Chapter Text
Lestilaut was waiting for his sister's arrival. The room’s decor pulled him from his troubling thoughts. The intricate wood carving displays small flames along the table's trim, as well as the overly complex carving of Leidenschaft’s spear at the center of the table. The wood itself, like all of the wooden furniture in this room, looked burnt by Leidenschaft himself. The smoky look of the table felt grand against the cacophony of royal blue displayed throughout the room. The meshing of styles and fabrics cooled his thoughts and fueled his inner artistic spirit.
This is the fourth attendant this season that I’ve had to-
Hannelore’s arrival broke his train of thought. She looked happy compared to his utter sadness. Hannelore was his opposite in a lot of ways. Where he felt anger, she often felt apprehension and displayed her nervousness. Where he felt resentment and bitterness, she expressed sympathy and empathy to those who wronged them. Sometimes she truly embodied Verfuhremeer to his Elbberg and Brennwaerme. She could embolden those around her like a raging tidal wave all while still being able to calm even the most unruly knight. While he, on the other hand, tends to either burn out or erode away when she is like this.
Once everything was set and tested, he had an attendant put up an area-wide sound-blocking tool. He then signaled for everyone to return to their posts. Meaning the minimal amount of knights and attendants stay to guard and serve while everyone else goes. While small talk was proper, this was not the time for propriety or etiquette. He needed to hear the multiple reports from not only the ladies’ circles outside of his two wives’ factions but also the reports from the knights' order. Well, at least that was the pretense of the meeting. He signaled for her to speak.
“My aub, among the ladies and their tea parties, three provinces, who hardly qualify as neutral, have been calling into question the might of our duchy. From moment to moment, they sound like innocuous comments about our military strength or the old glory of ditter, but when the statements are read back to back, there is a clear pattern. That pattern is weaving into treason quickly. Here are some of the statements some of our scholars put together with the help of our informants.” She quickly slid the pages of paper across the table.
Lestilaut picked up the pages after raising an eyebrow at her. He skimmed the quotes, and yes, most of them looked rather benign, but there were a few that stuck out like a blight upon their lands.
“My, I pray most sincerely to Erwachlehren and Angriff that they might truly bestow their blessings on our new aub. Those of the older generations heeded Anhaltung’s call many times.”
“Well, when Angriff was at his strongest in the highest of heavens, at least Dunkelfelger faced Glucklitat’s trial. Dunkelfelger was able to gain Dauerleben’s blessing then. Now… I am not sure if the god has revoked his blessing or not.”
“Yes… ties to the highest seat or even their kin. For a goddess to step into a god’s domain. My, that is almost sacrilegious, a goddess of light does not resign herself to a subordinate role. Can a goddess even make a good Leidenschaft?”
The common denominator of each quote was sowing tiny seeds of doubt in the archducal house’s rule. Neutrals tend to wait for Verfuhremeer to roll in her tides before siding with a house or a faction. For three notable ladies from three different provinces, no less, voice discontent in such a cunning and odd manner. It is anything but coincidental.
“Hannelore, please continue to monitor each house and province. Those three women in particular. What of their reputations?” Lestilaut's voice cut through like a blade striking a target.
“Lady Bertha is the highest ranking of the three. She is an archnoble. Her house only kept its neutral status due to grandfather’s grace during his tenure as they rose from mednoble to archnoble. As you know, this grace was only given due to the tension of the impending civil war. Their mana levels are still within low to medium archnoble status, but honestly, their mana colors are stagnant and unchanging.” She took a breath and collected her thoughts before narrowing her eyes and continuing. “As for her personality. She resembles your dear old classmate Detlinde in attitude. The only major difference is that she at least understands social graces and doesn’t act out in a public setting. It seems the most likely motive is the fact that we were able to finally receive lands from the Zent years ago. Her province used to border both Neuehausen and old Werkestock. It now rests awkwardly in our land, and while it still borders a bit of Neuehausen, it now doesn’t make sense for it to be a trading province.”
