"One step forward, one step back, a spin, and another step forward," she heard every day.

It was a common sight around that time of year. Even though the freezing winter chilled the stone columns of the coliseum, it only seemed to warm the good spirits of those present, even for someone like her.

"No, no, no, no! How hard can it be?!" she heard that voice scolding her students as they collapsed to the ground.

During the end-of-year banquets, with prizes from the hunts and the khans' tournaments, there was always abundance, especially due to the absurd decisions of the new ruler of Ylisse. Many saw her as a naive young girl, but if she handed out food and some other goods for simple mercenary work, no one would waste that chance—especially when the old khans had messed up by not stopping what happened in the so-called "War of the Fangs" against Plegia.

Well, she was sadly a 'sirota,' a war orphan. She couldn't remember her parents, and her mind wouldn't let her recall anything beyond the cold wooden doors during one of the harshest winters. Agnes Moreau took her in, not out of kindness, but simply because girls made better waitresses at her little dance corner. An orphan could earn far more coins than any boy, who would end up adopted by warriors to become guards anyway.

But again, she was just a 'siorita.'

It wasn't just about being an orphan; her fair complexion and delicate build suggested she was likely the child of someone from between Ylisstol and Regna Ferox. The fact that she could withstand the cold for a while was proof of that, but her frail figure only caused trouble. Unfortunately, she was always afflicted by the cold, waking up with her hands and feet tinged blue from the harsh weather.

For this reason, her wrists and ankles were always wrapped in bandages; the first winter she could remember there was brutal, and the constant pain from the lack of care only worsened her condition.

By the time she was about eight, she could manage her own needs. With the little money she earned and the occasional tip, she was able to fend for herself, more than what others would have done.

"One step forward, one step back, a spin, and another step forward," she heard Madame say as she moved closer to the fire. Taking a knife, she cut off a bit of her pink hair to mend one of her garments.

Thankfully, some of the cabaret girls helped her—this was what she aspired to be one day. Her only asset was her distinctive hair. Even though she hated cutting it, she had to get used to doing basic repairs and crafts. If she learned enough, she could be a low-ranking companion, basically a glorified caretaker. If she learned to cook, she might reach mid-rank. If she could master a game entertaining enough for the warriors, she could rise even higher. But much to her dismay, she wasn't particularly clever with war games. Though many of the girls told her she was still young, Olivia couldn't stop moving to survive. Despite her determination, her wrists grew weaker over time, and each winter became harsher.

"OLIVIA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! MOVE IT!" Agnes shouted, causing her to drop her needle for a moment before she quickly stashed it in her bag and started to run. "..."

Unfortunately, due to her wrist problems, she could only carry one plate at a time. Carrying more would be a disaster waiting to happen—a vase, a bowl of soup, a plate of roast meat. She moved from the kitchen to the tables, one plate at a time. Despite her small and fragile frame, she managed to weave between the tables, dodging anyone who got in her way.

"One moment," Madame stopped her as she finished delivering the orders. Using her cane, she signaled for Olivia to come closer. Olivia timidly approached.

"Y-Yes?"

"…Olivia, right?" Madame asked as she looked her over.

"Y-Yes, ma'am?" Olivia could feel her piercing gaze. "D-Did I do something wrong? Did I mess up an order?"

"…Olivia, do me a favor—dodge." She said coldly, swinging her cane at her. Olivia, with a terrified yelp, barely managed to evade the blows.

"M-Madam A-Agnes?! W-What are you doing?!"

"Madame?" one of the guards asked as he grabbed her wrist to stop her. "It's… not right to do this."

"What? I…" She looked around to see that the few customers who remained to watch the practice were silent, observing her actions. "…I think you misunderstand me. I'm just testing something."

"Excuse me? Testing what, exactly?"

"Can't you see? Our little Olivia has that flexibility—she can turn quickly and stay on her feet, unlike certain… disappointments." She glanced over her shoulder at some of the girls, who looked ashamed.

"And attacking a waitress proves this?"

"I told her to dodge… and how much longer will you hold my arm?" She freed herself from his grip as Olivia struggled to understand what was happening. "Tell me… would you like to practice?"

"W-What? B-But I… I don't know… I can't…" Olivia stammered nervously.

"Nonsense! You'll start practicing today!" Madame said with a grin. "I'll get more out of you than any of these pampered brats. It'll be an upgrade from what you're doing now, don't you think?" She said with a sinister smile.

And so began her torturous childhood and adolescence.

Olivia was forced to dance day and night. Though she was taught the basics and learned quickly, Agnes, despite her old age, always found an excuse to test Olivia's flexibility and reflexes. Olivia went from being an orphaned child to a frightened, timid girl, living in an environment where she was resented for becoming Agnes' favorite toy. Always on alert during practice, the harsh sessions and the unforgiving winters wore down her spirit.

She had always enjoyed dancing in private, but under Agnes' tutelage? She nearly lost her passion for it.

She loved the culture and arts brought to Ferox during the tournaments, but it was always the same. Agnes would try to find a buyer who would take her. It was an upgrade from being a mid-rank courtesan to a prominent dancer, but for better or worse, being a 'Siorita' was something Agnes couldn't overlook when trying to sell her. Despite being the best in her class in years, many Feroxians still lacked trust in Ylisse. Her fragile condition as a child that lingered into her teens and her lack of an outgoing personality like the others were what hindered her ascent, something that greatly frustrated her surrogate mother.

