Archive of Our Own

EARTHDAY

It was the first Earthday since her unofficial coming of age, Rozemyne teleported to Ferdinand’s hidden room at about 7 1/2 bells. She desperately wanted to talk to him alone, without the whole intrusive overzealous and judgemental retinue gang hanging around. It was the perfect plan, she had placed a teleportation circle in his hidden room with invisible ink a week ago, and connected it to her hidden room in the castle. Using a charm of Verbergen she had snuck out bed, passed Gretia and into her hidden room. "He, He, He Perfect!" she chuckled to herself. Next sneak over to his bench sit down, dispel the charm and wait for him to sense her. PERFECTION!

Before even the dizziness of the teleportation subsided came a very annoyed deep and husky voice. "Rozemyne, what are you doing? You should be in bed, remove Verbergen’s charm at once!"

"How did you know it was me? I could be an assassin GRRR" Rozemyne said putting on the silliest assassin voice she could muster.

"I believe you have already had this conversation with Fraularm or has your memory faded so badly?" Ferdinand reminded her.

"Errr Fine. You know you could afford a little more fun in your life"

"I have plenty of FUN in my life" Ferdinand replied as Rozemyne dispelled Verbergen’s charm. " ROZEMYNE, You are near naked!" Ferdinand cried in a panicked voice as he turned around.

"Ever the gentleman I see" she laughed, "What do you mean I am nearly naked? I have THREE layers of clothes on plus a dressing gown. How in any world is that nearly naked? Well then my God of Darkness, wrap me in your cape" Rozemyne teased. Ferdinand whipped of his cape and covered his naked fiancee, only then could he look at her.

"Rozemyne, do you know how inappropriate this is? You are in your sleepwear" He scolded.

"ERRR, nobles and their stupid pointless rules, I swear they are there just to make everybody unhappy!"

"Enough! Besides torturing me. Why are you here?" Ferdinand sighed. "Well, three things, First most. I need some hugs, I have missed you so much. Second I want you to receive a proper education, so bring the mind reading tool tomorrow to my chambers and thirdly I would like you to accompany me when I go investigate the Lanzenavian ships"

Ferdinand looked her and tapped his fingers on the bench, sighing he said," Number one, I miss you as well, but I just cant hug you dressed as you are, sorry. Two, In what am to be educated in? And 3rd leave the investigation to the scholars "

"Let us address the 2nd topic first. What would you like to be educated in? I was thinking that if I let you choose a subject on anything about Earth, its history, culture, science or technology, you and I can have some "US" time. I get to be close to you and read a book to you while you get to do some unique research in brand new topics" Rozemyne was almost pleading.

"I assume that was the reason for the 3rd request" Ferdinand questioned.

"Sought of, I get to spend time with you." Blushing slightly, " But more importantly, Who else here is going to be able to figure out non mana based technology? I don't want to wait two lifetimes for some scholar to realise that [pistons] move, or [magnets] create [electricity]".

"That is a very true point, since I did not understand half those words"

"See, that’s why you need an education" Rozemyne smiled sweetly. "Technology and science beyond your wildest dreams"

Ferdinand's lips broke out into a smirk like he had just got his way. "Very well, when do you want to do this?"

"What about tomorrow after lunch for the ships, then we can see what WE can learn from MOOGLE after dinner", Rozemyne laughed.

"I am afraid to ask, but what is a MOOGLE?"

Rozemyne grinned, "It's a joke, it's funny. I will explain it with MOOGLE later" giggling to herself.

"Fine" he sighed knowing when he was utterly defeated. " You seem to have given up on your first request rather quickly" he noted with a quizzical brow.

"Oh, have I?" The gremlin responded with the patented Angelica quizzical look. " I am a rather patient women, I have my schemes."

Ferdinand made the most exasperated face. "In WHAT world are you patient?" he chucked, very amused.

" Fine!" she pouted, "I’m off to bed. Will my God of darkness be joining me for breakfast? No day can begin unless the Goddess of light meets her God of darkness".

Ferdinand grinned, "With impeccable logic like that how could I refuse you my all Goddess."

"Now let me return my dark gods cape that he so gallantly cloaked me in. Sit on the bench and close your eyes lest you see to much" She rolled her eyes. Ferdinand did as instructed slowly shaking his head in disbelief. Once he took his seat and closed his eyes the gremlin teased "Are you peeking? No of cause you're not. How disappointing" he felt his cloak being put around his neck and two arms embrace him for a moment before a loving voice whispered in his ear "Schlaftraum’s blessings my god of darkness" The arms let go and a second later Rozemyne said "You can look now, have a good sleep Ferdinand"

" Schlaftraum’s blessings to you to Rozemyne, I shall see you for breakfast, sleep well. Ferdinand could have sworn he heard the sound of a kiss and then someone blowing as the black and gold lights swirled about. How strange.

WATERDAY

Next morning at breakfast Rozemyne informed the "I’ve never heard of personal space brigade" of her plans. Just before lunch Roderick and Matthias were to head down to where the 2 remaining ships and wreckage were being "investigated". The commoner workers were to all be given a small silver each, thanked for their work and asked to return to work tomorrow. The legend of the Saviour of the Dutchy would grow just a little bit bigger. Cornelius and Lorenz would take 10 knights each, sweep and secure the ships. Rozemyne and Ferdinand would arrive on the all clear.

Rozemyne spent the morning humming happily to herself authorising paperwork, stealing happy peeks at Ferdinand. He's going to be so happy with all the new things he is about to learn she thought to herself. Happy Ferdinand day Ferdinand, A day for you, just because you are you and I want to make you happy.

The owner of her daydreams 'man of the day' said "Rozemyne, you seem distracted. You stopped working, then stopped humming then just stopped. "

"Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought. Many heavy burdens being the Aub" to which Ferdinand just lifted an eyebrow. She had defiantly been thinking about books he thought.

"Are you just a little bit excited for after lunch?" Rozemyne asked.

"For after you devour half a school of fish you mean? And yes, I am looking forward to it. But we are not going anywhere till this is done" Ferdinand gestured to the pile of paperwork in front of them.

"I know, I know" Rozemyne grumpt when Idle thoughts of he is going to be so happy, I'll make him happy started circling her mind again as she worked through today’s 'has to be done by the Aub' list.

By lunchtime Rozemyne was in a particularly good mood. Images of seeing his happy contented face as he used that big brain of his all because she had made him happy filled her imaginings. Lunch was spent happily chatting away lost in those eyes. The all clear came as they drank tea, just as planned.

They walked out to the balcony when Rozemyne turned to her escort and asked. "Your high beast or mine? Oh silly question, scold me on the way." She held her hand out and Ferdinand helped her onto his Lion. Taking to the sky she took the opportunity to lean back into his safe embrace awaiting a comment about riding in Lessy, none came. Which was good because he was right. At the moment his high beast just seemed better for some reason. They touched down on the deck of the fully complete ship far to soon, torn between current and future bliss she dismounted.

"Eckhart, Angelica, Justus your with us. Cornelius" Ferdinand barked, "Is the area secured?" "Yes, Sir" is all he could respond with. "See to it none enter after us, IS that understood?" "Yes, Sir!".

"Come, Eckhart, your on point, Angelica stay by Lady Rozemyne’s side, Justus you keep our egress clear." Ferdinand then smoothly took Rozemyne’s hand and escorted her into the belly of the beast. They paused just after entry to allow their eyes to get accustomed to the light. The insides weren’t as cramped as you would expect. Rozemyne and Ferdinand both looked up and for some reason they both looked disappointed." Oh well, so much for that" one of them sighed.

"Let us see what they did for lighting? Justus any reports?" Rozemyne asked cheering up in an instant.

"Glass sconces with a burnt piece of material were found throughout the ship and these were the light sources reported working during the ships capture"

Walking over to one Rozemyne asked Ferdinand to please lift her to have a closer look, a big smile on her face. Hmmmmm a tiny opening in a tube with a small valve, just like you see in those old kerosene lanterns. Thanking her dreamy muscular knight she looked around for the supply system, unfortunately it was in the wall. "Fools" She muttered. "Well, I know how the lights work, not how to turn them on unfortunately"

"How?" asked the mad scientist as he peered at the same attachment.

"Well, see the tiny hole, umm stuff similar to oil is pushed out under high pressure and vaporizes, it is then burned to make a hood glow very brightly but not away, Justus put lamps on the list for tonight please, what's next?"

"My Aub, to the left are small offices, cabins both small and large and a room with windows and controls. To the right are dinning halls, meeting rooms, and chambers." Justus reported .

"Stairs down are located where?" Ferdinand asked.

"By the windowed room," Justus started to report.

"That is called a bridge" interrupted Rozemyne a distant look in her eyes.

He continued "They connect to an area of mid and one large chambers".

"Staff officer accommodation, the large one was probably the captains cabin, where are the volley launchers?" The excitable shumil said.

"Halfway along the main deck" Justus reported.

"To the bridge!" Rozemyne yelled one hand pointing in the air. "Are you having fun, Ferdinand?".

"Not as much as you are, but yes this has been enjoyable so far." Rozemyne noticed a smirk on that face chiseled by Kunstzeal herself.

The "bridge" was nothing like she had imagined. A large chair, with a CUP HOLDER of all things was in the center, two less impressive chairs either side formed a crescent. In front of the command seating there was a slight decline to a long cabinet/desk. There were two chairs there. On the desk there was a central large dome with tubes coming from the desk and bent towards where the sitters head would be. Behind the command seating the area rose elegantly to a raised area, Directly behind the captains chair was another desk tube arrangement but no seats. Arranged around the rear wall was a very long desk with 6 chairs, and as many stations for the tubes.

Rozemyne clapped her hands in glee and strode over to the "captains chair" and sat down. With a look befitting a general she sat straight up pointed out the window and commanded " Ahead, [Warp Factor] 3" After a moment of blank stares she turned to Justus and requested that some pop culture be added to the list.

Rozemyne wandered towards the dome, gave it a quizzical look, tapped the dome and smiled." Does anybody have a large piece of iron on them? A dagger will do". Ferdinand handed her his dagger and asked what she was going to do with it. He turned to Justus and asked him to put magnets on the list for tonight before Rozemyne got two sentences into her explanation.

Rozemyne took the dagger and teased the compass needle, sure enough it moved. After Ferdinand tried it, passion for knowledge burning in those most wondrous of sun coloured orbs, Justus had a try. Much to Rozemyne’s petty annoyance, she just wanted to watch Ferdinand’s eyes for a few seconds longer. Rozemyne flipped the cover on the voice tube and with her lungs enhanced blew, somewhere deep within the ship a whistle was heard. "Yep, this place is boring, Oh, I know, are there any galleys umm kitchens near here?"

"I know you are beloved by Cuococalura, but a kitchen?" Asked Ferdinand to his over excited shumil who chirped in response "Blue flames maybe, I know how much they fascinated you." Ahhh, to see his eyes as they reflect blue flames Rozemyne thought as she skipped of to the kitchen with her ever reliable Ferdinand by her side. In her slightly distracted mood, she had failed to notice the compass needle hadn’t returned to facing north.

The kitchens were a mixed bag when it came to anything new, they did have a couple of gas burners but they required someone to be constantly pumping as the "oil" wasn’t already a gas and like with the lights needed to be vaporised. What caught Rozemyne’s ever curious eyes was the arrangements near the larger cooking stations, they were wood burning but not, they didn’t seem the right size.

"Was there any black or brown charcoal like rocks found here?" she asked absent mindlessly while opening another hatch sniffing. After a few seconds Justus reported in the affirmative.

"Conclusions" Ferdinand asked as he stood upright and turned around. Rozemyne was just enjoying the sight of Ferdinand’s unending quest for knowledge when she realised she had to answer.

"The burners may be useful in the long term, but their tech so far has been oil and now coal based. Both rare and expensive things. There is one conclusion that I have reached is that Lanzenave is or trades heavily with another place that is a real planet"

Ferdinand raised his eyebrows before the gremlin asked Justus to add astronomy to the list. They headed of next to the volley gun emplacements, Rozemyne must be getting tired as she rested her head on Ferdinand’s arm and hummed happily.

Now these had all soughs of properties, but none good unless she wanted to arm the commoners. Gunpowder was added to the list, and a sample sent to both his and hers hidden rooms. The rest was moved to SAFE storage, there will be no unnecessary deaths.

Rozemyne chatted happily about the types of hearts the ship has, her final guess is that it would be some form of [internal combustion engine], she even playfully suggested a wager on what sought of incomprehensible thing it was.

Rozemyne was glad she didn’t take any bets for before her stood 2 gigantic twin steam engines. Her eyes shone with excitement, and she couldn’t help but let out a yippee and a blessing to Vulcanift.

"What has you so excited and nothing to do with books?" Ferdinand asked, looking just a little worried.

Rozemyne just asked Justus to put steam engines on the list. "Ohh, This is so wonderful, I thought it would take me decades to guide our smiths to build something like this. Now they can see how they work firsthand. We have to get Zack involved, he will learn so much. Oh and you are wrong. This has everything! to do with books" Grinning and pouting at the same time. Once again Ferdinand was impressed how his fiancée could hold two opposite facial expressions simultaneously.

"Now to the boilers, what's this baby use as fuel, I didn't see a smoke stake coming in, or remember one from that morning. oh well just follow the pipes...." She trailed of as they went through a large lead grey metal bulkhead that had what looked like skulls in red circles painted on it. "What's beyond here and how do we get there?" she asked somewhat to quickly.

Justus responded that no way had been found in yet and they were going to remove a panel in a few days.

" I am somewhat precautious of that panel removal, make sure that they can easily replace and reseal it before they start, they can be the only ones working in the area and they will ALL need a washen, followed by a blessing from Unheilschneide, Heilschmerz and Flutrane. They are not to touch anything at all, in fact send their best artists in to make a quick sketch so they can draw it properly latter. Close it back up but do not seal it as soon as the [cameras]umm artists leave. Oh and have ropes tied to them at all times. PULL them out if there's any trouble, then RESEAL IT at once."

"Rozemyne you look more than a little worried, you were all starry eyed 2 minutes ago" Ferdinand asked, a real look of concern in his eyes.

"Its a tonight thing." She waved him off, but maybe those eyes could take away her growing fear, those dreamy dreamy eyes..."Have we all seen enough, oh the communications set up. Was there one?"

"Several devices of unknown use have already been taken for study" Justus reported

"Do you wish to see them Rozemyne?" Ferdinand asked to which she gave a nod. "Have them all in my magic tool lab tomorrow, and they should stop their tinkering today." As they left Rozemyne shot a worried glance over her shoulder to the lead grey wall.

Rozemyne didn’t even ask about whose high beast they should take but got in frount of Ferdinand on his high beast, once again wishing that the trip would last just a little bit longer. Why were the docks so close to the castle she wondered.

After a relaxing bath in which all she could imagine was what scent of rinsham Ferdinand would use, and should she change hers. Her thoughts drifted away to how had today affected Ferdinand. Was he alright, did he have fun her thoughts whirled while she was being changed for dinner. Liesletta chatted about something that wasn’t about Ferdinand with her as they walked to the dinning hall. The conversation at dinner was engaging and stimulating while Ferdinand’s eyes twinkled with each idea and his moist lips grinned. After a delicious seafood dinner Rozemyne was escorted by Ferdinand to her chambers.

A large partitioned area of the floor was covered in cushions and pillows. A small side table sat with the mind synchronisation diadems, and some potions. Gretia sat with some embroidery at a window, Angelica guarded the door and Justus sat at a table reading reports. No one could see the cushions directly, Gretia could see their reflection however.

Ferdinand handed Rozemyne a sound blocking magic tool and said."What is going on here and what are those potions?"

"Well, you see, we are going to be doing this for a bell, so ahhh.. We might as well be comfortable. And the potions are just a fake synchronisation potion and liquid mana, just to make it NOT look like we are already 100% dyed"

Ferdinand took one of the diadems and placed it gently on her head. He then passed her the synchronisation potion and put on his own diadem. He lay down as Rozemyne said sleepily "Put out your arm, it will get sore like that" Sighing he did as the gremlin wanted. She instantly scooted down and lay on his arm her face a mere hands breadth from his. " Your other arm is going to go numb like that, put it over my waist." the little shumil spoke as she slid over far nearer than was necessary.

So this was the gremlins scheme, she had given up on hugs far to easily last night. Knowing when he had been outplayed he happily obliged his victorious shumils request, he then tapped the fey stones together and rested his forehead against hers."Good night high priest" she murmured as she closed her eyes, a second later he felt a leg lock around his before he too was lost to the world.

"Welcome to MOOGLE" an exceedingly chipper voice called out. "So your memories and vast store of knowledge is now called MOOGLE, have I not mentioned you are bared from naming things" The world around them twisted and they were sitting in front of a glowing tablet, similar to the gremlins bible.

"This is a computer, with it I can look up anything I want. Think of it like a bible anyone can use, now it needs a search function since the computer isn’t magic tool created by gods. This is one of the search functions, and the last few letters spell oogle, add an M from Myne and you get MOOGLE"

Why did the image of a shumil wanting a pat come to Ferdinand’s mind for the briefest of moments. " Fine, you will have to teach me the correct pronunciation over breakfast tomorrow" and with that he had secured himself just a little more time with his all goddess. Waves of happiness washed over Ferdinand but he didn’t mind in the least, this was her happiness after all.

"A fine idea, now where to begin?" unease seeping through her emotions.

"What about that which has left you in such a state of trepidation" he kindly suggested.

And so Rozemyne began a lesson on atomic theory and the power of the atom. Using her vast memory of reading, took Ferdinand all over the place as she read paragraphs and chapters to Ferdinand from a dizzying array of books. Sometimes she took him to parts of school classes translating for the class, sometimes translating videos or TV for him. Every time Ferdinand asked a question he was taken to new passages of text, more drawings, more graphs, more schematics. Shumil hole after shumil hole, no wonder why his little shumil seemed unhappy at times, compared to MOOGLE his world must seem like a primitive barbaric nightmare.

While they were reading about the long term damage to the body from high energy particles, Ferdinand heard a cough coming from Justus. The times up bell had just rang.

How did Rozemyne do it? She was lecturing in him in his head about not staying up all night, to continuing the lecture in the flesh. She hadn’t missed a beat, half a sentence in his head the other half in his ear. Justus laughed while Gretia giggled, Rozemyne looked at them, realised what they must have seen and laughed as well.

"Justus", Rozemyne righted herself, "Make sure he sleeps well tonight please" and then she added in a conspiratorial whisper loud enough for everyone to here "The young master may be to excited to sleep.. shhhhh" with a finger to her lips. This received another round of mirth.

Ferdinand scoffed turned to his all goddess, took her hand, bowed and pressed his lips to the back of it "Thank you Rozemyne for everything, may you sleep with Schlaftraum’s blessings".

"You are welcome, I will see you at breakfast. May you too sleep with Schlaftraum’s blessings." She beamed.

With that Ferdinand left and Rozemyne got into bed. That night she had a wonderful dream of a little 6 year old Ferdinand. The look of pure happiness on his angelic face when he first learned to brew was so precious.

SPROUTDAY

The next morning Rozemyne was waiting in ambush in the dinning hall. She marched straight up to him and started to sniff. "Report!" She looked at Justus while pulling Ferdinand’s head down to smell his breath.

