Chapter 10
Themis: Duke's Manor
Time had spun by quickly ever since the rumors involving Robin and Maribelle first began to fluctuate around the Shepherds. It had been just over a month since then, but it appeared that the rumors had begun to die down. The entire time, Robin had to dedicate his time to explain to every person who questioned him on the entire thing. The private lessons he was giving Maribelle, the whole misunderstanding between them regarding what one should and shouldn't say between friends, and most importantly, that he and Maribelle were NOT seeing each other, in any sense. Even with the whole event over and done with, Maribelle looked back on the whole thing with a devilish smile. The only reason why the entire thing became so popular was because no one would expect a dignified noblewoman to spread falsehood about her supposed love life.
In virtually every aspect, it was the perfect prank. That was the entire end goal; a prank at Robin's expense as a means to get him back for teaching her things that he ought not to in the first place. Perhaps that might put a damper on any attempt to make anything like that genuine, though not that she ever planned that. She knew Robin would forgive her though. If there was an admirable quality about that tactician, it was his uncommon patience when it came to his friends. One could argue he was as forgiving as Exalt Emmeryn herself.
Despite risking her public image, Maribelle had actually looked back on the whole thing fondly. Seeing time after time, the Shepherds master tactician could topple armies of unbelievable number and strength, yet can be quickly brought to his own knees by one woman. It brought a dark sense of pride to the noblewoman's eyes at how easily she managed to do so on so many occasions. On a simple day with not much else to do, she had invited Lissa over for polite conversation and tea. Needless to say, the events that occurred a while ago were one of the first subjects to arise during their talk.
"Okay, so let me get this straight..." Lissa began. "You're NOT seeing Robin, but you lied about it just to get him back?" The princesses eyes slanted in confusion at trying to wrap her mind around the whole thing. A small giggle escaped her friend's lips. She didn't directly answer, instead sipping from her cup of elderberry tea. Lissa knew what that meant; it was a prank she played on him at his expense. It appeared that her noble friend who normally kept away from such commoner behavior was dabbling in such things. "Geez, Maribelle, that was devious... and also brilliant!" Lissa praised. She hadn't thought about putting herself in the line of fire when it came to delivering pranks very often. There was the one and only time she slipped a frog down Robin's collar, which she had to channel all her willpower to not vomit from just touching the amphibian.
While the prank may have been in good fun, in the back of her mind, Lissa was a little bit disappointed. Deep down, she actually hoped the rumors were true because she fancied the idea of her two closest friends in the world possibly finding a relationship with each other. The thought of what could have been, flitting away like a bee from it's nectar made her sigh dejectedly at such a missed opportunity. Sensing her companion's drop in mood, Maribelle gently placed her teacup down on the table and rested her hands on her lap. "Is something on your mind, dear?"
It was useless to answer Maribelle negatively. That noblewoman had a keen eye for reading Lissa's thoughts. It could probably be considered her constant company that she was able to pick up on her subtle quirks whenever they rarely arose. Lissa tapped her fingers against the side of her cup, slightly embarrassed of her thoughts. "Well..." she started, eyes gravitating elsewhere in the room. "I was kinda thinking about something actually."
"Ah ha, I could tell by the slightly furrowed brow. Alright then, out with it, darling." the blonde noblewoman gestured her hand for Lissa to have her say. Judging by the way the conversation had previously gone, however, Maribelle could probably guess where their discussions would go next. She already had an answer, but rather than sound presumptuous, she waited for Lissa to ask her question.
Lissa nervously pulled at her left pigtail and swirled her golden locks around her index finger. "Have you ever..." her voice trailed off for a moment "Have you ever even thought about giving him a chance?" she finally asked. Just as Maribelle suspected. If there were any regrets that the noblewoman had, it would be fanning the flames of them being together. She simply had no romantic interest in him. No amount of asking from anyone would change that as far as she was concerned.
Taking another sip from her tea, Maribelle then gently set the cup down on the table and looked at her reflection in the shallow, amber liquid. Her eyes were stern and, although wavy from the tea distorting her face, stared back at her. With a sigh, she begrudgingly answered her friend. "Lissa, there is something that I must tell you, and feel free to pass it along." She brought her eyes up from her beverage to Lissa's. "I simply cannot see a future between Robin and I. As you are well aware, he's a mere commoner around these parts, and I belong to a very respected House among the Halidom."
"I know that Maribelle," Lissa responded, her cheeks puffing into a pouting face. "but don't you think you're being a little conceited here? Why would a person's class ever matter as long as you like that person?"
Another predictable question, one that Maribelle also had an answer to. "Class has quite a lot to do with it Lissa. I'm sorry to say, but romantically consorting with people below me is something I simply cannot bring myself to do. Label it as conceit if you must but, I have a reputation and a duty to uphold as the only child of this House." Maribelle answered frankly. It sounded like some sort of rehearsed speech, but these were values that Maribelle had to live by. The pressures of her noble life had severely cut down on just who it was she was allowed to have as a person she could spend her life with. Had she the opportunity, she would deign to choose any man, regardless of station. But her reasons were not simply because she was the only daughter of a high noble. They were much simpler than that. Maribelle turned her head away from Lissa breaking eye contact when speaking her next answer. "Also... I simply do not like Robin in that fashion. Yes, he is a nice boy, but he simply does not suit my standards."
"Okay, I get it..." Lissa sighed dejectedly, not because of disappointment this time, but of her own ignorance. She hadn't taken Maribelle's own wants and needs into account. All she thought of what she saw as a sort of perfect couple reserved only for the epics and romances. But the most fundamental aspect of any relationship between two people are their interactions, and if this is any indication, the two really hadn't gone anywhere with their current relationship. "I'm sorry. I forgot that it's important for someone to chose for themselves." the princess relented, sheepishly.
"Think nothing of it, we all tend for forget things despite our better judgement sometimes."
"Still, though! I really think you should at least humor him, you know? Robin talks about you all the time, y'know!" A giggle escaped from Lissa after imparting that bit of information. She knew Maribelle's attention was hers when her eyes widened for only a second.
"...Does he now?" was the only response Maribelle had in her. If there was anything he was talking about regarding her, it would doubtless be all of the sour moments they shared. They hadn't even seen one another in the previous month after all the rumors began spreading. Thinking on that now, she wondered if the tactician really had forgiven her. Not that she was seeking it, but she hoped that her list of friends would not decrease by one. It would hurt her far more if she could not have Robin as a friend at the very least.
"Yeah! He's always asking me things about you. Like, the type of tea you enjoy, why you're always reading." Lissa counted off each of her fingers with everything she listed. "Sometimes he even talks about the alone time you two have together, working on your speech or something?"
Maribelle pressed her fingers together as she listened intently to Lissa's explanation. With what little information, she couldn't help but wish to know more of what he was saying about her. As Lissa continued, the noble reached for the warm teapot and poured herself and Lissa a fresh cup, intending to know whatever else it was that he was saying about her.
