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Chapter 8: The Fete
"We are approaching Bhujerba, my lord." Judge Zargabath announced to Emperor Larsa, who was standing and admiring the view the Alexander was giving him. "Blue skies and fluffy clouds that place is," he muttered almost to himself. Behind the Judge Majister, Judge Zargabath was surprised to hear the chuckle of the boy-Emperor.
"You do not like Bhujerba, Judge Majister?" Emperor Larsa asked him looking at the older judge with bright sparkling eyes.
Judge Majister bowed apologetically. "I have no love for that place, my lord."
"May I ask why?"
The judge straightened up and looked beyond the windows of the airship. "Too many memories that should be forgotten."
Larsa followed his gaze. "I too have memories there. But fleeting and very brief." He looked at the judge. "Perhaps you should have asked that you should not have come, Judge Majister Zargabath, if Bhujerba disturbs you so."
The Judge Majister shook his head. "The matters of duty come before anything else, my lord."
Emperor Larsa nodded reluctantly. "Well yes, it seems so. Duty comes before family, heart and anything else." He proceeded to look at the window again towards the view that had cheered him up earlier. " How I wish it were different," he added musingly.
It was the Judge's turn to look curiously at the emperor behind the helmet, for that was how far he could go. The Emperor's feelings were his own lest he chose to share them. The emperor, meanwhile promptly shook his head as if trying to drive away the thoughts from his head.
"Pay no attention to me, Judge Majister. I dare not destroy the very purpose of this visit, which by all, means peace and relaxation."
The Judge Majister bowed again as the emperor proceeded to the airship command's center, now completely ignoring the view. The judge began to wonder indeed if Larsa had consented to go to Bhujerba in the first place, when Archadia was still in tenterhooks despite the appearances and cooperation of the people. Zargabath, for one knew that there were still forces at work whether inside Archadia or out. He had developed this kind of sense after years of serving in the Archadian Empire. He feared that whatever these forces are, they would strike when they least expected it, or worse when they were least prepared. It would do them well to be alert.
"I suggest you take the advice of the emperor, Zargabath." interrupted the deep voice of Judge Majister Basch.
The other heavily armored judge majister walked over to him. Basch was patrolling the Alexander along with few of the members of the Order of the Tournesol, the elite group of Emperor Larsa. His bodyguards, for lack of a better word.
"What are you going on about Basch?" replied Zargabath not kindly. "I would be displeased if I am to find out that you have been listening to conversations that are not yours to intervene."
"You are not without your dry wit, Zargabath." was all Basch said as he moved away.
Before the elder judge could ponder upon the cheerful mood Basch had suddenly acquired, Bhujerba came into view and no speech was spared as they docked.
Emperor Larsa stood up from his seat as the Alexander prepared to land. Already he could see the white head of the Marquis preparing to greet him and the Imperial party. He straightened out his blue robes as he followed Zargabath towards the exit. He could feel Basch about to come and straighten out some creases in his clothes that he might have overlooked but Larsa had moved out of his reach before he could do so. The Emperor was fifteen, yes, but he would not have an older man act as his mother in situations such as these. With a smile at the thought, Emperor Larsa prepared to greet the welcoming committee with the usual pleasantries.
XOXOXOXO
"Kvastam! I bid you welcome Emperor Larsa,"
The young emperor's feet barely left the ship when he was greeted by these words. Marquis Halim Ondore looked very much the same. Time still has not taken its dreadful toll upon his physicality. Though the Marquis's hair was a shady gray-white, and his face was occasionally lined with cares, the Marquis looked years younger than his real age.
Of course, those made Larsa feel younger than he really was. He bowed towards the Marquis, almost reverently, and he felt his people around him do the same.
"It is always a pleasure to visit this city of clouds and skies, Marquis."
"I trust there was no trouble on your way?" Ondore proceeded to ask as he led the young Emperor towards his estate.
Larsa shook his head in reply. "I traveled in good hands." he gestured over to the two armored men behind him. The Marquis followed his hand and nodded towards the two judges as he saw them.
"Ahh yes. I should not have worried at all then."
The two continued to exchange pleasantries and such as they entered the Marquis's halls. Emperor Larsa listened a while, and tried to keep his mind towards the conversation that they were sharing and the surroundings he was in. However, he was still oblivious to the grandeur of the Marquis's halls, the very same in which he used to marvel upon back when he was younger and under the watchful eye of the late Judge Majister Ghis.
