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Chapter Text

Rozemyne sighed for what must have been the hundredth time. Luckily there was no one around to hear her as she was in her hidden room. She glanced down at the doodle on her slate board and wiped it off once more. She picked the slate pen back up trying to focus on her next improvements for the printing industry but once more her thoughts drifted to Christmas and she wound up drawing a Christmas tree. It looked eerily similar to the one she and her mom put up during her last Christmas on Earth. She drew the presents, stockings, her mom baking when she was pulled from her thoughts.

“Rozemyne this is your final warning if you do not open the door I will assume that you have passed out and come in myself,” Ferdinand’s voice echoed through the room.

Rozemyne shivered at the thought of the anger the Lord of Evil must be suppressing.

Rozemyne set her slate down and moved to open the door. Ferdinand had his shining smile on.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Rozemyne asked.

“You ignored your attendants for a bell, they interrupted my work when you refused to answer the call to come to dinner, and that was my third attempt to reach you,” Ferdinand answered.

“Oh, um-“ Rozemyne started.

Ferdinand entered the room and closed the door behind him. He glared down at the shumil before grasping both of Rozemyne’s cheeks.

“What had you so focused that I had to be pulled from my work to see if you were conscious or not?” Ferdinand questioned.

“Weel I’d tuh too a,” Rozemyne tried answering when Ferdinand finally released her cheeks.

“Speak normally,” Ferdinand said.

“Easier to do when you aren’t torturing my cheeks,” Rozemyne said. She rubbed her cheeks gently and cleared her throat.

“As I was saying, I got lost in my thoughts and didn’t hear you until that final warning,” Rozemyne said.

“And what had you so absorbed?” Ferdinand asked.

“Just a bit of nostalgia,” Rozemyne said, glancing at her slate. Ferdinand quickly picked the slate off the table. “But it’s ok, don’t worry about it. I love the life we have now and wouldn’t change anything,” Rozemyne quickly added as Ferdinand took in the picture on the slate.

“This is from the dream world?”

“Yes, it was a holiday,” Ferdinand made a face and Rozemyne quickly continued, “a day similar to the feast celebrating spring. This one was a most magical time of year.”

“I thought your world didn’t have magic.”

“Bad choice of words. It was a time when families gathered together and the world had a more hopeful feeling like there really could be peace on earth on day.”

“And this is what you did during this holiday?”

“Partly. Bwah. Can we just take a trip to the dream world in my memories? It’d be so much easier to just show you.”

“Do you really want to? You know now, the tool is really reserved for criminals.”

“I know but it’d be a chance to relive some Christmas memories and maybe read some Christmas books!”

“Ah your true intentions reveal themselves once more.”

Ferdinand fell into thought, eyes closed, tapping his temple.

“Hm, I suppose we do have some time in our schedules after dinner. For now come, your attendants have waited long enough.”
At that moment a loud stomach growl filled the room. Ferdinand’s entire face turned bright red.

“And you’re, finally, clearly used to eating on a schedule,” Rozemyne said with a giggle.

Chapter Text

Dinner proceeded like normal, just slightly delayed. Rozemyne found it difficult to sit still, especially during the post meal tea. Her mind raced thinking about which holiday memories she wanted to show Ferdinand. Lieseleta got Rozemyne ready for bed and quickly opened the door upon hearing Justus knocking on the side door announcing Ferdinand’s arrival. Ferdinand entered the room, Justus handed him a box and the attendants quietly left the couple alone.

Rozemyne was all smiles.

“This time it’s going to be so much fun,” Rozemyne commented.

“I feel like I should be worried but please at least try to keep your emotions calm,” Ferdinand said with a sigh.

“I shall do my best. I wouldn’t want to lose out on time in the dream world because you break the connection early.”

Ferdinand held an arm out to escort Rozemyne to their hidden room. After entering, Ferdinand placed the box on the table and pulled out the circlets. Rozemyne took the circlet and lay down. Ferdinand chuckled and the two finished preparations. In no time at all, Ferdinand was leaning towards Rozemyne and the circlets connected.

“Rozemyne, can you hear me?”

“Ferdinand, there you are. Let’s go!”

The darkness quickly shifted to the dream world. Ferdinand recognized the large building as Rozemyne’s beloved library but it wasn’t quite the same as before. There was snow covering the ground and upon entering Rozemyne walked up to a large ornately decorated tree and took a deep breath in.

“Aw, not the same as ink and paper but still, it smells like Christmas.”

