"Camilla?" Xander called as he quickly walked out of Corrin's room. He walked down the twisting stairs to find Camilla sitting in the middle of the stairs. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." She mumbled. Her purple hair hid her eyes from him. She was hugging her knees to her chest, her simple black dress was becoming dusty from the steps.
"Why did you rush out of there like that?"
"She's going to be crushed, Xander. She's so excited for her family to be here and bring her home, but they won't come." Camilla looked at Xander, her eyes full of tears.
"I know." He sat next to her.
"I don't want to tell her we lied to her." Camilla sobbed.
"You won't have to. I will." Xander said bravely. "I'm the fool that said it in the first place."
"She'll still be crushed."
"I know, but it'll be alright. Corrin is a strong girl, if she's survived all she's been though living here, she'll be fine." There was silence.
"When you become king, will you really send Corrin back home?"Camilla asked suddenly.
"I will locate and alert her family that she is here, and depending on how old she is, I will let it be her choice if she wishes to stay with us or return to her own blood."
"I don't know if I find that reassuring or not."
"I know you are attached to Corrin, you're even more attached to her than you are to our other siblings." Xander smiled. "But, Camilla, Corrin isn't our pet."
"You're not funny." Camilla glared, wiping away her tears.
"You need to go talk to Corrin."
"Why? She'll hate us after she find out we lied."
"She's convinced you hate her." Xander sighed as he stood up. "She was in tears when I left, begging me to tell you she was sorry for whatever mistake she made. She's convinced you hate her." That was all it took for Camilla to get up and practically run to Corrin's room. About the same time, the twins returned with a boy, a little older than Corrin but a few years younger than Xander.
"I see you found him." Xander smiled at the girls. "What is your name?"
"J-Jacob." The boy stammered. His hands were dirty and his hair was messy.
"Well, Jacob, this is your last chance. Your inability to be a good butler has come to my attention. Since I am a boy of mercy, you will be given one last chance. You are to serve Princess Corrin, if you are unable to do so, you will be dismissed and turned onto the streets. Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir." Jacob said. He had a cold disposition. As Xander walked up the stairs and into the bedroom, he saw Camilla cradling Corrin.
"I told you she didn't hate you." Xander smiled to Corrin. Corrin grinned as she wrapped her small arms around Camilla's neck.
"Hello, Princess Corrin." Jacob said as he entered the room. "I'm Jacob. Want to be friends?" He forced a smile.
"Yes!" Corrin laughed.
"Is everyone ready for cake?" The twins asked in unison.
"Yeah!" Corrin jumped out of Camilla's arms and tugged her toward the cake. "Come on, Big Si- I mean Camilla." Corrin paused. She looked around the room at the people around her, her Crimson eyes wide.
"It's alright, you can call me Big Sister." Camilla grinned, she felt so happy hearing those words from Corrin's mouth she thought her heart might explode.
"But Big Sister, my real big sister, won't like that." Corrin whispered. "And she'll be here any minute!"
"Corrin, about that…." Xander said as he rubbed the back of his neck. Camilla took Corrin into her arms.
"What about it? They are coming for me, aren't they?" Corrin looked at Camilla with sad eyes.
"No, Corrin, they're not." Xander sighed.
"Why not? You said they were coming." Large tears instantly began flowing from Corrin's eyes.
"I know, but you see, they uh…." Xander sighed again. "They're just not coming." He didn't want to lie to her again, the truth may hurt, but it would have been better than telling her another lie and allowing her to have false hope.
"But you said they were." Corrin sobbed.
"I know."
"You lied!" Corrin began to yell. She pulled away from Camilla.
"Come here, sweetheart, it's okay." Camilla said as she reached out for Corrin.
"No! I don't want you! I want Hinoka and Ryoma! I want my real mommy and daddy and big sister!"
"L-look, Princess Corrin, it's snowing!" The blue haired twin, Flora, said quickly as she and her sister used their ice powers to allow snow to fall.
"I don't care!" Corrin sobbed, her face becoming red as she began choking from her crying.
"Mildly, will you please play outside with me?" Jacob asked. He didn't know much about kids, he just wanted to watch the snow. Corrin nodded as she coughed, gasping for breath. He held out his dirt covered hand she carefully accepted it. He led her out of the room and down the staircase to the outside world she had only seen from a window since she was taken away. She refused to look at anyone as she left to experience the snow.
"We have to fix this." Xander mumbled.
"She hates us." Camilla whimpered.
"Actually, she hates Xander." Felicia chimed.
"Shut up, Felicia!" Flora hissed as she elbowed her younger sister. "If I may, I have an idea."
"Go ahead." Xander motioned for her to speak.
"The snow will accumulate quickly, and it's cold. She will be shivering soon, go out and greet her with a warm coat or blanket and maybe she will be able to calm down enough to forgive you."
"It's worth a shot." Xander shrugged. "Do you have an old coat?" He looked at Camilla.
"Yes, I do." She sighed, a vacant stare in her eyes as Corrin's words echoed in her head. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. We never should have done this." She thought to herself. "Of course she doesn't want me, my own parents don't me."