As the days followed one after another, Cordelia filled them with teaching the children and trying to be of use to her servants. All Cordelia was required to do was to administrate and regulate the duties of running of the castle for the purpose of delegating the various tasks so that everything ran smoothly, a job which she'd been doing since her mother became ill during her fifteenth year. Oh yes, the job of a princess was vastly important. Why, without her, however would dinner be delivered on time? No one who visited would ever have fires lit in their places, and someone had to tell the servants to run the same weekly cleaning routines because how else would the servants know what to do? Yes, her oversight was indispensable, so indispensable, in fact, that she could probably disappear forever, and no one would really notice. She pushed the thought from her head as it never did any good to dwell on such pessimistic thoughts. Cordelia knew that even though the work she was required to do was not important, she was esteemed not for what she did, but for who she was—at least that's what she told herself.
As Cordelia was passing the library and heard the hushed voices of her students, she was surprised to hear a rather deep, masculine voice responding to their queries.
"This is the expenditures for grain which means that this is the amount of money his lordship spends to feed the animals and people living in the demesne," the man was explaining to the very slight and thin boy, Kurt, who was giving the steward his undivided attention. In fact, the boy seemed fairly fascinated by the steward's work. Cordelia smiled at his rapt attention, turned her attention to the new steward, and was momentarily startled. From the voice, she had been expected a large, strong looking man and was surprised to find instead this misshapen young man bent over the book, gesturing at the letters and numbers inside. The steward seemed to sense her attention on him and looked up, catching her gaze with his clear, blue eyes.
Cordelia held his gaze for a moment then glanced quickly away, embarrassed to have been caught staring at the poor man. She disliked the uncomfortable feeling and grasped about her mind for something to relieve the awkwardness of the moment and chose to address Kurt.
"Well now, Kurt, what is the steward telling you about?" Cordelia said, trying to will the color that was already blooming into her face away.
"Hans is showing me numbers and sums!" Kurt beamed and began regurgitating all of the information that he'd received from the steward. Cordelia nodded, thinking that this was a pleasant surprise as Kurt had not shown much interest in reading, nor was he much interested becoming a page. If Cordelia could convince her father to allow Kurt to apprentice with their steward, he might truly become a great asset to his own family and to whomever he might someday work for.
Cordelia cocked her head and studied the boy, "Kurt, would you like to study numbers more?"
As he nodded emphatically, Cordelia looked over at Hans who was smiling at the little boy's excitement. She nodded once and addressed Kurt, "Sweetie, the others are eating lunch. Why don't you run to the kitchen?" Kurt's face fell a little, but he ran off to do as he was told.
The steward looked back to his work, seemingly certain that his input could not be important to the princess.
Cordelia hesitated, uncertain of how exactly she should proceed; she wanted to know if the steward would be willing to teach Kurt, but wasn't sure how to frame the question, especially since she did not know if her father was willing to allow the boy to stay on. Cordelia considered the matter a little further and made the decision herself. After all, she was the princess, and as her father was absent, the servants were obligated to defer to her leadership—at least those living within the castle anyway.
"S-steward," she began clumsily, wishing that she knew the man's name. What had Kurt called him earlier? "Might I have a word?"
The steward glanced up at her sharply as something like suspicion mixed with dread crept into his expression.
Already this conversation seemed doomed to failure, but Cordelia pressed on. "It's about Kurt," she added.
He slowly blotted the quill he held with a small, mottled, white handkerchief and placed it next to the ledger. He grasped the table firmly with his hands and rose to his feet. With the hump twisting his back, he barely had to look down to meet her gaze. "M'lady," he offered her a clumsy half-bow.
Face burning, Cordelia asked, "Might I know your name?"
"I am called Hans, my lady." He offered with quiet dignity.
"Hans," Cordelia said, "I know you must have noticed Kurt's fascination with your work."
Hans nodded his head in ascent but offered no response.
"As you know, I am interested in teaching the children to read and anything else that might be helpful for them in the future. In fact, I've asked my father's men-at-arms to begin training some of the other boys who are quite interested in training for knighthood. Kurt has no interest in fighting or reading, so if you would not mind, might he begin training with you as a steward?"
Hans appeared to think the request over. "Aye, my lady, he may, but should he decide later that his interest has greatly waned, how then shall I proceed?"
"That could present a difficulty, but I think that he needs to persevere in this pursuit before any decision is made. If he should find his interest has waned and cannot be revived after a good deal of time, or if he does not have the aptitude to understand, you may inform me, and he will no longer be your concern."
Hans nodded, absently stooping to rub the back of his leg. "I have no objections my lady. Kurt may begin his studies as soon as he wishes."
Cordelia was nearly overcome with sorrow and compassion for the poor, young man, but tried desperately not to allow the emotions room on her face as he may not be so amenable to them. Kurt is going to be thrilled. "Thank you so much," she replied, smiling as she imagined the delight on Kurt's face.
As she moved to leave, Hans offered a slight bow and carefully lowered himself into his chair to resume his duties. Cordelia watched him for a moment before leaving, wondering briefly at what went on in his head.