How could she explain it?
She had always been curious to an extent that was highly questioned by others, but never in her life (at least the little she remembered) had this been an inconvenience for her.
Strangely, she could recall some words that could "justify" her character. She knew her dad would never say something like "my little cloud," so it must have been a repressed memory from her mother. In the past few weeks, she had been focusing on spending time with others to see if anyone would come up with a nickname like that. The plan didn't work at all because, truthfully, she had never encouraged it. In fact, she only remembered the whole nickname thing that day when she shared the topic with Olivia.
Well, the "gardenia bud" got her into trouble, and at least it wouldn't bother her for the moment. Lissa seemed a bit annoyed but certainly happy that she was called "bumblebee." That nickname war was just about to begin.
Maribelle had called Sumia urgently about the noble, and even though she was safe, she couldn't help but think that this guy, Edmund, wanted something with her. Unlike the other nobles who intercepted her at the entrance, Edmund had already been lingering around the castle. She still couldn't figure out what he wanted with her, but the way he looked at her certainly gave her a bad feeling. From her perspective, he didn't see her as a person, but as an object, which annoyed her because that disgusting old man seemed to be obsessed with some recruits when he visited the barracks.
Sumia arrived after a few minutes and began discussing the problem, accompanied by Lissa and Cynthia.
"Already?" Morgan asked while she was in a corner with three books on her head, staring at the wall, and holding a bucket of water in each hand.
"Dear, no, let's wait for your Uncle Chrom to arrive. For now, we have to deal with this problem."
"Haaaah... those bastards..." Sumia growled.
"Psst! I told you it was a bad idea," Lissa whispered, standing next to Morgan, doing exactly the same thing as her.
"I told you it was a bad idea!" said Gaius, who was being punished in the same way.
"Looks like they want more weight," Maribelle said maliciously.
"No, ma'am," Morgan said, pouting.
"This is interesting; I certainly haven't seen this before," Panne commented, who was still practicing her writing.
What happened? Well, when Lissa arrived at the room, she felt bad about what had happened to Morgan. She tried to verify who the guards were that hadn't protected Morgan because someone following her so deep into the castle was unheard of. Unfortunately, they realized that Edmund had evaded several guards to harass Morgan and try to get information out of her, as it seemed.
The issue of why Gaius 'was chased away by a bee' arose, just for them to tell Maribelle everything about Robin's journal. When Sumia arrived and heard about Lissa's nickname, she couldn't help but ask about her daughters' nicknames. Although it was something Morgan didn't know, as soon as she checked the journal, a word slipped out.
Croissant.
Instinctively, everyone's eyes moved to Maribelle, who blushed at being the center of attention. She tried to protest, but Morgan's words were something inevitably embarrassing for the noble.
"I don't know, maybe if we think about how difficult it is to make such a delicate and fine bread, it strikes me that Maribelle is like 'the finest of breads,' at least as she herself told me during one of our tea meetings when we talked during the first anniversary of the end of the war. Maribelle is not at all a noble from a simple or rural region, but definitely the fragrance she always has around her, how complicated it is to get close to her but how sweet she is when you catch her on her good side is definitely something that reminds me, in a way, of a Croissant," Morgan said aloud, trying to imitate her father's voice.
Maribelle turned as red as a tomato. How was it that the tactician was so close to her that he could even define her fragrance?
"Tea party? Without your best friend?" Lissa said sarcastically, who, despite being jealous, couldn't help but see her friend's head as a Croissant.
"Gaius scolded me for making him hungry, so he told me to think of another name, since if I called Lissa 'bumblebee' and Olivia 'little gardenia bud,' it had to be something similar. We couldn't agree until I remembered the flower, what kind of flowers she liked, the vanilla orchid. Gaius, for some reason, started laughing."
Once was acceptable, but twice? Maribelle, still with a red face, took Morgan by the hand, pinned her against the wall, and told her that she was 'grounded' for the moment, so she needed to take a break from the situation.
"Vanilla orchid? Sounds adorable. If I'm 'bumblebee,' then that means our friendship is a good example of this relationship we have," Lissa said with a mischievous smile. Gaius played along, earning the same punishment.
