Felicità needed a moment to collect herself as she woke up fully, hand brushing the token and her diligent pet. Rubbing one eye tiredly, she picked up the tiny token and her lips curved upwards as Fukulotà's disappearance started to make more sense. She flipped it over in her hand, admiring the tiny gold pyramid stamped into the middle, and she recognized one of the Isis' poker chips without difficulty.

As she turned it over again to admire it, she realized belatedly that there were letters scrawled on the edge of it, one in each stripe, and she squinted faintly to read the outer edge.

12 stripes, 12 letters; she tried her best to ignore her flushed cheeks as she read it out loud.

"'Ciao Bambina,'" As her soft smile grew, delighted, she had to toss it up and catch it with a giddy little laugh. It felt good to hear from him after spending a few days in one another's company. She had missed his humor, missed the candid comfortable atmosphere of Debito's routine, and she was surprised to miss all his teasing.

He had become so much a part of her life, even if it was just a stop by the casino, and staying under his roof had gotten her better acquainted with the hermit Tarrocco. That gregarious personality of his never emerged before his morning coffee, as much as everyone would doubt it, and their mornings were usual soft and quiet. She could wake up, take her time, and wander down to find him sipping on a cup of something steamy in the half-light.

Glancing up at her window, she supposed it was a bit too early for her maids to be waiting, but she was glad to see her room vacant. She needed to get dressed and see Nova off, make sure he had the tarts and knew the story, and Felicità pushed herself up out of bed. Fingers moving tentatively over the token, grinning as one letter came off easily, she decided to play a little game with him now.

Replacing an 'a' with an 'o' was easy enough to do.

Hurrying out of her bedroom, having squeezed into her clothes for the day, Felicità was just tying up her second pigtail as she rushed out he door, passing her maids. They were surprised to see her up so early, expecting to wake her, but she apologized over one shoulder as she made a beeline for the kitchen. She had kept them in the warmer overnight, not wanting them to get cool and ruin the gift, and she laughed breathlessly as she ran into her co-conspirator in the hall.

"Ah, Nova, good morning," She laughed, "I was just coming to get them for you. Wait just a moment." She was a little flustered now that it came down to the wire, to have to trust Nova with her gift and hope that Debito liked them, but she tried to compose herself. Everything was packaged, the tarts wrapped in paper, and she took a deep breath before she tucked a sprig of lavender into the knot and presented Nova with his mission.

"Thank you for this, Nova," She said sincerely, eyes bright.

"I know this means a lot." Nova countered, taking it from her carefully. "You're right about it being unfair… Debito is family." He was surprised to get a hug from his childhood fiance, face going red as she held him for a moment. "I'll… tell Debito you day 'hello'. You should get to work before Luca comes." Nova set his free hand on her back bashfully, patting, and she let him go with a soft giggle into his shoulder.

"Have a good day, Nova." She said, encouraging as she hurried along to her office, and Nova was just glad to see her spirits lifting. He didn't think that a simple handkerchief and some tarts would clear her conscience so much, but if he'd known, he would have done so much sooner. He needed a moment to relax, to clear off the pink dusting his cheeks before he left on patrol, but he didn't manage to completely recover before he gave it up entirely.

It was more and more apparent that Nova and the princess were getting close since her return, especially for those who saw the two of them every day. Luca, in his exile from Felicità's side, had seen them together almost too often, and it had him worrying his hands. Nova had been her fiance before, so why would he not be now? It was a prospect he'd been prepared for during the Duello, but it hadn't been an idea he relished. His sweet princess finally getting married? What would become of all their time together, all those precious memories?

He had tried to put it from his mind, but this time with the other Tarrocco was changing her.

Perhaps bringing her to the mansion was a risky decision.

Nova, slipping out of the mansion calmly, was glad to keep moving. A few soldiers in his squadron looked oddly at the lunchbox he was carrying, but he was quick to dissuade them. He had their loyalty, and a secret could stay a secret for now. He was just glad to walk into the Isis that afternoon and find Debito in a seemingly good mood.

"Oh hey, chibi, come for a hand?" He hummed, eye slyly considering the wrapped lunch in his hand. "Did Mama pack you some treats?" He knew how to toe the line with everyone, even if he didn't see them often, but even Nova could surprise him.

"No, Fel made it." He told him, sounding equal parts sheepish and proud. "It's for you." Setting it down on his counter as Debito's eyebrows rose in surprise, Nova turned away casually to make his exit. "She says thank you for all you did, and she apologizes for Papa. She's still determined to change his mind."

