Chapter 3: Steps of Affection

Oh, the manor was always so quiet with everyone gone.

She remained in front of the large, floor-length mirror off the main hall to admire the flowing, silky dress that she borrowed. Ameliance loved these clothes and spun about, feeling almost like she did on the day she was wed. She believed that it was called an Eastern Socialite's Attire? Very different from what she usually wore, but beautiful and elegant all the same… with just a hint of scandalous that she was sure would shock her husband.

She smirked at that as she finished admiring her reflection before she left her bedroom and headed down one of the twin staircases. Humming happily to herself, she entered the dining room where a rather large lunchbox was sitting on the table waiting for her. She had spent all morning painstakingly making this food for both her and her husband—despite the many attempts of help from the servants when she told them she could handle it—and now she was ready for her surprise.

As if on cue, she heard the front doors open and she called out to Fourchenault that she was in the dining room. She smoothed out her front as she heard his voice from the outside and the door opened.

"Ameliance? Where is everyone else? I walked in and no one was…?" Fourchenault called as he entered—and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw her standing there and she gave him a sunny smile.

"Welcome home dear," she said happily as his face instantly flushed like the setting sun.

"What… what are you wearing, dearest?" he asked as he looked over her gown and she smiled as she twirled about it, knowing he couldn't miss a single angle like this.

"This? Oh, someone who was helping me with the Frontier Project was so kind to show it to me when she was visiting yesterday!" she chirped up happily. "I loved it so much I asked if I could borrow it and I'm so glad that she let me! You don't see clothes like this here in Sharlayan! It's so nice to have a change of culture once in a while, don't you think?"

She smiled wickedly when she saw how he was blushing so much that even his ears were turning red. It was so easy to tell what he was thinking once you know what to look for, though she pretended not to notice it as she hummed happily to herself, wondering what he was going to say next.

He seemed awe-struck for a moment before he coughed into his hand, returning to his formal tone, though the blush didn't fade from his ears, as he asked, "Well, where is everyone? I noticed that none of the servants were anywhere…?"

"Huh? Oh, I gave them all the rest of the day off," Ameliance answered matter-of-factly. "After all, we have a lot to celebrate! The end of the Final Days, not having to abandon the star…? I felt that they should be able to go out to their friends and family today and just enjoy themselves. Don't worry! I already made lunch for us!"

She went over to the classic lunch boxes just like the ones that she used to make all the time for them when they were still students. With a beaming smile, she removed the lid and showed him all of his favorite's foods, including adding a few sweet treats that she knew he was so fond of. His eyes lit up at the sight of them all and she could have sworn that she heard his stomach from here—but his eyes went from the food to her face and his eyebrows knitted together distrustfully.

"What's the occasion?" he asked, with his calm voice laced with suspicion.

She just batted her eyelashes at him and she saw how his face instantly soften—but he wasn't giving in just yet.

"Don't give me that cute look," he warned, but there was a twitch upon his lips as he said that. "I know your tricks, Ameliance. What is this about?"

"Now, can't a loving wife show her husband—who is so rarely home these days—that she loves him without thinking that she has ulterior motives?" she asked with her eyebrows raised and a playful pout on her face. She then giggled and added, "Now, I suppose my attire is different… but you know, I could try something a little more daring? I've heard of these 'bunny girl' suits from the Gold Saucer in Thanalan and I suppose I could…?"

"NO!" her husband cried out, his face glowing once more like an ember at the thought and she laughed.

"So, you do like it?" she asked and he sighed in defeat as he approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her in closer.

"I do indeed," he admitted with a slight chuckle in his voice as he looked at her fondly. "But I fear that the Forum insists that I accompany…?"

"I know that you are planning on heading out to Garlemald to help with these rumors about a Blasphemy," she warned and he froze at that until she gave him a loving smile. "I understand, dearest. Truly, I do. But the earliest you could leave wouldn't be until tomorrow, yes? Then please. Spend the rest of the day with me before you go? I am certain that the Forum would not begrudge you for that. I made a perfectly good lunch for both of us to enjoy some alone time. You are going to sit down with me and enjoy a nice, home cooked meal."

"Ameliance," he groaned but she could see how tempted he was by the idea.