Anyway, Morgan noticed that Lissa had three more books on her head than she did, so at least she knew she could get away with things to some extent. Maybe she had caught her off guard—even in her anger towards Edmund, she knew she couldn't be too lenient with Maribelle.
"Still... this is a problem..." Sumia sighed. "...by Naga... even in times of peace, they don't stop being vultures..."
"That's why I called you, Your Majesty," Maribelle sighed, still red but using her fan to calm her nerves. "I told Edmund to gather his reports and that we would have a hearing next week. We can't allow these unfounded accusations to take root."
"The tax issue is something Robin already dealt with. By Naga, he paid his taxes ten years in advance. After we took that money from the portals, there was no need to pay more, but he left everything prepared in case something happened..." Sumia sighed. "Honestly... I hate that they make these kinds of accusations..."
"I know..." Maribelle hated to admit it, but it bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
She didn't know if the other girls knew, but more than once, she had caught Tiki consoling Robin for everything he had to endure. The portals had been a godsend, allowing them to raise funds for the campaign against Grima. In the end, it was a risky gamble that Robin took, and it paid off. The royal treasury was secure, and the capital obtained could lift Ylisstol; they just had to be careful not to use it all at once, or it would devalue the currency. The case of "tax evasion" and "fraud against the crown" was unsustainable. Perhaps Edmund could have presented it more diplomatically, but making such accusations was ridiculous. Although Maribelle noted all the important details, Sumia was focused on only one part.
"...paternity claims..." Sumia was usually a calm, serene, and even endearingly clumsy person, but right now, she seemed more intimidating than Grima himself.
"...paternity claims..." Maribelle sighed.
Obviously, they had to be lies. Robin never had any "alone time" with other women outside the Shepherds; he was always with his daughter or someone else. The mere thought that there was some deluded woman trying to tie him down with a child was an obvious and clear declaration of war to others. Not only was it very vulgar, but it was also degrading to think that somehow, Robin had been so vulgar as to impregnate someone and not tell anyone that there could be a little Morgan out there.
It was simply blasphemous to his memory.
"...Maribelle." Sumia smiled.
"No, we can't start an inquisition to track down and eliminate these allegations. I asked for an inquisitor to be appointed to investigate and delve into these accusations," Maribelle said. Sumia just looked away.
"...maybe I could call Frederick and—"
"Forgive me, my queen, but we cannot involve Frederick," Maribelle sighed.
"Freddie is banned from my room and from touching my clothes after confiscating my outfits and my undies!" Morgan pouted, while Lissa rolled her eyes, and Gaius tried to hold back his laughter.
"Dear... I've told you many times to be more specific or give more context," Maribelle said, deadpanning.
"Morgan, my sweet little Morgan, now is not... a good time for your charming and funny comments. Anyone hearing that without knowing that Frederick took your dirty clothes because you hid Lucina's sweets there so he wouldn't confiscate them with her little toys..." Sumia felt some of her anger fade away due to Morgan's antics. "...just let it go. Are you sure she need to stay there for so long?" Sumia asked Maribelle.
"I suppose an unintentional prank doesn't require such a severe punishment," Maribelle said. "Dear, you can come here, but I would greatly appreciate it if you don't put me in that position again without warning or telling me what's going on in that adorable little head of yours, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Morgan said, leaving the wall and placing the books next to Panne.
"Um, aren't you forgetting something?" Lissa asked.
"Do you know the nicknames of my daughters or the others that we don't know or that Morgan hasn't mentioned?" Sumia asked her sister-in-law, who only groaned. "Five more minutes then."
"But... why is this so important?" Morgan asked, finally approaching the table and looking at the paper. "I... could work with Maribelle to dismiss these cases."
"As much as I'd like to, dear, we can't have you on the investigation team. In fact, I'll have to be by your side as a temporary guardian since the accusation was made against your family. Sumia will have to summon some nobles who want to be part of this 'trial.' The castle court and counselors can't be prosecutors or judges; we'll have to ask someone from a nearby city or state," Maribelle said, stroking her head, not without first adjusting the bow she had. "So... I'm sorry to say this, but you are..."
