Archive of Our Own

Reaching that chamber had been a challenge. There was nothing else to be found. It had been looted by the constant wars. The silver-haired man sighed, but couldn't contain his anger before he kicked a broken vessel and screamed. He took another breath, but not before searching for something that might be useful for the next target. But there seemed to be nothing, so he decided to get back on his steed. He sighed and left his things in his pockets. The whinnying of his horse made him twitch his mane before he climbed back on and began his journey home.

The journey had been long, almost a month, during which it seemed impossible to find what he wanted. It had even sapped his energy. At least the trot kept him focused on the path and away from the thoughts that only fuelled the curse. The horse stopped for a moment to drink when he saw those butterflies. He couldn't help but think of the summoner.

He grimaced. Not only that, but he couldn't help but think of the disappointment of not being able to be near Alfonse and Sharena again. He gripped the reins and swallowed again, trying to find a way to regulate his emotions. Furthermore, he ordered his horse to move again.

Bruno couldn't help but have mixed feelings when he saw the great palace of Askr again.

Arriving at the Order of Heroes after a journey was becoming a habit. The silver-haired man sighed as he walked through the corridors in search of the entrance. As always, he felt uncertainty and fear as he walked through these familiar halls. He was no longer Zacharias, even though he was called that. He sighed and stopped slightly.

Bruno was just going to say hello, go back to his castle to spend some days and then leave. That had been his routine since his return to Embla, and he wasn't going to change it just because the siblings and the commander were back in his life. Now they had the summoner to help them, a lot. The girl was like an angel.

When he reached the door, he saw a lot of movement, more than usual. The silver-haired man frowned, looking for someone to tell him what was going on.

“Hey,” he called to a hero who stopped to look at him. “What happened?”

“The summoner fainted.”

Oh, that was a problem.

“Hum…”

“How is she?”

“She's stable. She seems to have overexerted herself,” the Commander said, glancing at the bed.

“Any reason for that?” the redhead shook her head.

“She's always been like that.”

Bruno grimaced and looked at the redhead, that had risen slightly, while Sharena tried to cheer her up. Alfonse was in another corner, looking at the young woman with concern.

“What have the doctors told her?” he asked, still staring at the Commander.

“She needs rest and a break from her routine. I don't know how we're going to do that, honestly.” The redhead sighed and started to leave the summoner's room.

“I can talk to my sister if you require a break,” she grimaced.

“I don't think that would help either, to be honest.”

“Do you think she'll disobey?”

“The issue is that she's trying to be better, to make up for her mistakes. It's taken its toll on her.”

Bruno pondered, for he seemed to have arrived at a turbulent time. The truth was that what he wanted at that moment was to go back to his castle and sleep for hours so that he could become a human being again. It was then that a crazy idea crossed his mind.

“… I can always take her with me,” he murmured as his thoughts began to plot.

“Take her with you? Where to?” the Prince of Askr's voice was a mixture of emotions, as he arrived to where they were. Bruno recognised it.

“I will take her to my castle for a few days. It's not normal for her to be like this,” he replied, still looking at the prince. “It is between the two borders. If you're so afraid, she can stay in Askr's territory,” he ventured, knowing how he would react. Still, he saw the prince relax at the remark.

“That's fine with me. Zacharias is a member of the Order,” the Commander replied, crossing her arms, “Besides, it would do Vicky good to have a few days off.”

The three looked at each other before turning to the Summoner. Since his true identity had been revealed, the Summoner seemed more focused on doing her job well. She spent hours reading, strategising, summoning heroes and rearranging her entire room. The siblings sent him weekly letters to know it. They seemed very concerned about their friend. And he needed some time off, too.

“It's not that I don't trust you, Zacharias. It's just that she's never left the castle without us. I don't want your sister to do anything.”

“I've already spoken to her. She's upset, but she knows it's my castle, my guests, and my rules if she wants to visit me”.

“So it's decided. Vicky will leave with Zacharias this afternoon,” the Commander said as she sighed and silently went into the order.

Bruno was silent, as was Alfonse. The Prince of Embla didn't know what to say to him after all that had happened between them. The blue-haired man glanced sideways at the summoner. The silver-haired man just looked down, perhaps thinking that he might not have that voice in his head.

Alfonse moved away, leaving Bruno alone, but the lord could tell that the prince of Askr was angry. As if he didn't want her to go to Embla, and he didn't blame him. The war, even if it was at halt, still had cracks that had to be repaired bit by bit.

Bruno sighed. He hardly knew the summoner, and perhaps it was this curiosity that had led him to make this proposal. He hoped it wouldn't be a disaster.

Riding to his castle with the summoner had been rather strange. The redhead had said nothing, just obeyed the commander's orders. The silver-haired took the reins and gave a short command to his steed to arrive before sunset.

