"Cheers!" shouted a very drunk Vaike, raising his mug once again, prompting the others to follow suit. Even though Donnel was keeping an eye on his son, he seemed to be falling under his friend's influence as well. Yarne, on the other hand, stayed relatively close but kept his distance. Fortunately, this little "party" was being held in the north hall of the castle—far away from the other rooms. At least in these private lounges, they could be as loud as they wanted.

The occasion? Henry and his upcoming wedding. Like many before him, he had tied the knot, so to speak. Of all people, no one had expected him to be next after Donnel and Virion. So, for now, they were simply testing the endurance of the next "family man."

Of course, it was easier than thinking about the fact that, soon, they'd be marching toward what Robin had called "the ultimate sacrifice."

So, they drank, they ate, they spent money recklessly, and above all, they enjoyed their time with friends.

Or at least, that's what they would have said—if only a few hours earlier, Chrom, who had come up with this idea, hadn't been dragged out of the room by an extremely angry Sumia. In an uncharacteristically unstoic moment, she scolded him for spending one of her family's ancient wines.

Henry, Vaike, Gaius, Donnel, Virion, Gregor, and Lon'qu—now raiding the bar—still couldn't believe what they were seeing. Even after all these hours, Robin still hadn't finished the paperwork he needed to get through for the week. In fact, it was almost unbelievable how, despite Gaius sneaking drink after drink onto his desk, the tactician barely seemed affected.

The group's greatest frustration? In that room, Robin looked way too comfortable with the Voice of Naga beside him, quietly helping him sort through his papers.

"You think anyone else knows?" Vaike slurred, barely managing the words.

"By Naga, I don't even know what's going on with him," Virion sighed. "Unbelievable—faced with such beauty, and yet he still keeps his composure, his resolve! A true knightly spirit!"

"More like a damn divine entity," Henry chuckled. "I wonder how he can even resist feeling anything."

"Aye! A toast! To our great commander! To our friend, Robin! And to the master as well!" Vaike roared, prompting everyone to clash their mugs together again.

"...I see you're all having fun," Sully muttered as she brought in another crate of booze.

"Oh! Ohoooo! You brought more of that stuff?!" Henry gasped, reaching for the crate—only to get smacked away by Sully.

"Hold it. Don't you think you've had enough?"

"No! This is different! This feeling... it's amazing! Let me experience more! I don't care if I have to take on three of you..." Henry slurred as he wobbled.

"Alright, that's it. You're done," Sully started, but before she could finish, Donnel toppled from his chair, his pot flying off his head.

"Aaaand... yeah, looks like you're all at your limit," she groaned.

"No! Not until we see Robin fall to that beauty! That divine presence sent by the gods!" Vaike declared dramatically.

"Beauty?" Sully frowned, following their gaze.

Something inside her twisted. Robin was still seated, working, but Tiki was very close to him—her fingers gently brushing through his hair.

"Uh..."

"Don't worry—we saved you some," a voice muttered.

"Oh... thanks, Kellam. So this is where you've been..." Sully mumbled, taking the offered drink. "Not drinking?"

"Someone's gotta make sure you all survive the night… We don't need another—" Kellam glanced at the sofa. Libra lay there, a damp towel on his forehead, barely keeping his eyes open. "...incident."

"Padre has zero tolerance!" Gaius laughed. "Not that it's surprising—prude, balanced, a man of faith who barely joins the party? I did not expect him to pass out after just two drinks of that stuff..."

"A beauty in its purest form!" Virion sighed dramatically. "A shame we can't touch it."

"Excuse me? What the hell are you all going on about? 'Beauty this,' 'divine that'—what are you talking about?" Sully snapped.

"Can't you see it? I thought you had an eye for quality. What a shame," Virion said, swirling the wine in his glass. "To think that of all people, you wouldn't recognize its value. I was certain you'd be the first to try and convince Robin to let you... have a little taste." He shot her a playful wink.

Sully glanced at Robin, then at Tiki, then back at Virion. Was he seriously suggesting what she thought he was? No... That was too weird. She expected comments like that from Vaike, maybe some cheeky remark from Gaius to "spice things up," but Virion?

"What the hell are you playing at?" Sully asked, her irritation creeping into her voice.

"What else? Ever since Robin banned us from raiding his personal stock, he's been torturing us all night with that beauty sitting right there on the table!" Virion huffed, and the rest of the guys nodded in agreement.

"...Oh." Sully rolled her eyes. "You're talking about that wine Tiki gave him..."

"Of course! What other beauty could I possibly mean?!" Virion exclaimed. Even though the misunderstanding had been cleared up, Sully still felt the urge to kick him somewhere very, very unpleasant. "That... what did you call it? 'Dragon's Breath'? That stuff you brought last time was strong, but by Naga's grace, it's not every day you see a fine wine aged this long! Especially in barrels made from Mila's sacred tree!"

"It's practically sacrilege!" Henry chimed in, somehow even more excited than usual. "Imagine how the hardcore Naga followers would react if they saw this! A wine personally gifted by the daughter of their deity, infused with the essence of their holy tree to create a divine flavor!"

"If the lovely Tiki had wings, this would be a tale for the ages!" Virion proclaimed dramatically. "A goddess descending upon us, bearing the elixir of life! A true panacea!"

"The what of the what now?" Vaike asked, looking lost.

"A drink said to cure all ailments, my dear friend," Virion said, swaying slightly.

