Princess?

Dania looked at the princess as she tilted her head to one side. "Are you new to the University? I do not remember seeing you before."

"Yes," Mairwen answered with a demure smile. "I am new, but I do hope to spend much of my time here from now on."

"Please tell me they finally brought on another female scientist! We are long overdue. I am quite tired of being the only hen in this flock of roosters." Dania rolled her eyes so hard that Mairwen could not help but laugh.

"Oh, there seems to have been a misunderstanding. You see…"

"Not a scientist, hm? Well, conducting research is a perfectly respectable line of work also. We need someone to collect and store all the things that humanity learns." Dania nodded.

Shaking her head slightly, Mairwen pressed her lips together, trying to decide how best to respond. Dania was quick to hold up her hands.

"I am so sorry. You must be someone's secretary then. No shame in that unless you are planning on trying to marry him. The good ones are all taken or confirmed old bachelors." The scholar gave a sympathetic gaze. She had seen too many women take that course.

"I'm already married, so you need not worry there." The princess held out her hand where the golden band inlaid with shining amethyst proudly encircled her finger.

Dania smiled broadly. 'A married woman who still wanted to learn and better herself?! What a rare gem indeed!' The brunette's respect for the woman grew for Mairwen in an instant. However, her brow quickly furrowed.

"Well then, I am confused. Are you a researcher, secretary or scientist?"

"A little of each, I suppose." She chuckled softly, which intrigued Dania. Most people only filled one of those roles.

The female scientist cocked her head, and set down her book to get a closer look at the lady before her. "Then you must be very accomplished! A word of advice though: if you are planning to conduct experiments, you may want to rethink your wardrobe."

Mairwen was dressed in a fine gown, but was wearing no crown. Because the scholars typically valued knowledge as the ultimate power, she saw no reason to display her royal status. She now realized that this choice had led to some confusion.

"I will keep that in mind," she answered graciously, unwilling to embarrass the young woman.

In fact, the princess rather liked the blunt lady scientist. Mairwen rarely felt like anyone was being themselves around her. And since Brinn left, those occasions were almost nonexistent.

"Is this what you are studying?" Mairwen stared at the color-changing water.

Dania blushed, "It is one of the many things I am looking at , though I consider it more tinkering than serious study. Although this is what got me into the University, my real passion is mathematics. I keep this going, so I have access to the resources I need." The woman realized she had said too much. "But that is just between the two of us. Please do not tell the Chancellor Fannur or Fate Métis. I need their funding and support."

"I will not tell a soul," the princess promised. She crossed her heart.

"Good, because I cannot afford to be here without a scholar's position. I am not some noble lady who can just pay to be here, no offense." Dania dipped her head slightly in apology.

Mairwen hid her smile. "No offense taken, but what makes you assume I am one of those ladies?"

The young scientist shrugged. "You carry yourself like a fine lady. You speak like one as well, but most of all…you have that bodyguard of yours behind me, who I am guessing is glaring at the back of my head just now for mentioning her."

Sure enough, Eira was not looking kindly at Dania. Unlike Mairwen, the muscular soldier did not like how cavalier the scholar was being with her words. But with a motion from the princess, the guard's tense body relaxed.

Mairwen clasped her hands and lowered her voice to a whisper. "Don't mind Eira. She is supposed to protect me. She takes her job very seriously."

"I can see that. You must be someone very important to have such a dutiful protector." Dania looked over her shoulder at Eira.

The soldier's placid expression returned, making her look like an imposing statue. The two stared at each other for a moment before Dania decided this was not a staring contest she wanted to have.

"Nice to meet you Eira." Dania's eyes darted away as she returned her gaze to the blue-eyed woman with the friendly face.

"I can never out stare her either. After some of the stunts I have pulled, I think she has sworn off blinking ever again. Isn't that true?" Mairwen raised her eyebrows at Eira.

Eira simply bowed her head and allowed a ghost of a smile. She knew better than to take her eyes off of her mistress. More than once the soldier's momentary slip had led to disastrous or near disastrous results.

Dania chuckled lightly. "Another young lady who gets into trouble? I thought I was the only one! My older sister claims she never knows what to do with me and my younger brother says I attract problems like a horse attracts flies."

