Flora reveals her real reasons for escorting Keiji and his vanguard to her village home.

Truth

You open your eyes and yawn gently, blinking your blurry vision into focus. The absence of another's warmth is the first thing you notice in your freshly awakened state.

A quick leftward glance reveals an empty space where Flora laid earlier in the comfortable queen-sized bed.

"She must be downstairs or something," you surmise before a second, deeper yawn.

"Flora?" you call out to the maid, casting your eyes toward the open bedroom door.

You're met with silence.

"Yes, she must be downstairs," you conclude. Shaking sleep's weight away, you throw back the quilts. Cool evening air sends a shiver through you. "I'd better get dressed." Throwing your legs over the side of the bed, you rise to your feet. A quick glance toward the bedroom window reveals that (true to Flora's words) the sun is still setting. "Good, we've still time."

Your clothes lay in a messy heap just beyond the bedside table. You shift your gaze toward the magically-infused candle atop the bedside table, taken in by its precious flame.

Mental images of yourself and Flora passionately entwined swirl within your mental sea. Smiling fondly, you clutch a palm to your chest.

"Try as I might, I cherish them both," you admit at a whisper, recalling your recent loving embrace with Felicia. Sighing, you shake your head and lower your arm to the side. "Whatever the case, I'll figure all of this out once we're done here. Our coming to this cold corner of the world will all be for naught if we don't drive the Nohrians out."

Nodding resolutely, you walk over to your discarded clothes. Kneeling, you gather up the sinfully removed articles.

Undergarments. Socks. Trousers. Undershirt. Shoes. Everything is here.

You dress as quickly as you can. Once finished, you step out onto the landing and close the bedroom door behind you.

The house is all too quiet, save for what sounds like sobbing emanating from somewhere downstairs. You focus on the sound for an instant longer – they're Flora's tears.

A concerned twinge grips your chest. Naturally wanting to help, you head to the bottom of the stairs. Your sheathed katana leans against the wall by the staircase's bottom rung. Beside it is your swordsman's overcoat. You tie the weapon around your waist first, partly distracted by Flora's woes. Once the weapon is fastened, you slip on your coat.

Fully prepared, you cast your sights toward the direction of Flora's tearful chorus - an open door beyond the living room you occupied earlier.

Nodding, you traverse the narrow hall and step through the doorway. You find yourself inside a kitchen thereafter.

A fair sized circular wooden table sits at the room's centre with five chairs pushed in underneath. Flora sits at one of the chairs. Head held in her hands; she weeps. A piece of parchment, a quill and inkpot occupy the space in front of her. A food preparation counter is off to the left of the crying girl. A chopping board sits atop the counter's middle, with several worn iron cooking pots piled up to the right-hand side of it. Overhead, braids of garlic and other such herbs for seasoning hang from rack suspended by a chain from the ceiling.

"Flora, is everything alright?" you ask somewhat worriedly, taking a further couple of steps into the room.

The maid raises her head from her hands. Her eyes and puffy and red from crying, and tears stain her cheeks. "I won't do this anymore, I just won't," she utters in a tiny voice, sniffling.

"Do what, exactly?" You pull out a chair from beneath the table and sit. Reaching across to Flora, you cup her tear-stained right cheek. "What is it?"

The girl draws back from you. Her eyes are glassy, and her expression is full to the brim with fear. She picks up the piece of parchment and places it into your hand. "...Read it, then you'll know..."

Doing as asked, you cast your eyes downward.

'Keiji, I promised to protect you, so I must be honest with you above all. I lied - about everything. Maria was completely innocent, and I planted the letter I showed to you and Kagero. I'm the spy, I always have been.'

You pause from reading and breathe a deeply disappointed sigh. "Dammit all, Flora."

To think you failed to notice anything, and right under your nose, too.

