Mikina Freezis

"Because I hate Elphes!"

- Mikina Freesis

Mikina Freesis, born Mikina Sfarz, was an aristocrat hailing from the Kingdom of Marlon and the wife of Keel Freesis. Due to their financial troubles in Elphegort, Mikina unwittingly became a pawn of Prim Marlon and Abyss I.R., inadvertently making a contract with the Demon of Greed. Through her husband's information network, she secretly aided the Queen Dowager's machinations while trying to protect her family.

Early Life
"Jewels, gold coins, a mansion, servants... I made the decision to abandon all of it for those two."

- Mikina recalling her younger years

Born in the Sfarz family in EC 473, Mikina met and became longtime friends with Keel Freesis. In EC 484, Mikina attended a royal banquet and met Prince Kyle Marlon. During the party, a cat ran into Mikina and, terrified, she screamed and fainted. At some point, Mikina and Keel became romantically involved and she became pregnant, despite being married to a Marlon noble. In EC 491, the romantic engagement was revealed and her father objected to it.

Although knowing that her father loved her and only feared Keel was just using her, Mikina worried her father would use his power to ruin Keel. Along with Keel, Mikina boarded a ship to the Kingdom of Elphegort and traveled to the Green Country. Living in Aceid's Central District, Mikina discarded her aristocratic life and married Keel. On her eighteenth birthday, she gave birth to baby girl and the couple named her Yukina. Wishing to avoid dangerous work because of the child, the two set up a general store.

Because they were foreigners, the couple suffered severe discrimination and the shop solid little, but they worked hard to make it as impressive as possible to the Elphe customers. Due to the aid of the wife of a foreign couple that owned a nearby inn, Mikina and Keel managed to barely survive in spite of their stuggles. Once they received their first customer, Mikina and Keel jumped for joy, though their situation made her anxious. Around that time, Mikina became pregnant again in EC 492 and became increasingly stressed by their situation.

Around this time, she heard from a gossiping traveler of a shaman in Yatski village who sold an abortion drug and, believing they could not afford to raise another child, she decided to travel to the village. During the journey, she sobbed and, blinded by her tears, tripped and fell down a steep cliff. Knocked unconcious bythe fall, Mikina was found by a disguised Prim Marlon and carried to an inn in Yatski.

Mikina awoke and saw that the Queen of Marlon carried a bottle holding a white and yellow powder. Mikina confessed everything that happened to the woman. Prim then gave her a blue spoon as a gift, saying it brought good fortune to its owner. Although skeptical, she returned to her family without buying the drug and Keel related to her that a shabbily dressed man had visited their shop and was impressed by their high-quality wares and Keel's service, although he only ended up buying a pipe.

Over the next month, their entire store sold out, and the couple eventually learned the man had been King Sohni Elphen, who distinguished them throughout the country. Under his sponsorship, their failing business became very successful. The following year, their first son was born and the couple named him Shaw. Coddling the child, Mikina used their newfound wealth to hire an Elphe nanny to help take care of her son. Around the same time, their store's reputation spread to foreign countries and they received more long-distance customers.

Deal with Evil
"Shaw is only mine. When I thought so strongly about that, my father was suddenly wrapped in blue flames."

- Mikina

In EC 494, Mikina discovered her father with the nanny and several servants in their home while Keel was away. Her father explained that multiple Marlon dignitaries had suddenly died, and the state's affairs were in severe disorder; due to this, he came to take Mikina back with him. Realizing the nanny had sold her out, Mikina staunchly refused to come back with her father and he declared his intention to take Shaw as the heir to the Sfarz family instead. Although attempting to resist, Mikina was subdued by the Duke's men.

Desperate and enraged, Mikina mentally declared that Shaw was only hers and, unknowingly forging a contract with the Demon of Greed, she suddenly saw her father consumed by flames along with the nanny and his henchman, disturbed by their screams. Afterwards, she discovered Shaw's back had been badly scorched and that none of her clothes or the house had caught fire. Mikina then traveled to Marlon and gained an audience with Queen Dowager Prim, expecting her to explain what had occurred.

After she explained the situation to her, the Dowager Queen told Mikina that the spoon was actually a vessel of sin and how she had inadverdently made a contract with the Demon of Greed. Saying her family's souls would be wholly devoured by the demon if she did not cooperate with her schemes and follow the instructions of Abyss I.R., Mikina reluctantly agreed to Prim's demands. Receiving all instructions from Abyss via a Very Amazing Green Onion or  Ney Futapie, the aristocrat replaced her father as a supporter of the Queen's conspiracy.

Success and Troubles
"We show equal love to our servants and their family, that is one of the Freesis mottos. Michaela is no exception."

