Chapter Text
The High Priest stood as my shield.
We were ambushed in the temple, at the worst possible moment with our defense weak. Damuel was the first to be struck, thrown against the wall by the sheer force of the surprise attack.
In what felt like an eternity, though it lasted only seconds, the High Priest positioned himself between me and our assailants. Sparks erupted around him, flying past his shoulders like fireflies in the dark. It was only later that I would understand those sparks were the desperate activation of his many amulets, each one igniting in a futile attempt to protect us.
“Rozemyne, I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos, just before he launched himself at the attackers.
I am still alive today only because of the sacrifice of the High Priest. Without him, I had lost a guide to the world of the nobles. With Florencia engaged in salvaging the education of Wilfried, Sylvester quickly proved himself incapable of managing a traumatized, depressed and sick child, both to me and to the entire duchy.
Mother Elvira, unwilling to stand idly by, had demanded control of my education from Sylvester. With the support of Bonifatius, she became my chief scholar and moved me back to the Linkberg mansion.
When we first gathered in her hidden room a few days after my return to Linkberg mansion, she asked me to recount my entire story from the beginning. I told her about my commoner origins, but she already knew and had decided to accept me regardless.
Not even Eckart's death, who had given his name to the High Priest, had changed her decision, Mother told me after I inquired. She understood that such a tragedy was always a possibility and did not fault Lord Ferdinand or myself for his demise.
She was instead in rage with Karstedt and Sylvester that she was not told about my memories of my Urano’s day. With my input based on the education of the other world, she adjusted my education to suit my situation more, also taking onboard a female doctor friend of hers in managing my sickness full time.
My new doctor confirmed the High Priest diagnosis, and the jureve was still the only way to cure it. With Damuel and Grandpa she planned how to make me exercise to grow my stamina, as it would also impact in how short I can recover my mobility after the months that would take to me to heal in the jureve.
I restarted my lessons after I was more mentally stable under Mother Elvira's care, and I soon discovered that for all his genius, the High Priest was far from being an ordinary nobleman. His extraordinary nature and a turbulent childhood had left their mark, and Mother confided that while there was probably no better teacher for academy subjects, he could never have taught me the things I needed to survive in the world of nobles and female socialization once I was at the academy.
I was making strides in my recovery, but not all was good. While I was recovering and studying at the Linkberg residence, Wilfried was making one mistake after another at the castle and Sylvester ordered my return to the castle in preparation for the baptism of my adoptive sister, Charlotte.
She was so cute when I first saw her, that I forgot all about the lesson and agreed to attend a tea party with her immediately, as Mother Elvira sighed behind me. Then everything went wrong.
Wilfried showed up uninvited in the middle of the tea party, accusing me of some idiocy that I could care less. Until he mentioned the person who saved me.
“Rozemyne’s the bad person here! Grandmother told me everything! Rozemyne and Ferdinand plotted grandmother’s downfall! They’re evil!”
At the mention of the High Priest name, all my suppressed rage came down on him.
“WHAT YOU KNOW OF HIM?! DON'T INSULT HIS MEMORY WITH YOUR NONSENSE!” I raged on him.
Mother stopped me from crushing him to death, but after that I don’t know exactly what happened as I and Charlotte were taken out of the room.
The day after, mother told me that Wilfred was disowned and sent to the white tower on grandfather urging. I was sad for him, but my care for him was now exhausted. Even if I pity his end, I could not save everyone. The High Priest's sacrifice made that clear to me.
A few days later, Sylvester called me at his office in private, confirming Wilfried's crime and apologizing for everything. If that everything included adopting me and taking me away from my parents downtown I do not know, but it was too late for it anyway.
From there, things moved quickly, between my duties as High Bishop, industry, and studying in preparation for the academy. I needed to force Sylvester’s hand more than once to get things done, with his frustration mounting private meeting after private meeting, but in the end we came to an understanding that could satisfy both.
I wanted my book and a better future for my family, all who I considered my family, noble or commoner, and he wanted to make the standing of Ehrenfest better. Our objective could align and we could live with that common understanding.