'But I cannot do it anymore; keep lying as I have been, I mean. Not after what we shared. Therefore, I'll tell you everything I know. Lady Camilla promised to free my village from Nohrian control if I handed over Lady Corrin to her. I have no clue why. However, the Nohrian princess has made several very bold moves as of late, from drawing a large part of the army to her side, to funding the forging of huge amounts of weapons. What's more, I have a feeling both things relate to Corrin joining her.

When Camilla heard of Lord Ryoma's plans to march on the village, I was ordered to act. And so, I planned to bring Corrin here. This whole place is a trap, one you weren't supposed to spring, Keiji. Now, after the time we've spent together recently... and how you care for me... I can't place you in danger. I just can't. You and Hoshido have been good to me... and I won't betray your trust any longer. I'll set this right, here and now.'

Frustration cooling at Flora's honesty, your hand holding the paper jitters

"...Why did you not say something?" You lift your eyes from the paper, staring deeply into Flora's eyes - into her very soul.

"...I couldn't, I just... couldn't," Flora croaks, fresh tears leaking down the sides of her face. "Lady Camilla, she has my whole village over a barrel - my people are in danger."

Flora's admission is as though a dagger through the heart. Not because she was untruthful, but because she didn't seek your aid.

"You should've said something... Dammit, Flora! Gods, I'd stand and defend your home alone if I had to, you know that." You put the letter down. Moving the inkpot, quill, and candle aside, you offer a hand to Flora. She grips it squeezes it tightly, hers shaking. "...You know that."

"I know, Keiji," Flora admits ashamedly. "I know... That's why I penned the letter, at least partway. I intended to leave it for you and run. But after what we shared just now, I didn't have the heart for it."

You sigh exhaustedly, focused more on yours and your men's immediate safety. "We can discuss that later. For now, I need you to be totally honest with me. No more secrets. Do I have your word?"

Flora wipes her tears away with her free hand and nods. "No more secrets," she agrees. "I swear it on my father and sister's lives."

"Good, that will suffice. Now, tell me, just how much of a hole are me and my entourage in? Are we trapped?"

Flora breathes in and out deeply, calming herself. "No, not yet. Sadly though, time is short."

"How short, dare I ask?

"A force twice your vanguard's waits at the bridge for whom they believe is Corrin. Should you go there, you'll be captured or killed."

"Great, just great," you groan. A thought sparks to life. "Wait... You said they're expecting Corrin. That means Camilla doesn't know of my presence specifically, right?"

"Correct, she expects her sister," Flora confirms, smiling a somewhat painful smile. "I snuck out and told her as much whilst you napped downstairs earlier. I did so to protect you..."

You feel you follow Flora's way of thinking. "Because Camilla wouldn't have gone to such immense efforts subduing regular soldiers," you reason somewhat matter-of-factly. "We don't have Lady Corrin's otherworldly powers, or her strength. Catching us unaware and killing us while we rested in the houses here would've been enough."

"And I wasn't prepared to risk that, perchance the thought had crossed her mind," Flora utters somewhat dejectedly, lowering her head. She squeezes your hand again, this time somewhat tenderly. You squeeze back. "Which thankfully spares a slither of time to get you and yours out of here unscathed."

You smile thinly. "Sounds like you held doubts about your place at Camilla's side even before tonight."

"I did," Flora confesses. "And your coming here made my decision clearer than crystal - so I opened a way out for you, but we must act quickly."

"Why the sudden hurry, to ensure we don't alert Camilla's suspicions?" you pose somewhat anxiously.

"It goes beyond that, unfortunately. My assuring Camilla of Corrin's presence here has the princess wary - an unexpected development," Flora explains with a hint of irritation. "She brought forward extra men to secure the village, meaning almost every route in and out is sealed. Fortunately, I slipped past Camilla's patrols an opened one of them back up for you."

You sigh graciously at the news. "Thank the Light Dragon. Where is it?"

"A gate, at the end of the cemetery, just beyond the Ice Dragon's Chapel. I lit two torches there, so you know where to look. Firstly, though, you must reach the chapel itself. Take a left after leaving the house and make an eastward turn down the left-hand cobblestone road; you'll find the chapel gates there."