- Mikina

After Keel expanded their business into the Freesis Firm and acquired a title of nobility with their newfound wealth, Mikina returned to her aristocratic lifestyle, moving into a mansion in Aceid's Northern District; while there, she took charge of the property's landscaping. With Shaw as their eldest son, Mikina began spending most of her time and energy raising him as the family heir.

In EC 495, Keel and Mikina had their third child, Aile, and became well-known among the higher echelons of society. Using some of their international business' wealth, Mikina secretly helped fund Queen Prim's ambitions. Around EC 497, Mikina read the story of Vampiress Vanika to Yukina, scaring the child. Sometime afterward, Abyss I.R. gave Mikina the Venom Sword as part of her plans and she gave it to her husband for his collection, commenting about its rare shape.

In EC 499, because her husband was busy with recent resignations among the staff, Mikina took his place to pick up Rollam bird feathers with a servant from their friends at the inn in Central District. Receiving tea from a green-haired girl, Mikina noticed she was staring at her hair and politely asked her to stop. The girl apologized, complimenting her hair. Judging her appearance, the two conversed about the difficulties of being a foreigner in Elphegort. Learning she and her friend were without a job, Mikina realized her intent and asked if they wanted her to hire them. At that moment, her friend arrived and Mikina approached the girl in awe, surprised to see someone from the Netsuma Clan.

After learning their names, Mikina said that only Clarith was hired, not Michaela. As the green-haired girl pressed for why, Mikina exploded about her hatred of their kind before quickly composing herself, brushing it off as a joke. Mikina tried explaining it was due to Michaela's beauty possibly causing unnecessary problems. Begged by Clarith to let her join, Mikina gave in and both officially joined after three months of probation. At some point, she explained to Michaela they used the feathers as pens for Yukina.

In December of EC 499, Mikina attended the party of Lucifenia's princess, Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche, with her husband and their butler, Bruno. Later, after one of Michaela's performances at Keels' banquets, she suggested the green-haired girl rest, seeing she was exhausted from singing. During the meeting regarding Riliane's hunt for Michaela, Mikina soothed Shaw as her husband explained the situation and told the green-haired maid she brought a problem to the family. Michaela apologized and Mikina clarified she blamed Kyle and held no ill will towards her. After relieving Clarith of caring for Yukina, the businessman's wife expressed her desire to uphold the Freesis motto to show equal love to their servants and their families.

Green Hunting
"The one who told Ney her location was me. It was so difficult to look at Clarith face-to-face with that innocent look. So when I heard that Clarith quit being a servant, I was honestly relieved."

- Mikina confessing her guilt over Michaela's death

At the start of the Green Hunting, Mikina, her family, and the servants all gathered in preparation to flee and decided to leave in fewer numbers to avoid discovery. When Michaela and Clarith began to leave, Mikina stood by the back door and held out a cloak for her, suggesting she cover her hair while they escape. With her husband at her side, she tearfully refused to say goodbye, believing they would have to return to work again.

Later, the Lucifenian army found Mikina and her family, arresting and imprisoning them at the Lucifenian Royal Palace for allowing a green-haired servant flee. At some point, she told Ney Futapie about Michaela's hiding place. Following their release, the family was placed under house arrest at Koopa's mansion in Lucifenia. A few days later, Mikina saw two members of the Lucifenian Resistance arrive to meet with Keel, finding that one in particular seemed rather violent.

Shortly after, Clarith arrived and she immediately embraced her, saying she was glad to see her safe. When the maid mentioned Mikina's weight loss, she explained how poor the meals Lucifenia served were compared to the Netsuma girl's cooking. Mikina then laughed at Clarith's desire to begin preparing a meal and told her to rest, comforting her over Michaela's death and silently watched her cry. After handing her a handkerchief, Mikina told Clarith about Keel's meeting, asking if she could check on him, finding it difficult to face her.

Later on, Mikina advised her troubled husband to support the Resistance, knowing it would help in Prim's desire to overthrow Lucifenia and install a Marlon regime there. After hearing Clarith would quit being a servant and instead live at a Held monastery along Lucifenia's coast, Mikina was relieved and didn't join her husband and Yukina in saying goodbye.

Return Home
Shortly after Clarith's departure, Mikina traveled to Marlon with her family and moved into the Freesis Mansion there. While there, they were visited by Elluka Clockworker and Gumillia to return Keel's property from their Aceid home. While there, Mikina and Elluka encountered one another, much to the latter's surprise. As Kyle's policies in Lucifenia became more and more aggressive in the wake of The Daughter of Evil's execution, Mikina convinced her husband to support their friend and not oppose his militaristic actions.

In EC 505, Abyss I.R. ordered her to visit the monastery Clarith worked at to moniter her friend, Rin, who was actually Princess Riliane. Realizing Abyss had seemingly hid the Princess' survival from Prim, Mikina obeyed the instructions and, with a new servant to lead her there, Mikina traveled to Lucifenia. After they had arrived at the port city off the Anonymous Coast just after noon, she learned that the young servant blundered and that the monastery wasn't actually in the city itself. Searching for the monastery along the coast till twilight, Mikina angrily chastised the servant for not checking his facts beforehand.

