Blake groaned as her hand ached in discomfort. This was honestly worse than Ports beat-downs. It was the worst thing she'd had to do since being her in Vale. How as this seen as desirable?! It was torture!

"Come on," Weiss ordered, standing above the Faunus seated at her desk. "You've been on the third sentence for the last two minutes."

She groaned louder. It didn't help that she'd just finished Ports sessions. She was tired and sweaty and wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Don't give me that, you're obviously not trying."

Blake scowled. "How am I supposed to do this if I don't even recognise what these damn symbols mean?"

"their called letters," the noble said. "And you'll get better as you start to recognise them. This is a simple task I've given you, a child could do it."

The Faunus just glowered some more. Not only was it awful, but it was embarrassing to hear that she was doing worse than a child. Who wanted to hear that? The Schnee definitely wasn't one for encouragement.

She'd been at this for the last, what? Weiss had said twenty minutes, but it wasn't like she really knew what that meant. Blake could only really work in hours, dividing the day up into larger sections was easy to grasp. She knew it was longer than it should have been though.

Her hand practically throbbed from holding this damned feather. What had Weiss called it? A quill? She had ink on her fingertips and it was making them itch too. Why was this something that was required of nobility again? What was the point in this?

She would have asked but she knew the Schnee would have words with her if she did. The girl was getting more and more frustrated the longer it took.

It was obvious the noble was expecting faster results and she clearly wasn't getting them.

"There are too many letters." She huffed.

"There are twenty-six of them." Weiss shot back, clearly not impressed.

Blake baulked. "You make that sound like that's not a big number."

Weiss stared at her. "Don't tell me you don't know basic numbers either!"

The dark haired girl frowned and looked away. "I know what numbers are," she protested. "I just don't know what order they're supposed to go in. all I know is what one of the old miners taught me when I was little, and he was half blind and deaf."

The poor man hadn't lasted much longer after that. He'd been one before Blake turned eight. She didn't actually find out what happened to him, but considering the options maybe she didn't want to know.

Weiss sighed loudly. "I suppose that is to be expected considering." She added. "But that is no excuse for not being able to learn this simple passage."

"How is this supposed to teach me anything?!" Blake cried.

"It's a basic method!" Weiss yelled back. "All you're doing is copying the words on the page and reading back what it says. It's a simple way of learning what each word means."

"For you maybe!"

"Oh for-"

There was a knock on the door, startling them suddenly. Their head whipped to the sound as a voice came through the wood.

"Miss Schnee are you all right?" it was Klein's voice, concern clear in it. "I heard shouting and came to investigate."

Weiss blinked. Blake did too before paling. She'd been shouting? At the Schnee of all people?!

"It is fine Klein." Weiss called through the door. "Do not worry, I will call for you if I am in need of something."

"Very well." The sound of footsteps could be heard fading away after a moment, and the two girls looked at each other

Weiss cleared her throat. "Well… perhaps we should… start again. "

Blake nodded slowly. That was probably a good idea.

She was surprised though when Weiss decided to pull over a chai, a different kind; it was wider, with no arm railings and a sort of built-in cushion on the seat. It was wide enough for both of them. She pushed it in front of the desk and sat down, gesturing for Blake to do the same.

Beside her.

The Faunas didn't like it, but she'd practically been ordered so…

She did as she was told, taking a place beside the Schnee and watching as the white-haired noble took out another page. It was bigger than the last, more of a parchment than paper.

"Well then." She said. "Clearly my initial plan isn't working so we'll try it another way." She reached for a second Quill, dipping it in ink and moving to the top of the parchment. She pressed down. Her hands moved and she drew out one of the symbols, and triangle with no bottom, and a line halfway through. Beside it, she drew a smaller circle, except it was less round on one side and has some kind of… top, as well as a tail.

"This is the letter 'A'" she said. Here is how we will do it; I will write it down clearly and say it aloud, then, you will do the same beside it, saying it aloud also. We will do that for every letter and repeat from there." She sighed. "It's much slower but…."

Blake nodded. Was still wasn't sure exactly how this was going to work but she might as well give it a try.

Weiss gestured with her eyes to the page and Blake realised what she wanted. She dipped her own quill in the ink, less eloquently that Weiss had and copied the 'letter' as best she could. It was strange that both symbols meant the same thing, but for the moment she wouldn't question it.

"A" she said aloud. The sudden silliness of the situation hit as she did so and her cheeks heated up. This was childish, embarrassing even.

The Schnee didn't look like it affected her though; a quick glance showed a calm face, eyes locked intently on the parchment and not even the faintest tin of red on her face.

