathering spot by a malicious actor.”

They all looked at him with hardened faces; They already suspected such things, but whether Dunkelfelger would blame Ehrenfest was of more concern for them. Dunkelfelger had rightfully guessed that Roze was sent by the gods, so Eckhart had to admit that they were smarter than he gave them credit for at times. Roze contemplated for a second before she began to question him. 

“May I ask what has led you to this conclusion?”

Heisshitze nodded and began to elaborate. “The first scholar who was attacked gave his full account after he had recovered. Apparently, when he was gathering, he witnessed something soaring through the sky near him. When he had gone to investigate, he happened upon a sizable feystone laying on the ground. Before he could inspect it, the ternisbefallen, which started out no bigger than a pup, consumed it. He watched as it doubled in size, and as he looked around to see if anyone had witnessed what he had just seen, he swore that he saw someone cloaked in darkness, deep within the forest, before the ternisbefallen attacked him.” He leaned forward, with a grim expression. “So it seems as if there were indeed malicious actors who wished to cause us trouble.”

It was lord Ferdinand who began to speak next, “What conclusion have you come to, then? Why do you suspect someone would attack Dunkelfelger’s gathering spot?”

Tension hung in the air as they all waited for Heisshitze to answer. He took a sip of his drink with his eyes analyzing Lord Ferdinand more closely. Setting down his cup, he continued, “Although I myself have suspicions who may have been personally targeted…” Heisshitze analyzed their lord for an extra second before he adopted a more blasé demeanor; He shrugged his shoulders and placed a more lighthearted grin upon his face, “It does not matter at this point of time. All that matters is the fact that Dunkelfelger’s gathering spot was attacked and we shall see to it that whoever is responsible is punished. Most of the others are operating on the assumption that those within Werkstock are indirectly targeting Dunkelfelger due to our support of the fifth prince after Magdelena’s engagement. This narrative is most believable so who am I to question it?”

Everyone looked at Heisshitze in astonishment, with a wide array of emotion displayed on their faces. Eckhart met eyes with Justus, who had his eyes open in slight surprise; they simultaneously observed their lord who had a mix of confusion and caution upon his countenance. Glancing at Roze, she likewise had some surprise upon her face, but this quickly shifted to a soft smile. 

“As expected of Ferdinand’s friend.” 

Heisshitze’s eyes widened briefly at her statement, but he quickly adopted a wide grin and began to excitedly nod his head. Lord Ferdinand’s expression morphed into a harsh glare. 

“Do not-”

“Exactly!” Heisshitze interrupted. Standing up with his food, clenching his free hand, he began to speak with gusto, “So do not worry! I will ensure that the others do not come to the same conclusion. “ He puffed out his chest and scuttled away before their lord could correct the misunderstanding. 

They all watched as he rejoined the other Dunkelfelgerians, waving goodbye as he left. Roze waved to him, sweat forming on her face as she could now sense the rage radiating from their lord. 

Justus discretely passed a sound blocking tool to Eckhart; Eckhart was not fond of his fellow retainer’s desire for gossip, so he tried to return the tool but it was just shoved back to him. Without changing his demeanor, Justus began to talk. 

“Just watch.”

Eckhart narrowed his eyes in slight confusion, but he held his tongue for the moment; apparently his fellow retainer did not wish for him to interfere. 

“Roze.” Their lord called, in a low, icy voice. They could see Roze’s shoulders twitch slightly in fear; she turned slowly to face their lord, noticeably averting her eyes somewhat as to lessen the wrath she felt. “You have some explaining to do.”

Roze looked around, still avoiding looking at Lord Ferdinand directly. She daintily placed a hand to her mouth and feigned ignorance. “Oho…whatever do you mean? He is your friend, no?”

“Do not make such careless remarks on my behalf, such labels are dangerous for a noble to have. Declarations like that would only prove to serve as a weakness for others to exploit. Fool.” He spat, not even attempting to hide his anger. 

Rather than cower further, Roze straightened up and glared back at him. Eckhart was slightly taken aback by her immunity towards their lord’s anger. “But he is your friend! If not for Dunkelfelger, then I would not have been able to save you! He truly wishes the best for you, even if he may be too eager at times…” She trailed off slightly, but shook her head as she continued with a pout. “I told you that you must realize how much others cherish you! It would do you no good if you do not appreciate those who do.” 

For once, their lord faltered at her statement; it was for the briefest of moments, but to witness his lord waver at her backless remark made Eckhart tremble. 

Justus observed his reaction, and began to speak again, discretely covering his mouth as to not allow the others to see. “She is not wrong.”

Eckhart wanted to argue; if anything, others did not appreciate his lord enough, but he would have to admit, Heisshitze was one of the only ones that sung the praises for their lord. Lord Ferdinand’s reputation was so low, that many dared not speak of him, but Heisshitze alone openly praised him for his achievements. Many times, it would be the challenges from Heisshitze which coaxed their lord out of Hirschur’s lab and the banter between the two of them allowed their lord to drop his noble mask for the briefest of moments. Heisshitze even tried to find a way for their lord to leave Ehrenfest once he learned of his mistreatment, and even though their lord would never admit it, he truly wished for a way to leave Ehrenfest; His hand would have to be forced for him to leave, as he would never do it himself, but it was Heisshitze who had provided him an opportunity back then. 

Lord Ferdinand narrowed his eyes, glaring at Roze, “It is not only your careless remark, but also the ‘reward’ you mentioned. Did I not tell you to not strain yourself?” His lord paused, grimacing in slight frustration. “Why would you go to such lengths?”

Eckhart felt his pulse quicken and his eyes widen as he witnessed his lord completely change before him. Usually, such a reward would have been welcomed, even demanded by his lord; a noble would hope to gain the advantage in any situation and his lord would have seen the merit of receiving such a reward. But here, it seemed as if it troubled him greatly due to the strain it would cause Roze. The solitary path that their lord walked demanded that he only care about his own well being; caring for the wellness of another was unprecedented, especially someone he did not know. 

Justus only glanced at Eckhart as he began to speak, “It would seem that our lord’s feelings are genuine. He holds her well being as a priority.”

Eckhart could no longer deny his lord’s fondness for the girl; the rafel which he nurtured for her was rather sizable, it even warped his usual common sense. 

Roze looked at Lord Ferdinand in surprise as well, but after a moment, she began to smile genuinely; Delicately, she placed her hands over his and looked at their lord with a softness that no one had ever shown him before. 

“Heisshitze will forget my words once I am to leave. Likewise, you all will forget me as well once I return to the gazebo dedicated to the Goddess of time. Every time I leave, there is little to no trace that I was ever there to help you…It is from my own selfishness that I wish to leave a mark of sorts; This is a mark that will show my care for you, even if you do not know who was responsible. This way, it will feel as if my efforts are not futile and it will feel more tangible.” She lifted one of her hands to his face and began to attempt to smooth out his furrowed brow. “So do not worry, I ask that you please grant me this selfish wish.”

Lord Ferdinand had the look of defeat upon his face as he mulled over her request. Finally, heaving a heavy sigh, he agreed reluctantly, “Alright, however there will be conditions; As your doctor, I will ask that you immediately rest once you have replenished some of the Sovereignty today. I will have Justus stay with you in your highbeast.” 

Justus nodded in agreement to his lord's words. Roze had a look of satisfaction on her face, having gotten what she desired. They all finished their meals as they discussed their plans for the rest of the day as well as tomorrow. 

Watching his lord and Roze bicker back and forth about the details, Eckhart felt some happiness knowing that his lord would have someone so close to him in the future. He resolved himself to ensure that their fleeting time together during her visit would go without incident or interruption. 

Chapter Text

Even though he did not like to be the bearer of bad news, Heisshitze found it necessary to inform his fellow knights that there was still more work ahead of them. He returned to his group after his discussion with Ehrenfest. 

“What?! We are still not done?!” The knights groaned. They all wanted to put this incident behind them and continuing to act stealthily was not in their nature. All of them bemoaned the fact that they could not discuss any of the events they had witnessed with the other fellow knights, and Heisshitze could sympathize; not being able to boast about one's victories was truly agony. 

It was like there were two Ferdinands now, as Lady Roze matched him in skill and unpredictability; All of them wished nothing more than to discuss all of the unforeseen events which had occurred but even the zealous knights knew that it would be disastrous if they did. 

Luckily, they would be able to dismiss the scholars of the sword now, as they no longer required materials, but some vocalized that they wished to stay in order to ensure their debt was repaid to Lady Roze - They carried the items which she requested of them, and they planned to pass these items to Lord Ferdinand’s retainers once they returned back to camp. 

They quickly finished their meal and headed out with Ehrenfest in tow. Heisshitze found it strange that Lord Ferdinand had decided to share his highbeast with someone he had only just met, but seeing how easily the other knights had fancied her, he could understand the need. Although he was aware how stoic and reserved his friend was, Heisshitze could not help but notice how much he favored this girl; Lord Ferdinand had openly showed his jealousy towards those who longed for her, he had displayed their closeness with his health check, and he had tirelessly worked to cull the feybeasts in order to stay next to her. It was like witnessing a completely different person, Heisshitze would have never guessed that his friend would end up being an Ewigeliebe.

They all descended to the nearest area of damaged forestry; Roze would have to heal the land without the aid of the magic circle that aided her earlier. The amount of damage in the Sovereignty was not as much as their gathering spot, but Heisshitze could imagine that a sizable amount of mana would be needed to restore it to its former state without the aid of the circle. 

Roze was helped off of Lord Ferdinand’s highbeast and escorted to the center of the afflicted area. A dark sludge was present throughout, with damaged trees splayed all about. She summoned her divine instrument and planted her feet firmly in the ground. Chanting her strange prayer once more, she slowly began to heal the land. It was not as fast as before, but it was still faster than those within the temple would ever hope to manage. 

No magic circle was present to indicate the completion of the restoration, so she had to eye the surrounding area, deciding if the land had been replenished to an acceptable level. After a few minutes of pouring mana into the ground, it appeared she restored the land close to its former state.

Having finished replenishing the land that was designated for that day, Roze dismissed her divine instrument and exhaled. Lord Ferdinand quickly joined her and began to discuss something with her. As much as Heisshitze wished to eavesdrop, he still had to cull the feybeasts within the area. From the corner of his eye, he watched as Lord Ferdinand summoned his highbeast and placed his fiance atop it. 

“Heisshitze, I shall escort Roze back to camp, I will return once I have done so.”

Not even waiting for Heisshitze to answer, he raced off with one of his retainers, leaving the other retainer to stay in order to help with the feybeasts. He would have asked why he could not send her with his retainer, but one could guess that his possessive nature was to blame. 

As they all continued to cull the population, Lord Ferdinand returned nearly as quickly as he had left. He quickly summoned his scythe and began to target the influx of feybeasts at once. 

Heisshitze had noticed that his friend had more resolve in his actions; he acted more fervently and focused than he did when rare ingredients were on the line. Working his way towards his friend, while ignoring his friend’s retainer with a craning neck, Heisshitze began to converse with him. 

“I see that you are working rather hard. May I presume that your desire to rejoin your fiance is the cause?” He smirked. 

Not even changing his expression, Lord Ferdinand slew three small Zantzes before he responded, “This task is hardly worth the effort, and I have other matters to attend to, so I would like to finish it as quickly as possible. Do not be so foolish as to assume that I would desire such interactions.”

Heisshitze could only internally sigh. He wished his friend could be more open with his desires. 

“I see. Your fiance likewise has duties to attend to, so I suppose such an attitude would allow her to carry out her assignments without worry. Who knows what tasks the Gods demand of her.”

It was this statement that caused Lord Ferdinand to pause. For the briefest of moments, Heisshitze thought he could see slight confliction in his friend’s eyes. “Yes, that is correct. She will only remain here for three days… Once she returns to the gazebo dedicated to the Goddess of time, and is summoned by the Gods once again, everyone here will forget her existence.”

Heisshitze’s eyes began to widen at this statement. 

We will forget her?! That is much too cruel!

“Even you will forget her?!” He asked, slightly quaking in his boots. 

Lord Ferdinand observed him for a few seconds, his eyes cold and calculating, as if estimating the value of divulging such information. He nodded in confirmation, “All of those who are to meet her in the future will forget her in the past, that includes me and my retainers, of course.” 

Ruffling his hair in slight frustration, Heisshitze began to grimace, “I feel some relief that I will meet her in the future, but disheartened that we will forget what she has done for us today.” He looked at his friend once more; In all honesty, he felt worse for his friend, who had finally found someone he treasured. “I must make sure that we see her off without leaving anything unsaid! We shall have a feast tomorrow once we have finished restoring the land! Dunkelfelger shall provide the food!” He thumped his chest, as if staking his pride as a knight on this promise. 

His friend raised a questioning brow, “What benefit would Dunkelfelger obtain from such a thing? Surely you are not looking for repayment in the future as there would be no guarantee that your memories will resurface.” 

Heisshitze could only squint his eyes in slight disbelief; He was aware that his friend had a hard time understanding things done in good will so he would have to frame this in a way that his friend would understand and leave little room for suspicion. 

“She healed many of our wounded and replenished our gathering spot beyond what was required of her. Such a paltry celebration is a mere drop in the bucket in the debt we owe to her. Rather, I hope such a distraction will hinder her from asking us what is owed to her in full. You see, I am rather devious! Mwahaha!” Heisshitze cackled, hoping Ferdinand would fall for his bluff. 

Unfortunately, it was likely that he saw through his ploy as he merely scoffed in response, but, luckily, he questioned no further. 

Happy that he got his way, Heisshitze refocused on the task at hand. It was then that he recalled something said earlier in their conversation. 

“You must return her to the gazebo dedicated to the Goddess of time, correct?”

Ferdinand gave an openly annoyed look, as if questioning Heisshitze's ability to listen. “What of it?”

Heisshitze placed a contemplative hand on his chin; He would have to be very indirect with his wording or he would not live to see the Goddess of light rise again. Even though he did consider Lord Ferdinand a friend, he would never outwardly reveal such a thing or he would lose his head by the descent of the God of darkness’s cape. This was the closest he would get to normal discussions one would have within their summer with Lord Ferdinand, so he needed to be cautious. “I recall you stating that first hand accounts would suffice for your research of that gazebo. Would you still wish to hear my account?”

Ferdinand studied him cautiously for a moment, before dismissing his offer, “I would likely focus on the etchings within the gazebo rather than the perceived slowing of time, there is no need-”

A cough from Heisshitze interrupted his rant; his friend was not getting where he was going with this, so he tried to be a little more direct. “One goes to the gazebo to slow the spooling of the threads which weave together. If one desires to extend their time with their Geduldh, they need only bring the person for which they harbor their rafel for. I personally can attest to the results.” Ferdinand looked ready to protest to his spiel so Heisshitze hurriedly continued, “To witness the dances of spring first hand, to watch the beautiful prances of Bluanfah, to feel the titillation associated with creations of Efflorelume, that is the true purpose the gazebo. Though I do suppose there are those bereft of the passionate flames of Beischmacht, they would show no interest in such things, even if it were for research.” 

