Keiji is presented with a special invitation by Lady Corrin.
Invite
Chirping birds echo in your mind and thaw your cold senses. With a weighty groan, you reconnect with the waking world and force your body free of sleep's weighty embrace. You hear voices outside your tent - idle chatter back and forth between soldiers and common servants alike.
Which can only mean one thing.
"I overslept..." Your eyes widening with realization, you jolt awake in a second flat.
Morning sunlight shines in through your tent's opening. You try to move, your attempts at getting out of bed blocked by dead weight. Your senses awakening fully, you recall the events of the night before - of how your hands explored Felicia's curves and your lips entwined with hers in blissful unity.
Felicia lets out a yawn, her head rested against your bare chest. She's smiling even in her dreams, a tiny fleck of drool leaking from the corner of her mouth. She snores ever so softly, too. It's probably for the best that you wake her given the time. You'll go about it gently, however.
With the rest of the camp already up and going about their business, you'll need to follow suit after all
"K-Keiji," Felicia mutters - somewhere halfway between slumber and waking. Her beautiful blue eyes flutter open. "Morning..."
"Good morning, milady," you greet warmly, running your fingers through your lover's messy hair. "Sleep well?"
"I sure did, yep. Last night was lovely." Felicia brushes a few stray pastel pink strands of hair from her face, her eyes droopy. Yawning, she drums her fingers against your chest. "Do you happen to know what time it is?"
"The rest of camp are already waking up," you inform the sleepy lass. "It's well past dawn."
"Oh that's fine." Felicia waves you off the information, proceeding to snuggle against the nape of your neck shut her eyes. That is, until she opens them again and blinks. "Wait... What?" The maid then springs out of your bed in a panic, falling face-first into the simple brown fur rug. "Owwww..." Thankfully, she curled into a ball on impact, likely because she's so used to falling over. Groaning dejectedly, she hugs her legs tighter her chest.
"Are you alright?" you ask nervously, climbing out of bed. "Here, let me help you up." You offer a supportive hand.
Felicia looks at you in a daze for a moment. Blinking away her confusion, she grabs your hand. You pull her up.
"Thank you," Felicia utters graciously, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Holding onto you for added support, the girl ponders. "Now, where are my clothes?"
"Right there. I folded them while you slept." You point her (still dressed in her surprisingly lacy Nohrian-style smallclothes) toward the neatly folded maid's attire at the end of your bed with your free arm. "I think it's about time we both got dressed, don't you?"
"Y-yes," Felicia hurriedly nods. Easing out of your embrace, she darts for her clothes. "Lady Corrin might be unhappy if I take too long. She's tries her best to be kind to me, but I'm still such a mess when it comes to her laundry." As if remembering something frightful, her cheeks drain of color. "Errr... Keiji?"
"Yes?" you answer, standing halfway between the bed and the mirror. You reach for your discarded undershirt. Thankfully, you kept your passions in check last night - out of respect for both the ladies in your life. The choice to keep your trousers buckled and merely please Felicia with kisses and attentive hands has saved you somewhat. You're already half dressed. "Is there something amiss?" you wonder. "You look awfully pale."
"If I'm seen sneaking out of here at this hour how will I explain it to everyone in camp?" Felicia asks nervously. "Goodness... People will think I'm scandalous."
"Shit... I didn't think of that at the time," you confess, snapping your fingers in contemplation.
Dressed again and scruffy haired, the maid nervously wrings her hands. "Well we must think of something! If word gets out I was late for my morning duties because of this I'll be in so much trouble..."
Inspiration striking, you snap your digits decisively. "Worry not. I have something in mind." You move across to the small set of drawers at the back of your tent after squeezing past the worrying Felicia (who looks about ready to faint). You then begin rooting through your small supply of off-duty clothing.
At the bottom of the neatly stacked pile (past the socks and casual undershirts), you come across a familiar piece of attire. Moving aside all of the unimportant items, you dig it out. A fur-lined cloak of a wonderful brown color. You feel comforted by the garment - nostalgic.
Something of a family heirloom, it was a gift from your father to your mother before his untimely passing. As far as you're aware, he picked it up from an upmarket clothing shop in Nestra. It's handcrafted - made of real wolf, too. The kind of clothing lesser nobles wear on their outings. You once offered it to Hana when the two of you were still engaged, but she only wore it a couple of times before returning it to you.
"Here we go," you say, closing the draws. You then return to Felicia hand the coat to her with a welcoming smile. "It's a winter coat from the coast. You'll be able to cover your face with the hood. Try it on. It's about your size."
Felicia looks at you as though you've handed her the most exquisite gift in the world - bewildered by the coat's fine patchwork and extremely well-done finish. "You're giving this to me, Keiji? I-I'm sorry... but I can't accept it. I wouldn't want to fall and ruin the fabric. It looks so expensive."
"Think nothing of it. You deserve something special for after saving me the other day." A gift like this is fine enough, you feel. Besides, it's a ladies' coat - not something you've ever been able to wear. "It's fine, Felicia. Honestly, take it. It should solve our current impasse. Please. Go ahead."
