Cookie Cutter

Maria could count on one hand the amount of times she thought herself blessed, since arriving at the most prestigious of schools. Truly, she had endured treatment that would send most people running... but truth be told, she would put up with each and every one of those experiences, a hundred times over, if only because she knew that at the end of the dark tunnel, she would be greeted by the radiant smile of the love of her life.

She had even had her passion for baking reignited, and found herself working day and night not just to create, but also to improve, her cookies and other sweet treats. 

All so she could see that beautiful smile on Katarina's face. The woman who had pulled her out of the dark abyss of loneliness, who had entered Maria's life and illuminated it far more brightly than any light magic could ever hope to match.

Maria sighed, not out of despondency or sorrow, but satisfaction instead, as she thought that the batter she was currently whisking would soon become an all new confection, one that would soon pass those delicious, tastefully painted lips. Maria could scarcely keep her mind away from going in that direction, not anymore at any rate. She'd had a long delayed awakening, but the lady Hunt had made absolutely sure that Maria would not be caught by the shackles of propriety.

After all, if a noble lady, the fiancée of one of the Princes of the very Kingdom they lived in, could be extraordinarily and openly obvious about her intense love for a fellow woman, what worry would Maria have about it?

Especially because she was no longer alone. The maid that accompanied Katarina everywhere was with her in the kitchen. Ostensibly, she was present to ensure that Maria's standards of hygiene and ingredient choices were up to par for the Lady's palate. 

In reality, the maid Tanya was present because she was one of Maria's... conspirators, so to speak.

"Still, Miss Tanya - it's like a dream come true to have your assistance for this project," Maria spoke, as she put the bowl with the batter down, and instead, took out the molds for the cookies. 

For her part, Tanya finished her own end of things, using a rolling pin to stretch out the dough that would become the base of another kind of cookie. The maid insisted that her culinary abilities were hardly on par with the rest of Tanya's attendants, but when it came to following a recipe, she could do it with incredible precision. Maria was an exacting baker, and the ability to follow a recipe to the exact letter was an appreciated one in this profession.

Tanya set about bringing out the cutters, eyeing one. "Do not think of it, Miss Campbell," the maid spoke, bowing slightly. "My lady has a great appreciation for you, and your confections," she spoke. "As long as you continue to stand by her side and support her, emotionally or otherwise, you will continue to have my own support and assistance," she spoke.

Maria understood completely. 

The others just plain did not comprehend her thought process. Mary, Sophia, Geordo, Alan, Keith and Nicol, none of them really understood the maid. 

But Maria did. Maria saw in her something of a kindred spirit. It was hard to explain, but it was a feeling that Maria got that was similar to her sixth sense for dark magic. Though the Maid lacked a capacity for magic in the first place, if Maria had to guess, it felt like they shared an elemental ability at a very fundamental level.

Maria had to guess that if the Maid had magic, she, too, would be an user of Light. Her affinity for it might be even greater than Maria's own. Standing beside her felt like she was standing directly before an Apostle of the gods themselves.

That was why Maria felt at ease around her. Maybe Katarina could feel it as well, and that was why they were sometimes inseparable, it would make sense, Katarina could see the good in people that even Maria couldn't, she had a deeper sense for people.

"Thank you very much, I shall!" Maria said, giving the maid a large smile and raising a fist, clenching it. "You're learning at a very quick pace as well, if I didn't know any better, I would've thought you had prior experience!"

"I'm good with my hands, I suppose, attention to detail can be rewarding," Tanya spoke, as she went about cutting the cookies with the cutters that they had prepared.

A revolutionary idea, molded cutters that would always result in the same shapes. Beforehand, Maria was making the shapes by hand with the dough, resulting in uneven shapes, but with this, their job was made much easier. With the majority of the work done, the sheets were put in the oven, and as soon as that was done, they set about tidying up. Soon enough, the kitchen was spotless once more, and the cookies were in their baskets.

They were finished. 

The blonde got everything together and prepared to leave. "Are you certain you don't wish to come with us? I'm sure Katarina would be quite happy if you joined us," Maria said, looking at her fellow blonde with a questioning glance. 

"I would get in your way," Tanya said, curtseying slightly. "The purpose of this is for you and my lady to deepen your bond. I would be a superfluous detail."

"Still, I'm surprised you would support me like this," Maria said, finally allowing her concerns to come to the forefront. Sometimes it did feel like everything was too good to be true. "Would your masters at the Claes household not get angry that you are... well, supporting my bid for Katarina's heart?"

"I've spoken at length with the lady Claes," Tanya spoke. "Worry not. The house has given its full support."

"I'm very shocked," Maria said, "but my mother taught me that you should not look into a gifted horse's mouth lest it bite," she spoke. "I've heard one of my neighbors lost his nose that way."

