Archive of Our Own

“And that’s all for today.” Prince of Wales said as she handed things over to the Commander.

“Well done.” He replied. “Not just in putting things together on time, but also how well you performed in the exercises last time. I know I’ve told you that your past isn’t something you need to make up for, but you seem motivated enough by the present.”

“Mistakes were made.” The Royal battleship replied, and stood at full attention in front of the commander. “Even as far removed from them as I am now, I want to make sure they aren’t repeated. After all, we were all given a second chance, weren’t we?”

“Of course.” The commander replied, sitting back in his comfy office chair. She didn’t look down on him for indulging in such a thing- After all, his job did involve a great deal of sitting. “And I have been up front about the excellence I ask for from you and your comrades. So, when I say that you’ve done well, you can always trust me to mean it, all right? I can’t afford to spare feelings when something as crucial as your lives are on the line.”

“Yes, sir!” Some people might take it as an admonishment, but Prince of Wales had her own view of things. The commander was forthright without being using it as a cudgel, being plain about what he expected and how he expected it to be done, and being just as open with praise when timetables were kept, objectives were met, and the business of the port was carried on in the way it ought to be carried on.

And that was the very first thing that caught her attention about the commander, even above the fact that he seemed, by her estimation, at least a bit young for the position.

In important matters, Prince of Wales strove to be honest- To be any less was a disservice to her sovereign, her peers, and her subordinates- It was the part of her duty that she took seriously because a failure of honesty could lead to more catastrophic failure down the road. And now she had found a commander who had given her the same respect, not too long after her revival as a Kansen.

Even aside from that, he didn’t segregate himself from his people- He was always coming to parties and festivals and taking an interest in what captivated others under his command. This had taken him from respectable to someone who had her attention whenever he went to her or vice versa.

So, her feelings had started to go beyond what some might call professional.

“Good!” He said, with a smile. “I’m glad that we understand each other. You’re extraordinary people, and so I don’t think commanding you in an ordinary way is something that will get any of us anywhere.”

Extraordinary. People. Things that she and those like her were not called by that group of people who created them to be humanity’s weapons and nothing more, to be seen on the battlefield and not heard anywhere else. That callous assembly met a fate befitting of their character not long after others established Azur Lane and set up a commander to lead them as soldiers rather than merely use them as weapons. She couldn’t deny that she considered this commander someone special to her, not that she could bring herself to say it out loud.

After all, there was a certain propriety expected of a Royal officer.

Some time must have passed before she said anything more, because the commander started to look concerned. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

“No, commander, far from it.”

“Good!” He said, practically spiking the report into his Out basket. “So, now that our business is concluded, would you like a partner for your fencing training? I am going to be free not too long from now.”

“Not this time.” She said. While she appreciated that he had taken an interest in her interests, she needed to think on her own, at least for a little while.

“Well, all right.” He said, and straightened out some other papers. “If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed.”

She bowed, and left.

There was something else.

She couldn’t bring herself to bring it up.

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Prince of Wales was frustrated, and this time it was only with herself.

She had become good at hiding it, of course, usually finding some other thing to occupy her mind and time in ways that others found a plausible use of her time- she was never one to sulk or mope in her room, at least.

So, she found herself in the gymnasium, practicing her sword-strokes- Not with a sword meant for killing, of course, that weapon had its place in honorable battle and nowhere else- Over and over again, always making sure they were things she could do on instinct in times when there wasn’t time for thought. Eventually, she thought she could focus by putting her mind on her bladework rather than her commander.

She felt there was good reason to be driven to distraction by what she thought of as her own failings. She was all about fair dealing in every aspect of her life, even in battle when it could be managed, so why couldn’t she be just as open with her commander?

It perplexed her to no end.

And because of this, she could not rid herself of her distraction.

But the fact that it was blisteringly obvious that there was something on her mind.

“Oho!” Came a boisterous voice with no warning. “I see you are on your own. However, training is one of the many things in life that are best done with a partner, so perhaps I might insert myself between you and your shadow on this afternoon?”

