My head attendant was right in her evaluation; I wanted to speak with Lord Wilfried away from our retainers, to better understand the situation in Ehrenfest and obtain the engagement tasks I so desired, so the classroom and a gazebo were both perfectly appropriate choices. The problem was that I had never expected Lord Ortwin to join us.
“Lord Wilfried, Lord Ortwin,” Kenntrips said, “as one of Lady Hannelore’s chosen suitors, I must ask that you allow me to join you. If you cannot, then you will need to reschedule the meeting for another day.”
“Kenntrips...” I muttered.
“As both her potential fiancé and a student of Dunkelfelger, I cannot allow Lady Hannelore to go somewhere that might damage her reputation—not without an escort.”
Lord Wilfried exchanged a look with Lord Ortwin, then nodded. “You are welcome to accompany us. We have no desire to tarnish Lady Hannelore’s honor.”
And so, I started toward the gazebos with my two fellow archduke candidates. Three groups of retainers came with us.
“Lady Hannelore, thank you for setting aside this time to speak with me,” Lord Wilfried said.
“No, thank you. It was I who inquired in the first place.”
“I appreciate the invitation to join you,” Lord Ortwin added. “Drewanchel is very much interested in your duchies’ current attitudes.”
I glanced at Kenntrips, who walked silently beside me. He slid something small and round into the palm of my hand.
“Please, focus your attention on Lord Wilfried,” he murmured. “I shall distract Lord Ortwin.”
I stole quick looks at the two boys in question. Based on their complete lack of a reaction, I assumed that what Kenntrips had given me was a sound-blocker.
“Whatever do you mean?” I asked, attempting to play dumb.
“Do you really expect that to work? This morning and during dinner last night, you had the countenance of a knight preparing for ditter.”
“Are my intentions that obvious?”
“If they were, then Cordula would already have dragged you back to the dormitory.”
It seemed that Kenntrips intended to aid me without informing the others—a most dangerous act, considering my father’s wish to keep me in the duchy. I could not understand why he would take such a risk.
It makes no sense.
Still, I chose not to ask any further questions. Rather than interrogate Kenntrips, I needed to capitalize on this singular chance to propose to Lord Wilfried. I had thought I would need to face this battle alone, so having an ally to support me warmed my heart.
“I appreciate it,” I said. “Please do your best to keep Lord Ortwin busy.”
“He will consider it to mean you have rejected him. Is that acceptable?”
“He was very kind, and I do not wish to hurt him... but I cannot squander what might be my only chance to propose to Lord Wilfried.”
“Then I shall provide my full support,” Kenntrips declared, and retrieved the sound-blocker from me.
We passed through the scholar building and emerged outside, in an area completely free of snow. Herb gardens spread out before us, and beyond them, a vast field of vibrant flowers. The white stone underfoot guided us in the direction of several gazebos. I had seen this place from above while passing on my highbeast, but this was my first time approaching on foot.
“So, which is the gazebo by the schmelumes?” Lord Wilfried asked, cocking his head. There were quite a few to choose from. Lady Rozemyne had said the Royal Academy was once a holy land where the original Zents lived; these large gardens must have been where they came to hold events and rest.
“I have never seen a schmelume before,” I said. “How do they look?” I assumed they would be hard to find, but Kenntrips and Lord Ortwin both pointed to a singular gazebo.
“Oh? You know where the gazebo is, Kenntrips?” I asked.
“I do. It is the same one Rasantark wished to show you this morning. We might not be alone, but I feel a tad awkward about being here instead, considering my role in thwarting his plans.”
I thought back to Rasantark’s enthusiasm and sighed. “He will surely be furious...”
“Shall we leave, then?” Kenntrips asked, but that was out of the question. I gave him a stern prod on the arm and proceeded toward the indicated gazebo.
Amid the grounds of the snow-coated Academy, a single garden shone with the colors of spring. Four of us entered the gazebo from which one could see the schmelumes most clearly, while our retainers waited around it.
“Those are schmelumes,” Lord Ortwin told me, indicating a patch of red. Each flower seemed no larger than the palm of my hand, and the petals that adorned them were small and plentiful. A group of ten to twenty schmelumes sat together in bloom. “You could not see them before; last year, this entire garden was blanketed in snow. They can be found in northwest Drewanchel, and the layknights commonly use them for pain relief. As they bloom with the melting of the snow, some even say they are remnants of Geduldh after Flutrane’s rescue.”
“What a beautiful shade of red!” I exclaimed, gazing upon the schmelumes. “One can definitely see Geduldh within them.”
Kenntrips sighed and took my hand. “If you wish to admire them, then please sit here, Lady Hannelore. Let us finish this discussion quickly, lest we further inconvenience everyone’s retainers.” He gestured to the seat farthest from me. “Lord Ortwin, if you would.”
Lord Wilfried frowned. “Why do you get to decide the seats?”
“Lord Ortwin proposed to Lady Hannelore despite knowing she has engagement candidates,” Kenntrips retorted. “For that reason, I cannot allow him to sit with her.”
Unable to retort, Lord Wilfried took his seat next to me. There was a sour expression on his face; he must have been offended that a mere archnoble would speak out in such a manner.
Kenntrips shot me a knowing look. The stage was set. He would contain Lord Ortwin while I pinned down my target.
But sitting will make this awkward. Perhaps if I raise my hips and twist my waist toward him...
Lord Wilfried occupied the seat beside me, yet there was still some distance between us. I measured the gap and considered the best way to prevent his escape, at which point Lord Ortwin held out sound-blockers to Lord Wilfried and me.
“To preserve Lady Hannelore’s honor, we have permitted you to attend, but this is a conversation among archduke candidates,” he said, his eyes trained on Kenntrips. “I would appreciate your cooperation.”
Kenntrips nodded—and with that, our discussion could begin.
“A member of my duchy seeking an engagement has expressed an interest in Lady Charlotte’s or your introduction,” I said. “But as I understand it, Aub Ehrenfest does not wish to take brides or grooms from greater duchies.”
“Is that so?” Lord Ortwin asked with interest. This matter was as relevant to his duchy as it was mine. “As we speak, there are many in Drewanchel who share that interest in Ehrenfest nobles.”
“Indeed,” I said. “As an archduke candidate, I wish to know Ehrenfest’s stance so I can best advise my duchy. For the sake of avoiding any unpleasantness, an explanation would be greatly appreciated.”
“But of course,” Lord Wilfried answered with a smile, adopting a more formal tone to match the topic at hand. “Due to our relationship with Alexandria, it has been deemed urgent that Ehrenfest learn to carry itself as a top-ranking duchy. The Zent’s decree prevents nobles from leaving, but Aub Ehrenfest intends to welcome brides and grooms from top-ranking duchies, with Dunkelfelger being foremost among them.”
As expected, the birth of Alexandria had forced Aub Ehrenfest to change his stance. If he sought deeper relationships with greater duchies and needed a connection to Dunkelfelger in particular, then an engagement between Lord Wilfried and me could prove beneficial after all.
“I see. In that case...”
Seizing my chance, I pounced on my target without the slightest hesitation. I pinned him to the ground, using my full weight to prevent a counterattack. We were face-to-face, his wide, dark-green eyes right in front of my own.
“I wish to become your Goddess of Light,” I declared. “Give me engagement tasks.”
Lord Wilfried merely blinked at me. His trembling lips opened a crack, and he whispered, “Wh-What...?” I saw his focus wander to Kenntrips and Lord Ortwin, but I refused to surrender. Even as he writhed and squirmed beneath me, I kept him firmly in place.
“Lord Wilfried. Give me tasks.”