Inigo and Morgan's date was, against all odds, positively delightful. Neither one of them expected the other to be bad company, but they certainly figured in the very real possibility that they'd mess something up or put their foot in their mouth… but no such event took place. Instead they had fun, which was something they both sorely needed, even if they didn't realize it.
It extended beyond just the dinner, which was surprisingly good, and extended to a walk on the beach. It was too gorgeous an evening to pass up, the sunset coupled with the scenery was just far too tempting for the both of them, so their ever-evolving conversation moved to the dunes.
Eventually, Morgan grew tired, and decided to sit right where the tide was rising up to, removing her shoes to wash the accumulated sand off her feet. Inigo did the same as the two sat and enjoyed the remainder of their evening.
They sat close to each other, Morgan's legs pulled up to her torso allowing her to rest her chin on her knees, whereas Inigo sat parallel to her with his legs outstretched a bit further, propping himself up with his arms as he lay back. Both snuck glances at each other in the breaks of their conversation, but their gazes remained mostly fixed on the gorgeous sky that looked like it was out of some watercolor painting.
"Can I ask you a question, Inigo?" Morgan asked, a hint of real emotion slipping into her voice.
"Of course," he answered, secretly dreading where this was headed.
"You're cute," she led off with, taking him by surprise, "You're charismatic, you're nice, you could ask out any girl you want. You've got all these options… why me?"
Inigo felt like he was about to choke on his own breath. Genuine compliments and such a charged question was a two-pronged weapon he was not prepared to defend himself against.
"You know you're far too full of self-doubt for your own good," he said with a grin, "The question you should be asking is why wouldn't I want to ask you out?"
Morgan blushed a shade of red that put her hair to shame.
"I dunno," she said plainly, "We didn't know each other before we came here… or, if we did, you're not the Inigo that I knew. So, what does that mean?"
"You assume I need to have a long history of wartime companionship to like someone?" he asked with a chuckle.
She smiled.
"No… aw come on, you know what I mean! Yeah sure we've hung out and talked before but… what is it exactly that makes you think I'm worth your time?" she asked, her inquiry becoming more serious as it continued.
Inigo's smile faded, but it was still present. Whatever was left of his act, he was dropping it.
"I'd like to think the last hour and a half or so has proved some of my point for me," he said somewhat nervously, "However I think the rest of that point is proven by your question. The fact that you asked me this to begin with. That's why,"
Morgan squinted.
"I don't… follow?" she said somewhat incredulously.
Inigo placed his hand onto one of hers.
"Morgan you're brilliant. You're bright, you're funny, you're beautiful, you're fun to be around… and yet you still have the unthinkable levels of humility to somehow think you aren't worth my time? It's like your mother's perfection and your father's obliviousness have both manifested in you somehow. It's not me who should be justifying their attraction, it's you," he said enthusiastically.
"M-me?" she asked, still unable to process what he just told her fully, "Well I m-mean… come on. You're you,"
Both remained silent as they looked into each other's eyes nervously until they both erupted into a light laughter once Inigo couldn't hold his expectant stare any longer.
"Wasn't under the impression I was such a catch," he said, ending his chuckle.
Morgan playfully hit his shoulder.
"Oh come on, you do too," she said, "Just because you've cleaned up your act doesn't mean you've lost all that insufferable confidence. You gotta know at least a little bit about how nice you are… how cute you are… how funny you-"
She trailed off and immediately stopped herself as soon as she realized she was beginning to embarrass herself.
He leaned in.
"Perhaps you're projecting a bit," he whispered to the strawberry-haired girl, "Even I have my limits when it comes to narcissism,"
Somehow his voice was louder than the waves even though it was about as gentle as the breeze. Maybe to Morgan it just sounded that way. Her heart was beating faster than it had since the war, she felt almost nauseous, but there was something magnetic about his eyes that pulled her in towards him.
"Maybe… I am…" she said, dazed.
Both of them closed their eyes for the kiss.
Unlike Inigo, Morgan had never kissed anyone before. She knew what to do, in theory, but for her first venture decided to remain on the passive side. Inigo thankfully took enough charge to guide her without being forceful or uncomfortable. It was such a distinct and unique sensation, this soft, faintly electric sensation that felt warm and comforting.
They backed away from each other, blankly staring at each other as they both realized they had no idea what to do or say at the present moment. Inigo elected to smile, his cluelessness looking especially dopey on him.
Morgan, to his chagrin, looked confused.
"Morgan?" he asked, horrified he had done something wrong.
"Holy shit that's a big-ass boat," Morgan said quietly, eyes staring past Inigo.
It took Inigo a moment to process that, and he hesitantly turned around.
It was indeed, a big-ass boat. It sat prominently in the harbor to the east, only catching their eye because of its massive size, seeing as it was nearly a mile away.
"Is that a war vessel?" he asked.
Morgan nodded. Inigo took a moment to recall that the Valletheans that he'd been hearing so much about were supposed to arrive soon, could that've really been them? Why on earth would anyone need to travel in something that large if not for… nefarious purposes.
"I know that's not a tradeship if that's what you're asking. Naga's name… what the hell is that doing in the harbor?" she asked.
It was not exactly how either of them imagined their date to end, and it was far from the results either of them wanted from their first kiss.
"There's always a damn boat," Inigo muttered, "I suppose we should go make sure we aren't being invaded now,"
Morgan and Inigo both looked downtrodden, but gave one another an uneasy smile.
"Maybe we can try this again on another night? When a warship isn't knocking at our door?" Morgan proposed uneasily.
Inigo smiled.
"I'd like that, yeah," he answered, "Now… let's get over to the stable. Ylisse might be in need of it's finest tactical mind, after all,"
He winked at her, and she felt a bit weak in the knees, briefly forgetting how frightening it was seeing a battle vessel docked in that harbor.
"They know we can see them talking, right?" Atalliana smugly mused, "Doesn't take a genius to figure out what their little chat is about,"
It was remarkably unsubtle, not that the three Vallethean children could blame them. Under the circumstances, they would do the same…only if, of course, their father didn't have whoever parked the warship in that hypothetical reality executed instantly. Still, Chrom and Robin chatted away, just quiet enough not to be heard, but certainly enough to be seen.
For once it was Tyrius who gave her a playful jab to the side.
"Sister if you're going to be obnoxious please keep it out of earshot. They're being generous," he said, not taking his eyes off the back of the Exalt and Grandmaster respectively.
She was shocked, namely because Tyrius never did anything like that, and in all honesty likely knew better than to talk to her like that. However, her shock did not show, she still had to reign it all in, whether she liked it or not. Asyllus meanwhile was just happy for the solidarity. She'd never expect Tyrius to turn on her, not a million years, so his display was him taking advantage of that so her eyes could be briefly cast away from Asyllus. The two brothers couldn't afford to not be on each other's wavelength anymore. They were a team, and the more heat that was off Asyllus, the better. Tyrius was smarter than he let on, but he was also wiser, and he knew his brother needed to be able to confidently grasp how to best deal with their sister. That, however, would prove difficult if she so much as suspected Asyllus was conspiring against her. Tyrius was at an advantage, as it was totally in character for him to be charitable.
