114 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

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Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Von Karma Estate, Germany
January 10, 2002

 

It was a trifling thought in hindsight, but the day that Manfred Von Karma first brought Miles Edgeworth home to his sprawling estate in Germany, Miles honestly felt like he was a character in a movie. Moreover, in this particular case, he very much felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, right after the cyclone had dumped her off into the unfamiliar land of munchkins and talking scarecrows. Nearly crippled with jetlag and fatigue, his confused and still grieving mind was a mess of scattered and jumbled thoughts, although had he been able to piece them together, he probably would have been thinking something along the lines of, Well Miles, I guess you’re not in Los Angeles anymore.

He felt completely dazed and confused as his wide eyes took in his unfamiliar surroundings and assessed the enormous, palatial estate that was to be his new home. It completely dwarfed the Spanish-style, split-level home that he’d shared with his parents back in California – and theirs had been considered one of the biggest houses on the block!

Although he was dressed in his best dark red matching blazer jacket and trousers, the nervous and self-conscious little boy still felt like a pauper who was entering the Winter Palace of the beautiful Snow Queen and her little silver-haired Princess when he first set eyes upon Wilhelmine and Franziska Von Karma.

Descending the long spiral staircase was a stunning vision of a woman, easily the most beautiful one Miles had ever seen in his life, a thought that belatedly made him traitorous towards his own mother, who had passed away when he was only five of a long illness. Carol Edgeworth had been a sweetly pretty woman, with shy, grayish-blue eyes and long auburn curls, but the ethereal beauty coming towards them, a soft smile on her rosebud lips, was in another league of femininity entirely.

Manfred Von Karma’s wife was truly breathtaking. She swept down grandly, looking as though she were floating more than walking as she approached her husband and the nervous-looking child beside him at the foot of the stairs. Her figure was long and slim, and her silvery-blonde hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck. She wore a simple but elegant short-sleeved, button-down, shirtwaist dress, printed in a gorgeous pattern of pink roses and green leaves, with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The arms had large cuffs, rolled up, to expose toned, slender arms, currently holding a small, female toddler against her hip. The little girl was dressed in a black velvet dress with a white, tulle ruffled skirt, her long hair tied back with a satin ribbon, and on her tiny feet were black-strapped dressy shoes, even though it was mid-afternoon in the middle of the week.

He swallowed uncomfortably against the annoying frilly fluttery napkin thingie around his neck that Mr. Von Karma had insisted he don with his suit, henceforth. Normally, the child only wore a bow tie whenever he’d had to wear suits before. However, the moment Manfred had swooped down and told Miles that he would now be living with him and his family in Europe, the prosecutor had affixed the suffocating accessory, which was a miniature version of the one he wore himself, onto Miles’ neck. When he’d had complained that he was unable to breathe, the stern-faced man had sharply commanded that he’d best stop fidgeting with it and that he would soon enough grow accustomed to the feeling of constant asphyxiation!

“This is the boy,” Manfred said curtly, by way of introduction. “Miles Edgeworth, I present my wife, Wilhelmine, and my youngest daughter, Franziska. I also have an older daughter, Katharina. She’s at school now, and you’ll meet her later. She’s going to be 14 soon, so she’s not much older than you are. How old are you again? 11?”

“Um, I’m turning 10 in April, Sir.” Miles cleared his throat nervously. “On April 10.”

“How wonderful! Your first birthday with us when it is your premier double-digit age,” enthused Mrs. Von Karma, smiling benignly. “You are seven years older than Franziska here. She is three years of age.”

Miles started at the sound of her lilting cadence, which was as soft-spoken and melodious as her husband’s voice was authoritative and cutting. She was as smooth as her spouse was rough, as approachable as he was intimidating, and seemed to have a golden aura of warmth surrounding her, as opposed to the foreboding dark cloud that was Manfred Von Karma. Before he could dwell on this though, the prosecutor spoke again, with a biting edge to his tone.

“Bah! It doesn’t matter when your birthday is. We don’t acknowledge birthdays in this household. It’s a ridiculous sentiment to be celebrating merely being another year older, and that much closer to death,” Manfred dismissed abruptly. “If you’re going to be living in this household boy, you had better learn to adapt to the ways of the Von Karmas, and just treat it like any other regular day of the year.”

“Manfred, have a heart!” Wilhelmine pleaded, affixing imploring, long-lashed eyes on her impassive husband. “He is naught but a child, and it will be his golden birthday! Surely, we can make an exception for his first milestone with us?”

“This is not up for discussion, Minna!” Manfred snapped. “I don’t know where Helga is, so I’m going to leave it to you to show the boy to his room. I have matters to attend to in my study. I will see you again at dinner.” With that, he turned on his heel and stalked off.

Miles stood there, still absorbing what he had just heard, and fought back the urge to burst into tears. They didn’t celebrate birthdays in this house? But his father had always gotten him something for his birthday! He’d insisted that Miles’ mother would’ve wanted him to feel happy on this special day, even after she had passed. Subsequently, his birthdays had always been a happy event to rejoice. On his last birthday, Gregory Edgeworth had gifted his son with a brand-new bike, which he’d had to leave behind when he’d come here, along with his two best friends, Phoenix and Larry. He’d never even gotten to say goodbye to them…

Lost in his despair, he didn’t even notice Mrs. Von Karma moving closer to him, but he breathed in the sweet, comforting scent of her jasmine perfume as she lightly patted his cheek with her cool, soft fingers, leaning over and putting them at eye to eye level so he could see the sincerity in hers. His sad eyes locked onto unfamiliar gray ones. However, they weren’t just a gray, that term was far too plain in comparison. Her eyes shimmered like the rare rays of light bouncing off pebbles on a cloudy day. They radiated kindness and love and were beyond magnificent.