"Now," she said with a slightly scolding tone. "I do think that you need to relax. You've been rushed off your feet for weeks now. We'll make an afternoon of it! Just you and me with some lovely food? It'll be just like when we were still at school!"

She smiled back as she thought of their days as students.

Most would say that the infamous Fourchenault was uncompromising… cold even. But Ameliance knew of a different side to him. A side that could be both warm and loving… his touch tender and caring as he was being with her right now…?

Everyone had known of the child progeny of the famous Louisoix Leveilleur. Rumored to have be stubborn, unapproachable and even, dare she say it, insufferably smug. They entered the Studium around the same time though she focused her studies around the arcane while he was known to have studied the art of Somanoutics—a very complex form of magicks but one necessary in order to become a Sage—so the two of them had no reason to interact with each other despite being in the same year. But then, one of their teachers assigned them to work together on a project, and she realized that everything she heard about his cantankerous reputation turned out to be true.

At least, until he saw how her hair kept getting in the way as she tried to keep her mind focused upon her calculations. When he saw her struggling because she had forgotten her usual ribbon that day, he pulled off his own tie and offered it to her to tie her hair back. At that moment, he suddenly became very shy and cleared his throat as he apologized that he didn't have anything better, but they were using fire spells here and he didn't want her hair to get scorched… or so he claimed. She took the tie from him and happily tied up her hair—but from that moment on, she wanted to learn everything about him.

Since then, they started seeing each other more often, usually just simple greetings in the hallways and stopping to chat before they would rush off to class. She soon started to pick up on some of his habits, such as how he would often skip lunch once an idea formed in his head and he would spend hours in the library. To make sure that he didn't get sick, she started packing a little more for her lunch each day and would offer some to him whenever she 'conveniently' found herself in the library with him. He would always grow so flustered and she could see how his eyes were constantly shifting about the room, as if eager to look at anywhere else than at her—which she found to be adorable.

"Do you remember that day?" she said slowly. "When you promised to take me to dinner for the first time?"

Oh, just to think back was nearly enough to bring her laughter. She remembered that moment so well… she had been feeling unsure of her thesis and had wanted to double-check a certain tome just to make sure she didn't overlook anything before she turned the paper in the next day. She hadn't wished to bother Fourchenault, though she was certain he would be able to answer any questions she had, since it was so late. So, that was what led to her deciding to creep from the Studium dorm rooms and dashed across the way to the locked doors of Noumenon.

She quietly unlocked the door and slipped inside the aging building, feeling odd goosebumps going up her spine at the dark and empty corridors. It was complete silence, save for the soft echo of her footsteps as she snuck across the polished floor. Thankfully, it she happened to be aware of how the mammets were removed from the building for their annual maintenance checks this night so she didn't need to fear any alarms going off.

She was eager to get this over with as soon as possible though and so she hurriedly crept to the section that she needed. It was a good thing that she had visited these corridors enough times to be able to tell where she was for the most part. Still, she quietly grabbed hold of a small lantern on a nearby desk and was able to light the magical crystal within with a little aether so that she had a faint light; casting long and dark shadows among the countless books around her.

She wandered around the shelves, running her finger over the spines as she quickly read their titles until she found the right one she needed. Hurriedly, she pulled it from the shelf and began to flip through the pages, looking for…?

Ah! Here it was! She happily read out the page before making some quick notes on a bit of scrap paper that she found nearby. With what she needed now safely tucked into her pocket she put the book back and was getting ready to leave. But as she turned around, she froze in terror as a shadowy phantom appeared before her as if stepping out from the void itself and shifted when the glow of the lantern hit it.

She let out a startled cry before the phantom jumped and she ended up tripping over the lantern, which knocked her flat onto her behind before the remains of the Vanish Spell disappeared and the 'phantom' retook his true form.

"F-Fourchenault?" she gasped in shock, recognizing him at once.

The look on his face…? If she hadn't been scared out of her mind a second before, she may have burst out laughing. His normally calm and stoic face was dumbstruck and just stared at her as if he had never seen another living person before.

"A-Ameliance? Is that you?" he gasped as he quickly offered a hand to help her up. "A-Are you alright? I didn't see you and…?"

But the moment that he helped her to her feet, he seemed to realize their position and his embarrassment quickly faded to horror.

"Speak of this to no one. I beg of you!" he cried out.

