Chapter 2: New Ylisstol.
How long had it been with the same routine?
With tired eyes, she got up, realizing once again that she had fallen asleep at her desk while filling out paperwork. It wasn't as much as before, but if there was anything that increased the abominable amount of paperwork, it was the end of the world. Fortunately, they had survived that.
Well, everyone except her father.
Morgan yawned, stretching her arms. Then, she saw the culprit for her decision to set aside her self-imposed duties. Once again, she had taken one of her father's garments that he had left behind—a nightgown that still carried his scent. She had gotten used to taking it and using it as a pillow whenever she felt down, whenever her world seemed to shrink, and the walls seemed to suffocate her.
In every nightmare she had, it was the only real comfort she could seek.
She had to leave her anxiety, grief, and sadness behind; she still had a lot of work to do.
But first, she had to freshen up. Taking the nightgown and heading to the bed, she couldn't believe Chrom had left her father's room as it was.
By Naga, how she adored that little sanctuary.
Queen Sumia had talked to her, she was very considerate and certainly kind. She was worried that Morgan might become depressed by letting her stay in that room. In fact, it had been a year since the fallen dragon's departure, and there were still Shepherds who questioned her decision. But the only reward she asked for was to be able to use her father's room and await his return. She still remembered how Sumia effortlessly quelled any resistance from the nobles who wanted to keep Robin's things as a sort of "sacred shrine" to preserve his memory. It was no wonder they were dissatisfied, but how could they not be? In her eyes and her lack of knowledge, she was just a girl obsessed with the renowned tactician. In the eyes of those involved, she was the grieving daughter of a loving father who had made the ultimate sacrifice, not for the nation or the world.
"I'm just being selfish, Chrom. I'm saving the future for my precious daughter. What father wouldn't fight for his children?"
That was the message with which Robin had bid farewell to his best friend. Maybe it didn't make sense to others, but for Chrom, it was a message that had hurt him to see Robin's melancholic expression. They were supposed to have agreed to seal Grima and wait for a plan, but he had simply leaped into the abyss with a smile and his best wishes to his loved ones.
Morgan couldn't be prouder of her father, even though it left her with a loneliness that hurt her every day. Not only did he demonstrate great love for her, but also for his family. That's why every time someone pretended to be Robin or someone tried to buy his things to "donate money to the castle," they were kicked out of the castle and punished by a certain sorceress who still lingered around the castle.
But she couldn't worry about that now; she had to stick to her routine.
Someone knocking on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. After unlocking it, she could see the same maids who helped her every day.
Following the routine was the only thing keeping her sane for the moment. They helped her bathe, do her makeup, get dressed, and bring her breakfast, every day without fail. While she had forbidden them from touching her work desk, they were also prohibited from moving any of her father's clothes. To preserve his essence, they couldn't even use any perfume.
But today, of all days, she could mark the day when everything would fall apart. The last garment with his scent was the same nightgown she had used as a pillow, and now she could barely detect any trace of his fragrance.
Her mental anchor was about to disappear.
As she read the news, she tried to think of other objects of her father's that she could use. Maybe some kind of parchment or signature? No, it was too silly to even attempt. At this point, she had to follow his advice and ask for help in any way she could. She could go to Sumia, but the queen was busy with the new Cynthia in the nursery. Perhaps she could play with little Lucina? Chrom was monopolizing her time with Future Lucina.
If only she knew who her mother was.
No, she couldn't depress herself over it. Even though Lucina had confirmed that there were more children from the future, she couldn't say who they were or who they were with to avoid further tampering with time, beyond what they had already done.
Still, she couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"Hello! Good morning, my little muffin!" Lissa exclaimed, startling the maids. Morgan had already gotten used to the princess's intrusions, and it pleased her to know that Lissa could occasionally break her routine of not getting up early to visit her before she had to work.
"It'll be a morning with Lissa, then," she thought, placing her tea cup on the table. "Aunty Lissa, I see you're still fighting with the pillows," she said, laughing. The princess only touched her head, feeling her hair as evidence that she hadn't been up long, wiping away sleep from her eyes and smiling, trying to compose herself.
