Honestly yes It could go both ways but based on Maria's personality I don't think she'll ever do that to the person she admires the most, at least I hope.
That would be an overused twist and Katarina isn't 'stupid'. She's just cautious as any INTELLIGENT person would be, actually.
Yeah becuase of her thinking only about the original game mode and trying to stay alive, she's oblivious to how she changed the game towards her being the 'chanced love one' for others. ╮(￣▽￣)╭
FFS this goes two ways. Maria stands up for her because the rumors are baseless as hell and katarina has been nothing but nice like her only crime is her obliviousness. Or maria doesnt stand up for her because of her mom who gave me a weird ass feeling when they met. i kinda hope its the second option tbh its a nice twist and lets you expand on the story without dragging it unnecessarily