At first, she was wondering what he was talking about…? But when she remembered the way that he stepped out of shadows as he did…? She had studied arcane magicks long enough to recognize a Vanish Spell on sight…? But why would he…? Suddenly, she guessed it. It seemed that it didn't just escape her notice that the fact that the mammets just happen to be under maintenance this evening…?

"You were sneaking around the Forbidden Archives!" she gasped, a grin slowly spreading across her face. "Fourchenault… you sly rascal. Who would have thought?"

"No, please," he begged, looking ready to drop to his knees if that was what it took to get her to stay quiet. "If word gets out that I was sneaking around the forbidden archives…? I could be kicked out of the Studium! Possibly even brought before the Forum! Please, I beg of you, don't tell this to anyone!"

"Hmm," she hummed to herself. Of course, she had no intension of turning him over to any of their teachers or a member of the Forum. That thought never crossed her mind; but it was tempting to tease him with this excellent source of entertainment. Not only that, she was still slightly sore from how he frightened her before… but it wasn't like she was in any position to be blackmailing him…? At least, not with anything unreasonable? Well, she wasn't going to let such a golden opportunity pass and she reassured him, "Alright, I promise I won't say a word of this to anyone."

He let out a sigh that he had obviously been holding… his entire expression melting in relief before…?

"On the condition that you take me out to dinner tomorrow," Ameliance informed him with an innocent smile and she couldn't stop the laughter that burst from her lips when she saw how his jaw dropped open in shock at that request.

She still giggled at the memory at how cute he had been. He knew he had no choice, and so, the next day, after class, he kept his promise and took her out to eat at the newly built Last Stand. Oh, it was a true oasis of culinary delights in a desert of such bland foods!

While he was very awkward at first, his shyness was quickly forgotten as they began talking and soon that smile she had come to love so much was adoring his features for most of the night.

After that, everything seemed to fall into place.

Word apparently reached Louisoix that his son had been seen eating out with a girl though and before she knew it, Fourchenault came to her and told her that he was 'ordered' to bring her home so that his father could meet her. Despite her nerves, she was eager to meet with the famous Louisoix… who turned out to be not at all what she was expecting.

"Fourchenault! Where did you find such a delightful girl?" his father said as he welcomed her into the manor warmly and with open arms. As he led her inside, with Fourchenault following nervously behind them, he added "Welcome, my dear! When I heard how you got him to go on a dinner date after catching him in the library after hours, I knew I had to meet you! To think that he was sneaking around looking for forbidden secrets?"

"I never said anything about the Forbidden Archives!" Fourchenault interrupted in surprise.

"Why else would you be caught sneaking around there in the dead of night?" Louisoix asked laughing.

It seemed that since he couldn't deny that to his father, Fourchenault hung his head in defeat as Ameliance also chuckled when he grumbled, "You seem unusually happy to hear of me sneaking around in places like that?"

"You were caught sneaking about in places that you shouldn't with a pretty girl! And now you are bringing that girl home to introduce us! I'm bursting with pride!" he laughed before looking back to her and added, "So you are the pretty and talented girl that he has been going on and on about? I swear, not a day has gone by that he didn't praise the Twelve that you came into his life."

One would think that he was just trying to flatter her, yet seeing the panic-stricken look on Fourchenault's face at that confession, Ameliance knew that it had to have been true… and it was that night that she realized that she loved everything about this wonderfully stubborn boy.

The memory faded from her mind as she continued to smile sweetly up at her husband, waiting for an answer to her question.

He sighed as he pulled her closer so that he could rest his forehead against hers and closed his eyes in a look that spoke of contentment—as if he couldn't imagine any other place he rather be—while he answered, "That does sound lovely."

"So will you indulge me?" she laughed and he chuckled, music to her ears as he leaned in close and whispered in a quiet confession into her ear, "I'm strong but not enough to escape the allure."

Her eyes twinkled as she reached up to trace his face lovingly, before drawing him in for a loving kiss.

*Several Days Later*

It was several days later when Ameliance saw a very intriguing sight.

She was just coming back from the Studium after checking up on some of the students' part of her Frontier project. She was so pleased to see how well that everything seemed to be going for them and was eager to be the one to drop off the next batch of supplies. Yet, it was on her way towards the residence district, where she was planning on visiting some of the other families who were housing some of the students, just to see how they were fairing… where she spotted someone she didn't expect.

