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It was more than three hours until the meeting that Rean arrived at Heimdallr train station. He was not looking forward to it. He already knew what he would be told there. Or better to say what he would be given. Originally Rean expected it to be the usual ritual with Lechter showing up in Trista with a paper signed by the imperial chancellor's hand. But this time he was asked to come and visit the Chancellor personally at Valflame palace. The very image of this was nauseous. In this half a year Rean had to meet his father several times, but all these were brief meetings with other people around. What if this time Osborne wanted to talk to him alone? Rean had an endless number of questions for the man, but absolutely no desire to ask them. Every time he saw the Chancellor's face he couldn't help but remember Crow's sheet white one, with blood tracing from his mouth. It made him feel even sicker about the meeting ahead.
But no matter how much Rean desired to just turn around and get back to Trista forgetting all his duties as the Ashen Chevalier, he could not do it. At 2 p.m. he is going to be in the royal palace whether he liked it or not.
He sighed heavily and tried to find something positive to look forward to as he left the station. He would have liked to visit Machias or Elliot since he is now in the capital, but both of them very likely busy in the middle of the day. He decided to call them after the audience. There also was Elise at St. Astraia girl’s school in the Cathedral district. He did promise Alfin to come and visit his sister more often, especially if he was visiting the capital... And there was Alfin. He hasn't seen her for two months now, and different from Elise, Alfin never wrote him her own letters, only asked Elise to mention certain things in hers. The shiny image of the princess in his head somehow lessened the burden he felt from the upcoming audience. Yes, it would be nice to spend his free time with Elise and Alfin, Rean decided and entered the tram going to the Cathedral district.
While on his way Rean fondly reminisced about two girls whom he missed greatly. Really, why couldn't he find more time to visit them? Trista was just 30 minutes away. He wondered, what are they doing now, how he going to find them. It's not like he can just enter the territory without invitation, right? Besides, are they even there now? Sure, it 11 a.m. but Alfin is the princess and can be on leave with Elise as her attendant. Maybe he should call first?
But before he could decide tram already brought him to the plaza before the girl’s school. Coming closer he noted girls in uniform walking around the plaza. Maybe it's dinner time? He walked to the gates and gathered the courage to ask some girls standing there.
"Excuse me, can you tell me if Elise Schwarzer in the academy today and where can I find her?" He asked, deciding not to bring the princess up. It'd be better if he asks Elise later.
The girls he asked watched him attentively for a few seconds and then squealed excitedly. Oh, again, he thought already anticipating the "oh you're THE Ashen Chevalier" talks. He might have got used to it, but still hated it.
But unexpectedly he was saved from girls by someone he had come to visit.
"Tehee, I see you're as popular with ladies as always, Rean" Princess Alfin herself came out of school gates, dressed in her usual school uniform. But even so, she looked so different from what Rean used to see. She changed her hairstyle a little and now golden locks are even longer than before, half of them tied onto small ponytails on the sides of her head. Aside from that she also had really grown... in various places in these few months he didn't see her.
"It's... great to see you too, your highness" Rean answered the greeting, trying hard not to look at her too much. She really looked way too dazzling for him. Seems like the girls he initially tried to talk to also thought so and quickly excused themselves.
"Didn't I asked to call me Alfin when we're alone?" Princess pouted coming closer.
"And that's precisely why I'm calling you properly. We're in public." Rean sighed. How he ever could call the princess of Erebonia casually by her name alone? They got closer alright, and he did call her by first name only a few times, but he should never forget the difference in their standing and proper manners.
"Oh, you're no fun," she said, but was smiling brightly nonetheless, "I just can’t believe you finally decided to come and visit your sister! After all these times I told you to do so, it worked! But Alas! Elise is busy at the moment. Don't know if she can come out now." Alfin sighed inviting Rean to seat with her on one of the benches of the park area before school gates.
"Busy? What is she up to? Something happened?" Asked Rean a bit worried, following the princess, but still very conscious of the looks they were getting from girls around, even though he tried to ignore them.
"No need to worry! Elise is just copying her older brother and signed up for some student council work." Alfin giggled.
"Really? Why would she do it?"
"Hmm, maybe to get praised by her favorite brother?" Alfin teased and laughed, then winked to him "I'm sure she'll tell you when the time comes. I'm her best friend after all and have to keep her secrets well!"