To Agnes, the only good thing about her was her dancing, nothing more.

"What nonsense," his voice echoed in Olivia's mind.

"Sorry?" Olivia replied, lost in thought. Agnes had long since given up trying to sell her when the Khan requested Olivia's services in the upcoming war against Plegia. Now she was being employed by Robin, who saw potential in her work. Just weeks after defeating Gangrel, she was grateful for the change of scenery.

In that memory, she was in one of the royal gardens, away from prying eyes. Luckily, it was summer. Near one of the ponds, she had decided to dip her heels in the warm water at night. Her wrists were still bandaged, her bracelets hiding that her childhood affliction still lingered. Unfortunately, Robin had caught her several times, turning it into a nighttime ritual because she didn't want to bother Chrom. She didn't want to be seen as a nuisance and definitely didn't want to lose her place in that moment.

Soon enough, they exchanged stories. Robin shared his past, and she did the same. Despite her fear of being judged, she was willing to accept whatever those kind eyes would say, even if it was harsh.

"I'm saying it's nonsense," Robin replied. "You said Agnes died a few months ago, and you don't feel bad about it, but others think you should? That's nonsense. We all react differently to loss. From what I've seen, relationships are complicated."

"You don't think I'm a bad person for not feeling sad about her passing?"

"No, at least not from my perspective," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Olivia, I know it's hard for you to talk about yourself and your past, and I'm grateful for the trust you've shown me. There are things I don't fully understand, racially or culturally, but from what I see, Agnes cared for you but didn't raise you. It was the courtesans who did that, those who protected you more intensely than Agnes. You can be grateful for her help, but honestly, it seems like she mainly wanted someone to carry on her knowledge and benefit from it. You told me yourself that dancers often become representatives, dance teachers, or even work with scribes and scholars to preserve their knowledge. If she passed and sent you that letter apologizing for what she put you through, it's not wrong if you don't feel much for her. She cared for you, but she didn't raise you."

"…" Olivia had expected to be called ugly, disgusting, even immoral—but not this. "…Aren't you just being kind because you're… my friend?"

"I'm just saying what I see," Robin sighed. "You broke the cycle of abuse. It's not easy. You might not think you've done something great, but even small steps to break deeply ingrained cycles are incredibly brave and strong." Robin took her hand, gently removing her bracelet, causing her to panic. "…May I?"

"…I…" Olivia didn't blush; she simply bit her lip and looked away. "…If it's you… I… I…"

"…I won't continue unless you let me…" Robin said, holding her hand. Olivia's eyes welled up as she struggled to respond. "So… may I?" After a moment of silence, Olivia nodded slowly.

Beneath the bandages were no longer the marks of frostbite, but thin, delicate scars she couldn't help but despise.

"…I… I'm horrible…" she said, trying not to cry. Robin said nothing, only began to apply the ointment he'd brought. "R-Robin?"

"Olivia, you're stronger than you think. I'm sorry if it comes off wrong, but you underestimate yourself too much…" he said as Olivia watched the marks on her skin fade away. "…To me, even without this medicine, you'd still be the most beautiful gardenia in the garden. You didn't just overcome your tough childhood and this, but you did it with a grace that allowed you to feel empathy and care for others. Despite everything, you stayed true to yourself," he said, a bit embarrassed.

"…No… it's not true… If it were, I wouldn't be asking this of you…" Olivia said, afraid of ruining the moment. "…After all, I'm doing this… to leave…"

"You're doing this because you want to leave the past behind. If you really wanted to go, you would have done it already. I know the idea of thinking there's nothing left for you but Agnes' teachings makes you nervous, but you are your own person. You don't have to live by anyone else's standards. I don't want to impose my perspective on you, as only you know what's best for you. If you want to leave, do it, but if you're only doing it because it was Agnes' last wish for you to continue her work, then my duty as someone close to you is to help you leave in the best way possible. I can't force you to do anything, Olivia, and I really doubt you believe what you say about yourself. After all, you asked for my opinion." He finished healing her left wrist and gently began working on the right. "So again, don't underestimate yourself. The fact that you want to heal and move forward makes you strong and beautiful, at least to me. I just ask that you don't let them take that away from you if you're going back to Ferox."

"…You… won't say anything if I stay there?"

"I'd be sad, I won't deny that, but if that's what you need to be happy, then I'll support you, whether you're by my side or not." She fell silent, just as he was about to finish applying the lotion, she stopped him. "Olivia?"

"I think… that's enough…" she said with a gentle smile.

That night, they had a conversation. Robin, concerned about her, had misinterpreted the scars that were part of the abuse she suffered under Agnes, mistaking them for something darker and heavier. For weeks, he had been walking on eggshells around her, but now that they had talked about it before her departure, Olivia had been much more open about her past.

Was it because he had amnesia that she trusted him so much? Maybe it was the 'judgment' of someone truly impartial that she sought, but his words freed her from many prejudices and pains that haunted her.

"Take that back," Robin's voice echoed in her memories.

A week after clearing up the misunderstanding in Ylisstol, Robin insisted on accompanying her to settle the matter of Agnes' will. It was ridiculous in the first place since the old woman had declared Olivia as 'her property.' In fact, Olivia had been 'bequeathed' to an old warrior who had always had his eyes on her and the other girls. While Khan Flavia had taken measures to prevent any conflict, the man did everything possible to provoke Robin.

