That night was the first time Maria slept in her lands. She had tried to get ahead by cleaning up by herself, since they had enough brooms for that at least, but she'd barely managed to finish one room and part of a hallway. She had dinner and slept in the dormitory with the children, which in hindsight was ill-advised. For some reason her presence made them very excited, and she had to agree to tell them a story as they curled up next to her, which had involved pressing some beds together and lots of unorthodox positioning for everyone to fit.
She told them parts of the story of the Chosen Lord, of how he had defeated the nameless king, of the time he'd found the ringed city at the end of the world, of his magic crown that made him truly immortal and allowed him to usurp the Flame and save the world from Ash.
Most were asleep before she got halfway there, and she didn't even have to tell of his fight with the Last Lord of Cinder.
Her own sleep was a bit awkward, but with a pillow at her back between her and the headboard she actually managed a decent night's sleep.
The next day was filled with work. A surprising number of people from the village had come, and had some not bought food for everyone she'd have worried about providing the meals she had promised. Fortunately, some of them had worked in the kitchen back when the Marchioness had ruled, and knew their way about the manor's servant areas and the large pots there for making food for many. Some joked it was like they still worked there. Maria made note of them, hoping she could convince them to work for her. She had originally never planned needing such a large staff, since she had thought to use the manor and it's grounds for the production of gunpowder and arms, but given developments plans would need to change.
The children wanted to help, so Maria split them up, tasking one group to provide water, another group to help with the cooking and for the third to help with the women who had come to do laundry. The stored linens and other sleeping paraphernalia to be washed were stacked in a convenient room on the first floor, while another room next to it was cleaned so they'd have somewhere to put the laundered ones. After that, Maria and those from the village proceeded to clean the house from top to bottom.
The attics had already been searched for evidence and things to be sold, so it mostly contained old furniture that had gone out of fashion, very old clothes, armor and weapons that had been stored because of same, and random strange knickknacks that any house, common or noble, seemed to accumulate. Some giant rats had been found, but they did not speak, so Maria wasn't sure if these were merely large rats or outcasts from The King Below. She'd been surprised to learn of that in her lessons this year. But apparently the mushroom people were still just a silly story.
Maria had been concerned, but the village's talking cat, known to most as Sly Selina and was a partner in the saw mill, reassured her that it didn't matter either way, for any rat up above who did not speak were either merely common vermin or exiled to die. The Light Mage liked her a lot more than she did the talking cat who lived in her home village. That meowing quim had spread all sorts of distressing stories about the reason for Maria's father's disappearance, and their veracity aside, they had clearly upset mother.
Room by room, over the next few days the manor was remade ready for human habitation, with the bedrooms cleaned and the various rooms that only seemed to exist for ostentation, like the room with the piano, the hedonistic fornication dungeon, the various sitting rooms, the solar, the conservatory, the small ballroom, and various bedrooms. There were actually quite a lot more than Maria had thought. According to the Mayor, the Diekes used to be more numerous, but ill health and previous Marquees being on one of the losing factions of the infighting after the death of the previous king had both depopulated the family and killed many of their loyal retainers. Also, the previous Marquees had been of the hedonistic sort with many lovers…
Maria sighed, and wondered what she'd do when that part of Rafael's blood eventually bled true. Hopefully she could come to an understanding with whatever women he took a fancy to. She hoped it was someone like Lady Ascart. She liked Lady Ascart. She was sensible.
Well, at least they had room, although not quite enough beds. The bathrooms were large, but not large enough, and Maria suspected it would be in use all hours of the day. She'd need to have a larger bath built. Fortunately, the manor had cisterns as well as wells, though without a Water Magic wielder she'd need someone to operate the pumps that would bring up the water. Another person she'd have to hire. No, at least three so they wouldn't be overworked. And she'd need more water, not just for people but for production. Didn't she had a waterway nearby…?