"My Lord was in bed for just over 2 bells" She beamed a smile and took Ferdinand’s arm as he escorted his fiercest guardian to her seat. As promised the word MOOGLE was said a lot until Ferdinand got it right. The rest of breakfast involved a lot of questions as well as many "Justus, the list " as there were answers.

After breakfast it was time for a bells worth of arts, crafts and refinement with the lady’s. Or in other words harspiel and embroidery practice. Rozemyne was slowly creating the ultimate cape of protection, three layers of magic circles plus a hidden layer of silver cloth sown in. And they call me a walking fortress she mused to herself, wait until they see this. Imagining Ferdinand swirling his midnight blue cape...ahh.

At 3rd bell, she headed to her office, there sat the reason for so many hours of happily lost reading time. They locked eyes and smiled at one another for a brief second before Rozemyne sat down and got started with the Aub Only paperwork pile. Conversation soon turned to the Lanzenavian ship and crew.

Most of the crew were still alive, thank Mestinoria’s Wisdom for that one. While talking about the crew, Hartmut handed her a list of names and jobs "These are the crew that took no part in the attack, and the ones with asterisks are known to have publicly disagreed with those in charge."

"Do any of them speak our language?" Rozemyne asked, but alas not. "So who was the scholar put in charge of learning to speak Lanzenavian?" Of cause no one. It was beneath them all. Rozemyne put her head on the table and sighed. She sighed again putting her hands behind her head.

"You are starting to look like your adopted father, Aub Ehrenfest" said Ferdinand while thinking to himself, oh joy of joys now I have 2 of them.

"Now I know how he feels, prepare to send half the duchy to him as an apology" Rozemyne weakly joked. Gasps filled the office as she continued to speak into her desk."It was a joke that I owe Sylvester many apologies for making him do this with his head over and over again." Without looking up she waved her arm in the air and called Hartmut over. She sat up and whispered a few things in his ear, they shared a look and nodded together.

"No need to worry Ferdinand, I am just getting the professionals involved, I will have a translator in a couple of days at most maybe even tomorrow afternoon." Rozemyne said, still slouching at her desk.

"That is not what I am concerned about, sit up you are the Aub" Ferdinand chided.

"Err thanks for respecting the title and pointing it out" She whined before plastering her face with that horrible falseness. "Those on this list, can we put them on the do not die by accident or neglect list" She asked.

"There is no such list Aub", said Cornelius.

"Whatever, just make sure they are alive and well when I get around to talking to them." Rozemyne spent the rest of the morning humming to herself and wondering what Ferdinand would look like as a shirtless sailor, muscles rippling, sweat dripping...ahh...She even found time to help her spectacularly handsome midshipman do some budget work.

Lunch consisted of fish and a lecture, Rozemyne didn’t really mind. Ferdinand's kindness and care were always hard to understand, but she loved these moments. She happily imagined the lecture that she was sure to get later this week, all that intensity and passion just for her. With the aid of the sound blocker, she asked Ferdinand if he would like to have 'take away' with Benno for dinner tonight but he declined.

That afternoon, Rozemyne spent some time in The Great Library before heading over to the labs. There were a few interesting pieces among the display of items taken from the ships. The treadmill kitchen appliances looked fantastic and Rozemyne could count the large golds that this idea would make. She made sure to grab a copy of the schematics for them before dinner. There was also a telescope, now that was interesting.

What really caught her attention was an ornate box with a 3 tiered keyboard, and another with a very similar box that had a brass horn embedded in it. The side of each box had been removed so the insides could be seen properly. Rozemyne peered inside the "keyboard box", the keys themselves were like one side of a pair of pliers, pressing the key caused it to compressed a crystal or was that a ceramic disk.

Gold filigree joined the 'crystal' and ornate gold work touched everything. Here and there among the filigree, small ceramic balls that were half coated in gold and with a golden attachment point hung from a pair of golden chains. In other parts, a glass tube held what looked like an ultra thin golden wire that was not quite touching the base. The structure was held top and bottom by gold filigree. An ornate wooden disk with scalloped edges, had a cord and weight attached to its axle. Around the outside of the wheel, there was more scroll work, and many pincers and 'crystals'.

At the back of the box the filigree came to a beautifully and carefully crafted coil of gold wire wrapped around a much more mundane piece of metal, Iron. The filigree continued to the base of two golden statues of women with wings attached to the top of the box. They seemed to be trying to hug something looking at the position of their arms.

Rozemyne looked puzzled, then put her ear to one of the half coated ceramic balls, and shock it, she heard a sound of liquid sloshing around. She the flicked one of the glass tubes and watched the wire vibrate. After she finished her examination she stood up, a triumphal gleam in her eye.

"What have you deduced Rozemyne?" Ferdinand asked looking at his all Goddess's eyes

"I need to look at the [receiver] first to be sure." She responded. Her eyes a fire with excitement.

The other box had the same two women with wings, the beautifully crafted coil of golden wire and some filigree that connected to a 'crystal' at the base of the brass horn. She drew a small circle for Verdrenna and when she activated it a clicking noise came from the brass horn.

Giggling she exclaimed, "Its a [radio], wow they are so far, far past us in technology, but why all the fancy stuff, URGH.... nobles being nobles I guess." Rozemyne mused. The scholars around her had dismissive looks on their faces. She just glared at them.

"What is it? That word you made up means nothing to anyone here" Ferdinand prompted, knowing full well that he was about to hear the words 'Justus, the list' from his all Goddess.

"Oh, to put it simply that is for sending an Ordonnanz" she said pointing to the box with a keyboard. "And that is for receiving an Ordonnanz" pointing to the box with a brass horn. "Well, it is not technically an Ordonnanz but it is close enough for you to get the idea"

Ferdinand scratched his head and pondered how can an Ordonnanz not be an Ordonnanz, Rozemyne laughed and said, "It is common sense" paying Ferdinand back for all the times he had said that to her, because she wasn't an arrogant, sycophantic, amoral sociopath.

They left the lab and returned to the castle. Bid farewell to each other, made plans for breakfast and went to their own chambers. Rozemyne asked for her dinner to be put on a trolley so she could eat in her hidden room back in the Great Library.

At 6th bell she teleported home with her trolley of food. "Mum, Dad, I'm home", she called out as she opened the door. Her family happily greeted her, while Benno looked like hell had just frozen over. "Don’t panic Benno, I just need some information and maybe a favour." She laughed as she served all the food on her trolley. Myne however grabbed a plate of her mum’s cooking. AHHH, Its so nice to be home she thought and hugged everyone again.

Eating a lovely home cooked meal Rozemyne chatted happily with her family and friends. Halfway through dessert she asked Benno how the merchants talked with the Lanzenavians. He responded that there were a few translators in the merchant guild. "I need one of those translators either tomorrow or the day after, the faster the better" She stated.

Benno thought for a second and said, "Yeah, I should be able to get one tomorrow. What's your budget?" He asked.

" Why. Doesn’t everyone want to gain favour from their Aub?" Ever the merchant, she wasn’t about to pay the excessive amounts most nobles were conned into. "Honestly, I just really, really need to talk to the crew of those ships before....." She trailed of.

"Before what?" Benno asked.

"Before half the country disappears, it’s ummm complicated..." She responded looking like a scared shumil to Lutz.

Lutz paled and asked, "Noble stuff?", to which Myne shock her head. "Dream world stuff?" to which Myne just nodded. "Don’t haggle Benno, not everything in Myne's dream world is safe. Just get her talking with 'em." he said in a concerned voice. Benno said he would go to the guild in the morning and have a translator sent to the castle. Myne gave him a pass and emergency summons letter so the translator would be brought before Rozemyne as soon as they got to the castle. She also gave Benno a few small and large silver.

Myne relaxed and smiled at the outcome. She spent the rest of the bell, laughing, joking and generally being a normal person. Not once did she have to put on that painful mask, she could just be herself. Regretfully she headed back to the castle just before 7th bell.

FIREDAY

Next morning after sniffing Ferdinand for the scent of the nightmare potion she told her God of Darkness that she had organised a translator. Leiseleta raised an eyebrow, how had the Aub organised a translator overnight? Rozemyne spent the rest of a lovely meal answering questions and gazing into the most beautiful eyes in the world. They organised another 'educational' event for after dinner.

During music practice today she started working on arranging a new song. The lyrics were all about wanting to be in Alexandria rather than at the Royal academy to a tune by the mamas and the papas

All the leaves are brown (All the leaves are brown)

And the sky is grey (And the sky is grey)

I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)

On a winter's day (On a winter's day)

I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)

If I was in the library of Alexandria. (If I was in the library of Alexandria.)

Alexandria dreamin' (Alexandria dreamin')

On such a winter's day

Stopped in to a temple

I passed along the way

Well, I got up on one leg(got up on one leg)

And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)

You know the priest liked the cold (Priest liked the cold)

He knows I'm gonna stay (Knows I'm gonna stay)

Alexandria dreamin' (Alexandria dreamin')

On such a winter's day

All the leaves are brown (All the leaves are brown)

And the sky is grey (And the sky is grey)

I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)

On a winter's day (On a winter's day)

If I didn't tell them (If I didn't tell them)

I could leave the dorm today (I could leave the dorm today)

Alexandria dreamin' (Alexandria dreamin')

On such a winter's day (Alexandria dreamin')

On such a winter's day (Alexandria dreamin')

On such a winter's day

It had nothing to do with being separated from Ferdinand for an entire season, not at all. She then went to her office for a bell, totally working hard and not sighing and breathlessly moaning occasionally while looking at Ferdinand. "Rosina and I crafted a new song today all about missing Alexandria. I thought we might use it as a bit of an anthem" She said to her favourite pop star.

"Really, you will need to play it for me latter. You know how keen I am for your songs" The reason for the song said.

" I will play it for you during lunch" The shumil chirped. But just before lunch a message came that a commoner with a summons had appeared at the gate. The women named Marina was escorted straight to a waiting room just to the side of the dinning hall. To everyone’s shock Rozemyne invited Marina to lunch. She stared down everyone that wanted to complain and even asked them if it was treason to defy her. Her Ehrenfest retainers already knew that Rozemyne held commoners in high regard but it came as a shock to her new Alexandrian staff.

It took to after the entree for Rozemyne to calm the trembling Marina to relax enough to start talking. "Benno said that you were different from most nobles, but I didn't believe him. You are the Aub but you and your consort are actually nice." Marina said hesitantly.

"Oh, I have known Benno for most of my life, he taught me how merchants actually work. Ferdinand even spent a few years working WITH him while I was asleep" Rozemyne severely emphasised the word WITH.

Marina blinked a few times and looked in surprise at Rozemyne and Ferdinand. Finally she calmed down enough to enjoy a lunch that most people would never get to experience. She even heard the Aub play a brand new song all about her longing for the duchy while away at the academy. That night when Marina got home the legend of The Divine Avatar of Mestinoria, The Holy Savior of the Dutchy, The Saint of Ehrenfest, Aub Alexandria would grow a little larger. It said a lot that being the Aub was considered the least of Rozemyne’s titles.

After lunch Ferdinand escorted Rozemyne to talk to the sailors, the story they told was fascinating. The god Cocoacacophany had sent a holy rock from the sky that landed in a small lake. The lake boiled away. The divine rock was then broken up so it could be taken to the capital. Most people who came near the rock died with horrific burns, except those that transported it a lead box. The story confirmed everything Rozemyne feared, as she trembled holding Ferdinand’s hand.

Rozemyne looked up into Ferdinand’s beautiful eyes, but even they could only slightly diminish her absolute fear. She called out to Clarissa to write a letter to the Zent that she would be opening the country gate at some point for half a bell to get rid of the nuclear bombs docked in her harbour.

Ferdinand hadn't seen his little shumil this scared since she awoke from her first Jureve. Not even when she saved him in the supply room was she this scared. "Rozemyne, what do you think we should do?" He asked.

"There is enough crew to send the ships back through the gate but what about the ones we sunk. I am really scared." There was nothing but panic in her moon like eyes. "Ferdinand, how do we get the wreckage from the bottom of the sea and get rid of them. You know how deadly they are. What if a reactor breaks down, half of the country will die. Help me Ferdinand, make everything OK. Please I'm begging you, I don’t know what to do." Rozemyne pleaded with tears streaming down her cheeks.

For the first time in his life Ferdinand did not have any ideas on how to help his all Goddess who had broken down in tears in front of everyone. He did the only thing he could do, he hid her in his cape and held her tightly. After a long while she stopped sobbing but refused to let him go. He barked orders to Justus to stop the examination in to the ships and to Hartmut to find anyone who may have a magic circle or tool for exploring the sea floor.

It was Marina that had an answer. "If I may be allowed to speak?" she asked timidly. Ferdinand raised an eyebrow " You may"

'Well, there are some among the fisherman that deep dive for fun, they have much of the sea floor mapped, maybe they could help" Marina informed them in a quite voice.

"Really?" A dishevelled shumil stuck her head out from under Ferdinand’s cape.

"Yes your Grace, would you care for me to bring them to you?" Marina shyly offered.

"Please do. Clarissa could you see to the summons please, I am not sure that they will believe Marina if she just told them to turn up at the castle." A now happier shumil chirped.

Cornelius glared, Lenore shock her head and Leiseleta made a comment about propriety. Rozemyne looked up into those dreamy and now somewhat conflicted eyes and asked if she could borrow Justus for some quick information gathering. She had enough of her subordinates questioning her.

"He is rather busy at the moment, how long will you need him?". Not long she replied a few bells here a few bells there should do it.

She then gave Roderick a list of many, many questions that Marina would need to translate and receive answers. With that she returned to her office with Ferdinand.

"I am getting VERY annoyed with my current retinue" Rozemyne whined over dinner when the sound blocker was activated.

"Why?" Her light blue haired all Gods asked.

"They keep looking down on me for expressing my emotions, and before you carry on LISTEN to me. Yes I am fully aware on how totally retarded Yurgenschmidt culture is, see I am learning. Is not objections to an Aubs whims treason? You said so yourself many times when I wanted to chastise Sylvester. Did not you tell me to question someone of higher rank is unforgivable and that those of lower rank must OBEY?" The Aub said with her perfect noble smile. "Well pray tell me, my dear God of Darkness, WHO is the highest authority in MY duchy, if not all of Yurgenschmidt?"

Ferdinand tapped his fingers against his temple a few times "You still do not have..."

"ENOUGH, I do not want to hear it again, Noble common sense. Yes I have heard your excuses before. Ferdinand, I will accept your council and guidance, but you must understand that this culture is doomed to failure. I once told you that the revolutions caused by printing didn’t apply here because the land needed Nobles. I was wrong"

"How? Without nobles the land will die. You said so yourself" Ferdinand said, his noble mask twitching ever so slightly.

"Without MANA the land will die, but as we both know a non noble can become more powerful than the Zent. We need more mana not more nobles. Nobles are generally useless individuals, as bad as Sigiswald. A total waste of air."

"What are you planning?"

"The complete reworking of MY citizens. Yes I know there will be open rebellion to my ideas. I will gather support and implement it slowly, but I WILL force some things through within the next season. Besides that we are the two most powerful people in the country. If we stand side by side WHO could ever beat us?"

"How do you suppose the rest of Yurgenschmidt will react?"

"Who cares, did you not say that an Aub can manage their Duchy as they please?"

"I did but.."

"NO BUTS, the book of laws deals with INTER duchy politics not INTRA duchy politics."

"You are very dangerous Rozemyne and if anyone found out about your plans.."

"I think that this whole country is just my residual neural activity as I die under a ton of books. I don't care anymore, it has all become a [video game] to me. I have my dream Library, the most beautiful place in two Worlds. You are my perfect man Ferdinand. As wise as Merlin, as strong as Hercules and as beautiful as Adonis. In what world does that happen, you and Alexandria are a fantasy made true or a dying wish. And as for my plans, well I intend to do nothing more than cut them out of the financial loop. Those who do not work don’t eat." Rozemyne sighed.

"Who are Merlin, Hercules and Adonis?"

"Really, that is your question? Oh well. Three great legends, a mighty magician who was a king maker, the next was the strongest man in the world who was tormented by the gods and the last was the most beautiful man ever born who was the lover of two goddesses from my Dream world. OK Ewigeliebe, lets go have our Moogle time. Astronomy tonight."

Ferdinand escorted me to my chambers, but half way there, I shifted my hand from Ferdinand’s arm and interlaced my fingers with his. Then took a mental note of all those who objected. They will all be given repugnant jobs, or if they were lucky just unemployment for those whose face had just changed for a second.

As Ferdinand and I got comfortable for our hug, I mean lesson, I told Justus to give us a half a bell longer. As soon as we synchronised Ferdinand started on a lecture.

"What do you think you were doing, holding hands so brazenly?!"

"Ferdinand, it as a test. I told you I am sick to my eyeballs with your shitty, pathetic, repulsive culture. Consider it to be my first step in reform. Why do you hate holding my hand?"

"No, But in public!"

"PUBLIC, HA that’s a joke, we were travelling to MY chambers, in MY secure wing in MY castle in MY Dutchy. What part of that is PUBLIC?" The frustration from Rozemyne flooded over Ferdinand.

"Our retainers saw us. What part of that do you not understand?"

"So you are saying, we can not trust our personal retainers, fine. Now I know why you, Veronica and Georgine only have name sworn. Fine that’s what I will do too. See I am learning. Time for orbital mechanics and why this is all just me dying."

So Ferdinand saw how the moons planets stars and galaxy were arranged, how stars worked, how planets formed, how electromagnetic radiation worked how gravity worked what the telescope was and finally what the moon and the planets looked like up close and the ships that we were building to colonize our Solar system.

"Do you see now why this world can not exist, the stars and moon do not move they fade in and out. The only way that that would work would be if this shithole of a country was at the center of the Universe. That would require the entire universe to be tidally locked except for the sun. Why would the universe be tidally locked while the local star was not?"

"Because the Gods willed it?" He hesitantly responded. " If your frame of reference was from within the spinning universe then you wouldn’t notice it"

"Hmm, It may explain expansion if the universe was spinning faster the further it got from the center, a giant centrifuge. That’s an interesting idea Ferdinand, you mad scientist you." even asleep she smiled.

"Well my Merlin, please relax. I have a memory just for you, do not break contact even though you think every one is rutting and evoking winter. Is that OK"

"Is it that shameless?"

"It may well be, if you were a little child and had a Schtappe shoved so far up your own arse you can not move. This is what is called respectable and refined in my world."

A vision of people filling into a large auditorium, the men were wearing strange commoner clothes that looked really well made, but the women were for the most part naked.

Ferdinand noticed that while the women wore only flimsy black underwear, no one really took much attention to it except other women. They walked to their seats and sat down. In front of him was a stage with so may more strange looking objects. Were are we?"

"A concert hall, I didn’t think you could take a rock concert, this is the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. The 1812 overture, relax wait for the orchestra"

"What are all those positions?"

"They are spots for musicians wait a second"

Rozemyne’s memory skipped to the beginning of the piece

der der der der derr

der der der der derr

Rozemyne sat back and just remember the music.

"Ahh, I love that piece of music"

"Rozemyne.." Ferdinand asked quietly " Is this why you are so good at music?"

