In theory, the 'Let Nicol-sama deal with it' plan was simple. But theory and practice hardly ever worked together. At his core, Nicol-sama was a very capable person. One Maria no longer would ever hesitate to rely on, and whose disparated point of view she learned to appreciate over the time they spent together trailing Keith-sama's whereabouts.
However, at that very core, Nicol-sama was a deeply individualistic person. Someone who would be hard-pressed to listen to others before making judgment calls and whose self-reliance only paled in comparison to Gerald-sama's own.
Or to put it bluntly, he was too selfish and narcissistic for his own good.
While Maria hastily briefed him on what had happened, he quickly realized Dark Magic was in play and that it would be quite difficult to help Gerald-sama given he was now permanently secluded in his own domain. Which was correct. However, Nicol-sama couldn't help berate the prince all the way through and more than once suggested, in no uncertain terms, that they should abandon him to his own luck.
It fell on Mary-sama's shoulders the responsibility of cutting through his nonsense and subduing him. Making him listen to Maria wasn't quite as draining an exercise once his 'tsun side', as Katarina-sama aptly labeled it ages ago, had been broken through but Maria still felt a headache about ready to build up between her eyes.
It didn't help that his words carried just enough merit to actually tear them down instead of just ignoring them.
The fact Gerald-sama had been subdued, in his own palace no less, sent all sorts of danger warning to everyone involved. So much so that Maria had to press on Katarina-sama to let Maria's mom stay at the Claes manor immediately. The light mage sent the oblivious lady to give Teresa a tour through the building so she wouldn't worry, but that was bound to not be enough. Sooner or later, they would have to tell her. Even more if they didn't get an action plan soon.
Nicol-sama was of the idea that they should look after themselves and forget about the prince. They didn't want to do that, and Katarina-sama had only so much manor to show before she came back, so Mary-sama worked overtime to make Nicol-sama see reason.
"Goodness! We don't have time for this." Mary-sama turned to the younger Ascart, a small vein popping on her forehead after dealing with Nicol-sama's stubbornness for a while "Sophia-san! Convince him."
The smaller girl stood up from her seat beside Alan-sama and briskly walked up to her brother. She didn't say a thing, simply looking straight at his eyes as if they were measuring each other up.
Nicol-sama's hard features wavered for a moment.
"Onii-sama…" Then, Sophia-sama's features broke. She looked so pitiful even Maria's heart sank when the girl looked down to garner her brother's favor "Please."
"Right away." Came Nicol-sama's immediate response with a sharp nod "What's the plan? I'll do it."
Huh…
"Nii-sama!" The smaller Ascart threw her arms around her brother's neck and snuggled on his neck. Her brother blushed lightly and seemed to be quite alright with being played like that, basking on his sister's attention while returning the hug.
Maria looked away, trying really hard to not to think about the scene.
"Mhm." Alan-sama nodded "Alright, ahem. So…"
Mary-sama muffled a giggle. She probably understood Alan-sama the best, and knew his awkward words were rushed due to embarrassment. Or perhaps jealousy? Maria could believe it was either, but was in no position to tease the prince about it. Especially not in front of the protective elder Ascart right in front of them. It would have to wait. At least to a time with less pressing matters at hand.
"...Beside. It's very likely Gerald will be coming this way sooner or later." Eh? "To be honest, he's running kind of late."
Maria's more or less light-hearted thoughts were rudely interrupted by Alan-sama's revelation. The idea sunk in while the Ascart spun those words in their mind, with the prince patiently waiting for them to react.
"That does sound like something Gerald-sama would do." Mary-sama commented, a hand on her chin while she thought it over "I mean, his engagement to Katarina-sama is broken. But I don't think that'd stop him from… Oh, Maria-san doesn't know."
It was a bit too much for the peasant girl, so of course Mary-sama took a moment to get her to speed.
Maria was told about the hearing, and Keith-sama's fate. Nicol-sama also explained that, given how Keith-sama's powers had manifested very early on in his life, the Magic Ministry had always had an interest in him. But it had been decided that Keith-sama would not be raised by the people of the Ministry, and would be given out to the Claes instead.
Then, the break of the engagement. Which was probably an agreed upon decision -or so Maria's noble friends thought- to protect the respective sides of it. It fell in line with what Maria would have thought, but it still saddened Katarina-sama's parents took the extra precaution of withdrawing their daughter from the public sight to protect her. The light mage knew this was for the best, but it still stung her main source of time together with Katarina-sama had been cut short by forces outside of their control.
"But this isn't over." Mary-sama concluded "This mysterious power being at play is bad as-is. But who knows how it'll twist Gerald-sama's feelings about the current situation."
It went without saying Gerald-sama's feelings for Katarina-sama were quite strong. So Mary-sama's worries were not unfounded.
"Doesn't that mean Keith-sama could be in danger?" The younger Ascart asked, tilting her head. Albeit not too worried.
Nicol-sama snorted, Alan-sama shook his head.
"Unlikely. Gerald is not stupid enough to go challenge him head on."
"We can only hope." Nicol-sama mumbled.
"Then…" Maria raised her voice, but no words came. She didn't want to ask that question, but there was no need for it either.
What now? Since they would probably be targeted by Gerald-sama, let alone the dark mage still running free in the palace.
"She's here." Nicol-sama stated, and not a moment later Katarina-sama swung the doors open with Anne-san and Teresa in tow.
"And this is the other other guest room. But you already knew this one."
"Indeed." The blonde woman smiled weakly. Maria knew she would get used to it if she spent more time with Katarina-sama.
"So, what do you think?" Katarina-sama asked Teresa, a small smile on her face. A long shot from her usual radiant self, but it would have to do for now.
"I appreciate Claes-sama's hospitality." The woman answered the only way she could, of course "I'll be in you care."
