It was love at first note. The young woman, playing an instrument he learned was called a koto from the program he received, played such a melancholic tune, the notes floating through the air, never missing a beat, never off-key. It flowed into his ears and all the way down to his heart.
If he had never known love before, he did now.
She was enveloped in silk so fragile and light it was practically transparent, glittering in the spotlight, an ensemble of white and turquoise, complementing her pretty pink hair, long and covering her face under a veil. He sat in the box seats, back straight, leaning forward, completely enraptured by the performance. Xander, now king, chuckled under his breath at his little brother's clear interest in this "music". After all, Leo had never shown such interest before. He was gifted at the violin, sure, and he had an appreciation for it, but Leo only did so as a matter of his noble upbringing. It would behoove him to not be well-rounded, no? At least, that's what Leo always said.
Leo was always the pragmatic one, the one that never let emotions get the better of him. He stayed calm even in the most trying of times, and he always gave solid advice to anyone seeking it. His mind was sharp, his voice cool, and his demeanor calm.
"So," Xander began, "how did you find the performance, Brother?"
"It was most enrapturing. That instrument was so unique. I didn't imagine that particular song could be played on anything but the violin, or at least, any Nohrian instrument. The koto is Hoshidan, yes?"
"It said as much in the program," Xander answered. "Truly, it was a sight to behold. I've never seen that girl before. Something about her felt most calming."
"She seemed so familiar, as if I've seen her before," Leo mused. "It's interesting that a Hoshidan would be so willingly accepted in Nestra, especially after this dreadful war."
"It's been two years now," Xander pointed out. "I'm sure relations, at least in this neutral nation, are neutralized. And besides, how do you know she was Hoshidan? We weren't really close enough to see her face."
"How many Nohrians have access or the willpower to learn such an intricate instrument?" Leo asked, sharp as ever. Only he would notice the intricacies of the foreign instrument. Xander was sure that Leo could teach himself how to play it, should he find the time. But being advisor to Xander took up much of his time, and he was damn good at his job. Xander couldn't have been more proud.
"True, but with trade and immigration going well, I wouldn't be surprised to find such instruments in shops around town. Perhaps we should seek one out for you," Xander joked. "You seem quite taken with it."
"I'm taken with the performer," Leo stated bluntly. He realized his mistake and looked away, embarrassed. "Pardon me, Brother, that wasn't meant to be said out loud."
"Consider it forgotten." Xander waved it aside. "Perhaps you should seek her out, tell her how wonderful her performance was. They are indeed selling bouquets over there." He pointed at a small stand with various types of flowers, ranging from roses blood red to lilies snow white.
Leo, upon a whim, did as such. Xander chuckled at Leo's eagerness. It was like the young man was a boy with a schoolboy's crush on a pretty little maiden. Xander's permission must have given Leo the strength to pursue this woman. Love happened so little for the young man, and while Xander courted the occasional lady, Leo had stayed far away from such matters. "I haven't the time," he would always say. Sometimes Xander felt Leo was too dedicated to his station.
So when Leo sought the player after the performance, Xander knew it was love.
Leo had desperately scrambled backstage, bouquet in tow, pushing past performers and songstresses alike, all in varying forms of undress. The women shrieked as the man found his way into the women's dressing room, and it was here that he realized just how foolish he was being. He apologized and went to leave but a small figure bumped into him.
It was her. The koto player.
Her blush captured his heart, so flush and bright. She couldn't make eye contact, but he found it so endearing. He smirked, realizing the effect he had on her.
Before he had a moment to say anything however, she had fled, her robes flowing behind her like some tailwind. Leo gave chase, hoping to catch her before someone caught him.
He managed to grab her arm, and she looked like she herself was about to shriek, but he thrust the bouquet into her arms. "I'm so sorry for my forwardness, but I wanted to tell you your performance was most astounding," he said in a rush, slurring his words. He felt his palms sweating. "I won't hold you back much longer, but may I have your name? I'd very much like to see you again." He caught himself. "I meant see you perform again."
"Oh… O-of course…" She stuttered. She looked at him nervously and then broke eye contact. "I must go though… I need to change…"
He realized what she meant and gave his farewell. He noticed how she fidgeted, as if she was intimidated.
Before he left, she did say, "You are the Nohrian prince? Leo?" He caught her slight accent. She was indeed Hoshidan.
"Yes, I am." He turned to her and smiled.
"It-it is an honor you enjoyed my p-performance…" She bowed to him. "B-but I m-must go…" And so she did, pushing past him and into the women's dressing room.
He felt her take a piece of his heart with her.
But he realized… He never got her name. He sighed in defeat and left, a little downfallen, but not deterred. He'd see her again.
When he returned to Xander, his elder brother simply had a smirk. "I take it she enjoyed the bouquet?"