Heisshitze glanced at Lord Ferdinand, who held a smoldering glower upon his countenance. A shiver escaped him as he realized that he probably should not have added that last provocation. He straightened his back, averting his eyes slightly as he continued, “Like I said, this is merely my first hand account. If we truly are to forget the coming days, then I suppose all will be for naught. Though…” He made eye contact with his friend before he continued, “I am sure that you are also not one to leave certain things unsaid.”

His friend still looked rather angry, but he at least looked to be considering his suggestion. Turning away from Heisshitze to slay a sizable fetze, he answered in his usual dismissive tone, “There is no need for me to hear such accounts at this moment of time. I will see to it that my research is completed on my own terms.” 

Such a vague statement did not fill Heisshitze with confidence, but with any intervention from the gods, his friend would truly consider his suggestion. They continued on with their task, however, Heisshitze felt as if there was indeed something on Ferdinand’s mind. 

Chapter Text

Ferdinand returned back to camp with Eckhart; they had trimmed the number of feybeasts to an acceptable number and made agreements with Dunkelfelger to meet at the next area in the morning. 

Luckily, it had not taken too long to control the population of feybeasts, so Ferdinand was able to make his way back to Roze without too much time passing. It was imperative that he not leave her by her lonesome for an extended period of time as she was still unstable. 

They followed the paper Roze had provided, which would enable them to relocate their base, and soon they returned to her strange high beast. 

“Welcome back!” Roze happily greeted them as they opened the door. She was speaking with Justus, who was holding a wooden board that likely listed items he was to retrieve from the dorms. 

Ferdinand was not used to being greeted in such a way, and he admittingly stumbled in his response. “Ah…yes I have returned.”

Justus likewise greeted him and Eckhart, then continued to speak to Roze. She held a face of slight disappointment as she nodded sadly in agreement. 

“I see. As long as you are able to get the ingredients, I suppose that should do for now. I expected as much, so it cannot be helped.” 

“My apologies, milady. Perhaps if we had more time…” Justus replied with equal dejection. 

Slight interest in their conversation compelled Ferdinand to question their exchange. “Is there something which you require, that Justus cannot obtain?”

Roze confirmed his observation, “Yes, I wished to concoct something for extra protection but it requires a fixing agent and it seems that cannot be obtained at this moment in time.”

“It is a shame, milord. Such a thing would have benefited you a great deal. Alas, it will require blessings of Dultsetzen for us to wait until our threads weave together once again.” 

He was rather interested in what protection she wished to provide him, but before he could inquire further, Justus suddenly spun on his heel and proceeded to head towards the door. 

“I will make my way to the dorm for supplies now, as I have quite a few things to return with. I will return shortly.” 

With that, he hastily departed, leaving the three of them within the high beast. Ferdinand was about to question why he had left with such haste, when Eckhart began to speak. 

“I must depart as well. Dunkelfelger has provided us with intelligence that pertains to the culprits of the ternisbefallen attack. I must investigate in order to possibly glean their whereabouts. “

Ferdinand tried to offer his assistance as this was important for him to oversee, when Eckhart held up his hand. 

Looking away from his master, he shakily replied, “It would be better for only one person to scout the area in order to keep our whereabouts hidden. Unless there are more amulets of Verbergen, then one person should suffice, especially to investigate such a dubious account.”

The young knight flourished his cape as he speedily departed, not even looking back at his lord for confirmation of his mission. 

Ferdinand furrowed his brow in slight annoyance; it would seem as if his retainers had decided their duties for themselves. 

“They seem rather eager to carry out their duties.” Roze noted, blinking at the speed they had left.

“Yes, I will have to reprimand them later.” He tapped his temple; his retainers rarely showed any defiance, so he was not sure what to make of it.

I suppose I shall let it go for now...Roze cannot be left alone after all...

Refocusing his attention to Roze, he decided to ask her more about her discussion with Justus from earlier. “What kind of protections were you discussing with Justus? I still must restock my protective amulets, is it perhaps an amulet of a similar fashion?”

She shook her head, and began to fidget nervously. Shyly averting her eyes, she answered, “In the future, I promised to embroider your cape. I do not have enough time to do that at the moment, but I still wished to add protections to your cape. I was hoping to create some dye that would allow me to draw some magic circles on your cape, but predictably, they do not have certain materials here that would allow me to do that.” She sighed sadly, with a delicate hand on her cheek. “I suppose I will have to settle for embroidering your cape in the future, like I promised…”

Ferdinand’s heart beat began to quicken once again, and he forced himself to swallow as he felt a slight quiver in his throat. There had been no female relatives that would provide such protections for him, so to know that he would someday obtain such things meant more than he dared to utter at that moment. 

He had to hold his forehead in order to make himself think logically, “I suppose it cannot be helped. If I am to truly forget you once you depart, it would be rather confusing to find that someone had dyed my cape without me knowing…”

Again she shook her head. Puffing out her chest, she began to explain in greater depth, “This dye is a special concoction which allows the markings to disappear. The markings will only reappear once the person, who created the dye, touches the ink once again.“ She clasped her hands together, as if she recalled something. With one swift motion, she unclasped her cape, and held it out in front of her. “Touch the inside of my cloak! You can see for yourself, you placed some dye on my cloak for me!”

Ferdinand gave her a questioning look, but did as she asked. Immediately, as soon as he touched the inner folds of her cloak, advanced magic circles made their presence known. He could not help but trace the circles with his finger, studying the different elements and concepts he had yet to learn. All he could think of was the amount of things he would be able to study in the future to his heart's content. The thought that these thing would be provided to him because he simply wished for them was almost too good to be true, yet the proof lie right in front of him.

Beautiful…

He was absolutely entranced. Finding out that he would be capable of creating such circles in the future filled him with a deep desire to see the future. Rather, he yearned for the future for once in his life. 

Ferdinand looked up to his fiance, who flashed a tender smile as soon as their eyes met. Would he truly be given his deepest desires? Would he finally obtain happiness?

He straightened his back, and cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. “Ah…Yes, it is quite a shame. However, the point still stands that I would be unable to remember that my cloak has protections. Additionally, it may prove frustrating for me to learn that my cloak suddenly obtained powerful protections, but finding that I would be unable to study them. “

Roze slumped her shoulders, but nodded begrudgingly. “I will settle for helping you restock your charms for now. “

To that statement, Ferdinand’s face hardened once again. He had told her to rest, there was no need for her to push herself. 

His fiance was slightly taken aback by his wordless refusal of her offer, but she began to pout as she insisted that she help him in some way. After some back and forth, they settled for her preparing the ingredients for him as he created the charms. 

They walked over to the makeshift brewing lab she had created while he was gone. There were some crates already lined with potions for his stock; looking at her belt, it would seem as if she had replenished her supply as well. 

“I hope you did not go against my suggestions and refuse to rest in favor of brewing.” His eyes narrowed as he harshly studied her response. 

Her smile did not break, but she averted her eyes slightly in lieu of answering directly. Ferdinand sighed and tapped his temple again. It was likely okay; unless she was particularly frail, it was likely that she would be recovered by tomorrow morning.

Roze manifested a chair as he was thinking to himself, “This should allow me to rest while I help you. Do not worry!”

He could only relent to her insistence; the sooner they finished replenishing their supplies, the sooner she could rest once again. 

Quickly, he began to line the ingredients he would be using for each of his brews. Fully expecting that she would be unable to keep up with his usual brewing speed, he began to explain how he preferred his ingredients to be prepared. 

To his surprise, she immediately knew what he required, and expertly prepared the ingredients in order. It was not long before they began to work in tandem with one another, with Ferdinand only needing to utter a single word for her to quickly give him the next ingredient. She drew time saving magic circles with ease, and assisted him as seamlessly as his retainers did. 

They worked at a steady pace, with Roze humming to herself as she cut and measured out the ingredients. The song she sang to herself was one Ferdinand did not recognize, and he felt his fingers twitching as he imagined the chords that would accompany her euphonious hymns. 

Ferdinand soaked in the pleasant atmosphere; brewing while listening to Roze’s charming song, enjoying the company of his fiance. He did not notice that he was smiling to himself as he felt genuinely peaceful at that moment. 

Chapter Text

Justus reappeared outside the highbeast after obtaining all of the ingredients for their dinner. He had taken his time, as both he and Eckhart had decided to give their lord some free time with his fiance. 

Now that he was sure that his lord would not do anything reckless, Justus was eager to allow his lord’s relationship to develop. 

He loitered outside for a moment before Eckhart appeared from the sky. Both retainers dispelled their highbeasts before they began to discuss some things. 

“Did your investigation prove to be fruitful?”

The young knight shook his head, “As we suspected, the ternisbefallen destroyed any tracks within the gathering spot. The replenishment likely did not help much either. We will simply have to keep watch as originally planned and see if the culprits revisit the gathering spot.”

It was unlikely that any evidence remained after the attack, but confirming that was still important. Justus shrugged, “As expected, yes. Shall we witness some unexpected things?” He raised his eyebrow suggestively, but his stoic companion refused to humor his antics. 

You’re no fun…But I know some people who are!

Without even knocking, he entered the highbeast. Sadly, he had not interrupted anything interesting. 

Inside, the two teens were working at the brewing station Roze had manifested; they effortlessly worked together, any person who looked at them would assume they had been colleagues for a long time. Roze was humming to herself as she prepared the ingredients and Lord Ferdinand had a slight smile on his countenance as he stared at the brewing pot, stirring rhythmically as if accompanying Roze’s mindless singing. The atmosphere was rather pleasant, and the two were so engrossed in what they were doing that they had not noticed Justus’ approach. 

With Eckhart’s aid, Justus was able to carry all of the supplies into the makeshift kitchen area for their dinner. Once everything was unpacked, he had to audibly clear his throat in order to get the attention of the two. 

“Milord, milady, we have retrieved all of the requested items. It is time to start preparing dinner.”

They snapped to attention at once, and quickly finished the brew they were currently occupied with. 

Roze rushed over with a smile as she eyed the ingredients, clasping her hands together as she tried to quell her excitement. “Let us get started! This will take some time until it is done, but it will be worth it!”

Lord Ferdinand eyed the ingredients, seemingly thinking of something. “Is this dish we are making more complex? How long is it estimated to take?”

Roze began to arrange the ingredients in what was likely chronological order, thinking a moment to herself before answering Ferdinand, “It is not complicated, it just takes some time to cook as the meat needs to braise. The sooner we start working on it, the sooner we can eat!” 

“Cooking seems rather similar to brewing in many ways. May I ask you to write out the steps so I can compare them in better depth. I find myself quite interested in the process.” Their lord inquired. Justus wondered what their lord was doing but he held his tongue as he handed Roze an empty wooden board and a pen to write with. 

None the wiser, she grabbed that which was offered to her and began to passionately explain the steps of the dish. At the end of her ramble, she began to question their lord, “Though brewing and cooking are similar, they are not quite the same. But, I have to say, I never knew you had interest in this kind of thing, Ferdinand. Why the sudden interest?”

Eyeing the board with great interest, he nodded to himself as he deemed the instructions passable. His eyes showed a sharp glint as he returned Roze’s gaze and gave a serene smile, “No reason. Seeing that the instructions are rather clear, we shall take it from here.” Without waiting for her response, he whipped out his schtappe and began to recite the prayer Roze had used before, “O Schlaftraum, God of Dreams - May Roze be blessed with pleasant sleep and joyous dreams.”

Her eyes widened briefly in surprise, before she succumbed to sleep and stumbled forward into Lord Ferdinand’s arms. In one swift motion, he lifted her and placed her in the nearby seating where she could rest. His cape flourished as he gently placed it over her, while she peacefully slept. 

After making sure his fiance was truly sleeping, Lord Ferdinand turned towards Justus and Eckhart, with a harsher glare. They both stiffened as he began to question their prior actions. 

“You both seemed rather eager to leave my side. May I ask why this is the case?”

It was Justus who decided to speak first, “We simply wish to give you and Lady Roze more time alone. You will not be together for long, as she will leave after tomorrow, we thought it important for her to leave with as much time devoted to her fiance as possible.”

Their lord narrowed his eyes, still questioning the reasoning. “And you Eckhart? You seemed to manifest your own orders without consulting me.”

The young knight stepped forward, sweat beading on his brow as he was not used to being at the receiving end of their lord's ire. He knelt before Lord Ferdinand before he answered, “I thought it was the best course of action, Milord. With the gathering spot having been ravaged like it was, I thought it was unlikely that I would uncover the whereabouts of the perpetrators and my prediction was correct. I did not wish to waste Milord's time as it would be better utilized doing something he better enjoyed in the company of someone he favored.”

Eckhart’s last remark made their lord cross his arms and furrow his brow, “What has given that impression, might I ask?”

The two retainers looked at one another, then answered in unison, “Your actions.”

Lord Ferdinand looked taken aback for some reason, as if he had truly not realized. 

Was he truly not aware? 

All three of them looked at one another in confusion. 

It was after a few moments of silence that their lord decided to deflect their attention, “Enough of this, we must start the preparations for dinner.” He turned hastily towards the ingredients and began to reread the instructions. 

Justus looked to Eckhart, and his fellow retainer likewise returned his gaze. Together they nodded, as they wordlessly agreed on something. 

We’ll have to coax it out of him, I guess.

Their lord was focusing on the task at hand so they too began to work on the ingredients as instructed. 

After a few minutes of working in silence, it was Eckhart who started to talk again. “Milord, I must ask this, but have you fully recovered from the attack yesterday?”

They had shifted their focus to Roze for that afternoon due to their lord's fretting, but this question did indeed linger in the back of their minds. Despite his injuries from yesterday, their lord worked today as if nothing had transpired the day before. 

For a brief moment, their lord hesitated, as he thought whether or not he would answer truthfully to his two retainers. Finally, after considering the question put forward, he answered hesitantly, “I have none of the symptoms which were listed for attacks by ternisbefallen.”

His wording was deliberately ambiguous, which Justus did not miss. “Are there symptoms not associated with ternisbefallen which has you concerned?”

Eckhart’s face hardened from concern, but Justus could only raise his brow in curiosity at his lord’s sudden openness. 

The sound of chopping could be heard as they continued to work on the preparations. No further words were exchanged until their lord finally relented and began to voice his concerns, “I have some…questionable symptoms. Primarily heart palpitations and slight visual hallucinations, but I am certain it will clear after some more rest.”

Eckhart seemed more worried by their Lord’s new symptoms, but Justus was even more intrigued by his Lord’s answer. He started to press further. 

“When did these symptoms first manifest? Are the symptoms intermittent or onset? Do they only appear when you perform particular actions?”

Lord Ferdinand seemed even more hesitant to answer. He chopped away, not even taking his eyes away from the instructions, his movement only slowed a minuscule amount as he considered his answer. 

“The symptoms only seem to appear when I am alone with Roze…” He replied in a lower voice. 

...Could it be?

Subtilty was essential before Justus proceeded with his questioning. Not only because of the delicacy of the situation, but also because he could feel a deep laugh forming in his diaphragm. He hardened himself in an attempt to remain completely serious as he pressed forward; with a death grip on the counter and stabbing hand into his side, Justus readied himself to appear completely sincere. It was extremely rare that their lord opened up in such a way with his retainers, he could not sully the moment with any teasing, no matter how much he wished to do so. 

