Chapter Text
Part 1: Chapter 5: Family in Alexandria
At this time of year in Ehrenfest, the Goddess of Earth, Geduldh, was enshrouded by thin veils of snow. Commoners and nobles alike would be hurrying to complete the last of their winter preparations. The nearing winter in Alexandria was not felt by early flurries of snow like in Ehrenfest. The Goddess of Earth didwas not so quickly surrendered in Alexandria. Each night, the Goddess of Wind drew up her shield and rallied the goddesses of autumn to beat back the encroaching winter. Each day when the Goddess of Light rose, the God of Life and his subordinates fell back to gather their strength, exhausted from the previous night’s battle. As the season changed from autumn to winter, the God of Life’s desire grew more desperate in pursuit of his Goddess. The twin Gods of Jealousy and Hunger provoked their master’s howling wrath against Autumn and her subordinates. Even with the great ocean of Alexandria granting her Flutrane’s strength, Schutzaria and the twelve goddesses who served beneath her could not hold out eternally against the God of Life—not when she was standing between him and his coveted Geduldh. The days grew shorter and the nights longer as the God of Darkness covered the Goddess of Light’s gaze earlier and earlier each passing evening. He did not wish her to be forced to witness all her daughter and her kin endured in the battle against Ewigeliebe. One by one each of the goddesses of autumn would fall—just as they did every year—until only the Goddess of Endurance stood by Schutzaria in defense of Geduldh. The God of Darkness would hold his beloved Goddess of Light close as the battle drew near its end and winter began; the king of the heavens did not want her to be forced to see Ewigeliebe once again succeed in the capture of their youngest daughter.
In only a few short weeks, Adelweiss would have her baptism and winter socializing would begin. Since the start of the Sun and Sea Festival, the nobles of Alexandria had two socializing seasons. It was common for many of the provincial nobles to only spend a portion of the winter season in the capital itself. Many would spend the other part of the season hunting in the southern provinces, where the weather was tamer and the accommodations cheaper. Only in the greatest and wealthiest of provinces did their laynoble and mednoble vassals make comparable income to that of the vassal houses in the capital. To spend half the summer and the entire winter in capital fashion would simply cost too much for many provincial laynobles and mednobles. Unlike in the past few years, nearly every noble in Alexandria would be present for the start of winter socializing as they knew the aub’s daughter was being baptized. To be present for the baptism was a sign of respect for the archduchess, but respect was not the only reason. There were many in and outside of the duchy who were curious about the first child born to Aub Alexandria.
Despite their best efforts, rumors and speculation abounded on the nature of the first daughter allegedly born to the archduchess. As Alexandria was the first-ranked duchy, any intelligence about their archducal family was of great interest to this within and outside of the duchy. The unusual color of her hair and eyes was known only a couple years after her birth due to an information leak, and it was confirmed when she began to be seen in her brief moments outside the archducal chambers. The rumors of Adelweiss had morphed outside Alexandria. Some said her white hair and red eyes must have been proof of infidelity, and the father must have been the new Aub Dunkelfelger who had famously attempted to steal Rozemyne as his bride during his final year at the Royal Academy. The fantasy of a scandalous, passionate, and forbidden romance between the aubs of the First and Second was rather stimulating for devotees of Lady Elauntra. Others saw an affair as too outlandish and thought Adelweiss was likely the daughter of Aub Dunkelfelger, but that Aub Alexandria was not the mother and Adelweiss was secretly adopted to grow the bonds between the duchies and Alexandria’s archducal family. Ferdinand thought of these rumors as baseless and foolish, and he would have proved them wrong if it were not for the most disturbing theory of Adelweiss’s origin. He would rather be seen as a fool whose goddess preferred Verbergen’s shroud to her Dark God’s cloak than for Adelweiss to be seen as a new sprout born to Adalgisa.
In the years following Eglantine’s ascension she obtained her own book of Mestionora. She learned of the folly of Tollkuehnheit, the founding of Lanzenave, and the villa of Adalgisa. Due to the conditions of the mana shortage and discussions with the Lanzenavian prisoners, she had decided to make an offer of refuge to the mana-weilders who remained in Lanzenave beyond the country gate. These refugees did not become nobles of Yurgenschmidt. The Zent made her judgments on a case-by-case basis on what was to be done with the refugees. By her wisdom they were imprisoned with their relatives, accepted into various temples, or secretly taken in as mistresses or servants by archducal families under strict contracts. In the short term the influx of mana almost entirely solved the mana shortage. As a result of the Zent’s actions, many mana-rich children were born into Yurgenschmidt with Lanzenavian parentage. The long-term consequences of her actions had yet to be seen. The circumstances of the Lanzenavian refugees were not the same as that of the Adalgisa villa, but princesses of Lanzenave were once again bearing the children of the elite of Yurgenschmidt. That someone who knew of the villa would draw a comparison was less than surprising, and now there were rumors that Adelweiss was one of these descendants of Lanzenave—adopted by Alexandria because no man was a suitable match for the mana of the Avatar of Mestionora.
Ferdinand did not think it was Zent Eglantine who had spread this rumor. First, she was soft-hearted. She would understand just how cruel the rumor was. With her real book of Mestionora and her search through Gervasio’s memories, she knew of Ferdinand’s origin and had taken his opinions into account when deciding how to handle the Lanzenavians. Second, Eglantine wouldn’t dare spread such slander when Rozemyne still held her name. The Zent had grown into a cautious woman who carefully maintained the balance of powers in Yurgenschmidt. She was not very proud, but she would not stoop to alleging the daughter of Alexandria was a sprout or bud of Adalgisa.