"More like Anne-san's." Nicol-sama interrupted the two, startling the older blonde with his abrasive way of speaking.
"...Yeah." Katarina-sama looked down.
The nobles exchanged looks.
"...It was a joke. Claes is a perfectly capable host." Nicol-sama's tone became melower as he scratched the back of his head "I'd know."
"I… I see…" Maria's mother relaxed a bit, but still looked about ready to… What? Fight? Run away? She still looked tense, and it broke Maria's heart a bit that she found her daughter's friends so threatening.
"Great." Alan-sama crossed his arms "If you make forehead-san cry, you'll be in deep trouble. You know how Gerald gets, huh Nicol?"
"Who are you calling forehead-san?!" Katarina-sama quickly bounced back and rose to Alan-sama's teasing "You… You…! Huh…"
"Take your time." Alan-sama smirked.
"Thanks. Huh…" Katarina-sama changed expressions so quickly Maria thought her face had broken for a moment "Nicol-sama! Alan-sama is bullying me!"
"What is he doing?" Nicol-sama asked as if he wasn't literally a few steps away from Alan-sama.
"He's saying mean things to me!" And of course Katarina-sama replied in earnest.
"Well, say mean things back." Nicol-sama stated with a scoff.
"I don't know what to say!" She wasn't very bright, alright. But Maria had to admit, if she wanted to make a smart retort she went to the right person.
"Try calling him a loser."
"Wait…" Wait. Alan-sama couldn't possibly care about being called names, right?
"Yeah! Alan-sama is a loser! You can't even beat me climbing trees!" Katarina-sama showed him her tongue for a bonus.
"Of course not! I'm not a monkey like you!" He retorted with all his might! Why did he care anyway?!
Sophia-san chuckled, while Mary-sama got Katarina-sama into a hug while covering her ears.
"You stop teasing her! And you! Stop teaching Katarina-sama unpleasant things!" Mary-sama huffed.
Maria's mother was no longer uneasy.
"And you stop being so touchy-feely." Nicol-sama crossed his arms "Not everyone enjoys that."
"Yes, please give Katarina-sama a bit of room." Maria chimed in, emboldened by the friendly ambience in the room.
"...Alright." Mary-sama gave in and took some distance from her fellow brunette.
Katarina-sama sighed in relief.
"Ah, thank you." Said the lady with clear embarrassment on her face. Nicol-sama eyed Mary-sama with suspicion "A-Anyway…! Huh..."
"Millidiana-sama extends an invitation to Katarina-sama's visitors to have tea." Anne-san intervened when Katarina-sama didn't know what to say.
Maria looked around, not sure if she should be there or if the invitation extended to her and her mother.
No one even spared her a glance until Sophia-san urged Maria along. It dawned on the light mage everyone just assumed she would tag along, given she had made a request to Katarina-sama and had already been acknowledged.
Or perhaps she was overthinking things and no one even expected Maria to be excluded for her social status. But that couldn't be it, right?
"Chin up." Nicol-sama whispered to her ear cospirationally "Claes-sama would never think you're inadequate, you put up with Claes all the time."
"Eeep!"
"Huh? Maria-chan?" Katarina-sama turned to see the blushing light mage.
"N-Nothing! It's fine!"
What was that man thinking?! Saying such things in front of so many people!
If that was his idea of cheering a girl up… What was Maria thinking? Of course someone like him would think that is okay to say to anyone, period!
Fortunately, the room Millidiana-sama was waiting in wasn't that far. And Maria quickly schooled her features to meet Katarina-sama's mom for the first time ever. She wanted to give a good impression, to show herself as someone Katarina-sama could trust. A form of validation she wouldn't be thinking about, if someone hadn't gotten the idea in her head to begin with.
Maybe.
Regardless, Maria had not expected to be greeted by a running woman only to have her face buried on said person's chest as she was embraced like a lost kid by her mother.
"Mom, please!" Maria heard Sophia-san protest to a side, but couldn't even process what was happening until the blonde noble released her from her rather strong grip.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just…" The apparent Ascart matriarch released a sigh while looking Maria up and down. It was as if she was deeply moved by her appearance, but that would just have confused Maria even more "You are Maria Campbell, are you not?"
Someone groaned behind Maria.
"Yes…" She replied dumbly, still processing the development.
"I see…" Maria was embraced again, and like the first time her breath was cut short by how strong the action was "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If it were not for you, I would be mourning for my child! I came here to meet with… But I didn't know… So imagine my surprise when…"
"Mother, you're rambling." Nicol-sama intervened, placing a hand between the women so the Ascart would release Maria.
"Sorry, sorry… It's… This is unsightly of me, isn't it?" The woman quickly composed herself with the grace only noble-born ladies had "Excuse my rudeness, Maria-san. Just now this Radea Ascart is forever indebted to you."
...Okay?
"Radea, dear. You cannot be faulted for being emotional." The Claes matriarch commented from her seat at the table.
Maria was startled a bit, since Radea-sama had taken all her attention so suddenly. But now that she had a good look at the woman at the head of the long table, she could indeed not be anyone but Katarina-sama's mother.
"Yes, yes. Thank you." The blonde smiled awkwardly, her features resembling Sophia-san's way too much for a moment before taking her place back at the table "Please, again, forgive my rudeness. Come, come. We've been waiting for you."
Maria's heart was pounding now. Tea with both Katarina-sama and Nicol-sama's mothers? What was that? This felt like one of those stories Katarina-sama talked about from time to time.
A scene when the girl fatefully meets people her love interests care about all at once, and she has to choose how to present herself in front of them. Which would, in turn, dictate how her relationships were viewed from there on.
And Maria wasn't sure how she felt about that happening to her.