AN: I wrote this on a whim, so if it seems out of place that may be why.
Raphtalia's Concern
Raphtalia was not one to (intentionally) cause much trouble—or even needless drama—where it would result in no substantial gain, but there were those days where she either felt the pang of temptation or found herself reaching the precipice/border of doing so in reaction. Her feelings for Naofumi often being the catalyst (her initial troubles with Filo and somewhat frustrations with Atla being such examples).
Now, she felt herself again coming close to such a reaction, with the more common of her reasons to do so. Though not nearly at risk of being volatile as the more worse cases.
Naofumi frequently found himself being distracted—either from physical labors to result in his forehead covered with beads of sweat or paperwork that require a constant amount of attention (and this was not counting the Shield Hero's long and private congregation with the Queen which required night long conversations)—but when he was free to relax and lose some tension the Sword was to take the opportunity to be around him in those moments as best and frequent as possible. But something had changed.
Often her friend, Sadeena, would express her interest in Naofumi. The Shield Hero denied besting her in a drinking contest—to which Raphtalia was quick to ask if he had upon her first declaration of interest in him—but the Tanuki/raccoon demi-human woman knew immediately he had (seeing through his denial instantly). It was frustrating. Sadeena had always made it clear that her ideal mate would be the man to defeat her at drinking, and that when she found such a man she intended to not be easy to shake off, so she came to find herself with another rival for Naofumi's affection. But despite Sadeena's efforts, Naofumi was thankfully quick to shrug off her advances due to his past troubles with women (the only benefit of Bitch's betrayal which was as often a boon to Raphtalia's romantic cause as it was a detriment) but he seemed to have waned or grown more lenient toward her choice of actions and words in their conversations.
Before this, ever since the stay at the Queen's personal retreat, there had been an epoch of weirdness between big sis and Shield Hero. She began making comments regarding the Queen to earn restrained agitation as well as various unusual reactions from Naofumi.
However, in time her pretty magenta eyes registered Sadeena's presence around him enough times for her to notice a deviation from the norm. When she was sneaking a hug on him Naofumi seemed to be less annoyed than usual with her doing so, seeming near familiar with the feeling of her touch.
Has he…taken more of a liking to Sadeena? Raphtalia wondered this to herself with widened eyes, but never permitted it to show (for the moment). Never expressed disappointment at the idea as if it was reality; never blurted it out with a distraught expression and agaped mouth; and never confronted Naofumi directly. After all, the last thing she needed was Filo resuming her own machinations to win over the Shield Hero or Atla increasing her own efforts (which alone felt more of a threat to Raphtalia's chance at romance victory).
She was reticent at the thought when she began to suspect the possibility. There was no proof. Did she even want to know? For all she knew they had already discussed the "mating" thing which caused her to blush embarrassedly. If it was true it would crush her soul. But she could not help but to be tormented by the thought. Of the various possible scenarios which could have been transpiring beyond her awareness.
Until one day she was alone with Sadeena and the curiosity was beyond her control. "Sadeena, are you and Naofumi lovers?" she blurted out directly during the isolated incident. Sadeena gave the question thought with the circles within the whites darting to the top of their circle to house them—or even was using the girl's uncertainty to toy with Raphtalia, in another of her big sis proclivities—before returning at last verbally with "We are not what you are thinking."
"Wha…?" it was not even remotely close to what she was expecting or wishing to hear.
That was as far as she was able to get in terms of answers. Sadeena side-stepped any further questions she threw her way with either questions of her own or answers which danced around the subject in near totality. Any inquiry made to Naofumi was even less fruitful. Denying it somewhat annoyed, however with hints he was not being entirely honest with his oldest companion.
During that confrontation, it also appeared that Naofumi was experience some sense of guilt.
It was a level of frustration which made Raphtalia want to tear at her long hair. She did not wish to lose Naofumi, but the case was similar with Sadeena and thus her hands were tied.
Her concerns for the moment were to be put on hold. But she knew something was amiss, and was yet to abandon her concern.