The culprit must have been someone else. There were still many who knew of the history of the Adalgisa villa. It was possibly a former or current aub who had lived during the time the villa was open, or one of the Zent candidates who learned of it by their wisdom. Neither of the official candidates were closely allied to Alexandria. The likely culprit was a cousin to Anastasius and Sigiswald, a woman of Gilessenmeyer who now acted as the Zent’s right hand and guardian of the gate of Light. Ferdinand had only been able to confirm Aub Korinthsdaum was one spreading the rumor, but he did not think Sigiswald had come up with the idea on his own. Aub Korinthsdaum was a lucky man, for Rozemyne and Ferdinand had no direct accounts of him calling their unbaptised daughter a flower. It seemed he only made such audacious insinuations in meetings where he was surrounded by sycophants of the northern duchies who more than a decade later still clung to the non-existent dark cloak.
If only they had purged the royals all those years ago.
A few days after Adelweiss had collapsed in the greenhouse, Ferdinand and Rozemyne had a private family dinner with their unbaptized children. They had made a habit of regular dinners like this since Adelweiss was born, but as their family grew and the children got older these dinners had adapted. Where once they had their knights and attendants surrounding them, now after the meal was served, they dismissed their retainers so they might have private moments together as a family. All of Alexandria did not need to see and hear every moment that passed between the aub and her little ones.
Adelweiss and Gundtrand sat across the table from each other. Unlike his older sister’s, his colors matched up remarkably well with his mother’s. His hair was of the same midnight hue as the capes of Alexandria and his eyes a bright gold. He shared spring with his father and little sister for his birth season, and wore colors that suited both the current season and his birth season—as was often the fashion for boys and men. When they ate, he did not keep up much with the conversation, because he needed to put all of his mental processing into his manners and posture. Gundtrand had only truly just begun etiquette lessons within the past year, but when he watched how relaxed and effortless his older sister made it seem, he did his best to keep up with her.
After Adelweiss caught him watching her movements for the third or fourth time, she spoke up, “Brother, would it not be better to seek out Erwachlehren over—” She then simplified her comment. “If you have to watch someone, Dad’s example would be better than mine.”
“How are you so good at it?” Gundtrand pouted. A wet plop sounded as the food slid off his fork now that he was not paying attention.
Ferdinand was on his son’s right. “Come now, it is almost time for her baptism. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up before your own.”
“I guess.” The boy glared down at his plate as if it were some great feybeast with a hundred heads.
The scary look on her big brother’s face seemed to upset little Hildewara. She was on the verge of bursting into tears. She was sitting next to her mother in a highchair worthy of the archducal family of Alexandria.
Hildewara was still ever so small. This would only be her second winter. Born in spring, her blue hair was a pale tone similar to her father’s with an ever so slightly greenish hue. Her eyes were a paler gold than her mother’s, a color that reminded Rozemyne of a certain woman she met when she was acting on behalf of the Goddess of Time. A color Ferdinand had only seen once as a young child until it was reborn in his daughter’s eyes. Those eyes were often filled with tears that Ferdinand did not entirely know how to handle. Hildewara cried a lot, especially compared to Adelweiss and even to Gundtrand at a similar age. Rozemyne and Effa had insisted that it was normal, but that it could also be a sign of an underlying health issue. Thus far, neither Ferdinand or the children’s physician had discovered anything amiss. Hildewara might have simply been a sensitive child, and Rozemyne had no complaints. Rozemyne adored having a little crybaby, and hated how she grew bigger and less needing of her mama. Recently Rozemyne had to mourn how Hildewara had grown enough that she could feed herself. She now didn’t need her mother to scoop spoonfuls of baby mush into her mouth. She could eat the same food as the rest of the family, even if it was messy.
Gundtrand quickly erased his glare when his little sister started making pathetic sniffing noises. All thoughts of competition with Adelweiss vanished. A great big smile shone on his face; he was ever the doting big brother, and all that was on his mind was cheering up the little girl. “Hilda! Hilda! It is okay! Your big brother was just being silly!”
He leaned over and made a goofy face at her. Hildewara smiled and then giggled before reaching out with her tiny hands, dirtied from her messy eating, and grabbing her brother’s nose, smearing a red berry sauce on his face. The sight seemed to delight her, and she began to laugh more. Gundtrand laughed with her and made more silly faces. She was about to put her fingers back into the sauce remaining on her plate, to grab more of the “face paint” to put on her brother, but Rozemyne was quicker and pulled the plate away.
“Waschen,” Ferdinand cast cleansing magic over the two children once Rozemyne decided the foolish antics needed to end.
Rozemyne set the plate of food on the table, out of reach of the toddler. She preemptively scooped her little one into her arms, expecting her to get upset. She sat down back in her chair. She spoke in a soothing yet firm voice, “It is not nice to spread food on your brother’s face.”
Hildewara snuggled into her mother, her eyes squeezed shut with little tears leaking out. Her little voice was somewhat clogged from emotion when she spoke, “Sawry.”
Rozemyne continued. She explained mostly to her older children, much of it was too complicated for the little one in her arms. “Many people worked very hard to make this food for us, and we have to treat it with respect. When we pray before a meal, we thank the king and queen gods for the lives provided for us to consume. We must be grateful not only for the fish and grain we eat directly. We also need to think of all the people whose time went into this meal. The priests and shrine maidens at the temple who dedicated their mana to Alexandria. The fisherman who caught the fish. The farmer who raised the crops. The merchant who brought the food to the castle. The chefs who prepared the meal. Our attendants who make sure the food is safe and who plate it for us. We must respect the lives dedicated to make it possible for us to be the archducal family; just as they must respect us for dedicating our lives and mana to Alexandria.”
As always, Rozemyne carefully walked the line between noble sensibilities and her revolutionary thought. Her “Theory of reciprocity,” as she once explained it, made logical sense as a practice between equals in a community even if it didn’t in Yurgenschmidt. Due to the very laws of nature written by the gods to create the garden, inequality was unavoidable. Someone must be Zent and control the country’s foundation. Aubs were needed to maintain duchy foundations. Foundation holders were granted privileges that gave them absolute authority over the lives within their borders. The sort of equality Rozemyne dreamed of was not possible in Yurgenschmidt, so she instead decided to pursue what she could change. She would teach her children to respect their social inferiors and see the world from the perspective of others so they could use the power given to them by their great mana capacities to make the world a kinder and more comfortable place to live in. Ferdinand was skeptical that her idea would work. He was unsure if she could really raise archduke candidates that were both compassionate and wouldn’t be taken advantage of by their more ruthless peers. He had his worries, but she still dared to dream. She was a bold, greedy, and incomprehensible woman. All those years ago, when he was half-dead from poison and mana starvation, he realized, upon seeing that pathetic excuse for a courtship necklace that he never wanted to know what his life would be without her. Rozemyne saw the world differently than any other, and she did not relent in the face of circumstances that seemed impossible. She lacked common sense, and she loved him with that reckless and passionate love that sometimes hurt to look at. Ferdinand would never let her go.