He was oblivious to the halls, which were long and wide and filled with warmth and sparkling lights. Emperor Larsa ignored the mighty pillars that upheld lofty roofs, and the bright sunbeams that fell in glimmering shafts from the eastern windows. He could not remember that the floor was paved with stones of many hues; branching runes and strange devices that intertwined beneath ones feet. Emperor Larsa moreover, did not look as the others saw now that the pillars were richly carved, gleaming brightly with gold and brilliant colors.
Such wondrous halls should not have been slighted by anyone, lest their thoughts were so preoccupied, that they could no longer see or think of anything but that which has remained in their thoughts. Such was Larsa. The questions that were plaguing his mind came out just as when the Marquis asked if Larsa would like to retire or rest.
"If I may be so bold, but did my party arrive too early from other guests? I have not heard you mention them at all."
The Marquis started. He had perceived that the young Emperor had only been pretending to listen to his conversation since he had arrived, so it came as a surprise to hear he had not mentioned other guests.
"All have responded warmly to my invitation, Emperor. Most have arrived a few hours before you. However, I must beg your pardon that you cannot meet them until later, when the fete has really begun."
"Oh, of course." Emperor Larsa tried to hide his disappointment, which he did also partially. He looked behind him, where his two faithful judges stood unceasingly.
"It seems we would have to wait a while before we have some fun, gentlemen."
Zargabath bowed in reply, but Basch cocked his helmet head and said,
"I already am, your Excellency."
Larsa smiled and looked back at the Marquis. "It seems that I shall take up on your offer, Marquis. It would be a shame if I do not have the strength to stay up later at the feast."
The Marquis merely smiled and bid his servants to escort the Emperor and his company to their rooms.
xoxoxox
Celebrations in Bhujerba usually go up to midnight and beyond. Since this fete was a celebration of peace, everyone was looking forward to the events. Fireworks displays, public plays and tours of the mines had been going about a month before this fete was to happen.
To some however, this fete was a time of crisis. Queen Ashelia Dalmasca, her royal Majesty, sat on the tub of water, brooding silently. She had scrubbed most of the fatigue of the journey and bathed herself in some fragrant soap her room had to offer. She was rinsing herself in the tub. It would taste a lie to her if she said she was not dreading this fete more than anything else. Maybe, if she stayed in the tub all night, she would catch a cold, which was probably ridiculous since one of her handmaidens would come and fetch her. With a sigh, she stood up and stepped away from the tub, wrapping herself around a fluffy towel.
To think a woman of my power would get so nervous at situations like these. She thought begrudgingly. Walking out of the bathroom, she was more than a little relieved that her handmaidens had not returned yet. She had sent them away on an errand so she could have some time for herself and have a little privacy.
She hated gatherings such as these, no matter how good-intentioned they were. She could not understand it herself. Women of her age should be looking forward to fetes and balls and looking for men to flirt with it. But she knew she was not like any other woman of her age. She was a queen.
Barefoot and wrapped only in a towel, Queen Ashe made her way towards the magnificent four-poster bed in the middle of her quarters. She had to admit, she could tell her uncle Halim made a real effort to have her room feel like her own though she might not be home. The Marquis had been like a real father and as doting as an uncle should be, before and after her father died.
The room was furnished with perfectly polished dark cherry furniture. The rugs were thick and patterned in roses, the same flower that adorned the lovely wallpaper. Vases filled with fresh tea roses scented the room, and the moonlight streamed in the wide windows draped in plain pink curtains that didn't hinder the fresh air too much to enter and cool the room.
Draped across the bed was her gown for the evening. It was more extravagant than she would have liked, with pearls and diamonds stitched in the skirt and in the sleeves, but she could do no more than complain.
A royal should never complain. Echoing the words of her late father back when she was a little girl and got caught fidgeting in her ritual frocks. Her husband years later, Prince Rasler had said the same thing when her wedding dress itched in more places than one. Ashe sighed again as she remembered the last conversation she had had with him.
It only happened five years ago, but to her it felt like an age had passed since that had happened. She had been young, yes, but contrary to what others had believed, she had loved Rasler despite it being an arranged marriage. He had been so kind and understanding, even offering up the chance for her escape if she had not wanted to marry him because of duty. That made him all the more loveable to her. But it also made his passing more difficult to accept. He had been her protector, her guardian, and her husband. To have him stripped away from her after such a short time together had been too much too endure.
