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Askr’s wedding festival is in full force. Couples dressed in beautiful gowns and dashing suits stride from activity to activity, ceremony to ceremony. As the sun starts to set, two knights from the Kingdom of Faerghus take a seat on one of the benches away from the festival to watch the sunset privately together.
Ashe: This festival is truly amazing…so many happy couples celebrating.
Ingrid: Yeah, and…to think that we’re one of them!
Ashe: I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t help but be reminded of your older brother’s wedding, actually…
Ingrid: I was thinking the same. We had only been at the monastery for around six months at the time. The world, everything, and everyone felt so much smaller back then-
Ashe: Although you’re still pretty small yourself…
Ingrid: H-Hey, I… *sigh* You’re not even much taller than me!
Ashe: Heh, it’s the principle.
Ingrid: Riiiight…
Ashe: Really though, I was honored that you invited me. Like you said, we had only been at the monastery for half a year; it reminds me of how quickly we became close.
Ingrid: It’s no surprise, really. Everything we have in common is much of what’s kept us together all this time, after all!
Ashe: From books to chivalry to ideals…it felt as though we were tailor-made for each other. I’m really grateful to have met you…
Ingrid: Aw, I feel the same way.
Ashe: By the way, there’s something I wanted to say that I haven’t gotten the chance to say until now.
Ingrid: What would that be?
Ashe: I noticed that…you changed after the wedding. It was a subtle change, and maybe I’m just overthinking things, but…you felt happier. More at peace.
Ingrid: Ah, well…I can’t deny that.
Ashe: Did something happen at the wedding?
Ingrid: I guess you could say…I had an epiphany of some sort.
Ashe: What do you mean?
Ingrid: Losing Glenn was the most devastating thing to ever happen to me. I loved him beyond what words can convey, but his death had more consequences than just heartbreak. For the sake of the future of House Galatea, my family started suggesting suitors left and right; I don’t entirely blame them, but it felt as though they were insensitive towards my feelings. Faerghus as a whole was in disarray, and House Fraldarius was in a state of panic after losing its rightful heir.
Ashe: The Tragedy of Duscur was a tragedy for everyone involved. There truly was no winner, and even now, just thinking about it is disheartening…especially since it personally impacted you so much.
Ingrid: Over time, my heartbreak and devastation developed into bitterness. Looking back at who I was all those years ago makes me feel disgusted, Ashe. I was wrongfully hateful towards the people of Duscur. I felt bitter towards my family for their insensitivity and insistence on rushing an arranged marriage. Most of all, though…I was envious.
Ashe: Envious?
Ingrid: In the months leading up to the wedding, I seemed to look forward to it and be happy for them. I did most of the preparations that the couple themselves didn’t do, and I cheerfully talked about it with everyone at the monastery.
Ashe: You seemed really excited for it. I admired how you could feel so happy for them despite everything you were undergoing.
Ingrid: I hate to break the past admiration of the one I love most, but…that admiration was misplaced. While I may have been legitimately happy for them to some extent, I was also incredibly envious. Envious of the fact that their love was preserved while mine was broken. Envious of the countless other couples that were being invited. Envious that every day, they could all get up in the morning with the motivation they derive from the one they love most.
Ashe: Ingrid…I’m so sorry. I had no idea that was how you actually felt…I wish I could have been there for you.
Ingrid: It’s alright, Ashe. You had no way of knowing, and besides...like you said, things changed on the day of the wedding. I knew a lot of people there were undergoing their own struggles in the background as a result of the tragedy, and yet…their smiles and laughter told me that they were truly happy. Even if they knew it would just be for a brief period of time, they indulged and embraced it. Seeing all those people celebrate an occasion of love despite all the trouble going on in the world made me realize a couple things.
Ashe: If I had to guess…one of those things was that there was no point in being envious of others’ happiness.
Ingrid: Right. The other realization I had was on the foundation of that one: it’s okay to feel negative emotions like jealousy, bitterness, envy, and anger.
Ashe: Being perpetually happy isn’t a good thing, either. Those emotions are what make us human and allow us to honestly express how we feel.
Ingrid: As long as we don’t act on them by hurting others or ourselves…
Ashe: …then we should feel and embrace them however much we’re comfortable.
Ingrid: The change you saw in me was a result of my realizing these things. It felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I could finally start focusing on improving myself and making the most of the time I had.
Ashe: The smiles we saw and laughs we heard at the wedding can all be heard at this festival. It’s like it’s straight out of a fairy tale.
Ingrid: yeahjustlikeyou
Ashe: H-Huh?!
Ingrid: I feel like I don’t say it enough, but…you’ve helped me so much along the way. Doing all I can to help you is the least I could do to repay everything you’ve done for me.
Ashe: You’ve helped me a lot too, so hearing you say that means the world to me. When our special day comes, I promise it’ll be just like this: a moment of repose away from struggle for everyone, and the true start of our eternal happiness together. Thank you for everything, and…I love you.
Ingrid: I love you too, sunshine.