And yet the gods, who claimed to love her so, shortened her thread merely to serve a goddess’s whims.
They called the attendants in to clear the dinner course and bring in dessert. Tonight they had spiced rafel pie à la mode, a popular dish in between the seasons of autumn and winter. After taxes were collected, the castle was always bursting with autumnal fruits from Alexandria’s orchards. The conversation shifted to Adelweiss’s baptism and debut. She had already met a handful of the retainers who were selected to formally join after her baptism, but she would need to interview more candidates come winter socializing and the spring term at the temple school. Gundtrand had many questions. He was a naturally curious boy that at times was difficult to contain in the small world of the archducal living quarters. He did not or could not hide that he was jealous of the fact Adelweiss had already met many of her future retainers and had walked through the castle all the way to the northern building. Rozemyne and Ferdinand had promised—so long as his manners were up to a certain standard, starting in spring he could go out to the proper dining hall and wish his parents goodnight after dinner. Unlike these private family dinners, Benedikta and her husband Perceval would often be present with their retainers in the dining hall. Rozemyne and Ferdinand had much trust in Benedikta and even Perceval, but by the nature of their position they had many retainers from the opposing faction. If Gundtrand was to be seen, then he would absolutely need to conduct himself with proper manners to prevent any untoward rumors. He had made great strides in memorizing the names and pronunciation of the eternal five and the most commonly referenced subordinate gods, but a near five-year-old obviously did not possess much grace.
Gundtrand, with an innocent smile, then asked a strange question to Adelweiss, “Will any of your siblings be at your baptism?”
Rozemyne did not hide her confusion when she looked at her son. They had already discussed that their adopted sister Benedikta would be acting in her capacity as High Bishop to perform the baptism.
Ferdinand generally tried to be more expressive around their children and Myne’s family, but in this moment his countenance became unreadable. Based on Rozemyne’s expression, she did not come to the same conclusion he had.
Someone was already trying to make Gundtrand feel like Adelweiss was not entirely his sister. To divide them before their baptism.
Ferdinand cautiously looked at his oldest. He did not want her to read his thoughts from his expression. She was sometimes too skilled at reading people for her own good. She had her cup of tea in her hands. She did not bring it to her lips. The teacup would have appeared frozen between its saucer and her lips, if it were not for the ever so slight shaking. She had already drawn her own conclusions from her brother’s careless statement.
Ferdinand spoke in a calm monotone—he did not want to escalate the situation, “Both you and Hildawara are too young, and Aub Blumenfeld is too busy to attend her adoptive little sister’s baptism. Only Benedikta will be present.”
Realization dawned on Rozemyne’s face, and her eyes widened in a panic.
Gundtrand finally noticed the tension in the air. He was confused.
Adelweiss placed her tea cup on its saucer. She had stopped shaking, and her eyes were closed. “May I be excused? I am not feeling well.”
“You may,” Ferdinand answered quickly, even if it was more proper for Rozemyne to dismiss her.
Cora pulled out her chair so she could maintain some dignity. It then reached out its paw to her. “Not now!” Adelweiss commanded. She exited the room; the silent shumil followed behind.
“Lady Adelweiss?” Gretia’s confused voice was heard just past the door as it opened and quickly closed.
Gundtrand did not seem to know what he did wrong, but he was no longer eating his dessert. He fidgeted with his hands uncomfortably as he looked across the table to the chair his sister was previously sitting in.
“I will speak to him. Call Jolanthe to take Hilda, then go follow Adelweiss.” Her voice was not the sweet voice of a mother, but the commanding voice of an aub. Over her years as archduchess it had become the voice she used in moments of urgency or disaster.
Ferdinand did not need to be told twice. The attendants and knights waiting in the connecting room were mostly namesworn of Rozemyne and Ferdinand. Only three were not namesworn—Edmund, Gundtrand’s head attendant, Casimir, one of Gundtrand’s guard knights, and Maristella, one of Hildewara’s guard knights. Eckhart and Justus did not need to be asked to follow their lord.
Jolanthe and Maristella were sent to collect Hildewara, leaving Rozemyne and Gundtrand together in the abandoned dining room.
“Mom? What did I do wrong? Why is dad so angry?” Gundtrand seemed on the verge of tears.
“Your dad is not angry, or he at least is not angry at you.” Rozemyne looked at the abandoned dinner table. “It would be too sad to talk in front of these abandoned treats, let us go somewhere else.”
Rozemyne stood and took her young son by the hand, and he practically clung to her skirts. She wanted to clear up this misunderstanding, and she wanted to let Gundtrand ask all the questions he needed to. There was one obvious location that would be safe from prying eyes.
Rozemyne didn’t have much time to be alone with her children. Gundtrand probably could not even remember the last time he was in his mother’s hidden room. He looked around at the decorations, the bookshelves, the little brewing corner, the plush bed, the little table with a tea station, the writing desk, and the couch. She had him hop onto the couch while she started a pot of tea.
The little boy’s eyes sparkled, “You can make tea all by yourself? That isn’t something only attendants can do?”
Rozemyne chuckled. “Anyone can make tea, but not just anyone can make good tea.”
Gundtrand asked more questions, about brewing tea, about her hidden room, and about a half-dozen other things before Rozemyne steered the conversation back to the original subject.
“Do you know what you said to make Adelweiss so upset?”