Miles glanced over at the unspeaking toddler still in the woman’s arms and dully noted that she bore identical jewel-like orbs as her mother. Not that he particularly cared. She was just a little kid; a baby! He wondered if she was even potty trained yet. He barely had any experience with either girls or young children and had no idea how to act towards her, whatsoever. If he was lucky, maybe she would just leave him alone if he ignored her. She was so…small! And the way that she kept staring at him, without saying anything, was getting downright weird! It was making him seriously uncomfortable. He jammed his hands in his pockets and shifted his attention back to Wilhelmine.

“Do not worry about Manfred,” the beautiful blonde woman assured him quietly, her gaze filled with determination and promise. “I vow to sneak you some birthday cake after he is gone from the house that day. I shall personally ensure our cook makes you anything your heart desires. She is a wonderful baker as well. What is your favorite cake, Miles?”

“B – Black forest.” The child felt a lump forming in his throat at this unexpected gesture of benevolence. “Thank you. T – that’s so nice of you, Mrs. Von Karma.”

“You are a young man of excellent taste, it seems. That is a German specialty, and it is Franziska’s favorite dessert, as well! You shall fit right in here before you even know it!” She laughed then, a silvery, tinkly sound that made him want to smile despite his misery. “And think nothing of it! As far as I am concerned, as of today, you are no different to me from my own daughters. While I know nothing can replace your father, I promise you that for the rest of my days, Miles, I will treat you like the son I never had.”

He nodded hesitantly. Somehow, he could instinctively sense that the woman wasn’t just saying these things for the sake of speaking; he sensed she genuinely meant every word.

“Also, I hope someday you will grow to accept both Katharina and Franziska as your sisters, and all of us as your new family in due time. As such, you needn’t be so formal, and should not be required to call me Mrs. Von Karma –  that was the same name as my late mother-in-law, Hildeberta!”

The German beauty wrinkled her pert nose in playful disdain at the reference to Manfred’s mother, and this time the boy couldn’t help but grin in response.

“How would you feel about calling me, Minna?” She prompted gently. “That is how my nearest and dearest address me.”

“I would get in trouble with Mr. Von Karma if he ever heard that.” Miles shook his head. “He told me I’m supposed to call you Mrs. Von Karma or Mätresse Von Karma.”

“Good heavens, no!” Minna looked appalled. “I will absolutely not allow you to address me by the same title as our staff! Whatever was that foolish fool of a man thinking to give you such instructions?”

“It’s all right,” he replied hastily, not wanting to cause any strife. “My Dad told me that I shouldn’t address my elders by their first names, anyway.”

“As much as I do not wish to undermine the teachings of your father, I cannot have you feeling like a stranger in this house either, especially not with me.” She tapped a long, graceful finger to her chin, lost in deep thought for a moment, and then smiled angelically at him. “How does Madam Minna sound to you?”

The name had a lovely, but regal resonance to it, just like the woman herself.

“I think I’d like that…Madam Minna.” Miles nodded, returning her luminous smile. He then noticed Franziska was still staring at him, her huge eyes bright with curiosity, and looked away awkwardly. “Um, you said she’s three, right? Does she…talk?”

“Franziska? Talk?” Minna threw her head back and twinkled gaily at the question. “She is a little bit shy around strangers though is quite a little chatterbox once she warms up to you. She mostly speaks German right now, but we have a lovely governess who comes in every morning and goes through English lessons with her. She’s taken to it like a duck to water and is learning it rather quickly!”

She turned to the silent girl in her arms and pointed at the pre-adolescent boy.

“Franziska, Miles is going to be your new big brother. Großer Bruder. Could you please say hallo and make him feel welcome?”

“Nein, Mama!” The tiny moppet fervently shook her head. “Nicht großer Bruder! Ich war zuerst hier!”

“Franziska!” Minna chided gently as a slight frown creased her smooth forehead. “Das ist nicht nett!”

“Ich war zuerst hier!” The girl insisted stubbornly. “Deshalb ist er mein kleiner Bruder! Und ich bin seine große Schwester!”

Miles was utterly flummoxed by this incomprehensible exchange, even as Minna’s expression of discontent was slowly replaced by one of wry amusement.

“What’s she saying?” He asked uncomfortably when it appeared nobody was going to be offering him a translation.

“She said since she was here first…” Minna began, but the toddler began squirming in her hold before her mother could finish the sentence.

“Lass mich runter, Mama!” She commanded, turning a pleading gaze to her mother. “Bitte?”

Without another word, Minna bent over and placed the little girl on the floor. Undaunted, and now free to roam as she pleased, Franziska stepped right up to Miles and pointed at him, staring up into his face with solemn gray eyes.

“Willkommen, Kleiner Bruder, Miles,” she stated in her birdlike twitter. “Ich bin Franziska. Ihre neue Große Schwester.”

“She said, welcome, Little Brother Miles. I am Franziska.” Minna’s eyes were dancing with barely suppressed laughter. “Your new Big Sister.”

“Er, danke, Franziska,” Miles mumbled, using one of the few German words he knew.

Franziska placed one dainty hand up in the air, almost at the hip level. Assuming she was trying to grasp for his hand, which she obviously couldn’t reach, Miles began to lean forward and stretched out his fingers for what he assumed was a handshake.

