Cutscene: A Baron's Worries (Michael Theodore)
Michael Theodore knew the blade better than the quill. This much, he would admit himself without hesitation. Born with a lower status, his education had been lacking from the beginning. But it was enough to land him in the military. His fire magic came as a pleasant gift from the heavens once he found out he could use it. Ever so slightly, in the smallest of ways, but he could.
When the war with Orcus came around, he proved himself irreplaceable by providing a constant supply of secondary benefits with his magic alone. He had cooked, dried clothes, rallied troops, boiled water, and even cauterized the wounds of friends when they'd otherwise had bled to death. The smallest of flames kept those who would eventually become his men alive. If anyone mocked him for such laughably mundane magic prowess, they'd laugh alone in light of his achievements.
"Is Maria in bed already?" The same man was at a loss when it came to the women in his house. His wife's magic saved the soldiers on numerous times, and her insight for powerful opponents got them out of traps more than once. As for their daughter, Margaret chose her among the children. Something caught her attention, and eventually Michael would come to understand it.
"Not yet." The head maid didn't look like a mother of three. If anyone asked, she could as well pass like an elder sister or a particularly young adult. She had the common sense of a hare, too. But Maria corrected the worst of her behavioral flaws with… Strict, and constant training "But she will be shortly. The girls already wrapped her around the blankets. Mister Joseph is helping carry her to her bedroom."
The man made Michael restless for the longest time. He and his wife knew everything that could be done in a room strictly for work when a man and a woman were left to their own devices for so long. Maria always behaved professionally and her no-nonsense attitude reassured him. But she is a teenager, after all. Just ask Michael how many "friends" contacted him again after he got his title.
"This girl…" Such ridiculous behavior could only come from Maria's bizarre common sense. The girl hasn't stopped working since her return from the capital, and consistently refused to leave her studio like some kind of workaholic shut-in "Make sure she doesn't…" Maria ran around the corner, already in her night clothes but still chased by three maids spreading her bed sheets like some kind of fish net to trap her.
"Ah… It's so wonderful to have milady back at home." The woman placed a hand on her cheek, a pleased smile making her youthful features look oddly motherly.
It made Michael a bit sick in the stomach, but in a good way. The women of this house were always such strange creatures. Michael had the feeling Maria chose them on purpose sometimes.
Sigh. Why did he ever wish to live in interesting times? Right, because otherwise life would be too boring.
"Please, go to sleep." When Michael arrived at the studio, Joseph looked ready to begin crying. The guy wouldn't be helpful in the end.
"You're not my dad." Maria didn't bother to look up from the documents stacked on the desk. She wrote diligently and without breaking stride. Mumbling a bit while she did so.
"Go to sleep." Michael didn't bother knocking or announcing himself. The head maid trailing behind him.
"I am old enough to manage my time just fine, father." Maria looked up from her work and smiled weakly "I'll be done shortly. Thank you for your care."
"Ara… Is Lady Maria behaving like a spoiled kid?" The woman spoke with that sweet voice of hers. The three people in the studio flinched.
"I… No. This is important." Michael's daughter began sweating. She too, was aware of the kind of woman the maid would never stop being "Joseph, take Shanon out of the room. Please." She sounded as pleading as her retainer sounded not moments ago. Maria looked ready to jump out of the window.
"No, can do." The young man shook his head vigorously. The head maid chuckled.
"I will take care of Mister Joseph later. For now, please go to bed Lady Maria."
"…I'm sorry." Maria apologized. She could do nothing but apologize. She stood up on her own accord and left the room.
No one pointed out how she sounded apologetic to Joseph. Michael knew some sacrifices were needed to achieve victory.
Well, at least they were done for today.
"Lady!" The head maid's favorite girl almost tripped as she caught up to them "There is a carriage from the Windhill that came to see you!"
Oh, gods fucking dammit.
Maria's mood improved, and her smug neutral face came back in full force "Fetch me something to wrap on my shoulders. Tell them to enter."
The teenager that arrived had the blonde hair and green eyes of the Windhill household.
About Maria's age, he carried himself in a way that befitted his affiliation to the marquis house of the wind, yet his physique did not correspond to it. Michael knew the appearance. A body meant to carry weapons and do the heavy lifting in any task necessary at the shortest notice: The youth built himself like a warrior.
He looked somber, but his smile neutralized the negative connotations of his appearance almost entirely.
"Baron Theodore." The young aristocrat had his hair combed in such a way stands of hair eluded the knot that has been so popular in noble young men for the longest time. It didn't make his appearance look any less well kept "My apologies to intrude at such time. I am Vincent Woodville Windhill. First and foremost, congratulations in Miss… Viscountess Maria's naming. I am well aware she deserves every recognition." His voice soothed the man's nerves, which made him feel more on edge, because the smooth talkers were always the worst.
Just ask the late Kanz if he would trust a smooth talker again, the answer would be no. He did not live to learn the lesson, but Michael's men did.
"You're way too kind." Still, etiquette demanded he replied in kind. Michael would play the game if it gave him some insight of the youth's true character. He heard someone squeak behind him.
