“In short, it was your decision to act as though nothing happened. Refusing to greet an archduke candidate from a top-ranking duchy without a clear cause, then treating her with open contempt, risks creating discord between your duchies. Aub Ehrenfest would be stunned speechless if he heard of your behavior here; it is wholly unbefitting of someone who has passed their first-year court etiquette class.”
Lord Wilfried paled at the insinuation that he was inferior to a new student. Still, instead of rushing to apologize to me, he stayed rooted to the spot and started gnashing his teeth in frustration. Even now that he knew his behavior was inappropriate, he seemed completely uncertain of what to do next.
Was he always this immature?
In my mind, Lord Wilfried had seemed a remarkable partner. He had passed his first-year court etiquette class in a single day and consistently excelled as an honor student, not to mention the kindness and consideration with which he treated his fiancée. The boy before me now could not have been further from that ideal.
He comes across as someone else entirely. Was the person I fell in love with but an illusion born from my own misconceptions?
“This goes for you as well, Lady Hannelore.”
“Indeed. My sincerest apologies.”
I shot bolt upright as I returned to my senses; my mind wandered so frequently during Mother’s lectures that it was almost second nature. Professor Eglantine’s orange eyes were trained on me.
“I can understand not wanting to admonish Lord Wilfried, as you were to blame for his change in behavior,” she continued. “And as he was going to such lengths to avoid you, there was little you could do but use your authority as a higher-ranking duchy to summon him.”
She was being wonderfully considerate, I thought, and the tone she took was perfectly kind. The scathing sharpness that followed took me entirely by surprise.
“Yet you attempted not even that. Turning a blind eye to his behavior today was benevolent in the worst sense of the word. Had you been in the presence of your Dunkelfelgerian peers, they would surely have felt their duchy was being scorned by someone of a lower rank. A line must be drawn somewhere, Lady Hannelore; half-hearted sympathy benefits no one.”
“I am glad we resolved the matter before it could escalate into an interduchy conflict,” I said, well and truly relieved. “I thank you ever so much, Professor Eglantine.”
She smiled, a look of praise in her eyes. “Conflict is not to my tastes either. Furthermore, I wish to keep any further danger from befalling Ehrenfest in its current state. It pleases me greatly that relations between your duchies have not deteriorated. Now, Lord Wilfried... Your apology.”
Despite the warmth of her expression, it seemed our professor had no intention of acting completely benevolent.
Lord Wilfried appeared not to have fully understood what Professor Eglantine and I were saying, but he took a deep breath, and all traces of emotion faded quickly from his face. Only once he had adopted the proper smile of an archduke candidate did he approach and kneel before me. Suffice to say, the look did not reach his eyes.
My heart ached. Had I failed to convey my desire to prevent further conflict between our duchies? Worse yet, was Lord Wilfried still unaware of the threat his words and actions posed to Ehrenfest, despite Professor Eglantine’s belabored explanation?
“I apologize for my rudeness toward an archduke candidate of Dunkelfelger the Second. Given your compassion, which mirrors that of Geduldh, I truly hope you can forgive me.”
I was speechless. Accepting such an insincere template of an apology would only deepen the rift between us. I wanted nothing more than to sprint out of the classroom—but as an archduke candidate of Dunkelfelger, there was only one thing I could do.
“You are forgiven,” I said. “May we remain close friends long into the future.”
I had spoken sincerely, but Lord Wilfried must have thought otherwise; he assured me that my kindness was wasted on him, his expression one of feigned appreciation. Even as Professor Eglantine advised us on how to move forward, he refused to acknowledge me further. The damage done to our relationship was irreparable.
“You may depart, Lady Hannelore,” Professor Eglantine announced at last. “There is more I must discuss with Lord Wilfried.”
I nodded and departed the classroom; there was doubtless plenty to be said about the upcoming Dedication Ritual. My retainers and those serving Lord Wilfried were in the waiting room, wearing their blue and ocher capes, respectively. Mine approached me at once and surrounded me as if determined to protect me from Ehrenfest.
“Lady Hannelore, what happened between you and Lord Wilfried?”
For two consecutive days, we had come out of class later than the other students; I could not blame my retainers for the sharp looks in their eyes. I repeated the excuse that our professor had given us.
“Professor Eglantine had several questions concerning the Dedication Ritual. We released joint research with Ehrenfest about religious ceremonies, so my input was deemed necessary as well. I explained as much as I could, but there is yet more she hopes to learn from Lord Wilfried. Ask her yourselves if you doubt me.”
So I said, but not one of my retainers was equipped to interrogate a member of the royal family. At most, they could ask our dormitory supervisor to inquire for them, and there was not a doubt in my mind that Professor Eglantine would corroborate my claim.
Suppressing my despair at having lost even my friendship with Lord Wilfried, I forced a smile befitting my status and made my way back to the Dunkelfelger Dormitory.
No sooner had I returned to my room than the cracks in my composure began to show, culminating in an exhausted sigh. Cordula instantly met the eyes of my attendants, who were helping me change.
“You seem rather depressed, Lady Hannelore,” she said. “Was the Dedication Ritual truly the topic of your conversation with Professor Eglantine?” Her tone was interrogative, but she regarded me with genuine concern.
“Indeed, it was...” I muttered, my eyes downcast. Announcing the truth was out of the question. “And yet... she exuded such an overwhelming sense of joy.”
“And that soured your mood...?”
“I cannot quite find the words. In a sense, I suppose her beaming smile and cheerful demeanor made me envious.”
“Envious?” Andrea repeated. “Do you also aspire to marry into royalty?” Her question felt almost surreal, knowing that Professor Eglantine was destined to become the Zent, and the royal family as we knew it would soon cease to exist.
“Oh, no. Back when I was a first-year, Professor Eglantine had two princes as her suitors. As the rumors went, her choice would decide the country’s next ruler, so she knew not who to lean toward.”
Professor Eglantine had not made up her mind until she was in her final year at the Royal Academy—and even then, she had put emotion above the throne by choosing Lord Anastasius, who had given up on becoming the Zent in an act of true love and devotion. Some speculated that Lady Rozemyne had served as their go-between, but as we had not been close at the time, I was unsure how great a hand she had actually had in the matter.
“I wonder, what separates those who end up happier for acting on love, and those who do not?” I asked.