As I gradually recovered from my five-day slumber and its accompanying fever, I returned to the office and got back to work. We had many events looming on the horizon, which meant lots of networking and gift giving, and so it was that Martina handed me a list of such gifts we’d prepared, which I was to confirm.
“We’ve mainly readied local delicacies along with fabrics currently in vogue. We’ve also received your formalwear, and a seamstress will be visiting later—you’ll need to try the dress on to ensure a tailored fit.”
“Thank you, Martina,” I said. “I appreciate your attention to detail.”
Let me backtrack for a moment and get you up to speed. A baby had been born, whose father was the last—and now deceased—king of Falkrum. In other words, it was the birth of Falkrum’s future governor general. The baby was a boy and, it should be noted, my nephew. We’d sent congratulatory gifts some time ago but had only been able to properly address the event more recently, what with recent happenings and all. All reports indicated that the birth was a hugely celebratory occasion in Falkrum—which wasn’t surprising, given that the baby was the dead king’s son.
“I know she’ll be fine for a time,” I commented, “but Gerda will have to visit the capital eventually, and I can’t help but worry.”
With Arno here, I didn’t expect there to be any issues in terms of affording Gerda her usual lifestyle. The more pressing worry was the matter of her meeting the emperor. I would have happily chosen any option that allowed Gerda to remain in Falkrum, but nothing that came to mind was even remotely feasible.
“As for the messenger we sent to the Lubeck home,” said Martina, “the money we sent was declined. How should we proceed?”
“Ugh, yet another annoyance to add to the pile...”
I rubbed at my temples, vexed. Lubeck had given me a coin before the emperor’s birthday, which acted as introduction and access to the services of Lady Garnier and her team of expert seamstresses. I’d sent a messenger with the intent of repaying the family for their favor, but it did not go as I’d hoped.
“What did the Lubeck family say?” I asked.
“They said that the coin was an act of goodwill on the part of the standing family lord, and they couldn’t possibly accept any repayment.”
“A straight no, then... Fine. I’ll talk to Lubeck myself.”
I did not want to be in Lubeck’s debt if I could help it. There was the matter of the House of Magic, yes, but more important was his proximity to the emperor. If they wouldn’t accept repayment by messenger, then I would have to do it myself, in person—it was the best way to avoid stirring up trouble.
Martina’s gaze darted around the office, then settled on the windowsill.
“Black Bird is enjoying a little sunbathing, I see,” she said.
“Indeed. It doesn’t eat, but oh, how it loves to photosynthesize. It’s so strange when you think about it—it’s like a shadow puppet.”
“Photosynthe...what?” asked Martina.
“Oh, whoops. Forget I said anything.”
As usual, the strange shadow bird was always somewhere near my person. It was far more at home now than when I’d first noticed it, and always within view. It rolled around lazily for the most part, either staring blankly off into space or otherwise sleeping. It didn’t eat, and from what I could tell, all it really needed was sleep. If I left it while it was sleeping somewhere, the bird would invariably turn up perched on my shoulder again, and everybody in the house had simply gotten used to it.
“If you’re feeling sleepy, Lady Karen, how about taking a short break?” offered Martina.
I wasn’t tired, per se, but the drowsiness must have shown on my face.
“But I’ve only handled about half of the day’s responsibilities. And besides, I’m sleeping much more soundly than usual. It’s decidedly rare for me to wake without wishing for a few more minutes of slumber.”
“I think everything’s catching up with you. It would be nice if you could find a little more time to relax...”
“Perhaps, but you know...I get the feeling it’s an issue that requires more than just catching up on sleep.”
I’d been terribly sleepy pretty much all the time, but I was trying to stay on top of it. All I could do was try to up my game.
“Our new secretary will be coming fairly soon,” I said, changing topic. “Do make her feel welcome.”
“Of course. She possesses a wealth of experience, and I’m sure there will be a great deal I can learn from her. It’s so much sooner than we expected, and I can’t wait. But isn’t she already working? What of her current job?”
“I’m told it won’t be an issue, given that she only just started. The more important matter is finding a babysitter for her children during the day. The person she used to rely on apparently isn’t available at present.”
“If I remember correctly, her children are both around ten years old... I do hope she’s able to find somebody.”
It was the ever-reliable Elena who introduced us to our new secretary. She and Haring visited often—by virtue of living right next door—and both were so easy to chat with. It was on one such visit, and during one such easy conversation, that I lamented our trouble securing a new secretary.
The conversation went something like so:
“If you need an experienced hand, I can recommend my friend Sofie...” Elena had said.
“I don’t suppose you mean that Sofie, do you? The one who looked after Wendel and me during the attack on Conrad...?”
“That’s her, yes. I know she looks like a soldier, and indeed, there’s no denying that she’s impressively tough and resilient, but civil service is where she really shines. And I’m not just saying that to talk up a friend... Well, maybe a little, but I can assure you that she’s a good person and a hard worker.”
As it turned out, Sofie had started in the military’s administrative department before circumstances saw her move to the front lines.
“At the time, her parents and husband died in rather quick succession, and it put Sofie in a position where she desperately needed money. Conflict had broken out in a number of locations across the empire, and she learned that the pay was far better on the front lines. That was her chance, and she didn’t have any other choice but to take it.”