Master of the Region

Chapter 2

                “Abby come on! We are going to be late!” My best friend Agnes yanks me as we run down the street. “You know that Mister Depardieu won’t let us test if we are late! We need to pass this exam if we are going to graduate!” I am running as fast as my legs will carry me, but Agnes has always been much faster. “Agnes, I am running as fast as I can!” People give us strange looks as we continue to run through the grass and finally up the stairs to the testing hall. We get to the door and stop, gasping for breath. “Come on, we need to go in.” Agnes presses and I nod. She opens the door and we are greeted with a line of woman who are also here for the exam. We fall in line and pray that we will catch our breath before reaching the front. We have just regained control of ourselves when we come face to face with our professor. “Lady Agnes.” He says, handing an exam to Agnes, she smiles and nods, taking it and proceeding into the room. Professor Depardieu then makes eye contact with me. “Lady Abigail.” He hands me my exam. I smile and nod. “Should you score well on this exam, Lady Abigail, you will graduate top of the women’s class. Best of luck.” I nod, “Thank you Sir.”

                This was nothing that I didn’t already know. My aunt and I have been tracking how I have been doing since I started primary school. It is imperative that I scored as high as possible on everything in order to secure a position that would allow me to bring my parents over from their region. My aunt is hoping that my doing well may attract the attention of a suiter above my status and that my suiter may feel for the plight of my ‘Aunt and Uncle,’ and allow them to be bough from the master of the region to work in his household. I on the other hand, am hoping to secure a job and make enough to bribe the land guards to release them to me and move them into a house with me under the pretense of my servants where we can live as a happy family. I have no interest in a suiter. Professor rings his bell announcing the exam is over. I stand and line up to turn in my paper, confident that I have secured the grade needed to be top of the class. I hand my exam to him and he gives me a knowing smile. He, too, knows I have done it, and he is proud of me. Professor Depardieu and my aunt have struck a friendship in the last few years, and he has become one of my most adamant supporters.

                “We are done!” Agnes yells when we walk outside of the building. “Agnes! Please do try to remember you are a lady!” She laughs, “Oh Abby! Get over it. Your title, like mine, does not mean anything. It is not the result of hard work or skill, simply birth. I chose to be happy… not a proper lady.” She takes my arm and we skip down the road, carefree and happy to be finished with school forever. We stop at a café and enjoy a celebratory pastry and tea. We are seated, enjoying each other’s company when we are interrupted. “Lady Agnes, Lady Abigail. I hope you will not be vexed with me for interrupting your good time.” We look up to be greeted by Lord Charles Witherbee. “Lord Witherbee.” I say, bowing my head in quick acknowledgement. Agnes rolls her eyes and looks away. “Lady Abigail, I was hoping you were attending the ball tonight and if so, that I may secure a spot on your dance card.” I smile politely, it is rude to refuse such a request, but I have no interest in Charles. He is one of the most sought-after eligible men in the region, but I do not desire to be his. “I believe my mother has secured us an invitation. If I do attend, I will be sure to leave a spot on my dance card for you.”

                He smiles, “wonderful. I look forward to it. Lady Agens.” He says curtly as he turns to walk away.

                “Oh Abby, I don’t know why you indulge him. You know that you have no interest in him.”

                “Yes Agnes, you are right, but it would be rude to refuse him. Besides, you yourself have heard me express to him in the past that I am not interested in courtship.”

                “Yes, but he believes you are simply playing hard to get. You must make your intentions clear before he tries to go behind your back and secure a deal with you mother for your hand.”

                “Oh Agnes. My mother knows full well what I want in life, and she would not make such a deal without discussing it with me.”

                “I don’t know Abby… She is getting older and she will want you well cared for in her absence.”

                I wish I could tell Agens the truth. She is not my mother, and she would not make such a deal without my approval because she is not. My aunt has made promises to my parents and she will honor them. “Agnes. It will be alright. Are you to attend the ball?” She sighs heavily.

                “Ugh, yes. My brother, Archie is to accompany me. And speaking of Archie… you know he does fancy you. Should you desire, he would gladly take your hand. And then we would be sisters! Oh think of it Abby!”

                I smile. “Oh Agnes. You know that I consider Archie as a brother as well. We have all grown up together. You were my first friend when I started school and we have been thick as thieves ever since. I could never think of Archie as anything else.”

                She sighs… “Yea… but it would be marvelous to be sisters.”

                I giggle, “Who says we are not?”