"Don't call me aunt! I'm Lissa," she said while fixing her hair. "Calling me aunt makes me feel...old"
"Sorry, you're right; you're my wonderful princess, the most beautiful girl in the castle," Morgan said as she stood up. Lissa quickly approached to press her cheek against hers in a hug.
"Nope, you're the cutest and prettiest girl around," she said with laughter. "Besides, your skin is still so smooth."
"L-Lissa, stop, you're tickling me"
"Whoops, sorry, Morgan, it's just that you look so adorable in the morning that I..." She looked around, seeing the papers still on her desk, and her expression saddened. "...you're still staying up late? We've told you it's not necessary."
"Just a little, it's not a big deal, and-"
"No! I don't want my little Morgan to develop dark circles or crow's feet from overworking!" She said, pouting. "I know, let's go see the others! I'm sure they have something to entertain us, and if not, a little morning prank will brighten their day," she added with a mischievous smile, while Morgan rolled her eyes.
"Frederick banned me from going near the pond until winter," she said, as Lissa took her hand and led her out of the room. "Besides, we have to reinvent ourselves."
"Hush! Respect the classics, or did you become boring?"
Both girls laughed as they walked through the hallways.
It was strange to walk through those places, so many memories they shared, but the ones that stood out were all the times her father had trained her, pampered her, and the rare moments of peace and tranquility that, though rare, were greatly cherished.
Arriving in the royal kitchen, she could see some servants bustling about, taking orders to the next room, the royal dining hall, while others carried dishes to the barracks. It was a common sight at that hour, and Morgan felt lucky to have breakfast before anyone else. It helped her forget about certain problems.
"Heavens, Morgan, that's not how you use cream!" She heard her father's voice whisper, and she looked towards the ovens at the far end of the room, where she could see their shadows moving from side to side. Her father held a bowl while stirring the dough, and she was trying to shape it into figures.
"Dad! You're not mixing things properly either!" her past self replied, as Robin took a bit of cream from her nose and tasted it, making a face while analyzing the sweetness.
"Well, you can say that, but it actually tastes quite good. You make everything tastier, my dear daughter," he laughed, putting some more cream on her nose with a spoon. She made another face and proceeded to eat it.
"It tastes too sugary!" she said, rolling her eyes. "It should taste like lemon and honey, right?"
"Well, as I said, you sweeten things up," Robin said, putting the bowl down. Morgan tried to adjust the dough, but anticipating her daughter's distraction, he dipped his fingers in the flour and, before she could react, drew a mustache on her. "Although a true tactician never lets their guard down."
"Dad!" she exclaimed, trying to look upset, but she couldn't resist a few small laughs. "Now you've really done it! I won't forgive this offense," she said, holding a wooden ladle.
"Oh? Do you think you can conquer the kitchen? I remind you that I'm the evil mastermind of the castle, controlling everything from the shadows," he took the wooden mixer, pretending to have an evil laugh.
Both were scolded by the head chef, who coughed to get their attention.
Morgan sighed at the fleeting memory, feeling Lissa pulling her as they headed to the dining hall.
"Moman!" Little Lucina cried out, running up to her and stretching her arms, asking to be picked up. Morgan gladly lifted the little one into her arms.
The little one was four years old, but she was more hyperactive and vivacious than her future counterpart, something that Morgan was undoubtedly proud to be an accomplice to. Chrom, Sumia, Lucina, Cynthia, and the newborn baby in the queen's arms were in the royal dining hall.
"Lucina! Let your cousin come in properly," the queen said as she nursed baby Cynthia. The young and petite princess refused. Morgan, on the other hand, picked her up and made her laugh.
"What happened? Did you get tired of playing by yourself?" Morgan asked, glancing at the adult Lucina. She sighed as she tried to eat her breakfast.
"I think you need to reconsider how you phrase that, dear," Sumia interrupted. "It's nice to see you here with us."
"Sorry, Aunt Sumia, I just came to accompany Lissa, but I'll stay for this little mysterious creature," she said as she stroked the little Lucina's head. She used to wonder why everyone seemed obsessed with messing up her hair. Now that she had that little girl in her arms, it was obvious why it was so hypnotic.
