I would rather you didn’t!
Lord Ortwin had no proposal feystone, and while his phrasing allowed me to voice my thoughts on the matter in response, I had never expected anyone to say such a thing to me in class. Lord Wilfried was shocked as well; he looked between us as if disturbed.
“You never said anything about having feelings for Lady Hannelore,” he said. “And look how surprised she is. You could have at least started this conversation in private.”
Lord Ortwin stood, then shook his head with a slight grin. “Were we anywhere else, her retainers would have prevented my approach. And if someone spotted us alone, it would damage Lady Hannelore’s reputation. That is not my intention—I do not mean to force an answer out of her.”
“Good points,” Lord Wilfried said, then gave me a bright smile. “Fear not, Lady Hannelore—I shall make it clear that nothing is going on between the two of you.”
How else could I respond but with an awkward “Thank you”? I took the sound-blocker that Lord Ortwin held out to me and awaited whatever he had to say.
“My apologies for accelerating this process; it was not my wish to surprise you.” He squeezed his sound-blocker and sat back down. “However, this is my only opportunity to speak truly and hear your honest thoughts.”
So he did not expect an immediate answer from me. That was somewhat nice to hear, I supposed.
“To my knowledge,” he continued, “you have received a proposal from Korinthsdaum.”
Have I...? I know Father is on guard against such a proposition, but I am not aware of one having already been made.
Still, I gave a—rather noncommittal—nod. I had not been told of everything that had occurred during the Archduke Conference; something must have happened to put Father on his guard and give Drewanchel this impression.
“Lord Sigiswald must be eager to expand his archducal family, which currently comprises only his wife and himself...” Lord Ortwin said. “But he lacks any measure of sincerity or consideration. Drewanchel knows that well.”
I did not know much about how Lady Adolphine had been treated during her marriage—the matter was kept between Drewanchel and the royal family—but the outright hostile expression that had come over Lord Ortwin’s face was enough. My desire to marry anyone but Lord Sigiswald was stronger than ever.
He must only have his eye on me because no greater duchy has a female archduke candidate in her final year, and I am the closest to coming of age.
Despite being a middle duchy with a former royal as its aub, Korinthsdaum was doomed to fall in the rankings. For that reason, a union with Lord Sigiswald would do nothing to further Dunkelfelger’s interests. Still, the former royals’ authority was strong for the moment, and they had to be treated with the appropriate respect—at least until next year. Rejecting them before then would prove a tad draining.
“It is thanks to the problems my elder sister faced that Drewanchel is so well positioned to counter pressure from Korinthsdaum,” he concluded.
“I thank you ever so much for your concern, but I can evade their pressure simply by remaining within Dunkelfelger,” I said, trying to steer our conversation away from its current path. “Though I must admit, Lord Ortwin, I never realized that you aim to become an archduke.”
“Much of my own situation has changed as well. In Drewanchel, one does not need to be closely related to the aub to be chosen as his or her successor. That is to say, now that she has returned to the duchy, my elder sister could at any moment be thrust into an unfavorable situation.”
Although she had been given land to rule as reparations for her divorce, Lady Adolphine was not guaranteed good treatment from any future aubs. I could practically feel Lord Ortwin’s determination to protect his family.
“My sister’s desire to establish a research city within Drewanchel appeals to me immensely,” he said. “I also wish to trade actively with Alexandria’s laboratory.”
“And you believe that my friendship with Lady Rozemyne would make such negotiations progress more smoothly?”
Lord Ortwin blinked, then chuckled and shook his head. “As nice as that would be, I do not expect much from you in that regard; I doubt Lord Ferdinand or Lady Rozemyne would give much quarter to anyone. Rather, that is work for the scholars.”
As strange as it might have sounded, it gladdened me to hear that he was not underestimating Lord Ferdinand or Lady Rozemyne. I was also pleased to know he did not expect as much from me as I had anticipated.
“Your acuity is impressive, Lord Ortwin. You must be aware, then, that my father has already chosen my suitors.”
A woman’s father had the last say in whom she wed. Lord Ortwin must have known that it was pointless to propose to someone whose potential grooms had already been chosen, so what had driven him to approach me?
“My knowledge is less extensive than you expect—and plagued with conjecture, I fear. Still, there are some things I do know.” Lord Ortwin began to count on his fingers. “Your father would have given you multiple options, you seem not to have chosen from among them, your half-brother Lord Raufereg proposed to you despite being four years your junior, and your eyes waver whenever the word ‘ditter’ is spoken.”
For someone who claims not to know much, he is scarily on the mark.
I pressed a hand to my cheek. I had intended to come across as a proper archduke candidate of Dunkelfelger should, but my true emotions had seeped through nonetheless.
“From those facts,” he continued, “I determined that there must be some circumstance or unhappiness on your part that caused you not to choose a partner before others could start proposing to you. Furthermore, if your decision has been delayed, I expect there might be room for you to accept said proposals. If you wish it, then you might even be allowed to leave Dunkelfelger. Am I correct?”
Drewanchel’s capacity for gathering intelligence and deducing truths left me pursing my lips, unable to say a word. I could not risk carelessly confirming or denying any of his beliefs.
“My apologies,” Lord Ortwin said. “I did not intend to trouble you here. And as your true feelings are clear, I did not wish to propose to you at all.”
“Come again?” I asked, blinking at him in confusion.
Lord Ortwin shot a subtle look at Lord Wilfried, which told me everything I needed to know. I swallowed hard, and a chill ran down my spine.
“It is common knowledge that Dunkelfelger lost its bride-stealing ditter match because of you. I would never have expected you to want to marry Wilfried, owing to his duchy’s rank and the fact that his engagement to Lady Rozemyne received the king’s approval. Truth be told, the news shook me to my core.”
I squeezed my sound-blocker tighter and shot a furtive glance at Lord Wilfried. He seemed a little uncomfortable but also terribly curious about our conversation. Although he did not seem to know what we were saying, I doubted my heart could take much more.
“That is enough, Lord Ortwin. Ehrenfest was a lower-ranking duchy to begin with; it should not be compared to the higher-ranking duchies used to Dunkelfelger’s proposals and bride-stealing ditter challenges. Lord Wilfried is completely unaware of my feelings.”
“So I would imagine. Otherwise, he would not be watching us with that strange expression. If you had only confessed to him, he would have proposed to you—out of guilt and obligation, if nothing else. Has your decision to hold your tongue not caused you an immense amount of anguish back home?”
I averted my eyes, staring down at my feet. He was correct, but what else could I have done? Aub Ehrenfest had told us personally during the Interduchy Tournament that an engagement with Dunkelfelger would only trouble his duchy. I could not bear the thought of putting a kind soul such as Lord Wilfried through so much misery.
“You speak of the past,” I said. “I do not seek such a proposal.”
“It is not too late if you do. As slim as the chance might be, Wilfried could use Dunkelfelger’s support to regain his position as the next aub.”
My heart stirred. Perhaps I really could be of use to Lord Wilfried and Ehrenfest. A rare sense of hope had sparked into existence within me.
Lord Ortwin gave a chuckle. “If you do not intend to emulate Lady Magdalena when it comes to securing what you desire, then perhaps you might choose me instead? I can eliminate Korinthsdaum’s pressure and swear to cherish you as my first wi—”
“You two—return to your gardens,” Professor Anastasius said, causing me to jump. “The lesson is not over.”