"Oh. I can play this instrument" the scene changed. A young women with long black hair sat at a piano

"This is the Blue Danueb no...."

"My Charges, It has been 2 bells" Justus said while putting his hand on our shoulders.

As they woke up Rozemyne held on to Ferdinand a little longer than was needed as they tried to untangle their locked bodies. To which there was no comments. Ferdinand was the first to speak, "That music, I never imagined anything could be so rich, the intensity, the majesty it as truly divinely inspired."

"Oh, that was about the fall and then liberation of a city during a particularly bloody war from about 200 years ago."

"Well, we can always recreate it here. It wouldn’t take more than a year or two. I will have the schematics for the instruments running around up here somewhere. I really think a culture district with concert halls, theatres and art galleries would be very profitable, mmm maybe a few resorts and restaurants. It would be raining gold!" Said the most beautiful women in the world while she tapped her temple. Her full merchant mode written on the face that had been blessed by Efflorelume. " I would love to put on a black dress, some heels and spend an evening or three listening to music like that again."

"I too would love that, but you do realise that every man in that room would have to die for seeing you dressed like that."

"Oh Ferdinand, I’m going to take you to the beach next" The gremlin grinned, "Or would you like me to show you something even I would find shameless."

"For you to find something shameless. I hate to think, please do not give me a heart attack."

Giggling, his all goddess gave a cute curtsy and reminded Ferdinand not to spend all night with the telescope, and that she would see him at breakfast. After Ferdinand left, she retired to her hidden room to whip up a few dress designs to give to Tuuli, they all had the words, skin tight and black written on them. A few high heel shoe designs latter and she was finished. She had pointedly ignored the repeated calls over the intercom.

As she stepped out of her room she muttered to herself that she needed to have a mute button installed. After a lecture about some retarded cultural norm that she flatly refused to listen to she got changed for bed with a quick washen. Another name went on her mental list for those who were REALLY REALLY pissing her off. After a good night sleep, Rozemyne got up early and went into her hidden room, Gretia just said Good Morning. Stockings and garters, bras and panties were on today’s fashion list. By second bell she had the designs worked out. The voice of Leiseleta came from the communication tool, who then lectured the Aub on how to be lazy and waste time in the morning as was proper. Rozemyne of cause ignored her.

LEAFDAY

That morning over breakfast, the conversation was all about plans for a cultural vacation location. The biggest difference was the disagreement over the beach resort. Rozemyne insisted that a beach resort is absolutely necessary, Ferdinand was horrified by the idea. Plans were made for a MOOGLE session to get the specifics of string, percussion, wind, brass and woodwind instruments.

Ferdinand escorted Rozemyne to the Aubs office, just after they arrived at her office, she slipped her hand from Ferdinand's Arm and hugged him around waist. Cornelius and Lenore instantly went to draw their schtappes. Rozemyne just glared daggers at them when they started to prattle on, Oh I wonder how they will like this. She jumped up and kissed Ferdinand on the cheek. Uproar. As they were screaming some dribble, she cleared the room of the bothersome duo.

Ferdinand stared at her with yet another processing error. He would really need to have his O.S. updated soon. All these crashes will give him permanent brain damage. Skipping over to her desk she sat down and started on her pile of papers. Not long afterwards a sound blocking tool was placed on the one she was working on. She picked it up without even looking up.

"What was that all about?" Ferdinand asked. She didn’t even need to look at him to know he was smiling his most polite smile.

"Cleaning out deadwood, why? Oh, can you get Justus to look into this please." She said handing him a note that she had up her sleeve.

"Do you know what you....."

"BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH" Rozemyne said waving a hand at him to get to work and putting the sound blocker down. She knew that this was completely unfair to Ferdinand, but you cant make an omelet without cracking an egg.

A little while later she called Hartmut over and asked him if he had any luck with underwater magic but he had not. She then asked him to speak to the deep divers if they turned up this afternoon while she was unavailable.

"Oh Ferdinand. How did you enjoy the telescope last night?" She re framed from teasing him about sneaking looks through her window. The upcoming shit show was all on her and she knew it, so she re framed from the teasing.

"It was fascinating, but I am getting a better idea on what you mean by this place is truly made by the gods. How large can they be made?" Everyone in the office pretended not to listen.

"Much much larger, that one is kind of a toy. We can always build an observatory when we add in the beach resort and tourist traps" Rozemyne said tapping her pen on her lips. "Hey Ferdinand, I haven’t noticed any [steel foundries] or [smelters] in the list of industries are there any?"

"Are you making up words again?" Ferdinand grimaced

"I guess I am" she sighed. Under her breath she muttered something about how knuckle dragging cave men are less of a pain to deal with. "I will have to contact the blacksmiths guild then"

Ferdinand just raised an eyebrow.

"You know it was easier to get shit done when I was a sickly little 6 year old while I was in hiding than it is now that I am Aub." She grumbled.

"It is for your safety........"

"Well, in that case. Lets make the Duchy safe. Do you have a list of all those who are problematic?"

"Yes, I have. Why?"

"Go get me all their medals. Its Hasse time!"

"Rozemyne, you can not just execute them all" Every ones faces paled.

"Sure I can, just stand there and watch. Like you made me do." People started to panic. "Its not like we need them. We can kill them all and place their kids in the temple. That way we may get some useful nobles." People started to tremble. One scholar went to quickly leave the room, but she was bound in light before she got halfway to the door. Rozemyne sauntered over to her.

"Messer" Rozemyne chanted. "My, My, My What do we have here?" Her best Lady of evil smile on her face. "I am guessing you are on the list, Ferdinand?"

"Yes her family is on the list. Rozemyne we need to talk! "

"Make an appointment for over tea say in at least 3 days preferably this time next week. We need to keep up with noble decorum after all. I may have to scratch my arse for a while. Now who else in the castle is on that list? and WHY PREY TELL are Georgine sympathisers in MY [FUCKING] OFFICE!"

"We needed evidence, TALK! NOW! ROZEMYNE" To which she just dismissed his comment with a wave.

"Leiseleta, be a dear and retrieve a synchronization potion and some liquid mana for me, along with the circlets and mana matching tool"

Ferdinand had enough and picked his demonic gremlin up and headed for a private room, Rozemyne ordered Angelica to make sure no one left the room before she started a bloodbath in the Aubs office.

As soon as the door closed Ferdinand dropped her unceremoniously on a sofa. "What has got into you?" he barked.

"Clarissa informed me we had a leak in the office, I have found the leak." She beamed. "It isn’t like I am going to actually going to go against Mestinoria’s decree. I do want back in to her Paradise. You should have Lord Of Eviled with me. You know I wont risk paradise, or did my little test for everyone fry your brain?"

"A little" He admitted blushing slightly.

"Sorry about that Ferdinand, I never meant to worry you like that." Rozemyne sheepishly said as she moved to sit next to him and hold his hand. "So we will read her memory to confirm it."

"Those are only to be used only on the worst criminals"

"Or tiny little powerless girls, I guess"

"That was to see if you were a danger to Ehrenfest."

"And this is to see if she is a danger to Alexandria" Rozemyne retorted.

"Fine" he said, "But why now?"

"I am in a hurry to get those ships out of our harbour. Which means I am going to be moving around a lot in the next few days. And I am not terrorising my people, having to drag around a bunch of stuck up nobles. Half of whom I do not trust and the ones I do trust chastise me for not wasting bells of time a day with pointless greetings enforced on my friends, family and business associates all to stoke their egos."

"You do seem to have lost what little patience you had"

"I am super busy, not just with the usual Aub/Temple stuff. We need, steam engines, industrialised pulping machines, mills and looms, trains, [trams] umm small trains and now I find I have to "Invent" basic steel works, just to build the tools we need to build the tools to make the machines. Throwing me behind another 2 to 3 years. So much for my entertainment district, my plans for aqueducts and running water in every home. My plans for a hospital, a court house, schools, changing the role of some of the soldiers to [police].. umm law enforcers and about a million other public works. How much longer do I have to wait to free all of those with the devouring from slavery? How long to I can outlaw rape and murder, theft, corruption, child trafficking and slavery? What about religious reform, no more temple weddings for 2nd and 3rd spouses and getting those lazy cows of their sofas to get and do something useful. How long do I have to pay people so they can spend half of their work day saying hello and good by to each other or bowing when someone walks past them! Tell me Ferdinand? How long? and you want me to wait 2 to 3 times longer for the sake of decorum? Not happening" Rozemyne finally deflated after letting it all out

"My poor little shumil" Ferdinand said giving her hand a light squeeze. "You seem to be putting a lot on your shoulders. Write me a list of what you want done in order, we will do this together." He said and kissed the back of her hand. "But you know that little "Test" this morning is going to run through the noble quaters like wild fire. You are going to get quite the reputation."

"Like I care what a bunch of gossiping fat lazy housewives think. Its not like I’m a little girl trembling at what the 'older and wiser ladies' say. Besides what can they do, ostracize me from their little tea parties. 'PRAISE BE TO THE GODS'" and yes of cause a little blessing from Glucklitat had to leak out. "At least I will put the absolute fear of the gods into them once my little Hasse speech gets out, when they see you are the only one who can truly control me you will be a lot safer. I know there has been a few attempts to dispose of you in just the last week."

"How do you know?"

"I am the Aub", she winked. "Come on we have work to do. I am not paying you to sit around having personal conversations with your cute fiancee." Grinning from ear to ear she dragged Ferdinand to the door before straightening up and putting a stick up her own arse.

Ferdinand whispered "You could not afford me" with a teasing smile as he opened the door.

As she walked out the door, she asked Ferdinand if anyone else here was on the list. Glaring coldly at everyone to which Ferdinand replied that they were all from the anti Gorgine faction.

Rozemyne clapped once, gave a beaming smile and sat down to work. When Leiseleta returned with the required materials the now urine soaked crying women was taken in to 'help the police with their inquires. Rozemyne handed Strahl a sound blocking tool and asked him to assign at least one knight to her office for the remainder of the morning from the Georgine faction. She then gave Ferdinand her best Lady of Evil smile. By the time it was 4th bell rang, the brave knight was convinced that the Aub just wanted to execute every problematic person in the Dutchy, but was finally talked into just testing everyone in the castle with Schutzaria shield and making everyone swear on the goddess of light crown. The next day there would be a rush of resignations, 3/4s of whom 'disappeared' within the next month along with most of their families. All while the amount of children in the temple and orphanage increased, the availability of fully charged fey stones skyrocketed and stayed at a very respectable level. But best of all, over 70 devouring slaves had been set free and the mana reserves in the temple were at an all time high. The Legend of the Saint of Ehrenfest and Lady of Evil grew a little larger.

After lunch Rozemyne bade fair well to her divinely inspired God of Darkness and with a promise for dinner headed to the Great Library to read. As soon as she got to the library, she headed straight to her hidden room and teleport down town. She left the new fashion patterns on Tulli’s bed and headed out to speak to Zack to find out 2 things, how big could the bell founder make a bell, how long it would take, and what would be the largest they had on hand. What type of steel they had, how large a sheet they could make, what type of foundry they had. Not that any of this put a smile on her face as they didn’t even have crucible steel, but just bashed an iron/charcoal mix until it got harder and as well for a foundry, it was at best a cast iron sand mould. For his troubles Rozemyne gave Zack the schematics for the treadle mixer which was going to be very valuable for those doing mass catering. Zack and Rozemyne grinned at each other thinking of all the gold they were about to make. With the promise of some other versions of the deadly treadly, Rozemyne headed to a coopers to find out about the largest barrel available. She then headed home, dropped a form of to Benno to get about 50 printed for some actual reading about small boat construction, unfortunately there were no books on metallurgy.

Dinner that night was full of exciting news and pleasant conversation. Her gallant handsome knight told her that the scholar had revealed that she was trying to poison Ferdinand, so that her brother could marry Rozemyne. A truly stupid plan. Rozemyne laughed and joked about making a type of Jureve that would keep a person suspended, never awakening, so that they can be drained forever. Ferdinand actually raised an eyebrow and started to formulate an idea. A wicked grin spread across his face. Rozemyne laughed at the sight and said, "Maybe, a reversed blessing from Schlaftraum. Eternal nightmares as an extra punishment and it obeys Mestinoria’s demands."

"You are truly the Lady of Evil, that is so very, very cruel and creative." His all goddess beamed a truly beautiful smile at his compliment. "I had a good teacher, and for a little extra, maybe even put them on display as well. We could decorate the main hall. Try to hurt MY dark god, and you will never find peace and even death will not free you as you will be barred from the Towering Heights"

Ferdinand laughed, a real deep laugh that reached his sparkling eyes.

The sight took the breath away from Rozemyne and made her heart jump. The rest of the meal was spent in a confused blur. Did they have tea after dinner? How did she get back to her chambers? That night she had some very strange dreams about Ferdinand, and when she awoke in the morning she felt light and was in a particular good mood. She rose early and read reports from Marina and Hartmut, here there was some good news. The ocean floor was in fact mapped in the region where one of the ships sunk and that one of the sailors was in fact the ships engineer. That last piece of news put a giant grin on her face.

WINDDAY

Rozemyne practically skipped to breakfast, humming happily. After her morning sniffing session of Ferdinand, she sat down to breakfast with her sparkly god of darkness.

"Ferdinand, is there a way to use the Schutzaria sigil to create bubbles of air in water?" Rozemyne asked her beautiful genius.

"Why?" Ferdinand raised an eyebrow

"You know for a yes or no question, the answer why is not what I expected" Rozemyne raised an eyebrow in return.

Ferdinand sighed, "A qualified yes then. Now why?"

"To adjust buoyancy and supply air to a [diving bell]." Rozemyne responded, then paused in thought for a second. "Please bring me a large glass jug filled with water and just a plain glass." When the items were put in front of the Aub, Rozemyne continued "We need air while at the bottom of the sea, so watch." Rozemyne inverted the glass and pushed it into the water. "See, air underwater. A [diving bell]." Ferdinand grabbed the glass and tried it for himself, Rozemyne chucked while watching her mad scientist explore a new idea.

After breakfast, a bells worth of ladies time was spent practicing the harspiel during which she kept drifting off into wistful love songs much to the giggles of everyone there. Ferdinand’s fortress cloak received a few random blessings from Geduldh, Ewigeliebe and the supreme couple between sighs if Rozemyne wasn’t kept talking about anything else besides Ferdinand.

The office this morning was very subdued for some reason, as she sat down and started on her paperwork. After a while Ferdinand was handed one of Rozemyne’s completed reports to which he frowned.

"Rozemyne, would you care to explain why this report has flowers and those hearts that you are so fond of doodled in the corner?" Ferdinand asked passing the report back to Rozemyne. She just shrugged, signed the art work and handed it back. "Its cute" was her only response.

"If you have enough time for art, maybe we should have Wilma teach you, but it will cut down on your reading time." Ferdinand glared at her.

Rozemyne looked horrified and shock her head, stopped, looked thoughtful for a moment then grinned. "What a wonderful idea Ferdinand. You are the best!" His cheerful shumil said. Take away my reading time hey Dino, you are going to regret this threat Rozemyne thought. "Schedule it for Earthday, I will sacrifice even more of my leisure for you." Everyone froze, unable to believe what they had just heard.

"What are you planning? This is unnatural, who are you and where is Rozemyne?" Ferdinand asked after he rebooted.

"I’m planning to learn to paint, like a proper ornament should." Rozemyne responded dryly. She was in fact planning to make a retro scope or flip book animation of Ferdinand singing, have the images reprinted a few times and send them to his most ardent of fans, along with a recording. PAYBACK!!!!! Rozemyne pulled out her dipstick and in Japanese wrote a few reminders to contact the glass makers and blacksmiths. Chuckling to herself she returned to work.

Over lunch everyone just kept looking sideways at her like she had grown another head.

"What are you doing after lunch Rozemyne?" asked a still perplexed Ferdinand.

"I have a meeting with one of the Giebes about a new agricultural zone, then I was going to brew a new hidden room, entry broach, high beast and Heavy Armour fey stones. Establish the hidden room just for art in the temple, order the supplies I need to start my lessons. There may be a few reports come in from the city, so I might have to see to those too. Oh, that’s right and I need to talk to Raymond as well. So not much really If I have time I was going to try out my new high beast idea but if not I might try it out after MOOGLE or in the morning when I wake up. What about you?"

"You are getting rid of that fat grun?"

"I don’t see what Lessy has to do with your afternoon plans. But no, I just have an idea I want to try out." Rozemyne quipped, with a slight look of exasperation on her face that she did not even try to hide.

"I was going down to the labs, I will tell Raymond to expect you at some point. What do you need him for?"

"An efficient circle that produces [torque] and a much smaller and simpler recording device"

"And why do you need those?"

"I want to make the equivalent of a 1.5 [volt motor] and something to record a few bars of music on, and before you ask I will show you once I build whatever it is I am making. If I tell you now, it will ruin the surprise." The gremlin grinned.

"The castle seems a bit quieter today." Rozemyne tried to change the subject.

"Yes well, Ordoschnelli has been busy with your Hasse speech. There have been a not unsubstantial flood of resignations" The Lord and Lady of Evil just chuckled to each other.

"That reminds me we do need to do it too. 3 days from now at 3rd bell. Its a rush after all." The Lady of Evil said rolling her eyes.

"Oh, and that reminds me" said Ferdinand, "Justus will have that report you asked him for tomorrow." To which The Lady of Evil's smile grew wider.

After lunch Rozemyne had her meeting, it took all most as long to say hello and goodbye as it took to hammer out a deal to double the size of the flax and hemp fields in his Provence. Frustrated by the inefficiencies of nobles she headed of to brew. After a couple of time saving circles she pocketed the fey stones. She only winced a few times at the stones and headed to the temple.

As Rozemyne walked along the corridors, she started to wonder if she should just get a sign to carry that said, back to work people as everyone kept kneeling. She told Wilma of her art lesson plans and asked her to order the required supplies and a small box of the thicker card stock. After establishing an art studio that was far to large and giving her angel a registration broach, she headed to the labs.

At the labs Raymond said he could easily change the recording tool, but had no idea how to create axial rotation. So the shumil hopped over to bug Ferdinand who was just on his way to dinner. After pestering the long suffering gremlin wrangler all the way back to the castle, he said he would look into it.

Dinner once again was delicious, the conversation light and cheerful. Rozemyne told her hansom prince about the meeting, her art studio and Wilma. She bemoaned not having time to test out her new high beast design. Ferdinand told his fair princess about the results of the latest fey plant, spice and staple crop experiments, what they were planning to do next and an estimation of how long before some of the really promising crops could be bought to market.

After dinner it was MOOGLE time, they didn’t even pretend to drink the fake potions and drifted of wrapped around each other.

"Before we start looking at instruments, I just want to double check some things. Is that OK Ferdinand?"

"Nothing scandalous I prey." came Ferdinand’s teasing reply

"What like this" Urano was laying on a crowded beach at the height of summer before the memory quickly changed. Amusement washed over Ferdinand, but he was to shocked to notice.

The next memory was of a couple of really cheesy Saturday morning kids robot shows. Ferdinand was still rebooting, by the time he was back online there was a book on the various types of instrument families open.

