Siesta, with no help from the other nobles and with grueling effort, gently laid Louise down on Montmorency's bed.

"Good. Leave now, and speak of this to no one," Montmorency ordered.

Initially, Siesta felt the urge to bow and take her leave, but, in a sudden rush of confidence, partially granted by her burgeoning powers and tutelage, looked back at the haughty blonde and her philanderous choice of lover with fierce resolve.

"No, milady," Siesta replied ever so calmly. She could see Montmorency's jaw clench and face begin to redden with rage. "And before you begin your threats," Siesta leaned in close to the now cherry-faced blonde "...I know what you did." The rage in the face of the rebuked noble quickly turned to panic, and just as quickly turned back to anger.

"What is she referring to, my dear sweet-," Guiche began as, in the blink of an eye, Montmorency's hand was poised to strike the suddenly-confident Maid's face. The moment before contact was made, and in a rush of instinct and athleticism Siesta had never experienced before, she caught the hand without so much as a flinch. Montmorency's face once again began to turn, this time to fear.

"I am referring to the fact that Louise was poisoned," Siesta began as both nobles went wide-eyed at this accusation, "Though it wasn't meant for her, was it, Lady Montmorency?" Siesta asked, with a calm seriousness that intensified the fear of both the spoiled nobles before her. Montmorency's lips began to move as she attempted to form words.

"I-I don't know what you-," the blonde girl stammered.

"That was love potion, wasn't it?" Siesta asked, bluntly. Montmorency, and her unfaithful lover, Guiche, were both at a rare loss for words. The spoiled noble boy was the first to break the silence as he turned to his jealous lover.

"Oh, my dear, sweet Momo, you should know you don't need such a thing to make me yours," he said with his usual flirtatious tone. Montmorency turned to him, tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

"You've betrayed my heart so much! How could I ever trust you again? This was the only way!" As each word left her mouth, she began to realize how hopeless she sounded.

"Now that you've confirmed my suspicion," Siesta chimed in, "You will help me with Miss Valliere." Montmorency, realizing the grave she had dug herself, let go holding back her tears and fell to the ground in front of Guiche. Guiche, with a noticeable amount of anxiety on his face, knelt at her side and awkwardly gave her a side-embrace.

"Hush, my love, it will be alright, there's no way they'll just believe a commoner over us," he said in an attempt at comfort as he shot Siesta a dirty look. Siesta, however, did not notice as she was busy looking over her friend, who Zeratul had mercifully put to sleep before her drugged antics could go any further.

"Well there's my word, the bottle of remaining tainted wine, the staff who saw me bring it to you, and, of course, the fact that of all the people involved, there's only one of us here who everyone would know could actually make the potion." Siesta side-eyed the now bawling ribbon-wearing, blonde noble girl. Siesta knew that the strong reaction was predicated on the fact that love potions were highly illegal, and that her life would be over and her and her family's reputation would be forever tarnished if this got out. Siesta, though, did not care about some jealous noble's reputation. All she could focus on now was her friend, completely consumed by this noble's feeble attempt to ensnare and control her wily teenage boyfriend. "We all know what could happen if word of this gets out," Siesta broke through Montmorency's sobs, reaching into her apron to provide a handkerchief to clean the broken noble's face, "just make her a cure and I won't say anything."

Montmorency loudly and messily blew her nose into the cloth offered by Siesta, "Okay... okay, I can do that, but it'll take a little bit. I need to wait for the right time and the right ingre-"

"I don't care," Siesta said in a curt voice. "Just do it. You caused this problem, now it's your responsibility to fix it!" Siesta turned her attention back to her pink-haired friend's sleeping form on the bed. In that moment, she steeled herself, reaching out with her mind as Zeratul had been instructing her, and this time, her determination due to the plight of her only friend was the emotion she needed to drive her to find and reach out to the old Nerazim. Zeratul, can you sense her? Is she alright? She asked.

Yes, Gifted Siesta. She is stable. Though her thoughts are chaotic in nature and it appears her mind is utterly consumed with desire for you, Zeratul answered. Siesta blushed at that statement.

I hope this noble is as good at making antidotes as she is poisons. Siesta thought to Zeratul.

