The Maid and Her Princess - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Elise looked at Madoka as if she saw an apparition float through the front door. She was soaked. "Madoka?!"
"Get. The. Healers," Madoka breathed as she clutched her bloody hand, feeling the sting finally inflicting her palm. Elise took the hint and ran with her to the soldiers.
"Ah, Madoka," Elise scolded her as the healer channeled into a strange object. Her eyes glowed as odd green strings of mana wrapped around her hand, sealing it as if it wasn't cut by a blade. They were mesmerizing and beautiful. "You need to stop making me worried!"
"Sorry, princess," Madoka hung her head. They were out in the hallway while Princess Fiara paced. Only a scar remained on her palm. Of the many that marred her hand, this one was the deepest. Elise held it up, inspecting it.
"This scar..." She looked at it, rubbing her hand. "Were you attacked?"
"N-No," Madoka lied. In truth, she was not sure if she fought an illusion brought on by her delirium or simply hurt herself breaking the rock formations. "I merely hurt myself by breaking those rocks."
Elise squeezed her hand. The tattoo was on her wrist, but slithered back up her forearm when Madoka noticed it. Her eyes lit up.
"You broke them?" She said excitedly.
"Yes, Elise," Madoka said. Although I was almost broken myself, she thought. "It is done."
"Well, woohoo!" She jumped up. Madoka was too exhausted to discipline the princess from making noise this late. "We can discuss what to do next since it's still night. You're crazy, Madoka!"
After the visit with the healer, Elise promptly sent her to her chambers and forbade her from leaving until the following morning when she got her. Madoka sighed in her bed. It was rare that the princess had a reason to scold her - she must be holding it over her head because of that. A small smile crept over Madoka, for she knew even if she fought an illusion her promise and willpower prevailed. A small victory that would etch itself in her mind.
Then she pictured the princess looking serious for once in her mind and she giggled quietly to herself. The princess was never so serious before and her scowl looked so silly. Perhaps she should be more mischievous just to see her be serious more often.
She dreamed good dreams that night, instead of having the usual nightmares of nobles.
"Good morning, sunshine!" Elise's voice came through Madoka's dreams to her. Madoka yawned, to see the princess smiling, sitting at the edge of her bed. She was dressed for the outdoors. Another maid must have attended her. Her carelessness frustrated her, for Madoka should have gotten to the princess first. "I have some good news. But first! Your hand!"
"Good morning," Madoka's voice dragged. "Don't you worry about my hand, princess."
"Bah! Nae waah!" Elise took her hand from under the sheets. She inspected it some more. "What an odd scar, it's almost like you withstood a strike with a sword."
"Can't say. I think I had a nightmare last night," Madoka was being truthful. "The formations are gone though."
"Hmm," the princess contemplated. "Yes, it is time to see Lord Zeron."
Madoka wanted to collapse back on the pillow.
"I thought you said 'good news,'" Madoka complained.
"It IS good news," Elise jumped up. "He is officially giving us the chance to do some exploring outdoors! And YOU get to ride a horse... with me of course."
Madoka failed to see anything good about riding a horse with her. Especially when her strength is considerably higher than the last time they did so. She worried for her arms this time around.
"We got to eat up, of course," Elise muttered to herself. "Such an arduous task of walking and hiking... and horses. At 3500 calories, no, maybe 4000 on the safe side. Jeez, this body is a damn bio-airplane powered by nothing but meat. Much different than a regular human-"
"Elise," Madoka stopped her from rambling. "Language."
"Huh? O-Oh you heard me," Elise turned. Madoka slipped her hand out of Elise's grip. "What is it, Madoka?"
"L-Let me get ready first," she struggled to unwind herself out of the sheets.
"Of course!" Elise twirled, a dance move they shared a while ago. She was still graceful and much healthier than even the last days of Spring. Has she been training without Madoka knowing?
Of course Madoka knew the answer.
Later, Elise dragged her to the healer mage again. The mage was a kind man, though his cloak did not have the insignia of the same kind as the guards. It matched Elise's Brother's crest. That meant that he was a part of his army. It was too much for Madoka to ask about, since perhaps this was Elise just using him for intel.
"It appears to be all fixed up, dear," the mage said. Madoka looked at her hand and back to Elise.