"Rozemyne, what was that?"

"Oh, you're back, that was my beach holiday from when I was 16. Mum thought I might actually not read on the beach. Forget about me teasing you, and by my worlds standards that still wasn’t scandalous. Lets begin"

So Ferdinand learnt about the various families of instruments, what they are made of, how they worked. Construction methods, schematics, materials, tuning, instructions on how to play, string and reed construction. They listened to what the instruments sounded like, how they harmonised then listened to some more full performances. Ferdinand finally got to listen to Urano play a Moonlight Sonata. While they were listening to an electric Bandura, Justus called to them.

As they slowly untangled themselves Rozemyne asked, "What did you think of the electric harspiel?"

"Your World is so full of wonders, but", Ferdinand paused. "That beach, and you were there. How? Why? What was your mother thinking? Were you not ashamed?"

Rozemyne laughed then answered "How? By train. Why? Because it was summer. What was mum thinking? Books and no I wasn’t ashamed, annoyed that I had to miss out on a bit of reading, but that was normal. No one cared, it was the beach. The harspiel?"

"It is amazing to think your world has it too. Do you have other memories of listening to it?" Ferdinand asked with a slight plead in his voice.

"One or two, but there isn’t much in here" Rozemyne taped her head, "on an obscure middle ages Ukrainian folk instrument. Sorry."

"A pity,"

"Oh I get it. You were looking for free songs!" To which Ferdinand just smirked.

"What did you once say to me about my library? Oh yes. What yours is mine."

Rozemyne put on an exaggerated pout then laughed. "If you are going to write anything down tonight, could you please start on instrument creation. The sooner we can get the designs to the craftsmen, the sooner we will be able to listen and play them. I know you, you will try to recreate an entire orchestral piece on a single instrument."

"Maybe, but good night Rozemyne, till the morning" Ferdinand kissed the back of her hand

"May Schlaftraum bless you my God of Darkness" Rozemyne replied stroking his cheek.

After Ferdinand left, and she got ready for bed, Rozemyne headed to her hidden room to try a new high beast idea. She grabbed her new stone, and concentrated. Having come from the home of ridiculously over powered flying suits, Rozemyne formed an image of a power suit in the form of a highly angular shumil. She focused on the high beast stone and poured mana into it. A power suit with shumil ears and a small fluffy tail formed. She walked up behind it and it opened like an iron man suit. Stepping inside she made minute adjustments to the size and position of the limbs then closed the rear hatch. She concentrated and nothing happened. Next she imagined small jets attached to her back and concentrated again and the suit rose up into the air.

She tried forming her schtappe, but there was no room in the glove, so she imagined a small iris valve in the palm of each hand and tried to form her schtappe. The iris valve opened the moment it formed as she chanted lanze. She quickly formed a shield in the other hand and was giddy in delight. Now who’s the bad ass she thought, she dispelled her schtappe then tried to, as fast as she could form duel wielded water guns. They were still cheap plastic see through toys but this is going to revolutionise warfare, or at least help shut up some of her retainers. She dispelled and reformed her high beast over and over, getting it to form around her, next to her, in front of her. She stomped around her hidden room to feel how it moved, then went through some of the basic self deference moves. Standing in front of a mirror, she practised making the tail, ears and nose move. CUTENESS IS POWER.

As much as Rozemyne wanted to play more, it was time for bed. That night Schlaftraum blessed her with dreams of corny 1990 anime and a bunny power suit.

FRUITDAY

The next morning Rozemyne got up early and went to the training grounds to train. Running towards the training dummies she formed her bunny armour and jumped into the air shooting at the targets, cartwheels, loop the loops, spins and twists. Gravity now had no power over her.

Spear and shield were next, which was always fun when they were divine instruments. Just as Rozemyne was about to swoop down on a dummy she noticed a couple of knights watching her. She just floated in the air looking like an angel of war. Soon a grumpy light blue haired knight in shiny armour came onto the training field and yelled

"Who are you?" Ferdinand pointed his sword at her, his voice enhanced.

Rozemyne didn’t say anything as she dispelled her weapons and floated over to land near him as she dispelled her high beast.

"Good Morning to you to Ferdinand, is it time for breakfast already?" Rozemyne smiled sweetly at him.

"What on... no I don’t want to know. Its to early in the morning to deal with you." He sighed.

"Well, do you like my new outfit?" she replied reforming the battle bunny and making the ears twitch fold and rotate.

"It is far to early for this" he muttered. " Is this why you wanted to view those childish stories last night?"

Rozemyne did a flip and dispelled it again as she landed. "Yep, my new high beast. The Battle Bunny! A flying suit of rather cute ultra heavy armour."

"Its far, far to early for this" Ferdinand rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Hmmm, come here dear, let me have my morning sniff. You seem flustered. Did you get enough sleep?" Rozemyne started her morning routine. After she completed her morning check she said she needed to go put on a silly dress and she would meet him for breakfast.

Over breakfast they talked about the Battle Bunny, Ferdinand thought that she should hide it. Rozemyne said it was perfect, she had even added Schutzaria and Leidenschaft sigils giving the suit even more capable offensive and defensive abilities. Ferdinand even more vehemently said that it should be hidden. So she recanted and said she would hide her war machine, but she did ask Ferdinand to create a belt so she could wear it against her skin at all times. She sadly handed her Battle Bunny stone to Ferdinand.

Next they talked about how he had enjoyed the music and asked him about how long did he think it would take to write out the schematics. Ferdinand said that the depth of its complexity was a thing of true beauty blessed by Kunstzeal and that it would take a few days to complete the schematics.

"Did you include the piano?" Rozemyne asked eyes gleaming.

"Of cause. I would love to spend evenings listening to you play, and for you to listen to me. That instrument is truly inspired." Ferdinand looked really, really happy.

“I am looking forward to it” Rozemyne beamed and took Ferdinand’s hands in her own. When there were coughs behind them, Rozemyne’s eyes darkened. “QUITE” she yelled. Ferdinand could tell by the look on her face that she was about to go full Hasse on her retainers.

“Relax please Rozemyne, you are about to execute your retainers are you not.” Ferdinand asked worriedly.

“I am, they dare disrespect their Aub again. They think that I have to conform to their own low moral standards, they all have nothing but sex on their minds. It truly disgusts me.” Rozemyne said coldly. A few gasps were heard around the room, as once again Rozemyne hadn’t bothered to use a sound blocking tool. Another one of her strange ploys thought Ferdinand.

“Leiseleta, I have a task for you” The chill in the air when Rozemyne called her out made everyone freeze. “Prey tell me, why I work my fingers to the bone every day, what do you do?”

“I see to your chambers my Lady” She proudly replied

“Oh, are they going to run away if you are not there?” Rozemyne was on the verge of going full Lady of Evil at this point.

“I must supervise the lay noble in charge of the commoners.” Leiseleta started to dig her own grave.

“And why does the lay noble and the commoners need supervising? Do they not know their jobs” Rozemyne grew darker.

“They are low ranked and commoners, they are not much better than animals and I…..” Leiseleta couldn’t finish her sentence as Rozemyne’s eyes took on a rainbow hew.

“You think MY citizens are animals?” Rozemyne’s mana started to roll in waves at Leiseleta. “You a med noble thinks that they know better than an AVATAR OF A GODDESS, THAT I SHOULD ACT LIKE YOU.” She screamed.

“No my Lady. I just…..” Leiseleta gasped as the waves of mana washed over her.

“I just want you to do what I do because that’s what I know, even though in my heart I know that there is something wrong with my society. Is that what you were you going to say?” Rozemyne chided.

“Your reputation…….” Leiseleta grabbed her chest

“Do you think the Gods care about what an animal thinks, the Gods consider you nothing more than an animal in a barn. Snapping at each other, being forcefully bred for desired characteristics. They are disgusted with your culture, your attitude and your thinking. I am here to change that. Not to confirm your barbaric culture. I am your Aub and an AVATAR OF A GODDESS, not a little child. LEARN YOUR PLACE” Rozemyne was no longer hiding her anger at all.

“Yes my Lady” Leiseleta agreed dropping back to her knees.

“Good, you may resume your position.” Rozemyne smiled.

Rozemyne went back to talking to Ferdinand like nothing happened.

During her Ladies time, a package arrived from Benno along with the letter from the bell makers guild. This made Rozemyne grin. Her playing brightened immediately. She opened the packaged and handed a form to each of her retainers. It was a record of what they did for the day to which Rozemyne thought that it would show that attendants hardly did any work, knights trained and scholars maybe did clerical work…...Maybe. She handed the forms to Hartmut and asked him to get all the castle staff to fill them out.

The bell smiths letter was interesting, they could forge a very large bell in about a week, though not as soon as Rozemyne wanted but it was still a very good turn around time. She instantly ordered the largest bell she could. That should solve at least one of her problems.

That morning during ladies time, Rozemyne played not love songs to which Rosina just raised an eyebrow. Embroidery followed suit and the fortress cloak came even closer to reality. It wasn’t that she hadn’t finished the magic circles, but that Rozemyne was working on the artwork to obscure them.

There were even less scholars than yesterday and Rozemyne suggested that they use their Temple staff while she sat in her office. They were more capable than the nobles and far more reliable. Ferdinand pointed out that the nobles were going to be butt hurt if commoners showed them up to which Rozemyne retorted that as grey robes, she owned them and anyone who interfered with them would be deemed as to have attacked the Aub. Once again Ferdinand regretted torturing Rozemyne with Hasse, she had learnt her lessons far to well.

Chatting away all morning, with only two new artworks, Rozemyne told Ferdinand about her plans to raise the sunken ships. She pointed out that he would need to create magic tools to create bubbles of air but with at least a week to go, he had plenty of time make the tools. A ship was to be adapted to raise and lower the bell with a crane and the deep divers were to be asked about the plan. The nuclear waste in the harbour was soon to be gone, Rozemyne and Ferdinand laughed and grinned at the good news. Though a couple of mega tonne ranged bombs might be handy for dealing with Klassenburg, Rozemyne thought and instantly changed her mind.

Ferdinand escorted Rozemyne to lunch in the family dinning room. Rozemyne was somewhat apprehensive as she turned around to Ferdinand and said, “I was a little worried when you brought me here, I thought I was going to have to counter attack from an ambush from Elvira or Rihyarda.”

“Why would you expect such a thing?” Ferdinand asked quizzically.

“I have been expecting a stern lecture for the last couple of days, I am glad you did not do anything foolish, like forging the Aubs seal to allow foreign nobles into the duchy. Wouldn’t want you to end up in the white tower” She joked. Ferdinand just looked at her with the beginnings of concern.

“Your behaviour has definitely been somewhat unique, even for you. You do not seem like yourself. Are you feeling alright?” Ferdinand asked while performing a health check.

“Mhmm, perfectly alright, better than ever. I am starting to feel like my true self again.” Rozemyne said quietly as she leaned against the Ferdinand’s hand with her eyes closed during the exam.

“Your true self is crushing your retainers and threatening them with death?”

“My true self is playing a video game in my head as I die under a mountain of books, and I don’t know how long this game is going to last before I’m gone. I am just ridding my party of a couple of annoying NPCs the game has lumbered me with.”

“Whats an NPC? “

“Oh a non player character, basically everyone else in the story that isn’t the main character”

“Am I a NPC?” Ferdinand asked hesitantly. Rozemyne froze, was he a npc? She didn’t want to admit that he was. Why did she not want to say it to him?

“No, you are my personal tsundere. Which proves that this is the random neural impulses as my life leaks out. But I intend to have some fun before I go.” She said gazing up into his beautiful eyes.

“I do not want you to go Rozemyne, I could not go back to a life without you.” Ferdinand admitted

Rozemyne’s brain showed a blue screen as 8 bit midi music played.

“Well then my dear tsundere, I will stubbornly stick around for as long as I can for you, even after I die in the real world” She beamed, leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. To her surprise there were no coughs. Good she thought, they are learning.

“May I ask, but what is a tsundere?” Ferdinand asked, his hand still resting on his cheek where Rozemyne’s lips had just caressed him.

“Oh, they are all hard and stern on the outside and all gooey and sweet on the inside. For the right person that is, so just like you.” She deliberately left out the love interest part of the explanation, was that even required, she didn’t know. Rozemyne wasn’t into anime, manga or video games.

“So you think me all soft and gooey? I see, let me dissuade you.” Ferdinand went on a generic rant for the rest of lunch. Rozemyne just sat there, looking forlorn, giggling to herself about how passionate he looked and feeling all warm on the inside. Why am I feeling all so warm and happy? Rozemyne thought.

That afternoon, Rozemyne had a meeting with a couple of Geibes and a tea party. Oh great Rozemyne thought, at least Ferdinand won’t be there suffering with me. One of the Geibes was well known for his breeding program involving Rozemyne’s fellow devourers, so she had Ferdinand give her back her battle bunny feystone. Ferdinand asked if he should attend as well, but Rozemyne just gave him her Lady Of Evil smile, “No thank you Ferdinand. You are far to nice for what I am going to do.”

Ferdinand lifted just one eyebrow asking the unasked question.

“He will be lucky to live through this meeting.” Rozemyne snickered.

“I want to be with you for that meeting.” Ferdinand asked

“I would love that, but I am going to be Urano, not Rozemyne. No humble, meek, polite sociopath, I am going to be a 21^st century woman and that man will be lucky to survive.” Rozemyne said. “Is that OK with you?”

“I would love to see that, I want to know who you truly are.” Ferdinand said and Rozemyne beamed.

“Ferdinand, …...um…….. You actually want to know the actual me?” Rozemyne asked trembling.

“Of cause, you are my one and all. My all Goddess.” Ferdinand responded honestly, I love you, he really wanted to say.

“Well then, please escort me my all Gods.” They happily walked down hall arm in arm to the meeting room to await Geibe Seitzen.

When the Geibe arrived he was forced to enter with only one scholar. His knights objected but when a squad of Alexandrian knights came out of the surrounding doors and corners they knew that this meeting was something far more serious. The Geibe was forced to enter with only one scholar. Inside the room he found The Aub and her consort sitting at a table surrounded by knights and scholars. A single chair was set alone in the center of the room. Cornelius and Lenore basically frog marched the Giebe to the lone chair.

The Geibe started to talk but Rozemyne cut him off instantly. “SILENCE, Hartmut read the charges please.”

“26 cases of destroying the Archduchess property.

Destruction of Alexandrian taxable resources to the value of 5 large gold, 6 small gold, 3 large silver, 2 small silver, 8 large bronze and 3 small bronze normalised over 50 years”

“How do you plead Giebe Seitzen?” Rozemyne asked formally.

“Aub Alexandria, what is going on?” the now worried Giebe asked.

“Let it be recorded that Giebe Seitzen has refused to enter a plea” Rozemyne intoned.

“I am not guilty.” The Giebe stammered. “Where is your evidence?”

Rozemyne stood up and formed the Crown of Light. She asked the Giebe if he was willing to swear to the Goddess of Light to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to which he consented. As he knelt before Rozemyne he suddenly summoned his Schtappe and chanted schwert thrusting towards Rozemyne’s mana organ as Ferdinand cried out her name, jumping over the desk. It struck the chest plate of her battle bunny before her guards even reacted. He was bound in light as Ferdinand embraced her armour and all.

“Are you alright?” Ferdinand asked as Rozemyne dispelled her battle bunny and drawing further into his embrace.

“I am fine, thanks. This is why I wanted my stone back, there was no way I was going to go near this twisted pervert without armour.” Burying her head into his chest, until Cornelius cleared his throat.

Without moving Rozemyne quipped, “If only you would actually protect me from threats rather than my Geduldh.” After a few more moments she said. “Lets get back to it then, shall we.”

“Giebe Seitzen,” Rozemyne said after sitting down. “You life, family, lands and titles are now forfeit. If Mestinoria does not cast divine judgement upon you I shall. You wiped out a hamlet because they hid their daughters still within the embrace of Wiegemilch from you.” Rozemyne then started to prey.

“Oh Mestinoria Goddess of Wisdom, of Schutzaria’s exalted 12 please here my prayer. This sinner before me has broken your divine mandate, offended Beischmacht and harmed those under the protection of Wiegemilch. Please pass your divine judgement upon him. Praise be to the God’s.”

Mana was sucked out of Rozemyne’s ring then white and yellow orbs fell upon the startled Giebe. He bent over screaming holding his groin, then his face distorted as the look of consciousness left his eyes and he started drooling. Rozemyne just smiled and sang in the prayer position, “Praise be to the Gods” shooting mana towards the heavens.

“It seems that the Gods have passed their judgement. Cornelius, take three squads of knights to Seitzen, arrest everyone and search the place. Take anyone with the devouring and the pre baptismal children to the temple. Don’t [fuck] this up, you are on thin ice, brother.”

A pained look crossed Cornelius’ face, as he knelt and crossed his arms. “Yes, my Aub.” Rising he rushed out of the room. As soon as he opened the door a knight asked for permission to enter.

“Aub Alexandria, lights from a blessing fell upon those we were waiting with outside and two of Giebe Seitzen’s knights fell to the ground.” The very worried knight reported.

Rozemyne smiled, “I see, thank you. The Gods do excellent work. Take these 3 eunuchs and put them in the main entrance and guard them.”

Pointing to the horrified scholar she said with a cheerful grin, “Go with them and if anyone asks what happened to them, let them know that the Gods have passed judgement on them for rape and murder.”

The next meeting with Giebe Vulkantak was far more pleasant as it was about what they could do to help the province. Vulkantak bordered Illgner and had the same fey trees as well as being blessed with picture perfect mountain lakes. An agreement to start stockpiling the fey plants and other ingredients for paper making was reached with the understanding that a deal with Illgner would soon be reached and as they were the province with the border gate to Frenbeltag a discussion for opening a mountain spa resort was also discussed.

The tea party was a nightmare, and Rozemyne had to warn the ladies that the next person to offer a spouse or lover would be crushed, bound, stripped naked and hung out of a window. That stopped the stupid cows from continuing as a very soft crushing rolled over all in the room. The rest of the rather short tea party soon concluded.

That evening Rozemyne looked rather exhausted at dinner slumping in her chair and mainly pushing her food around on her plate rather than eating. Ferdinand thought about chastising her for being unladylike but wisely changed his mind as to not put any more pressure on his most beautiful, intelligent, caring all Goddess and instead asked her how the rest of the afternoon had gone.

She looked upon that most handsome of faces and directly into those glorious eyes and said. “Well speaking with Giebe Vulkantak was very productive, he is stockpiling fey wood in anticipation of selling it to Illgner as well as the possibility of a tourist trap for Frenbeltag. The tea party though URGH. I ended up threatening to crush, bind, strip and hang them out of the window for interfering in our love life.” Those beautiful smoky eyes narrowed at that.

“Rozemyne did you threaten Giebe Borks wife?”

“That arrogant fat cow, sure did. I thought she would look funny hanging naked upside down next to those dribbling morons at the front entrance. A BIG don’t fuck with the Gods message” The gremlin said.

“How is offering you or I a second spouse or a lover against the Gods commands. I do not recall That rule.” A rather confused gremlin wrangler retorted. The gremlin just raised an eyebrow.

“Well my God of Darkness, when we have children are you going to put your sword in our daughters chalices’?” asked the gremlin with narrowed eyes.