Have faith, Gifted Siesta. For Young Louise is strong and fierce as any warrior I have encountered, Zeratul communicated to the worried Siesta. And as for you? A flawless display. Your skill in navigating this ordeal and your use of your powers has impressed me. Well done. Siesta couldn't help but to smile, despite the situation. Her mentor's words had soothed her, and she had never known him to lie. She sat beside her friend, reaching out and touching the sleeping Louise's face.

I don't know if my thoughts will reach you, Siesta attempted to reach out to her pink-haired friend before her, but it's going to be okay. She could almost swear that Louise smiled at that.

"Wait, there's a problem," Montmorency suddenly piped up, as she rose from the floor, along with Guiche, still wiping her tears and sniffling, "the only way to make a cure is if we…" she paused for a moment, dreading the reaction of the words she was about to utter, "get a tear from a water elemental." Siesta's eyes widened. She did not know much about the realm of magic, but even commoners such as her knew that such beings were both rare and dangerously powerful. She could not begin to comprehend how they were to do so, and as she thought this, she turned to look, once again, at her sleeping friend. Worried both for her friend's safety and her own sanity at the thought of having to deal with a chemically lovestruck friend constantly all over her, no matter how temporary it may be.

-Meanwhile-

As Siesta dealt with her love potion situation, Kirche, with much pestering on her part, had broken down Tabitha's barriers enough to finally be allowed to go with her to visit her family. Though they had grown close at the academy, she was still in the dark regarding her family life.

"This is gonna be so fun, Tabs!" the flame-haired noble exclaimed to her stoic friend, who was, as always, buried in a book.

"Sure," Tabitha answered in her usual, deadpan way. Kirche, knowing her friend as she did, knew this was the closest to enthusiasm she would normally express. The journey from the academy to Gallia, Tabitha's home, would be a long one, as they were forced to travel by carriage, and not Sylphid, but Kirche saw this as an opportunity to chat and learn more about her friend and her family.

Kirche sat back for a moment and looked out the window at the passing landscape. "It's peaceful, isn't it?" Tabitha did not respond. "As a fellow student from overseas, I know how it can be to be so far from your family." Kirche continued, unfazed. "I would think you'd be a little more cheerful about going home, I know I'd be," she smiled at her friend, who merely turned a page on her book. History of Halkegina: Unabridged Vol. 3, Kirche read. Wow, how many volumes of that could there be? She thought to herself. "You know, before today, I had no idea you were an exchange student." the enthusiastic redhead pressed in an attempt to get any response from her friend, "Why did you choose to study abroad?" Silence. Kirche, unwavering in her resolve, continued as she looked out the window while reminiscing, "I was basically kicked out of my school."

Uncharacteristically, for the blue-haired bookworm, Tabitha raised her head and her mouth ever so slightly opened as intrigue and sympathy fell over her face.

"I caused a lotta trouble and got expelled." Kirche smiled in a wistful manner as her eyes lightly glazed over and her gaze fell as she continued to look out the carriage window.

Tabitha wordlessly continued to gaze at her friend. Kirche, sensing the interest, smiled.

"My parents said I would ruin our family's reputation if I stuck around the place and didn't do anything. So I almost got forced into marriage to some old guy!" Kirche said almost boastfully with a nervous laugh as she turned back to face her friend. "I thought they had to be kidding!" Suddenly, the carriage came to a halt. "Wait, what's going on?" Kirche asked curiously. She looked out the window once more and saw a plain looking middle-aged farmer approaching.

"The Lagdorian Lake up ahead is flooded," he told the Germanian as she leaned her elbow on the window and looked out at him. "Gotta take a higher road, if you can." The farmer then tipped his worn, straw hat and continued walking down the road in the opposite direction of the carriage. Kirche, puzzled and intrigued, turned back to Tabitha as she sat back in her seat properly.

"I wonder if there was a heavy rain…" she posited. "We're so close to Gallia, too." Tabitha's eyes, once again buried in her book, did not so much as blink, but Kirche almost felt a sense of concern from her mostly unreadable friend.

True to the commoner's word, as the nobles took the advised high road, they were able to spot what looked to be a small village... or what was left of it, anyway. All Tabitha and Kirche could see were the rooftops of the larger buildings poking out beneath the water that now engulfed the area.