"Why? I shouldn't have to answer to some Plegian rat and that Siorita should—" He couldn't finish his tirade; Robin landed a punch square on his face while he was speaking arrogantly about how Olivia was supposed to be treated.

"Listen to me—I don't care what you say about me, but Olivia is a member of the Shepherds. She has proven she was never 'property' of Agnes, so you will show the proper respect to someone who stood at the front lines against Gangrel. Got it?" Robin said, with a look neither the dancer nor the Khan had ever seen from him before.

"Y-You filthy Plegian rat! H-How dare you—"

"AHAHAHAHAH, I think that's enough!" Basilio shouted, unable to stop laughing.

"We invited some representatives from Ylisstol to settle issues regarding the wills of the fallen, but I think you've crossed a line—not just insulting Agnes's memory, but also Olivia's companion. Robin has spoken nothing but the truth; you should feel ashamed of your behavior during these sacred farewell rites," Flavia commented, stepping between them to keep Robin from lunging at the old man once more.

Basilio helped the old man to his feet. "I agree with the acting Khan. Don't press your luck. Next time, it won't be the punch of a battle brother you receive, but mine, if you speak out of line again."

"He's no brother! He's just a—" The man tried to argue, but was cut short by a punch to the gut from Basilio that knocked the air out of him.

"Robin bled with us, fought for us, and put his life on the line for us. The Feroxian code dictates that anyone who can take the steel in our place is a brother, something you seem to have forgotten... or maybe never understood, EX-KHAN BATROZS," Basilio said, making Batrozs's guards hesitate to intervene.

"Well, I think we're getting a bit carried away," Flavia said, signaling her men to help Robin tend to the wound he had sustained. "We'll resume this discussion tomorrow, but for now, let's take it easy," she added with a broad smile, ensuring Robin couldn't hear what she said next as she leaned closer to Olivia, whispering, "...what a good man you've found."

"E-Eh?! K-Khan Flavia?!"

"Don't shout, girl, or he'll hear you. I just want to tell you how lucky you are to have someone like him. Not many men would dare punch an ex-Khan in front of his own men."

"I... we... aren't... anything... yet..." Olivia stammered shyly.

"Yet?" Flavia questioned, raising an eyebrow and smiling even wider. "Well, you've... blossomed into a fine lady. I'm happy for you," she said, glancing at Robin, who was still fuming. "He's a very loyal man from what I see. You better hurry before someone else snatches him up." Flavia usually wasn't like this, but she loved seeing Olivia's sweet reactions in that moment.

Olivia remembered feeling embarrassed but deeply grateful for his actions.

After that, they walked under the typical snowfall, her arm linked with Robin's as the snow slowly covered them.

"...How...how did you... know?" she asked timidly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he smiled, putting his hat on her to shield her from the cold.

How could he not know? Robin was many things, but a fool in these matters? He must have convinced Tharja to prepare something like this. After all, the lotion he used on her wasn't just to erase the scars; Batrozs, in a way, had a point. Before the war, before the Shepherds, before she could even catch the eye of men, Agnes had marked her as her property, hiding the marks beneath wounds so only the 'owner' could inflict pain if she resisted. Olivia just wanted something simple to cover her scars and run away. But Robin had gone as far as to stir conflict among high political circles. If Tharja's work failed, they might have even detained him. That's why she had resigned herself; she thought of fleeing for her freedom and dreams, but this man was hiding so much and had acted several steps ahead of everyone else. She tightened her grip, finally holding what she had yearned for so many years under Agnes's yoke—what she had represented so many times in her performances.

She had freedom in her hands.

Robin had no way of holding her back, no means to keep her under his control. He had practically deceived others to end up with nothing. Was that fair to him? Was there anything he could gain? "You won't tell me."

"Let's just say... a few little robins told me," he joked, glancing toward one of the trees. Olivia followed his gaze to see small birds nestled in the branches, and she gently nudged his chest.

"You're dodging the question."

"Olivia, I don't mean to be rude; I just guessed after seeing the signs you left behind."

"Signs?"

"When we freed the slaves from Gangrel's castle, I finally understood the look you had when we were about to fight him. That longing, lost gaze... the fact that you avoided meeting others from Ferox and the hints Lon'qu whispered to me. I wasn't sure, but I'm glad I took a chance on you."

"Why would you go so far? You knew I wanted to run away."

"You wanted to fly free," he said, gently ruffling her hair. "That's not running away. We said it before the confrontation with the Mad King, didn't we? No one gets left behind. That includes you. I couldn't call myself your friend if I just stood by and watched something so terrible happen to you." This man was a fool, an idiot, someone irredeemably naïve and reckless. Pressing her face to his chest, she couldn't hold back her tears, trembling. "O-Olivia?"

Gently taking her hands, Olivia let out a sigh and whispered, "Dance with me... before we go back..."

"...You know I'm terrible at dancing..."

"You guided me here, so it's only fair that I guide you in this..." she said, her face still flushed, barely holding back her tears of happiness.

Slowly, they began to move in that place. Olivia still hid her face; despite always feeling the weight of being someone's property, she didn't mind being bound to this foolish and wonderful man now. Her heart pounded fiercely, and for the first time in her life, even with the snow covering her, she felt only warmth in that moment.