In the summer of my 10th birthday, we had finally gathered the last ingredient of my Jureve, aided by my new adult retainers that Mother Elvira found. Father Karstedt there every time to help me to gather the ingredients.
By that point, almost two years after the High Priest's death, I had a much better understanding of the noble culture and customs, that even my unsure self knew that she could survive in that world.
With everything in place to go to the academy after my Jureve, it was time for me to dive in and become a normal girl... At least that's what I dreamt. Can you believe it? When I said this dream of mine, no one believed I could become a normal girl!
"Rozemyme, I think that is a dream too grand even for you," Cornelius commented amused. Don't think I will forget this, brother.
We placed the tub with the jureve in the hidden room in our mansion, after Mother guided me to make the potion, although it took a while to convince Sylvester that it was the safest place to immerse myself in the jureve.
After I said goodbye to everyone at the castle and the temple, all that remained was to give final instructions to my retainers and deliver a letter for my family to Lutz.
Even though I was excited I could finally cure my sickness, the idea of sleeping for months frightened me to the point I could not drink the jureve to start the cure. Only seeing the little bottle made me sick.
I cried in Mother Elvira's arms, no amount of trying could comfort me. After a few hours of that, father Karstedt left the hidden room saying that he would be back soon and to wait for him, that there was no need to immerse myself immediately. I calmed a little hearing that, and I looked confused to mother Elvira while she looked as confused as me and maybe a little exasperated with him. I was not sure.
Father Karstedt returned after a while, with a parchment scroll in his hand and a person under a cloak. He quickly held out a quill to me and laid the now open scroll of parchment on the table, telling me to read it in silence.
My eyes widened as I proceeded to read it, and I had not to think twice before signing it as it was all that I had wanted for years. The parchment burned in golden flames before my eyes.
I jumped out of Mother Elvira's arms and ran toward the hooded person, stumbling. "Mom!" I cried, as the hooded person caught me in her arms, holding me tight. I looked up at her, her green hair sticking out of her hood, tears streaming down the face I wanted so much to see.
"Myne! Myne! I've dreamed of this moment every day. Thank you, thank you! Thank you Lord Karstedt, thank you!" Mom said, enveloping me in a tight embrace.
We cried for a long time, still on the floor as we talked about how things were going at home, with work, the neighbors, at the city gate, what little Kamil was doing and what all were doing downtown, until we heard a cough from behind, and we turned around.
Mother Elvira was standing with a soft smile while Father Karstedt was a little awkwardly sitting at the table drinking tea. We apologized, and after I got up, Mom asked me why I was so scared of the medicine if it would make me feel better.
"I'm scared that I won't wake up and see you all again. The mere idea makes me want to throw up." I said, frowning. Mom patted my head gently, a soft smile on her lips.
Turning to Father Karstedt, I thanked him for allowing me to treat Mom like family again, even if only in this hidden room. "I didn't agree with Sylvester and Ferdinand on that contract even though I understood it was necessary. Seeing you cry reminded me of that day and I couldn't help but do the one thing I knew would surely calm you down."
"Sorry I could only bring you Effa, but I couldn't risk more.” Father Karstedt said, turning to mom. “When I went to Sylvester to get permission, he was against it because of how risky it was. I only managed to convince him in the end by taking only Effa here and using extreme precaution. Rozemyme, I know your relationship with him after the Wilfried incident isn't the best, but in his own way he really cares about you. When you see him in private next time, thank him for giving me permission."
I nodded and thanked him again, turning to my mom, who was patting my head with a look that was saying that she will not abandon me.
With the help of mom and mother Elvira i drinked the jureve as they lowered me in the tub. Still scared, but with sleep coming over me, I turned to my mom.
"Mom, will you be here when I wake up?"
Mom looked away from me for a moment, and after hearing some words I didn't understand, she put her forehead on mine. "I'll be here when you wake up, don't worry. Sleep well, Myne."
As I closed my eyes, I saw all three of them smiling. I was still scared but now I knew someone would be waiting for me to wake up.
I found myself in a fluffy pink world, but wherever I turned, rocks appeared blocking my way. An ivory watering can suddenly pop into my hand. And when I tipped it, some liquid began pouring out.
