The next day, I donned my new hairpins and went to class, my heart pounding for more than one reason. Lord Wilfried was there when I arrived, but I saw no sign of Lord Ortwin.
“Are those the new hairpins you ordered to match Lady Rozemyne?” Lord Wilfried asked, having noticed them right away.
“Indeed, they are.”
It was not rare in Ehrenfest for women to wear hairpins of this nature. For that reason, Lord Wilfried said nothing of escort partners; instead, he informed me that Lady Charlotte had also received a new hairpin and that Ehrenfest was training new craftspeople to make them. We went on to discuss how I had placed my order.
“Oh?” he said. “I didn’t know you spoke to the craftswoman directly. Well, her eyes see well and true—red rlyzinies certainly do suit you, Lady Hannelore.”
“You are too kind.” As glad as I was to receive his praise, I could not help but feel a little embarrassed.
“Lady Hannelore, are those Ehrenfest hairpins...?” Lord Ortwin asked when he eventually arrived, eyeing them with the same concern that Kenntrips and Rasantark had shown before.
“Lord Ortwin, these hairpins—”
“They sure are,” Lord Wilfried interjected, sticking his chest out with pride. “Who else but Rozemyne’s—excuse me, Lady Rozemyne’s—personnel would conceive of an idea as ingenuous as using red rlyzinies?”
Lord Ortwin looked between his friend and me before putting on a weak smile. “Indeed. They suit you well...” he said, his voice just as strained as expected.
“Erm, Lord Ortwin... The truth is—”
“They truly do suit you well. I celebrate the ripening of your rafel.”
My rafel...?
Lord Ortwin must have thought I had chosen my escort partner—and that I had picked not one of my marriage candidates, but Lord Wilfried.
“You are mistaken,” I said, frantically shaking my head. “This was—”
“You three again?” Professor Anastasius griped as he entered the room, waving us away with a grimace. “Hurry to your places already.”
Lord Ortwin slid past me on his way to his desk, moving as though to avoid me. I headed to my own, having lost my chance to clear up the misunderstanding.
Professor Anastasius! You normally arrive much later! This poor timing is unbelievable!
I thought to take my breaks when Lord Ortwin took his and speak with him then, but I never managed to catch him. He also returned to his dormitory for lunch immediately at fourth bell; by the time I had turned around, he was gone.
Ngh... He is avoiding me, without a doubt.
I was no more fortunate that afternoon and returned to the Dunkelfelger Dormitory having had not a single chance to clear the air. Little did I know, things had taken an inconceivable turn in my absence.
“Lady Hannelore, is it true that you accepted a proposal from Lord Wilfried?” my retainers asked as soon as I entered the dorm, looking anxious, one and all.
“Come again?” I asked, cocking my head at them. “Wherever did you hear that?”
“Losrenger and Lindenthal told us during our afternoon classes.”
“Both lesser duchies have archduke candidates, so I understand the source of the rumor, but I cannot even begin to imagine how that misconception came about...” Lord Ortwin would never say something so careless, I thought, but perhaps he had spread word that Lord Wilfried was escorting me.
“Did we not predict exactly this, milady?” Cordula asked, a beacon of calm amid the chaos. “Only a select few men could provide handmade hairpins of such high quality. And as yours are in the Ehrenfest style, of course people have assumed they came from Lord Wilfried.”
The blood drained from my face. Would such rumors not cause him all kinds of trouble?
“Whatever shall I do?” I asked my head attendant. “This is far from ideal.”
“We all know how poorly he has treated you. Let him be a shield to block further proposals,” Kenntrips said. He had come to despise Lord Wilfried more than anyone since our game of bride-stealing ditter, and the anger in his voice brooked no protest. “It is unfortunate that the hairpins came from Lady Rozemyne. Had they been from Ehrenfest as a whole, we could have pressured Lord Wilfried to take responsibility.”
“Enough of that, Kenntrips.”
“You wish to marry into Ehrenfest, do you not? If that is your desire, then I intend to do all that I can to aid you.”
“I do not wish to succeed through such methods,” I said with a glare. Putting an even greater burden on Lord Wilfried and Ehrenfest was not my intention in the slightest.
Kenntrips sighed and gave a shrug. “In that case, perhaps you could consult Lady Rozemyne. Professor Rauffen informed us she would be present for music lessons and dedication whirl practice. You could ask her for a way to clear up this misconception, be it by wearing the hairpins only when you have lessons together or by having her announce that she gave them to you.”
“Indeed, that is what I shall do. I trust she will aid me, considering that Lord Wilfried is involved. I thank you ever so much.” But despite my agreement, the green-haired apprentice scholar wore an exceedingly complex expression—one of dazed sorrow and inner turmoil. “Kenntrips?”
“Being kind to Lord Wilfried is all well and good, but do try to be more faithful to your own desires. If not, we will each be bound to a star we did not wish for.”
On that note, he moved to pass me. The smile he wore was steeped in sadness, so I could not help but grab his sleeve.
“Lady Hannelore?” he asked, looking down at me curiously. Perhaps I had just imagined the sorrow in his expression, but I could not bear to say I had grabbed a man’s sleeve without purpose.
“E-Erm... You spoke only of what I want. I wish to know your desires as well.”
“You should already know them,” Kenntrips said with a laugh. Then he pulled his sleeve free and went on his way.
I should already know...? But I cannot even begin to fathom what they might be.