It was a perfectly ordinary day at the Campbell estate. The sun was shining, the hammers were ringing, vaguely menacing black-armored knights of the Royal Guard patrolled the grounds, Ashina and Gerudo women walked about in clothes that were a mix of recreations of their homeland's garment sand Sorcier clothing, the classroom was filled with students doing that day's lessons, and Maria Campbell sat in her office, contemplating the paperwork before her and musing that the Academy actually HAD prepared her for her future. After a brief abeyance, she was once more doing a truly terrifying amount of paperwork.

A part of her that wanted to be done with paperwork forever once more considered going to the king and confessing her treason in offering to kill Prince Alan (among others, but Prince Alan was the treasonous one) and threatening to use Dark Magic on members of the government and the royal family. When she'd asked the princes to arrange for the meeting so she may surrender herself to the King's justice, The Third Prince and Prince Alan had talked her out of it (after they'd ascertained that she was, in fact, serious). It had been her duty as a knight to report anyone willing to commit such a treasonous action, especially if it was herself, and she had insisted so, but the princes had pointed out it would put her mother, her wards and those under her protection in a precarious position.

"Look," Prince Alan had said, looking aggravated. "If it happens again, THEN you tell him, since that'll mean it's a recurring habit. But you only did it once, and you only talked about it, so it's not like any treason actually happened."

"But I offered to kill you," Maria had insisted.

"Yes, and I expect an apology for that, but you didn't' actually do it, so relax and stop being so dutiful!" Prince Alan had said.

She'd allowed herself to be convinced– and given the apology– but had promised herself that should such a thing happen again, she would go straight to the king to report such treasonous behavior as was her duty.

Or if she really wanted to never have to do paperwork ever again, that was a good reason too.

Distantly she heard the ringing of the bell at the front gate guard post.


"Maria-chan!" Katarina Claes cried as she leapt out of the carriage that had finally been admitted inside. "It's great to see you again!"

"Lady Katarina," Maria said, enduring the sudden enthusiastic hug upon her person. "You're back, I see. Did you have a pleasant trip?"

"Oh, it was really fun!" Katarina said. "My cousins are so nice and my uncles and aunties were really nice too, and I made lots of new friends and I can't wait for my cousin to go to the Academy next year, I'll introduce you two, I'm sure you'd get along…"

Maria nodded along to the deluge of words as she led Katarina inside. Katarina, of course, seemed completely unaware she was being led, as Maria took them to one of the small sitting rooms that had been refurbished to meet with nobles asking Maria to take their souls and set it on fire with loud bangs. Sophia didn't even have to drive up the price anymore, they drove it up themselves to try to be the first among their friends to have bigger, grander, louder, brighter displays.

Eventually, the rush of words ended, mostly because Katarina had noticed a maid brought food and tea in.

"So, what's new with you?" Katarina said. "And where's Keith? They said he was here."

"Lord Keith left before you arrived," Maria said. "He should be back in your lands by now."

Katarina blinked. "Wait, you're calling him 'Lord Keith'? Did you two… grow closer?"

Maria tried to ignore the seeming undercurrent of horror in Katarina's voice at those words. "Yes, he was very lonely while you were gone, so I invited him to spar with me in the mornings. Without you, he doesn't have anyone to practice with, after all. "

"Oh…" Katarina said. Why are your eyes very wide like you're staring into your impending death. "I see." She picked up her teacup, blew on it and took a sip.

"To answer your other question, I've recently become engaged," Maria said.

Maria blinked, protecting her eyes. Huh. Was this the first time this has happened? Maria tried to recall. Surely her bullies had tried this before? Nope, nothing in her memory. This was, in fact, the first time she'd been spat on. Although it wasn't so much as a spit as a spray of all the tea Katarina had just gulped down.

Maria reached for a napkin to wipe her face, but Katarina suddenly grabbed her shoulders. "You're engaged?!"

"Yes, I believe I just mentioned that," Maria said in a tone much dryer than her face.

"Who is it? Is it Keith? Please tell me it's not Keith, I don't want to die!"

Maria gave her an offended look. "Why would I be engaged to your brother?" Unlike the Claes heir, she wasn't into incest. "I'm engaged to Rafael," she said.

The relief on Katarina's face, quickly became joy. "Oh, good! I was worried there for a second, I thought you getting close to Keith meant… er, never mind. Congratulations!"

"Thank you?" Maria said, not sure on whose behalf she should be offended. Then she remembered this was Katarina. Any offense wasn't intended.

"So what happened?" Katarina asked eagerly. "How did he propose? Where? When? Did he accidentally scar your face?"

"Why would he scar my face?" Maria said, confused.

"In my experience, that's what engagements involve," Katarina said with a worldly, knowing air.

Aaaand Maria was reminded of why she had to protect this child. Really, who taught her these things?

"There was no face-scarring involved," Maria said. "And I proposed to him. Rafael is a commoner after all, it would be improper of him to have ideas above his station and propose to a noble."

"But you'd still say yes if he did, right?" Katarina said, with a slightly more appropriate knowing smile.

"Oh course," Maria said.

Katarina nodded, then seemed to remember something. Her face became alarmed. "AH! I just remembered, is your mother all right? I mean, I assume you rescued her, that's why you're back home, but is she okay?"

Maria's insides became tense, but she forced herself to relax. "Mother is fine," she said in a calm, reasonable tone that was as much to calm her down as Katarina. "She has recovered from her ordeal and doing very well. I believe she's currently off having a walk with Miss Shelley to take in the air."

"Ah. Take in the air. Yes, it's totally that," Katarina said, nodding along with her words. "Ooh, I should probably tell Anne I'm back. I hope she'll be willing to come back to me. I mean, she might have really, really, really enjoyed her time here."

"I already have a young maid trained to assist and accompany mother, so you may take Miss Shelley home at any time," Maria said. "Though mother says she needs no assistance, she's probably just trying to keep me from worrying. I know she relies on Miss Shelley a lot, even in the middle of the night. Why, Miss Shelley moved in with mother so she can be of assistance at all hours."

For some reason, Katarina gave her a very strange look. "Maybe she just wants company," Katarina said. "You know, someone to talk to, have fun with… They are friends, after all."

"I suppose…" Maria mused. "I shall have to speak with mother about it once you take Miss Shelley home."

"Eh, I'm not in any hurry," Katarina said. "I've gone months without Anne, I can go a little longer."

Suddenly she snapped her fingers. "Ooh, I just remembered! While I'm here, I have a favor I need to ask you."

"Oh?" Maria said. "What is it? If it's free fireworks, I'm afraid I can't."

"No, it's not fireworks," Katarina said. "You're a knight, right?"

"Yes, I believe I am," Maria said dryly. She reached for her own tea and took a sip, pleased it had reached a pleasant temperature and wishing she had some decent blood to mix with it.

"I wanna be a knight too," Katarina said. "Can I be your squire?"

Tea, no matter what temperature, was very unpleasant when it was expelled from one's nostrils.