Once Lance had left the room, Marie walked through the pristine hall heading back to her father’s receiving chamber. The walls and white tiles had hardly a speck of dust on them. This was not surprising as Marie knew the servants had cleaned the whole place from top to bottom before the Gala. Ruminating on the unusually intimate hug she had received from Lance she thought,

“The kidnapping ordeal and this new farce so that I can save Bain and Nadasia is totally screwing with my friendship with Lance. I know he’s a good guy, I’m just not sure I am ready for such a big commitment yet. I mean, I know that I have known him forever but...... I can't say I've really ever thought of him in any way other than a friend."

Marie was so absorbed in her thoughts that she almost walked straight past the duke’s receiving chamber. To her surprise, she heard an unfamiliar female voice talking to her father. Due to the thick stone walls and heavy oak door, however, she was only able to make out bits and pieces of the conversation.

“I .......It will be.......the.....is contained......... will fall for it.......cares......much to........to go.”

Her father’s voice replied.

“You’re........there must be.......mistakes......she..... must......know......a.....has to.......happen.”

“Could he be talking about me?” Marie wondered.

Just a few moments later the conversation stopped. Figuring that it was as good a time as any Marie knocked on the door. A tall, pale-skinned woman with piercing crystal blue eyes and black hair pulled the door open. A closer look at the woman revealed that she was wearing a silver and emerald headband, and matching emerald green robes with silvery trim.

“What is such a high-ranking sorceress doing here?” Marie mused.

Seeing Marie, the sorceress’s red lips curled up into a perfect smile. Her teeth were a blinding white and spaced perfectly evenly.

“Hello my darling, you must be Marie.” she purred, ushering her into the Duke's receiving room. “Your father has told me so much about you that I felt I simply had to meet you in person. Of course, we will be getting to know each other better soon.”

With every word that the woman uttered Marie felt more and more relaxed. As the sorceress continued talking, Marie was gradually reduced to a blank staring stupor. Waving her hand back and forth a few times to ensure that Marie was indeed completely under her trance, she turned back to the duke.

“I thought you told me she was more inclined to wear tunics and simple dresses?”

She said, arching a finely trimmed brow.

The duke waved his hand dismissing her question,

“She usually does, but I ordered her into the formal wear to speak with her suitor.”

The sorceress nodded in understanding. The duke and sorceress continued talking, confident that Marie would only come out of the trance when the sorceress broke it. What they had failed to see, however, was that Marie had slipped on an easy-to-miss blue-gray ring, in addition to the pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings. As they continued talking the ring worked its magic, slowly stripping away the effects of the trance. The first sense that came back to Marie was her hearing after the ring had woken up her mind.

“Skyfire I can’t believe the sorceress put me in such a deep trance! Thank goodness for Mother's ring or I would have been completely screwed.”

Although she was eager to look around, she opted to leave the enchantment mostly intact, only allowing her ring to undo the parts of the enchantment that muddled her mind and hearing. Before she could hear anything of importance, however, the sorceress walked back to her and stroked her cheek gently. Taking a step away, she quickly muttered a few unintelligible words, releasing Marie from the trance. Marie blinked, doing her best at seeming confused.

“W-what happened?” she asked.

The sorceress smiled calmingly,

“Don’t worry darling, you just spaced out for a few moments. It is a typical response when coming into close contact with a powerful sorceress like myself for the first time.”

Marie nodded slowly,

“What a clever excuse to throw someone in a trance the first time you meet them.”

“The Duke has informed me that you are to choose a suitor within the next year.”

Marie straightened, remembering why she had sought out her father, who was still sitting in his chair, in the first place.

“Father that reminds me.” she paused for a beat.

“I have chosen two suitors......to be honest, I think we both know I was simply dragging things out.”

An oily smile crept across the Duke’s face.

“And whom have you narrowed it down to Marie?”

Marie took a deep breath,

“Castiel and Lance, Father.”

The Duke clapped his hands, clearly delighted. Marie on the other hand was less than thrilled that she had now essentially sealed her fate.

“And I still have no clue why such a powerful sorceress is here.” she thought to herself somewhat resentfully.

The Duke then dismissed Marie. As she was about to push open the door however he called,

“Oh, and Marie, High Sorceress Minerva here will be teaching you manners and other feminine skills that I believe you have been sorely lacking in since your mother passed.”

Tears stung her eyes at the mention of her mother, mixed with such callous words being thrown at her. Having them said in front of the sorceress made the sting ten times worse, but Marie refused to give either of them the satisfaction of letting a single tear fall.

“Take me to your chambers please Marie, we have much to discuss.”

The High Sorceress stated in a tone that made it clear that it had been a demand, not a request. Marie nodded in acknowledgment and began the trek back to her in stony silence.