Leo nodded. "She was most shy though, unexpected of a performer really, but she's…" Adorable he wanted to say.
"Yes?" Xander prompted.
"She had a most pleasing appearance," Leo said lamely. "I'd very much like to see her perform again."
"Ah, maybe next trip. But you know we must attend to matters of the kingdom, not enjoy our royal privileges." Xander headed to the carriage that would carry them back to the fine inn that only nobility could afford. They both climbed in, waiting for Camilla and Elise, who sat in a separate box. "What's taking Camilla and Elise so long?"
But speak of the devil and the devil shall come. Camilla and Elise climbed into the carriage too. "Ah, dear brothers, that was quite the performance." Camilla stated.
"Are you referring to the koto player? Our little Leo here enjoyed her performance the most it seemed." Xander nudged at Leo in a joking way.
"Is that what it's called? I didn't bother reading the program." Camilla waved it aside. "I never was one for music, but it was nice all the same." She gave Leo a look. "But my baby brother enjoyed someone's performance? How did you think it was, Leo?"
Leo blushed. "I…enjoyed it." He wanted to avoid Camilla's teasing at all costs. "That's all I have to say."
"He pursued her after the performance, bouquet and all!" Xander laughed. Elise was awestruck and Camilla full of mirth. They laughed at Leo's expense, surprised and amused at Leo's sudden crush on this performer.
"Ah, Leo, finally a maiden has come to take your heart." Camilla joked. "So when's the wedding?"
Leo was furious. "There will be none! Her playing was lovely, is all! Don't make it more than it is." He warned. "I doubt you want the wrath of Brynhildr."
Camilla rolled her eyes. "As if you would do such a thing to me."
"I would." Leo countered.
"No you wouldn't," Elise piped up. "You love us too much." The three siblings laughed again, and Leo simply looked away, muttering "no I don't" under his breath while looking out the curtain.
He saw the girl who stole his heart, her koto in tow, carried on a cart of some sort. She was in plain garb, white with a belt wrapped around her waist, in breeches and knee high boots. A kerchief was tied around her head, her hair tucked inside it. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought her a peasant, but it seemed she wanted to keep low profile. He didn't say anything, and closed the curtain of the window.
The carriage finally lurched forward and the quartet was hauled off to the inn.
He had his own quarters and pondered his feelings towards the koto player. She was just so lovely, her playing captivating… But she seemed so familiar, as if he met her before.
It would be improbable, but not impossible, as his time in the war led him to meet many Hoshidans, but he didn't remember any with pink hair. He remembered the lost princess they captured, oh what was her name, but she was long dead. Some Nohrians toted her body elsewhere and did gods know what with it. A pity, for Leo remembered her desperation to heal the wounded Hoshidans and her devastation at their demise. It was something that stood out very clearly to him, though he couldn't remember her face. It was slowly coming back to him, but thoughts of the war always annoyed him at worst, and so he waved the thoughts aside and decided a bath was in order. So he undressed and did so, hoping he could cleanse his body as well as his mind.
They left the next day, but not before Leo sneaked off that morning to find a schedule of Nestra's opera house's next performances. He saw the koto player performed every other night. Curses. He wanted to see her again. He wondered if she played the same thing. Her choice in music was melancholic, but it struck a chord with Leo, bringing out the sadness he often had felt as a child growing up in the concubine wars and being second best to Corrin. Somehow, her music validated his feelings.
He hid the schedule in his armor, not wanting his family to see it. Gods know they would harass him forever about it. He made it in time before any of them had left their quarters, pretending he was eating the complimentary breakfast when they had come down. They thought it odd that he was the early riser this time. Leo was notorious for sleeping in late and dressing hurriedly, putting his collar on inside out or his boots on the wrong feet. But today, everything was in perfect order.
Camilla was shrewd. "And what brings baby brother up so early? A secret rendezvous perhaps?"
He scoffed. "As if, Sister. The smell of this wonderful bacon brought me down." He took a bite to prove his point.
"Funny, I didn't smell any bacon from my quarters," Camilla said.
Leo quickly recovered with, "The idea of the smell of bacon, the savory flavor, is what brought me I mean. You know I often speak in metaphor."
"Hmm, if you say so." Camilla shrugged, helping herself to breakfast sausage and Nohrian muffins. "It does look quite appetizing."
The four siblings ate peacefully and once finished, made preparations to leave. Their luggage was packed on the sides of Camilla's wyvern and Leo's pegasus, Elise riding with Camilla and Xander riding with Leo, and they mounted the beasts and made haste back to Castle Krakenburg. It would be a long flight, but they enjoyed each other's company.
Well, Leo didn't at the time, as he was preoccupied with thoughts of that performer.