Trying it on some small rocks, they dissolved. I can do it.
Going down a path, rock after rock, even the largest and hardest, dissolved under the liquid that poured out of the watering can.
At what I simply knew was my destination, an entire mountain blocked my way. I looked into the can and saw that there wasn't much liquid left, but I felt calm, knowing that one way or another that mountain blocking my way would not be an obstacle.
The can, just as it had appeared in my hand, disappeared and a stair appeared around the large rock. Climbing it, I watched around as the pink world stretched far to the horizon. While midway to the top, I saw a familiar scene in the distance that prompted me to stop.
I was there, in my father's office, in Urano's father's office, reading as I did every day before the day I died under all those books.
Urano looked up at me, before closing the book and standing up. She raised her hand as if reaching a doorknob, and a door opened in front of me. Beyond the door, the office that seemed so far away just a moment before was now so close that I could simply walk in with a few steps.
I knew that the Urano in front of me was inviting me to return to my world. I took a step excited asI could finally leave that world of suffering and return to Urano's world, my dream world. I could see my mother, Shu, and read all the books I wanted whenever I wanted!
So why? Why couldn't I take a second step to that world?! Why did I feel it was wrong?
I heard voices, echoes, reverberations as if I were underwater. I didn't understand what they were saying. Urano was in front of me, beyond the door, his head tilted.
"I can't." I said, scared. I turned and started to run up the stairs again. From the top, I saw Urano still holding the door open. As I watched, the temptation to descend again and step in the door was strong, so strong to be uncomfortable. Tears began to roll down my face. "Mom, Shu, I can't go back to you anymore. I'm sorry."
"Myne!" "Rozemyne!" I heard clearly now the voice of Mom and of my noble parents calling me.
Concentrating, the watery can reappeared in my hand, full to the brim and threatening to overflow. I began to pour it onto the mountain that began to dissolve.
As if the entire pink world was protesting my decision in rage, it began to shake and rapidly shrink.
"Come on, it can't all end like this!" I shouted seeing me cornered.
A flash made me close my eyes. Some instant after, I felt a familiar hand touch my back. "Myne, pray. Pray like that day in the temple. Do you remember?"
"How can I forget, High Priest? There is no way to forget the day I was separated from my family," I said, releasing all my compression as I began to pray.
“O mighty King and Queen of the endless skies, ye mighty God of Darkness and Goddess of Light; O mighty Eternal Five who rule the mortal realm, ye mighty Goddess of Water Flutrane, God of Fire Leidenschaft, Goddess of Wind Schutzaria, Goddess of Earth Geduldh, God of Life Ewigeliebe; I ask that ye hear my prayers and grant thy blessings.”
Columns of light rose up around me, as if to stop the sky itself from falling down and crush me. Threads of every color swirled in the air around me.
"I offer thee my heart, my prayers, my gratitude, and ask for thy holy protection. Grant those I love the power to strive toward their goals, the power to deflect evil, the power to heal their pain, and the power to endure trials and tribulations.”
The world was covered in a golden cloak. The liquid from the can flowed like a raging torrent, dissolving the mountain like snow under lava flow until it disappeared.
The golden cloak transformed into golden particles and slowly started intertwining with threads of every divine color as they gathered around me as if in a dance, trickling down on me from above like shining snowflakes.
Looking into the distance, Urano was still there, this time smiling. The High Priest was near her, mouthing that I needed to go.
“Goodbye High Priest, Urano.”
With a calmness I hadn't had in a long time, I opened my eyes. My vision trembled while two pairs of hands grabbed me and pulled me up.
“Eugh! Gahh!”
Air rushed into my mouth and nose the instant I was pulled up. Blows to my back forced all the liquid from my lungs out.
"Mom, Ouch!" I said, looking up. There Mom, Mother Elvira and Father Karstedt were waiting.
"It was just a light slap on the back, Myne!" Mom said exasperated, while tears were running down her face. Mother Elvira, beside her, had a preoccupied look that I had never seen.
"Mother?" I said, confused.