He looked down at his tea to avoid his mother’s gaze. “I only asked a question.”
“I know you didn’t mean it in a bad way, but Adelweiss is your full sister, her siblings are your siblings. She might not have blue hair or golden eyes, but children can inherit traits from both their parents and grandparents. Children often inherit the element of the season or land they are born in. There are many reasons even full-blooded siblings will not look like each other. Did someone mention something that made you think Adelweiss was not just as much your sister as Hildewara?”
Gundtrand thought about it and shook his head. “I thought it was weird that Adelweiss had a separate playroom.”
She couldn’t expect a young child like him to be able to identify the retainer that guided him to say what he did.
“You might not know it, but Adelweiss has very strong mana. You and Hildewara are still young enough that mana exposure can be dangerous, so you had to have a separate playroom. Your sister was sad when she learned she had to be in a different playroom from her little siblings.” Rozemyne paused. “You made her sad when you asked about other siblings, because you and Hildewara are her siblings.”
Gundtrand’s eyes widened. “I made Adelweiss sad? She wasn’t mad at me?”
Rozemyne nodded. “You never know what questions will hurt someone’s feelings. You will need to apologize to her and be more careful in the future.”
Gundtrand agreed that he would apologize. He asked a handful more questions to his mother. She patiently answered each one as he grew more and more sleepy. Eventually he passed out while mumbling something about a book he liked. His mother picked him up. He was still just small enough for Rozemyne to carry, and she returned him to his retainers.
While Rozemyne spoke with their son, Ferdinand needed to make sure their oldest was alright.
“Justus, I want you to find who among my son’s retainers made him believe some portion of those distasteful rumors about her.” Ferdinand sent his scholarly attendant off to do what he did best. It was impossible to fill out even the small retinue of a pre-baptismal child with unquestionably trustworthy retainers.
Eckhart kept silent, but Ferdinand felt the fury trailing behind. His guard knight was aware of the despicable rumors that sought to make a fool out of his lord or a flower out of his tiny niece.
Adelweiss had been rushed back to her room by Matthias and Gretia the moment she exited the family dinner. By the time Ferdinand arrived with Eckhart, only those name-sworn to her parents remained in her room. Her other retainers were cleared from the room for their own safety, and a sound-blocking barrier was up to give her some privacy.
Adelweiss was crying. Her shumils were trying to comfort her. The blue one, Leni, was speaking in a familiar voice while rubbing her back, “It’s okay, Lady Adelweiss.” Leni then noticed him. “Lord Ferdinand is here.”
It is very strange to hear Rozemyne’s voice refer to me as “Lord Ferdinand.”
He noticed that she had some gold dust smudged on her dress and hands. “Good job. Leaving was the best thing you could have done, given the circumstances.”
Adelweiss looked at her father with a singular hue of distress in her eyes. “I broke the Verfuhremeer charm Benedikta gave me!”
“Is that where the gold dust came from?” Ferdinand was taken back. He was expecting her to say something about what happened during dessert.
She nodded, her eyes red and puffy.
“Brewing a replacement will be trivial.” Ferdinand sighed. “Has Verfuhremeer answered your prayer and calmed your mana?”
“A little.” She still looked like she might start crying again.
He pulled her into a hug and spoke quietly. “I hope you understand your brother was not speaking from malice.”
“I know.”
The quiet stood still, until Adelweiss gathered her feelings into a question far more devastating than the one her brother had asked earlier in the evening.
“Am I really your daughter?” Her voice was small, hesitant, and uncertain.
“Of course you are mine.” He squeezed her tighter.
“But my colors are all wrong, my mana doesn’t match, and I am a danger to the people around me if I get a little emotional.” She gripped the fabric of his tunic as she cried.
“You are still my daughter. Nothing will ever change that.” Ferdinand stroked her back in that way that had always calmed her. He was her father. She was his daughter. Divine meddling, pesky foreign aubs, and gossiping nobles didn’t matter.
They stayed like that for a while until Adelweiss had calmed down and then some. It was getting late for her. Gretia fixed the little girl’s hair and wiped her face. Eventually, Rozemyne joined them with only the minimum number of retainers. She entered the soundproof barrier alone, and Gretia exited to provide privacy. Their other retainers faced the wall.
“How are you, my sweet little star?” Rozemyne squeezed onto the couch and brushed her hand across her daughter’s hair.
Adelweiss was sandwiched between her parents. Her mother stroked her white hair. “I am doing better. I apologize for my rudeness at dinner.”
“Think nothing of it. Gundtrand is already asleep and will apologize tomorrow. I was so worried when you had to leave so suddenly, even if it was the right choice.” Rozemyne opened her arms to let the girl snuggle up to her. Rozemyne took every opportunity she could to be affectionate with her children, especially Adelweiss to make up for lost time.
As the parents spoke with their child, Ferdinand noticed a mischievous glint creep into Rozemyne’s eye.
What was she plotting?
“I only wish we had been able to better control the rumors around you. In time, only your enemies will head them any mind.” Rozemyne carefully continued, “When I was first baptized, people did not respect the temple, and I was degraded for my temple origins. There were rumors and speculation about my lineage and upbringing. It was pointless to try and convince those who believed the rumors of the truth, and if I had, many likely would not have even believed me.”
Ferdinand shot her a look. He knew Rozemyne wanted to let the actual truth be known to her children, but he didn’t care if there was a soundproofing barrier and that the retainers were facing the wall. This was a hidden room conversation.
Rozemyne accepted Ferdinand’s silent plea.“I expect many will not be able to accept the truth of your birth. You are simply the cherished daughter of Aub Alexandria and her dear husband, a daughter who was exceptionally blessed by the gods of winter. Leaning on your scholars and your parents, you will have to decide how to handle the rumors within Alexandria as one of your first tasks as an archduke candidate.”
Adelweiss already knew this. She had spoken about it before with her parents and soon-to-be head scholar.
“I wish I could just show off a little and prove it,” Adelweiss grumbled. She knew her mana control was impressive for her age.