"Well, I hope breakfast was to your liking," Chrom commented. "Or was it too little? If you'd like, we can make some space and-"
"Nah, thanks, Uncle Chrom. I'm just passing through," she said as she finally, albeit reluctantly, put Lucina back where she had picked her up. "Besides, I think I'll take advantage of this weekend to have some free time."
"You know you can always count on us, dear," Sumia said with a loving smile. "Even if you want, I can gather Olivia, Sully, and Miriel for a book club meeting."
"Thanks, but for now, I'll pass. I really need to stop seeing so much paperwork," she said, scratching her head.
"I understand, but remember, dear, we all want you to be happy here, and sometimes, happiness doesn't come from a strict routine with fleeting breaks. It would be good if you took some time off, more than just a few days. After all, there's not much that's urgent."
"I understand, thank you, but I swear, I'm fine," she smiled. "I just need to find my rhythm at this point."
"Well, if you need help, we're here for you," Lissa said as she played with little Lucina. "We can still go annoy Frederick if you like," she added with a mischievous laugh.
"Nah, Fredie needs to train some recruits from time to time. And speaking of duties... I think I need to catch up on some things with Anna and Olivia, so I'll just do that and take the day."
With that said, Morgan bid farewell with a bow, leaving the royal family behind.
"...She keeps on tryin'..." Lucina commented.
"Well, it's been a year, and even though we're still tryin' to mend the damage, it hasn't been exactly easy," Chrom said as he sipped his coffee. "Not to mention that our efforts to find Robin have been... more than unsatisfactory..."
"Are you still quarrelin' with those nobles?" Sumia asked.
"They keep sayin' we need to cut costs on the search," he said, sighing. "...idiots..."
"Bad word!" Little Lucina exclaimed.
"Bad! Daddy bad! No bad words here!" Cynthia joined in the game, while Lucina tried to contain her laughter.
"Well, well, let's allow Daddy to have this moment; we all feel frustrated," Sumia said, giving him an irritated look. "But seriously, don't make it a habit, at least not in front of the girls."
"My mistake," he said, also trying to hold back his laughter. "But seriously... those guys get on my nerves..."
"Let's just hope they don't bother her. Anyway, if anything happens, Tharja's always keeping an eye on her."
"Let's hope she doesn't hex´s anyone," Chrom added.
As Morgan left the castle, the sound of the city just waking up was something she enjoyed hearing. Walking along the cobbled streets, the sound of horse-drawn carriages announcing the arrival of goods in front of the castle was usually comforting.
It took her about ten minutes to reach the central square of Ylisstol. The city was just beginning to awaken, the light fog that covered the city was just clearing, coming out of winter, and Morgan could enjoy the refreshing morning sensation.
Once again, the sound of swallows fluttering made her lose herself in her memories for a moment.
At this time of year, she could only sigh as the smell of bread, dried meat, and pancakes filled the air. That part of the city she loved for that very reason. The businesses were just opening, and the commercial area of the city was what she liked most about the mornings. Although the contrast between the taverns and other businesses was varied, this was the heart of the city, its food zone.
Oh, and there were so many good things there! Just looking at the impressive new building that was so close to the others, one that was between the food zone and the cultural zone, precisely that building with unique dimensions and different from the other businesses was her destination.
The doorman, upon seeing her, just smiled and allowed her to enter. The waitresses and cooks in the restaurant area welcomed her. Even though there were no customers in the morning, the fact that she needed to enter was more than enough to cheer everyone up.
"...Girl, you arrived earlier than you should have," one of the few men sitting there said. She smiled while he sighed.
"Uncle Lon'qu, you shouldn't scare away customers so early!"
"You're not a customer, you never are, so don't get too involved," he said as he took a sip of his tankard.
Despite how negative it sounded, it was his way of caring for her. Morgan could see that he still couldn't look her in the eye, and it wasn't because of his fear of women. It was simply because, as one of Robin's security guards, he felt ashamed to have to face someone who had let him down, even though she assured him that he hadn't harmed her in any way. The pride of a Feroxi warrior prevented him from making the best decisions when it came to her. Trying to tell her not to approach the place wasn't because he thought she needed protection from some low-class trash; in fact, it was the opposite. Despite it being his job to be an integral part of the security team for the establishment, he couldn't bear the thought of some foolish noble trying to harm the girl who, in the eyes of the Shepherds, was the "unofficial daughter" of everyone.
