Katarina stared at the textbook before her with a feeling of having done this before. She distinctly remembered having read this page already, but not remembering anything that came before it… just like she was reading this page right now but barely remembering everything that came before it. Why couldn't she remember the contents of a book she'd just read that morning? It can't just that it was so boring! And complicated! And boring! And she got the feeling it was all very impolite! True, it spoke about what behavior was considered rude a lot, but she got the sense it was telling you this so you could do it.
Argh! Why couldn't noble society be simple? You say 'sorry' when you do something wrong, you say 'thank you' if someone gives you something or does something nice for you, you say 'please' when you're asking for something. And yeah, noble society had that too. But it also had, like, too many forks! This was why she got one fork when she ate from the buffet and stuck with it!
She could hear the knights of the royal guard as they practiced or talked or did maintenance on their weapons and armor. Maria had told her to ignore them and study, and Katarina got the feeling the knights had been asked not to bother her. Katarina had only The Book of Doom in front of her, the blackboard, her little notebook made from folded papers full of handwritten notes that made very little sense (AND SHE'D WRITTEN THEM!) and all day to study. Still, she felt like this book was rotting her brain, like she was left with only one braincell because all the rest had taken off their shoes and jumped.
She'd dodged the bad ends, right? Why did this feel like a truly terrible 'the idiot protagonist was suddenly just killed by the priest his girlfriend recognized' ending? Nevertheless, Katarina persisted! She kept reading the chapters– why were the letters so tiny when the book was so big?!– then read them again when she realized she'd gotten to the bottom of the page and had forgotten everything that came before it, including what she'd just read.
With a sigh, Katarina went back to near the beginning of the chapter once more, the notebook she'd made from some folded papers to one side, half-filled with notes that she didn't remember making, even though they were in her handwritting. She examined what she'd made notes on, winced as they didn't made little sense, and started reading again… again… again…
It had been a long, relaxing, but productive day. Maria had managed to arrange a meeting with some nobles who had sent letters of inquiry about nightflowers to her manor, so that she had more appointments lined up after Sophia's meetings were exhausted, and had even found time to try remembering how to make primer caps. She'd failed miserably at that last– she remembered more quicksilver being part of it, but little beyond that– but at least she'd tried.
It was late afternoon as her carriage rolled into her estate, and she wearily stepped down to let the horses finally make their way back to the stables to get their well-deserved rest. She looked about, and sighed a little since there was no one–
Maria heard shoes skid to a stop, and the front door opened.
"Welcome home, Lady Maria-dono," Sadako said, stepping through the door and bowing to her in the Ashina way.
"Ah," Maria said, feeling suddenly heartened by the gesture. "I have returned, Sadako-chan. Did anything of note happen while I was gone?"
"No, Lady Maria-dono," Sadako said, waiting for her to pass before falling into step slightly behind and to one side of Maria. "Lady Ascart spent most morning trying see Claes-dono, but unsuccessful. Finally, Lady Ascart surrender and work. Lady Ascart in office."
Maria nodded. "How are preparations for dinner?"
"Kitchen told guest with dinner," Sadako said. "Small dining room ready for guest. Everyone-san told be quiet while eating because guest."
Maria nodded. "The quiet will not be needed, but the sentiment is appreciated," she said carefully. "Please be prepared to have a place for Lady Ascart, should she choose to stay for dinner."
"Yes, Lady Maria-dono," Sadako said.
Chiharu appeared and bowed to Maria, and Maia slowed to acknowledge her… well, head ward, she supposed.
"Welcome home, Lady Maria-dono," Chiharu said.
"I have returned, Chiharu-chan," Maria said and the young woman straightened. Many of her Ashina-borne wards still had difficulty meeting her eyes– apparently in their culture it was improper to do so with someone of higher rank or authority than you or something?– but Chiharu was overcoming this tendency, levelly meeting Maria's gaze. "Could you please tell everyone they don't need to be unduly quiet over dinner? As long as no one actually starts a brawl, I do not think the normal level of dinner conversation will interrupt us in the small dining room."