"Somehow, you don't look like someone good at keeping secrets..." Rean deadpanned, remembering all things about Elise Alfin already spitted to him in this half a year. "Must be something important that you're willing to keep silent"
"Oh, you hurt me! But yes, this is important to her, so I don't want to spoil the joy. By the way, what will you do? Will you wait for Elise to finish her business? It will take an hour or two I think..."
"Hmm, I don’t have that much time. I have an audience in the palace in around two or three hours from now." Rean frowned unconsciously which didn't escape Alfin's attention. There was a pause for few seconds, in which Rean had been planning his day after the audience, trying hard not to think about the meeting itself, but it was broken by the princess, who stood up, taking Rean's hand and dragging him up as well.
"Then, what about us hanging out together now? I'm going to the Valflame palace as well in the afternoon, but it's fine to take time and have a walk. If it's two hours, we can even visit some shops on Vanquer Street and have something to eat! Oh, it's gonna be a wonderful date!" Alfin suggested excitedly, carefully hiding her worry for Rean. She knew well enough how much he hated all these audiences and missions. If she can cheer him up even for a little bit she gonna do everything in her power.
"A date?" Asked Rean weary, but the princess was already heading to the tram station. The young man sighed and followed her. He came here to meet her and Elise, after all. If his sister is busy at the moment, it's only natural to spend time with Alfin, right? Besides, they never got the chance to walk around the city together. It's very likely gonna be a problem, knowing blonde girl, but it’s fun in its own way, Rean decided. "It's never boring with her. Just like it was with him..." thought Rean to himself, then pushed it away, and smiled at the princess who waited to walk beside him together.
The trip was indeed a lot of fun and trouble. They got everyone's attention in the tram, but people of Heimdallr adored the princess enough to smile back at her and not come closer. They bought some sweets on the street, and Alfin teased Rean about calling her by her title.
"I am in DISGUISE, Rean! It's no meaning in it if you call me princess or your highness all the time!"
"I don't think there're many people here who can't recognize you in this uniform, whatever I call you. But they'd surely notice if I call you inappropriately."
"Bruh, you're no fun. You would be surprised, but people actually don’t pay attention to the girls in school uniform! And they surely won't shame you, the Ashen Chevalier, for calling me by my name! There's nothing wrong with it! Okay, I won't answer unless you call me properly!"
And she actually didn't, which forced Rean to swallow his manners and call her just Alfin, but only one time to her satisfaction, and continued speaking neutral 'you' instead of name.
Another story was the visit to the clothes shop. A manager there did well pretending he didn't recognize them so they could walk around and see some new brand clothes. Alfin with her well-trained eye found some good-looking jacket for Rean, which he agreed to buy later. In exchange Rean also showed what he thought would look great on Alfin. He blushed quite a little when the princess tried a dress, not her usual imperial crimson but light blue like her eyes, it highlighted her developing curvy figure and bust, that was usually hidden under plain school uniform. But when Rean got over himself and sincerely complimented her on that, it was Alfin's turn to blush, and Schwarzer found it rather adorable and laughed.
They visited some other shops, like a book shop and orbal factory, where Rean found some newest quartz updates, and Alfin bragged to him that she upped her arts-casting speed a little after a special training with her older brother.
But time was short. It was around half an hour before the estimated time of the audience they were sitting in Mater Park eating eastern sweets they found in one of the shops. Rean felt so peaceful for the first time in months and enjoyed himself so much he almost forgot about the meeting.
"It's almost time to go to the palace, right?" Asked the princess quietly. He nodded but somehow wasn't dreading over it anymore.
"Shall we make our way back?" He stood up, but Alfin didn't.
"Let's stay here a little longer" she was quiet for some moments, then continued hesitantly.
"Do you know what are you called there for?"
"Well, I can predict. With the Northern campaign around the corner, it's only natural they'd send me there." Rean answered, seating back. Alfin stayed silent, but he found an urge to continue.
"You know, I really hate it. All that the Ashen Chevalier business. My face on imperial chronicles pages, those missions once a month, the whole idea of working for the man who..." he trailed away there and took in a long battled breath instead. The princess worriedly placed her hands above his, but Rean was looking upwards to the clear blue autumn sky and continued.
