Corrin's hesitation up to this moment made his mind rage. He remembered his confusion about the emotions he was feeling and the person who he confided in for help.

A few days ago, Corrin sought some advice from his sister.

Camilla twirled her long purple locks around a finger. "Oh darling I knew this would happen, it was only a matter of time." She grinned. "Let me guess who it is. It's Azura isn't it? I've seen you two together often enough to assume you'd tied the knot already! I approve. When is the ceremony? I'll fetch for caterers at once."

Corrin flushed. "No sister, it's not her. I really like her as a friend but I don't feel that way about her. I never expected I'd feel this way for this other person, we've known each other for a very long time, but she's always been there for me when no one else was and I've just kind of… fallen for her."

"Wait, so you're saying it's—who—? Always been there for you, you say?" She frowned, looked up at the ceiling in pondering, and then brought her hand to her mouth and gasped as realization dawned on her. "Oh gods. Corrin, sweetie, this is very impetuous of you. She's so… incompetent! I don't know if I like this. It's Felicia, right?"

Corrin felt himself burning up. "Please don't tell anyone! Just hear me out." He bit his lip as he forced himself to confess." Last week she was on a ladder putting a pot in a cabinet in the mess hall. She fell and luckily I was there to catch her. When she was in my arms, my heart started racing. I was confused by how I was feeling at the time but now that I think back I never wanted to let her go. Now all I can think about is the smell of her hair and her smile and her… her pretty eyes. I feel like I'm going crazy." He gulped. Don't lose focus, he thought. "Please, sister! I love her! I know this isn't how royalty is supposed to work but I won't have it. If I can't be with who I want I'll leave my title if I have to!"

"My, my." Camilla couldn't help but giggle. "You really are serious about this aren't you?" Her smile softened. "Now that I think about it this makes a lot of sense for you. Only someone with a heart as pure as yours would earnestly love their servant. In fact, since you're pouring your heart out now, I might as well admit something too. I'm a little jealous of her."

Corrin cocked his head. "Wait, really? Why?"

"Don't get me wrong. She's an awful maid and she should've been fired years ago. Your kindness was what kept her around. She's a decent bodyguard though, which doesn't hurt. But for me…" Camilla walked over to Corrin and put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a wistful look. "She's done a better job of protecting you than I." She shut her eyes and turned around. That wasn't easy for her to say, Corrin thought.

Felicia forsook all family and country ties to follow Corrin into what was plausibly certain death. Camilla remained steadfast in her loyalties to the rest of her siblings and Nohr, at least until Corrin ran into her again later. She was right, in a sense.

"And you worry too much about this royalty business. All is fair in love and war. Anyone who raises a fuss will kiss my axe."

Corrin beamed. "Thank you so much!"

"One last thing. You do have something to give her when you propose, right darling?"

Corrin couldn't stomach himself. Why couldn't he just say the right thing at the right time?

Felicia snapped her head around. "What?!"

"I'm sorry! I always track you down when you're upset because I hate seeing you sad. But I messed up and just made you cry even more. I should've just been honest from the beginning but I got cold feet and I didn't want to do something that would ruin our friendship. I-I love you and I can't stop thinking about you. I took it for granted for so long but now that we're away from the fortress and I see you in the sun a lot more I know that you're the prettiest girl i-mmm!"

He was interrupted by a pair of hands cupping his cheeks and pulling his face to hers. She missed what she was aiming for and her awkward kiss met only his upper lip. He froze for a second, and then moved his mouth up so he could meet her lips. They still didn't know how to do it properly because their noses got in the way of each other. They pulled away.

"Felicia… Please don't leave me. I need you."

"Oh Corrin I won't. I can't. You're my everything…" She could manage only barely above a whisper. "But I'm afraid… You're my master and we're not supposed to-"

Without thinking, he put his arms around her, which caused her to tremble furiously. He pulled her close to see her seafoam green eyes, the same eyes that bewitched him in the sunlight. Their noses touched. "Everything will be okay." He whispered. "But if the worst happens we'll run away. We'll be our own little nation of two. I won't let anyone tear us apart, I promise." He tilted his head so their noses wouldn't get in the way again and pressed his mouth to her lips.

She answered hungrily and clung to his neck with her arms. Having finally gotten the kiss thing right, they let themselves bask in a thrilling closeness that washed over them like a warm wave. It felt like minutes passed before they pulled away again, but Felicia couldn't stand not being close to him. She nestled her head right under his chin, put her hands on his chest and closed her eyes, turning into a quivering ecstatic ball in his arms. She heard the rustling of his hand as he reached for something in his clothing.

"Will you… Will you be my wife, Felicia? Will you make me the happiest man alive?" Now was as good a time as any, he thought, as he pulled out the ring his mother gave him before she died.

"I never had the chance to take care of you while you were young," she said. "But I want to be able to help you with something now, at least!" She reached into a small box in her bedroom. "Take this and keep it with you. Save it for the one you love."

She opened her eyes to see a glint of gold between his fingers and gasped. "Corrin…! I… Y-yes! YES! A MILLION TIMES YES!" She had bungled chores four times that day, which was bad even for her. She thought she had messed up a fifth time by confessing feelings she held for her master for so long, who was so out of her league. For him to not only reciprocate those feelings but ask for her hand in marriage? It felt like a dream. Of course, she immediately dropped the ring on the floor upon taking it from his hand. "Aah..."

. He snapped it up off the ground and smiled. He held her hand and slowly, gently slid it onto her trembling finger. "Heh, you've been crying a lot today." Tears were streaming down her face again.

"I-I'm just so happy I can hardly breathe! I love you so much..." She buried her head into his chest, allowing him to rest his own head atop her sandy brown hair.

He wanted to hold her forever. But eventually the mustiness of the pantry and the hard floor they were snuggling on became obvious. "Come on, let's get out of here." He helped her up.

"Ah, of course I still have the laundry to do. Wait, you don't have to-"

Corrin had already gotten the sheet and picked up the basket. "Hey, I'm your husband now. That means we're partners. I'm helping you with this." He offered his arm to her.

She beamed and locked her arm through his. There was nothing in the world that could erase her smile this day. As they walked out of the pantry into the light, a butler appeared.

"Milord! I thought I heard a commotion in here. Are you oka-" Jakob stopped as he realized the image in front of him. His master holding a laundry basket full of dirty sheets, walking arm-in-arm with his red-faced maid—Jakob's ever-frustratingly incompetent colleague, her head on his shoulder and a glinting gold ring on her finger.

"Everything is fine Jakob." Corrin chuckled. "We don't need to eat for a while. Why don't you take a break?"

The ridiculousness of what he was witnessing had him uncharacteristically caught off-guard. "I was just-er. Um. Y-yes milord. I'll recess at once." He bowed hastily and went for the door with as much elegant restraint as possible, but fierce mumblings could be heard as he skittered out.

"Did we… scare him? I've never seen Jakob so flustered before." Felicia remarked as they walked to the front door.

"He'll be okay." Corrin smiled. "It'll take some getting used to."