Sin had staid at her master's side until she woke up at the rising of the sun. The two looked each other in the eyes for what felt like an eternity, before Sin slipped out of bed and straightend her clothes. "Good morning, my master. I hope you are feeling better." Her servant had turned her back, and Maria's gaze shifted through the room as she sat up. "Yes, yes I do."

There was a hissing from the other side of the door, and a helpless whimpering yell. "Lady Maria, may I come in?" It was the voice of the doctor. Maria motioned to Sin, who opened the door. Elaine was standing in the way, threads flickering through the air around her. "Now now, little sister. This one is no threat." First at Sin's words did Elaine step back and let her pass.

"Good, well, good morning, lady Maria." The doctor was carrying a small case in her hand, which Elaine was still staring at. "Have there been any new symptoms, or issues?" The lady shook her head a no, the doctor sighed in relief. "Then you have passed through the most dire part of your, well, condition. I am sure that it will be difficult to adjust, however if you take things slowly and do not over-exert yourself, you should be able to adapt. As for your face."

The doctor laid the case on the table next to her bed and opened it. Inside were sets of the same bandages that covered most of Maria's face, two bottles with clear liquid and a set of cotton pads.

"For the next week you should not expose your eye to much light, so when changing the bandages it is important to keep it closed. If I may." She reached out to Maria, who pulled away from her hand so abruptly that it had Elaine rush to her side.

The air sang with threads that cut through the air, just in front of the doctor's face. All stood still from there, until Sin spoke up. "My master is not fond of people coming near her face, good doctor. I will take care of matters, I am rather experienced in treating wounds. Elaine, let the good woman be."

The threads retreated back to Elaine, who nonetheless continued to glare. Sin stepped to her masters side, and ran her hand across the bandages. "If I may, my master?" Maria gave a quick nod, and her servant got to work. With every thread of cloth she uncovered more of her tormented skin.

Where Samdel's hand had touched her face the marks were the worst, though there was little unharmed skin left at all. It was a miracle that her eyelids were still functional and intact. Maria was winced when her skin was exposed to the air. "This may hurt, my master." Sin spoke quietly as she wettened one of the pads with the disinfectant and pressed it onto her skin.

Maria's body tensed, she bit her teeth together, but staid silent. Tears ran down her face as Sin tended to her, then renewed the bandages. "Is there anything else that my master requires, doctor?"

"Well, her shoulder is also, not in the best shape of course. Whenever her ladyship washes herself she will need to of course re-apply them there as well, and be disinfected." Maria stared down at her bandaged shoulder, the sight of which made her stomach churn. It was just not meant to look like that. "I would also recommend that she is given adequate supervision, at least for the first few weeks while her body adjusts."

"That will not be an issue, I will stay at my master's side, you can be sure of that." Sin closed the case again after putting things back how they were. Then there was a knock at the door, and it was opened a moment after. Maria hid her face with her hand.

"Everything seems to be in order, good." Never before had Maria seen Elizabeth in the same clothes twice, today was no exception. Her dress was pure white and light, matching the early summer atmosphere outside. "She is ready to leave, yes doctor?"

Maria almost jumped out of the bed, but only managed to leave with help of Elaine. "Yes, I, I can." She stared down at her clothes, the same ones she had been wearing for days now. The young master was a little shaky on her feet, but held firm.

"Lovely. Your carriage is already awaiting you, darling." The last word sent Maria stumbling, only Elaine's quick reflexes saved her from falling face first on the ground. Her face was a bright crimson, and it remained like that all the way through the hospital and down to the parking space underneath with her beasts in tow.

It had been cleared of all but five vehicle, four black vans, and a sleek white car, nearly resembling a limousine, if only much much shorter. Three ranks deep, ten wide, stood the guards that Elizabeth had set aside for her protection, lead by a very familiar face, who bowed with a wide grin on her face.

"Lady Elizabeth, lady Maria, the fifth retinue is ready to move out." Hawkes wore a very similar uniform as on the day they had met, though this time she and her soldiers lacked any signs of rank and affiliation. Elizabeth opened the bag she was carrying, and took out of it a scroll which she handed to Maria.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

The scent of her perfume was still lingering on the paper, it made Maria a little dizzy. "My slaves are hard at work to restore your family's property back to you, it will take a few months if not longer, but at least here in Paris things are going at a reasonable pace."

Maria rose her eyebrow. "You have slaves? I, didn't know we still, did that." Elizabeth's smile once more lit up Maria's world. "I meant my accountants and lawyers. Never skim on them, pay them well, and put one against the wall every now and then, it will serve you well. And as a last present." She motioned for Maria to read the scroll. "I don't really have an interest in keeping people who are supposed to be dead on my pay roll."

