Today was the day that Baroness Isabella would visit the Hohengoldlinden estate for an afternoon tea.
Both Archduchess Linda and Archduchess Ann-Sophie were teaching Yumiko which things she had to consider when planning such an event. Naturally, the scale of today's tea party was smaller than usual, however it was still helpful to have this visit as a first impression.
Yumiko was thankful for the opportunity and excited to meet a close friend from Archduke Benedikt. Men weren't included for these occasions, but today he was invited as well.
The employees of the estate had decorated the inner garden for it and they would have their tea and the small snacks between the beautiful flowers and the fountain.
For Yumiko the inner courtyard of the main estate was the place where she properly met Archduke Benedikt for the first time, so it was a fitting place to meet a family's friend there as well.
For the occasion Takane-san helped her into a kimono that wasn't too formal, yet still elegant with matching colours to the current flowers of the garden.
It was arranged for Benedikt and Yumiko to welcome the Baroness in the beginning and for both Archduchess Linda and Ann-Sophie as well as her mother to join them later.
"I hope you aren't nervous," Archduke Benedikt sat next to her at the table and she could hear the fountain splash in the background. The garden seemed even more alive during the daytime.
"I try not to be," Yumiko chuckled nervously and stopped herself from fidgeting with the sleeve of her kimono. She could feel the warning eyes of Takane-san in the back of her head. Both Takane-san and Hagen-san were also in the garden, somewhere not too far from the table.
Archduke Benedikt put his hand carefully on hers. "You will get along well with Baroness Isabella, she is very easygoing."
Yumiko nodded and smiled. Having him close to her indeed helped with the nervousness.
She reminded herself of the responsibility she had towards her own culture and home country. It gave her strength and she wanted to make a proper first impression to someone other than her future family-in-law.
She could hear someone walk in the garden and open a door.
"Baroness Isabella von Halstein has arrived." Hagen-san spoke loud and clear, announcing the arrival to the two attendees.
Archduke Benedikt stood up gently and helped Yumiko as well.
"Your Royal Highness and Koshaku Kirishima Yumiko, thank you very much for your generous invitation. I hope you have been well." Baroness Isabella had a voice that reflected her strong character and ambition.
"Baroness Isabella, welcome to the Hohengoldlinden estate. I hope your travel was comfortable," Archduke Benedikt spoke up first. "May I introduce you to my fianceé, Koshaku Kirishima Yumiko."
Yumiko's heart fluttered as the Archduke introduced her as his fianceé.
"I also welcome you warmly, Baroness Isabella von Halstein. It is of greatest honour to meet you," Yumiko bowed down elegantly, in a motion of familiarity and custom.
"No, it is my pleasure to meet you, thank you so much for the invitation. I know my letter might have been quite brazen," Baroness Isabella spoke in a friendly tone that helped to close the distance between them. "I have brought some local specialities from the Halstein state."
"Then we shall take a seat and enjoy them alongside some tea." Archduke Benedikt subtly helped Yumiko to her seat before doing the same for the Baroness.
A maid from the estate gave them each a cup of tea and brought along the several snacks.
"How was your journey to Allemania, Princess Yumiko?" Isabella now spoke up first, she was genuinely interested.
"It was my first time being on a ship, so it was quite exciting."
"The first time! Such a long arduous journey as your first experience on the sea, how exciting indeed." Her reply showed her surprise and admiration.
Baroness Isabella in person was just as open and direct as her letter showed.
She had easily dropped the formal exchange at the beginning of a conversation between people of a higher standing.
For some that might have been truly rude and tactless, however Baroness Isabella did it in such a natural way, that would sweep up everyone else along.
It was the same way the Archduke and Yumiko had easily disregarded all the strict formalities between each other, without clearly saying it. The mutual understanding triumphed over the usual custom.
Yumiko chuckled. "We were lucky as the waters were rather calm."
"It is really impressive. I hope you have liked Hohengoldlinden so far."
"Oh yes, very much so. The Hohengoldlinden duchy is truly different from Yashima, but with everyone here being so welcoming and understanding it has been an enjoyable experience."