Weiss wrote the second letter;

"B"

Blake did the same, again repeating it aloud.

Then came the third, and the fourth and fifth and sixth.

Blake frowned. How did this even make sense?

Four letters sounded almost the same save for how they began, and then 'F' came along and was completely different. Was it really something simple that she was missing? Because Weiss didn't look like it was out of the ordinary at all.

She kept her mouth shut because of that, and dutifully copied what Weiss was doing. When they came to the last one about… what? Five minutes later, was that what the Schnee had said?

The girl picked up the parchment, scanning over it a few times before humming.

"Your handwriting is atrocious," she said after a moment. "But you at least were capable of writing out each letter. I wonder if we should do it over."

Blake's ears flattened against her head at the thought.

Weiss noticed and rolled her eyes. "Come now, it's not that bad."

She didn't bother arguing, and after a moment they started again. After that they did it again, and again, and again for the rest of their secluded time until the letters were practically burned into Blake's skull. Her hand felt as if it was about to fall off.

Eventually though, Weiss seemed satisfied with their work and stood up, brush off some invisible layer of dust Blake couldn't see.

"Well at the very least we were able to get something done. Very good. Now, Klein!" she called.

Blake wasn't exactly sure how the human heard her voice, but the suddenly hurried footsteps returned and he opened the door.

"Miss Schnee," he bowed. "You called for me?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "I did, what is next for today?"

He might have smiled behind his moustache but Blake wasn't really sure. "It is lunch Miss Schnee, the cooks have already prepared it for your arrival.

Blake perked up at that.

If there was ever a reason to endure all of this, it was for the food she got. She'd already had breakfast (a massive one.) but to be getting another meal was even better.

Apparently this was the norm, nobles had three meals a day at the minimum. When Blake had heard she'd been shocked. Then Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Then she'd heard about snacks and supper and Blake had to wonder how nobles weren't fat!

Or… well, they might have been, but she'd seen how much of the food Weiss actually ate.

Compared to how much food the servants put on the table the white-haired girl barely ate a morsel. Blake of course made of for that, and she had a feeling the noble found some amusement in that.

She frowned at the thought. She wasn't going to be some jester for the girl.

Her stomach suddenly rumbled as she thought more and more about food. Her hands feel to it.

Well… she might become a jester if it meant food.

At the moment Blake was content to just follow along as Weiss nodded and made her way to the dining hall.

She still hadn't told Blake not to eat with her, so she wasn't entirely sure what the point of having a slave eat right next to a noble.

She didn't know much about specific class defines, but Blake was pretty sure she shouldn't be eating at the same table as Weiss.

She wasn't going to ask though, just in case she changed her mind.

They sat down and once again the Faunus marvelled as platters of food was brought out by servants and set out in front of them. She hadn't gotten tired of this scene yet, it always made her mouth water.

Blake dug in almost immediately like she always did; with reckless abandon as speed as if she worried it would be taken from her if she waited too long, and as always Weiss watched her with vague amusement as she ate her own delicately.

(Blake still hadn't touched her cutlery once.)

They had some time to enjoy their food before Klein came in and bowed to Weiss.

"Pardon me Miss Schnee, but you asked for me to speak to you on the matters of organising the gathering."

"I did," the white-haired girl agreed. "I suppose now is as good a time as any. Tell me what you have so far."

The man nodded. "We have received acceptance replys from almost all of our potential guests with only a few lagging behind. I suspect they are simply holding out until they feel you have waited long enough, a show of power as it were."

"Understandable," Weiss hummed, locking her hands together and resting her chin atop them. "Continue."

"The current could in around forty-three noble families in all, over a hundred guests not including whatever guards they bring with them. Port will of course be managing our own men. He assures they will be on high alert."

"Are we supplied enough for all of them?" Weiss asked. "I want this to go well, nothing should be spared."

"Of course Miss Schnee, as arranged there will be food enough for all of them at-"

He was cut off as Blake spewed her drink, choking on it and thumbing her chest with her fist desperately.

"Blake?" Weiss asked in sudden concern. "Are you alright?"

She nodded feebly, still thumbing her chest as she managed to get her breathing under control. "I-I'm fine," she said. "What was that about food? Enough for a hundred people? How and why!?"

Weiss sighed and rolled her eyes. "Of course you would suddenly latch on to the mention of food. Well I suppose it would be best to tell you now, it will be your first proper day on the job. Simply put I have decided to host a party of sorts. Nothing too big, just inviting the local nobles in the North-western part of Vale to meet with me. Some of the more important heads may be there due to my name, but mostly it is an act to place myself firmly in their sights."

