Several days later, Lady Ascart had yet to return. This was concerning, as it often prompted Lord Ascart to neglect his council duties to go to her, setting off a chain reaction of the other members of Lady Claes' harem leaving as well.

"As a peasant, I have no influence over the outcome of who ascends to the throne," Maria said after she and Sirius had watched the door close behind the last of them, "but it seems to me that having a prince who neglects their duties for their lover would be a poor king. As a general observation."

"As a the heir of a marquess, I'm allowed a strong opinion on the matter," Sirius said, "and while I would theoretically agree, can we not say that in front of the people we want to do the paperwork."

"Wise words, Lord Head Clerk," Maria said. "I can see why you possess the completely superfluous title of Lord President of the Student Council."

…

One morning, as Maria did not wake up from eldritch dreams, she found in her wanderings of the grounds after her morning training that she had found Katarina Claes' infamous alleged garden.

It was… actually quite orderly, really. The crops showed signs of maintenance and care, beyond that currently being provided by Lady Hunt, who was dressed in a strange green garb. Maria was about to step away when Lady Hunt looked up and froze as their eyes met.

Naturally, Maria couldn't just leave then. Some nobles could be quite touchy at being ignored. She bowed. "Good morning, Lady Hunt."

"Good morning, Miss Campbell…" Lady Hunt said slowly. "What brings you out this early?"

"Habit," Maria said honestly. "I take it this is Lady Claes famous garden?"

Lady Hunt's eye twitched for some reason. Had she perhaps not been sleeping well? "Yes. Someone needs to take care of it until Katarina comes back."

Maria nodded. Yes, someone like Lady Claes would not doubt have had the foresight to make preparations for all eventualities. She had to wonder what orders the others had received, what unknowable tasks they had been assigned in the event of their mistress's incapacitation. Were there even now machinations turning to extract vengeance on some suspected party, or even just some fool who the Lady Claes did not wish to outlive her? Once more she can only marvel at the cunning and intelligence of the woman, obscured as it usually was by her hedonistic image.

…

Maria sincerely hoped there were no orders for her disposal. Lady Claes did not seem the jealous type, despite her attempts to possess Maria, given how she had tried to bait Maria with the men under her thrall.

Maria considered the angle of the sun, the distance to her dorm and her morning schedule. "Do you require assistance, Lady Hunt?" she offered. While the marquis' daughter might be willing to grub about in the dirt under the orders of her mistress, Maria found it unlikely she had much experience doing so, or indeed liked it at all. Lady hunt was widely known to be the perfect lady, and perfect ladies did not grub about in the dirt. They had servants for that sort of thing. Huh, had Lady Hunt managed to displease Lady Claes somehow and this was some sort of punishment assignment?

Lady Hunt gave Maria a suspiciously look, which was completely understandable. "Why are you offering, Miss Campbell? I don't think you have any reason to want to help me tend Lady Katarina's garden"

"We are both members of the student council, Lady Hunt. We must all assist each other, lest the paperwork never get done," Maria said blandly, knowing the hint was completely unsubtle.

Lady Hunt looked at her as if she'd grown some sort of strange, eldritch protrusions covered in phantasms.

"If you wish to refuse, that is also your prerogative," Maria clarified. "I'm sure the president would understand."

Lady Hunt sighed deeply. "I… would welcome your assistance," she said with equanimity. "Thank you for the offer."

Maria bowed. It wasn't even a little bit smug at all, honest.

…

Mary liked to think she saw the best in people, after Katarina had shown her how. She was willing to admit that had he not been a rival, she'd have regarded the Third Prince as a brilliant, amazing human being of near-unparalleled skill and talent instead of the way she regarded him now, which was as The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance. And even then she could still manage to find something backhanded to compliment him with in front of Katarina, who would be heartbroken if she saw them fighting.

Maria Campbell however was a mystery wrapped in an enigma buried inside a mind whose greatest desire was to be covered in and consume blood, and Mary didn't think it was unreasonable of her to be leery of the woman-thing. There was clearly something wrong with her head. How could there not be, when she was completely unable to understand the absolute wonderfulness and perfection that was Katarina Claes?

At first Mary had thought it was because she was a commoner. Everyone knew about commoners, who were… well, commoners. Fine folk, very important to the proper running of the country, even if they weren't as bright as a noble and tended to slack off when you weren't watching. Lady Katarina got along with them very well, and they generally seemed to regard her favorably, but that was only right and proper, because she was Lady Katarina and she can do no wrong. Do incorrect, quite often, but never any actually wrong.

Granted, this image didn't quite fit with Maria Campbell, who was diligent, hardworking, intelligent, and who diligently, intelligently worked hard to avoid Lady Katarina at seemingly every opportunity, no matter how Lady Katarina tried to become friends with her. It had shocked Mary to her core when she first saw it, finding someone who so twisted as to reject Lady Katarina's hand of friendship.

Still, despite this, the girl was polite enough when forced– literally forced, since she always found the smallest excuse to leave– into Lady Katarina's company. Mary had even been disposed to think well off her, after she had saved Mary's life many times during the practical exam. Everyone was even willing to write it all off as a strange commoner quirk, especially when someone pointed out that as a peasant, it would have been very improper of her to allow herself to become familiar with Lady Katarina.