Lon'qu took his job of protecting her seriously if the need arose, but he didn't want to cause her any further trauma.
"Well, if Aunty Olivia would come to visit me from time to time, I wouldn't have to come to greet her so early," she said, crossing her arms. "Is she here?"
"Go on ahead," he said as he took a bite of his bread. "She's getting ready for this afternoon, you know how she is."
"Oh! Then I better come help!" She said, giving a few small jumps.
Morgan knew how precious that place was to everyone. Olivia and Robin had planned to build that place, called the "Goddess's Tear," a place where people could gather, and it was the city's most well-received cultural venue, taking up a large part of the block. The front part of the place operated as a regular inn, which was small in itself. The "back" part had space for a stage and tables, and diners could enjoy the back with a good wine while being treated to a performance.
It functioned as a kind of reduced and covered amphitheater, which guaranteed not being at the mercy of the weather.
The stage, as always, was impeccable. The diner tables were in the center, the bar to the right, and at the back was the stage. Morgan could see the enormous space that this place had. There were even podiums higher up for more upper-class visitors to view the stage. The strange combination of theater and eatery was more than welcome among the nobles and commoners alike. Well, she would say "commoners," but for some time now, the social classes in Ylisstol had begun to bridge the gap between them.
As she hopped around, she landed at the bar, leaving a few coins. The bartender recognized her and, with a laugh, handed her the drink. "Here, a sparkling orangeade for our best customer," the bartender said. Morgan quickly took it and looked around the place gleaming.
"Thanks Guss, you´re the best!" Said Morgan, it was incredible that even before they embarked on the fight against the Fallen Dragon, Robin could acquire that land, and with all the money they got from the Deeprealms, they could improve the economy of the entire continent. That Olivia could afford to buy this place along with Robin (obviously with some help in permits from an accommodating queen) to have a nationally renowned showplace was something she hadn't imagined would happen so soon.
She watched as employees set up, cleaned, and made sure everything was in order. This part of the place was closed until the afternoon, and it was common for this place to fill up. Olivia's itinerary was quite clear and explanatory, so there was always something to entertain the different social classes.
When she saw some people setting up the upright pianos near the stage, she saw Olivia come out from behind the curtains with a group of girls following her, giving them instructions on what to do.
After finishing her drink, she quickly ran to the stage and, winking at the people arranging the instruments, they allowed her to sit at the piano.
As she began to tune the piano, she could remember how in the palace's music room, her father had encouraged her to pursue other hobbies. Even though she wasn't convinced, she had asked him that if he asked her that, it was only fair that he did it too. Robin accepted it graciously, and even though he was terrible with the flute, violin, or cello, Maribelle taught them to play the piano.
When she started playing, Olivia was momentarily confused, but upon seeing the strands of white hair sticking out from behind the piano, a warm smile spread across her face.
Morgan had learned the basics of the piano with her father, and in fact, within a couple of months, they could play several pieces together. Maribelle had taught them that a certain number of keys played at the same time on the sheet music were read as "happy," "sad," or "excited." Right now, Morgan was playing an original piece by the two of them. However, her part was only to play the "sad" part of the song. As she continued to play, she could see her father's shadow sitting beside her to keep up with her rhythm.
To the ears of strangers, such a song could be interpreted as a sad melody, but to Olivia and anyone who heard the duo play, they knew the true meaning of the song. It was a melancholy that flooded their hearts due to the absence of a partner.
Morgan had composed that same song as a complicated joke from Lissa and company. Practicing for weeks and improving her rhythm, she had decided to give this song to her father, calling it 'Kou ō,' based on the song of a bird on the islands south of Plegia. It was a reinterpretation of the male's call to the female, which together formed a harmonious melody. However, when played alone as the male's part, it was what made it sad, as the dissonance caused by the absence of a partner revealed the loneliness of an incomplete song.
