Magic of the Marriage Market

Returning home after her gallery at the university was an almost surreal experience, and Edwina needed the time the carriage took to trundle back to the Capital to help settle everything that had happened. She'd left the Capital before June started, and now that it was near the end of July she was returning and it felt like a lifetime had already passed.

It started with that not-date Lord Daro took her on their first evening there. Edwina had slept poorly during the midday heat, afflicted by a truly ridiculous dream and woken to find that the hottest part of the day was not noon, but a few hours later when the sun broiled the horizon before it finally, mercifully, set. Her hair had mostly dried despite the braid, and she carefully brushed and oiled it lightly before pinning it back up to get it off of her neck. It was the same style Hida used to keep her hair out of the way for training, but it was unlikely any at the university would recognize a Knight's hairstyle.

Edwina had traded her travel dress for a slightly more dinner appropriate one, still blessedly short sleeved and lightweight. And she was quickly surprised to witness that Capital fashions were not the standard; women's gowns were short hemmed and styled stockings were displayed with shoes treated as an accessory. Her own gold and red gown wasn't a complete oddity, but given the heat Edwina was mighty tempted to adopt their fashion for survival's sake. Lord Daro was more prepared for the heat, having been a native to it since birth, so his attire was the lightweight shirts with no cravat, and held only by a vest as a jacket would be torturous. It was a dashing look on the Lord, but it'd left Edwina all too able to see the column of his throat clench and writhe as he ate and drank and spoke.

Lord Daro was animated, sharing his experiences at the university and the city that surrounded it. Although he'd graduated almost four years ago, he'd visited the city frequently enough, it seemed, that he'd been an excellent tour guide. Given the heart of the city was the university, they were able to enjoy the cooling night air as he'd shown her something called a Night Market, a lovely display of different food stands, travelling pubs, and market stalls all aimed at the heavily student aged population. She saw more pen nibs and ink pots than there were stars in the sky above, an almost complete lack of weaponry available likely purposeful, given the egos some students bore. And given the density of the crowds in such narrow walkways, Lord Daro had linked her arm through his until he actually had to guide her through crowds with a hand on her back and his shoulders a shield from being bumped. It'd left goosebumps chasing down her skin, and Edwina could feel where his hand had been long after he'd removed it. Despite the lingering heat, even after sunset, she'd longed for him to hold her close again, the sweat his touch left her coated in it's own sweet misery.

Instead he'd taken her back to their rooms so she could once again rest and prepare for her introductions. And she'd thankfully not dreamt of being a roast.

But it did prove to be the last calm moment of her trip to gallery.

Given the Season, Edwina had expected Master Gentileschi but not many other Masters to be in attendance. But it seemed that nearly a dozen Masters were interested in her art, her magic, or he academic talents. Or perhaps her gallery was simply the most exciting way to beat the heat that endlessly baked them despite the time of day. Even Lord Daro seemed surprised at the full attendance list. He'd seemed greatly focused on the Master of Dance, Lord Bernard Campell, being here instead of attending the Capital Season. The last she had heard he was Courting Lady Edha Malani, but since he'd elected to attend the university it was clearly over. It made Edwina wonder if Lord Daro had held affection for Lady Edha, and given his almost disrespectful abruptness with the other man, there was an obvious antagonism between them.

Despite her mentor's dislike, Master Campbell had been polite and friendly towards Edwina, enthusiastic about seeing what she could do already. But Edwina was far more focused on Master Gentileschi, an elderly foreigner who mastered art and magic on a scale Edwina could only hope to one day replicate.

And then came the most gruelling weeks of her young life.

Lord Daro was charming and patient with her, even when nerves left her quiet, but Edwina managed to dress to attend her own gallery as if she had the confidence to be selected. It wasn't the experience she'd expected. In the Capital, a gallery involved all the artwork being displayed by theme or artist, instead Edwina was the discover that Master Gentileschi and the other Masters wanted to review ALL of her skills; art, singing, dancing, and magic alike. The primary focus was still her art as expected, but this was a degree of inspection like nothing Edwina had prepared herself for.

Master Gentileschi wanted to go over every art piece carefully, closely, and in excruciating detail. She was asked about the paints she used, the brushes, the techniques, what her mindset had been, even the time of day if possible to recall. And then they got to the actual content of the paintings themselves. Master Gentileschi asked her about intent, focus, subtext, and emotional states, seeing depths and confessions in Edwina's works that she hadn't been fully aware of including. And then they went over how her magic had been used, requiring an active demonstration of a paining she could 'pull' from, and one of the exact same item but with no magic applied. And then Master Gentileschi decided to test on whether or not her magic worked on unfinished pieces at various stages. All while the other Masters were trying to vie for time to test her other skills, the Master of Song even going so far as to bold request that she sing while painting for Master Gentileschi.