Instead, to his confused astonishment, the girl raised her other hand, and, slightly clutching the bottoms of her skirt in each tiny fist, raised each side ever so slightly and gracefully bent her knees with one foot in front of the other as she ever so slightly dipped her head at the same time.

It was the first time he had ever seen a girl curtsy in his entire life.

It was simultaneously humorous, out of place – yet fitting – and endearing, all at the same time.

Acting entirely out of reflex, Miles raised his right arm, placed it across his chest, and lowered his torso and head, bowing right back in return.

“That was so sweet!” Minna beamed, looking back and forth at the two children, her face aglow. “Her governess is British, very old-fashioned, and appears to have been working with my little girl on her etiquette and social skills as well as her English. I am not quite know how to say this because Western girls do not normally curtsy in today’s modern age even though in some cultures boys still bow … yet somehow, both movements appear to suit you both, ever so well! Miles Edgeworth, I daresay you were born to be a gentleman of sorts.”

“Perhaps. It only felt right to bow back in the presence of such a little lady. Maybe we should both practice until it feels natural.” Miles smiled back at Minna, then graciously inclined his head to the little girl as he searched through the recesses of his memory for the couple of other German words he knew. “What say you, meine Dame?”

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April 16, 2005

 

“Das ist genug für jetzt!” The tall, hulking choreographer with the blond crew-cut clapped his hands impatiently. “Machen Sie eine fünfminütige Pause!”

“Danke Gott!” Katharina gasped breathlessly, collapsing right onto the floor in an exhausted, sweaty heap.

“Humph! I, of course, am perfectly happy to keep going, but …” Meinhard Knut narrowed his eyes reproachfully at his two dance pupils. “You far too soft drama queens are acting as if you will surely drop dead from exhaustion if we do not take a break! Accordingly, if you both insist, I suppose we can do that – nein, Miles!”

The dance teacher stormed over to the corner of the makeshift dance studio that was set up in the recreation room of the Von Karma mansion and snatched the bottle of water out of the teenage boy’s hands.

“Do not guzzle that water so heavily, Dummkopf! You will get a cramp and be unable to resume the dance!”

You mean concentration torture camp, don’t you? Miles yearned to retort but wisely refrained from comment. He then made a point of demonstrating the visibly slowed down pace at which he was greedily chugging back the cold water from his bottle, once their sadistic drill sergeant of a dance instructor returned the precious liquid to him. He tipped his head back, uncaring that some of it trickled down his sweat-drenched chest and onto his tank top. The thin material clung to him in wet patches, and he remained entirely unaware that a set of young, appreciative eyes were watching this from a distance from the top of the stairs.

“Have mercy, Meinhard!” Katharina gasped, grabbing her towel and patting her perspiring face. “Surely Miles and I need more than a mere five minutes rest after such a grueling, nonstop set of dance steps for the past two hours straight?”

Schwester, what is wrong with you, you foolish fool of a girl?! Franziska peered down over the top of the railing and frowned at her sister with silent disapproval. I cannot believe you are asking for a longer break from Miles’ arms! I would never even dream of asking for rest if I were his dance partner! I would dance even with a broken foot to remain within his embrace!

“Dein Vater, Katharina, hired me to teach you children everything from Latin to Ballroom dance, because I am an award-winning dancer and choreographer of the stage, across the nation!” Meinhard eyed her reproachfully. “He did not hire me to pity an undisciplined and unmotivated pupil who is not willing to give me 110%! While the two of you have somewhat flourished under my guidance, neither have you yet to truly master the most difficult dance of all!”

The elder Von Karma sibling’s cheeks burned with angry humiliation at the reprimand, so the equally affronted Miles spoke up instead.

“You must be jesting!” He panted, raking a hand through his sweaty hair. “At this point, Katharina and I could probably teach the lessons ourselves – that’s how well we have learned to dance the Foxtrot, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, and Quickstep! What else could possibly be left?!”

“Do not get arrogant with me, du vorlaut Junge!” The stern German waved his finger critically. “You are nowhere near the ballroom instructor level, not until you fully master, the tango!” He walked over to the stereo in the corner of the room and switched the music to a pulsating Latin beat. “Lasst uns gehen!”

Franziska watched, completely spellbound as her groaning sister and her (growing-more-handsome-with- each-passing-year) Little Brother put their arms around each other once more. As they began the initial dance frame, she couldn’t squelch the simultaneous pangs of marvel and envy as they moved in flawless, synchronized rhythm.

Ever the perfect Von Karma, Katharina possessed slightly more graceful moves than even her expert Tango partner in this particular dance, her movements so rapidly fluid that at one point, Miles stumbled trying to keep up.

“Das hast du aber schön gemacht, Katharina!” Miles chuckled ruefully. “I had better step up if I wish to keep up with you!”

“The tango is a sensual dance that originated from the streets of Buenos Aires!” Meinhard lectured, coming behind the boy and forcefully pushing his body against the petite blonde teen’s so tightly that not even a Euro banknote could have been slipped betwixt them! “There should not be any space between you and your partner! Miles, you must hold her tighter and closer if you wish to move in a proper, flowing motion.”

Miles gulped and blushed slightly as he nervously pressed Katharina even closer to him, as instructed. She smiled encouragingly in response as the teacher nodded approvingly and clapped his hands.

“Großartig! Here we go…and …two, three, four…lunge!”

This time, as though fueled by Meinhard’s merciless tutorial, brother and sister’s movements now flowed seamlessly and naturally in sync, performing the complex moves with such ease that it looked as though they had been performing together for their entire lives.

