#kleyn de ysbrand

[pendwelling]

The Master of the Mage's Tower always passes by to pay Her Grace a visit.

"Mother hates the colour red,

... so why...?"

The Archmage of the Empire and the Master of the Mage's Tower: Isfrid Skirmen van der Toorn.

(YES, Lady Isfrid has a thing for Her Grace.)

(NO, Her Grace isn't aware of this...)

Chest window on full display yet the Grand Duchess only ever privately wonders if the Tower's Archmage can feel the cold (they're up north 😭...)

Additional trivia if you haven't been following my IG Stories! :

Upon joining the Mage's Tower, mages renounce their familial ties (and even nationalities) in order to declare themselves as neutral in the Empire's political sphere, therefore announcing themselves as fully dedicated to the Tower and their duties. There is some leeway, however, as magically-supported businesses/public conveniences requiring the use of magical artifacts /do/ require the help of mages (money has to be made to earn livings, after all).

The mages who join thus discard their original surnames and oftentimes as a result either: 1.) pick a new one to symbolize new beginnings and ambitions, or 2.) use the Tower's epithet as a stand-in ("Van der Toorn" can be considered just as prestigious and honourable as a Duke's surname, after all, so there's no true loss in the end! Becoming part of the Tower means you are one of the elite and highest-grade mages—former nobles and commoners alike are on equal grounds, in an atmosphere of collaborative learning and (generally friendly) competitive magical academia, with many helpful and support resources provided for them.)

Essentially they're magical researchers and/or.... public servant hermits......... Though they do assist the Crown, the Head of the Tower is the one everyone truly answers to. If Lady Skirmen disapproves of an Imperial Decree, who is the Crown to rebuke her? What are they going to do? What CAN they do? This is why political neutrality is important for such powerful beings.... Thankfully, Isfrid isn't interested in world continental domination haha (her interests lay solely elsewhere... 👀)

[pendwelling]

(To Kleyn, Mother had always been a dark and looming shadow: cold, fearsome, and hardened from countless battles and duties.

But in reality, outside of her armour and aside from her magical prowess, the Grand Duchess is otherwise rather unremarkable and— young.)

[pendwelling]

(First Meeting.)

Her Grace, the Grand Duchess of Ysbrand.

《 Mother has always hated me.

... and so Kleyn hates Mother, too. 》

Kleyn de Ysbrand has never seen Her Grace's face—neither in her life-like dream, nor in her current life (... or will she?)

[pendwelling]

《 I had a dream that Mother kiIIed me.

... It was a long, long... realistic dream. 》

Kleyn de Ysbrand—lone heir to the Grand Duchy of Ysbrand and villainess from the North—wakes up in her 5-year-old body, unsure if her nightmare was a mere fabrication of the mind, or a reality she must now avoid at all costs.