I never even said that I loved you, Rasler. She whispered touching the gauzy but beautiful blue fabric, his favorite color. If you were here now, I wonder what you say?
Turning away from the dress, she made to close the windows, trying to shake Rasler's thoughts at least for tonight. She would not be caught with puffy eyes at this fete. Not when so many were watching her.
"My lady?" those two words brought her back to reality.
Closing her eyes, she said to herself, I should enjoy myself tonight. No matter what that costs.
xoxoxoxo
"Come on Vaan, stay still!" Penelo scolded gently, like an older sister to a sibling as she tried to make him stay still long enough to fix his shirt cuffs properly.
"Aww, come on Penelo. I wouldn't have agreed to this trip anyways if you haven't begged me in the first place. " He argued frowning. He hadn't worn a shirt in twelve years.
Penelo sighed. "Look the sooner you look okay to me, the sooner I can go and change my own clothes. What I don't understand is why you insist in NOT wearing any decent clothes for something as formal as this. I would have thought you have grown a brain at least Vaan." she said looking at him mischievously.
Vaan rolled his eyes. Penelo had insisted in overlooking his changing of apparel after they had made sure Ashe would not need them again. He didn't get her. He was twenty years old for moogle's sake; he didn't need someone to change him.
"Okay, okay already." He said, relenting. "Just get on with it so I can go."
Penelo looked at him as she attacked his dusty blond hair with a wet comb to keep it locks away from his eyes. "Why are you in a hurry all of a sudden?"
To her surprise, Vaan did not meet her gaze, and instead looked up at the ceiling of his room. "Nothing." He said rather dismissively.
Penelo continued to peer at him curiously, but she shook her head and proceeded to do what she was previously doing.
"There!" she gushed like a mother who just recently tidying up her child into something he didn't want. "You're all done."
Vaan peered down at his white pristine shirt, embroidered with red thread in an elaborate design at the cuffs and collar and his trousers a warm mahogany brown. Penelo looked at him with a smile on her face, glad that he finally got rid of those stupid armguards at least for the night.
That smile was still on her face as she closed the door to leave Vaan alone. It was a feast after all, she had to look her best. It was too bad her best had to have some obscure gown she couldn't possibly wear. The smile on her face fell when she thought of a certain boy-emperor's reaction if she appeared looking really stupid in a puffy old gown.
XOXOXOXO
"Queen Ashelia, what an honor it is to see you once again." Emperor Larsa spoke in his most cultured voice as he bowed before the Queen of Dalmasca. Here he was, finally, at the fete Bhujerba hosted, music was playing, people distributing drinks and food, and he was still dressed like an Archadian. His robes were a nice spring green, with a darker shade of the same color as its cuffs. He was forced to wear gloves, as Archadian culture demanded, and his under tunic and trousers had to be made from the most expensive silk. Normally, he didn't care about such details of livery and finery and normally he wouldn't be so disturbed of how he looked, but he would be lying if he didn't pick out such clothes to impress those people who so underestimated him.
"Emperor Larsa, I see you did manage to get away from your desk at least." The queen answered, a twinkle in her eye as she returned his bow with a curtsy.
"If I was capable, your highness, Judge Majister Basch would not be here with me." He gestured behind him, at Basch, who had abandoned his heavy armor, for something more worthy of a feast.
Basch hasn't changed much. Ashe noted to herself, as the older man came and bowed before her. Still stiff and formal, still a bit rough and aloof.
"You have not visited Dalmasca for a long time now, Judge Majister." Ashe remarked with a warm smile. "I was starting to think you have forgotten about it."
"My apologies, your Majesty." Was the only thing he said, and proceeded to go behind Larsa again, prepared to fulfill his job as a bodyguard.
The two rulers proceeded to talk about what had happened between their two countries since their last correspondence. Larsa indeed seemed troubled about an underground strife that has been going on between the Bureaus and the Senate.
"I fear the Senate is still not convinced Archadia should not solely rule Ivalice. Though they say nothing to me, I believe that something is being planned to make such things happen." He voiced most regrettably to Ashe, one of the few people he could ever tell his fears.
"That is most grave." Ashe replied. "However, the Senate has not done anything yet have they?"
"Nothing that should be called to attention. But that is what I am most apprehensive. The Senators are cunning, but I believe they are not truly evil or selfish men. Perhaps, once we sort out the misunderstandings between the Bureaus and the Senate all shall be well. I believe that is the key and there should be nothing that could cause such deep strife between them. The Senate after all is the founders of the Three Bureaus."