"That's wonderful to hear," the Baroness sounded delighted. "You should come and visit Halstein as well. It is not significantly different from Hohengoldlinden, but it does have its own charm even without being by the sea."
"How lovely, I would love to as soon as it gets less hectic with the wedding."
"Worry not, I shall send you an invitation when the time is right," Baroness Isabella laughed softly and sounded cheerful.
Yumiko felt a sense of bliss. The garden felt just perfect, warm and with a flowery scent. The tea was delightful, the snacks delicious and the conversation lighthearted. Knowing that Archduke Benedikt was right next to her also comforted her.
Certainly she had her fears and worries about meeting someone new for the first time. She never knew how they could react due to her blindness and in the current setting, her foreign appearance. Nevertheless, the Baroness had not once made her feel like she was much different and her wholehearted approach was even genuine in person.
"I hope you have been treating her nicely as well, Archduke." The way the Baroness stretched out Benedikt's title made it sound intentionally provoking.
Yumiko heard him gently putting down his cup before answering in a calm manner. "Well yes of course, Baroness. That shall not be a matter of worrying."
"How could I not worry about that," Isabella replied in a casual, doubtful tone. "Please do not hesitate to contact me if he ever misbehaves. I shall come flying to scold him." She now spoke to Yumiko again and she could only giggle at that offer.
She already knew that this would probably never happen as the Archduke has been nothing but kind and attentive towards her so far, but she wanted to play along in the friendly banter.
"Thank you very much for that kind offer, I will remember that if that case ever happens."
Benedikt sighed indignantly, yet Yumiko was able to tell that he did that in an unserious way.
"This is your first meeting with someone other than the Hohengoldlinden family and you are already making alliances, Koshaku Yumiko?" Benedikt had turned towards her and his voice was amused.
She faced him and put on her most innocent smile. "Rather than an alliance I would call that friendship, Erzherzog Benedikt." She put an emphasis on his title, trying to pronounce it as serious as possible. So far they have been talking in britan, without agreeing on it beforehand.
Both he and Baroness Isabella laughed upon hearing her reply.
"Yes, of course. Please pardon my rashly assumption, you are perfectly correct about that," Benedikt was still half laughing as he said that and she smiled even brighter.
"Oh what an enjoyable exchange that was! I haven't laughed like that in a long time." Baroness Isabella clapped her hands in delight and the earnest laughter filled the garden with happiness.
Yumiko also joined their laughter and it was truly a blissful feeling. If Baroness Isabella was content with it, then she would be Yumiko's first friend. In Yashima she lived too secluded in their enormous mansion, being privately tutored with no possibility to make any friends outside of their employees.
"I'm sure that our meetings will always be so pleasant, Koshaku Yumiko. It'd be an honour for me to call myself your friend." Baroness Isabella sounded relieved.
"Please just call me Yumiko, friends don't have to address themselves by their titles, right?" Yumiko smiled at her. That offer could have only come from Yumiko as she was the one with the higher standing. Dropping the formal titles was something to be done only with the ones closest to oneself. Generally those were only those from one's family and even then there were cases where the spouses would never drop the titles.
Yumiko herself still had to get used to calling the Archduke only by his first name, however she felt that by his offer to leave out their titles, the distance between them had closed.
She wanted to overcome that with Baroness Isabella as well.
"It is my pleasure, Yumiko. So far this tea party is the best one I have ever attended."
"I'm glad to hear that, Isabella."
Benedikt chuckled beside her. "I guess my attendance is no longer necessary. If you would excuse me, I shall return to my office. I don't want to disturb you two friends any further."
He got up, brushed Yumiko's shoulder gently and left the garden.
"He is quite good at reading the mood," Isabella laughed and changed her seat to be next to Yumiko.
"May I take your hand?" Yumiko asked her a little hesitantly, holding up her palm.
"Certainly," Isabella placed her hand onto Yumiko's palm and she began to trace it.
"What do you read in them?" Isabella was curious.
"That my friend is very kind, gentle and yet fierce." Yumiko smiled at her.
"Is that so? May I try that too?"
Yumiko nodded and turned their hands around. Isabella traced her hand carefully. Her hand was bigger than Yumiko's and her fingers longer.