Silence invaded the space while he thought about the implications of this development. Many houses thrived on the suffering of others, especially during the Civil War. While he was still in the first years of the Royal Academy, he saw the reports of starvation and mana depletion in the portion of old Werkestock given to Dunkelfelger. But those reports were not an anomaly. Of course, Dunkelfelger would not have any of the reports relating to old Ahrensbach’s portion, nor would they have any reports of any of the other defunct old duchies. Lestilaut sighed and signaled for her to continue.
“Lady Helga is a mednoble with an archnoble’s amount of mana. Most of her house actually has an archnoble’s amount of mana. It seems that once the heir marries and has his first child, they will be eligible for a promotion. Their mana and colors are better than Lady Bertha’s house, and it seems they’re both seeking connections to each other’s houses. The house is not collectively together in this opinion, though. As not even the heir wants that connection. Lady Helga and her husband, Lord Ansgar, seem to want to remain neutral, as Lady Bertha’s house once they are promoted to archnoble status. The heir himself, Lord Liutpold, wants to join your first wife’s faction.” Hannelore grimaced while pausing for a brief moment. “Lady Helga’s personality is more amenable than Lady Bertha’s. She seems to be more of an opportunist than truly malignant. She also adheres to strict social norms, so she is most likely just acting as a subordinate to Lady Bertha.”
A picture is starting to form. If multiple houses could claim neutrality, then they could easily rebel. Oh gods, Grandfather! I know it was during the Civil War, but still…
He sat there, stroking his chin and the small coarse hairs starting to grow in. He signaled for the last lady’s report. Hannelore frowned at this. It was as if she could barely stomach the last report regarding ladies.
“Lady Gertrude is a mednoble with a high mednoble amount of mana. The situation around her house is odd to say the least. Their province used to border old Werkestock directly, and during the mana drought, their lands kept up. The lack of mana in our portion of old Werkestock did not seep into that province as it did in others. Of course, we looked into that, and it seems they basically house and breed those with the devouring. We aren’t able to confirm if the practice is still being done or not, as wherever they house them is kept under tight wraps. It seems the house quite enjoyed the aftermath of the civil war, as they have been hoarding the gold they have earned from becoming the breadbasket to our portion of defunct lands.” She held her tongue and looked at the table with sadness. “Lady Gertrude’s personality is said to be likened to Chaocipher herself. Her house is not even close to being up for a promotion, but she seems to have joined in on this plot. As you’ve seen with the report, she tends to only add to the chaos and hides behind social norms. Her mother was from old Trostwerk, now Korinthsdaum, so she now displays a connection that isn’t even there. She was not vocal like most neutral nobles during my fifth year at the academy, but she seems to lament now that the archducal house does not have any connection with any of the former “royals”. She conveniently forgets our aunt or cousin, considering how the civil war played out, along with the aftermath. She honestly longs for an unstable rule.”
In response, Lestilaut grit his teeth and grunted. He then rested his elbows on the table while resting his hands under his chin, curling his fingers into his palms in the process. Anger was consuming him. Hannelore lightly tapped the table to disrupt her brother’s ruminating and glum look.
“So, a fallen noble, an opportunist, and Chaocipher herself? This is why neutral nobles aren’t included in any real governance. They’re so focused on themselves, they can’t even see the real problems with our own duchy or how other duchies are trying to vie for attention.” Lestilaut sighed and suddenly looked very tired. He signaled for a tea change for the next report.
The tea was tested again, and the barrier was put back up, and the tense atmosphere resumed. He signaled for Hannelore to begin with the knights’ order report.
“The knights from those provinces have not been overtly acting out, but on feybeast subjugations, they act against orders stating ‘Brennwaerme possessed them while in Schlagziel’s domain’. Of course, some of the more unruly knights who can’t heed Anhaltung or Verfuhremeer have met the most unfortunate end during these subjugations. Our half-brother, Raufereg, doesn’t seem to grasp the political implications of some of these knights’ actions. Nor do I believe he is trying to ignite unrest in the knights. He goes against my orders when he thinks there is a better way to do things.”