Tanya smiled, a bit morbidly. "Wise words," she spoke. "Please do submit a report, I would like to know how my mistress enjoys these sweets that I've helped with."

"Of course, of course - I'm sure she'll love them. Baking is half artistry, half science!" Maria said, a bright smile on her face. "I can feel the weight of your love for Katarina in this basket,," Maria said, lifting the basket that contained the cookies Tanya had made. "And it is quite heavy!"

Tanya looked a bit uncomfortable, but thanked her nonetheless, and allowed the girl to depart. She would meet up with Katarina and they would have a picnic.

As Maria left, Tanya remained behind...

And within her mind...

I've done all I can on my end. Protecting my mistress from her infinite charisma is a full time job. I am quite glad that I've insisted on keeping the assistant maids. Anne has become an indispensable tool in my arsenal. The young maid covers many of the weaknesses that plague me, and her insight into Katarina has become even sharper with time.

My lady is... unfortunately, there is no better way to put it. My lady is a heartbreaker. Already, a gaggle of men and women trail after her, like puppies in love.

The young commoner that I had just helped was one such lost lamb. When I had tried to explain the lady's charms to her mother, I had initially intended to buy her just a little more freedom, so that she may continue to cultivate her agreeable personality instead of returning to being the little devil she had been, but with each passing day, I become more aware that I've grossly underestimated her.

Perhaps all this time, she has been a social genius. Maybe I was her very first victim, wrapped around her fingers since that bump that had changed so much.

Whatever the case was, in order to protect my future, in order to protect this peaceful, happy life, I cannot afford to allow any situation arise that would threaten my lady's idyllic life.

Yes...

I wonder how my lady is doing, now that I've set her up for success?

As for said lady... well...

Katarina was in the process of stepping on Mary's toes. Not figuratively, but literally.

Mary winced, pulling back a little.

"Oh, oh no, I'm so sorry," Katarina said. "I wasn't-"

"No, no, it was my bad, I was a step too late," Mary replied. Despite the pain, she never removed her hands from Katarina's body. She had been given this one, special chance! She wasn't about to waste it. 

Mary wasn't dumb.

Not by a long shot. She knew that Katarina was popular, not just among the boys... she knew that she was competing against Sophia and Maria as well. If anything, she was the sort of person who would run every single advantage she could. Stack the deck and cheat as much as you can, otherwise, you're not really trying to win!

That was why she had approached Katarina's maid. The demon kept each and every  one of Katarina's suitors on a tight leash around her. Even her actual fiancé. Admittedly, Geordo, Alan, Keith and Nicol had kinda sorta brought the bruises upon themselves, but Mary was not so foolish as to incur the maid's wrath.

She wasn't quite sure why the boys had somehow assumed that beating the maid in a fight was a requirement to date Katarina, but she was glad that idea had somehow got into their heads. "Are you ready to keep going?" she asked with a smile.

She had limited time! She needed to keep pressing her body to Katarina's, to keep making her aware of her feminity! Katarina's blushes, her embarrasment, her involuntary reactions - each and every one of those, Mary had learned to read.

Reading Katarina was difficult at the best of times, with how spontaneous and unpredictable she could be, but at least, Mary could tell she was getting flustered. "R-Right!" Katarina said. "I'll get it right thist- this time!"

Mary smiled brightly, trying to pretend she wasn't the cat who got the canary right then and there. Her hand trailed a little lower than before. Closer to Katarina's butt, caressing her thigh a little. Their fingers entwined, and they once more began to dance to the music.

Soon, Maria would arrive, to take Katarina from her. Soon after that, when their own little date was done, Sophia would arrive, with a set of new books to share with Katarina.

At the end of the day, all four of the girls would spend the night together, having a sleepover in Katarina's room.

Mary didn't need to be a genius to realize what it was that the maid was doing.

Carefully managing their time together. Ensuring that Katarina got to spend time with each of them, in turn.

And most important of all, reminding each and every one of them that Katarina was not theirs exclusively, reminding them that the best way to make Katarina happy was to get along.

What a scary maid, setting up concubines for her master.

Still, Mary could not help but be thankful to her as well, even as her time with Katarina was strictly managed.

Indeed... Mary had already resigned herself that the closest she could ever get to having Katarina for herself was by collaborating with Alan.

What difference did it make, then?

Well, Katarina would surely be happier, with more people to love.

And didn't that make it all better? Looking into Katarina's face as Maria entered the Claes' ballroom, how it lit up, especially when the baskets of sweets were brought up, it made it all so much... easier.

Mary resolved then and there that she would see this plan of the maid's through to its end. She would support it with all her heart. 

And when her eyes locked with Maria, the two of them nodded at each other. Passing the torch.

Neither of them realized that the object of their love had no clue just what was going on around her, but at the end of the day, she was so happy that nobody really cared.