New chapter.
Marianne considered herself a good girl. Oh sure, she sneaked out of the castle from time to time and maybe even threw her authority when she didn't need to, but for the most part she was a stout believer of the Brimiric faith and made sure that she was a good little princess: She always listened to her father's commands, she made sure to fulfill any duties she was given (not that it was particularly hard given that they mostly amounted to sitting on the throne and smiling and prospecting Fiance's), and even prayed to Founder Brimir for forgiveness whenever she had a particularly risque dream about a certain knight.
So really, it wouldn't be a stretch to call her a dutiful monarch.
This of course meant that she could allow herself to be selfish from time to time. Sneaking out of the castle was one of her favorite hobbies, apart from spending time with Karin or the rare times when she was sent by her father for 'inspections'. Really, the last one was mostly her father allowing her some form of freedom in order to make sure she didn't go crazy staying in the castle too long. He knew better than anyone else she wouldn't get the chance in a few years and once she married she would likely not have the time or the opportunities to explore.
"Marriage..." Marianne frowned and suppressed a sigh as she stared into the mirror. Karin would be coming to the castle in order to guard her tomorrow, but at that point everything would be pointless: No doubt all of the guards and the castle staff would be watching the two of them. No, if she wanted to spend time with her knight without anyone interfering, she had to do it when she wasn't being the princess of Tristain.
And there was only one way to do that. She stared into her reflection in the mirror and did a quick spin - Her hair had been tied back with a strip of white cloth; her attire, which normally consisted of a graceful white dress, had been replaced with a more dirty white commoner's attire and apron. To complete the ensemble she had even disregarded her normal pair of heeled shoes in favor of a pair of tattered brown leather shoes. She smiled; perfect, she looked just like a regular town woman no one would look twice at.
Yes, she had to find him while she had the chance. She turned from the mirror and sneakily made her way through to the castle's back gardens. Her father was already beginning for his final preparations to leave and would depart early the next day, which meant that all the servants were too busy attending to him to pay attention to the entirety of the castle. Coupled with the fact that she knew where all the shortcuts were - something which she had learned from years of exploring the castle as a child - meant that she had next to no trouble making her way to the back gardens.
She ducked under the overgrown shrubs and pushed open the nearly rusted gate. How no one had spotted this gate yet she had absolutely no idea. Even she had found it when she was about eight years old, running away from her father after he had forgotten his promise to spend time with her that day. She was more mature now and she would no longer run after a feeling of supposed betrayal.
The path to the town was short, though the overgrown plants impeding her way caused her a small amount of annoyance, "Its okay," She reasoned to herself. After this she would see Karin again and all the irritation would have been worth it. Ah, how would her knight react upon seeing her? This would be her first time actually surprising him by meeting him in town; usually they always met at the castle's main hall. She giggled; he was going to be so surprised!
Karin yawned and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She didn't get much sleep last night, mostly because she and the three stooges had been forced to repair the shop and pay for the damages...or rather, Barkus paid for the damages. Well, he did say that he was covering for them all with his pay and it wouldn't have been very knightly if he went back on his word. Centurion and Rancis had even agreed with her! Granted that was because they didn't want to pay either, but she took what she could get.
Now he just had to work extra hard for four months of pay rather than one. No big deal, right?
"Karin, are you alright?" Daphne's voice jogged her out of her stupor, "I'm sorry if you're tired or busy. Maybe we should postpone it-"
"No!" Karin interrupted quickly, "No, no its alright," She sighed, "I'm sorry, its just that we had a busy time last night and we spent most of it picking up tables and paying for damages," Daphne's face indicated she wanted to learn the full story. She was going to be disappointed, "Its a long story, and I really just want to forget about it, so no amount of begging is going to- Stop that!" She yelled suddenly.
"Stop what?" She replied back innocently.
"That...thing you do!" The cross-dressing knight turned away abruptly and tried to hide her reddening face, "That weird pout thing that looks like you're about to cry when you're not getting your way," Daphne blinked and tilted her head to the side in confusion, "See, you're doing it right now! Just stop- Gah!" She covered her face in her hands and ran ahead of the older vampire. She needed to keep calm, keep her heartbeat from getting too fast. It wouldn't be good for her right now considering her fatigued condition and the task ahead of her.
Daphne was a good person, that much Karin knew, but she was still a vampire. Unlike the other firstborn races, Vampires were humans who had turned into ascended beings, and as such they had the advantage of knowing from two points of view. Daphne and her sister Amethyst had been turned, but they were one of the few vampires who fed without killing: A rare case, but it happened once every blue and red moon. Right now they were working under Tristain's secret forces and were given a new chance at 'unlife' so to speak.
Unfortunately for Karin, that meant spending time with a person who unintentionally (or not) stroked her hormones with every look. She gulped quickly and tried to keep her breathing level: Vampires had a natural 'charm' about them that caused whoever they interacted with to be instantly attracted or fond of them. While it didn't work if you were already hostile or focused on other things - such as a conspiracy against the King - it proved remarkably effective when you were simply escorting said vampire around for a day in town.
