Scenario:Maria Theresa - Shadows in the Holy Night

Shadows in the Holy Night

Maria Theresa's sister, Marianna, pays her a visit and discusses the unusual happenings in the cathedral that have interrupted preparations for their holiday ball. Maria Theresa believes someone is behind them rather than being supernatural, but is unable to look into it on her own. (Captain) and the crew arrive just in time to look into it for her.

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One day, as the holy night approaches and the town begins to liven up...

Maria Theresa: Sigh...

Empress Maria Theresa sits within a chamber of her palace in the Loman Empire, heaving out a sigh of exhaustion.

Kaunitz: You must be very tired, Lady Theresa.

Maria Theresa: You, as well. You were there to support me when I needed you yet again.

Kaunitz: However... it's just as we feared. The backlash from the opposition is strong whenever it comes to majority decisions.

Maria Theresa: Yes, that's true...

Maria Theresa murmurs softly as she closes her eyes, as if gazing back through her memories.

Maria Theresa: When I freed Marianna from her forced position as a false empress and reclaimed the throne...

Maria Theresa: The mastermind, Count Eugene, was exiled along with the other central figures in the plot after a fair trial, but...

Maria Theresa: That didn't eliminate all of the factions which oppose a female ruler.

Kaunitz: Indeed. In the end, the only ones who received judgment were Count Eugene and traitors for whom we had clear evidence of wrongdoing.

Kaunitz: I'm sure you're aware, Lady Theresa, that there is some distrust even among the older nobility recently appointed to office.

Kaunitz: They continue to play along for now, but their eyes are always upon you, waiting for the opportunity to bring you down.

Maria Theresa: Be that as it may, I cannot simply cast them out if they didn't openly support Count Eugene or take part in any treasonous actions.

Maria Theresa: Doing so would only further incite the lower nobles and citizens who still hold to the male-heir tradition.

Maria Theresa: Looking at it impartially, I believe the opposition is necessary. I won't shy away from their gaze.

Handmaiden: Pardon me, Lady Theresa. You have a visitor.

A nervous figure appears from behind the maid—a young woman, eyes downcast in worry.

Marianna: Oh... I hope I didn't interrupt something important...

Maria Theresa: Marianna! Of course not! Right, Margrave?

Kaunitz: Certainly. We were merely passing the time in conversation before you arrived, Lady Marianna.

Kaunitz: Now, Lady Theresa, if you'll excuse me...

Maria Theresa: One moment, please. How is the flower bed of dahlias I asked for progressing?

Kaunitz: It's proceeding as planned. Work is well underway in the northern garden.

Maria Theresa: I see. Thank you for seeing to it.

Kaunitz: Please think nothing of it. I am merely doing my duty.

Kaunitz: Lady Theresa, Lady Marianna, I bid you farewell.

With a graceful bow, Kaunitz departs the chamber along with the attendant.

Maria Theresa: All right, then! Time for a change of pace... Justice!

Maria Theresa: As always, please keep the count as you observe Marianna's posture.

Justice: Understood.

Maria Theresa: Now, let's begin today's dance lesson. Your hand please, Marianna.

Marianna: Sure... Thank you for helping today too, sister.

As she speaks, Marianna reaches out with the slightest hint of nervous tension.

Elegant music fills the chamber along with a steady clap, while two figures dance in the center.

Justice: One, two, three. One, two—

Marianna: Ah!

Maria Theresa: Careful!

Marianna is on the verge of stumbling backward when Maria Theresa deftly pulls her close and lets out a small sigh.

Maria Theresa: Are you all right, Marianna?

Marianna: Y-yes... I'm sorry...

Justice: Lady Theresa, it is just about the time for tea. Perhaps it would be best to take a short break.

Maria Theresa: Oh, good idea! I'm feeling a little parched, so let's have a tea party!

Marianna: Oh? But what about—

Maria Theresa: Everything is made better with regular breaks and taking in sugar. Come now, have a seat!

As Maria Theresa helps Marianna into her chair, Justice makes preparations for the tea party.

Justice: Here you are, chamomile tea with some honey mixed in.

Marianna: That sounds wonderful. Thank you very much...