Mairwen spread her hands in front of her. "Then I have come to the right place."

The brunette cleared her throat. "You are neither a problem nor a fly! In fact, I hope we get assigned to the same team. Maybe we can get in trouble together."

"I will see what I can do about it." The princess had already planned on talking to the chancellor.

Dania seemed to read her thoughts. "The scholars don't like it when you try to use your influence to get your way. It is best to let things happen naturally."

The scientist herself had no influence, but she had seen quite a few ladies and gentlemen over the past year try to exert their power only to be sent packing. The only thing that could sway Chancellor Fannur in most cases was results and good work. Occasionally there were other factors at play as well.

"I appreciate the advice. I hope I can continue to rely on you as I find my way here," Mairwen requested humbly. If anyone could help her find her place around the University, she felt like this woman would be the one, even more so than Renat.

Her new husband was wonderful, but he had a blind spot when it came to his wife. Renat would never see a fault with how the princess was adjusting, and Mairwen was smart enough to know she needed some honesty to succeed.

"I am pretty busy," Dania said reluctantly, "but I will be happy to help in any way that I can…" The woman tilted her head as she drew out the last word. The scientist held out her hand, waiting.

Mairwen blushed. "Oh yes, forgive me for not introducing myself I am..."

"Princess Mairwen!" the Chancellor strode in the room with Renat and the rest of the members of the tour. All but Renat bowed deeply. "There you are! We were afraid we had lost you."

"Princess?" Dania breathed. She had known the princess was coming this week, but had not heard which day. She had assumed the woman would have come with some fanfare, so it never occurred to her to suspect the lovely lady before her of being royalty. It all made sense now. She dipped a curtsy quickly, running everything she had said through her mind in hopes that she had not said anything too offensive.

Renat came forward and kissed his wife's hand. "I assured Chancellor Fannur that you would find your way back to us in time, but he insisted that we seek you out so that the tour may continue." The man gave Mairwen an apologetic look that said he had tried.

"It is quite alright. I was just conversing with this lovely woman scientist. If everyone is as welcoming and knowledgeable as Dania, I am sure I will fit in very soon." The dark-haired woman motioned toward her companion.

The Chancellor was quick to agree. "Ah yes, Dania is a shining star. We would love many more like her."

The female scientist doubted that Fannur knew much more than her name and her field of study, but she gave him the benefit of the doubt. "Thank you, Chancellor."

Chancellor Fannur stroked his onyx beard that grew thick in comparison to his bald head. "Perhaps you would like to join us for the rest of the tour. Your insights might provide a different light."

"What a splendid idea!" Mairwen clapped her hands.

"I should stay here and monitor my experiments…" Dania glanced toward her color changing water.

"Can you give us a moment? I promise I will be right there to join the rest of you." With a gentle tilt of her head, the princess indicated the door.

The group of men quickly exited, leaving only Mairwen, Eira and Dania behind.

"If you do not want to come, you do not have to. But please do not stop being yourself around me just because you know who I am," Mairwen pleaded.

"But Your Highness, you are my boss's boss's boss's daughter. I should be on my best behavior, not running my mouth." Dania looked down, embarrassed.

The princess nodded. She could understand the other woman's feelings. "Then at least treat me as a colleague. If you don't, there is no way anyone else will."

Of course Mairwen was right; Dania could already see how much the Chancellor wanted to be in her good graces. The scientist did not want to see the other young lady flounder in a sea of yes-men.

"I can do that," Dania agreed with a determined smile. "And on that note, please hold on."

Taking a vial from the table, the brunette allowed two drops to fall into the boiling, color-changing water. There was a small poof of smoke and then the liquid returned to the rainbow of colors. She checked and tinkered with the other beakers as well. Proceeding to the table, Dania set down the vial and turned over an hourglass.

"I will not let you suffer on that tour alone. However, as a colleague, I must let you know that I have to return in an hour to complete the next step." The brunette hoped the request was reasonable.

Mairwen smiled broadly. "You can leave any time you need, but on one condition."

Curious, Dania cocked her head. "What is that, Your Highness?"

"That if the tour is not over, you take me with you!" The princess insisted with an enthusiastic nod.

Followed by Eira, the two women entered the hall giggling, making the gentlemen all wonder what gossip had just occurred.