As Maria's guards swept the building, they found nothing suspicious. During the interrim, a minor noble family tied to Len-Fey had supervised the premises, and kept a small contingent of servants to combat decay. These were startled at the sudden intrusion, but quickly resumed their work, now under a higher master.

Walking through the hallways was a passing through into a different time. The manor had not been modernised for many decades, lacking in much modern equipment. The spacious living quarters lacked modern television and still had radios, the wiring and lighting was still straight out of the sixties.

The building was cross shaped, with an eastern wing for the human servants, a western wing used for guests and space at public gatherings, and a northern wing exclusive to Maria and her beasts. It was here that her group quickly splintered. Under copious bows and apologies Tetra rushed into the library, Menagerie left for the garden, only Elaine and Armoire followed Maria and Sin into what would be the young master's private chambers.

Throughout their exploration Maria had felt a sense of pride at the knowledge that everything she saw was truly her own. And this reached the peak in her chambers. The room alone was larger in square meters than her family's home. Her closet was a room to itself, brimming with clothes that appeared to never having been worn before.

The dressing table appeared as something Maria would expect to come out of Versailles, but it was still dwarfed by the royal bed that dominated the room. It would have taken up her entire room back at home and then some, the blankets were made out of pure silk.

Maria ran from corner to corner, for a moment she had forgotten everything; her arm, her face, the constant itching, the worry over Elizabeth. It was all gone as she inspected the bathroom, letting out a high pitched squeal at the massive bath tub, the immaculate pure-white tiles and soft fur-rug.

She stepped onto her very own balcony, able to watch across her garden, down at the sea of flowers, and across the wall at the beautiful and elegant neighbourhood, the estates around her that were appropriate, but still mere shadows of what she now owned.

Her explorative journey ended at a large standing mirror, by the window. There she was, after weeks of running, not staying in the same place for more than a day. It had started to show: She had lost weight, when she already did not have much to begin with.

Her clothes were a mess, her hair had begun to show it's original black colour, it had grown past shoulder length, and she was of course mangled. Would her mother still be able to recognise her?

Yet despite it all, she smiled and pointed at herself in the mirror, her gaze wandering to Sin, Armoire and Elaine. "I've, I've made it. I've actually, made it."

A knock came at the door, and Hawkes entered the room after being allowed inside. "Sir, or your Ladyship, excuse me but what should I address you as?" The Lieutenant gave a light smile as she bowed. "I, I think Sir is, appropriate and, fitting." Maria crossed the distance before Hawkes could step further into the room. "Is something the matter?"

Hawkes scratched the back of her head. "Well, a few vehicles are waiting outside the premises, saying they're from Lady Elizabeth to 'return what is owed'. We're looking through things this moment, but I wanted to ask for clarification of what we should do with whatever we find."

Maria looked over to Sin, who nodded and spoke in her stead. "Your thoroughness is commendable, lieutenant. My sister Armoire will come with you, if the cargo is what I believe it to be, then she will be of help."

Armoire stared back at her sister, her fingers were twitching. "You think it's weapons, right? From the old castle?" Sin only widened her grin and gave Armoire a pat on the shoulder. "Yes, I believe so. Lay them out so that our master can have a look at them later, yes?"

Armoire did not need further convincing, she marched off before Hawkes had even looked back after her. "Come on come on Lieutenant, you're about to see beauty that puts the works of the great artists of old to SHAME." After one quick look at Sin, who motioned for Hawkes to leave, she did, closing the door behind her. It was silent within the room once more.

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"Is there anything you wish for at this moment, my master?" Sin began, folding her hands in front of her once more. "I would, really like a bath and." Maria laid a hand on her stomach. "Probably something to eat after." Sin bowed deeply and turned her head to Elaine. "Dear little sister, go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare meal appropriate for our dear master, and guard the door when you return." Elaine looked from Sin to Maria with a quivering lip, but ultimately lowered her head. "None shall disturb you, my beloved master. I swear, I will fulfill my duties to perfection."