“Would you say that your heart seems to race when you are near her? Like restlessness or excitement when you are together?”

Only a brief glance was given by their lord. Thankfully, Justus was able to keep a straight face as he continued with his questions, “Do you feel worried when you are away from her? An eagerness to return to her as soon as possible?”

A slight grimace flashed on Lord Ferdinand’s face as Justus questioned him, as if he did not wish to affirm his suspicions. Eckhart eyed their lord, slight hesitancy shown on his face as he spoke next, “She is your fiance, it would not be abnormal for you to harbor a rafel for her…”

Their lord scoffed at that statement, “As you two suggested, I have shown her the courtesy which is expected of me, as her fiance. Nothing more. I have only just met the girl, she is nearly a stranger to me. It is quite ridiculous to claim someone could fancy another after only one day. “ He brushed away the claim as if it were impossible, but Justus wished to argue otherwise. Alas, he was aware that a more believable reason for his lord’s favor needed to be provided.

“Perhaps they are not your feelings, but the feelings you possessed from your memories? She has known you in the past, so perhaps you were closer to her in the past, when you had more time to understand her?”

This seemed to make more sense to their lord, as he at least seemed willing to humor such a suggestion. He held his chin and nodded to himself, “Yes, I did obtain some memories during my slumber last night. They were particular memories where I was in danger of losing my life and she appeared to save me. I see…because I associate her with peril, I have been conditioned to be restless when we are alone.“

Both Eckhart and Justus both met eyes; equal amounts of disbelief were painted on their faces as they watched their lord perform some strange mental gymnastics to convince himself that he was not in love with Roze. 

It felt like their lord had slipped backwards in progress, and now Justus was not sure how to remedy it. He racked his brain, trying to find the words that would help their lord see the truth. 

“Do you at least find the idea of being engaged to her in the future palatable? If not, then we can make efforts to prevent such a future.”

Their lord visibly jolted at Justus’ remark and his eyes grew slightly wide. It took him only a second to readjust to his usual calm disposition, “There is no need for that. My debt is too great to break off such an engagement and seeing that even the Gods are involved in our starbinding, even if I wished to prevent our union, it has already been set in stone. Such efforts would be futile, there is no need for you to waste your energy.”

“I see. But if you find being near her so disagreeable, then either I or Eckhart can accompany the girl until she is to leave.“ Justus found it harder to suppress his smirk as he spoke. 

Their lord turned away and continued to work on the recipe, still stubbornly refusing to admit he favored his fiance. “It is already well known by those around us that she is my fiance. Were I not to accompany her and be openly avoidant of her, then that would reflect negatively on us both. It is a duty I must undertake as her fiance. “

“You may have to keep appearances in front of your peers, but there is no need to do so here. We will handle interactions with her within the highbeast if you so desire. If you do not favor her and you become symptomatic when you are alone, I suppose avoiding extra interactions with her is necessary.”

Justus did not need to prod his lord so much, but he wanted him to at least admit that he liked to spend his time near Roze. It seemed as if their lord took a little longer to come up with a rebuttal to Justus’ reasoning as he stared at the instructions for a few extra seconds. 

Suddenly a slight giggle was heard from where Roze slept. Slightly panicking, they all looked over to see if she had woken up during their conversation. 

Roze rolled over, to reveal that she was indeed still sleeping; she curled inward, inhaling deeply as she held Lord Ferdinand’s cape close to her face. She let out a dreamy sigh after a second and had a peaceful smile on her face as she continued to sleep. 

Justus looked at his lord, not even trying to suppress his smirk anymore. In response, Ferdinand turned swiftly on his heel and continued to work on the recipe, now chopping at a noticeably slower rate with his ears burning a deep crimson. 

As Justus snickered silently behind him, Eckhart began to nervously look between them all. An idea entered his head as he suggested an alternative. “Even if our lord does not favor her currently, there is time in the future where he might. It is quite obvious that she holds favor for him, so of course he must spend time with her now, she would likely not accept any other repayment for his debt.”

This was not quite what Justus was looking for; he wished for his lord to be truthful to himself, but if his lord at least accepted that there was someone capable of cherishing him, that was the best he could ask for at that moment. 

Their lord gained his composure, and reluctantly nodded in agreement, “If she wishes to spend her time in my company, then I have no objections. I am to forget my memories of her once she is to leave, so there is no need to dwell on this issue.”

Justus and Eckhart nodded to one another as he had finally acknowledged that he was okay with his fiance’s favor. This was likely the best they would get for the day so they decided to drop the issue as suggested. With his stylo, Justus drew the magic circle for heating the pot and adjusted it accordingly. 

After looking back on the conversation, Justus realized that there might be a possibility that their memories may resurface in the future, but he kept that observation to himself. 

Chapter Text

The food had been simmering for some time before Roze had awoken from her slumber. She began to stretch out as she sleepily looked around at her surroundings. After touching her face, she finally got her bearings and remembered what she had been doing prior. 

Rising from her seat, she quickly turned to Lord Ferdinand with an angry pout on her face. 

“That was unfair, Ferdinand! You didn’t give me any warning!”

“Oh? I do not recall you giving me such a warning either. I thought it customary for one to carelessly send out prayers without regard for the schedules of others. Forgive me, I was not told otherwise.”

She knitted her brows and puffed out her cheeks, but she offered no retort. Her attention was soon drawn away as she began to notice the scent wafting in the air. 
 
“You all really cooked dinner? Did everything go okay?”

The three of them looked at one another and nodded. They had followed the instructions exactly, so Eckhart did not think that there would be no reason for the dish to turn out poorly. 

“The food has been cooking for quite some time, so it is almost ready, milady.” Justus informed her before he began to set up the table for their meal.

Eckhart observed as his lord began to perform another check-up on his fiance; After checking her vitals, it seemed as if he was still not satisfied with how she was recovering. 

Roze noticed his dissatisfaction, and gave a light hearted smile. 

“I will most likely feel better once I am to leave. I already feel well rested because of your care, so do not worry too much. “

Lord Ferdinand tapped his temple and flashed a slight grimace. 

“I must admit that you are indeed recovering at a slower rate than I would like, but I am sure you are right. As much as I would like to prevent you from venturing out tomorrow, I am well aware that we do not have that option. I suppose I will have to settle for providing you with some medicine before you are to leave. I will make sure to collect the materials tomorrow, after you replenish the gathering spot.”

She nodded in approval, presumably because Lord Ferdinand had not barred her from fulfilling her duties. Justus finished setting up the table and asked Roze to check if the food was ready. This was the first time any of them had cooked without her aid, and they were unsure how to check if the dish was ready. 

“Um…did you taste check while you were cooking? Also, might I ask how you cut the vegetables? I did not expect to be knocked out before, so I did not write tips for cooking in the instructions.”

Eckhart met eyes with Justus, and they both shook their heads in response. “If the instructions did not specify, then we did not feel the need to taste check it. We likewise cut the vegetables in the same way we cut ingredients for brewing, so all the vegetables were cut the same.” 

Was cooking not the same as brewing? Surely following just the instructions would make the dish taste virtually the same. 

Her brows drew together in slight concern, but she decided to push her concerns aside as she confirmed it would likely be fine. 

Selecting one of the cooking utensils, she poked the meat, testing to see if it had been cooked fully through. Once she seemed satisfied with her tests, she confirmed that the food was ready to be distributed. 

As they had done before, they all sat around the table and began to eat dinner. It was after one bite, that Eckhart immediately figured out why Roze had been so concerned a moment ago. Compared to their previous dishes, this one was noticeably blander and some of the vegetables were cooked unevenly. The other men showed that they too realized the difference, as they flashed similar grimaces. 

Roze alone ate happily, the same way she had been eating the other dishes. Even more so, one could argue. Eckhart could not really understand why this was the case. 

Maybe her palate has degraded…

“I now understand what you meant when you claimed cooking and brewing were different. We followed your instructions exactly and the dish came out quite poorly. There is no need for you to force yourself to eat this dish if it does not suit your tastes.”  Lord Ferdinand reached out his hand, seeing if he could take the bowl back, but Roze moved it out of reach. 

She turned her body slightly away from him, preventing him from retrieving the bowl. “Why would you think that? Obviously, I am going to savor this meal.” She answered with a smirk as she brought another spoonful to her mouth. 

Lord Ferdinand’s eyebrow twitched slightly, likely unsure why she would continue to eat something of subpar quality. Roze analyzed his face as she ate, then giggled as his confusion deepened. 

“It is not uncommon that the first time someone cooks, it does not end up perfect. But I know you all tried your best so I could get some rest, and that makes the meal taste much better in my opinion. Firsts are rather rare, but I think it is important to remember them. So of course I must relish every bite so I can remember this day.”

Justus and Eckhart looked at each other, slightly proud that she was enjoying the meal that they had prepared without her help. It was a strange feeling, but the appreciation she gave them made them glad. 

Eckhart looked at his lord, who still did not seem fully convinced of her claim. He scoffed as he dismissed her sentimental prose, “It is easy to say such things in the moment, but most would rather eat a more perfect dish. It is human nature to strive for it, to expect it. There is no harm in admitting that, no one truly values imperfections.”

One would have to wonder why he would reject her gesture. Had he been self conscious about the fact that he had not succeeded during his first attempt at cooking? Was he regurgitating the expectations he was constantly under? Eckhart tried his best to decipher his lord’s actions, thinking of what he could do to help him. 

Roze’s eyes studied him for a few moments before she cocked her head to the side, a hand placed delicately on her cheek, “But I do not want, nor expect you to be perfect Ferdinand. If I wanted that, then I would simply get married to a statue.” She placed her now empty bowl on the table, then adopted a more teasing smirk, “I know you to be a bit of a sore loser, Ferdinand. You once refused to let me leave the table until you beat me in a new game I introduced to you. Ah…I see that is the same case here, you have lost to me and you are slightly bitter now.” 

She shook her head sadly which caused their lord to furrow his brow. “I have not lost, I simply require practice. A true test in skill can only take place once someone is at their best. I need only study this art and then I will be able to beat you on fair grounds.” He huffed in response. 

With a dainty hand placed on her mouth, she had a slight shake in her voice as she was stifling a small giggle, “Then I suppose that I must teach such skills to you so we can truly compete on fair grounds. I must warn you, I will savor every attempt, no matter how imperfect.” Roze’s eyes softened, with a gentle smile playing on her lips. “Most nobles would think it too crude to even consider cooking for another, nor would they even humor the idea of refining such skills. One would likely consider that an unsightly quirk not suited for a noble. I am glad you are not so obtuse as to shoot down such ideas immediately. That is what I like about you, Ferdinand, you make me feel at ease.”
 
In response to her words, their lord’s eyes seemed to completely blank as he faced forward once again. “I see…very well.” He placed his spoon in his mouth, appearing to continue his meal. 

There is nothing in your spoon, milord…

Eckhart wanted to heave a big sigh and hold his forehead, but he held himself back. 

Many would often speculate on what would be capable of defeating their lord, who could have guessed that it would be this sickly girl who resembled a shumil? 

Had anyone told him that his lord would be caught up in a romance which put others to shame, Eckhart probably would have struck them down for such a cruel joke. But right in front of his eyes, his lord was caught in the depths of a vibrant spring. His lord was so overwhelmed with emotion, in fact, that he was acting rather awkwardly now.   

He looked over to his fellow retainer, who had tears forming in the corners of his eyes, one hand over his mouth, and the other rapidly patting his chest. 

Eckhart turned away, continuing to eat his food while ignoring Justus. 

If you choke, I’m not going to help you.

Roze soon changed the topic, and began to converse with their lord. Apparently, Justus had brought back some books from their lord's room, and Roze wished to read them with Lord Ferdinand. 

She began to pester him to hurry up so they could read together like he had promised before. Eckhart watched as she sat with a book in her lap, waiting for their lord to finish, who was now taking long drawn out bites just to mess with her. 

She tugged on his sleeve, urging him to quicken his pace while his lord turned his face away, a slight smile on his face as she badgered him. 

They finished their meal, with a sickly sweetness in the air. 

Chapter Text

It was the next day, and the group was heading out to meet Dunkelfelger. 

Ferdinand found himself riding with his fiance in his highbeast once again; There was some difficulty seeing through her tresses which fluttered in the wind behind her, but somehow he managed. 

He found himself glancing at Roze periodically, though it was not out of interest or anything like that (like his retainers had foolishly tried to convince him), this time it was mainly through concern. Even though he had been diligently monitoring her condition and forcing her to rest, her condition had only improved by a hair. 

Had he underestimated her frailty? Should he have taken her condition more seriously? Insecurities began to race through his mind as they neared their destination. 

If only I had more time…

Today was the last day of Roze’s stay; by third bell tomorrow, she would disappear once again, taking their memories of the past three days with her. 

Anxiety and dread began to eat away at him as each second passed by. If only he could slow the passage of time enough to finish what needed to be done…at least so he could ensure Roze had recovered fully. 

They descended into the gathering spot, with the Dunkelfelger knights arriving nary a moment later. There were a few knights missing, but this was because they all had agreed the day before that a few would be patrolling the Dunkelfelger gathering spot, seeing if the perpetrators returned. 

Luckily, the Ehrenfest gathering spot would not require too much mana to restore. Once it was replenished, he could then collect the materials required for Roze’s medication. 

The calculations whirred through his mind as he helped Roze down from his highbeast. However, these thoughts were interrupted by her calling out to him.

“Ferdinand?” Her eyes narrowed, half in questioning and half in worry. 

Ah…I must steady myself.

He fixed his appearance; Ferdinand had forgotten about his fiance’s uncanny ability to read his expressions. 

“I was thinking of the ingredients required for the medicine I must prepare for you. I have decided to prepare extra vials for your journey.”

Roze’s mouth drew into a line as she grimaced slightly. “I suppose I cannot ask you to consider changing the taste.” she whispered under her breath

Why would I change the taste?

There was little merit in doing something like that as it would change the effectiveness of the concoction, no doubt. 

Before he could question the strange request, Heisshitze approached their group once again. He began to beam a proud smile as he spoke. 

“We have decided to hold a feast for your departure once we have finished restoring the land in the Sovereignty. The scholars are to rejoin us once preparations are complete. There should be no issue in some attendants and servants seeing you if we swear them to secrecy.”

Roze looked up, considering the request, before she nodded in agreement. “Once we have covered up the evidence entirely, there should be little issue allowing a handful of attendants to come. Though, you must not disclose any information about what transpired here or the reason for my presence.”

“Worry not! I have sworn the others to secrecy, they shall not share any details about the hunt which they took part in, nor will they mention why you had chosen to dine with us.”

“Very well! If Dunkelfelger insists on a celebratory feast, who am I to deny such a reasonable request? “ Roze returned a smile of approval which caused the surrounding knights to cheer in excitement. 

The knights began to excitedly chatter amongst themselves as Roze and Heisshitze discussed things in greater depth.  

