The one assigned to be Marina’s etiquette teacher was, to her chagrin, Emma. Or rather, she was the one who offered to be Marina's tutor. Truthfully speaking, she was the best person for the job as she had always known to upheld the highest etiquette decorum in her daily lives. If one wanted to act like a proper noble lady, then there was no other person that would be a better teacher.

Of course, this meant Emma got to scold Marina as much as she liked, which delighted her greatly.

"Come now! Don't swing your hips like that when you walk! What are you, a shameless whore in the red district? Walk straight and keep your head in place! Don't let that book fall!"

They were currently in the middle of walk training. Using the mansion's decently spacious library, they could do so with ease.

Marina didn't say anything in response. She simply did as she was told.

Hmph, she really is a bumpkin, Emma thought as she crossed her arms. How could I ever hope to make her a proper lady by the end of the month?

"Hey, don't drop the book! Pick it up!" She shouted, as Marina just let the dictionary she put on her head fall.

Marina gave a short glance towards her before bending over, reaching towards the book with her right hand.

Exposing her panties to her in the process.

Urgh, how uncouth! This is why she shouldn’t be wearing such a short dress in the first place! Why won’t she wear a normal dress like a proper lady? Of course, she knew very well that she was simply wearing her mage dress, which was naturally far different than the traditional dress nobles would wear. 

"Hey, you! Don't bend over like that! You'll—kyaaah! A-a rat! T-there's a rat over there!"

Sure enough, the classic household mammal had made its appearance. It came from the depths of the library and it quickly made its way towards Emma. Not because it wanted to bite her or anything. Oh no, it was too nice for that. She was simply in its path.

“S-someone! Help me! Reinhard! Reinhard!”

Gone was the usual cold composure the lady had always displayed. Rats had always been her Achiles’ Heel, along with cockroaches, spiders, caterpillars, or any bugs, really. She would go into panic mode every time she saw them, crying for anyone near her to get rid of the pests.

This time, however, neither her husband or her maid was there. There was only Marina.

And so, out of instinct, she jumped and hugged her, causing both of them to fall down, crashing into the nearest bookshelf. Luckily for them, it was sturdy enough to handle the blow, or else they would've been buried under a mountain of books.

"U-urghhh…"

When Emma opened her eyes, it was pitch-black.

W-what happened?

T-this is… This fabric… This shape… And this sweet scent…

"DID SOMETHING HAPPEN, MISS?"

The door burst open. Henrietta was nearby when she heard the crash, so she hurried to the library, thinking an accident had occurred.

It was an accident, alright.

"Oh… oh my…" She opened her mouth before closing it with her palm.

There, she saw Lady Emma, with her face having a close and personal view of her lady's buttocks.

"O-oh dear, I didn't know you were in this kind of a relationship with Lady Emma, Miss." A grin formed on her face. "Sorry to interrupt you two then! Please, enjoy yourselves!"

With a smile, she closed the door, tiptoeing away as she hummed to herself.

Only then Emma realized how… compromising… her current position was.

"W-WAIT! YOU MISUNDERSTOOD! I WASN'T—"

It was too late. The maid already left.

"You!" She stood up and grabbed Marina's cape. "This is all your fault!"

"You were the one who crashed into me though," the mage calmly replied. "Is a rat really that scary?"

"Shut up! Shut. Up! I don't want to hear another word from you! I'm sick of you trying to steal my darling's future! Our future! And now you're going to disgrace me as well! Soon, everyone here will be talking about how I engage in an illicit act with you behind my darling's back!"

And then, she broke down into a crying mess, covering her face with both hands, trying to hide her snot and tears. Marina gazed at her with a mixture of confusion and pity. She might not be that pleasant of a person, but she couldn't just ignore her when she's like this.

"Shh, it's alright." Marina wrapped her arms around her, patting her head on the back. "Henrietta will keep my secrets. She won't tell what happened here."

Once the older woman had called down, she released her hug—her expression turning serious as she answered her other complaint. 