Had Queen Annalise ever had to deal with these problems in running Cainhurst? Or perhaps that was what the king had been for. Had Master Laurence? Master Willem? Was this why they had a thing for face-concealing headwear, to hide their tiredness?
Maria thought long and hard before deciding to spare the library, deciding that she needed to check it for useful references and records. She had it swept, the vat with the wax for dipping your head into cleaned and tidied, then sealed. The secret areas and the basement, she'd have to clean up herself. There was a chance the presence of townpeople they knew in life would cause vengeful crimson spirits to appear in the basement, so Maria would have to be careful. Though she was optimistic. If one of those hadn't torn the Marchioness apart in her time here, there probably weren't any.
Rafael's room or, as some of those who used to work there called it with melancholy, 'Lord Sirius's Room' was left untouched, at her request.
"After all, he had done the right thing, despite how much it must have pained him, and reaped no reward from it," she had said with a straight face. "Wherever he is, I hope he has found a measure of happiness."
There were mournful nods of agreement, and the room was left sealed, which was fortunate, as Maria had left Rafael's sketches everywhere, and he had been so embarrassed when someone, namely her, had seen them. Really, Rafael should have more confidence in himself. His aesthetic tastes were excellent.
On the second day of work, a servant of Katarina's had arrived, bearing notes and schoolwork for the days Maria had missed. Maria wanted to make excuses for her improper appearance, wearing farming garb Katarina had gifted her, but the servant hadn't batted an eye. Maria wasn't sure if it was because they'd served Katarina so long or some other reason, but felt almost offended by that.
She'd needed to get the children to sleep early so she could focus on her studies, but fortunately they had been tired from the day's work, and had fallen asleep quickly. Some of the caretaker girls female relatives had volunteered to stay over to help prepare food for the next day, which had made Maria feel guilty at her inadequate preparations. She had offered to pay them for their trouble, but the women had demurred for some reason, and Maria hadn't pushed the issue. While she still had a tidy sum put away and this wasn't even making that big a dent on it, habit acquired from this life as a commoner made her wince at the expense tally, miniscule as it was compared to her overall funds.
Perhaps they just missed their family. She knew she did.
Academic work was slightly delayed as she wrote letters to Rafael, her mother and, after some hesitation, to Katarina.
The next few days progressed similarly. Rooms were swept, dusted and cleaned, furniture was rearranged in preparation for making them into sleeping quarters once the beds she had commissioned had arrived, other things that people don't often think about when living their lives had to be prepared. Lavatories, for instance. Maria had six outhouses dug and built and made note that proper facilities be built with future bathing areas. Only two were finished in time, but that sufficed until the others.
The manor had no convenient sewers to connect to, nor any underground retention chamber, lest the wells be tainted, so in the days of the manor someone had needed to haul the muck that dropped from the house. That would need to be a chore for someone else, though she'd be able to use that for niter…
That had been a learning experience, finding out where elements for the gunpowder in their weapons came from. At least she had farms to send the other stuff now.
On the last day before the rescuees would arrive, somehow everything was finished, save for the outhouses. She dismissed everyone early, handed the last day's pay and even managed to not need to feed them dinner. She told the children to pack up their things and prepare to move to the manor once everything was settled. Since the manor would be occupied now, it made little sense to keep them in the dormitory.
And then for the first time in days, she headed back to the Academy.
"Welcome back, Lady President," Lady Cavendish said as Maria entered the student council room, having changed from her Hunters garb. "I trust you are well?"
"What preparations can be made have been made, and now I must see to my other responsibilities," Maria said, nodding at everyone and sitting at her desk, where there was a lot of work to do. "Lord Ascart sends his greetings, by the way."
"Yes, Lady Katarina said," Lady Ascart responded. She no longer appeared to be scribbling on her desk.
"Where is she?" Maria said. Katarina had responded to her letter, but she was surprised she was absent from the council room when her friends-slash-insatiably-lustful-retinue were.
"Ah, the kitchen staff is asking her how she made her vegetable snacks from the festival," Lord Claes said with a sigh. "Apparently they were so popular there was a request to make them a regular part of the menu."
