Becoming royalty was easy. Maria had been born with it. Acting like one however, was hard.

"Greetings, Sir, I pray you are well." Maria forced a smile on her lips, which faltered when Sin shook her head. "No, my master. If they are a marquis or higher, you address them as lordship or ladyship, though you do say pray. You do not however, say 'greetings', only a commoner would speak like that. Let us try again, my master. I will pose as Vicomte, of new nobility, how am I to be addressed?"

Her voice echoed through the ballroom in which they were practising. The sun shone through the windows and onto Maria's bright red dress, the small gemstones on it reflecting the light.

They continued repetition for another three hours. The information continued to make her head spin. The table of ranks, when the title had been acquired, if the family had been prominent before or after the revolution, if they were alone or in the presence of their spouse, Sin had a different complaint and correction for every single attempt. The young master was tearing at her hair. "Can't I just have you do the introductions for me, instead?"

Sin blinked a few times and rested her hand over her heart. "Me, my master? I am but a lowly servant, the introduction of nobility would be-" Maria dismissed her concerns with a wave. "You already talk for me all the time, I don't want to learn all of this. If you do the introductions I can just talk normally, yes? I just need to be all standing tall and mysterious, right?"

The queen-to-be straightened her back, and batted her eyes. "The day has been acceptable, yes. I feel this party could provide me with entertainment, however I remain doubtful." Her tone was low and soft, and sounded tremendously bored.

"Yes, it would be acceptable. A few heads may be raised, but I am certain that your performance will spellbind the audience, my master." With two steps Sin breached the distance and bowed, stretching out her left arm. "Now, shall we begin the dancing lesson?"

Her master's expression was all the answer she needed.

Sin took the lead, taking Maria's hand and resting the other on her master's waist. She was a perfect partner for Maria, for she felt no pain at any of the copious times that she stepped on her feet. Though after three hours of it even the beast had to call for a break. "You are already doing very well, my master! I am certain that you will swoon dear lady Elizabeth with your skills in a week."

After practice came dinner, observed in silence. Sin prepared the meal for her master, who ate without looking up from her plate. When Maria put her fork down she continued to stare at the porcelaine. Sin left her be for a full three minutes before she leaned forward. "Is something the matter, my master?"

Maria leaned her head to the side. "It just feels so strange, Sin. All this time, continuously moving, and now I'm, I'm here." The sun had set, and clouds were darkening the sky. She could hear the soft pitter patter of rain hitting the windows, and a rolling storm far off in the distance. "It still feels like a dream, that I'll wake up from any moment." She pushed the plate away and stood up. "Like I will just wake up in my bed back home to my alarm, and dad telling me that, that I really, really had to get going for class."

She ran her hand across her empty shoulder, her stomach churning at the feeling. Sin had taken a step back to give her master space. "Would you wish for that to be the case?" Maria quickly shook her head. "I, don't think so, I don't know." There was a knock at the door to the dining room, and a maid peeked her head inside. "My master, a lady Elizabeth has come, wishing for an audience."

Within the minute Maria arrived at the entry hall with Sin in tow. Elizabeth was already waiting and her look made Maria's heart melt. The lady was dressed in a three piece suit, her long hair bound into a ponytail. "Remarkable for you to have such trained staff already, darling. I am impressed." She handed her umbrella to one of the maids and gave the young master a smile that made her knees weak.

"Meetings went more smoothly than expected, so I had some time left in the day, and who else to spend it with?" As the lady approached Maria, Sin's eyes began to twitch. "Can we talk, alone?"

Sin opened her mouth to speak. "Yes, of course." Her master had already made the decision, and Sin barely contained a growl. "Now now, great Sin." Elizabeth pinned her gaze on the beast. "I can assure you that nothing unsavoury will be happening, a lady knows her manners."

"Very well." Sin contained a sigh, and bowed. "I will tend to my sisters for the time being." They parted ways, Sin disappearing deeper into the manor while Maria lead her wife-to-be into the study. When the doors closed behind them Maria quickly took her seat, her legs would not carry her for another moment. Elizabeth sat down opposite of her.

"So uhm, what did you want to, talk about, I, I don't know really what to, call you." Maria's hand was fidgeting with her skirt, unable to maintain eye contact for longer than a few moments.

The lady of Merlayne crossed her legs and flashed a smile "Elizabeth, dear, darling if you can, I do not quite mind. It is just us here after all right now, I-"

"Can I call you Eli?" The moment after the words left her mouth Maria had already pushed her hand across her face as it turned completely red. Her eye was closed, she could not see the genuine surprise across Elizabeth's face.

"I cannot say that I expected that, from anyone. However, given our relation, why not? You may, so long as we are among ourselves. But please tell me, Maria." She folded her hands on the table. "What is it that you want?"

The rain continued to tap against the windows, the wind had picked up, howling around the walls of the manor. "In, what way do you mean that?" Maria leaned back, away as Elizabeth got closer.