They look flawless together, Franziska thought glumly. Why must my perfect big sister be so darn good at dancing and everything she does? Her body looks like it was meant for his! Humph! Now that they are as molded together as Siamese twins are, I see neither is complaining about being too tired anymore! Just look how close he’s holding her! Is that truly necessary?!

“Franziska!” Suddenly the young girl heard Helga’s voice calling for her upstairs and froze, not wanting to be caught in the act of spying on Katharina and Miles. “Franziska, where are you? Arnulf is ready for your riding lesson!”

Ngh! Shut up, Helga! You are going to get me caught! Then Miles will know how much time I have spent watching him and he is going to discover that I may have slightly more than sisterly feelings for him, and feel pity for me for being such a foolish, fanciful child, which would be more humiliating than anything I think I could ever bear! Not to mention the endless ribbingKatharina would subject me to if she knew the alleged crush that she keeps teasing me about is actually true!

With panther-like stealth she didn’t even know she possessed, Franziska carefully turned around and silently crawled back up the remaining stairs on her hands and knees to make as little noise as possible. She only rose back to her feet when reaching the door at the top and exited, silently closing it behind her. Pausing for a brief moment, she finally expelled her bated breath before dashing to the kitchen and lifting her chin at the housekeeper.

“Hallo, Helga. There is no need to shout so!” Her tone was brusque, as though she had been the one waiting all along. “As you can see, I am dressed and ready for my lesson, danke. I will go meet Arnulf at the stables now.”

She dashed out the back door before the perceptive maid could ask where she had been up until then. She was slightly winded as she met up with the stable boy, who smiled pleasantly as he finished grooming Olaf, the beautiful chestnut gelding who had been her regular ride for the past year. The thoroughbred was all saddled up and ready for the usual canter around the massive grounds, but for some reason, she hesitated.

Even though she was only seven, Franziska was already an accomplished rider, and her thrice-weekly lessons at this point were merely a formality. Within just months, she’d moved on to an actual horse, as unlike most little girls her age, her riding skills had already surpassed a mere pony! She could even ride bareback, although had only managed to do that once before Arnulf had caught her and squawked with horror that her father would have his head, and her hide, should he ever find out what she had done!

Every night, before bed, when she said her prayers, as Mama always instructed her to do, it was always the same thing. It rang in her ears now.

“Dear Gott,” she prayed every night. “Please let me be something every single minute of my life. Let me feel happy and let me cry too. Let me shiver in the cold and feel warm in the sun. Let me feel hungry and also eat till I’m full. Let me wear my best dress and also my worn-out clothes. Let me always tell the truth and also tell a little lie. Let me be good, but let me make mistakes too. Please let me be something every moment of every day for the rest of my existence, and when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that I don’t miss anything. Danke.”

The truth was that seeing her beloved sister locked in the arms of Miles, in his coveted embrace – albeit only for dancing purposes – had spurned something inside her. Franziska wasn’t a complete fool. She knew she was too young for him right now. That there was nothing she could do, should he decide to his head turn towards her comely, perfect elder sister until she, herself, was older. However, at that moment, she desperately yearned to do something to demonstrate that she too, had impressive skills that were worthy of the Von Karma name, and hence, should be taken notice of!

Moreover, she certainly wasn’t going to be able to boast about any of her equestrian skills by riding the same, tired old horse as always! She longed, no – needed– something different.

Some sort of new challenge.

As she adjusted the chin strap of her helmet and adjusted her riding breeches, her determined gaze fell upon her father’s latest acquisition, two stables down – a bravura gelding of lustrous ebony coat and mane.

“Arnulf, I’ve decided I’m not going to take Olaf out today,” she announced, steeling her jaw. “I would like you to saddle up Thor for me instead.”

“T – Thor?” The young groom stammered, staring at her with disbelief. “But he’s a new arrival, Franziska, and is not properly trained yet. Only the most experienced rider can handle a horse so large. Your brother has not even taken him out yet!”

Hearing that only made the obstinate child further jut her chin. As much as her Little Brother caused tumultuous, inexplicable stirrings within her that she could not quite identify or comprehend, he also stimulated her inner competitive nature as well, which she could understand, all too easily! She might be too young to best him on the dance floor just yet, but as much as Miles was a skilled horseman, Franziska was positive that she was better.

And she was going to prove it!

“Explain to me why the size of the horse is a factor when the rider is an experienced one such as myself?” Franziska inquired, already charging ahead to Thor’s stable. She was too small to reach the saddles that were hanging up on the wall but she was positive that if the groom refused to put one on the horse, she would just simply forge ahead and ride him bareback!

“Because he weighs over 1000 pounds!” Arnulf snapped, even as he helplessly watched her storm in, giving them no choice but to follow her. “Your small legs and heels shall have no impact if you are to nudge him to try to guide him to your own will. Can you not understand that?”

Franziska pushed a step stool up against the wall as her eyes landed on the solution to this problem. Standing on her tiptoes, she grabbed the riding crop in one hand and flashed a triumphant smile.

“A horse of any size will surely respond to this,” she pointed out, flicking her wrist expertly with the crop, delighted at how it whizzed through the air. The girl raised an eyebrow at the resigned-looking stable boy. “We both know I am going to take him out whether you allow me to or not! Tell you what; to ease your fears, you can even follow along with me on your own ride to keep watch of things. Regardless though, saddled up or not, I am taking Thor out, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!”

