Chapter Text
Prologue
Ferdinand shouldn’t have been surprised that the gods continued to interfere with Rozemyne’s life. He had been a cautious man for as long as he could remember, and that caution was only doubled after that careless Goddess of Time sent Rozemyne into the past to save his life. The consequences of such actions hadn’t yet been felt in the years since she came of age and they married. The peace and joy of these years did not lessen his anxiety of just when her brilliant thread would run short. Ferdinand would do anything in his power to prolong her life, but Rozemyne was not the kind of woman that could be convinced to cower under his cloak. Her passion and love could not be contained by him alone. Rozemyne’s desire for motherhood was far greater than his fear for her safety, but an Aub’s pregnancy had to be meticulously planned. After years of waiting for the mana leeway, years of research into (obstetrics) and (gynecology) to ensure Rozemyne could see through her pregnancy and birth safely, and the months of joyful anticipation to meet the new member of their family. Entrinduge visited early. By all estimates, Rozemyne was expected to give birth when Flutrane's waters washed away the ice. They had carefully timed it so Rozemyne only had to miss one year of the Archduke's Conference as she was recovering from birth. They saved mana as to not allow the burden of sustaining a greater duchy to grow unmanageable. Letizia had worked so hard to support them after she graduated while she was preparing her move and marriage into Blumenfeld. Young Benedikta had entered the royal academy and earned grades worthy of the top ranked duchy during her first year. Rozemyne was not supposed to go into labor during the winter. Ferdinand was not supposed to be at the Interdutchy Tournament when Rozemyne went into labor. His daughter was not supposed to be born under the harsh judgement of Ewigeliebe.
It was not long before first bell when Ferdinand received the emergency missive and notification at Alexandria’s dormitory. The notification from the emergency magic tool had torn him out of Schlaftraum’s realm with a jolt of mana that was designed to be impossible to miss or ignore. The communication shumil was superior for exchanging information, but this tool was only designed to allow anyone in Rozemyne's retinue to be able to notify Ferdinand when Entrinduge’s visit began by activating the sister tool with a small drop of mana, regardless of where Ferdinand was in Yurgenschmidt. These tools were designed to accommodate the necessary separation that occurred when Ferdinand had to act as representative for Alexandria outside the duchy while Rozemyne was in her sensitive period. He had other tools intended to notify him of a catastrophe or other emergency, but the tool triggered was for Entrinduge’s visit.
Ferdinand's thoughts drifted as Justus dressed him for his sudden departure. It was too early for Entrinduge's visit. There were cases when a child would be born a number of weeks before they were anticipated and survive, but more often an early visit would mean still-birth. Effa had many complications with her pregnancies, but Rozemyne was long past the most delicate stages. His heart sank. This was always a risk. There had always been the chance Rozemyne would give birth to a still-born feystone rather than a healthy child. In such a case it would be even more important for him to be by her side.
Rozemyne’s name-sworn guard knight Matthias was waiting within the teleportation hall in Alexandria. Formalities were skipped. Matthias gave Ferdinand his report under the cover of a sound-blocking magic tool, as they rushed through the near empty halls of the early morning in Alexandria’s castle. Ferdinand didn't have the leeway to personally prevent the spread of the news of his sudden return to Alexandria. Ferdinand passed through the barrier into the archducal chambers and the gathering of guard knights standing outside of the Aub’s personal chambers. Without a word Matthias, Eckhart, and Justus joined the group of knights banished from the Aub's quarters during the birth.
Ferdinand used waschen on himself as he stepped into the room. The room had a trace of the metallic stench of blood. A large sound blocking barrier was being used further within the room; he had yet to hear either Rozemyne's voice or the cry of a newborn child. The silence almost felt like a promise. Rozemyne had often called him pessimistic for planning for the absolute worst, but it was difficult not to. Perhaps this would be the moment Rozemyne's thread ran short. Perhaps they would need to live with the tragedy of the loss of their first child. Perhaps that particularly petty goddess had thought this an opportunity to hurt him.