Ferdinand felt his brow twitch in slight irritation; He wanted to get the gathering spot replenished as soon as possible so he could concoct the medication Roze needed. However, Dunkelfelger had the audacity to saunter up and begin to babble on about their childish celebration feast. Ferdinand only had so much time afforded to him to help Roze, yet here they were, stealing it away. 

He could not help but grit his teeth as they all chatted away. A moment later, he felt a hand placed on his shoulder; Justus made his presence known, trying to cool Ferdinand’s unrelenting annoyance at that moment.

After using a few steadying breaths, Ferdinand decided to remind the others to carry on with their task. He cleared his throat and flashed a cold smile. 

“There are more important matters to attend to at this moment. It would be wise to save this drivel for some other time, no?”

At once, all of the knights and Roze stiffened, then refocused at once. Roze, looking as if she was scurrying away from Ferdinand’s wrath, made her way to the center of the gathering spot. 

She hurriedly summoned her divine instrument and chanted her prayer soon after. Like Ferdinand had predicted, the replenishment had not taken too long. There was noticeable vibrancy to the gathering spot as most of the materials looked ready to be harvested. 

Now that Ferdinand looked closer at the magic circle, it looked similar to the etchings within the gazebo, with its primary function to send prayers to the Gods. Was there a connection? He made note to look more into it, but for now he would put that in the back of his mind as he had other matters to attend to. 

Once the gathering area had been replenished and Roze dismissed her instrument, all of the knights began to move at once. Ferdinand likewise began to move as he made his way to Roze, with Justus and Eckhart not far behind. 

Eckhart had found a suitable area for her to rest and Justus had brought some books for her to read. Ferdinand escorted her to where she would be resting for the time being and ordered her to summon her shield to protect herself while they culled the population again. 

“I will not be long. For now, read this book so we can discuss the contents later, as we did yesterday. Justus will be nearby collecting the materials for your medication, so you may call for him if you require something. “ He turned to Eckhart and Justus, and began to instruct them. 

His two retainers departed at once, which left him with Roze, as he waited for her to create her shield. 

After reciting her long winded prayer, she looked at him with a gentle smile. 

“Do not worry too much, Ferdinand. I will be fine. It will not be like last time. On the contrary, I will be eagerly awaiting your return, so we can continue our discussion from last night.”

She held the book in question over her mouth, using it to cover her giggle. 

Ferdinand tapped his temple. They had gotten too into their discussion of his theory books as they stayed up rather late talking about the principles. 

Roze had a weird grasp on the concepts the books discussed and he found it rather intriguing listening to her strange views. The book talked about the malleability of mana and Roze had a rather strong grasp on the concept; She talked about her highbeast and a manablade she had gifted mana to as examples. This made Ferdinand rather interested in seeing this ‘talking manablade’, though she refused to share any more details about it. It was likely that she did not wish to affect the weave, so she found it necessary to withhold such information from him. It took Justus and Eckhart imploring the both of them to go to bed for their discussion to end. 

“I must admit that I am quite eager to continue that discussion as well. Very well, I shall work with haste, just make sure you read the next chapter. I would like to hear what visualization tactics you use.”

She waved him goodbye as he hurriedly began to work at culling the feybeasts again. He was glad that it would not take as long as last time, but he still wished to reduce the amount of time required to take his attention away from Roze. 

He raced up and down the gathering spot, dicing and slicing any feybeast that dared cross his path. Learning from yesterday, he was able to predict the places they would likely congregate, such as bushes ripe with newly sprouted berries of particular affinities or medicinal herbs. Using these behavioral patterns, he cleared a great amount of the influx, so much so that the neighboring knights lamented at not being able to kill as much. He ignored their childish rambles as he made his way towards Roze, having finished the task assigned to him. 

He was part way there when an ordannanz landed on Heisshitze’s arm; it was from one of the knights left to patrol the gathering spot. 

“We have apprehended the culprits!”

All around him, cheers of excitement began to sound off as the knights all gathered. Everyone began to congregate towards the knight, with anticipation growing for what would happen next.

Everyone around him looked to be eager to dole out punishment, but for some reason all Ferdinand could feel was irritation that his time with Roze would be interrupted once again. 

Chapter Text

They all made their way to the Dunkelfelger gathering spot after a knight had informed them that the culprits had been apprehended. 

The suspects had apparently returned to the scene of the crime, however, when they had found that the gathering spot had been unaffected, they started to go more out in the open to investigate. That’s when they were detained by the two knights that had stayed behind in the area. 

Since the Ehrenfest gathering spot had been sufficiently cleared, they all made their way to witness the interrogation of the perpetrators. Rozemyne was riding with Ferdinand once again, with Justus and Eckhart following closely behind. It wasn’t long until the gathering spot came into view; From what she could see, there were two cloaked people wrapped in bands of light with two Dunkelfelger knights watching them closely. 

All of the knights descended around the pair, with Heisshitze approaching them to begin his questioning. 

“Well, well, well! You have returned I see! Good! Now is the time for judgment!” 

The other knights began to shout and holler, thrusting their weapons in the air as the interrogation began. 

Neither suspect wore capes which would identify their duchy of origin. One of the culprits looked behind Heisshitze to where Ferdinand and the rest stood, clear anger on his face. 

“WHAT ARE-” 

His rant was interrupted by Heisshitze wrapping his mouth in bands of light then swiftly kicking him in the stomach, which sent the boy rolling backwards. Once he came to a stop after his short tumble, he curled inwards and groaned in pain.  

“Do not speak unless spoken to, scum.” Heisshitze warned, his smile unbreaking. 

Scary…

Rozemyne could help but shudder at the gap between Heisshitze’s cheery attitude and his unflinching delivery of punishment. 

She was usually someone who turned away from violence most of the time, but she had little pity for this boy; he had set the ternisbefallen upon them in the first place without caring who would be affected. Based on his reaction to their group, it was likely that he had wanted to end Ferdinand (and he had almost succeeded) so she did not really care what happened to him at this point. 

“I recognize one of them! He is an mednoble from Werkstock!”

One of the knights in their group pointed to the other suspect who flinched after he was identified. They all turned to the boy in question, who avoided eye contact with anyone. He visibly began to shake as Heisshitze approached him, each step causing him to contort his face with more and more dread. Soon, the knight stopped in front of the boy and began to question him. 

“I take it that you are the one who orchestrated this plan?” He broke his gaze briefly to look at the boy who was still writhing in pain on the ground. “Looks like you used this kid to carry out your deed. But I wonder why you decided to come today?”

The boy being questioned kept his mouth shut, merely gritting his teeth in irritation as he glanced at the boy behind him. 

Rozemyne looked to Ferdinand, who narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the two boys. 

He’s already figured out what happened here, I bet.

As much as she wanted to ask him for the answer, she understood that she would have to come to the conclusion herself. She couldn’t rely on Ferdinand for everything, as much as she wanted to. 

She turned back her attention to the interrogation, looking at the boy on the ground. 

Is he from Ehrenfest?

She did not recognize him but her gut was telling her that this was the case. Seeing how reacted to Ferdinand, it was likely. 

If the Werkstock boy orchestrated it, what was his reasoning and why did he return…

She recalled the account that Heisshitze had shared with them. From what she remembered, there had not been two figures in the forest when the scholar was attacked, so why was this boy here now? Had he stayed away, he would have been in the clear; She was doubtful that he was originally the one who was in the forest as at least one of the other knights would have sensed him as a mednoble. If the boy from Ehrenfest was a laynoble, then it would make more sense that no one had sensed him. 

Given how the boy reacted to his accomplice, she could gather that the Ehrenfest boy likely complained that the plan had not worked and that the gathering spot was unaffected. This likely caused the Werkstock boy to investigate with him, which led to his capture. 

Her train of thought was interrupted by the Werkstock boy finally speaking. 

“What happened to the ternisbefallen?! How did you heal your gathering spot?!” The boy hissed as he struggled against his restraints, absolutely seething with rage at the strange turn of events. 

Ah…I see. So this boy used the Ehrenfest boy.

This boy did want to target Dunkelfelger, but decided to use a gullible boy from a lower ranked duchy to target them indirectly. 

He likely used the boy's (or Veronica’s) hatred of Ferdinand to manipulate the boy into carrying out this plan. If Ferdinand died, then the boy would have gotten what he wanted with the Dunkelfelger gathering spot as collateral damage. Even if Ferdinand did not die, the Dunkelfelger knights would have suspected that it was a plan against him, and it would have destroyed his relations with the duchy, severely impacting his lifeline at the academy. This was likely the line of reasoning he used to convince the Ehrenfest boy into attacking Ferdinand while he gathered with Dunkelfelger. 

He likely did not use any critical thinking to consider what would happen afterward. If he had been caught, then all of Ehrenfest would have been implicated and it would have been seen as them siding with Werkstock despite being a neutral duchy. 

Such selfish reasoning would have led Ehrenfest into ruin…

Suddenly, Ferdinand spoke up, with a cruel smile upon his face. “I see you are curious about our methods. We shall demonstrate how the gathering spot was replenished.” He turned towards Rozemyne, obviously scheming something cruel. “Roze, is it possible to use the replenishment prayer without the use of a divine instrument?”

Rozemyne turned towards him, understanding immediately what he had in mind. She placed a hand on her cheek and gave a small smile. “Yes, though it requires more mana and is not nearly as effective. One merely needs to press their hands to the ground and repeat the prayer.”

Ferdinand nodded in response, turning his attention back to the two suspects with an icy smile on his face. “Luckily, there is still ravaged land for a demonstration. Heisshitze, let us go.”

The young knight signaled to the others and they all began to head towards the last area slated for replenishment; all together, they approached the ravaged land within the Sovereignty, with the two suspects being dangled dangerously off the highbeasts of two of the knights. When they all landed, the two boys were thrown violently on the ravaged ground. 

Two knights moved forward and propped the two boys up, unbinding them from their restraints. Eckhart and several other knights stepped forward, drew their blades, and then pointed them at their prisoners. 

Justus handed Rozemyne a blank wooden board for her to write the prayer on, and she quickly jotted it down and handed it back to him. He then handed it to Ferdinand, who placed it on the ground between the two boys. 

Heisshitze stepped behind the boys and kicked them forward into a kneeling position. Then he, likewise, drew his blade and undid the gag he had placed on the Ehrenfest boy. 

“Pray.” He ordered with a calm smile. 

The two boys looked fearful but they did as instructed. Both pressed their hands to the ground and began to recite the prayer. 

The earth around them recovered somewhat, with a few sprouts of grass rising up. The Ehrenfest boy ran out of mana first, not being able to speak past the third verse. The Werkstock boy did not last much longer, as he was forced to stop before he could finish the last verse. Even when the knights placed their blades closer to the two, they could not recite anymore. They were only able to restore a few meters of land. 

Both of the boys collapsed on the ground, out of breath and mana. Unable to move or struggle. 

Ferdinand stepped forward once again and grabbed the hair of the boy who was from Ehrenfest. He leaned in close, with his eyes narrowed, malice clear in voice. “That is not nearly enough. Look at all this destruction you’ve caused. Some more punishment is in order for the two of you to take responsibility for your actions.” He turned towards Heisshitze with his malevolent grin, “Since Dunkelfelger was most affected, I think it best to allow them to decide such punishment.”

The knight returned an excited grin and turned towards the rest of the knights. They all stood to attention and watched him eagerly as he walked back and forth, deciding something within his mind. Finally, he stopped and pointed to three of the knights who stepped forward with cruel smiles on their faces. The others who had not been picked looked slightly dejected but remained in place. 

“I shall take these three to carry out punishment customary for losers in Dunkelfelger. In order for us to complete our tasks before our celebration later today, I shall leave the rest to help cull the feybeasts. Let us meet in the Dunkelfelger gathering area once everything is completed. Sixth bell would be the best time for us to meet once again.”

Heisshitze signaled again; two of the three knights bound the culprits then mounted their highbeasts. 

Rozemyne couldn’t help but ask, “What punishment is customary in Dunkelfelger?” She had never been privy to such punishments, so perhaps it was something that was never recorded in any thing she had read from Dunkelfelger or in the academy stories. 

The excited knight turned to her and answered eagerly, “Well, Lady Roze. In Dunkelfelger, it is customary to punish those who cannot pay their wagers. We take the losers, strip-”

“There is no need to disclose such frivolous details. Make haste and do what must be done. We do not have time for you two to dawdle.” Ferdinand interrupted, slight impatience in his voice. 

As much as Rozemyne wished to hear about this weird punishment, it was true that they did not have that much free time so she decided to let it go for now. She made a note to ask about it later.

Heisshitze mounted his highbeast and waved them all goodbye. The four knights took to the skies and left to carry out the punishment. 

Ferdinand turned to look at the small area that had been replenished. 

“Pathetic. This will hardly help lessen the load…” He scowled at the small circle of greenery, not impressed by the small amount of mana the two criminals possessed. 

Rozemyne summoned her divine instrument and readied herself to replenish the land again. This was the last area which needed to be replenished, so the plan was for her to return to her highbeast to rest until Ferdinand returned. 

Ferdinand looked at her, hesitating for a moment before he spoke. “I have heard this prayer many times now and I feel confident that I can help with the replenishment for this last area. Would you allow me to?”

She blinked in slight surprise. Rozemyne was not expecting anyone to offer mana along with her, especially not this Ferdinand who hardly knew her. 

Maybe the mad scientist in him wants to know what dedicating mana feels like in a new ritual… Yeah, that makes sense.

She nodded to herself, having successfully deciphered his reasoning. “Of course! There is no need for me to repeat the instructions, correct?” She stepped to the side to allow him room next to her. 

He merely scoffed in response and firmly grasped her staff. A few murmurs could be heard behind them, but Rozemyne just assumed that it was because they too did not expect Ferdinand to help dedicate mana. 

He’s just interested in the process like the mad scientist he is, nothing to see here. 

They began to chant together, with Ferdinand able to channel mana into her staff. It felt strange; a cool, exhilarating shiver ran down her spine as he channeled his mana along with hers into the earth. It was a feeling of unity that felt similar to other instances where she dedicated mana with him, but different somehow. She could not place her finger as to why that was. It took some effort to keep a straight face.

With them working together, the area was able to be restored in about half the time. 

She dismissed her divine instrument and turned back towards Ferdinand, who had his arm extended. Once she grasped it, he summoned his highbeast and helped her on top of it. They quickly took to the sky, with Justus following behind. 

She could have misheard but she could have sworn she heard Justus cackling behind her. As to the reason why, she hadn’t the slightest idea. 

Chapter Text

Justus was back within Roze’s highbeast with Lord Ferdinand and Roze. 

His sides were hurting now due to how much he was laughing on the way there; His lord had openly shown how close he and his fiance were to the few remaining knights of Dunkelfelger. Whether this was due to how impatient he was to get his tasks done or due to his desire to help his fiance, Justus was unsure. What he was sure of was the knights would definitely discuss this amongst themselves once everything was done. His lord likely did not care about rumors due to how likely their memories would be erased, but such reasoning did not make it any less humorous. 