"How... almost normal," Maria said. "The children said their love as well."
"Ah, I'm glad to hear they're doing well. I suppose this is one incidence of my fiancée being occupied that I can't pin on you," the Third Prince said.
"I would suggest learning to bake, it seems to be much more attractive to her than being royalty," Maria said blandly as she did her accumulated paperwork.
The Third Prince twitched. "How hurtful and unfortunately true. Even in the face of sweets from the most exclusive cafes in the capital, she prefers yours. What is your secret?"
"My baked goods are filled not with love but with utter apathy for whether or not Lady Claes is desirable," Maria said.
Prince Alan started to laugh.
"You are a twisted, twisted human being, to think like that," Lady Hunt said, looking utterly serious.
"Shana sends her regards and wishes you well as well, Lady Hunt," Maria said.
"Don't try and change the subject by mentioning my adorable student!" Lady Hunt said. "How was she, by the way?"
"Happy and innocent as a child should be," Maria said.
"Good!"
"I must say, I think it's amazing you're caring for those poor people, Lady Campbell," Lady Landoor said. "Is there anything I can do? I feel moved to help."
"Besides sending foodstuffs for many people to last a long time, everything that can be done has been done," Maria said, but sighed. "Unless you know someone who speaks the language of the Gerudo? There are a few Gerudo among them, and we have not been able to give them verbal assurance of their safety and situation due to being unable to communicate. "
"I'm afraid not, Lady Campbell," Lady Landoor said.
"I speak Gerudosa."
Maria's head snapped up.
Lady Cavendish looked mildly alarmed for some reason as Maria stared at her intently. "Truly?"
"Y-yes. Father invited some farmers from Gerudo back to his estates when he brought bananas to Sorcier, since he didn't know how to grow them, and they've lived there ever since. Unc– er, that is, our plantation manager, N'bergu, taught me Gerudosa when I was young, since sometimes members of their families arrive from Gerudo and don't know our language. My sisters and I are all fluent," Lady Cavendish said, looking uncomfortable. Why was she leaning back. "Er, Lady Campbell?"
"Lady Cavendish, I need you," Maria said intensely. Why was Lady Ascart cackling like that? "I need you desperately. Will you come with me? Please say yes."
"I… this is so sudden… I'm not sure…" Lady Cavendish said. Oh dear, Maria had overwhelmed her.
"I apologize for my forwardness, but I must have your answer," Maria said. "I'm going tomorrow, and will need you by my side."
"I-it's not the forwardness, it's just… this is so unexpected…!"
"I understand it's sudden, but I need you very much," Maria said. "Will you come with me tomorrow? My lands aren't far from here, I should be able to return you before dinner."
"So fast…!"
"Please say yes," Maria said intently.
Lady Cavendish swallowed. For some reason, Lord Claes was muttering something about there being two of them. Two of what? "Y-yes…"
Maria sighed in relief. "Excellent. I will ask if you may be excused from tomorrow's classes. I apologize again for the suddenness, but unless one of your sisters suddenly appears, you are my only hope to do right by those people, Lady Cavendish."
Taking a copy of the form she would need, she headed for the Principal's office.
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"Your highnesses, Lord Claes, Lady Hunt, Lady Ascart, with all due respect, please wipe those smug looks off your faces and get back to work."
"This is exactly how Katarina got started, you know," Keith said, sending a nostalgic glare the Third Prince's way.
"It's nothing like that! She just needs help, and it's for a good cause!" Diana protested, blushing.
"If you need any advice for toppling your enemies, just ask!" Sophia said cheerfully.
"It can't be any good, as they're still there," Lord Copperfield said dryly.
Sophia winced. "Ouch. Harsh, but true."
"May calamity befall all your camels, elephants, lizards and birds, and your champions sleep for a hundred years," Diana muttered the old curse in Gerudosa, trying to block them out with work.
Her blush eventually subsided.
