The next day, Maria had a lot of visitors. Lady Hunt came to give Shana her etiquette lessons. Sophia came to check hunting ranges before she went off to train their new commission agent, a nice young lady who was the youngest of five sisters and a relative of one of Prince Ian's supporters. Keith came for a morning spar and Matthew came with him to teach Katarina parrying. Maria was looking forward to their next spar.
The Third and Fourth Prince showed up, and Maria was pleasantly surprised to find the former had come not to bother her about Katarina (which he did anyway as a matter of course) but to see the children. Admittedly, this had been because he was using his responsibilities to 'Wards of the Kingdom' to evade some sort of paperwork in the capital, but the children were all happy to see him, even the newer ones, who'd followed the lead of their fellows when they said he was their uncle. Her older wards with siblings and children among the little ones watched him warily, but at a distance, giving him the benefit of the doubt despite his foreign maleness and blond hair. The prince knew not to show his fire magic, lest he be linked to their memories of the late of Kent Ashmore.
Prince Alan had come along to spend time with his fiancée, and meet 'her wonderful student' whom she always gushed about when it wasn't gushing about Katarina. After that he went out to play the violin for the children, which started as a complicated musical piece as they listened and then started becoming improvisational as he altered it to become accompaniment to the game of Sen's Fortress the children started playing as they rolled balls along lines in the carpet only they could see, dodged swinging pillows, clambered to be the first to get into the protective 'cages' made by the other children holding their hands, and running in and out of the room it was being played. It was one of those games that everyone knew how to do, didn't really have rules, and no way to win but was fun to play. The children seemed to be having even more fun this time, somehow keeping to Alan's tempo… or possibly Alan somehow keeping to theirs. Since Maria's manor had no breakables like vases and pots (they'd been sold off when the place had been seized following the Marchioness Dieke's arrest), or even paintings beyond simple friezes on the ceiling, they were free to be as wild as they wanted. It was part of the reason Maria hadn't gotten around to extensive redecorating yet. That and her lack of time to make any sculptures of naked women.
The most unexpected visitors had been the appearance of Lady Berg and Prince Ian. The Third Prince had looked surprised at seeing his older brother stopping by, while Prince Ian had been equally surprised to see his younger brother carrying children around on his shoulders as they walked around the estate with a slate and some chalk and tried to 'map the unknown frontiers beyond the civilized farm fields and into the wild unknowns of the overgrown grounds'. Lady Berg had offered to help Maria with the paperwork so she'd have more time free that day, which was a generous offer Maria wasn't about to turn down, while Prince Ian went to talk to the knights training on the gehrmans in the butts and take an interest in the new weapon they were training with.
Rafael missed all this, as he'd stayed in bed to sleep in since he didn't have to go to the Ministry that day. He only finally came out when lunch was called, made presentable by his hardworking maid, who'd seen all the visitors and switched out the casual clothes she'd laid out for wear more presentable to seeing visitors. Normally, it wouldn't be needed, since they were all friends, but with Prince Ian present it sufficed. the older wards had to eat upstairs, with so many men about, but a few were able to find it in themselves to eat in the balcony overlooking the bathhouse with the children. Mother also had to excuse herself, as she was still not used to dining with such high nobility. Given Maria's conception, it wasn't hard to understand her likely fears, even if Maria could protect her from such things now, but it was sad to not have lunch with mother. At least Miss Shelley was keeping her company.
"Big brother's not here again," Sophia sighed.
"A Prime Minister's Assistant's work is never done," the Third Prince said, nodding in commiseration.
"I don't want to hear that from you. Aren't you playing hookie?" Sophia said.
"I'm not playing hookie, I'm fulfilling my princely obligations to the Wards of the Kingdom under Lady Maria's protection," the Third Prince said brightly. "Right, Lady Maria?"
"Please keep me out of this," Maria demurred. "May I offer you rooms to take a postprandial nap? We have quite comfortable couches and chairs."
"We're not that old," Mary sniffed.
"Ah, my mistake. I thought you'd want to be well-rested for when my Squire went out to help the children with their farming," Maria said.
There was a sudden wave of yawns.
"My, what a tiring morning I've had," Mary said, one hand covering her mouth.
"An afternoon nap sounds just the thing," the Third Prince agreed.
"Oh, shut up you fakers," Prince Alan said, looking genuinely tired yet satisfied. He'd had fun with the children in his own way, and Maria had used her Light Magic to relieve some of the strain on his fingers from his playing, though not healed them enough to inhibit the growth of calluses.
Prince Ian looked bemused at these exchanges, but rather then looking out of place just ignored it as he ate his meal next to Selena and listened to her talk about the work she and Maria had been doing about supplies and accounting and schedules of nightflower commissions. The way they sat together, it was as if they were in their own little world. It wasn't that they were ignoring everyone around them, but more like others couldn't bear to break the bubble they shared. For some strange reason it reminded Maria of her mother and Anne, which was a very disturbing thing to think of when seeing a woman and her lover being close, and unfortunately there were no sedatives or alcohol at the table with which Maria could cleanse the thought from her mind.
Rafael didn't even twitch when she started stroking his knee under the table, though he did draw the line when she reached his mid-thigh.
Finally, in the heat of the afternoon, after Maria had decided to be generous and tell Katarina she could have a break until it was time for her to do her farming and everyone had gone to take naps waiting for that, Maria was finally able to relax in a nice chair, her hat over her face as she had her own nap.
…
Hmm… something was missing… but what? Not Rafael, this was strictly a chair nap, not a couch nap.
After some restless thought, Maria realized what it was.
She stood, grabbed Consequence Rakuyo, sheathed the saber, and rested the weapon over her knees, the shortsword resting on the side table beside her.