Palace Ylisstol
It seemed as if the entire palace had gone quiet for the day. The sun was seeping below the eastern mountains, casting a purpleish haze over the placid city. Robin and a group iof his friends were walking about town, spending the day how they saw fit. The tactician could finally bring himself to be around anyone after all the sordid tales of him and Maribelle died down, though some did occasionally fire off a joke once in a while. Even so, Robin had not minded one bit. He was over the whole thing, and in retrospect, he probably had something like that coming. He knew Maribelle wasn't genuine about them being 'intimate' with each other, after all he respected that a noblewoman had to keep up appearances.
It was safe to say that the entire event was put behind him. In truth, he hoped to see her soon one day. It had been weeks since their last encounter, and he wondered how she kept up with her studies. Among the Shepherds, she was counted among one of his closer friends next to Lissa and Chrom of course. He almost felt ashamed that he never took time between and after training sessions to speak with her more. It wasn't as if he was busy with anything, but she tended to vanish after everything was done for the day. He really needed to change that and at least say hello next time he saw her.
His attention returned to his friends as they exchanged stories of what had been going on among each other in the passing days. Vaike, Stahl, Gaius, and Ricken were all walking back to the garrison from their day in town. Originally, it was just the four of them, but Ricken wanted to join in and spend his time with the older members ofthe Shepherds. They were the rare few that didn't treat him like a kid, so they happily accepted the young mage's company. Needless to say, Ricken was grateful to not be brushed aside and even though he had none of his own, he still took great interest in his friend's tales. Gaius' story was particularly enthralling, because it involved the smooth-talking thief undergoeing bodily harm. If Robin ever had some sort of issue, the ginger-haired man's stories of his time as a rogue always lifted his spirits. It was true what they say; one man's tragedy is another's comedy. A fact that Gaius had taken pride in. He knew the situations he got into were entertaining in hindsight, and he was always willing to share with his partners of what he had been through.
"So, I'm just lying in the flowers, right? All of a sudden, that crazy chick, Sumia goes into a full sprint and tosses the beehive to me!" he exclaimed, motioning his hands to reflect the situation. "Next thing I know, I'm being chased by a bunch of angry bees, getting stung from every which way." His story was treated with wild laughter around him from his other companions. They expected something like Sumia tripping over herself and losing the beehive down a hill or some sort. The payoff to the story was still just as fulfilling. "Ahh, anyway, after the whole thing, I decided that she should have the honey instead. She got the worst of the bee stings after all."
"Gaius, willingly giving up a jar of golden honey?" Robin questioned mockingly. He pressed two fingers against his neck then against his wrist to check his pulse. "Funny, I don't appear to be dreaming, and I'm certain the seven Hells haven't frozen over."
The thief looked over to Robin with an equally mocking expression. "Oh, so Bubbles has jokes, does he?" He playfully elbowed his friend in the ribs. "What about that time Sully's horse chased you around camp? I've been around the continent twice in my lifetime, and never once have I heard a grown man like yourself scream like a little girl." More laughter erupted from the others as they pictured someone with Robin's voice being mistaken for a female's. Vaike knowingly slicked his unkempt hair back, trying not to comment on the moment, lest he be targeted next.
"Oh, you want to hear about screams?" Robin asked rhetorically. "Have you ever seen Frederick whenever Panne is close by in her beast form? I guarantee you haven't known the definition of the word 'hilarious' until you've heard someone like Frederick panic."
"Speakin' of Panne," Vaike interjected. "anybody catch her and Stahl together? I dunno what's goin' on between those two, but I saw her lickin' the guy's face."
The viridian knight that walked alongside Vaike rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment over that moment. He hoped no one was able to see that, though he could hardly blame anyone as Panne was so upfront about it and unsecretive it would be a mystery if someone HADN'T noticed. "Th-That was partially my fault." he admitted sheepishly. "Word of advice guys: Don't eat firefruit. Just trust me on that..."
Story after story was passed around from one another, indulging in each other's pain or joy. Ricken had felt a little left out in the whole matter. He hadn't said much since it was hard for him to relate to anything that was going on. The only thought going through his head was how awkward life would be once he reached their age. Adulthood was a very complicated thing, if their experiences were any indication.
The group had made it back to the palace safe and sound, but rather than dispersing and leaving to the garrison, they decided to stay around for a while longer. The nightly stars were out, dotting the otherwise half illuminated sky, so staying outside seemed like a better choice than sitting around indoors.
"...and then the two acrobats got into a knife fight. You should have seen Blue's face, man. Princeless!" Gaius concluded. It was more funny to him than anyone else. The the others, the spectacle of some sort of back-alley skirmish wasn't exactly the funniest thing to talk about. It was more awkward than it was funny. The only justification Gaius had for his view on the story was "you had to be there". Everyone simply took his word for it and hoped to never actually have to witness something as outlandish as that.
The evening came to a close once the group noticed a carriage making its way up the palace road. Once it reached it's destination just before the gate, Lissa, the only occupant, left the carriage after paying the proper fee. The princess was delighted to be greeted by a group of her good friends upon her return home. It was a pleasant surprise, considering she didn't expect a welcome from anyone, and no one had noticed that Lissa was gone the entire day.
After their tidings, the moment seemed well enough for the group to go on about their night. However, before anyone had a chance to go their own way, Lissa had a message to deliver, and she wanted everyone to know about it. Her grey eyes focused on Robin of all people, and that mischievous grin that he feared could be seen on her face. He couldn't wait to hear what she had gotten into this time. "Hey, Robin, you don't have any plans tomorrow, do you?" she inquired.
Robin briefly looked to his friends for support. He could feel it in his bones that this would be another scheme Lissa cooked up in that little head of hers. Everyone stood a few steps back, but huddled together with idiotic smiles, as if they were the peanut gallery watching some stage play. He looked back at Lissa, but maintain eye contact with her, trying to look as if he was thinking about his day tomorrow. Other than training, he really didn't have any plans. "Well... I've got this thing..." he squeaked out. As if by reflex, his right hand reached to the back of his neck.
A terrible liar, to be sure. He was fooling no one but himself. Lissa easily caught onto his fib, but rather than calling him out on it, she decided to simply ignore it. "Well, you do now! Tomorrow, you and Maribelle are getting together for tea!" she chirped. Her hands were placed on her hips, as if she was proud of herself for announcing this. "So you better have a nice bath tonight mister, because you're not facing Maribelle with anything less than your best!"
"Excuse me?" the tactician shot back. This almost sounded like Lissa had set them up on a date of sorts. When he wondered about seeing Maribelle again, he didn't mean for it to be in the context that was provided.
"You heard me. Tomorrow. You. Maribelle. Tea. Together. Bath. Now." Lissa enunciated with every step to the palace doors. After opening them, she turned to Robin and forced him to turn around and pushed him towards the entrance. Just before she closed them, Lissa waved a final goodbye to her friends. "Sorry, boys, but Robin won't be free to play tomorrow, he's got a big day!" The doors then closed shut and everyone stood around stifling laughter at how Lissa was acting like a doting mother to a man who was probably 2, maybe 3 years older than her.
