The Villainess Mary-sama

∆Claes Manor, Katarina's orchard age 13∆

"Katarina-sama!" Mary greeted Katarina who was filling a basket with fruits.

"Ah, Mary. How are you?" Katarina said smiling at her friend as she carefully climbed down her in.

"I am well Katarina-sama," Mary said smiling like a blooming flower. She waited until Katarina was on the ground and had deposited her basket on the ground before walking over to her and kissing her, as had become usual when they were alone. Because today was special she slipped her tongue onto Katarina's mouth.

When they came up for at, Katarina asked, "What's up Mary. This is the first time you've given me an adult kiss." Katarina didn't mention how awkward Mary's tongue was.

Mary smiled, "Today, I'll start courting you. Katarina-sama, I love you! I'll do my best to become your lover!"

"Ah, that? Well I don't know if I'll have the same feelings, but I'm not opposed to it. Do your best, Mary," Katarina said.

"Yes, Katarina-sama!" Mary said pumping her  clenching her fist.

"But before that," Katarina grabbed Mary's chin and gave her another kiss. She slipped her tongue into Mary's mouth this time. 'That feels much better,' Katarina thought and pulled away.

"Kat... Katarina-shama..."  Mary said dazedly. She hadn't expected Katarina to be so good at tongue kisses.

"Alright! Now let's go drop these off in the kitchen. The Head chef promised to make some amazing candies out if these fruit!" Katarina said picking up the fruit and taking Mary's hand and leading her to the Kitchen. Thankfully when they ran into Keith on their way to the Kitchen Mary had snapped out of it .

Claes Manor, The week before they entered Magic school.

Miridiana had called Mary to her Sunroom

"Greetings, Miridiana-sama," Mary bowed as she greeted Miridiana, "you called for me?"

"There's no need to be so formal," Miridiana said with a smile. "You're practically family, already. Joana told me that she sometimes catches you kissing Katarina. You have my approval."

"Thank you Miridiana-sama." Mary said as she relaxed and took a seat on the Sofa across from Miridiana.

"You're quite welcome, dear," Miridiana said with a smile. The next moment her face shifted took on a serious countenance with her mouth forming a hard line. "But this is about my other child. He's a good boy but he's been neglecting one part of his inheritence duties. I didn't want to do this, because I'd much rather he'd marry for love. But he can't marry the person he currently loves. I need you to help me out with this."

"You knew, Keith-sama is in love with Katarina-sama, Miridiana-sama?" Mary said just to be sure.

"I'd only found out a year ago and hoping it was just some form of exaggerated sibling admiration, and I'm still not sure it isn't. Whatever the case may be I need him move on from this." Miridiana said. She gave Mary a bold smile, "That's where you come in dear. I'll need you to be in charge of Keith's engagement. Succeed in getting him a suitable fianceé and I'll make sure your dates go smoothly and uninterrupted. I'll even arrange for you to attend a certain secret social," Miridiana smiled

It was a tempting offer, Mary had to admit. But she had questions, "Why me, Miridiana-sama?"

"You're the closest girl to Keith who's not his family yet, and you're obviously in love with someone else. You know more about him than anyone else save his sister. You're doing a stellar job of keeping him in line already. You'd be the perfect matchmaker."

"Those are good points," Mary agreed. "But he views me as a rival. I wouldn't be surprised if he suspects my being involved in his surprise engagement"

"Don't worry about that, if it happens he'll think My Darling and I just engaged him without his involvement. Hopefully he'll be too busy dealing with his new fianceé to have time to suspect you."

'I'm worried,' Mary thought. "What are the criteria for his fianceé candidate?"

"I'm glad you asked. First, I'd like you to find a girl that absolutely adores him." Miridiana said holding up her pinky. 

Mary nodded it seemed reasonable enough.

"Second," Miridiana said lifting her index finger to join her pinky, "The girl has to be obsessive about something. It seems Keith is in to that sort of thing," Miridiana stared out the window behind her for a moment then turned back to Mary and held lifted her thumb to join her index and pinky fingers. "Thirdly, I need you to find a girl that makes him worry about her." Miridiana raised her ring finger, "Fourth I'd like her to have some sort of... quirk. And lastly, I need them to have a good friendship before anything official starts," Miridiana raised her middle finger so that all the fingers on her right hand were raised.

'That's surprisingly detailed, Miri-mama,' Mary thought. "That's... rather easier than I expected. It really narrows the options down, Miridiana-sama."

