Chapter Text
Rozemyne’s wisdom was always a fascinating thing to Ferdinand, coming from the world of endless learning and that was also magicless. Fran always reported what Rozemyne commissioned to make as precisely as he could, but there was only so much one could glimpse from written reports.
Ferdinand had heard Rozemyne was commissioning something from a glass artisant since last summer, she called it a heron fountain. It was a fascinating contraption consisting of three large glass jars about the size of a barrel arranged like stairs. She then explained how it was an ancient technology that creates an unending flow of water.
“Created by a hero of a great ancient library city, truly the library and books are the core of civilization!” Rozemyne said, nodding to herself with a smug look on her face.
It was quite amusing, Rozemyne said so just because of her book addled mind. His ward had no idea how true her statement was for this country, literally so because of Grutisheit. There was always a slight nagging suspicion at the back of his mind about Rozemyne’s reincarnation to this world, like divine interference. So far aside from how… more responsive the Gods are to her prayers, Rozemyne didn’t seem to have any connection with them. She was oddly awed by them for some reason, but most likely just because magic didn’t exist in her previous world.
“Now we need salt water.”
She then proceeded to have her gray attendants mix water with salt… lots of salt. “I am keeping my seafood here… the ratio is like 1 salt to three water. We have well water so I guess there should be enough minerals.”
From what Ferdinand understood, it started from the merchant guild master’s dissatisfaction that not a lot of business from Rozemyne came their way, and how Gilberta was monopolizing her wisdom. Predictably Benno shot them down with the argument that he dealt with Rozemyne’s insane schedule and innovation better, and that was the benefit he provided. Why not try to offer Rozemyne something better then? Hence, Othmar offered their connection to import the seafood Rozmeyne wanted. For all her intellect, somehow only recently had Rozemyne realized she could import seafood from Ahrensbach.
For that matter, Ferdinand had no idea she had an obsession for seafood that almost rivaled her one for books. Seafood was easily perishable, and even Veronica had it imported sparingly. Rozemyne splurged for seafood from Ahrensbach, much to his distaste, but she also failed to ask Ferdinand about time stopping magical tools. So, she gave up on fish and asked for something else.
There was… ‘weed’ from the sea, and Rozemyne lamented about no longer having a [Japanese] stomach to eat it raw- the insanity.
As if that was not strange enough, the sea creatures she managed to bring were not even fish.
“I want octopuses because they can be transported alive since they can breathe air through their skin. Gustav brought everything with tentacles caught by fishermen in Ahrensbach, so I guess it all works out.” Rozemyne shrugged.
Ferdinand tapped his temple. “And that’s your explanation for these weird creatures?”
There was a pair of purple creatures called achtrake with a soft head and suckers on its tentacles, and it was about the size of an adult's head. So far it had escaped twice, so the ‘tank’ was now closed with a tight lid on top of it. The second tank had several seemingly slimmer versions of achtrake. Rozemyne called them [squid], but Ferdinand recognized it was a very young cumi – a type of feybeast that could glow in the dark.
The last, however, were an unknown species. Three of them had been captured. It also had tentacles but with a needle-like head shaped bell; one could also see through the insides of this creature. Rozemyne called it a [jellyfish], and she was very disappointed. “It’s not the edible kind of [jellyfish]! What a waste!”
“It looks nothing like a fish.” To be fair, none of these looked like a fish. The last one didn’t even have eyes. He sighed, “I can’t believe you wasted both mana and gold for this…”
Rozemyne looked at him, clearly offended, “As if nobles aren’t weird themselves… if you can manipulate time, why is it that we use it for preserving food and flowers?”
They also used it to preserve dead bodies, but Ferdinand learned by now there was no point in upsetting Rozemyne with death and blood. “...And what would people of your dream world use time spells for?”
“To stop aging of course! Isn’t it the dream of humanity to preserve their youth?” Rozemyne pointed out. Then she looked at her makeshift aquarium, “Like these jellyfish – I think they’re identical to a species called [beni kurage] I know,” she pointed at the bottom of the tank. “And I have seen their polyps too… a marine [scientist] would be interested, as this is quite a large specimen, but I can’t eat it so it’s pretty useless.”
“How is this see through creature interesting? It doesn’t seem to do anything?”
Rozemyne absentmindedly replied, “Well… it’s sort of immortal and eternally youthful… its the organism closest to achieving true immortality and eternal youth in my old world.”
Obviously his ward did not comprehend the weight of the statement she just made, and Ferdinand felt himself stop thinking for a moment before his mind whirled with the outrageousness of what Rozemyne had just said. This weak looking creature, no bigger than a rafel, was…immortal and youthful forever?!
There were partial notes in his Book of Mestionora on the research of immortality and an end note of ‘abandoning’ it because youth could not be preserved. There was a concern that if the research did ever succeed, the subject would be trapped in the misery of aging for the rest of their immortal life.
