Keiji awakens from the night before with Corrin at his side.
Sunrise
"Hey there... Keiji?" Corrin's voice echoes in your ears. "Can you hear me? Wake up, sleepy head."
You don't want to move even with an angel calling out to you. You could stay like this in sleep's embrace forever. The desire to remain in the world of the dreaming keeps your head to the pillow. It takes you deeper and deeper like a siren's song. It wouldn't be wrong to nap for just a little longer, would it?
"Hey. Heeeey, Keiji," Corrin continues. Her finger boops your nose, bursting the sweet bubble keeping you afloat. "C'mon now... I have to return to my quarters before sunrise. If someone were to see me here then there'd be all kinds of whispers going around."
You open your eyes and are greeted by your dear princess. She's smiling at you grogily, her hair scruffy from hours asleep beside you. "Good morning, my sleepy soldier," she greets you with a precious chuckle. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd wake."
The way Corrin looks at you fills your heart with gladness the likes of which you haven't felt in a very long time. Sure, you've warmed the beds of a few tavern girls in recent months. But never before has a waking greeting felt as wholesome as this. So complete. It's Corrin's eyes, you feel. They're immensely deep and compassionate. You'd do anything to gaze into her silver orbs each morning. Even fight a Faceless single-handed.
You sit as upright as you can while tangled up with the princess. Then you groan sleepily. "Do forgive me, milady. Good sleep is rare for me, so I treasure it when I can."
"It's fine," Corrin reassures with a kiss to the tip of your nose, "though we really should get up."
"Agreed. Time waits for no man." You untangle yourself from the princess and wrestle with the sheets, Corrin yelping playfully as your hand brushes against her behind. "Forgive me. My hand slipped." You loose balance while trying to get up and your face damn near going into her bosom, earning you another more spirited yelp. Pulling free from such delightful pillows, you're left flustered. "This damn bed... I am so sorry, milady."
"Worry not, it's fine!" Corrin says playfully, sticking out her tongue at you.
Alright. The princess isn't angry, that's all good and well. She's stifling a fit of laughter, even.
Escaping the labyrinth of your futon, you shake your sleep-clouded head clear and take a deep breath to awaken your senses.
You watch from the corner of your eye while Corrin dresses. She starts by slipping her frilly undergarments back on. Then she collects her discarded nightgown and brings the straps of her over her small ivory shoulders.
Oh yes. You're lot in life has certainly improved. After all, here you are - blessed to learn new things about Hoshido's dragon princess every day.
She's clumsy.
She barely knows her left from her right before the coming of the Noon hour.
She's actually quite the tease, though you never would have guessed until last night.
And most interestingly of all? She hums tunes before drifting off to sleep.
"Are you getting dressed?" Corrin asks with a brow raised.
"Of course, milady," you answer, snapped from your quiet admiration. "It's probably best I don my Samurai clothes. Though it might be best I take my time."
"Why?" Corrin tilts her head like a lost puppy, confused by your logic. "Wouldn't taking longer lead to more problems.
"No. This way, at least if somebody sees us, I can make it appear as though escorting you somewhere."
"Ohhhhh." Your explanation looks like the world's largest revelation to Corrin. "I see. A sound idea."
You can't stop a rogue snigger, no matter how hard you try.
"Hey!" Corrin hops up from the bed and whacks your arm gently, her cheeks lighting up. "What, might I ask, is so funny?"
"Nothing, milady. Not a single thing." Having done your best to dodge the question, you kneel at the foot of your bed and open up your small box of belongings. A simple wooden chest filled with many a memory of your days before joining the army.
There's all kinds of things in here. Almost everything you own, in fact. A collection of neatly folded letters from home. A purse of silver coins. A pocket mirror given to you by one of the lassies you shared a rainy weekend with. Sitting neatly beside it in and little jewellery box is a bronzed betrothal ring. A painful twinge fills your chest the longer you look at it. Surpressing your discomfort with a sharp breath, you close the lid and shift it aside. At the very bottom of this store of trinkets is a hair brush - a brush belonging to the same beloved whom once gifted you the ring.
"Here you go, princess." You pick out the small ivory hair brush with simple swirled patterning and offer it to Corrin. "If you'd like to use it."
"Hiow very kind of you!" Taking the brush, Corrin begins working through her tangles. Once finished the hands the brush back, a look of subtle intrigue about her. You haven't escaped her curiosity, it seems. "I'm waiting for you to tell me what's so funny, you know," the princess finishes, pouting.
You could be tactful in your response, yes, but her expression right now is too lovely to ignore.
"Well, milady, It's the way you are. I don't know if you realize it, but everyone sees you in such a fearless light. It's the same for Lord Ryoma and the rest of your siblings. But behind closed doors you're so very..."
Corrin grabs for the brush again, looming overhead and threatening to whack you with it. "Yes Keiji? Oh do indulge me. I'm very?"
It's probably best you change course. "...Sweet. You're very sweet."
And for your kind words, you get a small bonk on the head with the brush's handle anyway. "Thank you," Corrin giggles, placing her lips against your forehead in a quick kiss. "Now," she hands the brush back, "you finish getting ready. We both have a long day ahead of us, I'll bet."
"Each in your own ways, yes," you confirm, putting the brush back into your box and closing the lid.
You recover your clothes from the various ends of the room after last night's... Well, what should you call it? Referring to what you shared with the highborn lady as something casual like a 'romp' would be a disservice. And besides, even if things didn't quite go all the way, it meant far more than a mere roll in the sack, as they call it back home.
Our embrace, you decide mentally. From here on, you'll describe the moment you shared with Princess Corrin as an 'embrace'. Thinking back to it makes the experience of getting ready go by all the quicker.