Such thoughts vanished as he froze upon the sight of Rozemyne resting in her (rocking chair) holding a small bundle. Her moon-lit golden eyes shone with a brilliant enough light to blind those who gazed upon it. Her lips moved to speak words that could not be heard. She looked upon the child cradled in her arms as if they were worth more than all the libraries in the world of her dreams. As if what gods and mortals had put her through meant nothing if it meant she had this one moment with her child. Would he have the right to intrude on this moment between a mother and her newborn?
The sound-blocking tool was turned off for a moment long enough to hear Rozemyne’s voice cooing at the child and to snap Ferdinand out of his daze. The child was born early. There was likely to be complications. There was still work to be done. He checked Rozemyne’s vitals as he had done countless times. Her pulse was normal. The strain and her excitement had raised her temperature slightly, but that should go down with rest and the mana expenditure required in nursing. She also appeared to be anemic, but that was expected and consistent with Rozemyne’s otherworldly knowledge and the research they had done in preparation. All things considered her health seemed better than it was in the early stages of the pregnancy. He turned his attention to the baby. His eyes widened as the realization dawned.
This was his child.
Prior to this moment Ferdinand had wondered if a man like himself-- a man who had never known a father's love, a man born from the suffering and death of the woman who gave birth to him, a man so twisted into a cruel and wretched shape by the experiences that made him-- could such a man ever love a child in the way a father was meant to? Could he love his own child with that same unconditional love that bordered on madness that he had been graced to witness and honored to take part in?
He finally had the answer.
Rozemyne watched as Ferdinand sank to his knees and silent tears escaped his steely expression. Rozemyne looked to Lieseleta, who reactivated the sound-blocking tool, and ushered Gretia and the others with her to the retainer's room. Rozemyne looked down to her daughter in her arms and her husband in her lap.
“Ferdinand?” she knew she needed to hold her tears back for just a moment longer, “Can you hold our daughter?”
He looked up to Rozemyne in his daze of emotion and responded flatly, “Yes, of course, thank you.”
Ferdinand didn't seem to know what to say as he took the baby, his daughter, from her mother's arms. The cloth bundled around her seemed to be warm, only her red wrinkled face and a tuft of silvery white hair peeked out of her blankets. He carefully brushed the back of two of his fingers against her forehead. Her skin was soft, and colder than expected.
Ferdinand's attention was wrestled away from the infant with a rather inelegant groan from his goddess as she plopped herself onto the bed. He only just noticed that she had sent her attendants away. He normally would have helped her up, but his hands were occupied. She was waving her hands over to him in an incomprehensible grabbing motion.
He only had to look at his daughter to understand that Rozemyne obviously wanted the precious little bundle of joy back in her arms. Ferdinand wasn't one to deny his goddess. He returned the child to her mother and placed a hand on Rozemyne's shoulder to provide her with Heilschmerz’s healing. Infants were especially sensitive to mana, so it was dangerous for anyone other than the father to provide healing to the mother after birth. He sat beside her and wrapped himself around her to join her in watching their sleeping daughter.
Rozemyne leaned into him as she began making a new sound. It was something between sobbing, laughing, and choking.
“We did it! We did it! Ferdinand- We- us- Ferdinand-” she began to blubber with so much joy the weight of her emotion shook her body as happy tears rolled down her face.
Ferdinand held her close and held her tight as his own tears freely poured down his face. Rozemyne had given him more than he ever could earn or deserve and now she had given him this precious daughter. Rozemyne gave so much to him so freely. He could live a hundred lives and not ever deserve her, but with his one life he could at least do everything to protect her, protect this precious child, and to protect his family.
The happy tears of the archducal family of Alexandria were interrupted by the sudden and loud cries of the new and youngest member.
“Oh, is someone hungry?” Rozemyne cooed to her little daughter. The comfortable gown she wore was designed to allow for easy nursing. She lifted the baby to her breast, as Ferdinand helped her adjust into a more comfortable position. The crying stopped as the child got not even a sip before unlatching from her mother and screaming. Rozemyne sighed as if she expected this and stood up to return to the (rocking chair) in order to soothe the howling infant.
Ferdinand watched this with a puzzled frown on his face. As much joy as he had felt there was now returned equal worry. This child was born early and it seemed like there was some complication.
“She hasn't been able to eat properly. I know some children take longer than others to latch on, but she was born so small. She needs more time and mana. But she won't eat," she swallowed her fear and fatigue to continue in a more pleasant melodic tone, “Please don't cry, my little star.”