The young noble chuckled. He didn't carry a weapon, and the two young men behind him looked like butlers from their attire to their slim bodies. Michael couldn't know their capabilities with just that, but he wasn't old enough to lose to these people. Unless the marquis child used magic, that is.
"Nonsense. Viscountess Maria is an excellent woman, no wonder with who raised her." His face became more serious. Michael couldn't be sure that sentence wasn't meant to be a signal "But my visit is not merely a celebratory one, as you might have guessed." Now the somber look returned, he motioned to his servants "Please, allow me to speak to her in private. It shall not take long."
"Girls." The twins came. Two maids that hurried to Michael's either side with quick and small steps that did not befit their height "Please show these gentlemen some hospitality. I reckon it's not too late for a cup of tea?"
"At once, milord."
"Yup!"
Vincent nodded, and his retainers thanked Michael for the hospitality.
"Thank you, Baron. It shall not take long." The aristocrat entered his daughter's studio and closed the door behind him. He did not ask for permission, not really, nor was he interested in Michael himself any further.
It dawned on the man his daughter now outranked him entirely. His authority, which had been lacking to being with, now became null as Maria's achievements made her grow more than Michael's years of military service.
His little girl grew so fast…
"Peni…"
"Woman, shut up." Michael didn't want to hear what they were doing from the maid's mouth, so he did as her and put his ear on the door frame.
"…Grows from corn and…" Maria's voice sounded as level as usual. The man's pounding heart began slowing down.
"I didn't come for an encyclopedic lesson." The aristocrat didn't sound too pleased, but at least he did not snap at Maria yet.
"Humor me." The girl didn't seem too affected. Michael heard creaking and realized the noble had been standing so far "Penicillin was usable even before its core component was isolated. I… If I remember correctly, which I doubt, it's useful for bacteria only. Sorry, Hayama. But I don't remember much more."
"Do you think you could produce it if we found it?" Was it about the rumors of the marquis lady falling ill? Michael didn't know what they were talking about, nor did he understand what Maria called the young noble but they sounded close.
"It's a mold, Hayama. I wouldn't be able to know which produces penicillin and which would worsen your mother's condition." Ah, so his gut didn't fail him.
…Why come to Maria, though? He should have doctors and alchemist for days, why Maria?
"But…"
"I am no doctor. I do know a bit of medicinal plants. Maybe father has something we can use."
"There's people already looking for it." The noble's stern voice sounded even so flat Michael didn't know if he was being sarcastic or not.
"Maybe they're overlooking what they need." Oh, no. She's determined. More work for his little girl. She's not resting enough… "Even if we can't find it. Maybe this world has records of something similar. Maybe there's even a miracle drug somewhere and we just need to find it. Don't worry, I'll look into it."
"…Thanks."
"We're in this together, are we not? I will help to the best of my capabilities."
"Should we tell her about the Viscount?" The maid asked, getting away from the door and talking in a low tone.
"If she hasn't found out, she will." Michael scoffed, mirroring her movements "Now he has no authority over her, though. And I have the feeling his threats won't be as effective anymore either." The aristocrat opened the door and stared at the adults making guard outside the room. His smile conveyed he knew they were hearing.
"Is everything alright?" Vincent asked evenly, he didn't let anything show.
"I am waiting to see my daughter. Do forgive me, it is quite late." Michael replied without much worry.
"…This can't be faulted. My business is done. Thank you for your consideration, Baron Theodore."
"No, no. By all means, we're here to serve. If Lord Windhill wishes, he may spend the night here."
"I wished to return to the capital immediately."
"You travelled four days to come here." Michael smiled "I insist."
"I will see to it." The woman behind them spoke "Worry not, milord. You will find your stay quite enjoyable."
Huh? Wait…
"Father." Maria peeked through the door. Her eye bags were showing "Ah. Is everything alright?"
"It is." The woman assured her "I will show Lord Vincent a place to rest for the night. The girls can tend to his retainers." The aristocrat turned to Michael's daughter, who nodded listlessly.
"Fine." Vincent finally gave in.
"This way." The woman smiled kindly.
"I shall head to my room." Maria bowed demurely "Rest well, everyone."
"Ah, good night little…" Michael realized Shanon had gotten away "Wait, no! That woman is going to get us killed!"
Maria looked tired and done with her father's shenanigans. But, as the seconds went by, her eyes began opening until Michael feared they would pop out of their sockets.
"Oh, that was Shanon. Wasn't it?" Michael could only nod slowly. As if any movement would trigger their doom.
"Well, good thing virginity only matters for women. Right?" Maria looked thoroughly beaten. Not only had she been correcting the mistakes made by those who worked in her stead while she studied in the Academy. Her projects started showing problems, faults that weren't apparent until mistakes were made and deals were broken.
She always worked hard. But now, she didn't even dine with them anymore.
"Only for nobility." Maria never talked about these things with them. She was demure like that, a little too much if Michael was honest. Margaret never shied away from such subjects, nor Maria's people for that matter. So it came as a surprise she said what she did. Michael would reward her openness with his own "It never came up when I was young."
"I see." The implications were obvious, so hopefully Maria would catch on. She didn't comment on it, though "I'll go to sleep. I'm way too tired for this now."
"Rest well, dear." Michael kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Likewise."
Yeah, the Theodore family would really need it.