This castle, now being restored, was the castle of his birth. It was not surprising that the Emperor had many concubines and that they lived in different castles. When he returned to Embla, the empress gave him the castle and the titles that went with it. He did not like spending time there, as it brought back memories of his childhood that he did not want to remember.

As he walked through the gate, as he had expected, many servants saw who the woman with him was. The prince dismounted to help her down. The woman's small heels echoed in the grass.

“This way,” he said, and she followed with the few belongings she had gathered.

When they reached the hall, he could see that it had already been redecorated. As always, Tobias, the head battler, was waiting for him.

“Your Highness…” the man was taken aback at the sight of the summoner.

“This is Victoria. She'll be staying here for a few days. I need you to prepare a room for her, if possible.”

“Of course. The area of your chambers is being renovated, so you have another for this stay.”

“Good,” the prince murmured.

“This way, Your Highness, my lady,” the young man said, and they began to move.

Victoria's room was next to his, connected by a sliding door in case anything happened. The room couldn't help but remind him of Alfonse's room before they left for the Order. The silver-haired man left the gloves on a table and moved silently.

He sighed. He hoped to find something soon.

Breakfast that morning was strange. It wasn't that he was alone, or that his sister wasn't there.

He was impressed that the Summoner knew about etiquette and protocol, even though she had always seemed like a girl who was almost always in her own world. At least, when he went to the Order, she was almost always like that. The dress she wore was simple, light blue with a bit of embroidery.

Bruno sipped his coffee and tried to be human. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, making the redhead raise her head. Then she blinked. “Was the bed comfortable, the room?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Everything is fine,” she said, seeming surprised. The Prince of Embla shook his head, not understanding.

“I don't want you to think that the Commander made you come here as punishment,” he began as the redhead lowered her eyes. “She wants you to rest and get your pulse up. They were quite frightened yesterday when you fainted.” The prince took a sip of his coffee. “Overexerting yourself won't help at all; it only worries those around you.”

The redhead said nothing, just lowered her head and began to eat her eggs in silence. Bruno sighed, seeing that the summoner seemed to have even more layers than Alfonse. Finding a way to talk to her was going to be difficult.

“Your Highness,” the silver-haired man shook her head. The head butler was there. He had been a loyal servant of the castle since his mother's time. He looked as if he didn't know whether to speak to the redhead before him.

“Speak,” he instructed him, looking at him with the cutlery on the plate.

“The chef is asking about the menu these days. If you can, go and speak to the Kitchen.”

“I'll be there after breakfast. How are the renovations going?”

“They are moving quickly, Your Highness. In about two months the whole castle will be renovated. What will be lacking are the decorations. There is nothing to your taste,” the silver-haired man sighed as he chopped up the mushrooms.

“I will decide whether to decorate it or not. I spend more time travelling than at the castle,” he admitted, taking a bite. “Has the Empress requested my presence?”

“No, but several nobles wish to speak with you.”

It looked like they wouldn't leave him alone, he thought as he took another sip of his coffee. “Good. Call Miss Noelle later.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the man bowed, leaving the silver-haired man to watch him leave.

That day the prince answered letters, talked to the cook and the housekeeper, organised a few things and ate in between. The summoner seemed to be locked in her room, not coming out, only for eat.

When evening came, he moved from his room to his second office. It was in the basement, set up almost like a laboratory so he could continue her research on Embla's curse and how to eradicate it completely. The silver-haired man sat on the couch and opened the pages of his research journal to write down what had happened on this trip. Another journey that had come to nothing.

It was on the second day of her stay that she began to look around the castle. The redhead seemed to love the large garden the castle had, looking at the flowers she would never have seen in Askr, the huge trees and above all the insects. Especially the butterflies. The Prince knew of her fondness for catching butterflies or any insect she found along the way; he had seen her more than once when he visited the Order.

Watching her from a distance was something he had done since she came to this world. He had always found her curious, fascinating. Something no woman had ever awakened in him.

The redhead had taken something from the earth and seemed pleased with the result. The Prince of Embla couldn't help but smile, seeing her so innocent in a world full of blood.

“Your Highness,” the silver-haired man rolled her eyes and shook her head at the butler, “I hope this isn't inconsiderate, but...”

“Speak.”

“Lady Victoria has very... scanty clothes. Is she from a poor family?”

The silver-haired man grimaced. Telling where she came from could be a double-edged sword. Not to mention the fact that very few knew the legend of the summoner. He had to be careful. In Embla, there were too many people watching his every move.

“As far as I know, her guardians have financial problems. That's why the quality,” he replied, not lying about the order's financial problems. But concealing them.

“Oh, I see,” the butler replied as the prince finished his reading. “I mean, I don't want you to feel pressured, but... If she's seen by the nobles in those clothes, it's bound to make a bad impression.”