"I-If you insist," the maid agrees. "Thank you so much." Felicia bows her head, her cheeks surging bright red. She then slides her arms through the holes and puts the coat on. Pleased beyond compare, she gives a twirl. "Wow... It feels so comfy, perfect for long days on the road. I-I'll treasure it, always."
"My pleasure." You finish buttoning your shirt and slide on your overcoat. Felicia draws you near with a light tug thereafter, and treats you to a peck on the cheek as well. The two of you separate after a short while, Felicia a blushing violet. Ready to leave, the maid walks over to the opening of your tent.
You want to say something to her, anything to convey your thanks for all she's done for you.
In the end, you settle for something light-hearted. "You will make it back without falling too much, won't you?
"Meanie," the maid pouts, pulling the hood of her newly gifted coat over her head. "But yes, I'll be fine. And before I go..."
Felicia has something to say, clearly. "What ails you, milady?"
"I really treasure you, Keiji... Really, I do. Spending more time side by side like this will be lovely; I just know it."
"Indeed it will." You nod. As complicated as doing so will make matters, you feel your heart warming evermore toward the maid.
"Then it's settled! I'll come and see you when I next have free time. Oh, and before I forget..." Felicia pauses, reaching into the pocket of her dress. "This almost slipped my mind but... here." You're handed a letter; neatly written letters decorate the front. 'To Keiji', it reads. "It's from Lady Corrin. She asked me to give it to you when I next saw you. And here I am. Sooooo..."
"Wait for just a moment." You sigh exhaustedly, shaking your head. Felicia is lovely, yes, but hopeless. "Corrin gave you a letter to deliver... Wouldn't that be reason enough to be seen here with me?"
Felicia's knuckles her head, laughing nervously. "I-I suppose you're right... How silly of me! I-I was so flustered that I forgot. Sorry! I'll get out of your hair now. Take care Keiji, and I'll see you later." The girl bows for you one more time, and then she rushes out of your tent.
"Strange lassie," you chuckle warmly, breaking the letter's seal between your fingers. Opening out the paper, you set your eyes down and get to reading:
'Keiji... I couldn't say this around my brother, but I'm happy beyond words to have you as my retainer. I believe in you. And... Well, I want to keep you nearby when we next go into battle. The idea of anything happening to you worries me. Anyway, I have a request on a nicer note. Would you like join me in Macarath for dinner? I would so love to spend an evening together before we set off on our next march. Come to my treehouse in the Astral Plane at sundown if you're interested. I can't wait to be alone with you, and as foolish as it sounds, being near you makes my heart race. With love - Corrin x x x.'
You take a minute to collect your composure. "Dinner... with the princess?" You wouldn't have it any other way, moreso with the looming threat of further battles hanging over everyone's heads. "Not to mention I'll finally get to see the Astral Plane." Only trusted retainers and the army's finest soldiers go there.
You nod spiritedly, not wanting to miss the chance. "I'll do it."
And with that, you depart your tent for the day.
You will soon have to decide to whom your heart belongs, however. With Felicia or Corrin.
The trip across camp brings you past plenty of people whom you see day in and day out. From shrine maidens, to your friends and comrades in the standing army. Things appear far busier than usual this morning too. Rank and file troops are drilling for combat. Blacksmith's hammers clank loudly, and a sea of ambient noise colors camp. A familiar maiden catches your eye too - one of a few who you talk to beyond training. A young healer by the name of Yuko.
"And how might you be today, my lady?" you ask, tapping her robed shoulder.
The girl looks up to you, putting a note away in her pocket. "Ah, Keiji. It's good to see you again," she answers politely, bowing her head. "I'm well, thank you." The shrine maiden takes a twine band out of her robe's pocket and ties her shiny black hair into a ponytail. "And how about you on this fine day?"
"Fairly well, all things considered. Although, it seems a great deal busier than yesterday. Everybody looks to be in quite the hurry."
"Haven't you heard? Rumour has it that the Nohrians are sending an army to slow our advance. Our scouts say Lady Camilla herself leads them."
"Not good," you exhale stiffly, recalling the noble woman's face. You caught a brief glance of her on the day Corrin left her Nohrian siblings and took her rightful place here in Hoshido. A woman of striking allure, but likewise dark and sadistic in her mannerisms.
"Not at all... Anyway, I must be on my way. Do take care, Keiji."
"You too, Yuko." You bow your head politely. "Do stay well until next we meet."
The shrine maiden gets on her way. As do you.
Camilla. Garon's daughter. The thought of meeting her in battle sets your blood ablaze with anticipation. "Maybe I shall take a swing at her for myself," you hope at a whisper, smirking. How good it would feel to fell one of Nohr's most powerful; fitting payback for all the innocents who've died.
"Steel yourself, Keiji," you tell yourself, shaking your head. First of all, you'll accept Corrin's offer. Then you'll double down on your training. Hopefully the day will pass quickly, because come nightfall you'll have a dinner to prepare for. "Pleasure before duty, if only this once," you reason with a smile.
To be continued...
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