The next time the sisters had a chance to plan, it was almost three months later. They had been in this new timeline for a third of a year already and all they had was the first step. It took those four months for them to both actually be able to make that step.
Lucia had used her freedom as the healthy legitimate daughter to go around and buy some items to help them with their plans, as well as encourage her mother to buy other items for them. While Lucia did the leg work, Arianna had used her few interactions with their father to give him the idea to strengthen Theo's education.
Now, the day came for the change in tutors, and for Arianna to be joining her first class. Even in their original life, she had already been literate at this time, having little to do with her days other than read and write, so it was decided that she would take her classes alongside Lucia. Sitting down in the study that was built for the generations of Rosales children and waiting for the two of them was a tall thin man, who was dressed impeccably, but was still reminiscent of a scarecrow.
Arianna gave Lucia a look, remembering plenty about this particular tutor, and Lucia's expression shared that nuanced feeling of both annoyance and acceptance. Professor Tittianbalm was stern, humourless, and aggravatingly, a very capable and intelligent tutor.
Lucia in particular had to force down a smile, remembering how she used to avoid his boring lessons by calling him Professor titan bum until he refused to teach that day. It was not even remotely how his name was pronounced and yet it never failed to infuriate him.
Arianna just remembered trying to escape from his homework, but being too weak to get away fast enough to avoid being buried. True to form, their tutor's only acknowledgment of a difference in the lesson (in the form of a second pupil) was to hand them each a test to check their progress and then sat silently as he waited for them to fill them out. It was part of what made him a good tutor, that he prioritized understanding the needs and capabilities of his students, but it was also why no one thanked him for his teaching until after they had reached adulthood, when they could finally understand that he may have ignored certain niceties like introducing himself and speaking to them as people, but that he had done them a great service.
Having not spoken a word to them, he finally did speak after collecting the tests and doing a cursory read. "Read the first three chapters of 'A History of The Aukris Continent' by this time next tenday, you will each need to choose one event to present your understanding of at that time. After that we will begin lessons every day for four days, a day of rest, and then we repeat. If you do not yet know your numbers, simply show up each day, and study when I am not here." He said, voice drier than any desert in the aforementioned landmass, before laying out the two copies of the book for them, and leaving, their tests in hand.
Lucia watched him go, even as Arianna was pushing aside their books to make room for other things. "He really is exactly as I remember him. I think part of the reason all of his students become grateful when we reach adulthood is because we convince ourselves we are just exaggerating our memories."
Arianna laughed softly, patting the chair beside her as she cracked open the present that the Grand Duchess had bought them. Magical journals, a gem embedded in the spine that when bled on would guarantee that no one save the owner of the blood would be able to open the book. When Arianna had her finger pricked for a drop of blood, her book had turned a lovely merlot colour, with the monogram of A.S.R. in white that gleamed like mother of pearl written neatly on the corner. Lucia's had turned sky blue with L.A.R. written in gold, letters so looped that they were almost illegible, just as Lucia prefered. A few of their noble peers had taken to taunting her as 'Lars' for long enough that Lucia usually chose to disregard her middle name.
The two of them compared their remembered timelines, drawing out each event they remembered as important. They kept at it for an hour, until it was time for the next class- Theo's. This was the last thing they needed to do before focusing on their own personal improvements.
Theo was a little confused as to why his sisters were still sitting there, but he chose not to ask questions until he was settled, laying out his books on his desk. Once he was seated, Arianna jumped up and locked the door to the study, preventing his tutor from arriving.
Lucia spoke over Theo starting to question what was happening. "We have to make this quick so please just listen. We have tricked father into making your lessons much more difficult." She said, keeping her volume low.
Arianna nodded and continued. "We can not explain why just yet and we do not know when we might be able to explain, but-"
Before she could even finish, Theo simply smiled at his little sisters. "Okay."
Lucia was half startled before giving a relieved smile, though Arianna was completely startled. "Just okay? You do not even need to know what we are asking?"
Theo chuckled and stood up from where he had been pulled to sit. He patted his sisters' heads, choosing to intentionally muss their hair slightly. "You need me to learn more. I do not know why, and I am not sure I would understand if you explained right now, but I do not need to." He said simply, straightening his clothes. "Our mothers may not see it because they are both very busy, but I have been with you two for six years. Mother was unaware that Arianna had not been taught to curtsy, and Momma Adette was not at the party to see that her daughter could suddenly curtsy, but I knew. And I saw." He stooped down to pick up the knightly teddy bear that Arianna had dropped in her shock. Even Lucia's face had drained of colour, unaware that they had been so transparent. He handed the teddy back to Arianna. "I was just waiting for you to tell me what you needed. I am your big brother after all." He said, huffing and puffing out his chest.
For a beat of time, Arianna and Lucia had forgotten that he was still a child, and all they could see was their strong firstborn brother who had been with them through the death of all three of their parents, who had committed treason right alongside Lucia without a moment of hesitation. Him puffing up his chest though brought them back to the present, where he was their ten year old big brother, though he was no less gallant. They both stood up and sandwiched him in a hug, whispering their thank yous to him as the door clicked open, Adette having used the wind as a master key. She had clearly been gearing up to give her daughter a lecture on inconveniencing the tutor but deflated when she saw the three children squished together. She simply gave a rueful smile and lightly tugged Theo free from the sandwich. "Now now, let's not keep your brother from his lessons." She said with a smile, leading the girls out of the room with one hand on each of their backs. Arianna and Lucia gave Theo one last grateful look as his tutor walked in.