"No, don't say it!" Morgan grabbed her arms, making puppy eyes. "Please!"
"...you are... forbidden from leaving the castle..."
"Waaaaaah!" Morgan dramatically collapsed onto Maribelle's legs. "No! Please! I'll do anything! I'll train with Freddie in the mornings! I'll study with the girls and teach them strategy! I'll take care of them whenever they ask! I-I'll even start doing things like washing my clothes and doing my chores!"
"Dear... except for Frederick, you already do that," Maribelle said, rolling her eyes.
"Ah... well..." Morgan turned to Sumia and collapsed into her lap. "Aunt Sumia! Please! Don't lock me up in the castle again!"
"Is... is it necessary?" Sumia asked Maribelle, who nodded. "...I'm sorry, Morgan. I can't do anything if it's for your safety..."
"Noooooo!" Morgan let her head fall into Sumia's lap while Sumia tried to console her.
"...Did we come at a bad time?" Chrom said as he entered the room, followed by Lucina, Cynthia, Cordelia, Sully, and Stahl.
"Uncle Chrom! They're being mean to me!" Morgan said, raising her arms. "I just want to sleep, learn, study, dance, and sleep!"
"Sleep twice?" Chrom asked, raising an eyebrow.
"...Uncle Chrom... I don't mean to be rude, but... sometimes you have the subtlety of a brick," Morgan sighed, causing most to try and hold back their laughter. "Do you think this cute face comes easily? I need my beauty sleep in my special place! i cant do that locked at my room!"
"Well, you usually sleep anywhere. If I remember correctly, last time you got stuck under Lucina's bed because some boxes were in the way," he said, pointing at his daughter, who rolled her eyes.
"Father..." Lucina simply elbowed Cynthia, who was already laughing.
"Come on, Lucina, that time was pretty funny, remember?" her sister asked, causing Lucina to blush.
"Grabbing my feet first thing in the morning when I've just woken up isn't funny."-
"Tch, do you think it's easy sneaking around your room? You're a light sleeper."
"Sweetheart, please," Cordelia interrupted, helping Morgan to her feet, only to take a seat next to Sumia. "I think we're getting off-topic, especially since we were called here?"
"Maribelle?" Sumia asked the noblewoman as everyone else took a seat.
"Of course, my apologies for taking time from your busy schedules so late, my king, my queen," she began with a bow. "But I fear there are some loose ends we need to tie up or repair," she said as she presented a copy of what she had written to Gaius. "Duke Edmund Raygert has accused Grandmaster Robin of some shady dealings. Under normal circumstances, I would let the Court of Minor Claims and Noble Investigations handle it, as this isn't the first time we've had to deal with such a case where someone tries to squeeze something out of us or the coffers we're draining from their pockets to make them accountable for their duties as nobles. The issue here is that there's a small intervention I need you to consider," she emphasized, holding the paper. "My concern in this case is the three cases of... paternity against Robin..."
"...Robin," Sully began.
"...Robin... leaving some noblewoman pregnant..." Cordelia said with disgust.
"...a ridiculous claim of inheritance by paternity..." Chrom gritted his teeth.
"...is this... real?" Lucina asked.
"...alright, let's see, what exactly are we dealing with here? What do we have to face?" Chrom asked angrily. "Is Edmund seriously bringing this to the table?"
"I suppose these are just delusional nonsense from some presumptuous fool who wants to take advantage of some media circus and make the most out of a ridiculous drama," Maribelle replied. "I have no doubt that these claims are a farce."
"Ugh, no, wait, no, I..." Sumia glanced at Lucina, who seemed to have a vacant look in her eyes. "We... were planning to make another expedition to search for Robin. We can't afford to waste time on these matters. Can't you fix it?" she asked nervously. "I thought it was something mundane, not such a delicate issue."
"What do you mean?" Chrom asked. "Another trip? I'm not opposed to searching for Robin, but you didn't even tell me anything."
"I mean that we care a lot about Robin and need to keep searching for him," she tried to guide her husband's gaze to their daughter, but Chrom didn't look. "...Darling, Morgan is right, you´re a brick" she sighed.
