“It is seventh bell, Lady Rozemyne.”
I was resting on a sofa in my room in the Alexandria Dormitory. Dinan, a large magic tool in the shape of an aqua-blue shumil, sat facing me on my lap. Seventh bell meant it was time to give my report.
It was my first year back at the Royal Academy since leaving Ehrenfest and becoming an aub. Based on prior experience, we knew that anything I said or did ran the risk of snowballing into a major incident, which was why Ferdinand had advised me to provide regular, spoken updates on my situation.
I wish I could just write them. It would spare me a lecture.
Frustratingly enough, Ferdinand refused to trust my written reports. He insisted that no one who saw how drastically my old ones differed from those submitted by Wilfried would ever be convinced to accept them. My intention had been to keep them short and simple, but Ferdinand mistook my brevity for deception.
Thus, we had switched to spoken reports. It was the superior approach, Ferdinand assured me: it was easier to ask for details, there was no delay in my responses, and my tone of voice, among other things, revealed whenever I was trying to hide something. If only they didn’t always turn into tongue-lashings.
“Rozemyne, I expected to be told that you resolved the hairpin incident during class,” Ferdinand said, speaking through Dinan. “What is this about an urgent tea party with Dunkelfelger?”
To my vexation, my adorable toy had been transformed into a not-so-adorable lecture machine. It amazed me just how much of a change a voice could make.
Thinking about it, could this be some kind of whimsical fantasy telephone? Hmm... No, not quite.
Dinan was simply too restricted to warrant the comparison. He could relay messages only when I was touching his feystone, and as it stood, only one person could speak at a time.
In the midst of our preparations for this academic year, Ferdinand had seemed so terribly concerned about the fresh problems I might cause him. In an attempt to put his mind at ease, I had said that I would simply ask the Zent to lend me one of those water mirrors if ever something was amiss. Days later, he had informed me that he had equipped one of the tools he was making for my return to the Royal Academy with its very own communication function. It was so strange.
He’s insanely busy transforming Old Ahrensbach into Alexandria. What drove him to go to all that unnecessary trouble?
“And why did you accept such an abrupt invitation from Dunkelfelger at this difficult time? You should not have permitted their self-serving request,” Ferdinand continued. “Myne.”
Ferdinand wasn’t using my old name for the fun of it; “Myne” was an incantation of sorts that served an important purpose when making use of Dinan’s communication feature. He used it to activate the tool and to end each message, which let me know when I was expected to respond. My version was “Dino,” which didn’t resemble his name quite as much.
“I... I mean... Lady Hannelore said it was urgent,” I replied. “And, of course, I mean to assist my friends whenever I can. Dino.”
Hannelore had agreed to help with—and played a crucial role in—my operation to rescue Ferdinand; if she was in trouble, then I owed it to her to return the favor. Not that I could ever ignore a dear friend in need.
“If she seeks your aid, then her problem must be too great for Dunkelfelger to manage alone. Getting involved could easily spiral into another troublesome interduchy conflict. Myne.”
“But I can’t ignore a friend!” I declared, the blood rushing to my head. “Troublesome or not, I want to do as much as I can for Lady Hannelore’s sake. Dino!”
Ferdinand made a point of sighing loud enough for me and everyone around me to hear. “You must understand that, now, ‘as much as you can do’ goes beyond your personal capacity to include all that you can do as Aub Alexandria. It would be extremely problematic if you involved yourself in matters that would further trouble our duchy in its current state. You might wish to help her for personal reasons, but there is no guarantee that others will see it that way. The duchies belonging to those who were formerly royalty will insist that they, too, exceed Alexandria in rank and attempt to force their own frustrating concerns on us. Please learn to appreciate that your actions will impact everyone here in the duchy. Myne.”
I pursed my lips and squeezed the aqua-blue shumil. Ferdinand made so much sense that I could not hope to argue with him. Yes, I actually agreed with his point—it wasn’t good to casually assist Hannelore now that I was an aub—but I still couldn’t accept being told not to help a friend in need.
“I know all that. But I still want to help Lady Hannelore, even if doing so might cause problems between duchies.”
Despite the strength of my resolve, my voice grew quieter with each word. I understood that I was being selfish and that an extensive lecture awaited me. Accepting my fate, I made one last declaration.
“I will not give up on her! I shall assist her without our duchies being drawn into the mix! Dino!”
“Who do you think will bear the brunt of the consequences if your actions cause trouble at the Royal Academy?” Ferdinand asked, his voice as cold, irritated, and exasperated as one would expect. “Myne.”
“You,” I said at length. “Dino.” I held my breath, bracing for his scathing rebuke... but it never came.
“Who told me to prioritize my health above all else? Myne.”
“I did. Dino.”
“Then what should you be prioritizing? Myne.”
“You, I guess...?” I answered with a quizzical tilt of my head, saying what I assumed he wanted to hear without knowing why he wanted to hear it. “Dino.”
“Good. As long as you understand.”
“Good”? I don’t understand at all. But it can’t be good if he’s permitting me to help Lady Hannelore.
As if able to hear my thoughts, Ferdinand let out another long sigh. “In any case, give only ambiguous responses to any calls for aid, and maintain that you will come to a decision only after you have returned. Ask Lieseleta and Gretia to assist you, and keep Dinan’s recording function on from the start of the tea party till its conclusion. If those conditions are met, and I determine that it will not negatively impact Alexandria, I will provide what assistance I can. Myne.”
“You don’t mind, then?! I thank you ever so much! Dino.” I squeezed the shumil to my chest and gazed up at my head attendant, a broad grin on my face. “Lieseleta, Ferdinand gave me his permission!”
It had never once crossed my mind that he might relent—and without lecturing me, no less. He wanted me to record my entire tea party with Hannelore, but I could tolerate that. It was far better than being refused outright.
Lieseleta regarded me with a kind smile and giggled. “He knows you will never give up on those precious to you, no matter who tries to stand in your way. No doubt, he would rather know what you are doing as it happens than find out abruptly afterward.”
Ferdinand clicked his tongue. “It is much easier to clean up the messes you make when I am aware of what you are doing. Myne.”
Seriously?! They’re in total agreement!
Not even my daily reports had earned me their trust, it seemed. I pouted and glared at Dinan, who stared back at me without a word, his golden eyes beady and vacant. He had already entered transmission mode.
“To be clear,” I said, “I shan’t make a mess in the first place. Dino.”
“How I wish that were true.”
Ferdinand sounded so certain that I would cause trouble that I started to worry as well. However, I had no intention of making his life any busier. I needed to prove to him that he had nothing to fear.
As I clenched my fists, Ferdinand spoke once more: “It is late. You should rest for tonight. May you sleep well with Schlaftraum’s blessing. Myne.” His tone was surprisingly kind, and although I knew he was merely speaking the incantation, it felt as though he really was using my old name.
The same kind of comfortable ease I got from my lower-city family washed over me, along with a sudden wave of embarrassment. “You should go to bed too, Ferdinand. May you sleep well with Schlaftraum’s blessing,” I said. “Until we speak again at seventh bell tomorrow. Dino.”
I considered addressing Ferdinand as “Dino” the next time we snuck into the lower city together. Maybe then he would understand the blush that had risen to my cheeks. It was with that scheme in mind that I concluded the day’s report.