They both exhaled loud sighs. Their half-brother has started to become restless due to the fact that his demotion was inevitable. Not only does he have less mana than both Lestilaut and his sister, Hannelore. He also can’t exactly think beyond ditter and the tradition of this duchy. He conveniently likes to forget that, with the tradition of this duchy, it also calls for more mana and compression. As he hasn’t compressed much since his fourth year in the academy.
With his current mana level, he could barely sustain a middle duchy. He was always going to be demoted to archnoble status to serve our duchy like Hannelore. Hell, even I know I would’ve been demoted if not for the civil war. Our father would’ve gotten a foreign first wife. Ughhhh… is he really this stupid?
“I see that face, brother, and I agree. He is too dull to understand how much mana the duchy truly needs. He never even participated in mana replenishment because his demotion was already in the works due to that ditter.” Her voice suddenly became cold, and her face contorted to a look that could only be described as pure disgust.
“I see, so not only is he operating on many misconceptions, but he also can’t even gather information. Grandfather would have been his Erwachlehren and would have graced him with Anhaltung’s presence. Father also should have beaten this into his skull with the full might of Angriff.” Lestilaut was starting to get more and more frustrated.
“Brother, you know as well as I do that not only did his mother cling most fervently to the role of Erwachlehren, but he also is Elbberg incarnate. He never heeded Anhaltung’s call from anyone but his Wiegenmilch.” Hannelore grabbed her brother’s clenched fist and patted it with her other hand.
He let go of a breath he didn’t know he was holding, which turned into another sigh. “When will he meet an unfortunate end during a subjugation? Lungtase isn’t anything like her brother, nor is she a blight like her mother. What is with that? Ughhh…”
“Brother, please remember even if we can speak far more freely, your face and sighs are unbecoming of an aub. They can still see you. But you are right, our half-sister seems not to have been given the same mercy as her brother. Her Wiegenmilch favored another and left much of the work to the nanny and Lungtase’s head attendant.” Hannelore shook her head as Lestilaut started to open his mouth.
Lady Reichlene didn’t even care for her own daughter? What kind of Wiegenmilch does that?
Hannelore disrupted his thoughts once more by eating louder than she ought to. She still looked like she was following etiquette, but she did so to get him out of his head. When he finally glared at her, she laughed behind her teacup.
“Brother, now that all of the politics and duchy dread are out of the way. What is it truly that you wanted to discuss? You would’ve reached all of the same conclusions from these reports if I just delivered them to you.” She gave him a slight smile.
He then ordered another change to the tea. This time, after everything was tested and the barrier was back up, he signaled for everyone to turn around. Once everyone followed that order, his face dropped. Worry and sadness were etched so prominently on his face.
“My daughter. She won’t stop acting strangely. Hannelore, we truly believe she won’t be fit for society as she seems to be unwell in the mind.” His voice croaked, and a lump sat right in his throat. Frustrated tears threatened to fall from his face.
“Lestilaut, my brother, please calm down. This is only her third year in this world. There is no need to believe that Glucklitat saw fit for you or my niece to lose this trial. What makes you believe that she has an illness of the mind?” Hannelore’s voice became an anchor that he didn’t know he needed at that moment.
“She seems possessed sometimes. Most of the time, she will act like a normal noble girl. Acting her age, playing with plush shumils and bears, or the wooden toys Lady Rozemyne has given us over the years. But… but sometimes she speaks not like herself at all. She sounds almost older, yet can’t use euphemisms much, but still grasps the meaning. Then she will speak what sounds like a different language altogether.” He hung his head lower to hide the fact that he couldn’t stop biting his lips. Although his desperation, mixed with the undercurrent of frustration, was palpable.
“Brother, at what times does she seem, as you say, possessed?” Hannelore asked while knitting her brows together, thinking.
“This state only occurs when she is close to Schlaftraum’s realm, or she has recently left it.” He dug his fingers into the side of his leg while his other hand went to his feystone pouch.