“How could that be?”
“Erm…” Rozemyne paused, realizing the morsel of knowledge she fed him just now had piqued his interest.
Ferdinand sighed, “I will lend you a book for that knowledge and a specimen.”
“Deal!” She beamed at him brightly.
This creature (in the dream world) was called scarlet jellyfish. It began life as a larva-like insect then settled on the seafloor and grew into a cylindrical colony; it was a sort of the cocoon stage of theirs like in butterflies. These ultimately spawn the free swimming creature in the tank. However, in response to physical damage or starvation, they take a leap back in their development process, transforming back into their cocoon that was at the bottom of the tank and would spawn identical creatures when the time was right.
“What a fascinating life cycle they live.”
“Yes, they did the impossible.”
“Is it not the same as reversing their time to their youth?”
Rozemyne shrugged, “Who knows? Even advanced technology from my previous world could only advance so far on this topic, I think this world is ahead in this matter. From my perspective, the nobles of Yurgenschmidt seem to have the means already.”
That was indeed a very interesting perspective. Ferdinand had a jar containing the scarlet jellyfish brought to his hidden room. Rozemyne warned him there should be some sort of [pump] to keep it alive, which Ferdinand rectified easily enough with a magical tool. Rozemyne let out weird noises about commissioning an expensive tank.
It was her fault she hadn’t consulted him.
“Zahm, you don’t have to call me for meals… and only call for an emergency.”
So Ferdinand began his research, he already had part of the wisdom in this matter, and he wondered how far he could get with the help of this specimen Rozemyne brought to his attention?
Rozemyne- The Adorable Angel
Ferdinand promised her a library in exchange for her mana, so of course it was a done deal as far as she was concerned. Rozemyne was not sure what Ferdinand was going to use her mana for, but mad scientists did mad-scientist things, and they were none of a librarian’s business. One of her seniors in the library science course once said that she needed not to question people on what the material they provided was going to be used for. Sometimes it was fine to make light conversation about it, but, for the most part, a librarian should just smile and act like a loyal and unfeeling search engine providing research materials.
Rozemyne thus handed over her mana filled feystone, her jellyfish, and her tank and let her High Priest do whatever he wanted with it. She would collect this favor in the form of a library in ten years or so!
Unfortunately, she forgot the part of the advice about keeping her mouth shut. In her defense, Rozemyne did not mean to inspire the mad scientist in Ferdinand.
Ferdinand looked like he had a processing error as she explained the jellyfish. There was a big fuss over this species when it was first found in her previous life too. The hype quickly faded when further studies showed this species of jellyfish was too fragile; it was only technically immortal and forever youthful, but anything could easily kill it. So yeah, maybe she was a bit like these jellyfishes. She had an awesome previous life’s memory and tons of mana, but she was so weak she would collapse from a bit of stress.
Rozemyne expected even Ferdinand wouldn’t be able to keep that jellyfish alive for long, and that should have been the end of that discussion but...a week later, Ferdinand didn’t come out of his hidden room for three days in a row. Which, of course, were three Rozemyne-free days for him as she had business in the castle and would never ever let him lock himself up in his hidden room that long if she was there. Damuel frantically sent a message to her in the castle about Ferdinand’s absence.
They were only alarmed on the third day because Ferdinand had still been eating the food delivered to his hidden room, but when last night's dinner was untouched and in the morning Justus’s call was ignored, they became worried. So, they needed her to drag her mentor out of his hidden room; hopefully he hadn’t killed himself or something.
She touched the summoning stone and asked him to come out politely – no answer. No big deal.
Then she shouted some threats like selling another batch of his printed merchandise to the ladies. Still no response.
So there was no choice but to come in brazenly and check on Ferdinand. She pressed her hand against the stone to open the door and called out, “...High Priest? I am coming in-”
Then she saw him… a bundle of blue curled up on the bench, a very beautiful young boy with long sky blue hair that had dozed off. His expression was far from peaceful and from his lips a soft groan escaped before his eyes fluttered open briefly, pale gold peeking out between pale blue-colored eyelashes. His movement made a strand of hair fall over his eyes and a crease appeared between his brows in discomfort.
Rozemyne couldn’t resist and reached to tuck the errant hair away, but instead of withdrawing her hand, she patted his head gently. It seemed he was having a nightmare so she sang him a lullaby for comfort and continued caressing his soft hair.
She didn’t know how long she sang, but it was long enough that Justus's voice had been what snapped her out of her daze. “Lady Rozemyne! Are you and Lord Ferdinand, alright? Please respond to us!”
“Shush, Justus… you will wake him up.”
“Who?”
Too late, the boy’s eyes snapped open and his pale gold irises met hers. “...You are…”
Rozemyne hesitated and called his name, “Fer...dinand?”