Once Lissa and Robin were inside, the former once again began pushing the latter in the direction of the palace bathhouse, but she barely got him three feet before his boots skidded them to a stop. "Okay, hold on just one minute!" Robin demanded, turning to face her. "Lissa, look, I like Maribelle and all, but to go out on a date with her is..." he searched for a way to word things properly without sounding demeaning, mostly to himself. "...you see, we have this understanding about our relationship. And as per that understanding, we're not planning on seeing each other 'that way'. Get it?"
Lissa rolled her eyes in response. Once again, she forced Robin in the opposite direction and shoved him to where she wanted him to go. "Yeah, yeah. I already heard the whole social class spiel from Meribelle earlier today. Which is precisely why it was her idea that you two try to connect on a more personal level." There was little resistance from Robin when he heard that it was Maribelle's idea, not Lissa's, that they would be together tomorrow.
"Her idea...?" he echoed.
"Yep. She said so herself that you're one of the few people she considers friends, and that this would be a perfect way for her to try and understand 'her social inferiors' better."
"Oh... Great." Robin sighed. Just like always, whenever he heard something nice from Maribelle, there was always a big insult wrapped around it like an intrusive bow on an otherwise nice present. It was one of those things he couldn't get used to. Everything else, like her general vocal cadence, that way she refered to nearly everyone else around her as 'lowborn'. He could look passed all of that, but it was always the way she talked down to only him that irked him to no end. He could count on his hands and feet the times she does this without fail.
He was pulled from his thoughts with Lissa snapping her fingers an inch or two away from his face. "Ylisse to Robin. If you're done fantasizing about Maribelle, you should get to stepping towards the bath!"
A blush surfaced at Robin's cheeks. "Wha-? I was not!"
"Move it!" Lissa barked, hand pointed. This shift in Lissa's normal personally was completely jarring. Why was she so vehemently order him around like Frederick would during training exercises? He wasn't even that desperate for a bath. It didn't matter either way, Lissa was steadfast on her position, and he knew how stubborn she could be. Without another word of objection, he turned and reluctantly walked off to take the bath she so demanded of him.
Robin wasn't really the kind of person that overly maintained his appearances. While no one could categorize him under '"squeaky clean", he also had a bit of a habit of not bathing consistently. The most he would ever go without a bath was 3 days. He couldn't afford to go any longer with the intense and sweaty daily training he had to go through. That said, he hardly thought he needed a bath, especially not so late at night. He was meeting with Maribelle on the morrow. Surely it wasn't so unreasonable for him to wait until first thing in the morning. It was the Shepherd's monthly day off after all. Regardless, the tactician did as he was asked- no, ordered to.
In minutes, Robin was soaking in one of the extravagant tubs of the palace's bath house. He had submerged himself up to his ears, his head resting on his arms folded behind and taking in the invigorating warmth of the water, blanket of suds, and floral fragrances of the exotic soaps that one of the maids suggested. After this, he never wanted to go back to using an old washtub as he normally did, or bathing in a creek as he had to do in a pinch when it came to the grueling war. His eyes were half closed, utterly relaxed almost in danger of drifting off into sleep if he hadn't constantly reminded himself he'd surely drown if he did.
In the midst of his soak, he could swear he heard the door to the bath house open. His ears were plugged by the water, so it was a bit hard to tell, but he could care less. He would have raised his head up from the tub to check who it was and cover anything, lest a maid's eyes drift to unfavorable places, but the bubbles would see to it that no such thing was possible anyway. He continued on with his peaceful bath.
In actuality, someone had indeed walked into the bath house: Lissa of all people, carrying a small, leather bound book. She wasn't alone either, Cordelia had come along with her by her request, carrying a small wooden box in her arms. The girls walked over to the occupied tub and stared at Robin from the small opening from the sudsy veil. The tranquil strategist only stared back with the same lax expression he maintained since before their arrival. Under normal circumstances, he would react more appropriately to what is basically an invasion of privacy.
"So much for having a nice, peaceful bath..." he thought. It looked like the princess and pegasus knight were here to stay though. So, Robin raised his head ever so slightly from the water so he could speak properly. "Just so you two know, there's only room in this tub for one." he joked. His head sank below the water, just in time to hid his smarmy grin.
"Dream on, perv..." Lissa responded, sitting on an overturned washtub as a makeshift chair. Her tone suggested the thought hadn't even crossed her mind, and she wasn't impressed with Robin's jokes. "We're here to help clean you up in more ways than one."
The phrasing Lissa used seemed to betray her earlier response, especially the 'more ways than one' bit. Robin understood what she meant though and didn't dare to push his luck with another joke. He was able to pull himself up further from the water, though just to his upper chest and nothing more. He hated the chill of his wet skin when he sat up properly in the tub. "Okay, I'll bite. What's with the book and box?"
"This, my dear Robin is something I picked up from the palace library." Lissa responded, holding the tome before him. Robin leaned in closer to have a read at the title. A Simpleton's Guide to High Society. How a book like this managed to make it into the royal halls where records of ancestors and events' past was beyond him. Lissa could tell by the unimpressed look on Robin's face that he got the message. "I brought this with me so that I could teach you the basic Do's and Don't's of being a gentleman so you can impress Maribelle tomorrow!" she announced proudly.
The comment about Maribelle was puzzling. Impress her? The two were going out to have tea, not to parade Robin around as if he were some sort of experiment. Although, before rejecting it, Robin thought that maybe it was fine to learn about the very basics, so that he could at least give off the illusion that he had some class if he was going to be seen in public with her. And if nothing else, at least it would get the noble off his back on the whole 'lowborn' view.
Lissa rested the book across her lap and turned to Cordelia, letting her have her time to explain her part in this. She walked behind Robin and set down her small box, opening the bronze latch that kept it shut. "And I'll be giving you're hair a trim." she explained, running an index finger back and forth in the box's contents. It was an assortment of clippers and combs that any self respecting barber in Ylisstol would have. This didn't surprise Robin at all. He learned to not put anything passed a perfectionist like Cordelia. "Honestly Robin, you should learn to maintain your hair more. Women enjoy a clean cut man, you know." she lectured, picking up a set of clippers and a small comb in each hand.
Robin brought one of his hands up to his hair. It's true, he could use a good cut. Two months without properly having it shaped up, and it was beginning to reach his upper back. "I suppose it has been awhile..." he responded. Perhaps this whole invasion wasn't as bad as he originally thought. It seemed like they had the best of intentions for Robin and how he would and should conduct himself while escorting a woman like Maribelle. He decided to go along with their little plan for now.
Alrighty then. Let's get started." Lissa chirped, opening the book. It was relatively short when compared to what Robin would normally read. Not short enough that she would finish it by the time he stepped out of the bath, but enough that he could catch the general gist of the whole thing once he finished bathing. Instead of starting from the beginning, Lissa flipped through quite a number of pages, almost reaching the halfway point. "I figure you know enough about your social betters from hanging out with Maribelle as much as you already do, so we're just going to skip ahead, okay?"
Robin nodded in approval as Lissa reached the page she wanted. While she read from the book, Cordelia started on her role, adjusting Robin's head and snipping away at his white locks with the precision and skill of a professional barber.