"Well, obviously he's not irresponsible," said Sumia, her chest puffed up and a wide smile on her face. This memory also made Olivia lose her composure.

"Eh?"

"It was super romantic!" Sumia exclaimed, showing her fangirl side for romance novels. "To think that Robin came to us with this plan, willing to sacrifice his position as tactician just to get you out of that place safely! Oh, by Naga! Before, I didn't understand why Lissa and Cordelia were so fascinated with him, but when he told us this and explained everything, I just had to force Chrom to let him do it his way or he'd be sleeping in the garden for the next month," she squealed in excitement. "To think that he confessed to you in the middle of the snow after rescuing you... oh, by Naga, if I have daughters, I'd want them to meet someone like him~."

"I-I... we... we're not..."

"Sorry? What did you say, dear? I didn't hear you."

"W-We... he didn't confess to me..."

Earlier, Sumia had been smiling, holding a small fork, which she bent with her thumb upon hearing Olivia's words. "WHAT?! W-WHY NOT?!"

"Well... it was... awkward. I didn't think about what happened," Olivia said, embarrassed. "There are many ways to propose to someone in Ferox... dancing in the snow... it's a very... bold one..." She said, using her ponytail to hide her face. Sumia just stared at her as if her soul had left her body and sighed.

"Of course, Robin only researched what he needed to help you and not the full Feroxian traditions." Sumia groaned, leaning in her chair

"Well... t-to be fair, it's a dancer's tradition... it's not... something that's often talked about."

"Listen to me, Olivia," Sumia began. "Robin is a great person, a great friend. If he hadn't supported me in getting closer to Chrom, we wouldn't be here having this conversation. Chrom would have had a political marriage, and we'd be having trouble with some random woman. Robin believed in the love that could blossom between Chrom and me. I'm eternally grateful for this debt that I can never, NEVER repay, so for now, I won't say anything since my best friend and my sister-in-law seem crazy about him. But you, on the other hand, took giant steps only to stop right before the finish line. I'll tell you the same thing I told them: I will always support the woman who makes him happy, whether it's Lissa, Cordelia, or you. But you need to hurry before something bad happens."

"Something bad..." Olivia sighed at the memory that resurfaced.

"Is something wrong?" Sully asked as she walked beside her.

Was something wrong? OF COURSE! Sumia had warned her before, but thinking something like this would happen was absurd!

It was pure coincidence that she decided to visit Morgan to surprise her. To think that Sully told her some foolish noble was causing trouble there—it couldn't just be a coincidence. Feeling a twinge of guilt, Olivia shook her head. "Sorry, I just want to check something..." she said as they approached the small mansion. The name "Moreau" was on the plaque out front, and the personal guards crossed their spears as Olivia clenched her fists.

"No... this is foolish, even for you," she thought, growing angrier at the sight of the noble who noticed her presence behind the gates. "...Not only could you not hold me, but now you want Morgan and Robin?" Her fists trembled as she struggled to maintain her stoic expression. "Let's end this tasteless performance."

"..."

"...

"..."

"Excuse me, do you need something from us?" Severa asked, feeling uneasy under the gaze of the first princess.

The previous night, Morgan had hosted a sleepover with little Luci, forcing Lucina and Cynthia to stay with her to make sure the young princess didn't get too excited by her presence.

It was clear that little Luci was quite taken with Morgan—no surprise, considering her kind, affectionate, and extremely outgoing personality—but that wasn't what mattered to Lucina right now. It was what she had heard earlier.

Cynthia and her mother, Sumia, had made it clear that it was just another normal nonsense of the noble class—there was always some sort of quarrel. Her mother had even told her stories of silly girls trying to meddle in Chrom's affairs, even when she was pregnant with Luci.

Lucina knew they were right after talking with them, but she couldn't help but keep looking at Morgan, searching for the slightest detail in her face, her behavior, or her appearance.

Morgan was a girl with a rather modest build. If anyone called her "shorty," she'd fire back, saying she was "fun-sized and easy to carry," which was somewhat true—whenever she misbehaved, Sumia, Sully, Cordelia, or even Maribelle could just grab her by the waist, lift her up with one arm, and cart her off to stop her from causing trouble.

Was her face that hard to identify? Not really. The general consensus was that since Robin was already attractive, Morgan was like a younger, female version of what Robin might look like. Unfortunately, her father's features were so dominant that it was difficult to pinpoint any trace of her mother in her.

This doubt was eating her up inside.

So unlike the others, Lucina might just be able to spot some identifying feature that could help her clear up the uncertainty. Right now, they were in one of the recreational rooms. As always, Morgan was reading a book to pass the time. Meanwhile, Severa and Nah needed to be watched over by someone (even though Nowi was reliable, she didn't seem like the best choice). Nah and Nowi were having a conversation between themselves, while Severa had Morgan sitting on her lap, her chin resting on the tactician's snowy white hair as Morgan hummed a familiar tune.

"So... would you mind giving us some space?" Severa asked. It wasn't that she was being rude, but Lucina had been staring at Severa and Morgan far too intensely for her liking.

"Damn it," Lucina thought as she took a step back. She didn't want to admit it, didn't want to confirm it, but Morgan and Severa definitely shared some traits of Robin and Cordelia. The way Severa pouted looked so much like Morgan's expressions. While they didn't look exactly alike, there were certain features they undeniably shared. Her mother had already confirmed that they were related, but it was hard to believe just how similar they seemed. "Sorry, it's just… I couldn't pass up this chance to see how close you two really are."