Bruno frowned. “Get to the point.”

“She... She's not your concubine, your highness?”

The silver-haired man blinked, only to roll his eyes a moment later. He hadn't thought about it.

Embla had a rather strange system compared to Askr. Harems were allowed, in fact the emperor/empress followed this system to give the dynasty more children. They could, however, marry. Being a prince, it was considered normal to take concubines.

It was something the Prince hadn't thought about before. He hadn't even had time to think about it. Then he remembered that the redhead was seventeen.

“She's underage”

“Oh, I didn't mean to...”

“But I'll talk to her guardians about clothes, just in case. You may go.”

The butler bowed and left. The silver-haired man sighed and looked at the redhead in silence. That night, he wrote to Alfonse about the clothes, having little faith that the commander would respond. The Prince of Askr gave the green light. From then on they corresponded fluently.

“… Why these dresses?” she asked, causing the silver-haired man to raise his head.

“I've discussed it with Alfonse and we seemed to agree that you should have something better than what you've got for this stay,” he replied, lowering the book slightly as he watched the tailors move around the redhead. “Something that probably your guardian won't sell because of the meagre flow”

“She has a t-shirt business that's doing quite well,” the prince lifted his head.

“And she's doing well?”

“She must be if she can buy food for everyone,” Bruno looked away. She was right about that.

“Still, these fabrics are a feast for her eyes. Alfonse doesn't want you to take them to the Order, just in case”

“Am I coming back soon?” she asked, looking excited.

“I'm sorry to say no. You fainted again yesterday. You need to keep resting.”

He noticed the redhead pouted as she held still so she wouldn't get a needle stick. It was clear to the silver-haired man: she needed at least six or seven dresses, so that as long as one was washed away by the mud, it would be ready to be changed. And the more colours the better. Her red hair brought out the green, the gold, the pink and the blue more suitable for her. He could even be bold and give her purple, but that colour was reserved for royalty.

The dress they tried on was light pink with gold stripes. It brought out the innocence that the summoner possessed. Bruno watched her bruise her nails. She couldn't seem to relax completely. It was normal, she had left the Order to be here and was accompanied by servants, protocol and so on.

The redhead looked at herself in the mirror as she continued to play with her fingers. “Your Highness, we are going to get the next dress,” the silver-haired man nodded, causing them to bow and leave.

The silver-haired man stood up, tired from the night's experiments. He gently brushed away one of her curls that fell down her neck, revealing two small moles.

“You know a lot about etiquette and manners,” he said, pointing out one of her qualities.

“... My mother was a countess who had a prosperous business,” Bruno blinked, “my father was the second son of a marquis. Although in the world of steel it is not like here, as such titles are hardly used anymore, you can say that I am a noblewoman”

Bruno blinked in surprise. The redhead looked down again, never able to make direct contact with anyone for more than five seconds. What secrets would the summoner have hidden? Would they be as interesting as the ones she had just told? He couldn't say for sure.

The seamstresses arrived again, so he returned to his seat and moved on to the next dress.

“It was a good hunt, Your Highness,” the silver-haired man made a noise as he returned to the castle. “It's a pity Lady Victoria didn't want to accompany you.”

“It would be too sensitive for her,” although she can handle fights that include blood, he thought to himself. “Besides, she fainted yesterday. I don't want to push her.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

“Take the game to the kitchen for supper.”

“Right away,” the young squire moved with the piece he had shot, while he silently got out and took off his gloves to see that Victoria was in the garden, sitting on the grass with something in her hands. The silver-haired man began to move towards her.

What he had thought would take days had taken weeks. Victoria wasn't getting any better, and to be honest, that worried him. Alfonse (also the commander, but more him) had left him in her care to get better. And although she was stable, she wasn't improving.

The redhead seemed silent, unperturbed, as he sat down beside her. The dark circles under her eyes were still prominent, and she seemed to be concentrating. Bruno sighed as he continued to watch the redhead. What she was holding seemed to be some kind of caterpillar (not poisonous, to his relief).

“A letter has arrived. I think it's from Alfonse,” she said, handing it to him. “The butler thought it was for me.”

“Oh,” the silver-haired man took it silently. The redhead continued her sleight of hand with the caterpillar.

“He likes you more as a friend, you know that, right?” she asked, making the silver-haired man look puzzled at the question. “He always talks about you when he gets letters from you. He has a lot of hearts when you're with him.” Bruno tried to hold back his laughter. “And he doesn't like it when you leave.”

The silver-haired man lowered his head to the letter. “I see you don't know the whole story”

“I don't like to ask what causes pain,” she said, causing the prince to shake his head. “But something tells me you were a couple, or something on the way?”

“We were, in secret. His father didn't like my presence.”

“Why?”

