It was almost noon when they arrived back at the Academy. The carriages stopped before the Academy's entrance while the prison wagon continued towards the town to drop off the thugs at the jail.
As they all stepped out of the carriages, the Academy's front doors slammed open, and a group of relieved people rushed toward them.
"Lady Katarina!" cried out several voices, the loudest being Mary. She was the first to reach Katarina and hugged her, closely followed by Sophia and Maria.
"You are alright!" cried Mary.
"We were so worried!" added Maria.
Sophia said nothing and just tightened her hug.
Nicol, Alan, Anne, and Lucas, Keith's valet, all stood back and looked on in relief as the four girls hugged each other.
"I'm also glad you are safe, master Keith," Maria said to the other Claes sibling. The others followed suit, and Lucas looked relieved that his charge was safe.
Surprisingly, Sophia released Katarina and embraced Keith, who looked startled for a moment before returning the hug.
Finally, Mary and Maria also released Katarina from their hugs – though Mary still kept a grip on her arm- allowing Anne to approach her mistress.
"M-Milady," sobbed Anne, tears of happiness and relief dripping down her face.
"Anne," Katarina smiled at her faithful maid and hugged her tightly.
Anne froze and quickly glanced at the Duke and Duchess, who just smiled. Once sure that her employers weren't against it, Anne returned Katarina's hug.
Once everyone had hugged the Claes siblings, Larna announced that she and Raphael needed to return to the Ministry.
"There is a lot of paperwork we need to file regarding this investigation," explained Raphael.
"We understand," said Luigi. "I hope that you keep me informed on how things proceed."
"Please keep me informed as well," requested Gerald.
"Of course, Your Grace, Your Highness," Larna agreed.
"Once again, we thank you for your assistance," said Millidiana.
"Yeah, thanks a lot, Raphael," Katarina then turned to Larna. "And it was nice meeting you, Miss Smith." Keith nodded in agreement.
Larna and Raphael returned to the Ministry while everyone headed back inside the Academy. Luigi immediately left to talk with the headmaster while Millidiana followed the others towards the female dorms, specifically, her daughter's room.
Anne and Lucas began preparing tea as everyone else sat on the sofas. No one protested when Millidiana insisted on sitting with her children, though Katarina still looked bewildered by her mother's positive behavior toward her.
When everyone settled down and the tea had been served, Katarina and Keith once again described how they had escaped their captors.
Their friends' reactions were similar to those Katarina and Keith got when they first told this story. They were impressed that the siblings managed to free themselves from their bonds and amused that Katarina had punched one of the thugs unconscious on instinct.
Then there was the outrage when they heard about the magic suppressor placed on Keith. Alan clenched his hands and gritted his teeth, and Mary gripped her fan so hard that it audibly creaked. Sophia wore a displeased scowl that looked more cute than scary, while Nicol had a frown (that on him was like an angry scowl). Anne and Lucas were aghast, and even sweet Maria looked very upset. They all had the sudden thought of showing those thugs how displeased they all were.
Fortunately for the thugs, they were safe because these people would be unable to reach them in their secure cells - probably.
The audience was distracted from any thoughts of storming the jail when the Claes siblings began retelling their fight against two of the thugs.
Everyone stared at Katarina in amazement when she got to the part where she had flipped her opponent into a crate. Sophia looked at her friend with sparkling eyes as she whispered that she was like the brave heroine of a story while an oddly red-faced Mary fanned herself. Even Gerald, who had already heard the story, gazed at his fiancée with awe.
They finished the tale with Katarina punching the first thug again just as Luigi entered the room.
"I've spoken with the headmaster," he said once seated with his wife and children. "He has agreed to let the two of you return home for a couple of days."
This statement surprised everyone but not too much. After this ordeal, it was understandable that the Claes would want to take a few days off to relax and recover.
"We will begin packing right away, Your Graces," said Anne as she and Lucas bowed. Lucas then returned to Keith's room while Anne immediately set about packing Katarina's belongings.
"And we will take class notes, so neither of you falls too behind," promised Sophia.
"Everyone, thank you," smiled Katarina, happy to have such good friends.
When they returned to the Claes estate, they received a warm welcome from all the servants who were relieved that their young lord and lady were safe. A few even hugged Keith and Katarina, including Joanna and Gardener Tom.
After seeing with their own eyes that their young masters were fine, the servants returned to their duties. The siblings, along with their respective attendants, went upstairs to their rooms while their parents dealt with important duchy matters that they had to put on hold due to this rescue mission.
Katarina took a long and warm bubble bath to relax. Once done, she put on her eggplant pajamas and grabbed the most recent novel Sophia recommended.
Someone knocked on her door just as she was about to open the book. Curious, she opened it to see Keith standing outside her room in his own sleepwear and robe, looking oddly nervous.
Concerned, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he quickly said, averting his eyes. "I-I was just wondering if you wanted some company." He blushed a little.
