Charming

Over the next week, Dania realized just how personable the princess really was. Mairwen did not judge her for her unguarded speech and even laughed at the scientist's occasional scientific pun.

It turned out that both the Chancellor and Renat were glad to allow the ladies to work together. The Chancellor liked that he could now brag that he had a team of women scientists at the University. And Renat liked that his wife seemed to be adjusting quickly to his world.

The ladies were a good match both in temperament and in capability. Dania did not mind explaining the methods of her experiments, and Mairwen was a fast learner. They made significant progress quickly.

The third day after returning from lunch, the two ladies (and Eira as their shadow) returned to the small lab to test a sample of water.

"Astonishing," Dania had said. "No matter what I do, boiling this healing water only evaporates the watery components."

"I don't understand," the princess admitted.

Dania used a syringe to remove a droplet of water from the beaker. She let it drip onto a sheet of metal. The droplet puddled for Mairwen to examine. Even after all the tinkering they had done, it still looked normal. Almost.

There was the slightest hint of shimmer in the water. Dania handed over a shortened spyglass similar to the one that Renat had made for the Empress. The shimmery film was more pronounced, reminding Mairwen of the swirling colors reflected in Hanna's eyes.

"The normal water evaporates, but the magical healing essence remains. Only something organic can interact with it. It explains why there isn't any magical rain. The essence cannot enter the clouds."

The princess noticed the woman was always adding to this particular beaker, but only taking out a little at a time to test the results. She tinkered with the other beakers on occasion, but most of their other time was copying over copious amounts of notes to make three copies or reading others' research.

Mairwen hummed. "I see. Is that why you keep adding healing water to the glass jar, but never take any out?"

"Precisely. What is in there is now super highly concentrated. If I had to guess, I would say we are getting close to getting the same potency as the famed water that flows from the Mystic Spires themselves." The brunette's eyes glittered.

"That is incredible!" Mairwen's mind went reeling with the information. That water was unattainable. If not for a flight by the mighty king of the dragons, Aurora never would have been able to reach it. Even then it had been a close call.

"Do you have any idea what we can do with this?" Dania's voice lifted into a higher register.

"We could practically bring people back from the dead!" Mairwen exclaimed before she caught herself. She knew it was true because it had saved her brother, but Dania was not privy to that information.

The brunette pursed her lips and scratched her nose. "I wouldn't go that far, but it would certainly help us with healing and, with some modifications, even enhancing humanity's health. Imagine being able to live longer, more active lives free of disease!"

Dania's own parents had died of mysterious illness only four years before. Her heart was gladdened to know that she might be able to prevent others from becoming orphans like she and her siblings.

"It is a wonderful thought." Mairwen agreed, her eyes shining. "I am so honored to get to be a part of it! Thank you, Dania."

Dania blushed. "There is still work to do, but I am glad to see someone as excited about the possibilities as I am. My older sister is usually the key to helping me get through tough times, but she is so far away in Abeyance. I haven't seen her in quite some time, and our frequent letters are just not enough."

"You miss her." The princess could sympathize. She missed her brother now that he was away.

"Very much. I had nearly given up and decided to head home. But your help and encouragement these past few days has given me the push to keep going. It's like my sister was here. I should be the one thanking you."

Overwhelmed by her gratitude, the brunette hugged the princess. Their two aprons crumpled between their bodies before Dania realized what she had done.

Like hot coals, the female scientist released the other woman. "I'm sorry! Please forgive me, Your Highness! I just got carried away."

Mairwen waved her hands dismissively. "No need to apologize. In here, I am just Mairwen."

The two ladies giggled, their laughter trickling into the hall.

"This sounds like the place I want to be." A man in his mid-twenties stood in the doorway. He had a pleasant face with a short boxed beard and ebony mustache to match. His hair was close-trimmed on the sides with a much longer coif of dark hair to frame his forehead and dark hazel eyes.

"Taran! I did not know you were back at the University. I thought you would be gone longer." Dania's tone was pleasant, but Mairwen noticed that the young woman did not invite the visitor into her laboratory. Instead, she headed to the door to meet him.

Taran, however, seemed oblivious to the fact. He strode in confidently and wrapped his arms around Dania, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Do not look so worried. I took care of everything before I came back."

The female scientist relaxed slightly. Pulling herself from the man's grasp, Dania straightened her apron. "That is good to hear." She gave him a sidelong glance. "And everything is alright now?"