Plan in mind, you unthread your fingers from Flora's. Then you stand from your chair and push it back under the table. "Fine. I'll go collect the men, then. Once we're together, I shall return here and collect you. Then, all of us can leave this place before it's too late."

Flora gets out of her seat and turns her back to you. She rests her hands atop the kitchen counter and shakes her head. "...I can't leave. There's more to this plan than just getting you out safely," she reveals, turning to face you and folding her arms behind her back. She exhales bleakly, her expression heavy with guilt and shame. "My father came here while you slept. We talked over a great many things; our people are fed up, Keiji. And I'm fed up, too - fed up of being a pawn."

Flora breathes a sobering breath and unfolds her arms. She stands tall and straight, her cool blue gaze radiating fragile hope."We're rising up against Camilla tonight, as Kagero and the Hoshidans initially believed" explains Flora committedly. "For ourselves. And..." the maid's cheeks redden a touch, "...so you might get out safely, too."

You raise a brow, Flora's safety amidst this scheme concerning you. "And supposing something ill befalls to you?"

"It won't, Keiji. I'll be fine with Father at my side."

"And supposing it does...?"

"Then I'll think it atonement." Flora says flatly, closing her eyes. "I can't expect forgiveness after all of my lies."

"I'd beg to differ, Flora."

The maid re-opens her eyes. She dons a most dejected look. "Somehow, I'm doubtful."

You step nearer Flora, opening your arms to her with a warm smile. "Well, don't be. Your being truthful is atonement enough."

Flora eyes you somewhat cautiously, quiet surprise glinting in her in her deep blue sapphires. "...You forgive me...? After all I've done...?"

You shake your head, your smile widening as you do. "No, I don't: but that's because I'm not angry to begin with - so, there's nothing to forgive."

New-born tears well in Flora's eyes. She breathes in and out deeply in a bid to fight them, relief and affection coloring her features. "...I cherish you, Keiji - as selfish as it makes me." Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, the tears roll freely down Flora's cheeks. Closing her gap, the girl sweeps in and throws her arms around your shoulders. Holding you tightly, she buries her face against your chest.

You cuddle the precious twin, planting a tender kiss to her head. "And I cherish you too, Miss Flora. Truly, I do."

Flora lifts her head from your chest. She smiles adoringly at you. "I should hope so, sir - especially after all we shared today." Cupping your cheek, Flora presses her lips to yours.

You return the twin's kiss with all the heart you can muster, grateful for her love and newfound dedication. You let the moment take you, your anxiousness and unrest over all you face falling away. A sense of calmness fills you, yours and Flora's lips affectionately smacking as you cherish one another.

Lighter. Lighter. Lighter still your heart feels.

Then, Flora separates her lips from yours with a final and empowered smack. Red-faced and puffy-eyed, she stands back from you and spares a fragile smile. "This will tide me over until I see you again, I'm certain. You need to get out of here though, Keiji."

Thrust back into the moment at hand, your fears return. "But what about-"

Flora presses a finger to your lips, silencing you. "I'll be fine, dear," she assures you. "My kinsman and I can hold our ground until you return with Lady Corrin. Now, go."

An all too familiar twinge grips your chest - the fear of loss that has clung to you since surviving Okashi.

Swallowing the ungodly sensation as a lump in your throat, you put up a glassy smile. "Alright then," you comply with Flora's instruction. You then lean in, kiss the girl's cheek once more, and make rush with haste through the kitchen door. Our into the hall you go, pausing by the doorway. Hand on the doorknob, you swallow a second sickly lump in your throat. "Stay safe, Flora," you whisper.

Throwing open the door, you rush out step out into the street. Dim orange hues paint the sky, the final signs of a setting sun.

"Time to go." You take a right turn and head down the cobblestone road, toward the house in which your men rest.

Frozen air scratches against your skin like razor blades, despite your coat. Biting the corner of your lip, you button tie your coat's sash tighter push on through the all-consuming bitterness.

You must get out of here, before it's too late.

To be continued...

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