The scroll was a contract, written in a style so archaic that Maria had issues deciphering it. She made out that it was a transfer of service, of the fifth retinue into her service. After a few moments of failing she handed the paper to Sin, though it took her a moment to let go.

Her servant's eyes raced across the lines. "A complete transfer, you cover the costs for the first year, all ties are severed." Sin nodded and returned the paper to Maria, who had been handed a pen by Elizabeth. "Everything seems to be in order, my master."

Maria had to lay the paper on the front of the car, and Sin held it in place for her to sign. Afterwards she looked at Elizabeths waiting hand, and upon realisation clutched her own to her chest. "Can I, keep it?" She was unable to meet her gaze, but the lady only chuckled and ran a hand through her hair. "If it makes you that happy, darling."

In that moment Maria could have died, and would have done so happily. "I will stay in touch, there are quite a lot of battles for me to fight, and none of them as interesting and enjoyable as one to the death. For now though, I wish you the best." Elizabeth turned her attention to Sin. "Your old manor has been returned, so you are free to set up there. If some of your sisters could be spared in the coming days, their aid could be of great use in pacifying the countryside."

Sin performed a small curtsy, not without a small smirk on her lips. "We shall see, it is not for me to decide, but my master. I do however wish to personally thank you for your assistance." For a moment, Elizabeth's smile faltered. "All cards are on the table, I would be a fool not to ensure us, me, the greatest chance of success. Hawkes, I expect that you and your lot serve and protect my dear wife to be as faithfully-"

Maria did not hear the last words, at the word wife she had fainted, caught by Armoire who held her master in her arms for the first time, visibly distraught.

"as you have me." The lady ended, closing her eyes with a deep breath. "Worry not your ladyship, a flock of dragons would guard your princess worse than we will." Hawkes gave a short bow, unable to keep a straight face. "Your charms are truly the envy of all in the land. Let's pack up, ladies. On your posts." As the guards dispersed into the vans, one of them shook their head as they walked alongside Hawkes. "Sir, you should stop wondering why you are still single."

Armoire was still holding Maria in her arms, and walked very carefully to their car, every step slow and deliberate, her body shaking. Elizabeth parted ways, returning to the elevator. The beasts took their seats in the car, Sin and Menagerie in the front, Tetra and Elaine in the second row, and Armoire with the still unconscious Maria at the very back. The fifth rider held her master as she fastened the seat belt, and had to scurry closer so that Maria could lean against her.

Sin was looking at the two through the mirror, and could not help but chuckle under her breath. Not in the sixty years together had she seen her youngest sister this insecure and worried. They drove off, with the vans following closely. Throughout the ride, Maria staid unconscious, awakening first as they stopped in the driveway of their destination.

The first thing Maria saw was Armoire's face, still controlled by worry and embarrassment. "I, uhm, sorry." Maria began, her words only causing Armoire to appear more embarrassed.

"It is, nothing, great master, it, it was an honour of course to, be able to assist you." When Maria leaned back the fifth rider pulled her hood over her head, staring down at her feet. They exited the car, as did Maria's new guard. In front of them was a brilliant manor, the sight of which took Maria's breath away.

The walls shone with a brilliant red in the midday sun, reflecting of the countless windows across the three stories of the manor. High walls cut off the estate grounds from the outside, with only the garden surroundings them showing the signs of abandonment. Weeds were growing in between the flowers, the grass was tall, sprouting even between the stone walkways.

The guards entered the manor first, keeping their rifles shouldered. First after they had spread out through the manor did Maria enter along with Hawkes and her beasts. "You know, your ladyship, I cannot thank you enough." The Lieutenant gazed at the lavish entry hall, the ancient paintings of landscapes, scenes of royal court life and saints. "First you get me out of a dead-end job guarding the worst eggheads this side of the planet, and now I get to patrol this place instead of whatever desert Lady Merlayne was going to banish us to."

She shook her head and followed her subordinates. "Just for that alone I'd love to catch a bullet for you any day of the week." With the soldiers leaving Maria and her beasts alone in the hall, Maria took the time to wander. She finally stopped at a huge painting, towering above the entry door. It was a portrait of a woman, tall, dressed in an immaculate black dress, with luscious locks of blonde hair.

The look in her eyes was both stern and regal as she sat on a large throne, with a woman at her side, dressed in the plain clothes of a maid. The maid wore her long rosé hair in a braid across her right shoulder.

"That's, her, right?" Maria muttered to Sin, who had not left her side. "It is, indeed." Together they looked up at the painting. "Arianne Len-Fey, the first queen. We are finally home, my master." Maria did not know if Sin was talking to her, or the painting.