"Of course, brother dearest," she muttered.
Tyrius suppressed a smirk.
Chrom and Robin were too busy exchanging panicked 'what if' scenarios and simply hadn't noticed that their guests became quite aware of that… like it mattered anyway.
"This is definitely suspect," Robin said harshly, "Nothing about this feels right. I look at them and I see people who tread water in half truths and bathe in lies,"
"Not your best analogy," Chrom said plainly.
Robin cocked an eyebrow.
"Okay, what's going on with you?" Robin asked, "I get that you have serious grace under pressure but I feel like I'm the only one here whose properly worried,"
Chrom let out a mournful sigh.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "I'll elaborate later. For the time being, we play our parts. We get a feel for them, we convene after once they're in bed,"
Robin almost hated Chrom for his ability to take things in stride. He was like a beacon of white hot manic worry, whereas Chrom, who likely bore the same worries he had and then some, was able to brush it off so easily. The image of the exalt was a difficult performance, and no one knew better than Chrom that said performance can be the end of you, and yet he persisted. This was why Robin respected him so much. He, for better or for worse, was a silent martyr.
But this was bigger than them. At least, it could've been. He wasn't fully on board the suspicion train just yet, but he also desperately wanted to believe this was exactly what they claimed it to be. He didn't want conflict. He didn't want war. For Naga's sake, they weren't even finished fixing the country from the last one. Chrom knew that… and he knew the gravity of what was at stake. He was just able to wear his mask despite all that, that stubborn bastard.
Robin's paranoia faded when he reminded himself of one simple fact: Chrom was a good leader. A smart one, too. But above all, an empathic one. He saw people as so much more than the sum of their parts, he heard out everyone, and these suspicious figures would be no exception.
"Okay, just… you know…" Robin exhaustively trailed off.
Chrom placed his hand on the tactician's shoulder.
"I do. Say no more," he assured him.
The meal for the royal trio was prepared quickly, but not with such haste that it would lessen the quality of the food. Chrom had to rouse a few of the chefs and some servants he was going to have to pay some serious overtime to, trying to keep things looking as efficient as possible. Thankfully, Robin was able to send for Cordelia once they all arrived at the castle, so they could maintain some strength in numbers and keep up appearances.
"Robin what on earth is happening?" she asked in a hushed whisper once she arrived.
"Just try and keep calm. This might just be a business deal," he said, unable to sound fully sure of himself.
"Might?" she asked.
Robin sighed.
"I'll tell you everything we know once this is over, it could just be a misunderstanding. Right now, we're just having a meeting, introducing ourselves, and making nice," he said.
"Why did you need me?" she asked, confused.
He leaned in to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"Because I didn't want you to worry, and I know I'm at my best when you're around," he said with an uneasy smile, "You don't have to stay, I just didn't want you to panic, especially if this turns out to be nothing,"
Cordelia shook her head and sighed.
"So help me if Chrom called an emergency for little more than a business meeting I'll-"
"Be your wonderful and upstanding self?" Robin finished.
Cordelia exhaled and put on a smile.
"Yes, naturally," she said, "Are they nice?"
Robin shrugged.
"They haven't kicked me or called me names yet, so they seem okay," he said, trying to bring the slightest bit of levity.
She playfully shoved his shoulder as they made their way to the dining hall.
Among them were Tharja and Maribelle, who urgently headed over once they arrived at a good stopping point, Frederick and Say'ri, and Lucina and Noire. They had sent messengers to notify the Khans and request their presence for the following week, and were generally trying to get everyone where they needed to be. A dull, throbbing buzz seemed to permeate their heads as the chaos of the situation unfolded, which made this late evening dinner feel a lot heavier than it ought to. After Chrom sent word to allow the Valletheans' guards and ship crew to stay at the barracks and be tended to, Robin and Cordelia joined them at the table. Thankfully, neither of them had to worry about starting conversation, as the taller brother, Asyllus, seemed to be spiritedly speaking with Chrom.
"I do want to emphasize how sorry we are for not informing you about this sooner. In Vallethea we're a bit more accustomed to communicating long distances with magic, so we forget that it's so easy to have something lost in translation. Sending carrier pigeons from out at sea is quite the hassle," Asyllus elaborated.
"Communicating with magic?" Tharja inquired.
"Yes," Asyllus said, "We have staves and tomes and the like, but our magic runs a bit deeper. A select few of us are born with the predisposition to use small amounts of it at will. Our main form of communication is using what we refer to as a 'looking glass' spell,"
Tharja's eyes widened.
"At will? You're saying you can manipulate the latent energy in your body without studying?" she asked.
Asyllus nodded.
"It certainly takes practice and mastery, but yes, actually. It's mainly to do with the land we live on. There's old magic woven into everything there. A tome's worth of history involving Gods, Demons, monsters, curses, all sorts of things. As a result, a few of us are endowed with… gifts,"
Asyllus outstretched his hand so everyone could see, and a faint purple glow outlined it, specks of light emanating from it as a faint hum rang from his direction. In a matter of seconds, a small purple flame appeared over his palm, like a candle without a wick. He quickly closed his fist, returning his hand to his side. The Ylisseans looked at him, stunned.
"Remarkable," Tharja said, curiosity flashing in her eyes, "Seeing as our countries were founded during similar times, the mere act of being born there is what gives you these abilities?"
"Yes," the suspiciously quiet Atalliana finally spoke, "Especially common in royal and noble blood. The three of us for example are quite well versed in spellcraft and combat. We're quite capable,"
There was an odd aura to her words. Confidence, most assuredly, but something else too.
"Though we know you're quite capable as well!" Tyrius followed-up, "The Valmese conflict was certainly a trying one from what we hear. There was a dragon involved, I believe?"
It felt like the gravity in the room had been turned up a notch. Trying to deal with the fallout of the Fell Dragon was difficult enough, trying to explain it all to outsiders was something else entirely.
"Well, let's just say Vallethea is far from the only country with old magic lurking about," Robin said, doing his best to answer the inquiry and still dismiss it.
From around the corner of the hall, Sully finally joined them, who wore a smile everyone could tell was completely disingenuous. She had to prepare herself and get ready to join everyone else, and do her best not to appear absolutely livid that these three had come under such suspicious pretenses. Thankfully, she'd become a remarkable actress.
"Sorry everyone," she apologized as she sat next to her husband, "If I knew we were having company I would've been ready to join sooner,"
Asyllus waved his hand, interrupting his sister who was about to speak on their behalf.