Beside the tree there were sock shaped objects with writing on them lining the walls. Red and green decorations filled the room.

A warm feeling filled Ferdinand.

“And this is Christmas?”

Rozemyne nodded. She told Ferdinand about the significance of a Christmas tree and someone named St. Nicholas before the scene shifted and they were at her school once more. Well he assumed it was her school but no one seemed to be studying and the professor was nowhere to be found.

“This is the party the last class before break.”

Rozemyne was approached by a man who looked at her with a smile.

“Urano, don’t forget you and your mom are coming over to my house for Christmas Eve.”

“I know Shuu, you don’t have to remind me every day. We’ll be at your house on eve and you and your mom will come to our house for day. It’s the same every year then we switch for New Years.”

“Given your tendency to forget everything when books are involved, I will remind you again tomorrow.”

Ferdinand chuckled. Rozemyne ignored him and the scene shifted to her kitchen. Her mom is rolling out dough while Urano reads at the table.

“Urano, would you like to help cut the cookies? The oven is almost ready.”

“No thanks, I have to finish this book tonight if we’re going to Shuu’s tomorrow.”

Rozemyne bristled but fought to control her emotions. She explained Christmas cookies to Ferdinand. The scene morphed once more ice skating with Shuu and their moms. Christmas carols played on the speakers. Urano hummed along and the scene shifted again. This time Ferdinand looked around and saw a man he hadn’t seen in the dream world before. Ferdinand looked up and the man picked him up. Ferdinand noticed Rozemyne gasp but kept his comments to himself.

“Merry Christmas Urano! Are you ready?” The mystery man asked.

“Do you think Santa brought me some new books?”

“Depends on if you made the nice list. Let’s find out!” The mystery man said with a chuckle but kept Urano close. Urano rested her head on the man’s shoulder.

“Dad,” Rozemyne cried out before Ferdinand was pushed out of the scene.

Ferdinand took a minute to look around the room, Rozemyne was still lying on her chaise lounge, eyes closed. He reached out and wiped away her tears.

“Rozemyne?”

Rozemyne blinked and seeing Ferdinand she wiped his tears. He backed away in surprise, he hadn’t realized he was crying as well. He quickly got over his shock and pulled Rozemyne into a hug. She was shaking but held tightly onto Ferdinand as if he would disappear too.

“Gyu,” Rozemyne said with a sigh.

Once Rozemyne had calmed down pulled back slightly from the hug.

“I’m sorry, maybe this was a mistake. It was harder than I thought to control my emotions in most of those memories.”

“Don’t apologize. You actually made it longer than the first time you showed me the dream world.”

“Maybe, but thinking about Christmas and seeing it were different than I thought,” Rozemyne mused.

“Would it help to talk about it some more?” Ferdinand asked.

“It can’t hurt,” Rozemyne said.

Rozemyne proceeded to spend the next few bells telling Ferdinand all about the holidays from the dream world. She explained in greater detail the memories she had shown him. He was able to confirm that the final memory was one she didn’t even know she still had. She had only hoped to show a glimpse of her final Christmas with her dad, never imagining that much of the morning was still in her memory somewhere.

“It’s getting late, you should rest. We can talk more about this Christmas tomorrow,” Ferdinand said.

Rozemyne nodded. Her emotions were spent and she was in no position to argue. She slowly moved to leave the hidden room but Ferdinand quickly scooped her up and they left the room with her clinging tightly to his neck.

Chapter Text

Reliving memories of her past had left her emotionally drained and it didn’t take long for Rozemyne to fall into a deep sleep. Ferdinand smiled down at his troublesome shumil, tucked her hair behind her ear, and gently kissed her cheek. He quietly got out of bed and summoned Justus and Eckhart to his personal rooms.

“You are to tell no one of what we are about to talk about,” Ferdinand ordered.

Justus and Eckhart felt the mana grip them and quickly confirmed their silence.

“There is something my all goddesses is missing and we are going to recreate it as much as I can for her.”

“Something from Ehrenfest?” Justus questioned.

“Not exactly,” Ferdinand replied.

He quickly pulled out Ehrenfest paper and wrote out lists for each man to complete before morning.

………………….

Rozemyne stretched, reaching out for Ferdinand’s warmth but finding the cold sheets instead.

She sighed. He must have already left for his lab. She sat up and pulled the book from her side table. Rozemyne quickly lost herself in the pages of the newest romance book from her mother when it was rudely pulled from her hands.