Katarina immediately realized Keith was nervous about being separated from her after the ordeal, so he came looking for comfort. She did not mind offering comfort to her brother, and, to be completely honest, she would also feel much better having him close by.
"Sure!"
He smiled in relief and climbed into the bed, snuggling beside her.
It reminded her of all those times in their childhood when Keith came into her room looking for comfort after a nightmare. (That had stopped once they reached puberty since their mother insisted that it was not proper).
"What are you reading?" Keith asked, motioning to the book in her hands.
"Oh, it's something Sophia recommended to me. It's about a pair of best friends searching for a city made entirely of gold!" It was mainly of the adventure genre, but Sophia mentioned that there was some romance as well.
"Sounds interesting."
"Do you want me to read it to you?" she asked.
Keith thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "Of course."
So, with Keith snuggled up on her side, Katarina began reading the tale of best friends Michael and Tullius's (along with their horse) journey to find the legendary City of Gold.
Every once in a while, unnoticed by the two siblings, Anne, Lucas, or one of their parents, would quietly open the door to check in on them. None of them made a fuss about Katarina and Keith cuddling together in the same bed – not even Millidiana.
They just left the two siblings to relax in the company of each other.
A few hours later, a knock on the door startled Katarina and Keith away from the half-finished book, the pair quickly scrambling away from each other.
Once they were on opposite sides of the bed, Katarina said to whoever was at her door, "Come in!"
The door opened, and Anne walked in.
"Milady, Master Keith," she greeted, a knowing look in her eyes letting them know that she was aware of what they'd been doing. "Your parents have requested that both of you come to the sitting room."
"Huh? What for?" Katarina asked in confusion.
"I only know that there is an urgent matter they need to discuss with both of you."
Katarina still looked confused, but Keith immediately realized what was it that their parents wanted to talk about.
The Claes siblings followed Anne to the sitting room where their parents were waiting, the Duke and Duchess decked out in comfortable house clothes and robes. A teapot, four teacups, and a plate of sweets were on the table.
Millidiana raised an eyebrow at her daughter's sleep attire, causing Katarina to blush in embarrassment, but her mother only sighed in resignation.
Once her task of retrieving the siblings was completed, Anne bowed and left to give them privacy.
"Father, Mother," Keith greeted them. "You wished to speak with us?"
"Yes," Luigi nodded. "Please sit down."
They did, and Katarina immediately shoved one of the sweets into her mouth.
Luigi was silent for a few moments before saying, "We have not forgotten what both of you implied while we were in Coast Town."
Keith winced at the confirmation of what he speculated the talk would be about, while Katarina stared at her father in confusion.
"You both thought that we would choose between the two of you," Millidiana elaborated for her dense daughter's sake.
Katarina's confusion turned into dread as she and Keith looked away from their parents in shame.
"We are not angry with you," Luigi reassured them. "We just want to know why you would think such a thing."
Keith was nervous, and he could see that Katarina felt the same way. It was one thing to confide to each other about their fears and another thing to tell their parents.
But they needed to know.
Their parents were worried about them.; they wanted to understand their children and help them.
Keith did not consider himself a brave man. Sister had always been the bolder one (and the most reckless) between the two. She was the one who leaped first into new situations while he followed behind.
Despite this, he gathered all the courage he could and told his parents of the fears he had hidden.
"I know that you love me, that you think of me as your son," he wanted to clarify that.
"But I also know that you adopted me in the first place because you needed an heir for the duchy and that I was picked because my magic is powerful."
"I-I'm scared," his voice wavered at his confession. "I'm scared that someday I won't be enough, that I'll make a mistake, and you will decide you don't want me anymore."
Just like how the woman who gave birth to him did when she got tired of him. Just like the Colemans did when he hurt his brothers.
His voice broke a little as he finished talking. He felt like crying, but he held his tears in though his eyesight was a little blurry.
"Oh Keith!" his mother cried, hugging him tightly. "We would never send you away!"
"She is right, son," he felt Father place a comforting hand on his back. "While it is true that I originally brought you here so that you could be my heir, you became much more than that."
"You became our son."
"We do not care that you weren't born from us," Mother said as she continued to hug him. "You are our little boy, and nothing will ever change that."
After hearing those words, Keith could no longer hold back his tears, so he let them fall. His mother rocked him gently as he cried in her hold and hugged her back.
And Keith felt light as the fear deep within his heart finally left him.
"See, I told you so!" he heard Katarina's smug voice say.
Yes, she did.
Katarina watched happily as Keith was comforted by their parents. She was glad that her little brother had been reassured about his place in the family. He never should have doubted it.
Mother released her embrace on Keith after a while, and her little brother looked worn out from crying. But he also looked so much lighter, as if some kind of darkness had lifted from him.
Mother and Father then turned to look at her expectantly.
Katrina internally flinched, all of her previous happiness turning into dread. She had been hoping (more like expecting) that her parents would be so focused on Keith that they would forget about her. Then they could all go back to their everyday lives as if nothing had happened and nothing was wrong.
