Title: Word of the Day v. FFIV
Author: Garnet Eyes
Archived: fanfiction .net, livejournal .com
Last Updated: 26 Feb 2011
Summary: 11 August 1999 edition.
Rating: K+
Characters/Pairings: Cecil, Cecil x Rosa
Author Notes: ersatz, adjective;
1. Being a substitute or imitation, usually an inferior one.
Disclaimers: Final Fantasy IV is owned by Square-Enix and I in no way, shape, or form profit off of my writing. This is simply for my own pleasure, and may at any time be removed and/or modified as I see fit.

...

Sometimes Cecil had the odd flutter of sensation that all was not as well in his life as he had thought. He had his kingdom, he had his wife, and he had his son. It was a time of peace, Rosa was content, and young Ceodore was always an excitable boy. Something was missing, of course; rather, someone was missing, but Cecil held on to the hope that his best friend would return some day. He kept himself busy with his duties as king, and he did his utmost to be a loving husband and responsible father, but on the odd occasion Cecil had the horrific thought that he was using everyone around him. He only wished he knew why he felt so false sometimes.