Severa looked at her with a mix of disbelief and disappointment. "Wow, you're a terrible liar," Severa thought, averting her gaze. "Well, just don't do it too often."

"Is... there some reason why you two are like this?" Lucina couldn't stop wondering why Morgan was sitting on Severa's lap. She had tried (unsuccessfully) to get Morgan to do the same with her. While Morgan was often compared to a "ferret" or "otter" for how flexible, quick, and ridiculously hard she was to wake up (unless your name was Robin), this wasn't exactly normal. Morgan wasn't shy about showing affection, but this felt unfair!

Severa glanced at Lucina, and seeing her expression, she couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her. But when their eyes met again, Severa's face turned smug as she started rubbing her cheek against Morgan's head.

"Huh?"

"Wow, it's so nice to have my little sister back in my arms~," Severa said with a smug tone. "Morgan, can we have a sleepover, just you and me? I felt so lonely last night."

"Uh? Umm… sure?" Morgan said, finally looking up from her book. "But… will they let us?"

"They better let us!" Severa grumbled. "I don't mind spending time with Mother, but I just wish… we could spend more time together, all three of us," Severa said, a bit embarrassed.

"Well… we're glad you're here… but…" Lucina cleared her throat. "I think… you're… a little too close…"

"Huh?!" Severa's expression turned more serious. "What are you talking about? I know she's not my Morgan, but she's exactly like her. Honestly, I still think this is some kind of prank," she said while twirling Morgan's hair around her fingers. "I can't say the white hair looks bad on her, but I always loved seeing her peek through my window... like… the sun waking me up..." she added, a bit flustered. "Besides! These haven't changed at all," Severa said while squishing Morgan's cheeks. "The fact that she's still so fluffy and soft to the touch, it must be my parents' blood in her!"

"Ah, wait!" Morgan flailed her arms as Severa continued to get more and more engrossed with her.

"Can't you see you're stressing her out?" Lucina scolded.

"Nuh-uh! Watch this," Severa replied as her hands moved to Morgan's abdomen, causing Morgan to drop her book and burst into laughter.

"S-Severa, w-wait! Y-you can't do this!" Morgan laughed, squirming on the floor despite her flexible nature. Even as Morgan twisted and moved, Severa skillfully kept up, maintaining control of the situation. "Haaah… w-wait…," Morgan gasped as she tried to catch her breath after being "tortured" for several minutes.

Severa looked at her with a smug smile, while Lucina watched in disbelief. Normally, they'd have to bundle Morgan in a sack to keep her from slipping out of anyone's grip, but this girl could handle her with ease, clearly having experience in managing Morgan.

"Heh," Severa puffed out her chest with pride. "I don't care how long you've been with her; I guarantee you that the bond between SISTERS is stronger than any relationship you've ever had."

"I-I… I refuse to accept this!" Morgan declared, standing up and carefully setting her robe, now neatly folded, on the low table near Nah and Nowi. "Only… only Daddy can do that! You caught me off guard!" she said defiantly as she started to take off her boots. "Again! No one's ever been able to pin me down like that, except for Daddy!" She stomped her feet in frustration.

"Huh? Are you raising your voice at your big sister?!" Severa snapped as she removed her gloves. "I was trying to be nice to you, but seeing you act all high and mighty, I can tell this Morgan from here is missing some humility." For some reason, Morgan felt like she had just poked the tiger.

Severa crouched, almost like she was stalking a small animal. Morgan moved to the side, but Severa quickly blocked her path—one, two, three, four times. Every time Morgan tried to flee, Severa would cut her off. Even when Morgan tried to bluff or dodge, she found herself taking a step back, feeling her space to react shrink more and more.

"Gggguuuh… ALBINO OTTERHOUND!" Morgan shouted, trying to break free from Severa's grasp. Enraged, Severa swiftly grabbed Morgan by the waist and pulled her in.

"WHO TOLD YOU THAT?! DON'T CALL ME THAT! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"

"AaAAHHH, no! Wait, I give up! No, wait!" Morgan squirmed on the floor, but Severa showed no mercy.

"Oh, looks like it still works?"

"N-No! W-wait, leave my belly button alone!" Morgan continued to writhe, desperately trying to escape. No matter how much Morgan tried to escape this time, Severa would grab one of her heels and pull her back. This went on for several minutes until, in the end, Morgan lay on the ground, gasping for air, her face flushed and trying to stop laughing.

"Give up," Severa said seriously.

"N-Never! A-ahahahahaha!" Morgan squirmed again.

"Wow, looks like your belly button here isn't trained to handle this. Reminds me of when you were just a cute little baby."

"I-I-I'm still cute!"

"Well, I think that's enough, don't you?" Nah intervened. Severa was still playing with her sister, but seeing Nah's kind expression, she sighed.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to be a little less rough with my little sister, but learn to respect your elders!" Severa said, pressing both thumbs into Morgan's sides, making her scream with laughter.

"Savage! Mean! Bully! Albino otterhound!" Morgan shouted between laughs. As she finally finished laughing, Nah approached and rested Morgan's head on her lap, helping her calm down.