"Are you certain?" Elise triple checked.
"Hoohoo! You are loved, dear," the mage said. "Of course, Your Highness. This one's hand is healed by the kind gods themselves. And by you, of course."
"Whatever, thanks," Elise cut him off.
"Princess," Madoka said with a stern look. "Manners."
"Oh, no need for that," the mage waved Madoka off. "I am merely her servant, just like you."
Elise stormed off, giving a look to Madoka to follow her. Madoka had a question for him, however.
"What seems to be on your mind, dear?"
"It's the princess, actually," Madoka trailed off, thinking of that strange tattoo. "She has a marking on her left arm. It moves on its own and hurts Her Highness."
"Ah," the healer leaned back. "Those are the Marks of Ascension. A magical scar, really. It will heal on its own over time or when the princess finds inner peace."
"Madoka," Elise called out for her. "To me."
Madoka decided it was best to leave the kind mage and not test her luck. She bowed and exited.
"Awwhhh, Madoka," Elise rested her arms behind her head as they walked to the dining room. Madoka was accustomed to eating with her now but at first it was absolutely horrifying and absurd. "Don't ruin my good morning! I care an awful lot about you and you're spitting it back at me by talking with an enemy - er, stranger about my issues."
"F-Forgive me, princess," Madoka dropped to her knees. Elise simply sighed as she stopped at the door.
"It's just an expression, I think," Elise wondered to herself. "Get up, get up! We have to discuss this trip I plan on. Several, in fact. We're a few long months off from D-Day, might as well look into things."
As per usual, Madoka had no idea what she was talking about and followed her to the dining room.
"Brother's got his claws everywhere, even here," Elise had a dark and fierce look, her voice low. It was a side of her that Madoka never saw before. Madoka remained quiet as she ate, not even scolding her harsh language. "It's going to be a miracle if we pull this off and survive. For now, I plan on two different trips... Oh, sorry Madoka. I must have been thinking aloud again..."
"Pay me no mind, Your Highness," Madoka closed her eyes and ate silently.
A knock on the door was heard and a booming laughter came from behind it. Luckily, Madoka finished and simply placed her plates on a tray. An escape from this awkwardness was exactly what Madoka needed.
"Lord Zeron!"
The towering man entered and the princess got up and embraced him. Madoka simply curtsied and hoped to leave, cleaning the table as he stood laughing. "Where do you think you're going, little lady?"
The question froze Madoka in her tracks.
"I'll get these out of the way, sir," Madoka simply said, excusing herself. She would not take no for an answer when it came to her duties, however, to be spared from the added awkwardness of the whole situation was a helpful incentive.
"No, no, little lady!" Lord Zeron bellowed. "We have much to do!"
"Come, come!" Elise cheered. Well, Madoka thought. At least she appeared to be happier with Lord Zeron. She departed with them and left the tray behind.
Oh, kind gods spare me, Madoka prayed. She realized they were leading her out to the training grounds.
"You destroyed these by yourself?" Lord Zeron looked at the remains of the rock formations. They were conjured up by Lord Leopride's magic, Madoka simply sighed. She had left her axe outside here in the rain, but it remained sharp. She was beginning to think that this gift was much more expensive than what it appeared to be. "Impressive, little lady."
"P-Please," Madoka grimaced. "Call me Madoka."
Anything but the nicknames, she pleaded with her eyes. Zeron gave a chuckle. It was then Elise walked over with two wooden swords.
"You can fight with these, right?"
"Fight? Me? Of course," Madoka nodded with a small grin. She remembered last night. Plus, Elise was secretly annoying her with false "good news" and moodiness.
Elise was nervous at Madoka's sudden change of mood. Let her be nervous, Madoka could only shrug in response. The wooden sword's blade did not hurt when she placed it on her offhand, the scar seemingly not affected.
"I-I'm not going to hold back!" Elise said, assuming her fighting stance.
A few minutes later, Elise was knocked to the ground. Madoka had defeated her in one quick blow without even breaking a sweat.
"I'm better at magic anyways," Elise muttered. Madoka helped her up without saying much. When it came to weapons, her sword spoke enough. It was then when Lord Zeron took the stage holding a pair of real swords. Madoka had the feeling that he was waiting for this moment. After all, he has seen her form and her swordsmanship from the start of her training way back in Spring.
