After a year as her mentor the thought of losing Lord Daro's company broke her heart but before she could beg him to stay, he'd renewed the contract to mentor her until her magic was mastered or she found a Master to guide her. At the time she'd wanted to believe it was a sign he longed to stay as her companion as well as mentor, but the reality she learned was that her parents had arranged it so they could embark on the Queen's Northern Expedition; an exploration of the island to the north of the continent. A place of mystique and myths as the sea between was full of literal monsters. Her parents had led the Expedition on the Queen's request, and their constant communications had described sirens and sea demons, unnatural storms and impossible stillness, and for a short distance to travel an eternity was endured before they landed on the island.
News of their parents came from the Queen now, as her parents and the Expedition mapped the Northern Island for Queen Akiyama. A year after their departure and Edwina missed them terribly but was also astoundingly proud of their successes. And she knew when they returned, they were going to be absolutely astonished in her own achievements.
Over this past year she learned the limits of her magic, and slowly started to Master the skill needed to keep her duplicates instead of them melting back into paint. Finally, she managed it; kept a duplicate pulled, a rose that lasted as long as the flower she copied did. Though when it wilted the paint dripped once again. When she duplicated items like a pocket watch, it couldn't be wound nor actually track time, and jewelry proved to be counterfeit after only mild scraping. 
That had been her latest success.
She had painted a duplicate of a silver candle stick and when she pulled it, the weight proved to be actual silver. And she was able to keep it pulled for almost a week before it spontaneously returned to paint. And her baby sister Hida had walked into this newest round of testing Edwina's magic; could she duplicate more complex items from memory and make it real? Lord Daro had taken the duplicate signet ring and promised to return with news of her success or failure. She knew it was expected to take some time, but then she hadn't expected an invitation from the university. One only got an invite from a Master, and the Master that had invited her was Gentileschi herself. And the very first person add we know wanted to tell was Lord Daro.
He might never know how stupidly she loved him, but he would still be thrilled for her advancement. Part of the reason she never tried too hard to get over her crush was that Lord Daro had a marvelous sense of humor, he teased and tested in a way that never felt hurtful; often joking about knowing she'd soon surpass his mediocre talent.
She wanted to hear him say 'I told you' so after reading her invitation to the university, but knew he'd be back in the afternoon at the soonest. So instead of sharing her exciting news with anyone, Edwina took her letter to the drawing room and put it aside to start chalking out a landscape she wanted to paint. Edwina wanted to show the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind and in the distance a couple with their backs in view. She had resisted the impulse to have them in a mix of Scarlet and Gray, which would have been far too obvious, but she did dare to have their hair colours match the human inspiration. Though the primary focus being all the shades of pink used for the endless rain of cherry blossoms endured at the right time of year. It was one of the most beautiful sights she had seen, and Edwina really did wish to share it with a husband someday.
"It's not often you're this distracted while painting and it's not a magical act," Lord Daro's voice said from behind her, and Edwina turned to see him standing close enough to view her painting but not block her light.
"I was feeling whimsical," she admitted obliquely.
"It's lovely," he stepped to her side and studied the painting closely once she gestured for him to do so. "Did you use a blade for these, it doesn't look like brushstrokes." He almost touched the still wet petals but hovered just over it.