Maria had forbidden Katarina from bringing any of her novels. As such, Katarina had slept early when the other knights had for lack of anything better to do, and so she was actually able to wake up at the intended time without Anne to wake her.
She'd risen with the excitement of someone looking forward to the day, like the first day of summer camp and secretly hoping to find your destined cute little murder monster from another dimension so you could save the world together, or the day of the release of a game you'd been looking forward to and had preordered.
Katarina had gotten up and almost gotten dressed in her farming clothes before she remembered this was her first day of being a squire, and had changed into the simple leather pants, shirt and the new scabbard at her waist for her practice sword. She also made sure the leather necklace she'd been given with the little metal badges was around her neck. Maria had been really specific about that. If she didn't have them, they wouldn't allow her inside the moat, and she'd have to sleep out in the fields.
She headed out to where Maria had said to meet her, an empty field in the back of the manor, in sight of Maria's old house that she'd somehow moved here. Katarina had thought they'd only done things like that in America!
With nothing better to do, Katarina started her warm up before moving on to her sword drills.
Whatever training Maria was going to give her, Katarina was totally going to be ready for it!
Katarina totally wasn't ready for this!
"Are there any questions?" Maria said after she finished explaining.
Katarina tentatively raised a hand.
"Yes, squire Claes?"
"I thought being a knight was learning how to fight and things," Katarina said with a plaintive wail. "Why are we having classes?!"
"It can't be helped," Maria said.
"You said the thing!"
"A knight is expected to not only be a peerless warrior, but also a consummate gentleman or lady. As such, they must be constantly aware of proper behavior and must act with perfect decorum in all situations."
"What, really?!"
"Normally, most knights would not have to be taught this, but you have often demonstrated that you are woefully lacking in appreciation for proper behavior."
"So it's my fault?!"
"Therefore, to ensure that you will be able to proudly comport yourself as a knight should during formal events, I will be teaching you th basics of proper behavior from the very beginning."
"EH?! You're teaching me everything from the beginning? Not even my mother during one of her lectures taught me everything from the beginning!"
"It is unfortunately necessary," Maria said. "By the time I'm done with you, you will be a proper noble knight of Sorcier."
"Can't I be one of those eccentric knights who goes around wandering the countryside, saving people from dogs and leaving mysteriously, not taking the credit for what they do?" Katarina asked plaintively.
"Such people don't exist, squire Claes. They are merely the result of wild rumors and inane gossip. I assure you there is not one knight in all Sorcier who behaves so scandalously." Maria said. She frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing," Katarina said.
Maria gave her a piercing look, but Katarina just stared at her innocently. Really, Maria was such a heroine, being completely oblivious to how she made everything around her better.
"Very well," Maria finally continued. She put down the thick book she was carrying in front of Katarina.
Katarina knew that book. She had nightmares about that book.
"This is 'The Noble's Proper Etiquette Reference and Manual of Propriety and Action'," Maria began. "Seventh edition. It is penned and constantly updated by an unknown author–"
"It's mother," Katarina said blandly.
"–who is nevertheless recognized as an authority on proper decorum–"
"Like mother."
"– and has been the codified reference of choice for what a noble is expected to do in any particular situation," Maria said.
"Because of mother," Katarina said.
"I really don't see why you think the duchess has anything to do with this book, squire Claes," Maria said.
"There's a section on climbing trees, farming, fishing and taking baths with your younger brother," Katarina said. "So I'm pretty sure mother wrote it."
"The author of this text is a complete mystery," Maria said.
"We're only up to sixth edition," Katarina said. "The seventh hasn't been published yet. It's supposed to come out next week."
Maria blinked. "I have to ask how you know that given you seem to bear a great antipathy for this work."
"It's the best-selling non-fiction book in the capital," Katarina said. "The announcement of when it comes out is always up right next to where the next Night Fall book comes out. You can't miss it."
"Ah," Maria said, nodding. "Then, I'm sure you can guess what we are going to do with it."
"Bury it in the back where it can no longer ruin anymore lives?" Katarina said hopefully.
"Try again," Maria said dryly.
"Strap it to our chests as armor?"
"No."
"…read it…"
"No," Maria said, and Katarina perked up, daring to hope as she saw light at the end of the tunnel. "We are going to have you study it." It turned out there was a lurking flame demon at the end of the tunnel. "We will not begin any other training until you have successfully proven to me you have retained at least the basic proper behaviors outlined in the book."
"Even the parts about farming?" Katarina asked, on the verge of tears.
"Yes," Maria said. "Of course, you could quit and you wouldn't have to study this."
Katarina looked at the book with a pained face, torn.
Maria waited.
Reluctantly, Katarina opened the book.
"You should know, there were will weekly written tests," Maria said, and Katarina stared at her in horror. "The contents of the test will be the same every week. So I would strongly advise you to not simply forget what you studied after a test, as you will need to answer the same test again. Failure pass the tests will result in… consequences."
Katarina gasped in horror. She'd have to actually remember what she studied even after the test?! "Lady Maria is too strict!"
Maria merely smiled.
For the first time, Katarina wondered if Maria and the black-hearted prince might actually be a good match after all…
Late that morning, the manor received a visitor.
"Lady Maria, I'm here to see my fiancé," the Third Prince said as soon as he stepped out of his carriage.
"Hello as well, your highness," Maria said. "Yes, it's nice to see you again as well. What an unexpected surprise. Did you have a good trip from the capital? Why yes, we have been well lately, thank you for asking."