Daphne tightened the thick cloak around her body and tried to catch up to her human friend. Perhaps she should have changed her clothes? She looked down at her dress and shook her head. It didn't matter: Sunlight would have affected her regardless of the dress she wore. What she needed to do now was catch up to Karin before they became separated. That would have been disastrous.
"Karin" The pinkette shivered as she felt her hand make contact with her shoulder. Keep calm... "Are you alright? You've been acting odd for a while now..."
"Odd? Me?" The Chevalier feigned confusion, "No, no, no. I was just...thinking where I should take you!" Daphne still had a look of doubt on her face- Damn it, why was her face so warm? She didn't think of romance and she was immune to lust. At least that's what she told herself every night, "Uh...you see, I didn't really have time to plan for today, what with the Orc wardband we fought in the previous week and the mess at the Enchanting Nymphs last night. So I'm ashamed to say that I have no idea where to take you today."
How Daphne didn't realize what she was doing, the younger female had no clue. She and Amethyst lured older nobles into allowing them to feed using that ability, right? So she must have known the effect she had no people...unless she was under the impression that they couldn't do it unconsciously? She sighed. It would just be her luck to make friends with the one (two if she counted Amethyst) vampire who wasn't aware that vampires were naturally seductive.
"Oh, anywhere is fine," Daphne smiled at her, "As long as we're spending time together, I don't really mind where we go. I hadn't seen you the whole week and I really missed you. And...I've been thinking of you a lot lately. I want to spend time with you today, just the two of us."
...Was she doing this on purpose? Nobody could say that with a straight face without trying to send a message. Even the princess, pure and innocent as she was, was obvious in her intent and she could tell easily whenever the young princess was fishing for compliments. Daphne, now her she couldn't read at all. Spending time together could certainly be done with two friends and be nothing but strictly platonic, but the way she moved her hands nervously certainly made Karin wonder exactly what she was so nervous about.
The charm magic wasn't helping. At all.
She shook her head roughly. Damn accursed spirit magic, making her mind confused. She needed to calm down and make sure her friend had a good time, "Right, come on," Karin grabbed her wrist and pushed walked to one of the open buildings, "We'll just keep looking around till we find a place we both like. I haven't had lunch yet, so maybe we can find a place to eat around here...or a place I can eat in since- Oh, you know what I mean."
Daphne giggled as she followed Karin's lead. Hopefully today would be fun for the both of them.
Marianne frowned as she stared down at her - heavily diluted - wine. She had looked all over the town and she couldn't even a trace of her knight. What she did get were lovestruck teens immediately asking her to go with them, though most of the time they were unable to actually do anything to back up their offers the second she turned to leave. There were of course a couple who...insisted she follow them, but a brandishing of her wand was enough to instill the fear of Brimir in their hearts. No one wanted to test the claims of one who carried a wand in their hands.
She blinked wearily as she heard the door to the inn open and close quickly. Odd, nobody usually went to inn's during the day: It was one reason she had chosen to come here in order to recover her thoughts. She had been foolish: How exactly had she expected to find Karin without any inkling on where he might have been? Her water magic wouldn't have helped either, seeing as she was of the wrong element. If she wanted to track someone, she would have been better off asking a wind Mage for assistance.
"Excuse me, Innkeeper?" Marianne's head immediately turned to the source of the voice. She would know that voice anywhere, "Ahem, would you be willing to provide us with a meal?" The owner took one look at his Chevalier cape before nodding quickly. The title of the knights made even the most sour of people eager, it seemed.
She couldn't stop the smile from overtaking her face: It was Karin! She saw him talk with the innkeeper briefly before he made his way to a table at the far corner. He hadn't noticed her, that was good. Now would be the best time to surprise him. She gulped down her wine before sneakily walking over behind him. She had it on good information that today was to be his day-off in preparation for guarding her. Well, what better way to prepare for guarding the princess than spending time with the princess herself? It was perfect.
"Guess who~?" She stepped up behind him quickly and placed both hands against his eyes. She felt Karin's shoulders stiffen from under her; heh, she must've been really surprised.
"P-Princ-" Marianne lightly squeezed his head tighter. A quick warning against yelling out what he planned to say, "I-I mean Ann! What are you doing here?" Though he tried to keep his voice calm, the princess could make out the surprise and...nervousness(?) in his voice. How odd, "A-Aren't you supposed to be at the cast-" Another squeeze, "...At your home right now? Does the k- Your father know you're here?"
"Ehehehe, its a secret," She released her grip on his head and turned to his front, putting her pointer finger in front of her mouth and sticking her tongue out, "Papa's too busy doing you know what and I managed to sneak out. Surprised?"
"Yes, but I'm more concerned!" For some reason, Karin looked around quickly before turning back to face her, "What are you doing here? Did you sneak out of the back garden again? Is there trouble back at the castle? Was there an attack by Estashu's forces? Is King Phillip alright?" Karin whispered as continued to rattle an increasing amount of problems that might have motivated her to leave the castle. Marianne sighed. Couldn't he see that she just wanted to see him? She knew of her affections for him, after all.
