Ch.5: Stopping A Tragedy

Lying down defeated on the couch, Maria tried to resist the urge to cry or bang her head against the wall. Why was she upset? It was because tomorrow was the archduchess's tea party, having remembered earlier today about her agenda for saving the woman's life. "I suck as a hero," muttered Maria when a presence entered the room.

"Something on your mind, Maria?" Sitting up, Maria saw the one who entered the living room was none other than her big brother.

"Just deciding on what dress I should wear to the archduchess's tea party tomorrow," she lied, seeing how she just couldn't confess out of the blue about how the archduchess and her family's lives were in great danger if something was not done.

"Hmm, is that so." He took a seat next to her and pressed the top of a decorative glass vase that displayed a blue crystal butterfly inside. Once activated, a large holographic screen appeared, showing what looked to be some daytime drama.

'Crystal Butterflies have an electromagnetic biosystem which allows them to link and communicate with each other. They can also broadcast the information they receive, a function that humans have amplified, giving birth to the entertainment world.' Watching her brother flip through the channels, Maria was reminded of her world's modern-day television. Maria was about to ponder on other ways she could probably save the archduchess when her mother suddenly barged into the room.

"Maria, now is not the time to be lazing around! We need to find you the perfect dress to wear to the tea party, and while we're at it, we need one for you to wear to Diamond Academy's Welcome Back Banquet! My Maria must look the cutest at all times!" proudly stated her mother, dragging her daughter back to her room to try on the endless pile of dresses she picked out.

'Someone save me from this woman!' cried Maria, knowing the torture that awaited her.

Soon it was Archduchess Scarlet’s tea-party, Maria wore a sleeveless formal peach-orange dress, the top portion lined in gold with four gold buttons sewn in the middle. Covering her collarbone was white chiffon, the collar lined in gold and adorned with rose gold cufflinks. The skirt portion was orange, a stripe of gold running across the bottom, showing a second layer which was pink. Embedded on the right was a large realistic pink rose outlined in gold. Maria was the image of a perfect little lady with her cinnamon brown locks pulled into an elegant side ponytail and adorned by a pink rose hairpin.

The Scarlet mansion was not only beautiful but very spacious, stretching out for miles. Scattered throughout the luscious green yard, thousands of red roses bloomed to life. The garden where the archduchess was holding her tea-party was occupied with chairs and tables, and noble ladies mingled amongst themselves.

Among the women who were invited, some came with their young daughters or sons. The mothers did this for the sole purpose of picking out candidates that would serve as the perfect spouse (or spouses) for their son or daughter in the future. When it came time for introductions, Maria embarrassed herself by stuttering, stomach cramping due to nervousness, when her mother introduced her to the archduchess' guests, all who were high profile noble ladies with a lot of power and wealth.

"Aww, she's adorable, Countess Rosendrey! She looks just like her mother!" jested one of the ladies. Luckily the ladies' attention on Maria only lasted for a second before they began gossiping about the latest news and drama that was unfolding around the capital.

While the ladies and her mother were distracted, Maria used this chance to ask one of the serving staff for the location of the kitchen. Once at her destination, Maria peered inside and saw a bunch of busy bodies moving around. Crouching down by the door, the girl began observing those working inside.

'If I can't get the antidote, then I'll stop the poison from reaching the archduchess. I remember the novel revealed that the person who delivered poison to the archduchess had a tattoo on her left hand. So if I find the tattoo, I can stop the poison from getting to the Archduchess!' Maria held onto hope, bracing herself for a long stakeout mission.

'This is the only plan I have and the only way I know how to stop her death from happening. I can't fail! Even if I have to starve!' Maria wasn't the smartest when it came to strategies, but she was not going to let a good woman die on her watch.

Steeling herself and determined to follow through with her only plan, the girl was oblivious to all the strange stares she was receiving. Some thought that after a few minutes the girl would leave but were proven wrong. Even after an hour had passed, the girl refused to leave, not even when her stomach started to growl.

They wanted to approach the girl but were scared off by the vicious look in her eyes that reminded everyone of a guard dog. Luckily one of the staff, who just couldn't watch the girl starve herself, set a plate of food down in front of her. Seeing this presented to her, Maria smiled and thanked the woman for her kindness.

Once the food was finally placed in her stomach, Maria was ready for the second hour of watch duty. Closely watching everyone, so far she saw no tattoo on any of the female staff who had either entered or exited the kitchen. By the time the third hour came, Maria was beginning to feel restless, but once she thought about the tragedy that awaited this family in the future, she steeled her resolve and mentally began cheering herself on.

"Why are you guarding the kitchen door?" This sudden voice, that appeared in close proximity, scared Maria, who almost screamed out in fright.

"Richard-sama?! What are you doing here?" The crimson-haired boy crouched down and took a seat right next to her.

"I needed somewhere to escape to." Richard sounded tired; a sigh released from his lips, drawing Maria's curiosity. Just as Maria was about to question him, they heard footsteps coming their way. Quickly, Richard reached for her hand and dragged her into the kitchen and closed the doors. Once inside, they both pressed their ears against the door.

"Richard-sama~!" They heard a girl sweetly call out his name, followed by another female voice.

"I'm almost positive I saw him come this way."

"Maybe he went another way. Let's go and try to catch up with him." Hearing the sounds of their footsteps fading, Maria now knew who Richard was escaping from.