So they had been willing to accept the girl as one of the few people (like Anne, the gardener Tom, and the Claes' Head Maid) who they would never have to view as competition for Katarina's attentions.

And then Mary had read Maria's desires as revealed by the Book of Painted Aria, and suddenly she had been less willing to be so relaxed about the woman being around their Katarina! Her mind was clearly twisted by some sort of depraved deviance, but try as she might, none would believe her. Don't they remember those tales about Goodwife Bathory who ambushed good nobles who came to passed by her home and bathed in their blood and made pies out of their flesh?! Don't they realize those stories had some sort of truth to them, or why else would they be around? The nobles' paranoid fear of a dissatisfied underclass rising up from the shadows to destroy them all with sheer numbers? No, it was obviously to warn of women EXACTLY like this!

As such, Mary didn't turn her back on Maria as the woman began working on Katarina's precious garden. Didn't she realize what an honor this was, being allowed to work on something Katarina loved? Granted, Katarina wasn't here, but it was the principle of the thing!

Maria was… actually quite good at the gardening work, pulling up weeds and examining crops with practiced surety. She didn't act anything at all like someone who accused Lady Katarina of outrageous things in public, like having a ha…a har… Well, outrageous things! Everyone might have laughed it off as a silly commoner misunderstanding her noble betters, but Mary wasn't fooled! Maria Campbell was a dangerous person who needed to be watched!

…

Plus she was working on Lady Katarina's beloved fields, so she needed to be watched anyway! Mary WASN'T being paranoid no matter what smarmy princes thought, damn it! She was going to watch Maria Campbell like a hawk at all times to make sure she wasn't a danger to Katarina!

…

Well, at least until Lady Katarina woke up, then Mary might have to think of some kind of schedule… ARGH! Hex you Maria Campbell, making Mary even consider doing something besides being with Lady Katarina!

Ah, wait, if Mary was with Lady Katarina all the time, then watching Maria Campbell wasn't a problem!

"Lady Hunt, I've finished with this side. Are you about done, or would you like me to assist?"

Hexes, when had that woman gotten so close? But Mary didn't allow herself to react. If a commoner senses you're afraid, then they'll become more aggressive and start mobbing you– wait, that was for dogs, wasn't it? "I'll be done soon, Miss Campbell. Why don't you go ahead without me?"

"Are you sure?" Maria said. "You might be late for class."

"A lady is never late. Nor is she early. She arrives precisely when she means too," Mary said, though she did subtely quicken her pace a little.

"While I, a mere commoner, would never dare challenge that statement," Maria said, "I do not believe our professors share my position."

"I can tend to my side, Miss Campbell," Mary said. "Off with you, you need to prepare for class."

"As you wish, Lady Hunt," Maria said. "I will see you in the student council room later."

Mary was, in fact a little late, but that was no one's business but her own!

And then she went to the student council room to do paperwork, because an implicit deal was an implicit deal. Hex you, Maria Campbell! Hex you and all your paperworks, and all your sweet, sweet pain relieving light magic, ohh, that feels so good…

…

A Katarina Dream Sequence

"T-Tae-chan, aren't you done with Fortune Lover yet?"

"It's really hard Acchan! I keep getting told 'Bad End, You Died' and get sent back to the save point! When I try to take the shortcut behind the gym my 'Flustered' bar starts to build up and I die! Why is there an instant death mechanic in an otome game? Whose bad idea was– you're going to tell me it's a Miyazaki-sensei thing, aren't you."

"She's learning!. Soon… soon… Wait, if you've been getting Flustered by taking the shortcut behind the gym… Tae-chan, the boy's locker room is behind the gym, your Flustered bar is going up because Maria is seeing through the windows while they're getting chanced. Naughty-naughty Tae-chan…

"EH?! Nooo! Maria's not that sort of girl! I don't think she even has any interest in boys! Or… anything really. I'm kinda sad for her… I wish she'd let me be her friend. No one should have to go to school so lonely… even if I'm risking a doom flag, I want her to have some friends… Is it my fault? Do I suck at playing this game so much Maria didn't get any affection points with anyone…?"

"(Cough)Er, what if I give you some hints? After all, I'm sure you're tired of all those 'Bad End, You Died' screens, right?"

"WHY ARE THEY EVEN THERE!? Why are they rubbing it in your face you screwed up? Is it fun for them? Do they enjoy tormenting their players?!"

"M-maybe you should take a break then, it's starting to sound–"

"Acchan, what did I say I would do if you took this game away from me?"

"You're… really getting into the game, aren't you. "

"I managed to join the Dorm Defenders covenant! Do you have any idea how hard that was?"

"That's… literally the easiest covenant to get into."

"Not if you're playing with the internet off so those weird ghosts don't start popping up everywhere."

"Yeah, still easy, you just have to talk to the dorm mother as soon as classes let out."

…

"So I went to all that trouble to go to the secret hot springs for nothing?"

"Why would you go to the secret hot springs to talk to her? That's only if you're trying to advance Sienna-chan's route, since the dorm mother is one of the rival characters for her. And I thought you weren't going to spend money to download her route?"

…

"This game is so hard, Acchan!"

"So, you want those hints, then?"

"No! No spoilers!"

"(Damn it Katarina, wake up already!)"

"Eh? Did you say something Acchan?"

"Er, I was saying that if you had trouble getting the secret character."

"No hints!"

"(Damn it!)"