Lissa, upon learning the meaning, had joked that if Robin played that song, any girl who "responded" to the call could be her mother. It was part of the complicated joke they had made.
As she continued to play, she could hear the girls whispering with some sobs. The musical piece lasted for several minutes, so when she finished, several of the girls applauded the performance.
"Fl-Flawless as always, Morgan," Olivia commented as she received a smile from the young girl.
"What would you like me to play today?" Morgan asked. Olivia put her finger to her lips as she thought.
"These girls are in training... Ah, how about 'Obsidian Flames'?" When Morgan nodded in agreement to her suggestion, Olivia applauded to get the girls in position.
She started playing the piano again as the girls began to dance, and Olivia observed the girls' movements, trying to find any issues.
The girls were good, but they weren't as precise as Olivia wanted them to be. Still, nothing that practice couldn't improve. Again, at the end, some of the present audience applauded, while the girls seemed somewhat unsynchronized.
"Well, I think that'll be it for now, girls," Olivia said as she approached Morgan. "Th-thank you for your help, Morgan."
"No need to thank me; I'm—"
"Wow, what a cute girl!" One of the girls had approached, interrupting her. Morgan simply observed as more girls started to gather around, and she continued to play some notes while they spoke. "Who is she?"
"Ah, sh-she's Morgan, and she helps us from time to time. Please treat her kindly."
"Sure, nice to meet you!" said one of the girls, her crimson hair contrasting with her purple dancer's outfit. "Treat us well. I'm not sure if we'll stay long, but we want to see what Ylisstol has to offer."
"Well, I'll treat you well as long as you buy me a drink now and then," Morgan teased, playing some keys to add a playful tone to her teasing. "Although I still don't drink alcohol, a drink from Guss is more than enough to keep me on my good side."
The girl laughed. "Sure thing, nice to meet you. It's incredible that you can play just like Master Olivia."
"She's a natural talent," Olivia commented with a chuckle. "It's quite rare to find someone with her skills, especially on the piano. Not everyone usually charges a drink for their services."
"Exploited ~, used ~, undervalued~ here in Ylisstol, I stand~" Morgan continued to mock dramatically. "But I won't persist, someday~ a sip of rum I'll take~"
"Not while you're underage," Olivia said, squeezing her cheek. "You're forbidden from getting near the bottles again. Your little experiment with Miriel cost us a keg."
"Child exploitation~"
"No! Th-that's not it! Morgan, please stop joking."
"Only if I can rest my head in your lap~" she said with a sad puppy-dog look. "Well, I envy my dad, who got to take such bliss~ Ah, it's hard to rhyme while playing." Olivia blushed.
"Ma'am! I didn't know you liked married men; this is real drama!"
"N-no! Please stop saying that. It's not what it looks like. Besides, he..."
"Father hasn't set foot in this place in over a year," Morgan said nonchalantly. "Although I'd appreciate it if you watch out for anyone suspiciously flirting with Olivia. It's not something that happens often." She stuck her tongue out.
"Wait... Robin? Isn't there a scribbled card in your study that says 'Robin's Casanova League'? Did you draw that, Morgan? It's quite adorable. Did you do it when you were younger?"
Olivia and Morgan nervously laughed. She knew which card they were referring to. It was another inside joke. Lissa had made several cards like that for the "members" of the club. Although it wasn't Morgan who had done it but rather a certain princess who wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Nah, my natural talent is music," Morgan continued to play. "Although they want me to fight, my soul yearns to dance~"
"Haaah, Morgan... never change..." Olivia said. There was a certain charm in watching the antics she pulled off, she was better than a few months ago.
"Ugh, sorry, but is this for real?" One of the girls approached, looking at Morgan with disdain. "I didn't travel this far to see a Plegian rat perform here."
"Ssssh! Remember what Master Olivia said! No comments like that to other people!" The girl elbowed her, and upon closer inspection, Morgan recognized her Valmian features. Maybe Rosanne? She wasn't sure since the girl didn't act like she was close to the Valmian nobles. However, there was a certain noble air about her that was unpleasant. "Apologize, Lia... Ah! I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? I'm Flora. We came here based on a recommendation from the Duchy of Rosanne. Nice to meet you, Morgan." Said the girl who was talking with them from the start.