"You own a manor, you are surrounded by nigh unkillable murder machines that listen to you and nobody else. Your name is cleared, your enemies are pushed back. Sure, they will continue to fight, it is not like Samdel or the paladins will surrender this world without a fight. But that is not something to fight for. When your enemies are beaten, when there is nobody left to oppose us, what is it that you really want?"

This time, Maria met Elizabeth's gaze. "I, I don't know how to say. I want the heroes gone, wiped, they don't deserve the place they have, I want my title, my crown that I am owed, I, I want to marry, you know that." For a moment her eye trailed to the side in embarrassment.

"So we kill or imprison the heroes, that can be done. You will be crowned, I believe that to be in my ability, and our marriage, well, I have played my hand and chosen my side. But what then? Samdel was for the hero plan to put the commoners with magical ability under some control, without making them too strong by giving them proper training. Their spread is inevitable, there is something that must be done about keeping them in line."

Elizabeth stood up and began to pace up and down the desk, hands folded behind her back.

"They are pesky and an insult to nobility with how they dishonour magecraft, but who to take their place? The common folk are used to feeling like they rule, I do not see a way for us to bring the nobility back into formal power without riling them against us. Not to mention technology and the weapons that are now within the world, that we need to consider. Darling, how do we proceed?"

Maria was squirming in her seat, running her hand through her hair. "I don't, I don't know, Eli. I can try to think of something, ask Sin, maybe she has a plan." Elizabeth shook her head and laughed. "She will tell you to just make more beasts and drown the world in blood, darling. Your servant may be a good housekeeper and fighter, but I would not trust her in these questions. Do not ask the wolf how to guard the sheep."

Thunder rolled across the manor, but it staid unnoticed by Maria as she watched Elizabeth walk past the desk and right up to her. "And whatever she says, whatever may happen, darling: Do not open the seal. We may not be able to impose our will as we dream of it, we may fail and be set back, but even that is better than what would happen if we let those things awaken."

Her gaze was so intense that it made Maria turn her head, only to freeze when Elizabeth laid a hand on her cheek, turning her head back to face her. "Promise me, darling. Promise me that you will lay those sins lie, that you let them be forgotten."

"I, I promise." Maria could only whisper, and melt as the lady gave her a kiss on her unbandaged cheek. "Good. Do you already have a dress picked out for the ball? I know a rather satisfactory tailor, if need be I could tell him to visit you tomorrow. I can't have my bride to be make her first big appearance without looking the part, no?"

It took a few moments for her words to register with Maria, who was still holding her cheek. "I uhm, I would like it if he could come over, yes. Everything I have kind of still shows, you know, shows too much of it." The young master ran her hand across her shoulder again. Elizabeth's smile faltered.

"I'll make that damn savage suffer for what he did to you, you have my word on that, darling. Well, until then." She turned to leave, yet before she could reach for the door Maria had crossed the distance and taken her hand.

"Do you love me? For more than just what I am?" Maria was trembling as she stared back at her, steadfast.

The wind died down outside, only the sounds of rain hitting the glass accompanied them.

"Would I consider you were you not who you are? Of course not. I am Merlayne, to marry a mere commoner would be disgraceful. Would I solely marry you because of your power? Of course not."

Elizabeth ran her hand through Maria's hair. "Had you been some loathsome filthy brute I would have ended you long ago, darling. Not many could go through what you have and still stand on their own two feet. Not many would have the will to use their strength so ruthlessly. You are more than just your strength, but it is part of who you are."

The lady let out a sigh and pulled the young master close to her chest. "You are on the path to greatness, and together we will achieve it. Do not be afraid."

They could have remained as they were for an eternity, it would not have been enough for Maria, enough to not feel cold when Elizabeth stepped back. "I will have the tailor sent to you tomorrow then, I am sure he will figure out something to truly let your beauty shine."

Sin was already waiting outside the door, ready to escort Elizabeth out the manor, always walking one step ahead of the lady. "As my master's advisor, it would be vital for me to know if you spoke of anything of strategic importance, lady Merlayne."

Elizabeth waved it off with a smile, polite but fake. "I was more interested in making sure that lady Len-Fey was doing well, great Sin. I of course care greatly about her well-being." At the door Sin sent her off with a bow, deep to hide her grittet teeth. "My master's well-being is my primary concern, lady Merlayne. I can assure you that I am doing my utmost to protect her."

"Even from me, yes?" Elizabeth opened her umbrella as she stepped outside, her driver already awaiting her. Sin leaned back up, and nodded. "Yes, even from you, if need be."

The lady Merlayne shook her head, ignoring how drenched her servant had already gotten, waiting for her. "I am glad to see that my darling is well protected, at the least. You have my thanks for that. Good night, great Sin."

The two parted, Elizabeth to her car, Sin back into the manor, back to her master's side.