"It seems you're quite popular, Richard-sama." Maria meant it as a joke but the boy seemed annoyed about his popularity.

"I would be flattered if that was indeed true. It's my status that attracts them, not me as a person." The look in the boy's eyes caught Maria off guard because it showed just how familiar he had become with the prejudiced people that swarmed him. None of them really cared for him as a person, only for his status, looks, and what benefits he could bring to them, which could be heartbreaking for a young child.

"T-Then... If Richard-sama does not mind, can I get to know you as a person?" This time it was Richard who was caught off guard by Maria's sweet words. Never had anyone said such words to him and were sincere about it. Even though he was quite young, Richard was aware of the greedy thoughts in the minds of those who tended to surround themselves around him and his family.

He sensed their fake sincerity and their smiles, which only made him want to distance himself from such people. Yet he could tell that Maria was unlike those other people; her words were sincere, along with her smile which he found charming. "I would like that very much." He couldn't help but smile, softly patting the girl on the head, which only made her smile more charming in his eyes.

'Don't worry, Richard-sama, I'll make sure that you'll get the happy ending that you deserve,' vowed Maria, who was about to continue her watchdog duties when she saw an unfamiliar maid walk by her. The maid had dark raven hair, wearing the short sleeve maroon uniform the female servants working in the Scarlet mansion were assigned, carrying a single cup of tea on a tray.

'Through my observations, I have become familiar with all the faces of those who work in the kitchen, yet never once have I seen her coming in or out of the kitchen until now.' Turning to the boy beside her, Maria asked, "Richard-sama, do you perhaps know that maid?"

"I know every face and name of each person who works in our mansion, but that woman's face is unfamiliar to me." Richard narrowed his eyes, and at this sudden revelation, Maria immediately looked towards the woman's hands and saw a skull tattoo on the back of her left hand.

'She's the one! She's the one who is about to poison the archduchess!' Maria felt afraid. She wasn't going to lie to herself, but at the same time, she couldn't let someone innocent die. She may be a coward, and a weak one at that, but she could at least do this much. Like a football player getting ready to tackle, Maria slammed herself into the maid's back, causing her to knock the cup of tea off the tray and onto the floor.

It was at that moment that Kuroka and Shirone were making their way up the hall when they spotted their little lady sprawled out on the floor and rushed over to her. Though as they passed by the maid and the spilled cup of tea, their noses picked up a certain scent which emitted from it. Sharing a look with each other, Kuroka ran over to their young miss who was being assisted by the Scarlet heir, while Shirone turned in the direction of where the maid was kneeling on the ground and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the woman.

"Why did my nose detect {Lux Brumalis} in the tea that the archduchess personally requested?" Not too far away stood Richard, frozen, who was helping Maria off the ground when he heard what Shirone said. In a flash, his sapphire eyes narrowed, glaring at the back of the maid, who still hadn't gotten off the ground yet.

"She doesn't work here! Never have I seen your face inside our manor. Speak up and tell us who you are working for! Who sent you here?" demanded Richard, making his way over, ready to interrogate the maid, but was quickly stopped by Shirone.

"Damn, all thanks to one little princess, my mission is ruined." The maid did not hide the mockery laced in her voice, picking herself up from the ground.

"Leave it to a filthy demihuman to pick up the scent of {Lux Brumalis}. Seems like the plans stop here for today. Damn, looks like I won't be getting my money now that the cat is out of the bag." The woman sounded annoyed at her failure to complete her mission, snatching off her wig along with the maid outfit she was wearing.

"Shitty brat! If it weren't for you, I could've gotten my money!" She stuck up her middle finger and ranted. The fake maid revealed herself to be a highly attractive woman who wore skin-tight clothes that did little to cover her buxom body. Medium length dark purple hair was combed to one side, lying over her left shoulder. Though her face was beautiful, there was a nasty sneer plastered on it.

"What's going on here?" Walking up to the scene with narrowed eyes was none other than the archduchess herself as she took in the scene before her.

"Tch, gotta abandon the mission now, but don't think this is over, you little bitch," the angered woman cursed, throwing a smoke bomb that consumed the area; though, right before she jumped out of the glass window, she threw a small dagger at the archduchess as a last-ditch effort.

Maria was aware of the woman's intentions once she caught a glimpse of something heading for the archduchess. Once the smoke was cleared, everyone got their sight back but could only scream in horror as they saw Maria's bleeding arm where the dagger she had taken for the archduchess had left a wound.

"Ojou-sama!" screamed Kuroka and Shirone, holding the bleeding girl in their arms. Richard stood there petrified as the blood continued to run down and stain the girl's arm. The pain inflicted upon Maria made her want to cry, her eyesight getting blurry but those long scarlet tresses still managed to stand out as the archduchess rushed over to her.

"Don't worry, Maria, we'll get you help. Just hold on." The archduchess had started yelling out orders when the little girl with her uninjured hand softly touched the woman's face.

"Y-You're a-alive... I managed to do it... I managed... to stop a tragedy. I'm... so happy!" Maria felt her last ounce of strength fade once those words were said, and she gently closed her eyes. Only faintly did she hear the frantic and scared cries of those who began calling out her name. While Maria was being cared for at Scarlet's manor, she was unaware of the impression she left behind on those who were there to witness her actions.