One morning, as Maria Campbell woke up from moonlit dreams about the unspeakable rapture of blood, she discovered that in bed she had not been changed into a monstrous verminous bug.
She had instead been changed into a nightgown.
She blinked, looking round. The room was unfamiliar, and the wide windows opened to the view of a sky she couldn't place. It wasn't a view from any window at the Academy, nor from her home with her mother, or even her manor, mostly abandoned as it was…
Maria threw off the sheets, leaping out of bed… and getting tangled in the damned nightgown, causing to fall flat on her face.
It was painful.
This was why she preferred to sleep in the nude.
She got to her feet with, careful not to step on the hem of the nightgown, but before she could look around for a sword, especially the one she'd borrowed from Lady Berg and had yet to return, the door to the room opened. Maria grabbed the nearest weapons she could, which was a quarter-full jug and cup on the night table next to the bed. Hunters had used worse, in time of need.
Her mother stepped inside. She stopped.
"M-mother?" Maria said, confused. "What are you doing here? Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't–"
Her words were cut short as her mother rushed to her with a speed even a hunter would call respectable, enfolding Maria in her arms. Awkwardly, Maria tried to figure out what she should do with her hands. The pitcher had spilled a little, and she hoped she hadn't gotten any of it on her mother.
"You're awake…" her mother sobbed. "I was so worried… I heard that you'd… I'm glad you're all right…!"
There was a growl like a bloodstarved beast.
Maria flushed in embarrassment.
From the still open door, a young woman who looked like a maid peaked in. Maria gave her a beseeching look.
"Ah, you are awake." the maid said with smooth-faced professionalism. Maria raised her to a senior maid or a lady's personal maid. "I shall inform Lady Lalatina. Should I bring food, Lady Knight?"
There was another growl.
"I shall bring food, Lady Knight."
So embarrassing…
Maria decided to just hold her mother despite the things in her hands, and she found herself holding on tighter than she expected.
Eventually they both reluctantly disengaged and Maria was finally able to set down her attempted weapons as her mother insisted she get back on the bed. Maria did, sitting down and pulling her mother next to her. After all, she'd worked hard. The child insisted she deserved to be rewarded with cuddles with mommy. The lady wanted cuddles with Rafael, but agreed to work with what they had.
Lady Dustiness appeared with the food. Maria tried to get up to greet their host and apologize for her (further) imposition, but between her mother and Lady Dustiness own protestations she allowed herself to be improper. She hoped Lady Claes was nowhere about to take advantage of this.
Speaking of whom…
"Lady Katarina is well," Lady Dustiness said. "She's helping the… the women and children you saved move to accommodations away from the horrible place you found them. While you have claimed them under your protection, you… er… fell unconscious before you could make your will regarding them known. At the moment, the Second Prince has taken responsibility for them at lady Selena's urging."
"Oh," Maria said, blinking. "But why is Lady Claes assisting?" She sort of expected the girl's insatiably lustful retinue to try and drag her off for themselves. Possibly after knifing each other to death, winner take Katarina.
"She's apparently the only one they could find who knows the Ashina tongue," Lady Dustiness said, "So she's been spending her time assuring the… the people that they are free and won't be harmed or taken advantage of. The Academy has given her leave as a special request from the crown." A brief frown. "I was also asked to tell you that the student council were ordered to remain at the Academy, supposedly by the king himself. A ministry official named Rafael said you'd want to know?"
Maria nodded. Good, the paperwork would get done. It was also likely to prevent Lady Katarina from being distracted by her retinue, who might… no, who definitely will not act reasonable given the circumstances. "That is good," she said. "Do you know what became of the sword and the dress I had in my possession? I need to return both to Lady Berg. "
"In the closet," her mother answered, her arms tightening a little. "I put them there after… after I got you changed. Anne got a message K– Lady Katarina, saying you'd rescued her from being kidnapped?" There was a disbelieving tone to her words. "And that Lady Dustiness here kindly let you stay until you recovered."
Maria frowned. "How long have I slept?" she asked.
