"M-my princess-?!" Petra explains, eyeing Maria with large eyes as she throws herself lazily on her large cushioned chair with her arms sprawled out and head laid, laxed on her shoulder--the one she'd always sit in as Petra--her kind heart--would help her bake her face with that god-awfully makeup and curl her hair and--honestly, Maria never liked the fancy-ass-shit dresses and makeup. Sure, it made her look pretty, but she never is meant to aim to be pretty for herself, but for potential suitors and ill men who wanted her out of lust. "What has gotten into you?"
"What hasn't?" Maria mutters, rolling her big eyes. "Last shit that was in me was some big ass sword-."
"L-language, princess...?" Petra said, a dark eyebrow raised so high it hides in her bangs. "Didn't your teacher tell you to watch your mouth? You've always had a hard time with speech-."
"She certainly did." Maria scoffs, remembering how that wretched woman would whip Maria's ankles senseless when no one was around, forcing Maria to treat her wounds late at night or bath by herself to avoid Petra's stirring. "Freaking asshole, always telling me how to speak--"a lady this; a lady that-,'jeez, who cares..."
Petra blinks, but then her usual stoned face goes a bit soft, letting out a soft sigh in forbearance.
"You always looked as if you were holding in a shit when you tried not to cuss, or speak lady like." Petra said. Maria blinks, staring with wide eyes at Petra, who blankly stares at her back. "Ah, right. Princess."
Maria blinks again, tilting her head, before she snorts, the corners of her big eyes crinkle as she lets out a soft laugh.
"I'm sorry I've always been an ass of a princess." Maria said.
Petra shrugs, her silver eyes focused on Maria's face.
"You don't have to apologize for being yourself, Your Highness." Petra said.
"Am...am I suppose to be offended…?" Maria asked, surprised by Petra's sudden gal.
"Only if the shoe fits, which barely does, sadly." Petra said, her eyes wandering to Maia's feet before she suddenly looks up, clearing her throat. "I mean no...Your Highness."
"It appears as we both have yet to take our masks off, in front of each other." Maria said, her face surprisingly calm after her jubilant laughing fest.
"It appears so." Petra said.
"Shall today, I officially shed mine, my dearest Petra?" Maria said, her golden eyes narrowed, yet calm, as if she's testing the waters.
"If you so do, I'd be honored, Your Highness." Petra said, slowly bowing her head. "But to tell truth, I was never wearing a full mask, only half, because--if I am to be honest--Your Highness was always so, so much different than she is today."
"And what is such a difference, that you hint?" Maria asked, a golden eyebrow raised. Petra stills, closes her mouth, and clears her throat.
"You're so much more…shiny. Bright." Petra said, and she says nothing more. Maria blinks, her eyebrows drawn her a curious confusion, before her face relaxes, and she softly relaxes, letting off a laxed shrug roll off her small shoulders.
"Well, most appreciative." Maria said, folding her arms against her chest as she nods, her golden eyes closed in relaxation and harmony. "However, to keep me said bright, I believe only in front of you--for now at least--this masked must stay in place, and I need your help to navigate a few things while it blinds me."
Petra blinks, opens her plump lips, and then raises a dark eyebrow in response.
"...and that is, Your Highness?" Petra asked, her soft voice wavering a bit in confidence, watching as Maria smiles at her, her golden eyes glowing in a hue Petra has never seen before--it's blinding.
"Based off what I concur," or remember, more like it, "This dinner with the family will set the foundation from now until Cassian becomes king." Maria said.
"It will?" Petra asked.
"Yes--it certainly will, because this dinner will be when my lovely father announces two things--one, that Cassian's one year military service is near...-."
Maria remembers this dinner vividly--yes--disgustingly so. Her father, Henry III, tells Cassian to chose the military branch he'd like to serve as his one year act of service to follow royal tradition. Ironically, Cassian tries to chose the The Holy Vanguard branch, mainly because this branch specifically only serves royal blood through acts of service, but since Cassian cannot join The Holy Vanguard by default because he outranks all nobles, he attempts to join the The Highshield Corps branch instead. However...well, that's something Maria still scoffs about, mainly becomes this becomes a catalyst for ironically her to join Cassian in his one year service, which was hell, but mostly because of Cassian. Ultimately, Cassian and Maria join the The Ironheart Brigade branch, which is...well, that's a whole different story altogether.