Queen Ashe nodded agreeably. "Yes, I believe so too. I do not think those men want another war, when they themselves have seen what it could do not only to outside forces but to their own homeland. There should be no need of war now. Rozzaria has finally calmed down after appeals of treaty both from within and outside."
Emperor Larsa took a sip of his wine as he nodded. "Al-Cid Margrace has been most helpful when I visited the Rozzarian capital. He has the same views as the rest of us."
Queen Ashe smiled at him reassuringly. "We shall not talk of such bleak matters now, shall we Larsa? I am most anxious to enjoy this visit, away from such matters at the moment."
Emperor Larsa smiled back. "I am indeed pleased you are the first to say it, your Majesty. I would not have the heart to do so myself." He placed his glass upon the table and offered his hand to Ashe as he detected the music playing a delightful tune.
"May I have this dance, your Majesty?" he asked most gallantly though his eyes were all merriment.
"I would be most pleased, Excellency." Ashe replied with just as much merriment in her eyes as she accepted his hand.
XOXOXOXO
Penelo walked among the guests, trying not to look too conspicuous. Vaan was out there somewhere; he had found some food and had complained about starvation so she left him alone to fend for himself.
She tugged at her skirt nervously as she narrowly avoided a Bhujerban courtier with her escort. She looked at the dance floor. Everywhere had glittering people who wore such beautiful gowns and carried themselves so well. Here she was, a renowned hunter for Chocobo's sake but couldn't walk properly in a ball gown?
Sighing in frustration, she grabbed one of the glasses of wine a walking servant was carrying on a tray and walked about, one hand gathering up her skirts the other sipping a bit of wine and trying desperately to belong in that room.
XOXOXOXO
"Basch!" a high-pitched feminine voice called to him just as he was sampling a bit of roasted cockatrice he had seen Zargabath get. He turned, hastily putting the fork back at its plate, just as a young woman came bounding eagerly towards him.
"Lady Penelo." He bowed politely, a small smile on his face, but his mind was not registering her presence here. "I was not informed you were here."
Penelo gave him a brief hug before looking at him intently. "Nobody told me you were also coming. How are you?"
"Fine and alive Lady Penelo." He answered.
She beamed at him. "Come on Basch. You and I know that I will never be a 'Lady'. So just call me how you used to call me back then. "
Basch's reply was a nod. "Are you here with Vaan?" he inquired.
"Now you are talking." Penelo said eagerly. "I was afraid you would still be that Basch I met. Anyways, Vaan is fine. He's somewhere over there I guess." She added pointing behind her.
"Is he a sky pirate then?" the judge asked a more prominent smile on his face now.
Penelo nodded happily. "At least he is in his free time. " She then told him about their current jobs with Clan Centurio.
"I see that Montblanc did at least manage to recruit some of those who fought Yiazmat. You're placement there must bring in more customers."
"I never thought about it that way." Penelo answered thoughtfully. "But I'm fine with it. So, do you want to see where Vaan went? I'm sure he's got loads to tell you."
The Judge Majister looked behind him, at his full plate, almost regrettably, before following Penelo at the direction she went.
XOXOXOXO
Vaan was sitting down, half-hidden behind a potted plant staring at the dancers at the dance floor. His eyes were on a certain couple that seemed to be enjoying each other's company.
Queen Ashe was smiling and laughing with Emperor Larsa as they glided merrily across the room. Vaan tried his best to still the twangs of unidentified emotion that struck his heart. Thankfully, a distraction came in the form of Penelo dragging an obvious conscious Basch with her.
"Vaan, look!" she greeted cheerfully. "Look who I found lurking around the food?"
Vaan laughed at this unexpected side of Basch as he stood up and turned his back on the dance floor. "Hey, Basch. How you've been?"
"Aside from leaving a good piece of cockatrice back at my table Vaan, I'm fine." Basch replied good-naturedly.
Vaan and Penelo laughed appreciatively at this display of humor Basch had rarely displayed.
"I'm glad that you're doing well Basch." Vaan replied squeezing Basch's meaty shoulder heartily. The two continued to talk about small things until Vaan presently asked the older man of his reason why he was at the fete. When Basch replied that he was here because of duty.
"Emperor Larsa has been invited to this fete and as such, I was obliged to come as well."
"What?" Penelo asked suddenly. " Larsa's here?" she asked with more interest than she was supposed to imply, resulting to Basch and Vaan to look at her curiously.