"There, there, remember we shouldn't be mean to our family. Severa missed you a lot while we were in the forest," Nah said as she gently massaged Morgan's head, soothing her.

"Aahahah, well, it's nice to see you all getting along so well," Nowi said, coming closer. "Heeeh… I want to do that too."

"Mother, please, calm down and watch what Father taught me," Nah said, humming a tune.

"Huh? Huh? What's going on now?" Morgan asked, barely catching her breath.

"I think it was something like this… I don't remember exactly, it's been a long time…" Nah said while massaging Morgan's temples.

"Umm, what are you doing?" Lucina asked.

"Oh, sorry, it's just a habit coming back after so long," Nah replied, continuing to pamper Morgan. "My little sister was… very hyperactive in my world. She even exhausted Mother and Grandparents with her games and energy. It's no wonder she was so energetic; she's a young dragon, but still, she was like a walking tornado. So, Father had to… come up with various ways to calm her down."

"Geeeeeeh…" Morgan interrupted, staring blankly at the ceiling and drooling.

"Uh? Is… is that normal?" Lucina asked.

"Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeh…"

"I'm just giving her a massage to relax her. I see it still works with this Morgan since by relaxing and pressing these points, it releases tension from the body, plus a bit of magic helps her enter a state of drowsiness."

"Wow, you weren't kidding," Severa said, snapping her fingers in front of her sister, who had an expression of complete peace and happiness. "Are you sure she's okay?"

"Well, if I do this~"

"Hyaaaaaaah! Nmm! N-Nah!" Morgan's eyes rolled back.

"…You killed her..."

"Not funny" Nowi commented.

"I just helped her relax. The fact that she got knocked out so easily shows she's been having trouble sleeping. It's not my fault this works so well on Morgan and Father," Nah explained.

"Geeeeh!" Morgan complained when Severa poked her nose.

"I told you she was fine," Nah remarked.

"I just wanted to make sure everything was alright," Severa replied, she started playing with Morgan's nose, who seemed completely defenseless, her arms flailing randomly.

"Gyah!"

"Do you find it funny, teasing your sister like that?" Nah asked.

"W-Well... she always used to tease me when I was sleeping... Besides, doesn't she look adorable making those faces?!" Severa said, continuing to poke at her.

"... I must admit, there's something... refreshing about seeing her like this. I don't remember the last time she let me hold her in my lap like this; she always tried to act so strong..."

"See? It's totally normal! It's not like s—"

"Ah-kit-chu!" Morgan sneezed loudly, causing both girls to pause and stare at her for a moment before glancing back at each other.

"W-WHAT WAS THAT?!" Severa exclaimed, enchanted. "I-I'VE NEVER HEARD HER SNEEZE LIKE THAT!"

"R-REALLY?! I THOUGHT THAT WAS ONE OF THE BAD HABITS YOU TAUGHT HER, T-THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S—"

"Ah-kit-chu!"

Once again, they stared at Morgan, who was slowly coming back to her senses. Nowi handed her a small napkin to wipe her nose.

"I-It's not like it's cute or anything..." Severa muttered, crossing her arms.

"Y-Yeah... like a little bunny or an otter pup..." Nah said, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness.

"Girls, stop teasing Morgan," Nowi scolded, pouting as she gently stroked the albino's head. "She'll hate you if you abuse your big sister privileges."

"..." Severa's expression grew a bit sad.

"...I know, forgive us, Mother," Nah sighed. "But like I said, it's been such a long time since we were this close…"

Lucina couldn't believe what she was seeing as she watched the scene unfold. She couldn't accept the fact that not only Severa, but also Nah, could handle Morgan so easily.

For months, it had been a challenge to physically restrain her, as she always exceeded everyone's expectations. But these girls seemed to know Morgan like the back of their hands. Severa was a bit aggressive, with a sharp tongue whenever she lost her patience, but that grumpy expression of hers would vanish whenever she looked at Morgan.

Nah wasn't an exception. Her demeanor was calm and serene, but much like Nowi, simply having the tactician nearby made her more open and emotional. It wasn't unusual, but Lucina hadn't expected them to have so much connection to work with.

In contrast, what did she have? She even felt embarrassed, knowing that, in her own experience, while Chrom and Sumia were close to her, she couldn't imagine being this open with them upon their first meeting. But these girls weren't trying to "prove" their bond—they just had it.

Severa glanced at her, a smug smile spreading across her face, as she stood beside her sister.

By the end of the day, Lucina knew she would need help. She didn't want to admit it, didn't want to declare it, but if anyone could help her, it would be the vice president of Robin's fan club. Although her mother was quite the enthusiast, she was often a bit... intense with her opinions on the current situation.

"...This is a serious problem," Sumia grumbled.

For the past few hours, she had been talking with Lissa. They had canceled the weekly meeting due to last night's incident, but now, it seemed like even just the two of them left things at an impasse.

Letting Cordelia and Sully go didn't seem like the best idea. Cordelia provided a broad perspective, while Sully had a sharp but accurate take on things. Meanwhile, Lissa had been drawing a crude map of the continent, marking in red where Robin's journal entries seemed to have "significance."

Well, Sumia felt bad for snooping into the Grandmaster's private life, but considering the situation that had unfolded last night, she couldn't afford to waste any time.