This conversation would be a lot more serious between Madoka and Lord Zeron. The question she had for him was a simple one indeed: Has he seen what she's become now?
"Ooo!" Elise said excitedly. "Things are looking serious!"
Lord Zeron laughed his usual hearty laugh, but Madoka stayed quiet as she took a sword from him. If she could only use her axe, although carrying it around might prove burdensome.
"You're immaculate! You've defeated my pupil," Lord Zeron praised her. "But please indulge in me in this last test for today, let my fears fall."
"Fine," Madoka grimaced. He was beaming with confidence, as a warrior who served the country for many years. What could a servant like her with mere months of training do to sway his raging currents? She may have slew an illusionary phantasm last night, but she knew she could not defeat a real man who was much bigger and stronger than Lord Leopride.
"Ready, Madoka?"
A nod barely moved her head forward, so he laughed and signaled Elise to start them.
"Go!" Elise cheered.
Lord Zeron towered forward, then came at her like a wild bull. Was he mocking her? Madoka wondered. She dodged his strike and while the impact of his swing had enough strength to sweep up a cloud of dust and left a cut mark on the ground, Madoka was already behind him with an attack of her own. With such slow speed, she was sure he was holding back quite a lot.
"I win?" She tapped his neck with the point of her sword. He was too tall to reach with her hand. Lord Zeron turned slowly and applauded her.
"Excellent!" Lord Zeron laughed. "I think it's time now. You are ready to take care of her out there, though these lands are quite peaceful I think now I can let you go with the princess."
"D-Don't joke around like that," Madoka protested. "You were holding back quite a lot."
"I am not joking," Lord Zeron rested a big hand on her shoulder. The weight of his arm made her have to focus to carry or else she would topple over. "Not many can withstand the weight of my mighty hand! Gwah, hah, hah!"
Madoka nearly decided he was simply lying and just gave in. She did not understand the insults and simply wanted to go along with it. She freed herself from his grasp and faced him.
"So," Madoka spoke to Lord Zeron much differently, surprising Elise. Her sudden switch from her usual formal speech to commoner's tongue made him finally drop the act. "Why were you holding back? Do you mean to insult me?"
"Madoka?" Elise looked at her quizzically.
"It was a test, Madoka. Not a fight to the death. I wanted to see what you would do," Lord Zeron explained, trying to ease her doubts. "The heat of battle is much different than mere practice fights."
"That doesn't explain much," Madoka crossed her arms. "Or help me much."
"I have given you all the help I could, given Her Highness's situation," He said, his tone serious.
Surely he does not believe in the princess's delusions, right? Madoka had a difficult time understanding why a man like Lord Zeron trusted Elise's words. Elise nodded vigorously. Still, Madoka protested.
"But—" She began, but Lord Zeron cut her off, kneeling before her. He still was taller than her, even with strong knees on the ground.
"Most would flee from an attack like that. You remained calm even in the face of my attack. One day, I trust you will be calm even when the trials of life strike you or the princess."
"Uncle Zeron is trusted by my father to help me and do what I need, okay? It's really not that complicated," Elise told her. "You can trust me, can't you?"
"I am your servant, Your Highness," Madoka bowed her head, realizing who she was speaking to. Something in her was changing, a wellspring of confidence flowing in her heart. She would have to stamp it out or else she could be killed. Or was she merely taking advantage of her situation being so far beyond the Palace walls? "F-Forgive me, princess."
"What for?" Elise muttered. There was something about the princess that was unrecognizable to Madoka at that moment. She seemed happy about Madoka's sudden outburst. "Raise your head, Madoka. Times are changing, but rest assured you are still the woman of my dreams and you shall not be helpless!"
"I have an old friend of you two," Lord Zeron grinned after the tension was lifted.  "They will help you get to what the princess's, ah, nature walk."
Lord Leopride? Madoka shook her head. He would not help at all for whatever mad scheme Elise has waiting. A group of soldiers rounded through the gate, guiding their horses through. Madoka caught a glimpse of a familiar white haired mane. It was Ciara who seemed pleased to see the two girls. She neighed as the soldier bowed to the Princess and left the beautiful beast with the girls.