"Please, no apologies necessary," he said kindly, "I'm sure I speak for more than just myself when I say this was hardly a great first introduction. We're thankful you've been so accommodating, considering all of this. You're under no obligation on our behalf,"
Robin was doing what he always did in a situation like this: studying. Assessing the potential threat. The youngest brother, Tyrius, looked nervous, but he also looked wide-eyed and oddly inconspicuous, especially when paired up against his siblings. He reminded him a lot of Stahl, in that he was far too transparent to be suspicious in any way, which irked him for some reason. Atalliana, the sister, she was interesting. She had a pleasant smile and a pretty face, but there was something else there. She was clearly the one with all the power, even though she had been quieter than the others. Her eyes would scan the rooms they were inside, drifting from person to person, assessing them just as Robin was doing. She was confident, spoke with a real authority when she chose to, but something about her was deeply unsettling. Behind that face was something dark. A caged animal with ferocity. A hunger. Ambition, even.
Asyllus was the most perplexing of the three, because he was the hardest to read. He, like his sister, was hiding something, but Robin couldn't discern what. He was easily the best conversationalist, he was direct, casual, but still intelligent and generally speaking quite friendly. This made him inherently more distrustful, but his enthusiasm felt almost… pained. Like he was trying desperately to fight something, a man keeping a storm at bay, so to speak. There were no real red flags here, everyone had their baggage, after all, but Robin knew this was more than just a trade deal. That much was certain.
"That's very much appreciated. I hope you don't judge us too hardly, we're already in the midst of a bit of chaos trying to get back on our feet," Chrom said, "If we'd been given notice, we could've skipped the intimidation and gone straight to pleasantries,"
Chrom was different too, Robin thought. He had changed his demeanor very quickly once they had encountered them in person. His worry wasn't gone, but it was far more apparent he was putting up a facade. But why? What had changed? Did he know something that Robin didn't?
"Ah, I almost forgot, since we're all here we should probably have formal introductions," Chrom said, clearing his throat afterward.
He pointed over to Robin and Cordelia.
"You've already met Grandmaster Robin, presently joined by his wife Cordelia, captain of our pegasus knights," he said.
Cordelia gave a nod and a polite smile.
"Our two managers of foreign affairs, Lady Maribelle and Lady Tharja, who also serves as our ambassador to Plegia," he continued.
Tharja and Maribelle raised their glasses to them slightly, both of them looking visibly uncomfortable.
"My personal attendant Sir Frederick and his wife Say'Ri, current ambassador to Chon'Sin," Chrom went on, "And of course my wife, Sully, and our daughter Princess Lucina, and her partner Noire. Our daughter Princess Kjelle would be here but we believe she's out with friends tonight and haven't gotten ahold of her yet,"
Asyllus laughed.
"Don't rally her in on our account," he insisted, "We're delighted to make your acquaintance but the last thing we want to be is an imposition. Enjoy the days you have where you don't have to get caught up in bureaucracy,"
Lucina and Noire smiled.
"Understandable, though I think it's best I be here. We're family, and while my father is the Exalt, I'm sure he'll agree the Shepherds are invaluable when it comes to affairs of all kinds," Lucina said.
"Shepherds?" Tyrius asked.
"Yes," Robin finally spoke, "A bit of a relic name-wise, back from when the Exalt was the Prince of the Haildom. He had a squadron of his fellow knights and associates who served as a sort of elite vanguard for Ylisse, for which everyone at this table has served. There's far more of us, but I think this was the best we could round up on short notice,"
"Quite fascinating," Tyrius said, "So you all must be the heroes so often spoken about regarding the Plegian and Valmese conflicts. Your exploits, even overseas, are legendary,"
He spoke with such an authentic reverence.
"I don't know about heroes, but we did what we could to help and we'll always be at Chrom's side," Cordelia insisted, "We have all lost a great deal, and fighting to keep what we have left was what had to be done,"
She gave Robin a slight glance, grabbing his hand and squeezing it beneath the table.
"That's inspiring," Asyllus said, "You all truly do have a unity about you. I admire it. I hope perhaps our visit can aid you so that this attitude you all have can be followed as an example. Your leadership is nothing to scoff at, as was your sister's. Believe me, I harbor infinite respect for you and her both, I truly wish everyone in a position of power could follow in your stead,"
Robin didn't have to think hard about that statement. That wasn't a vain attempt at flattery. That was genuine. He meant that. However, there was still a sadness there that he spoke with.
Chrom nodded.
"Nothing would've made Em happier than knowing her spirit would inspire others that way," he said.
After that, the food was hurriedly rushed out to them. The servants were all sweating and scurrying about, placing things along the table in their designated areas. Fruits, roasted chickens, soup, all kinds of things that almost made it look like they had prepared for all of this. All three Valletheans looked pleased to see something truly appetizing in front of them.
Somehow, even the Ylisseans managed to find an appetite. Some of them had been working and running around so much that they had forgotten to eat, and those who hadn't were attacking the wine to calm their nerves.
"So… Lucina," Atalliana spoke, breaking the brief silence as they dined, "You're the Princess of this Haildom?"
Lucina looked caught slightly off-guard but still continued rather steadily.
"I am," she said, "But titles are just that. Titles. I go where I'm needed,"
They didn't know the half of it.
"Well let me extend my respect to you," she said, "I know a warrior-princess when I see one,"
Robin definitely saw something in the woman that reminded him of the bluenette princess. A spark of some kind of undying determination in her eyes.
"All the shepherds are every bit the soldier I am," she said humbly, "Hell even moreso, in some cases. My sister beats me fairly frequently when we spar. We're all just doing what we have to do to keep the peace,"
"I'm sure," Atalliana said, "Doing what's necessary is no small feat. A woman who isn't afraid to leave a few bodies behind her for a good cause is one worthy of respect,"
There was a coldness with which the princess said the statement that didn't sit easy with anyone.
"Damn straight," Sully said, matching Atalliana's quiet intensity, "That's an attitude that gets things done. I'd bet you'd make a good sparring partner,"
Robin could tell Sully was leaning into that aspect of her personality just to earn a reaction, trying to do a little probing of her own. No doubt she knew of their family's reputation due to Chrom.
Atalliana looked Sully's way.
"No betting necessary. Ask Asyllus. He's never beaten me," she said with a satisfied smirk.
"Ever the model of humility, sister," Asyllus said before he sipped some of his drink.
"Speaking of humility," Atalliana said, "Lady Sully-"
"Just Sully. Not into titles," she interrupted.
Atalliana smiled and gave an appreciative nod.
"Sully," she said, "You're quite humble yourself, I'd be willing to wager. If I managed to have a daughter Lucina's age and look as good as you do then I'd be eager to point it out constantly,"
A silence briefly grabbed the room. They had certainly messed up by being so casual with their introductions, as they had no way to explain the circumstances of their children's presence, and had already let the cat out of the bag so to speak. Atalliana had to know something was up, her comment couldn't have been genuine, she wasn't a fool. She knew everyone there was the same age. They had never discussed how they'd handle this just because they'd said it was for the best to keep it a vague secret from the world, just because the truth was far too complicated and far too difficult to swallow.
Atalliana's two brothers looked at everyone, and it had apparently gone over their heads as well when it came to the age disparity. Now that it had been pointed out, both of them looked curious.
