Natalia was gone for the day by the time Asch awoke and emerged from the closet, but a plate of food was waiting for him near the door. Although he normally took his meals this way, given his behavior yesterday, he was mildly surprised to find it there- everything he ate came directly from Natalia's plate (King Ingobert had balked at Natalia's suggestion that her pet be fed the same quality of food as she did, asking her to think what the common people would think if they found out that a dog was eating better than she did. Natalia had countered that the cooks always cooked far too much for her, anyway, and wouldn't be a bigger scandal if people found out that the excess was just thrown away instead?)

After wolfing down his breakfast- the excitement of yesterday had caused him to miss dinner- he headed downstairs. He didn't have any place in particular to go and didn't really want to see anyone, but he knew that if he stayed in the room all day he'd just brood, and he wanted to find something that would keep him occupied for a bit.

Fortunately, there was plenty to of excitement that day; a fire had broken out at the abandoned factory, and while it was quickly contained before the entire building could explode, several mutated monsters had fled in panic and entered populated areas. These were also contained before they could do much damage, but King Ingobert, Natalia, and the royal council spent much of the day dealing with the aftermath as they assessed the damage and reassured frightened citizens that everything was under control. Natalia also used the incident to further impress upon the council that the factory was an environmental and safety hazard that needed to be cleaned up, although it wasn't until she threatened to take her bow and deal with it herself that they agreed to send out a survey team.

Aware that he was in the doghouse with Natalia, Luke, and Guy (and cringing at the figure of speech,) Asch was careful to avoid notice as he moved about the castle. This was not difficult, as Natalia was busy fighting with the council, Luke appeared only briefly to make a report, and Guy was nowhere to be found. By the afternoon, Asch began to lose interest as things wound down and he headed for the guards' break room; much interesting gossip could be overheard there, and Asch wanted to know how the meeting about Natalia's marriage had gone yesterday. Luke had seemed certain that it would turn out badly for Natalia and Guy, but although Asch also felt that that was the most likely outcome, he wanted to confirm it. Whatever had occurred, Natalia didn't seem to know about it, yet- the factory incident was keeping everyone too busy.

There were two guards in the break room when Asch entered, already in the middle of a conversation.

"He's cracked, I tell ya. Falkner over at the manor heard him arguing with himself just last night, by the gravestones." The guard who had spoken noticed Asch and frowned. "And he has an extremely bizarre fascination with Her Highness' pet. Spends lots of time with it, even claimed to be rehearsing a play with it!"

"Keep your voice down. You don't want anyone overhearing you say things like that." The second guard looked around nervously; Asch feigned interest in a piece of bread crust that had fallen to the floor.

"It's not that I have anything against Lord Fabre," the first guard said quickly. "The stress from all that traveling and the whole marriage mess must just be getting to him, poor guy."

Asch's ears perked up at the mention of marriage, but the guards were already leaving. He made a mental note to warn Luke to be more careful as he started back toward Natalia's chambers.

Natalia wasn't in her room, so he drew a bath for himself. When he clambered out of the tub, he instinctively shook out his fur before he realized what he was doing; water sprayed everywhere. With a sigh, he grabbed a towel in his mouth and cleaned up the mess as best he could, then returned to the main bedroom, stretching out in front of the window to dry in the sunlight. He wasn't used to having so much leisure time; both his childhood as a noble and his adolescence as a soldier had been filled with training and duties. It unnerved him, but he couldn't really do anything more until his fur dried.

Just because you can't be happy doesn't mean nobody else should be.

How dare Luke make such an insinuation. Asch wanted nothing but the best for Natalia- which was precisely why he was against such an absurd idea as her union with Guy. The sooner she and Luke woke up to the reality of their situation, the less difficult it would be for both of them. It wasn't like Asch relished the prospect of Luke being with Natalia- in fact, he wasn't sure that he hated it any less than if it was Guy- but it wasn't like his opinion mattered, anyway. He rolled onto his back, exposing his belly fur to the sun. He was just a dog, as far as anyone who mattered was concerned, and, if his theory was correct, eventually he really would be just that. He found that thought strangely comforting- perhaps he'd forget his feelings for Natalia, and wouldn't feel sick at the very thought of her being with another man.

It was dark by the time Asch's fur had dried and a servant arrived with his evening meal, which she silently placed beside the door. He got up, stretching as he lamented that Natalia wasn't there to brush his fur- he'd always been fastidious about his hair- but it wasn't until he was halfway through his meal that he appreciated the significance of that. Natalia was usually the one who brought him his food- she rarely delegated any of his care to the staff, unless she was extremely busy. Although it was certainly possible that the factory incident was still keeping her occupied, something told him that it wasn't that. Curious, he went back downstairs.

It became immediately apparent that his hunch was correct; the tension of the servants was almost palpable. He peered into the audience hall, but neither Ingobert nor Natalia were there- just Alpine berating a soldier for what sounded like something frivolous. He next headed for the king's study; his keen ears picked up the conversation going on within long before he actually reached the door.

"My decision is final, Natalia. I've already spoken to Guy and we decided it best that he leave while we dealt with the factory accident, as I wanted to tell you afterward instead of distracting you from your duties. There is nothing more to discuss."

"But Father..."