She had just come over the hill when she saw her husband standing underneath a tree, gazing off in the direction of the Baldesion Annex. He was standing with his head slightly turned so that he couldn't see the road—nor her coming towards him—as something else clearly drew his attention. She had been told that he was coming back from his visit to Garlemald today, but she had been expecting him a little later this afternoon. She was about to call out, but he seemed very interested about whatever going on at the Annex for he just seemed to shrug his shoulders in defeat and went straight towards the building.

She recognized that look anywhere, though she only had seen it a few times in all the years that they had been married. It was the same look he had whenever he was about to swallow his pride and admit that he was wrong about something.

Curiosity now getting the better of her, she quietly followed after him, wondering what kind of mischief he was up to now. For surely he couldn't have any problems with the Students of Baldesion after all this? In fact, he was in full support that the Students rebuild and even recommended a few scholars to aid them in this endeavor.

As she wondered this, she suddenly caught sight of flashes of aether and the spinning of four long and thin weapons soaring gracefully in the air. She blinked in surprise, wondering if her son was in the city visiting…?

But as she hurried on, she saw that the person practicing with the nouliths wasn't her son—but rather her children's very dear friend. Ameliance was quite surprised to see Claire here, and even more surprised to see her now with a Sage's armaments. The soul crystals alone are not easily acquired and Ameliance was dreadfully curious how she got her hands on one. But she had to admit, how impressed she was with how well she was controlling the delicate instruments as she commanded them to fire their beams of concentrated aether on the striking dummy set up outside the Annex.

As she watched on, however, Claire seemed unsatisfied with that last attack for some reason and she was studying her nouliths with a critical eye, as if trying to figure out what was wrong. That is when Fourchenault approached and Ameliance realized what was happening.

Of course… if there was one thing that her dear husband could not help himself with it was stepping in as a teacher and giving a promising pupil some advice. But the idea of helping one he once saw in such a bad light must have been awkward and difficult for him to approach.

She still remembered how Fourchenault first returned from Eorzea moons previously, after having disowned their children in a fit of anger…?

"How dare she use father's words against me? She is just as much a bad influence on them as I feared!"

Ameliance watched as he paced around the den with badly concealed irritation. She ignored him, knowing that he just needed to let him vent before he calmed down. Instead of saying anything, she happily went over the latest letters from her children, smiling at the excitement of their struggles to devise a way overcome tempering! How exciting! Oh, she was so proud of them, especially with Alisaie coming up with the concept! Once that girl set her mind to something, no force on this star could stop them!

"By 'she' you mean our children's friend?" Ameliance asked knowingly, having been listening to him snarl out about 'that uneducated savage' among other insulting words for the last bell. "My dearest, if you bothered to read some of our children's letters then you would know that she is far from the 'villain that lead our children astray' that you are so determined to paint her as."

"I honestly didn't even believe what I heard from them!" he retorted in frustration. "The way they were speaking to me! Alisaie always had little interest in anything that went on with politics and discussions! And that was the first time that Alphinaud had ever questioned me like that! This is her doing, I just know it! I've heard of the countless rumors of Eorzea's Champion. She is also a member of the Scions! So of course she would be influencing our children's decisions!"

"Dear, how can you expect the children to understand your current actions, or lack thereof, if you won't tell them what is going on?" she asked calmly. "I don't know the full details myself, but they are your children as well as mine so you should have seen this coming sooner or later. You can't expect them to sit back and do what they're told without a good reason like how they did when they were younger. They have seen and experienced much since leaving home, so telling them to 'listen to your elders' isn't going to work anymore."

Now, she wasn't happy that he came home and told her that the children were disowned, but she knew better than to argue with him on that front. Alphinaud and Alisaie were undoubtedly taking it hard, but that wasn't going to stop her from helping them from afar. Not that he needed to know that though. She would let him find out the hard way.

Besides, they had a whole vault of wealth to spend, she was sure she could find a good use for it than letting it gather dust.

"If you sit down with me and go over some of their letters then you will know how fondly they speak of their new friend," she told him lightly. "If anything, I think that she is a good influence on them. Well, she's all that they ever talk about anymore."

When Fourchenault still continued to look angry she let out a sigh and carefully folded up the letters before she spoke again.