"It's been… two days?" Maria's mother said, looking at Lady Dustiness for confirmation. "Two days. This is the morning of the third day. Rafael came earlier to heal you, but he got called back to the palace to see to it the slaves–" Lady Dustiness winced "– were not sickened from the conditions you took them from."
Maria frowned. "What has been happening?" she asked. "What will happen to them? They've done nothing save be taken from their homes and treated like animals against their will."
"As I understand it, they're under the protection of the crown until it is decided what will be done with them," Lady Dustiness said. "Lady Katarina says many of them do not wish to return to their lands or have anything to go back to. I will admit I have not kept up to date as to developments, though I sent a message to castle to inform them of your awakening. Lady Selena and Lady Katarina will be most glad to hear you have awakened, and will be better able to inform you of what has happened."
"Maria…" her mother said hesitantly. "What happened? I've… never really understood how you became knighted, only that Rafael said you deserved your title… All I've heard is that you disappeared from the ball and didn't meet with me as you promised–" Maria felt a twinge at that "– and the next day people were saying Lady Claes had been kidnapped and you went off to rescue her, only no one knew where you'd gone… and then we'd heard you'd set fire to a farm and a manor…"
Lady Dustiness coughed. "I must admit, I am curious as well as to the chain of events that led you to commandeer my carriage and sleep in my guest room, not that I begrudge you, Lady Maria. But I would certainly be glad of context."
Maria pursed her lips. True she owed her mother an explanation for her absence. Hopefully, it would be one she accepted and not think Maria was avoiding her! And she had indeed greatly trespassed on Lady Dustiness. "I will explain," Maria said slowly, "but you must understand there are certain matters I cannot or will not elaborate on. It all began on the night of the school festival, when I went to check on what was taking Lady Katarina so long and found traces of a certain forbidden magic… "
Maria had managed to get to the part about commandeering Lady Dustiness' carriage when Katarina, Lady Berg and the Second Prince arrived.
That last made Lady Dustiness quite flustered, as she seemed unprepared for a guest of that caliber to just enter one of her guest rooms so suddenly. However, any fears of her manor looking improper and unsuitable were put to rest as Katarina set the tone of impropriety.
"Ojama shimasu!" Lady Katarina declared as she led the way into the guest room, interrupting Maria's story. "That's what you say when you enter someone's house in Ashina. Ohayo, Maria-chan! Ohayo, Maria's mom, Lalatina-chan! That means good morning! Ah, isn't saying things in Ashinago fun!"
"Lady Claes…" Maria said resignedly. "I understand I have you to thank for ensuring that many people are not waiting in fear and ignorance of their circumstances?"
"Oh, its fine, I was glad to help," Katarina said, waving things aside. Really, it was as if she didn't see the importance of her involvement, of how her actions helped those round her.
Maria's nose twitched and she delicately turned her head aside to sneeze.
"Hmm, it seems like someone is thinking of you," Katarina said. "In Ashina, they say if someone is talking about you, you sneeze."
"How quaint," Maria said. "Though I'm surprised you know the language, Lady Claes. How did you come to learn it?"
Katarina blinked at her. "Why wouldn't I know it?" she said, tilting her head in that way she did when she didn't understand, like when the Third Prince or Lady Hunt were inviting her to go somewhere alone with them so they may try to seduce her.
Maria sighed. "Nevermind." Maria did her best to bow while seated. "Lady Berg. Your Highness. I apologize for troubling you from your duties."
"Lady Maria," the Second Prince said, face smooth as he returned the greeting. "I have you to thank for protecting my dear Selena's good name, preventing a vile plot from coming to fruition. For this, I am in your debt."
"Your thanks are unnecessary, your highness," Maria said. "I truth, I owe Lady Berg an apology for casting aspersions upon her word and honor, and distressing her so. I beg her forgiveness and your forbearance."
"Ah, it's all right, Lady Campbell," Lady Berg said. "Ian explained to me about… that… and now I understand why you acted as you did."
"Nevertheless, I owe you a debt in apology," Maria said.