"What did I do now?!" Chrom turned to Maribelle. "Wait, regardless of this trip, is there no way to dismiss the charges?"
"I told Edmund to follow the process. Like the old miser he is, I'm quite sure he'll make the most of this trial and press us. I didn't want him to present this in case for some reason you were absent and couldn't exercise any authority if he tried something against Morgan," Maribelle replied, who then turned to Lucina, who now seemed pale. "Lucina, are you okay?"
"...Robin... already had Morgan?" the princess asked.
"Obviously not!" Lissa snapped, stomping her foot. "They're falsely accusing Robin! You were with him, do you think he'd do something like that?!"
"Then why are they accusing him?"
"Because they're scoundrels! That's why!" Lissa replied, turning to the table, her disappointment evident on her face. "...Chrom... seriously?"
"What now?! Why is everyone looking at me like that?!" he replied, somewhat disturbed by their gazes.
"A-Anyway, we can't take these claims lightly, since although two are unfounded, the one that concerns me is from this noblewoman, Lilliant Gant of the northern duchy near Ferox, who has declared under oath that her youngest son is the result of an affair with him. So Edmund is using this as his main case."
"That's what I don't understand, why do they want to do this?" Chrom asked.
"I don't know. That's why I wanted to talk to Cordelia," Maribelle said, addressing the pegasus knight. "I need you to investigate the northern duchy, Cyrkia, to verify these claims. If Chrom allows it, I'll appoint you as the chief guardian and inquisitor of this case."
"M-Me? Of all people? I don't know... we're dealing with Severa's situation, and if this is something of this caliber..." Cordelia seemed nervous and somewhat downcast at the thought of leaving at this moment.
Under normal circumstances, Maribelle would be the first to protest. The fact that a child had come into the picture, especially Cordelia's daughter—one of the people who had suffered greatly during the war with Plegia after seeing her comrades and friends fall on the battlefield—asking her to leave was asking a lot. But there was something more important now. "It has to be you. I'll ask Sully and Stahl to investigate the women making these claims in Ylisstol. Since you're the new captain of the Pegasus Knights, you're the only one who can get there and back in time. Believe me, dear, if there were another option, I wouldn't ask you this."
"It doesn't seem fair," Sumia commented.
"I don't know what to say... this is absurd," Chrom said, frustrated. "If you wanted to go out and keep searching for him, these kinds of things shouldn't be happening..."
"I often don't understand the people of this time..." Lucina remarked. "I don't understand why they would say such awful things knowing they're false..."
"That's how some nobles are, at least the most stupid ones" Maribelle sighed. "I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if people are going to start making such ridiculous accusations now, you'd better get used to it. Most likely, these sorts of things will be said for a long time. When the war with Plegia ended, there were many shameless women who tried the same with Lord Chrom. Now that the public knows Robin was vital in defeating Grima, I can't imagine how many harlots will appear, saying things that aren't true. Don't be surprised if rumors start spreading about Robin flirting with other girls in the city," Maribelle explained.
"They just make our job harder," Sully commented. "I thought I could go out and do a patrol of the surroundings, but if this is true, then not only will I have to listen to the minstrels, but now we'll have to deal with these types as well..."
"What will happen with Severa then?" Cordelia asked.
"Oh, oh! Can she stay in my room with me?!" Morgan asked excitedly, raising her hand. "Since Dad's bed is so big and SOMEONE doesn't allow sleepovers with Lucy," Morgan said, looking at the first princess. "I'm not going to name names, but it starts with L and ends with ucina," she whispered, making the princess blush and get annoyed. "Wouldn't it be fantastic to have some alone time with Severa? And with Nah? Nowi could join too!"
"Is that so?" Sumia looked at Lucina. "I think it's an excellent idea for you all to get together. I approve of you wanting to spend time with Lucina. In fact, all the girls could have a sort of sleepover. What's more~" She clasped her hands with that sweet and slightly unsettling smile. "Why don't you see what Lucy is up to? If you go with Lucina, you shouldn't have any problems bringing Severa and Nah along."
"Oh? Really, Aunt Sumia?! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Morgan jumped into her arms. "I'm going to get ready! I'm sure Lucy will love the idea!"