"We aren't from here," Lucina said plainly.
Everyone looked straight at her, no one protesting but everyone eager to see if she would manage to come up with a convincing enough lie.
"Sorry?" Atalliana asked, genuinely curious more than probing from the sound of it, "I thought you said-"
"By chance, are you familiar with the stories of an old God, the Fell Dragon Grima?" she asked.
No one quite expected her to just go straight to the truth.
"Lucina I-"
"Chrom," Robin interrupted, looking his friend in the eye, "Let her tell them,"
Everyone's eyes went straight to Robin, some of the stares holding vaguely hostile intent. There was nothing inherently wrong with divulging these details, it was just never something they'd done before.
But Robin wasn't encouraging this without a reason. Thankfully, Chrom saw that in his eyes. He nodded, and looked back at Lucina, who was taken aback at how the wine had seemingly loosened her tongue so much. She became hesitant. Noire held her hand under the table to encourage her.
"Continue, Lucina, it's alright," Chrom assured her.
The three royal children looked utterly confused. If only they knew.
"Myself, Noire, and the other children many of the Shepherds are from another world. A world where the Fell Dragon triumphed and conquered this country, one where we saw our parents and many loved ones die. Through some… old magic of our own, we escaped to this world, one that had not yet been ravaged by Grima. We came to aid our parents and save this world," she explained trying to sound as coherent as possible.
Another silence ensued. All three of them looked stunned. Chrom briefly averted his gaze back to Robin, who gave him an assuring nod.
"Gods be damned… are you… you're not joking, are you?" Tyrius asked, mystified.
Atalliana nearly giggled, whereas Asyllus couldn't decide between a gasp and nervous laughter. The shepherds just stared on, nervously.
"Every word is true," Lucina assured them, "We've fought long and hard to get where we are today. Peace did not come at a small cost to us,"
Atalliana's face softened a bit for the first time, and Robin picked up on the woman's first genuine display of emotion. Something about this got to her. Asyllus, however, remained stunned, whereas Tyrius remained somewhere in the middle.
"I must admit… I did not expect to be so enamored with you all so immediately," Asyllus said, "I feel like I have hundreds of questions but I would be overstepping my bounds and trying your patience if I asked any of them. Surely you must be enjoying your long-fought-for victory then, right?"
Lucina briefly eyed Noire, and looked back at the Prince.
"Yes, very much so," she said, "I'm proud to have helped end everything my father and aunt worked so hard to see put to rest. But we owe a great deal to everyone in this country who has helped us,"
She raised a glass.
"To an ever-expanding alliance," she said.
Everyone, the Valletheans included, raised their glass in accordance with her, and they all repeated her words.
Robin eyed the three children, taking specific note that the Princess seemed to look quite lost in her own thoughts as she mumbled Lucina's toast.
All things considered, the meal had gone well. Better than 'well'- they seemed to be handling this all rather stupendously, and the Valletheans seemed to be amicable enough. They had let slip a hell of a revelation, but it wasn't exposing a weakness of theirs, and even if it was, no one was sure if the weakness would be taken advantage of.
Once everyone had finished and cleared out the rooms, Asyllus, Tyrius, and Atalliana were escorted to the guest portion of the palace and given their rooms, three large separate guest rooms in the same hallway, all of them very grateful and eager to rest somewhere that wasn't rocking back and forth. Everyone was conducting business and discussing relevant information, and that was regrettably when Sully had to excuse herself.
She had struggled with her image as the wife of the Exalt from day one, but it was a title she wore proudly and made her own. She never shied away from the dirty work or the work that someone like her would never think to indulge in, mainly that of diplomacy. She hated that she felt like she couldn't do a whole lot, mainly because the work was being evenly distributed, but also because she felt helpless. Something about all of this felt wrong and she didn't know why, and she wasn't the only one who thought that. They would have greatly benefited from a solid trade deal, so many hardworking working-class citizens depended on their rebuilding, and doing it quicker would've meant good things for everyone. She wanted to cast aside her doubt, and just take what they were saying at face value, but she couldn't fully.
She overlooked the courtyard on the balcony outside their bedroom, slightly inebriated but mostly coherent. This was just a business deal, right?
But the people they were doing business with, their father knew Chrom's father. Chrom's parentage being something that took him a while to open up to her about, and when he did, she finally understood why. She had always perceived him as a stern man, but never a cruel one, until she got older. She had just never known the true extent of that cruelty. The abuse that Emmeryn had sheltered Lissa and Chrom from, the political nightmare his cabinet had been, and the subsequent ousting of half of the Ylissean nobles when they voiced a dissenting opinion. If these children served a man who was anything like Chrom's father, there was something terrifying here that would need to be dealt with.
"You okay?" a melodious voice rang out.
Behind her approached Cordelia, of all people, who walked up and stood next to her, also leaning on the edge of the balcony. Before they had never really been close despite knowing each other in their youth, and Cordelia's known earlier infatuation with her husband didn't make her eager at first, but as the wives of two of the most important men in the country, and as great warriors of renown in their own right, they quickly confided in each other quite frequently.
"As okay as I can be," she answered unsurely, "This whole thing is… weird,"
"I'll say," Cordelia agreed, "You trust those three?"
"Not as far as I could throw them," Sully muttered.
"You've got a hell of an arm Sully, that's pretty far," Cordelia joked.
Both women laughed.
"I don't even really have a definitive reason," Sully said, "This whole thing just feels rotten. I don't know what their angle is… or even if they have one. That princess is a spitfire for sure but none of them seem bad, I guess,"
"All the more reason to distrust them," Cordelia sadly mused.
"Doesn't that just suck?" Sully asked, gaze narrowing at the sky as she rambled, "We come so far to get where we're at and we can't even trust people that offer to help us. What kind of world is this?"
"We don't know if all they want is help," Cordelia said, "My guess is that they'll want some kind of tenuous alliance of sorts. Robin said the Valletheans have cooled it on the conflict in recent years, but there's civil unrest and more than a few countries that they've pissed off over the years,"
"Should we do it, if they offered?" Sully asked.
Cordelia shrugged.
"We don't have enough details. I don't know. Probably not. We've got a good military force but Chrom wants to disband the military once the rebuilding is finished. We want to live in a world where that's something we don't need," Cordelia sighed.
"Maybe we were being too idealistic. There's always another threat. But I agree, I don't want to latch onto these guy's baggage, if that's what it comes to. They're powerful, but they don't need us, surely if we turn them down it won't be a big deal, right?"
Cordelia still had no idea. For once, she just wanted something to be what it seemed. Something easy.
"If it's a solid deal, I'm gonna vote we take it. If it's anything more than that, then I say we stay far away," Cordelia said, "I doubt Robin or Chrom will see it differently,"
Sully sighed.
"You never know with those two. You'd think with your egg-head husband and my half-brained one that they'd be able to find a way to make this easier,"
Cordelia snorted.
