Chapter 5: Princess Training on the Road

Laughter echoed inside of the coach.

“Exactly right.” The woman speaking was just past middle-aged, with such a commanding presence it surpassed everyone else’s. In Sauslind’s high society, her influence came second only to Queen Henrietta. Her full name was Rosalia Strasser, but she was more widely known as Duchess Strasser, the mother to Lord Alexei and Lady Therese.

She had blonde hair peppered with streaks of white and eyes like a lake in winter, making her seem cold and aloof. Lord Alexei resembled her in the face, as she had gorgeous, chiseled features. Long ago, she’d been given the honorable title “the Frozen Rose.” Even past her prime, she still retained her beauty.

Currently, my entourage and I were midway to our destination, intending to visit the sickly Lord Bernard. The inside of our carriage was so luxurious and warm that it was hard to believe we were traveling in the middle of winter, surrounded by a bunch of guards to keep us safe.

The one livening up the conversation was the aforementioned woman, Duchess Rosalia. Those acquainted with her would have found nothing amiss about the conversation. As a former princess of the kingdom, she was incredibly elegant and refined, which was why she was so known for appearing distant and difficult to approach. However, those who befriended her would find she enjoyed engaging in immodest conversation.

“Therese’s morning sickness was so bad that for a bit there she wasn’t able to eat at all, you know? When it finally improved, almost as if on reflex, she began gorging herself on her favorite foods. To no one’s surprise, she’s been regularly experiencing stomachaches as a result.”

Recalling the turmoil from a few days prior, I quietly giggled to myself, careful not to make my mirth too apparent lest I offend the duchess.

The young lady at the center of our current conversation was Lady Therese Ardolino, who’d been there to see us off when we departed the capital. I had very few friends, but I counted her among them. She was pregnant and due to give birth at the beginning of summer. Since this was her first time, she’d been causing an endless amount of trouble to those around her.

In response to Duchess Rosalia’s casual remark, Lilia, who was accompanying me as one of my maids, said, “Oh, yes. The other day Earl Ardolino looked white as a sheet as he stormed the palace and dragged some of the doctors out with him. I wondered what all the fuss was about.” She spoke with ease, unintimidated by the duchess despite having only met her a couple of times prior.

Duchess Rosalia’s smile broadened. “One of the panicked servants from their home sent a messenger to the palace to inform the earl. My husband and I were meeting with Queen Henrietta when I heard, and I wondered what could possibly be wrong. My husband, ever the worrywart, began shrieking for them to ‘call a midwife,’ even though she isn’t due to give birth for several more months. Honestly, men always lose their cool when you actually need them. They’re utterly worthless.” She spoke the words without mercy or compunction, as if off-handedly stating a fact. I felt a little awkward listening.

Her two maids merely giggled, as if accustomed to her blunt remarks. Their manners were as refined as any maid in the palace. As I found myself impressed by how well they conducted themselves, Duchess Rosalia turned her smile toward me.

“I heard he caused some trouble for you as well, Lady Elianna. You were meeting with my son when Earl Ardolino barged in, yes? I was told he pressed you for answers as to how a woman experiencing her first pregnancy might cope with stomach pain. You’re not a doctor, for goodness sake. I felt so embarrassed I almost blushed on his behalf when someone relayed the incident to me later.”

Before I could shake my head and reassure her, Lilia burst into laughter. “The maids are still gossiping about it. Earl Ardolino has a scowl permanently etched onto his face, and yet the moment he heard about his wife, he looked like he’d seen a ghost! He must really love Lady Therese.”

“Oh?” The duchess wore a mischievous grin, brimming with curiosity as she teased my young maid. “I believe the same could be said for Lady Elianna, no? Prince Christopher called the general known as a Battle God to defend her on her trip, and he even sent my son—his precious right-hand man—along with us, too. The one who’s really loved and protected here is Lady Elianna, more so than my daughter.”

Hearing how our relationship looked to outsiders made me flush with embarrassment. Only a few hours ago, His Highness had hesitated to release me from his embrace even though so many people had been watching us. Eventually Grandpa Teddy had barked at us to break it up.

That topic became the central focus for the next few minutes of conversation. I was afraid they would keep repeating it when one of the duchess’s senior maids added, “People have been talking about what perfect timing it was for Lady Therese to get pregnant. It’s a prime time for childbirth if you’re concerned about the future, at least according to rumor.”

I tilted my head, confused as to what she was inferring.

