Things were going out of hand.
Both Maruschka and Hanna were uncompromised in their position.
Hanna was really pissed off with the way Maruschka acted, even though she was just a commoner.
"If only lady Erika didn't entertain this commoner." She thought, really angry.
"Alright stop it. You've come here to visit Erika. I am really happy to see that you girls love her so much."
The duke had to butt in the girl's catfight.
Erika planned up something acceptable for both.
"Why don't I teach Maruschka to dance and then dance with you first on the day." She said looking at Hanna.
"Sigh, fine. I'll accept this arrangement." Hanna said.
Maruschka also seemed happy.
They stayed at Erika's house and chatted for some more time before leaving.
Maruschka went to her orphanage while Hanna went to her house.
The next day Erika returned to her dorm along with Hanna after paying a visit to her house.
Hanna was extremely happy to see her come to her house.
Though Erika didn't stay for long. She just went there because it was on the way to the dorm.
Hanna however was more excited and pulled her into the house almost forcefully.
She was very happy to see Erika and all the more better since she was alone only with her maid Bauer.
"Kommandant are you okay with cheating on lady Maruschka like that?" Bauer whispered in Erika's ears.
"Grrrr, she doesn't has to know. If you tell her I'll have you clean the lager toilet with just a small rag." She said angrily.
"But what if lady Landsturm boasts about it?" Bauer asked clearly trying to control her smile.
"She won't say anything. I'll make sure of it." She said in a pissed off voice.
Erika was welcomed by Hanna's father lord Landsturm who was there at that time.
"Good day, lord Landsturm. I hope you are well. I am Erika Raubenbraum a friend of Hanna." Erika said as gracefully as she could holding her dress and slightly bending her knees.
"Oh, you are the daughter of duke Raubenbraum? Thank you for looking after Hanna. She talks about you all the time. I think she likes you." He said with a gentle smile.
Erika blushed a little from embarrassment. Hanna was also embarrassed.
Behind them Bauer was laughing in her mind hearing this conversation.
"You don't have to say weird things father." Hanna protested.
Her cheeks were pink and she tried avert her eyes from both Erika and her father.
"Actually you can call me uncle. Your father and I have recently became friends after he helped me with some financial problems." Lord Landsturm said looking at Erika.
Hanna was surprised. She asked out loud,
"WHAT?! You never told me we had troubles, father."
"Oh, it's nothing for youngins like you to worry about. And it's settled thanks to the duke. Anyways you two have fun. I have some works to do."
Saying this lord Landsturm left.
Erika and Hanna didn't stay for long as well. They left for the academy dorms slightly after lord Landsturm left.
"Hey, Hanna keep my today's visit a secret to Maruschka." Erika said as the she along with Hanna and Bauer went towards the academy.
"Sure lady Erika. The commoner has no reason to know what happened between us." Hanna replied as she felt proud of this secret.
"Hey, don't say it like that. Both of you are my precious friends." Erika protested.
"Sure, as you say. You're the higher ranking one." Hanna laughed.
Slowly they strolled their way to the academy through the noble district.
As they entered the gates of the academy, Maruschka met them.
She frowned as she saw both Erika and Hanna together and was turning red in anger.
She rushed to Erika's side and held her hand with both of her arms from her left side.
"Lady Erika, why are you coming together with lady Landsturm? Did you hang out with her?" She pouted.
Hanna standing on the other side felt proud. She wanted to brag about how Erika went to her house alone and they had chat but a look from Erika prevented her.
Bauer behind was trying to suppress her laughter. While Erika thought what to say.
"Actually, as we live almost nearby, we met each other way and came together."
"Ahem, why are you so early? I thought you'd be coming late." Erika diverted the conversation.
"Oh, actually the orphanage is facing trouble with their funds being cut off." Maruschka suddenly became said.
"Huh, why what happened?!" Erika inquired after hearing this.
She couldn't contain her unease. Hanna was shocked as well.
"Why'd the funding for the orphanage be cut? What'll happen to all those children?"
This was the first time she showed a genuine care for the commoners.
"The government officials said that the money had to be transferred in more urgent sectors. And it'll only decrease in the future." She sighed.
"So I didn't want to increase their burden even more by staying some more time."
The orphanage was already in a bad state with the funds being embezzled by the nobles.
As a result most children like Maruschka had to scavenge for food in the streets but now it got even worse.
"Did they mention which sectors?" Erika asked in a rush.
"No, it's supposedly an order directly from his majesty the king and his highness the prince."
"Bauer, change of plans we'll go back to our house again." She said.
"Hanna excuse us. I'll try to sort it out."
"May I also come with you?" Hanna anxiously asked.
"Oh, no need to trouble yourself with this. I'll take care of it."
Though Hanna was a bit sad to be left out but she didn't press any more.
It was now a matter of so many children who may lose their only shelter, so she chose to act mature.
Erika went to her house with Maruschka and Bauer.
Maruschka was happy that Erika was so eager to help her. But also felt ashamed for troubling her with something so trivial.
Returning to her home, Erika went straight to her father.
"Father do you know what's going on in the kingdom?" She hurriedly asked.
"With what dear?" The duke couldn't understand what Erika was asking about.
"More importantly, aren't you supposed to be at the academy now? What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Actually Maruschka said that the funding of her orphanage has been cut down and the officials in charge said that the funds are now needed for more pressing issues."
"Ah, I see the prince's actions are already taking tolls on the people." The duke said unconsciously as well.
"Heh! What actions? Father please tell me in details." Erika said anxiously.
"Actually the prince is subverting money from other funds to the Royal Army and Knightage. He is hellbent on strengthening the power of the royal family."
Erika didn't knew any of this. She was surprised to know about such development.
Meanwhile, Maruschka felt sad. Making little children suffer just to make war. This is something Maruschka couldn't understand.
The next things Erika heard, almost horrified her. She wasn't expecting such development. At least this early in the game.
"The Army is already on training near our territory's border."
"Father, I need to umm.... use the telephone now." She first said loud but suddenly controlled herself remembering Maruschka was also there."
"Sure, it's yours after all. But first, let's move the orphanage to our territory. Recently the territory has been in a real good shape though I don't know why." He said.
"We can afford to fund another orphanage without a trouble."
As the duke said all this, Maruschka moved to tears.
"Thank you lady Erika. Thank you so much." She said as tears rolled down her face.