[pfe] In the white light, a hand reaches through...
Jun. 5th, 2026 03:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofballads posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
synergetic"I-it was kind of you to find us this inn..."
"Of course, Lady Sakura!" Felicia bowed, then fumbled for the dust rags and silverware that bowed to gravity and fell from her pockets.
"Oh no you can't," the maid gasped, when the princess quickly bent to help her retrieve them. "Oh, what will they say to me..."
"Please stop," Sakura murmured. "It's not... It's fine... After you did so much for us! And it isn't at all like my brother said. I-I know the Nohrians were just as cruel to the Ice Tribe as they were to us, and you didn't have the benefit of Mother's magical protection..."
"Oh, water under the bridge, milady," said Felicia modestly. She'd left another world, another Hoshido, much like Lady Sakura's and she knew more about Prince Takumi than they thought she did... And about the princess, too. But Lord Corrin (who seemed to be a Lady him, er, herself here) would have wanted her to do her best for his siblings, regardless of the world. When she got back to her own Hoshido and Lord Corrin, she could give him a good report! And hopefully make up for her failure to protect King Yukimura...
"I'll take my leave, but thank you!"
The door slammed, no matter how quietly Felicia tried to shut it, and Sakura thought she heard a muffled exclamation of pain and Sakura, cringing, resisted the urge to run out and heal her with her Bloom Festal. She didn't want to embarrass Felicia, who surely had a vulnerary...
The princess seated herself on the room's bed and felt all of the dread she had been building up all day... They hadn't known of the king's death when Ryoma sent them. Sakura's heart went out to the new Queen. The wounds of her older sister's kidnapping and her stepmother's passing were still so fresh to her and Takumi both. His impatience aside, waiting for the queen to receive them was only right.
But it did leave her troubled. Takumi would be relying on her to keep him diplomatic, even if he didn't realize it, even if he really did think he hated Azura and Corrin both. Sakura, as the only person Takumi allowed himself to properly dote on, knew better. He would regret his failures but how could the weakest and smallest of their family keep it together... And Azura, her sad and lonely sister, might also be waiting for her.
She must be ready. She silently opened the door connecting her room to her retainers', and with guilty relief saw that only Omi was awake. Hana would be too encouraging and Subaki too eager to do everything for her...
Omi was a good listener, and waited to give advice.
"Excuse me..." Sakura whispered. "D-do you mind... For a few moments.... talking to me?"
"Of course, Lady Sakura!" Felicia bowed, then fumbled for the dust rags and silverware that bowed to gravity and fell from her pockets.
"Oh no you can't," the maid gasped, when the princess quickly bent to help her retrieve them. "Oh, what will they say to me..."
"Please stop," Sakura murmured. "It's not... It's fine... After you did so much for us! And it isn't at all like my brother said. I-I know the Nohrians were just as cruel to the Ice Tribe as they were to us, and you didn't have the benefit of Mother's magical protection..."
"Oh, water under the bridge, milady," said Felicia modestly. She'd left another world, another Hoshido, much like Lady Sakura's and she knew more about Prince Takumi than they thought she did... And about the princess, too. But Lord Corrin (who seemed to be a Lady him, er, herself here) would have wanted her to do her best for his siblings, regardless of the world. When she got back to her own Hoshido and Lord Corrin, she could give him a good report! And hopefully make up for her failure to protect King Yukimura...
"I'll take my leave, but thank you!"
The door slammed, no matter how quietly Felicia tried to shut it, and Sakura thought she heard a muffled exclamation of pain and Sakura, cringing, resisted the urge to run out and heal her with her Bloom Festal. She didn't want to embarrass Felicia, who surely had a vulnerary...
The princess seated herself on the room's bed and felt all of the dread she had been building up all day... They hadn't known of the king's death when Ryoma sent them. Sakura's heart went out to the new Queen. The wounds of her older sister's kidnapping and her stepmother's passing were still so fresh to her and Takumi both. His impatience aside, waiting for the queen to receive them was only right.
But it did leave her troubled. Takumi would be relying on her to keep him diplomatic, even if he didn't realize it, even if he really did think he hated Azura and Corrin both. Sakura, as the only person Takumi allowed himself to properly dote on, knew better. He would regret his failures but how could the weakest and smallest of their family keep it together... And Azura, her sad and lonely sister, might also be waiting for her.
She must be ready. She silently opened the door connecting her room to her retainers', and with guilty relief saw that only Omi was awake. Hana would be too encouraging and Subaki too eager to do everything for her...
Omi was a good listener, and waited to give advice.
"Excuse me..." Sakura whispered. "D-do you mind... For a few moments.... talking to me?"