“He probably knew my identity. But it's different now. I can't get close to him the way I want to.”

The redhead moved her head to look at him out of the corner of her eye. “In the literal sense?”

“What does literal mean to you?” the prince asked curiously.

"My papà used to say that love for another person is like a garden in bloom. It bloomed from one moment to the next, and when it bloom, the people involved have to cultivate it, care for it and love it for the rest of its life. When you've taken care of it enough, people want to be connected to that feeling,” the redhead moved the caterpillar silently, “you know. Make babies. I don't think you could, though,” she said, lowering the caterpillar thoughtfully.

That made the silver-haired man laugh helplessly. The redhead blinked and looked at him in silence, not understanding what she had said to make him laugh like that. Alfonse had told him many times in person and in letters that she was just as innocent, if not more so, than his sister Sharena, though it had never really been explored.

“I'm sorry,” he apologised, wiping away his tears, “I didn't expect that after your reflexion.”

“Hum.”

Bruno crossed his legs, exhaled and smiled. “It's something that has been cultivated since our childhood. But I left... And I had to break that care,” he replied, becoming thoughtful, trying to put the same metaphors as her, “I feel I don't deserve his love and care... Besides, I almost killed him once because of the curse. If I get close to him, I might hurt him, and that's the last thing I want to do. Besides, I see that it can't have a future.”

“You never told him?” They both looked at each other. “What you feel. What you're telling me.”

“He's the Crown Prince. Sooner or later he's going to have to have heirs. And like you said, we can't magically make babies,” he denied slightly.

“But he has a right to know. Why don't you tell him?"

“Considering my travels and the little time I have left... Do you think we'll have time to talk?”

“Because you want to. Sharena is anxious to show you the progress she has made with the spear.”

“Sharena likes to steal my attention to make her brother jealous,” the redhead blinked as the silver-haired man grinned. “She just doesn't know it.”

“So he'll be jealous of me?” she asked, looking away, “because I'm here.”

“He seemed more concerned that you were here than that you were stealing my attention,” the redhead smiled coyly. “Let's go inside. It's getting dark.”

The redhead nodded as she left the caterpillar on a leaf for them to walk into the castle.

“Your Highness, it is an honour that you have accepted our visit.”

The silver-haired man moved his head on his small throne, looking at them behind his mask. “If you wanted an audience with me so badly, there must be a reason, Your Eminence.” He raised an eyebrow at the priest and the Marquis of Amsvartnir.

“As always, so sharp. You are undoubtedly His Majesty's son, may he rest in peace,” the priest spoke, causing the prince's expression to change subtly.

He hated being compared to him.

“We know you are busy with your tireless travels, which are fruitful for the Empire, but…” the Marquis began, “we have certain problems in the Council.”

“You always have problems, in my opinion,” he replied honestly. “Is it about my sister, the Princess?”

“That's right,” the silver-haired man grimaced. “We have been on the verge of signing the peace treaty many times. But she keeps attacking the kingdom. Which only makes everything fall apart.”

“And you think I, a minor prince, can convince the presuntive heir to the throne?” he asked, adjusting his posture. “She is convinced that she must follow my father's bloody legacy. The Empress and I have tried everything to change her mind, but she won't.”

“She needs discipline,” the priest spoke, causing the prince to raise an eyebrow. “A crown princess should not behave like this.”

“For all audacity, Your Eminence, she has just reached prematurity. Everyone tends to disobey their elders. Or don't you remember?” the Marquis asked, causing the priest to make a face of complete insult.

The sound of clicking heels made the three men turn to their left. Victoria stood there, her face blank and nervous, as if she had made a mistake. She was holding something, as if she had caught it, and the bottom of her dress, like her face, was covered in mud. Her dark circles were still visible, though. The redhead bowed slightly, perhaps connecting the dots between the two: they were nobles or members of the Church.

The silver-haired man rose from his throne as the nobles looked surprised. “Where were you going?”

“To my chambers,” she replied, lowering her eyes. “I got lost.”

“I see,” he replied, lightly brushing the mud from her cheek as he called to a guard standing nearby. “Take her to her chambers.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The redhead glanced at the mess as she bowed again and left. The silver-haired man sighed as he turned to return to his seat.

“… My sister will not give in, for she is in a stage of rebellion that neither I nor the Empress can control. Unfortunately, her mother is not here to help us,” he murmured, lowering his head.

“We understand, Your Highness. But we would like you to tone down the attacks. The portals are sacred, and entering them too much may cause problems in the future.”

“I will try to speak to her about this. Is there anything else you want from me?” he asked as the two men exchanged glances.

“No, Your Highness. Thank you for granting us an audience.”

The prince nodded as the two bowed and left. He sighed. He would have to write to his sister.

