“This is from Lady Rozemyne,” Lieseleta said as she handed a box to my head attendant. “She wishes to express her deepest gratitude for your assistance in rescuing Lord Ferdinand.”
Cordula and the others started checking the contents, but my eyes were drawn to Lieseleta’s chest. Upon her breast was a necklace signifying that she was engaged. It must have been recent; from what I could remember, it had not been there before.
Lieseleta had served Lady Rozemyne in Ehrenfest. Would all of Lady Rozemyne’s retainers move to join her in Alexandria? What did moving to another duchy truly entail? Question after question drifted through my mind.
“Here you are, Lady Hannelore.”
My retainers must have concluded their inspection. Snapped out of my trance, I peered into the box they held out to me. Inside rested two hairpins covered with small rlyzinies in bloom, far more stunning than the mock-up shown to me by Lady Rozemyne’s personnel. They must have tweaked the design with my hairstyle in mind. Normal rlyzinies were light purple and white, but these started red and turned white gradually, both to complement my hair and to match the divine color of winter. They could not have been more adorable.
“Please, allow me to demonstrate how they are worn,” Lieseleta announced, then carefully slid the two ornaments into my hair.
My attendants let out awed gasps and sighs. I had seen others wear hairpins such as these, but this was my first time wearing my own. A smile came unbidden to my face.
“How do they look, Cordula?” I asked.
“They suit you extremely well, milady. I thought the same thing when I saw Lady Eineliebe with hers, but there can be no mistaking the talent of Lady Rozemyne’s personnel. One would think the rlyzinies were real if not for their color, and they make your hair look all the more beautiful.”
My other attendants followed suit, lavishing me with praise. While they listened to Lieseleta instruct them on how to style my hair with the new accessories, I gazed into a small mirror that had been brought into the room. I could not see exceptionally well from my current angle, but the colors really did complement my hair. Was it truly okay of me to accept such a splendid gift?
“Lieseleta, do give Lady Rozemyne my thanks,” I said.
“So I shall. She will be attending the scholar course tomorrow, and she looks forward to your hairpins matching.”
“As do I.”
Given the opportunity, perhaps I shall wear them during dinner.
Lieseleta soon departed, and the tea party room was cleared out. I waited in my own room in the meantime; I could not eat without an attendant to serve me.
“Just a little while longer,” I was told.
“I do not mind,” I said, tilting my head slightly to hear the rustle of the tiny rlyzinies. I stood before my mirror and admired them, and the more I gazed upon them, the more a gentle smile spread across my lips. Soon enough, I was giggling.
The flowers were so detailed and wonderful, and they suited my hair so unbelievably well. Lady Rozemyne’s hairpin craftswoman had seemed to have come of age just recently, but she already had more talent than most built up over their entire career.
I wonder, will Lord Wilfried and Lord Ortwin also praise my new accessories?
“How wonderful. It would move me to receive a hairpin such as yours from my escort partner.”
I turned to see Heilliese gazing enviously upon my new accessories. Dunkelfelger had trade rights with Ehrenfest, so premade hairpins were available back home, but they simply could not compare to those made to order. Concerns about color and size were especially common.
“We archnobles have no means by which to order our own, so even the premade variety are a delight to have,” she said. “But even so...”
Heilliese sighed. My brother and those formerly of the royal family had enjoyed a rather unique privilege in being able to order hairpins through Lady Rozemyne.
“I should like to order my own, if possible, but there is no one in Dunkelfelger who can make them,” Heilliese continued. “How long will it take our craftspeople to learn? I cannot envision them being ready in time for our graduation ceremony.”
We would graduate together, and indeed, there was no good reason to assume that our duchy would have trained hairpin-makers before then. The two of us were still speaking about the matter when my apprentice attendant Andrea returned.
“Lady Hannelore, my apologies for the wait,” she said. “Let us move to the dining hall.”
By the time my retainers had arrived, several students had already eaten their food and departed the hall, leaving us with plenty of space. I spied Kenntrips and Rasantark, both with nearly clear plates in front of them, but Raufereg was nowhere to be seen.
“Lady Hannelore. You certainly... took your time today.”
As soon as the students in the dining hall noticed me, they looked to Kenntrips and Rasantark, uncomfortable expressions on their faces. My two suitors started when they saw me.
I cocked my head in confusion, causing the rlyzinies adorning my hair to sway and further emphasizing my new accessories.
“Lady Hannelore, um... May we have a moment of your time once you have eaten?” Kenntrips asked. The sudden tension was bad enough, but he looked genuinely unwell.
I swallowed in surprise, unsure what grave occurrence had inspired this response. Then I turned to Cordula. I might not have had anything scheduled after dinner, but Kenntrips’s request was abrupt, to say the least. A change of plans would require my retainers to adapt, so I was unsure whether it was okay for me to agree.
Cordula thought for a moment, then smiled. “I believe that will be fine. They wish to speak with you as soon as they can, and you have something to tell them in turn.”
I do? To what is she referring?
Before I could ask, Kenntrips put down his cutlery and stood, his face no less grim than before. “We shall prepare a meeting room. Enjoy dinner at your leisure, Lady Hannelore.”