                She smiles, “True, dear sister, true.”

                I return home and as I enter, I call out, “Mother, I am home!” This has become a precaution should there be unexpected guests in the house. “In here darling.” She calls. When I enter the main room, my aunt is seated at the table with Professor Depardieu. I curtsey to him and stand next to my aunt. “Darling, Mister Depardieu has come to alert me to you being awarded the highest level in your class. I am very proud of you darling.” I smile. “Thank you, mother. I am so happy that I have been able to honor our family by achieving the goals we have set.” She knows that I am speaking of my mother, her sister, and my father. A tear comes to her eye as she longs to be reunited with her sister once more. She wipes the tear away, “Yes my dear, you have done fabulously.” She takes my hand and squeezes it. Professor Depardieu clears his throat, causing both of us to be broken from our reminiscence to look at him.

                “Please allow me to speak frankly. I believe these past years we have come to know each other beyond titles, so pardon my directness. I was telling Catherine, Abby, that there is a Master of another region coming to the ball tonight. He has contacted the school as he is interested in starting a school program for the children of those who work at the palace. It will be a program like none other before, where the children of the lowest class will be able to get a quality education. He has a school director who already teaches the nobility of the region, but he wants to expand schooling to all. I think this will be perfect for you! You have made it clear in several discussions that you wish to share education with all… He is looking for a man, but should you speak to him tonight at the ball, I believe that he will see that you are the superior choice.” My heart begins to thump. Change regions? Where will I go? Will I be able to convince this master to bring my parents over under the guise of helping my aunt and uncle? I smile a nervous smile at him and turn to my aunt.

                “I believe I will discuss this with my mother and I will let you know at the ball. This is not a decision to be made lightly.” He nods. “I believe that is a wise choice. Should you need my assistance, please feel free to messenger for me.” He stands and leaves. He and my aunt would like to pretend that I don’t know that he comes to her room at night, and I am happy to indulge them. When he leaves, I look to my aunt. “Aunt Catherine, what should I do? I am scared to accept a position in a region I do not know. What if it is too far from Mama and Papa and I am not able to reach out to them. Or help them to escape…” She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Darling, I know this is terrifying, but gaining favor with a master may be exactly what you need. Should he believe in your program and award you land, or a home, you might be able to request them as servants of your manor. This may be a blessing in disguise.”

                I nod but cannot hide my fear. Should this not work, I may be stranded in a strange region with no one to come to my aid… We eat dinner in silence, my nerves weighing heavily on me. When finished, my aunt calls for Althea to come dress me for the ball, and I climb the stairs with this looming sense of dread overcoming me. Althea laces my corset tightly, too tight for comfort, and dresses me in a light blue dress that shows off too much of my bosom for my liking. “Althea, I think this dress may not be the most appropriate…” She looks away, “This is the dress your mother has requested you wear. I will go speak with her if you wish.” I shake my head no, knowing it would do no good. My Aunt has always tried to do what is best for me, if this is the dress she wishes for me to wear, then it must be for a reason. I grab a shawl and try to do my best to cover my naked chest. Althea ties my hair up with tendrils falling down around my face, then applies a little color to my cheeks and lips. I feel exposed and over made up, but I accept that this will be how I look tonight. I slowly descend the stairs, each step feeling like it is a step towards my demise.

                The carriage ride to the palace is longer than I expected. This is my first time attending a ball at the palace. Normally the master of the region does not host, but tonight must be a special occasion as the master of a neighboring region is attending. We pull up outside the palace and the music and smells of food overtake me. My heart swells with excitement. I love music and dancing, and I especially love food! My aunt believes that my love of music and food comes from my formative years where I ate very little and had to spend my days in silence hiding. The guard opens the doors and my aunt and I step out and begin to climb the tall stairs that lead to the massive archway. When we enter the ballroom, we are immediately greeted by friends, one of which is Agnes and he brother Archie.

                “Lady Abigail, you look simply breathtaking. May I please reserve a dance with you tonight.” Archie asks, his tone more polite than I expect.

                “Of course Archie, and please, none of this Lady Abigail business, we are like family.” I say, hoping to squash any romantic hopes as I lift my wrist to him and he writes his names on my card. Agnes giggles as she see’s Archie’s face fall slightly with disappointment. As he walks away Agens looks over her shoulder and give me a giggle once more. I swat my hand at her telling her to stop. Charles comes by as soon as he sees me to reserve a dance and dares to ask for a second one should my card not fill. “Lord Witherbee, are you insinuating that I will not be sought after tonight?” I ask, feigning a tone of offense. His face fills with horror and he stumbles over his words. “No, of course not Lady Abigail. I am simply hoping to precure more of your time as you are the only one present that I wish to dance with tonight.” I nod, pretending to still be offended. “I understand. I look forward to our one dance later Lord Witherbee.” And curtsey, indicating to him that he needs to walk away.

