Chapter 2: Like a Collar Around the Neck

One day, Alear bumped into Citrinne in front of the Records Hall.

"Oh, good morning, Divine One," Citrinne said cheerfully. "I've been searching for you. May I have a word?"

"Go ahead."

"You'll recall that our acquaintance didn't have an ideal start. First, there was that tense incident at the Grand Crossing, and later, that time when Lapis and I confronted you by the pool. But let me say that my opinion of you has risen greatly over time. I've seen how hard you work, and more importantly, how much you care for your allies."

Out of nowhere, a thought dropped into Alear's mind. She has the same eyes as her cousin. That deep, vivid red.

Citrinne chattered on. "To express my gratitude for all you do, I wish to give you a present. What would you like? I have some jewelry that's sure to look exquisite on you, but there's also . . ."

Alear was suddenly nervous, but it had nothing to do with this conversation. She felt an urge to get away from Citrinne's familiar features. "Thank you for the thought, but I don't need anything."

"Oh, but I insist! There must be something you'd like."

"Um . . . uh . . . how about I take some time to think about it and get back to you later?"

"Very well. I shall leave you for now and return to my tasks for the day."

"By the way, your eyes are beautiful," Alear blurted out.

Citrinne's expression went blank for a few seconds. Then she smiled and nodded politely. "Thank you, Divine One. Your eyes are beautiful, too. I hope you have a nice day."

After Citrinne walked away, Alear breathed a sigh of relief. It's a good thing that I'm always running around and throwing compliments at everyone. That comment didn't stand out. Even so, I think I'd better go and say the same thing to everyone else, to make it seem even more normal.

Flooded with determination, Alear set out to find the other inhabitants of the Somniel. She didn't have to run far before she spotted a couple of figures standing in the farmyard. She charged toward them.

At the sight of the Divine One hurtling at him, Vander straightened up alertly. "What's the matter, Divine One?"

"Vander, I have an important message to give you: your eyes are beautiful!"

"What – ah – thank you?"

Vander had not recovered from the surprise yet, but Alear was already spinning away from him and speaking to the next person in the farmyard. "Good morning, Jean. Your eyes are beautiful."

"Are you feeling well, Divine One?"

"Yeah, I'm in a fantastic mood!" Then she dropped to her knees and vigorously petted one of the farmyard animals. "Ooh, what a cute dog! Sweet doggie! Your eyes are beautiful."

For much of the morning, Alear rushed around the Somniel, meeting various faces and exclaiming "your eyes are beautiful" about thirty times. Somehow, in all that running around, she never encountered the one face that was truly on her mind. Was that a blessing or a curse? She couldn't decide if she yearned to see him or if she was terrified of doing so.

Despite being an archer, he apparently possessed a form of magic, too. The prince had cast a spell upon her, letting him have a powerful influence on her behavior even when he wasn't in sight.

(…)

The Divine One led a busy life. But in her pockets of spare time, she began seeking out books that offered advice on matters of the heart. For no specific reason, of course. Just general curiosity.

One of these volumes said: Do not commit to a partner until you have seen them at their worst.

Some people, the book warned, would put on a sweet act while they were wooing you. They might omit things. They might outright lie. And then, once they secured your love, they would reveal their true nature as someone selfish or careless or prone to excess. By that point, the game was complete – they had already "won" you – so they no longer bothered to conceal their flaws.

When Alear read this, she thought, I suppose that nobody will run into this problem with Prince Alcryst. He doesn't don a mask to hide the worst parts of his personality. No, his worst face is also his usual face.

A memory flashed into her mind. One afternoon, while walking through the Somniel plaza, she happened to pass by the Brodian prince and Emblem Byleth, and overhear a bit of their conversation.

"You seem worried about something, Alcryst," Byleth had said. "If you'd like to talk about it, I'm here to listen."

"I'm writing a letter of self-introduction," Alcryst had replied glumly, "but I'm running out of ways to say 'worthless burden'."

Alear couldn't recall that memory without wincing.

If that's how Prince Alcryst introduces himself, then there's basically zero chance of him ever falsely charming somebody. He doesn't aim to trick anyone. He wears his insecurities like a collar around his neck for everyone to see.