“Myne?”
Bwuh? He called her by her commoner name? He hadn’t done that since she signed the magical contract, not even in this hidden room. Her thoughts were interrupted as a pair of arms in baggy sleeves wrapped around her neck. “Ugyaa-”
“Myne! You’re alive!”
What? Alive…? Wait… did Ferdinand just give me a squeeze voluntarily- also- why is he so small!
“Small?” Did she just say it out loud? “You…” He squinted at her, “Isn’t it Myne who is small?”
...Something was really wrong here, and… she should have noticed the very moment she found Ferdinand in this state. Still-
“Lady Rozemyne!”
“Uhm… for now, let’s talk with Justus first.”
“Justus is outside?”
She came out first and told Justus to send all the grays except for Fran out. They could only trust Fran to not freak out and of course- fanatical Eckhart should not be informed yet. She also asked Justus to bring Ferdinand’s old childhood clothes, and the scholar sent an ordonnanz the caretaker of Ferdinand’s mansion bring them. Apparently Ferdinand had a third aide hidden she never knew about; his name was Lasfam.
Once a set of clothes was ready, she let Ferdinand out, and he was deft enough to not stumble in his oversized blue robes.
“Lord Ferdinand!”
“High Priest!”
Ferdinand was on guard at once, eyes narrowed at his aides. “Justus… and you are?” He didn’t recognize the other man.
Justus winced, “Milord… how old are you?”
“...I am eight years old.”
Ferdinand was younger than her!
“...And what is the last thing you remember?” Justus continued the interrogation after he dressed the boy in his old clothes which had been preserved very well by his aide. It was old fashioned but looked very good on him.
Ferdinand answered, “...It’s winter. I was hiding from Veronica faction children trying to hit me with snowballs with rocks inside.”
Rozemyne gasped. They bullied Ferdinand with something that dangerous?! Also… it sounded like he was alone to boot!
“I see…”
“More importantly, Justus,” Ferdinand narrowed his eyes at his aide, “why did Myne become so much younger?”
Justus’s eyes widened in surprise. “You… remember Lady Rozemyne, Milord?”
He frowned deeper, “Lady Rozemyne? I don’t remember you calling her that last time.”
Rozemyne stepped in, “Uhm… Ferdinand, do you recognize me as someone else?”
Ferdinand shook his head, “It can’t be… you sang me the same lullaby, and you let out the same weird noise when you were surprised too.”
That last part was not necessary!
“Myne’s hair also carries the same citrus smell…” Ferdinand said as he reached out to her hair and brought a lock of it to his nose. “A refreshing and light fragrance of apfelsige mixed with herbal rozen.”
How did he know all that? ! She had just changed her rinsham to this formula because, as a trendsetter, she had to use her own signature scent! Wait- his voice- also face- too close… Ferdinand’s usually deep voice instead sounded androgynous and youthful, like- he sounded like an angel! It was so unfair to deliver such a compliment with that voice!
“Ugh…”
Justus was grinning, “Lord Ferdinand… you’re really sure she is the ‘Myne’ you and I know, but I don’t remember her being there when you were eight.”
“...Only Myne would say something like ‘children need plenty of compliments when they do good and scolding when they do something wrong’, and ‘that way they will grow well.’”
That did sound like her—or something any Japanese person would say!
How confusing! Ferdinand seemed to think she was someone he knew as a child, someone he called “Myne,” but obviously she didn’t know or remember him… “I’m not grown up yet, so I’m not your Myne, but I will sing you lullabies and give you plenty of gyuu.”
“Only Myne would say ‘gyuu’ or ‘squeeze,’” Ferdinand assured Justus, which again was strange, but it did seem little Ferdinand knew an older version of her?
“Well, you are not wrong, but you must call her ‘Rozemyne,’ Milord.”
She nodded and then reached out to pat his head, something an older Ferdinand would never allow, so that really drove home exactly how much he’d had to shelter himself because of Veronica and her bullying.
“Rozemyne…” he nodded to himself firmly. “Alright. But…” he looked at Justus, and then at Fran and Lasfam—he didn’t recognize them, obviously. “Justus, you’re older…”
“Yes, it seems you had some sort of accident while experimenting, and, while you seem to be eight, you are actually more than ten years older than that at present.”
It should be illegal to be so cute… and a crime to make this angel grow up to be that demonic guardian of hers.
“Lady Rozemyne,” Justus interrupted her line of thought, “do you know what Lord Ferdinand was researching that may have led to him ending up like this?”
Rozemyne cringed inwardly, recalling the conversation before recounting it for him, but she had assumed from his comments on the topic nothing would come from it. She never dreamed he would succeed like this.
Justus shook his head, “It’s not… my paranoid master would never ever test something like this on himself, and as much as it’s hard to believe… a capable person like Lord Ferdinand can fail too.”