Fortunately, she confirmed that everything was correct. These girls, while not from their world, were indeed close to Morgan—they were really her sisters. Tharja's magic confirmed it, so at least they knew there wasn't complete disinterest in the topic. The problem was the foolish noble girls making claims, so with three journals in hand, she was trying to read through them, but there was just one problem.

"Back to the topic of nicknames, I suppose I could call Lucina a 'Gentian.' Gaius had no idea what I was talking about, so I took one of the books Sumia lent me when I was researching how to improve soil quality. It's a flower that can beautify parts of the capital and the border with Ferox. A flower that's resistant to both cold and heat, if properly cared for. Not only that, but it can thrive in mountainous areas with poor soil. I saw this flower, and it immediately reminded me of Lucina—a strong, beautiful woman, resilient to the elements. For some reason, Gaius hit me with the book and stormed off, though I couldn't tell if he was actually upset because I was repeating the flower-based nicknames. I reminded him several times that i´m bad with nicknames," Sumia read from one of Robin's journals.

"HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU HAVEN'T MARRIED MY DAUGHTER YET?!" Sumia thought, frustrated. "ROBIN, BY THE SPIRITS AND THE GREAT NAGA! EVERY JOURNAL ENTRY I READ MAKES ME QUESTION MORE AND MORE WHY YOU DIDN'T MARRY ONE OF THESE GIRLS! SEEING THIS, I SEE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO FORCE YOU TO TAKE LUCINA ONCE YOU RETURN!" Her frustration continued to mount, as she made a variety of annoyed faces. Robin certainly had a way with women and people in general, with a strange knack for understanding them. But, at the same time, he was denser than Chrom himself. Every time she read his descriptions of someone's behavior, it became more and more obvious that they were infatuated with him. The worst part was that these weren't even fantasies of "everyone's in love with me"—in Robin's perspective, it was just strange behavior. But remembering the moments when she had been present, it was clear they were head over heels for him.

"Sumia?" Lissa asked, carelessly smudging ink across her face as she finished her doodles.

"Sorry, I just remembered I have to put a bird in the oven later," Sumia replied with a sigh. "Do you have everything?"

"I think so, but I'm not sure," Lissa said, crossing her arms as she looked over her work. "Aversa gave us the diary a few months ago, but with the few things she left behind, I haven't found anything that could help us…"

"The most basic thing in these cases is research. We need to have a clear pattern. Maribelle will come by later to check our progress, but as long as we can track where and when Robin was on the dates we speculate about this 'romance,' we won't have anything to worry about," Sumia said.

"...Sumia."

"Mmm? Yes?"

"I know I'm not the best person to say this. Others might say I'm childish, for Naga's sake. I'm even sure Robin would call me a hypocrite."

"What's wrong, dear?"

"...You're... drooling on Robin's journals."

"Uh?! NO! I-I'm not—" Sumia tried to wipe her mouth, but there was barely anything. "Huh?"

"Tch, I knew this could happen," Lissa said, crossing her arms. "I shouldn't have let you read Robin's journals."

"Why would you say that, darling?"

"Because now you're in 'mama bear' mode and 'novel fanatic' mode. I'm sure you feel the same frustration I do reading these journals, right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I just tricked you," Lissa said, pouting. "Also, you've been staring at the same page for the last ten minutes."

"Damn it!" Sumia thought, turning her gaze away. She couldn't handle how sweet Robin was with her daughter. That cute nickname was the final nail in the coffin! She wanted them to end up together, no matter the obstacles, unfortunately in this case, she just had to be a good mother, a good sister-in-law, a good friend, a good queen—but not all four at once, right now she was stuck in what to do "one step at a time" Sumia thought "I was just checking to make sure everything was in order... by the way, you couldn't get the journal Morgan's been hiding?"

"Nope, she won't part with it, and I don't blame her," Lissa sighed, looking at the map, a little downcast. She had made a crude approximation (in her opinion) of Ylisstol and the continent, with points marked in blank where Robin had been, based on the journal, with the date beside it, and in purple where Morgan had been.

It was eating her up inside.

In the last few months before the fight against Grima, Robin had distanced himself from the others. He'd pushed Morgan to spend time with the others and make memories, but for the most part, during those first weeks, he had been alone. There were gaps in the information since they only had two weeks of his itinerary. After that, nothing. Morgan had only stayed by his side for a few days, and from what she could read, it had been premeditated—he hadn't wanted to worry her.

They had just let him be.

"This is... bad," Lissa finally commented.

"...There must be an explanation, but we need more context," Sumia sighed, carefully sliding the book into her pocket.

"More context?" Lissa retorted angrily. "Sumia, we've worked for hours! We've read Robin's journals from those dates over and over, and we've got nothing at this point. All we're sure of now is that we're bad friends."

"...Tch, how I hate doing his work...at least being the cheerleader..." A voice interrupted. From the door, Tharja entered, looking more irritated than usual. "I'm not in the mood to pat anyone on the back, so just accept that it's no one's fault. Or do you really think you're smart enough to outwit Robin in his schemes? If that were the case, then you wouldn't need him in the first place. If he didn't want you to see that he was suffering, he'd do everything he could to hide it from you... even from me..." Tharja bit her lip, thinking about how foolish and naive she'd been in the past.

"..."

"I think that was a bit harsh... but I understand you're upset," Sumia tried to calm the situation.