The poor groom moaned softly and dragged a hand down his face as he reluctantly threw a saddle onto the black horse.

“Just take him out for an easy trot to start,” he bagged, his dark eyes darting nervously around, as though fearful that Manfred Von Karma would pop up out of nowhere, even though it was a Saturday afternoon and the legendary prosecutor always spent the weekends at his gentleman’s club. “I implore you to not try to gallop or jump over any hurdles, bitte?”

Franziska wasn’t listening. As she swung her leg onto the horse’s back and skillfully grabbed the reins, she smiled reassuringly at the now petrified-looking young man.

“I promise you, I will be fine, Arnulf,” she assured him. Then, with a light tap of the crop, she and Thor were gone with the wind. “After all, a Von Karma is perfect in every way!”

Completely disregarding Arnulf’s instructions, Franziska used the riding crop as though she had been born with it in her hand. She seamlessly mastered the ability to make the horse move at an ambling gait before progressing to a trot easily enough at her command, and soon the gelding had graduated to moving into a canter at a higher speed than she had ever managed with Olaf! She could hear the groom coming up behind her on his own mount, shouting with appreciation and awe as he drew near.

“Ausgezeichnet, Franziska!” He cried, his face wreathed with admiration. “Ich bin so stolz auf dich! I don’t know how you’ve managed to make Thor look as easy as riding a pony, considering he’s not yet fully trained, but you are a complete natural equestrienne! However, did you manage to do it?”

“Say hallo to my little friend!” She laughed giddily as she waved the crop in the air. “Mit meinem kleinen Freund in der Hand, I can make sure anyone and anything do my bidding!”

An hour later, flushed from her victory, Franziska rushed into the house, calling out her sister’s name, forgetting the crop was still in her hand in her eager haste to boast about her latest triumph.

“Hans!” She called, nearly running over the butler in her quickened haste. “Wo ist meine Schwester?”

“Im Erdgeschoss mit Ihrem Bruder im Studio,” he answered, then went back to watering the plants.

They’re still dancing? Franziska felt both surprised and envious that her sister was managing to snare so much time with the object of her affection. Usually, their lessons are no more than two and a half hours?!

Still, her excitement could not be curbed, and as she thundered down the stairs, this time not trying to hide her presence, she came upon the two teenagers with their arms locked around one another’s, with her sister lecturing Miles about something called “spaghetti arms.”

“I am holding my frame!” The boy protested. “My arms are just exhausted from spinning and twirling you and bending you over them for more than two hours straight!”

“Schwester!” Franziska cried, racing up to the two, and finding herself trotting around in a 360° turn trying to keep up with their movements as they insisted on continuing to dance in circular steps, despite the evident absence of the dance instructor. “Miles! Guess what?”

“Franziska, can this not wait?” Katharina didn’t even turn her head in her younger sibling’s direction as she continued to maneuver her feet. “Do you not see that we are in the middle of something?”

Miles didn’t even reply, but the younger girl could see a bead of sweat streaking down the side of his face as he focused on keeping up with his partner.

“Your feet surely need a break by now!” Franziska insisted, lower lip beginning to protrude sulkily as she stopped trying to run in a circle alongside them to maintain the conversation. It was making her dizzy!

She was starting to get mad. Her sister had had Miles’ attention for over two hours now, and they got to dance three times a week together! All she was asking for was one lousy minute!

In a defining act of cantankerousness, she stomped over to the stereo and powered off the music, immediately bringing the room to abrupt silence and causing the teenage girl to squawk with dismay.

“Franziska Hildeberta Von Karma! That was beyond impudent!” The pretty blonde scowled. “Just what was so important that you would find the need to interrupt in such an unseemly manner? Do you not understand how extra hard Miles and I have been working on this routine, because Papa wants us to perform at his colleague’s silver wedding anniversary party next week?”

Franziska was startled by the sharpness of her sibling’s tone. Usually, Katharina was so indulgent and patient with her, but it seemed the strain of trying to achieve a faultless dance performance intended to please their perfectionist father was beginning to take its toll on her nerves.

“I – I apologize, Schwester,” she mumbled meekly, feeling her eyes well up with disappointed tears. “I –I just wanted to tell you and Miles that I had broken in Thor today – all by myself. That was all.”

Utterly crestfallen, the young girl turned and started to head back up the stairs, but to her surprise, her Little Brother immediately halted her.

“Franziska! Wait!”

“Miles!” The peeved Katharina put her hands on her hips. “Why are you stopping?”

“Katharina, I am so exhausted that I am beginning to see double at this point!” He informed his elder sibling. “I think we’ve done enough for today. If you want, we can squeeze in another couple of hours tomorrow before my fencing lesson. Don’t you worry about that party; I am positive that we will give a riveting show!”

He then turned to Franziska, who was halfway up the stairs. His long legs strode towards her, and he joined her on the step, looking at her with a smile of pride.

“Did you really break in Thor?” He asked, visibly impressed. “Wow! That’s incredible!”

She nodded silently and dropped her eyes. Now that she had his attention, at last, she felt uncharacteristically shy.

“Das ist aber toll!” Miles praised. “I’m sure that was no easy feat.”

Aside from when they were lovingly given by her mother, compliments were rarer than unicorns in the Von Karma household. Franziska was so unaccustomed to praise from any other source that she became suddenly overwhelmed and incapable of speech.

“Thor is a very big horse but I still managed,” she finally managed to answer softly. “Nonetheless I will not lie and say that it was an easy task. It was most definitely a challenge.”