Smirking, tugging at the kerchief to admire the carefully wrapped tarts within, Debito had to trade his smirk for a real smile. She was sweet when she wanted to be, when she set her hard edge demeanor aside, and he would have to commend her on her carefully sliced tomatoes when he got the chance. He tucked it out of sight calmly, eager to dig in, and he watched Nova walk smugly.

"And she asked you to play messenger… against Papa's wishes." Debito remarked. "Give her my thanks. Seems us two are the grateful sort."

Getting a rather confused look from the samurai, something that only made Debito more content, the casino called and he had to wave him goodbye. He had women to entertain, things to do, and Debito was quite happy to submerge himself in it all; the perfume, the music, the dance of flirtatious words and just enough aloof behavior to have them continue to play.

It was a dance he knew well, of give and take, and he was rewarded by getting something else today.

Looking up as wings fluttered in, surprising a few players, Debito raised an arm for the owl as she came fluttering in and he was surprised how long it had taken. Nova had likely left the main house with the tarts this morning, which meant she had to have been up early, but it was already after noon.

Taking the chip from her before he escorted the bird out the front doors again, Debito was keen to glance at the chip. Had she seen it, or simply sent the bird back to return his trinket?

His eye widened at the small change, nearly losing hope she had caught on to his sneaky ways, but the sight of her correction had his pulse quickening.

"'Bambino', hm?" He had to admit it had been a long time since anyone had called him that, tugging his lips up into a smile, and he tapped the small chip against his lips once before he deposited it into his pocket and he returned to his duties. He'd be sending more tonight, when Pace coaxed Fukulotà out with treats, and he was thrilled to send her more. "Looks like my Bambina has a bit of play in her after all."

He sent her another token that night, a little earlier to hope she'd get it before bed, and he teased her for her words. It was hard to fit much on the side of a casino chip, but he didn't dare send a letter that Luca could intercept. At least the chip was junk, easily discarded or hidden, and something a pretty bird would be attracted to.

He sent them to her that night, and in the morning, and they kept their correspondence. She snuck a few more treats out with Nova, happy to hear that she had improved from her other attempts, and she was thrilled to find Nova and Libertà willing to play accomplice to the secret gifts.

She had been surprised the first time she received a trinket of her own, the cards and ribbon too gorgeous, and she had nearly given herself away when Fukulotà flew into her office to drop them on her desk. She had to shove it into her desk drawer quickly to avoid being caught with it, and she despaired until she had a free moment alone to admire the careful bow tied in the ribbon. A real note was scrawled on one Joker card, advising her that the ribbon would look pretty in her hair, and she was keen to have it done the next day.

She'd been happy to make him something yummy the next morning, puttering in the early hours as the sudden idea came over her. She and the boys had to deal with more than their fair share of embarrassing commentary, as much as Felicità implored them not to give it all away, and she was becoming just as mortified about it as they were.

No, she was not domesticating.

No, she was not choosing a husband.

Why on Earth would she favour one of her friends over another?

She would have been much happier to be out on her rounds, out doing something constructive, but there were only so many family members willing to spar with her in a week and she could only sneak so many messages to Debito. Cooking and sending Nova and Libertà away with full bellies at least meant that she could keep improving, keep herself busy and out of Luca's way.

She still hadn't forgiven him, not quite yet, and by the way he avoided her eye, she assumed he had a bone to pick with her as well.

She just wished she hadn't been so easily frightened; when she lay in bed, rolling their conversation chip around her fingers, she could only think of how silly she was to let Jolly terrorize her like he had. Sure, he may not have meant it, but she should have been more mature.

"Hope to see you soon. Papa is much calmer." She read, staring at the last bit of space. "I…" She had a lot to fill the space with, but she decided against it for now and sent Fukulotà out to take it away.

Rolling, staring out her window as she lay there in bed, she sighed and she tried to get comfortable. She missed it, missed being able to chat with him and leave the house, and if she was locked up here much longer she knew she was going to go crazy. She should be out defending Regalo, helping her fellow Tarrocco, not cooped up in here.

"I miss laughing with you." She said, testing it on her lips, but the sentiment made her cheeks burn and she squeezed her eyes shut. Ridiculous, really, and unbecoming of the next Donna. She put it out of her mind and she was glad to find sleep came when called, setting her worries aside until tomorrow.