As they walked to the brewing stand, Justus handed the materials he had collected to his lord, and immediately, his lord began to concoct the medicine he would administer to his fiance. Just based on how quickly he was brewing, Justus could tell that his lord was in a hurry. As much as he wished to pry and tease him, he knew that it was not the time to test his patience. 

It did not take long for Lord Ferdinand to complete the medication. After a few moments of calculating, he figured out the correct dosage then handed the completed medication to his fiance. 

Roze gave him a small smile then downed the small vial quickly, grimacing slightly afterwards. She was about to converse with him when Ferdinand held his hand up to stop her. He shook his head as he began to speak to her as her doctor. 

“Due to your slow rate of recovery, you will need to rest now if you are to continue on your journey. Would you like me to chant that sleeping spell once again? Or do you think you will be able to sleep on your own?”

Blinking in response to his sudden change in demeanor, she looked down for a moment to consider his offer. “I would appreciate the spell, if you do not mind. I do not feel tired enough to sleep at this moment.”

His lord listened to her request, and quickly chanted the prayer. She shortly succumbed to slumber and was laid down on the seat by Lord Ferdinand. He used her cape to cover her this time, then turned his attention to Justus. 

“It will take me longer to clear this next area due to how few knights are currently present. I may be able to return at fifth bell if there are fewer feybeasts than anticipated, however it will be more likely that I will return closer to sixth bell. Make sure to prepare the additional vials of medicine she requires. I have doubts that she will recover fully once she is to leave.” There was slight urgency in his voice, as if he could feel time slipping through his fingers. 

Justus nodded to his request and his lord swiftly turned on his heel to leave. He was nearly out the door when Justus called out to him. 

“Milord! It is nearly fourth bell, I ask you not to neglect yourself.”

Lord Ferdinand hesitated at the door, then looked back at his fiance. After thinking for a moment, he approached Justus and asked for a potion. 

Justus internally sighed. Even though he was used to such things, he had hoped that his lord would try to eat something. However, given that his fiance was resting, it was likely that he did not feel the need without her eating with him. Ferdinand downed the potion, then swiftly left the highbeast. 

Justus did as instructed, concocting the additional vials of medication for Roze as well as taking any extra time he had preparing all of the ingredients they had. From their haul of the last few days, he not only had the ingredients for their supplies to sort, but he also had to process the rewards from taking down the ternisbefallen. Luckily, these tasks were rather monotonous so he was able to perform these actions with muscle memory alone. 

Now that he was alone, he began to think of all the things that had transpired these past few days. There were some concerning patterns for things to come, and the ternisbefallen seemed to be a harbinger for some sort of disaster which loomed in the horizon. Ferdinand was much safer within the confines of the Royal academy, however, with this recent attack, even here he would need to have even more caution.  

Veronica had become absolutely frantic to end the life of his lord within the last year. It was the latest interaction they had with her which had Justus particularly concerned. 

The aub was particularly ill earlier in the year, and like always, their lord hoped to meet with him. His meeting was, of course, intercepted by Chaocipher. 

“I heard that the ragged wolfaniel of the Linkbergs devoted his name to you. There is no need for you to amass any devoted followers, you blight of the archdukal family. If you wish to truly convince anyone of your innocence, then give me your name. It has little use for anyone anyway.” She remarked with a contemptuous smile. 

Her followers had surrounded them, and Justus thought for sure that his lord would be forced into a contract then and there. However, the aub approached and cleared the area. He called Lord Ferdinand into his chambers alone, and they remained discussing things for quite some time; as a result of their meeting, it was decided that the aub would protect his lord’s name by claiming it himself. 

Justus had observed recently that Sylvester was undertaking more rigorous archduke training, and Lord Bonifatius was visiting the castle more and more. Through the whispers and rumors Justus had heard throughout the castle, it was clear that the Aub was declining quite severely. 

Even though he had his own reservations for the man, Justus dreaded the thought of his untimely death, especially if he were to die before Ferdinand was to graduate. Veronica’s manic attempts on their lord’s life had increased in severity due to his decline and they would only escalate if he were to die. 

If the aub were to die before Ferdinand was able to graduate, Justus was positive that Veronica would not allow him to finish his schooling and have him killed in the cruelest manner. The ternisbefallen had only proven that as Veronica had no doubt had a hand in the orchestration of the plan. 

The laynoble from Ehrenfest was from a poor household, so he would have never been able to afford such contraband from a higher ranked duchy, nor could he afford to stay at the academy for the off season. She had to fund him for this scheme, and she had done it so recklessly without regard for what possible political fallout it would bring to Ehrenfest. 

If Dunkelfelger had discovered that an Ehrenfest noble had colluded with Werkstock to attack them indirectly, then Ehrenfest would have been seen as siding with Werkstock due to Dunkelfelger’s political alignment. If this incident had gone public and if the prince that Werkstock sided with were to lose the war, then it would be possible that the whole Ehrenfest archdukal family would be purged as well. 

Her desperation and absolute selfishness had the possibility to bring Ehrenfest to ruin, and Justus knew that she was willing to go farther with her unrelenting hatred of his lord.

She saw Lord Ferdinand as an obstacle to Sylvester’s rule, or moreso her rule, of the duchy, so she would end him by any means necessary.  

Sylvester would be unable to stop such attacks; his mother’s faction was his primary backing and if he was to take the mantle of aub, then he would be overwhelmed for quite some time. He was even unable to stop his mother from harassing his wife, so Justus did not think him capable enough to help his lord in the slightest. 

These thoughts filled Justus with dread for the coming years; no matter how he looked at it, there was only suffering in their future, and he was sure that his lord thought the same.

He looked over to where Roze lay; Her existence alone challenged his assumptions for the future as it proved that better times were ahead. She was a paragon of kindness, a herald of changes to come, a benevolent messenger of time. 

At least for a moment, he looked forward to the future…

If only they would be able to keep their memories of these few days. If only his lord could remember that happiness awaited him in the future. Justus balled his fist and pulled his lips into a bitter frown.

But the goddess of time will take all of our memories away, and there will be little to no trace that she was here. 

Roze had shared that she had tried to keep some mementos of the past, only for the goddess of time to erase them. He knew it was probably futile, but on the first day of her stay, he had written some vague messages on some extra wooden boards. They held the secrets of the future; he knew he risked the pattern of the weave with these messages, but he could not help but hold out hope. He hoped that a beacon of light would remain, something that would lead them through the doom and gloom which sullied their path daily. 

It was selfish, Justus knew this, but it was his deepest wish to see his lord thrive with someone who cherished him. 

Justus continued to work on his tasks, until he had preserved the last remains of the ternisbefallen. It was a bit past fifth bell, and his lord had still not returned. 

It was to be expected; with Heisshitze and three other knights gone, it would take twice as long for them to clear the area, even with their lord working twice as hard. He suspected that it would be closer to sixth bell when Lord Ferdinand and Eckhart returned, and by then they would need to head towards the celebratory feast. 

He got up from where he sat, and began to pack away their things. This was the last day they would be staying within Roze’s highbeast, so he would need to bring all of these items back by tonight. 

The last item was packed up when Roze started to stir from her rest. She rose from where she had been laid and looked around from where she was. 

It did not take long for her to spot Justus; she immediately smiled warmly and asked him what he was doing. 

“I am preparing the items that I must return to the dorm, milady. “

“I see…Once we return from the feast, then I shall fly my highbeast closer to the dorms so you can more easily return your items.”

Justus gave a smile; her kindness was something he lamented forgetting the most. Kindness was something that his lord needed dearly in his life. 

He thanked her for her kind offer, and then began to ask if she required any more things for her journey. They were deep in discussion when his lord finally returned. It was nearly sixth bell. 

Roze ran up to him, squinted her eyes, then analyzed him for a second. She closed her eyes as she sniffed the air surrounding him, then began to glare, “I smell potions, Ferdinand.”

He crossed his arms. “I was short on time. We are about to go to a celebratory feast, so there is no need for you to worry, I will simply eat there.”

She pursed her lips, but then let out a sigh, “I suppose so…but I will be watching you very closely to make sure you do.”

The two began to bicker, or rather nag at each other, discussing the upcoming feast. They talked while Lord Ferdinand escorted Roze outside. 

Justus watched from not too far back, enjoying their amusing display of affection. If only his lord days could be filled with moments like these. Alas, it was something he could only dream for the future. 

Chapter Text

It was nearing sixth bell when they all descended upon the Dunkelfelger gathering spot; there was vibrant foliage now covering the area, and after searching for a short amount of time, they were able to spot where they were to convene, with a particular clearing being used for their celebratory feast. 

There were several attendants and servants still setting up the area for their meal and a few of the knights were setting up a bonfire which they would light up later in the night. The scholars were working especially hard on an effigy which resembled a wolfaniel; it was likely supposed to represent the ternisbefallen but, luckily, since the two feybeasts resembled each other quite closely, many would suspect it to be the former. 

Surrounding the bonfire were wooden tables and simple benches one would expect to find within a mess hall; It was a rather crude arrangement, but considering that they could not enter the Dunkelfelger dining hall, it was likely the best they could cobble together on such short notice. 

As soon as they made eye contact, Roze headed towards Heisshitze and began to converse with him. 

“Would it be necessary for me to summon my shield once again so we are not interrupted?” She began to look around worryingly, unsure if their celebration would go undisturbed. 

Heisshitze shook his head and began to reassure her. “Since we have just recently culled the population, it will take some time for more formidable feybeasts to emerge. Smaller feybeasts would not dare approach such a large gathering of people, especially once the bonfire has been lit. Do not worry, we have already scouted the area in order to ensure that we would not be disturbed so you may rest easy.” He made eye contact with Ferdinand, then flashed an easy going smile. “We have designated an area for those from Ehrenfest over there. You are our guests! You must enjoy yourselves! The God of Darkness’ cape shall descend soon, and that is when we shall set the effigy ablaze. The roasts should be ready by now so enjoy the food and vize until then!”

After pointing them to their designated area, Heisshitze went back over to the other knights, to help with the bonfire. They were putting in quite the effort to make it rather extravagant; Ferdinand could only guess that the young men were likely seeing how large they could make it. 

Roze turned back to their group and all together, they made their way to their designated seating area. Justus brought back an assortment of items for them to eat, along with water and fruit juice for their meal. After some thorough poison checks, his two retainers sat next to each other and Roze once again sat next to Ferdinand. 

Ferdinand looked at the sky, and watched as the twilight’s last embers slowly succumbed to nightfall. It was soon after that the knights hoisted the finished effigy onto the top of the bonfire pit. Several knights mounted their high beasts then summoned their bows; with flaming arrows and timed theatrics, they then lit up the bonfire. 

The flames illuminated the area and all of the knights began to cheer as celebrations commenced. 

Several servants began to play their instruments, with a mixed orchestration of drums, harspiels, and flutes. A few knights performed sword dances near the fire while others began to animatedly recount their tales of slaying various feybeasts. 

Roze looked at the bonfire, with her eyes sparkling and an excited smile on her face. It was a mystery to Ferdinand as to why she was so excited to see such a thing. 

“I’ve never seen a bonfire before! Is this a common custom in Dunkelfelger?”

Ferdinand took a sip of his drink then recalled conversations he had with those from Dunkelfelger. “From what I recall, they tend to hold such celebrations when they defeat particularly formidable feybeasts. They burn effigies which resemble them as a tribute to Schlageziel, and share tales of their hunt during such celebrations in his honor. These bonfires are usually held in the summer, but it is not abnormal for small groups to hold smaller celebrations throughout the year.”

He looked up to see Roze’s eyes sparkling even further, hardly containing her excitement as she questioned him. “Do you have any stories you wish to share with me?”

He took a bite of his food and looked away sheepishly; even though he did have a few stories to tell, recounting them at such gatherings was not something he much cared for.   

“Even though those from Dunkelfelger tend to indulge in such practices, I personally see no merit in such things… You are more lively at this particular celebration than I expected…Is there a particular reason?”

With a slight pout at Ferdinand’s refusal, she once again drew her eyes towards the bonfire. “It is not often that I get to engage in such celebrations. I have either always been sickly or my duties have prevented me from partaking in the festive atmosphere. However, when I was sent to the past, I found myself away from my retainers and duties. It would be a wasted opportunity if I didn’t indulge in some fun.” A more mischievous grin played on her lips and she began to rub her hands together, “Plus, I would never miss a chance to listen to more knight stories.” 

She had his sympathies in the beginning but now he could not shake the feeling that she had more nefarious plans for the stories she would be hearing. Ferdinand turned away from Roze, not wishing to be swayed by her pathos. 

“As I said, you will have to ask others if you wish to fully indulge in the festivities, or perhaps share your own. I, however, would rather not divulge such information unless absolutely necessary.”

In response to his absolute refusal, Roze pursed her lips in dissatisfaction. It wasn’t long before Heisshitze walked up to their group, one hand holding a plate piled high with food and the other holding a bottle of vize. He was grinning ear to ear, likely caught up in the festive atmosphere. 

“How is Ehrenfest doing?! I hope the food is to your liking! We managed to sneak in some contraband, so feel free to indulge yourselves.”

He placed the bottle in the center of their table with an audible thud and its contents swished about after being handled so roughly. Roze looked at it with wide eyes, mouthing the word contraband to herself, as if uttering the words aloud would get her in trouble. Ferdinand rolled his eyes as he moved the bottle physically away from Roze. 

“There is no need to act as if you performed some difficult feat. Your dormitory supervisor could stand in a forest of effon and not notice anything amiss, so sneaking a few bottles of vize would not be difficult to do.” The man was past the age of retirement, however it was likely that Dunkelfelger was waiting until the war concluded before they sent his replacement to the Sovereignty. 

“Haha, as festive as always, Lord Ferdinand. I am just ecstatic that you finally accepted our invitation. Be sure to listen to the stories of hunting feybeast and contribute your own stories if you possess them.” He turned his attention to Roze with his last statement, not even hiding his eagerness to hear from her. 

In response to his prompting, Roze placed a troubled hand on her cheek and sadly shook her head. “Unlike the two of you, I am not a knight so I do not usually partake in such activities. There have been only two notable instances where I have directly contributed to the felling of such beasts, both of which have both been fighting Ternisbefallen. Even then, I do not feel as if I contributed much.”

Heisshitze’s face immediately turned to one of shock at the reveal that she was not a knight. Nearby knights also held similar faces, having overheard her statement. With a slight tremble in his voice, he tried to rationalize her statement, “But you employed such effective methods of battle and commanded our forces so readily…”

She continued to shake her head, “I have been asked this before. It may be hard to believe, but I have a weak constitution, so I would never be able to go through the knights course. I have had to strategize with my retainers during ditter and battle, so of course I must be adept at commanding others.”

The knights seemed a little more accepting of this answer, though they still looked as if they could not fathom her not being a knight. Heisshitze recovered as soon as he heard his triggering words. 

“So you have participated in ditter matches?”

Dread slowly filled Roze’s face as she struggled to maintain her noble smile. She quickly tried to deflect attention away from herself, “I am sure Ferdinand has much more interesting tales…”

“I have studied most of Lord Ferdinand’s ditter matches in depth. It would do me well to listen to other interesting ditter matches. What kind of ditter matches have you participated in, if you don’t mind me asking?”