Themis
The next day came all too fast for Lissa, Robin and Cordelia. Even though Robin was going to spend the day alone with Maribelle, the girls had agreed that they would watch over the two from the shadows, and make sure their tactician wouldn't screw up and look like a fool. Robin was still very confused at why they took the matter so seriously. Everytime he questioned Lissa, she would always respond with some vague answer, and whenever he said that the whole matter was "only tea" she would always come back with "today it's tea, tomorrow could be more." It from that, it was obvious what she was trying to do. For some reason, Lissa had been trying to pair up the noblewoman with her friend.
The whole thing didn't settle very well in Robin's stomach. For one, he wasn't actively looking for a partner in the first place; he had no need o be going on a date. Even if he was, Maribelle wasn't his first choice. Not that he wasn't fond of her, but he knew he wasn't exactly worthy of her as he was. He was perfectly okay with that. Going on a date with Maribelle wouldn't change their relationship for better or worse, he knew that deep down, and yet, something about just the two of them together sent butterflies fluttering around inside of him. He had to repeat to himself over and over that it would never work between then, but still, in the very edge of his mind, he wondered if he would ever have a chance with her. It was these very conflicting emotions within him that made him feel quite nervous today. He couldn't help but sweat at what could be.
The bump and bounce of the coach the three rode in did little to snap Robin out of his thoughts. He had to periodically adjust his collar for comfort, which always earned a disapproving sneer from Lissa. The princess had insisted on Robin needing a change of clothes, if only for the day, and as such, he had to go without his familiar, and frankly precious black cloak. He felt completely naked without it. The feel of not having a book pressed against his chest, nestled in the inner pocket of his robes felt alien to him. As if someone had torn a piece of himself away. His new wardrobe, a neat dress shirt covered by a black jacket and new, form fitting pants, were also not his favorite choice of clothing. Even his normal boots were replaced with smaller, sleeker shoes. His hair was slicked back and trimmed down to a shorter size. He hardly felt like himself anymore.
"Robin, I think it would be best if you took a deep breath and relaxed." Cordelia spoke up, taking a handkerchief and lightly patting down the sweat off Robin's face. "Just look at you; you're sweating and shaking as if you'll catch your death of a cold."
"I-I know..." Robin stammered. He placed a hand on his chest and forced himself to breath deeply and exhale in repetition. It actually did help in small parts. Calming his heartbeat down allowed his thoughts to clear up and think for a moment. Lissa only looked on, wondering how a man can stay so calm when on the fields of battle, yet completely breaks down at the mere thought of going on a date with a woman. She found it strangely endearing though.
Finally, the carriage made its stop in Themis' central business district, which was a short walk away from the manor of the duke that presided over the town. Lissa offered to pay for the ride over and let Robin save his money. According to the book she read to him the previous night, it was considered polite for the man to pay for himself and his partner when it became necessary, and considering the noblewoman's refined taste in the brand of tea, he would need every coin he had. The three made their way to the manor, that was located in the eastern part of town. A bit different from what Robin expected. He would have guessed that a noble House like the one Maribelle hailed from would stand at the edge of town, separate from the common riff-raff of the townsfolk. Basically, where the Ylissean Palace would be located.
Even if the place where it stood wasn't really out of the way, it certainly took a sizable amount of space. What a normal "front yard" would be to a casual home was instead a fountain court, which stood proudly in front of the chiseled stone arch and gate to a hedge garden with a neatly paved walkway to the front steps of the manor's door. Quite extravagant in it's design, although that should be expected from such an influential family.
Robin took one last deep breath, looking up at the large home. This was the first time he had ever seen Maribelle's place of residence. He only wondered what the interior was like. He cleared his throat and walked up the paved stone pathway while Lissa and Cordelia stood back and watch as he moved forward with a stride. Standing at the front of the door, he grabbed at the metal ring that hung from its wood and gave a hearty three knocks, standing back a step or two and waited for an answer. Almost immediately, the door opened, but the person who greeted him was not Maribelle. Instead it was a man of considerable height compared to Robin dressed in a sharp looking tuxedo and white gloves. He stood with an almost statue like posture, requiring Robin to raise his head slightly to meet eye-to-eye with him. By looks alone, he seemed to be probably a decade older than Robin.
The man looked down to Robin as if he was analyzing him with his sharp stare. Robin's eyes remained fixated on his, wondering if he was going to say anything or simply stare at him all day. After a while, the man smiled, breaking his monotone and respectfully bowed to Robin. "Good day sir," he finally spoke. "Do you have business with the family of the duke?"
His surprisingly kind voice that offset his intimidating figure helped to put the tactician at ease. It was funny, someone who looked like they could easily take him on in a straight fight, yet spoke as gently as a humble servant. In a sense, he almost reminded him of Frederick. Adding to that, his attire closely resembled what the knight wore under his heavy armor as well. He had half a mind to ask if the two even knew each other, but preferred to think of one thing at a time. Robin took a stand trying to mimic the neat posture of the man before him. "Yes, I've come to see Maribelle today." he responded, trying to sound confident.
"Ah, the young mistress?" The man brought his right hand up to his chin in contemplation. His gaze returned to that piercing look that he had earlier for a brief handful of seconds before reverting back. "Pardon me if I am incorrect, but might you be Robin? The master tactician of the Shepherds which milady is recruited under?" he asked. Robin was taken aback at how he managed to guess who he was by looks alone. The only way that could be is if Maribelle talked about him on a casual basis. Casual enough that those who worked under her could tell who he was by a mere glance. Robin nodded in response, failing to find words, lost from his amazement "Splendid. The young mistress has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I shall go and fetch her. Would you care to come inside?" the man offered.
"Um... No, thank you. I can wait here." Robin declined. With another bow, the man gently shut the door to the home, leaving Robin standing at the top of the steps. He hadn't noticed until now, but he was holding his breath in the entire time. Once he was aware, though, he exhaled calmly, and his body returned to it's normal, less professional posture. As he waited, his anxiety over the whole "date" situation began to sink into his head. He was starting to think that maybe this was a good thing after all. If Maribelle had made it a point to tell those who worked under her who he was, then maybe she hadn't simply wanted to go out on this date for purely superficial reasons after all.
It was certainly a possibility. Out of the few people they had befriended over these past few months, Maribelle and Robin were arguably closest to each other. With obvious connections being Lissa and Chrom of course. The two had grown alongside each other and learned about one another little by little over the course of the war and beyond. Perhaps this was a simple evolution of how their current relationship would continue? Just thinking about all this began to make his stomach flutter again. He chose to forget such things now, lest he began sweating once more before he would properly meet his date.
Once again, Robin adjusted his collar for comfort. It seemed like it was getting tighter every time he got nervous. Oh, how he missed his old cloak. Just as his thoughts began to wander about his favorite garment, he heard the metallic click of the door before him and stood at attention while it slowly opened. The steward remained indoors, head bowed as Maribelle walked just below the arch. For that moment, it was silence between the two. Rather than Maribelle's normal uniform, she was wearing a fancy red dress that went down to her upper legs with matching high heels, a tan belt wrapped about her waist, and gold accents across her breasts, all pulled together with a pink fur boa draped around her neck and down both of her slender arms. Even her golden hair, which swirled into pigtails was brushed with care into a neat bun held together with her trademark bow and wavy bangs shaping her face. The only word that came to Robin's mind when he saw her dressed this way was "Stunning".