"I have no plans to supplant your husband's position. My dream is to become an adventurer, so I cannot stay here forever. He would still be the one inheriting Grandfather's position once he retires."

"I…" Emma averted her gaze. "I don't trust you."

Marina sighed. "I can't help you with that. To trust or not to trust—it is up to you. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall speak to Henrietta. Rest assured that no one will know about our little accident."

"That, and your fear of rats as well." She snapped her finger, catching the rat from before with her roots. She saw it scampering behind Emma, to the noblewoman's ignorance. Her roots then dragged the rat outside through the nearby window, piercing its body unceremoniously once it hit the ground."

Emma could only stand there speechless, before stomping her right foot to the carpet out of frustration.

Their training, naturally, was cancelled for the rest of the day.

In the end, Marina managed to convince Henrietta not to tell what she saw to anyone, and that she really did not have any illicit relationship with her.

Didn't stop her from imagining it though.

----------

As Marina continued her training, Erika was busy with her own project.

The new rune doll she obtained from Sophie—she finished that in just a week.

And so, she decided. She wanted something bigger—something more useful than just a toy. She had read the rune book, from the front page all the way to the addendums. And she knew runes could be used for far more things than to just make dolls move.

And so, when she visited Sophie again, her request was a tad different. "I want a runic weapon!" She declared.

Naturally, it nearly gave a heart attack to the poor hobbit.

"A-a weapon? Y-you mean like a toy sword?"

"No, a real one! I want to get stronger! Just like Big Sister!"

Ever since she was kidnapped by the slavers, she desired to be stronger, to not be a burden to her big sister. She knew she wasn't talented in magic like her. But now—now that she knew she was good at runecraft, she wanted to use it to be just as powerful as her.

"I-I can't just give you a weapon!" Sophie waved her hands in panic. "Marina will murder me!"

"Then I'll go ask for her permission!" Erika huffed. "And you come with me as well!" She pointed at her.

"Alright… alright…" Sophie sighed. This girl is like night and day compared to her sister.

With Erika leading the charge, they found Marina in the library—in the middle of her training. Without knocking or excusing her entrance, she walked up to her (ignoring Emma entirely) and said, "Big Sis! I want a runic weapon!"

"Hey! We're in the middle of something here! You don't just get to—"

"It's fine, Emma," Marina interrupted.

"Fine?! I'm the one in charge here! You can't just—"

"A weapon?" Marina ignored the noblewoman's protest entirely. "What are you talking about?"

"You can make magic weapons with runes, right? I want to try making one! But Miss Sophie won't give me one without letting you know first!" Erika pouted.

"Of course she won't." Marina fired back with a frown. "You're still five. It's far too young for you to be holding any weapons."

"Hmph! I don't care! I want to be strong just like you, Big Sis! You think I shouldn't know how to defend myself? After everything that happened? It wasn't just the kidnappers! Those bad guys from the Magocracy! They're going to come for us sooner or later!"

Marina was taken aback by her outburst. She didn't expect her to make a speech like that. 

A small smile formed on her lips as feelings of pride filled her chest. She really is a young genius, just like Hugo. I would be a fool if I didn't nurture her talent.

"Fine." She crouched down and looked at her right in the eyes. "Do it. You have my blessing."

Erika looked back at her sister, first with trepidation, and then with her own bright smile. "Thank you, Sis!" She threw herself to hug her. "I promise I won't disappoint you!" 

And so, Erika started her path as a runecrafter.

---------

"Here it is! Your runic monograph!"

Once they were back in Sophie's room, the hobbit took out a book from her bag and gave it to Erika. It was a large tome, easily the size of Erika's head and more. The cover was pitch-black leather with no writing whatsoever. In fact, the entire thing was blank, with the inside having no words written on them either.

"Runic… monograph?" Erika tilted her head as she lifted the book upwards.

"It's a book where you can write runes in," Sophie explained. "You need special parchment if you're going to manifest the runes' effects. A monograph is simply a collection of said parchment, bound into a single book."