All of the surrounding knights’ eyes were now gleaming, as if they were wolfiniels that had located their prey. Now even the scholars started to surround her, with their interest piqued. Roze looked to Ferdinand and his retainers, but they all avoided eye contact. She had dug her own grave after mentioning ditter. 

After heaving a big sigh of defeat, she began to explain. “I have only participated in a handful of ditter matches as an archduke candidate, and I took on more of a support role during those matches. If you are okay with that, then I suppose I could share those tales with you. However, I will have to be vague with some of the details as the Goddess of time will not allow me to change the pattern of the weave, so anything which may spring you to action will be redacted.” 

She looked at all of the boys now gathered around her and they all nodded in agreement to her terms. After their agreement, she began to list out on her fingers the ditter tales she was willing to tell. 

“I have participated in treasure stealing ditter, bride stealing ditter, and true ditter. Which woul-”

“TRUE DITTER?!” All the boys gasped in unison. 

Roze nodded calmly as she began to explain, “I see you have some interest in that story, however, it is the most likely to cause problems with the Goddess of time. I shall avoid going into specifics to prevent changing the weave. If you are all okay with that, then I shall continue. “

All of the boys agreed in unison and soon, Roze began to narrate the story in depth, gesticulating and transforming her schtappe into various divine instruments as she recounted the battle. Between fighting enemies that had weapons and armor immune to mana and summoning winter in spring, even Ferdinand and his retainers were completely immersed in her tale. It was so outlandish and harrowing, that the knights began to talk quite fervently amongst themselves. 

“It was due to Dunkelfelger’s assistance that I was able to steal the foundation with no casualties. I recognize some of you as those who aided me during this battle, so I am glad I was able to aid you in the past somehow.”

Their cheers became more lively at the information that many of them would participate in such a harrowing battle. They all broke off into groups and talked about the tale in depth with each other, picking at their favorite parts. 

To think they were pitted against such formidable foes, and Roze had rallied the help of a greater duchy to steal a foundation…all in order to save me. 

Again his heart palpitations returned and he began to feel restless as he processed that information. It was too good to be true, and Ferdinand was almost inclined to not believe her...if she had not also traveled in time to save him. 

He found himself at a loss for words once again. It was Eckhart who was eager to ask Roze some questions. 

“So how long was this battle? You said that you had to save Lord Ferdinand after he was poisoned, so did he not recover after that to participate in battle?”

She placed a troubled hand on her cheek again as she confirmed his suspicions, “We were able to save Ferdinand in under two bells, thankfully, and I was able to administer the antidote to him so he could recover. However, he was forced to participate in the battle in order to support my new status as Aub. I wish that he would have rested more…however I cannot deny that he was essential during that battle. Not only did he command the troops, but he also made it so no one would question my role as aub.”  She pursed her lips as she continued, “As always Ferdinand was amazing despite being on the brink of death only a bell earlier. I could hardly help as I did not have enough experience to command the troops myself. All I could do was follow the orders Ferdinand gave me such as provide the Aub’s protection and healing. I had to heavily rely on him during the battle.”

Eckhart puffed out his chest as if he fully agreed with her statement, and he looked pleased with the praise that his master was receiving. 

For some reason Roze was undermining her own contributions. Not only had she done something outlandish like stealing a foundation in order to save someone, but she had done so in under two bells of time while transporting over 100 knights. Dyeing a foundation took months for some Aubs, so the fact that she had done that, likely used multiple transportation circles, and still cast spells and blessings was unprecedented for any noble other than herself.

Justus likewise seemed to notice as he gave a soft smile. “You are too humble, milady. If anyone was of most use during that battle, it was most likely you.”

Ferdinand nodded at this, “You may not be aware since you have not taken the knights course, but the support you provide as Aub was essential during that battle, even if you did not command the troops yourself. You complained earlier that I should not undermine my own worth, and now, I shall return that statement back to you. Neither I, nor my retainers, would be here without you, that much must be obvious.” 

Roze gave a sheepish smile as she averted her eyes. Fidgeting a little, she finally accepted their praise, “O-okay, I understand.”

They all smiled as their words finally seemed to reach her. 

However, it was then that Ferdinand leaned towards Roze as he began to ask about something that nagged at him since the beginning of the conversation with Heisshitze. “You said you participated in bride-stealing ditter, am I correct? May I ask why you were participating?”

Some of the knights within earshot seemed to freeze at the mention of ditter, but they held extremely conflicted faces. Roze looked upward, likely trying to recall the facts and determining if it was safe for her to divulge certain details. “Well, I had to participate in that one because I was one of the brides at risk of being stolen...”

Silence immediately enveloped the surrounding knights as they listened in, even Heisshitze looked about ready to retreat. They all lingered, likely still debating if they should listen to her ditter tale or not.

Roze crossed her arms and knitted her brow as she considered the story, “I must say, it was a close battle. They entered our treasure zone and I was almost taken out at one point because my retainers could not reach me, but luckily I was able to think quickly and narrowly avoid that scenario. But to think! I was this close to being married off to Dunkelfleger!”

She began to chuckle about it, as if it was some funny tale she could now joke about. The knights took that as their cue to flee. Ferdinand felt a familiar unpleasantness stir within his chest as all the muscles in his face contorted into a forced smile, “Explain.” He demanded.

Roze was looking behind her, wondering where the knights had disappeared to. When she had finally returned her gaze to him, she reeled slightly back as she looked at his expression. Justus and Eckhart once again averted their eyes, leaving her to plead her own case. 

For some reason, she did not seem to understand why Ferdinand was so angry as she adopted a puzzled expression, with a delicate hand on her cheek whilst she tilted her head. “I do not see why you are so angry, Ferdinand…”

Her light hearted attitude slightly irritated him further, but he was somehow able to suppress it. “When did this particular ditter take place? I assume it was not after your engagement to me?”

She cocked her head to the side, likely wondering why that fact would be relevant to the story. After some consideration of whether she could share this tale with him, she looked to be struck with an idea of some sort as she delicately took a sip of her fruit juice with a delicate smile upon her face. 

“I see that you are quite interested in that tale. I believe that I can share those details with you, but in exchange, you must tell me a story of your own.”

Ferdinand felt his eye twitch as his irritation transitioned into bemusement, “And what do you plan on doing with my stories? I sense nefarious schemes at play here.”

She placed a hand over her mouth and batted her eyelashes, trying to seem as innocent as possible. “And what, pray tell, could I possibly do with your stories? I think you are being too cautious, perhaps you are still tired from your attack not long ago.” She again placed a tired hand on her cheek then let out a sad sigh, “I suppose it cannot be helped. If you do not wish to share a story in exchange for mine, then I guess I cannot share it….”

Confliction ate away at Ferdinand; usually, in this situation, he would just scoff and not even indulge her bizarre demands, but this time he knew if he did not learn the circumstances of this ditter, it would bother him during the night. As he felt himself wavering, Justus finally chimed in. 

“I believe I can share one of Milord's tales on his behalf. If he recounted the tale, he would likely leave out particular details due to his particular role during his battles. I tend to be stationed at better vantage points so I usually witness most of what happens. Would you be willing to have me narrate one of his tales?”

She seemed to consider his words for a moment before she nodded in confirmation, “I could imagine Ferdinand would leave out details on purpose just to spite me, so that would be much appreciated Justus. Very well then. If Ferdinand is okay with that then I have no problem with it.”

Ignoring her slight, Ferdinand agreed to her strange demand. For the remainder of the night, they all exchanged stories between each other; as time passed by, they all began to enjoy the festive air and clamor around them as a light-hearted air carried on through the night. 

Chapter Text

The party had extended well into the night and it had taken quite some time for their group to depart after sharing goodbyes. Even though Ferdinand had wished to simply slip away whilst the boisterous knights were occupied, Roze had insisted that they say their proper goodbyes before they were to depart and he had no other choice but to relent to her request. It had wasted time and they had no choice but to immediately make preparations for her departure. 

As soon as they had returned to the highbeast, Roze decided to fly it closer to the dormitory so their items could be more easily returned. Luckily, as they flew, the monstrosity was cloaked; Ferdinand was certain that it would have caused an uproar had it been spotted in the night sky. 

Justus and Eckhart both decided to move the supplies and tools together, most likely wishing to waste little time in completing this task. Due to this, Roze was once again alone with him within her high beast. Ferdinand slightly lamented that the books had been taken back to his room, but he could hardly argue for them to be kept there. 

According to Roze, she would have to return to the gazebo by third bell at the latest, however she planned on returning around second bell. 

“Better safe than sorry”, she had stated, not wishing to be forcefully retrieved by the goddess of time. Ferdinand, again, could not argue for a later departure, as he could not think of anything logical to reason for it. 

They both sat within the highbeast, with Ferdinand performing a final check-up before they were to go to bed. Her fever was still high and her mana was equally as unsteady. 

“We should have never gone to that celebration feast, your fever has not improved at all.” He gritted his teeth.

Why did I not argue for her to rest? I should have been more careful, I should have never underestimated her frailty, I…

His train of thought was interrupted by Roze shrugging her shoulders and responding in a somewhat dismissive tone, “My fevers take some time to break sometimes, it is nothing new to me…I just wanted to have some fun before I moved on to the next break, I just wanted…” She trailed off, turning away from Ferdinand for a second, then shaking her head and resuming her normal smile. “As long as you have eaten well, I suppose that should be enough. If you are done with your examination, I would like to check my items one final time. Let me know once Justus and Eckhart return.”

She got up gracefully from her seat and began to walk back to her partitioned room, however, midway from stepping away, she stopped in her tracks.

Confusion now reflected within her big expressive eyes as she looked back at Ferdinand, blinking a few times as if silently questioning him. It took a moment for him to process why this was the case, but after he regained his senses, he realized that he had unconsciously reached for her hand. 

He was not sure as to why he had done so, and it would seem that, for some reason, his body had acted on its own. Dozens of thoughts flooded his mind, a myriad of excuses surfaced all at once, but for some unknown reason, a single question was uttered from his lips. 

“Is there anything you wish for, Roze?”

His sudden questioning made her eyes widen slightly and she promptly sat back down. 

“What brought this line of questioning, I wonder….” A slight giggle was quelled by her hand, which obscured a kind smile that had spread across her face. 

Ferdinand felt his ears burn slightly at his sudden outburst, but he still listened intently to her words

All this time she had been rather selfless. She had insisted that helping him was from her own selfish desires but no one helped others because of their own desire to do so. 

He was not so naive as to believe that. 

There must be something that she would get out of this, otherwise why would she save him time and time again? Why would she sacrifice so much for him? It made no sense. 

He watched as she thought of her answer; her eyes wandered around the room as she lightly tapped her pursed lips in thought. It was rather unladylike, but Ferdinand held his tongue with that observation; as long as she did not do such a thing in front of others, he had no reason to point it out. 

After a few more moments, she shook her head and returned a sad smile. “I cannot think of anything that you would be able to provide me at this moment…Well there are a few things but, I know that now is not the time to ask for those things.” She looked downward and mumbled some words to herself; Ferdinand could not quite hear what she said but it would seem as if she had been told not to ask for something in particular. 

This was his chance to see what actual desires she possessed, a chance to peer into her psyche somewhat. He was unable to obtain information of her personal life due to the nature of her visits throughout time, so anything that she was able to share, he clung to and analyzed to better understand her. He looked at her again, and began to try to convince her to share her desires. 

“We are to forget you were ever here by tomorrow, are we not? There should be no harm in simply sharing what you want with me?” He tried to add sincerity to his words, as to not alarm her to his motives. 

She glanced at him, only studying him for a moment before looking at her hands again and shaking her head, “Some things have become all too apparent during my trip to the past. I cannot ask for the things I received during my younger days. I have to grow up and accept certain facts, even if I find it unfair. I must become more reliable so I do not burden those around me…So do not worry about me, I will manage until I return to the future.”

Normally, he would have dropped the issue at her insistence; there was no need to force things. However, a strange sense of desperation ebbed at his heart and he felt compelled to do something, anything to ease her burdens. 

“I assure you that I will not dwell on anything that I truly cannot provide you, but if there is something that I may be able to grant you, then surely it would benefit me as well. You are to fix my thread, so anything that may better aid you with that task I must certainly be obligated to provide, correct? I must take responsibility for that, surely.”

Her eyes wavered somewhat at that reasoning, and she continued to weigh on her decision for a few more moments before she finally spoke. “I do suppose that may be true. I guess just telling you what I want shouldn’t be so bad….” After glancing at the door, making sure that his retainers were not soon to return, she finally shared what was on her mind, “I have grown weary during my time in the past and I simply…wish for some praise and ‘gyu-’ I mean a hug. You know…similar to how your father praised you…”

Ferdinand had a hard time grasping her request, as his mind blanked on his answer for a few seconds. It was one thing for a father and son to share a slight embrace during a moment of endearment, but for two people who were engaged and nearly of age…It was quite scandalous…

He would have to outright refuse this request. It was much too inappropriate. 

He observed as Roze’s eyes flickered back and forth between his gaze and the floor; they glimmered in the moonlight, with her eyelashes trembling slightly as she sheepishly awaited his answer. 

“Alright.” His mouth seemed to betray him again that night as he reflexively agreed to the unseemly request. It would seem that logically, in his mind, he understood the right course of action, but his body outright refused to comply. And to make the situation worse, his arms were already opened as if to welcome her. 

It only took a second for him to regain his composure and begin to correct himself, but it was a second too late as Roze did not even hesitate to wrap her arms around his neck and lock herself in an embrace with him. He felt the brush of her cheek against his own, the steady rise and fall of her chest pressed against his, and the softness and warmth of her curves against his body. With her close proximity, he found himself imbibing the scent of her hair, which reminded him of natural flora found within Ehrenfest. Her mana, which felt like the gentle rays of the sun, intermingled with his, creating a steady, oscillating wave of mana; He could feel it infiltrating deep within his body. His heartbeat quickened and thunderously pounded in his ears as all of these sensations overwhelmed him, so much so that he was unable to think straight. 

What was he to do with his arms? Should he hug her back? Increasing the surface area of which their mana could interact did not seem wise at that moment. Many thoughts were racing in his mind, all of which were somewhat inappropriate, so he decided that he needed something to distract himself. 

He looked within his immediate area, slight panic in his search as he could feel the call of winter at his heels. It was then that he set his sights on Roze’s hair and he hurriedly grabbed a lock. He twirled it around his index finger, looking at the individual strands, observing the luster, and the silkiness. It did steady his mind somewhat during his time of need, as he solely tried to focus on the sensation of her hair rather than everything else. 

He remembered that Roze wished for some praise, so, after gaining some composure to speak again, he began to muster words of genuine praise for her. However, before he could do so, Roze pulled herself away, and sat next to him. 

Did I take too long to praise her? 

He started to worry that she had been displeased by his slow reaction time, but then he looked at her face. Roze was slightly turned away from him, but even then he could see that her face was painted a bright crimson. 