"Likewise," Morgan nodded as she continued to play.
"Lia, apologize right now!" Olivia raised her voice, taking the girls by surprise. "I won't allow you to insult people like that."
"Really? This girl can play, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that she's a P-"
"Out!" Olivia pointed to the exit. "I won't require your services. Now go."
"What?! You can't kick me out! I just arrived in the city, and—"
"I don't care! You can't insult people like that, especially not her! If you don't want to follow the program, that's debatable, but I won't allow you to disrespect Morgan again. If you don't want to apologize, then you're not welcome here!"
"Eh? O-Olivia, calm down. I'm fine. Look, I don't mind if she calls me that," Morgan tried to calm her, taking her hand to get her attention. Olivia looked at her with some concern, but even when she smiled, it only made her angrier.
"Take your things, Lia; you're not welcome here. I'll send a letter to your father explaining why we can't receive you here. Now, go; I don't want to see you here anymore." Olivia sat down next to Morgan, and the girl stormed away with heavy footsteps, while the other girls whispered about her behavior.
"Listen, girls," Olivia began, "if you have any problems with Morgan or other Plegians, then it will be difficult to work here. This place was built thanks to Robin, a great friend and the kindest person I know. He's a Plegian as far as we know." She cleared her throat, barely managing to maintain her composure. "The motto of this place is 'Every art is welcome,' and since it's Robin's legacy, no form of racism will be tolerated, understood?" Despite looking concerned, several of the girls nodded, and Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.
"Vamos," Morgan said, taking her hand.
"Huh? Where to?"
"Well, Chrom asked me to give you an important letter, but first, I wanted to do this. It's important. Can we go to your study?" She whispered this to Olivia.
Olivia glanced at everyone and cleared her throat. "W-Well, that's all for today. There's an event starting at 7 in the evening, so you can practice until 5 or take the day off. I'll see you later, girls." She said this as Morgan left her seat with a little hop. Morgan was impulsive, and as she pulled the shy dancer with her, some of the girls couldn't help but whistle and make comments like "She's winning over her father through his daughter," which made her blush even more.
After a few minutes, they arrived at Olivia's private room, a place that Morgan loved to visit.
While Olivia started preparing tea, Morgan looked around. She could see the walls adorned with multiple paintings that Robin had given her, along with elegant furniture from Chon'sin.
"When did you finish decorating?"
"Just a few days ago. It's not easy when everyone is vying for a spot in the amphitheater," Olivia said as she placed a teacup on the table. Morgan immediately took the cup to savor the tea. "The paintings only arrived yesterday, so you're the first to see them. I also sent some to your room; they should arrive today or tomorrow. I hope you'll enjoy them."
"A painting of you? Dancing? Of course! My dad loved those Feroxi works we got, and he was even happy that you could find that artist you wanted for your portrait."
"Goodness, Morgan, don't say things like that so casually," Olivia said, blushing again. "B-But well, if you want some free time or need anything, we're always here for you."
"Thanks, but I'm fine!" Morgan said as she took another sip of tea, only to gasp as she nearly burned her tongue.
"Calm down, young lady; the tea isn't going anywhere," Olivia said, trying not to sit next to her to stroke her head. "Well, what did Chrom send?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing; I just wanted us to get out of there," Morgan said with a grin. "You seemed a bit upset."
"Of course, I am!" Olivia said, hitting her cup against the saucer. "We've just managed to secure all the dancers we need for the upcoming performance in a few months, and the least participative one thinks she has the right to say those things, and—"
"Aaaah, well, there's nothing to be done about it," Morgan said as she approached and indicated that Olivia should sit down to calm herself. Olivia looked at her in confusion as Morgan removed her robe. "Well, goodbye, anger!" Morgan said as she lay down on the couch, using Olivia's lap as a pillow.
"E-EH?! W-What are you doing?!"
"Applying a happiness session," Morgan said as her head rested on Olivia's lap. "Whenever my father got stressed, I'd pull him onto the bed and do this. He said it was relaxing. Maybe it'll work for you too?"
"A-Ah... well... it's certainly nice... but..." Morgan was moving around so much. "Do you have to move so much? What are you, a cat?"
