[This shall be the only time in which I will prepend an author's note. In the game, my favorite choice of S-support for female Corrin is Jakob, and my extensive reasons need not be explained since everyone has their own tastes and would see different qualities and do different amounts of research on characters. However, certain availability on the kinds of S-Supports Corrin can have brings about this possibility that I find...to be a very entertaining possibility. I hope this story will come to be interesting to all who stop by. Please enjoy.]
She didn't see it coming, even though she had observed its progress, and even commented on it.
War made life difficult in many ways, but on the Astral Planes, where time flowed differently, people could have a semblance of everyday life as they prepare for the next battle. As things got stressful, Corrin found it more and more important to make sure people are getting along...and that above all, as the one leading them, she had to keep good relations with everyone. Among that goal, she also had one personal belief: that she cannot pick favorites among her army. So while many in the army have developed personal relations, she made sure to keep a certain boundary between herself and everyone.
It wasn't easy. Despite her insistence of "being not interested" to curious questions of her fancies, she knew that she was quite fond of many of the men around her. Her growing rank of retainers, for one... As she got to know Silas better (again) she could definitely feel the pang in her heart when she imagined life with him being sent away (again.) So she cherished her time catching up with him. Kaze, who can be so kind, and definitely nice on the eyes, and so reliable...she can't deny that he would be nice to keep close, too.
Though, between the two, Silas, being a noble and a knight, would be a choice with the least problems in social circles. Yet her fancies do not flit between just the noble knight and the kind ninja;
Because if there were anyone who was just as reliable, and just as close of a friend, perhaps even more, it would be Jakob.
Sharp-tongued, over-dedicated, hard-working Jakob...who was abandoned by his noble family, and is but a servant...her most loyal and favorite retainer.
Corrin had gone through much inner turmoil about the situation, before deciding that there would be no decision made, and that she will simply let the matter rest. With war meaning death, she can't bear the thought of getting more attached to anyone than she already was, only to potentially lose any of them.
So now, on an evening where she waited in her quarters for tea to be served and for Camilla to visit her and have some...quality sister time, became the start of upheaval.
First came the tea.
"Milady, here is the blend that you and Princess Camilla are fond of." Jakob set the tray down on her table.
"Oh, anything you make is wonderful. Thank you. I'm glad you took Sister Camilla's preferences into account." Her tone carried a bit of relief. When Camilla first joined them, one of the first things that happened within the week was a constant tug-a-war between Camilla and Jakob...with Corrin right in the middle of it. It didn't take long before she snapped at them, assigning the two of them together on the battlefield, with the drastic command of 'get along and take care of each other out there, because I can't bear to lose either of you but at the same time I can't hold against you two arguing over me!'
That fixed the issue very quickly. They took the rational decision to stop bickering and agreed to focus more on how to better take care of her...which opened up some other issues, but Corrin would rather them work together on smothering her with attention than to work against each other on that.
And over time, it brought them to...tonight.
Corrin noticed something a little different about the smile Jakob wore today as he accepted her thanks and left with his usual parting words of being available if she needed anything else. She felt that it held a delight that was...almost nervous.
The observation was quickly dismissed as Camilla arrived. Their family time consisted mostly of one making sure the other was okay and comfortable, with a lot of teasing and some comforting familiarity... Camilla's presence was the closest Corrin could compare to a mother's love. It was a thought and subject that brings her bittersweet tastes.
Looking at the clock, she knew it was getting late. Camilla would probably start offering to sing her to sleep or something soon...
"Camilla..." Corrin started as she turned her attention back on her sister, but her sentence died on her lips as she noticed Camilla silently regarding her from across the table, cheek rested in her palm, gaze briefly breaking eye-contact in a nervous manner before settling back on her.
Camilla, nervous?
"Corrin, my sweet Corrin." She began. "You know that I love you dearly, right?"
"O-of course! Big sister, if it weren't for your love and care, I would be missing a big part of happiness growing up!"
"I'm so glad to hear that." She smiled, and leaned back a little, settling her hands on the table, a little more calm. "My darling little sister, I have a request. This request is a little...unconventional to come from me, but we've decided that it was best if I approached you as your sister about this."
Corrin began to feel nervous instead. What kind of request could it be, for Camilla to be not immediately straightforward about it? "Big sister...What could there be that I couldn't help you with, if you didn't already believe in me?"
"One that requires your blessing, my dear."
Oh. If she worded it like that...could it be that Camilla is...interested in someone? "Um..." Corrin thought about it for a moment. "I...I don't understand. Camilla, I would be happy for you and send you my blessings no matter who you choose. I mean...! That's what we're taking about, right? Marriage?"
Camilla appeared to be proud that Corrin understood what the request was related to. "Oh, you are so smart, my Corrin!"
Corrin blushed. "W-well, congratulations! Though, if you're worried about blessings and acceptance of the news...shouldn't you be taking to big brother Xander instead? Unless you've already talked to him...which still confuses me as why you need to make a request of me for my blessings? I'm happy for you!"
"It fills my heart with joy that you are happy for me, Corrin!" Without missing a beat, Camilla left her chair to circle around and embraced Corrin with glee. "Oh, but you see...we thought we shouldn't skip all the formalities entirely, because the one I wish to marry should, by all means, be speaking to you about this. But...we aren't exactly conventional, so it was decided I should approach you about it."
"I still don't understand..." What could be unconventional about Camilla's intended? Though now that she thought about it, there weren't a lot of other nobles or royals around. Was it Takumi? Ryoma? Or perhaps Silas? She had seen her sister interact with all of them, though she knew not of the frequency nor the nature of their interactions. But if it's unconventional, then she must be talking about one of her Hoshidan siblings, right? She could be a good match with Ryoma...
But Ryoma wouldn't have to ask her for permission to marry Camilla! He should ask Xander instead! So it must be Silas, her friend and retainer, right?
And then came the earth-shattering answer: "Corrin, dear, I'm just hope you won't mind that I take some of Jakob's time from you...you'll always be our number one priority, of course! But love works in silly ways..."
Several concerns immediately rose to mind. Yet, instead of the issue of their status being princess to servant, or that Jakob was her retainer, or the slight possessiveness that wrenched her heart a little at the news, the first thing that Corrin blurted out was: "You mean Jakob is going to be my brother-in-law now?!"
That night, after Camilla explained that some bridges will be crossed when they get there, and assured Corrin that they really loved each other and that they also would never put anything before Corrin's well-being (not that it was a concern Corrin had...) Camilla became satisfied with Corrin's blessing and bade her good night.
And Corrin would say that her blessing was true and heart-felt...because she had already decided that she will not pursue love until all of her family and friends can be secured a peaceful world to live in, with happiness and love to pursue of their own. She had decided that she will give up on whatever romantic feelings on anyone, especially on her favorite retainer, her true childhood friend...
And she cried silently before falling asleep, tears of bitter relief that he will be happy...that he was with someone she trusted with all her heart, and that her sister will have beside her the man Corrin trusts her own life with. She mourned for her final shred of hope of having him all to herself, and celebrated that she could move on from her attachment to him that she tried so hard to let go of until now.
The bitter smile on her lips that night, however, was not to be a signal of her ability to abide by her decision of staying single. Because with this development...her decision will instead be further put to the test.