"We really couldn't have made it through there," Kirche remarked as she gazed at the scene in awe and curiosity, "Everything's submerged." A single beat later, Kirche turned to her friend and smiled, "How much further to your place?" she asked, excitedly.

"Very close," Tabitha answered, monotone, without breaking her attention from the book. As she had stated, only minutes later, as Kirche peered out the window looking for any signs of their approaching destination and as the open plains and hills turned to forest, she spotted a familiar, ornate symbol put up like a signpost. It was a gold-trimmed shield, and within it was a painted picture of what looked to be a solid black bird of prey with its head facing left atop a globe. Above the bird was a gold star with two gold lightning bolts coming from it in the left and right directions, angled upward parallel to the bird's outstretched wings.

"I knew it," Kirche softly exclaimed to herself as she hung out the window to get a better look at the crest they were passing. She returned herself to a seated position and looked at her friend, with awe still painting her face, "That was the seal of Gallia's royal family. Tabitha, could it be that you're… part of the royal family?"

Tabitha, for as far as Kirche could tell, remained stone-faced, but she had seen enough to put the pieces together. Shortly after spotting the crest, the carriage began to slow, which once again piqued the curiosity of the eternally inquisitive redheaded noble.

"Papers, please," a gruff voice could be heard from outside.

"Of course, sir," Kirche heard the driver acknowledge. A few moments passed.

"Remain here, and do not move, sir," the voice commanded as footsteps approached the carriage. Kirche, moving herself to look out the window, found herself quickly stopped by her friend's gnarled staff. With a quick shaking of the head by Tabitha, Kirche returned to her sitting position. The footsteps revealed themselves to belong to a burly, square-jawed, grizzled man in a long, black coat with brass buttons and wearing a flat, brimmed hat adorned with the crest she had spotted earlier. Slung over his shoulder was what Kirche recognized as one of those new "muskets" that were beginning to creep their way into the ranks of Halkegenia's militaries. The man quickly looked over the pair. "Papers," he demanded in a flat tone. Tabitha reached into her pocket and handed the man what he asked for as Kirche also attempted to comply, now realizing why her friend was so insistent that she remembered to bring proof of her identity with her. The man took his time examining the documents. "What is your business here, Germanian?" the guard pressed in a somewhat threatening tone.

"Uh, I-I'm just visiting my friend's family," Kirche stammered out, taken aback at the brashness of this commoner that she had never experienced before. The uncomfortable silence grew as the man continued to peer over the documents before, finally, returning them with a grunt of acknowledgement and looking directly at Tabitha.

"I apologize for the inconvenience, Lieutenant. Orders." The man acknowledged as he saluted. Tabitha saluted back, half-heartedly. "They're clear!" the man shouted ahead of the carriage. The nobles' carriage began to move once more, following the brief, strange interruption.

What was that about? Kirche wondered as she looked to her friend, who looked as though nothing had happened.

The carriage arrived at their destination without any further commentary from Kirche nor interruptions from surly guards. Upon leaving the carriage, Kirche beheld the ornate, yet not ostentatious manor before her and observed the previously-seen crest above the large double-doors.

"Of course," Kirche once again told herself as Tabitha unceremoniously exited the carriage behind her. In but a moment's time, the door opened, and a man, dressed obviously as a servant, stepped out. This older gentleman with a receding hairline and tufts of white hair took a quick, respectful bow to the two noblewomen.

"Welcome home, we've been waiting for you, Lieutenant Charlotte." he stated plainly as he showed them indoors. Tabitha, with no reaction, walked beyond a stunned Kirche, whose questions were mounting by the moment. They would have to wait, however, as Kirche followed silently, hoping answers would come in time.

The girls were shown to an expectedly opulent living room with a dormant fireplace and several sofas. As Kirche sat down, she observed a portrait above the fireplace, one of a kind-faced nobleman with hair matching Tabitha's, smiling down on any who looked.

"I'd like to meet your father, if he's here," Kirche blurted out, with the portrait being the catalyst for that sentiment. Tabitha, who had yet to make herself comfortable, shook her head silently. Kirche gave her a puzzled look.

"Wait here," the blue-haired noble finally spoke up as she left the room, leaving none but Kirche and the servant who escorted them into the mansion.

"Please excuse me," the servant said as he put a piping hot cup of tea before the red haired noble. "I'm the butler of the Orleans family, Percerin." His speech was impeccably formal, as expected of most commoners who were direct servants to the ruling class.