"You gave us quite a scare. While we were waiting for you to wake up, the Jureve suddenly started to darken rapidly,” Mother said, sighing. Taking a soft smile, she continued telling what happened. “All the feystones we had weren't enough to absorb the mana at the rate you were releasing mana, and we needed to send a message to the castle and grandfather to gather all the empty feystones they could... We thought you wouldn't make it."
Father Karstedt nodded behind her. "I think it's best to clean you up and send an Ordonnanz to my father as soon as possible, telling him you're okay. If we wait any longer he might break down some walls of the mansion..."
"Rozemyne, pinch your nose and close your eyes, I'll clean you with Waschen for now." I followed Mother Elvira's instructions and a bubble of water swirled around me for a few seconds.
"Rozemyne, can you move?" Hearing Mother Elvira's question, I tried to move my hands and arms, barely managing.
"I don't think I'll be able to walk on my own." I said worriedly.
"It's been 4 months since you've been submerged. It's okay, we were expecting that. Now that the hardened mana is all dissolved, your health will improve considerably and with a little exercise you could move better than before." Father Karstedt said. Then he froze, in shock.
“If you are fine, then who can stop you when you go rampaging?!” Father cradled his head.
I was going to pout, but Mom, hearing Father Karstedt say that, laughed and thanked the gods in a low voice while embracing me from behind.
I took her hands and squeezed it as tightly as I could with my little strength, grateful that I could treat Mom like family again even if only in this hidden room as I leaned on her.
The two months that remained until the start of my first year at the Royal Academy runned off quickly, between exercises, cramming to complete my studies and defining the final details of all thing we had previously decided and planned for my first year in the academy.
As if he thought that I wanted to hear him nag me with all sort of caution before going to the Royal Academy, Sylvester decided to host a meeting some day before my departure.
"Are we sure she's ready? I have a feeling it will be a disaster to send Rozemyne to the Academy alone..." Sylvester said, looking worried to me. Excuse me? I studied hard to avoid disasters, you should congratulate me, not berating me!
I looked back at Sylvester, annoyed.
"She's ready, Aub. I hope." Mother said, her left hand placed on the cheek.
Et tu, Mother?! I thought, opening my mouth wide.
"Stop teasing her, watch you're confusing her too much. She's more ready than any other archduke candidate in the whole country, leave her alone a little." Father Karstedt said, closing my mouth with his hand. Grandpa beside him nodded vigorously.
I nodded at what Father Karsted said. "I have my retainers with me, I won't be alone, Adoptive Father."
"As if knowing that is any comfort. That Hartmut is a fanatic, he will follow your every order without thinking." Said Sylvester with a hand on his stomach.
"I can't refute that."
"Of course not, it's the truth." He said taking a vial of medicine.
"Ottilie and I have reeducated Hartmut as best as we can. He has stopped spreading the legend of the saint outside of Ehrenfest and we have done a lot of damage control with the help of Hirscur and others Leisengag in the Sovereignty. We don't think it will affect her too much." Said Mother Elvira, with a broad smile. Well, Hartmut has earned her rage.
"We can only hope for the best, Sylvester." Said Father.
"Ah..." Sylvester slumped, looking at me. "Rozemyne, do your best. We've prepared you and the entire duchy in these years for your debut at the Royal Academy. Downtown and Greschel are ready, the castle scholars are ready, and the merchants are ready. Right?" He grinned.
I started grinning conspiratorially. "Yes, Adoptive Father. We're ready to make so much money we won't even know what to do with it."
"Rozemyne!" Mother and Father called me, exasperated.
"What? It's the truth!" I said, pouting.
Grandpa burst out laughing, followed closely by Sylvester. Florencia and Charlotte arrived at that moment, much confused by the scene they found at their arrival.
As he calmed down, Sylvester motioned them to sit down. Then he grinned at me again. "You spend too much time with that friend of yours. Even though I didn't mean it that way, you're certainly right that we'll make a lot of money."
Florencia smiled hard hearing Sylvester talk about money with me again, but he just shrugged saying we can't live only on tax. Then he became serious. "I wanted you all here today to announce that Rozemyne and Charlotte will start their heir lesson next spring."
I had a huge processing error at that moment. "What?! I already said I'll support Charlotte becoming your heir! Being Aub would take away way too much of my reading time, that's unacceptable!"
