Chapter 4: Honest Opinions

"The princess and the peasant and each other... and the peasant and the princess love them back. They all love each other." Katarina blushed, "Do you... do you think you could feel the same way?"

That was Katarina's answer Sophia realized. She didn't love any one of them more than the others, there was no choosing one over the others. Instead, she wanted them to love not just her, but each other as well.

Could she? She wished it was as easy as the novel they'd just completed. Katarina stood so tall in her heart, could she really claim to love Mary or Maria as much?

She'd found herself glancing at Mary as she'd taken her turn looking over the image. She'd grown accustomed to Mary. She knew Mary as a friend and as a rival for Katarina's attention. If Katarina had chosen Mary, Sophia knew she would have been able to accept it, because Mary cared for her beloved as much as any person, man or woman, could. Her friend had proven it time and time again, putting herself forward, latching onto the tiniest claim to Katarina's time. If Mary hadn't pushed, hadn't made herself clear to Katarina while she was there, Sophia doubted she would have ever seen this book.

There was so much to admire about that, about her friend. Could it be love? Become love? It would be easy to say yes and hope that it turned out to be the truth.

But Mary was only part of the question.

Beside her sat a stranger. Sophia held no ill will towards Maria, but she had stolen into Katarina's heart so swiftly that Sophia had worried that she might claim it as her own before anyone even realized it.

Could she do the same for Mary? For herself?

She hoped the answer was yes. Wanted it, willed it.

But she didn't know if Maria could because she didn't know Maria. She'd barely spent a few bare moments with her, courtesies and pleasantries and acknowledgments. She'd been happy enough to invite her to their romance reading circle, but that was because it had made Katarina happy.

She didn't know Maria like she knew Katarina or Mary. And Maria knew it too. She'd seen the way Maria had looked at her and Mary when they had the book in front of them. She wasn't sure. How could she be? She didn't know them either.

Mary stared down at the book, the gears of her mind turning.

It would be so very easy to say yes.

There were so many advantages to it too. The relationship itself would be scandalous. Geordo would have to break off his engagement with Katarina, and Alan would have to break off his engagement with her. Sophia would become an ally instead of a rival which would end any chance of Nichol making a move. And it seemed like Keith had been rejected before Katarina even realized he was interested in her.

But she would have to lie to Katarina.

It wasn't even necessarily that big of a lie. She could probably just pretend that she had developed feelings for Sophia, maybe until they were real. They were friends, after all, they'd been friends for a long time too. And if it turned out that she couldn't actually come to love Sophia, she would still be able to be with Katarina. That would likely be enough to salve over any petty jealousies.

Maybe. Hopefully.

But she didn't know Maria.

Would she even be able to convincingly feign interest in her? Play a part to get what she wanted? For how long? Keeping up a lie like that... it just wouldn't last. She'd learned that a simple misunderstanding had nearly ruined Duke Luigi and Duchess Milliandra's marriage. And that had been an honest, if somewhat foolhardy, mistake. Actively lying for an extended period, faking emotions, fabricating affection... She was sure Sophia and Maria would be able to see through it, if not immediately than after watching her show real affection to Katarina. And what would happen when she was caught?

Could she really just say yes? Could she lie to Katarina? Build a relationship with her based on a lie? Or would she just ruin any chance of a real relationship with Katarina if she tried?

Maria's mind whirled as she tried to process... everything. She wasn't being rejected. Katarina was returning her affection and even inviting her into a relationship. Not an ordinary relationship true, but then, nothing about Katarina was ordinary.

Katarina was bright and cheerful and pure and refused to allow others to insult or bully her. She was unlike anyone Maria had ever met, a noble who truly deserved the title.

So was it really any surprise that she would ask her to join a relationship unlike any she'd ever seen before?

She was confident in her feelings for Katarina, despite the brief time they'd gotten to know each other. If only she had feelings for the others. She had no doubt that they would be similarly kind, it wasn't in Katarina's nature to be friends with bullies or cruel people, and all of their interactions so far had been nothing but pleasant. But she didn't feel anything for them.

They were strangers.

And she knew she wasn't alone in that feeling. She hadn't missed the way they looked at her as they went through the book either, the anxious glances they shared. She had watched them as well, trying to piece together what she and they were feeling, if they could accept her.

And there was... another worry. Could she accept sharing Katarina? Would she be able to bear knowing that Katarina was with Sophia or Mary? What if Katarina decided to bring in other women? Her father had abandoned her and her mother because he thought her mother had cheated. Would she grow to feel what he did when he looked at her when she looked at Katarina? The thought twisted her stomach.

But could she reject Katarina?

The very thought sent a shudder down her spine. Katarina was the first to show her kindness in so long. Would she turn away if spurned? Would she treat her like so many others?

Maria closed her eyes and tried to drive the dark thoughts away.

"Maria?" She could hear the concern in Katarina's voice, but choked on her own words. But then Katarina took her hands and she looked up to see Katarina right in front of her. She couldn't help but blush. "Are you alright?"

"I..." She wanted to say she was fine. She did. But the words died on her tongue. Beside her she could hear Sophia sigh. It was going to turn them against her, wasn't it?

"I think," Sophia said softly, "she's overwhelmed."

"Overwhelmed?" Katarina asked as Maria turned to look at the white-haired girl.

Sophia smiled sadly, "I feel the same way."

Maria's breath hitched, and she turned back to Katarina who dithered, trying to put on a brave face, "...Are you saying no?"

"No," Mary cut in, shaking her head, "I don't think any of us want to say no to you. I would say yes if it were just you or Sophia and I, but you're asking all of us to be together and..." Mary glanced at Sophia before turning and staring at her. Maria's heart began to fall once more. Maybe she wasn't alone in fearing how she would feel about others being with Katarina. Maybe it was just natural that Mary and Sophia would reject the idea.

Or maybe they could be fine with each other, but wouldn't feel comfortable sharing Katarina with her.

Finally, Mary looked back to Katarina, "I just haven't spent enough time with Maria to see what you see in her. Yet."

It was Maria's turn to stare. She couldn't seem to take her eyes of Mary. Yet. Yet. Haven't spent enough time with her yet. Her hands trembled in Katarina's, as Mary and Sophia exchanged a look, communicating without words before they both turned to look at her, "I think we would both be willing to try... but we need to get to know Maria first."

Author's note: Surprise! It's not an instant yes. Mary was the closest to just agreeing, but all three have good reason to take a step back and evaluate what is being offered.