"What do you see?"
"That the future Archduchess von Hohengoldlinden is very lovely, big hearted and playful" Isabella laughed softly. Yumiko joined her laughter as well.
"I can understand now why Benedikt gave me those sour looks before." Isabella sighed. "You are really lovely." She gently patted her hand.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, when we were joking about him mistreating you he gave me some serious glares."
"Did he?" Yumiko smirked.
"It wasn't in a way to stop me from saying such things. It felt more like he was outraged by me even thinking about that." Yumiko felt her shrug. "I wanted to tease him a little bit, but it must have hurt his pride."
"He is the kindest and most attentive person I have ever met."
"Yes, indeed. It is still refreshing to see him this irritated," Isabella chuckled. "You must know that he and his brother have perfected this sophisticated mask of being Archdukes. Always serious, royal and in a sense sublime."
"I guess that's what comes with such responsibilities."
"How true that is. I'm glad that I don't have to keep my mask up in front of you, Yumiko."
"Me too."
Yumiko squeezed her hands softly and they laughed. Isabella was truly an invaluable friend and their immediate connection made Yumiko incredibly happy.
"You have to tell me everything about your home Yashima," Isabella's voice was filled with curiosity and Yumiko was excited to tell her all the things that made up her identity.
"It was more successful than anticipated," Hagen looked at Benedikt who was working at his desk. "The tea party that is and their first meeting."
Benedikt didn't look up as he answered. "Indeed it was, but considering Isabella's nature it was more or less certain."
"You must feel relieved, Your Royal Highness."
The blonde Archduke now looked at his friend and aid who was standing by the door of his office.
"I do, I'm happy for them to be friends so quickly." That thought really took away a small part of his worries, yet at the same time it made him feel slightly jealous. Their friendship was established almost immediately upon meeting each other. Certainly, he and Yumiko also connected quite quickly, though the friendship between women would always have its own intimacy that a man would never be able to replicate. Nevertheless, Benedikt felt more happy for Yumiko and knew that he wanted to establish a closeness to Yumiko that would make everyone else jealous.
Hagen took a brief look at his pocket watch. "The others should have joined them now."
"So it seems." Benedikt turned towards his desk again and continued to work through the several input from the people of the Hohengoldlinden duchy regarding some structural measurements that were currently in discussion.
Knock knock.
Hagen opened the door and Benedikt looked up to see who visited him.
"Benni, it's me," Leopold entered the office holding a folder in his hands. "Hagen, how are you?"
"Your Royal Highness Leopold, I'm good thank you for your concern. I hope you have been well." Hagen bowed down slightly and closed the door.
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm good, always good," Leopold smiled at the brunette.
"How can I help you, brother?" Benedikt stood up from his table, but Leopold gestured to him to stay seated. "I'm sure it's not because all the ladies are busy with the tea party that you came looking for me now."
Leopold sat down in front of the desk and laughed. "I might have been bored, indeed."
Benedikt leaned back into his seat.
"I'm also here to speak with you about some changes regarding your wedding."
The younger Archduke couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Why are you informing me about that?"
Leopold laughed. "I just happened to be there with our mother as she prepared the documents," he handed him the folder and Benedikt opened it. "Since she was going to attend the tea party, I offered to bring you the folder now."
"What an attentive son you are indeed." Benedikt laughed.
Both their mother and Koshaku Kirishima Akiko were planning out the details of the upcoming wedding ceremony together.
The document listed some traditional wedding procedures of Yashima, that he didn't know before. It was good to have both their cultures represented for their wedding. With that their marriage would be legitimate in both countries. Yumiko had to explain the exact details of their traditions later, so that he wouldn't mess up anything. He would ask her about it after dinner in the lounge room.
"Thank you, brother." Benedikt looked at Leopold and smiled.
"You are very welcome." He smiled back at him and some wrinkles started to show in his face. People would oftentimes point out how similar they looked. Benedikt couldn't deny that as they were indeed a spitting image of their father. There were only a few details that would differentiate them.
"Ichinobe is indeed a formidable chess player," Leopold smiled at him. "I was severely hurt in my pride."