There was no other word that he could think of. He hadn't seen her this way before. Without all of the poofs and puffs of her normal clothing, he never would have guessed that she had such a thin and elegant figure. She was positively breathtaking. Literally. He could feel himself growing nervous again at having seen a side of her that he was probably the only one to ever see, even among their closest comrades in the army. It was strange to say, but somehow he felt... lucky.
However, he wasn't the only one who's eyes wandered about. Maribelle could hardly believe the man before her was Robin at all. In her honest thoughts, she expected him to show up wearing his normal wear. The familiarity of his black robes and normally shaggy white hair were gone, replaced by a completely new and sharp look. Nothing about the tactician was the same. Over the course of a month that they had not seen each other, she never expected such a drastic shift. Yet, this new look was absolutely captivating as well. The clothes, his new haircut. Even the way he stood before her had a new eye-catching quality to them all. Even though her mind never thought of using the word to describe the Robin she knew, she couldn't help but find this new Robin absolutely dashing.
"My, but the tension is quite thick here, is it not?" spoke the steward with a light, harmless chuckle that finally broke the two out of their fixated, trance-like gazes. The moment their minds returned to them, they looked away from each other, almost as if they were caught spying on someone.
The two were able to reconnect their gazes though, and were almost sucked into the same state that they were just in. "You look beautiful." Robin spouted out. The moment the words left his lips, he visibly recoiled; His eyes widened, and he stepped back a bit, his hand going up to his mouth as if to ask if he really just said those words. Maribelle never let her eyes leave Robin, but he could see that he clearly did speak that aloud as her eyes widened a bit as well. She may have been blushing too, but that could have just been her make up. "Uh, I'm-"
"No, it's quite alright." Maribelle interrupted. You..." she began to say, but stopped herself as well. With all of her willpower, she tried to hold back what her mind tried so desperately to convey, but the more her eyes remained fixated on Robin's reaction, she simply couldn't. It was as if she felt this need to level the field between them. "You look quite nice as well." she finally said. Whether or not she wanted to say it, it was out now. Despite her resistance, she didn't regret it either. She fully meant what she said, and she would never take it back. Thankfully, because of what she said, Robin felt a little less like he made a fool of himself. That one sentence seemed to build some confidence within him. More than all the pep talk that Lissa and Cordelia could ever provide. His anxiety was beginning to vanish as well too. A simple compliment made him feel like he was at the edge of the world when it came from Maribelle. It was probably because compliments were few and far between. Still, it was very nice to hear it so candidly.
Whatever it was, Robin felt nothing like the nervous mess he was just minutes before. As if he was possessed by another person, he moved next to Maribelle and offered his arm to her. The action surprised the both of them. This was considered a a normal gesture for noblemen when escorting the opposite gender anywhere. Robin did it as if it was second nature, and Maribelle was pleasantly surprised that he actually did something so unlike a man of his station. Just like Robin's instinctual move, Maribelle couldn't help but wrap her arms around his. Again, this was normal, as it symbolized acceptance of any sort of private activity among a noble couple, but the way she had gravitated so naturally to him was unexpected to her. She felt as if she was hypnotized somehow, but even so, she fully accepted it. Robin smiled, surprised at his forwardness and also of Maribelle's willingness. In seconds, this date that he had been dreading was now something he was looking forward to with no hesitation. He faced forward, and with charisma, he asked the noblewoman, "Shall we, then?"
With just as much confidence and charisma in herself, Maribelle responded proudly, "We shall." and the two walked in perfect sync down the paved stone path to their place of choice, with a departing word from the steward. Unbeknownst to Maribelle and Robin, Lissa and Cordelia had been watching from behind the hedges of the front garden. Both stared at each other, then at the couple. They didn't expect things to click together so fast. They stood, stunned at the natural attraction between the two, and once they got over the initial shock, they continued to follow behind them to see where the day would take the couple.
Although Robin was the one escorting Maribelle through town, the noblewoman herself was the one leading him to wherever it was they would be going. This was Robin's first time in Themis, and he wanted to familiarize himself with the popular locations among the noble folk. The whole town itself felt like it was built on gold. Every which way he looked, tall buildings rose from either side of the street. The residential homes were at the least 3 stories tall, a far cry from the humble homes of Ylisstol. The roads were not cobbled, but perfectly paved stone and brick with extensive attention to detail put into every single inch they walked upon. This town truly was the place to live the high life. It was a wonder how Maribelle adjusted so well to the comparatively rustic charm of the Ylissean capital. He could hardly blame anyone who lived here for looking down on people from any other lifestyle. Walking down these streets, Robin was finally able to empathize with how Maribelle acted. He certainly didn't approve of it, but he understood.
It wasn't just the homes of Themis either. The very society coursing through it was built around the rich. Once they entered the town proper, Robin witnessed for the first time, how the rich folk interacted. The men wore expensive suits and and carried themselves as the top men among men. Women wore some of the fanciest petticoats he'd seen outside of the palace and each finger was adorned with expensive jewelry. Extravagant hats and and wine that only true connoisseurs would ever see in their life were a common sight at the popular café. The clothing shops that stocked garments made with real animal furs. It was all so much to take in. Nevermind trying to memorize the hot spots that all the noble folk frequented, Robin just hoped he would have enough gold to pay for tea!
Robin's curiosity didn't go unnoticed by Maribelle. Their entire walk over, she paid attention to every little gesture he made. It wasn't hard to tell that he felt out of his element by this completely different lifestyle. He had been so used to the simpler life in Ylisstol after all, even if he did live with Chrom and Lissa in the palace. Perhaps one day she could show him many more sites of interest if she felt generous enough. In fact, the idea was quite appealing. But, she was getting ahead of herself. He would have to prove that he was worthy of her time. Today is for tea, tomorrow, maybe something more.
The town proper was positively brimming with business today. Many of the shops were absolutely packed from window to window and the streets had still more people walking about. Maribelle subtly lead Robin around town to the area where they woould spend their time. It was an outdoor cafe, the tables and chairs sitting under umbrellas to protect them from sun or rain. Once they arrived, it was clear why the place had been so void; It was a membership only establishment. Under normal circumstances, the two would have no way of getting in, but despite what Robin thought, Maribelle continued over. Upon reaching the podium that stood at the entrance to the establishment, the man tending to the guest list took one look at Maribelle and instantly stepped aside to let the two in.
'That was... surprisingly easy.' Robin thought. The reason they were able to get in was probably because Maribelle was the heiress of a noble house around these parts. The woman certainly loved her tea, what better place to go than one of the more prestigious locations that sell such at great quality? They walked to one of the many empty tables, and picked a spot that was closest to the end of the perimeter, to have a nice view of the district while they had their time alone. Robin remembered more of the ins and outs of high society Lissa instructed him on last night, and politely held Maribelle's seat out for her before taking his own. Once again, Maribelle was pleasantly surprised.
"So, what do you think of my hometown, Robin?" Maribelle asked after taking her seat, arms folded in her lap.
