When someone knocked on the door of Artemisia’s room, she was fast to open it, desperate to escape from Elise’s lecture on proper evening wear. “Yes?”

  “Arte?” It was Artemisia’s younger brother by four years, Hansel. “How are you feeling?”

  I’m getting tired of people constantly asking me that.

  “Do I not look alright?” Artemisia looked down at herself. Maybe she was a bit pale, since she had hardly left her room for two weeks.

  “No, no, you look fine!” Hansel said quickly. “I meant, more…” He motioned to his own temple and dropped his voice like he was afraid someone might be eavesdropping. “Up there?”

  She looked at him flatly. She’d had a little brother back in her own world, and it seemed they were disrespectful no matter where you were. “Still mad, thanks for asking.”

  “Uh…”

  “I’m only teasing!” Artemisia swept past him, smiling a little. “Have you come to escort me to dinner again?”

  He’s so easy to mess with. It’s pretty cute.

  Hansel smiled nervously. “Yes, I have.”

  This time, Artemisia took his offered arm without complaint. He’d been so dejected when she’d refused it before. With his fluffy golden hair, he’d looked like a kicked puppy. A brief smile flashed across his face, before he looked away, intensely studying the pictures on the wall.

  He seems to admire me quite a lot, but he’s so awkward about it at the same time. I don’t get his deal – did Artemisia and him have a good relationship or not?

  They walked through the spacious halls of the von Lindt manor in silence. Artemisia didn’t mind. It gave her the chance to appreciate the stunning architecture. The vaulted ceilings, the intricate detailing on the columns… it was beautiful.

  I wonder how much this place costs to look after… actually, I don’t want to know.

  As the two of them descended a staircase, Hansel cleared his throat. “Hey, Arte…”

  “Hm?”

  “I have to return to the academy the day after tomorrow. I’ve been away for a week now, and I’ll fall behind if I don’t go back soon. I really can’t afford to miss much right at the beginning of term.” Hansel bit his lip, the crease between his eyebrows ever present.

  “Alright.” Artemisia continued down the stairs, focusing on not tripping in her long skirts. Hansel was in his second-to-last year at the military academy, training to become a knight of the empire. He’d come home when he’d heard about the original Artemisia collapsing, but of course he’d fall behind if he didn’t return before long.

  “Alright?” Hansel’s voice sounded astonished.

  “What is it?” Artemisia asked, stopping and turning to face him.

  “Just… I thought you’d be upset that I was going back so soon after your accident.”

  “Why? You’re committed to your studies, aren’t you?” Artemisia tilted her head. “I think that’s a good thing, to be so dedicated.”

  If anything, Hansel looked even more shocked. “But, before…”

  “Before?”

  “No, never mind.” Hansel tried to hurry past her, but Artemisia grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.

  I need to learn all I can about the original Artemisia!

  “Tell me. How would I have reacted before?”

  Hansel avoided eye contact.

  “Hansel! You tell me right now, or so help me, I’ll spit in your tea!”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Arte! That’s vulgar!”

  “So?” Artemisia raised an eyebrow. “Tell me. Now.”

  “Well…” Hansel fiddled with his cravat, loosening and then tightening it. “Before, you would have accused me of not caring enough to look after you when you’re injured. You might have even thrown a tantrum if I didn’t stay until you were completely recovered.”

  “Would I?”

  Sounds like she was a bit self-centred…

  Artemisia shrugged. “Well, I don’t feel like that any more. Is that why you came to check on me everyday, and to escort me to dinner? You were worried I would think you didn’t care?”

  “Um…” Hansel blushed, continuing to fidget.

  Awww, he’s a sweet kid. Boys this age are awful at expressing their feelings… my little brother back home was the exact same.

  Artemisia reached out and patted him on the head. “Don’t worry, I know you love me, you don’t need to say it.”

  “Arte!”

  Oho, his ears get red when he’s really embarrassed.

  Artemisia hiked up her skirts and scurried down the stairs. Now she was feeling a little embarrassed. “Come on, we’ll be late for dinner.”

  “How are you feeling today, Artemisia?”

  Oh my god.

  This time, the question came from Artemisia’s mother, Duchess Marianne. A short woman in her late forties to early fifties, her blonde hair was streaked with white, but her grey eyes were still sharp and keen. She sat at the opposite side of the long table from Duke Hesperus.

  “I’m well, thank you for asking.” Artemisia stuck some food in her mouth so Marianne wouldn’t ask her any more questions.

  Every meal I have here is stunning. I’m sure I haven’t eaten this well in a long time.

  “You still look pale,” Marianne said, frowning.

  “Ach, you worry too much!” declared Hesperus, putting down his fork. “She just needs a bit of time outside in the sun. That’ll put the colour back in her face.”

  “I don’t think she should be spending time in the sun when she’s still recovering,” Marianne replied coolly. “That might just make her worse.”

  “What? So she should just hide away in her room all day? That can’t be good for the mind, especially when hers is so fragile right now.”

  “Hesperus!”

  “Anne.”

  What am I, chopped liver?

  Artemisia tried to look blankly out into space, but accidentally made eye contact with Emile, who gave her what appeared to be a supportive smile. Emile was her other brother’s wife, a dark haired woman with olive skin who had originally come from a wealthy count family. It hadn’t been a love match, but the two of them seemed perfectly happy together, unlike the duke and duchess.

  Seriously, every time I see them, they’re sniping at each other. If this was Earth, they probably would have divorced by now. Could they at least give it a rest over dinner, if we must eat together.

  “How about we have afternoon tea in the garden tomorrow?” Emile said, ignoring the icy stares Marianne and Hesperus were giving each other. “We could have it in the pavilion. That wouldn’t be too much or too little sun, would it? How would you feel about that, Arte?”

  “Oh! Yeah, sure – um, I mean yes, of course. That would be lovely.”

  I would like to eat my dinner in peace, please. Let me enjoy how succulent this pork is.

  “Me too! Me too!” That was Elspeth, Emile and Christopher’s toddler and so far only child. She was pretty darn cute, as far as kids went, with dark curls and bright teal eyes that seemed to be the von Lindt family trait.

  “I don’t think so, sweetpea,” said Christopher, wiping some gravy off Elspeth’s face where she sat in-between her parents. “Your aunt is still recovering from being sick. We don’t want to overwhelm her.”

  “Awww.” Elspeth pouted.

  Christopher, Artemisia’s other brother, and the heir to the von Lindt duchy. He was tall and handsome, and clearly a mirror image of Hesperus in his prime. Red-haired and with a light smattering of freckles across his cheeks, he and Artemisia looked incredibly similar.

  In contrast, Hansel took after their mother. With his golden hair and grey eyes, he seemed separate from the two of them, almost more like a cousin than a true brother.

  Perhaps that’s why he seems so nervous all the time. Even now, he’s just eating with his head down, ignoring everything else. Nobody’s bringing him into the conversation, either.

  I wish that were me right now…