Hohenfels

Hohenfels Hall was doing a great job at exhibiting the Hohenfels mindset, Katharina found. It felt alien, even more so than the brutal simplicity of Eisengrund Hall. The moat and ramparts were just as anachronistic as the main castle itself, but that only served to enhance the sense of imposition it conveyed. She studied it for a few moments, taking in the atmosphere. It was obvious: The dorm’s designer was a masterful wielder of statements.

As soon as she crossed the drawbridge, a female servant hurried over to greet her. True to the dorm’s outward image, the servant was significantly more direct than the ones she was used to, while still maintaining appropriate deference.

She was led to the ‘training yard’, which turned out to be a simple field of dirt with a bunch of training dummies lined up on the side. It was empty, save for the Hohenfels heir who sat on a bench, writing something into a notebook. He looked up when he noticed her approach and rose, only to blink in confusion before catching himself. ‘What happened?’

He offered her a polite bow. “Good afternoon, Lady Katharina. I hope you did not run into any complications on your way?”

“Good afternoon, Prince Arnold,” she curtsied in return. “It went as smoothly as it could have. I took a carriage to avoid being seen on the plaza, but there is a good chance that someone noticed me coming here anyway.”

“Well, I suppose that is unavoidable. The fresh rumors should be a good enough distraction, anyway. It’s a good thing nobody in this dorm is interested in gossip.”

Lady Anne von Breisenhof – resident of Hohenfels Hall, embroidery enthusiast, and inadvertent cause of the engagement rumors – would beg to differ, but Katharina decided to keep that to herself for now.

Arnold’s eyebrow twitched, reminding her of his earlier surprise.

“Is something wrong, Your Highness?” she asked directly. Bluntness had so far been the most effective method of communication with him.