“Thor is an absolute hulking beast, so I have no doubt he gave you as much of a workout as your sister and I had!” Miles laughed, his tone taking on a slightly mischievous edge now. “Look at you, you’re even more red-faced and sweaty than we are!”

He then reached over and affectionately tousled her damp, silvery strands, and Franziska felt herself blushing to the roots of her hair, partly due to the approbation still evident on his comely visage, and partly because she realized just how dirty and smelly she must be, having come straight from the stables! It both embarrassed her and left her indignant for having such inferior feelings overshadow her initial ones of triumph!

Darn that foolish fool for making me feel this way! If a side of derision must accompany his wonderment, then I want no part of it!

“You foolish fool! Do not dare to make fun of me!” Franziska screeched, and then, in a gesture of uncontrolled irritation, she reflexively cracked the riding crop on the bare skin of his arm, making him yelp, although more from surprise than pain. “Take that!”

Katharina gasped in appalled disbelief.

“Franziska Von Karma, what has gotten into you?” Her argentate eyes, identical to both Minna’s and her sister’s, were flashing with fury. “Where would you get the idea to even do such a churlish thing? Is this what all your years of decorum training with your English governess have resulted in? Apologize to Miles immediately, unless you want me to tell Papa and Mama what a naughty little girl you are being!”

Franziska gulped. Her Mama would be sorely disappointed in her behavior, which was bad enough, but the idea of her father’s wrathful reaction was too terrifying for words.

“I – I am very sorry,” she whispered, peering up at Miles with apprehensive orbs. “Please pardon me, Little Brother.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Miles replied easily. “It didn’t really hurt. It’s not like you were using a whip or anything!” He turned to Katharina. “I’ll see you here at this same time tomorrow. I need to go take a shower and cool off!”

He then flashed one final teasing smile at Franziska. “I suggest your hot-headed self takes one too, Pferdemädchen.”

Grinning impishly, he then quickly booked it up the stairs before the girl could give him another lash for that final parting wisecrack!

“You will pay for that insolent remark, Miles Edgeworth!” She threatened after his retreating form, then turned to face her sister, whose visible annoyance appeared to have vanished, replaced by a knowing smirk. “I cannot believe that foolish fool just called me a horse girl!”

“Well, considering your present stench is naught but pure equine, I am surprised he did not think of something worse!” Katharina tittered softly, reaching over and pulling her sister into a quick hug. “I am so sorry I was short with you. I have been a complete tyrant with poor Miles, too, running him nearly ragged with dance practice because I am so stressed about meeting Papa’s high expectations! However, I should always try to take the time to cheer on my little sister for her admirable accomplishments. That is quite the achievement you made with Thor! Gut gemacht!”

“Danke, Schwester.” Franziska returned the embrace, then stepped back and shuffled her feet uncomfortably. “However, I am very sorry for the way I acted, and for interrupting your practice. I did not know you had such a big, important show coming up.”

“Ich vergebe dir. I think Miles was more than willing to forgive you as well, since your perfectly timed interruption gave him the reprieve he needed before he passed out from exertion!” Katharina giggled. “Besides, I know you very well, Little One! I have very little doubt about what motivated you to act like such a spoiled brat just now. You do realize that there is nothing to be jealous of with Miles and me, ja? Unlike you, I see him as nothing more than my little brother. Plus, you seem to have forgotten that I already have a boyfriend!”

“Do not be foolish!” Franziska felt her cheeks turning red and felt a loss for words once again. “I – I was merely excited, and I wanted to show both of you that I too, could excel at something, that is all!”

“You wanted Miles’ attention.” It was a statement, not a question. “Franziska, I do not think he noticed, but I saw you peeping at us earlier during our lesson. I gather that you have… special feelings for him. It is perfectly normal. And for what it is worth, I am pretty sure he is completely oblivious to it. Boys can be quite daft in that sense.”

“Unlike you, the ever-observant psychologist in training?” Franziska grinned, seeing no point in denying anything anymore. She knew her steadfast sister could be trusted to keep her little crush a secret. “Nothing escapes your attention whatsoever?”

“Well, I am a Von Karma, after all!” Katharina snickered. “However, please keep in mind that right now, the age difference between the two of you is quite vast, Little One. Nevertheless, if you do want some romantic advice to help you in your later years, heed this tip – most boys do not like girls who smell like horses all the time!”

“What nonsense!” Franziska huffed. “I refuse to give up my riding passion for any foolish boy!”

“Nobody said you had to give up the things you love,” Katharina advised, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her sibling’s ear. “Alas, it may not hurt to be gracefully light on your feet for when the day comes that a boy sweeps you off them!”

She left the room then, leaving her little sister to mull that one over.

That very night, Franziska Von Karma announced to Manfred that she wanted to commence taking ballroom dance lessons, post-haste!

---

December 20, 2007

 

That day was what should have been Minna Von Karma’s 39th birthday. Even if Franziska had not heard the servants murmuring sadly around her, she still would’ve known the unforgettable date.

Earlier that evening, she had gotten a call from the emotional, teary Katharina, promising she’d be home the next night when her school let out for the Christmas holidays, which was a comforting notion. Nevertheless, her beloved sister’s absenteeism, coupled with her father’s blatant nonattendance at the mansion that particular night, felt like a double sucker punch to the gut.

Franziska knew that all the increased time Manfred spent drowning his alleged sorrows at his gentleman’s club was all a farce. Papa couldn’t have appeared to care less that the most important person in her life was no longer with them. He hadn’t said a word about that day’s significance to his daughter. He hadn’t even cared to ask how his youngest child was dealing with Minna’s very first birthday when she was no longer with them or bothered inquiring about the level of the devastation she might thus be feeling.