Ah, much better.
Feeling suddenly whole and complete, Maria sat back to take a nap.
Everyone had changed into the 'farmwork clothes' Katarina had given them. Even Maria.
Lady Selena, Prince Ian and Dame Matthew all looked extremely confused at seeing them garbed like common farm workers and gardeners, but it was a completely sensible fashion souls choice, as the garb in question had appropriate weight, poise, materials and what the ancients would ethereally call stats for the job at hand. Despite being her master, Maria allowed herself to be directed by Katarina in tending to the farm fields. It was strangely relaxing, and soon they were all casually hoeing, turning the earth, weeding, watering and other things Katarina directed them to do to assist her and the children. Since they were bigger, a lot of the 'carrying' chores fell to them.
Rafael, having never done this at the Academy even if he'd been aware of it happening, shamelessly sat to the side and let his fiancée sweat as he sat with Matthew, Selena and Prince Ian, talking about his job in the Ministry. Selena seemed to like hearing him tell stories about Larna Smith and various tribulations she's going through now that she's now longer in charge. As petty grudges go, it could be worse. Prince Ian listened with interest about his stories about dealing with other departments, nodding and commiserating and occasionally offering his own anecdotes. Matthew was interested because he worked at the Magic Tool Laboratory, which she apparently knew about, thought mostly secondhand. She asked a lot of questions about this new teapot they apparently had, meant for maintaining the temperature of tea so it would be drinkable all day.
Maria spent much of her time making sure all her children were wearing appropriate hats to ward off the sun. She was not going to let any of them come down with heat-related thinking disorders. It was probably too late for Katarina, but everyone else could be saved.
With the summer heat, they had to be careful with water, but fortunately all the streams are rivers were still flowing high, and the manor's cisterns and reserves were appropriately full. Maria and her armsmen went down there every couple of weeks to make sure nothing unpleasant had made the place its home, but thankfully aside from an occasional crystal lizard (those things got everywhere!) they never found anything. Stupid as she was, Marchioness Dieke had made sure no one stashed dead bodies in her drinking water reserve. The rice was a water intensive crop, but thankfully they wouldn't run out of water in their region.
Eventually, the day waned, the farming work for the day was finished, and everyone had to go back home, their desire for Katarina mildly assuaged. Katarina herself went to get washed for that night's etiquette test, while Maria headed to her rooms for a bath.
She was partway there when Chiharu, one of her other armband-wearing wards, and one of the children met her at an intersection and bowed, their usual way of trying to get her attention when she was on the move. From what she could gather, it was considered improper behavior to block your lord's path or something.
"Lady Maria-dono," Chiharu said with a bow, which the other ward copied. The child just smiled at Maria and waved, to which Maria responded with a grave nod.
"What is it, Chiharu-chan?" Maria asked.
"Your vassal Suzuka has a petition she wishes to bring to your attention, Lady Maria-dono," Chiharu said, indicating the other woman. Maria had finally been able to distribute the new, lighter and brighter summer garb, which were in bright sky blue and apparently much cooler than the previous season's dark colors. The armband around her arm stood stark against the fabric as the woman stepped forward and bowed. She said something in Ashinago in what sounded like deeply formal tones.
"Lady Maria-mama-dono," the child whom Maria recognized as Kohaku translated, an impish smile on her little face. "This something big word something Suzuka-chan wants to ask permission to learn the way of the sword, as chiisana kawaii Katarina-chan does, so that Suzuka-chan may be of worth to Lady Maria-mama-dono. Suzuka-chan wants to be strong like Lady Maria-mama-dono so she can prove her big word something something in the somehwere, and serve you."
From the looks Chiharu and even Suzuka was giving the child, that was probably not a literally correct translation.
"You wish to learn the sword?" Maria said, parsing the essential contents of the translation.
"Yes, Lady Maria-mama-dono," Kohaku allegedly translated, and even Maria's understanding of Ashinago told her that was basically right.
"Why?"
"To be strong and brave and like you," Kohaku translated, nodding in approval.
Maria considered. She almost refused. Still…
"Look into my eyes, and tell me why again," she said.
She didn't really understand the words. Not really. But those eyes. She knew those eyes.
They did not seek the open sky. They merely wished to not be trapped and helpless with monsters anymore.
Maria found herself nodding. "You will begin learning tomorrow," she said. "But only after you finish your chores."
The woman, Suzuka, let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lady Maria-dono," she said in rote, as if memorized.
"Don't thank me yet," Maria said. "Learning will be difficult and painful. You can choose to stop at any time."
Suzuka said something.
"I've been eaten by monsters," Kohaku said. "They've pooped me out and eaten me again and again. I will take any pain to be able to tear them from the inside."
"Do you think I won't protect you from monsters?" Maria asked quietly.
Suzuka bowed her head. "I think you should not face monsters alone, no matter how saintly your sword," Kohaku translated. "Let me become a silver spirit at your side, Lady Maria-mama-dono."
Maria tilted her head. Then nodded. "Tomorrow," she repeated. "We'll see if you can learn."
Then she had a nice, hot bath, and went off to dinner…
The next morning, after seeing to Katarina's morning training and chores were done, Maria stared, perplexed, as eight women, all wearing armbands, presented themselves to her, Suzuka at their forefront. One of them was her maid, still wearing her apron and frilly headband. Maria looked up into the sky and sighed.
Well, at least they were an even number. Easier to pair off that way…
A/N: So, my Pat-reon is up now at P.A.T.R.E.O.N.C.O.M -/-SCM2814. If you want to support this fic, that would be great, but no pressure. But if you do, you'll also get advanced access to my new original fiction series about a wizard on the frontier, her dungeon, and the idiots around her...