"So, you're telling me that if I write a rune of fire here, I can manifest it as fire magic?" Erika asked.

"Yes! You're catching up quick!" Sophie patted her shoulder. "There's the offensive rune section in that book I gave you, right? You put them in there and you'll be able to manifest their effects, just like ordinary spells."

Erika looked down, her left hand and abdomen holding the book in place while her right went through the blank pages. When she reached the end, she closed the monograph, saying with a smile, "I got it! I'm going to try it right away! Thank you so much, Miss Sophie!"

She gave a bow before skipping her way back outside, humming cheerfully in the process.

"Hey, be careful, alright? I don't want you burning yourself! Or this house for that matter!" Sophie yelled, before shaking her head. She just hoped she hadn't made a mistake, giving that book to a girl so young. Well, if Marina approves, then it should be okay, right?

----------

Once she was back in her room, Erika immediately drew her first rune on the book. She didn't need a pen or any ink to do so. She simply had to put a small amount of Mana to her index finger and pressed it onto the paper. It was like that too with the dolls. To perform runecraft, one still needed to have some aptitude in magic.

The first rune she drew was a water rune. When she finished, however, she wasn’t stupid enough to just manifest the effect right there and then. Lorry would definitely scold her if she were to wet the carpet, and so, she brought the monograph with her to the gardens. The plants there could use the water after all.

Only to find her vile archenemy there.

Roland!

She had yet to forgive him. Not only he teased her constantly, he was also a crybaby and a snitch. When her Big Sis scolded and punished him, which he completely deserved, he ran to his mommy and made her scold her Big Sis back. Unforgivable! She hates cowards like him the most! He's just like her brother—a coward and a pervert!

The moment he noticed her, he immediately made a beeline towards her, making the young girl groan.

“Hey! What do you have there, Erika? That looks heavy! How about I carry it for you?” He flashed his annoying, obnoxious grin.

"Get away, Roland! I have no time for you today!"

"Aaw, don't be like that! I want to see your beautiful smile, mademoiselle."

Erika simply gave him a huff, hastening her pace so she could leave him behind.

Only for a wind to suddenly pick up, lifting her dress upwards.

"Kyaaahh!" Erika shrieked as she tried to push the hem down—a hard task considering the giant book she was hugging.

"Ah, boring white again. When will you wear something sexier? Like your big sister?" Roland smirked, twirling his wand.

Erika had had enough. She turned around, opened the monograph to the page with the water rune, and hovered her right hand over the drawing. To activate the rune, all she needed was to give a command using her mana, which she instinctively did.

“Huh? What are you—”

*SPLASH*

"W-wha—"

"Serves you right!"

Erika left the boy in a bewildered state. Out of nowhere, he was soaked from head to toe, as if someone had poured a barrel worth of water on top of him.

Was that… her magic? I didn't know she had learned water magic.

A smirk formed on his lips. Rubbing his finger on his nose, he declared—Well done, my rival! You really are worthy to be my future wife!

"Achooo!" He shivered. Urgh, I better change.

When Emma asked what happened to him, he didn't say it was Erika. He instead said that he just fell into the pond in the garden.

He was not a crybaby snitch. He’ll prove that to Erika soon enough!

-------

As spring continued onward, a month had passed since Marina made her proposal.

Finally, it was time for Marina to make her journey.

As the earl had instructed, Reinhard and his wives would stay behind. Emma's family wasn't going to appear in the meeting as they weren't amongst the big players in the kingdom (not to mention their recent financial difficulties). They would travel there using a carriage, accompanied by a number of guards on horseback (though honestly speaking, with Marina around, there was no need for them). Henrietta, as Marina's private maid, would come along as well, along with the Earl's own private maid.

The carriage they rode on was large and luxurious, with four horses pulling it forward. Colored slick black on the outside, and royal red on the inside, it was easily the most comfortable carriage Marina had ever rode on. She could stretch her legs freely and she could even move her seat backwards to form a bed.