Ferdinand considered things for a moment. Their baby needed nourishment and Rozemyne needed rest. Rozemyne hadn't complained about her supply being dry, so it was likely a complication with the child. It was difficult to catch sight of her eyes, with her sleeping or squinting constantly, but in the moment he had seen them they hadn't seemed gold like either Rozemyne's or his own. On a second inspection her hair was nearly a pure white, not the pale silver of the poor woman who named him Ferdinand.
“It is as if her colors don't match," Ferdinand muttered as his frown deepened. If he was right- he would have a lot to do today that was not doting on his newborn daughter and exhausted wife.
“It is a bit odd but she must be (albino). Her hair is white and her eyes are red because she lacks (melanin) or pigmentation. She probably will have poor eyesight, but we will figure it out," Rozemyne rocked her child back and forth on the moving chair as she gave an explanation she found reasonable.
Ferdinand shook his head,“If she were lacking color, pigmentation, or (melanin) as you call it- she would take on a more mundane appearance perhaps brown hair and eyes. White and Red would suggest the winter gods. Has her mana been checked?”
“No," Rozemyne pulled her child closer and looked at her with such pained eyes, “She was born early... She might not have enough mana to be an Archduke candidate of a greater duchy.”
It was a somber thought, but one inevitably in the minds of anyone who knew of the early birth.
“Good. Limiting information would be best until we learn more." Ferdinand began to search for the relevant magic tools, but then summoned Lieseleta back to fetch them and assist her lady.
In the brief moments Lieseleta fluttered about the room she straightened up her lady’s hair and dress, neatened the bed, convinced Rozemyne to place the sleeping child in the bassinet, and prepared tea and refreshments for both Rozemyne and Ferdinand. She accomplished this and then exited to give Rozemyne and Ferdinand the privacy they still needed. Back in the retainers’ room she was no doubt preventing Rozemyne's other attendants from prying.
Ferdinand began his series of tests. Rozemyne ate some cookies and tea to recover even a little. The child’s capacity at birth was lower than what Rozemyne and Ferdinand would expect for their child, but it was well within acceptable ranges for an Archduke candidate at birth. It was to be expected as she was only around two thirds the size as a typical newborn. Ferdinand checked his daughter's elements. Then he checked his own. Then he checked Rozemyne's.
All were Omni elemental, as expected. His elements were balanced; his mana a soft pearlescent white. Rozemyne's elements were nearly the same with a slight preference for wind due to the influence of Schutzaria's gate; her mana white with a tint of yellow. The little sleeping child was Omni elemental, but her mana was not balanced at all. It was a brilliant blinding white that left little allowance for other colors. White was the color of the life element, of winter, and of the God whose power was sealed under the garden called Yurginschmidt. It might be worth testing if administering a synchronization potion made from her mother’s mana would allow her to feed the normal way, but Rozemyne’s mana was easier to influence and it wasn't particularly good at influencing. The outsized life element might have had other effects that they hadn't discovered, and that might be dangerous to change. Ferdinand explained his thoughts to Rozemyne.
“You could try and give her more of the life element within the mana when you try and feed her next? Stop if it takes too much mana or stamina.” It would be a place to start while he followed through on the contingency plans.
Rozemyne gave it some thought while she looked at her sleeping child and agreed that she would try.
With that Ferdinand summoned Lieseleta back, obtained her medical report from the birth, and told her of the color problem they seemed to be having. Rozemyne's other attendants and retainers were allowed back into the room. Ferdinand said his farewells to both Rozemyne and his daughter. Rozemyne needed to rest and recover. He could handle this.
His retainers followed him out of the hallway and into his own chambers that Sergius had prepared for his return. Their Lord seemed deep in thought when he ordered Justus to fetch some specific brewing ingredients from the lab and some of the infant formula that was developed during Alexandria’s research into infant mortality.