"Uh-huh." Sully smirked, feeling oddly satisfied.

"By the way, my dear," Virion blinked as water dripped from his face, "why exactly are you dumping a pitcher of water on me? Isn't this supposed to go inside me to sober me up?"

Sully made sure the last few drops landed on him before setting the empty jug down. "Oh, no reason in particular. Cherche told me to keep you in check if you got out of hand. But Vaike's hogging the water barrel, so this had to do."

"Huh? What? The Vaike ain't—" Before Vaike could finish, Sully grabbed him by the collar and dunked his head into the barrel near the bar.

"As I was saying," she continued, ignoring Vaike's flailing, "Sumia says we should start wrapping things up. This party should've ended hours ago, but they kept it going because... well, Robin needed to unwind a bit." She dunked Vaike's head a few more times before finally letting him drop to the floor, coughing and glaring at her.

"Sheesh, someone's in a bad mood tonight," Gaius muttered.

"You wanna be next?" Sully asked, cracking her knuckles.

Gaius raised his hands in surrender. "No thanks, I'm good."

Sully sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Before she even realized it, Ricken had already made his way over to Robin, chatting away.

That kid moved faster than she gave him credit for. Despite his scrawny build and boyish face, it was hard to believe Ricken was already engaged to some noble Maribelle had set him up with.

Well, he was still young, but like Robin told Chrom and the rest—this whole thing was basically a suicide mission. Nobody sane would go along with it unless they had something to fight for. If they failed, at least they could say they'd tried to live their dreams, even if only for a moment. If they succeeded... well, then they'd have a home to return to.

Sully's stomach twisted as she walked over, her eyes lingering on Tiki. The way she laughed, the ease with which she poured Robin another drink, all while casually pushing his papers aside and signing off on them herself...

Was she really keeping up with him? It was almost terrifying to see someone—other than workaholic Robin himself—handle that many requests, plans, and decrees so effortlessly.

The two exchanged greetings. Ricken had taken his role as an assistant quite seriously over the past few weeks—he barely needed any direction before he started clearing the area. Though, for some reason, he seemed more energetic than usual.

A small smile crossed Sully's face as she recalled the past few weeks. With a whistle, she picked up some documents to review. "Your Ylissean's improving a lot," she said, her surprise entirely genuine.

Hearing that, Tiki smiled warmly. "I've had a good teacher—patient and very flexible," the Manakete chuckled. "Though… I think I finally broke him."

"No... n-noooooooot yeeeeeeeeeeet," Robin muttered, reaching for another glass—only for Tiki to gently stop him before he could get himself any more intoxicated.

"Robin, do you really like it that much?" Tiki asked.

"I… well, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah," he admitted with a nervous chuckle. "Ah, no offense, Sully. I guess, like Gaius, I have a bit of a sweet tooth."

"Heh, no offense taken," Sully replied, eyeing the glass in Tiki's hand. She exchanged a glance with the Manakete before accepting the drink. One sip was enough for her to understand what those drunken idiots had been going on about. "Oh… this is…"

"Too strong?" Tiki asked.

Sully shook her head. "No, but it's got a weird taste. Good, but weird," she whistled after another sip. "I'm surprised this is alcohol—it's so damn sweet."

"Mila's tree roots are excellent for this sort of thing—medicines, tonics, and…" Tiki's smile turned playful as she ran a hand through Robin's hair. "A nice drink to help someone unwind."

"Isn't that kinda… irresponsible?" Sully asked. "Letting a drunk guy sign what might be my last will and testament?"

"What're ya talkin' 'bout? I'm fiiiiine… Yer sayin' it like… I'm drunk or somethin'…" Robin slurred.

"Some acolytes call it 'The Goddess's Kiss,' though its real name is Rivesaltes Ambré, an old recipe perfected with a bit of help from our neighbors," Tiki explained. "Alcohol's generally restricted in sacred places, but since this is aged with the energy of Mila's tree, it's more of a drink that induces euphoria, relaxation, and mental clarity. Though, considering Robin isn't used to strong drinks… I don't think he can tell whether he's drunk or not."

"Tiki… no matter how many of ya tell me the same thing…one...two...three Tikiesssss... I'm still… totally… sob—uh… sssob… sober?" Robin rubbed his eyes as his condition became increasingly obvious.

"Robin… you haven't even noticed that the papers you've been signing are just blank sheets covered in scribbles."

"…Nooo…" He slowly turned to Tiki, who averted her gaze with a guilty look. "…Nooooo…"

"Robin…"

"Are ya tellin' me… that… that… I'm not… a good stra—strategist?"

"Huh?" Sully blinked as she glanced around. Ricken had already made sure the cleanup was well underway. The idea that she and Tiki were witnessing what might be a full-blown tantrum from the Grandmaster was bizarre in so many ways.

Adorable, for one. His emotional control was practically crumbling before their eyes. In fact, they could clearly see where Morgan had inherited their talent for pouting.

"I… I…"

"Sssshhh, don't worry. You did a good job… It's my fault," Tiki admitted, more embarrassed than before. Without hesitation, she guided Robin's head to rest on her shoulder, trying to soothe him.

"…Tiki...one...… bad…" Robin mumbled, struggling to piece his thoughts together.

"Wow… it's really hitting him hard," Sully muttered.

"It'll pass. This drink is actually a stress reliever… The fact that he's reacting like this is normal. Though… maybe I overdid it with the dose. He definitely needed to relax," Tiki sighed as she continued to comfort him.