It shouldn’t have surprised her. Papa had never paid mind to birthdays. She wasn’t even sure if he’d even remembered what day it was.

Therefore, it seemed her grief was her cross to bear alone. She held her head high and tried to keep a stiff upper lip in Manfred’s presence in her efforts to convince him that she was every bit the strong, unflappable Von Karma he’d always commanded her to be and refused to fall apart like a house of cards.

Big girls don’t cry, Papa had repeatedly told her.

Those words had stuck with her. Consequently, ever since that fateful day when she had broken down upon finding out that Manfred was not the man she’d always thought he was, Franziska had not allowed herself to shed even a tear since.

Her mood and feelings towards her father had greatly soured since she had made that earth-shattering discovery in his study several months ago, revealing the evidence of his infidelity to the woman that had been Franziska’s whole world. It was very unfortunate for the poor, lost child that the rarely present Manfred was all she had left, what with Miles having been sent away to boarding school in England and her sister no longer residing at the mansion. Thus, Franziska often felt like a tiny pea rattling around a gigantic hollow watermelon shell in this enormous pile of bricks; now merely a house that no longer felt like any sort of home.

The girl struggled with her emotions for the man that she called Papa daily. She loved him, and she hated him. She wanted to please him, yet couldn’t care less what he thought of her. She thought he was a genius, but a hypocrite.

It was more than any nine-year-old should have ever had to deal with, and sleeplessness was the unfortunate result of it all, along with overwhelming feelings of loneliness and melancholy that never seemed to abate.

But by far, the worst was her insomnia. There were shadows underneath the girl’s eyes from her restless nights, which had only worsened since Minna’s untimely passing, and last night had been worse than most. She had thrashed and flailed about for hours, but to no avail. Once more, sleep completely evaded her.

Franziska tossed and turned but just couldn’t find the right position. A lingering haze of sleep sat somewhere at the back of her mind but was too far away to reach, floating in the pool of her memories. Icy discomfort blossomed in her chest and made it difficult for her to breathe. Trying to make herself fall into slumber, she took as deep breaths as she could, but many just caught in her throat, like a chilly wind had blown down there that managed to freeze the air solid. At that moment, she knew this was going to be a long night.

I miss you so much, Mama! With you no longer here, sleep becomes a fleeting chore. I wrestle at night with the dark and the light trying to find comfort from either side but most times I lose the fight. I have become content with my sleepless nights where I find comfort in my thoughts and memories of the past. Things seem clearer but only for a while as I fight to take control of the lethargy that creeps up and creates night-time horrors during my sleepless hours. The dark consumes but sleep still eludes, it appears it has divorced itself from me. I’m sleepless at a time when rest is all I need to refuel me to make it through one more day without you.

Choking back a sob, she swung her legs over the side of her bed, quietly opened her bedroom door, and crept downstairs. The servants were all in their beds, of course, and she didn’t want to waken them, but she thought perhaps a cup of hot milk might soothe her back to sleep. Her mother had always brought her up a mug before bedtime, then sang softly at her bedside until her eyes drifted closed. Such a beautiful voice Minna had had, especially when she sang Franziska’s favorite lullaby, ‘Weißt du, wieviel Sternlein stehen.’ Mama had sounded just like an angel, whose ranks she had now joined in heaven…

Stop torturing yourself like this Franziska! Just get your milk and go back to bed, where hopefully, sleep will finally release you from one of the most painfully depressing days of your entire life!

As she tiptoed through the silent manor and towards the kitchen, she could have sworn that she heard a very faint sound in the distance. Franziska tilted her head towards it. It appeared to be coming from the music room. The door was closed, but the soft melody was achingly familiar. Creeping closer, she slowly turned the doorknob and found Miles seated at the piano, eyes closed, so lost in the song that he was playing that he didn’t even notice he had an audience. When had he come home? Franziska had known he would be arriving that night for winter break but had fallen asleep attempting to wait up for him. A furtive glance at the grandfather clock in the corner showed her that it was now half-past eleven.

He must’ve caught the late flight and arrived after I went to bed.

Miles hadn’t bothered turning on the lights in the room, and Franziska couldn’t help but stand in the doorway and just stare at the mesmerizing sight of him seated on the bench, illuminated by the silvery beam of light streaming in, which was quite bright that night due to the full moon. The calm song he was playing, the gentle movements of his fingers on the keys, and the beautiful lighting offered a very serene sight. Despite her unwitting discovery about the distasteful affair that had transpired between Miles and Gretchen, there was no doubt that he had been a most diligent music pupil. She leaned on the doorframe and allowed herself to smile a little bit; she had forgotten how much she’d loved to hear him play.

As the boy continued to play the hauntingly beautiful tune with precise expertise, the child felt a lump forming in her throat as she recognized the song that Minna used to sing to her on nights when she couldn’t sleep and sniffled slightly. She hadn’t realized she had made any noise, but Miles still heard her. Startled, his eyes flew open and his hands fell limply from the keys, his face a mask of contrition as he spun around on his seat to face her.

“Forgive me, Franziska. I thought the sound was muted enough if I kept the door closed. I never intended to wake anyone.”

“You – you did not awaken me,” she mumbled. “I – I could not sleep, so I came downstairs for some milk, and then I heard you. I apologize if I startled you. I never meant for you to stop playing. I – I love that song – ‘Weißt du, wieviel Sternlein stehen. In English, the title is ‘Do You Know How Many Stars Are?’ It is the one Mama used to sing to me most often.”

