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Ferdinand wakes to a room he does not recognize.
His bed is the softest he has ever felt, and the bedding is fine and richly appointed.
“Where…?” His voice is hoarse and rough, and his eyes sting—reminding him that he has not properly slept in days. Which was as it should be, but he feels too energized otherwise—he knows he should be more tired than this. He had just returned to his estate after working with the knights order to defeat the winter lord after all- his muscles should be straining with over use.
Quickly he springs to his feet and tries to take in his surroundings. He is in night clothes of an odd cut and a fine fabric he does not know, but thankfully the room seems to be empty of any other presence for the time being.
The room is growing bright with morning light. In the new light of day, it is easy to see that the room is grand but sparsely furnished, housing a large number of wardrobes, and there are great windows that look out on the wide sea. Besides the large glass doors that lead to what could only be a large balcony, there is one door in the far right of the room and another to the far left. He checks for more possible escape routes and spots something that is partially hidden by the bed canopy on his left side, possibly an entrance to a hidden room he thinks.
There is a knock from the door on the far right of the bedroom.
“My lord, it is time to wake. May I come in?”
Ferdinand does not recognize the voice. He says nothing but makes his way quietly towards the door, straining his ears to listen for more.
“Is he even in his chambers? Is he not usually in my lady’s?” Quietly, the voice asks as if not wanting to be heard.. A lady? Just which lady’s chamber is he expected to frequent?
“No, my lord should be here. My lady was not happy to hear how he was planning to spend another night researching." A second voice responds easily; this one he recognizes as Justus'. Ferdinand feels the blood in his veins run cold. Just who would Justus be referring to as his lady? Ferdinand had been successful in escaping all of Veronica's attempts at entrapping him. Just what had happened? Surely, it could not have all happened in one night.
Abruptly, he becomes aware of his mana. He feels the mana surrounding him. It is mostly his own, but there is something. He feels a slight foreign mana that is mixed in with his own but the difference is almost undetectable- if he had not been made aware he would not have noticed. He pushes thoughts of that aside so he can better concentrate. He feels for the link that connects him to his name-sworn, and where there should be only 4, he feels 5, two of whom are unfamiliar. Among the familiar 3 attendants, he feels Justus’s presence. And a pull to the hidden room where the name-stones must be hidden away.
“Knock again; it is unlikely, but my lord could still be sleeping. If he doesn’t answer, I will go in to check. Likely, he is just in his hidden room,” Justus tells the unknown voice.
Ferdinand decides that for the time being, it would be best to retreat into the hidden room if possible. If he is to believe the voices, it is his own hidden room.
He presses his hand to the feystone and finds that the room is truly his. The mana used to make it wholly familiar and recognizably his. He feels the restrictions on the room and finds them laxer than he is used to, but as he hears the second knock at the door, he hastily makes his way into the room. The room is larger than he expected, but the room is also more densely furnished, the walls are covered in shelves, and there are a few time-stopping tools. The brewing ingredients he can find on some of the shelves are fairly rare, and some are even unknown to him. There are shelves of wooden tables, books, and book-like objects—scrolls and other such notes. At the desk there are several pages scattered on the tabletop as if parchment were as common and cheep as wooden boards. The bench he finds there is about as soft and comfortable as the bed.
The notes on the desk are definitely written in his own hand, but he does not recognize just what kind of research he is doing… is this possibly for the hastening and modification of plant growth? But then why-
“My Lord? Will you not be attending breakfast? You know my lady will be less than pleased to find that you have not slept again and you are skipping meals.”
Again, Justus is referring to this lady of his. He looks around the room, unsure of how to proceed. Then he spots his magical tool belt. In the cage he spots 5 name-stones, one larger stone he recognizes as his high beast and a few smaller ones that would be his ordinances.
“Justus, come in.”
Ferdinand takes Justus's name-stone from the cage he left on the desktop.
Justus comes into the room with little concern, even taking care to close the door behind him. The man’s face is relaxed, if a little confused, but as he registers Ferdinand’s expression and the name stone in his hand, his manner changes swiftly. He is alert and attentive as always. But he is different… he looks different.
“My lord—what happened?”
Ferdinand feeds mana into the stone. “Who is this My Lady you are referring to? Just where are we?”