Then, after seeing a blond girl staring at them on the beach, the aristocrat asked if she worked at the monastery. The girl nodded and Mikina happily asked her if she could give them directions. The girl, Rin, agreed and Mikina explained the situation to her as they headed to the monastery. She then expressed her gratitude for finding the girl, saying it was her first time visiting the convent. When the blond-haired girl asked who Mikina came to see was, she replied it was Clarith.

Over time, the aristocrat made multiple visits to the monastery, monitoring Rin while reporting back what she observed to Abyss I.R. When Keel discovered Abyss I.R.'s existence and began investigating her and Prim, Mikina became scared she would be exposed for everything if he looked too deeply into it. Learning Abyss I.R. had also become concerned by Keel's snooping, Mikina feared she'd kill him instead.

Praefacio of Blue
When Yukina returned to Marlon after her travels around Evillious, Mikina welcomed her at their arrival. Afterwards, Keel had invited Gumillia and Germaine visited their home in Bariti and the Freesis family sat down together to eat with them. During the event, Mikina, like everyone else, was displeased by Germaine's drunken rant about the danger Yukina faced while abroad.

Later, after Abyss I.R.'s apparent defeat, Mikina found the sorceress' cat and insisted on keeping it, despite her daughter's distress. Sometime later, Kyle came by and recalled Mikina's reaction to cats as a child. Following the death of Queen Dowager Prim and Ney's capture, Abyss I.R. used Mikina as her medium to knock her husband unconscious and kill Ney before running off with the vessels of sin. Around that time, she realized Abyss I.R. planned to use the previously possessed Rin as her next medium since she could therefore freely utilize the vessels of sin.

After the sorceress arrived at the Held monastery and was discovered by Germaine,Yukina, and Rin, Mikina's consciousness resurged and, struggling to hold Abyss back, decided to confess her involvement in everything to her daughter. She then revealed her past, collaboration with Prim and Abyss I.R., and involvement in Kyle's possession and Michaela's death. After expressing all the fears she had during Kyle's investigations, Mikina lamented that it didn't matter anymore.

The aristocrat then explained why the sorceress brought her there and how, like Rin, she too could freely use the vessels due to being possessed even without any magic power. Suddenly hearing the voice of the Demon of Greed tell her to leave everything to it again, Mikina voiced the situation to Yukina and told her to get away. Abyss I.R. then retook control of the aristocrat and used her to combat them with the Marlon Spoon.

Once Germaine skewered Abyss I.R.'s true body, the cat, Mikina was freed of her control. Consumed with guilt, Mikina expressed that her life would be difficult but promised to have a positive outlook going forward.

Later Life
Afterward, Mikina spent much of her time caring for her husband. After Keel's death, she abandoned the inheritance and, without telling her children, lived quietly in a Marlon home. As her death drew near, her children rushed to her side after learning her whereabouts. Surrounded by the family she loved, Mikina died.

Legacy
Mikina's accomplishments with Keel lived on with their son Shaw and the Freesis Foundation stemming from his corporate conglomerate had a major impact in politics and business in the century following her death. By the seventh century EC, the Foundation was entrusted to investigate the Toragay Serial Killings and their connection to Père Noël.

Personality and Traits
"I will not say good bye for this is not the last time we shall meet. You have to come back and work yes?"

- A tearful Mikina to Michaela and Clarith

Mikina was a kind but conflicted individual, struggling to maintain a lavish lifestyle while caring for her family. Like her husband, she held her family in high regard and was willing to make steep sacrifices for their well-being, also extending this care to their household staff. Despite this, her independent nature and love for Keel put her at odds with her father and family in Marlon. As a child, Mikina was terrified of cats but grew a certain fondness for them as an adult. She also had a love for gardens and had particular specifications to its layout.

Because of her background, she was naturally elegant and proper and somewhat imposing, following after Clarith outside simply to have a better look at her. Similarly, although believing that servants were like family, she would be easily angered by their incompetence and was embarrassed with having to run chores or errands herself due to a lack of staff. Although foregoing her wealth to be with Keel, Mikina and Keel's failing business made her desperate and, though skeptical, accepted Queen Dowager Prim's gift to help them acquire money.

Due to her early hardships from the Elphes, especially the incident with Shaw's nanny, Mikina harbored a deep resentment of their race. Although often hiding her prejudice behind more logical means, she would reveal her hatred when heavily provoked. As a result, she was resilient to having any Elphes as servants. In reverse, Mikina was very sympathetic to foreigners in Elphegort, preferring to shop at their businesses or assist them with their needs whenever possible. Despite her racism, Mikina openly recognized Michaela's striking beauty and was willing to hire her after Clarith begged the aristocrat. She also came to love the servant and care for her safety, overwhelmed with guilt for her part in the girl's death.