“...I see… well, even monkeys fall from trees.”
“Monkey?”
“Ah… a primate creature that looks a lot like a bataffe.” Rozemyne beamed before regretting it when she saw how devastated Ferdinand looked.
Ferdinand stammered, “I… am the same as a bataffe?”
“No, no, no! I mean no matter how talented someone is, they can still fail!” To think someone as robust as Ferdinand used to be this sensitive when he was a child!
At any rate… this really proved Ferdinand was not born as the demon king but as an angel! Somehow he remembered her as his caretaker, who Justus didn’t even remember but… Ferdinand saw her as family – a mother figure! She felt like exploding with motherhood for Ferdinand, so, regardless of whether or not this was temporary, Rozemyne would do her best to raise Ferdinand well!
“Lady Rozemyne… I feel sorry for my master that you’re brimming with motherhood for him when you are both eight years old.”
Justus had just made a very rude comment.
“But more importantly, we should inform the Archduke.”
Crap. She had forgotten about Sylvester.
It was a blessing Ferdinand had trained two capable blue robes who could manage administrative work in his absence. Then again, if not for the extra free time, Ferdinand wouldn’t be in this mess. At least with Veronica’s banishment and Bezewanst’s death, they could afford spreading the news that Ferdinand had fallen ill and was recuperating in the temple.
Eckhart was informed about his real situation because they couldn’t hide it from the fanatic knight forever. Her eldest brother was quite shocked to be recognized by Ferdinand as Karstedt’s oldest son whom young Ferdinand had never met and only knew by name. Ferdinand was also quite confused why the firstborn of current Archduke’s lead knight served him this enthusiastically.
Well, normally Eckhart would have served Wilfried. Justus only said many things happened and Eckhart was Eckhart.
When she told Ferdinand that they would have to inform the current Archduke, Sylvester, Ferdinand looked oddly excited and happy. “I am looking forward to seeing my esteemed brother leading our duchy. Brother said he would become the greatest archduke in our history.”
“Eh, uhm… right?” Rozemyne wasn’t sure how to respond. The closest I’ve seen him get to being the greatest at something is running away from his work.
Apparently Sylvester used to be a very hardworking older brother who strived to live up to Ferdinand’s expectations. Said motivation was ground to pieces after Ferdinand enrolled in the Royal Academy. It was no excuse to stop working hard as the heir apparent to Ehrenfest, but it was hard to preserve one’s dignity as older brother after Ferdinand snatched the title of best student of the year six times in a row.
Predictably, when she informed Sylvester of Ferdinand’s predicament, Sylvester was worried for one moment but when assured that his little brother was fine only shrunk- the mischievous archduke was already thinking of ways to tease his younger brother for this blunder.
“Currently, this Ferdinand still thinks you’re a good and dependable older brother. Do you plan to shatter your image so soon?” Sylvester’s grin froze at her question. It seemed she had hit her mark, at least, and saved little Ferdinand from ruthless teasing.
Ferdinand- Children are Innocent
Myne- no, Rozemyne returned to his life when he thought Father’s wife had sent her to the towering heights. She was very small now, even smaller than him, but he would rather have her at chest height than not at all. Still, this was the future. He was supposed to be over twenty years old. According to Justus, he had been raising Rozemyne like she did him for a while, but the adult version of him did not remember her as his Erwachlehren and Wiegenmilch.
Rozemyne said he needed not to feel anxious about forgetting, childhood memories could be easily forgotten when you grew up. Maybe it was because of Veronica’s harassment. It seemed Father’s first wife never accepted him as a son after all. And his father… he had climbed to the towering heights a few years ago, and Sylvester was the Archduke now.
Hence, Rozemyne was reporting his condition to Sylvester and left him with his aides and her pair of knights. Rozemyne was an archduke candidate like him but she had a laynoble as a knight. Then again, Ferdinand also had a laynoble attendant. It seemed, just like him, she had trouble recruiting enough aides.
The layknight seemed to be a very good aide though; he even could do paperwork!
“Rozemyne’s aide is very versatile.”
Damuel, for some reason, looked depressed by his compliment. “Ah yes…”
As for the medknight standing by the door, “I am guarding the door.”
“Can she be trusted?” Her blank look was unreadable, making Ferdinand wary.
Justus just chuckled, “It’s fine Milord. Angelica is just not thinking. That’s why Lady Rozemyne left her with us, and besides, didn't you notice she hasn’t asked what happened to you at all?”
“Yes, why haven’t you asked…?”
Angelica answered, “I am on guard duty. I don’t have to think about anything else.”
He looked at Eckhart, his own knight shook his head. “While guard knights should think of themselves as the shield and sword of their master, forfeiting self-thinking like Angelica is not the norm, Milord…”
So this girl was strange too.