"Now dearest, I know that you aren't happy how everything played out, but you can't be angry at the children forever," she countered. "You're going to have to make up with each other someday, and I think that a good way to show that you're sorry is to start being nice to their friend."

"I am never having that woman in this house, Ameliance!" he retorted loudly.

Good thing he never found out that she invited them to the manor not long after they arrived in Sharlayan.

But all joking aside, she knew that he regretted disowning them on the spot like that, but unfortunately, that Leveilleur stubbornness and pride was always their biggest hubris. Once committed to a course, turning back wasn't an option until it all came crashing down.

In contrast to her husband all but fleeing the room whenever one of her children's letters arrived to talk about their adventurers; she was eager to see what kind of excitement they were going to bring to her. Like a child who wanted to hear the ending of a fascinating book, she couldn't stop herself eagerly awaiting the next letter just so she could know what crazy adventure they had next!

Their babies had grown up so much in such a short time that she supposed she could understand why he was so taken aback by the changes that have blossomed inside them. Though she suspected that they leave out certain details to keep her from worrying, she was both amazed and startled by how their growth shone through in their messages. She could see how much they changed from the letters while she knew that her husband took such a long time to acknowledge it… still determined to see his purpose as their protector.

And she was certain that their Warrior friend was the catalyst to most of these changes. So when she heard that the Scions had come to Sharlayan, she was more than happy to welcome the dear friend she had heard so much about to her home. In truth, it was almost like a dream come true for herself for she had been longing to meet with the twins' stoic protector. She heard so much glowing praise of her from her children, so often, that when she finally had the pleasure to meet the hero in the flesh, it was like seeing an old friend for the first time in a long while despite it being their first meeting.

It was so nice to see how much more welcoming Fourchenault has become towards Claire since the Final Days were over. Well, mayhaps not welcoming… it was clear to Ameliance that he no longer hated the young woman but she didn't think that he was going to go around singing her praises yet either.

Well, they would work on that.

She watched as Fourchenault seemed to steady himself before calling out, "You are doing that wrong."

Claire paused in her practice, looking up in surprise to see him there, tilting her head in confusion to why he was here.

"I was just passing by when I spotted you, I had no idea that you were learning the art of the Sage," she heard him say as he came closer. "The fact that you can even get the nouliths to move is no small feat."

Claire recalled the weapons before turning to greet him. Ameliance hung back, content to merely watching the two of them. She couldn't hear what Claire said in response, but Fourchenault was now shaking his head at whatever she said.

"No, that's not…?" he sighed and Ameliance smiled at the sight. He was trying so hard, poor thing. Ameliance could tell he was really trying hard to get to know her better. He just didn't know how to come out and say that he wished to bond with her more especially since the rest of his family adored her and saw her as one of their own.

"Here, let me show you. I'll give you some helpful advice on how best to use these nouliths in exchange for your help with the Blasphemy in Garlemald," Fourchenault sighed at last as he approached to stand next to Claire, facing the striking dummy.

Oh? That surprised Ameliance. When did he get new nouliths? She was looking forward to discussing that when he got home tonight and she could tease him again.

"Now pay attention," she heard him say before he called forth his own armaments to give a demonstration. "Now, in addition to Kardia, the Sage has three main skills: dosis, diagnosis, and prognosis. Dosis is your main magic attack, diagnosis is a single target healing spell, and prognosis provides area-of-effect healing…?"

So went on his explanation as Claire listened to everything he said and copied his movements. Ameliance could only continue to smile at the sight as he continued his instructions on the easiest way to master such a difficult weapon. Hard to believe that he was once convinced that she was the 'worst possible influence' on their children.

Deciding to leave him to his lessons, she hummed happily to herself as she slipped away, wondering which new outfit she would wear to shock him next when he came home.

(I think that Fourchenault finally realized that he was outnumbered and whether he liked it or not, the Warrior of Light is part of the family. So, he would have to learn to play nice from here on out. Also, at one point in the main story, you see Alphinaud practicing with the nouliths outside the Annex, so I felt that it would be a nice touch to add them in here. But oh Ameliance… she quickly jumped up to as one of my favorite new characters and I do hope we get to see a lot more of her in the future! What am I saying? Of course we will! She's the only one who can control Fourchenault! Only one more chapter to go! Can you guess who it will be? ;)