Combined with testing her magic, it was an endeavour that left Edwina actually fainting from exhaustion and heat sickness.

Lord Daro had been quite upset by her malaise, insisting she be given a day to rest before Master Gentileschi, and only Master Gentileschi, continued her testing. And for the entire length of that day he refused to allow any of the Masters to interrupt her rest, and stayed at her side to keep her from exerting herself. It was almost loving, and Edwina's silly heart read all manner of fantasy into it despite her understanding of reality. She gave herself a little forgiveness for focusing on such a doomed crush to avoid the embarrassment of her hysterics. Ever her protector, Lord Daro insisted that it was no failure on her part, magical backlash had dropped every Master in that room at least once. It was an inevitable part of finding the utmost limits of their magics; a part of becoming a Master and one of the reasons Lord Daro had never pursued Mastery.

"The level of masochism required to map out every inch of your magical limits is greater than I wished to give. I am an adept artist, I do not require a Master's title to feel complete," he'd confessed, as if to ease her shame. "My art and my magic cannot be combined as yours is though, a factor I failed to consider for your gallery; I deeply apologize."

Edwina had held his hand while she weakly forgave him, sleeping like she's had some great trauma instead of a little effort. As if a week of mental intensity, followed by two weeks of painting, singing, and dancing, and using all of her magical focus, in the heat that increased incrementally every day, was no exacting task. Edwina had always excelled when she applied herself, so it'd been a humbling reminder. Hearing that her precious Lord Daro hadn't dared attempt this level of scrutiny himself mollify her a bit.

In the end, her fainting hadn't been enough in the detriment to stop Master Gentileschi from proclaiming that she would be the next apprentice she took.

There were two ways of enrolling at the university; as an apprentice selected by a Master, or as a general student. The university produced the best academics in Taroton, so there was no respect difference entry types, and some students could be selected after their first year, to have a specific Master if they had a clear speciality. Edwina would be an apprentice though, so Master Gentileschi would be leading her learning curriculum, though she could still attend any courses the other Masters hosted if there was no schedule conflict.

And that was why the other Masters had been interested in her gallery; the more students their courses had, the greater their reputations; bragging rights. For such esteemed adults it was hilariously immature.

After almost three weeks in their constant appraisal, Edwina was all too ready to go back to the Capital. The weather was so hot she couldn't even sweat, her sleep was nonexistent as even the nights brought little relief, and the one day it rained she felt like crying in gratitude except she was too dehydrated still. Edwina had given in to the necessary, donning attire in the southern style to help endure the weather; sparking what had been the closest she'd ever come to fighting with Lord Daro. He'd objected to her wearing the style, although he'd been the one to originally discuss the practicality of such designs, and Edwina had simply offered to faint again in her old clothes if he had such a problem with it. After that she'd work the shorter dress, her shins and shoes on display in head appropriate stockings and shoes; a fancier set of each than she'd normally have chosen. And although Lord Daro grumbled discontentedly, Master Campbell had been all compliments for her adaptability. Linen was certainly a more airy fabric than brocade, but it had its own drawbacks; it wrinkles like a parchment at the slightest pressure.

That still made it far more endurable than the more norther styles and fabrics.

After her trials during her gallery efforts, Edwina was able to recover and then gifted the best reward; acceptance to be an apprentice for Master Gentileschi. Edwina was told that she was now enrolled at the university, starting with the fall curriculum. Her efforts had borne fruit, she'd be able to continue learning from one of the best artists in the known world, her magic would also grow and improve beyond anything she could currently imagine.

To celebrate her success, the Masters insisted on a feast at the university; sending out the new that Master Gentileschi had selected an apprentice. And despite the eligible noble adults being in the Capital for the Season, Duchess and Duke Zappeas had a one year old, and were able to attend. It was held the day before their departure and the weather that had been scorching for the last week had turned truly hellish. She'd recovered from her exertion and reaction to the temperature, learning to adopt all the strategies the locals used, from fashion to midday rests, and frequent cool water baths. Now she better understood why the south had so many bathhouses, it was a literal necessity. And at the feast, everyone was served chilled juices and wines to help combat the heat. Lord Daro hadn't stopped Edwina from enjoying her glass of cooled white wine, though she had seen his eyebrow quirk when she'd first picked it up. But with a sister like Blair, it hadn't been Edwina's first experience drinking wine; a good thing because she'd known to stop after a single glass, the heat made her lightheaded enough. Being acknowledged and celebrated by Lord Daro, her new Master, the university Masters, and the Zappeas Duchy was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and Edwina wanted to revel in it for a while longer. Once she started her curriculum in the fall, she wanted to focus entirely on it, and Edwina would likely miss her own Debut since having a Master was more important than finding a husband just yet. Especially since she was still foolishly in love with Lord Daro, who was no longer even her mentor. Once her return carriage ride ended, so too did her limited relationship with him.