"Karin, please calm yourself," She interrupted before Karin could finish her suggestion of Windstone bombs being planted beneath the castle and ripping the entire city into the sky, "I just wanted to see you, that's all! Please don't act so nervous."
"See me?" Karin blinked as the princesses' statement finally registered. There was no danger to the castle...but things may have just gotten worse, "Oh, I'm flattered, Mari. I truly am," She could tell he was lying through his teeth, although he at least stopped whispering now, "But...this may not be the best time for meet. I am...busy today. Ahem, I mean I'm preparing for the mission tomorrow. You are aware of this, yes?"
"Busy?" Marianne narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "Well, since you're preparing for the task tomorrow, would it not be better if I come along? I'm sure it will be better if I can advise you-"
"No! That is...unnecessary, Mari," He looked around quickly again. What was going on? Was he looking for someone? "I think it would be best if you go back to the cas- Back home. No doubt your father is worried and I still have to-"
"Karin, I think I found a suitable room. Should we- Oh, who's this?"
Marianne turned to the source of the voice and felt her jaw drop at the sight of the figure coming towards them. Pale skin, whiter than even some of the sheltered daughters she'd seen, and striking red eyes were the first to greet her. The figure's hair was dark, coming up to her shoulders before ending in abrupt points that seemed to make her look all the more stunning. Her eyes went to stare at the new arrival's face and she suddenly found herself outclassed. She was pretty, anybody could see that, but for some reason she found the older woman to be inhumanly attractive despite being female herself.
And finally, her eyes drifted down to the chest region and suddenly felt even more ashamed of herself. Her eyes widened as she suddenly started to feel up her own chest: Flat, but that was expected from her young age. She would grow, she would mature...right? She would get to that size one day, right? Her dress caused her to stare down in shame at her own attire. It was a disguise, but it was still unflattering considering the attire she usually wore. The new arrival's dress...left little to the imagination, suffice to say.
"Daphne, this is Mari," Karin turned to the two of them before pointing at the two females in turn, "Mari, this is Daphne. Um, I know its a bit hard to explain right now, but-"
"K-K-Karin, who is this!?" Marianne interrupted, pointing hysterically at the (unknown to her) vampire, "Is this a date!? Are you in a relationship with this person!? Is that why you were rejecting my feelings!?"
"Its...its not like that," Brimir above, she already felt awkward about having to let her friend...feed on her. She didn't want any more misunderstandings, and mouthing off to the princess and making her mad was not at the top of his list, "We...we're friends, pr- Mari! Nothing more, nothing less. She's new in town and isn't used to spending time outside so I offered to show her around. Please trust me." He turned to Daphne and soundlessly mouthed 'Play along'.
"Just friends?" Karin's face fell as Daphne failed to get her message, "Um, I suppose you could say we have a...special relationship," Right, that would probably be the best way to describe their relationship now: After all, Karin was the only person she had ever fed on that she made a friendship and continued to interact with. That was special, and the closest relationship she had ever had to anyone beyond her own sister. Speaking of which, she wondered where she went. She said something about visiting the other three knights.
Marianne, not understanding the meaning, took the answer badly, "A...special relationship?" She felt herself getting dizzy. A special relationship, that meant...that meant that they were..., "Ahahahahaha, right, of course. A special relationship," She stepped back and tried to hide her shaking hand, even as her voice came out more and more hollow, "Yes, of course. Karin's a popular knight and he's the hero who stopped Estashu's coup d'etat. Of course he would have a lover."
"Lover?" Karin looked positively aghast at the accusation, Mari, you're misunder-" Marianne turned away from them and ran. Karin could do nothing but watch as the younger girl bounded past the inn's door and away from sight, "-standing..." He slammed his head on the table and yelled in frustration. Just great, this was exactly what he needed: Her charge for the coming week thinking he was in a romantic relationship with a vampire. What had he done to deserve this? He was a good person, he was loyal to his country. He liked to think he earned the right to have good things happen to him.
"L-Lover?" Daphne's stare went from the groaning pinkette and then back to the girl who had just left. She thought of Karin as a friend, but perhaps...perhaps they could be more...? Her face reddened at the thought. Well, they had already gone a bit far for being just friends.
From his place at the back off the counter, the innkeeper snorted, "Pfft, nice job, Romeo."
In case anyone's confused: Marianne's segments will always refer to Karin as male, regardless of the situation. This will continue for the entire story and will only stop if/when Karin reveals her gender. Oh, and apparently Romeo and Juliet is an actual play in Halkeginia: The omake had Saito and Louise playing the titular leads.
OakheadLord - They're not translated :/ I read the summaries in the "Back to Basics#5" thread on spacebattles. If you want to read the summaries, then you can find them on the table of contents.
Mizuki00 - Forgot to answer before: In Karin's time, women couldn't enter the high ranking Knight organizations. This obviously changes by the time of the main story since Tabitha's openly a chevalier and they only question her age rather than her gender.