Maribelle

Maribelle took a deep breath as she stopped brushing her hair. She was seated within her room in the inn, the moon light shining in through her window. A candle illuminated the mirror in front of her as she sat at her desk.

It had been nearly a week since Clovis fought Gregor in the arena. Clovis had dragged them to several other fights since then. Thankfully, the constant exposure to seeing him fight had somewhat calmed Lissa's nerves. Lissa was no longer on the verge of passing out in the stands whenever a weapon was swung vaguely in Clovis's direction.

Maribelle was thankful that Clovis had been so persistent in getting Lissa to go to his fights. She dearly loved her best friend, but even she could see that Lissa had been far too coddled. As a fellow healer, Lissa needed to get used to seeing injuries. She needed to get used to the idea of seeing those close to her hurt.

It was a terrible burden, but it came with their position as healers. Maribelle's father had told her the risks behind her decision in becoming a healer. He had spoken to her about the horrors she would see. Her father had told tales about the type of monsters that would target her for simply having the means to save those she cared for.

Maribelle doubted dear Lissa had ever had such a speech given to her. Emmeryn babied her; treated her like a child instead of the near adult that she was. Emmeryn never brought Lissa to witness a criminal execution, she never brought Lissa to see the aftermath of a bandit raid. It took Clovis dragging them all to Ferox for Maribelle to realize how much danger Lissa was truly in.

She was just…

She…

She was scared.

Scared that Lissa would be hurt by their cruel world. Maribelle wasn't that much older than Lissa, only two years, yet it felt as if there was a massive rift between them when it came to experience. In a lot of ways, Lissa still felt like that child she befriended all those years ago. The friendly little princess who invited her to tea constantly. Maribelle even developed a passion for tea thanks to how many times they had those parties.

Ferox was helping to close that rift, ever so slowly. Did Maribelle think Lissa could calmly heal people on an active battlefield? Probably not. Was she getting to that point? Slowly, ever so slowly. Lissa just needed to see a few more lethal battles.

Maribelle was familiar enough with Clovis that she knew they were all bound to get dragged into another fight or two with brigands. Prince Clovis was eccentric, but she could not deny the fact he was an extremely effective fighter. Prince Clovis was a monstrous fighter, a perfect counter to a healer like her.

All he would need to do is to warp behind her for just a moment. One thrust and she would be done. Just another corpse on a red stained field. How many had he slain back in Plegia alongside her father?

Her father respected Clovis, seemingly as much as Clovis seemed to respect him. Maribelle's father asked about him near weekly after her tea parties with Lissa. Her father had even been thrilled when Maribelle returned home to pack for her departure to Ferox with Clovis. She obviously knew the reason why.

The daughter of a duke does not have weekly tea parties with a princess for the sake of just forming a friendship. Maribelle wouldn't necessarily call her father an ambitious man, but his motives were obvious. Her father didn't want her to form a friendship with just Lissa.

Ylisse had two princes. Two unmarried princes in a kingdom ruled by a woman who had yet to show interest in any suitors at age twenty two. If Emmeryn did not marry, Chrom was next in line to inherit the throne. After Chrom, Clovis.

Maribelle's father almost certainly wanted her to pursue one of the two princes. Her father's personal bias on which prince she should pursue was more than obvious. He wanted her to marry Clovis. To turn Clovis into the next Duke of Themis.

Her face lightly burned as she thought about the fool. He was oddly charming for someone so… off. He made fun of her taste in novels and then ran off to buy her one arguably composed of more risqué content. It was strangely endearing.

Maribelle reached for the novel on her desk. She was almost done with the "Shieldmaiden" novel. Clovis had been right about the book looking interesting. Feroxian literature was much more direct in nature. The female lead was far more bold compared to the Ylissean romance novels she read.

Rather than let the male lead take the lead in the relationship, the female lead in "Shieldmaiden" took center stage. She wasted no time taking what she wanted. She had wanted her Khan and had wasted little time making her desires known.

Maribelle couldn't imagine doing what she had done in the novel. To boldly declare before the Khan and his court that she would claim his heart and body within a month. The novel had been a game of cat and mouse with the female lead taking on the role of a starving cat. She eventually captured the mouse, the Khan ill prepared for an aggressive suitor.

Perhaps there was something for her to take away from the novel? She was her father's only heir. She needed children or the Duchy of Themis would be in danger. It might be fun to try to take on the role of the pursuing cat instead of the difficult to capture mouse.

She was… desirable… wasn't she? At least Maribelle didn't think she was ugly.

She chewed her lip. Clovis had looked at her body when he had invited her to go to the beach with him and the others. She had noticed his lingering gaze. She was likely on the higher end of average when it came to beauty if she had to guess.

Maribelle stilled in her chair as she stared into the mirror. She had a stupid idea. A foolish idea. An idea that refused to slip from her mind.

Couldn't she… at least try to play the role of the cat?

It would be just like the novel.

Clovis would be the perfect little naive mouse. There was no way he had experience with women. Not with his circumstances.

Clovis was a prince. He was Lissa's brother, meaning they would become sisters. There were far worse pairings for her. She'd just need to help him resolve those wounds haunting his heart.

For now… she could… tease him a little.

Maribelle smiled to herself in the mirror as she loosened the top button of her silk pajama top.

It was time for her to go on the prowl…

She quietly left her room, heading down the hall towards Clovis's room.

Her heart was loudly beating, her hands sweaty. A part of her was screaming that she was being foolish, but another part of her felt a certain thrill from her sudden decision.

She lightly knocked on Clovis's door, hoping he was still awake. She heard a chair squeak behind the door before she heard footsteps heading towards her.

Maribelle crossed her arms underneath her chest as she waited in front of his door.

Clovis opened the door, speaking with a yawn, "Who is-"

He fell silent, his eyes studying her.

She felt a spark go down her back, a small smirk growing on her face. She was desirable if someone like Clovis was spellbound by her appearance in her pajamas.

Maribelle spoke, "Sorry for bothering you. When was the trip to the Feroxian gardens again? I know you said it was to happen soon. I just want to make sure my day out with Lissa to buy my own Winter Solstice dress will not be interrupted."

Clovis took a slight step, further obscuring himself behind his door.

She must have really caught him unaware.

"Uh… three days from now. Is that all, Maribelle? I was reading the tome I won from Anna."

There was no reason for her to push any further than this. She wasn't going to be that aggressive.

She smiled, "Thank you, Prince Clovis."

He scratched at his cheek, "You know you can just call me Clovis, Maribelle."

She let her arms drop to her sides, turning her body in preparation to head back towards her room, "I will do so if you wish me to. Have a good night Clovis."

"You too, Maribelle."

She slowly walked towards her room, putting a little bit of sway into her steps. She didn't hear Clovis's door shut until she reached her own door.

She headed into her room, shutting the door behind her. She shivered, leaning against the shut door. Her face was burning as embarrassment flooded her alongside another feeling.

Despite how cold her room was, she was feeling very warm.