"M-Morgan, wait! I-I don't think—" Lucina couldn't say much, she could only follow the girl as she left the room.
"Goodness... sometimes I can't keep up with that girl..." Maribelle sighed. "With this, are you satisfied?" she asked Cordelia, who looked somewhat pleased and content.
"…If Morgan spends more time with Severa and Nah, we might be able to better manage the dynamic of this peculiar situation later on. If that's the case, regardless of what happens, we won't be able to harbor any resentment… so I think it's fine," Cordelia replied.
"It's almost like you're surrendering your place in the pack," Panne commented.
"I'm being realistic," Cordelia responded. "I know there are many people interested in Robin and Morgan. Just knowing that under different circumstances, he could love us all so much… it seems incredible to me...I'm simply coming to terms with the fact that it might not happen here, so I don't plan on getting in the way of the relationship that Severa, Nah, and Nowi might develop, especially now that she doesn't feel so alone. I also don't want to negatively influence this dynamic, especially after what we learned last night, which surprised me quite a bit."
"Yeah, like you screaming at the wall and traumatizing your daughter Severa," Cynthia murmured loudly enough, causing Cordelia's face to turn red.
"Yes... it was difficult to start reasoning with Lucina last night. I don't know what happened between you two, but it seems like today she's more determined..." Sumia looked at her daughter, who felt her mother's stern gaze on her. "Dear, I don't want you to learn anything... not noble, as Maribelle would say. I don't mind you spending time with your sister, but please, your sister is having a hard time dealing with this and Robin."
"She and Robin? Can someone explain this to me?" Commented Chrom
Everyone rolled their eyes, only to murmur "brick" simultaneously, he hit his forehead against the table, grumbling.
"A-Anyway, as I said before, if you think I need to do this, I will since you've now sent Morgan with Severa and Nah," Cordelia commented. "I assume you've come to a conclusion?"
"Queen Sumia hasn't found any reason to be suspicious of them. I suppose Tharja already has an answer?" Maribelle asked.
"As far as she's concerned and as she's told us, they are... how did she say? 'compatible as father and daughter,' though she seemed a bit upset when I saw her this afternoon. I don't think she's in the mood for a while, so for now, I'll only contact her if absolutely necessary," Sumia replied. "So with her approval, I can give the order with her and my beloved brick's authorization that they can stay with Morgan." Chrom grumbled, wounded by his wife's words.
Sully was deep in thought, realizing it might not be the best time. Seeing that she already had some of what she needed to make her suggestion, she had to convince someone else to help her. Noticing how the picturesque and kind blonde princess was happier than usual, it was plausible that she would be the first to hear her proposal, as it would bring more than one benefit if she accepted.
"Alright, here goes nothing," Sully thought. "I think it would be convenient for someone to accompany us. If Lucina and Cynthia are going to be busy at the castle, Queen Sumia and King Brick will be with the council dealing with this issue. I need Lissa to accompany me to evaluate the situation with the villagers regarding this matter. I'm afraid that if I go alone, they might think we're there to intimidate rather than talk."
"Do you think bringing the princess of Ylisstol won't be intimidating?" Maribelle asked aloud. She looked at her best friend, and although Lissa tried to put on her best 'war face' for this task that might be assigned to her, that thought only lasted a moment. Maribelle looked back at Sully. "Now that I think about it, I withdraw my objection. I think it will be more beneficial than I initially thought."
"Hey! Am I not intimidating to you?!" Lissa shouted, pouting.
"Like a cloud to a sunflower, dear," Sumia smiled. "But she's right. Anything else we need to consider?"
"...I think we need to hurry up the search for Robin. If Tharja needs more resources, we could speed this up and have him back as soon as possible," she sighed. "It's quite difficult to have a strong position to defend him if his authority is being questioned in this way, even though we've tried to cover up the fact that he's not here."
"We don't have enough authority? Is this a joke?" Chrom asked.