Hannelore stared off into space for what seemed like an eternity. She then turned back to her brother and tapped the table to alert him that she was finished thinking. He looked up and glared at her before they both softened their faces.
“Brother, Lady Rozemyne told me once that the gods do not follow our social norms, and they honestly affect their garden on a whim. I, myself, have witnessed this while being in the realms of the gods. While watching a true starbinding was breathtaking and mesmerizing, it was a means to an end for the gods. Sterrat himself was particularly uninterested in the starbinding itself. They then sent Lady Rozemyne to face her husband’s precarious situation time and time again. She did not speak of what she saw, but she had to give up part of her life for him. I would not believe all of those who knew Lord Ferdinand from his school days if I didn’t see Lady Rozemyne soon after she returned. She looked worse than when we went to war, brother. What the gods showed her was an abyss of despair. Do not just rule this a simple illness. Mind or otherwise.” Hannelore looked serious, as if her mind couldn’t waver from the possibility that the gods are playing with his daughter’s thread like she is a toy to them. His breath hitched before sighing once more.
“You truly believe that? My wife didn’t experience what you saw. Klassenberg, in general, hasn’t really experienced what Dunkelfelger has. Especially considering Lady Rozemyne and all of her feats.” Lestilaut sighed quietly.
Yes… I know the gods like to meddle, but wasn’t meddling with my sister enough? Hannelore truly believes this, doesn’t she?
“Brother, I do. The only person who could have a different interpretation of any of this is Lady Rozemyne herself. She has met with the gods many times. It wasn’t as if it was only one god.” Lestilaut was surprised by the look on her face after she said that.
“Who is Elbberg now?” Lestilaut chuckled ironically before continuing, “I can’t bring this information to another aub. Do you want your niece to be exposed? No amount of friendly relationships could afford me to deprive my daughter of Wiegenmilch when she hasn’t fully received that blessing.” He finished speaking with a glare. Hannelore just sighed.
“Yes, brother, I recognize that this is akin to throwing an apprentice knight to the feybeasts without a shield and only a dull dagger. But having said that, brother, do you truly believe Lady Rozemyne would endanger your child? My niece, no less. You know all of her compassion towards children. Saving the orphans of her natal duchy, and of course, do not forget the many reforms she has put in place for those still in Wiegenmilch’s cradle in her new duchy that she rules. Brother, I know her far better than most. While I understand that her every action could be seen as selfish, especially from a noble’s perspective, she is truly a saint. When she heard that the women and children were being forced onto those Lanzanave ships to be either feystone or mana-wombs, you should’ve seen her face. It was one of absolute heartbreak. She immediately took action, and with the help of her retainers and Lord Ferdinand, she summoned winter to freeze the ships in place. Yes, yes, brother, I know you know this story, but I do sincerely pray that you listen to my words. The moment that a child is involved, Lady Rozemyne cannot sit idly by, acting as nobles do. Scheduling a meeting for three days from now could mean life or death, and with Lady- no Saint Rozemyne she would push ahead to help that person in need.” Hannelore looked happy as she described Lady Rozemyne’s feats, and Lestilaut couldn’t help but sigh.
“I do not doubt her saintliness. That I could never deny, especially since I’ve seen her whirling. Hannelore, my Sirena, is still so young. I just don’t want anyone to harm her, especially with the uncertainty.” Lestilaut held his head in his hand.
“Then we shall disguise the illness and symptoms as mine. You know how often Lady Rozemyne has asked after my health. She is especially worried about the gods' involvement. Even if it was many years ago, she still asks without fail in every letter.” Hannelore held her hands to her heart and smiled softly.
“I shall mull it over. In a week, I’ll give you a proper answer on this. Now, my dear sister, please let me rest my head. My emotions have been far too all over the place, and I have been compressing a bit too much.” Lestilaut slumped a bit in his seat as Hannelore reached for the area-wide sound-blocking tool to turn it off. Lestilaut finished the meeting and said his farewells to his sister.
Ugh… I need a drink.