Justus looks stunned by the question. He reaches for a pocket, where Ferdinand knows he keeps his sound-blocking tools, before he seems to takes stock of the room. Seemingly, remembering where they are. Ferdinand is sure this Justus has been taken unaware. Ferdinand wants to press for answers while the man is confused- well knowing how truths can be manipulated even by name-sworn but Justus re-centers himself quickly and answers. “My Lady is Lady Rozemyne, Aube Alexandria—your wife. We are in Alexandria’s Central City. My Lord, these are your chambers. Do you not remember?”
“What nonsense is this? A wife? I would not—and there is no Alexandria Dutchy. Why would I leave Ehrenfest? Explain. What about Sylvester?”
“Sylvester- Aub Ehrenfest is well. You left under royal decree to serve as an interim Aub of sorts, there was no avoiding it as the duchy was in great need. Under the royal decree you were set to marry Lady Detlinde, the then future underaged Relay Aub and adopt a more promising candidate and help raises them to be a more permanent future Aub. Currently Alexandria is Ehrenfest's greatest ally- As a Dutchy, Alexandria has only existed for close to 4 years—formerly known as Ahrensbach. As for your marriage, you only just married Lady Rozemyne last spring.” Justus answers swiftly even as his steps toward his lord are slow and calculated.
“That’s not—”
“My Lord, you have known Lady Rozemyne since before her baptism—she is now of age and married. Just how much have you forgotten? You need to let me examine you.” Justus states his concerns bluntly. It is clear he is alarmed by the whole situation.
Ferdinand stops, stunned by Justus's behavior and the words he had spoken.
Ferdinand looks down at the name-stone in his hand and the others on his desk. And he looks around a hidden room that speaks to the wealth of an Aub's consort that, if not clearly favored, is allowed his independence and means. The person before him is Justus—but he is not as he remembers him. He is older by several years than he should be if Ferdinand would not believe his claims.
He breathes in and tries to calm his mind. “I have not long returned from my first subjugation of the winter lord as a member of the knights order.”
The flat look that crosses Justus's face is telling enough, and Ferdinand dreads what the man will say, though he already knows just about what he should expect.
“I see, then you would not know Lady Rozemyne. She was inducted into your care, I believe, 4, maybe closer to 5 years from when you can last recall.
Ferdinand swallows the revulsion he feels. “I forced a marriage with my ward? The one I must have been sent to Ahrensbach to oversee?”
“No, my lord, it is not like that—“
“Then what could it be? She was given into my care, you said, but then if our star binding was so recent, does that mean she only recently came of age? Just how young— and what of this Lady Detlinde?"
“My Lord, please calm. All is well and not what you believe. Lady Detlinde is in the White Tower for Treason- you never married her. Lady Rozemyne was not the ward you were sent to Ahrensbach to care for- that is Lady Letizia who you and Lady Rozemyne adopted not long after your Star Binding. Lady Rozemyne is from Ehrenfest. Also, Lady Rozemyne is not easily cowed into doing anything. Though it is true you had to scheme for your engagement, it was more a matter of breaking an unwanted engagement on her part not to force her hand. Know that Lady Rozemyne is not someone who would allow, even you, to order her around if she does not agree with the reasoning. She was not truly ever your ward or ever completely in your care. Though, it is true you did oversee her early education and some of her more scholarly education even after she began her time studying in the royal academy. Most think of you as one of her mentors.” Justus reassures, and by the twisting of his lips, Ferdinand knows there is more that Justus is not saying. He wonders just how much more he is missing. Justus's explanation brings to mind only more questions of just how he had ended up in his current position. None of his answers are making sense.
“I checked your rooms thoroughly last night before you went to bed, sin—“Justus stops but speedily continues. Ferdinand is tempted to demand to know what Justus is hiding but stops himself, he needs to focus on fixing his current situation.
“What has happened? Speak.” Ferdinand asks while adding more mana into Justus Name-Stone.
“I don't know. I must look into what could have done this. I know you have brought nothing new into your hidden room here for the last few weeks either. I must go and look over your workspace… It would appear you did not use this hidden room for long last night… This means you did go to bed after you stopped your work in the green labs. - But before I can look into this more, we should let my lady know.”
