The rest of the day was taken up with getting several headings from the magic tool as to where Maria's mother was. Given how occasionally uncertain the magic tool was, it was more like they were getting a general range rather than a direction, but even the wide areas the magic tool indicated could be narrowed down by plotting were multiple ranges intersected.

The result was encouraging. They had quickly found the point where it intersected, at the base of some mountains in northern Sorcier. They must have travelled fast, to reach that far. The map showed you could take the major roads from Maria's hometown to get most of the way there though, which was probably how they'd done it.

"That's the middle of nowhere," Prince Alan said, frowning at the map in the sitting room. For some reason a crown woven of straw was sitting lopsidedly on his head, flowers strung through it. The Third Prince, Lady Hunt, Lady Berg, Prince Ian and Lord Ascart were the same. Katarina wore a crown decorated with… garlic stems? Clearly some sort of silliness had gone on while Maria, Larna Smith and Rafael had been gone taking bearings. To be expected. "Is there even anything there?"

"Yes," Rafael said grimly. "Those are old Dieke lands. They had a mountain lodge there, overlooking the lake. That woman used to take Sirius there when he was younger, before he got really sick. He liked it there, and she used kept doing it for several more years until it burned down."

"Did you do that?" the Third Prince asked.

"I wish," Rafael said. "No, flame butterflies set it on fire while we were swimming. Or, at least I was that voyeur liked to watch. The stone survived, and some rooms, since it was pretty huge, but we never went there again."

"Why did they go there?" Lord Ascart wondered. "There's nothing nearby, just a small village."

"It is not unlikely that the Dark Magic wielder was involved with the Diekes at some point," Maria theorized. "Perhaps the location was used as some sort of satellite location for the testing of Dark Magic, and that is how they are familiar with it."

"Well, there IS a lake to throw bodies into," Prince Alan said darkly.

Maria glanced at Katarina, but she didn't look disturbed by the discussion. Rather, she kept glancing at Miss Shelley, looking absorbed in her own thoughts. For her part, Miss Shelley kept glancing at her mistress and looked increasingly uncomfortable every time she did so.

Well, at least Katarina was using her mind for something else, meaning she wasn't paying attention to what they were saying.

Belatedly, she realized Katarina's retinue probably already knew that, hence why they spoke of death so freely. Having known her for years, they would have realized her mind was already at capacity so they didn't have to worry about her being able to realize she was hearing anything distressing.

"I will leave tomorrow," Maria said. "We can use the major roads to get there quickly. Provided all goes well, I should… have matters resolved one way or another within the week."

"Not alone, you're not," Rafael said. "Larna is required to keep an eye on the magic tool, and I'm required to keep an eye on Larna. We're coming with you."

Maria could have protested but… well, she didn't really want to anyway. "Very well. Will you be staying the night here or going back to the Ministry?"

Rafael opened his mouth… and paused, looking around. He took a deep breath and said, with lofty dignity, "We'll be going back with the magic tool to make sure it's in pristine condition. You can pick us up at the ministry tomorrow."

Maria nodded. Yes, that was probably for the best. She wasn't sure she'd be able to keep herself from going to his room and having her way with him. Or going to his room and letting him have his way with her. Either option sounded appealing. "Very well. We will meet at dawn."

"We'll have soldiers watching the roads out," Prince Ian said. Even with a straw crown, he managed to look dignified. It made things look extra silly. "The Blades of the Darkmoon will be right behind you."

Maria nodded. Tomorrow, they would go to find her mother.

…

She might need a sedative to get any sleep at all tonight.

An Anne Interlude

As plans finished and Lady Campbell's visitors rose to leave, promising their support and having an awkward Lady Mary give and awkward Lady Maria one more awkward hug, Anne found herself following her dear lady as she went to talk with the Ashina women one last time, intending to say her good byes to everyone she knew in the estate– which was likely nearly everyone in the estate.

"My lady," Anne said as they walked to the stairs that would take them up to the Ashina women's rooms, "may I speak to you for a moment?"

"Hmm?" her dear lady said, turning around to look at her but not actually stopping. The end result was her dear lady walking backwards, which made Anne sigh, though she internalized it. "What is it Anne?"

Anne could normally expect an inquisitive, expectant smile from her dear lady when Anne asked to speak with her. This time, her dear lady instead wore a knowing, smug expression that was trying very hard to look innocent and being a complete failure at it. "My lady, I must ask to be released from your service."

Shock and pain came over her dear lady's face– for she would always be Anne's dear lady, no matter what– pushing away the smug innocence. "Eh? W-why Anne? Is it me? Is it something I did? Ah, I finally made you tired of cleaning up after me, didn't i?" Anne was only half-surprised at how her dear lady threw herself at down on her knees, hands clasped briefly in pleading before throwing her arms around Anne's legs. "No Anne, please I'm sorry! I promise I'll start picking up after myself! And that I'll start making my own bed! And I'll learn to comb my own hair! Just please, please don't leave, I'm begging you! I don't know how I'd live without you!"

The part of her that still loved her dear lady, her first love, smirked smugly and cheered in victory at how intensely her dear lady wanted Anne at her side. But she had someone else now, someone she loved enough to be willing to cause her dear lady this pain. "I must, my lady," Anne said, trying to be gentle. "You leave with your mother for the Hasard duchy tomorrow, and I cannot go with you. The magic tool needs Lady Campbell and I both to function. I cannot be here and be at your side as well."