"I'm aware of how popular my son is." Miridiana said reaching for a scone. "I don't want someone who's just after his inheritence or who's just after his body.

'…that's still within the realm of possibility from your criteria Miri-mama!' Mary thought frantically. She took a deep breath. 'Guess I'll specifically look for someone specifically obsessed with Keith.' Mary nodded twice. "I'll agree to this arrangement."

"Excellent, Miridiana said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She then handed Mary an envelope. "The Social is in 5 months. Remember you must keep this little arrangement a secret from everyone but me.

"Yes, Miridiana-sama." Mary agreed.

It happened a week after school started, Miranda was lost in thought and tripped on a stone in the road. Keith, who happened to be nearby stopped her from falling in her face by catching her.

"Are you alright?" Keith asked in concern.

"Yes," Miranda said as she righted herself, "I'm so embarrassed to be leaning on a gentleman like this. Please excuse me."

"I'm just glad I was able to prevent you from injury. It would be a shame if you got hurt." Keith said "Try to watch where you're going okay?" Keith then smiled and innocently turned on the charm, "It would be a shame if a cute lady like you got hurt." He smiled at her.

Miranda felt like her heart had been shot through with an arrow, 'such concern and passion, c-c-could this be courtship?! Ah! Wait we have yet to introduce ourselves! It can't be! But... I'd be happy if it were!!' Miranda straightened herself up. "Um, I'm Miranda Skylark, of the Skylark Earldom. May I have your name?"

"Ah, I'm Keith Claes." Keith said.

'Keith Claes! Of the Claes Duchy!! I'd heard rumors of him but he's even more handsome in person!', she thought, "Umm... I'd like to thank you properly, Claes-sama. Do you have sometime tommorow at seven pm?" Miranda asked

"Well sure, if you insist." Keith agreed.

"I absolutely do!" Miranda said clasping her bends in front of her chest and looking up into Keith's eyes, "Well then, Good Day, Claes-sama." Miranda said and walked off.

Mary who had been watching the whole thing unfold from a distance away, thought, 'Hm, let's see if we can use that girl.' She then walked up to Keith,"Keith-sama, I want to talk to you! I found the seeds Katarina-sama was looking for! Let's make haste! We don't want to let Geord get them before us!!"

♠2 weeks later.♠

Mary had found that the girl she had seen with Keith, Miranda was absolutely obsessed with him and they had become friends. 'That's good. Now I'll just need to give her a push. Let's have her submit official documents, after they've been friends for two months. I'll have to make sure she safe enough, to keep around. I should become friends with her.' she thought as she walked the corridors. Just as she had that thought she spotted Miranda. "Ah, Greetings, Skylark-sama" Mary said with a sweet smile. 

"M-M-Mary-sama?! Greetings!" Miranda said and then realized her flub, "Ah! I'm sorry, Hunt-sama!" That was improper of me!" Miranda said covering her cheeks with her hands.

Mary simply smiled at her, "That reminds me, Skylark-sama, Do you have time, right now? I've been wanting to talk to you about Keith-sama?"

"A love rival?! No that can't be it, Everyone knows she's only got eyes for Alan-sama and Katarina-sama," Miranda muttered not aware that she had voiced those thoughts. "I have time! I would love to talk about Keith-sama with you, Hunt-sama!"

'Hm...I see that rumor us spreading faster than planned. Good.' Mary nodded, "Now if you'll follow me to my gardens, I'll tell you all about Keith-sama there." 

§3 months after the beginning of school, 1 month after Mary's withdrawal from the Harem.§

Miridiana had called Keith back home for the weekend, and to her study.

"I'm here, Mother."  Keith said.

"Keith," Miridiana asked without preamble, "How's the search for a fiancé going?"

"...I still haven't found a partner." Keith said

" Mm. Well you don't have to worry about that anymore. I want you to enjoy school, without worrying about searching for a wife." Miridiana smiled at him. "You are handsome so I'm sure you've had plenty of offers. We will stop worrying about your engagement."

"...Thank you mother." Keith said relieved.

"Now, sit down and give me your report on Katarina, " Miridiana said.

"Yes, Mother." Keith said and began recanting Katarina's antics

He still had no idea what Miridiana meant by "not worrying about Keith's engagement."

ΩMeanwhile in the Magic Academy Girls Dormitories: Katarina's roomΩ

Katarina heard a knock on her door, she opened it and found her arms full of Mary.

"Katarina-sama!" Mary looked up at her and puckered her lips invitation

Katarina kissed Mary and pulled away, "What's up, Mary? You haven't been asking for kisses lately." Katarina asked.