Mikina was extremely devoted to Keel and their children and loved them greatly, but had difficulty in protecting them while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. After becoming pregnant with Shaw, the choice to abort him due to their financial constraints weighed heavily on her heart and she was reduced to heavy sobbing during her trip to Yatski. Once the boy was born, Mikina spent all her energy tending to his needs, leaving Yukina and Aile more often ignored by her.

Even so, Mikina was opposed to her forced collaboration with Prim and Abyss I.R. and deeply regretted deceiving and betraying her family and friends to keep them safe; finding that the happiness they gained from supporting Kyle's military expansionism came at the cost of others' suffering, Mikina's guilt only increased and feared for Keel's safety the more he looked into Prim and Abyss. When finally freed of their control, Mikina attempted to push onward with a more positive outlook. By the time of her husband's death, she became a recluse and preferred to live alone.

Skills and Abilities
"And even the merchant, Mr. Freesis, is under his wife's thumb."

- An aristocrat speaking about powerful women

As a businessman's wife, Mikina was extremely perceptive and could quickly surmise much about a person's character or lifestyle after briefly analyzing them. Like her husband, Mikina was adept at socializing with others but could become ill-tempered when pressed about topics, especially regarding her feelings or personal beliefs. Likewise, she was a convincing liar, able to maintain an innocent facade among her family and friends regarding her involvement with events. She was also somewhat manipulative, able to easily influence her husband's decision-making to her or her collaborator's favor.

Having helped work at their small business with her husband, Mikina had a strong business savvy, enhanced by her observant behavior. She therefore was able assert a great amount of influence on Keel, to the point some considered her as the real one controlling the Freesis Firm. Although lacking any magical potential, Mikina was able to freely manipulate the vessels of sin due to being possessed by the Demon of Greed, making her an excellent handler for the vessels.

Character Connections
Keel Freesis: Mikina's husband. Mikina loved Keel deeply, leaving her aristocratic lifestyle to be with him, and wished to aid him in his business endeavors. She acted as his partner when running the household, often advising him over what course of action to take, and had dealings with Prim in part to help him. Mikina would be haunted by guilt over the injuries she inflicted on Keel during her possession and cared for him until his death.

Yukina Freesis: Mikina's eldest daughter. Yukina was Mikina's favorite child and she loved her deeply, wishing to safeguard her from harm at any cost, although sometimes she would neglect her when looking after Shaw. It caused Mikina great pain to confess her wrongdoings to her daughter, though she felt the need to do so as a form of repentance.

Shaw Freesis: Mikina's only son. Initially Mikina wished not to have the child during her desperate financial situation, but she loved Shaw deeply and often doted on him. She was willing to go to great lengths to protect the boy, such as attacking her father when he threatened to take him away.

Aile Freesis: Mikina's youngest daughter. Mikina loved Aile deeply and was willing to go to great lengths to protect her, such as continuing her association with Abyss I.R and Prim to spare her the consequences of her contract with the Demon of Greed.

Michaela: One of Mikina's maids. Initially Mikina did not care for Michaela, associating her with the Elphegorteans that had discriminated against the Freesis family and believing that she would cause trouble with her beautiful appearance. She became a fan of Michaela after listening to her sing, and came to regard her as family. When Mikina was forced to betray Michaela to Ney, she deeply regretted doing so.

Clarith: One of Mikina's maids. Mikina was fascinated by Clarith's Netsuma heritage and, as an immigrant of Elphegort, sympathized with the discrimination the latter faced. She was a fan of Clarith's cooking and was willing to trust her with taking care of Yukina; over time she came to regard Clarith as family, giving her comfort after Michaela's death.

Prim Marlon: A woman that controlled Mikina. Although initially grateful for Prim's aid with their financial troubles, Mikina grew to hate the former's influence over her after forcing her into a contract with the Demon of Greed. Mikina was unable to resist this influence due to fear of retribution towards her family.

Abyss I.R.: A sorceress that controlled Mikina. Mikina feared Abyss I.R and the trouble that she could bring down on her loved ones, although her affection for cats caused her to take in the sorceress' true body. She became possessed by Abyss I.R for a short time and deeply regretted her actions during this period.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Mikina's name is inspired by the name of her representative Vocaloid, Miki, sharing the same four letters in its beginning.
 * Her maiden name is derived from the Italian word sfarzo, meaning "pomp, splendor, or magnificence"; its spelling and romanization could also be a pun on the SF-A2 used by Miki.

Curiosities

 * In The Lunacy of Duke Venomania, Mickina Olliba is a widow, foreshadowing how Mikina becomes a widow after her husband's death.
 * Among her peers in nobility, Mikina is regarded as keeping her husband under her control.

Gallery
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