Turning his head to look at the hustle and bustle, Robin grinned at the sheer differences that he noticed with this place. "It's something else." he responded. "I don't think I've ever seen such a collection of people with such high class in one place before. I'm certain I saw this woman who had earrings that cost more than what I'm currently wearing on my entire body."
Maribelle couldn't help but giggle at the light humor. The cruelness of it was considerably funny, because for all she knew, it was the truth. Even if his new wardrobe wasn't haute couture, it was nothing she would bat an eye at. In the same sense that Robin felt like he had been out of his comfort zone, Maribelle was still comprehending all of these subtle gestures Robin had made for her sake: The complete overhaul in appearance, the escort, even pulling out her chair before his own, which was actually not as common among noble folk as one might think. All of this was so unexpected. If this was the first day she had ever met Robin, she would be hard pressed to think that he was just another commoner.
In the midst of their chat, Lissa and Cordelia had finally caught up to the two. They had actually gotten lost along the way. They had been ducking in and out behind buildings and around corners that mmost of their time was spent looking for their companions. Finally, they had been able to catch up to them. "Can you remind me why we're even bothering to tail these two if all we're going to do is sit in the sidelines and spy on them?" Cordelia asked.
"Becauuuuse," Lissa huffed in frustration. "I want to be a first witness of of my two best friends in the world getting together!" The Pegasus Knight crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. She hardly expected such a shallow answer. From a princess no less! "Oh, don't look at me like that. You're no better!"
The animosity of Lissa's claim threw Cordelia off a bit. This came out of absolutely nowhere. Regardless, her claim was surely nothing. "I'm no better?" she repeated. "And just what do you mean by that?"
Turning her back, Lissa rolled her eyes and went back to watching over Robin and Maribelle from a distance. They were already having their tea served by the looks of it. She turned back to address her friend's question. "I mean, that I saw you sneaking around too when Chrom was with Sully all the time. Remember when you were 'practicing' your swordsmanship the day he gave her his ring?"
"I-I did no such thing!" Cordelia said defensively. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for Lord Chrom's privacy!"
"Riiight. And you totally weren't sobbing your eyes out when Sully said 'yes'."
Meanwhile, Robin and Maribelle seemed to hit it off quite well. It was nothing new to either of them to speak casually to each other, as they have done so on many occasions before, but this day in particular was different. Unlike the other times they spoke, this meeting of the minds wasn't about exchanging wit and quips or compliments with insults hidden within. No, today, they spoke like two normal people. No undertones, no sour history. They even managed to make each other laugh at times. For the first time, Robin felt that he finally broke through that thick barrier Maribelle had shelled herself in for so long. He hadn't been so entertained by listening to someone else talk.
"Mmm, this tea is pretty great. I'm normally not one for tea, either." Robin said, lowering his cup. He couldn't even remember the last he had a beverage so well made. Water was usually good enough for him, or anything made from fresh fruit. Tea was never really something he craved at all. Virion had to practically twist his arm just to get him to sip the stuff during the campaign.
"It is, isn't it? The finest leaves made with top notch blending techniques. It's all the rage in Themis." Maribelle responded. This particular blend was her absolute favorite. She actually hadn't had very much of it though. Most of the tea she ever had was with Lissa, and even then, it was the simple but still enjoyable elderberry tea. "But, let's talk more about you Robin. Please, tell me about what you've done to yourself. I must say, you've made quite the transformation in one month."
"Ah, this." Robin chuckled. He ran his hand across his newly modeled hair. It was still odd to him that he could barely run his fingers through his hair any longer. Though he couldn't argue that Cordelia did a great job on it. "Well, yesterday, Lissa informed me that you and I had a date, and the woman practically forced me into the bath. She even brought Cordelia to shape up my hair." Oh, Lissa. The rambunctious scamp was always looking out for everyone else. Still, the noble was very grateful for it. Robin took another sip of his tea before continuing. "I have to say, I was a bit confused as to why you'd want to go out with me of all people, Maribelle." he said, averting his eyes for a moment.
"Why would that be?" The noble tilted her head to the side. She wondered why the thought of asking someone out was so confusing. Maybe it was because she hadn't done so herself. She was aware that when one wishes to engage another in such activities, it's much better to do so in person. "Were you not looking forward to escorting such a lovely lady around town today?" she joked.
"No, no, it's not that. I..." he cut himself off. There was a legitimate reason to his confusion over why he was asked on a date. It wasn't because he was nervous, or even because of their social standing. Oh, there was a reason, but he really didn't want to say it.
The noblewoman tapped her dainty fingers on the table, waiting for a response. That sudden silence didn't sound very good to her. "You what?"
Robin knew he should have kept his mouth shut. He was getting that feeling in his stomach again. That moment when he knew he was going to regret something. He had to find a way to turn the conversation into another direction. "Err, um... How about we talk about something else?" he asked.
A disappointed look met Robin's gaze. Now Maribelle was REALLY curious. "Robin, surely your reasons were not so dreadful that you can't stand to tell me." Her voice was lowered and sounded a little concerned. It made it all that much harder for Robin to keep his mouth shut.
"Why ruin the moment...?" Robin sighed.
"Excuse me?"
"I think it's best that I kept that to myself, you know? I'm just... afraid you won't like my answer..."
"Oh, please. What? Do you think I'll tear a limb off if I find it offensive?" a giggle followed Maribelle's inquiry.
"Actually, hot tea to the groin sounds more realistic..." Robin responded. He really didn't want to say it because he didn't want to be knocked back down to square one. The last time he screwed up, he ended up with a ruined reputation and a bruised nose. If he told her this? Gods have mercy on him. But, there was just no way around the issue. He couldn't lie about it. He had too much respect for her to do that. But the truth could lead to something much worse. Sighing in resignation, he sat up straight in his chair and leaned in, gesturing his finger to Maribelle for her to do the same. In her mind, she knew this must have been something drastic if he had to whisper it to her. She decided to humor him anyway and leaned her head in to hear the message. "The reason I was confused was because I thought that... I thought that you preferred the same gender..."
Both of them leaned back to their original position slowly. Robin was secretly protecting any sensitive parts in case Maribelle decided that her foot was a better substitute for hot tea. Her reaction was an extremely jarring opposite to what he thought she would take his response. Her hands were raised up to her face and he could see her trembling slightly. Not from anger, not from sadness, but because she was laughing.
Laughing! She was actually laughing at his thought. Was this a good sign or a bad one? He was at a complete loss for words. 'Oh great. It's happened...' he thought. 'i finally broke her...'
After over a solid minute of laughter, the blond noble finally was able to face Robin. She had to wipe away a tear because of just how much she was laughing. "Oh, Gods, is that all?" she asked. "Robin, I know we've only known each other for just under a year, but that accusation is really not new." she said, still giggling away. The way Robin was so reluctant, even terrified of what some already thought of her was hilarious to her. At one point or another, someone had thought this of her. It wasn't true, of course. She wasn't even curious about the same gender, but that didn't stop people from making jokes about it. It had been quite a while since she heard about this surfacing again, and the old memories coming back, while not really pleasant, triggered some bittersweet joy in her.
