AN: Welp, I wasn't exactly planning on writing this because I was gonna draw a Valentines Veronica, but I came down with a rather nasty cold, so I could barely lift a pen, much less find the energy to deal with anatomy and proportion and whatnot, but I was getting slightly bored so I decided to write a (very) short chapter for Valentines' Day for you guys and also myself, so I could have some cute fluff to help me go to sleep easier (and heal my single heart lol). One point to note—this takes place in the February of Kiran's first year in Zenith. Now with that said, enjoy!

December 02, 2021: Moved and renamed chapter from Paralogue 1.5 to Paralogue 2.

"What's With This Sassy…Lonely Princess?"

Paralogue 2: From the Bottom of my Heart

(One Month After Kiran's Summoning to Askr)

Early one morning in mid February, the Imperial Princess of Embla found herself eating breakfast, alone as usual.

'At least sun is finally beginning to shine again.'

As Veronica ate, her steward read aloud her correspondence, rifling through the stack of mail for the day.

"Some new marriage proposals, Your Highness," he said drily.

The princess stilled as a heavy weight settled upon her. She pushed her plate away as her stomach began to churn. This was the fifth time this year already. She would be coming upon her age of majority in several months and the pressure for her to get married was beginning to mount. Messages and solicitations from several would-be suitors had started streaming in at the beginning of the year, like ravenous wolves, circling around her, eager for fresh meat. So far, she had turned them all down. Almost all of them were after nothing more than the wealth of Imperial coffers, the lands they could gain, and the title of Prince-Consort, which would eventually lead to them becoming Emperor of all Embla. Almost all of them.

"This time from the High Earl of Province Geatland."

"Lord Asgar?" she asked, lip curling distastefully as though she had just swallowed something bitter. "He's nearly seventy years old," she spat. "Disgusting."

"Sixty-three, my Lady, but right you are."

"Next."

"This one is from Lord Ulfram of the County of Ulfjord—"

"That ridiculous ponce? He has more hair gel than brains in his head. Next."

"Very well, my Lady—"

The two were interrupted by a large bouquet of vibrant red roses woven into a wreath resembling a heart being carted into the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace by the castle serfs. Her steward picked up a card that was attached to the flower arrangement and quirked an eyebrow. "Sender unknown," he said, looking at her for permission to read the letter aloud. She sighed before waving her hand to let him begin.

He cleared his throat before opening the letter and continuing.

"Ahem. Addressed: to her Imperial Majesty, the August and most Noble Heiress of the Empire of Embla, Princess Veronica. "My Dearest Princess Veronica, I write to bid you a good day and hope you are keeping in good health. I have prayed for your weal and well-being every day since we met. I hope that you have found friends with whom you may share your heart.

Speaking of the heart, though this may be somewhat presumptuous of me, I have hoped that I might share mine with you. In the world I come from, on the fourteenth day of this month, people take part in a festival celebrating the feelings of the heart. It is customary for people to send gifts of sweets and flowers to those for whom they care as a sign of their affections. As such, I wanted to share with you somethings that I enjoy as a sign of my fee—"

"Th-th-that's enough!" Veronica interrupted, standing up suddenly. She held out one hand, cheeks faintly blushing . "Give that to me!" Her steward bowed before handing her the letter which she ripped from his hands before reading it silently to herself.

As such, I wanted to share with you somethings that I enjoy as a sign of my feelings, and I hope that you like them as well. I picked these roses and wove them together for you myself and I bought you these chocolates from town with my stipend from the Order. They are dark and white chocolate truffles with cherry filling, and I really love them. I hope you find them to your liking.

Veronica looked back to the cart to find a shiny red paper box wrapped with a white lace ribbon. She motioned for a serf to bring it to her, and unwrapped the ribbon, revealing the shiny chocolates within, neatly arrayed in alternating rows of dark and white. The bittersweet scent of cocoa wafted up through the air, making her mouth water. As she reached for one of them, an alarmed voice broke her from her trance.

"Milady, wait!"

The princess turned her head to the side and quirked an eyebrow. "Leticia…what is it?"

"We don't yet know if those chocolates are safe! They could be poisoned," the maid cautioned, eyes wide.

Veronica mumbled quietly. "I don't…think that is likely here."

"Why, Milady?"

Veronica's cheeks turned pink. "B-because of who sent them."

It was Leticia's turn to be taken aback, uncertain as to who it was that had been able to gain her mistress' trust so. "Who sent them, Milady?" she asked curiously.

"Th-that's not important!" Veronica waved her hand, wreathed in white magic, over the box. "I-it looks fine."

"Still, Milady…" the maid asked worriedly, wringing her hands. "Please ask a healer to check as well."

"Do you not trust my capacity?" the princess asked quietly. Everyone in the room froze at her tome.

Suddenly, Leticia dropped to one knee, a look of anguish on her face. "Please Milady! I say this only for your sake. I don't want to lose you."

The princess was taken aback. It was not often that anyone ever spoke such words to her. "Oh…very well, then." She called for a cleric, who nervously approached her princess. Tremblingly, the woman waved her staff over the box of sweets. Her magic also stayed white, ascertaining that there was no poison in them.

"There, you see? Satisfied?"

"Y-yes, Milady! Of course! I apologize for my audacity!"

Taking the chocolates from the cleric, Veronica turned to leave the hall. As she walked past the kneeling maid, Veronica reached out with one hand and softly patted her head. "I appreciate the concern." The serfs all let out a sigh of relief as their princess departed, all but certain that she had been angry.

•

After leaving the Great Hall, Veronica looked around to make sure no one was watching before running towards her rooms, chocolates clutched to her chest. She sped down the hallway and threw open the door of her apartments before rushing to her bed and jumping onto before popping one of the white chocolates into her mouth. She let the smooth, creamy sweetness of the chocolate envelop her mouth before the tart and sweet cherry filling burst forth from the center and refreshed her tastebuds. Slowly, she once again unfolded the letter and began to read.

Ever since I came to this world, I have had many new experiences, many of them wonderful beyond my ability to express them in words. My only regret, if I might be so ungrateful as to call it that, is simply that I have been unable to share them with you in person. Though we ought to be the worst of foes, I simply cannot bring myself to hate you.

Veronica felt her heart skip a beat as a bittersweet feeling overtook her. She ate a piece of the dark chocolate, flushing as it's deep, sophisticated taste covered up the brightness of the previous treat.

Since the first time I saw you, I felt something stir deep within my heart at the sight, and since then, the more I see you, the more I think about you, and the more I learn about you, the stronger these feelings grow. And, well, even if I can't be there with you on this day of days, I hope that these feelings of mine will reach you still.

From the Bottom of my Heart,

-Kiran

After finishing the letter, the princess folded it back up and fell backwards onto her bed, clutching the paper to her heart. And, as she fell back into a light sleep, Veronica dared to dream that perhaps, somewhere out there, there was someone to whom she might truly matter.

AN: As I always, I really appreciate reviews. That's probably the single biggest motivation for me right now, so if you're feeling up to it, please leave one for this chapter. It would really make my day! Thank you to NintendoDisney, Velosaurus, SolarS, Szejdol, Seiun Kure, Occasionally Competent, & Mario Gutierrez for your kind words last time. I really appreciate them. And to the Guest who left a review complementing me on my portrayal of her character, if you're reading this, I want to thank you very much. I strove very hard to make sure I was making her feel like someone with actual depth and personality, and your words really made my day. That was a very high complement and I sincerely appreciate it. Thank you!