No such luck there.
Katarina knew that she needed to tell her parents, but she was afraid of how they would react.
Distraught that she believed they wouldn't save her. Furious at her for daring to think that way.
Or worse, they would tell her she was right, and they would be happier with her gone.
"Katarina," her father's gentle voice got her attention. "It's alright, you can tell us."
"We won't get mad," her mother promised, her expression soft. Katarina could not remember the last time her mother had looked at her like that instead of upset or disappointed.
Katarina swallowed and looked over at Keith. Her brother smiled reassuringly, and she felt some apprehension fade away.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath to gather her resolve, then opened them again and turned to her parents.
"I'm sorry," she felt she needed to apologize first. "I know that I shouldn't think that way. It's just that, well, I guess it just made sense that you would choose to save Keith instead of me."
"How could you think that makes any sort of sense?" her mother asked, sounding aghast.
Well, why wouldn't it?" Katarina said it as if it was obvious. "Keith is the heir, and he is so much smarter than me and has stronger magic, and I know that he's your favorite, Mother."
Millidiana flinched at that. She did tend to spend more time with Keith than with Katarina - when she wasn't scolding her - and she was generally gentler when reprimanding him.
Thought that did not mean that she favored Keith over Katarina!
But that's what it looks like, isn't it?
Oblivious to her mother's distraught realization, Katarina continued explaining.
"I'm not a proper noblewoman, and I'm always causing you trouble and embarrassing the family."
"So, I thought- I thought you would be happier without me."
Unlike Keith, Katarina had no tears waiting to fall from her eyes. Yes, she was upset, but that was mostly because she felt embarrassed about telling her parents about her silly fear. They probably thought she was being ridiculous for thinking that way.
So, it was very shocking when her mother began sobbing.
Millidiana could not stop the tears that fell from her eyes as loud, ugly sobs spilled out of her. She probably looked horrible, but for once, she did not care, not after hearing what her daughter had said.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Katarina asked frantically. "Please don't cry! I'm sorry! I'm-"
Millidiana interrupted her daughter's unnecessary apologies by suddenly hugging her.
"Stop apologizing!" the Duchess ordered through her tears. "It's me who should apologize for being such a terrible mother!"
"What? No, you're not-"
"Of course I was!" Millidiana practically yelled. "What kind of mother makes her own daughter believe they'd be happier without her?"
Katarina fell silent, unsure of how to respond. She settled for hugging her mother back in an attempt to comfort her.
"I just was so afraid," she admitted.
"Of what?" Katarina asked in confusion.
Millidiana sighed. "I was afraid of how you would be treated by the other and that you would be hurt. Noble society can be quite cruel, especially to those that do not "fit in." Millidiana knew that all too well, and she had sworn that she would not allow her daughter the suffer the same way she had.
But, in the end, she had been the one hurting Katarina the most.
Well, no more. From now on, Millidiana would ensure that her daughter knew she was loved by her and her husband.
She was startled out of her thoughts by Luigi's voice. She had forgotten that he and Keith were here as well.
"I need to apologize to you as well, Katarina," her husband said, eyes shining with regret. "I knew why your mother was being so strict, but I should have realized how much it was hurting you."
Katarina looked as if she wanted to tell her father that he did not need to apologize, but she stayed silent as her mother hugged her tighter.
Eventually, Millidiana calmed down and pulled back from the embrace but didn't completely let go. Instead, the Duchess firmly held Katarina's shoulders and looked her in the eye.
"Katarina," she said her daughter's name firmly. "Listen to me carefully. We do not care that you are unmannered and not lady-like. We love you just the way you are, and I'm so sorry that we - that I made you think otherwise."
Katarina's mind reeled as she tried to process these revelations. Her parents did not prefer Keith over her. Her mother did not hate her, nor did she want her gone. Her mother was strict with her not because she wanted to protect the family's reputation but to protect Katarina.
Her parents loved her just the way she was.
It was this last thing that finally caused Katarina to start crying. Loud sobbing echoed across the sitting room as Katarina was filled with a sense of relief and reassurance she was not aware she needed.
Mother resumed hugging her as she kept crying her eyes out, and this time, Father and Keith joined the embrace.
As Katarina sat there being hugged and loved by her family, an incredible feeling of joy bloomed within her, and she began laughing between her sobs.
"See, I told you so."
Hearing her brother echoing her earlier words to him made her laugh harder, and she returned her family's hug.
She was so lucky to have them.
They kept embracing long after Katarina had calmed down and only separated when Anne came to announce that dinner was ready.
The chefs had cooked all of Katarina's and Keith's favorite foods and had gone beyond expectations to make everything delicious.
The Claes happily ate the food and chatted animatedly, enjoying the fact that they were all together again.
Woo, this chapter was a doozy, especially those emotional conversations! Still, I think that they were worth the effort put into them.
The novel that Katarina and Keith were reading is a reference to a movie.
Next time: Jacques Alarie finally makes his on-screen debut!