She kneaded her forehead with her hands, feeling weary. Wait a minute. Is this a compliment or an insult toward him?

(…)

There came a night when Alear sat in her room, awake despite the late hour. By silvery rays of moonlight, she gazed at the blue ring that was cradled in her palm. Her head felt heavy, burdened as it was by a massive jumble of thoughts.

Alear heard a soft noise, so she looked up.

Emblem Lucina had floated into the room. She hovered slightly above the floor. "Hello," the princess said kindly. "Earlier, I spotted you walking toward your room with a grave look on your face. It made me want to drop by and check on you. How are you? Can I help in any way?"

"I'd welcome your conversation, but . . ."

Lucina's eyes shifted to the ring that Alear held. Shock bloomed across her features. "Oh, my. That's the Pact Ring. If you've taken it out, then the matter on your mind must be weighty, indeed."

Alear sighed deeply. "Yes. And I'm unsure if anyone, even the Emblems, can help me here."

Lucina held still. To bestow the Pact Ring upon someone was supposedly a joyful event. She probably wondered why she instead found Alear sighing in despair.

"Marth told me to give this ring to someone special," Alear said. "When I heard that, a name sprang into my head at once. There's a boy I can't stop thinking about. It's like my brain is chained to him. But I believe it would be foolish to pursue this guy. He is . . . flawed."

He's a walking cloud of gloom. If I spend every day with him, then my mood will inevitably sink to match his. He'll influence me into darkness. Alear didn't say those words out loud, but they lingered in her mind.

"All people have flaws," said Lucina.

"Yeah, I know, but that's not what I meant. He's – ugh – I know this sounds dramatic, but I think he might be beyond help."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Uh . . ."

I don't understand Prince Alcryst. That boy is like a puzzle with missing pieces. He's smart and skilled, but he has no confidence to match. His retainers and his family members shower him with compliments, but he seems unaffected by them. Day after day, he remains stubbornly pessimistic.

Is there any way to cure his insecurity? If such a thing existed, then surely his loved ones would've discovered it by now.

The feeling of futility hurt like a punch in the gut.

Yes, the prince had some admirable qualities. He was kind. He could be strong. She would certainly never forget that moment at Brodia Castle, when instead of cowering in the face of a challenge, he'd vowed to his father that he would protect his older brother until the bitter end. Alcryst had his share of shining moments.

But when Alear pictured what it would be like to live at the prince's side, she saw more shadow than sunlight. His good traits seemed outweighed by the burden of his constantly poor mood.

Do I really want to spend years and decades giving him praise he won't listen to? Do I actually wish to join the numerous people who are continually trying to cheer him up, with no success?

She kept circling back to this point: I don't think I'm capable of making him happy. In fact, I bet the reverse will happen – he'll make me miserable.

Alear went so long without responding to Lucina's question that Lucina eventually picked the conversation back up, on a slightly different road. "In my own world, I witnessed the making of some unlikely pairs. At times, romance can flourish in unpredictable places."

"Is that so? I'm unsure what to say to that."

"Do you love him?" Lucina asked suddenly.

"I don't know," Alear admitted. "I've read romantic stories. They're not relatable to me. The pages are filled with men and women announcing things like, 'my love for you will endure until the end of time,' or, 'I would shake the ground and shatter the sky for you'. None of it makes sense to me. What compels these people to make such grandiose promises?"

"Ah . . . hmm . . ." Seconds ago, Lucina wore a look of encouragement, but it vanished after receiving this latest answer. "You know, there's no need to make a choice immediately. The Pact Ring can sit in your drawer for a long, long time while you contemplate things."

"You're right. This is such a huge, life-altering decision. I must not be rash."

"Chin up, Alear. Regardless of what you eventually decide, I believe you'll find your way into a bright future."

After Lucina exited the room, Alear was left still staring at the Pact Ring for a while.

I told Lucina that I'd continue to think about it, but maybe I don't have to. Maybe it's already obvious how this should end.

Alear went to the Memento Drawer. Carefully, she placed the Pact Ring back inside, where it would stay out of sight and fade out of mind.

Then, she climbed onto her bed and attempted to sleep.