"It is an act of getting Miss Schnee acquainted with other families," Klein elaborated when Blake looked more confused. "Many nobles have influence over parts of land and matters of the kingdom. It is an ideal situation then, to make them know that the Schnee family is properly residing here. They need to know we are in the business of making allies also."

Weiss nodded. "And as such it will be a gathering of the families. "

"A-alright," blake said, still trying to follow along. "Then, what am I supposed to do? I'm not exactly a noble. I don't think I'll be… accepted."

"Weiss scoffed. "You'll be accepted in my home whether they like it or not, I will not show weakness by hidden people they might find uncomfortable away. Anyway, you are supposed to be there, you are my bodyguard after all. That means you must attend these gathering with me at all times."

"Oh… right." She'd forgotten about that. It was a big miss admittedly but it was something Blake seemed to overlook sometimes; that she was meant to be some kind of figure beside Weiss. With all the looks she got from the soldiers stationed around at the mansion.

"So…" she said after a moment, looking down at her plate (What were the point of these anyway? All you needed to do was hold your food when you ate. Why would you set it back down again?)

"This is going to be a new experience... I guess."

"That it will," Weiss agreed. "You will be a representation of myself. I expect you to be on your best behaviour because of it, do you understand? No more of what happened with Torchwick."

Blake winced, but not because of any guilt she felt – she hadn't said anything wrong in her situation, she knew that for a fact! – but because it reminded her of the icy look the Schnee had given her.

When she didn't answer Klein made a point f clearing his throat and giving her a pointed look.

Ah, right.

"I understand." She said. "I'll try to keep as quiet as possible."

"but remember to speak if you are asked a question," Weiss pushed. "it would not help to e rude to a head of the house or their children. In fact, if you can, be sure to be extra polite to future heads of the house." Blake nodded. It wasn't like she could disagree.

"We will of course have to work on how you present yourself," klein told her, eyes running up and down her form critically. "A plain white state of dress is acceptable for the household, but in the face of other nobles who we are aiming to make an impression on only the best will do. And," he looked down and frowned. "We will need to get you some proper shoes."

Blake groaned.

Beside her the noble gave a small laugh. "I know footwear seems to be your mortal enemy, by going bare feet to something like this would only draw unwanted attention. We can't have you causing a scene over something so silly." She thought for a moment. "Of course, since your roll hasn't got much to do with dancing and the like, I suppose we could go with Ports suggestion."

"Port?" Blake asked, suddenly alert. Her dislike for the man making her instantly wary of anything he had to say.

"He has been suggesting we get you some proper footwear. He suggested riders boots, something that gave you plenty of room."

Blake lessened the tension in her shoulder at that just a little. It… didn't sound too bad. Sure she had no idea what riders boots were exactly but if they had plenty of room then she really couldn't complain.

She wanted to complain because, well, Port, but she couldn't.

"They should be ready for you tomorrow," Klein supplied helpfully. "If that is all Miss Schnee, I will be returning to my work."

"It is," Weiss nodded. "Oh, and before you go, be sure to tell the cooks to hold off on anything overly… doughy. Apparently the Winchesters son hates it."

"Of course Miss Schnee." He bowed, and left right after, leaving the two of them to enjoy the rest o their lunch.

"Thoughts?" Weiss suddenly asked, and Blake took a moment to realise the noble was talking to her.

"Um… about what?"

"the part, what do you think about it?"

This was some kind of test, Blake thought, or maybe a way of gauging her opinions on Weiss' decision.

"I'm… not sure," she answered carefully. "It's not like I've ever been to something like this, let alone even heard of it really, it'll be something new at least. It sounds like a lot of nobles will be there."

"A fifth of the nobility here in Vale," Weiss supplied helpfully right, she could store that away for later.

"Right. I guess I'll get to see how your kind act around each other. But apart from that I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to think. What will I actually be doing anyway? Standing guard?"

"Of me, yes." Weiss hummed. "You are to be at my side at all times unless I say otherwise. Other than that, I do not expect anything to really occur that you would need to take action against, but it will be adequate practice for later events such as this."

"Later events?" Blake frowned. "Is this a regular thing for nobles?"

"Of course," Weiss scoffed, as if it should have been obvious. "It is the ideal setting for the Game."

"The… Game?"

"Of politics!" she elaborated. "Of placements and dealings, lies and truths and understanding what motivates others. It is where both friends and enemies convene in the open for either peaceful talks or treacherous assassinations."

She sighed longingly. "It I something I have always loved. The excitement and subterfuge sends my heart racing."

"You… make it sound exciting." Blake admitted. "I thought all nobles did was lounge about and do whatever they wanted."

