Maria was aware that her Dark Magic was not forgiven so much as… not found to have done anything actually illegal. It probably signaled the end of her ability being a secret, though. While the usual method of controlling the proliferation of Dark Magic was to not allow its existence to be public knowledge, it was only logical that the other monarchs and representatives—with the unfortunate exception of La Sable, as none were present—would inform at least their personal guards about her ability, as well as their trusted advisors, and from there the information would likely spread. No doubt precautions against her would be taken, if she ever left Sorcier she would be heavily watched, she would be regarded as a political issue for or against whatever action towards Sorcier, politicians would hold her up as a reason to break treaties because 'Sorcier has Dark Magic'… Ironically, it meant more people would probably know about her Dark Magic outside of Sorcier than within it.

The other knights in the room certainly eyed her as she stood next to her king, and Dame Finlay next to King Miquella had moved so that she was between Maria and her liege. Maria wanted to point out that as a Light Magic wielder, King Miquella was functionally immune to Dark Magic, but the woman was only doing her duty. Had there been a Dark Magic wielder in the same room as her liege—besides herself, of course—Maria would have done the same.

Maria's Dark Magic wasn't the only discussion, of course. As the host of the event, King Artorias was responsible for the safety of all his guests, and while La Sable had been the one to attack, Sorcier was nominally at fault for being unable to fully protect its guest from that attack. While the other nations were now nominally allies as they had also been attacked by La Sable—or at least their delegations were—and the Lord Presider had explicitly stated he was moving against them as well, Sorcier's failure was an opportunity to negotiate for concessions to 'appease' the other nations for the losses suffered by their people. The discussions continued for some time as Maria kept careful watch for assassins in the rafters, assassins out the window, assassins hiding behind the curtains, assassins hiding under the table and other furniture, and invisible assassins. She had never seen an invisible assassin… but then, that was the point.

It was relatively late by the time the monarchs finally ended their discussions. The sun had set, and Gwyndolin's celestial corpse has entering the sky as the monarchs and representatives finally decided to table discussions for the day.

The moment the door outside opened, everyone was met with various messengers, including for King Artorias. Maria would have simply stood patiently and waited, but despite the low voices and in some cases Wind Magic, Maria heard at least once instance of 'Katarina Claes'. She repressed the urge to sigh and reminded herself that her squire probably didn't kill anyone, and any insult short of death could be dealt with.

Unless she'd somehow been kidnapped again, which wasn't outside the realm of possibility, but if someone had kidnapped her squire, the blood will fly even if Maria can't really get any satisfaction from drinking any of it.

Eventually, her king sighed, and turned towards Maria. "My knight, can you explain why Lady Claes the younger seems to be conducting an informal gala in the dining hall?"

Maria gave the king a flat look. "She's Katarina Claes, your majesty. Does her being in that chamber and surrounded by people she can befriend really need explanation?"

"I… cannot actually refute that. However, an official explanation would be helpful. She's your squire. Surely you have some insight?"

Maria considered. "It could simply be as simple as her checking on people she knows and whether they after well and unharmed from the fighting."

"I am informed that her gathering includes men and women from all delegations save La Sable's."

"As I have said, your majesty, she is Katarina Claes."

"… yes, I suppose that does it explain things, doesn't it?"

"If you have an explanation, Artorias, then I would certainly wish to hear it," King Miquella said.

Instead of answering, the king turned towards Maria expectantly.

Face completely smooth, Maria turned towards the expectant monarchs and representatives. "I presume you are familiar with the fact that Lady Katarina Claes is the fiancée of his highness, the Third Prince?" At the nods of many of them, Maria continued. "To provide context, one should know that one of Lady Katarina's defining features is the sharpness of her intellect." Next to her, the King's face went smooth and the nearby knights were suddenly standing very still. "Some have said that Katarina Claes is possessed of a shrewd and cunning mind. Others have claimed that she is subtle without compare. Despite my familiarity, I confess I am unable to attain the heights that my squire's mind operates, but in my experience, she is probably seducing the people in attendance into her sphere of influence." Maria shrugged. "Alternately, she is taking the opportunity to continue interviewing young women for the position of her brother's betrothed. Or perhaps she is simply being friendly, without guile or ulterior motive."

Maria almost literally saw people dismiss that final option out of hand, though for some reason Queen Siegmidala frowned as she did so.

"She must be very convincing, to have been able to draw out some of the woman who are attending her," Queen Xiulan said. "Lady McSweeney had stated her intention to remain in her quarters until it was time to return to Xiarmah, but she was seen in Lady Claes' company, along with a few others of note."

"As I have no knowledge of what my squire might have said, I could not possibly comment," Maria said. "Perhaps she simply wanted to have company at dinner and her invitations simply grew out of hand?" Again, she could see that perfectly innocent and innocuous explanation being dismissed as absolutely unlikely. "I can only speculate, and have reached the limits of my speculation."

They all frowned at her suspiciously—simple suspicion, or where they attributing things to her Dark Magic?—before slowly going their separate ways, each flanked by their night and a messenger as they moved to catch up with what other things they had missed while they had been meeting, while the King and Maria left to head for his office, surrounded by an escort of the royal guard who had been waiting outside the door.

Eventually, King Artorias turned towards Maria as they walked. "'Possessed of a shrewd and cunning mind'? I didn't take you for spouting outrageous lies, my knight."

"I wasn't lying, your majesty," Maria said. "I did in fact hear someone describe Lady Katarina with exactly those words. They were absolutely wrong, but they did in fact say so in my hearing."

"What kind of fool would actually say such a thing about Katarina Claes?" the king said incredulously, and the knights around them, while still silent as they marched, positively radiated agreement.

"A young fool, your majesty. I hear they have mostly grown out of it these days."

"And 'subtle without compare'?"

"Can you think of anyone with comparable subtlety, your majesty?"

"Hmm… no, I don't believe I can. I suppose that does make her 'without compare'. Though… 'sharpness of her intellect'? 'Unable to attain the heights her mind operates'?"

"I do not see what there is to question about those statements, my king. There were all factually true."

There might have been a brief laugh, quickly stifled, from the knight behind Maria and to her right.