Senora Guzman almost hesitated as she approached the Madrigal household. This was a visit she'd put off as long as possible, but she was running out of options and there was only one person in all of Encanto who could give her the information she was seeking. Casita rumbled and the shutters waved as she was welcomed into the home, the tiles flipping to create a designed pathway to lead her to the Madrigal she was meeting with. Outside the glowing door she paused once more, before swiftly reaching up and giving one soft tap on the door.
It opened for her immediately and she was welcomed into the quiet room, greeted with a soft tilt of the young girl's head. "Senora Guzman." The girl in front of her was only 22 years of age, yet her gaze held such knowledge that it actually frightened most people. It had been that way almost ever since she had received her gift at the tender age of five.
"Dolores." She found herself studying the young woman in front of her as she looked back at her intently, awaiting the request she was to make. "I'm here to ask for some information." she finally said. The girl's gift wasn't seen as overly useful in Encanto since she was such a good secret keeper, but there were some things she was willing to share if requested the right way. She had learned long ago to let others fight their own battles and keep their own secrets. She'd been yelled at far too many times for her unwanted help as a child, but she was still happy to help if asked. Happy to help women who wanted to know if they were pregnant and listen to the small heartbeats, happy to help people who wanted to know if their affections were returned so as to not embarrass themselves by approaching the one who interested them, happy to help people who came to her seeking information and knowledge of what goes on around that they don't hear in the same way she did.
"Of course." she nodded, almost regally. "You're looking for a list, correct?" she asked, though it wasn't really a question, "Of all eligible young women who have shown interest in order to sort through potential matches for your son, Mariano, yes?" Once more it was a non-question-question and she nodded, her lips thinned as she waited for her to continue.
Dolores seemed to take a breath and her lips too thinned as she looked up into Senora Guzman's eyes. "The list of women within Encanto who have shown interest in Mariano is quite… lengthy." Dolores held up a hand when her eyes widened, "However, I feel I should warn you that many of the women who would be on that list have only shown interest in Mariano for his face and his body. His appearance. Not him." Senora Guzman thought her eyes were playing with her when she saw Dolores's jaw clench and her eyes harden, for the briefest of moments, before returning to an almost neutral business-like expression once more. "Is that something you want for him?"
Her first thought at hearing the question was that marriages had been built on less. Her second that they would get to know each other through courting and marriage anyhow. Neither of these is what left her mouth, as she continued to look into the challenging eyes of Dolores Madrigal. "No! Of course not!" and she realized she meant it. Mariano was a kind soul who wanted romance and love and loyalty. He wanted his partner to hear him, not just see him.
"What are your parameters for the list?" she asked, taking up a pen and paper, leaving an envelope sitting ready for the information to be sealed away.
"I-" she paused, and Dolores took that to mean she hadn't thought that far quite yet.
"Mariano wants a large family, yes? There are a limited number of women in Encanto who are interested in having more than 2 right now. I would recommend your list contain names who are genuinely interested in knowing Mariano that also wish for large families. It would be a smaller and more manageable list that would provide the largest likelihood of him being happy. Does this work?" She blinked, and blinked, absorbing the words and was struck by just how much Dolores knew. She had known of course that Dolores Madrigal heard everything but hearing her talk as if Mariano had spoken directly to her when talking about his hopes for the future, was… surprising, and yet not as unsettling as she had assumed it would be.
"I- yes." she cleared her throat, "Yes, that would work." Dolores had begun writing even before her affirmation had been uttered. She refrained from peering at the paper as the young girl finished writing, her pen pausing under the last name she had written, as though she was debating something. Dolores bit her lip as she did so before making a decision and adding one last name to the list. Senora Guzman watched her closely as she swiftly folded the list and sealed it in the envelope with her wax seal kit. She had never seen the girl look nervous before, even if it was hidden under the surface like this. However, all traces seemed gone when she turned and handed her the envelope, list safe inside.
"What do I owe you?" she asked, wondering what would be asked of her.
"Just a promise." Dolores smiled, and she was struck by how soft she looked as she continued to speak, "Share the list with him. Give him a chance to make his own choice, even if the person he chooses is not on it. He deserves to choose his future."