"Robin pulled a lot of strings. While your crown, legacy, and family aren't at risk, the problem here is that Robin noticed we had many issues with a single centralized feudal society. The landowners could oppose the crown with enough pressure. So for now, having a Plegian advising us on governance when we have the 'mad king' as an example of how Plegian politics work... we need Aversa to have better authority in the shelters and satellite cities to show that Robin isn't wrong. But again, without the mastermind behind this, it's difficult to handle a situation we don't have information on like he did, nor a study to adapt as I'd like."
"Do you think our authority is in danger if he doesn't return soon?"
"Not at all, precisely because Robin suggested the changes we're implementing," she said proudly, opening her fan to hide her radiant face of satisfaction. "The fact that he suggested rotating crop periods, reforesting the roads with surplus resources, and now having an extra generated from the supply line... keeping the people fed and attended to is an excellent way to prevent rebellion, considering that the work Olivia is doing with culture and my educational proposal will do more than consolidate his position, your brickjesty."
"Not you too," Chrom rolled his eyes.
"Interesting... even though Sumia is the leader of the pack, her partner doesn't seem to command the same respect as she does..." Panne said while writing.
"No, Panne, wait, don't write that!" Chrom pleaded. "Don't teach Panne strange things!"
"Panne, excuse me, do you understand why we call him that?" Sumia asked. She scribbled something on a piece of paper, passed it to Panne, and seeing her wide smile, Sumia held back a laugh. "It seems she understands more about social status, relationships, and personal signals than you do, dear~"
"Interesting..." Panne thought as she observed Sumia comforting Chrom. What had once seemed strange to her years ago was now rather entertaining, watching how they teased Chrom like this. "Another bad situation, it seems..." she continued thinking while staring at her cup of water. "I suppose for now, I'll hold back the information a little longer. They won't take me seriously if I tell them who Morgan's mother is," she mused as she watched Lissa now joining in teasing her brother.
Reminiscence
For centuries, this was one of the flaws in her, memories resurfacing and bringing regret or shame for small or big events.
One way to fight against this was simply to limit the time her mind was active, dreaming for years to reinforce important memories. Yet it was clear that this would cause her to lose time with mortals, with the people around her. Perhaps an acolyte apprentice would wake her only to find herself in the last stage of her life. This wasn't a common occurrence, but she lamented the fact that she had missed so much of the lives of those who cared for her and kept the Milla Tree as it was.
That's why, in the last year, she had asked her mother to, despite being the "protective deity" of the world, remove her influence over her. She didn't want her condition as the "Voice of Naga" to affect her. For the first time in hundreds of years, she wanted to experience a sleep cycle more akin to a human's. Even if she struggled with not dreaming of Mar-Mar, the truth was that he had recently stopped appearing in her dreams—not because she was forgetting him like most people that came through her life, but simply because she was filled with immense satisfaction and joy that Robin and Morgan were there with her.
How delightful those nights were when she could simply relax and dream of them, how Morgan listened attentively to her stories, the adventures she had with Mar-Mar, a mind that didn't inquire about glory or past achievements but rather about moments of peace and happiness she shared with that group so long ago. She asking for her old friends made it possible to recover some of her lost memories with Mar-Mar and his group.
In fact, that's precisely why she could be so in tune with Morgan. Apart from the Shepherds, whenever Morgan spent time with others who found her adorable, often simpler people or those less extroverted, they could sometimes be annoyed by her behavior. She knew that Morgan acted this way to try to lighten the mental burden, not out of malice but because it was her kind and gentle nature. At first, it bothered her to see Morgan standing alone when Robin had to attend a war council, but later she understood why she felt a pang in her chest—Morgan had the same lonely gaze she used to have before meeting Mar-Mar, that shy and downcast way she looked around, searching for someone to be with while others worked for a better future for her. Many times, she saw her own image, her own figure overlapped with Morgan's.
Before she even realized it, she was already seeing herself reflected in the actions of this lonely child.
It bothered her a lot that Morgan was alone, even if it was for her own good. No one, especially her, deserved such a situation. It wasn't mistreatment, nor was it indifference, it was a consequence of another foolish dragon thinking he could do whatever he wanted with the world. And even though they were doing their best for everyone, Tiki couldn't help but feel immense sorrow and responsibility for this girl whose eyes sparkled every time they saw each other.