"We can only hope,"
Chrom and Robin met in the kitchen once everyone was gone, both of them exhausted purely from worry. Robin worried some of the nervous sweat had soaked through his clothing, whereas Chrom's sword hand kept involuntarily twitching.
"Just out of curiosity, where were Lissa and Lon'qu?" Robin asked to start.
"Went with the messengers to Regna Ferox to fetch one of the khans. Figured it was a good idea to keep Lissa at a safe distance in case anything happened to us," he said.
A smart move, probably a little too careful for their own good, but nonetheless smart.
"Well, we're in one piece. If this was an assassination attempt then they did a pretty piss-poor job," Robin said, "Though I can't say I'm totally sold on this whole thing,"
Chrom shook his head.
"Nor am I," he said quietly.
Robin took a few steps towards Chrom, who was currently leaning over the table in the center of the room, propping himself up with his arms.
"You sure managed to take all of that well for being so skeptical," Robin said, "Is there something on your mind?"
Robin had only seen this look on his friend's face one other time as long as he had known him. It was the night Validar first attempted to assassinate Emmeryn, when Chrom had told him everything about the predicament they had found themselves in, right before Lucina had showed up.
"Robin, you remember what I told you about my father, correct?" he asked.
Robin nodded.
"Yes. He was a man who didn't exactly possess the moral fiber Emmeryn and you did. He drew out the Plegian conflict and stirred unrest throughout his rule,"
Chrom's expression was one of pained emotion, he held it back, but the struggle on his face was evident.
"I perhaps… undersold his cruelty," he said, "He was not a good man. Nor was he a particularly good father. Lissa was too young to remember it, but I… wasn't,"
Robin had to let that sink in. When Chrom told him things of this nature, it was the look on the man's face that gave him the imperative details. He probably couldn't bring himself to say it, but his eyes spoke for him. Robin always figured his father was a sore spot for Chrom, so he never pressed the issue, but now he fully knew why. It was painful to recount an experience like that. It briefly made him grateful for the fact that his amnesia hadn't gotten better, as he was certain he had less than savory memories of his own father. He could feel that, in the back of his head, and wanted it to stay as nothing more than an intangible feeling.
He approached his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. They had both come from backgrounds of cruelty that they felt they couldn't entirely escape.
"It's alright, you don't have to-"
"That part is less important," Chrom briefly interrupted, "What is important is that Vallethea's king, Andromedus, he and my father were close. They shared very similar ideas about ruling and strength, but once they had each gotten ahold of their own empires, they had too much to deal with and were too far away to have convened all that much. The only thing that ceased my father's war-mongering was his untimely death-"
"And you can't quite exactly imagine King Andromedus's attitude changing, which makes you wary, I gather?" he finished.
Chrom nodded, and made his way to the icebox, grabbing a small, chilled elixir and a carton of juice. Robin recognized it, it was a basic sleeping aid, and Chrom had poured it into a cup alongside the juice to make it go down easier. He couldn't blame him, he'd likely have trouble sleeping too.
"Pretty much, yeah," Chrom sighed as he took a drink, "They obviously didn't make it clear, but I can't imagine his children aren't cut from the same cloth. I had Emmeryn around to teach me right from wrong, and I don't like to make assumptions, but if they're anything like their father? This worries me greatly. I don't wish to involve this place with someone who will allow us to regress and erase all the progress Emmeryn died to kickstart,"
He had a great point. The country was back on track, and even without Vallethean aid, they'd get to the finish line eventually. If any of this felt shady, in the slightest, they would have to refuse, which was a complete ordeal in and of itself.
"It's very understandable… your frustration, I mean," Robin said, "I promise, I'll spearhead everything when it comes to this deal. It will have my full and undivided attention, and if anything sticks out to me, you'll know. I will not let us get swindled by a group of would-be tyrants,"
Chrom allowed himself the smallest of smiles.
"Thank you," he said, "I knew I could count on you… and speaking of all that, what's your take on those three?"
Robin mulled over his thoughts from dinner.
"Nothing immediately frightening, even if that magic they can use puts me on edge, but I can't say they fully won me over. Tyrius seems like a nice guy, but he's clearly not holding the cards like his siblings. Atalliana might be the most worrisome, the portrait you painted of your father and their father by extension seems to feel prominent with her. She's holding something back, that's for certain. And Asyllus…"
He paused, Chrom looking at him expectantly.
"Asyllus seems to be friendly enough, but there's something about him that doesn't sit right with me. He spoke the most, but I never got the sense he was in control. He's… covering for something. He makes me nervous,"
Chrom chuckled.
"He reminds me a lot of you, come to think of it," he said.
Robin found it difficult not to take at least some offense to that.
"Beg pardon?" he asked, his voice raising an unintentional octave.
"I mean in the sense that he knows his way around words and diplomacy. I agree with you, there's something he isn't telling us, but there's an authenticity to him that can't help but show. Like you," he said, gesturing towards him.
Robin shrugged.
"I'll just try and take the compliment," he said, "Now go off to bed and rest. You and Sully will need it. I'll make sure everything is alright with Maribelle and Tharja and take care of anything else,"
Chrom exhaled.
"You are far too kind to me," he said, "If it's not too much trouble I'd appreciate that. But please don't wear yourself out, I'm going to need you for this next week and I can't have you not taking care of yourself properly,"
Even though it was a stressful situation, Robin felt a wistful nostalgia regarding it all. Being depended on by those around him was his favorite feeling. He wanted to be a pillar of support for everyone, his family and friends especially.
"I will," he assured him, patting him on the back, "Now get to bed, lest Sully find you in here, you'll get yourself dragged back to your bedroom,"
"Goodnight friend," he said, "I'm infinitely grateful for your support,"
Robin was exhausted coming home. He'd grabbed his horse and come back in the dead of night, Cordelia had left a few hours prior to check on Severa and see if Morgan had arrived home safe, so when he came back from the stable, he didn't expect to see his wife sitting on the wooden swing they had out on their porch.
She looked relieved to see him, but her superimposed look of worry wasn't going to vacate her any time soon. If nothing else, her mind didn't have to worry about the infinite possibilities that it had conjured up earlier with his sudden departure… now it was just a few things that plagued her mind. Perspective was important.
He joined her on the swing, wordlessly greeting her, draping his arm over her shoulder and allowing her head to rest on his. She gave a sharp exhale, and closed her eyes.
"Everything copasetic?" she asked.
"As far as I can tell, yes," he said, "Maribelle and Tharja got a headstart on paperwork, so thankfully the business end of all this won't be too bad. Tomorrow it looks like we'll be showing them around the capital, trying to make nice. You know how it is,"
"Gods I do not miss diplomacy in the slightest," she said, "Do you think everything is going to go okay? The Valletheans are… well I don't know. Sully and I didn't know what to make of them,"
"Chrom and I couldn't make heads or tails of them either, to be frank. Seems to be universal. I'm contemplating having someone follow them for the duration of their stay. Somebody who can stay hidden, keep an eye on them," he said, the idea being tossed around in his head as he rode home.