"Nope! My father used to say I was more like a little otter because I always stole his food and snuck into his lap when he was studying."
"Haaaah, Morgan... you..."
"I'm... fine, Olivia... really," Morgan said as she looked at her. "After all, you're always looking out for me, so a comment from someone I know won't affect me. Besides, we don't even know where I was born, so that girl probably just assumed I was Plegian based on my robe. Don't worry about petty stuff, okay? If you need that girl for your show, don't fire her; it's not a big deal."
Olivia looked at her as she tried to convince her. Certainly, that girl had talent, but it wasn't worth dealing with her attitude. Before, Olivia used to think that talent was everything, but after getting to know Robin, she managed to overcome the barriers that held her back. To think that she was wasting her talent because of her attitude was a shame, but Olivia couldn't train her if she wasn't willing to change her stubbornness, especially if she insulted Morgan. Olivia stroked her head as she laughed.
"Don't worry about adult problems; everything will be fine. Just... focus on being happy..."
"Haha, that's what a mother would say," Morgan said playfully, and Olivia's heart skipped a beat when she heard that. It was a fact that she loved being with Morgan, even though it wasn't clear who her mother was. She would certainly love to have her as a daughter.
"Don't say that; I'm not ready..." She said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Oh, of course I mean it!" Morgan said as Olivia placed her cup on the table. "If I can't, then it's time for Morgan's special attack!" With that, she began to rub her head against Olivia's affectionately.
Meanwhile, in a certain part of the castle:
Sumia was finishing up preparing Cynthia's new clothes. It was enchanting to see how the baby was fascinated by her mother's expressions. Even though she loved spending time with her daughter, it saddened Sumia that the more time she played with the toddler, the longer the baby slept. It was a blessing how easy it was to take care of her, but it also meant less quality time together.
Despite being the queen, her noble routine had hardly been disrupted. At the moment, she was in her daughter's large room, getting everything ready for what Cynthia would wear. Someone timidly knocking on the door interrupted her. It was unusual for someone to call at this hour. She could hear the guard's nervous conversation with whoever had interrupted her daughter's nap. When she peeked to see who it was, the crimson hair was unmistakable, as was the pegasus wing-shaped ornament.
"Ah... my apologies, Your Highness... I'm sorry for... disturbing you..." Cordelia said, being scolded by the guard for interrupting the queen at this hour. "I... Is this a bad time?"
"Uh? No, of course not. Just come in quietly; Cynthia is sleeping," Sumia replied, inviting her to enter.
Although Cordelia's frequent visits to the castle were not unusual, it was strange to see her without Sully, Stahl, or Frederick. It was out of place. While preparing a place for her to sit, Cordelia couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the little baby asleep.
"She´s lovely...Right?" Sumia inquired.
"Oh, cer-certainly... they're adorable when they're like this..."
"Of course, she's adorable when she's not playing with Morgan. She's adorable then too, but Morgan has a tendency to spoil her a lot."
"Yes... certainly... she's unique..."
Cordelia sat where the queen indicated and nervously picked up a teacup, seeming stuck on something. The noblewoman who had achieved her greatest goal as the leader and commander of the Pegasus Knights was not easily perturbed; it simply wasn't in her character. But seeing her so nervous raised a flag in Sumia's mind.
"I don't mind you visiting, but I don't think this is a social call, is it?" Sumia asked.
"Ah, no, it's something... delicate... but I can't confide in anyone else except Your Highness on this matter," Cordelia replied.
"Well, it seems important. If you need some time to compose yourself and gather your thoughts, I can wait."
"...No... it's just that... I've had some... strange thoughts... lately..." Cordelia said, biting her lip. "It's... it's about... a complicated matter for me... and asking for your advice is strange but necessary... I just can't think of anyone better, and since you've been with Morgan for so long, I figure you might be able to give me some insight. So, I've spent quite a bit of time..."
"Cordelia, you're rambling a lot."
"Sorry, sorry, it's just... I have so many doubts..." She blushed, thinking of only one person, but she couldn't help herself. "Tell me... how do you know... that you love someone? That it's not just a simple infatuation?"