Ferdinand tapped his temple. “If you must, only show off in ways you first discuss with your head scholar or me.”
“I will not do anything reckless. I try my best to be careful.” Adelweiss pouted.
“You are a good girl, Adelweiss.” Rozemyne laughed and patted her daughter on the head. “Your father is just very used to dealing with me.”
Ferdinand held back from mentioning the magic tools Adelweiss had animated by accident. He instead followed Rozemyne’s lead in cheering Adelweiss up. “One seeking the divine protections of Anhaltung and Gebordnung should be careful in her word and deeds. In her summer, your mother was not so blessed by those subordinates of Light as she is now.”
Rozemyne acted offended in an exaggerated way. “Thats not fair. I received the divine protections of both Anhaltung and Gebordnung!”
Adelweiss giggled and her parents showered her in more affection until it had gone past the time for their daughter to visit Schlaftraum’s realm.
That unfortunate incident at their private dinner table was the event that convinced Ferdinand it was time for Adelweiss to meet the rest of the family. That evening Ferdinand had told Rozemyne of what Adelweiss had said, and both parents agreed she needed to feel that familial warmth. Ferdinand didn’t want his daughter to grow into a lonely and desperate child like he once was. Rozemyne even let him spend a few long nights brewing and finalizing new protective charm prototypes. When the charms were completed, they were tested with Adelweiss’s aid. The charms luckily worked as expected, and they were able to schedule a day in which they could bring their daughter to meet her grandparents. The couple had already planned to visit, so it was simply a matter of making the time in Adelweiss’s schedule and sending word ahead to the family.
Ferdinand and Rozemyne met before it was time for Adelweiss to join them. They wore some of their humbler outfits. They wouldn’t have time to change, considering Rozemyne was going to explain the truth to Adelweiss, or at least part of the truth. They would need to decide how they wished to handle their attire in future visits which included Adelweiss.
Adelweiss arrived and was quickly welcomed into her mother’s hidden room. She looked at her parents for a moment—something seemed to bother her—then scrutinized their appearances more closely. “Why are neither of you wearing your capes?”
Rozemyne looked between herself and Ferdinand. They did look a little strange without their Alexandrian blue capes. “Well, it has to do with where we are going.”
Adelweiss tilted her head. “We are going somewhere?”
Rozemyne nodded. “Yes. We are going to visit family.”
“Both Uncle Eckhart and Uncle Cornelius were on duty today, no?” Adelweiss became more confused.
Ferdinand agreed. “Indeed they are, but they aren’t our only family in Alexandria.”
Rozemyne and Ferdinand then told Adelweiss a story: the story of a girl named Myne and her family. Of Yurgenschmidt being in such dire straits the gods relied on an archduke candidate exiled out of the realm of politics and a commoner girl blessed with an abundance of mana. How circumstances made it so she and her family were divided and then reunited in the land of Alexandria.
Rozemyne felt Ferdinand’s arm wrap around her shoulder, while they carefully watched their daughter. Her expression was too unreadable for a child. A feeling of nausea crept into Rozemyne’s chest. Surely her daughter was too young to have developed too much of a prejudice against commoners, surely.
“The seamstress, Miss Tuuli of Boutique de Raphaela, is your sister?” Adelweiss’s first question was much to the surprise of both her parents.
Rozemyne almost froze from the mundane question. “Yes. She is my dear older sister. She designed your baptism dress and even made the accompanying hairpins.” She shook her head. “Adie, do you understand what I said? I was born a commoner. You have a commoner family.”
Their daughter furrowed her brows. “Will Lady Elvira and Lord Bonafatius still be visiting for my baptism?”
Rozemyne was uncertain what Adelweiss was getting at. “Of course. They wouldn’t want to miss their granddaughter’s baptism.”
Adelweiss proceeded to ask clarifying questions in relation to the different family, friends, and interdutchy representatives who would be visiting for her baptism. She seemed to want to place this family in the context of what she understood. Their commoner family were not the nobility with the privileges mana afforded them, but they were still influential as merchants and craftspeople who worked for Aub Alexandria.
Eventually Ferdinand stopped her, “This family is separate from all of that.”
Her train of thought suddenly halted. “Separate?”
“They are like your siblings, you do not need to worry about politics when you socialize with them. We meet with this family in secret, and neither party ever lets anyone know what we discuss. To me they have often been like a hidden room,” Rozemyne elaborated. She knew how much Adelweiss was yearning to move to the northern building and have her own hidden room.
Ferdinand tapped his temple and corrected Rozemyne, “Relationships between future archduke candidates are incomparable to the relationships of non-noble families. I am sure she will understand once she meets them.”
Rozemyne’s heart sank a little to hear her husband point out the obvious—that regardless of her efforts to keep them close, her children were being raised as archduke candidates and could not put unconditional trust in each other.
After some more questions about their family and the story she was told, Adelweiss had another concern, “Will it not be dangerous? For them.”
“Do not worry. That is what the charms we tested last week were for—to protect commoners and laynobles from any unintended consequences of your mana,” Ferdinand dismissed the worry before Adelweiss could stress herself out.
Adelweiss nodded at his answer, clearly remembering how she had to use a substantial amount of mana to actually overpower the charm.
Shortly before they stepped on the teleportation circle, her face flushed with panic, and she looked to her father. “How am I supposed to greet them?”
Ferdinand could remember how awkward he was when he first began to visit Effa’s home. Children were more flexible in their thinking, so he hoped it would be easier for Adelweiss. “When we make these visits, we are not acting as the archducal family. We are simply family visiting family. You have cousins who are your peers and elders you should respect— especially your grandparents who are the hosts. Blessings of greetings and biblical euphemisms are not necessary. You may simply greet them with a ‘hello’ or ‘nice to meet you.’ At Temple School you will meet children with different levels of etiquette training, so you will need to be magnanimous and flexible as an archduke candidate. There are times when you must adjust your speech to better suit your conversation partner to avoid miscommunication. This can be thought of as practice.”