They also had another carriage with them: far less luxurious, and intended to be used as storage for the things they would need in their journey, such as wine barrels and the many plates and utensils needed for the Earl and his granddaughter’s many meals. The maids would ride here whenever they were dismissed by their masters.

Their journey to the capital, Shernon, took them around fifteen days, give or take, making them go across several other territories that other noble houses ruled over. Thanks to the road not being that well-developed, their journey wasn’t as smooth as it could be. Sometimes the road would be so bumpy even the carriage’s advanced suspension couldn’t handle it. Sometimes the road vanished at all, overtaken by rocks or vegetation. It couldn’t be helped. The route they took wasn’t that popular with travelers in the first place. On their way there, the Earl spent most of his time sleeping, while Marina, when she was bored of her books, would climb to the top of the carriage using her magic, just to see the view with her own eyes (to the protests of the two maids and their bodyguards). They didn’t stop for the night, as one of the guards following them would switch places with the driver, allowing a continuous trip through the entire two weeks they were on the road. There was no need to ask for permission from the ruling houses whose territories they trespassed, as none of them were higher-ranked than the Earl. If they were, say, to cross the territory of a Duke, then they would have to make a visit to the Lord’s dwellings, even if just for a short while, or else they would risk antagonizing the higher-ranked noble, which—if you know anything about politics—would be a terrible idea indeed.

As they went further and further towards the south, the warmer the weather became, though still not as warm as the weather Marina used to experience in Marchen.

Eventually, they entered the king’s territory. And it was where Marina first saw the famed griffon riders that the kingdom had.

Their roars filled the air, awakening Marina from her slumber. It was around noon, thus she could move to her usual sightseeing spot and see the tiny figures clearly, flying far above her in the skies.

So that’s the Sky Knights of the Ferus Kingdom...

They sure can fly really high… Perhaps that’s why they are a force to be reckoned with. If they can launch their attacks from that height, then there’s nothing ordinary soldiers can do against them. Arrows and low-level magic won’t do anything. One would need to be able to use something like Thunderstorm to fight back against them.

...I don’t think it’s enough to win against the Magocracy though.

-------

Shernon was a busy and bustling city, far different from Lochestat in the north. As a central to trade in the north, merchants from the south would make their patronage here, selling goods exclusive to the south while buying goods exclusive to the north. Though it wasn't the only trading city in the kingdom, the tax from the trades still provided a significant chunk of the king's income.

Marina stayed inside through their entire sojourn through the city. She had to act like a proper lady after all. And so, the only view she could get was from her window, which was decently large, but certainly not big enough to compete with actually going outside the carriage. 

From said window, she could see the market district bustling with activity. Her curious smile soon disappeared however when she saw the slave auction that was going on. Two men and women, tied to the pole half-naked, with the slave merchant yelling to the audience how good and useful they were as a slave.

"Marina." She heard her grandfather's voice. "Don't."

She looked down and saw how she had taken out her wand without even realizing it.

"I'm sorry." She closed her eyes, only opening them once the slaves were out of her sight.

"The capital isn't even where they sold most of their slaves." The earl continued. "That would be Farmud, the seat of government of Duke Treble. I've told you about him before, right?"

"Yes." Marina nodded. "He's one of the nobles we would be meeting. His territory is the richest amongst all nobles, as he benefited greatly from his trade with the south."

"And of course, he is the husband of Luna Novis.” The person who started the tragedy that took Grandmother’s life, Marina smiled grimly.

“...I assume you would be on your best behavior?”

Marina shifted her smile into a reassuring one. “Of course, Grandfather. It all happened in the past after all.”

--------

They made their way to the best hotel the capital could provide. Or rather, a private guesthouse, built so nobles from all over the kingdom could have a place to stay whenever they were summoned by the king. It was a decently sized mansion in the middle of the city, almost as big as their own. And it came complete with its own set of maids and butlers.