                The music quiets and the Master of the region appears at the top of the stairs with another man who I do not recognize. We are taught about the Masters of the Regions in primary school, but this man is foreign to me. They begin down the stairs and stop at the landing. A crier calls out above the hushed crowd. “Attention. Please welcome your host for the night and out benevolent Master of Region, Archduke Richard Michael George Winterbourne.” There is a loud eruption of cheering and Master waves to the crowd. The crier raises his hand and the crowed quiets once more. “Our esteemed guess for the night, Master of Biarmaland, Nephew of our Lord Emperor, High King Nikolai Aleksei Konstantin Kurakina.” There is a second of hush over the crowd as the realization that this is not just a master of a region, but a member of the imperial family as well. Master Winterbourne clears his throat, bringing everyone back to their senses and the crowd erupts in cheers. High King Kurakina nods his head in acknowledgement and Master Winterbourne begins to lead him down to the seat of honor at the head of the floor.

                As they climb down the stairs everyone parts to clear their way. This is no doubt in response to our special guest, as every other time I have seen Master, people have flocked to him to shake his hand and praise him for his good deeds. Agnes comes and grabs my arm yanking me away from my mother. “Who is that?! Had you heard that Master Yanicoff had been removed from power? Do you think he died? Last I checked he didn’t have any kids, right?” I shake my head. “No I don’t know. I hadn’t heard anything, but I, unlike you, am not super into history or politics. Isn’t Biarmaland the last Region before you travel into fairy territory?” Agnes shakes her head, “No. You are thinking of Buyan. Biarmaland is the largest Region and sits right outside of the Imperial City.” I nod absentmindedly. Is this the guest that Professor Depardieu wanted me to charm into giving me the position? There is no way he would want a woman to run his new educational program. And trying to trick him into saving my parents is a very dangerous idea indeed. I am intrigued to hear more about what he is doing though. Is this a reform he wants to implement across the entire empire?... Agnes shakes me, bringing me back to reality. “Abby! This is a big deal!” I nod, but I don’t know why.

                “ABIGAIL!” She yells louder than appropriate forcing my attention to her. “Agnes, please desist! You are making a scene!” She gives me an apologetic look. “Abby, do you understand what this means? Master Yanicoff was a viscous ruler who preyed on his people and worked them to the bone in order to keep favor with the emperor. This new Master could mean change for the people… It means something that he put someone in power who already had his favor… This could be great… or horrible for the people of Biarmaland.” I nod. She is right, we know nothing about this man who has taken power of one largest and most powerful regions in the nation. “You are right… let us pray that it will be a move for the better.” I whisper to her. She nods in response.

                Master guides the High King to the chairs where the Archduchess is already seated. She stands and curtseys before him. He bows and they take a seat. I can not help but look at him. Master is a large man, over six feet and hefty, yet the High King towers over him and is just as broad, though seems to be made of muscle as opposed to the soft exterior of Master. I want to watch them more, but I am approached by a number of suiters requesting for my dance card, and soon it is completely filled. “Ugh, you always have a full card and here I am with only two dances spoken for, one of which is with Archie.” I shrug, “Have you ever thought that your obvious disdain for the men of nobility in our region may be the reason for that?” She sneers at me. “Yes, I have, but I do not want to remain in our region forever. I love history, I love adventure and I want to find a suitor who will provide me with just that. I want to travel all the regions writing what I see, meeting the people and giving them a voice. I also want to venture out of the human empire into the other lands.”

                “Be cautious my friend. You of all people know how fragile the bond between us and the other beings are. We have only been out of war going on nigh twenty-three years. It is a new alliance that we must be careful to keep. We are the most fragile in the battle and had not the emperor forged these alliances we would be the center of the battle.” She nods and rolls her eyes. “Yes, I know. We are the center region between the other lands and that makes us prime battleground… but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go and learn about them… respectfully.” I raise an eyebrow. Agnes struggles to be respectful in a world she has lived her entire life in, how can she honestly think she will understand and follow the customs of others so easily. It is a naïve point of view.