"Some days it's pretty bearable. Some days it's almost killing me. This morning I didn't even want to wake up and do my usual morning practice because of all that. How many times I considered running away, asking the principal to shield me from this. But now I actually feel like I can make it. It's all thanks to you, princess Alfin. I'm really grateful to you for spending your time together with me today. You can’t imagine how it saves me. Every single time." He smiled at her fondly, holding her hand, "to think about it, it has always been like that, right? Since the Pantagruel, where you scolded me for trying to run away. I can never thank you enough."
"To be of service to you is already more of reward than I can ever wish for." Alfin said quietly with a sad smile on her face, then, before he could rebuke, she pulled his hand closer to her heart like in prayer and looked into his eyes pleading, "But please, promise me not to overdo it. I know you do what you feel right. That you think of all these lives that you can save there, at North Umbria, and I cannot stop you from going. But please, if not for yourself, then for me, Elise, and everyone in class VII, please don't think about it as a punishment for some kind of sin. You’re not at fault for what happened to Crow. You have the right to be happy, no less, and maybe even more than anyone else. It hurts me to see how you sacrifice your own feelings and happiness because of it." She couldn't hold down a tear rolling down from her eyes, and before she could wipe it, Rean pulled her close to him in an embrace.
"Thank you, Alfin." His voice shook a little. He couldn't really make himself believe in what she was saying, but her emotions, her love, and her care for him touched his heart. She was right, everyone was worried about him. And even if it made him feel even guiltier sometimes, he also felt blessed by the Goddess for all these wonderful people caring for him. And more than any, he felt blessed and grateful to Alfin when she, again and again, was right there beside him when he needed it the most. "I'll do what I can, but it's hard for me to admit. I need some more time to get over what happened back then." Rean said honestly and distanced himself from the princess and smiled at her, "but really, you know me so well, your highness. You always know how to cheer me up and once again I owe you one for that."
Alfin smiled back at him happily.
"Of course I do! I'm not your honorable little sister for nothing!" She puffed proudly, and then there was that mischievous glint in her eyes. "But if you want to thank me properly, what about a sweet little kiss for this princess?" She winked at him like there was no heavy talk just now.
Rean felt so light. Like if dark clouds in his heart got pierced and completely dissolved by the mighty radiance emitted by Alfin. Like everything else, the war, the loss, loneliness, and other problems never were there. Like a sunny summer day from a long time ago where no worries existed.
He smiled back at her, so filled with joy, calmness, and something more, he couldn't really place. At a later account, he knew he wasn't thinking straight. But at that moment it felt so very natural to oblige to her request. So he leaned closer to her and kissed her lips lightly. It felt nice, making the light inside him sparkle even more, and he was almost drunk with it.
When they parted, he saw Alfin's face, bright red and shocked and somehow disbelieving and half-dreaming. It was such a contrast to the usual sharp princess who enjoyed teasing him on every account, Rean laughed.
"What, wasn't it what you asked?" He asked innocently, but the princess could see mischief playing in his eyes. But she was also so overwhelmed she couldn't answer him properly.
"You're so unfair, Rean!" It was all she could say, hiding her face in her hands.
Rean cheerfully laughed some more, but before he could continue teasing her, his ARCUS rang, disrupting their little haven.
"Rean? Don't tell me you decided to ditch the meeting with our dear chancellor and went to play somewhere?" The playful but tired voice of major Arundel greeted him before he could ask who is calling.
"Oh, it's time already? Sorry, I'll be there in few minutes. Is it okay?" Answered Rean, checking the time on the garden watch not far from their bench.
“So you're coming? Good. I'd like to say to take your time, but the old man has other business in less than an hour, so we'd appreciate it if you hurry"
"Okay, I'm on my way" Rean closed his ARCUS and turned to the princess, "Shall we go?"
"Y-yes! I'm right behind you!" She answered him a little nervous and still a little red, but Rean had no time to notice it, as they hurried to the Valflame Palace.
It was in the middle of the meeting that Rean sobered enough to realize what he had done. I have kissed the princess - this thought stroke him stronger than a judgment arrow art. It made him forget the fancy ceremony that took place in the palace, as his face turned red. But he had nowhere to hide.
After he was finally dismissed and already headed out of the palace Major Claire asked him.
"Are you feeling alright? If not, it's still possible to talk to his Excellency and postpone your deployment."
"Don’t worry, I'm perfectly fine," he answered, trying to hold the color of his face straight.
Maybe it's a good thing he won’t be around Erebonia for few weeks. He needed to carefully sort out what he had done and what to do with it from now on.