“Master, guarding the door does not mean you can act like a living shield and sword. Proper guard knights should be alert and observant of danger approaching their target of protection.”
There was an adult male voice coming from Angelica’s direction.
Eckhart looked around, then deflated, “For a moment I thought the older Lord Ferdinand had returned, but it’s just Stenluke.”
Justus also sighed, “Stenluke’s voice is just cruel at a time like this. Then again, it is expected of Milady’s accidental work.”
Ferdinand became curious, “How did Rozemyne’s work result in a mana blade with my voice?”
Eckhart explained, “From the carelessness of her retainers letting her donate mana to Angelica’s mana blade…”
Stenluke chimed in, “I was born from Lady Rozemyne’s and Lord Ferdinand’s mana imbued by her wish.”
“...Rozemyne’s and my mana?” he echoed in confusion. “Does that mean Stenluke is our child?”
His aides and Damuel froze.
“...Child, Milord… erm, that’s not how this works.”
“But Justus, you said a child came to be when parents mixed their mana… Stenluke was born from our mana.”
Angelica looked at the sword on her waist, “Stenluke… you are my lady’s and Lord Ferdinand’s child? Then… I shall treat you more reverently as my mistress’ son.”
“Master, while I indeed came to be from their mana… I- well, in a sense I am an artificial child of theirs but-” The mana blade sounded confused too. “Theoretically I am, but not like that!’”
Justus was wheezing, “...A son… Lord Ferdinand and Lady Rozemyne ahahaha-”
Eckhart fidgeted, “I… I want a mana blade like Stenluke too! Please, Milord, I will look after your child!”
“Wait! Lord Eckhart, you’re begging for a child from a child!” Damuel tried to intercede.
“Shut up, Damuel.”
Stenluke seemed to be a very versatile mana blade, and Ferdinand thought it would be good if there were more guard knights with one. Also Rozemyne gave Stenluke to Angelica because she was dumb, and Eckhart seemed to be a typical muscle head like Uncle Bonifatius so he would need one too, right?
“I will ask Rozemyne if she is willing to have another child,” Ferdinand declared in complete seriousness after considering the matter.
Justus turned away and was laughing while holding his sides, in spite of the behavior being totally unbefitting of his station as an archnoble.
Rozemyne- The Angel’s Romantic Proposal
Rozemyne brought Sylvester to the temple, and their Archduke was clearly putting forth his best effort to look very prim and cool. It seemed Sylvester really did desire this second chance to be a reliable and cool older brother to Ferdinand. Let’s milk this for all its worth so he will do his job as Archduke. It was not like Ferdinand could help him with paperwork in his current condition.
Although, maybe he could . This was Ferdinand. He seemed to be a very sharp kid, and it wouldn't surprise Rozemyne if it only took a day of tutorials for the boy to do a better job than the average scholar.
“Brother, please allow me to pray for a blessing for you in this bountiful season of harvest brought by Schutzaria.”
Sylvester froze for a moment when he was confronted with a young Ferdinand, covered his face with his hand, and then turned to the side. “It’s my adorable younger brother and not the evil version.”
“Archduke…” Rozemyne hissed under her breath.
Sylvester cleared his throat and redirected his attention to his brother. “You, may,” he responded, putting on what Rozemyne recognized as his “aub” face.
Once greetings were exchanged, Ferdinand stood and looked up at his, now, much older brother.
He frowned at Sylvester, an adorable wrinkle between his eyebrows. “Brother you…” Sylvester perked up in anticipation, “You’re old…”
Sylvester looked like he had taken a direct hit, “For Ferdinand of all people to call me old…”
“Brother, you have become a cool and great archduke as you said you would. I am glad…”
A different kind of damage was taken now, and hopefully this would be as effective as putting Wilfried in his office.
“Rozemyne…” he called her adorably, “you see…”
He sounded very shy and had a faint flush to his cheeks for some reason. “Yes, Ferdinand?” Rozemyne smiled softly at him, encouraging him to speak.
“...it’s on behalf of Eckhart, I have a wish…”
Rozemyne blushed, “Whatever you wish, I will do my best to grant it!” If asked by a boy this lovely, she would even sell her liver!
Ferdinand brightened up, and then voiced a wish that didn’t match his adorable appearance. “Let’s make another child, Rozemyne.”
“Bwuh?” For once she was the one who had her brain crash from something Ferdinand said instead of the other way around. Then she tried digesting his words properly. Another child?! Where was the first one?!
“A child?” Sylvester didn’t sound confused; he sounded angry, or at least firm and unamused. She supposed that made sense, but she was still completely lost, tilting her head as she tried to figure out what was going on. “Ferdinand, that is unacceptable, you’re… you have not met Forsernte, much less been blessed by the Supreme Couple!”
