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Maria von Hohenzollern 
[img] https://i.imgur.com/h2XQ7uz.png [/img] 
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Celestia Family Villa
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[@Lunarlors34] 
[@FamishedPants]
[@Letter Bee]
[@Rekaigan]

Maria followed the others as they moved from the yard into the mansion. After all, a simple meeting was all Maria really wished to have with Vesta, but drama and the presence of other individuals seemed to change the overall objective of her meeting. Through and through, it was still a meeting, regardless of the changes. 

A server had brought out foods and the like for the group. Perhaps unlike someone who claims to be a knight, Maria seemed to have a weakness against sweets and the like. Perhaps she would be a glutton if her duty to the sword was more important to her than any other indulgence, but that did not stop her desires from occasionally slipping through.

Taking some tea, which was served in expensive-looking porcelain cups, and a sweet to herself, Maria relaxed for a moment. 

Maria couldn’t help but stifle her laughter at the ponderous, yet simple nature of the demi-human child who had walked into the area, not unlike a small animal’s thought process, she had seemed to enjoy the sweets prepared by Vesta.

Though she was suspicious about the nature of the child, a kid couldn't cause too much harm, right? Of course, looks can be deceiving, but Maria was willing to overlook this fact, so long as she didn’t step too far out of line.

[color=gold] “I guess she doesn't understand us,” [/color] Maria commented with another laugh as Vesta was referred to as “Demi”, as if it was her name or something. Though it likely more so directed at Vesta’s reduction of her outward coldness she normally displays to others, broken by something Maria also considers “cute”. Maybe, by that metric, Maria wasn’t too away from her older sister’s footsteps, humanizing something Maria admires. 

[color=gold] “Elanil,” [/color] Maria said slowly as she pointed towards Elanil, enunciating the word slowly as she dropped down to her knee to an eye level with the young child. 

[color=gold]“Maria.”[/color]

Maria did the same, this time pointing towards herself. 

[color=gold]“Vesta.”

“Heinrich.” 

“Alexander.“ [/color] 

She continued to do this to introduce those who were in the room. Perhaps the girl would at least be able to understand who one another were. Though if she didn’t know how to properly speak, perhaps she spoke a different language? Perhaps she was farther than how than what Maria would be willing 

[color=gold]“I heard there is an epidemic. Individuals from foreign lands getting abducted and brought here. I know not what for, but I’ve had several run ins with smugglers trafficking on the back roads. Maybe that has something to do with this child.” [/color]

Maria took a scoop of sugar with a silver spoon, spinning the powdery substance into her tea in a swirling motion. Shortly after she she poured some of the milk in a silver saucer provided by the maid prior, coalescing into a somewhat sweeter tea than most others might wish to have, though Maria  wasn’t completely averse to such a taste or texture. 

[color=gold]“The problem is with a child though, is that I know not where she comes from, nor the language she understands. If she was with her parents, I could leave it as so, but alone and so far away from her home, it would be irresponsible to leave her by herself. The question is … what would be do with her?” [/color]

Though Maria was sure that the people around her had not given the extent of thought into the subject that she would have hoped for, she had experience in this field. After all, she was a knight. If a missing girl wasn’t something she could handle, what good were the knights to begin with? 

[color=gold]“I could likely use the knights to help find her family if she still has any; the Iron Bell are here to protect the laws of this land and those whom fall under its jurisdiction. But until they find them, or if they don't find them, what would we have us do? Your father cares not for Demi-kind, Vesta, and I am not sure about the other two, but they don’t really look like they want to look after a child yet. I could take her with me, but I am busy with my work a lot of the time, and the only place i could keep her is in a military installation. That being said, there are orphanages that daddy… I mean that father influences in the capital I could bring her too as well.” 
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