Maria had woken up bright and early, but that wasn't anything new. She often had to wake up early for work and growing up so it was a habit. The sun was starting to rise as she packed what very little she had into a brown satchel she'd found deep in her new wardrobe. This included the entire outfit she'd worn the day before for her wedding: the dress, shoes and tiara, plus a dozen other jeweled accessories she'd been forced to wear as Geordo's bride.

She'd picked out a sturdy pair of blue overalls and an airy shirt for her climb down. It seemed Katerina had picked out outfits for any activity, as if she knew she'd want some outfits for climbing and farm work, Maria had known how to do those things since she was a little girl.

Maria shook her head out of thinking how considerate this was if Katerina knew she liked these things. She had a mission to do.

She laced up her boots and tied up her hair into a small bun.

"You can do it!" Maria told her reflection, clenching her hands into fists. She blushed at herself. If anyone saw her talking to herself, they'd think she was crazy. But nobody else had bothered to encourage her, it was always the other way around.

She had made a rope of the sheets and blankets that would only just reach the ground. She tied one end to the balcony before wrapping it around herself as a makeshift harness. The other end fell down to the ground and Maria started her long climb down.

If I go back… to where the carriage came through, I can get back to Sorcié. Maria thought to herself, remembering the ride there. She had no idea if this was true or not but that was for the future Maria to worry about.

She glanced down after a few minutes to check how close she was to the bottom. Beneath her was an amazing garden filled with flowers and vegetables of all different colors. She took a breath in surprise before noticing she was about halfway down. Not much farther-

"Hey!"

"Ah!" She slipped in her surprise, thankfully she was still tied to the rope so she didn't fall.

"What are you doing?"

She winced slightly, looking up to see Katerina leaned over the balcony, still in her silky nightgown.

The two stared at each other for a few moments before Maria realized Katerina was genuinely unsure.

Katerina knew better than anyone how nice a morning climb was but it was dangerous to do it on an empty stomach. Besides, if Maria wanted to climb so badly, she could've used one of the trees…Wait, that wasn't it…

She smirked before giving her usual villainess laugh. "Oh, I see! You're trying to escape! How cute~"

Maria gave a gasp seeing dark purple vines grow from Katerina's open hand and tried to quicken her pace but they caught up to her much too quickly.

Katerina watched with intrigue as the girl struggled in vain as she was dragged right back to her prison. It seemed she hadn't learned to combat darkness even after her various encounters with it. That was because Katerina was a natural at dark magic, not to mention the two years she'd spent mastering it.

"It's no wonder you want to escape, you probably miss your friends and your fiancé…" The villainess smiled knowingly. "I was gonna tell you about my solution to that this morning, you know? You just had to stay put, like a good prisoner. But don't worry, I'll still tell you… "

Maria had little time to be upset since that feeling was quickly replaced by embarrassment as Katerina began casually unwrapping the rope from her shoulders and hips, not noticing how touchy she was getting.

Katerina noticed her face and frowned, placing a hand to her head. "Are you alright?"

"I-I, um…" Maria blushed harder before her stomach suddenly growled. Thank goodness, an excuse.

"Oh, you're hungry!" Katerina snapped as if she'd deduced it from Maria's expression alone. She smiled. "Me too! We should get breakfast!"

"I-In these clothes?" Maria whispered, still flushed.

Katerina noticed she was mainly referring to her nightgown. Right, it wasn't very proper to be still dressed for bed at breakfast time, Katerina had basically forgotten the rule since she didn't have much company to dine with beside her staff. Plus, what kind of villainess greeted her rival in pajamas?

Maria was quite conscious about her own outfit. It was hardly fit for breakfast with a beautiful lady like Katerina. She hugged herself in worry. "I'd like to change before we go down…"

"Oh, of course, hehe… I'll do that too…" Katerina backed into the door, fumbling with the handle.

Maria couldn't help but stare. She must've thrown Katerina's for a loop since she'd never interacted with a light user before, that must be why she looked so flustered. That had to be it.

Katerina finally got the door open only to stumble out. She gave a small laugh before scurrying away, shutting the door behind her.

Maria listened to the lady whine for her maid, something about not looking scary enough for her outside the door before turning back to her wardrobe. Well, she might as well go down if Katerina was going to discuss her friends.

"Isn't it so good?" Katerina asked as Maria took a bite of a cinnamon roll. "I know you like sweet stuff, and so do I, so I asked Rose to make lots!"

Maria was about to give her compliments to Rose when she glanced up in surprise. "How did you know I liked sweets…?"

"I just… noticed you baked for the student council pretty often so I figured you must like them." Katerina shrugged with an awkward smile. She had known that from the game, of course, but it became especially more apparent when all Katerina could do was watch as her body was controlled by the game's narrative.

"Oh." Maria mumbled quietly, finding it strange that Katerina took note of her hobby when she'd supposedly despised it in school. She then remembered the thing she was supposed to be focused on. "You said earlier we'd discuss my friends?"

Katerina wiped her mouth to reveal a chilling smile. "Mmhm. You must be anxious to hear about them."

Maria tried to hold back her enthusiasm by giving a curt nod. Of course she was, she missed them and her mother terribly, she was also thinking about how much she'd worried them or if Geordo would be too upset with her for being gone. Did he think she'd run away? There would've been horrible consequences if she had run, she just hoped they weren't being enacted now.

"Well then, you'll be thrilled to see this!" Katerina grinned, making a dark blue letter appeared beside her plate.

Maria took it eagerly, ripping it open. Was it a letter from her friends?

It wasn't. Rather, it was a letter to them, no, an invitation.

On a dark stationery decorated with blue roses in gold print, it looked like a child had written it: 'The Villainess Katerina's First Ever Friendship Ball!' was in big letters. Underneath it was the message that attendance was required and that transportation would be provided. The date was… "Tomorrow night?!"

"Yep!" Katerina answered, walking down to Maria's end of the table. She gave an icy smirk as she looked down at the girl. "Isn't it exciting?"

Maria didn't know how to answer, rereading the invite over again, wondering what the villainess was planning. "I-It's so soon…!"

She felt a blush come when Katerina lifted her chin so she'd look at her. "But of course, they're probably worried sick about you, wondering where you've gone! I think it would be a great time to show them their perfect little heroine is now prisoner of Katerina Claes, the most wicked villainess they've ever seen!"

Maria felt her heart leap as Katerina laughed wickedly. If her friends were coming here, that meant they could save her. Geordo surely forgive her if he knew Katerina was behind this and not punish her mother. Still, it meant she'd go back to getting married to that sadistic prince. She didn't know which fate was worse. She placed her head in her hands in worry.

She heard the double doors open and many footsteps walk up.

"My lady, here is your new staff from the village. I hired them to assist Miss Maria and help with preparations for the ball, just as you requested." Anne curtseyed.

New staff? It seemed Anne had realized they'd need more help for this ball and suggested it to her lady. Of course, she didn't know any of the villagers but these three seemed capable enough with what they'd shown her.

"Thank you, Anne!" Katerina smiled before looking at her new staff. "And thank you all for volunteering!"

"But of course, my lady."

That voice! Maria's head sprung up to see the new staff members.

Sora bowed to her with a familiar smirk and she recognized Raphael and Ginger's familiar eyes despite their disguises beside him. "We will do all in our power to help you, Miss Maria…"