Adelweiss nodded along, accepting the explanation.
Rozemyne pouted at her husband. “You don’t need to make visiting family sound like a homework assignment.”
Ferdinand shrugged. “I thought she would appreciate the guidance.”
Adelweiss supported her father, “I do! I have a better idea how I should act now.”
Rozemyne smiled gently at her daughter. “These people, our family, are very excited to meet you. Not because you are an archduke candidate of Alexandria, but because they simply want to know you, Adelweiss. Just relax and be yourself, and they will love you just as much as I do.”
Adelweiss’s parents held her hands as they went through the teleportation circle. Rozemyne warned her daughter to close her eyes, but Adelweiss still was dizzy when they arrived. She hadn’t experienced teleportation before. After giving her a moment to recover, her parents led her through the door.
Almost the entire family was gathered together and waiting for them—with the exception of Kamil’s wife and child who were not let in on the secret yet. When the adults among them saw Adelweiss, with her face that so resembled her mother’s and colors that did not, they seemed nearly lost for words. Gunther’s eyes shined with tears that did not spill. Effa held onto his arm, in part to stabilize herself, but also to keep him from rushing over to the child.
Myne smiled and squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I am happy to introduce you to our daughter, Adie.”
Everyone went around and introduced themselves. Lutz and Tuuli’s children’s eyes were brimming with curiosity and questions, but their mother held them back.
“I am ever so pleased to meet my mother’s family.” Adelweiss did her best to give a calm and composed smile and appearance.
Ferdinand could almost feel Adelweiss’s stress himself. She was uncertain what she should do, and she did not have her head attendant to guide her. She was already prepared to meet the nobles of Alexandria and to meet more of her noble family, but commoners did not behave with the same rigid rules of etiquette. They would seem unpredictable to her. That is how they felt to him when he first began to interact with them. Myne was an incomprehensible child with motives and ideals alien to him. In part that was due to her otherworldly memories and in part due to the cultural differences between nobles and commoners.
Tuuli, as the only one who had met Adelweiss before, stepped forward. She gave her little sister a look before chastising her, “Can you not tell she is overwhelmed?” Then she knelt down to be at eye level with her niece. “We are all very happy and excited to meet you. Your baptism is very soon, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It is at the beginning of the winter socializing season.” Adelweiss’s answer was stiff and proper.
“Due to our unique family situation, we won’t all be able to attend your baptism. I have already completed your baptism outfit, and we are scheduled to have the final fitting for it next Fireday. I am sure your grandpa and grandma would be so delighted if you were to try it on a little early here so they could see just how cute you’ll be during your baptism.”
Myne, able to take the hint, clapped her hands together and made her own suggestion, “That is a wonderful idea. Perhaps Mom and Carla can help us?”
Both Effa and Carla happily agreed to help. The women of the house whisked Adelweiss away to a private room. Tuuli took her daughter to fetch the dress and corresponding accessories, leaving only Effa, Myne, and Adelweiss in the room. Adelweiss stayed close to her mother, after all Effa was more of a stranger than grandmother to her.
“I almost can’t believe my own eyes.” Effa sighed wistfully.
The little girl cautiously stepped out from behind her mother. “You are my mother’s mother, right?”
“Yes, I am your grandma.”
“I thank you ever so much for inviting me into your lovely home, grandmother,” Adelweiss, remembering the advice her father gave her earlier, complimented her hostess.
“Oh, how polite. I hope you forgive me if I make any mistakes.”
“There is nothing to forgive.” Adelweiss fidgeted with a lock of her stark white hair. Then she looked up into Effa’s jade green eyes, serious, “Do I really look like my mother?”
Effa was getting older, but she still knelt down to meet her granddaughter at eye level. She smiled at the girl oh so warmly. “You really do. Your nose, eyes, and face are all the same shape. You also have the same straight and silky hair as she did at your age.” She then grinned and chuckled a little to herself. “But your ears are your father’s.”
“My ears!?” the little girl gasped. Her face was flush with embarrassment. The pink did reach all the way to her ears, much proving her grandmother’s point.
Myne softly pinched her daughter’s ears and giggled. “Wow, they really are the same as your dad’s.”
Adelweiss puffed out her cheeks. “How distinctive can ears even be?”
“Well, I love your little ears.” Myne wrapped her arms around her daughter and kissed her on the ear. Adelweiss giggled and hugged her mother back. Myne wished she could hug, hold, and kiss her precious children like this everyday, rather than in private places like the archducal playroom, hidden rooms, or in their family home. Soon this sort of affection between mother and daughter would only be allowed in hidden rooms. She then whispered, “If you are up for it, I bet your grandma would really love a hug too.”
Adelweiss was freed from her mother’s arms. She took a hesitant glance at her grandmother, who still was kneeling at the same level as the child. Perhaps it was Effa’s smile or the way she looked at her granddaughter, but Adelweiss decided to trust her and practically jumped into her grandmother’s open arms.
Effa brushed her hand across the back of her granddaughter’s hair. “Oh, aren’t you just a sweetheart?”
Myne quickly dusted a few feystones in her pouch. Oh, this was a dangerously adorable sight. She simultaneously wanted to avert her gaze and to burn the image into her memory. She could almost curse Ferdinand for forbidding the use of the “snapshot” magic tool in their family’s lower city home. He said it would create incriminating evidence, but how could it be wrong to capture such adorableness forever? Myne would have to content herself with the many photo albums she kept in her hidden rooms featuring her little ones, even if they didn’t have any pictures of her children snuggling with their grandma. Oh, it was too cruel.
Tuuli and Carla returned to the room. The sound of the door made Adelweiss quickly separate herself from her grandmother. Tuuli and Carla set the parcels with the dress and accessories down on the nearby table.
Tuuli noted Adelweiss’s behavior and reassured her, “We are all family here.”
Myne swooped in during the opening, using a little enhancement magic to pick up her daughter. She laughed and spoke in a silly voice. “Bwhaha! Yes, we are all family! I can give you all the hugs!”