“That felt different than it usually does…” She timidly muttered to herself as she hurriedly hid her face with her hands. Parting her fingers she glanced at Ferdinand, with her gaze focusing on his fingers. 

He looked at them too, and noticed that he had forgotten to let go of her hair. It took him a moment to release the lock of hair, and he began to sputter in defense of himself, with a slight crack in his voice. “I was unsure of how to reciprocate, forgive-” Once he returned his gaze to her, he paused as she was now red from head to toe, and her mouth was slightly agape. 

Completely and totally abashed, Roze rose from her seat in a hurry and dipped her head in a strange bow, ”Thank you for indulging my strange and selfish request.” Then, without waiting for his reply, she hurriedly fled to her room. 

In any other instance, he would have seen this as quite rude, but this time felt slight relief that she had retreated first. 

He touched his face and he could feel it burning; his pulse was still deafening and his breath was unsteady.

Justus and Eckhart had stated before that she favored him, but in truth, Ferdinand did not quite believe their claims. Though she treated him kindly and with great care, he could not convince himself that she truly fancied him. Surely the gods had forced her into carrying out their tasks; someone actually liking him was nearly impossible for him to fathom. 

His experiences with Veronica and the women of her faction ensured that he would not be so naive as to believe a rafel would ever grow in his name. 

That is, it was impossible for him to fathom, until today; Roze had requested to embrace him and receive words of encouragement from him. No one would request such a thing from someone they did not fancy. To do so would be erroneous and foolish as many would take it as an invitation for welcoming winter. No noble would be foolish enough to make that mistake, especially someone who claimed to be an aub in the future. 

Laying back on his seat as he readied himself for bed, he replayed the scene back in his head, recalling the sensations he felt as she clung to him. It was nice to revisit the memories, but such fantasies could not last forever; he let out a deep sigh as he recalled what was to come tomorrow. 

In truth, he would not mind if she stayed by his side, and the desire to delay her departure grew within his heart. Perhaps it was the impending separation that was to come the following morning that marred his judgment somewhat as he planned for tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

The dreaded departure arrived as they all readied themselves to see Roze off. All of their items had been packed and returned the night prior so all that remained for them to do was escort Roze to the gazebo of time. 

They all made their way to the gazebo dedicated to the goddess of time, dismissing their high beasts once they reached their destination.

The boys lined up as Roze stopped at the steps which led to the gazebo, turning around as she began to speak again. 

“Thank you for escorting me. These past few days have been pleasant despite the circumstances.” She gave a soft smile as she looked at the three men, looking downward as she finished her statement. “I must apologize that your memories must be altered due to my interference, but there was never any indication that you had alarming gaps in your memories in the past or future, so I believe it will be fine…probably…” 

Ferdinand’s memories of the past had been altered in a way that made it seem as if she never existed, so it was reasonable for her to assume that his memories of today would be altered in a similar manner. However, it was with the mention of those forgotten memories, that Ferdinand’s stomach felt unsettled, like a dark, bottomless hole had opened up beneath him. He made sure to maintain his expression, but he could not help but clench his fist at his own helplessness in the face of fate. 

“We are thankful for all of the work you have done for our lord. It is a shame that we are to forget you, but we shall pray that Dregarnuhr may weave our threads together once again within the near future.” Justus interrupted Ferdinand’s internal self lament as he thanked Roze. He took a knee with his arms crossed as he continued, “It fills me with relief that my Lord will be betrothed to such a kind and capable woman. Truly, words cannot express my gratitude. “

Eckhart joined in as he likewise knelt, “The knowledge that my Lord shall meet you once again fills me with hope for the future. Please continue to care for our lord as you continue on your journey.” 

She gave them fond smiles as they gave their genuine gratitude for her services. 

Roze looked towards Ferdinand now, slight pink coloring her cheeks as she now spoke to him. 

“Even though I was sent here to care for you, Ferdinand, it felt as if you took care of me during this break of your thread. I apologize for my unreasonable requests and demeanor at times. I will try to retain my composure next time we meet…though I suppose you will forget this promise…” She gave a slight sigh at that revelation, then straightened her back as she continued. “I just hope that my efforts in restoring the land will aid you during your time at the academy.”

He recalled the fact that she restored the Ehrenfest gathering spot in order to help him, something which added more weight to his already heavy heart. 

“It was you who aided me first, it is only natural I return the favor. It is important to shoulder each other's burdens equally, wouldn’t you agree?”

Roze appeared taken aback after Ferdinand uttered this statement, however, her surprise was quickly replaced with a look of content as she nodded in agreement. “Yes, exactly. As equals.” She echoed.

The midnight blue of the God of Darkness’ cape still lingered as the Goddess of light began to make her presence known within the sky, with the light pink blush indicating her arrival was soon to come. Roze’s golden eyes analyzed the sky, ruminating as she came to her final conclusion. 

“I must depart now. Otherwise, the Goddess of Time will take it upon herself to retrieve me by force. I do not know when we will meet again, but I hope it will not be during times which are too tumultuous.” She gave a wistful smile as she turned towards the steps leading to the inside of the gazebo. With a sharp inhale, she began to step forward but it was then that Ferdinand spoke once again. 

“Just a moment…I believe it prudent for me to conduct one final check up before you depart.”

His arm extended outward as he wordlessly offered to escort her into the gazebo and without a second thought, she accepted it. They both ascended the steps together, with Justus and Eckhart assuming their normal positions outside of the gazebo. 

They stopped at the center of the gazebo, with Roze turning towards Ferdinand, her hand prone and her eyes closed. 

You are too trusting, fool…

But he kept his thoughts to himself as he proceeded with his health check. 

As he expected, she had marginal improvement since the night before and her mana was still very much unstable. Ferdinand’s hands lingered as he analyzed her pulse, regretting that he could no longer…aid her. 

“You are still not well…If only you could stay until you fully recover, but I am not foolish enough to believe that asking anything of the gods would come to pass.” He couldn’t help but grimace as he bemoaned his own powerlessness. 

Roze returned a sympathetic smile, “I often think the same. But knowing I shall return to you in the future brings me comfort.” 

Ferdinand stopped. 

This girl…so careless with her words, how little she thinks before she utters the most…

He could not help but exhale. It was of no consequence, he had already cemented his conviction to carry out his machinations; steeling his nerves, he tightened his grip around her wrist. 

Roze looked at him with a start, her moon-like eyes questioning him as he spoke again. 

“Do you know of the mystery associated with the Gazebo dedicated to the goddess of time?”

“That it is where the goddess likes to play her tricks?” She answered, one of her brows raised at the sudden question.

He nodded, “Before your arrival, I had been studying the gazebo to see if there was any truth to these rumors, however, nothing of note happened when I studied it…That is until you arrived.” His gaze shifted to his hand, which still held Roze by the wrist. Slowly, he moved his hand so that it intertwined with hers. 

Roze let out a tiny squeak and opened her mouth to say something, but fell to silence as her eyes met with his. Ferdinand continued, not wishing to lose the momentum he had at that moment. 

“In truth…I do not wish for you to leave. If you were to stay indefinitely…then I think I would never wish anything else from the gods…” 

All his life, he had prayed for someone, anyone to save him. When he clung to life, he would pray, no, beg for the gods to answer his calls. Now that they had, he cursed them; To be gifted with someone so special only for every trace of her to be erased, the very thought was maddening. 

He had grown accustomed to things that he held dear being taken away from him, but having Roze leave filled him with the most resentment he had ever felt in his life 

Fine, if it had to be that way, then he would part on his own terms. 
 
His hands began to sweat from his nerves, his heart pounded vigorously against his chest, and his thoughts began to swirl in a panic. 

He glanced at the horizon, noticing that the morning light was soon to break. Fresh dew sparkled on the blades of grass, the buds of the flowers within the gardens swang gently in the wind, and birds harmonized their morning songs. 

Roze looked at Ferdinand, her eyes slightly watered at the impending departure. He raised his other hand and stroked her cheek in an effort to comfort her. 

“Do not cry…Would you like to send a prayer together? Close your eyes, so we may ask the Goddess of time to slow the spinning of our threads.”

She gave a soft smile and nodded in affirmation; without a second thought, she closed her eyes and held her free hand to her chest. 

It was as if she had no reservations about leaving herself completely defenseless…however, it made things easier for Ferdinand. Using his hand to lift her chin slightly, he drew in closer. 

Roze had a sharp breath of surprise as soon as his lips met hers; She stiffened somewhat, flushing immediately as her eyes opened in bewilderment, but they were soon to close again. Her hand trembled slightly, and some mana was exchanged in her fluster. His hand shifted from her chin to the back of her head, his fingers lightly combed her silken tresses. 

Her scent filled his nostrils, the soft touch of her lips infected every thought in his mind. Even though the kiss was chaste, there were some unintentional exchanges of mana between the two; she tasted of a forbidden ambrosia, which opened up a cardinal desire in him, to deeper explore her flavor. Ferdinand had some difficulty steadying himself, however the hope for this moment to stretch on forever pervaded every thought which swam through his mind. 

He prayed genuinely to the Goddess of time: to never let this entanglement of threads unjoin and to slow the passage of time. 

Of course, as with all good things, their embrace came to an end. Ferdinand drew back, unable to meet Roze’s eyes. From his glances, however, he could tell that she was red from head to toe. In fairness, he was likely no better, but her reaction did bring him some strange sense of fullness. 

“B-Bwwwuhhhhh…” She quietly garbled in abashed confusion.

Now he was sure; those rumors had no merit to them as this moment was much too short for his liking. The sun continued to rise, the birds continued to sing their morning calls, and the spring wind continued to bring its sobering gusts. The passage of time continued at a frustrating rate, and he could linger no longer. 

He turned towards the exit, slowly letting go of Roze’s hand. Right before he stepped out of the gazebo, he placed his hand on the entryway post. 

“Even though you may travel through the seams of my history almost instantly…I find that the next time we are to meet again cannot come soon enough.” He swallowed hard as he readied himself to leave. “Until Dregarnuhr, the goddess of time, answers my prayers and weaves our threads of fate together again…”

He stepped down the gazebo steps and began to depart; it was better to leave as soon as possible, before he could think about turning back. Justus and Eckhart were on either side of him, and as soon as he signalled, they followed closely behind him.

He needed to collect materials as soon as possible so that Dunkelfelger would stop badgering him and leave his presence. They made haste as they made their way to the gathering spot. However, for the briefest of moments before he left, Ferdinand felt as if a presence came from the gazebo. 

He looked at it with suspicion before he left, pushing away the thought as part of his imagination.

Chapter Text

“Milord?” Eckhart questioned as he looked at lord Ferdinand. 

Their lord was looking back at the gazebo, slowly stroking his temples. His hand traveled to his mouth, slightly lingering over it as slight bemusement overtook his expression for a split second. 

The wind was dying down now; just a moment before, it seemed to pick up a considerable degree. In fact, Justus was certain a whirlwind was soon to form had it not dispelled so quickly. 

“It is nothing, let us depart.” Their lord dismissed as he turned back towards them. 

He looked to the skies and to the fields around them. His brow furrowed a touch as he analyzed their surroundings. Eckhart and Justus likewise looked around in confusion. 

“Where have those fools gone? They were here just a moment ago…” Eckhart criticized, taking the Dunkelfelger’s impatience as a slight towards their lord.

“Still, that was rather fast. We were only turned away for a mere moment…” Justus questioned. Even he was doubtful that the lot was faster than Steifebrise.

“No point in milling about trying to rationalize the actions of the foolish. We know their destination so we only need to meet them there. The contract strictly states they must allow us to use their gathering spot, so they must wait for us in order to uphold their end.” Ferdinand quickly refocused them, then summoned his highbeast. 

Without questioning, Eckhart and Justus followed his lead then all three of them left to the gathering spot. 

It had not taken long for them all to make their way to the Dunkelfelger gathering spot, however, once they had made it there, no one was waiting to greet them. Because of this, they were made to wait just outside of the gathering spot, so they would not be punished for entering without permission. 

Look at all those ripe plants…ah this is agonizing…

The Dunkelfelger gathering spot was in much better condition than the Ehrenfest gathering area, it wasn’t even funny. Looking at vibrant foliage while being unable to forage it was torturous, especially because Justus was aware of how much they needed to replenish their supplies.

Eckhart looked around with impatience, rage building every second because of Dunkelfelger’s perceived impertinence. Lord Ferdinand likewise seemed irritated, however, his eyes looked to be questioning something. 

It was with a half bell worth of time passing that figures in the sky made their way towards them. 

“What is the meaning of this! How dare-” Eckhart’s reprimand was interrupted by the shrieking of the knights of Dunkelfelger. 

“LORD FERDINAND!” Heisshitze and a few other knights all called as they all stampeded towards their lord. 

Justus and Eckhart both took positions in front of their lord as the knights all tripped over themselves to meet with the trio. They all were breathing heavily, as if they had been in a rush from somewhere far away. 

It was Heisshitze who spoke first, heaving as he tried to collect his thoughts. “Did…did you go to the gazebo dedicated to the goddess of time?”

Lord Ferdinand furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes, annoyed that he was bringing it up again.

“I was studying the etchings within the gazebo for my research, you were there. Of what importance is that?”

“Yes! And you recall that we met you there, yes?” Heisshitze continued.

“Yes, before you so rudely absconded to who knows where. Why is it that you kept us waiting?” Their lord hissed, not even attempting to hide his displeasure.

However, Heisshitze shook his head as he began to explain. “It seems as if the Goddess has played her tricks on us because as soon as we began to head towards the gathering spot, we were suddenly back in the Dunkelfelger training arena, doing our morning routines…”

The boy began to explain. All of the knights and scholars of the sword who had been there before suddenly were back within the dorms or at the training grounds. They thought that perhaps they had gone backwards in time but when they looked at their stuff and asked around, it would seem that they had been missing three days worth of memories.

“It is no longer Fireday, it is Fruitday! Check your possessions, you will likely find oddities!”

Ferdinand looked to Justus, who nodded in response. Promptly, he looked in his pouch for the medicines and potions he kept on hand for their lord and, indeed, everything had been restocked. He gave a nod to his lord, which prompted his lord to check his own items. The charms, potions, and magical items had all been restocked. 

Even their lord seemed lost for words as his only response was to tap his temples and deepen the furrow in his brow. 

A scholar of the sword was next to step forward, speaking with slight hesitation as he looked at their lord. “It is not only that our items have been restocked, but there are additional items of unknown origin.” He quickly held out the contents of a satchel which had been at his side, within were materials taken from a beast Justus could not quite identify. “These are materials taken from a darkness feybeast which is not native to the sovereignty or Dunkelfelger for that matter. Many of our knights possessed similar items, likely from the same feybeast. You should check your possessions when you get back to your dorm, it is likely that you possess similar items.”

Another scholar stepped forward, eager to give another account, “Our gathering spot has also been replenished! It is easy for us to notice since we forage here quite often! It must be the work of a god!”

Curious….They don’t seem to be lying…

All of the clues just seemed to make the sequence of events of the missing three days more and more mysterious. Apparently, if their claims were to be believed, they had not only collected and restocked their supplies, but also fought an unknown feybeast. A strange claim given that there appeared to be no indication that a noteworthy feybeast had appeared. Yet, judging by the rewards the other knights had displayed, the beast would have been sizable. 

