Greetings everyone. I'm back with our third last chapter, and boy is this character hard to write. Admittedly with a cast as large as Fates, certain characters are going to be better written than others, and I always try to work with what I'm given. I can only hope that I wrote this chapter well without betraying who the character is -ArcanaHermit

Chapter Thirty-One: Morality (Corrin x Peri)

"Are you sure you didn't do it? Xander is willing to hear you out if you did." Pleaded the young white haired lord. However all his pleading did was made the other person in the room more furious.

"No. No. No. I didn't do it, dummy. I thought you trusted me." The young blue-haired woman shouted in a rather shrill voice, a few tears pouring down her eyes. "I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU!"

Peri now turned her back, not even wanting to spare a glance at her husband. Corrin sighed and simply looked around his quarters awkwardly, trying to find anything to say that would lighten the mood, and perhaps find himself in her good graces again. He knew this was the expected result after pushing her too hard.

A murder had recently been discovered in camp, one of the lesser soldiers was found with a hole in his chest. While the evidence they had all been able to find was at best circumstantial, most of it had all lead to one likely suspect, Corrin's wife Peri. Worst, Peri didn't have an alibi with anyone at the timeframe of the murder, making her suspicion even more likely. However, due to her temperamental nature, anybody inquiring her would most likely draw her ire, and would more than likely found themselves murdered as well, so it fell to Corrin to ask her where she had been at that time.

After a long time prodding about the subject, Peri finally asked why he wanted to know, to which he relayed the incident, and possible suspicion, to her. Needless to say, their fight had come not long after. And truth be told Corrin, despite loving his wife dearly, was also suspicious of her. While marriage and his guidance had calmed down her childish bloodlust, it had not quelled it entirely. There were still times where she would threatened and even attempt to attack someone who she had perceived as wronging her, and it took a massive effort for him to stop her.

He wanted to believe her, he truly did. Because he loved her. But he also know to not let that love blind himself from logic. She had no alibi, there was evidence against her, circumstantial as it is, and now she was denying where she was. It was all starting to make a horrifying amount of sense. She was the most likely suspect.

Sighing, Corrin decided to look away from her. He needed time to center his thoughts, perhaps he should question her again, less forcefully this time. Perhaps if he sounded less accusingly and-

Something caught his eye, and for some reason he found himself staring at the book. It was untitled, and the leather cover wasn't anything Corrin recognized, but that didn't make sense. Peri wasn't one for reading, and all of the books here should be his.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he placed a hand on the book. The feeling of it indicated that it was made recently, and Corrin decided to open a random page, the mysterious contents of the book to tempting for him not to read it.

It was a passage, written in a very messy, almost childish hand.

Today I decided to go to a market today, there were a lot of nice things that smelled funny, but I was able to find the delicious ingredients I needed for Corrin's special day. A lot of the merchants wanted to scam me, selling me things for way too much. I felt myself getting angry so much, but I managed to avoid gutting them and bathing in their blood. I hope Corrin is proud of me. Ever since he taught me about good and bad, I've been trying to stop killing everyone I hate. I still don't know why or how, but if it means he still love me, I'll try my best not to get stabby-stabby.

The page beside it was blank, meaning that the entry was written recently. Corrin looked at the passage again and again, his heart burdened with guilt more and more with each read. Peri had learned to restraint herself, went out and bought stuff and managed to stop her murderous impulses, all for his sake.

Soon the doubt that surrounded her innocence was lifted. She had her alibi written in her diary, and even if others would question the authenticity of it, it was clear to him that she had not done it.

"Listen, Peri..." Corrin began. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I believe you when you said you didn't kill that soldier. I'll plead your case to Xander, I promise."

She was still facing away from him, silent and unwavering.

"I read your diary" He continue. He didn't care if it took all night, he wanted to apologize. "I know you were buying ingredients, for my sake even. You restrained yourself without me, and I am proud of you for that. I know that I have no right to ask for your forgiveness after I accused you but I can only hope that..."

He was cut off by a surprised tackle as two arms wrapped around him forcefully, and a head was pressed tightly against his chest. He could faintly feel the wet tears touching his chest as Peri continued to hug him tightly. "Y-you talk too m-much, dummy..."

"I know" Corrin said as he stood still, allowing her to cling to him for a little while longer. His shirt was going to be wet by the end of this, but he didn't really cared at the moment. Whatever it took to make her happy, he would gladly take it.

After a while, sniffling but mostly recovered, Peri said "So you're not going tell on Xander?"

Corrin shook his head. "It wouldn't be right to accuse the wrong person of murder. I'm sure someone else did the deed, and I won't rest until I convince the entire camp of your innocence."

His reward was another forceful hug from the blue haired cavalier, as she brushed her head on his chest once more. "Yayy, thank you. I love you, I love you."

Suddenly, she jumped up and a thought her eyes lit up. "Oh I know, I'll reward you with all your favorite foods. I'll spoil you sweet tonight."

"That sounds like a great idea." Corrin said, and Peri enthusiastically went to work, immediately putting on her apron and rushing to the kitchen. The last thing he saw was a malicious glint in her eyes as she whispered "Time to cut some meat."

As Corrin sat down once more, he sighed and began taking a parchment and some ink, and began writing a proper defense for Peri. He knew his brother would trust his word, but the entire army was another matter entirely. But he didn't falter nor doubt, for he had absolute faith in her innocence.

After all, how could he love her if he did not trust her?

And that's it for Peri's chapter. Till next time with our second last chapter: Effie -ArcanaHermit