You've often been described by some of the lads (and ladies) you fight alongside as a rugged rogue. A man distinguished by his wavy black hair and a quick sword hand. Although, not for the longest time has anyone said you look particularly cheery. But here you are, standing tall and sturdy. You're holding out your toned chest pridefully for the first time in recent memory. A light you lost somewhere in war's flames has returned to you now.
"I have purpose," you utter graciously, fastening your overcoat. "Thank the Light Dragon..."
Purpose in keeping Corrin safe.
"Well... that was closer than I hoped."
The sun has finally awoken and you've already had your first close call. You're not sure which was worse, Lady Corrin almost tripping on a stray tree root as you both hurried back to her tent, or nearly being caught by Felicia as she arrived to collect Her Ladyship's laundry.
Laundry which is absent on accont of Corrin spending the night with you.
"Strange," Felicia ponders, tapping her foot against the path in a slow rhythm. She's staring at the opening Corrin's tent with suspicion. "Very strange indeed."
It's probably for the best that you play along. You keep your arms folded, mimicking the usual routine you follow every morning. As far as the maid is concerned, today's the same as any other for you. "What appears to be the problem, Miss Felicia?"
"Oh, I beg your pardon, Keiji." Felicia bows to you, expressing remorse (or possibly regret) over you hearing her. With one foot ahead of the other, she almost trips on the stones underfoot but narrowly corrects course in a nick of time. "Well," she continues disregarding her near fall because of how common they are. "It's strange," she remarks, "every morning Lady Corrin folds her laundry ready for me to wash. It's been that way for a really long time."
You look to the empty laundry basket outside of the tent, shrugging. "It looks empty to me."
"Exactly! Not a sock, not a blouse. Nothing. I wonder-"
You have a reasonable deflection, and just in the nick of time. "You're not suggesting someone stole them, are you?
"Of course not!" Felicia blurts, red-faced and flustered by your presumption. After a time she calms down. Sighing, she shakes her head. "It's probably just my imagination. Silly me. It's no wonder I can't get anything right."
You breathe a sigh of your own. Silently and thankfully. Nobody saw you whisking Corrin back to her tent. "Don't fret over it." But you keep up the act all the same, if only to provide Felicia with some small comfort. "The Princess was likely busy making late night battle plans and forgot. Yes. That must be it, with so many Nohrian armies still lurking about and all."
"Busy, hmm? You might be right Anywho..." Felicia gives you a bow. "I must be off. Chores to do! But you will come by and keep me company later, won't you, Keiji?"
Trivial as it might be to some, you wouldn't miss sitting beside this kind-hearted servant and sharing idle chatter. True, she's been acting a bit off around you lately, tripping over her words and whatnot when you're alone, though that's nothing out of the ordinary for Felicia. She's always tripping. Sometimes over her words. Or random objects. And oftentimes her feet. In fact, being a clod (her words, not yours) is something as every day to her as breathing.
"Of course I will," you answer kindly. In fact, I'll stop by after visiting the Mess Hall tonight. I imagine you'll be somewhat more relaxed without clothes to wash and fold."
"You betcha!" Felicia agrees cheerily, nodding. She turns to leave, only to gain a second wind and swing back around. It's brief, but you can't help picking up on something: her cheeks are flushed a tender shade of pink. "I'll look forward to it," she adds. "Take care, won't you? S-see you later!"
Off Felicia rushes, almost falling as she goes.
How strange, you reflect as you watch her fade into the distance. She acted all flighty and nervous the other day, too. "Ah well... It's probably nothing," you shrug dismissively. "It's far from the first time she's acted like this," you recount.
"Shall we go?" Corrin asks you kindly as she emerges from her tent. You can't help marvelling at the stark difference between her earlier appearance this morning, and now. Her messy bed hair is tame. She's lively and wide awake, too - adorning her dragon-like battle armor with the signature Yato blade sheathed at her hip. "I hear my brother wishes to speak with me."
"As you ask of me," you answer, lowering your head and fulfilling your public role in spite of everything. With one tiny exception. You quickly check nobody is looking, and touch your fingers to Corrin's. She returns the gesture, and the two of you set off down the bustling road into the heart of camp. With the rising sun come many invigorating sights. Off beyond the armory troops are drilling. Shrine maidens are saying prayers. Servants are drawing water from wells. What was nothing but a silent cluster of tents hours before is now teeming with life and energy.
What's more, you're curious as to what Lord Ryoma wants to talk about with Corrin. "Do you think it's good news, if you don't mind my asking, milady?"
"Well Keiji, I hear Ryoma plans on stopping in Macarath to rest. There should be some peace and quiet now that we've evaded much of the Nohrian army. Or at least I'd like to think so."
"Macarath? The town well-known for it's dance and stage shows?" Not to mention games of chance and gambling. You smile at the latter of those pastimes. A hand of cards and a game of chance might help in taking the edge off after so many battles.
"The very same," Corrin confirms with a hopeful smile. "I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself. In fact," she continues, leaning a touch closer, "we should go see it for ourselves. You and me. I imagine it could be fun." Her eyes alight with wonder; the princess is a remarkable sight.
"Provided your brother allows it," you add, wanting to remain mindful of the princess' safety.
"Then I'll be sure to ask him." You and Corrin arrive by the large and heavily guarded war council tent. She gives your hand a quick squeeze and parts from you with a smile. "And thank you, Keiji, for everything." Without another words she walks over to the tent and steps inside.
"No... Thank you, milady." You bow your head in farewell, for now. Your duties as a soldier await.
To be continued...
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