"I-I m-mean, Emperor Larsa is here?" Penelo repaired awkwardly, blushing furiously.
Vaan continued to look at her most curiously, but Basch thankfully continued on the subject at hand, in attempt to steer the attention away from Penelo's obvious embarrassment.
"This fete is more than just a meeting of old friends." he remarked and Vaan was forced to look at him.
"Yeah, I kinda got that. I mean, peace is everywhere now right? So what's with all this formalities?" Vaan replied.
Basch was watching the dance floor at Emperor Larsa, his eyes never going astray. "I know that the matters I am about to disclose are the utmost important to the Emperor, and if you were different people, I would not say. But I trust you, and more importantly, Emperor Larsa trusts you."
Vaan and Penelo exchanged looks of curiosity. Why the sudden change of tone?
"Basch, no matter what it is, I don't think you should be telling us here. " Penelo replied.
Vaan nodded his agreement. "There are too many ears, and maybe some of them are not as friendly as ours."
Basch flickered his gaze toward them gratefully. "I knew you would say that. Thank you for not disappointing me."
Vaan looked shocked now. "What was that, a test?"
Penelo looked at him disbelievingly. "And here we thought you trusted us!"
Basch gave nothing short of a brief chuckle in reply.
Penelo tugged at Vaan's shirtsleeves. "Come on Vaan, let's go dance. I don't want to stay here if Basch will continue to throw tests at us out of the blue." she had a frown in her lips but her eyes sparkled cheerily as she dragged Vaan into the ballroom floor looking back at Basch as she did so.
Basch smiled again. Those two were the youngest of their party two years ago. They were good warriors and loyal to their causes. He was grateful that he had friends like them. The Judge Majister had not mention his uneasiness in the capital to anyone. Whispers and rumors went around as often as the winds, but there were certain rumors that remained in the air, refusing to stop. Basch feared that those rumors were true and that he would be powerless to stop it. That was why he was not enjoying this feast as the others were. He was on his guard and if anybody needed to be, it was he.
XOXOXOXO
Penelo and Vaan danced among with the other guests, hidden in the view of Emperor Larsa and Queen Ashe.
"Hey Penelo." Vaan interrupted the thoughts of Penelo whose mind was presently someplace else. Vaan had to repeat her name two times before she looked at him startled.
"What is it?"
Vaan smiled at her. "You have been distracted since Basch mentioned Larsa was here." It was not a question. Penelo on the other hand felt a blush creeping up her cheeks once again.
"What do you mean Vaan?" she pretended innocence.
Vaan peered closely at her eyes. "Don't worry. I won't tell anybody."
Penelo felt that her blush might as well told anybody what Vaan meant. " Come on Vaan, we're not kids anymore. You don't have to pretend to trick me into telling things I don't know about."
Vaan was grinning now. "There is no need to be so hostile about it."
Penelo slapped him sharply at the arm as they turned in time with the music. "Vaan!"
Vaan laughed merrily, enjoying the time now more than he was a while ago. Then a distraction came to blow his enjoyment out of the window.
"Penelo?" a masculine voice said behind Vaan that made Penelo stop in her tracks.
Vaan smiled at Penelo in a devilish way before turning to the speaker. Emperor Larsa and Queen Ashe were standing behind them, poised also in a middle of a dance step. Larsa had a smile on his face. Vaan was sure that Penelo herself was blushing again.
However he was not paying attention to what Penelo was about to say to the boy-emperor. His eyes, though he despised them for not having more control was looking more at his dancing partner than at the Emperor.
Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca was dressed exactly like the queen she was supposed to be. Dressed in a pale blue gown that showed off her shoulders despite the string of pearls that wound around her upper arms and her shoulders. The skirt itself was semi-transparent, Vaan could barely help staring at the fabric that danced across her legs which was barely hidden by the floor-length skirt. Her sandy brown hair caught the lights above and was styled simply yet became her, especially since she wore the circlet of the queen. The circlet reminded Vaan of who she truly was, an older woman for sure, but also a woman who was severely socially above him. He turned away to greet Larsa.
Larsa himself looked like the Emperor. Unlike Vaan however, he did not fidget or fuss over his shirts. "Hey Larsa." he greeted pleasantly, as couples continued to dance around them. "How you've been?'
Larsa smiled at him warmly, looking away from Penelo. "I was just asking Penelo the same question. Fine, thank you for asking Vaan." The young emperor shook hands with the older man.
