Seth regretted that he should be the one to kill Orson. The two of them fought alongside each other once; now he was but another casualty of this senseless war.
"Franz," he said to the cavalier behind him. "Send word to Princess Eirika that the enemy has been routed. The castle is secure. Renais is back in safe hands."
"Yes, sir." Franz took his leave, and Seth was alone with his thoughts. He couldn't help but feel an uneasy sense of deja vu. It was here that he first learned of Grado's invasion and the news that the castle guard had fallen. It was also where he promised to protect Princess Eirika with his life. He had found her just outside the throne room, afraid but determined to save her father.
"Seth…! Seth!" he heard her cry. He could just see her through the smoke and crackling flames. "Father is still in there! You must turn back! Fa–"
"My apologies, princess," he said, for he was under strict orders to evacuate the castle at once.
"Sir." Two knights of Renais strode into the room. Their somber expressions told Seth he would not like whatever it was they had to report.
"Yes?"
"General, there is something we'd like you to see—no, something you need to see."
Seth followed his men to the inner chamber, which looked much the same as it had when the royal family was in residence. The foul smell of decay lingered in the air, and he realized it was coming from a figure seated on the edge of the bed.
"This is… what Orson believed to be his wife," Kyle said.
"No one's seen him for months. He was holed up here with…" – Forde gestured in its general direction – "There were rumors of something unnatural at play. Now we know…"
Seth took in the hollow eyes and rotting flesh of Monica's resurrected corpse. The dark magic their opponents wielded was truly powerful. Orson betrayed Renais to be with his late wife, but this was not life. The real Monica would have wanted to rest in peace with her husband, and he was happy to grant her that wish.
When Seth returned to the main chamber, he was surprised to find Princess Eirika standing in the castle gardens. He could see her through the stained glass windows, examining some shrub or another.
His intentions for joining her were purely professional; a routine status update between commander and princess. He felt nothing of the temptation that nearly overtook him on the night they fled the castle.
"Princess Eirika," he said as he drew closer. "I take it Franz has delivered the news."
Eirika looked up and greeted him with a wan smile. "He came by here just a minute ago. I can't help but feel sorry for Orson, even after all he's done."
"Princess…" Seth allowed her a moment to think before continuing. "Orson is a traitor. He betrayed Renais, betrayed your father, and he would have done the same to your brother if the Knights of Renais had given him the opportunity."
For a moment he feared he might have offended her. He was about to apologize for speaking out of turn when she said: "After all that he has done, Orson does not deserve my forgiveness. But that does not mean I do not want to forgive him. He was a loyal servant to my father for many years."
Seth was struck once again by her kindness. This was a princess who concerned herself with the affairs of ordinary people, and he loved her more for it. Then again, he called her princess even though that was really no longer her station. As soon-to-be queen, she would have to be more careful with her empathy.
"I cannot thank you enough, Seth. Between your skill with the lance and your leadership, you have saved us all yet again." He was considering a return to the castle when he felt the lightest of touches on his sleeve.
My lady, what are you doing? You can't– we can't – he wanted to say.
Instead, he said: "It is my duty, princess."
"Even so. It was a valiant effort on your part. And with your injury–"
"There is no need to worry," he said. "Remember, princess, it is part of our training to anticipate and… endure these sorts of things."
Ever since their escape from Renais, Eirika had been asking about the wound he sustained while fighting their would-be captors. A part of him was pleased that she paid such close attention. Another worried – perhaps rightfully so – that she had been approaching him in ways that were unbecoming for a future queen.
"It hasn't fully healed," she protested, but Seth shook his head and smiled.
"Let me worry about it, princess."
Her hand fell away. She turned from him, looking instead in the direction of the stained glass windows.
"I will leave you to it then," she said. "But let's meet again at the training grounds. Practice awaits us."
"Princess Eiri–" Seth let out a sigh as she disappeared inside the castle. He would have to do something about those lessons as well.