"I said there is nothing more to discuss." Ingobert's tone softened as Asch reached the door and sat down beside it. "I'm sorry, Natalia, but the decision is not entirely yours or mine to make. The council and I discussed the matter at great length with all of the noble houses yesterday, and we have decided that this course of action is in the best interest of Kimlasca."

"The best interest of Kimlasca? The best interest of Murshel and all the other old blood that can't accept change, you mean!"

"Change is much more difficult than you make it out to be, Natalia," Ingobert said patiently. "Many families lost loved ones in the wars with Malkuth-"

"All the more reason for them to embrace peace!"

"-and some still stubbornly cling to the Score and its promise of prosperity, even though it is no more," Ingobert sighed.

"No one seemed to have a problem with the idea of Emperor Peony asking for my hand."

"Only because his proposal was largely symbolic- it's well known even among the Kimlascan nobility that the Emperor still holds out for his own forbidden love, much to the distress of his country," Ingobert sighed. "Natalia, my daughter, please don't be selfish. You accept all of the privileges of royalty. Accept with them all of the limitations."

There came a strangled sound from Natalia, a pause, then footsteps; Asch quickly drew back as the door was flung open and Natalia hurried out, Ingobert staring sadly but letting her go. Asch followed after her, almost having to run to keep up. Even so, the princess seemed determined to reach her quarters before anyone could see her, much less say anything to her, and she didn't seem to notice that Asch was behind her; she shut the door in his face. When he opened it, she was staring out the window into the night, her back to him. He approached her cautiously, gently nudging her leg with his nose to let her know he was there. She didn't take her eyes from the window, but her hand reached down and found his head; she gently pulled him closer.

"I suppose you heard what happened?" she asked, her voice oddly level. Asch gave a small whine of affirmation; he never did that, but without her looking at him, it was the only way he could communicate.

"I guess things worked out for you, didn't they? Now you'll have no competition for my attention, at least for the moment." She didn't say it accusingly, just in a matter-of-fact tone, but Asch recoiled as though struck. He stared at her, incredulous, but she still didn't turn; the hand that had been petting him stayed at her side.

"That wasn't fair of me. Father's right, you know- I'm being selfish. Just as I was with your namesake."

What? Shocked, Asch slowly approached her again. Although he made no sound, she seemed to sense where he was and her hand found him again; resting her palm on his head she stroked the silky fur of his ear.

"I tried to bind Asch to a promise and a life that he couldn't keep, with no thought to what he was feeling or what I was doing to him. He kept pushing me away, and I kept pursuing him- it wasn't until later that I bothered to learn why. He thought he was dying, you see, and wanted to spare me that heartache. He loved me that much, and I was just too blind to see it- all I did was hurt him that much more."

No, Aschthought, looking up at her pleadingly. It wasn't like that. Asch had distanced himself from her because of his imminent death, to be sure, but it had been as much for his sake as for hers. It had also been because of his stubborn refusal to face the damage done to his past- he had been Luke fon Fabre, and a change of name couldn't change the fact that he was still that person whom Natalia had loved, and who had supposedly loved her in return.

"I knew the challenges posed against a union between Guy and myself would be severe, even insurmountable, and that it would put a strain on the people of Kimlasca, but I allowed our relationship to continue, foolishly hoping that it would all just work out somehow. It wasn't fair to Guy, and it wasn't fair to Kimlasca. Now, I've hurt all of them, just as I hurt Asch." She finally looked down at Asch, and the setter was startled to see tears in her eyes. She smiled at him, as though trying to reassure him. "Could you leave me alone for a little bit? I just need to be by myself for a while," Asch just stared at her with wide, disbelieving eyes, but even if he could have spoken to her he couldn't have found anything to say. He bowed his head respectfully, then slowly padded to the door. He turned back as he was about to leave, hoping that she might call him back, but she was staring out the window again. He walked out and silently closed the door behind him.

Once in the hall, Asch found his mind still a whirl of emotion. He agreed with Ingobert- for Natalia to marry Guy would be an impolitic and potentially dangerous course of action. Both Natalia and Guy had to have known it, and had chosen to continue with one another anyway. This outcome may have been sorrowful for them, but it was the safest and most logical one, and Asch had had nothing to do with it.

Why, then, did he feel so terrible about it?

As he made his way downstairs, he thought of Natalia, looking forlornly out of her window and crying for not just one, but two lost loves. She had made some poor choices, to be sure, but she was taking all the blame upon herself when others shared a great deal of it. Had he really wanted it to end this way? Politics aside, he had his own reasons for hating Guy, but apparently Natalia saw something different about him. None of that should matter, though. He had no right to tell her who to love, just as, in the end, no one really should.

He noticed the door to Ingobert's study was closed; apparently, the king was still inside, presumably contemplating the night's events and what had to happen next. An uncharacteristically illogical idea began to bud in Asch's mind, but he needed Luke before he dared think on it further. He reached out with his mind, but Luke was unresponsive. He suddenly got a glimpse of something as he unexpectedly connected with Luke's vision- Tear, staring lovingly into his eyes as they sat in what looked like the field outside of Baticul-

Asch quickly cut the connection. He didn't need or want to know what Luke was doing- what was important was that he was unable to help right now. Asch stared at the closed door to the study. Very soon, Ingobert would emerge and retire to bed, and that would most likely be the end of the matter.

With a sigh, Asch knew what he had to do.