"Buuuut… I worked so haaaard todaaaaay… I can't… I can't end it like thiiiiiis," Robin whined as he tried to grab the papers Tiki had moved out of his reach.

"Wow… I had no idea Robin was this kind of drunk," Sully suppressed a laugh.

"Well, I had to use a few… tricks to get him to leave his study. After Morgan agreed to have another sleepover with little Luci, he got strangely stubborn, so I just made sure to take half the documents he needed to draft and sign."

"Aren't those papers important for the kingdom?"

"They're for October."

"That's in… what, seven months?" Sully asked.

"October five years from now…" Tiki sighed.

"...Robin." Sully shot him a glare. Robin shook his head.

"I… can't be too lazy… Morgan… neeeeds to have a safe place… with little Luci… and little Cynthiiiiiaaaaaa…" he slurred, dragging out his words even more.

"Alright, that's enough." Sully huffed, grabbing his arm and hoisting him onto her shoulder.

"Sully?" Tiki asked, a bit concerned.

"Looks like this stubborn little man can't be bothered to take care of himself. Guess we'll have to teach him a lesson about self-care." She adjusted Robin's weight on her shoulder.

"Uggh… I'm a… bad persoooon…" Robin whined.

"Just terribly responsible and way too dedicated," Sully muttered, picking up his coat. "You coming?"

"Oh? Sure," Tiki said with a smile. "Where to?" she asked, gathering the important papers from the table.

"Pretty sure he's had enough relaxation. Maybe a proper break?"

"I don't think taking him to his room is a good idea," Tiki said.

"Why not?"

"It's… kind of blocked. There are too many papers on the floor. If we let our guard down for even a second, he'll start working again."

"…Lucky for us, the barracks are empty~."

"...The… barracks? But those are—" Tiki hesitated, but Robin provided the answer for them.

"The mennn's barracks are… bein' remodellered… remodelled? Remo… remo… remodelleeeed…" Robin slurred as he squirmed on Sully's shoulder. "Ain't nobody there 'cuz it's toooooo loud in the mornin'zzzzz."

"Who said we were going to the men's side?" Sully shot back, tightening her grip.

Tiki quickly got everything ready. Sully felt a little bad treating Robin like a sack of potatoes, but she definitely didn't want anyone of the shepherds seeing him like this.

Under the cover of night, they moved through the halls, greeting the occasional guard or servant. They asked them to inform only Sumia and Chrom about Robin's whereabouts, requesting just a brief escape from castle duties and obligations. No one questioned them. How could they? The voice of Naga herself was backing them up—this was purely professional, right?

Well… out of all the people who could be looking after Robin, Sully and Lissa were probably the worst options. Not counting Tharja, of course.

Honestly, sneaking into the women's quarters with a man slung over her shoulder felt a little forbidden. But thankfully, the area was deserted—save for the occasional guard patrolling for any unwanted intruders.

Aside from that, it was just the three of them.

"Nooooo…" Robin whined from the bed. Sully had already dropped him onto the mattress, "torturing" him—not by any real means, just by placing a pillow over his stomach and poking his cheek with her finger to throw him off.

"Man, this is way more fun than I expected~," Sully chuckled as she continued her torment.

"…"

"Stoooop…," Robin groaned, shifting his head in a feeble attempt to escape.

"Nope," she said with a hint of mischief. "I still haven't gotten back at you for making me eat that disgusting seaweed again, so consider this my revenge~."

"Stooooooop…"

"You seem oddly entertained by this," Tiki commented, approaching with a bucket of cold water and some towels.

"This is a rare event. I bet Lissa or Morgan would love to see him like this." Sully grinned. "It's really fun seeing this side of Robin."

"You've never seen him drunk before?"

"Robin? Hell no! This bastard can usually handle the strongest ales and liquors! My throat nearly burned up when I tried to outdrink him during Chrom and Sumia's wedding feast. He might not have memories, but he sure knows how to drink." She laughed as Tiki gently placed a damp cloth on Robin's forehead.

"I didn't know that."

"Well, hardly anyone does. He's good at faking it, but I can always tell when someone's actually drunk."

"Oh… I see." Tiki looked at her with curiosity. "So… are you done getting ready?"

"Getting ready? Ohhh, for what's coming up in a couple of weeks? Yeah." She shrugged. "Not much to do, though. My mom's gone, and I've got no idea where my father is. My old man's probably holed up in his ranch with a longsword in hand, waiting for us to screw up so he can deal with any Risen that get too close to his horses."

"Your old man?"

"My grandpa. He and my mom raised me. Not much to say about a noble house in decline—our only business now is breeding purebred warhorses. Actually, that's how I met Sumia." Sully smirked, still poking Robin. "But that's a story for another time. For now… huh?"

She stopped when Robin grabbed Tiki's hand.

"Robin?"

"Ugg… I… wanna snuggle…" he mumbled, rubbing her hand against his cheek.

"EXCUSE ME?!" Sully shouted, whipping her head toward Tiki, whose cheeks were now bright red. "W-WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?!"

"I-It's not what it looks like, it's just that—"

"No, wait, let me guess." Sully massaged her temples. "…Ah! That must be it!" She pointed at Tiki's outfit. This time, she wasn't wearing her usual robes—her clothes were simpler, in darker shades. Sully couldn't help but think of another possibility. "D-Don't tell me… Morgan got you those clothes, didn't she? Robin must think you're Morgan, right?!"