“You would go to her with this? Would the current me do this?” Ferdinand cannot believe what he is hearing from his loyal retainer. Ferdinand can’t imagine just what has happened in these past years for Justus to so readily ask for the help of this unknown noblewoman.
Justus flinches a little at the pressure of Ferdinand's mana. “It is true you would not wish to distress her, but when Lady Rozemyne finds out—”
“When? When she finds out? How would she find out?”
“My Lord, your marriage is not only a political match; it is a love match. She will only need to see you, and she will know something is wrong. If you spend more than a moment in her presence, she will be certain to rampage until she gets to the bottom of it. Additionally, if you spend more than a day longer avoiding her, she will rampage her way to find out why.”
"Avoiding her?"
"You have been prioritizing your research for the past two days- she had been insisting on your return to the proper 'work-life' balance she had set."
Ferdinand can feel a headache coming. “Just how did I end up marrying such a troublesome woman?”
“Well, you schemed quite extensively to ensure your engagement to her. And have gathered quite the reputation of Ewigeliebe reincarnated over your long engagement to her with the quantity and quality of protective amulets you have made and given her.” Justus' glee at being able to supply his answer is tangible.
“Justus” Ferdinand grits out and stops feeding his mana into the name-stone.
“You know I can’t lie to you, my lord. But you need to understand you will not be able to fake the behavior she will expect from you,” Justus says, smiles spreading wider. “I was just as surprised when it happened, but I could not have been happier. Eckhart and I had lost hope after—well, it does not matter now. Truly, We were all pleased by your choice. Eckhart most of all, as Rozemyne is his little sister.”
Eckhart’s sister? "Karstedt's Daughter? He had a daughter?”
“My lord— I believe it would be best if I set about getting you dressed for the day. I was partly serious about breakfast before, and it would be best to present this to our Aub in the most controlled of settings… I should also see about arranging your attendants to better reflect your current state. Ah—your new sworn retainers are Raimund, a med scholar and your other protégé. The other is Heisworth, an arch noble and knight. Both men were originally from Ahrensbach, but both have proven themselves loyal. Rosworth is the attendant waiting outside. He is from a neutral family with middling backing. There is little concern over his loyalty; only he is inexperienced, and his slight hero worship of you is intimidating and distracting him as he works. I’ve already had him prepare your clothing and had him send for a bath. I will, of course, look over all his work. There should be no problems. The arch-ducal family of Alexandria is favored by its people and nobles. On the whole, Alexandria is peaceful, but we need to take care not to alarm them over the current situation. We do not want to alert anyone of our current weakness.”
“Justus, you say I am different. That I can not fake my futu- current self’s behavior. Just how—no, never mind for now. As I am, will it be very noticeable?”
“Not for most, but you are different, My lord. For now, just be as you would have been in the Royal Academy during the winter socialization. I will tell the others there was a slight disagreement with my lady over your overwork, and most will assume that is the reason behind your shift in mood and behavior,” Justus advises before leaving the hidden room, not waiting for Ferdinand’s order.
Ferdinand returns Justus’s name-stone to its proper place and looks at his lavish hidden room and wonders just what is waiting for him in Alexandria and just how he had come to be so far from Ehrenfest.
-
“When she asks if you have slept or eaten—“ Justus continues to advise him through the use of a sound blocking tool.
“Why would the Aub care over such a trifling matter?“ Ferdinand feels over whelmed by just how much information Justus has been providing him as he had helped him bathe and dress.
Justus presses his lips into a thin line. “She will care.”
“What aren’t you saying?”
“Lady—
“Umm, which of these charms will my lord wear today?” Interrupts Rosworth unknowingly.
Justus’s eyes shine with mirth, his concern seemingly momentarily overtaken. “Let me pick for you today, my lord, as we are running late.”
Ferdinand hesitantly nods his agreement.
Justus smiles and momentarily stops feeding mana into the sound blocking tool so he can address Rosworth, before returning to his advising Ferdinand of his current situation. “Retrieve the case, and I will pick them today. We are running late,”
Rosworth soon approaches with a simply ornamented red lacquered box.
“Rosworth—that is the wrong box; those are the ones with his winter-colored accessories. We need the ones for spring."