Lady Berg pursed her lips, and glanced at her fiancé, then at Katarina, who shrugged and rolled her eyes for some reason, and then at Lady Dustiness. "I see," Lady Berg said, "then, I accept it as a token of your contrition."
Maria nodded, relaxing just a little bit. "Please, if you can," she pleaded, "Tell me what has occurred in my absence?"
"No, wait, you tell us first!" Katarina said. "What happened after you left us on the way to the castle?"
"I confess I wish to hear this as well," Prince Ian said as he gestured, and a servant brought a chair for him and Lady Berg. Katarina, as was her wont, did not wait and just got a chair by herself, to the mild horror of the servants. "The narrative of events, especially at the… farm… are confused, and there are few witnesses."
Maria nodded. "As I was telling my mother and Lady Dustiness, we commandeered her carriage to take us to the castle…"
"– and I distinctly remember thinking I was dreaming because Lady Katarina spoke the Ashina tongue," Maria said.
"Ashinago," Katarina corrected without malice.
"Yes, Ashinago, thank you, Lady Claes," Maria said. "After that I believe I slept until I awoke today."
Lady Berg had long since held her fiancé's arm so tightly that Prince Ian had stopped patting her to reassure her. Prince Ian himself was wide-eyed in a subdued sort of way, and Lady Dustiness was staring at her in awe.
Maria, for her part, was slightly uncomfortable from how tightly her mother was holding her, but she could still breathe, so she didn't mind. Much.
Katarina merely nodded. "Maria is awesome! No wonder Chiharu-chan called you a shinobi."
Maria furrowed her brow. "What is a… a shinohbee, Lady Claes?"
"Shinobi," Lady Claes said, correcting her. Had she said it wrong? "They're a kind of warrior in Ashina who are super skilled and super strong and super fast and super sneaky and are just awesome."
"I… see," Maria said. "I thank her for the complement, then."
"Thank you for explaining your version of events, Lady Maria," Prince Ian said after blinking repeatedly. "It… certainly explains some of what we found. And the wild claims of several of the prisoners who worked for the late Ashmore. We have retrieved his body and are keeping a watch in case his spirit returns seeking vengeance."
"I am happy to be of service," Maria said. "If I may trouble you now, your highness… what has happened in my absence?"
A lot, apparently. Katarina was very talkative about all the Ashina people she'd talked to and had helped assure that they were now free and in no danger. The palace had taken them in, and one of the guard barracks had been emptied to house them, with the guards currently house in tents on the parade ground. Katarina been made busy trying to get everyone calmed, and then fed, and bathed and organized. She'd tried to mediate between the rescuees and the some clerks who had been assigned to get people's details but…
"You hit the clerk?" Maria said, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
"Well, he was being very rude and pushy and he was making Homura cry, and Homura was already not feeling well because some of the others thought she was bad luck because of her name for some reason, so I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn't listen," Katarina said, looking embarrassed and contrite. "So I took a scroll and, well… hit him."
"I see," Maria said, nodding. "Did you think your form suffered?"
Katarina blinked. "Er, no, I did it just like I'd been taught." She mimed a two-handed overhead strike.
"Well done," Maria said. "Continue then."
"Um, well, after that the clerks were much nicer… "
Also, Larna Smith had been punished and demoted.
"Demoted?" Maria said.
"Yes," Prince Ian said with cold satisfaction. "She was apparently acting on private information and outside of ministry authorization. This seems not to have been the first time this has happened, but the previous times she was able to present a fait accompli, and her rank as a department director gave her much leeway in what she could authorize. Your arrival interrupted her and revealed how she withheld information that put a politically important individual in danger, whether or not she was present to protect them. As such, she has been demoted and put under strict probation, and other measures are said to follow. It is being treated as a Ministry disciplinary matter, and his Majesty our father has agreed, but only because no lasting harm was done to Lady Claes. As it was, the Ministry representative was verbally flayed by His Grace and Her Grace the Duke and Duchess Claes."
"Eh? Daddy got mad?" Lady Claes said as Maria shot a worried look towards her mother. Thankfully, she seemed not to react to the mention.