"Eh? Well… maybe?" It was true that the outfit was similar to the ones Sumia had gifted Morgan.

"Y-Yeah… that must be it… Robin loves Morgan so much that it wouldn't be weird for him to cuddle his daughter… right?"

"Noooooo… I want Tiki…," Robin whined, making both Sully and Tiki turn crimson.

"…Tiki?"

"I-IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!"

"…So… you did all this to take advantage of Robin's noble and pure heart…"

"I-I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE WRONG!"

"Tiki… you won't… support me anymore…?" Robin muttered, looking sad and disappointed.

"Support you more? What? Hold on… what?!" Sully turned to Tiki, stunned. "This isn't the first time?!"

Tiki sighed, gently sitting at the edge of the bed before guiding Robin's head onto her lap. He happily accepted her touch, letting her stroke his hair.

"…It's not like that… It's just that… Robin's been under immense pressure for the past month… Ever since we left Valm, he hasn't had a single moment of rest… He needed help, not physically, but mentally, so he wouldn't break… so, for now… I've been a shoulder he can lean on…" She sighed again. "Please… keep this a secret… for now… The others can't know that Robin is slowly falling apart…"

"That's not truuuuuue…," Robin slurred. "I have Morgan… and Tiki… and Chrom… and Lissa… and Liv… and everyone… and Morgan… That's why… I have to be a good tacticiaaaaaaan…"

"Oh, Robin…"

Well, this situation was insane. Sully had thought she'd just mess with Robin for a bit, maybe get some embarrassing stories out of him. She never expected to stumble upon this.

She came looking for copper and found a damn diamond mine.

Honestly, even though it annoyed her when dumb noble girls fawned over Robin, watching him with Tiki didn't feel the same. It wasn't annoying. It felt… right.

Though she had to admit to herself—she was a little jealous of how Tiki played with his hair.

"Sully?"

"Sully."

"SULLY!"

Maribelle's voice snapped her back to reality.

She had returned to the present—sitting in the study, staring at the paper she was supposed to be writing. She blinked a few times, glancing down at her right hand. The goblet she was holding was one she had taken from Robin's quarters. She had only poured herself some water, but even now, she could still faintly smell the traces of that drink she had tasted over a year ago.

That same scent had clung to the goblet no matter how much it had been cleaned. Just that was enough to drag her back into the memory.

That… and the fact that Maribelle had just asked her to write her testimony for the upcoming hearing.

"Sully, dear, are you alright?! You've been staring at that goblet with such a foolish expression for far too long!" Maribelle asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Sorry... I got lost in thought... I should punch Virion again next time I see him." Sully chuckled. "Anyway, I think I'm done…" she said, placing her sheet onto the pile.

"Already?! B-but I… ughhh…!" Lissa groaned, still scribbling away.

How did this even happen? Cordelia had left days ago, and they were on the verge of the first hearing—the one they wanted to avoid to keep from troubling Morgan. Maybe she hadn't realized it at the time, but after seeing Tiki with Robin like that, Sully knew she had to try convincing them to stay together. It was easy to see a future with him and Morgan, but she couldn't help but think about the pain it would cause the others. She couldn't stop herself from imagining that scene with the rest of them, either.

"It seems your handwriting has improved, dear," Maribelle noted as she flipped through the documents. "I must say, I'm quite impressed with your progress—it fills me with joy and satisfaction."

Lissa paused for a moment, glancing at what Maribelle was admiring. She quickly averted her eyes when their gazes met.

"…That's not mine…," she admitted, sounding slightly irritated.

"Excuse me?" Maribelle raised a brow before turning her attention to what Lissa was actually working on. Before the princess could hide it with her hands, Maribelle managed to catch a glimpse. Unlike the paper she had been holding, Lissa's handwriting hadn't improved at all—in fact, it had somehow gotten worse.

"…Dear?"

"I'm trying my best!" Lissa whined, her eyes brimming with frustrated tears. "It's just that… there's so much I want to say about Robin and Morgan! Why can't I just talk instead?!"

"For the hearings, we must present testimonies—something that requires a proper preamble. They will judge the credibility of our statements and then determine how grounded in reality they are. That is why I asked you all to be as objective as possible," Maribelle explained firmly.

"Is that why we're here?" Cynthia asked.

"You didn't know?" Lucina frowned.

"Nope, they just told me to write about Uncle Robin."

"Huh? What did you—" Lissa peeked at her niece's paper and immediately felt even more dejected.

"Are you really surprised they have good handwriting?" Gaius asked, lounging on the couch in the back. "Bubbles Jr. was their personal tutor. If Morgan writes better than Twinkles over there, it's no shock that Little Stumbles and Bluebell have such neat handwriting." He twirled his lollipop in his mouth before glancing at Maribelle. "Probably even better than yours, Twinkles."

"It's incredibly efficient," Maribelle said proudly.

"Soooo efficient that bubbles forgets basic etiquette," Gaius shot back.

"Mimimimimi, meanies!" Lissa huffed. "You'll see! I'll finish this stupid paper and then I can go play with Morgan!" There was a determined fire in her eyes—one that promptly died out when Maribelle gave her a light tap on the head with her fan.

"No adult words," she said while fanning herself.

"I am an adult!" Lissa puffed up her cheeks.

"So adult that you still wear matching pajamas with Morgan when it's cold," Sully remarked. "By the way, is she still in Robin's room?"