"My money would be on Gaius for that," Cordelia suggested, "He knows what he's doing. Offer him something from Chrom's confectionary and he'll probably give you a written transcript of everything he hears them say,"
Robin gave an amused chuckle.
"I'll look into that," he said, fully intending to, "However I've got something else on the mind, how're you? I'm sorry I had to go so suddenly, I know that must've been hard,"
She gave a weak nod.
"I understand, but it did frighten me. And Severa, for that matter. I'm a bit better now… especially since you're here," she answered.
"How're the girls? Morgan get home okay?" Robin asked.
She nodded.
"Actually saw Morgan outside the palace when I left. Apparently they saw the vessel in the harbor and made their way to the dock. They heard about what happened and made their way over, but Chrom had ordered the guards not to let anyone in once the dinner began. They just sat outside on the steps for a few hours waiting to hear something. Inigo is sleeping on our couch, by the way," she said.
"Oh? How come?" he asked.
"They were both worried so I told them both to come home with me so I could make them some tea. We live closer than Olivia and Kellam, I just sent them a message saying he and Morgan were tired and decided to rest here. They passed out almost immediately when we got home," Cordelia said, yawning.
"Severa taking it well?" he asked.
"Better than I expected, though she's very transparently worried about us. I don't blame her. I would be concerned too, even without her history,"
That was to be expected. Severa's more abrasive tendencies stemmed from what else, but her horrible fear of losing that which she cared about the most, seeing as it had already been taken from her once.
"I'm worried too, Robin," Cordelia said softly.
He pulled her in a bit tighter, kissing her on the cheek.
"As far as we know, this could be nothing but politics. There will not be another war, I will do everything in my power to make sure of that. Even if the deal doesn't go well, I'm hard-pressed to think of any logical reason they'd have to not keep peace with us," he said.
"Even you can't work miracles, love. Some things are inevitable… and war is never logical," she said mournfully.
Robin felt a bit wounded. He knew her words came from a truthful place, but he wanted to dissuade those feelings. Truly, despite everything that happened, he couldn't imagine this somehow spinning into some grand conflict.
"I'll still do everything I can. We will do everything we can, all of us," he said, trying to reassure her.
"I know you will," she said with a half-smile, "And war does sound like a distant prospect… it's just… you know, I know how Severa feels,"
"How so?" Robin inquired.
"I lost my family once already," she said, sounding hollow, "I watched my sisters die. I don't know if I could bear that again, it's why I fought so hard for you and Chrom. I know I'm far from the only one who's lost something… but I love you. I love the girls. I can't… ugh. I just can't. I don't mean to place pressure on you, but even if the possibility is slim, I refuse to believe we could lose anything more when we've fought this hard to keep it,"
Robin understood. His entire life as he knew it had been Ylisse's complicated history of war and bloodshed. He was a Plegian by blood, but he knew no allegiance to anyone but Chrom, fighting not for Ylisse's victory, but for the elimination of conflict itself. His ties were irrelevant, and considering his parentage and demigod blood in his veins, they were eager to be forgotten. He wanted a world where borders meant nothing, where your place of birth meant nothing, where life itself and the comfort of living it was held above all else. They had successfully begun the path to a potential utopia, the only reason they hadn't fully rebuilt was that Robin came up with the idea of wealth redistribution for the working-class people of the alliance. They were so close to finally achieving that goal, so that no Ylissean family would ever grow hungry again, and that would extend to Plegia, to Ferox, and so on and so on and so forth.
He couldn't let that progress be destroyed, and more importantly, he couldn't let his family, the reason he did all of this to begin with, to suffer any more. The pictures of all the Shepherds, of Cordelia, of Severa, of Morgan, they all flashed in his mind. Images he held onto intimately.
"I understand, Cordy," he said softly, "I promise you though, whatever extreme I'm forced to go to with all of this to avoid bloodshed, I'll do it,"
"Thank you," she whispered, "We should get some sleep now. I don't want you too tired this week,"
"A good idea," he responded, "But if you don't mind, can we sit out here for a few minutes? It's too nice a of a night to waste,"
Cordelia didn't object, and the couple both closed their eyes tightly, holding onto one another as the night breeze lightly danced across their faces. The sounds of the nighttime countryside, forest ambience and the hum of crickets, it covered them like a quilt. A brief bit of refuge amidst the confusion.
Maribelle was absolutely defeated from how busy her day was. Having to drag herself to the palace was more than off-putting, and being in the presence of all that noble posturing was the icing on the cake. Even acts of kindness were just political transactions.
A good meal? That means we're plentiful enough to provide good food. A tour around the palace? A showcase of the remnants from the eras of noble opulence. Kind words? Nothing more than expressions of comfortability, a way of saying that they're well-off enough to speak with such kindness.
It was all such a tiresome bluff that was quite common with deals like this, which thankfully weren't conducted often. She had thought the Khans to be a bit brutish for her liking at first, but now greatly appreciated their straightforward way of doing business. There was never any bullshit, no games.
If she didn't have to work an exorbitant amount tomorrow, she would have cracked open the sherry in her desk cabinet. But arriving home did yield something that eased her troubled mind, and it had nothing to do with substances of any kind.
Nah.
Once she arrived home, Nah was sitting in the living room couch, her nose stuck into a book. She was so absorbed by it she hardly noticed the blonde walk in.
"Nah? Goodness darling what are you doing here so late?" Maribelle asked, voice higher-pitched and courting genuine worry.
Nah sat up straight and revealed a meek smile.
"Dad mentioned what was happening over in town. Said Tharja had come to him for an ingredient for a potion she was brewing, told him everything about it. Figured maybe a familiar face would be nice to see once you got back," she said confidently.
Maribelle's cheeks warmed. This girl truly was something special.
She made her way over to the large couch, sitting next to the white-haired Manakete.
"I do greatly appreciate it," she said, "Though- and I hate to disappoint- if you were thinking of helping me relieve my accumulated stress this evening, I appreciate that too, but I am far too tired. I think I'd be too tired if today was normal, considering last night,"
Nah kept her smile.
"Not to mention this morning in the shower," Nah said mischievously, "But that's okay. I figured as much. I just wanted to stop by and see if you needed anything,"
Maribelle felt like the girl was so sweet she was going to get a cavity. Neither one of them had any real experience in being in committed relationships, so there was some hesitance from both parties in regards to how their situation would work.
"It's very late dear," she said with a sad smile, holding onto Nah's delicate hand and lying down on the couch, perpendicular to the other girl.
She sighed as she placed her head in Nah's lap, looking up at her face as it lovingly gazed back down.
"What exactly did you tell your parents? Or were you naughty enough to sneak out again?" Maribelle hummed.
"Actually I told them you had hired me to assist you with paperwork because of the deal. Said you had a lot of work on your plate and that you told me you needed an intern, so I said I'd be pulling an all-nighter," she answered.
Gods, she was a clever one. A perfect little excuse.