"I've been so busy! Studying Magic, setting up my information network, avoiding suspicion," she whispered the last point so Katarina couldn't hear it, "setting up Keith's engagement." She raised her voice so Katarina could just make it out."

"What was that last one?" Katarina asked just to be sure."

"Ah well you see, Miridiana-sama placed me in charge of Keith's matchmaking. He's been close to a girl that absolutely adores him so I scouted her. It all worked out." Mary smiled "It will be official by summer vacation.

"Mary," Katarina grabbed Mary's chin and tilted her face up into her glaring eyes, "Could you tell me more about that." 

Mary shivered, "Yes Katarina-sama."

After she finished explaining everything carefully leaving out the part about who Keith was in love with, Mary was scolded thoroughly about not telling her about her role on Keith's engagement.

♦1 month later Summer Vacation.♦

Katarina had called Keith to her field, he supposed she needed help with her harvest, although it should be a little early if he remembered correctly. He arrived and found Mary and Katarina working the field like he expected, but to his surprise, his school friend Miranda was also there gazing at the two working with amazement. 

"The hobbies of higher nobles sure are amazing..." Miranda muttered.

'Miranda-san, that's not it, Nee-san is just off,' Keith thought. "Miranda-san?" He asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Miridiana-sama invited me here and told me to wait in the garden for you."

'Why would mother show this to a noble lady though?' Keith wondered.

"Ah there you are." Miridiana said walking up Miranda and Keith." She gestured to the field. "What do you think this Skylark-san?"

" It's...an interesting hobby that I myself wouldn't have?" Miranda answered

"And what do you think of my daughter?" Miridiana asked.

"She's...a lovely noble lady, but not as lovely as Keith-sama!" Miranda answered.

"Good. Good." Miridiana nodded. "I'll approve of your relationship, from now on you are a Lady of House Claes!"

Keith was shocked, "What's going on?"

"Congratulations on your engagement, Keith-sama!!" Mary said, having finished her weeding and watched the whole thing play out.

"What-How... WHAT?!" Keith shouted.

"Oh come now," Mary said. "Miranda-san has be courting you for months, you didn't notice?"

"...I thought we were just friends." Keith muttered.

"Poor Miranda, I guess being dense is a Claes thing," Mary muttered. "Anyways! None of that matters now! You just got engaged! You shouldn't be talking with me. Go to Miranda-san." Mary pushed Keith forward.

"I must say, I'm rather... surprised Miranda-san." Keith said as he walked up to her.

"That's also one of your charming points Keith-sama. Now that we're engaged I can be openly affectionate with you!" Miranda said as she hugged him, "I won't ever let you go," she whispered.

Keith felt an inexplicable chill.

Evening the same day.

Miridiana waited in her study, she knew that after Keith's shock had worn off he'd have questions for her. 'I wonder if he'll be Angry or sad. I'd probably be sad if I were in his shoes but....'

"MOTHER!!" Keith rudely burst into her study shouting.

"Don't open the door like that, you're not a gorilla, don't raise your voice at me. Sit down!" Miridiana commanded sharply "We have much to discuss."

Keith sat down, still angry but having regained some reason, "Mother, I thought you said we don't have worry about my engagement. I thought I could marry for love!"

"Oh, is that how you took it? I meant that someone else will take care of this for us, since we would have gotten nowhere with your dilly-dallying."  Miridiana said. "You couldn't remain unengaged Keith. You're the Heir to this Duchy."

"...I wanted to marry for love." Keith said.

"It's time to wake up, Keith!" Miridiana said. She then poured cold water on Keith's boiling emotions, "You can't marry your sister. There's no benefit to it for the Duchy, I won't approve, your father won't approve, and Society won't approve." 

"…You knew?" Keith asked.

"I knew, and I did this for your own good. Now if that's all, you're dismissed." Miridiana said with finality.

Keith got up and trudged back to his room.

ΩThe next day, Hunt ManorΩ

Mary and Katarina were kissing in her garden. Despite how open it was they didn't really need to be careful about it. The Hunt Family hardly ever went to Mary's garden.

Katarina pulled away with a pensive face. "You think Keith's okay?"

"I'm sure he will be. I matched him with the most suitable partner. They'll be fine."  Mary said. 'And she'll keep him too busy to interfere with our private time.' 

"If you say so, Mary. Shall we pick some berries," Katarina said m as she stood up and reached out her hand.

Mary immediately grabbed it, "Yes Katarina-sama!"

to be continued...