The Third Prince gave her a glower. Then he sighed, turned around, stepped back into his carriage, and closed the door behind him.
The carriage door opened again, and the Third Prince stepped out, an obviously fake smile on his face. "Good morning, Lady Maria. It's so nice to see you again. I apologize for just dropping in unexpectedly, but I found I had the time and so I chose to drop in to see how the children were doing. I believe they are about to dismiss for lunch soon? How have you been since I last saw you? Doing well, I hope?"
"I'm sure the children will be delighted that you visited, your highness," Maria said. "I hope you don't mind the village children being present as well? We've offered to host them for lunch so they don't have to walk to the village and back."
"Ah, how kind and generous of you. Now, are we done? Where's my fiancé?" the Third Prince said, still with that painfully fake smile on his face.
Maria sighed. "Fine, if setting a good example for your subjects pains you so much. Come, we can speak in the sitting room. I'll have the maids bring more snacks."
"With all due respect, Lady Maria, I'm here to see my fiancé," the Third Prince said.
"Yes, that is what we will be speaking about," Maria said. She turned and began to talk to the sitting room.
After a moment, the prince began to follow, and was soon abreast of her.
"So, that atrocious farce aside, how have you been?" Maria asked. "I believe that there is considerable bustle in the capital right now due to the upcoming conference in a few months?"
"I'm vividly reminded of the Student Council under you," the Third Prince said with a sigh. "I've even started going to the Light Magic wielders at the end of the day to get my hand treated. It's probably just me, but they don't seem to be as good as you. I swear there's still some sort of ache."
"Is that how you're finding the time to be here?" Maria said. "Justifying it as a medical leave?"
"Well, it is now," the Third Prince said, with the look of someone stealing a good idea.
"You're welcome," Maria said.
They entered the sitting room to find Mary Hunt trying to climb out the window and being held back by Sadako's grip on the back of her dress.
Maria sighed. "Really, Lady Hunt, I leave for a moment to greet a visitor and this is what you get up to."
Lady Hunt glared over her shoulder but, having been caught, allowed herself to be pulled back in. She pointed dramatically at Maria as Sadako moved to close the window. "Where is my dear Lady Katarina, Lady Campbell? What have you done with her?"
"Exactly what she asked," Maria said, gesturing for the prince to take a seat. He did so, looking at her coolly, as Lady Hunt flounced back to where she'd been seated, picked up a cookie, and bit into it savagely. "Lady Katarina, for reasons of her own, asked to become my squire so she could become a knight. I accepted."
"Dung pies!" Lady Hunt exclaimed coarsely. "Duchess Claes would never have been all right with that!"
"She gave me her approval when I spoke to her, so that is incorrect," Maria said. She saw Lady Hunt visibly stop herself from saying something. "I now have the honor and burden of educating my squire in the ways of knighthood. As I was never formally squired, I shall have to carefully learn how to do so, lest I teach my squire incorrectly."
"I wasn't going to say anything, but since you brought it up," the Third Prince said brightly, "are you even qualified to take on a squire?"
Maria thought about her past life, being trained to be a hunter, and then helping train other hunters.
"It's Katarina Claes," she said instead. "Being qualified to teach her anything is meaningless if she doesn't actually learn."
From the faces the other two were making, they were in reluctant agreement.
"I wish to see my fiancé," the Third Prince said.
"I want to see Lady Katarina!" Lady Hunt demanded.
"Unacceptable," Maria said. "We have only just begun her training. I will not allow her to be distracted. She has also not yet earned the privilege of being allowed visitors."
"Allowed visitors… you're making her sound like a prisoner!" Lady Hunt exclaimed.
From outside the room came a wail of despair.
"Was that… Lady Katarina?" Lady Hunt said, aghast.
Maria sighed. "She's being overdramatic. Her bad habits when it comes to studying that she picked up at the academy are catching up with her."
If anything, Lady Hunt looked even more aghast. "You're making Lady Katarina study?"
"Of course," Maria said. "She needs it."
The Third Prince slowly stood up. "Lady Campbell, it is clear that my fiancé is in great distress," he said in an authoritative tone. "As your prince, I demand you take me to her immediately."
"As her knight and master, I refuse," Maria replied evenly.
The Third Prince actually frowned. "I'm not kidding, Lady Campbell. Take me to her."
"I still refuse," Maria said. "If you have any objections, please take it up with my liege."
"Are you serious?" the Third Prince exclaimed.
"As I knight, it is well within my rights to dictate who may or may not see my squire during their training," Maria said. "If you object, you may take it up with my liege."
"You want me to bring father into this?" the Third Prince said, and even Lady Hunt stared as she realized who Maria was talking about.
"When I was knighted, the king charged me to be deserving of such an honor," Maria said. "This is how I do so. Squire Claes may start receiving visitors in a few months–"
"Months!" Lady Hunt exclaimed.
"– if she has shown sufficient progress in her training and education," Maria said. "Until then, her interactions will be strictly limited to prevent distraction. You of all people should know how easily distracted she is. I will not brook any more argument on this matter. If you are concerned about her well-being, you may speak with Miss Shelley. She is here to ensure Katarina's health and condition during her training."
Maria took a brief sip of tea as the two stared mulishly at her.
"Now, let us discuss other things," Maria said. "Lady Hunt, you said you were here to see Shana and see how she is progressing? And your highness, you are here to visit the children, are you not?"
A/N: For those who want to support this series, or are interested in my original fiction, please support me on P.A.T.R.E.O.N.C.O.M -/-SCM2814