Fortunately, before saving her continent, she had managed to form a close bond with her, but above all, with her father.
Maybe that's why she started to fall in love with Robin.
To think that the supposed "husk of Grima" could produce someone like Morgan…
No, in fact, that thought repulsed her. At first, she had learned to distance herself from people and only speak to important figures at the right time and place, but referring to Robin in that way was not only rude; it was a disrespect to him and to Morgan. Sooner rather than later, she adjusted her mindset. Even though Robin carried the burden of being used just as she had been millennia ago, the fact that Robin could be so loved by his friends was not just an achievement in itself, but it also showed that he could break the mold and be both a good-hearted strategist and, above all, a loving and caring father. Perhaps that's what made him settle so easily and securely in her heart.
Oh, how she hated those weeks before the final confrontation with Grima.
In all her life, she had never so fervently wished to have even a tiny fraction of her mother's power to stop the conflict and send Grima back to the abyss from which he had crawled, just to prevent Robin and Morgan from suffering due to his presence.
On the one hand, Morgan had been showered with love from Robin, her friends, and herself.
On the other hand, this meant Robin was alone in his moral dilemma.
Where Morgan received affection and care from Lissa and Maribelle, Robin had to excuse himself to attend some silly war conference with nobles who refused to acknowledge Grima's threat for the "sake of their pockets." Where Morgan received tutoring and advice from Frederick, Lucina, and Cynthia, Robin could barely stand from the exhaustion of only sleeping a couple of hours a day. Where Morgan received attention and gifts from Sumia, Cordelia, Sully, Olivia, or Nowi, Robin insisted on taking only the bare minimum, even behind Chrom and Sumia's backs, to save as many resources as possible. Even at that moment, that despicable witch who was usually his shadow had failed him—not intentionally, but by going with Virion, Say'ri, and Cherche on reconnaissance missions to prepare everything for the final battle, leaving him at the mercy of his solitude.
"You know, my little brother doesn't listen to anyone but you," Aversa whispered in her ear, "wouldn't it be a lovely gift for him to have a peaceful night? or loud, either way, he needs to release some stress"
It could have been her way of mocking her, but there was certainly a tone of concern in her voice. What started as a joke, a taunt from that strange woman, culminated in events that repeated themselves every night when Morgan wasn't around.
She was ashamed to admit it, but she certainly liked it when Robin had bad days.
She didn't want anyone to take it the wrong way—she wanted him to always be happy and fulfilled—but those days led to nights when Robin offered no resistance. She would usually wait for him in his room. She had learned that releasing some of the essence of the Manaketes in his resting place could encourage his recovery. When Robin arrived, he would simply drop his robe over the back of any chair, take off his boots, and before he could sit down, she would intervene to guide him to the sofa, or in the best case, to the bed so he could rest.
Most of the time, it was the latter option rather than the former.
She was a somewhat small woman compared to Robin, so it wasn't unusual for him to collapse onto the bed as she guided him. However, she always managed to bear his weight and ensure he was close to her. Tiki would guide his head onto her shoulder or chest so he couldn't escape. Many times, she could feel him 'growl' from exhaustion, always because of some fool who refused to cooperate with him, even if their survival depended on it. Robin could always guess while dozing off what flower essence she had used that day to bathe, while he tried unsuccessfully to free himself from her grip, always claiming that he smelled bad or of sweat. It was something others might find unpleasant, but the truth was it didn't bother her, as it meant how much effort he had put in that day—it was the "scent of hard work," if she had to put it into words.
She loved feeling his weak but relaxed breath on her shoulder or chest.
Knowing that she could make this man, this workaholic, rest and not crumble was something she loved knowing. In fact, she adored it when she held him in her arms, and when his face rested on her chest, she would audaciously 'take advantage' and give him a quick kiss on his head, something that delighted her, as even though he was in a state of absolute unconsciousness from sleep, he would finally embrace her and secure his position in the bed, something that made her chuckle as the stoic man who was supposed to always keep a cool head behaved like a child who had found the right spot and position to rest after a long day.