"For now. Nowi, Nah, and Severa are keeping an eye on her. Until we finish this, she can't leave or get up to any mischief," Maribelle explained, walking toward the window. "As you all know, there won't be any hearings in the next few days due to the festivities. That gives us three days to compare notes, cover all angles, and ensure there are no issues."

"What about Cordelia?"

"What about her?"

"You do realize she hasn't returned yet, right? She should be here by now. Wouldn't it be a good idea to send someone to check on her?"

"Unfortunately, no," Maribelle said with slight irritation. "As you well know, any use of extra resources could be seen as nepotism or abuse of power."

"Why don't we just tell them to shut up?" Lissa grumbled.

"The crown has the final say, but the judicial system Robin proposed ensures that noble houses and commoners alike have no unfair advantage. We're still a beloved monarchy, so implementing a new system like this isn't exactly popular with the nobles. Back in Emmeryn's time, the council would simply convene, take notes, and make decisions. Unfortunately, King Chrom doesn't have the same image or trust that Emmeryn did, so he can't use a system that only she could make work."

"Uh-huh… so what exactly are we doing?" Lissa asked.

"A democratic republic system," Maribelle declared, puffing out her chest. "It's something we worked on together. Nobles and commoners alike will be able to determine what is right in civil cases. Judgments and declarations will be issued anonymously. A tribunal system will ensure that no one is uninformed about the laws, eliminating legal ignorance. In fact, we're considering using test cases to start practicing these new laws and ethics with the new noble houses joining the project."

"Yeah, the two of you…," Lissa squinted at her.

"Alone…," Lucina added.

"To-ge-ther," Gaius smirked.

"You're not helping, Uncle Gaius," Cynthia pointed out.

"Good," Gaius said, resting his head on the armrest. "Not like I'm gonna get smited for telling the truth." He snickered.

"You're insufferable sometimes," Maribelle sighed. "But that's the summary, dear. There's nothing we can do—this is a new system that has to be tested. Unfortunately, Morgan got caught up in it simply because it's an unprecedented case… There's not much we can do until further notice."

"…Alright," Lissa sighed. "It just… frustrates me that I can't be there when she needs us. Wh—"

Lissa didn't get to finish her sentence—Gaius suddenly started choking on his lollipop. He fell to the ground, flailing his arms. Cynthia was the first to react, quickly pressing into his stomach from behind. After a few attempts, she managed to make him cough up the candy. Everyone was still shaken by the sudden incident, but before they could say anything, Gaius scrambled toward Maribelle and dropped to the floor, pressing his forehead against it in a desperate plea for mercy.

"E-Eh?! B-but wha—"

"OH, GREAT MARIBELLE BLACKBELT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DEAL YOU MADE, BUT PLEASE, HAVE MERCY ON THIS WRETCHED SOUL!" Gaius cried out, looking genuinely panicked.

"What are you talking about, Uncle Gaius?" Cynthia asked.

"What am I talking about?! It can't be a coincidence that right after I made that comment, this happened!" He pointed toward the window. "I don't know what kind of contract you signed, but I get it now! I won't make fun of Twinkles ever again!"

"Excuse me?" Maribelle frowned.

"Twinkles—no, Maribelle. Don't tell me you had nothing to do with this!" Gaius pointed again, his voice trembling. "I JUST SAW A D-D-D-D-DRAGON'S SHADOW PASS BY THE WINDOW!"

Maribelle blinked. She glanced at Lucina, Cynthia, and Lissa, all of whom looked just as confused as she did. Shaking her head with a pitying smile, she placed a hand on Gaius's shoulder and sighed.

"Gaius… that's impossible. If there really was a dragon flying overhead, it would have to be Nowi or Nah, right?"

"NO! I SAID A DRAGON! AND I ALSO SAID 'SMITTEN' RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED! WHAT OTHER DRAGON DO YOU KNOW?! THERE'S NO WAY THAT SHADOW WAS KID OR KID JR.!"

"Kid or... kid jr?" Cynthia pondered.

"Nowi and Nah" Lissa whispered.

"…Gaius, if something that big was flying over the castle, then—"

Before she could finish, the distant sound of a horn echoed through the area. Then another. And another. A deep rumbling followed. Maribelle's eyes widened.

"…Then the alarm would go off?" Gaius clutched his head. "I knew that crazy Mao'Mao still wants my head for what I said about Bubbles in the onsen… Oh, Naga, maybe 'Goddesses' sent someone to finish the job…"

"M-Maybe it's a mistake! There's no way a real dragon could've gotten this close without being noticed! No reason it would even know how to get here without—" Maribelle trailed off, suddenly deep in thought.

Then, the study door swung open.

"Mother?/Mom?" Lucina and Cynthia said in unison as the queen entered, her escort right behind her.

"Oh… so this is where you all are…," Sumia said. That smile—the one she used when she was about to scold Lissa or Sully—was on full display. But this time, her eyes scanned the room until they landed on Maribelle.

"Tell me, Maribelle… did you know Cordelia was bringing Tiki?"

Maribelle shook her head.

"I see… Do you know why Tiki looks furious?"

Another shake.

This time, everyone paled.

"…I see… So… are we going scorched land?"

"Well, just to be sure… you really, REALLY don't know anything?" Sumia asked.

"I couldn't say for certain. If she came with Cordelia, she shouldn't have any knowledge of the case. But who knows if someone else talked to her about it," Maribelle replied.