Ferdinand watches the boy as he retreats to one of the multiple wardrobes and replaces the box with another, this one in the colors of spring. Ferdinand can see two more similarly sized boxes in the respective colors of summer and fall and an additional smaller one of gleaming silver.
Rosworth sets the box down on the dressing table as Justus finishes tying the ties of a heavily embroidered belt for a fabulously ornate and luxurious dress tunic. Ferdinand notes just how all his clothing is of such fine and expensive fabrics. Most are in his usual shades of greens- though he wonders about the additional shades of summer blues.
Ferdinand eyes the box, which opens almost like a bloom, the slatted hinges easily displaying its varied contents.
“Rosworth, the silver box as well”
“Yes.”
Justus slips on a set of ear cuffs, an arm cuff, and two bracelets before attaching decorative charms to his boots and tying his hair in a braid with a bejeweled ribbon he takes from the box.”
“What is the purpose of all this? For every season?” Ferdinand asks under the use of the sound blocking tool. Grimly, He wonders just what heights of kept man he has reached.
“Lady Rozemyne is very proud of her discovery of just how much more effective certain charms are when worn during their own season of power. She could not be dissuaded as you have done your own share of gifting, my lord."
Rosworth opens the silver box in a similar manner as the other, and in it Ferdinand sees much of the same charms, but these are ones made with rainbow feystones, and Ferdinand believes he might choke.
From it, Justus only takes a necklace with a large rainbow feystone and, from the other, a large brooch. As the necklace is fastened on him, he can feel the soft, soothing trickle of mana. the same he can feel from all his other accessories.
He is so distracted by the pleasant feel of this mana that he does not notice Justus step back to retrieve an ornately embroidered dark blue cape. “Come, my lord, let me fasten your cape.
Ferdinand stands and lets Justus fasten his cape as Rosworth goes about putting away his remaining protective amulets. Watches as Rosworth locks the wardrobe and then hands Justus the key.
—
“Do you really believe I do not need to fear her?” Ferdinand asks taking care to not move his lips as he speaks. They are walking down the halls of this unfamiliar palace and he has been managing by following Justus' hidden directions through the sound blocking tool.
“You need not” Justus responds, voice confident.
“Is an Aub of a greater duchy so harmless?”
“I did not say that.”
“What do you mean?”
“I said you need not fear her. The rest of Yurgenschmidt and the Zent herself would not cross Lady Rozemyne. So, be careful what you ask of her; she would not stop to get you anything she believes will make you happy. She is dangerous. You always say cleaning up after one of her rampages can be difficult. And though her weakness is easily discoverable, do not use books lightly and never damage one purposely. If you did, I’m not sure she would forgive even you… without much groveling.”
He can feel her presence long before they enter the room. It has been so long since he has felt anyone, and the closer they get, the headier her presence feels. He can feel his ears heat a little. With long practice, Ferdinand settles his mind and forces his bodies reaction to calm. It does not come as easily as he remembers it, but he feels mostly settled when they enter the room.
The small parlor that had been chosen for breakfast is all elegantly decorated. He can recognized none of the people present but their dress and station make their positions clear. The over all atmosphere of the room is lively and comfortable. When he enters, he is given respectful and familiar greetings. It is clear he is expected. He is welcomed.
Lady Rozemyne Aub Alexandria is truly a beautiful woman. Her hair is dark and lustrous as the night sky, her skin smooth and supple, with eyes the bright honey gold of the moon. Her elegant and refined manner is every thing expected of a grand duchy lady- He wonders yet again how he had ended up married to her. He remembers Rosworth’s words from before he understood his situation. “Is he even in his chambers? Is he not usually in my lady’s?”
He can feel his ears heat but does his best to put those thoughts far from his mind. He smiles as best he knows how and greets her.
When she had first seen him enter, her face had visibly lit up—but only for a moment. As they finish exchanging greetings her eyes had dimmed.
It is just as Justus predicted. She knows something is wrong. Ferdinand smiles brighter and tries to make small talk as he would at the tea parties at the royal academy, but her smile only seems to grow more fixed. Her attendants eye him warily—some look concerned while most just seem confused under their noble facades but besides one red haired scholar who has started to eye him cautiously, none react negatively.