"I'm Kirche von Zerbst of Germania's von Zerbsts. I guess I'm in your care." Kirche answered.

The servant bowed once again to the noble. "I never would have guessed the Lady Charlotte would be bringing a friend home."

Kirche could feel this was the time for answers, "So Charlotte's Tabitha's her real name?!" She inquired loudly. The servant looked confused at her question.

"Our lady calls herself Tabitha now?" the servant asked, respectfully.

"Why did she go abroad using an alias? She never talks about herself," Kirche stated with obvious curiosity.

"Studying abroad was an order from the king, her uncle."

"Her uncle? So she is royalty," Kirche mused to herself.

"Lady Charlotte's father, the former Duke Orleans, founder rest his soul, was the current King's younger brother."

"I see… So her father passed away?"

"He was killed," the servant gravely stated as a shadow fell over his face. Kirche gasped in genuine surprise at this news. She nor any other noble she knew was aware such an important royal figure of Gallia was assassinated. "You seem to be someone the Lieutenant trusts, as such, I am willing to tell you the entirety of her story." The servant shifted his position to somewhat grant himself some extra comfort as he began.

"Sir Orleans excelled in magic, surpassing even his elder brother, Joseph. Above all else, he was talented and beloved. Five years ago, following the death of the King, the palace was divided on who the successor should be."

A fight over succession, figures, Kirche thought to herself as she let the servant continue.

"During this particularly gruesome battle for the throne, Sir Orleans was murdered with a poisoned arrow while hunting, making Joseph the de facto King and Commander of Gallia."

A sense of grieving and shock hit Kirche. She had no idea her friend had suffered through so much.

"Those who supported Joseph then sought to eliminate competition to the throne," the servant continued, "the Lieutenant herself was targeted for assassination." Kirche let out an audible gasp as she began to panic. Was her friend really in this much danger all the time? "One night, the Lieutenant and her mother were attending a dinner party. The Lieutenant was offered a drink by what was assumed to be a kind stranger, but the Ma'am, Lieutenant Charlotte's mother, quickly deduced something was amiss and stole the glass away from her. Upon doing so, the drink lept from the glass and into the Ma'am's mouth, where the aqua magic cast upon the drink immediately shattered her mind.'' Kirche could hardly contain the tears that she could feel beginning to well up. "With so many witnesses, the case was well-known and the noble who attempted the assassination was swiftly condemned. Ma'am sacrificed herself to protect our Lady Lieutenant Charlotte." The servant's fists were gripped in tightly contained rage as he regaled this story to the Germanian noble before him. "Ever since, Ma'am has been…" his voice trailed off as he looked off to his side. To Kirche, it looked as though a thousand-yard stare had taken over his face. "Tabitha is the name of the doll the Lieutenant gave Ma'am as a present. The Ma'am now believes it is her daughter. Since that day, the once cheerful Lady Lieutenant Charlotte seemed to seal away her emotions. The attacks on her have continued, but have not been as direct. Her would-be killers instead have her sent on suicide missions, using her talent as a mage as an excuse as to why they risk her life so willingly. However, despite impossible odds, she has succeeded in every task not just for her own sake, but for her mother's."

Kirche was almost speechless, yet still, questions remained that she could not help but to ask. "And for what reason was she sent to Tristain?" she inquired with growing concern for her friend.

"Since she had accomplished enough to be in control of her own territory by now, the royal court decided to instead grant her the rank of Lieutenant and expelled her from the country in all but name," the servant answered.

Kirche looked to the floor to ponder. Expelled, huh? Giving a small smile to herself as she thought that. The servant, seeing the smile, was slightly taken aback by her expression, but before their conversation could continue, the door on the other side of the room from where they entered opened and the petite, blue-haired Tabitha stepped into the room. Looking upon her friend, Kirche could see the telltale signs of an emotional encounter with her eyes reddened and puffy. Not wanting to burden her friend with more emotional weight, she reverted to her cheery self and quickly rose to meet her friend as she stepped in.

"Gee, what took you so long, Tabitha?" she asked, with a wide smile as though nothing was wrong. "Anyway, I'd like to wash the sweat of the journey off of me, let's go!" she took her friend's hand and confidently marched forward through the door they originally came in from, not noticing the ever so slight solemn smile on her friend's face and with complete ignorance as to what had transpired for her.

