Chapter Text
“Maximilian.”
Maxi ceased wringing her hands, clasping them together.
Oh god, now I have done it.
It was all rather easy in the moment. Agnes had proposed borrowing horses to ride out to the Croyso Castle’s lake. The guards could not say no to the Princess when they had approached the stables, only giving Maxi a look of heartless pity. Maxi did not want to tell her friend of the punishment she would receive for their act later.
Her only friend. Not even her perfect sister Rosetta was friends with Princess Agnes, Her Highness choosing to rope Maxi into her adventures instead. Maxi still could not understand why, but she relished her friend’s company when the royal family came to visit the Duchy of Croyso.
They had just reunited a month after spending their fifteenth birthdays apart, and they had spent every day of the last fortnight together. Maxi had taught Agnes how to twist together flower crowns and recommended books to her; Agnes had taught - or rather, had insisted that Maxi be taught - how to ride a horse. Riding a horse is finding freedom! You can do anything and go anywhere with one! And you’ll always have a trusted companion in your horse. How could Maxi say no to that? All she wanted was freedom, a small sliver that she found when spending time with Agnes. The duke could not say no in front of the king when Agnes had insisted at the dinner table early on in their visit.
But there were still rules set around how and where they were to ride around the castle’s estate. Rules that the two of them had broken today. Agnes only got off with a stern talk from her father before Maxi was whisked away to her father’s office. A place she dreaded coming to, and where she now stood with perfect posture and still hands.
The duke would not raise a hand to her while the royal family was visiting Croyso, but cruel words and promises of pain were enough to make Maxi shake with fear.
“You are a disappointment, Maximilian. I expected you to keep yourself in check around that girl. Your little friend has caused enough of a headache for me to bear when Their Highnesses visit Croyso.”
Her blood grew hot. How dare he speak of Agnes this way! She wanted to snap back at him, tell him how cruel of a man he was, point out his own flaws the way he did for her, how he only groveled in front of the King because of Rosetta’s future engagement to the Crown Prince—
But she kept her tongue still. Nothing good came from speaking while he was giving out a punishment.
The Duke of Croyso twisted his face into a smile.
“I have decided that you are going to be useful.”
Maxi blinked. She had braced for fierce words to be thrown at her, words that would tear her down to nothing, because she was a useless girl , so how—
“As you know, the Princess is going to the World Tower to study magic.”
Maxi lowered her gaze. Oh. She knew. For the last two years, Agnes had talked about her affinity for magic, even showing Maxi some of her basic spells she had learned, like lighting a candle and extinguishing it without a breath.
“…Her affinity is strong already, and will be a perfect jewel for the King to hold when she is a fully realized wizard.”
Of course, Agnes would be amazing. Maxi was already so proud of her friend, for getting to pursue a life that she could never dream of.
“And so I’ve decided that you are going to become a wizard.”
Maxi’s head snapped up to meet the duke’s eyes. They were a gleaming frosty gaze, calculated and cruel.
“You have shown some mana affinity, and my priests and wizards have assured me that you can learn magic.”
Maxi knew of her affinity, Agnes had actually discovered it last year. When Agnes had conjured a flame in her hand, Maxi had reached her hand too close to the flame. But rather than burning her, her fingertips had absorbed the magical fire. Agnes had been ecstatic upon realization of what happened. She had lept up from their spot in the garden, dragging Maxi with her to the drawing room where they barreled straight into their fathers’ discussion. The king had been delighted with the showcase of Maxi’s new found affinity, and had jeered at the duke for wanting to downplay the massive find. “What talent your household possesses now! You should be proud! I certainly am proud of my own daughter’s magical powers.”
“I will not build a new palace for you to live in, like the king has decided to do for that girl. You will learn magic to be of use for the duchy. Your friendship with the princess has already been of great use for me, and while I still do not know how the king convinced me, sending you to Nornui will strengthen our relationship with the royal family tenfold.”
This was only for his benefit, not about Maxi’s feelings, but it was still a chance.
A chance to escape from the cruel grip of her father. Leave Croyso, leave the lonely hallways and gardens behind, leave the gates of this wicked place. I would be free!
“And what do you have to say?” The duke hummed.
“Y-yes, father. I-I will be us-useful f-for you.”