A fact that had been almost spotlighted during the feast.

Lord and Lady Zappeas had toasted Edwina's successful apprenticeship, welcoming her to their Duchy and promising Lord Daro they'd keep her under their wings now that she was no longer his student. Duchess Zappeas had even gifted Edwina with a set of southern clothes for even the warmest weather, while the Duke had gifted an engraved pen. Master Gentileschi had stood up to toast Edwina after that, her accent softened after years of living in Taroton, and announced how challenging it was going to be as a Master, but that was due to her high expectations of Edwina's talents. And she'd then toasted Lord Daro for the excellent mentorship he'd demonstrated, recommending him to pursue another student for her to eventually Master, or perhaps taking a fulltime professorship at the university. Most of the other Masters gave her brief congratulations, and Lord Daro promises that his former student was in good hands. Master Campbell made his toast last, a longer speech that promised that she would find all she could ever want in life there at the university, and how enrolling before her Debut Season would not be a consideration for them at all, in the eyes of the Masters she'd earned her right to be treated as an adult. And unlike the others, when he saluted Lord Daro with his glass, it wasn't to encourage him to join the university as a professor but to embrace the opportunity to return to his own interests in the Capital.

The feast may be mostly responsible for how out of sorts Edwina felt on her carriage ride back to the Capital.

Edwina had the length of their return to ponder how she felt like an entirely different person than the young Lady that'd travelled south. It'd only been a month, and yet she'd gained a Master but nothing else had truly changed. Somehow, it still felt like it had.

Maybe it was the reminder that now Lord Daro wasn't her mentor, he was now a man who's duty to her was almost done. He'd been the one to submit her name for consideration a year early, even if Alaric had to authorize it, and he'd seemed almost eager to have her apprentice to Master Gentileschi. She felt pride at his confidence in her, but also wondered if Lord Campbell had been right in that he could at last pursue his own needs. It broke her heart to consider Lord Daro returning to the Capital and finding an age appropriate wife, all while she had to silently pine from the side. If she were honest with herself, part of her decision to eventually skip her own Debut was to avoid the reality that even if she were an adult, Lord Daro still wouldn't desire her.

He'd been her mentor for long enough that he knew all there was to know about her, he'd been her closest companion despite being professional with her at all times, and Edwina hated that she'd even hoped for his attention to fall on her as a woman now that she wasn't his student. She'd tried so hard to keep her feelings hidden, or appropriately demonstrated, so it wasn't like Lord Daro could know how she'd felt, and it was unfair to somehow hope otherwise. His magic was in pulling objects, not thoughts; he couldn't know and she'd never planned to tell him.

And yet, every moment they crawled closer to the Capital, Edwina's heart broke a little more. He was going to bid her farewell at the Briggs Estate, and that would be the end of their time together. The heat that had battered her in Zappeas slowly eased as they travelled north, but Edwina had already been left cold at her own foolishness. For his own part, Lord Daro had remained congratulatory for her success but otherwise seemed deeply contemplative on a matter he was not discussing. Their ride to the university had been exciting, if dull due to the slow pace, and they'd filled much of the time in friendly conversation. Now the carriage was filled with a silence neither one seemed to know how to exorcize.

Especially as her siblings' antics had become all too newsworthy.

Edwina tried to silently mourn the death of her unreciprocated love while also celebrate the engagement of her brother Derbie to Lady Ban Ruma, and Blairs unexpected Courtship with Earl Clayton Wignell. The only thing she'd anticipated less than that was Hida's assault by Fabrizio Lazzarini. Her whole family had gone through major changes while she'd been away, and Edwina was no less evolved. Nothing would be the same as it was less than two months ago, and it added to her reluctance for this trip to end. Cowardly, but honest.

"My Lady," Lord Daro caught her attention finally, the familiar streets of the Capital warning that their time was almost up. "I plan to host a celebration of your apprenticeship, here in the Capital so you can be acknowledged properly; though it won't be on the scale of a Social Event." That surprised her, as it was entirely unnecessary but it fanned the flames of the love she'd been trying to douse. "I'll send the details to you as soon as I can arrange them," his smile was almost as bittersweet as her heart felt. "You deserve no less," he insisted though Edwina couldn't protest through her heart in her throat.

Her return home was triumphant, if tempered by the near tragedy of Hida's encounter. She had a Master, Lord Daro wished to celebrate her which meant she'd see him again, and two of her adult siblings seemed to be on their way to separate happily ever afters.