Prince of Wales knew immediately who it was. Behind that voice was Littorio and her confident grin, that expression as much an accessory of her appearance as her cape or that little crown of hers. Littorio was someone who styled herself an expert on romancing more or less anything with speech and two legs, and her presence was cause for ambivalence. Prince of Wales turned to look at Littorio. “This is a surprise- I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come here.”

Littorio’s smile never wavered. “I don’t wish to lag behind, of course, and aside from that, the Sirens are distinctly unsatisfying. No verve, no passion, you can’t jest or taunt them, for the most part. It is fine enough to triumph on the battlefield for the glory of Sardegna, but I wish it were against foes that were not so dull.” She took a practice sword off the wall. “It seems, as always, Littorio must find excitement with the lovely ladies of the port.” She held out her sword. “So, shall I have you as my partner for today? I don’t mind going elsewhere- I have no doubt that there are others who would welcome the presence of Littorio.”

Wales shook her head, but in truth, practicing by herself didn’t really give her much to focus on. She held out her sword in turn. “Though our eldest sister is the best of us in these matters, I don’t think you’ll find me wanting.”

Littorio steadied herself. “Aha, the day I judge a Royal lady wanting is a day that I am no longer Littorio, I would say!” She tossed her cape aside with a dramatic flourish (as though Littorio had any other kind) and tightened her grip. “Now, have at me, and we shall see who carries the hour!’

Prince of Wales was not about to let a peacock of a woman get the better of her, and so she took Littorio’s invitation and lay into the other battleship, taking one step forward to seize the initiative. No one stood still in a swordfight if they could help it- A fighter always kept their options open. Littorio did not shrink from a fight, however, and did her utmost to make sure that the point of Wales’s sword was anywhere other than her body.

There was, of course, a clash of steel, as Wales knew that these sorts of things rarely ended with a single stroke. Littorio was not the very best swordswoman on the base, but not being the best did not mean she was an easy opponent for anyone.

Essentially, Littorio’s role in the dueling hierarchy was to punish people who underestimated her, and the thought that she was some buffoon lasted until one was four points behind and wondering how one got there.

Prince of Wales was normally sharp about such things. Littorio was many things, but a charlatan was not one of them. A lot of what the Sardegnan said was something that could be backed up in one field or another, and so as soon as steel touched steel the first time, She had a good eye for anything the Sardegnan swashbuckler might do. Littorio was trained in every useful form of the longsword, Wales knew that, and it told her how Littorio might well react to anything.

The Sardengna was very skilled but at the same time, offered no real surprises, at least as far as raw technique went.

But Littorio was not someone who allowed herself to be merely ordinary, and as much as she was keeping her concentration on being a duelist, she also had time to wield her wits as well as her weapon. “Is this not better than going it alone? It defies belief that I happened to stumble upon you in such a way.”

Prince of Wales grunted as she fought back against Littorio. The woman’s ability to talk while fighting was certainly a talent… Unless, of course, that’s something the Mediterranean dreadnought chose to deliberately practice. “I hardly make it my business to prowl in the same way as you.”

“Ah, so you have your own way!” Littorio smiled. Cut, thrust, parry, escape. Just the fundamentals, enough to keep her figuratively alive in her clash with the Royal battleship. “I cannot wait to hear what fruit comes of it.”

She hid the fact that it stung her, and became more aggressive in her offense, pushing to gain some advantage over her foe so she could bring those taunts to an end quickly. Littorio, however, somehow managed to remain unperturbed- Was there something wrong with her offense? “That business is mine!”

“Haha, it never belongs to one. In the game of love, there are always at least two players, or more if they are so inclined.” Littorio’s confident grin grew ever wider. “Of course, one can only truly play at that oldest of games if one’s partner is aware!” She said, getting good footing and pushing back. “So, has the prince invited one to her court, or has she kept that letter in its box? Surely, she must have some faith in her charms, hm?”

 Prince of Wales was in no mood to take Littorio’s jests as jests, and almost growled as she began to lunge at the Sardegnan. “What goes between me and him does not need to pass by you!”