Vaan could tell by the smile on Larsa's face that he was really glad to see them. And the emperor proved it by saying it was so.
"I'm glad you're here. Queen Ashe herself has just told me she brought you along. How have been things at your end?"
"Oh fine, just fine." Vaan said breezily, barely containing his annoyance that Ashe could forget she brought him and Penelo along.
Larsa seemed not to notice and smiled again. "I hear you are hunters now."
"Yup," Penelo replied this time. She managed to act like her normal self now. " Vaan and I had nothing better to do, so we figured we could at least use the skills we accumulated in our adventures to good use. Right Vaan?"
"That and we didn't want to entirely leave Rabanastre." Vaan added.
"What about Balthier and Fran? Have you heard news from them?"
Vaan caught Ashe looking attentive for the first time at the mention of Balthier's name.
"We haven't seen them since the coronation." Penelo replied.
"Yeah, and knowing them, they would be a lot harder to track than Penelo and me."
"That's too bad." this time Ashe herself spoke. "I am sure, Uncle Halim would have wanted them to join the visit."
The four continued to exchange pleasantries for a while until the music demanded that they dance again. To Vaan's surprise, Penelo asked Larsa if he would like to dance and he said yes, delighted. Vaan and Ashe were left therefore, standing together in the middle of the ballroom floor.
"Would you like to dance?" Vaan asked politely, startling Ashe.
He half-expected her to decline, but she nodded and they were soon off.
He placed his hand around Ashe's slender waist and Ashe herself took his hand in hers as a soft waltz began playing.
"Vaan," Ashe said a few minutes into the dance.
"Yeah?" he asked noncommittally.
"I wanted to apologize to you."
" For what?" he looked at her pointedly. To his surprise, Ashe lowered her head, as if embarrassed.
"I know since I have been queen, I have not paid any attention to you and Penelo. But you must understand, as a queen, I have duties and must not get affiliated with…"
"I thought you were going to apologize?" Vaan asked sharply, bitterness creeping up his voice. "You are making it sound as you are trying to convince me. Or better yet yourself. Face it Ashe, why exactly did you make Penelo and me come here? You obviously know we are not noblemen."
"This fete is not only for noblemen, but also for all those who fought at the Great War. "
"That's not the point and you know it." Vaan said heatedly, loosening his grasp on her waist as he said so.
"What would you have me say?" Ashe replied just as hotly, her temper flaring.
Vaan did not flinch. " I don't know Ashe. I thought since we had that adventure you would understand your subjects better, since you got to hear and see what had happened to Dalmasca since you went into hiding, But since you got back at the palace and that crown was placed on you head, you became distant again. And here I thought you were different from stuck up royals. Here I thought you cared about your subjects and the people you call friends. Turns out Larsa's the only one who's like that. At least he doesn't need to send a messenger to look for us to invite us to this fete."
"What do you mean?" confused at his last sentence, though the rest of his words struck her.
"That day we came to the palace to answer your 'summons'?" Vaan started. "I got a letter from Larsa and asking if we were coming here. He even had the Marquis send us an invitation. You think I would have allowed Penelo and me to come here with you to look like your escorts if I could have helped it? Penelo wanted me to, so I said yes. I didn't agree because you asked me to." Vaan's words were forceful, as if he had been holding back a long time.
The two of them had stopped dancing, owing therefore for some of the guests to look at them conspicuously. Vaan did not care and Ashe was too horrified at his words to notice.
"Ever since I got here, I told myself I just have to be cool since I am an adult now and therefore mature, but I'm sorry. When you have the nerve to apologize to me because you abandoned our friendship is not something I can take lightly." he straightened up indignantly. "I suppose I have to bow now and apologize for my impudence, your majesty?" he asked her, making her feel like a total outright fool.
By the gods, is that what her friends think of her now? She would find Vaan's words unbelievable if they weren't so close to what she told herself everyday when reminded of her friends. She must look to them as if she had used them for herself and had not valued their friendship. She felt totally ungrateful.
Queen Ashe prevented tears from coming to her eyes as she looked at Vaan and attempted to apologize. But the look of pure pain in Vaan's eyes held her words back. She had hurt him. Now she remembered what he had said to her back when they were still finding a way to prevent the war. As long as I stick with you, I'll find my purpose. He had stood by her, only for him to be abandoned once her deed was done.
"No, " she spoke nevertheless calmly as she could. "There is no need for you to apologize."
Vaan stared at her with a hard look on his face before saying "Good." and walking away.