It made no sense, and his lord likely thought the same. 

His lord seemed to consider the matter for some time as he finally addressed the crowd in front of him. “We shall return to our dorm and investigate your claims. As it stands now, we no longer are in need of collecting, so our gathering is cancelled. If you acquire any more pertinent information, send a message to my retainers. I will likewise share anything noteworthy in exchange.”

The other knights answered with simple nods of understanding, turning to one another to discuss the mystery in greater depth. 

Then with a flourish of his cape, Lord Ferdinand summoned his highbeast and withdrew from the area. 

Justus noticed that they made their way back to the dorm with greater haste, but it was understandable given the circumstances. If they had truly lost their memories, there was no telling what happened during that time frame. 

It was important to ensure that the status quo was unchanged (though a slight improvement wouldn’t be the worst thing). 

Within his dorm room, nothing of note had been displaced. Justus quickly checked where he stored their supplies and, sure enough, all of their items and equipment had been restocked. Additionally, the strange remains of the mysterious feybeast were in their possessions. 

After all of his necessary checks for poison or traps, he confirmed with his lord that everything was indeed safe. 

His lord picked up the satchel which contained the feybeast remains, observing them before he opted to take them with him. “We must check with Hirchur. This requires an outside opinion. Take all of the restocked items so we can check the quality in greater depth.”

Both Justus and Eckhart nodded then worked hastily to gather the items in question. They now carried a great amount of items on hand, and made their way to Hirchur’s office. 

I hope we can get to the bottom of this mystery. 

Once they reached the lab, Justus stepped forward, giving a courtesy knock before entering a second later. Professor Hirchur never answered when she was engrossed in research, so it was best to just enter in order not to waste time. 

Before they had left to meet with Dunkelfelger, they had tidied up a tad around the lab, however, after returning after what appeared to be no longer than 3 hours from their perspective, the lab was now in total disarray. 

Documents were strewn about, testing materials and solutions were messily placed haphazardly around the desk, and books were all over the floor. What was most concerning was the Professor who was buried beneath documents on the floor, unmoving. Justus and Eckhart placed the items they had down at the entrance, then hurried over to Hirchur. 

Eckhart moved the documents, then lifted the Professor off the floor, lightly slapping her face a little to coax out a response. It might seem like rough treatment of a lady, but rest assured, Professor Hirchur would likely not even classify herself as one. This was not the first time they had found her in such a state, either, so drawing from past experiences, this was the best way to revive the careless researcher. 

Justus pulled out a flask, filled with juice and a stamina rejuvenation potion, then he drew it close to Professor Hirchur’s lips. After a few drops, her mouth quivered a touch, then she opened her eyes a bit. 

Suddenly, she sat upright, snatching the flask from Justus’ hand, then gulping down the remaining juices in one fell swoop. Once its contents were emptied, she let out a satisfied sigh. 

Then with the audacity reserved only for the gods, she held her hand out toward Justus, nonchalantly inquiring, “More?”

Lord Ferdinand caressed his temples, exasperated by his teacher’s carelessness and unconcerned demeanor. Nonetheless, he silently motioned to Justus to provide what she requested, and he, of course, obliged. 

She scarfed down the provisions he had at hand with reckless abandon, almost choking at some point. Once she was finally satisfied, she gave a dazzling smile. 

“I see you have returned Lord Ferdinand. You’ve been gone for quite some time, I assume that you have some extra research materials for me to use?”

Her statement made their lord furrow his brow a touch, which only evoked curiosity from his teacher. With a mischievous smile, she continued, “Oh, you must have brought something quite interesting if it causes you such strife, my disciple.”

Without words, Lord Ferdinand motioned to his retainers, causing them to retrieve the items by the door and place it near the Professor. She looked at them, adjusting her monocle to examine the items. 

“Professor Hirchur, by your best estimation, how long have we been gone?” Ferdinand began his line of questioning. Professor Hirchur was not the best at keeping track of time, especially when she was conducting experiments, however Ferdinand had no one else trustworthy to question. 

She cast her eyes upward, rubbing her chin somewhat as she calculated in her mind. “More than two. I ran out of provisions shortly after you left, and it usually takes me two to three days of not eating or drinking to be unable to move.”

All three men gave her a look of confoundment, wondering how she lacked any semblance of survival skills in that brilliant mind of hers. Their lord took after her too much, but even he had the sense to drink rejuvenation potions at the very least. 

Brushing off her statement, his lord continued, “After my observation of the gazebo of time, we were scheduled to meet with Dunkelfelger in order to gather materials. However, as we were making our way to the gathering spot, we lost sight of them for a moment. We had assumed they had decided to leave us behind, however, we made it to the gathering spot before them, and when they finally returned, they told us the most convoluted story. Three days had passed from the outside perspective, and all of us who were there had lost our memories of those three days.”

Hirchur’s interest was certainly captured as she observed the materials in front of her. “My, my! The goddess of time sure does love her tricks, doesn’t she?”

Yes, this was certainly the influence of a god, there could be no other explanation. A lapse of memory would be easily attributed to the work of an outside force using a poison or drug of some kind; however, the time lost was too precise, plus the amount of those affected who also lost the exact frame of time, this was certainly outside the reach of any normal drug. Additionally, there would be no point to restock all of the materials of those involved, so that ruled out nefarious plans by any of Lord Ferdinand’s enemies. 

“This is quite an interesting mystery! Not only have you procured materials of the highest quality, you also have lost any recollection of how said materials were obtained. Additionally…” Hirchur stopped for a moment and picked up a particular thing from one of the boxes. It was a piece of the unidentified feybeast. She adjusted her monocle, then smirked, “You have obtained materials of a rare darkness feybest. The Ternisbefallen of Old Werkstock.”

Their lord was unsurprised by the revelation, likely having surmised the same thing. But considering he insisted that he get confirmation from Hirchur prior to saying something himself, likely indicated that he could not believe it. 

Hirchur’s gaze intensified, almost to the point of fanaticism, “There have been no reports of any dark feybeasts near the academy, so this was exclusively witnessed by those involved in this incident. However, there is no record of the Ternisbefallen being able to steal memories or cause amnesia of any sort, so the encounter was likely unrelated to the memory loss.”

Lord Ferdinand nodded, knowing the abilities of the feybeast as well. He turned towards Justus, “Send a message to Dunkelfelger, the feybeast remains have been identified as the Ternisbefallen. Do not show the remains to anyone else unless they wish to raise suspicion that they are in talks with those of that faction.”

“Understood.” Justus reached into his pouch, where he kept ordannanz stones and wood slabs for communication, when he felt something amiss. He unlatched the bag from his belt and peered in, pulling out the wooden slabs he had within. 

Almost all of them were altered in the strangest of ways: One looked as if it had begun reverting back into a tree as the wood appeared youthful with some branches beginning to form, another looked as if it had aged a couple of decades as if the wind had worn it down and splintered it, some looked to be decaying from rot or water damage, and others appeared to have been scorched. Whatever had been written on them, was now illegible. 

Not all were ruined, but the only ones that could be read simply listed ingredients and items they used daily. It would seem that they all proceeded with normal duties during these three days as well. 

They all observed the strange phenomenon, with Justus letting out a slightly dissatisfied sigh. He would have to procure new wood slabs now, how cruel was the Goddess of time?

After setting aside the ruined wooden slabs as new evidence, he sent out an ordannanz as he was instructed. 

Not long after, an ordannanz from Dunkelfelger returned with some additional information. 

Apparently, after asking their servants and retainers, the Dunkelfelger knights learned that they had been acting in strange secrecy throughout the three days. They would leave and return as normal, but they would not discuss with anyone what they were doing during those three days. That was until the third supposed day, where they enlisted a few of their servants to help host an outside bonfire. And the strangest piece of information yet was that many of the servants had witnessed Lord Ferdinand participating in the celebrations. 

It was absolutely unbelievable. Surely, the work of some sort of hallucinogen. 

Even though it was quite funny to hear Heisshitze’s cries of having such a memory erased, this event, if true, made the order of events so strange. Looking to his lord to outright deny this, Justus was surprised that his lord did not completely dismiss it. 

“When we stepped away from the gazebo, there was a taste that lingered in my mouth.” His lord admitted, creasing his brow as he placed a hand over his mouth. It was uncouth, but he appeared to be analyzing the taste that remained on his lips. “If I had to describe it, I would describe it as sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Something with a rich flavor, which I have never tasted before. I did not dislike it.”

This statement floored Eckhart and Justus, as they knew how much their lord detested sweets. The more they learned about this incident, the more confusing it got. 

“Dunkelfelger is not known for sweets, nor do the knights bring sweets to bonfire celebrations. Perhaps it was a type of new Vize?” Eckhart offered. 

Lord Ferdinand nodded reluctantly, seeing no other explanation for the strange taste. 

Trying to look for more clues, they decided to study the materials gathered during the three days. It took quite some time for them to analyze the entirety of materials gathered, but besides being of high quality, there was one other element that was present throughout. It was a strange mana that was of unknown origin, described as malleable but potent as well. The only thing which was similar were ingredients obtained during the Night of Schutzaria, but instead of having slight traces, this was much more present. 

“It is as if a goddess has infused her mana directly! Such purity of ingredients!” Hirchur’s eyes were sparkling, as if enraptured by the sight. 

Their lord looked rather conflicted, having a desire to study the materials in greater depth, but also a desire to continue looking into this mystery. Finally, after much agonizing, he opted to continue to look for clues as for what occurred during the three days. 

They left the laboratory, with Hirchur promising to contact them if anything of interest occurred, then they returned to Lord Ferdinand’s room. Once there, they searched for anything else out of place, and found the garments his lord had been wearing before. Upon closer inspection, he was wearing something different, they had just not noticed because of everything happening. 

The clothes were ripped at the chest, appearing to be a fatal wound if not treated properly. His lord partially disrobed to inspect himself, finding nothing amiss. 

Justus looked at the clothes; blood had seeped into the threads, but as he leaned he noticed a strange scent clinging to the clothes. Perhaps he was imagining, but there was a faint flowery scent. A theory formed in his head, but it was just conjecture at this point. However, in order to gather more concrete proof he walked up to his lord and inspected his clothes. 

Despite receiving dirty looks, he could smell something similar on him. Actually, it was much more distinct, almost leaving no question in his mind. 

It was a scent of a woman, a very mild perfume of some sort. His lord had already become accustomed to it in all likelihood and was unaware, but Justus could smell it clearly. 

But how do I prove this?

Just as he was mulling this over, another ordannanz arrived from Dunkelfelger. It was filled with a few theories of what happened during the timeline, most of which they had already deduced, but one more fact was added. 

“A few of the servants claim there was a strange woman accompanying Lord Ferdinand. She was of unknown origin, and they could not identify which duchy she hailed from as she did not wear a distinct color from any known duchies. Perhaps a servant or retainer of yours?”

Justus’ eyes widened, but he could not speak the words that came to him. What was this woman doing with them? What was her relation to their lord?

Lord Ferdinand dismissed this information, “I am going to disregard that. Heidiemarie is back in Ehrenfest and there are no more women in my entourage.” He gave a passing glare at Justus, “Well, in the conventional sense, I suppose.”

Ah, that’s true…

Perhaps they saw Justus disguising himself, but he could not be so sure. But, because of his known proclivities, he could not come forward with his information. Though, in the back of his mind, he could not write off the possibility of a different woman being present, as he knew he did not possess a perfume with the scent he smelled before.

Instead, he decided to look into his own belongings. “Milord, I would like permission to inspect my items as well as Eckhart’s. Perhaps there are some clues there as well.” 

After receiving permission, Justus went to his room while Eckhart stayed with Lord Ferdinand. 

Like his lord, his clothes were tattered slightly, but not to the same degree as their lord. Thinking back to how tattered Lord Ferdinand's clothes were, it was shameful to think his lord had sustained such damage instead of himself. The fact that they no longer possessed those wounds did little to alleviate his feeling of inadequacy. 

He searched his pockets and items, finding nothing until he searched his torn garments. Inside one of the pockets, was a small wooden slab. Written in his handwriting, it read: ‘Ferdinand will be engaged to Aub Ahrensbach and it seems that he’ll be able to leave Ehrenfest’. 

Justus could feel his heart rate quicken, and before he knew it, he was sprinting back to his lord. 

He nearly fell over himself as he burst through the door. 

“MILORD!” He yelped, gasping for breath as he tried to collect his thoughts.  His hands quivered as he held the wooden slab tightly. 

“Justus, control yourself! What has you in such a state that you appear dishonorably in front of our lord!” Eckhart chastised but Justus ignored him as he held out the wooden slab. 

Ferdinand ignored the bickering as he read the message left behind, his eyes widening afterward. Eckhart grabbed the slab, gawking at the supposed message from the future. 

“I-is this true??!” His voice trembled, almost cracking as the emotions almost overtook the usually composed knight. 

“I hope it is! Imagine! Our lord can leave the hostilities of this duchy behind and start anew! How wonderful!” Justus couldn’t contain his excitement. Even though it was wishful thinking, his heart could not help but sing. 

Their lord however, scoffed and disregarded the message, “There are no current female archduke candidates in line to become the next Aub Ahrensbach. Clinging to such a dubious note is foolish.” He turned away, not wishing to have false hope. 

It was understandable, as his hopes were so often dashed in the face of cruel reality. But still, Justus wished to give his lord something to look forward to. 

“Then perhaps we shall see how exactly this note plays out, there is no harm in watching a hypothesis play out, right? I believe this to be a message from the goddess of time. Perhaps some twist of fate will make it happen. Then we shall see how fate weaves through the guidance of the goddess of time.”

His lord did not question Justus further, simply shrugging it off, “I suppose if you have interest in this mysterious note, then we shall see if it is somehow fulfilled.”

There was little resistance in letting Justus see the outcome of this note, so internally, Justus questioned if his lord also hoped it to be true. 

“We have to tell Heidiemarie about this! She’ll be ecstatic!” Eckhart grinned, obviously hoping that the prophecy was true. 

Justus smirked, “Are you sure? If the implications turn out to be true, she will accompany our lord by any means necessary. It wouldn’t surprise me if she demanded you take her as your bride.” There would be no way for an unwed female retainer to accompany her lord unless she was bound somehow. Justus knew that the ever loyal Heidiemarie would go by any means necessary. 

Eckhart let out an awkward laugh as if he initially saw the statement as a joke, but as he thought about it more, the pallor of his skin intensified. With a grim look on his face he began to mumble to himself, “That…does sound like something she’d do…”

Justus looked at his lord; instead of scolding them, or once again reminding them to look at the facts of the matter, he was staring at the wooden slab. His eyes looked hollow, and his face rigid as he mumbled a bit to himself, “The guidance of the goddess of time…”

It would seem as if this information did make him quite enthusiastic and hopeful for the future, but Justus knew in his heart that he would never admit such foolish wishes aloud. 

If there were truly a god in this world that would listen to his prayers, Justus prayed that they would allow his lord to leave this place and finally be happy.