"As you say, Lady Maria-dono," Chiharu said.
"And see that everyone gets extra cookies for dinner," Maria continued, "In case I cannot meet with them in a timely manner because of our guest."
ono"Yes, Lady Maria-dn," Chiharu said, a flicker of a smile on her face. "I am sure everyone will enjoy that."
Maria nodded. "That is all, Chiharu-chan," she said, "unless there was anything else?"
"Your will shall be done, Lady Maria," Chiharu said, stepping aside with another bow.
Maria nodded and walked past, speaking to her maid. "Sadako, please see that Lasciel is waiting to greet Rafael at the front door when he arrives and have her explain that we will have a guest for dinner. Is my bath ready?"
"Yes, Lady Maria-dono," Sadako said. "I shall return quickly to wash your back."
Maria nodded absently as she went up the stairs and headed for Sophia's office. The door was open, so she knocked on the frame to announce her presence. "Lady Sophia?"
Sophia's head looked up from her desk, and Maria found a pair of crimson eyes glaring balefully at her. "You…!" Sophia said, her words cutting of as if she was choking on something. "You…!" she seethed.
"Do you wish to stay for dinner?" Maria said. "Dame Romani will be joining Rafael and I, and I wanted to know if you wished to attend as well."
Sophia blinked. "Who?"
"Dame Romani? Lady Katarina's cousin?" Maria clarified.
"Oh, the one with the huge tracts of land," Sophia said, finally closing her eyes and rubbing her eyelids. "Um… I don't think I can take you up on that invitation right now, Lady Maria. It's been a long day…"
Maria nodded. "I understand. I admit, undertaking your share of duties has been surprisingly tiring." The carriage rocked very comfortably, constantly lulling Maria to sleep. "Perhaps at a later date, then?"
"Sure…" Sophia said, her words sounding like they were being ground out through gritted teeth. "Later…"
"If you would like, I can assist you–" Maria began to offer.
"NO! I mean, no," Sophia said. "I managed while you were gone, I can manage now. Just have to get used to it again."
"I see," Maria said. "All right then. Please give my compliments to your parents and Lord Nicol."
"Right, got it," Sophia said. "I'll, uh, just finish this and then go home. It's been a long day."
"I'm sure you will cope better tomorrow, Lady Sophia," Maria said as she turned away. "Particularly once you stop wasting time trying to see Squire Claes."
"SEEING KATARINA IS NEVER A WASTE OF TIME!" Sophia roared. "I shall be victorious, Campbell!"
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your duties," Maria said.
Afterwards, Maria had a quick but relaxing bath. Sadako wasvery good with her hands.
"I really wish you'd given me a little more warning," Rafael said as he straightened his coat. Maria remembered it from his school days.
"Sorry," Maria said, "but she only arrived this morning, and it was a sudden invitation. If you want–"
"No, no, it's all right," Rafael said. "Just sudden, that's all. Uh, do you think she knows I once tried to kill Katarina?"
"Lady Katarina," Maria corrected pointedly, "is not the sort to hold a grudge. Or remember a grudge. Or know why there would be a grudge in the first place. Or possibly even know what a grudge is."
"Good point," Rafael said.
"That being said, I think you should bring it up to explain why you aren't interested in Lady Katarina," Maria said.
"My having a fiancée isn't explanation enough?"
Maria gave him a level look.
"Yes, I know, I heard how stupid it was as soon as I said it," Rafael said. "You realize she's likely to conspire with Katarina's maid to do something horrible to me."
"Miss Shelley? Why?"
"Pretty sure she still hasn't forgiven me for putting Katarina in a coma." Rafael said.
"Ah. Is that why she sometimes glares at you?" Maria said.
"…yes, let's go with that," Rafael said.