Rosemyne looked around. Where was Fran? Wasn’t it usually his job to explain her strange outbursts to Ferdinand not the other way around?
Ferdinand straightened and met his - much taller - brother’s gaze. “Angelica looks after my and Rozemyne’s child already!”
Rozemyne felt even more question marks form in her head, and she looked to Angelica who was holding up Stenluke proudly. “Oh. Sylvester, he…” she struggled not to laugh. He was young, a child, and while she wasn’t particularly good at romance, it seemed Ferdinand thought babies came from a cabbage patch of mixed mana. Noble training pull through! “Stenluke came into existence because of my and Ferdinand’s mana mixing.” The artificial intelligence part at least.
“ Indeed I am, master of my master! ” Stenluke agreed. Sylvester blinked several times as he looked at the talking sword with the voice of his younger brother’s adult body, then at her, then at Ferdinand.
“Ferdinand, you decided that I shouldn’t go around putting mana into other people’s swords if it was going to end up like Stenluke… so we should not… have any more childr—”
“Rozemyne, do not even say it!” Sylvester stopped her, and then she watched a miracle – Sylvester taking something seriously rather than teasing his brother mercilessly. In the end, he shooed her and everyone else out of Ferdinand’s chambers, quite possibly to fulfill his brotherly duty of explaining the birds and bees.
“I wanted a mana blade with Lord Ferdinand’s voice,” Eckhart complained, looking dejected.
“You should know better, dear Brother!” Rozemyne answered. She tapped her temple, not at all amused that he hadn’t corrected Ferdinand’s misunderstanding. Before she could scold him, she was quickly taken to change into her High Bishop robes and relax while Sylvester spoke with Ferdinand. Once changed, she invited Ferdinand’s retainers into the room for tea while they waited to be summoned back to their lord.
“Milady, you must admit that you and my lord make excellent parents,” Justus attempted to justify the duo’s lack of decorum while also teasing her.
“And you as well, Justus! Isn’t your job to make sure Ferdinand grows up able to deal with noble society?!” Yes he was cute, beyond cute, absolutely adorable even, but calling Stenluke their child!
“Do you truly think I could contain myself when he called a manablade your child ?!”
It was pretty funny…
She even managed not to laugh when Ferdinand came to her room with Sylvester trailing behind, looking for all the world like an actual stern father.
“Let’s… wait for autumn and the blessing of the Supreme Couple…” Ferdinand said, his ears bright red even as he tried to keep his face impassive.
“Ferdinand, that—” Sylvester looked like he wanted to bury his head in his hands, which was when Rozemyne realized that he’d actually just… sort of proposed, hadn’t he?
“We can wait, Ferdinand,” she said, trying very hard to take this seriously. “You already promised me bride wealth, yes?”
Sylvester gaped at her.
“I was promised Ferdinand’s library!” It was actually a bit fun to be the one putting Sylvester so off balance for a change instead of the other way around.
It was not so fun when, three days later, she was detained by Elvira for an early lady’s education. What she said to Ferdinand about putting mana into swords made her want to die or dig a hole to hide in. Euphemisms for sex and everything related to it were also ridiculous. Winter season ! It was normal to talk about the seasons and the weather. Why did they use it for that of all things?
At any rate the birds and bees weren't so much different than in her previous world other than involving mana and colors. Elvira mentioned it appeared her color was very close to Ferdinand’s, if Stenluke was any indication. A statistical impossibility in nature, but it happened. They might not need courtship jewelry even.
That was the end of the lesson, which left her puzzled because it shouldn’t be…so she asked about contraception and safe “winter.”
Elvira looked at Rozemyne puzzled, “What do you mean ‘safe winter?’”
“Umm…” with her new knowledge of shame in this world, Rozemyne wasn’t sure how to speak about this topic euphemistically, “there are times when Geduldh’s soil is less fertile? Um.. mother, can I just explain this plainly?” Her face was bright red with embarrassment.
“Please do. I am afraid I have misunderstood what you’re trying to say.”
Rozemyne took a deep breath and tried to think of this as responding to a teacher in class rather than a sex talk with her mother. “Is there a medicine you can take to prevent your body from allowing the seed to implant in the soil? One that can be taken to prevent pregnancy, not that makes a woman infertile forever. I’ve also heard of an oil men can take in small quantities that will reduce their own fertility, but it can become permanent if taken too much. There’s also a less reliable method I learned of where from the first day of the loss of the soil until day 7, it is likely safe to engage in winter without worry of Geduldh’s burden. From days 8-19, a woman is more likely to gain Geduldh’s burden, and from day 20 until the start of the loss of the soil is a mostly unlikely time to gain Geduldh’s burden. It’s kind of important though to count the days between your own loss of soil starting and the next. The safe days are impacted by that.”