Ferdinand stepped into his hidden room with the tiny feystone filled with his daughter's mana. The life element was the rarest element to be born with, especially for women, so it didn't seem to be mana contamination from any of the women who assisted with the birth. It was an element necessary for life, but it didn't combine well with the other elements without the presence of earth due to the strained relationship the god of life had with his in-laws. It is common for mana to be influenced by the season of one’s birth; however, a winter-born child-- especially a girl-- would nearly always favor earth over life. This didn't entirely appear to be a natural occurrence. Rozemyne had escaped the grasp of Ewigeliebe more times than she could remember and Ferdinand was born under the influence of the life gate. He had only escaped death because of Rozemyne. It could be said that both of them had cheated Ewigeliebe. It could also be said that it was by them saving Yurginschmidt from turning to dust that the God of Life was not freed from his confinement. They very well might have earned his ire.
Ferdinand did not have much of his daughter's mana to experiment with. He first started by measuring the elements with a more precise tool. The results deepened the crease between his brows. Those with the devouring are born faintly omni elemental with an influence from the land of their birth. Rozemyne became as strongly omni elemental as Ferdinand when the mana clumps in her body were unintentionally dyed. When Rozemyne was under the influence of the divine poison of the gods’ mana, her elements were more potent than what was possible for mortals. Currently the slight differences in Rozemyne and his mana could wholly be attributed to the differences in their divine protections. The life element within his daughter's mana measured as high as his current tools would go. Her earth element was also more potent than her parents, all of her remaining elements were as expected for their daughter. It did not seem possible this occurred through natural means.
Ferdinand searched through his Grutrissheit for a similar occurrence-- He could find nothing about an outsized life element that did not come from the parents. He was able to broaden his query and find an instance of a woman born to an ancient duchy near the water gate who had a water element so potent that she was worshipped as a saint blessed by Flutrane for her powers of healing. She was killed before she reached her autumn and her feystone became the heart of a magic tool that was considered a treasure of the ancient duchy until it was lost with its fall. The Grutrissheit had no shortage of stories like that; stories of saints, zents, and aubs whose feystones were transformed into so-called “treasured relics.” He didn't like to think about how future generations might use Rozemyne's feystone. Now his daughter was “blessed” by Ewigeliebe. The girl blessed by Flutrane was able to perform miracles with her mana. Flutrane was a Goddess of Healing. Life as an element was a double edged sword. So-called miracles performed one blessed by Ewigeliebe seemed more likely to cause death than produce life. It seemed likely that his precious daughter could be a danger to herself and others. It might be a challenge, but he had already begun to consider different work arounds.
For now he needed to feed his daughter. That at last was a problem he could fix within the bell. Once he had the ingredients from Justus, he brewed a modified baby bottle magic tool. The infant formula and baby bottle magic tool were both Rozemyne's ideas for reducing infant mortality. The infant formula was produced in commoner and fey varieties. It was a dehydrated blend of nutrients that could be combined with warm water to create a better substitute for breastmilk than any animal or feybeast milk. The fey variety could be combined with a baby bottle magic tool to allow either parent to feed an infant with their mana. Ferdinand modified the magic tool to increase the life element within the formula or milk. He gave it a test and compared the elements of the produced formula with the mana of his daughter. He made a couple of alterations before he was happy with the similarities. The magic tool now should be able to feed their daughter so long as it either was being used by Rozemyne or Ferdinand with the fey formula or by anyone if it was used with Rozemyne's milk.
Ferdinand returned to the Aub’s chambers with Justus and Eckhart. The magic tool and formula was passed over for the necessary poison checks. His retainers kept a polite distance as Ferdinand ventured further into the room. He hadn't been gone even a bell and Rozemyne looked far more exhausted than how she was when he last saw her. The air in the room was tense. A good attendant did not draw attention to themselves. The women selected for Aub Alexandria’s postpartum care and tending to her first born child were among the best attendants and doctors in all of Yurginschmidt; yet, Ferdinand felt the worried glances of these women that swept between his wife and him. They no doubt wanted to understand what was going on. Liseletta was the only one of them who had been made aware of the details, and she wasn't one to let the secrets of her lady slip.
“She finally ate a little after I tried to modify the elements in the milk, but she gave up before she was full and it was exhausting. Please say you figured something out that'll get her to eat and sleep?” The area sound-blocking magic tool was activated before Rozemyne spoke. Lieseleta was rocking the bassinet outside of the range of the tool and the others knew to give the archducal couple privacy.