"This is a problem… It's already bad enough that a noble was attacked within our territory, but for Tiki to act so impulsively… That's not like her at all…"

"And if she did find out what happened?"

"Unlikely. I don't think Cordelia would go around spreading that kind of information, not even to Tiki. I have no idea why she looks so angry or why she's in this mood, but the guards who attended her said they spotted Cordelia ahead of her. She hasn't said a word to us."

"Well, all we can do is hope for the best," Maribelle said, sounding a little nervous.

They were almost at Robin's room now. There was noise coming from inside—was Tiki already fighting with Severa or Nah? But no, there were no sounds of struggle. Just… something strange.

"…By Naga… why do we always end up in these situations?"

"My dear queen, I'm quite certain Tiki is reasonable. Any misunderstanding should be cleared up shortly—"

"You're hesitating because you know Morgan is an expert at creating misunderstandings, and an angry Tiki, who may or may not be mad at us, could be bad news?"

"I'm hesitating… because I'm wondering if I need a charm to boost my magical defenses. But I doubt anything I have works against divine power," Maribelle muttered. She could hear voices inside—loud and constant—but she couldn't make out the words.

"…Well, no use delaying it," Sumia sighed, signaling for the door to be opened.

What they saw was something they never expected—not even in their wildest, most ridiculous dreams.

"Starin' blankly ahead~ Just makin' my way, makin' a way, purururu ru~"

Morgan was standing on the bed, dancing enthusiastically. Nowi clapped along, delighted. Nah and Severa were playing the violin, setting the rhythm, while little Lucina danced beside Morgan, belting out the chorus.

"If I could fall into the sky ~ Do you think time ~ Would pass me by? ~ 'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles ~ If I could just see you… ~Tonight~"

Their remained in stunned silence for a brief moment.

"…Maribelle?"

"Yes, my queen?"

"Are we dead?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm seeing two little angels floating around the room…"

"Ah… yes… of course," Maribelle rolled her eyes. She immediately spotted the notes in Morgan's hands—Anna's notes. Those songs were nothing special to her, but ever since Morgan learned the word "karaoke", there was no stopping her obsession.

"If I could fall into the sky~ Do you think timeee would pass me by? ~ Oh, 'cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles ~ If I could just see you… ~ if i could hold you... ~Toniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!"

Morgan and little Lucina finished the song dramatically, arms outstretched.

"YAY! MORGAN! LUCINA!" Nowi cheered at the duo.

"Thank you! Thank you! I teach classes on Thursdays, I don't charge much. Lucina teaches on Saturdays—her payment is in candy per song," Morgan said with a bow. "Ah, Auntie Sumia, Maribelle, what brings you here? We were practicing!"

"Oh… oh heavens, Morgan, was this supposed to be a secret?" Sumia asked, delighted, placing a hand on her cheek. "You girls are so sweet, but why practice this now? And Lucina, shouldn't you be in your history lessons?"

"I already finished!" the little girl declared, jumping off the bed and running to hug her mother. "Morgan helped me!"

"Oh? How exactly did she help?"

"Well, they asked me a bunch of questions, and Morgan helped me with my homework earlier…" Lucina admitted while hugging her mother, who gladly picked her up. "Are you mad?"

"Well, having Morgan 'kidnap' you every now and then isn't the worst thing."

"Right? Morgan would never do anything bad."

"Of course not, just be adorable—maybe a little hyperacti—" Sumia blinked as a familiar voice reached her ears. She turned to her left and found Tiki, Say'ri, and Mao'Mao, each holding a drink. Tiki toyed with her bamboo straw, emerald dragon-like eyes staring at both nobles.

"You girls are so lucky," she said, sipping her drink in intervals. "You've had Morgan for a whole year…" Sip. "And to think you never invited me to these little family gatherings…"

"P-Pardon?" Maribelle asked.

Tiki looked away for a moment. "Ooooh… you know… it's not like…" She turned her gaze back. "Like you were hiding certain important girls from me... or like my little girl here has been causing trouble, right?" She took a long sip until her drink was gone.

"By all the heavens, no, Tiki!" Sumia cleared her throat. "That's not the case. We were weighing some concerns—you surely know that any news about Robin is something we all share with our members and friends. These girls only arrived a week ago… we couldn't risk misinformation spreading."

"…I understand," Tiki sighed, placing her drink on the nightstand. "I think I may be being a little unfair, showing up unannounced. I don't want to put you in a bad position." She clasped her hands together. "Hey, Morgan, how about you go fetch Auntie Anna? I'd love to see what other things she has to offer! And I'd love to hear you sing more—I'm sure Lucina could find something interesting!" she said with a smile.

"Umm… I," Morgan played with her hair. "I… don't really feel like going out… it's those days, and I don't want to leave just to end up with a tummy ache again…"

"I can go alone!" Lucina raised her hand.

"No, you can't," Nowi pouted. "Besides, it's my turn to sing something! Come on, girls, let's see if there's anything I can play!" she said, pulling Nah and Severa along. Lucina quickly joined them, leading the group out of the room, leaving just the six of them behind.

"…So then…" Say'ri began. "…Daughters of another Robin?"

"We could hardly believe it ourselves," Maribelle replied. "Nah comes from a world where Manaketes and Taguels are the majority. Severa, on the other hand, comes from a place where Plegia doesn't exist."

"It's insane," Morgan added, raising her voice with that strange little stone. "Imagine—my dad can handle Cordelia and five little gremlins!"