“Your Highness, a letter for you.” The silver-haired man moved his hand to take the letter, and when he saw the handwriting, he knew it was from Alfonse. He gave a small wave to the man to bow and leave.

He sat down and opened the letter carefully. The scent of mint made him sigh softly.

Dear Zacharias,

The days seem to pass quickly, though slowly in my opinion. Winter is approaching and the Order is feeling the effects. But I'm well, thank you for asking. I hope you have been able to rest and are well.

I'm writing to ask about Vicky. It's only been a week since I asked, I know, but I'm worried. The Commander is tearing her hair out over the organisation of the Order. I'm afraid when she comes back, she'll have more work to do than when she left.These days, I've been wondering whether it was the pressure from the Commander or her own expectations that caused her to collapse from exhaustion. I can't even say for sure.

I only wish the summoner enough rest so that she can return. Apart from the fact that I'm still worried about what I said, we're causing you a little trouble that we should sort out. You have enough on your hands with your travels and your duties as Prince of Embla, I suppose.

I hope you're both well.

Yours sincerely,

Alfonse.

You're contradicting yourself when you tell me you have no feelings for her.

Bruno sighed. This wasn't good news, because he didn't even know if she was fully rested. Something told him that the redhead hadn't completely shut down because she thought it was a punishment to be there. He put the letter back in the drawer, ready to call the butler again.

“Your Highness, Princess Veronica and the hero Xander are waiting for you in the main hall.”

Bruno lifted his pen from his paper and raised an eyebrow. The butler didn't seem to be lying, and he'd probably come because he'd heard Victoria was here. He stood up, took a deep breath and walked through the halls, hoping he didn't have a dragon to appease. Although, knowing his sister, he knew that was the case.

When he opened the door, he saw his sister standing silently beside the Prince of Nohr. The silver-haired man reached for her, wearily.

“I told you many times that you had to warn me before coming here.”

“What is the summoner doing here?” she spat, completely ignoring him.

That annoyed the prince. “None of your business. Is that why you came?” he asked “Do you think she stole time with you?”

“You don't understand, Bruno. She is of the Order. Our...”

“Your enemy,” he pointed out, correcting her.

“Your Highness, if I may speak...” Xander started to say, but the silver-haired man raised her hand.

“Veronica, we've told you time and time again to stop going the way you're going. I don't know what to tell you anymore. The Empress-”

“She's not my mother to tell me what to do”

“No. She's not,” he repeated, ”but she's your guardian. She only wants the best for you. And you ignore her all the time”

“What do you understand? You didn't see how she treated my mother, because she was the main wife!” the blonde spat, stamping her foot, "She left us alone! We had no one!”

“No. I didn't see it. But I know how your mother was with mine, because she was more favoured,” he replied with a dark tone, recalling memories he doesn't want to remember. “I could have ignored you when I got there, but I didn't. You don't have to come to my castle to make demands.”

The sound of shoes made him turn. The redhead seemed lost again, with those prominent circles under her eyes, and disoriented enough to get lost. Veronica was about to say something, but she seemed to have understood why she was there. The silver-haired man shook his head and silently approached the redhead. Victoria looked disoriented, exhausted. It didn't take her long to fall to the floor, but luckily the silver-haired man caught her immediately.

“Call my butler, now” he muttered, making the princess move to call him.

Bruno picked her up and carried her into the room, leaving her with the hero. The redhead was gasping for breath, but seemed stable.

“Your Highness, what is it?”

“Call my healer,” the prince said, turning to look at the redhead.

“Right away, Your Highness,” the man left with these words.

“I haven't seen her this bad a month ago,” his sister murmured worriedly.

“She's been like this for weeks,” the silver-haired man moved to look at her. “Go away, please. I have a lot to do.”

“All right,” the blonde looked away. “...I hope she recovers,” she said and started to leave next to the hero.

Bruno sighed and looked back at the redhead. He hadn't thought that he would be like this with her, but there it was. Very worried.

“Welcome.”

“Your Highness,” the healer bowed. “Tell me, did you have any more problems?”

“That's not why I called you. I'm fine.”

Surely the commander and Alfonse wouldn't approve of an Emblian healer being called to treat the summoner, but for his tastes, Emblian healers were more enthusiastic about women than in Askr, or at least he'd seen that first hand. The Prince of Embla looked out of the window in silence.

“So… is this about the woman you brought to the castle?” Bruno blinked and raised an eyebrow. “It's the talk of the court.”

“I see,” he grimaced. “Yes. Not long ago, she collapsed from exhaustion and insomnia. She tells me she's fine, but the bags under her eyes say otherwise.”

“I see,” the healer looked pensive. “What did they recommend?”

Bruno sighed. “She lives in Askr. So all they've recommended is rest.”

“I see,” the healer sighed. “I can examine her, if that will reassure you.”