With a horrified look, well horrified for Ferdinand, responded with. “Of cause not. Why would you even say such a thing?”

“You nobles say it all the time referring to second and third wifes with the names of the daughters of the God of Darkness. What's your problem? The Gods are monogamous or didn’t you notice?” A now somewhat frustrated gremlin pointed out. “Maybe we should have a MOOGLE session on ethics and morals soon.”

“I had not thought about it at all, it goes against common sense.” A perplexed Merlin said to which the gremlin just snorted. “Well enough of that, how was your afternoon?” The gremlin continued.

“I finished the schematics for all the instruments, yes including the piano.” Ferdinand smiled. “And sent them off to Benno to be made and to file the patents.”

The now very excited shumil just clapped her hands together and beamed making giggly chirpy noises.

“Wonderful, just wonderful. I would expect nothing else from my always competent God of Darkness. Thank you so very, very much Ferdinand. I cant wait to play for you.”

“You can always play the harspiel for me while we wait for them to be made” The chief shumil tamer smirked

“That I am always happy to do for you.” The shumil in question called to an attendant to go fetch her harspiel.

After dinner while Ferdinand sipped his tea while reading a report he listened to his pet shumils angelic voice sing in her strange gibberish.

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on

A new beginning, a reason for living
A deeper meaning, yeah

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky
I'll make a wish, send it to heaven then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of

The highest powers in lonely hours
The tears devour you

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Oh, can you see it, baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
Cause' it's standing right before you
All that you need will surely come
Ooh-ooh, yeah

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply do
Mmm, mmm

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to live like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Ooh-ooh
Ooh, yeah
Oh, oh
La-da-da-da-da-da, la-la-la-la
La-da-da-da-da-da, la-la-la

“What was that song? It sounded rather melancholic.”

“Its a song about love and longing. Do you want me to translate it? I don’t think there is anything to shameless.” The shumil said scratching behind her ear.

“Do you mind?” the most gorgeous man in the world said.

“For you, anything.” The adorable little shumil smiled as she started translating it onto her dipstick.

Ferdinand started to read it then put it down with a frown.

“Let me guess, the bathing in the sea. I am so going to get a bikini one day and make you hang out with me all day on the beach. What about the rest of the song?”

“I thought it was endearing, it speaks so much to the love and longing of the singer. And if you ever try to make me hang out for the day like that I will bind my Aub up in bands of light and carry her back to the castle and lock her in her room for a week without a single book.” An exasperated shumil owner grumpt.

“Only if you smack my bum while I have my bikini on.” The cheeky shumil said pocking her tongue out in a very unladylike manner. “Actually don’t do that, my other checks might become your favourite place to punish me.” She chirped laughing with a sly grin.

“Now that is one of your better ideas, come here and let me feel how soft and doughy they are. Your facial cheeks are unsatisfying.” The Lord of Evil grinned his Lord of Evil smile.

“EEEP, No, No, No, No.” The little shumil squealed shaking her head side to side while holding onto her own bottom and trying to back up. The cause of the shumils panic just chuckled to himself.

After the frivolity Rozemyne sat back down and took up the harspiel again. “How about we change that line to something like ‘I want to walk with you along the edge of the sea.’ though its a bit long and will change the cadence of the line. Hmmm oh how about ‘I wanna be with you at the sea.’ in a bikini.” she giggled.

“Much better, and without the bikini.” The sexy taskmaster said.

“Oh how is being completely naked not shameless. You said without a bikini.” The personification of Efflorelume said with a mocked look of horror. So she played it again with the slight change of lyrics.

“My turn if you do not mind. May I borrow your instrument?” Ferdinand asked as if they had not been flirting just a minute ago.

Rozemyne didn’t really pay much attention to the world after Ferdinand sang the first few lines as her brain turned to complete mush at hearing him sing a passionate love song in a style that she could truly understand.

EARTHDAY

The next morning Rozemyne was awoken at 2^nd bell by a giggling Leiseleta. “Good Morning My lady, time to get up. How did you sleep? How were the blessings of Schlaftraum?”

“Err, what. What happened? Its morning? When did I go to bed?” A very confused young women stammered.

“Lord Ferdinand had to carry you to bed last night, you seemed to have stopped working after he sang to you.” The giggling intensified.

As the memory of the night before came back to her, a blush started at her neck. After she remembered her dreams her whole body blushed and she had to hide under the covers. All Leiseleta could hear was the shumil muttering to herself. “Breath Rozemyne Breath. It was just a dream Breath, calm down Breath” After a few minutes she regained her composure.

She floated to breakfast with Ferdinand escorting her. She had food for breakfast she thought, as all she could do was prop herself on her elbow and deeply sigh at her All Gods.

“You seem distracted this morning. Are you alright?” A grinning Lord of Evil said.

“Hm mmm, I now know what those ladies at the concert felt like. You are VERY se… dangerous with that voice.” A dreamy shumil sighed in response. “I thought I was pretty much immune to it, but …… ahhhh. Maybe not, I am sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” The grinning god of seduction asked.

“I know how much you hate it when ladies go gaga for your singing. Sorry.” Rozemyne sighed again.

“Stop saying sorry fool. If it is you, it is alright. You are allowed to go a bit gaga as you call it. I was actually pleased I could move you so much.” Brenwarme’s disciple teased.

“I think I only heard the first few lines last night, that is totally unfair that power of yours.” Rozemyne said with yet another sigh.

“Well snap out of it you absolutely shameless woman you have to go see Wilma today and I don’t want you crashing into the side of the temple because you are to distracted to fly.” A very amused gremlin wrangler teased. “What are your plans for today, besides not crashing?”

“Oh I am a woman today not a girl or child. That’s good, I feel like a woman today, shameless or not. I thought I would spend most of today at the temple and be home for dinner and MOOGLE this evening. I want to catch up with Letizia and have a chat with Fran.” The I’m a woman today said.

“What do you wish to speak to Fran about?” The grinning ex high priest asked.

“Oh, just to see how everything is going and to get the groundwork for some administrators going. See I am not calling them replacement castle scholars. Totally different job that’s below what a noble would do.” The now somewhat more lucid High Bishop replied. “And we need to organise Letizia becoming omni elemental before the start of winter, has she been praying regularly to the divine instruments? Do you know?”

“She has, she is well on her way to being omni elemental but unless she dedicates herself more I do not see her obtaining her Wisdom, but her education is proceeding nicely. A budding honour student definitely maybe first in class depending on the competition.” A rather proud future father said. “But ‘a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet’ as you are so fond of saying. Maybe we should have the paperwork sent to the temple rather than having the grey priests come here.”

“You are probably right about that. I will talk to Fran.” The now alive High Bishop replied.

Rozemyne didn’t crash into the Temple, which was lucky as she did have quite a few things keeping her distracted and she, Angelica and Leonore landed at the main entrance. There was one thing that she noticed when she got there that it was busy, very busy. There were blue and grey robes everywhere, all going about their business. She headed to her art class with Wilma.

“Good Morning, Wilma. I see the Temple is very busy. How are things going?” The curios High Bishop asked.

“We are running out of room to be honest and our food bill is totally out of control.” Wilma replied.

“Well we cant have that, I shall talk to Ferdinand about putting on an extension and maybe building an orchard, vineyard, some fields and vegetable patches. Oh and maybe a few chicken coupes and shumil hutches. What about an apiary as well. Many hands means light work after all. I will jot that all down so I don’t forget when Ferdinand distracts me. How much room is left?” The now somewhat concerned High Bishop asked.

“Not many, about 75 spaces in the orphanage and about 20 spaces in the blue section.” Wilma reported.

“WOW, that is busy. Umm I hate to tell you but you are probably going to get a rather large intake of devouring commoners in next week. I am freeing my people, I mean I am confiscating property of criminals. One scumbag slaver at a time, I wish I could just free them all tomorrow.” Myne lamented.

“Oh Wilma, you should have been there. I have found a way to make killing commoners by nobles almost illegal. The Goddess Mestinoria herself punished the Geibe. Took away his wisdom. He is a dribbling imbecile now, no intelligence at all, and he was well known for his breeding program, so yeah you will be getting a huge influx of probably traumatised women, girls and children. I will come to see them when they arrive.” The High Bishop said somewhat conflicted.

“How did you do it? I mean making killing commoners illegal?” Wilma quizzed.

“Well, I didn’t actually. Since I own everything and everyone in the duchy. Well I charged them with destruction of arch ducal property and loss of tax revenue. See, there’s more than one way to skin a zantze. But the thing was that since they had gone after girls under the protection of Wiegemilch, Beischmacht got a bit riled up and removed their manhood. Yep, a shriveled bit of string was all that was left. PRAISE BE TO THE GODS, they do exemplary work. I was going to go to the shrine latter and offer my thanks. Would you care to join me?” The High Bishop inquired.

“I will offer thanks later, If we have that many coming in next week, I better start organizing things. Thank you for the offer anyway. Shall we begin, I have heard that you have an interesting idea” Wilma replied.

So Rozemyne explained what she wanted to make and how it worked to Wilma’s delight. They soon had piles of cards with faint guides marked out and started roughing in the animation of Ferdinand singing. She didn’t tell Wilma about her lapse of reasoning last night hearing him actually sing. They spent the whole morning giggling, chatting and just having fun until Rozemyne had to leave to have lunch with Letizia.

Letizia was adorable as ever and they spent lunch having a wonderful mother daughter time, the only down side was that Rozemyne had to actually be Rozemyne and not a gremlin. After lunch the pair went to prey, Letizia offered prayer and manna to fill out her colours and Rozemyne offered prayers to every God and Goddess in the pantheon. With a special thank you to Wiegemilch, Beischmacht and Mestinoria. She then offered a special prayer to Gebordnung for her upcoming overwriting of submission contracts from Giebe Drools a Lot. She may have sneaked in a special prayer for Ferdinand to Brenwarme and Kunstzeal so that he would always keep his passion for music and singing.

After prayers she headed off to her chambers to see Fran, discuss the position of administrators and finding out how the Temple was fairing under the load. An expansion was urgently called for. They wiled away the afternoon chatting, catching up on paperwork, planning and generally relaxing while still working. Rozemyne had missed the serenity and peace of the Temple. With a much lighter heart she headed back to the castle for dinner.

Over dinner Rozemyne told Ferdinand of the urgent need for more Temple reform and a monastery for food production to cater to its ever growing population along with an expansion to the school for magic lessons. For both nobles and commoners, she wanted someone who goes through the school to be able to pass up to the final year at the academy. She had the somewhat dubious idea that the commoners be able to make their own not baptismal rings both so that they could control their mana better and to lighten the load on the duchies coffers. To teach compression to the commoners and after they devote enough mana to the divine instruments to give them a blessings acquisition ceremony. To allow those that have the mana and ability to be ennobled if they wish.

“I see now what one of your top priorities are, raising up those with the devouring. It has not escaped my notice that you are going after some of the top nobles in the submission contract business.” Ferdinand said tapping his temple.

“Your right, I have this crazy idea to declare submission contracts a duchy business and buying out all of the remaining contracts. After we cut down the top players of cause. That should work right. All nice and legal, and not just me making decrees from up on high.” Rozemyne asked passionately. “I don’t want anyone to go through what I had to or far far worse. The Temple can start pumping out high mana multi elemental and omni elemental individuals. And they wont be nobles so they will actually get things done.”

“Your opinion of nobles is very low is it not?” Ferdinand asked now pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Well, that’s right Captain Obvious. You don’t really need a schtappe for most things, they are nice, like really nice but not necessary for most things. We could out produce Drewanchel in brewing in a few years. Especially if you and Raymond get together for some serious magic tool inventing, it will create work and gold and a lot of it. Invite Professor Hirshur here to research with you in the off season. What we really need is a substitute for knights for gathering, and well, ‘bang bang’ for that though I am loathed to do it.” Rozemyne mused.

“What does bang bang have to do with knights?” A now more eager Ferdinand asked.

“Real versions of the water gun, some small hand held weapons from my world. It would only take a few years to be able to make revolvers and bolt action weapons. Maybe 5 to 7 years for semi automatic, 10 for fully automatic. That is if there is nitrogen in the air. Remember that black powder we hid away, well it uses that to launch small pieces of shaped metal at extremely high velocities over very long distances. They are very, very lethal. The bolt action requires manual reloading per shot, the semi automatic fires as fast as you can repeatedly squeeze the trigger and the fully automatic fires as long as you keep the trigger pulled, you have the ammunition and your barrel doesn’t melt. So as you can see the temple could produce its own combat personnel. Mana enhanced, high beast riding volunteer solders armed with those weapons. They should be able to go collecting ingredients for those who do the brewing.”

“I am not sure I like that idea.” Ferdinand said somewhat concerned.

“Neither do I, but it is an option, albeit the last and very much the least. To tell you the truth I wouldn’t mind a few naval cannons pointed at the gate. Umm, a really, really big gun that would blow apart a silver covered ship in one hit from the shore line. The Lanzenavian’s are not far away from developing this technology and with their silver cloth. We wouldn’t stand a chance. You would be a fey stone and I would be a mana womb to make fey stones, I would arm our populous with anything to stop that from happening” Rozemyne said sadly squeezing his hand.

“It is well that we have closed the gate then, maybe we should move its destination as well and put a warning in our Wisdoms to never ever open it back up to that location.” A very worried looking Ferdinand muttered.

“It would be great if we could aim it at Earth, I would love to take you on a tour there. Visiting the great libraries, galleries and museums of my world.” Rozemyne said wistfully. “You would truly love it, I know I miss it terribly.”

“You said my world, do you not see Yurgenschmidt as your home?” Ferdinand squeezed her hand back.

“I never truly have, I thought I was stuck here and just had to do what I could to survive. Then I met you and home is where ever you are.” Rozemyne said looking him straight in the eyes. “But a chance to go home, back to my world. I would drag you through the gate in a heartbeat and never look back. Then I would show you a [Red Panda] and you would think Lessy is cute” She said trying to lighten the spiraling mood.

“In that case you would have to drag me kicking and screaming into your shameless and tasteless world that would think a grun is cute. We don’t have to go there for me to see a [Red Panda], come show me now. Lets skip our tea and dive into MOOGLE” Ferdinand chuckled as he helped Rozemyne to stand.

Beaming Rozemyne stood and let Ferdinand escort her to her chambers. As they lay down together, holding each other tight they drifted of into MOOGLE.

“See Ferdinand, that’s a [Red Panda] are they not the cutest thing you have ever seen.” Rozemyne said to him as waves of delight and glee flowed over Ferdinand.

“They do have a certain appeal and you are right they do not look remotely like a grun or your high beast that is still a grun. Maybe it is your artistic ability” Ferdinand teased.

“Rude much” as indignation mixed with joy washed over him. “OK metallurgy, industrialisation and some engineering tonight. Hold on tight big boy, this is going to blow your mind. How we built what we did and what we can reproduce here.” Smugness rained down on him.

So they proceeded to go through steel alloy production, casting, forging, rolling, extrusion and machining, the steam engine, the mechanical loom, the thrasher, traction engines, cotton gins, and a myriad other wonders of the early industrial revolution. Then came industrialised paper making, with its accompanying wave of giddy happiness. Other power sources bio fuels, wind and water, the use of gears and springs and weights. Of pressure censers and speed controls. Of taps and valves and a hundred little things that make the world work. Of screws, nuts and bolts and lathes and…. “Oh there’s Justus. Damn, can we just pretend we have fallen asleep? I would love to stay here like this all night.” waves of hope and nostalgia filled him.

“I am truly sorry, but Justus will eventually wake us.”

“I am so going to build us a little get away home so we can actually be alone, time to get up. ERRRR, but just to let you know I am going to get tangled in you.” Was that the warmth of a hearth fire filling Ferdinand.

“Shameless woman” was the last thought as reality kicked in. And yes they seemed to get tangled on each other, to Ferdinand’s amusement.

After saying farewell to each other, Rozemyne ran to her hidden room to make schematics for a few things while they were fresh in her mind. The sewing machine, the tap and valve, a pressure regulator, a gas hot water supply, a gas cook top and oven. Then she started to sketch out plans for a methane digester to power the lot. She had full intentions of building herself a cozy modern home. All she needed now was electrical power, but that would have to wait for the next cuddle, umm, Moogle session. So she started to make very rough plans for her little get away as she fell asleep at her desk.

In Schlaftraum realm Rozemyne found herself in a little one bedroom cottage, with an open plan kitchen and living area. She was happily cooking dinner while Ferdinand sat near the slow combustion fire place. He was singing sultry love songs to Rozemyne as a storm caressed the outside of their little slice of heaven. Rozemyne happily served dinner and they chatted about everything and nothing until a voice woke her.

“Wake up you fool, and you yell at me for not sleeping properly.” A rather aggrieved Gremlin wrangler called out. “Why is the mana requirement so high on your hidden room?”

“AHHHH, Good Morning Ferdinand. How did you sleep?” Rozemyne sleepily replied as she stretched. “Bruh, oh I fell asleep at my desk. My bad, I must of gotten to excited and caught up with my plans. Sorry.”

“Once again, why is your mana requirement so high?” The perplexed wrangler demanded.

“The same reason yours is. Privacy.” She yawned.

“Well your attendants have been besides themselves worried about you.” He chastised.

“My bad, what do you want me to say?” Rozemyne responded nonchalantly.

“Stop bothering your attendants, to start with.” Ferdinand demanded.

“Yeah, OK. I will insist that they give me their names so I can order them to not be a pain in my arse.” The gremlin growled.

Rozemyne stood to leave, but a hand came down on her shoulder. Ferdinand went to start a lecture when the intercom start going on about how he was taking to long, and were they fucking in there. Ferdinand frowned.

“Welcome to my world, Big Boy. They are an absolute pain. Maybe I should replace them with a couple of shrine maidens” Rozemyne grumpt. She stood up and went to the intercom and dismissed her attendants for the night. “Now, what were you saying?”

Ferdinand went to lecture her but stopped and just shock his head. “At this point we might as well both move back into the temple. You seem to want to replace all the castle staff with priests and priestesses.”

“Well, they aren’t nobles so they will actually work, be loyal and competent.” Rozemyne shrugged. “Well I’m off to bed, Want to tuck me in?” She grinned, as she headed out of the hidden room.

Her chambers were not empty. She stopped almost immediately with a cold stare on her face. Ferdinand move to stand behind her as she turned to those in her room. She turned her head to look at Ferdinand and asked him if she was still dreaming when she ordered her room to be cleared. He just shock his head.

With a big sigh she shouted. “OUT! NOW!” and started to build up waves off crushing. “I’m going to the temple, Ferdinand. You can deal with this lot or not. You know what I am going to do to them if they don’t learn their place. I have still got my battle bunny on, so don’t worry. See you for breakfast sweetheart.” She cast washen on herself and headed out with only Angelica in tow without looking back or listening to the annoying buzz coming from her attendants.

Despite the shock, she soon had her shrine maidens helping her into her sleepwear and she happily drifted off into the welcome embrace of Schlaftraum. Meanwhile poor Ferdinand had to Lord of Evil her attendants.