Elvira’s eyes shone with this new knowledge, but also with concern for how her young daughter knew such things. “Rozemyne, was there information on this in the temple?” Elvira didn’t bother asking if Ferdinand had taught her; the man hated women.
“No! I… Ferdinand knows, and he told father and Sylvester, but I had dreams of living in another world when I was sick in bed as a child. This is all stuff I learned in those dreams. I know it’s hard to believe, but I swear it’s true,” Rozemyne rushed, worried how her mother would respond.
“I see. Well, with Lord Ferdinand unable to guide you, it’s good that you’ve shared this with me. I will be your secret keeper in this regard. Tell me more about what you learned in these dreams,” Elvira sat up straighter, poised to take notes.
Feeling relieved at being believed, Rozemyne continued, “Well, in addition to the rhythm method, there were other ways to help prevent Geduldh’s burden. There was a medicine women could take that tricked their bodies into believing it already carried new life, so it kept the egg, um, the woman’s part of the process, from being released.”
Rozemyne tapped her chin, “Perhaps the special barrier made to be placed on the man’s sword would be most practical in this world. The earliest barriers were made from the intestines of sheep or goats. It would be best to use these with the rhythm method if you really want to minimize the chances of Geduldh’s burden.”
“My oh, my, this is interesting knowledge for a lady, and especially important for those who must avoid the burden so they can supply mana,” Elvira seemed excited for the new methods.
Elvira eventually let Rozemyne go, and, of course, shared her new knowledge with Florencia.
Sylvester came to protest later about how Rozemyne had made his couple time with Florencia tightly scheduled; he had no doubt the strange information came from Rozemyne. He interrupted her reading time over it so she was annoyed. To make him go away more quickly, she accused him of lacking imagination, wrote down shameful material she read from Shuu-chan’s naughty books she had found in his room, and passed it to Sylvester.
It was only then that Sylvester sobered up and realized he was complaining about winter matters to his eight year old adopted daughter. It was super improper, but curiosity won over. “Just what is with this country in your dream world? Why is it so shameful?”
Rozemyne rolled her eyes, “Japan has quite an advanced culture… so, my dear Archduke, just enjoy our bountiful knowledge, and let me read my books in peace.”
“...Do not teach your knowledge to Ferdinand until his autumn.”
Never would she imagine Sylvester acting like a stern father again and at her over Ferdinand’s chastity! It was no wonder three days later she was once again detained and wrung dry of her shameful knowledge by her mother. She felt for her really- anyone would feel complicated if an eight year old knew more than adults about sex.
Justus, that shameless aide of Ferdinand's, smelled blood and came demanding the knowledge be shared with him as well. She wanted a copy of kama sutra so badly just so she could chuck the book at Justus’s head instead.
==
When he was younger, Ferdinand had long hair that reached halfway down his back. It was a waste he cut it as an adult, but now it was all hers to pamper! Adult Ferdinand would never allow it, so she called Benno and explained the situation. As expected of Benno, who was so used to dealing with her, his eyebrows only twitched a little when he saw the miniaturized Ferdinand.
This was a good chance so she had him bring several oils, dried seeds, salt, and nouts. “Justus, we will make Ferdinand’s exclusive scent… and I want to crochet a hair tie for men.”
For some reason, Ferdinand’s ears blushed, “Rozemyne, for you to give this much attention to my hair…”
“Because it’s very beautiful!”
Ferdinand loved the scent of her rinsham, but it was too sweet for boys so she suggested mixing the apfelsige peel with tea leaves to create a mild and sophisticated scent. Benno had a poor complexion when he promised to make a batch immediately in the workshop.
Meanwhile, she knit a long string of ribbon from the thread Ferdinand chose out of the high quality supplies Benno brought them, then used feystones to create a tassel on the end of it. Justus wanted to help, but there was no way she wouldn't use this rare chance to run her fingers through his silky sky-colored hair!
“Do whatever you wish, Rozemyne,” Ferdinand gave a shy smile with his permission.
Damuel looked like a goldfish for quite some time, before he finally closed his mouth and was just blushing furiously. Did he have a fever or something? Brigitte had looked away and also had a blush on her cheeks.
She combed Ferdinand’s hair and then tied the ribbon. Unlike her hair that couldn’t be tied easily, his hair was more obedient. She then braided his hair, weaving the long ribbon throughout. The dark blue and gold looked very good as it stood in contrast against Ferdinand’s light blue hair.
Justus commented, “Oh, the feystone part can be turned into an amulet… this could be a good fashion for men.”
“I am only making this for Ferdinand.”
“I… I will treasure it, Rozemyne.”
He was so cute! Her mentor would never have said he’d treasure something she gave him.
Veronica was banished and so were most of her closest subordinates. It was definitely a safer environment for little Ferdinand but at the same time not. After all, he had lost most of his knowledge and skills with the change. Rozemyne also lost her guardian, making navigating noble society more dangerous for both of them.