"She should be here soon," Maria said, glancing at the clock. The clock was one of the few things she'd deigned to keep from among the Dieke effects. Clocks were expensive and took a long time to build.
As if on cue, the bell at the gate house announcing an arrival began to ring.
Dinner proceeded quite pleasantly.
Dame Matthew Romani, it turned out, was a well-educated young woman, and while her knowledge of current events was not up to date regarding the areas around the capital, she was much educated in history, and Maria and she had several rousing discussions on their opinions on ancient wars, battles and the knights who fought in them while Rafael at least managed to look interested and occasionally asked a leading question that allowed one or both young women to explain things to him in enthusiastic detail.
What? He'd been raised to be a Marquess AND he'd worked on how to be inoffensively likeable for years, of course he had great party manners.
Eventually, the three of them retired to a sitting room where they could be private. Well, as private as they would be, with their personal maids with them, all standing arrayed along one wall and taking turns sweeping in to provide refreshments. But if you couldn't trust your personal maid, why give them the means to enter your room at any hour of day or night? Sadako had been quite dutiful and diligent, Rafael's maid Lasciel (he'd understood that he couldn't have a butler, footman or valet, as having a man so near her wards would be unduly distressing) had been initially trained for her work by Miss Shelley and had her assurance of competence, and Dame Romani's maid was likely trustworthy or she would not be here.
"You mentioned that Cousin Katarina is in some need of protections, Dame Campbell?" Dame Romani said.
"Really? You actually said that?" Rafael said, sounding surprised. "I thought we were all going to spend forever pretending she's not surrounded by people who… um… are of dubious motives?"
"Dubious motives?" Dame Romani repeated, alarmed.
"I believe some context is necessary first," Maria said. "I could, of course, be very mistaken, Dame Romani. However, after all this time, my concerns for Katarina's safety are not assuaged."
"Her safety?!" Dame Romani exclaimed again. "Is Cousin Katarina really in danger? She's literally the best defensive swordswoman I know. What concerns could there be she can't protect against?"
"Well, for one thingm Lady Katarina does not go about with a sword," Maria said. "That severely undercuts the utility of her skill. For another…" She paused. "Please understand I do not wish to speak ill of anyone. These people are… very close friends of Katarina's and she cares for them deeply. Also, I am socially acquainted with them and they are… very well known to me…"
"She means they're her friends too…" Rafael translated, making Dame Romani giggle.
"Yes, well, all that aside," Maria said quickly. "We were not always close, and before I got to know them, I made some observations while I was ignorant to their personalities and natures. It all began during my first year at the Academy. I met Lady Katarina there, and she took an interest in me. However, in my ignorance, I made certain incorrect assumptions that at the time seemed logical given the company she kept and the nature of her inquiries. I am… a bit hesitant to say…" Maria said, feeling a mild heat on her cheeks.
"Are you actually blushing?" Rafael said, looking at her face in awe and, Maria became more heated to see, some arousal.
"Um, well, I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Dame Romani said, sounding consoling and understanding. "After all, it was Cousin Katarina. It's easy to make strange assumptions about her."
"I thought she was a pimp offering me the sexual services of those in her entourage," Maria said.
Dame Romani suddenly started choking on absolutely nothing.
After her passages had been cleared, Dame Romani gave Maria an intent stare. "As my cousin's friend, I shall give you the benefit of the doubt and listen to your explanation as to why you cast such a grave aspersion on my dear cousin, Dame Campbell," she said. "Or else I shall have to protect Katarina's honor," was actually not left unsaid and spoken aloud clearly.
Maria nodded. "As I said, it was my first year at the Academy… "
A/N: So, my Pat-reon is up now at P.A.T.R.E.O.N.C.O.M -/-SCM2814. If you want to support this fic, that would be great, but no pressure. But if you do, you'll also get advanced access to my new original fiction series about a wizard on the frontier, her dungeon, and the idiots around her...