A week later, everyone had returned to the castle, spirits high and cheers abounding. The victorious warriors were weary but content, waving to the citizens of the castle with appreciation and pride.

Apple walked half a step behind Shu, simply glad that, for the time being, there were no more conflicts to threaten the lives of the ones she cared about the most. Besides that, there was an immediate victory party to take her mind off of everything.

The party itself died down around midnight, and everyone returned to their quarters, resting up for tomorrow, when many decisions would be made. A new country was on the brink of birth, and while some would take roles in its development, others would simply return home while awaiting the next big adventure.

For the time being, Shu and Apple had roles. Tomorrow, they would officially request their leader to extend his role in order to lead the new country. There was no guarantee that he would say yes, but Apple was optimistic.

"Thank you," Shu said quietly as Apple handed him the paper. "Is this the last of it?"

Apple nodded. "But..."

"What?"

"I'm confused about why Nanami's name wasn't on the list. She was killed by an arrow, after all."

"Y-yes," Shu said after a pause. "I didn't see the point of writing up a letter when her only family was here."

"That's true, but--"

"Thank you, Apple. You may go."

The woman started to do so but stopped. "Shu...do you have any regrets about what you've done?"

"What do you mean?"

Apple hung her head for a moment, then turned around. "When...when Master Mathiu died, his last thought was filled with doubt--doubt of the path he had chosen. He couldn't even go peacefully. His soul...was full of unrest."

"...I see."

"Please, don't get me wrong. I don't want to compare the two of you. You're completely different people...it's just..." She trailed off.

"No."

"What?"

"No, I don't have regrets," Shu told her.

Apple managed a weak smile, but she was genuinely relieved by his words. "That's good."

"And...?"

"Huh?"

"You were saying something before."

"Oh...uh...forget it. It wasn't important." She turned back around and left, not seeing a reason to spend another minute in that room.

---

Apple returned to her quarters with an almost serene feeling. She was not downhearted, nor was she not particularly driven by anything. Her day simply seemed ordinary to her, with no special inclination toward any extreme.

Not more than five minutes after she had entered the room, she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," she said.

The person obeyed, slowly stepping inside.

"Shu?" Apple asked in surprise. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a lot to do?"

"Not really," the man replied. "The report's finished...I'll just give it to Ridley in the morning."

"Oh. Did you need something?"

"Yes. Your hand."

"What?"

"Your hand, please," he repeated, extending an arm.

Apple stared at him in confusion, but she reluctantly did the same.

Shu then took her hand. "Follow me." He led her to a small wooden bench by the window, then sat down. Releasing her, he turned his gaze briefly, seeming as though he were deep in thought.

"Shu? What is it?"

"Apple..." he said, turning back to her. "If I've ever made you feel unappreciated, or worse, at fault over the things I've done or gone through...then I apologize. My mind tends to be focused on the matter at hand. It isn't that I don't think of you or your feelings, but there are times we have to make sacrifices and still our tongues over our own personal conflicts. Yet...that seems unfair somehow, doesn't it?"

His words left the young woman stunned. "Sh-Shu..."

"We are forced to put our personal lives on hold," he continued. "At least, that usually is the case with war service. However, I was lucky. Before this war, my personal life was limited to trading and sitting nightly in the tavern with acquaintances. Once in a while, I would travel, but mostly, I found myself confined to the luxuries of a quiet, carefree routine. And then, you came back into my life and...blew all of that away." He let out a chuckle. "But by sacrificing an easy lifestyle, I grew to appreciate the things I had to work for. I found more value in that than any trade I could have made. I felt more alive. Rather than my life being put on hold, it was actually improved. Apple...that is something I have you to thank for."

"Oh..." Apple avoided his gaze, and she began to blush. "I-I see..."

"And...even though you made it possible, the decisions were voluntary on my part. Everything I did was by my own choice, and I have no regrets about anything I've done. Even if I had perished in that forest, I assure you, doubt would have been the thing furthest from my mind. So please...please don't live with regret. Whether or not I die, that is not something I plan to die with."

She studied him, absorbing the full weight of these words. Her expression relaxed, and she smiled. "Thank you, Shu. You're a better man than some people give you credit for."

He gazed at her for a moment before touching her face with his hand. Leaning in, he planted a light kiss on her cheek.

"Oh." A startled Apple reflexively brought a hand to Shu's elevated arm, and her eyes closed briefly. When she opened them, he was moving back.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"That was my thanks," he responded. "I'm...lucky to have someone who not only can see that in me, but is able and willing to point it out to me at no cost."

Smiling contently, the young woman blushed again. "Shu..."

"So..." he began, looking around the room. "Just what were you doing this time of night? It looks as though you've been ensuring a full day for the maid."

"Uh...well...I didn't plan to leave it like this. I was packing."

"Packing?" he repeated, confused. "Why? I know you're planning on a trip to Harmonia after Lord Riou gets settled in as President, but that isn't for a while. I'd expect the smaller things to be put away, but...from this I get the impression that you're leaving in two days, tops."

"Well, it's...it's not like that at all," Apple said sheepishly. "I was actually looking for something to pack, but I haven't been able to find it."

"What is it? We can look for it together."

"My work on the biography. I haven't seen it for several months."

"Well...there's a reason for that," Shu told her. "And believe me, no matter how much you tear this place apart, you'll never find it."

"Wh-why is that?"

"Because it's no longer here."