The date of their meeting was tomorrow. However, if all parties had arrived at the capital, then they might just have the ball first tonight. So the Earl instructed Marina not to go anywhere. It would take her hours to get dressed up for the ball after all.

And so, the earth mage decided to use someone else to see around the capital in her stead.

"You call, Miss?"

She summoned Nysa in her room. After staying in the human world for a while, the familiar decided she was bored, wishing to be dismissed so she could return to her Fey friends. Marina, of course, granted her leave.

"We're in a new human city right now. I want you to look around and see if there's anything suspicious."

"Ooh, a new human city? Sounds fun!" The dryad beamed with excitement. "Alright, Miss! I'll go right away!"

"Make sure to return before the sun sets. I have need of you in the evening."

The girl left the room, earning a few alarmed stares from the butlers standing nearby, who swore they never saw anyone like her entering Marina's room. The earth mage quickly corrected their suspicion, thankfully enough.

-------

The dryad returned just in time to see Marina being dressed from top to bottom by Henrietta. She wore a sleeveless green dress specifically tailored for the occasion, with pure white pearls adorning her neckline and a rose decorating her hair. On top of that, there were the usual blush, lipstick, gloves, and high heels a lady had to wear to a ball.

"Henrietta, don't you think this neckline is too low?" Marina asked with a worried tone as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Nonsense, Miss." The maid grinned, pulling the dress ever slightly lower. "A ballroom is a lady's battlefield and her charm is her weapon. So show them off proudly without hesitation!"

The dress showed quite a generous amount of her cleavage, to the point that one wrong pull would mean the entire thing would escape in all their glory. To her chagrin, her size was still increasing, even though she hit puberty many years ago. Still not as big as her mother's, but she was starting to feel afraid they would get that big. She would rather not draw the attention of lecherous men with their size, thank you very much.

"Miss Marina!" The dryad made her presence known.

"Oh, you've returned." Marina turned her gaze to face her. "How was it—the city? Did you have a pleasant tour of the place?"

"It’s really different from Lochestat, Miss!” The dryad beamed with excitement. “There are so many more people here! And the buildings, the smell, the sound—they’re all different! Humans really are interesting!”

Marina smiled. “I’m glad you feel that way. Though you didn’t see anything out of place? Anything suspicious?”

"Nope! I don’t feel anything weird in the air! Or the soil for that matter!”

“What about the soldiers?” Marina continued her interrogation. “The tinmen. Do you meet a lot of them?”

“Hmm…” She folded her arms. “I guess there are more of those compared to Lochestat. But not that many though. Except for the castle. It’s pretty tightly guarded.”

“...I see.” Marina pursed her lips. “Then, I shall assign you your task for the night. Listen carefully, alright?”

The dryad nodded with excitement. It’s been a while since she had an assignment from her mistress after all.

--------

The night soon fell, marking the time for Marina to depart.

Henrietta wouldn’t be coming with her. It would be just her and her grandfather. And the driver, of course, who would be staying outside, waiting obediently until they returned.

They would ride on an entirely different carriage—one that was even more luxurious than the carriage they used on their trip here. It was pretty much a way to show off one’s stature and wealth to the other guests, even if it was a rental.

Before Marina left, she did something her grandfather most likely wouldn’t like.

She brought her wand with her.

Not inside the pockets of her dress, mind you, as her outfit for the evening had none. No, she kept it under her dress, wedged to her thighs using her panties’ elasticity to keep it in place. She had forgoed wearing the usual silk or satin undergarments one would wear to such an event. She instead wore one of her cotton ladygarments with a strong elastic band to them, to the point that it could keep a small object in place.

Thanks to her billowy skirt, even if she were to sit down, no one should notice that she was hiding something underneath.

Still, it meant it would be harder for her to take it out if she needed it. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t really have any other choice in the matter.

Why would she bring a wand to a ball, you might ask?

Just in case. That was basically her reasoning.

She didn’t trust these nobles. If they were to turn on her, she must have a way to defend herself.

She would not make the same mistake again.