A sigh of relief erupted from Robin's lungs when he heard that. More importantly, that he wasn't going to incur more bodily harm. "I'm sorry. I just put the pieces together." he admitted sheepishly. "Like, you always call Lissa 'darling' and place her above literally everything else. I barely see you interacting with the other men in the Shepherds, and I felt that my suspicions were true when I heard you and Olivia saying more than friendly lines to one another and her asking you out for tea some time ago."
Maribelle nodded as she heard Robin's examples. Some ambiguous, others more than credible. He could hardly blame him, and he certainly wasn't going to do anything else either. It was just a simple misunderstanding. She knew what it was like to misinterpret something like that, so she wished no ill will upon him. "Well, rest assured, I'm a woman who seeks male companionship, I promise you that." she reassured. She maintained her smile, as if to tell him that it was okay for him to make that mistake once.
"What do you suppose they're talking about...?" Cordelia asked. The Pegasus Knight and princess had decided to have a seat at a restaurant across from the couple. Far enough that they wouldn't notice, yet they could keep an eye on them. On the downside, it was next to impossible to hear what they were talking about. All they had to go one was the expressions and motions they had during their talks.
"I dunno. But he must have told her a really good joke. Did you see the way she laughed? I can't remember the last time I've seen Maribelle laugh!" Lissa responded. She wasn't kidding either. Smile? Of course. The occasional giggle? Absolutely. A full blown laugh? That was rare. The last time she heard Maribelle laugh like that was soon after the two girls became friends. That was years ago when they were both children. If Robin could do that, maybe the two of them being more than friends was a bigger possibility than she thought.
The day continued on with both Robin and Maribelle enjoying each other's company. Though they did nothing but talk with each other the entire time, it was still fun. They originally planned to go for tea, but soon after, they had spent the entire day strolling around town. Neither of them noticed that the moon was well on it's way into the sky despite being outdoors the entire time. The lamps that lined the street began to burn with a gentle orange flame that illuminated their path as they walked together through the starry night sky. It looked like this date was over.
"I suppose it's time I took you back home, huh?" Robin asked. The answer was obvious, but he feigned his obliviousness for her, if nothing else.
"I suppose it is. A shame the day had to end so quickly." she shot back. Though their time together had lasted quite a number of hours, it felt like it passed by in the blink of an eye. It left her with an unsatisfied feeling. Surely they would have to do this again. "And to think, I was going to end the night asking for one last lesson regarding plain speech."
Robin pursed his lips at the entire lesson thing that he had been going on about with her for the past few months now. At this point in time, it was worthless. She didn't see her fellow Shepherds on a constant basis as she used to. Yes, every morning she had to see them for obligatory training, but when all that was said and done, it was straight away back to the books with her. But, that didn't mean the lessons had to end. At least, in their current form. "Er, Maribelle, I have an idea..." Robin started. An idea was gowing in his head. It was a bit of a gamble, but he figured it was worth a try. "Why don't we just skip the slang lessons entirely? Instead, maybe you could teach me about the aristocratic life?"
The idea sounded very interesting to the blonde noble. Instead of trying to lower herself, Robin was trying to rise up to her standards. She mulled over the prospect of her using her knowledge of nobility on someone who had little to no knowledge of it. It sounded like a challenge that she could get behind. "Hmm. You propose quite the challenge Robin. But, any chance to educate my social inferiors is a chance I'll take." Immediately, Maribelle let go of Robin's arm and stood before him. "Now then! What would you like to know?"
It sounded to Robin like the proposal was a success. It would probably be easier, and less painful for him to learn from her than the other way around. And, on the upside, he could find an excuse to spend more time with her. One subject that came to mind was the concept of a 'noble bearing'. He heard it plenty of times before. Virion spoke of it a few times. Chrom and Lissa too. Even last night, that guide Lissa read to Robin had the phrase pop up on many occasions, but it wasn't clarified. "Well, you hear people talk about a noble bearing, yes? What is that, exactly?"
"Ah, yes. The noble bearing. The very building blocks of what it means to be a noble." Maribelle had to think about this as well. She knew the concept of having a noble bearing, but it wasn't just one thing. It was everything. Every single solitary thing that was and is being a noble is the noble bearing. How one walks, talks, dresses, addresses, and takes to tasks and beyond was a noble bearing. An unwritten rule book that any self respecting noble worth their gold would know by heart before they started basic education. There was no definitive way to learn one's noble bearing, but by her name, Maribelle was going to try and explain it as best she could. "Well, I suppose it begins with learning to stand properly."
That was a little odd. Learning to stand properly? Robin hoped that it he would learn things like fancy sword fencing or horseback riding. It was a bit of a let down that standing was part of this creed. Of course he was standing, how else did he appear to her? "Am I not really standing now?" he asked quizzically. "Because it feels like I'm standing."
The noble paced circles around Robin, inspecting his posture. Her eyes went up and down, left to right, and she shook her head at every single turn. "You, sir, have the posture of a damp noodle! The resolute promise of a soufflé!" she chided. "No, no, no, a noble stands... thusly." Maribelle completed her final rotation around Robin and stood before him, turned sideways with the proper posture. "Notice how the spine forms a straight line. Pretend that an invisible thread pulls your head ever skyward." Robin observed how Maribelle stood before him. Although it wasn't really his intention, he noticed more than the way she stood. Her red dress left little to the imagination when it came to the contours and curves of her body. She was putting herself on full display for the first time to him. He never admired her this way, as her face was what had his attention. His extended staring did little to impress however, and was pulled from his thoughts with a quick snap of Maribelle's fingers. "...Go on, give it a try." she instructed, noticing his wandering eyes.
"Right, sorry." Robin cleared his throat and tried to mimic her position while taking her metaphor into account. "Let's see. Straight spine... Invisible thread... Like this?" he asked. His gaze had shifted from Maribelle herself to the top of the buildings behind her.
The way he stood was... well, it wasn't terrible. It certainly wasn't what she demonstrated, but it wasn't terrible. Although some of his bodily positions were puzzling. His head was lifted too high, he'd never see where he was walking, his shoulders were to raised, and his chest was puffed out way too much. "Er, why are you jutting your chin out?" she questioned. She was certain that was not in her demonstration.
"It happens naturally when I force my head up." he answered earnestly. It was his guess that he hadn't gotten it down as easily as he should. He mentally cursed himself for his eyes looking to places where they had no business.
"A pauper's instinct! Cast it away!" Maribelle instructed again. Robin then lowered his head, facing straight ahead and adjusting his chest so it wasn't puffed out as much.
"Is this better?"
Once again, Maribelle walked a circular path around Robin, though not completely. She stopped just behind him when she noted the next problem. "Your shoulders are raised. Lower them and hold your chest high." Robin did as she instructed, his shoulders landed perfectly, forming a straight line of their own and re-adjusted his chest. "Not out, mind you, high." Maribelle repeated.
"So like... this?"
"Yes! Just so!" Maribelle praised. His posture was just what she demanded of him. He stood as the perfect picture of a man, standing straight and tall. "There, now. That wasn't so hard, was it?" she teased.
"What... are they doing?" Lissa asked. She truly was confused on the matter. By her perspective, it looked like she was making Robin stand properly as if he was a noble. That was odd to say the least.