However…while the temple was relatively safe, it was not like they could hide Ferdinand forever.
“I think it’s for the best if Lady Rozemyne immerses herself in jureve sooner… right after Lady Charlotte’s baptism ceremony,” Justus suggested.
Rozemyne frowned, “I don’t understand… what about the dedication ceremony in winter then?”
“Lady Rozemyne...when you’re in jureve, your hardened mana will melt and be absorbed by the feystones placed in the jureve with you. You will provide us with plenty of mana for winter and more, so no worries,” Justus explained. “During the winter, Angelica and Cornelius will be gone for most of the season at the Royal Academy, and your protection will be dangerously thin. Now that Lord Ferdinand also needs to be guarded, it's best for you to lock yourself inside your hidden room where only a select few people can enter and pass the season quietly… this will also give Lord Ferdinand a reason to not appear at winter socializing.”
That made a lot of sense if Ferdinand was not around and staying in the temple to take care of her.
“Won’t it announce we’re at our weakest?”
Justus exchanged glances with Eckhart before agreeing, “Perhaps… but it’s better to reveal a weakness and hide rather than forcing a strong front people would notice quickly. Shoring up our defenses during the winter on high alert is more practical than hiding Ferdinand’s condition and guarding both of you during the season when all nobles are gathering in the noble district.”
As expected of one of Ferdinand’s aides, they’re prioritizing efficiency above everything.
“I will teach Lady Rozemyne how to strengthen the amulets and protections she has been given. It will consume a lot of mana, but it should be fine for an archduke candidate with your capacity to add to the existing defense mechanisms my lord gave you.”
It wouldn’t be easy but she had to hold on for one season.
Ferdinand looked somber at the news, “I am sorry Rozemyne… if only I remembered my adult self’s knowledge…”
“It’s not your fault! We should be fine…” Now she was becoming worried about her supply of potions though. She also had not been getting her health exams since Ferdinand turned into a child. Rozemyne was reminded again of how dependent she was on Ferdinand, and Fran was now more vigilant than ever about her health. “Hm?”
Ferdinand was getting close since who knows when and haltingly began a familiar series of action, forehead, wrist and then neck.
“Lord Ferdinand?”
Rozemyne was hypnotized by the comforting touch until she felt it, a wave of pleasure that made her jolted awake from her daze. “Fuunyaa~” She let out a very weird noise.
Justus shouted, “Milord, stop that! You put too much mana into Lady Rozemyne!!!”
She flushed, and pressed her hands to her heated cheeks. It was a failure as a noble, but she’d already given up on that after responding how she did. That wasn’t anything like when Ferdinand had closed her wound with his mana.
Rozemyne had always thought of her medical check as something warm and comfortable, to know it was one misstep away from that was a bit terrifying.
“You must be careful, Milord, foreign mana is quite painful.”
She flushed even more, while Justus came to check on her, and she said, almost in a whisper: “It was not painful…” Justus’s eyes widened, and he pulled back, looking at her with a puzzled expression. Since it was well known among the adults that her ‘winter knowledge’ was extensive, it was clear he had put it together and realized that it must have been the opposite.
“Your colors are so close?” He was down at eye level with her, and Rozemyne could see his confused expression. “You and my lord never…?”
She shook her head vehemently. At least she knew that her word carried some weight, she knew far more about ‘winter’ than anyone else in Ehrenfest it seemed. Modern sex education was truly wondrous, but it also meant that she was struggling with the particular differences… Justus looked between the two of them and then shook his own head. He obviously thought something was strange.
He rose and fixed Ferdinand with a firm look. “There will be no more practicing of checking Lady Rozemyne’s mana.”
He nodded.
“Hopefully the jureve will be enough… If it is not, I’m afraid Lord Ferdinand’s expertise being lost will make it difficult to handle your illness from there,” Justus said. “Milord, you are quite intelligent, but it seems we will need to have even more instruction on many issues of nobility.” He sighed, “We will need to make our preparations for winter, for Lady Rozemyne to sleep in jureve, for milord to reenter the world of the nobility, and perhaps even present again.”
Winter preparations… why is everything a euphemism now!? She was going to die of embarrassment like this.
“I am sorry I hurt you, Rozemyne,” Ferdinand said, golden eyes wide and earnest. She forgave him immediately, he was far too sweet and adorable and earnest now, something that had been taken away from him over time. “I will be more careful next time.”
The combination of words and realizing what had been happening with their mana made her want to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment, but Ferdinand was obviously worried for her, so she reached out and stroked his brow and fluffed his hair. “I’m fine, Ferdinand; do not worry.”
He might not have been worrying, but Rozemyne certainly was. How was she supposed to survive a cute and earnest young Ferdinand?