Weiss shot her a glare, perhaps not aimed directly at her but definitely at her words. She let it go with a huff.

"How do you think things get done on the kingdoms?" Weiss laughed. There are many duties a noble must attend to."

The Faunus blinked. "I thought the king decided what happened. That makes more sense than… parties."

"the monarch is not all powerful." Weiss said pointedly, pouring herself a glass of wine. Was afternoon even a proper time to have wine?

"Of course their word is law but they need people to enforce those laws, not just on a military scale – of which vassels are needed to command and managed the armies of the land – but also the economic side of things. Nobles provide sponsorship, lien, land and an abundance of other things. Not only that, but going back to military might and using Vale as an example; they have a large army, filled with fighters arguably more talented than many other kingdoms, but the strongest forces are undoubtedly owned by nobles."

"Really?" Blake asked. "Why is that? Wouldn't it make sense to have the best guarding the ruler?"

"Oh don't get me wrong," the Schnee laughed. "The king has his own personal guard, men and women trained nearly from birth to defend him and it is a great honour, but that is mostly reserved for the highest of noble families. Other than that, the Valean king's army needs soldiers to keep the peace all over the land, a large amount, which means they cannot all be elites. Training, equipment and men all cost lien."

"And that's something that needs to be spread out among every single soldier." Blake finished.

Weiss gave her an impressed nod. "Correct… for noble's this is different you see; families may recruit a few hand full, no more than a hundred, maybe two hundred men depending on the size of their wealth, land and position. As such, the lien is spent training the best they can. Ergo, nobles usually as a definite rule have more elite men, and in my opinion, I believe that quality has a vat advantage over quantity in all but the extremist of cases."

She smiled, as if remembering a joke.

"'Bring me twenty good men and I can cripple an army' That was an off handed quote to be sure by some general I don't remember the name of, but fantastically it made its way into military docturne after it was successful. A wild tale and not something most generals are fond of trying to recreate, but an interesting story none the less."

She shook her head. "Anyway, we're getting off topic. Essentially, nobles meet at gathering such as these to strengthen their household. The King or Queen of a kingdom will usually not attend but their word will be sent in their sted in the form of a representative. They will be there to see what the general consensus is between nobles, since if the nobility turned against the monarchy they might not be able to stop them."

She took another sip of wine. "It's a balancing act really. And don't even get me started on marriage proposals."

The Faunus tilted her head. "Marriage? What's that?"

Weiss was in the middle of drinking wine as it was asked, though unfortunately she was too refined to suddenly start choking in it. She stopped, eyes going wide over the glass as they zeroed in on Blake. She set the drink down slowly as she tried to work her mouth.

"You're… not joking are you?"

Blake shook her head and Weiss scowled.

"Honestly, you would think they would teach you something like that in the mines."

Blake didn't comment, she didn't know what they were supposed to be teaching to begin with.

The noble ran a hand through her hair. "Marriage is… the joining of two individuals. Some do it for status, others for wealth or even a joining of families. It apparently can be considered for people in intimate relationships, at least according to Klein." She huffed again. "How do they not teach you this?"

Blake's shoulders slumped. It was that feeling again, of being out of touch with the rest of the world because if that dark cavern she'd called a home.

"Faunus aren't allowed relations like that in the mines." She said at last. I heard there were two near closer to the surface who tried something like that. Not the marriage part, but trying to be close like that. One of them was transferred to the depths when the overseer found out. He died over air poisoning a few weeks later, then the other one found out and she withered away."

Blake had heard it was something called 'a broken heart'. It didn't sound very nice, and she didn't want anything to do with it. What was the point in being like that with another person if it meant you might die f they did. Especially in the mines of all places. People died there every day.

She looked up from her lap, which she hadn't even realised she had been staring at, and saw Weiss' paler than usual face.

She… actually looked upset by it.

Why… Blake didn't know.

"I… think we should move on to different topics," the Schnee coughed. "The party is in three days. The servant will be working hard to make sure everything is in order. Your schedule should not change in that time, we will of course be looking to get you something better to wear than that white attire."

Blake nodded. "So… what should I do now?"

Weiss hummed and perked up.

"Well you are going to be in charge of protecting me. Port would be more than happy to extend you're training. You can start now!"

Blake groaned.

This was going to be torture.

...

...

A little bit of a shorter chapter, more transitional than anything. We'll start getting into the meat of the story now:

Politics!

Oh joy, this will be fun.

other than that, a little bit more background on how the system in the kingdom's work and Blake's learning how to read.

Double Oh Joy. not much else I can say here, but stay tuned fpr the next one!