She laughed at my reaction and smiled warmly as she said, “You and Prince Christopher will surely have children of your own soon enough. Other nobles are hoping that if their offspring are close in age, they’ll be able to befriend yours.”

“What...?” My jaw dropped. The conversation took me completely by surprise. I even forgot to blush.

Although our official wedding would take place in the spring, we still had some time between now and then. Children were even further off than that. Besides, she was speaking as if people were already anticipating a child I wasn’t even pregnant with yet. Perhaps that was natural for nobility, but my mind hadn’t quite digested the reality of what was happening around me.

Across from me, Lilia sighed in exasperation. “I don’t understand how you can be so oblivious when it comes to things that relate directly to you, Lady Elianna. The reason so many nobles have been announcing their engagements since the Holy Night’s Banquet is because they’re anticipating your marriage to the prince. Everyone has realized how solid your relationship is and are now planning for the future.”

I nodded, feeling a bit numb from the shock at this point.

Duchess Rosalia’s voice sounded relaxed as she said, “Miss Lilia is right. Since the new year, talk has turned from engagements to pregnancy and birth. On that note...I do hope you’ll share. How are things progressing with you two?”

“Progressing? I’m not sure what you mean?” I furrowed my brows at her, unsure where this was headed.

“Goodness.” Duchess Rosalia so resembled her daughter the way her eyes lit up with curiosity. “Why, I’m referring to the possibility of a child between His Highness and yourself, of course.”

The polite, lady-like smile on my face froze in place. I should have given the formal response of, “I expect we’ll conceive sometime after the ceremony.” But the words wouldn’t come out. I saw the eagerness in her eyes, and my shy nature got the best of me.

Come to think of it, ever since I’d become close with Lady Therese, the duchess had been showing up at our tea parties to join her daughter in teasing me.

“Well?” she asked, prompting me to answer her. She was being even more persistent than usual. “This is just between us girls. I know how infatuated Chris is with you. It wouldn’t be outrageous for me to think you two have already crossed that line, would it?”

“Um, I suppose...?” I practically squeaked the words out like a mouse, as embarrassing as it was to admit.

I almost wanted to collapse right there, much like I had a few days prior when the prince held me in his arms, but I tried to focus on working my brain instead... Why was Duchess Rosalia bringing this up all of a sudden?

While I sat there looking troubled, Lilia and the duchess’s younger maid turned bright red as they waited anxiously for me to give a precise answer. Honestly, my cousin wasn’t being any help here at all.

The other, senior maid gave a hearty laugh before stepping in to my rescue. “You’ve made Lady Elianna uncomfortable.”

Duchess Rosalia breathed a sigh, now bored with the conversation. She regarded both Lilia and me with disappointment. “When I was your age, plenty of girls were getting married and giving birth. I should be surrounded with grandchildren by now. How greatly times must have changed...” Her voice held a somber note as she spoke.

“Uh, um,” Lilia stammered, trying to show some consideration by changing the topic. “I hear that Lord Alexei has no shortage of marriage proposals from the ladies, not unlike Lord Glen. It certainly would have made sense for him to have a child before Lady Therese.”

In that instant, the air in the carriage seemed to freeze over.

Although I managed to maintain a smile on my face, I was inwardly panicking as I said, “People do liken Lord Alexei to Alepatos, the god of intelligence who supports the almighty Dora. Alepatos was known for his pursuit of knowledge above all else. Perhaps Lord Alexei will get married in the future, but for the moment I suspect he is enjoying his work.”

The moment she realized I was covering for her discourteous remark, Lilia turned pale. I gave her a sympathetic smile.

“Indeed,” the duchess’s senior maid responded smoothly. “Lord Alexei is known for being very strict and invested in his work. Although there’s been no shortage of marriage talk surrounding him, the young noble ladies have consistently given him a wide berth. The average marriage age is increasing nowadays. The lady from House Odin who saw us off at the capital was one such example of that.” She paused and then said, “I wonder if part of that is your support for women and midwives to become medical workers, Lady Elianna.”

“Oh yes,” said the younger maid, who wore a broad smile on her face. “Giving birth is extremely important and can be life-threatening for the mother and the child. Yet the midwives who assist with this are always looked down upon in the medical community. Doctors with intimate knowledge about diseases and injuries are more respected, giving them this odd sense of superiority. But every life is equally as precious as any other.”

Her words, while unexpected, left a deep impression on me. I smiled at her, and in turn, the young maid shyly grinned back at me.