“I don't know how she'll take it, but let's try.”

The healer nodded and led them through the cold corridors to the redhead's room. The prince knocked on the door.

“Come in,” the redhead murmured, silently leading him inside with the healer in tow.

The room was a bit messy, with a few books on the table and the bed unmade. The redhead sat up, looking up from the book she was reading. There were still dark circles under her eyes, and she jumped when she saw the healer. She didn't seem to like healers. Bruno smiled at her.

“Victoria, this is my personal healer. I think a second opinion on what's wrong with you is good.”

“I told you I'm fine,” she muttered, looking down at the floor.

“My lady, sometimes fainting can be caused by other things, such as overexertion. It could be your period, sudden changes in your environment, or stress.” The redhead grimaced. “I don't have to examine you, but I'd like to ask you a few questions to rule out any pathologies.”

The redhead looked at him, seeming to resent this. The prince shook his head, trying to encourage her to answer these questions. She looked away, and that made the healer look at him.

“If you won't do it for yourself, do it for Alfonse. He wrote to me asking for you,” he said, making her look at him.

“It's all right,” she replied, but she seemed annoyed that he had used that move on her.

The prince nodded, causing the healer to move and sit silently across from the summoner, who closed the book, but not before marking where she stood. The silver-haired man stood beside her, who was still staring into space.

“Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Noah, and as the Prince said, I'm his personal healer.”

“Victoria,” she introduced herself, still staring off into space.

“Nice to meet you,” the man said. “Tell me. What's wrong?”

“The healers said I fainted from exhaustion and overexertion,” she grimaced.

“May I know why?” he asked, silencing the redhead.

“You may tell him,” the prince said. “He won't say anything,” the healer nodded.

“I am a member of the Order of Heroes in Askr. I'm in charge of organising tactics, battalions, training and improving skills.”

“Wait… you do all that on your own?”

“They usually help me, but with the plan already made.” The healer blinked while the silver-haired man grimaced.

“It must be a lot for one person. Why don't you get some help?”

“Well, Prince Alfonse usually helps me,” she grimaced, “but he has other duties. You see, you could say the dome is only four people.”

“Oh, I see,” the healer tried his best not to show concern. “So tell me, has your period disappeared by any chance?”

“Does that have anything to do with it?”

“Maybe.” The redhead grimaced at the healer's answer.

“I haven't had one in almost two years.” The two men glanced at each other.

The silver-haired man shifted, leaning towards the redhead in the chair. “And you haven't seen a healer?” he asked incredulously.

“My stepfather denied it. He said it'd be back,” she replied, making the silver-haired man blink. It was the first time she'd mentioned a stepfather.

“And you didn't tell your mother?” The redhead looked down.

“My mother was ill. I was with her most of the time. I looked after her, took her to the appointments and all that.”

“… The way you're talking, I think your mother has already ascended with the gods,” the healer said as the redhead looked away. “I'm so sorry. Was it a long time ago?”

“The day she died, I joined the Order. My stepfather kicked me out. But it doesn't matter.” The summoner stared into space again. “I was always the odd one out.”

The healer looked at him as the silver-haired man sighed. It looked like she was going to stay a little longer.

“You have done what?” The silver-haired man rolled his eyes, while the blue-haired man blinked in disbelief.

“I called my healer because if I don't do it, she wouldn't sleep, that's what I did,” he replied, crossing his arms. “I still say the Order's healer is stupid.” Alfonse sighed. “We got her talking a bit, if that helps.”

“Depends on what.”

“Did you know that the day you summoned her, her mother had just died?” he asked, looking him in the eye.

Alfonse sighed and looked thoughtfully around. “I suspected as much. But she made it clear she didn't want to talk about the World of Steel.” The blue-haired man grimaced. “It's as if she doesn't like to be touched or left alone.”

“There's a reason for that, according to my healer.” The silver-haired man sighed. “He suspects she was abused. She told us her stepfather threw her out when her mother died.”

"Really?" the silver-haired man nodded. "Then it would make sense why she didn't come out of her room for days and why she seemed disoriented. We put it down to the fact that we had suddenly summoned her."

“You didn't call a healer?”

“Honestly, they're not good for some things, as you say.”

The silver-haired man chuckled at the prince's answer, who smiled as they continued to keep their distance. He didn't want to try his luck, so distance was best. Though he wouldn't lie, he was burning to have him close.

The blue-haired man sighed as he stroked his horse's mane. “Like I said, I'm sorry about this mess.”

“Don't worry about it. Victoria doesn't bother me as much as you might think. Though I have already told you the trouble that has been caused.”

Alfonse shook his head, “The concubine rumours” Bruno nodded “Is she the only woman you've brought to the castle?”