“I brewed a new baby bottle magic tool so it would modify the milk in such a way that it would be more palatable for our daughter and less exhausting for you. I should be able to feed her the next time she awakens. You should take a potion and rest." Ferdinand checked over her vitals again as he spoke. He didn't want her to strain herself so much right after birth.
Rozemyne nodded along to his explanation, “Perhaps now you will understand why I thought a (breast pump) would be necessary. You or I might be able to feed her with the formula, but my attendants wouldn't be able to.”
“I am not designing that perverted device. Your attendants are more than capable of helping you with this issue," Ferdinand had been against such a device before. Mana channeled through skin to skin contact between mother and infant was beneficial for the growth of a child; although, he now had to admit in this new situation her described (breast pump) would be useful. Perhaps he had been looking at Rozemyne's breasts too long as he was thinking about the issue.
A smirk flashed across Rozemyne's face as she placed her hand on her knee, signaling to Ferdinand by touching her two middle fingers together, “Oh is my dear husband suggesting I engage in such perversions with someone other than him?”
The sound blocking tool was active, but others were still around to watch their lips and read their expressions. The general opinion of the Alexandrian nobility was that their archducal couple was rather affectionate with each other. Rozemyne had devised that hand signal as a way to tell Ferdinand to play along until they could reasonably escape to a nearby hidden room. The reality of their relationship was not so lascivious, but the perception led those around them suspect they were simply getting carried away by the fires of Brennwaerme rather than plotting together under Verbergen’s shroud.
“If my goddess wishes for my service instead I would not deny her,” Ferdinand offered his hand to Rozemyne to help her stand and to let her lean on him. She was exhausted, but she wanted to talk in the hidden room. He knew that was why she spoke like that, but the thought of actually doing such a thing sent a blush up his neck and to his ears. He didn't think he could actually do such a thing. He was glad in moments like this that he had grown out his hair in such a way that those embarrassing pinks were less visible.
Once they were safe within the hidden room and Rozemyne had been lowered down onto the couch, she pulled him down next to her so she could stretch out over him and then curl up into him. She hugged him and breathed him in and generally got her fill before she spoke.
“I was thinking Adelweiss would be a cute and dignified name. I want her name to have some connection with Ehrenfest. But I only want to if you like the name and the connection--”
The name was almost too cute...
Rozemyne laughed, “Oh good, you like it.”
“I would not argue against what the Archduchess wanted to name her own child.” Ferdinand let his unfettered smile play across his lips. Adelweiss of Alexandria. Adelweiss, his daughter with Rozemyne. Adelweiss the granddaughter of Gunther and Effa. It was a cute name.
Rozemyne had turned to her side and was scrolling through her tablet Grutrissheit, “So what did you figure out about Adelweiss's mana?"
“Her life element is extraordinary, it seems almost beyond human. I will have to create more precise ways to measure the specifics." Adelweiss’s life and earth elements maxed out the scale of the element measuring magic tool. The color of her mana was a brilliant white; which would suggest her life element is even greater than her maxed-out earth element. Distinguishing between the comparatively minute differences in maximal quality elemental samples normally was not necessary. Elemental mana of such high potency was incredibly rare and brews which used such ingredients were created on a case by case basis. The consequences for a human possessing such mana could be dire or miraculous. Either way it would need to be accounted for.
Ferdinand’s brow furrowed, "Unfortunately her colors are so different from ours that we will have to work around them in unusual ways for parents. The tools we prepared for her won't be nearly as effective as they should be. We could try and alter her colors, but-”
Rozemyne sat up and took a hold of his hands, her expression grim, “It's not divine, right? Her mana must be mortal. She doesn't seem to be in pain, just... hungry.”
Ferdinand squeezed her hands and held her gaze, “I do not believe she has divine mana.”
How he just wished the gods would leave Rozemyne alone. She had already done so much. What more could they ask of her? What could they have planned for her daughter?
She moved her hands to pull his face close to her own. She fixed his gaze with those bright golden eyes, “Ferdinand. She is alive.”
Rozemyne was right. It didn't matter all that much if the gods had or had not influenced their daughter. All they could do was love and care for her in the way a child deserved. The gods didn't seem content to leave them alone. All they could do was prepare their little Adelweiss for the trials that faced her.