How… uncharacteristic of him to think of a woman constantly. Perhaps the vacation had simply messed with his mind. It wasn't supposed to be a vacation, as they were here to discuss various topics with the Nestrian archduke, but it had turned into one when said archduke offered box seats to that performance. Everyone had seemed to enjoy it, especially Leo.
He couldn't get it out of his mind. It was positively captivating how she at once appeared peaceful, yet at the same time cheerless, almost mournful, like there was something weighing heavily on her heart. Her playing was masterful, artistic, and Leo still remembered the melody, as it was one that he often practiced on his own violin, when he found the time. He found he wanted to pursue the musical instrument again, in hopes of maybe impressing this female musician.
But he was being silly, and waved it aside. Nohr should be on his mind. He was the advisor after all.
When they returned a week later, with breaks to rest their mounts in between, they found they had a message from Corrin. She would be arriving back to Nohr, partly because she missed her family, partly because her work there was done. They felt the underlying tone though. Something went wrong.
It was Leo's job to advise Xander on how to deal with this situation, and Leo suggested to listen to Corrin and from there they could come up with an answer.
So when Corrin arrived two months' later with news of Hinoka's bitterness and unwelcoming demeanor, even Leo was at a loss.
It was so petty. Sure, the country had been ravaged by war, but reparations were being made and they apparently were going well. The people were still a bit hostile, but cooperative. What was Queen Hinoka's problem?
Corrin mentioned that Hinoka had visited the graves of their siblings every day, even though it had been two years. It appeared Hinoka still blamed Corrin for their deaths.
Leo mused on this. "Well, she's technically correct. Your decision to side with Nohr did lead to war, and their eventual demise."
"That's not helping, Leo," Corrin responded petulantly.
"I wasn't finished," Leo remarked coolly. "While this did indeed happen, it was Ryoma who chose to commit suicide and it was Takumi who was possessed. He wanted you to destroy what was left of his mangled corpse. Sakura on the other hand…"
So that was her name.
"Sakura is simply…gone," Corrin sniffed. "I wish I knew what happened to her."
"The dead retainer, but her missing body…" Xander said solemnly. "How unfortunate."
"Perhaps she was possessed too," Leo said coldly.
"Not Sakura. Never Sakura," Corrin said quietly. She didn't know the girl long, but she knew Sakura was too pure for something like that to happen to her. "Our army… It had to have been. That's how we found Subaki…"
"But they said they never knew what happened to Sakura, that they never saw her," Leo pointed out. "Possessed." He insisted.
"No, simply missing…" Corrin whispered, more to herself than to her siblings. They ignored her woe and went on to matters more important, namely, Leo's fondness for the Nestrian koto player.
"Oh?" Corrin was intrigued. "So someone has finally captured your heart, Leo! Checkmate!" she joked.
Leo, however, did not find it funny and left his overly doting siblings. There were times when he wanted attention, but never in that way.
He left for the gardens to practice a few spells from Brynhildr. Though peacetime was had, one should never shirk one's duties, and Leo was determined to master his weapon, which he felt he had. He tried a new spell, one that ensnared living beings in vines and felt satisfaction as the vines snapped the dead tree's branch into splinters.
Xander had then approached him. "Brother, it seems our presence is needed in Izumo. I have much to do here, however, so I was wondering if you could go in my stead. Negotiations are more your forte anyway." Xander handed Leo pamphlets and documents detailing what Izumo wanted.
"It's strange that Izana wants to discuss 'important matters'," Leo scoffed after he skimmed the contents. "But, if you will it, I shall go and see what possible ordeal Izana has caused."
"Don't speak of him so callously. He is a most gracious host, especially in our time during the war." Xander warned. Leo could tell by his tone he wasn't completely serious.
"The evening we spent with the Hoshidan royalty? I'm not sure that was 'most gracious.'" Leo rolled his eyes. "It's water under the bridge now. I shall make preparations to leave." His things were still packed unless the maids and butlers had gotten to it already, so it wouldn't take too long to leave.
Leo went to take his leave when Xander spoke again. "You know, one must pass through Nestra in order to reach the docks for Izumo. Perhaps, since this isn't a matter of life and death, you could take a segue there, treat yourself…"
"I think I've treated myself plenty," Leo returned. "I shall make preparations to leave immediately. Good day, Brother."
"And to you," Xander responded.
Leo knew what Xander was getting at, but Leo needed to focus on important matters, like what the hell Izana wanted. So he made his way to his room, changed out of his heavy armor into lighter, and grabbed his bag, packed with spare clothes and some texts. He found his pegasus, a black beast far faster than the others, and hoisted his things into the saddle bags. He mounted the animal and whipped the reigns. He was gone before anyone could say good bye.
It was how he wanted it. He was the brother in the shadows after all.