WATERDAY

The next morning Rozemyne got up at 1 1/3 bells and went to the chapel to prey and dedicate her mana to the Gods. She especially prayed to Glucklitat for the trials she must endure because of her retainers, to Sehweit to aid in her negotiations with her retainers, Erwachlehren to help guide her retainers, Anhaltung for some advice in what to do with her retainers and Verfuhremeer to be calm enough so she didn’t actually kill her retainers. She then preyed to the supreme couple, and the 5 pillars because today ended with the suffix ‘day’. To Dauerleben for a long life for Ferdinand and some quick praise for Mestinoria and her wonderful paradise. As always she felt lighter, calmer and happier after praying.

She headed back to the castle to draw up a contract for Giebe Drools a Lot and went to see the man in question. After she formed messer and not so gently drew his blood, the contract burnt up with golden flames, she now owned all of the Giebe’s previous submission contracts, that should free up everyone from their orders just before Cornelius turned up. Turn around was fair play after all.

She made it back to her chambers as the second bell chimed. Thinking to herself that she can get so much more done in a day without her attendants around they were all kneeling in wait for her when she walked in.

“Good Morning” She said rather coldly. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this greeting?”

“Our sincerest apologies Aub Alexandria, Lord Ferdinand explained it to us that since the Gods grew you to be an adult and that you have so many lifetimes worth of memories going back to the very founding of the country that the Gods consider you a mature adult and not a child. That you not only feel like an adult but also have the memories of being an adult and can not see yourself as a child. That in the privacy of your wing of the castle and especially within your chambers you are to be treated as an adult. We know that you have told us of such, but we thought you were just trying to summon Winter before Autumn because of your feelings with Lord Ferdinand. We deeply apologise.” Leiseleta begged.

“Phew, every one please stand, I am so grateful that you finally understand, and yes only the Gods know how old I am in here with so many lifetimes of knowledge.” Rozemyne said tapping her temple. “That is why Lord Ferdinand and I synchronise so often at the moment, I am sharing with him knowledge from various lifetimes. Rest assured Winter will not come before we are joined by Sterrat.” Rozemyne said with a big smile. Inside she thought that the Gods and especially Ferdinand did great work to convince them of that particular story. With that she got ready for breakfast and the day.

Over breakfast under the sound blocking tool, Rozemyne and her great sage talked.

“Ferdinand, I am so grateful that you managed to talk some sense into my retainers. I thank you ever so much. Is there anything I can do to even start to repay you for that?” Rozemyne asked with glittering eyes.

“Yes, act like an Aub and not a shameless fool.” He responded with his icy demeanour that signaled a start of a lecture.

“Well, anything within reason that I can actually do I mean.” The gremlin smirked.

“I shall consider it.” He replied before starting his lecture. Rozemyne let it all wash over her as she stared into those eyes so full of care and Brenwarme’s fire for her safety. She did actually listen to his bullet points.

After she demurred to his points, well sought of. She started talking about industrializing the duchy.

“So what do you think about building some steel mills and a foundry so we can work towards upping paper production?” The book gremlin asked.

“I think that mass production is a gift from the Gods themselves. I will start to look for a sight straight away.” said the man whose voice would make the very Goddesses swoon.

“How about we create a new city, we need an extension for the Temple as well, after all the steel works will be under the domain of Vulcanift, maybe we could create a city devoted to the Gods.” She mused.

“Explain.” Was all that her God of Darkness said.

“If we build a new monastery and fill it with divine instruments, we can build a shinning example of what can be made when nobles, those with the devouring and commoners can achieve when they actually work together. A new city that we can dump all of my crazy ideas into. A city filled with libraries obviously, schools, collages, centers for healing, arts and industry. A shining example of the new Yurgenschmidt. There was a city from Earth that we could recreate here that combined religion and education, the arts and industry, grand buildings and open parkland. It changed my world and I mean that literately. It was called Cambridge. Even when I died it was still a center of excellence in faith, research and education a 1000 years after it’s founding. We can even recreate it perfectly I have the city plans in here.” The gremlin said pointing her head.

“ALL right, write it down and I shall look at it.” Her owner said.

“EXCUSE ME, but I do not need your permission. Please rephrase that, I know that you didn’t mean it the way you said it. We really need to work on your communication skills.” she said with puppy dog eyes while she caressed his check.

“Is it that bad?” Ferdinand frowned.

“It’s alright, we have a lifetime together to work on it. Just remember communication is the basis of a good relationship.” His all Goddess gently remind him. “And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Only you. Will you trust me as much as I trust you? Don’t think I am not scarred for you all the time. I am terrified for you every time I am not with you. I can not loose you again. If the Gods claim you early I will wrap myself in silver cloth, arm myself with silver weapons, poison and crush that tree until the country collapses or that tree agrees to my terms.” The worlds fiercest shumil announced. “Just in case you do not realise how much I care about you. I will set the world a blaze for you, my precious family, my God of Darkness”

All Ferdinand could say was the name of this divine being that had sworn to destroy heaven and earth for him. “Rozemyne.” Every syllable of her name dripped with admiration, want, need and most of all love. Unconditional love like the commoners have. If Ferdinand knew how to cry at that moment, tears would have been running down his cheeks. His pet shumil then stood, walked over to him and wiped a tear he did not know he had, She didn’t laugh, she didn’t mock all she did was to wrap him in Geduldh’s warm and loving embrace.

“So shall I show you the plans for Cambridge then?” Rozemyne gently asked.

“Yes, and do you have memories of the place? I would like to see them as well.” A somewhat shell shocked man said.

“Not a problem, so what do we have on for today?” The countries most famous gremlin asked.

“We have a lunch meeting with Giebe Krallberg about opening the duchy gate to Bloomfield, now that it has actually taken over its part of Old Werkestock.” Her blue haired secretary reminded her.

“Lets hope that goes as pleasantly as the subject would suggest. I see no reason not to open the gate.” The Aub said, actually sounding something akin to an Aub. “There is nothing problematic about him that I have found.”

“Indeed, he is not an outstanding Giebe, but neither is he a bad one, so there is no need to bring down divine judgement or go full Hasse on him.” her spectacular future consort said.

“After lunch I have a tea party with Giebe Jarzell’s wife and friends. I am going to warn them at the very beginning about interfering with us. So if you see a naked women hanging upside down at the entrance of the castle, you will know she did not listen to me.” His stubborn all goddess reported.

“You are going to get quite the reputation of Ewigeliebe incarnate.” Her amused incarnation of Ewigeliebe chuckled, to which his incarnation of Ewigeliebe just smiled.

After breakfast Rozemyne spent a bell gossiping, playing the harspiel and working on Ferdinand’s cape, though with the schematics for a sewing machine she could condense months of work to just days but she wanted to do it right.

That morning there were even less scholars at the castle. So she sent a magic letter to Fran instructing him to pull out all stops to organise priests to do paperwork. She also informed him that the Temple was to get an increased budget to help with the current situation and that Ferdinand was working on blue prints for a third wing. Permission was officially granted to turn as much of the temple grounds into food production as was needed until a proper monastery or 5 were established.

There was no artwork today, they were to busy to do anything than work. There wasn’t even much chit chat, it reminded Rozemyne of her times in Ehrenfest when Ferdinand and her did the work of the castle and temple together. It was kind of nostalgic if rather frantic, but Fran would come through as he always did. Rozemyne thought back to the fitting in Ferdinand’s estate with Lady Hannalore and how she had used Fran as an example of her perfect man, well that ship had well and truly sailed. She just had a sly smile and chuckled quietly to herself. Yes she missed Fran very much, his calmness had always centered her and his warm and caring personality has been a balm for her soul for so many years.

“You know Ferdinand, I am thinking that I need to spend more time in the Temple. I think that I should go there every Leafday as well as on Earthdays.” A thoughtful High Bishop said. “Its about to get super busy there and one day a week just doesn’t seem enough to me.”

“Well, It is meant to be the center of the Duchy, I may even join you on Leafdays.” The former High Priest said.

Lunch with Giebe Krallberg was a delight. He was an intelligent, charming and a well informed guest. The request to open the gate was almost immediately agreed upon as Rozemyne had some faith in the previous Zent.

Rozemyne asked if there was anything she could do to help out his province, maybe helping with the roads and infrastructure to facilitate trade. She asked him to think about it and send her the blue prints for any improvements in the transport network. He would have walked away from lunch with an absolute positive view point of the new Aub who in one night had revitalised the duchy except for one thing.

“Aub Alexandria, I noticed Giebe Seitzen in the front foyer, tell me is it true what his scholar said. That the Gods themselves had reduced him to that mess because he annoyed them?” Giebe Krallberg asked.

“Indeed, he broke Mestinoria’s decree about no more deaths. The Goddess herself made a judgement upon him, Beischmacht took offence at him as well and Wiegemilch encourage them both.” Rozemyne responded nonchalantly.

“Truly, the Gods are actually real?” A somewhat skeptical Geibe asked.

“Oh Giebe Krallberg, the Gods are very, very real and they are not happy about the state of Yurgenschmidt. They have made it very clear to me as they nag me about it constantly. That is why
I intend to bring our duchy into line with what they want. Who wants to be nagged at every day?”

“You actually speak to them?”

“Oh yes, and they are quiet vocal about things. I can tell you that I do not like to be lectured by the divine creators of our country. They can be rather imitating.” Rozemyne pretended to shiver. OK, maybe she had only talked to 1 god, and 1 ex god. But a little white lie wouldn’t matter.

“Tell me my Aub, how may I help?” A rather confused Geibe asked.

“Love the Gods, do not kill, do not force flower offerings, do not lie, do not cheat, do not steal, treat everyone equally and especially care for those blessed by the Gods with the devouring. The Gods are offended by what everyone tells me is noble common sense. Their attitude about most other things are far more casual than you would think.” Rozemyne casually responded as if chatting with the Gods was perfectly normal. “Basically, take the stories in the Bible as real. Because they are.”

“Aub Alexandria, you have given me much to think about. I thank you for your assistance to my province.”

“Think about what your province has in abundance, and together we may be able to develop it and bring riches to you and our duchy.” Rozemyne smiled.

The Geibe left, happy if not a little confused.

After the Geibe left, Ferdinand turned to Rozemyne and said “You seem to be able to make allies as easy as you breath.”

“Everyone likes the feeling of being wanted and of cause gold.” The counties wisest shumil replied.

Rozemyne spent half a bell reading before the tea party.

Giebe Jarzell’s wife and her friends took to the warning easily as they were from the church of Hartmut, they rejoiced about the display of Giebe Drools a lot. Honestly Rozemyne was pained about the meeting for totally different reasons that Giebe Borks wife. Besides the Hartmut style worship the Ladies gave, the tea party went well. The conversation then turned to the provenances specialities. They grew a small black fruit that was used for animal fodder as it was to salty and bitter for human consumption.

“Lady Luitgard, would it be possible to get a sample of the fruit?” Rozemyne asked, thinking that a small bitter salty black fruit that had a large pip could well be a true treasure.

“Why of cause Lady Rozemyne, but drachenfrucht is only animal fodder.” Lady Luitgard responded rather apologetically.

“Maybe so, but I have a gift for finding uses for things others overlook. There are many ways to change the flavour and texture of food that completely changes its appeal. I have a very good feeling about it, and if I am right, it will become quiet valuable.” The gremlin smiled. Jarzell’s olives, if that’s what they were, they are about to make the province wealthy. Olive oil and pizza toppings and pasta, oh heaven, MMM YUMMY Rozemyne was doing a little gremlin dance on the inside.

Lady Luitgard seemed very pleased to help the Divine Avatar and the rest of the tea party continued on very pleasantly despite the occasional Hartmut style worship.

Over dinner The shumil grew excited, “Ferdinand, Ferdinand, Ferdinand. Lady Luitgard described a fodder plant they grow in Jarzell. They sound like olives, beautiful olives.”

“And what prey tell me are olives?” A rather lost Ferdinand asked.

“Oh, wonderful little balls of heaven. Salty, slightly bitter savoury balls of goodness, and the oil they make. Oh the tasty recipes I can make with those things. She said she would send me some to see what I can do with them. Oh, I can have to send an oil press schematics to the guild. Oh, Ferdinand. This is a true blessing, Cuococalura will be so pleased, so will our stomachs and palettes.” An over excited shumil squealed.

“Calm down you shameless fool.” The grumpy lecture factory said, to which the gremlin just pouted and mumbled under her breath about what would Ferdinand know about cooking with a stick so far up his arse. Then she said, “OK Ferdinand, you will have to wait until after the commoners in the lowest ranked duchy delight in their savoury goodness.” Ferdinand just looked appalled at the news.

“Don’t look so sad Ferdinand, I will eat a lovely Olive, pome, herb and pasta meal tomorrow in MOOGLE. So you will know exactly what you are missing out on.” The gremlin grinned her lady of evil smile. “Can’t let you be associated with something so shameless, it may destroy your reputation and you won’t be able to find a wife or what ever.”

Ferdinand just glared at her to which she just poked out her tongue at him grinning.

“Well, unfortunately for me, there is that royal decree. And I will be forced to wed a shameless shumil.” Ferdinand scoffed.

“Oh, the one made by my name sworn, not to worry. I’m sure Eglantine will rescind it.” The gremlin doubled down.

“Rozemyne, that is not funny.” Ferdinand actually looked panicked.

“Oh, I’m sorry Ferdinand, but it must pain you to be engaged to someone as shameless as me.” Rozemyne said sadly. “I cant do it to you, I care about you to much.”

“Rozemyne, this is going beyond a joke now. I am more than happy to have you as my wife.” Fear now appeared on Ferdinand’s face.

Putting her hand on his cheek and looking him straight in his eyes she said softly. “OK, just don’t call me shameless again while we are sitting in our own dinning room. If you are worried about our retainers then we will dismiss them from this wing of the castle. I told you this level of repression in our own home is ridiculous. A golden cage was still a cage, and I refused to be caged anymore” Ferdinand was relieved when his gremlin said our home, she wasn’t going to abandon him, torture and tease him remorselessly, yes. Abandon him, never.

“I will try.” Ferdinand said putting his hand over hers and returned her look. The gremlin just beamed a huge smile and nodded, then went back to her usual happy self. But she couldn’t help but get one last dig in.

“This doesn’t mean you get to have that tasty goodness.” She teased, Ferdinand just rolled his glorious orbs at her.

The rest of the dinner was passed rather more pleasantly, and after dinner Ferdinand escorted her to her chambers and said good night.

Rozemyne headed straight to her hidden room and wrote a notice to be sent to all the semi tropical provinces along the Dunkelfelger’s border, describing a reed that grew alongside streams and the edges of wetlands. It was very tall and had a feathery flower head. It was possible that it was used in weaving by the local commoners. Examples of any plants should be sent to the castle.

She then drew up schematics for a mangle based device that would extract oil from olives, and continued her plans for her private home. She needed information about the barriers for a geibes estate, yes she could look it up but, she stared at the teleportation circle.

The next thing she knew she was standing behind Ferdinand with her arms wrapped around his shoulders. He was working on schematics for a traction engine.

“I’m sorry about what happened over dinner Ferdinand.” Rozemyne apologised.

“I understand, I too am sorry that you feel so caged.” He consoled his all goddess.

“That’s why I need your help with this.” She unrolled her plans. “See, I need Schutzaria’s shield sigil from the monastery, a Giebe’s mansions barrier and a cloak of Verbergen. I don’t want to be disturbed while I am relaxing. Besides I don’t want you to worry about my safety if I am relaxing in the sun reading a good book or cooking up a storm.”

“I take it that you will have no one else with you.” Her all gods asked.

“Only you, no one else will be able to see it, let alone access the place. I will teach you to cook if you would like.” The holy shumil crooned. “See, a modern style kitchen with gas appliances.”

“And this room, what is it for.” Ferdinand quizzed.

“Oh, that’s the bathroom. See shower, bath and flushing toilet. Just like from my memories.” The shameless woman replied.

Ferdinand’s ears went red. “Please do not remind me of that particular memory.” The gremlin just chuckled.

“Oh, maybe we should have a double shower.” She teased.

“Please do not tease me.” A frustrated wrangler pleaded, to which the gremlin just laughed.

“OK, sorry.” A totally not sorry gremlin said. “The defences?”

Ferdinand started to write out magic circles while Rozemyne looked over Ferdinand’s schematics. The first was a steel works, the second was an industrial paper mill, the third was for a train and the fourth was for a mechanical loom. The industrial age was coming to Alexandria and soon they would be able to out produce the rest of Yurgenschmidt combined in paper and textiles.

“You know Ferdinand, we may have to redo the foundry, I don’t think we can get high enough temperatures with out the use of mana for the higher grades steel.” A thoughtful shumil mused, “We don’t have access to coke, charcoal just wont get hot enough. Though for lower grade steel, charcoal will work. Oh well, we needed jobs for those with the devouring anyway.”

“Yes, I came to the same conclusion. I thought I would design it first straight from MOOGLE, then adjust it afterwards.” Ferdinand corrected while still doing the circles for their escape home. “Maybe we will be able to trade for coke when the gates reopen and it wont need mana in the long term. Finished, here you go”

After Rozemyne got her fill of hugs she left saying that she would see him at breakfast. When she got back to her hidden room, she started designing chemical apparatuses like a mad woman, beakers and test tubes, retorts and condensers, pipettes and burettes, funnels and flasks, distillers and decanters, stands and clamps, centrifuges and crucibles, balances and racks, mortars and ball mills, gloves and googles, as well as pipes and bends. She then designed a thermometer but without any liquid in it, so she could fill and calibrate it latter. Well at least this lot wont be to much of trouble for Johann and Zack for a change. Rozemyne will send it off in the morning.

Sleep came easy, but that night she had a dream of Ferdinand being driven away from her. She woke up in a panic before she realised that it was only a dream. Unfortunately sleep did not return so she headed out onto the balcony with a shawl and a pillow to read under the stars. It was a still balmy summer’s night there wasn’t even the slightest zephyr, and that reminded Rozemyne that this world didn’t exist. The water was as still as a lake, no gentle lapping of the waves as the tide changed because it never did.

SPROUTDAY

Leiseleta found Rozemyne engrossed in her book when she started work in the morning, but she had learnt her lesson well and just said good morning and put her hand in front of the page. Rozemyne looked up and smiled.

“Good morning, Leiseleta. How are you today?” Rozemyne enquired cheerily.

“I am fine, thank you. Did you have trouble sleeping?” Leiseleta enquired.

“Oh, umm. Yes I did. I teased Ferdinand over dinner that I would cancel our engagement because he was being mean. And well, I had a bit of a nightmare that it actually happened. I just couldn’t get back to sleep. It was such a beautiful night that I thought I may as well enjoy it and a good book.” Rozemyne sheepishly admitted.

“You care about him a lot, do you not?” Leiseleta enquired.

“More than anyone, more than books, but I think that has become quite obvious by now.” Rozemyne responded lifting an eyebrow in a very Ferdinand expression.

“It has, it is almost like you two were made for each other.” Leiseleta tittered. “Shall I prepare you for the day?”

“Please do.” Rozemyne closed her book and followed Leiseleta inside. It didn’t escape
Leiseleta’s notice that her dense shumil of a lady had admitted that she loved her God of Darkness more than anyone or anything else. Especially considering how they all had ended up in Alexandria. Leiseleta prayed that her ridiculously dense Lady would realise that Bluanfah had danced for her, well, realise it one day at least.