Tuuli shrieked in a panic. “Myne! You are going to mess up her hair or her dress!”
“Awww, fine.” Myne pouted as she relented and put her daughter down. Adelweiss quickly used her hands to fix her hair.
Tuuli looked at her little sister with a blank expression. “Perhaps you should wait outside.”
“Wait, no fair! That look, you are treating me like dad?” Myne huffed with indignation.
Tuuli muttered to herself, “To think she has it this bad…”
Effa nodded in agreement, but she checked in with the child, “Adie, do you need your mom to stay?”
Adelweiss took a moment to look between the women in her family and her hopeless mother. She gave a curt nod. “I will respect my aunt and grandmother’s wisdom.”
Myne pouted, but no argument could sway them. She was then swiftly kicked out of the room and made to wait with the men. It was probably for the best as she would have run out of feystones to dust if she had stayed in the midst of such adorableness.
Ferdinand watched the door close and raised an eyebrow to his wife. “All is well?”
“Yes.” She smiled a sheepish grin that bordered on coquettishness at Ferdinand, and he helped her into her seat. “I might have made enough gold dust to upgrade a greenhouse, but Adie seems to have relaxed around Tuuli and her grandma.”
Ferdinand smiled, hearing Adelweiss was doing better. There was, however, the matter of his wife. It seemed she wanted to indulge in a little chastisement. The married couple began to flirt back and forth in a way just barely tolerable to the people around them.
Kamil groaned at the sight of the two lovebirds and redirected his attention to a conversation with Lutz. Gunther held Mark and Benno hostage as he talked about how adorable his granddaughter was. Myne and Ferdinand at some point ceased their flirting to join in conversation about their daughter, freeing the merchants to talk shop with the younger men. Klaus was perfectly content with his well-worn book. Perhaps other days the adults would try to involve him, but today they were talking about something he was not interested in. Without his mother there to make him talk with his family, he would simply read his book.
The wait finally ended. Tuuli and Carla were the first to exit the spare room, shortly followed by a glowing Adelweiss and Effa. The little girl was in a darling dress that matched her winter colors.
Adelweiss, done up in her baptism outfit, wore a pair of matching red floral hair ornaments with richly decorated lace in her stark white hair, which was in a more simple style than it would be for her actual baptism. The white of her dress was as close to the pure white of her hair as was possible, but it still did not quite capture its brilliance. She wore a little off-shoulder caplet trimmed with rich lace and adorned with red flowers. The edge of the shimmery top layer of her skirt was decorated by similar crochet flowers. The skirt itself was made adorably poofy by a new style of petticoat for young girls; they would be spreading it as a trend in the upcoming years when Adelweiss went to temple school and socialized.
“Winter colors are simply lovely on you,” Effa cooed as she straightened up one of Adelweiss’s hair accessories.
“She’s already such a big girl.” Gunther sniffed. ”I can’t believe another granddaughter is already getting baptized. Before we know it will be Klaus, Junior, and even little Hilda’s turn to get baptized. I feel it was just yesterday we were dressing up Myne in her fancy little outfit.”
“I think we may have learned a thing or two about making ‘Fancy little outfits’ since then.” Tuuli began to explain some of the details about the construction of the dress.
Adelweiss listened closely to her aunt with a reserved glint of curiosity and admiration in her eyes. “I can see why you are my mother’s personal designer. I am ever so thankful to have such a talented lady design my baptism outfit.”
“I shall continue to design your outfits as long as you would like, but in time you may find your own personal seamstresses and designers. To complete your winter and spring wardrobes my design workshop has contracted with a number of seamstresses, lace makers, cobblers, floral ornament craftswomen, and other artisans. If you find any details that you especially like, please take note of it so we can hire them to do more work on your summer and autumn clothing.” Tuuli was happy to continue her explanations to her niece.
Carla added to the conversation with her own knowledge. “You will be able to meet many of the apprentice seamstresses and apprentice craftswomen when you go to temple school in the spring. Especially if you take any of the fiber arts classes with Sister Nele.” She then leaned in conspiratorially to her younger cousin. “You would be surprised what things girls will let slip who are paying more attention to their embroidery or crochet than to what they are saying. Like—”
Benno placed a hand on his pupil’s head, “Trying to corrupt your little cousin, are we?”
“I am just trying to be friendly, maybe help her gather some information, and if she just so happens in the future wants to buy more information from me, then—”
“Go sell it to your uncle,” Benno shooed Carla away. “Be careful with that one. She is too good at pinpointing what people want and then selling it to them for a premium.”
Adelweiss almost responded in a noble fashion, but then she had to pause to reword it. “Thank you ever so much for the advice. I fear I cannot exactly recall our relationship. Are you another one of my grandfathers or a great uncle?”
Adelweiss’s innocent comment led to a chortle from Myne. “With his red eyes and light hair, Benno looks like he could be her grandpa. Couldn’t he?”
Benno slowly turned his head to look at Gunther.
Adelweiss’s eyes darted between Benno and Gunther. She appraised the situation and quickly spun around on her heel to Gunther with an adorable smile. “Grandfather! I am so happy to finally meet you!”
Any jealousy or bitterness that had stirred in Gunther vanished upon the sight of his sweet little granddaughter. He hesitated to touch her because his wife and daughter would be upset if he messed up Adelweiss’s dress. He could still fawn over her. “How is it that all of my girls are just the most adorable girls in the world? I’m afraid if I touch, you’ll melt like a little snowflake.”
Adelweiss appeared to be relieved by the restraint he showed. She was not yet used to these new people. Ever since they learned Bonifatius would be attending her baptism, her uncle Cornelius had made an effort to prepare her. That preparation seemed to be useful in handling Gunther. “I will not melt, but I do need to be careful with my dress.”
