"What did you say?"
As much as I tried to control them, this time both my eyebrows raced up my forehead.
"Promise me not to murder the crown prince, oh, say in the next six months - I know it won't be easy, but try your hardest. And I promise not to kill him either! As a person responsible for you, I can't ask something that I can't do myself, can I?" [Katiana]
I did not quite understand the second part of Katiana's words... no, I did not truly understand the first part either.
"Why would I kill the crown prince? Has he done something despicable deserving of such judgment?"
"Hm... nothing as far as I know... But he's a really really annoying piece of shi... I mean, his talent is to rub people the wrong way." [Katiana]
"So I see you have met the crown prince."
"Eh? No? How could I? I haven't debuted into society, and even if I had, I only come from a lowly count family." [Katiana]
As Katiana was saying that my mother wandered in.
"Oh Katiana! Don't say that - you are the Duchess now! We are not even second to the royal family!" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
My mother stood ram-rod straight - one leg slightly in front, one arm raised high, her index finger pointing to the ceiling, and her face turned upwards.
"Without us, there would be no Empire!" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
Katiana, still in my lap, clapped and shouted "Here! Here!"
"But seriously my mother is indeed correct, dear wife - neither the crown prince nor even the emperor can summon us. They can invite us, and we can excuse ourselves - as we have in the past done so when we got fed up with those court munchkins."
"Thank you for the pats - you can stop now - my hair is only fixed for casual patting." [Katiana]
I had been unconsciously patting Katiana lightly on the head...
"Oh, sorry... I got carried away."
First my eyebrows, and now my hand is betraying me - how much more control will I lose?
If I am not extremely mindful and careful, I might find myself even holding hands with Katiana while walking in the capital's shopping district - perish the thought!
My mother dropped onto one of the couches and leaned back looking at the two of us sharing one chair.
"Ha, I used to do that to your father... Hm... I should visit him after the ball - wonder what the old pirate is up to these days?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
Katiana, still in my lap, sat up a bit, her eyes widening.
"Big-sis what is the old Duke, like? He never was really mentioned in the nove... ah... I've not read about him in any of the newspapers." [Katiana]
"Hm? Oh, he wasn't the Duke - I was the sole Duchess before I retired and handed the title to that... chair... of yours. These days he is the chief of the northern barbarians - the unconquered Kodiak tribe." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
There was a slight grin on my mother's face - she was one of the reasons for the tribe's success, after all.
Katiana turned to me, her face barely a hand's length away from mine so close that I was sure she wore no make-up - and she didn't need it.
"Nitram, I want to go visit the north, too - let's all go with big-sis on a family outing - you need to introduce me to your dad, anyway. Oh-Kay?" [Katiana]
"What about the projects for the Dukedom that you are working on? The journey is quite far, even on half-dragons."
"Stephanus has the projects fully in control - he really is a master at organisation and management. And the engineers and workers he chose are excellent - no need for any more input from my side. I'd probably even just get in their way if I stayed around." [Katiana]
My mother a note.
"And the 'Wings of the Goddess' could use Katiana's and your help - there is a report of a new dungeon having been uncovered in the farthest north after an ice wall collapsed... Would't it be fun to do some dungeon clearing?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"I am getting a bit rusty - but what does Katiana have to do with this? New uncharted dungeons are unknown entities and that makes them especially dangerous."
"I'm sure my super strong and powerful husband could protect little old me - especially with big-sis and her party joining in - I want to see this new dungeon up close!" [Katiana]
"That's right! I've been teaching Katiana how to use a sword - with her strength, she could be a B-rank, no even an A-rank in no time! And what better way to train then a dungeon while surrounded by us caretakers?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"So be it - I never was one to coddle people with talent. But I have one condition - you will need to prove yourself against my father in a sparring match. You don't have to win. As long as you impress him, that will be good enough with me."
"Eh? Why your pops? Couldn't I just spar with you, bubeleh?" [Katiana]
"I want you to have a fair chance, at the very least. And what is this 'bubeleh'?"
"Hmph, I just thought I'd try out a new nick-name... it worked for Morticia, but I guess you are immune to this. Back to the drawing board!"
With this last sentence, Katiana leapt out of my lap and rushed out of the office.
Before either my mother or I could react, Katiana rushed back in.
"I forgot! We are having a new dish today - it would be something I bet those northern barbarians would love, so I will want your very very honest opinion - see you in the lunch dining room in twenty!" [Katiana]
And away she wooshed again.
I looked at my mother, one eyebrow raised in a question.
She shrugged after rising from the couch and stretching as she walked towards the door.
"No idea either what she is up to now, dear - I wasn't in the kitchens today. I'll meet you for this surprise lunch - I have a feeling it will be unexpected again." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
With that I was soon alone to finalize some paperwork.
There was fine smell of white wine and garlic - something I was not familiar with - as I entered the lunch room.
On the table were several heat stones suspended under stone-ware pots.
Each pot was attended by a member of the kitchen staff who constantly stirred a golden thick and bubbling substance.
"Ah you are here now, too, dear husband! Big-sis and I were waiting!" [Katiana]
"It smells - interesting. But what is it? Soup?"
"This is - tada! Cheese fondue!"[Katiana]
"Dear, that doesn't tell us anything... I see cubes of bread and pickles and small onions and pieces of cooked vegetables and these funny long forks... Do we... dip these things into that liquid?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Oh, you figured it out! Yes, that's it! This is a cheese mix, and has white wine and a bit of spices in it - look, just pop the item of your choice onto the end of the long fork, swirl it around, and eat it!" [Katiana]
I followed my wife's example.
"Delicious. I can see how this might appeal to people living in ice and snow."
While I had tried a cube of bread on my fork, my mother already had seven long forks going at the same time.
"What? I'm hungry! And this smells amazing!" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Right? Right? Oh, and outside of family, it is bad manners to eat directly off the long forks, but we're all related so who cares, yes yes?" [Katiana]
"Oooo this cheese covered cooked broccoli... I only want to eat greens like this now!" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"So would I, but... dresses, you know?" [Katiana]
"What about dresses?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"After too many fondues, they would need to be refitted?" [Katiana]
"Still no idea..." [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
"Katiana, my mother does not gain weight - even I tend to stay about the same no matter how much I eat - it has to do with one of our ancestors, you see."
"Oh... That sure is handy, wish I could get my hands on that sort of metabolism." [Katiana]
"Your great-great-great grandmother would need to be a dra... Ah..."
Something kicked me under the table - and my mother glared at me.
"I mean to say - dear wife, you are much too skinny - and I will pay for any dress fittings you need, so please do not skimp on your meals."
Not that she has been - where does she put all that? Or did I already ask that before?
"Talking about ancestors of mine, when will I become an ancestor, you two? When can I hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet running around the estate?" [Mother Duchess, Wudemia]
Ah, I was wondering how long it would take for my mother to ask that.