“That’s why I was so happy about the policy you helped support,” she said. “I come from a family of midwives. My mother is one as well, employed by Lady Therese. They may not be doctors, but they’re indispensable when it comes time for a woman to give birth. It always irritated me to see them discriminated against.”

Although they had medical expertise, their knowledge leaned solely toward birth, and so midwives weren’t recognized as actual doctors. In the past, there was even a period where such women were referred to as witches—both awed and feared. But this young lady had spoken the truth: every life was equally precious.

“You’re right,” I mumbled to myself, fondly recalling how I’d first begun sponsoring that policy last summer. “Even in medicine, there are specializations—those who focus on medicines to cure illness and those who focus on the best treatments for injuries. If there are so many different paths available, then it’s only natural we would have professionals versed in specific areas. The doctors serving the palace no doubt have knowledge about birthing, but the reality in cities and towns is different. Many still rely upon midwives.”

This was also likely because birth involved the privacy of the mother, so many men were historically excluded from attending or witnessing it. Women with comparable knowledge were considered a nuisance in the male-dominated medical world.

As in the case of this young maid’s family, many midwives passed their career and knowledge on to their daughters, keeping it running down family lines generation after generation. But why didn’t they use what they knew to spread awareness? It needed to be shared. Before we were men or women, we were people foremost, and lives were at stake.

“I’ve heard in some remote villages where there are no other doctors, people turn to midwives for medical help,” I said. “I thought it was of paramount importance we open the door of medical science to them. Ordinarily, the correct response would be to increase the number of doctors in the country, but our only option at present is to rely on those who possess some knowledge already. Those who take pride in their work as midwives may see what I’ve done as reckless. However, I believe those juggling lives in their hands can only stand to benefit when equipped with more information.”

Ever since the onset of the Ashen Nightmare sixteen years ago, I had strongly desired one thing: for medical knowledge to be shared as widely as possible.

“Hoho.” Duchess Rosalia giggled as she recalled something. “I heard there were those who opposed your measure, claiming, ‘Midwives who don’t have medical knowledge have no right to call themselves doctors.’ Nitwits, the lot of them. So caught up with maintaining current regulations they can’t even entertain the idea that a different course of action might be better. I was told the prince silenced them by saying, ‘Then why don’t you all become doctors and station yourself in those remote villages where they have only midwives to service them?’ I agree with him. Those who are too drunk on their own power to exercise some empathy for others would do well to experience that situation for themselves.”

I smiled bitterly. Medicine was a career path involving other people’s lives, and it took no small amount of time and effort to achieve the expertise needed to be a doctor. Those who did so were proud of their profession, and it was no wonder they found my measure difficult to stomach. However, that didn’t change the fact that midwives were already being called on to fulfill the role of doctors across the country.

There was strong conviction in the young maid’s voice as she said, “I agree with your policy, Lady Elianna. There are those who complain that women are more suited for supporting roles, such as being a nurse, but honestly, my grandmother was in the exact opposite corner. She said there was no point in us trying to compete with men to stand in the medical field. But she had novice doctors pleading with her to impart her knowledge on them. In that case, I think women ought to break into the male-dominated medical field with their own specialized knowledge and make a place for themselves there. Men should feel intimidated by us. It’s because we’re women that we’ve inherited knowledge they don’t possess.”

Her words were so stirring, my eyes widened in surprise. Beside me, Lilia broke out into laughter.

The senior maid smiled as she turned the topic back to its original point. “The more women have opportunities to become doctors and practice, the higher the average marriage age will soar. I heard Lady Pharmia from House Odin is interested in becoming a doctor as well.”

“Indeed,” Duchess Rosalia said with a small sigh. She glanced over at me briefly. “That girl is naturally a diligent person. If I’m not mistaken, Lady Elianna, you introduced her to a medical facility in the capital. Ever since, she’s been frequenting the place, and rumors have started among the people. Surely you didn’t need to go out of your way to give Duke Odin even further cause to resent you.”

Her words made me recoil, but I was quick to explain, “I’ve heard Lady Pharmia’s younger brother isn’t in good health. She’s been interested in medicine for some time now. And so I...” I didn’t think I’d made a mistake by doing what I’d done, but my voice tapered off nonetheless.

The duchess sighed once more, but there was almost something sympathetic and gentle about it this time. “You truly are too soft-hearted. On the surface, Duke Odin is giving you and the prince his blessing, but surely Queen Henrietta has told you already that he’s only waiting for the perfect opportunity to pull the rug right out from under you.”

I pulled a face.

