If Marie had any expectations of what it would be like to work for Carina, it certainly wouldn't have been anything like this.
Carina was dressed in an outfit that one usually saw on a knight, a fitting blouse, tight trousers, with her long hair tied up into a ponytail, and she was grinning as she beckoned for Marie to attack her.
"Miss, I'm not sure this is a good idea..." Marie said, frowning at how excited Carina seemed.
Carina sighed, rolling her eyes. "Come on, Marie, it'll be fine. I promise you I am much tougher than I seem."
Marie couldn't exactly refuse, as Carina was her boss now, but she made sure to hold back when she lunged forward, something that Carina seemed to immediately pick up on, if her pout was any indication.
"Marie! Take this seriously!"
"Miss, I could hurt you!"
Carina only huffed, and then narrowed her eyes and swept her leg across the floor to catch Marie's feet and knock her over.
Marie, caught by surprise, landed on the floor with a grunt.
"Fight me properly!" Carina demanded.
Marie decided that holding back wasn't exactly doing her any favours, so she began to spar with Carina seriously.
What surprised her even more than just the fact that Carina knew how to fight at all, was that her skills almost equalled Marie's. It confused Marie, as she had no idea when or where Carina would've even learnt how to fight like that, but she quickly lost herself in the fight, only focusing on taking Carina down.
Marie hadn't had a nice, satisfying spar with anyone in so long.
In the end, Marie won, and Carina was pressed up against the wall with a dagger at her throat. But Marie suspected that if she hadn't had a weapon, the fight might've lasted a lot longer, and her win wouldn't have been guaranteed.
"Your father certainly taught you well." Carina mumbled in between taking in deep breaths.
Marie nodded, panting. "I had no idea you could fight like that, Miss. Who taught you?"
Carina shrugged. "Ah, I was self taught. I spent all that time alone so I figured I might as well pick up a hobby."
Her answer didn't really make sense to Marie, but she knew not to press for the truth, so she simply accepted it and didn't question her any further.
"Oh, before I forget, tell Anne that she should prepare a carriage for tomorrow. We'll be going out into town in the morning."