Maria almost shivers, remember how because she's better with swordplay and overall battle, her step-mother convinces her to gravel and follow Cassian on his stupid journey to seek the king's approval. Wow, how stupid of her. Naive, poor past Maria, yet never will her fingers touch the crown of purity and naivety again.
Let the crown be shed with blood.
"Which...is a waste of time, because Cassian is ass with anything with a sword, but alright." Maria mutters, followed by a very loud snort, causing Maria to slowly turn her head and for Petra to avoid her stunned gaze.
"And the other important part, Princess…?" Petra asked.
Maria blinks, clearing her throat.
"Right-yes-uh-the king will mention it's the time for his two daughters to find suitors. Serious ones."
Maria blinks, rolling her eyes as she remembers her older sister playing the field, lying to their father that she already has a serious potential suitor, leaving Maria, as always, in the dust. "Antoinette will successful evade. Me? As if, and because everyone is fucking bored, my father only cares about strength and power, and they think my only use is my looks, they'll try to host a contest for my hand in marriage."
"They...wouldn't, right? Usually customs consist of suitors sending letters and presenting courtship..plus, aren't you already in the midst of courtship yourself?" Petra said.
"The king rather have someone of strength near the throne than that bullshit." Maria said. "Plus I'm a bastard child. Customs normally don't present themselves easy to me. And…I wouldn't worry about him."
Petra opens her mouth to quickly close it after.
"So what is it you need me to do?" Petra asked, her usually blank expression pasted on her face like a mask.
"I need this, Petra." Maria said, opening her draw to reveal a feather pen and paper. "I need you to look into two people for me--there backgrounds, social status--shit, tell me their blood type if you can. There's one that I just need that information on--it'll be useful later. And there's another—this one? I'll need you to deliver a letter for me."
"I...I will, Your Highness, but who...?" Petra asked, her dark eyes widened as Maria jots down two names on a piece of parliament paper.
"This one--." Maria points to, her gold eyes ablaze. "Give me just information, that's all I need. And this one--." Maria said, pointing to the other name. "I need you to deliver a letter--I only have about two months to fully adapt, and this is the key to solidifying myself as someone useful in the branch."
Petra raises an eyebrows, eyeing the names with a blank expression.
"This exceeds my paycheck." Is what Petra said. Maria blinks, raises an eyebrow, and then she cackles, snorting as she wipes tears from her eyes.
"I always knew you were quite peculiar." Maria said, shooting Petra a large smirk. "I figured something had to motivate you to serve me. Was it money after all?"
Petra looks away, settling for a soft shrug.
"Help me, Petra." Maria said, her golden eyes bright, toxicating, alluring as her golden eyelashes cause shades on her frail, softly freckled cheeks. "And I will give you whatever you want, be it money it may."
Petra blinks, her eyes blown wide in surprise, and as Maria reaches out her hand, her gaze burning bright, Petra concedes, she always will, for her dear, stubborn princess.
"Definitely part of it." Petra said, her emotionless expression harden slightly before it relaxes, a deep breath leaving her soft lips. "But I guess something else has also made me stay. "
Petra reaches for Maria's hand, grasp it tightly, and drops to a knee, lifting Maria's hand softly to her lips.
"You said today is the day it all began. I am not sure from who or where you've heard this from, but my princess is finally confident, so I shall follow." Petra looks up, her silver eyes sharing the same determination as Maria, and it excites Maria, so much so there's thrill rushing in her blood, striking her veins, plummeting into her very being. "Then I shall ready your armor for war tonight, and make you the most beautiful warrior there is."
Maria opens her mouth, and lets her plump lips curl into a large grin, pearly white teeth showing and her golden eyes ablaze with glee.