“I'm rarely there for more than three days. So imagine if I brought a woman and stayed more than three days,” he sighed, “I don't regret bringing her, but...”

“People, courts and being noble are like that. You should know that by now.”

“Of course I know,” Bruno grimaced, “That's why I like to keep a low profile, even though the Empress needs me to calm the nobles,”

Alfonse nodded thoughtfully. “And she gave you the castle on the two borders?"

“Technically, it's mine. My mother was from Askr, it was one of those kidnappings the Emperor encouraged from time to time. That's why he built her this castle, although I think your father got angry”

“You know what my father is like,” Alfonse sighed. He looked tired and worried.

“Are you sure you're all right?”

“Yes, don't worry. It's just that...”

“You're worried about her,” the prince of Askr grimaced at what the prince of Embla said, but finally he nodded. “Are you jealous that I took her with me?”

“No.”

“Liar,” he replied, a knowing smile on his lips. “I don't blame you”

“Zacharias...” he murmured, staring at him with those blue eyes.

The prince of Embla exhaled, staring into the void, though the blue-haired man couldn't see through the mask. He had learned that if he didn't look them straight in the eye, he could suppress those voices. Apart from the aesthetics, it was also because the whole court reminded him of his mother from time to time. He'd rather no one said horrible things to him about the one thing he had in common with her, apart from the colour of her skin (it wasn't the same, she was browner, but it was something from her and not from him.).

“She is quite sweet and innocent. Pretty, even. It's only natural that you fell at her feet,” he continued, looking at him again.

“It's true. I like her,” he admitted, lowering his gaze slightly, “it's too early to tell.”

“You and your mind, always wanting to analyse your feelings,” the blue-haired man chuckled. Then he wet his lip.

“I want you to give her this from me,” he said as he handed him a box. “And this is for you. Don't refuse,” he replied, knowing how the silver-haired man would react.

The prince opened the small box and saw something familiar. The ring had been given ro him when he was fifteen and the blue-haired man twelve, as part of a birthday present for him, a token of their friendship. His ring was a blue sapphire, while Alfonse's was a malachite. Both stones were the stones of their birthdays, according to Askran tradition.

Bruno thought for a moment before speaking in a low voice. “Are you still keeping this?”

“Of course,” the prince replied. “It's something I gave you and I want you to keep it.”

“I'm not one to wear rings much because of my travels and fighting, though you already know that. But thank you.” The Prince of Embla closed the box, still touched that he had kept the ring for so many years away.

Alfonse sighed. “Well, I must be going. The Commander will soon send a patrol to look for me if I take longer than expected.”

“She really is desperate.”

“Truly, leaving the Commander alone with my sister is dangerous.” Bruno laughed as he put the presents into the sack. “I'm leaving.”

“Have a safe journey back.”

“Thank you,” he grimaced and walked to his horse.

But he has a right to know. Why don't you tell him?

“… Alfonse,” the blue-haired man turned to look at him. The silver-haired man swallowed. The redhead's voice was still in his head. He sighed softly and motioned for him to come closer with his finger.

The Prince of Askr looked lost, but he came close enough to create the distance he wanted, at least for now. The silver-haired man took off his mask, not knowing if that move would get him into trouble later. He told him to come closer again, making the blue-haired man even more lost than before, but he could tell that he was feeling something as bad or worse than what he was feeling right now. It had been a long time since they had been this close. They could hear each other breathing. He could almost feel his heart pounding out of his chest.

It was the silver-haired who made the first move, bringing their lips together. It was brief, but enough to know that he truly missed the closeness of the Prince of Askr.

“… Go,” he murmured, seeing that the blue-haired man was about to protest, and gave him another kiss. “Unfortunately, we have two redheads to take care of.”

“I like yours more than mine,” he murmured, making them both laugh. “Zacharias…”

“Please leave before the voices come back,” he whispered as a plea, making the prince sigh before kissing him again and slowly pulling away to get to his horse.

The silver-haired man watched him go, his heart sinking, hating the blood running through his veins even more.

The nights were long, and paper, ink and experiments became a habit to ease the pain his blood sometimes caused him. Transcribing his progress into a neat notebook was the only thing that kept him from thinking about what had happened days before.

The silver-haired man slept through his schedule, six hours at most, but he always got up almost at dawn out of habit. He took care of business before breakfast and organised his day. If he didn't, it was usually a disaster.

The sound of the door made him frown. “Come in,” he said, lifting his head to the redhead's.

It was still night, but the candlelight showed him that the summoner had finally got her period with what the healer had given her. Her nightgown was stained with blood; she looked embarrassed and upset. The silver-haired man stood up silently and called the housekeeper by pressing a button. Then he stroked her shoulders.

“Don't worry, It's normal.”

“I've stained the whole bed…” she murmured, staring into space. “Won't they be upset?”