"Yeah… haaaah…" Tiki shook her head. "Sorry, Morgan. I wanted to speak to them privately, but that wasn't possible… for now, just listen, please."

"Isn't it a little unfair to have this conversation with Morgan here?" Maribelle asked.

"…I'm a little angry and disappointed," Tiki admitted. "Morgan is the one person I don't want to show my bad side to… her and Robin. So, for the sake of this conversation, just having her here will keep us all in check," she said while glancing at Mao'Mao, who was utterly entranced by Morgan, using that strange book Anna had given her to take instant paintings of others.

"True," Sumia said. "I don't suppose we can get out of this with an apology?"

"You can't apologize for something when you don't even know what upsets me."

"I see… then, just to be clear—what should we be discussing?"

"First of all, I'm here for purely selfish reasons," Tiki stated. "Let's lay some things out—I know what happened, at least a little bit"

"A little bit?"

Tiki gestured toward her head. Sumia and Maribelle exchanged worried glances.

"Normally, I wouldn't be able to tell, but when I see a faint trace of my mother's spiritual energy leaving that area… I can guess that Libra used one of the special staves I left behind. Or, heavens forbid, that Tharja or Henry resorted to some arcane and forbidden means to help Morgan."

Both nobles' mouths opened, but before they could say anything, Tiki stopped them with a raised hand.

"Please. I'm not so rigid as to make a fuss over a single incident. I know something happened, but Cordelia refused to tell me what until I asked you first. I'm not here to scold you for how you handled it—you're adults who are responsible for your own actions."

Both let out relieved sighs.

"So… you're not angry about that…?"

"I'll decide that once you tell me," Tiki said. "I will be angry at whoever hurt my little Morgan—that's for sure. But since she's fine, happy, and alive, I assume you handled things as you should have."

"Then? What's bothering you?"

"...What could it be?" Tiki wondered to herself. "...How much do you know, Morgan?"

"Eh?"

"Please, I know you must have an idea of what's going on. You're sweet, kind, adorable—but you're not naïve, nor are you ignorant of what's happening around you. You made that very clear to me the first time we met, Morgan."

She played with that stone in her hands for a moment, glanced at Maribelle, and then lowered her gaze. "...I don't know everything. I just know they're accusing me of... being one of my father's 'companions,' plus some fools are claiming to be mothers of possible siblings."

"...And how do you know this?" Sumia asked.

"...Yarne told me he overheard some things... so I asked him to keep an ear out."

"MORGAN!"

"Sorry! But I couldn't just do nothing!" She puffed out her cheeks. "You've all been so serious! And this house arrest thing feels unfair!" She crossed her arms. "I mean, reading out loud things like 'tax evasion' or 'abuse of power' is absurd, but 'paternity claims'? That's serious!"

Maribelle was about to argue, but then she thought back carefully. That time when Edmund was chasing Morgan—was she right? Did she say it out loud? If she really did, then of course Morgan wouldn't have stayed quiet. Even so, she hadn't expected her to take such actions.

"Is that true?" Sumia asked.

"...Yes," Maribelle admitted, seemingly resigning herself to the weight of the situation. "What a catastrophic slip-up on my part... It seems I couldn't hold my tongue when they handed me those crude documents... I am the... primary culprit for Morgan's behavior..." she said, hiding her face behind her fan. "I can't believe I made such a basic mistake..."

"Well, it certainly wasn't your fault. It caught all of us off guard," Morgan tried to console her.

"Interesting..." Tiki murmured as she refilled her glass. "And you were okay with doing nothing? Morgan."

"...I can't do anything..."

"..."

"..."

"Specifically, what's worrying you, Tiki?" Sumia asked.

"A lot of things. I've had bad feelings for the past few months. Like I said, I came here for selfish reasons. During this time... I've been thinking about what I should do. For so long, I've been passive about the world… dedicating myself solely to my role as humanity's 'guide.' But I'm just a figurehead, a bridge between my mother and the living... Well, at least, that was until a year and a half ago... I've changed a lot..." She sighed wistfully. "I've simply become... selfish, for two very important reasons..." She looked at Morgan. "Thinking about Robin being absent for so long… during this time, it's painfully clear that I'm suffering alongside Morgan because of him... It's ridiculous that, after all the years I've lived, these past eighteen months feel like an eternity in comparison to the rest of my life..."

A laugh interrupted her.

"You... really love Dad, don't you?" Morgan asked.

"I suppose I really do..." Tiki admitted, downing her drink in one go. "Goodness! That feels good to say out loud... Even though I had my doubts... today, I realized a few things..."

"Hmph! Well, if you're my mom, I have complaints!" Morgan said, crossing her arms. "WHERE ARE MY WINGS?! MY HORNS?! WHY CAN'T I BREATHE FIRE LIKE NAH?!"

"Y-Y'know, that's something we should discuss in more detail!" Tiki shot back, flustered. "It's not like that's something I can control! Besides, I didn't even know it was possible until a few hours ago—I myself couldn't believe Nah existed!"

"There's a saying: 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' So you just have to try harder," Morgan huffed, clearly 'offended.' This caught Tiki off guard—how had the conversation shifted so suddenly?

For a brief moment, everyone except Tiki and Morgan began to chuckle nervously at their exchange.

Maribelle observed them for a moment. She didn't feel bad, in fact, it felt quite natural. There was just one thing to do at this point.

"...If I may..." she stepped forward. "Pardon my bluntness, Your Majesty, Lady Tiki, but given the circumstances... I believe I may have a solution..."