Queen Henrietta originally hailed from House Odin. They were an ancient and honorable noble house, one who could trace its roots directly back to the royal family. The current duke was Queen Henrietta’s older brother (making him Prince Christopher’s uncle). Their house had once enjoyed an increase in influence due to their connection to the royal family, but when Her Majesty took ill with the Ashen Nightmare, her failing health negatively impacted their hold on power. Presently, House Odin presided over the western region where Kelk Harbor was located and maintained good relations with the Miseral Dukedom due to familial ties there.

House Odin was highly conservative and placed great value on old bloodlines, such as the royal family’s. When His Highness and I were first engaged, House Odin was the one who protested the loudest, or so I’d heard.

After the way they’d treated her in the past, Queen Henrietta had put some distance between herself and her family, but the influence House Odin maintained was not something that could be so easily ignored, even as diminished as it was now. Hearing that I’d directly stepped on the lord’s toes by interfering with his daughter did give me pause. However...

“Lady Pharmia is also one of my friends,” I said.

Four years ago when I was selected to be the prince’s betrothed, Lady Therese was the first person I befriended. Her frank, honest nature reeled me in, and as the two of us drew closer, she introduced me to another one of Prince Christopher’s cousins—Lady Pharmia.

Like Lady Therese, she was also nineteen years old. Her blonde hair was so dark it verged on almost reddish-brown, and like Lilia, she had hazel eyes. The most noteworthy part of Lady Pharmia’s appearance for me was the mole just beneath her eye, but otherwise she was a very reserved and quiet individual. Unlike me, she was skilled at embroidery and loved music. She was also very ladylike and thoughtful, making her a comforting person to be around.

“Lady Pharmia has such a keen eye I thought she would be able to point out what areas our medical facility could improve upon,” I continued. “Most importantly, she was very proactive about wanting to get involved.”

Secretly, I wondered to myself if Lady Pharmia didn’t have her own path she wanted to pursue, similar to Lady Anna. Although I wasn’t as close to her as I was to Lady Therese, the two of us were still good friends. When I was completely lost at high society events, Lady Pharmia would always casually step in to look out for me.

Perhaps my actions had created an opportunity for a noble lady of an esteemed house such as her to spend more time in town with people rather than getting married. If that was cause enough for Duke Odin to resent me, then I had no regrets.

Duchess Rosalia had a pensive look in her eyes as she softly exhaled. “Yes, I suppose you must have had your reasons for doing that. I have no business criticizing you if that’s the case. Unfortunately, sometimes people’s best intentions don’t always turn out the way they might hope.”

I tilted my head, unsure of who she was referring to, but she sighed again and seemed to gather herself. Her eyes had turned serious once more. She had the dignified air you would expect of a noblewoman operating in high society.

“Miss Lilia,” she said, “I know you are enjoying your work as a maid at the moment, but if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up the same as my son. Well, perhaps not exactly the same. Alexei was engaged once before, only things went south.”

“What...?” Lilia’s jaw dropped.

Apparently she didn’t know. To tell the truth, I had only learned about this recently in connection with my official duties.

Duchess Rosalia remained nonchalant, nodding as she explained, “My son has a dark history with the Ralshen Region. The girl he was engaged to was originally from here. That seems to be the reason he refuses to settle down with anyone.” There was some unspoken nuance there, as if she was determined to temper the obstinance out of Lord Alexei.

I shrank back, feeling a cold sweat on my brow, though I was accustomed to such behavior from her by this point.

“That reminds me, Lady Elianna. The queen was concerned about leaving this errand to you during such a crucial period. You are supposed to be in the midst of princess training right now,” said the duchess.

“Oh no, it’s quite all right,” I said quickly. For as dense as I was, I still had a bad feeling about where this was going. The carriage left little room for me to run, but I was desperate for escape.

A smile slowly crawled across Duchess Rosalia’s lips. The chilling look in her eye as she stared me down made the epithet “the Frozen Rose” fit her all too perfectly.

“Thus,” she continued, ignoring what I’d said, “Queen Henrietta has left the task to me. We will be carefully and meticulously going over your training throughout our trip. But for now, there’s one thing in particular I would like to focus on.” She paused, her words highly suggestive as her eyes lit up with amusement. “Let’s learn about how to become more intimate with your partner. That way we can surprise the prince once your duties are over. You know, Her Majesty and the king are anxious to see their grandchildren as quickly as possible.”

If her sudden proclamation was anything to go by, this trip was sure to be an arduous one for me.