That gave him a pang. "No, it's natural and they won't be upset. They'll be happy to help."

The redhead looked away as the silver-haired man turned his head towards the door and the housekeeper arrived in a bathrobe.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness?"

"Lady Victoria has just started her period. If you could run her a bath and change her sheets, I'd appreciate it."

"Oh, of course," the woman blinked. "Oh, dear, you've been bleeding a lot, but that's normal at your age." The redhead looked away, nervous. "Let me call the maids to fix everything."

The prince nodded, causing the woman to move quickly. He looked back at the redhead, who still seemed upset. They gave her a bath and changed her sheets. Unfortunately, she was in so much pain that she had to stay in bed for several days.

To comfort her, he would read to her or bring her flowers from the garden. He also enjoyed talking to her. He would sit next to her, with a small table for his things, while they chatted.

“Has something happened?” she asked, looking at him from her bed.

“Why?”

“It seems you're thinking too much about something. And you come here to stop thinking.”

She's too smart, he thought, holding his head and sighing. The redhead silently moved the bougainvillea he had cut for her, waiting for him to speak. The silver-haired man picked up his cup of tea to drink it.

“The other day, when I was away for a while, I went to talk to Alfonse.”

“A secret meeting?”

“I don't think so. Surely the Commander knew where he was going.”

“Hmm,” the redhead looked back at the flower. “And what did he say?”

“Nothing interesting. But we kissed,” he grimaced. “It's like I never left.”

“That's good, isn't it?”

“Yeah… not to mention I have a blood curse,” he grimaced again as the summoner handed him the flower again to put in the vase. “But we didn't get a proper word.”

“Why?”

“It seems the Commander does things,” the redhead laughed. “So he had to leave.”

“Pity.”

“It was.”

They both smiled at each other as they continued their afternoon.

“You don't seem happy to be back.”

“The truth is, I don't think they need me after four weeks,” she murmured, looking away.

“Oh, I don't think so. They need you. You're an important piece in the chess game they're playing with my sister.” The redhead lifted her head to look at him. “In fact, the most valuable, if I do say so myself.”

“But it's no fun when the Commander isn't pulling her hair out.” That made Bruno laugh.

He reined in his horse as they stared at the castle in all its splendour. The redhead blinked at the sight, while the silver-haired man took a deep breath. Victoria grimaced and looked back at the meadow in silence. The truth was that these weeks had been enough time to get to know the summoner much better, to understand why Alfonse felt this connection to her. And the truth was, he enjoyed her company. Without her, he didn't think he would have taken the step he had taken with Alfonse the other day. Although there was still a long way to go.

Now he had to leave again, for who knew how long. But he knew they'd be fine. Again a thought crossed his mind.

“…you can always come back and stay with me when I come back.”

“Won't that make Alfonse jealous?”

“I intend to,” the redhead turned and made him smile. “You know he likes you, don't you?”

“It's not that he's not subtle,” Bruno laughed. “But I don't know. And I know that he has feelings for you. And it started blooming, so”

“Well, cultivate those feelings, like you told me.”

“With you too?” The question surprised him, but he smiled.

“With me too, if you like.”

“This is for her period, this is to help her sleep,” the silver-haired man handed the powder to the blue-haired man. “And this is for you, to calm your nerves.” The Prince of Askr laughed. “Although it works for her too.”

“Okay,” the blue-haired man looked at him. “Thank you for looking after her.”

“I would have more time, but… I have to go on a trip.”

They stared at each other in silence. The Commander and Sharena weren't there, so he was alone to greet them. The redhead had left, probably to give them space to talk alone.

“Don't worry. We'll keep an eye on her,” he said, looking silently at her as the summoner was stroking Feh. “As I said, thank you.”

“I told you, it's no problem. Although I'll have to take her with me more often now, or they'll ask.”

Alfonse grimaced. “Is she okay with that?”

“We agreed for the next time I come back, take her again. I think she likes it when the Commander pulls her hair.” He smiled as the blue-haired man smiled back.

“And I don't think it's a bad idea for her to take care of what she normally does for a few weeks.”

The silver-haired man nodded. “Just reassure her that she's important for the order. The healer says it'll help.” The blue-haired man nodded. “Well, I'm going. I have weeks for me and my horse.”

“Where are you going this time?”

“Along the Nifl border. I'll be careful; I know it's a war zone.” Alfonse grimaced. “I'll write to you at the first inn.”

“Good,” he grimaced, not knowing how to broach the subject, “about the other week…”

“Don't worry. I was the one who made the first move. I just wanted to try something.”

“Oh yeah? What thing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The silver-haired man licked his lip, lifted her chin and planted a kiss on his lips. They both separated slightly, causing the blue-hair man to flicker. “When I get back, we'll try to talk.”

“I'll wait for it.”