-Earlier-

Tabitha stood outside their mother's door, in a quiet mixture of hesitation and anticipation. Please be different, they thought to themselves as they pushed the door open. Before them lay a large, sparsely decorated room, with merely a bed fit for a king, a solitary upholstered chair, and a single table upon which rested one lukewarm cup of tea on a saucer. Upon the chair Tabitha could see their mother, staring, as she so often did, out the floor to ceiling windows across from the door with a blank expression. Tabitha slowly approached their mother and knelt before her. As they approached, they could see their mother was still clutching the doll they had given her.

My namesake. If only she could see… I'm right here… as if their mother read their thoughts, she turned to kneeling Tabitha with the same wide-eyed blank stare. "I have just returned home, mother," Tabitha looked deep into their mother's eyes, which began to turn wild.

"Go away you insolent girl!" their mother screamed.

The same as always… why do I ever hope? they thought, as their eyes dropped to the floor. Tabitha's mother continued her almost incoherent ranting, spouting off conspiracy theories, insults, accusations, and general nonsense as she tightly gripped the doll in her arms. It was always the same. Tabitha visited their mother as often as they could stomach it, and each time there was no improvement. Their mother still didn't see them. Not as they truly were, anyways. They were only seen as an intruder, an assassin, an enemy. Tabitha had long since built up emotional strength against this… but it never failed that in the heat of the moment of the visit, they could feel the creeping sense of mourning and anger within them. Mourning for the mother they fear they have lost, and anger at the ones who did this to her, but even as they felt this, they could feel another familiar feeling creeping in. Guilt. No matter how they looked at this situation, they could not help but to feel overwhelming guilt and believe that it should have been them who was like this, not their dear mother.

"You were sent by the palace!" Their mother continued in her crazed ranting, "Do you plan on killing my Charlotte like you did my husband?!" the doll was gripped tighter and pulled away into a sheltered embrace at the utterance of their old name.

Can't you see mother? It's me. Your child. I'm right here. Please… Tabitha thought desperately. They wished they could be like Siesta and Louise's mentor and just… reach into their mother's mind and fix it.

"How terrifying to think that MY child would even aim for the throne! We just want a quiet life!" Tabitha's mother exclaimed as she loosed a hand to grab the stirring spoon in front of her, "Now LEAVE!" she screamed as the spoon was hurled at Tabitha's head, making direct contact. Tabitha could feel the immediate pain of the impact, but did not flinch or wince. "I will NEVER give her to anyone! This child…" Tabitha's mother's voice and face softened as she looked down at the doll she was caressing with her face, "Charlotte is my dear daughter."

Tabitha knew this was the easiest time to leave. As their mother swooned over the doll and let a crazed, obsessive expression take over her face, they knew she was, despite appearances, in some state of comfort at the moment. Tabitha rose to their feet, looking down at their mother practically burying her face in the doll, "I'll come back, mother." They turned to leave as their mother was distracted with the doll, and as they opened the door they chanced one last look. "I love you," they said mournfully as they quietly shut the door behind them.

It never failed. Despite years of hacking away at anything within themselves that could betray vulnerability, these visits never failed to rouse what little could be scrounged up. I guess it's alright... they thought, as they let the tears flow freely once again.

-Later-

Geez, she never gets a break, does she? Kirche thought as she looked over her peacefully sleeping friend. After bathing and attending dinner, a letter was brought to Tabitha, with orders from the king. Kirche, wanting to support her friend, volunteered to help, even against the protests of Tabitha or, rather, what little vocal protests she could ever muster. After admitting that she now knew the full story, Tabitha had relented. I said I would go but this is a big deal, Kirche thought with a sigh. She then noticed Tabitha stir restlessly in her sleep.

"Mother! No! You musn't drink that!" she exclaimed.

She must be having nightmares. I wonder how often this happens… Kirche thought as she went to her friend's side and embraced her. At the moment their bodies met, peace came over Tabitha once more. This feverette will warm you and melt away your fears. Kirche's head buzzed with warmth and affection as she held her friend close, So don't worry, and sleep well.

"Mother…" Tabitha whispered, as she drifted back into a restful sleep.