“I will do what I can.” Ferdinand knew there was much to be done.
“You mean we will do what we can.” Rozemyne let go of his face and relaxed a little when he agreed, “I heard little Benedikta was an honor student. You will have to give her double or triple the praise and love to make up for the fact I can't give her any at the moment. Letizia also deserves praise for managing the dormitory while you have been gone.”
There was still much he needed to do even without the matter of little Adelweiss’s colors.
Rozemyne and Ferdinand spoke a bit further about their plans, as Rozemyne's stamina waned. As their discussion was concluding, Ferdinand picked up the sleepy Aub, carried her back into the room, and set her down on her bed.
Adelweiss must have known that her mother was about to go to sleep, as she took this opportunity to wake up and start crying.
Lieseleta had the prepared bottle of formula; she delivered the bottle and Ferdinand's daughter into his arms. Rozemyne complained that she could feed Adelweiss, but Lieseleta offered her lady a rejuvenation potion as she prepared Rozemyne to rest. Ferdinand had sat in a chair across from the rocking chair, so Rozemyne could watch from her view from her bed’s open canopy. He poured mana into the bottle as he brought it to Adelweiss’s tiny lips. She took to the bottle with eager quickness. She certainly was hungry. She drank up all the milk and more mana than Ferdinand had expected, but as much research they had done there wasn't much data on the mana expenditure required to nurse an infant. He did not mind. If his daughter needed his mana to grow healthy and strong he would be happy to provide it.
Once Adelweiss had finished her meal, her tiny red face began to scrunch up. Gretia took the bottle and offered a small cloth. Ferdinand had come to trust Lieseleta and Gretia for their loyalty and dedication to Rozemyne, but he wasn't going to take the risk of an unnecessary cloth. Especially not when he was holding his little daughter. He shot a questioning look at Rozemyne, who was giggling at the display.
“My lord," Gretia paused for permission and then continued in her somewhat harsh monotone, “Milady needs to be burped.”
Ferdinand allowed Gretia to take Adelweiss from his arms for a brief moment. He watched the attendant carefully while she rubbed the child’s back until she burped up a little milk. Gretia cleaned the area around the infant’s mouth and swiftly returned Adelweiss to her father's protective arms.
During Rozemyne's pregnancy she had insisted on Ferdinand speaking to their child before they were born. She claimed it would be good for developing the bond between parent and child and it would be good for the child’s (cognitive) development. After further explanation on how unborn children could hear and feel limited things from within the womb, Rozemyne had been able to convince Ferdinand to sing a few songs to their unborn child when he came to provide mana for the pregnancy. He might not have had much to say to his now born daughter, as there was not much that a baby could understand; yet, he wanted to make sure Adelweiss knew that her father, her dad, was here for her.
Ferdinand's voice when he sang the lullaby for Adelweiss was different from the voice he used when he performed with his harspiel. The voice he performed with was a precise and controlled instrument that reverberated with such beautiful power. The voice of this new father singing a lullaby to his precious daughter was like the warm and gentle sunshine on a winter’s morning in Ehrenfest. Ferdinand didn't have memories of his own father singing to him like this, but he didn't need such memories to sing when the love he felt for his child was pouring out from within him in a way he hadn't felt before today. Adelweiss began to doze off and Rozemyne fell asleep with a smile on her lips. Their attendants and even the guard knights had to keep themselves from tearing up. Justus briefly excused himself. Ferdinand had barely noticed the emotions of those around him, he was rather just watching Adelweiss as her tiny body moved with every breath until the peaceful spell was broken on that warm winter morning.
Both mother and daughter had fallen asleep, Gretia returned the child to her bassinet, and there was much that Ferdinand needed to do. It was already past fourth bell. He could still meet Letizia and Benedikta at the teleportation room. He took a rejuvenation potion off his belt and drank it. He was going to need it if he was going to avoid raising any panic in the castle while preparing new magic tools and hopefully stealing away moments to dote on his daughter and the sleepy aub. There was much that needed to be done. The weight of those responsibilities rested on his shoulders in a different way now that he was a father. It took all of his willpower and years of experience to maintain his noble facade in the face of such joy.