Everyone in the room sighed exasperatedly. Sylvester in particular looked like he had given up. "Every time it's books and reading time with you... Even if you don't become Aub, Bonifatius or I won't be around forever. We also need someone who can fill in for the next Aub when he's out of the duchy or if something happens to him. Besides, weren't you the one who said competition is good?"
"If that's the case, Melchior will be baptized next year! Why me?"
"Fool, Melchior will start his lessons in due time! You have an unshakable political position in Ehrenfest, your support is even greater than that of the Florencia faction alone now that you are in good health. There is no reason not to push you to Aub." Sylvester told me, massaging his temple.
"It is simply good politics to have you compete with Charlotte as my heir. I would not want to do it any more than you do."
"Ugh, damn politics." I said slumping, once again defeated by the noble world.
"Sister, give up and do your best to compete with me and Melchior." Charlotte said, cornering me with a cute smile that made me jump in my seat. You can't just use your cuteness like that against me, it's unfair!
"Not that Melchior has any inclination to become Aub," Sylvester mumbled, dejected. "When I tried to ask him to become Aub, he cut me off with that innocent face of his and said, ‘I'm going to be the High Bishop like my big sister!’ It's all your fault, Rozemyne!"
"How is that my fault?! I think you should look inside to find the real culprit, Adoptive Father!" I said, glaring at him as he glared back.
Florencia put a hand to her temple, closing her eyes. "Can you two stop this? I don't know who's the bigger child between you two."
"Surely it is Adoptive Father!" "Surely it is Rozemyne!"
Charlotte roll her eyes, before glaring first at me and then at him. Both I and Sylvester adjust our backs under her gaze.
“Father, please continue, I know you have one more announcement to make.”
Sylvester gulped. “Oh right! Charlotte and her retainer will participate in the Dedication Ritual. With the mana collected during your Jureve and their contribution, we won't have any mana issue this winter, so there's no need for you to return for the ceremony. You can spend your time socializing after all your exam are done."
“Eh?! But that was not the plan!” I was shocked. That's some bullshit! I was counting on me being needed at the Dedication Ritual to avoid socializing! This is not Sylverster’s idea, someone else is pulling the strings. But who, who is the traitor?!
I looked around, finding Florencia, Charlotte and mother Elvira smiling large. But what shocked me was that grandpa was awkwardly avoiding my gaze. I was so shocked. Grandpa is the real culprit?! Why, you don't like me anymore, grandpa?!
Sylvester rolled his eyes. “It is now, and that's an order. Even if I don't think it's a good idea, you need to socialize more. And follow the plan that we discussed for this year: Start low, with the duchy below us or near us that are friendly. And DON'T, I repeat, DON’T go near the Royal Family!” They used Aub powers to trap me in socialization! That's evil, treason of the greatest order!
Slumping, I resigned myself to my destiny. “I will do my best.”
“I don't think you mean the same thing that the others do while saying that.” Sylvester said and the other chuckled. Ugh.
Grandpa then looked at me seriously, stroking his beard a little. “Rozemyne, move only with your knight, listen to Rihyarda's advice, and… have fun. Attending the academy is a unique moment of one's life. Enjoy it to its fullest.”
Seeing grandpa saying that awkwardly, I decided to forgive him for the moment. “Yes, grandpa.”
“And Rozemyne, one last thing,” Sylvester said glaring at me, calling my attention back to him. “You WILL write a report of your activity at least every three days. And don't even try to hide or make it less serious of what it is. I've instructed yours and Charlotte retainers to write at least one short report every other day."
I tilted my head. “Even Angelica?”
"Dementia hasn't reached me yet."
I raised an eyebrow. He looked at me, annoyed, pointing toward the door.
"Get out. Go play with Schumils or something. Meeting adjourned."
"Yes, Adoptive Father." I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
We quickly went out of his office, and Charlotte called me in the corridor. "Sister, are you free now?"
"I was going to go and play with Schumils or something." I joked to her.
Charlotte giggled. "Care for a walk in the greenhouse?"
I eyed Rihyarda and she nodded that I was free. “Let’s.”