"Solution? A solution to what?" Tiki asked.

"...I apologize for how this may sound, but... at this point, would you mind taking Morgan to the Mila Tree?"

"Do you have any idea what that entails? I would never ask such a thing after hearing about all the hard work you've done over the past year!" Tiki protested.

"Have you lost your mind?" Sumia asked aggressively. "Do you understand what that would mean?"

Morgan shook her head. Sumia might not have known, but she was aware. She was in the middle of a trial meant to verify her father's trustworthiness—and if he wasn't here, and on top of that, people found out she had 'escaped' the premises, it wouldn't just jeopardize the trust of the royal court but also Maribelle's noble title.

"Why?" Morgan asked.

"Why not?" Maribelle said, exasperated. "Honestly, I've worked tirelessly to make sure you're safe. Everyone has done their best—I'm sure we won't fail this time," she replied.

"Then?"

"That's the problem. 'This time' isn't enough," Maribelle said, snapping her fan shut. "This time we can defend ourselves, this time Chrom and Sumia are helping. But what happens when we're not here? Or when we can't help you? I know avoiding responsibilities or dodging the problem isn't the solution, but this time is different. If Tiki takes you, who would dare contradict the voice of Naga? Only the Grimleal would be bold enough to approach the Mila Tree with bad intentions, but other than that, being 'accepted' as a resident would solve many -if not all- your issues."

"Yeah, but not yours!" Morgan snapped. "WHAT ABOUT YOU?! ABOUT LUCINA?! CYNTHIA?! EVERYTHING YOU AND DAD HAVE BUILT?! NO! I REFUSE!" She stepped forward, shaking Maribelle by the shoulders. "DON'T YOU TRUST ME?! AUNTIE SUMIA AND UNCLE CHROM?! THE SHEPHERDS?! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND OTHERS! DOING THIS MIGHT GUARANTEE MY SAFETY, BUT IT WOULD BE A BETRAYAL OF EVERYTHING WE'VE BUILT!" she shouted, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes.

"Morgan..."

"She's right," Tiki said. "Even if she hadn't said that, seeing how she's grown, I wouldn't be able to take her away from here even if I wanted to."

"Why would you suggest such a thing?" Morgan asked angrily.

"Because I care about you, dear," Maribelle admitted as she embraced her. "The very thought of something happening to you makes my stomach turn and fills me with a despair you cannot imagine! Of course, I would draw my blade, use even my nails and teeth if necessary to defend you. However, I am painfully aware of the delicate position you are in. Without your beloved father here to support us, I don't think I can protect you as I should."

"You don't have to be Dad, you just have to be here, like the others," Morgan declared, tightening her grip as if she wanted to squeeze the breath out of her. "I don't want to hear you say you want me to leave ever again, got it?!" she said angrily.

"...I... I'm so sorry..." Maribelle said, wiping her face with a handkerchief. "It's just that... I've been nervous lately..."

"That's why we're here," Tiki sighed. "If you need help with anything, all you have to do is say so," she added with a faint smile—though her expression quickly hardened. "And no more secrets about Robin, especially regarding these so-called 'children from another world' that might end up here. Is that too much to ask?"

"Not at all," Sumia sighed. "I think we'll need to gather everyone for dinner, explain the situation, and start preparing for the hearing."

"Hearing? What are we talking about now?" Say'ri asked.

"We have problems with certain fools who intend to tarnish Robin's legacy and hard work," Sumia replied.

"Fortunately, Robin left certain... emergency protocols that, if necessary, we could use in situations like these... Now that you're here, I hate to impose on your trust, but I believe we will need your support to strengthen our position and keep those idiots from making things worse for us," Maribelle added.

"Well then, tell me everything~" Tiki said. She turned to the window and noticed Nah and Kjelle quickly ducking their heads when they realized she had spotted them. "Girls, you'd better gather everyone. This is going to be a long conversation."

He could feel it in his gut, in his bones, even in the deepest parts of his soul—something resonating.

"Dad!"

She ran toward the figure, that shadow that threw itself into the arms of the person she loved most in the world. He stroked her head as he laughed at their silly exchange.

"Morgan," he whispered as he held her. That warmth—how had that book described it? "Smelling like the sun"? Absurd. Completely illogical.

And yet, that memory kept him sane, kept him grounded, it was that "feeling" when he hold her close to him, her white hair, it wasnt "like the sun", but like the moon instead. He couldn't help but hold on tight. That delicate, defenseless creature he adored, the one he had to protect at all costs. He could see several familiar silhouettes around him, but she was the only one that mattered.

"Dad?" she asked, curious about his behavior. But before he could answer, he noticed how her figure began to fade. He couldn't believe it—his source of joy vanishing as quickly as she had appeared.

Was that all?

No. He refused to accept it. He refused to keep suffering. He knew what he had to do, knew he needed to move forward. But that darkness tortured him every time his mind managed to grasp even a sliver of clarity.

"MORGAN!"

Robin shot up from the sheets—only to collapse hard onto the floor. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, his lungs barely able to draw in enough air to compensate for his ragged breathing.

His vision slowly returned as he felt the dampness in the air, a cold sensation he hadn't experienced in so long. The sound of the ocean, accompanied by darkness. "Idiot" another voice resonated in that place.

"...My Morgan… where is she?" he murmured before falling back into unconsciousness.

Chapter 10: Drifted away.