As Marianna lifts the cup to her lips, her tension seems to melt away.

Maria Theresa straightens herself upon seeing this, and looks at Marianna with a serious expression.

Maria Theresa: Marianna... Is there something that's troubling you?

Marianna: What? Wh-why would you think that?

Justice: You are making more mistakes than usual, and your mind clearly seems to be elsewhere.

Maria Theresa: What's more, you seem to be rather pale. Are you getting enough sleep?

Marianna: I appreciate your concern...

Marianna: But I would rather not cause you any undue burden...

Maria Theresa: Now, now... I may be an empress, but I'm your twin sister first. I'm just Maria Theresa to you.

Maria Theresa: Only Justice and I are here. Neither of us will hold anything you say against you.

Marianna: ...

Marianna's eyes dart about for a few moments before she lifts her tea cup to her lips once more. She hesitantly begins to speak.

Marianna: Well... The church is celebrating its 100th anniversary during the holy night this year, and they're holding a celebratory ball, right?

Marianna: But lately, the nuns and craftsmen preparing for the event have been plagued by strange phenomena.

Maria Theresa: What do you mean?

It begins with small things, such as hearing voices in an empty room or the sense of being watched by unseen eyes...

More recently, things are suddenly broken, or materials stored in dry areas are found completely soaked with muddy water.

Justice: I have heard nobles discussing these strange occurrences within the church as well.

Justice: You did express intentions to sponsor the celebratory ball, right, Lady Theresa?

Maria Theresa: I do, yes. In today's meeting, the council was particularly angered over the delays in preparation.

Maria Theresa: I didn't think they were connected, but could these strange events be the cause of the delays?

Marianna: Absolutely. One of the craftsmen was actually injured the other day because of them.

Marianna: Fortunately, it was just a light sprain, but he was completely shaken. He said that a shadowy figure assaulted him.

Marianna: After hearing that, many of the other workers fled the project.

Maria Theresa: I had no idea such a thing happened...

Maria Theresa lets out a deep sigh before placing a hand on her chin as she organizes her thoughts.

Maria Theresa: It could be an extraordinary coincidence, but we can't dismiss the possibility that this is actually some spiritual occurrence.

Maria Theresa: The fact that this started when preparations began makes it highly likely this is some intentional act.

Justice: Perhaps the faction that opposes you, then?

Maria Theresa: I have no evidence of that, but they are certainly the ones with the most to gain from this.

Maria Theresa: Very important people have been invited to the celebratory ball, including foreign nobles and church officials.

Maria Theresa: The church would face severe repercussions if something ruined such a major event...

Maria Theresa: And I, as a sponsor, would share in some of that responsibility.

Justice: If they blame the strange occurrences within the church, even Lady Marianna may be caught up in baseless rumors.

Marianna: I was deemed an inauspicious child after all...

Maria Theresa: All that talk of misfortune from an inauspicious child amounts to nothing more than sheer nonsense. It does nothing to help our country.

Maria Theresa: Since real harm has already been done, we cannot simply ignore this. We need to uncover the cause as soon as possible...

Justice: Be cautious, Lady Theresa. One false move in the investigation could fan the flames of dissent.

Maria Theresa: Very true. Since someone has been injured, their worries will only get worse...

As Maria Theresa lets out a sigh, the faces of her friends in the boundless, blue sky appear in her mind.

Maria Theresa: In times like these, I really do miss my days working as an appraiser with the skyfarers.

???: Heheh! That sounds like our cue!

Maria Theresa: Wait! That voice...

???: Whether you're lost at sea, buried under snow, or trapped in a volcano, we'll come running to anyone who calls for help!

???: From monster hunts to lost kittens, we handle each and every request that comes our way!

1. Whenever you're in trouble...

Choose: Whenever you're in trouble...

Vyrn & Lyria: Just leave it to us skyfarers!
You can leave it to skyfarers like us!

As her friends stand proudly before her, Maria Theresa's eyes go wide—her face is frozen in disbelief.

Maria Theresa: What?
Whaaat?

Some say that the shocked cry she let loose could be heard all across the Loman Empire.