“Lady Rozemyne it is time to start your day,” Gretia said with a smile that rivaled Ferdinand’s dazzling one.

“Ah, of course Gretia. What is my schedule like today?”

“Well, at first bell you only had a two meetings scheduled for today. One with a coastal giebe and the second with the Gilberta company. Now, both meetings have been cancelled and Lord Ferdinand has requested your presence in the archducal couple’s private gardens. And only your namesworn may accompany you to the entrance,” Gretia finished taking a breath.

“Ferdinand changed the schedule without consulting me?”

“He only cited that this was a matter that could not wait.”

Gretia quickly got Rozemyne ready for her day. Rozemyne exited her chambers to find her namesworn waiting for her.

“Matthias and Laurenz will accompany me to the garden. Hartmut will act as my scholar and Gretia as my attendant. Roderich please continue working on A Ditter Sequel and Clarissa check in with the Gilberta company that this delay does not affect anything urgent before continuing work in the scholar office training the apprentice scholars.”

The hallway was abuzz with activity as everyone began moving to fill the roles Rozemyne had assigned.

Before long Rozemyne arrived at the specified garden to find Eckhart and Justus guarding the entrance. After the lengthy noble greetings, Justus stepped slightly in front of Eckhart.

“Milady. Lord Ferdinand has requested you read this and act accordingly prior to proceeding,” Justus said with a knowing grin.

Rozemyne while you can bring any namesworn ordered to silence with you I would recommend your guards patrol the perimeter with Eckhart, Gretia and Hartmut wait for us at the entrance, while Justus attends to us in the garden.

Rozemyne accepted and complied with Ferdinand’s request entering the garden with Justus.

“Lord Ferdinand is waiting for you in the center of the garden,” Justus said, stopping at the end of the entrance path.

Rozemyne continued walking and the sight before her took her breath away.

Ferdinand stood holding two pairs of ice skates next to the frozen lake. The surrounding trees were decorated with lights and baubles, probably magic tools did he get any sleep last night? A soft tune filled the air and upon closer examination Rozemyne found the recording magic tool playing the nostalgic O Come All Ye Faithful, how fitting. There were even some Christmas cookies waiting on the table next to a hand sized present.

“Fer-“

“Rozemyne,” Ferdinand interrupted her, softly dropping the ice skates. He approached her and held out his hand. She took his hand in both of hers.

“I know this is sudden but it felt necessary to bring you a piece of the dream world today. I never want you to regret being here with me. I just want you to be happy. Merry Christmas Rozemyne,” Ferdinand said.

Rozemyne broke down in tears. Ferdinand quickly pulled her into a gentle hug.

“I’m sorry, did I mispronounce Christmas? Are the shoes wrong? Oh, the song, I tried to replicate what I heard in your library but the pronunciation of your dream language is still strange. It’d be nice if we could have more time for you to teach me.”

Rozemyne giggled but couldn’t stop the tears enough to speak yet so she just held Ferdinand in a tighter gyu.

Slowly, the tears ran their course and Rozemyne loosened her grip on Ferdinand.

“This is perfect. You are perfect. It’s exactly what I needed. And to be clear I never regret a day where I get to be with you. Also, I am happy. Just look at the life we created here.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” Ferdinand replied with a grin.

Ferdinand scooped Rozemyne up and set her down gently at the table. He held out the gift to her.

“Ferdinand, you did so much for me, you didn’t have to get anything for me.”

She opened the box to reveal an intricately designed hairpin. It was simple by Ferdinand’s standard but absolutely perfect for her. There were five feystones, each uniquely shaped: a Christmas tree, ice skate, present tied with string, snowflake, and of course a book. No one else would understand the significance of these items together but she didn’t care. This was what she needed.

“It’s perfect! Thank you ever so much.”

Rozemyne quickly switched her hairpin out for the new Christmas hairpin.

“Are you ready to try skating? It’s not as easy as you made it look in the dream world.”

Rozemyne laughed. Ferdinand smiled his true smile. He would do anything to see her laugh and smile.

“I’m not sure I believe the Lord of Evil has trouble ice skating when things like mana enhancement exist in this world.”

Ferdinand laughed and shook his head.

“I suppose you need to find out for yourself.”

Ferdinand and Rozemyne skated for a full bell after which they ate the Christmas cookies. Rozemyne gave an impromptu lesson on Japanese and taught him a few more Christmas carols. And they relished in knowing that for that day Christmas had existed in Alexandria if only for the two of them.