"Upset? UPSET?! UPSET DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW!" Tharja snapped, venom in her voice. "I TOLD YOU SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE SURE THOSE IDIOTS DIDN'T DRIVE ME CRAZY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NOT ONE, BUT THREE HARLOTS WANT TO DISAPPEAR FROM YLISSTOL IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE."

"We're just as upset, especially with how they're bothering Morgan! You're not the only one who thinks this situation is absurd!" Sumia yelled. They fell into silence as the queen began to calm herself with slow, measured breaths. "...I have... to ask you two favors."

"No."

"I haven't even asked yet."

"From what I see here, I'm guessing you'll ask me two things: first, to repeat what you asked last night about verifying the parentage of those parasites. You've got three bastards who need to be discredited. Even if I wanted to, I can't waste what little remains of Robin's essence on these ridiculous tests. If I use it now, I won't be able to find him later if he returns to us in the next few months. So no, I don't plan to waste my only chances on something as insipid and irrelevant as this. The second thing is... hard for me to admit..." Tharja said, glancing at the map. "...Remember, I wasn't around after the first week when my love asked me to go with that white-haired witch to scout the terrain, so I have no idea what happened during those days."

"From what we've seen, Robin left several people with notes and journals. I was wondering if you had any."

"Of course, I had them."

"Great, can we see them?"

"Of course not."

Sumia looked perplexed. "Excuse me?"

"As I said, I had them—past tense. I don't have them anymore, present tense."

"...You... don't have them on hand?" Lissa asked.

"I burned them. The last two journals."

"WHAT?! / WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" Lissa and Sumia both responded, incredulous. Before they could say anything, Tharja stopped them, raising her hand.

"The last journals only contained... unpleasant or unimportant things."

"Unpleasant?" Lissa asked.

"Unimportant..." Sumia sighed. "I don't think... burning those journals was a wise decision."

"I burned them for Morgan's sake," Tharja said, her anger rising again. "And it was at his request. His last journals only contained tactical notes and intrusive thoughts."

"...What... what kind of thoughts?" Lissa asked.

"Oh, you know, unpleasant things. Like how many soldiers he'd have to sacrifice if the siege on Grima failed. How he'd have to force Lucina to be the new 'Exalted' if the attack failed. His fear of humanity, Taguels, and Manaketes facing extinction. There was a particularly nasty chapter about his tremendous fear and despair that Morgan might suffer the same fate as him since, being his daughter, she could be a suitable vessel if she didn't resist control," Tharja said, her voice full of anger. "He even made sure that if they found out she was his blood daughter, i would be the one to stop any idiot from harming Morgan..."

"Did he... distrust us that much?" Lissa asked sadly.

"It wasn't that he didn't trust you. He distrusted the idiots outside," Tharja replied, her voice still angry. "I'm not sure how confident he was that he wouldn't return, but one thing's certain: he made plans for all of you... in case you needed him. He looked out for everyone's safety... except his own."

"Robin..."

"...So... is there nothing you can help us with?" Sumia asked finally.

"Will you let me hex them and drag their bodies all over the continent for even daring to do this show?" Sumia denied with her head. "Then i cant help"

"Sorry for taking up your time," Sumia commented.

Tharja rolled her eyes, still annoyed but more reasonable than before. "I just want to make it clear that this is something you need to fix yourselves," she said, looking at the queen. "I can't pull off that 'impersonating Robin' trick again. It took me months to perfect that illusion, and unless you want me to use my usual methods, I can't interfere under the ridiculous standards you uphold."

"I understand... well, I'll have to discuss this with my husband."

"Not just that, but you need to realize what this means," Tharja added. "If these people succeed in undermining Robin's achievements or casting doubt on the efficacy of what we're doing, it could not only halt the ongoing projects around the nation temporarily, but it could also put the royal family's capability in question. After all, they're supporting a 'Plegian rat.' I don't doubt this is one of the goals of the nobles."

"How bad do you think it is?" Lissa asked.

"They can tarnish my love work in a couple of weeks, so yeah, i dont care about this stupid halidom, but i do care if someone is trying to do something stupid like trying to make Robin's work go to waste."

As they began to discuss things further, another figure at a distance overheard them, angered and upset by the current situation.

"Uncle Robin... is in trouble?" Cynthia thought, clenching her fists. "...Uncle... no, brother-in-law. This time, I'll be the one to save my adorable niece and my sister from the clutches of those foolish nobles who want to destroy our family!"

"Hello! It's been a while since I left a note, just to clarify that this episode is still a continuation of the previous chapter, so don't feel confused or surprised if you don't see the title.

Wow! I never thought this series would be so successful! Honestly, I thought it would just be something to help me de-stress and it would be short-lived, but it's a pleasant surprise to see that for the first time in months, this series reached the milestone of being the most viewed in a month over others. Thank you so much for your continued support!

Now, on a more serious note, unfortunately, this chapter will be the last one for a short while. As I mentioned, my focus on this series has been to relieve some stress by writing about the adorable shenanigans the characters get up to in a 'post-game' that many have told me they are thankful for, as it's more than just narrating the main story.

This week will be a bit busy, but I think by the second or third week of October, I'll be able to bring a few updates. Finally, my beta reader is back to support me with other more serious projects where I need guidance for translating and publishing these episodes, so look forward to those other fics.

With nothing more to say, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Your comments and reviews are more than welcome as always, as they help me polish and improve the work. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules, and I hope you have a great weekend.

See you in October!"