At the time, she never dared to do more than give him another small kiss on the neck to help him relax, but that didn't mean she escaped the consequences. Robin was someone who reacted based on who and how they incited him. Whenever she did that, he would lie on his back and pull her on top of him. She always did this to ensure he wouldn't sneak off to work if, for some reason, he had enough energy to continue through the night.
Even if Robin wasn't aware of what he did the previous night because Tiki always woke up early to spare the tactician the embarrassment of his actions, he still felt ashamed for asking the "Voice of Naga" for help with something so "trivial" as sleep.
It was curious; many of the girls could get away with certain things.
Lissa could braid his hair, and he wouldn't scold her. Olivia could snuggle up to him when she thought no one was watching. Maribelle would hold his hands when he fell asleep in the study to "keep his fingers warm." Cordelia and Sully could have him rest his head in their laps if necessary. On the other hand, she was the only one who could actually spend any night she wanted by his side.
She was certain it wasn't because of her status, "beauty," or even the influence she could wield; it was simply that Robin had set that standard with her, even if he was oblivious to the girls who were crazy about him.
But why think about all this?
They had arrived in a small port town north of Ylisstol, near the Longfort. Despite their precautions, some guards had recognized them and decided to escort them within the territories of the local nobles. After all, it was one thing to have a Manakete visiting, but the Voice of Naga and the Empress? Those were entirely different matters, and they couldn't allow them to leave like that. Their honor wouldn't permit them to even think of being so discourteous.
It was, in fact, a coincidence upon another.
It was a coincidence that they were taken to the home of the noble in charge of the port. They had arrived at the house and were made to wait in the common room of the large estate.
It was a coincidence that Tiki was bored and anxious and decided to wander around the place.
It was a coincidence that the foolish daughter of the noble was distracted with her friends, unaware of who was in her home.
"Did that really happen?" asked one of the noble girls.
"Of course it did! I couldn't lie; that would be unthinkable!" said the noblewoman, proudly breastfeeding a small boy with blonde hair. "Little Roderick is the spitting image of his father, don't you think?" she said with pride.
"But… he doesn't even have the right hair, nor the right complexion," replied one of those foolish noblewomen.
"Oh, hush! You know babies can change their skin and hair. You'll see that in a few months, his skin will darken a bit, and his hair will go from blonde to white. Trust me, I have everything to prove that he's Robin's," she said with some pride and cynicism in her voice. "After all, who else could have the honor of starting a family with me? I'm sure he only keeps that brat around out of pity. She's probably just another Plegian girl he rescued, you know? He likes collecting women. It's the first thing I'm going to fix about him once we have that meeting."
"Aren't you exaggerating?"
"Of course not. Besides, it's a classic tale. There's no way Robin was guarded by the king or his cronies the whole time. We just need to say it was a night of passion before they went off to fight for the country over a year ago, and that'll be more than enough to prove this child is his. Besides, who would believe a Plegian rat over me?"
"Uh-huh, but that's the problem. You're speaking poorly of him and his offspring," said one of the nobles, while the new mother laughed.
"It's not like it matters. This isn't about love or even honor; it's something we need, and it'll happen, whether it's through money or a better position on the political ladder. What better than a scandalous affair?"
"And what about the white-haired girl?"
"What about her?"
"It's not like she'll let you ruin her life."
"Ugh, I don't know, and I really don't care," the "noble" mother retorted, making a vein pop in Tiki's temple from anger. "Honestly, I think he's a creepy old man if he has a 'daughter' that age. To me, he's just another dirty old man who can't keep his hands to himself, if she´s not a vulgar strumpet, then she's just a nuisance in that case, I can't wait to kick her out of that place if she's not just some pervert's sex t-"
"Excuse me~," Tiki interrupted, causing all four nobles to turn and look at her. "There's a lot I want to ask," she said with a wide smile that petrified the girls. "But first… what exactly do you plan to do?" she asked, her eyes barely opening as she glared at them.
"Aaaah… Robin," Tiki thought as she clenched her fists from the rage she felt. "Surely, I don't think I can keep this hidden for much longer, especially not with people like this who want to ruin you," she thought while the new mother, holding her baby, looked ready to faint just from seeing the enraged face of the Voice of Naga.