“I know it very well.” He smiled sadly. “When I first came here, I had many night terrors about my father. I would wake up screaming and often crying. Your mother always seemed to sense when I was most distressed. She would come to me in the middle of the night and comfort me with this song, too. For me, she was singing the English version, because I didn’t speak much German back then.”

Miles patted the bench as he shifted slightly, indicating she should come to sit beside him.

“I knew today was her birthday. And I guess I just wanted to play something that reminded me of happier times with her. I – I wanted something to remember her by today.”

“Could you play it again for me?” Franziska hesitantly sat down next to him and smiled bashfully. “I always did love listening to you play.”

“I will play it as many times as you like,” he replied kindly. “But only if you sing along while I do.”

“I am not certain I can do the song any justice.” She ducked her head with uncertainty. “I do not have Mama’s beautiful voice.”

“Let me be the judge of that. How about we sing together? I will sing the English lyrics right after you start the German ones, and it will be a singing round. I think Madam Minna would have liked that.”

“Fine.” Franziska nodded hesitantly. “Let us begin.”

Miles started the song from the beginning once more, and Franziska desperately fought back the tears mounting in her throat as she sang in her soft, childlike voice.

---

Weißt du, wieviel Kinder frühe
stehn aus ihrem Bettlein auf,
daß sie ohne Sorg und Mühe
fröhlich sind im Tageslauf?
Gott im Himmel hat an allen
seine Lust, sein Wohlgefallen;
kennt auch dich und hat dich lieb,
kennt auch dich und hat dich lieb.
Wie Sie wissen, tue ich das
Wie Sie wissen, tue ich das

---

Miles’ warm, soothing baritone warmed Franziska’s heart as he sang the English version. She had always loved his voice, but his time in England had given it a smoother, more polished edge, with just a hint of a British accent, which only enhanced his singing voice to her enchanted child ears.

---

Do you know how many children
Wake up early from their little beds,
Who are without worry and sorrow
And happy during the day?
God in Heaven has everybody’s
Pleasure and welfare in mind;
He knows you and loves you too,
He knows you and loves you too.

---

When they finished, Miles turned to her with a puzzled glance.

“I’m afraid I didn’t know the last two lines that you sang? Was there a part of the song that your mother edited out when she would sing it to me?”

“N – No.” Franziska shook her head as she felt a hot stinging sensation prickling behind her eyes. “I just added that part right now, because we were singing the song … for my Mama. And I wanted her to know how much I still love her, even though she is not with me anymore.”

She swallowed hard.

“The final line speaks of God, ‘kennt auch dich und hat dich lieb – ‘He knows you, and loves you too.’ Ergo, the last two lines were directed from me to her, in case she can hear me. ‘Wie Sie wissen, tue ich das’–it – it means, ‘as you know, I do that’.”

Miles regarded her with empathetic eyes and placed his hand on hers.

“I’m sure Madam Minna heard you. Just remember that she loved you very much, Franziska. And as long as you keep her in your heart, she will always be with you.”

After all these months of trying to repress her tears, his simple words, spoken with such sincere compassion and sympathy, were Franziska’s undoing. As much as she tried to hold it in, the agonized whimper came out like a strangled cry from her throat. The beads of liquid started falling down her cheeks, one after another, without a sign of stopping. The muffled sobs wracked her chest.

“Let it out, Große Schwester,” he whispered. “I can tell you’ve needed this.”

“I – I should not cry!” Her chin trembled as she regarded him with liquid silver eyes. “P – Papa said Big Girls do not cry!”

Wordlessly, Miles took her unresisting form in his arms, and for the first time in forever, she felt safe; her sadness disappeared like rain on summer earth. In his warm embrace, she was cocooned better than any caterpillar. The simple touch sent a wave of butterflies coursing through her veins, their fluttering wings easing the wretchedness that had settled inside her. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, feeling her calm down instantly at his touch. Gently, he rubbed the droplets away from her cheeks with his fingers and started rocking back and forth. Now her tears had stopped, leaving only their tell-tale wet tracks down her face. Soon, enfolded in his warm embrace, the music room was filled with nothing but the soothing sounds of both of their own deep and even breaths.

“People don’t cry because they’re weak, Franziska,” he murmured as he stroked her satiny hair. “They weep because they’ve been strong for too long.”

Franziska sniffled and then did something she’d been yearning to do for the last six years, ever since she’d first laid eyes on his gawky, gangly form standing in her front hallway. She drew back and gently kissed Miles Edgeworth on the forehead, closing her eyes to savor the clean, crisp scent of his warm skin against her fleeting lips.

“Vielen Dank. Ich Liebe Dich, Kleiner Bruder.”

“Ich Liebe Dich auch, Große Schwester.”

---

Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

---

Translations (thanks again, RoterSchmetterling!)

Das ist genug für jetzt! Machen Sie eine fünfminütige Pause! – That is enough for now! Take a five-minute break!

du vorlaut Junge! – you cheeky boy!

Lasst uns gehen! – Let’s go!

Das hast du aber schön gemacht, Katharina! – You made that beautiful, Katharina!

Ausgezeichnet, Franziska! – Excellent, Franziska!

Ich bin so stolz auf dich! – I am so proud of you!

Mit meinem kleinen Freund in der Hand – With my little friend in hand

Das ist aber toll! – But that’s great!

Gut gemacht! – Good job!

Ich vergebe dir – I forgive you.

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