Ferdinand persists as Justus insisted and eats. The food is like nothing he's tasted before. It is glorious and so he finds himself eating more then he would normally eat- to Lady Rozemyne’s seeming satisfaction. He momentarily wonders if she has drugged it somehow, but she is eating just as well as he is—even if she seems more interested in ensuring he is eating. Justus had reassured him that he does not need to worry about poison in his food and told him he could not avoid eating without causing a scene. As he watches her evaluating stare, he is sure his attendant was right.
“Lieseleta, please serve the floral blend.” Lady Rozemyne instructs, voice betraying only the slightest bit of impatience.
“Right away, my lady.” Says the one who must be the aub’s head attendant, a young woman with emerald green hair. The breakfast plates are taken and the tea is switched, Justus steps forward and places an area sound-blocking tool in clear sight of everyone, but does not step back or activate it.
Rozemyne looks at Justus, who shakes his head. Her lips purse, but she waits for Lieseleta to finish serving the tea before waving her out of the area that would be covered by the sound-blocking tool. She orders everyone to face the walls, the attendants seem unconcerned by this and do as they are told with little fuss. Justice turns on the area sound blocking tool.
“Ferdinand, what is going on? You're acting like I stole and destroyed all of your prized ingredients! All I did was ask you to sleep at a reasonable time! Its been crazy since we came back from the conference. And I—I just missed you."
Ferdinand can only blink in surprise; the refined shrewd woman who had watched him all throughout breakfast is gone. In her place is this willful gremlin; he can most certainly see her causing a scene. Her eyes are wide and unguarded, her full lips set in a small pout. He does not understand why his heart is beating so wildly in reaction to her antics. The feel of her magic on his chest and covering his back is distracting, he feels overwhelmed by her very presence- her unbridled attention. He finds himself floundering, not sure how to react to her words.
“Don’t look at me like that! You know I’m weak to that look—“
“Ah, my lady.”
“Huh, what is it, Justus? Is there really something to report? With the way Ferdinand let you doll him up. I thought he was just trying to wheedle more research time.”
Ferdinand could not help but glare at his attendant at those words. He can feel his cheeks grow warm. “Justus”
“No, my lady, it is that my lord did not believe his current situation as it is now… I thought the increase in protective charms necessary“ Justus covers his lips before he continues. “My lord has lost his memories of 15 years or so. He has no memory of you. I checked him for irregularities but found nothing. I have had Raimund, Siegfried, and Eckhart retracing his steps of the past two days, but as of now I have not heard anything back.”
“Tell me you are joking,” she says and then glances over at Ferdinand's eyes pleading. Ferdinand can’t think of anything to say to this stranger who looks to him for answers. Already the shift he can feel in her mana is surprising—just how mixed is their mana that he can sense her so clearly even at this distance? He can feel his face redden further in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry, this is no joke, Lady Rozemyne.”
Ferdinand can see the rainbow shimmer in her eyes in response to his words. She turns her glance to Justus before she closes her eyes and brings her hands up to rub her temples. “Was this an attack? Some kind of failed or successful poisoning? Or was it an accident—an unforeseen side effect of one of his projects the one he has been working on?”
“Nothing he was working on should have had this effect. We have started to search his labs and room for tampering. We haven’t found anything yet.”
Rozemyne stands up and makes her way across the table to Ferdinand and reaches out to him. He stiffens but manages not to recoil from her closeness. She pauses at his show of discomfort. “Right, you…Ferdinand… , can I check for myself? I did not take the attendance course, but you have taught me enough.”
She really does look worried. And this duchy and its people are very removed from what he has known. Justus has insisted that this woman is the wife he had chosen for himself. His all goddess.
Hesitantly, He nods his acceptance and holds out his wrist.
Her touches are light and lingering. Her mana is warm and inviting. Ferdinand can only bite his lips to stop himself from making a fool of himself at the feel of her mana. What kind of man was he that he taught his wife to evaluate his mana channels in such a manner?
“Lady Rozemyne” He tries, but his voice- to his shame- is noticeably husky.
“Ah—sorry, right, sorry. I’m still learning.” She pulls back but not away, and Ferdinand is annoyed by just how distracting he finds her presence.