Maria looked after her as the small beast raced out of the room, then stared at Sin who quickly stepped up to her side. "I feel that of all of us, dear Elaine is taking things the worst." Sin spoke softly as she lead her master into the bathroom. "Please excuse her behaviour."

During the bath Maria felt that she should be feeling humiliated. She was fully awake and energetic, but struggled hard in even undressing herself without Sin's help. She winced multiple times as her bandages were undone, and had to wait for another five minutes for the water to cool down enough not to cause her shoulder agony.

Washing her hair, her body, it all fell to Sin, once more. But instead of embarrassment, Maria felt almost nothing by it, except a sense of gratitude.

Sin also had to help her dry off, and bind her towel. Together they then scoured through the closet, until they found a light, sleeveless dress for her, fitting for the summer weather and drawing extra attention to her handicap with a dangling sleeve. Bandaged up again and fully dressed, Sin did her hair as best she could, most of the hair dye had by now completely been washed out. "Would you wish to dye again, my master?" Maria looked at herself in the mirror of her dressing table. "I don't think, right now, no. I want to hear what Elizabeth thinks first."

With her hair done, the two descended the stairs from her chambers into the central hall of the north wing, followed by Elaine who did not leave her master's side. Guards were walking all across the premise, heaving crates around under the watchful eyes of Armoire, who quickly ran to her master's side. "Oh you have to see this, great master, you have to see it!"

Surprised and taken aback, Maria followed her into the living room to their right. The large table at it's centre was completely covered in weaponry. Rifles, pistols, swords, rapiers and daggers took up all available space.

Armoire was in her element, so much so that Maria could not follow her as she was shown every weapon, got lost in the details of who had made it, when the great queen had commissioned the piece, what had made it so special. With every explanation her heart sunk a little further. They had gotten nearly to the half when she tugged at Armoire's sleeve, making her stop. "Is there one that, I could use, still?"

Her servant stared at Maria for a while, then she began to walk up and down beside the table. "Swords don't work, rapier would not be practical either." She trailed across the handguns. "Too heavy, too much kick, reloading would be a pain." Finally she stopped at the end of the table, and she started to smile.

The fifth rider grabbed two weapons and returned to her master's side. In one hand she held a pistol, in the other a dagger. The gun weighed heavy in Maria's hand, despite it's rather moderate size. "The old queen called her pride. High fire rate, large magazine, with some training it should work for you, and perhaps you could use one of the heavier ones eventually. And then, Quietus." The blade was light, the blade not longer than a moderate kitchen knife. At half length it grew thinner towards the tip. Thin green lines were shining across the metal.

"Her royal highness had this one cursed after it was made, great master." Armoire did not let her eyes off of the blade. "If you draw blood with it the body of your foe will start to decay, fall to pieces. Give it half a minute, and all that is left will be dust." Maria almost dropped the knife at her explanation, looking at it with more worry than the very obvious joy Armoire was going through. "I, see." She stared down at the two weapons, and started to smile. "Could you, teach me how to use these?"

It was silent in the room for a while as Armoire stared down at her hands, her lips pressed tightly together. "I, well, I could aid you with theory, and drill, but I could not spar with you, my master. We cannot stand against you, even in a mock battle. Our rules forbid it. And, I, believe that at least for the day, you should give yourself rest." Maria's eyes trailed down the table, at the wide assortment of weapons. "Alright. Do we have, place for all of these? A display stand or, something like that?"

Sin returned to Maria's side after having left the room earlier. "We do, my master. They will be stored safely and within your reach, should you wish to have another look." She put the dagger back into it's sheath and handed it to Armoire along with the pistol "Please bring these into our master's quarters for now. Your food is nearly done, my master. The folk of Merlayne also brought a few newspapers with them, would you wish for me to go through them and inform you after your meal?"

"Yes that would be, nice. I don't really like reading the news, but I get that it's important." Maria looked to the side in embarrassment as they left the room towards the dining hall. While Elaine clung to Maria's left side, Sin walked a step behind her master, her body straightened, not a single muscle moved out of sync, not a hair was out of place. "My master, you need not concern yourself. It is only proper for royalty to delegate. Worry not, I shall take care of everything."