Adelweiss reached out her hand to her grandpa. He took her hand and she led him to the table so they might join the rest of the family. Gunther and Adelweiss were an odd-looking little pair sitting next to one another. The granddaughter was all white and red in both her colors and dress. Even when she tried to relax, she had all the manners of a little lady. Her lovely dress was of an exquisite quality and design that would drive new trends in the nobility for years to come. The grandpa had grey streaks in his blue hair, his eyes were a warm golden brown, and his skin had a healthy tan from days under the sun. His face was wrinkled from years of laughter and goofy grins. When he laughed with his entire body, the table would shake. His wife and daughter might have updated his clothing to better suit their new status, but each garment was well worn and no more than what he absolutely needed. The grandfather and granddaughter could not seem any more different on the surface, but sitting at the same table and sharing the warmth of the same hearth, they were family.
Myne leaned her head against her husband's shoulder as they watched their daughter. The charms they had prepared had been preventative, but unnecessary.. Their little Adelweiss was delighted to be with her family. At some point Tuuli suggested she change into one of the dresses Carla had outgrown. Then little Adie was able to play without worrying about her noble dress. The girls even got little Klaus to join them in a game of karuta.
Carla would be turning ten in the coming spring and was in the top written courses for her age at temple school. Klaus was only a couple seasons older than Guntrand, but without the need for early etiquette and musical lessons, he was a much more advanced reader. He was able to read the children’s bible on his own, and the book he always had on him was a beginner encyclopedia about the ecology of Alexandria’s ocean. He wasn’t able to fully read and comprehend all the words yet, but he used the illustrations and context of words he did know to figure out the book. Tuuli’s children were much greater competition to Adelweiss than her sibling or her shumils who struggled with the dexterity required for karuta.
Carla announced the results. “That’s three points for Klaus and six for Adie, making me the winner with nine whole points.”
“These cards have different illustrations than the ones I normally play with.” Adelweiss pouted childishly as she gave her excuse. It was a rare expression for her.
“Oh?” Carla smiled impishly. “Do you think you could have won if we had used your cards instead?”
Her cousin’s grin made Adelweiss hesitate. “Maybe?”
“Would I go all out against my little cousin and baby brother?”
“You were holding back?”
“I am in the first class of my year, which is mostly nobles. Some of those kids at school are monsters by the time they are ready to go to the Royal Academy.”
“I see.” Adelweiss nodded. A determined fire shone in her eyes. “I would be ever so grateful if you were to play me again, cousin.”
“Of course,” Carla agreed and then leaned in to whisper, “Please try and let Klaus get a couple.”
“My ears work, you know!” Klaus pouted. “I’m not a baby.”
A goofy grin spread across Carla’s face. She pounced on her brother and squeezed him in a big hug. “You will always be my baby brother.”
Adelweiss averted her eyes from the affectionate display, and started to collect and stack the cards for the next round.
Carla released Klaus when she was finished spoiling him. She noticed the uninterested mask her little cousin put up and scooted a little closer to Adelweiss. “I know we won’t get many opportunities to see each other as family, but I will see you at school sometimes even if we are in different years. I know the old man tried to warn you about me, but I do want to help you if I am able. I am not going to bully my little cousin’s wallet.”
Adelweiss smiled like a little angel. Her words did not match. “But you would bully my dad’s wallet?”
A chill shot up Carla’s spine. There was something dangerous in that glittering smile.
Adelweiss went flush with embarrassment and shook her head. “I was teasing! Only teasing!”
“Oh, you little!” Carla huffed. “You’re just as bad as that boy! To think my little cousin is so naughty!”
“What’s this about a boy!?” Gunther heard the only important part. “Is someone already plotting to take away our little girl!?”
“He is a noble. Nothing is going to happen, grandpa! It would be impossible!” Carla blushed.
“So impossible.” Myne giggled.
More teasing and laughter continued. The boy in question’s identity was not revealed, but Myne and Ferdinand already had a good idea of who it might be. They chose not to say anything, as they did not want Gunther to cause an incident in the Noble’s Quarter. Carla was able to eventually divert attention back to Adelweiss. The time flew by as quickly as it always did in Effa and Gunther’s home. It was time for the family to part. They had less time today than they would normally due to how much time they spent explaining things to Adelweiss, but it was well worth it to see her mirthful little smile.
Gunther teared up when Adelweiss gave him a hug goodbye.
Tuuli had to snatch the book from her son, but he joined the girls when they said their goodbyes and how they wanted to see each other again come spring.
Spring was a whole season away, but Tuuli reminded them that she would be coming for the official final fitting of Adelweiss’s baptism dress and a handful of other appointments.
Myne and Ferdinand held their daughter’s hands and said the last of their farewells, and the three of them returned to Rozemyne’s hidden room.
As mother, father and daughter decompressed in the hidden room, Rozemyne made some tea. Just as they had a long conversation before visiting with family, they had a long conversation with Adelweiss after. It was a lot to process for a little girl. Her parents hoped it wouldn’t do her more harm than good to know. This time when they talked Adelweiss asked more questions about the family she just met, but the questions were not about their connections and businesses. Instead, she now wanted to know more about them. About the book Klaus was so interested in. About why Carla was an apprentice at the Plantin Company rather than at her mother’s boutique. About their lives in Ehrenfest versus in Alexandria.
Rozemyne told her stories. Ferdinand had heard them so many times; it was no burden to listen again, as nothing she could say would ever bore him. To Adelweiss these were all new stories. She hadn’t ever heard the story of how Myne’s family, the family of a soldier and a dyer, all worked together to alter her baptism dress and make her floral hair ornament with what they could afford. Of how when Rozemyne was baptized as a noble they made her a new hairpin suited for the archduke’s adopted daughter and Ferdinand worked within the bounds of the contract to be sure the bonds of their family were not severed by the divisions of class.
Rozemyne looked at Adelweiss, with her ruby red eyes and hair as white as fresh snow. Her daughter was born a noble and would be raised as an archduke candidate, yet there was no disgust in her eyes when she listened to her mother’s stories. Rozemyne had always been emotional for a noble, and motherhood did not help. Her eyes began to water, and a weight lifted off her shoulders as she looked at her daughter’s face through her blurry tears and smiled.
She is still mine.