"Remove broken mirror and order replacement - check; send staff to clean the floor of the great hall - check; send curtains to the washwomen for cleaning - check; dry wet books and press them - check; order new editions of Cicero's Tusculanes and Lettres - check (...if only it was so easy to replace his master's notes and half-finished letter to Voltaire...); order new ink - check; order new chocolate and cheese - check; tell the gardener to pick more fresh fruit - check (...he just hoped they hadn't gotten into the garden, too...); tell the cook to bake new bread and almond cakes - check; send the guest room chair to the upholsterer for mending - check" -- Fredersdorf looked up when his master entered the room in a rush, scowl on his face.

"They're finally gone," Frederick proclaimed, crossing the room and looking out the window as if to make sure that the carriage hadn't unexpectedly turned around, "and I'm telling you, Fredersdorf, I'll never look after my brothers again in my life!"

Fredersdorf stifled a smile, put down his pen, and got up to check off the last item on his to-do list: comfort the crown prince and make sure he wouldn't hold too much of a grudge against his younger brothers; one never knew when one needed allies after all.