"That's… ugh," Maribelle couldn't find the right words, "I love you so very much,"
She said it with such emotive enthusiasm both girls couldn't help but laugh. Once it subsided, Nah leaned to kiss her girlfriend on the lips, letting the kiss linger.
"I love you too," she said, "And that offer is legitimate, by the way. If I can help you, even if it's menial labor, I'd love to help. I told my parents I'd be staying here for the rest of the week, so I figured I could do some good. I can also read to you, if you like,"
She held up her book, and Maribelle let out a content exhale.
"Nah I may have to take you up on that, half because I will need help, and half because I just want to relish keeping your company," she said, "In addition, while I am tired tonight, that doesn't eliminate the many long days of work I have ahead of me where inevitably, some stress will indeed need to be relieved… and I am very keen on hearing your sweet voice read to me one of these nights,"
She winked at Nah, who giggled.
"Whatever you want, Belle," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
She felt a chill go down her spine with that nickname. It sounded so beautiful coming from her lips.
"What I want, right now, is to have a long, beautiful night's sleep next to the woman I love. How does that sound?" she rhetorically posed.
Nah nodded with enthusiasm, and then leaned back down to kiss her once again, this time with a bit more passion. Maribelle hummed into the kiss, it was exactly the sensation she needed to feel after a hard day's work.
She grinned.
"Well, I suppose you've lured me into a trap. I suddenly find myself awake enough to indulge in some quality time before we sleep, if you're up for it," she offered.
Maribelle sat up and then stood, outstretching her hand towards the girl, ready to take her upstairs.
"After sex sleep is always best with you. How could I turn that down?" she said sweetly.
Just as they had the night before, Maribelle led her back to her bedroom, and the two engaged in lovemaking that was far more gentle than last night, but nonetheless led them to a wonderful night's sleep.
Tharja had to profusely apologize to Gaius since the emergency meeting and following dinner had barred her from getting Cynthia's potion on time. It was ready, but the timing and priority of the situation couldn't make it work. It was late, but not late enough to where Cynthia was in torment waiting for it. Gaius thanked her immensely, and when she refused payment on account of it being a favor and a late delivery, he slipped a few coins into her pocket as she left.
A few hours passed, and Gaius and Sumia were peeking into their daughter's room every so often to make sure she was still asleep and not having nightmares. As they peered at her for the tenth time that evening and found her sound asleep, both of the tired parents were convinced that whatever she had taken did it's job.
Tharja, in explaining her predicament, had told Gaius about the developments of what happened with Vallethea. He then relayed the information to his wife, and that currently occupied both of their minds as they arrived back in their own bed.
"You think this'll end well?" Gaius asked Sumia.
"Why? Do you think it won't?" she asked, worriedly.
"No, no, I'm just asking your opinion. Seems to me like a big misunderstanding that'll yield a buncha politics and what not. Would be nice if the surprise here was that this all turned out to be rather boring," he said.
Sumia shrugged.
"No clue, I'm way too behind on current events and too unengaged with politics to have a worthwhile answer, I just know it makes me nervous… not a fan of that, considering I'm already nervous," she said, glancing in the direction of Cynthia's room.
"Hey," he said, leaning in as he laid down next to her, "We've got all the smartest and bravest people in the haildom on this. We'll be fine. Cynthia will be fine too, we're already making progress and it's been a day. She's a tough girl too, got a lot of her momma in her,"
Sumia smiled.
"You really do know just what to say," she said, "I just want the best for her. She doesn't deserve this, especially not with what she's been through. Those kids… they've seen too much death,"
Gaius nodded.
"Which is why we're here. We'll take her to see someone, maybe I'll talk to her friends about getting her out of the house a bit more when she's up to it. We just gotta play the long game,"
"I just can't help but feel like we failed her. Both in her original timeline and our own," she said, her voice distant-sounding and cold.
"Trying to lay undeserved blame is pointless," Gaius said, not sounding stern but still making his point clear, "Mincing about what could have been doesn't help her. That's all we have to do. Look forward. Move forward,"
"You're right," she said, "I just worry, that's all. To think she's fought all this time, for so long, and even helped save us all… the world truly is cruel,"
Gaius kissed her, stopping her worrying dead in its tracks.
"It is, but that's why people exist. Even out the cruelty. People like you, and people like her, you're the best of the best. Bright, sunny, joyful folks who the rest of us don't deserve. Which is precisely why we'll be so thankful the day Cynthia can move on, whenever that is,"
Gaius spoke so strangely, a poet one sentence and a thief the next, but she couldn't deny it.
"You're the best of the best too, you goofball," Sumia teased, but still meant with every fiber of her being.
Gaius gave a light shrug pulling his wife in as they prepared to drift off.
"I'd fight you on that normally. But I love ya, so I'll bite and take the compliment,"
With that, another pair of worried parents drifted off to sleep, trying to carry their optimism with them into the land of dreams.
Tyrius already couldn't sleep, and when he began to hear muffled noises coming from Atalliana's room, he knew sleep was that much more unattainable. He'd rested well on the journey, but after meeting with the Ylissean nobles, he was nervous beyond any reasonable measure. They'd all been escorted to their rooms at the same time, so he couldn't get a word in with Asyllus without Atalliana noticing. The doors here were loud, and he didn't want to risk her being aware of them conspiring behind her back. To boot, against his better judgment, he found himself liking these people. It was a first impression and nothing more, but they clearly went through so much to arrive at the position they found themselves in. That was what grinded against his nerves, he couldn't let kind souls like this succumb to the treachery of their homeland. Even if they had this trade deal go off without a hitch, it was just to lure them into potentially fighting another cataclysmic war against a nation they had no history with. It wasn't right.
The noises from her room grew louder, but then actively softer, as if they were conscious of how thin the walls were between rooms. Tyrius stood up, walking over to the wall, and pressed his ear against it to discern what exactly it was that was irking him so much. Just as he had expected, once he closed in and focused, he could clearly hear voices. Not just his sister's voice either, but the voice of their father. She was using looking glass magic to contact him and update him, which was of little surprise to him. He could practically see the disembodied floating portrait of their father's stern gaze surrounded by wisps of magic outlining the image out in front of his sister. The act itself was of no surprise to him, but the words being said certainly were.
"-father I think we have to consider the advantage of patience," Atalliana said, her voice sounding as vulnerable as it was capable of sounding, "They may be compromised because of the war but they still seem to have a strong foundation. If we were able to build a relationship with them, I think depending on them would be in our best interest. They seem susceptible to that approach,"
Their father sighed. It immediately conjured up a vivid image of his cold demeanor and sharp golden-eyed stare. His blonde-haired visage and strong jaw made him look like a parody of Vallethean royalty.
"You aren't incorrect, Liana," their father disappointedly mused, "But I expected as much. We are not in the business of waiting it out- my patience has already run quite thin with our domestic affairs. In order to be seen as worthwhile that trade deal will have to favor them heavily, and if I was going to buy their loyalty, I would just do this myself,"
Atalliana huffed.