Katarina blinked. "Oh, is that all?" Katarina said, the tears blinked away as if they were nothing. "You don't need to quit your job to do that Anne! I can just give you more days off."

"My lady, that is generous, but quite impossible," Anne said, feeling the warmth she always did at her dear lady's thoughtless kindness and generosity. How she had grown from that selfish child she'd used to be! "I cannot be in your service if I am not at your side. It would be most unseemly if you continued to pay a woman as your personal maid when she is away from you and does nothing in the service of House Claes."

"Then…" Katarina made that face where she was thinking very intently and Anne winced, wishing she had a damp cloth to lay on her dear lady's head so she would not strain herself. "Ah! As my maid, I want you to go with M– er, Lady Maria and take care of her mother once she's been rescued!" her dear lady said proudly. "Her mom's probably going to be really tired and will need taking care of, and Lady Maria's maids are too busy. So I'm having you stay so you can do it, ah, on my behalf! For, um, for the honor of House Claes! We'll support our friends in their time of need!"

Tears came to Anne's eyes. Grateful tears. "Thank you my lady," she said quietly.

Katarina nodded. "When we get back, you can come back to me if Mrs. Campbell is feeling better. I'm sure you'll take good care of her." Anne blinked at the strange tone of her dear lady's voice at those words. And… had her dear lady just… waggled her eyebrows suggestively? "You can help Mrs. Campbell get dressed… help her eat… help her take baths… help her get into bed…"

The dread returned. She tried once more to convince herself her dear lady knew nothing, that she never did, but…

"You could even do that thing that maids aren't supposed to do with guests…" Katarina said, winking.

Anne felt she was going to die. Whether with mortification or a heart attack was still up for debate.

"Holding her hand while she goes to sleep so she doesn't have bad dreams," Katarina said, and Anne nearly collapsed in relief.

"If… that is what I need to do to uphold the honor of house Claes in this time," Anne managed to say without letting her tangle of emotions show. It seemed her dear lady still didn't know…

Katarina leaned forward and whispered in Anne's ear. "Of course, she might like you in bed with her and doing dirty things together more than just holding hands," she said mischievously.

A lesser woman would have fainted on the spot.

As it was, Anne was sure she froze and blacked out standing upright, because when she came to, her dear lady had a concerned look on her face and was patting Anne's cheek as if trying to wake her up.

"I am well, my lady," Anne said. Then, quietly, she said, "How…?"

Katarina, her dear, beloved Katarina, merely smiled. The smile was warm and understanding and welcoming and kind and it was everything Katarina was. "Every time you had a day off, you came back humming 'I had sex' music," her dear lady said, and Anne almost broke down on the spot again. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm glad for you Anne. You deserve to be happy and you always looked happy after your days off, even though I didn't know where you were going until yesterday. I'm glad you found someone you deserved."

Unexpectedly, her dear lady gave her a hug. "I hope you get closer to Maria-chan," she said. "She likes you, so I'm sure she'll be glad you have you as a step-mother who's not evil. Mrs. Campbell seemed very nice. I'm happy for you."

For the first time in her life, Anne let herself put her arms around her first love. The girl who had shown her the world could shine, shimmering and splendid, the one who had opened her eyes and taken her to wonder by wonder, who had shown Anne a whole new world, a dazzling place she had never known. Had shown her unbelievable sights and taught her indescribable feelings. Anne held her the way she had always wanted to hold her.

And, finally, let her go at last. The love remained, but Anne was content.

"Thank you, my lady," Anne said, liberated.

To her surprise, her dear lady wiped away a tear. "But… you'll still be my maid when you become Maria's step-mom, right?"

Anne let herself smile. "Of course," she said. "It's perfectly acceptable for a married woman to work as a lady's maid."

Katarina sighed in relief. Then hugged Anne again.

Anne let her, and for a moment, they stood like that. Impulsively, she said, "You'll find someone one day."

Katarina sniffed. "Who would love a villainess?" she said.

Anne sighed. How could the very person who'd seen through her be so blind? "Someone who does not see the villainess, but the woman," she said. "Like I do, my dear lady. You'll find someone."

Her dear lady smiled. "Thanks Anne. But cheating on your girlfriend is bad."

Anne wondered what the others would think about the fact that Katarina had understood her love confession just fine.

…

Probably best not to tell them.

Eventually, they released each other and, after one last knowing wink and thumbs up at Anne, Katarina continued on to say goodbye to the Ashina women. Anne loyally followed after her, musing she had the rare honor of being the first person whose love confession Katarina had understood and rejected, even just in jest.

She would wear it as a proud achievement.

The next day, Maria woke up to the sound of rain on her windows.

For a moment, she sat there in her sleeping chair. In her mind's eyes, she could see the roads turning wet, and then soft, and then into mud…

"Abyss consume," she swore as she got up and started getting dressed. "I should have left yesterday…"

Achievement Unlocked: Confessed!
You have confessed your love to Katarina Claes! And she ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT!

Achievement Unlocked: Rejected!
Katarina Claes has rejected your love confession! Meaning she actually understood it was a love confession in the first place!