"How does something like that even happen...?" Cordelia thought aloud. Was this supposed to be romantic or something? She didn't understand the life of rich folk, and if this was how a date concluded, commanding your partner as if they were a pup being trained, she didn't WANT to understand.
"I say, you're quite the apt pupil, Robin. With enough practice, you could become a gentleman fit for the highest court!" Again, Maribelle took one last look. She had to retract her statement a bit, his posture wasn't as picture perfect anymore. She could see him wobbling a little bit in this new position. "Well, I may exaggerate. Perhaps one of the more middling courts." she joked.
The praise from Maribelle was a bit of a spirit lifter. As with anything positive, compliments were rare from her, and even if she did correct herself on his potential, the sentiment itself was nice. "Huh, you think? Wow, I never-"
"It's settled then!" she interrupted. "I shall make it my personal mission to shape you into a man of high society. I'll instruct you until you're fit to walk with kings!" Once again, taking a look at his faltering posture, she had to correct herself. "...Or at least a baron or two." Although, walking alongside kings was probably not an issue, if she was being honest. The man was already Chrom's closest friend, and even though he was reluctant to take the title of Exalt at the moment, he was still seen as a king among the people.
Robin chuckled at the way Maribelle had been so enthusiastically dedicated to his request. It was enough that she would help him with the simple things, but walking alongside royalty didn't interest him. "Er, that's generous of you, Maribelle, but you don't have to-"
"Bup-bup-bup! Nothing is less noble than leaving a task half done!" she interrupted again. She wagged a slender finger before his face to assert her insistence over the matter. "You needn't be shy Robin. We're intimate friends, after all, aren't we?" she asked. It was only a joke to use that phrase again, but she clearly saw it had an effect on Robin.
"Wait... Waaaait a minute." Robin said, pointing a finger of his own at her. "This is revenge for the slang incident, isn't it?"
The sly noble didn't bother answering the question. Whether this was revenge or not was up to him to interpret, but if it that was the way he chose to perceived things, so be it. For now, the conversation for today was over. After all, it was starting to get chilly out, the first sign of Autumn was rearing its head. She wrapped her arms around Robin's again and urged him forward. "Less talking, more walking! ...ARISTOCRATIC walking, please!" Robin only rolled his eyes and maintained his stance, walking forward to her home. "Oh, and then we will work on ballroom dance, and how to properly wield a fork!" she added. When she said she would turn him into a gentleman in all aspects, she meant it.
With that, it seemed like Robin's schedule, for an indefinite amount of time, was cemented with lessons regarding the ins and outs of nobility. That book that Lissa read to him seemed like nothing now that he had someone like Maribelle to show him the ropes. Even if she could act a bit bossy with just learning how to stand properly, Robin was looking forward to spending more time with Maribelle. Whatever it was, the two of them together brought out something between them that made her company simply a delight to have. As he walked back to her manor, he could feel his stomach having that fluttery feel again. He was unaware of the smile he wore on his face the entire walk back.
Once they reached the front steps of Maribelle's home, the two stood parallel to each other to say their final words before departing. They stayed silent though, waiting for the other to have the first word. Nothing. What else needed to be said? They both knew they had a great time together, why bother repeating it? Yet, they had to say something. They couldn't just leave each other on a silent note. Even if it sounded cliche, Maribelle wanted to have the last word. "Robin..." she started. "I want you to know that I truly did enjoy our time together today."
Heat rose to Robin's cheeks, bringing a blush to the tactician's face. He tried to avert his eyes in different directions to avoid looking like a child that had earned the praise his mother, but despite that, he still couldn't wipe the proud smile off his face. "I did too. And, I'm really looking forward to your lessons... Until next time?"
"Yes. Until next time."
With their words finally passed along, Robin took his leave, walking down the steps and the paved stone. Maribelle knocked on her door and awaited the steward to answer. Neither of them looked back to see if the other was watching each other, even if they really wanted to. When Robin heard the door to Maribelle's manor open, he took one last glance to see her back one last time for the day before the doors shut. He walked with a stride back to the gates and the waiting carriage that Lissa and Cordelia had managed to call, which had strolled into the fountain area just now with impeccable timing.
The princess opened the coach door and helped her friend aboard. Once everyone was seated, the horses took off back to Ylisstol. Even though it was getting late, Robin was far from tired. He felt like he could run back home with all this unexplainable energy. Cordelia and Lissa looked at Robin's happy face with smiles of their own. They knew that was a sign of good news. It took quite a while for Robin to come back to Earth, and when he did, the two girls pestered him non-stop the rest of the way home.
"So, all that aside, you think you're gonna see her again?" Lissa asked. Her eyes were practically sparkling with hope for a positive answer. All of her hard work looked like it was going to pay off!
"Oh, yeah. I'm planning on seeing her again. Real soon." he hinted, nudging the princesses arm knowingly.
A/N: ERRMAGURD! THIS IS LIKE THE LONGEST CHAPTER I'VE EVER WRITTEN EVARR!1
Well, now that THAT bout of spazziness is out of the way... Here's the next chapter! This is probably my favorite chapter because of all the character interactions here. I had way too much fun writing this and everyone in it. It wasn't easy, but seriously, it was fun! :P
Oh, and that bit in the middle of the chapter with Robin questioning Maribelle's preferences, that's actually me taking a stab at the MULTITUDE of LissaxMaribelle fics out there. Basically, I was doing a "Take That!" kinda thing. No disrespect to the people who write 'em. Different strokes for different folks, right? But really, there needs to be more hetero-Maribelle.
Believe it or not, I meant to upload this a lot sooner, but there were 3 big contributing factors as to why it was uploaded when it was.
1st: I went on a little vacation late February down south. Basically, it was like the Marti Gras after Marti Gras. Was awesome!
2nd: I HAD to finish Bravely Default. Like, right after I got back home, I put a lot of my extra non-work related stuff on hold just to finish that game. It's so fricken' good! If you're reading this and you have a 3DS, then after you've finished, run to your nearest game retailer and Buy. This. Game. It's THAT good. Helluva final boss! Just be warned that the second half is weak compared to the first... at least to some. To me, I kinda liked it, but that's just me.
3rd: Originally, this was supposed to be two separate chapters. I was going to have chapter 10 cut off after the bath scene(WOW, that sounded dirty...), then chapter 11 be the date scene. The reason why I didn't split them up is because I felt like it would have ruined the pacing. I've noticed that a lot of my chapters split up with close time windows in them, so I think I'm going to do away with that, and only split up big chapters if there's a significant time skip. I'm sure you guys understand, right?
Anyway, with that spiel out of the way, I appreciate the popularity that's growing with the story. It's not as popular as my first, but I think this has the potential to surpass it. I've put a considerably larger amount of effort into this fic than the last.
A huge part of that is the fanbase that's surrounding my stories. All of the reviews and critiques I get have helped me to become a better writer, and I thank each and every one of my fans for their continued support. To be honest, I feel a bit undeserving with my current level, but I'm honored to have you all reading these stories. In short, thank you.
EDIT: Quick thing to add here, in case you're wondering what kind of look Robin has now, just imagine everything about the default model is the same but with Type 3 hair.