Breakfast was a delight, Ferdinand and Rozemyne slightly flirted and teased each other until it came time to test the castle staff.

Rozemyne and Ferdinand stood before the main hall in front of the castle staff that had not resigned. There were about 45% of them left. Rozemyne addressed the gathered nobles.

“Good morning, Ladies and Gentleman. To ensure that everyone is doing their job and not using it for their own gains I wish you all to step forward and swear by the Goddess of Light that you will serve faithfully. I have no doubt that since you are all still here you will serve me and the duchy with fervour. There was only 3 rejections from Schutzaria’s shield.

Rozemyne stood before the now trusted castle staff and said. “I thank you all so very much, my chefs have prepared a lunch for everyone here. Please enjoy” She then turned to Ferdinand and said. “Well that went easier than expected. I didn’t notice the new recruits, but they all have to swear the same thing if they want to work here. This was how we ensured public servants did their jobs properly back in a more civilised country” She whispered to her gorgeous man.

“You put them in a contract that would see them die?” Ferdinand quizzed.

“No, but a fine in the millions of gold coins and 15 to 20 years spent looking at the ceiling in jail will frighten everyone. The contracts were ironclad. Anyone who worked for the government had power over others so very strict rules were applied to them to avoid corruption and abuses of power.”

“Very good Rozemyne, it is truly an inspired idea.” Ferdinand said to a now squirming and frankly gushing Rozemyne.

“I thank you ever so much.” She responded almost breathlessly. “But this is just how my world worked, how did you lot not think about it. You have magic contracts after all, let alone the crown” She replied holding on to him because her knees had given out for some reason and not at all about Ferdinand being amazing again and praising her.

Lunch was a shear joy as she and her greatest passion sat in the dinning hall with the now loyal castle staff. Rozemyne asked the staff that if they knew of any scholars that were willing to undergo the same employment conditions to apply as soon as possible, the pay and working conditions were excellent after all.

After lunch it was a mad dash with the now pilling up paper work, there was defiantly no time for doodles and the silence was somewhat oppressive as everyone worked at break neck speed. It was a great relief to one and all when it came time for dinner.

Rozemyne slumpt in her chair at dinner. “Phew, that was crazy.” She said to no one in particular.

“Indeed, I think I shall start training the priests tomorrow instead of working in your office.” Said the no one in particular.

“I have half a mind to join you, take as many of my retainers as you need to help, just leave me Roderick. How I wish Damuel and Philline were here to help.”

“As do I, but why Roderick?”

“He is still working with Mariana, on questioning the Lanciavians.”

“How is that going?”

“For as advanced as their country is becoming. Politically it is a mess, but what do you expect when nobility is involved.”

“Ferdinand, do you have a list of where the gates can connect to? Except for a couple of broken entries it is missing from mine.”

Ferdinand had everyone face the wall and then summoned his Grutrissheit. “There are not many listed, why do you ask?”

“I want to go home, with you. Not to be Urano again, she died. But you and I can have a very comfortable and full life their as Ferdinand and Rozemyne. Given how Yurgenschmidt is so close to German I was hopping. No more of these death marches we call work. Here let me see the list. Please.”

Unfortunately there was nothing she recognised.

“I am going to go ask Erwaermen next time I am at school why this language is close to German and why Lanzenavian seems close to a Romance language.”

“You think the language of Lanzenave is romantic?”

Rozemyne laughed. “Not in the slightest, Its a name given to the languages that are based on Latin, which was spread from a city called Rome some 2000 years ago. Its just from what I have heard from Roderick, a lot of the words are similar to Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or French..OK maybe French can be very romantic. Tu es mon unique et seul amour.” Rozemyne finished seductively.

“And what does that mean?”

“I am not telling, but it is romantic.”

Well in that case Ferdinand said in a deep, seductive voice. “Tu es mon unique et seul amour.”

Rozemyne squealed. “Oh! That is not even remotely fair. Please never do that again.” A bright red Rozemyne begged.

“What does it mean Rozemyne? Or do I have to repeat it to you every day?”

Rozemyne looked down, unable to meet Ferdinand’s eyes. “It means,” she stammered, “You are my one and only love. I think, It has been a long while since I learnt some basic French.”

“I shall remember that phrase” a grinning Ferdinand teased. “So it is basically the same as me calling you my all Goddess?”

“Yes, but calling me your all Goddess doesn’t get me here.” The bright red Rozemyne said pointing to her chest. “Where as, even though its in French and not Japanese. It’s umm. Different and really embarrassing.”

“Well, what is it in Japanese?” A smirking Lord of Evil asked.

“Never, I am never telling you that. No way. Do you want me to spend the whole day as red as a [beetroot], unable to look at you and not being able to talk. Nope, never.” A now beetroot coloured Rozemyne stammered.

“A way to make you be quiet. Maybe I should say it to you every morning. Is there any other sayings that might work?” The true Lord of Evil smirked.

Rozemyne pouted, “Ask the Lanzenavians.”

“I shall”

“Please don’t, just in case it is close to one of THOSE languages and I might understand it.” Rozemyne begged.

Ferdinand laughed, and escorted her to her chambers. For some reason Rozemyne’s legs kept giving out on her, in the end he had to carry her.

Instead of Rozemyne’s quick grasp on him during MOOGLE, Ferdinand had to initiate the hug. When there minds synchronised Ferdinand asked if she was OK.

“No I am not, that was totally embarrassing, I don’t know how to deal with you when you get like that.” She admitted.

“Just tell me how you feel. Is it that hard” Ferdinand asked.

“I do not know how I feel. I care about you more than anyone else, more than books. But is that truly love?” A rather confused shumil asked.

“I too am inexperienced in the subject. I am sure Dregarnuhr will weave our threads when she needs it.”

“OK, electricity, you know those lights.” Power generation, Ohm’s law, electromagnetic spectrum, series and parallel circuits, kirchoff’s law, Power equations. Transistors and valves, resistors, capacitors, diodes, transformers, light globes and motors, dynamos and generators, ac and dc, inverters and battery banks, switches and meters, plus basic circuit diagrams. Lightning and static.

Though what really attracted Ferdinand’s attention was a song playing in the background of her mind.

(Shakespeare’s Sister - Stay)

If this world is wearing thin
And you're thinking of escape
I'll go anywhere with you
Just wrap me up in chains

But if you try to go alone
Don't think I'll understand

Stay with me
Stay with me

In the silence of your room
In the darkness of your dreams
You must only think of me
There can be no in between

When your pride is on the floor
I'll make you beg for more

Stay with me
Stay with me

You'd better hope and pray
That you make it safe
Back to your own world
You'd better hope and pray
That you'll wake one day
In your own world
'Cause when you sleep at night
They don't hear your cries
In your own world
Only time will tell
If you can break the spell
Back in your own world

Stay with me
Stay with me
Stay, stay with me, oh!
Stay, stay, stay, stay, stay
Stay with me

When they were going through amplitude modulated radio waves they were interrupted yet again.

As they awoke, Rozemyne wrapped herself deliberately in Ferdinand’s embrace. They spent a minute just holding one another.

When they finally separated from each other, Ferdinand asked her about the song.

“Oh, you heard that. You do not want to really know. You will think it is shameless, maybe not, subtlety is not your strong point as a noble and its about the singer travelling back to her home to be with the one she loves because he is slipping away from her.”

“So it’s about you then.”

“Yes, that’s why the chorus is stay with me.”

“You want me to stay with you?”

“Always. In this world, my own or any other. Please stay with me forever”

“I will, you are my Geduldh, my home, my family. I will never leave you.”

Rozemyne just reached up and stoked his cheek and beamed that glorious smile of hers while she looked him straight in the eyes.

“You are my Geduldh, my home, my family too.” Rozemyne had the beginnings of tears in her eyes when she muttered, “I think I may be suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Then again you surely are.”

“What was that? Stockholm syndrome?”

“Nothing Ferdinand, just forget about it. It is nothing you would understand because of your culture.” Rozemyne lamented. “Though I wish you could. It is one of the reasons for your culture’s common sense and it is very harmful.”

“Explain it to me.” Ferdinand demanded. His demand put Rozemyne’s back up.

“I can not” she paused, “it is to late and my retainers will be inconvenienced about it. Not to mention the shame I will have to endure because you stayed tonight. Organise a tea party with me some time before I return to the royal academy to discuss it, I may have time to fit you in.”

“ROZEMYNE!”

“Noble decorum must be maintained. I will probably need to go and fulfil the desires of lust from the greater Duchies, as YOUR culture demands of me. No matter how distasteful and shameful they will be. Maybe after they force me to unsuccessfully breed with them they will allow me to return.”

“Please Rozemyne, I get it, my culture is horrific.”

“It is, and do you think I would actually allow myself to be taken by them. I would unleash a 100 winter minions upon them, launch as many Leidenschaft spears as I could all while praying to Mestinoria, Verdrenna, Brenwarme and Beischmacht under the safety of Schutzaria’s shield. Not to mention my Bunny suit. It would be a massacre. No one is separating us again. I will kill or castrate them all if they dare interfere with us. But that is not your common sense is it?”

“It was not until I met you. You changed me Rozemyne. I would rather die by your side than allow that to happen to you.”

“Thank you, My God of Darkness” Rozemyne said caressing his cheek. She then stood on tippy toes and kissed him. It was chased and quick but it was a kiss on the lips. There was no mana exchange and it was a quick as Steifebrise, but it was a kiss and Ferdinand needed his OS updating again. “I will tell you about Stockholm Syndrome latter. Please do not demand things of me. I am not a child to be chastised, I am actually older than you in case you forgot.”

Rozemyne did not mention status, she did not mention rank, she just mentioned that out of the two she was actually the more mature. Despite her rebellious body with its current hormones, her feelings towards Ferdinand had not changed since she as a shrine maiden, she loved him as family. A vague thought drifted across her conciseness, she had always admired Ferdinand, thought he was exceptionally good looking and wanted to be near him since she was a child, her adult mind even admired the sight of him walking in front of her while she looked at his back. That was it, it was his back and not what was at her eye level. Was that because she lacked the hormones at the time, was it something more. She quickly dismissed the idea.

“I admit, sometimes I look at you and forget that you are actually 37, but can you blame me.” You are so spectacularly beautiful he tried to say but couldn’t get the words out.

“Please try to remember that, my beautiful young man.” She teased. “I feel like a cougar at times, taking advantage of you.” Please take advantage of me, she thought.

“Well It looks like our retainers want to separate us. Should I summon divine retribution upon them, you are more than welcome to stay the night. Even though I do not feel the chill of winter, but it is the warm embrace of spring that I crave.”

“Please do not summon the winters minions to punish your retainers so that I might stay. If it wasn’t for you holding my name I may over reach my position.”

“Oh, In that case, allow me.” Rozemyne said as she took Ferdinand’s name stone from her cage. She grinned a truly evil smirk and then ordered him to kiss her on the cheek. Ferdinand had to comply, not that he would have cared.

“You know I think I want more, are you sure I can’t give you back your name? Maybe I want you to make love to me” She mussed.

“Please return my name” a near panicked Ferdinand replied.

The gremlin grinned an evil smirk and ordered him to allow her another quick kiss, before she withdrew her mana from his name stone.

Before Ferdinand could react, she whispered in his ear. “Good night my sweet prince, may Beischmacht find you willing and be blessed.” White lights fell upon Ferdinand and he did not sleep a wink from having to have cold baths and beating his head against a wall. He was never going to survive the time till Rozemyne officially came of age and they were married. Fortunately for Ferdinand that would come far sooner than he could possibly imagine.

FIREDAY

After their little flirt in the morning over breakfast, Ferdinand left for the morning totally wiped out, not that he was ever going to get any sleep that did not include dreams of Rozemyne from after their star binding. Ferdinand was exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally. He went to the temple to start the training of the priests. He regretted pushing Rozemyne, he chastised himself that he should have known better. She was no longer a passive little shumil but a total and utter force of nature, unbending, unrelenting and unyielding. The priests regretted it even more, Ferdinand was not in a good mood. He wanted to be by Rozemyne’s side and he took it out on the them. The sight of grown adults crying pleased him far to much.

Rozemyne tittered with the ladies during her morning arts and craft classes. She did lament the fact that she had to embroider when a machine would soon be able to do it for her, much to her friends amusement.

During her lonely time doing paperwork she received an Ordonnanz via Leiseleta. Cornelius had prisoners and devouring commoners ready to be transported to the castle. Instead of a ridiculously lavish lunch, Rozemyne teleported to Seitzen to retrieve them. She really did not care about the prisoners, Cornelius or the knights. What she wanted to see was the state of her own siblings. The eyes of the women were vacant, the men resigned. It broke her heart. She would heal them all and give them a future that both them and the Gods would approve off. They would be taught how to pray, how to compress and how to use their mana. Fuck the nobles, they were to be pushed to the side if they did not change, they were not important at all or even needed. Geduldh’s and Ewigeliebe’s children were more than enough to nourish and protect the garden. She spent the rest of the day dealing with the lost souls of her siblings. She didn’t even stop for dinner, a meal was prepared for all. The orphanage was now over full, so she grabbed Ferdinand’s blueprints and created a new wing, between the main course and dessert. The fact that a noble, the Aub no least would go to the trouble to aid them put a little bit of light back into their eyes. She promised them that if they followed her plan for them they would not only be free to do as they wish they could become powerful enough to lay waste to the Sovereignty or rich enough to own their own estates. That day Rozemyne gained many future powerful, omni elemental worshippers because they would dedicate themselves to full filling the Aub’s and their own dreams. So Rozemyne would go on to have them educated in magecraft, everything except a schtappe.

Those that excelled, she would get the Zent to agree to grant them their divine wills, even offering them all a chance to become a nobles. The tears of those involved were enough to ensure that she had done the right thing.

“I know your pain all to well, I too was nearly forced into a submission contract. I detest this system that enslaves you. You are the star children, chosen by Sterrat, direct descendants of the Gods and they are PISSED with your treatment. Take pride, your divine parents love you above all.” The avatar of Mestinoria, the daughter of Ewigeliebe and Geduldh said. “And I am your parents daughter as well, I am angry, very angry, violently angry. I will no longer allow my siblings to be alone and suffer. Hell will come to those that would dare harm our family.” The audience was stunned into silence, at that moment she was the incarnation of her father Ewigeliebe, possessive, protective and extremely violent. Death incarnate. White and red blessings fell upon all of those in the audience and with that they knew that what the Aub said was true. They were indeed the beloved children of Ewigeliebe and Geduldh, and they were free. The legend of the Divine Avatar grew even larger that day.

That evening Rozemyne buried herself in Ferdinand’s arms. She silently wept at the state of her siblings. Her retainers said nothing to her, which was good, they had no idea how close to the towering heights they were. After Rozemyne had calmed down, Ferdinand left for his own chambers, which wasn’t far. Rozemyne had insisted that their rooms be next to one another. The feeling and sense of each others mana filled both of them with happiness, though Ferdinand could not pull all nighters in his hidden room as his all Goddess would know instantly. He was looking forward and dreading spending every night sharing her bed, because his pet shumil had already told him of his fate. He would never get away to research all night ever again unless he had out of Duchy friends over to play in his labs. Ferdinand could not help but sigh at the thought. Little did he know that from the very first night after their starbinding he would never think about staying up all night to research ever again. There were far better and more enjoyable ways to pull an all nighter than with research.

LEAFDAY

Breakfast came with its usual joy and investigations, and the great shumil of Yurgenschmidt beamed him a smile that would melt Schneeahst himself. As they discussed going to the temple for the day a letter arrived, the bell was finished, but the crane could not lift it without the boat capsizing. Rozemyne thought for a second and gave them the plans for a quick and dirty catamaran. The bell could easily go between the twin hulls.

After arts and crafts Rozemyne headed of to her sanctuary. She dedicated prayers and mana to all of the Gods before returning to Ferdinand while he made the adults cry.

“Go pray, I will over see them” The high Bishop intoned.

“Yes I will pray for their farsightedness and their lack of corruption.” The former high priest said.

“I think you should become High Priest again, it erks me that Hartmut fills that role that belongs to you and worst of all, you are only a blue priest under him. Please accept the role again.” The High Bishop said with sparkling eyes. “And well Hartmut is Hartmut, he is pretty gross with his whole goddess worship stuff. Besides he is not omni elemental and he doesn’t pray properly. Well accept to me.” The high Bishop shivered.

“I shall consider it.” The upcoming High Priest said.

“Please do, now go and give thanks. Even to the Goddess of Pettiness. You really should come with me to apologise to Erwaermen.”

“I will never apologise to that shrub for nearly killing you or ordering me to kill you.” Ferdinand actually spat when he said that.

“Well he ordered me to do the same thing. But I want back in with Mestinoria and she loves him.”

“Oh, you recognise her love for him.”

“Well It’s obvious.”

How dense could a shumil be he wondered. His little pet showed the exact same emotions as that particular Goddess. Then an unwanted thought hit him. He actually looked very much like the shrub, and well Rozemyne was already an incarnation. Were they the mortal versions of the divine? With all of the Gods interference, were they even mortal any more? Rozemyne wielded their power as easily as she breathed. And he could do the same with a bit of effort, maybe because he did not actually love them like Rozemyne did. With that thought he left to actually pray properly for the first time in years.

They had lunch with Letizia who was very eager to show her future parents the results of her study and prayers. Ferdinand gave a satisfactory, and Rozemyne gushed over how wonderful her little, well not so little, daughter was. During lunch Ferdinand could not help but smile to himself on the inside as he watched the two ladies of HIS family, and hoped that in the future there would be many, many more members. Rozemyne had said that she wanted her own soccer team in the future after all, though she did admit they may have to adopt some of the ‘bench’, depending on the timing of her menopause.

After Lunch they continued their training of the new office admin staff, while they did their own work. Ferdinand was so enamoured over the scenes of his little family during lunch that he was in a particular good mood and only one teary worker had to leave for a few minutes.

They had an early dinner at the temple with Letizia again, that was Ferdinand’s idea. Really Ferdinand just wanted to soak in the sight of HIS OWN family. He reluctantly admitted that he loved HIS family to himself and that he would be like his beautiful little nightmare of a gremlin and destroy any and all that would even think about harming them or even anyone who made them frown. Not like in Ehrenfest where Sylvester had some sought of control over him, but here in Alexandria he could freely do as he pleased and protect those he loved without another thought in the world, Rozemyne herself was ruthless in that endeavour. Letizia was giddy with happiness as she told her parents about the stories running rampant through the temple about Giebe Drools a lot and the Divine punishment awaiting any and all that would go against the Divine Avatar. How The Aub had impressed those poor souls that had the devouring and been enslaved, only to be freed and offered healing by a literal Goddess.

Rozemyne started to get some what concerned about her growing cult, at the rate it was spreading she would have more worshippers than the actual Gods in a few years.