“Justus, Go and do whatever it is you need to do to fix this. I’ll keep Ferdinand with me until this is taken care of. We can take a few days working in the office and out of the chamber to take care of some of the paperwork. I’ll have Laurenz and Matthias serve as his guard for today. You can leave Rosworth and Heisworth. Take Hartmut with you"
Ferdinand was about to protest her ordering his attendants, but before he could say anything Justus accepts her orders.
“Right away, my lady.” Justus bows and leaves the area covered by the sound blocking tool. He watches as Justus collects the red haired scholar who had been eyeing him cautiously before. Ferdinand wants to call him back using his name but before he can he feels the mana around him press lightly on him, almost like a caress.
“Ferdinand”
He had not asked about his father, with how sick he had been last he saw him and how many years had past and with Sylvester as Ehrenfest’s current Aub, Ferdinand had believed his name had been returned and now was wholly his own. The constant feel of her mana he had attributed to all the magic tools he had on his person and just how mixed their mana is had kept him from noticing the reality of it. It was the call of the name-stone, but It was not his father’s mana calling him but more of her mana- only hers. Ferdinand turns to look at her.
“I would return it, but you always refuse when I offer. So I’ll wait until you have your memories back or until I’m sure you are safe. It would not be right to return it to you when you are like this.” She tells him, voice soft but firm.
Ferdinand looks down at his retainer’s name-stones and thinks it is no wonder Justus had so easily left him in her care. Ferdinand, Consort of Aub Alexandria had undeniably already placed himself completely in her hands.
“Lady Rozemyne”
She frowns slightly. “How much do you remember? Do you remember the temple?” Her mana does not press on him for truthful answers it just continues to surround him as comfortable and unobtrusive as it had been since he awoke in this crazy new time.
“The temple? What about the temple?”
“I see.” She sounds upset. “So not even at the temple yet. Justus said your time at the temple really mellowed you out too.”
“I was at the temple?”
“Hum—yeah, you were the high priest for a couple of years.”
Ferdinand looks on, stunned and confused. Just how did a former blue priest and bastard son of an Aub end up married to the young Aub of what must still be one of the greater duchies?
“Well, I’m going to have to ask you to do some things that will probably make you feel a little uncomfortable. But you’ve no one but yourself to blame. You are actually pretty shameless, and if the servants and attendants see you behave like you did when you arrived, who knows what people will be saying. I guess your noble smile will have to do for now, but don’t smile too much; everyone knows you are not very expressive day to day. There shouldn't be any trouble; not many people can tell the difference between your real and fake smiles… they are just softer and smaller… and just so warm.” Rozemyne’s thoughts wander, and Ferdinand just watches for a moment as his future wife gets lost in thoughts of his future self. Before he can say anything, she comes back to herself and continues.
“You escort me everywhere when we are together. When you escort me, hold my hand sometimes. You are always really attentive… So keep your eyes on me when you can. Touch me to get my attention… um—you touch my hair a lot… You like to touch the charms you have given me too; I think you are checking them some times. And when you call me. I am wife, Myne, all goddess, and only Rozemyne when you are angry or annoyed or if it’s a very formal occasion.”
He can feel his ears heat and his face burn with shame with each passing proclamation, but he nods his understanding. Justus had been right; he would not be able to play the part of his older self without others noticing the difference. Rozemyne turns off the sound blocking tool and gives her attendants their orders.
When they leave for her chambers, he holds out his hand to escort her. She takes his hand and leans close to him. He does his best to do the same, but his face must be burning, and he cannot meet the eyes of any of her attendants. For their part, they seem to be avoiding his eyes as well.
Rozemyne smiles wryly at him and whispers softly to him. “You don’t normally blush this much anymore; I wonder just what they think you have been planning.”
He can feel his ears grow even hotter. This place, this situation, and above all else, this woman- All of it, this life and all that he has experienced is so very vastly different from what he had expected his future to be like. As much as he feels he needs to figure things out on his own, he knows he is too removed from his current situation to successfully work this out on his own. This stranger next to him- who looks at him with the utmost care, is someone he has chosen for himself. Someone who holds his name in her grasp and treats it with gentle consideration. Unbelievably, He feels safe and cared for in a way he could have never imagined. For now he will wait and see what future he had helped to create.