Chapter Text
“Hello Shura.”
I look up at the uncommon sound of my name. Rarely does anyone talk to me, especially not at supper time. I sit in my usual corner, away from everyone else. Usually it stays that way, I eat and leave without any conversation. I prefer it that way.
The girl who said my name smiles at me, a nice smile. The one I recognise as Lady Corrin’s.
“Hello Lady Corrin,” I say politely. “How are you doing this evening?”
“I am doing very well, thank you Shura.” There’s my name again. When I was younger I never would’ve imagined my name leaving the lips of royalty, unless they were sentencing me to death or something like that. Not in the sweet way the young royal said it. “Would you like to come sit with everyone else? I always see you here by yourself. I wanted you to know that you are more than welcome to sit with the rest of the army.”
I look over at one of the large tables at the center of the room. It’s long and thin, filled with people on either side. There are smaller tables scattered around the room, including the one I sit at. On a small raised platform there is a table for the royals, but it is almost always half empty. I watch it every day to see when royals will come. Lord Xander usually eats alone in his room, if he eats at all, Lord Leo tends to do the same. Lady Camilla always seems to sit with one of Lord Leo’s retainers at a smaller table. Lady Elise and Lady Corrin eat with the army at the long table most nights, as if they are common. The Hoshidians are the only ones that ever sit up there, and even they have started to mingle more with the army.
“I think I’d prefer to sit here, if that is alright with you,” I admit and look at her.
She nods. “Of course it’s alright with me. It’s your choice.” I expect her to leave then, go back to her friends, but she surprises me. “Do you mind if I sit here with you then?”
I pause before shrugging casually, not wanting her to know how surprised I really am. “Of course Princess. However, do you think that would be a wise idea?”
She takes a seat across from me. “Why wouldn’t it be wise? I see nothing wrong with eating with a member of the army.”
A member of the army. It has taken time to get used to that reality. “You are a noble woman, it might not be best for you to be seen dining with a thief. You deserve better company.”
Corrin frowns. “You aren’t a thief anymore, you shouldn’t be judged on your previous life. I have no problem being seen with you Shura.”
I smirk slightly. Being a thief is a low point in my life that I wish I hadn’t had to experience. The only reason I got past it was because of the Nohrian kingdom giving me a second chance, specifically Lady Corrin. She found me and let me join the army, allowing me to right the wrongs I had committed in the fight for survival. “I’m still not sure if this is proper, but very well.”
She laughs softly and it urges another smile out of me. “Is that why you always sit by yourself? Because you don’t think we want to be seen with you?”
“That’s right.”
“Well you shouldn’t feel that way,” she says. “Many people in the army have different backgrounds. I realize you aren’t… Proud of yours, but no one else will judge you.”
It is true what she says about the army being filled with different types of people. Niles was an outlaw, like me in some ways, Beruka trained to be an assassin. I’m not sure what Peri was, but she is too psychotic to not have something dark in her past. It’s amazing what you can find out about people just from listening close enough.
I take a long sip of wine and put the glass down. “Well, you may be right about that. But do not feel any obligation to sit with me. I don’t mind being by myself. You deserve better company, better conversation.”
“It’s not out of any obligation. I just want to sit with you. We’ve barely talked since I first met you, I thought it would be good to get to know you. You seem interesting.”
“The princess who has brought together the Nohr and the Hoshidian armies and has the ability to transform into a dragon thinks I am interesting? Well that is quite the compliment.”
This time she laughs harder, covering her mouth and letting out a small snort. It manages to make the young woman even more endearing in my eyes. She blushes a soft pink and smiles. “Sorry, that was funny.”
“Don’t apologize, I like that I can make you laugh.” I grin and finish my wine. “I should go train now though.”
“Now? It’s almost night time.”
“I prefer training in the evening. The grounds aren’t as crowded, there are more empty targets for more complex training.” I shrug and pick up my plate and glass to put away, not liking to leave it for the maids.
“Oh, well alright. I guess I have to come earlier if I really want to get in a good meal with you.” She smiles. “Mind if I sit with you tomorrow?”
The thought of eating with her gives me a strange feeling in my stomach, almost like the one I would get before doing a valuable theft. More pleasant though. Excitement probably, from being able to talk to a pleasant person again. “Of course Princess… If you are quite sure that you don’t mind being seen with me.”
“Of course I don’t mind being seen with you.” She stands up and looks back at the other table before looking at me and smiling once again. She seems to always smile, much like her little Nohrian sister. It’s almost enough to be infectious. “Good luck with your training, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow Princess.”
I watch as she leaves and goes back to the other table, sitting between Lady Elise and the strange wolfskin. I still feels so strange to be able to gaze at royalty, to have them approach me and talk to me, actually take an interest.
I smirk and then turn away from the Princess, leaving the dining hall to go train all alone again. At least I like being alone, but talking to the Princess is a nice change of pace.