"Incandescent," Prince Ian said. "The end result is… complicated, due to certain matters I am ignorant of, though I am given to understand that Lady Smith's previous history of success is being used to defend her. However, that same history involves too many minor offenses to others in the Ministry, and they are getting their day to see her pay for them. So she has much to answer for but also much credit to her name. She lives, but in reduced measure."
"I… see," Maria said. "Has the Third Prince heard of this yet?"
"He has," Prince Ian said, seeming to understand the direction of her thoughts. "Father himself had to order him to stay out of it. I believe my brother was making plans for her thorough and public destruction. Father thought him overreacting." Prince Ian glanced down at Selena, who seemed to become radiant with his attention. "Not that I do not understand his motivation."
"So she is yet a part of the Ministry?" Lady Dustiness said, sounding alarmed. "What is to stop her from continuing on as she has before?"
"As I said, there are other measures being taken," the prince said. "I do not know the specifics, personally, but Her Grace the Duchess Claes was apparently left satisfied."
"Mother can be very scary," Katarina said with a shudder.
Maria remembered the woman who had begat her in Cainhurst and just managed to keep from shuddering in her mother's arms. She wondered what fate was in store for Larna Smith?
Larna Smith jumped as a tall stack of paperwork was dropped on her desk, now in the Magic Tool Department's communal work area.
"Do these too while you're at it, newbie," Rafael said with a happy smile. "The old boss kept running off to do her thing and not doing her papers. Now you can do all of them, plus the follow up and filing."
"Eh?" Larna cried. "But… I have a date!"
"Well, you'll have to miss it," Rafael said cheerfully. "Work comes first after all."
Larna stared at the piles, level with her head. She glanced towards the door.
"Don't make us have to break out the ankle shackle," Rafael said, still smiling.
Larna slumped. She'd never have time to do research or make new Magic Tools like this!
"Has there been any word as to the fate of Rufus?" Maria asked.
"Sora," Katarina corrected. "His name is Sora. It's Ashinago for 'Sky'."
Everyone stared at her.
"What?" she said.
"Well… Sora… has pleaded for mercy and offered to provide all information he had regarding the Marquess Mason," Prince Ian said. "Given the means by which he was brought to the country, they were inclined towards merciful treatment. I spoke against it, but was overruled."
"He was as much a victim of horrid men as those that Lady Maria rescued," Lady Berg said quietly. "That much is clear, now that we know more. He deserves… some… sympathy."
"The Ministry have also put him on probation," Prince Ian said.
"Come on Red, we need to beat the dinner rush," Sora called forced where he was forced to wait next to the door. He was not allowed to move around the building unescorted.
"You threw knives at Maria," Rafael said. "Wait and suffer."
"She threw them back!"
"Good!"
"And the rescuees?" Maria asked. "Is there any word as to their fate?"
"That has waited on you," Prince Ian said. "After all, you did declare them under your protection."
Maria sighed. "That was… hasty on my part. I do not even have a proper means of income yet."
"Eh?" Katarina cried, looking worried. "So you're taking back your protection, Lady Maria?"
Maria blinked. "Why?"
After all, she had given her word.
Prince Ian coughed. "Do not let that concern you. The crown will assist in shouldering this burden. We failed to see this and so these people suffered because of our ignorance. But I think we can hold off those things for another day. You need your rest, Lady Maria."
Maria frowned but relented. Katarina, the Prince and Lady Berg took their leave and Lady Dustiness escorted them out. The three women were speaking happily as they left. Selena never let go of the Prince's arm.
Maria leaned into her mother, closing her eyes.
"I'm proud of you," her mother said. She sounded overwhelmed.
Maria opened her eyes. Her mother was crying.
"I was a terrible mother," her mother said as tears fell. "How did you grow up to be so strong?"
Maria wiped away her tears and held her close. "Because you're wrong," Maria said. "You weren't terrible."
Maria looked down bashfully. "Did you… did you like our alchemy display?" she glanced upwards.
Her mother smiled wanly. "Yes. It was beautiful. Like flowers in the sky."
Maria sighed in relief.
Her mother had liked them. Damn what anyone else thought.