"You'll get over it. I stopped playing to regain mine and instead tried to have a good time with my brother-in-law," Benedikt smirked at him.
"You weren't exaggerating when you told me about that." Leopold sank into his seat with a defeated expression and he looked so relaxed. It was interesting to see him shake off his serious demeanour as soon as he was with Benedikt. Leopold was even more casual, when Linda was there as well. Her positive influence to the overall peace within Leopold was remarkable and he himself now understood how that was possible.
"Jokes aside, I'm also here for another reason." The older Archduke now leaned forward on his knees. Benedikt too straightened his back.
"We have been able to look into some plans of their battleships. They have interesting features, rather unknown to the western continent and their battle strategy has some aspects that we could adapt as well."
"Should we add the features to our existing fleet or build a new branch?"
"That is still in discussion. Due to the amarment we have to build new ships anyways, might as well add the yashimian features. More important is learning their strategies and teaching them to our military." Leopold looked at Benedikt with a serious expression.
The younger one understood. After he had graduated from the naval academy he has been working hard to climb the ranks and was already a well respected corporal in their own military.
He'd have the authority to implant the new strategy. That way he could do the training and Leopold would be able to supervise the construction of the new ships.
"There is no immediate deadline or anything. But we might have to begin right after your wedding," Leopold had an apologetic smile. "I wish you could have enjoyed your new life as a married man in a more relaxed way."
Benedikt shook his head. "It's our duty afterall, this shall not affect my new life in the slightest."
"Confident as always." Leopold laughed. "I'm glad we are on the same page."
"I'm sure that has never been a problem." Benedikt smirked at him.
Leopold nodded. "Indeed, it hasn't."
"Do you want to establish a new fleet with the prints from the Kirishimas?"
"It's still in discussion with His Imperial Majesty. As soon as the maintenance of the cruisers is completed we plan to expand to at least a handful of new ships, one for each division. However, it's still uncertain."
Although the Hohengoldlindens were the main naval powerhouse of Allemania, their entire fleet and all its soldiers belonged to the Emperor's military strength.
The implementations of new strategies, the maintenance and the on-hand training were all under the hands of the Hohengoldlindens themselves. Everything they wanted to execute and plan had to undergo an approval process with the Ministry of Defense. It was usually more or less a pro forma procedure as neither the Ministry nor the Emperor would actively interfere in their plans.
Though, things like the general armament would force the Hohengoldlindens to execute the orders from the Royal Court.
"Keep me updated on it." Benedikt nodded. In his head he was already planning out the next steps, adding more items to his list of important things he had to do.
"Certainly," Leopold got up. "But for now you should focus on your wedding. It's a joyous event and the Kirishimas are really kind. Our mother has a good eye."
Benedikt laughed at Leopold's comment. "She has indeed."
He truly felt thankful, surely she couldn't have predicted the nature of the Kirishimas outside of their business relationship, but so far as their future in-laws they have been wonderful. And by far has Yumiko been the greatest surprise. She was the most lovable and gentle woman he has ever met and for that he felt thankful to call her his future wife.
"I hope you worry less now that we know them better." Leopold smiled at him and left the office.
Hagen closed the door behind him and turned around again with a slight grin on his lips.
Benedikt observed him. "What's so funny?"
The brunette put on his perfect mask of an unassuming aid and shook his head. "Nothing, Your Royal Highness."
Benedikt could guess what went inside of his mind.
"Is that so?" He raised one eyebrow while Hagen politely avoided his glare.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
"I'm always suddenly the Royal Highness as soon as you want to avoid certain topics."
"Your Royal Highness Benedikt, you are always the Royal Highness regardless of any topic."
Hagen's straight face remained unchanged.
"It's a blessing and a curse at the same time." Benedikt sighed dramatically and sank into his seat.
"The duties of being the Archduke of the Hohengoldlinden is solely a blessing."
The blonde sank even deeper in his seat now looking at the documents that he was previously working on.
"Then help me with these holy blessings since you won't talk about what thoughts have crossed your mind after Leopold's comment." Benedikt pointed at the papers and Hagen nodded.
"Very well, Your Royal Highness."