"Everything is perfect, I assure you." Taran smiled down on her, allaying the rest of her fears. The handsome man then shifted his gaze to Mairwen. "I am sorry. I do not believe we have met."

"How rude of me! May I present Sir Taran. He oversees my project and a few others as well as having his own work to conduct. He is quite accomplished! Sir Taran, this is..." Dania hesitated, unsure how Mairwen would like to be introduced.

The blue-eyed woman had said not to call her Princess, yet that was her title. Dania had settled for not saying her name at all, which had worked well up until this very moment.

Sensing the issue, Mairwen dipped her head graciously. "I am her new assistant, Mairwen."

"Please just call me Taran. I must say, you are a vast improvement over her last assistant," Taran said approvingly as he looked her over. Dania turned crimson at his words, making him quickly amend his statement. "And by that I mean her last assistant was not the most useful fellow. And rather ugly too." He winked.

Mairwen suppressed a grin and turned to the table to retrieve her wedding band. She had taken it off in order to better use the strange new ink blotter she had received as a wedding gift. Taran looked on with great interest, and he blanched slightly when he saw the trinket slip onto her finger. He smiled weakly in apology.

"That is quite a lovely ring that your husband gave you. It has quite a distinct look. In fact, it reminds me of of the band that Prince Renat showed me when he was about to pro—"

The dark haired man bent completely in half, disturbing Dania with his sudden motion. "Your Highness! Forgive me for not recognizing you. I have only just arrived and had no idea… I had no idea you were here, Princess."

"Obviously," Dania muttered with a wry smile.

Ignoring his colleague, Taran went on, "I am very honored to be in the presence of the patroness of our University."

"Rise up, Sir Taran. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, though I must correct you on one point. My mother, the Empress, is patroness of the University. I am merely here to represent her." Mairwen would not take credit for Aurora's work.

"Of course, merely a slip of the tongue. But surely you and your husband will be the ones to lead us into a bright new scientific future. With your guidance we can make humanity better and more self-reliant. You are a beacon of hope for all of us!" Tarzan's enthusiasm was palpable.

"I appreciate your faith in me, but I am here to learn more than lead, at least for now." The princess was becoming uncomfortable with the praise. In her mind, someone this charming was alarming. She shifted the focus from herself. "Who is your father, Sir Taran?"

"I am the third son of Baron Gauss of Halcyon. With my eldest brother going to inherit the title and my second brother joining the military, that only left me with the options of becoming a scholar or joining in the work of a charity. Trust me when I say that the orphans and widows would prefer I study at the University." Taran turned to Dania. "And the company is infinitely better here too."

The charming man kissed his colleague's hand before flashing a toothy grin. Dania smiled at him, but she quickly closed her arms across her body to stop him from coming nearer. "You are a shameless flirt," she complained, "even in front of royalty!"

Again Mairwen redirected them. "Sir Taran, please thank your elder brother for his service to the Empire."

The man frowned. "I cannot, Your Highness. Batraz died in the War on Magic on the Beachy Plains."

The Princess had not heard Cafer's War called by this name. "I am sorry to hear this. Many died trying to stop the gnomes and their allies."

Taran nodded seriously. "I know. It is what has driven me to this line of study. The existence of magic makes science that much more important. To give humanity a chance to thrive and survive next time we have to fight."

"What he means," Dania quickly interceded, "is that if this concentrated healing water had been available on the battlefield, then there would have been far fewer casualties. We want to save people from sickness and injury."

The handsome man looked down at her and his face softened. "Indeed, science is the key to understanding so many of the mysteries this world has to offer."

"Now you sound like my husband," Mairwen laughed softly. "I almost get jealous when he talks about science so affectionately."

"Prince Renat is a good man," Taran affirmed. His eyes shifted behind the princess to the door, and a smile bloomed on his face. "He is probably the best man in the entire world. You are very fortunate to have found such a gem among us rabble."

Renat stood in the door with his hands on his hips and a wry grin. "Next you will say that I am the most accomplished scholar of all time and they should build a monument in my honor."

"That depends. Will saying that get me the laboratory in the corner of the hall?" Taran stroked his bearded chin.

"No." Renat said firmly.

Taran shrugged. "Then I will save that compliment for the Chancellor."

Renat came in and shook the forearm of his fellow scientist and bowed to the ladies. "You never change." The younger man arched his brow at Taran.

Taran gave a lopsided grin. "What can I say? I know how to get what I want."