"I understand, but therein lies the issue. Chrom, his advisors, they're all too… amicable. Pleasant even, pride themselves on being understanding and all that shit. I haven't a single solitary idea of how to instigate conflict or incite dischord. The Exalt doesn't seem dim, but even if he was, he's got a legion of pals who could probably give Asyllus a run for his money in chess,"
"Atalliana, I informed you of my expectations of you for this mission before you left, did I not? I gave you ample time to come up with a plan on the journey there, and you're telling me you have nothing? Are you being lazy, dull-witted, or just deliberately disobeying me?" their father posed, anger underlying every word.
"Yes father. You informed me," she muttered, "I have thought-"
"I do not want 'thought' from you. The time for 'thought' has long since passed. I want action. Or are you incapable of that? Have I overestimated your capabilities? Must I hold your hand like a child to guide you along the way?" he rhetorically posed.
As much as Tyrius had grown to distrust and feel disconnected from his sister, he hated how his father spoke to her. It was the way he used to speak to Asyllus until he found it to be a lost cause. Condescension. Anger. No sense of empathy or understanding.
"No," she said plainly, clearing fighting back some emotion, "You do not,"
She almost sounded like a child. A child being scolded in front of their friends.
"Then tell me, Atalliana. Tell me what you're going to do right now. Either tell me, or go off and make nice with those peace-keeping charlatans and come back to me as a disappointment even your brother couldn't match. Let those hypocrites usurp the land that my brethren acquired through bloodshed and war and pretend like they're better because they didn't have to make the tough choices. Let them take our money and our resources, by all means, so we can tentatively call them our comrades and send them baskets of fruit to make sure they'll come to our aid against Dratalia,"
The embittered words of a man whose warped perception had led to atrocities and war being concepts vital to his worldview. He simply didn't understand anything else.
"I won't let that happen father," she said, determined, "I think I have an idea,"
There was hesitation in her voice. She spoke almost as if she was reluctant, like she'd thought of a plan earlier but didn't want to execute it. Now that she was backed into a corner, whatever hypotheticals she had conjured would have to become a reality in order for her to succeed.
"Alright. So?" he asked expectantly.
She cleared her throat quietly, and lowered her voice to speak. It was still audible to Tyrius, but he had to listen carefully to make out each word.
"We'll lure them into a false sense of security. We'll be friendly with them, we'll let them kiss our asses, and once the deal has gone through, before we leave, I'll… I'll frame them,"
A pause.
"Frame them?" her father asked curious.
"Yes," she said, this time a bit more bold, "I'll frame them for Asyllus's murder,"
Tyrius's hand reflexively covered his mouth to stifle a gasp. His eyes stung. He could hardly believe his sister, as cruel as she was, was actually saying this. Surely she was joking, right? Asyllus had warned him it may come to that, but it was hypothetical. Superlative. He was just accounting for possibility, surely. No way their father would go with that.
"And how will you go about that?" he asked casually.
She swallowed.
"I'll learn about the Ylisseans, gain their trust, and figure out a way to make it convincing. I'll find someone who doesn't like us, or isn't keen on the deal, and I'll kill him with their weapon or in a fashion that would reflect on them. I've been pleasant to both Tyrius and Asyllus, so the possibility of me being responsible will be out of the question," she said, "It'll be two birds with one stone… Asyllus will be out of the picture and he won't be around any longer to cause trouble for us. Even if they apprehend whoever they believe to be responsible, it will not be enough to console my feigned outrage. It will be an act of war, and our few overseas allies we've accrued will surely come to our aid and sweeten the deal,"
Another long, quiet pause ensued.
"And you're prepared to do it? To take Asyllus's life for this?"
"Yes," she said emphatically, "He has been a thorn in our side for too long, we can't let him sow dissent any longer. He is a nuisance and he has to be dealt with in one way or another,"
He chuckled.
"That's my girl," he said, elevating his frigid tone to being slightly warm, "Willing to make an honorable but necessary sacrifice. The actions of a leader. Actions that, if executed properly, will make the aristocracy and myself fond of your resolve,"
"Of course, father," she insisted, "I will not let you down,"
"Get some rest, Liana," he said, "You have a busy week ahead of you and I want you in prime shape. Do not disappoint me,"
The sound of the spell dematerializing and vanishing could be heard, as could the sound of the princess sitting on the bed, wood creaking as weight was applied to it.
Tyrius wanted to scream. He had truly held out until the last possible second with her, figuring even she had a baseline for morality that would guide her in the right direction when the chips were down. He was prepared to fight for this, to talk sense into her even, but this? This was something that transcended expectations. This was his family, the people he loved and who supposedly loved him back. Asyllus was right, he had been too naive. They had only treated him well because he was never a problem in the way Asyllus was. He fell in line. It had nothing to do with love. There was no 'deep down'- his father and sister were just rotten to the core.
His head raced with a menagerie of unpleasant thoughts, thoughts that were interrupted by another muffled sound.
He hesitantly brought his ear back to the wall, and didn't hear what he expected to hear. Not words or a conversation, not the sound of someone stirring in their room, but small, strained cries of what sounded like pain.
Atalliana was crying.
This was providing him with a level of whiplash he didn't anticipate. She wasn't just crying either, it devolved into sobbing, obscured only by the fact that she was likely doing it into a pillow. The sound ached, it moved something inside Tyrius. He had never heard her cry. In many ways, even before this night, he simply considered her the type to not be capable of it. She was always so stalwart.
Gods be damned. Maybe… maybe she wasn't a monster after all. She felt some kind of remorse… for some reason. He wasn't sure why this would eat at her, as she hadn't openly displayed anything besides hostility in her brother's direction. Killing him, from her perspective, would've been in keeping with her character. Was it just a visceral reaction? Maybe she harbored love for him somewhere inside her still. But her loyalty, her ambition, her father's instilled values were stronger.
Perhaps she wept because she was helpless. Helpless to the fact that she knew this was coming. That their father would eventually dispose of Asyllus, and potentially use her to do so. He wasn't easy to get along with by any means, but her front with him may have been a coping mechanism. Maybe she always knew this day would come, and had to toughen herself for it.
Or maybe it was just wishful thinking. Tyrius didn't know anymore.
He'd have to tell his brother tomorrow, but he was worried the lengths Asyllus would go to in order to protect his life. It was likely that no matter how this played out, when they left, they'd leave with one less sibling. He knew Atalliana was in the wrong, that he wouldn't break his promise to his brother to see this through, but he didn't want to.
He sat on the floor, utterly dumbfounded, his siblings on either side of his room emanating a presence that felt like it was going to crush him.
To the end, he had promised. But to what end?
He did not want to be here. He did not want his family to collapse, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt like was emblematic of their homeland. Something that had no chance of salvation for a very long time, and his sobering realization that he couldn't save either was one that rattled him to his core.
As he listened to his sister at her most weak and helpless, it infected him, and he too began to cry.