Robin rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had spent hours upon hours putting together this curriculum. He hoped that it would be enough, but it never felt like it. Though, it would have to be he supposed since he was supposed to present it the following day.

The tactician leaned back in his chair. He was exhausted, but that was part of the point. He had been intentionally working to keep his mind off of, well, his life. The loss of his friends hung heavily on him along with the idea that he was almost with them. Had Lucina not fallen ill and he selfishly stayed behind to be with her, then he would have been buried in the snow with the others.

Robin shuddered at the thought. It was an eerie line of thought, but also one of ones that plagued him of late. The other involved the princess herself. What may have once been potentially possible now seemed like utter fantasy. It was grossly inappropriate now whereas before it may have been possible. As such, he tried to keep his mind off of her as much as possible. A hard task to do when he was supposed to tutor her on being an Exalt.

Robin groaned and hobbled over to his bed deciding he needed to try to get a little sleep at least.

Lucina waited in her…her office for Robin to arrive. He had promised to start her training today, and she was a little concerned. Both about the training and spending time with Robin. She was still concerned about being close, but at the same time she longed for his company. She longed for someone to be close to. On the other hand, she had an image to upkeep. As much as she may have wanted him to just hold her, she had to appear strong, but…did Robin really count? Did she have to keep her image up around him? She had started to feel more open around him, but…things felt different now. He was different.

"Lucina," Robin knocked on the door, "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Lucina flipped her book shut, "Come in."

Robin stepped in with a bundle of papers and a few books under his arms, "Good evening, princess." Lucina did not like his formal tone, but outside of a slightly more furrowed brow, she did not show it. "I have developed a fairly extensive curriculum. I would like to take this time to go over the high points if you don't mind."

"Certainly," Lucina approved and Robin sat across from her spreading out various materials and handed her an itinerary. He went through the somewhat daunting list, but he hesitated when he came to a certain point.

"Ahem, securing the bloodline," Robin looked rather uncomfortable, "Simply put, you will be expected to produce an heir sooner rather than later."

"But…I am not married," Lucina replied in confusion.

"Yes, well, you will also be expected to marry soon. You're already considered fairly old to still be single given your position." There would have been less pressure had there been others to carry on the Exalted line which was how Emmeryn had gotten away with it for so long, but as things stood, Lucina would likely be pressured to marry as soon as possible.

"But…who?" Lucina was liking this less and less.

"Many noble houses both domestic and foreign will likely send suitors from which you will be expected to make a selection."

"I see," In Lucina's world, she was more focused on things like survival and stopping Grima to really ever come face to face with the idea that as a royal, her marriage may not be the fairy tale that her parents' had been. Upon arriving in this world, she likewise did not give romantic notions much thought and believed she would likely never have a family of her own. However, whether it was due to not having to worry so much where her next meal was coming from or a certain charming tactician, she had started to warm to the idea of finding love.

So, no, she did not like this one bit…but it was her duty. Did it really have to mean settling though?

"If you are concerned, I could help you vet them before you meet them. Try to make sure they don't have any nasty skeletons in the closet or the like."

Lucina observed Robin for a moment. He seemed uncomfortable, but she did not know exactly why. This was not exactly a comfortable topic.

"Very well. I would appreciate the help when the time comes. In the meantime, perhaps we should focus on more pressing matters."

Robin cleared his throat, "Yes, of course."

The rest of the briefing went smoothly, and Lucina paid careful attention. It would be a strenuous study regimen, but it was well worth it. She trusted Robin implicitly as well as his studious abilities even if he did not.

However, that bit about producing an heir made her especially uncomfortable. She did not want to have to sacrifice her feelings for her duty, but she had been raised to value that duty. Besides, what were her feelings? She had not admitted it to herself, but as soon as he brought it up, she felt a pit in her stomach.

She did know that he was about the only connection she had been maintaining – against her better judgement.

With a sigh, she looked up to the portrait of her father and mother hanging above the fireplace. The only significant change she had made to the office. They had made it all seem so easy. Love, leadership…life. How lucky they were.

If only they were here. Lucina would do her best, but she shrunk in the shadow of her parents.

No, Lucina shook her head. Grief would do her no good now. She would work hard toward the vision for Ylisse that they had held so dear.

Robin slid down his closed door until he was hunched in the floor. He had essentially promised to help the woman he loved to find a husband. He grit his teeth. Was this some kind of cruel joke? He rubbed his hands across his face. Everything had fallen apart in the span of less than two weeks. He wanted to scream, yell, something!

But he would not. He would remain the pillar of strength he was expected to be. The ever unflappable tactician who did not blink in the face of utter despair. He would keep being the person others could lean on. It was reassuring to others to have someone they could turn to and share their woes.

He had already done as much recently. Whether it was bittersweet recollections where he always strove to bring up the good times, or silently consoling with his presence. Seeing Severa so…broken up over Owain's death had been one of the harder things he had witnessed as of late, but it was what he did. He was there for everyone.

However, in the dark of his own despair as well as that of his room, he briefly wondered, who was there for him?

A/N: I had intended for this chapter to go longer, but hopefully this is fine.