Unknown to Rozemyne she already had more true worshippers than all the Gods combined and because of the trace remnant of Divine mana in her, she was well on her way to actually become a true Goddess. The Goddess of Mercy or Family or Innovation or Justice or a myriad other things that she was worshipped for. Because of mana mixing with Ferdinand that happened without their conscious thoughts or physical contact as they both had subconsciously always tried to reach towards the other, to become whole. He too now had traces of Divine mana in him and with Dunkelfelger’s worship of him and his Ditter prowess, he would forever stand by her side. The third Divine couple, but that is another story.

After dinner they said a loving fair well to Letizia and retired to the Aub’s chambers. Before they started their MOOGLE time Rozemyne said to him. “I was overwhelmed with today, do you know why Ferdinand?”

“Letizia is rather cute?” He answered quizzically.

“No Ferdinand, you actually had a look on your face I have never seen before. Was it contentment, you looked really happy?” The Goddess of embarrassing moments asked him.

Thinking back to his promise to never lie or deliberately mislead her. “How can I not be happy when those I love are around me.” Ferdinand answered honestly

Rozemyne beamed at him then hit him with the biggest hug he had ever had. She had to have been using body enhancements. “Love you too” she said with the biggest most radiant smile on her amazing face. After what seemed far to fast for himself just to be greedy at that moment and hold his all Goddess in his arms, she let go.

Beaming like a spotlight from an old WW2 Battleship, the light of Alexandria said. “Its blue flames tonight Ferdinand, and yes. I have already started on some of the infrastructure, for our place at least. Welcome to the wonderful world of chemistry.” Of atoms and electron clouds, the periodic table, organic, inorganic, physical chemistry, bio and analytical chemistry, compounds and molecules, ions and salts, acids and bases. Knowing how much little boys like things to go bang, Ferdinand received a quick lesson in simple explosives like Nitro Glycerine, dynamite, gunpowder and touch powder. Rozemyne, then showed Ferdinand a practical applications of explosives. OK, Rozemyne just showed him a bunch of fireworks to explain highly energetic exothermic reactions and not at all because THEY ARE FIREWORKS!

WINDDAY

Rozemyne awoke early and bounded out of bed, today was the day, no more time bombs in the harbour. She hurriedly got ready in her riding gear and headed off to breakfast. She bounced through her usual morning sniff session, excited to get the day started. As soon as they sat down and activated the area sound blocking tool, the cheeriest gremlin in the World said. “Good Morning Ferdi, How are you this fine, fine morning?”

“Good morning to you too. You seem rather happy this morning.” The shumil tamer in chief replied.

“Well, Of Cause. I am going to go play with boats today!” Rozemyne grinned.

“Is that all?” A rather amused Ferdinand inquired.

“Well, no. The thought of the terrors in the harbour being gone by the time the God Of Darkness spreads his cape across the sky. It is either that or we store the nuclear material, refine it and then send it as present to Klassenburg or Corithsdam. KA KA KA BOOOOM! You wouldn’t hear a peep out of them ever again. The Zent would have to return the Duchy to white sand then rebuild the Duchy, That is sure to make Eglantine happy.” The Lady of Evil Smirked.

“Could we actually do that?” The Lord of Evil replied lifting an eyebrow.

“Yes, we would have to build a few things but we could totally wipe them from the map. TOTALLY Ferdinand. It is the power of a space faring civilisation Vs a dark ages shit hole. There would be no contest at all. The first time they notice they are under attack, it will be to late, before they evaporated. It would be funny to watch from space. A blast on Klassenburg castle would be so funny, flames would shoot out all of the underground entrances. Ferdinand at home we would call this a tactical weapon. Its not even very powerful.” Rozemyne said with a distant look.

“Would it kill the Gods?” Quizzed Ferdinand.

“Possibly, depends if the Goddess of Light was as powerful as an actual star. If she is then unleashing a star upon their realm would be nothing but a summers day. If not then they would be obliterated. But Ferdi, that would destroy Mestinoria’s library and all her books. That’s a big NO!”

“But, Rozemyne. Klassenburg has one of the largest and oldest libraries in the country”

“No, No, No, there will be no nuking Klassenburg.” The Lord Of Evil smirked at her response.

After breakfast Rozemyne had her Lady’s time, working on Ferdinand’s cape and playing around with the harspiel and practising the designated songs.

The mornings office work was spent with Ferdinand learning new random songs as his all Goddess hummed tunes of happiness, but she had to correct the many flowers and love heart decoration on Ferdinand’s returned documents.

Just before lunch the Ordonnanz came that the catamaran holding the bell had arrived over the wreck site. A formal lunch was foregone for overseeing the diving bell. In Rozemyne’s mind to ensure no one had the bends or radiation poisoning.

The catamaran bobbed in the water as the bell was lowered. Next a very large number of water filled barrels along with tarps and pine pitch were lowered to the first wreck. It took a couple of bells for the first aft section of a sunken ship floated on the surface held afloat by the now air filled barrels and tarps.

The sun was setting as the second aft section bobbed on the surface. The two aft sections were then lashed to the remaining functional ships and they headed to the gate. Aub Alexandria sent a message to Eglantine that she was opening the gate now. It didn’t take long for the lanzavarian ships to disappear through the gate. Rozemyne closed it immediately as Ferdinand moved it to the sand outside the gate.

That night there was a massive celebration in the Grand Hall of the castle, every Giebe and nearly every arch noble was in attendance.

EPILOGUE

It was a couple of weeks later that 2 chemistry sets turned up. Ferdinand was delighted when Rozemyne dropped a couple of boxes of equipment off to his labs.

A month latter a cart of weeds turned up at the castle. Rozemyne squealed when she saw it and to the horror of everyone bit into the stalk. She had the most victorious grin on her face she shouted “SUGAR!”

In mid autumn Rozemyne presented Ferdinand with her animation of him singing. He was somewhat interested until Rozemyne told him that she had printed a few of the sets and had sent them to Elvira and the music professors. Even being the Aub didn’t save her cheeks.

A month before winter, Ferdinand strode through the High Security Alexandrian Defence force facility. The rows upon rows of those that been purged floated and twitched in their modified Jureve. The MATRIX Rozemyne had called it, then made Ferdinand watch the movie.

Next day the sounds of power cords echoed of the walls of Alexandria as Rozemyne played her new mana amplified guitar.

The night before Rozemyne was to go to the Academy, she had a very private dinner with Ferdinand and only had her shrine maidens or name sworn female retainers to serve them. She wore a little black dress, high heels, stockings and a clutch bag. After dinner Rosina, Wilma and Gretia played the harspiel while they spent a bell slow dancing together, they both needed to fill their gyu tanks before their separation.

Between her time travel and the arch dukes conference, for the first time in Yurgenschmidt a steam whistle sounded at the Alexandrian steel works. The steam whistle was not the only thing where the pressure was about to explode. Rozemyne now knew that Bluanfah was throwing a 24/7 rave. The Goddess had well and truly danced for her and she now saw Ferdinand as a true God of Darkness.

A month before Rozemyne’s unofficial 16^th birthday, a massive Entwichen was held for the remainder of the lower city. Not only did everyone get new fully ivory buildings and shady tree lined boulevards, they had running water from a dam and aqueduct, an actual sewage system, parks and gardens, small commercial zones, small government zones and a tram system drawn by horses at the moment. The capital of Alexandria now looked far more like an 18^th century city in the Greek revival style than anything that Yurgenschmidt had ever seen.

For her 16^th Birthday, Rozemyne gave herself a present of making the last of the devouring contracts into a Duchy industry. She now had control over all of those with the devouring and no one was ever going to enslave her family ever again.

2 weeks later the sound of a quick retort was heard at the range at the MATRIX. Rozemyne missed the target with a rounds from her rifled flint lock. Rozemyne will always be Rozemyne and she really couldn’t hit the side of a barn at 10 paces. She reloaded her weapon with a white sand glazed round it tore through the mana infused target, well one round did. The others joined all the ones that missed the target in the berm.

In the Autumn of her final year, they opened the Alexandrian Paper Mill. No longer needing young white bark and hammering. The choof, choof, choof of a steam engine drove the wood chipper, a chemical and steam bath latter of the pulp goes to become paper.

Between the end of her 6^th year and the arch dukes conference they opened the first textile mill. Bolts of cloth that would have taken teams of weavers and months of time could now be made by a few people and a quarter of a bell and of far higher consistent quality. Even the cheapest mass produced textiles that were for the poorest was of higher quality than almost any other cloth in the country and the high end cloth was worth its weight in gold outside of Alexandria. Paper and Textiles by the ton, Alexandria’s economy exploded as money flooded in.

They spent their mortal honeymoon at the Alexandrian cultural district, enjoying the hotels, casinos, galleries, concert halls and restaurants. Rozemyne had given up on her beach resort, for now at least. That was now just part of their little love nest. The fully modern small home on the coast had become their favourite place after the library and labs. Power, water, gas, air conditioning and a real bathroom. Yes, Ferdinand did in fact share that double shower with his Goddess and learnt to cook.

Rozemyne gave birth 9 months after their mortal star binding. Ferdinand finally received his zoo and aquarium. He also got his Olives after cheating and sending a jar to the poorest commoners in the lowest duchy.

She was teased about not only looking like a shumil but acting like one when she birthed the reserve bench 25 years later

For her 2^nd birth they brought their newborn home on the train from the Cambridge Hospital. The train rolled through the landscape, It was cultivated as far as the eye could see. Steam powered tractors pulled ploughs and harvesters. The integrated Alexandrian transport network would have the huge halls of food and resources shipped and stored or sold in days.

For her 3^rd birth, their Ehrenfest family caught the Alexandria X Ehrenfest express, it was a trip of less than a 2 bells, with the easily obtained paperwork, visitors to the Cultural District often had ochre cloaks. The first industrial drum press crashed the price of books. What once cost golds now cost small silvers or large coppers. Reading exploded and authors poured out of the woodwork.

By the time of her 4^th child, the blue cloaks of Dunklefelger joined the ochre cloaks enjoying the Alexandrian coast. They were particularly impressed when the coastal batteries gave a 21 gun salute for the birth. They were large, loud and immensely destructive, just what the ditter heads loved. In an effort to increase the number off books in her library Rozemyne had the bright idea to combine the mind reading tools, the core of a mana blade and a shumil. The idea was that she could quickly recall a book, have the mana blade remember it all and have the shumil copy it out verbose. Ferdinand had insisted that the shumil was not need in its entirety, and only the arms were truly needed. Much to the horror of everyone that had seen this creepy crazy magic tool. When Rozemyne put a case around it the MOOGLE PRINTER was born.

And thus a secret library of books written in Japanese and English was born. It was to be used to keep Alexandria at the Number 1 position and the leader of innovation, technology and development for many, many, many generations. Fortunately Urano had also read a dizzying array of recipe books of the World’s cuisine. Plus hundreds of books on fusion cooking. When Rozemyne printed a copy of the Karma Sutra the secret library got a locked section after Ferdinand read the book, TWICE.

It was also around this time the first of the Temple Graduates left the Temple. Arch noble level of omni elemental mana, many blessings, and a formal education in ancient language, music, mathematics, geography, history, law, medicine, brewing, magic circles, science, horticulture and basic military training.

The Temple Graduates could do whatever they pleased, some became priests, some teachers, some doctors, some judges, but a very popular choice to travel the hamlets, villages and towns of the duchy teaching about the Gods, the value of literacy, healing the sick and judging small local legal affairs. It was a very popular choice especially among the newly starbound couples, and extended romantic getaway seeing the duchy and spreading good deeds. They all returned to the Temple for the Winter Dedication Ceremony.

The graduation ceremony was a grand affair with a full orchestra, and using the 19^th century as a mark for decency, they held a huge formal ball. Rozemyne whispered to Ferdinand that she was now living in a magical Jane Austin novel as they danced the night away. She never gave up her story that this was all a dying dream, but she was having the time of her life, everything was beyond wonderful. She had a beautiful family, was surrounded by friends, people who truly loved her and had a rich, advanced industrialised duchy that stood firm as the highest ranking duchy in the country.

Blessing bombs were now the norm at the temple as random lights shot about. Rozemyne had coined the phrase ‘A temple with out blessings is a dead temple’, and it wasn’t at all because the temple had constant magical fireworks, unfortunately for her she was often the recipient of said fireworks.

Their 5^th child was born around the time of the 1^st elections. All land owning nobles were given a seat in the House of Lords, while land owning commoners voted for representatives in the House of Commoners. Rozemyne had created a constitutional monarchy with her as the monarch. The beginnings of the pillars of civilisation had been started.

By the time their 6^th child arrived all of Yurgenschmidt was connected by rail, though only Alexandria build the rolling stock. The Alexandrian social and cultural reform followed the rail lines, spreading out all across the country, the other duchies may not go as far as Alexandria but every journey starts with just one step.

When her 7^th child was born all of Yurgenschmidt except Klassenburg had outlawed devouring contracts. While in Alexandria the other pillars of civilisation were put in place. The Temple Graduates who had been serving as wandering judges became actual judges in a proper court of law, separation of powers meant that land owning nobles were barred from being a judge. A part of the city guard, and a few Temple Graduates and nobles formed an actual police force. Now that all the pillars were in place a formal constitution was enacted.

Their 8^th child was greeted by the Alexandrian Defence Force with a massive military tattoo. Hundreds upon hundreds of Knights and Temple Graduates, platoons of field artillery plus battalions of gun wielding commoners dressed in white sand glazed armour marched in perfect lock step to the sound of the flute, pipes and drums. These tattoos were as much for the people of Alexandria, to give them confidence that they were being protected, as well as a warning to all the visitors from other duchies. Alexandria was after all the number one tourist destination in the country.

A few years ago they had built themselves a small hydroelectric plant to provide power to an electrolysis plant where they separated water into oxygen and hydrogen. The first airship glided over the capital 18mths latter using the gasses to power the airship with internal combustion engines.

Above the parade militarised airships commanded the sky, clad in white sand glaze and carrying machine guns and small calibre cannons. They could move a company of troupes anywhere at any time, provide ground support and resupply missions, they were a nightmare to anyone not from Alexandria.

The experimental armoured vehicles were not put on show, they were an ace up the sleeve. Between Ferdinand creating some truly terrifying shells by combining magic and technology, and Rozemyne in total ‘keep my family and duchy safe at any cost’ mode, designing flame thrower tanks. Alexandria’s armoured units while slow for Alexandria were still more nimble and deadly than horse cavalry, as well as packing a devastating punch at extreme range or as close anti air support depending on the vehicle. Nobles still could fly on their highbeasts, even if they can only do 10-20 mph.

The only thing that stopped complete panic by all of Yurgenschmidt after seeing the sheer size, discipline and over whelming destructive power of the Alexandrian Defence Force was Mestinoria’s decree.

It is purely a deterrent force, Ferdinand said.

Its to defend against foreign incursion, Rozemyne said.

Please leave us alone, the rest of Yurgenschmidt said.

Halfway between her 8^th and 9^th child their first grand child was born, Rozemyne went on a rampage to do even less work now that all she really had to do was high level supervision to ensure that the pillars of government were operating properly. Using the visual circle from a shumil and a mana blade core, she created Yurgenschmidt’s first office computer, all she or in reality a lucky office worker had to do was feed the raw budget forms and financial records into it and it would root out the last of the embezzlement in the duchy. Rozemyne spent some time banging her head on her desk when she realised she could have built a “computer” from the start. She wailed one night when she realised she could have made something to read books to her while she had to endure Ladies Time. Curse her lack of imagination. Ferdinand was just happy to play with intelligent magic tools and produced a very undemocratic surveillance system.

They never arranged a marriage for any of their children, they were free to marry whomever they wished. To fall in love or remain single, their lives their choice. Ferdinand and the Alexandrian Intelligence Agency still checked out their children’s friends and partners. More than a few were quietly asked never to speak to their kids ever again, or else. It was still Yurgenschmidt out there and not every Noble was up to Alexandrian standards.

Their 9^th child was born during the time of Troubles, Klassenburg foolishly decided to rebel against the Zent, that went about as well as you could imagine as the Zent locked down the entire duchy and Alexandrian and Dunkelfelgern troupes restored order.

Their 10^th child was greeted with the construction of a bio diesel plant and the construction of diesel engines, Alexandria was speed running the industrial revolution.

By the time her Goal Keeper was born, actual diesel trucks had started to appear.

The reserve bench started when the first heavier than air, aircraft flitted above the sky of Alexandria. Of cause they built an advanced twin engine plywood fighter bomber. The Mosquito was one of the most famous planes in history and written about a lot. Their retirement was announced for two years time and they named their 2^nd daughter as heir.

The year they retired their oldest son became Zent and they had the last of their children, all of their kids and the grand kids had their own Wisdom’s or would go on to get them. But hey, who wants to run the country when you could live in Alexandria. The once tiny archducal family of Alexandria now was huge, over 20 adults including partners all but one staying full time in the duchy, and he would return with his wife and kids after retiring from being Zent.

The annual family midwinter gathering with the rest of Rozemyne’s family were noisy, messy, boisterous and oh so much fun. All of Gunther and Effa’s grand kids and great grand kids got on well together. Christmas Rozemyne had called it, and always gave the best presents.

Rozemyne instigated the Star Gate program the year of their retirement, they would connect their gate to a random location, toss a shumil through and see what images it brought back. They lost a lot of shumils like that. When it did return, a second more advanced version was sent through, something with a manablade core running its AI. Only when it was safe did they send people through.

It was 8 years later Rozemyne froze, there on the image was a blue highway sign BONN POPPELSDORF 400m. She cried for the longest time before grabbing Ferdinand, a heap of gold and gems and went on a trip to the Bonn State Library. 3 months later official trading began, Yurgenschmidt had only one thing to offer the people of Earth, Tourism. Hogwarts with actual magic, they even had quidditch using broom shaped highbeasts. It became more popular than a theme park dedicated to a certain mouse and had at least a few thousand visitors every night stay over but during the day it was insane. The people of Alexandria were gobbed smacked as an almost never ending stream of tourists poured through the gate every single day. They had to quickly build a rail line between the gate and the theme park. Rozemyne even got her beach resort, as well. With Bikinis! On any given day there were more Earthlings on the Alexandrian coast than actual Alexandrians, Germany isn’t the warmest place in the World. Ferdinand’s botanical gardens, zoo and aquarium became crowded as the people of Earth wanted to see the strange life forms of an alien and magical world. Millions upon millions of Euros were traded every day through the gate. German engineers and chemists were employed to kick start the chemical pigment industry and cocoa seeds, coffee seeds, soy beans and rice, oh heavenly rice were planted.

They did spend the next few years touring the grand halls of Europe. She lectured Ferdinand about his lack of common sense and his rude manners, revenge is a dish best served cold after all, she even went in for a cheek squeeze when Ferdinand did not look twice before crossing the road, it didn’t work and all she got for her trouble was a bunch of strangers staring at her being assaulted in public and some boys in blue turning up. Ferdinand refrained from any cheek pinching in public while on Earth. The galleries, the concerts, the libraries, THE SHOPPING!!!!!!! Rozemyne’s secret library now was filled with books in German, Italian, Spanish, French as well as Japanese and English.

She cried tears of shear bliss when she finally managed to catch up on the series she was reading before her death, strangely though she could never find a death notice for herself, though she had existed. She could log on to her email, wow even dead she had more junk mail than she knew what to with, so she logged out.

And they Lived Happily Ever After Surrounded By Books.

The End