However, her growing desire to silence Littorio overcame her good sense, and she could feel a very distinct touch against her clothes- She had given her opponent a free opening.

Stunned, Prince of Wales back off, and Littorio did the same. The Sardegnan hmmed. “Now, normally, in this sort of arena, I would not be able to lay a hand on you figuratively or otherwise. Perhaps I was more truthful than I thought?”

Prince of Wales sighed, and sat down on the floor. “…I must’ve had it at the foremost of my mind if you were able to drag it out of me so quickly.”

Littorio smiled as she sat down on a mat. “Well, for one to open a lady’s heart, I have found there are three ways that are the most common. First, of course, love, which is always the preferred method of Littorio. The second, of course, is wine, which occurs by happenstance- Littorio has too much pride to let the vintner do the lover’s work. And the third? Anger.” Littorio said. “So, you’ve let slip there is something, or someone on the Royal Lady’s mind, and there is nothing you cannot say to Littorio in confidence.”

“Since it seems I have let something slip already, I think I’ll be forthright to you, as long as you mean to keep your promise to keep things to yourself.”

Littorio chuckled, and produced a rose to sniff dramatically. “There is no promise Littorio makes to a lady that Littorio does not keep.”

“It has to do with the commander.” She finally admitted.

“There is hardly anything that does not!” Littorio said with a smile. “Whether complaints, congratulations, good or grievances, it is one of the commander’s roles to be the ever-burdened Atlas of our expectations.”

Prince of Wales sighed, and shook her head. Littorio was a notorious romantic, but since she was where she was, she had to bring it out. “…I try to be honest and play fair in all things, even if I have occasionally done so in some vulgar way or another.” She began. “But this is much more of a matter of the heart than anything else.”

“Hm?” Littorio’s smile grew ever wider, able to extrapolate everything just from that. “Ah ha, our Royal Lady has finally found the one thing it is a challenge to be honest about.” She stretched. “But I suppose saying ‘just tell him’ would be no good, as that is the difficulty in the first place!”

“Correct.” Prince of Wales sighed. “I do not wish to have to rely on your help in this matter, I would rather resolve this myself.”

“Of course!” Littorio said. “After all, this isn’t some matter you can leave to Belfast, this is a chance for a Royal Lady to show her resolve. Of course, while you may not wish to have Littorio’s help, you may have need of it in the end all the same.” She got to her feet. “You, the marvelous Prince, wish not to live a lie as much as you do not wish to tell one, and if you need Littorio to keep your Royal honor, then Littorio is always available for all the needs of a beautiful woman.”

Wales relaxed. Littorio could always find a way to be herself, and once you cut through her boasts and extravagance of presentation, she was genuinely willing to help. If only because the Sardegnan battleship could always find some way to rationalize it as another way of showing off the light and greatness of Littorio. “I will talk to you if I want your assistance.”

“Of course! You can count on Littorio to be by your side when she is called.”

Prince of Wales put on a small smile. “Wouldn’t that mean you haven’t much else going on at the moment?”

There was only the tiniest pause before Littorio chuckled and offered her retort. “There is always time for a lady.” Littorio smiled. “And perhaps, if you take Littorio’s advice, it will not be Littorio making time for you, but the commander.”

-----------

Prince of Wales went home right after the session.

She briefly considered talking to her sisters about what was going on between her and the commander, but the correct person would require some thought.

King George V had her hands full with all sorts of things- Being the knight commander had a great deal of responsibility, especially seeing as her majesty would prefer to keep her own duties as light as possible. The eldest hardly had the time for the large things at the moment, much less the smaller, personal matters. Though King George was responsible and capable, the timing was poor.

Duke of York… Well, she shuddered to think about what romantic advice the red Duke might give. She wanted to win the commander, not seize him.

Then there was her half-sibling, Monarch. While she could be counted on in most matters, Monarch felt insecure about being rejected over the rest of them, and probably would be reluctant to give that kind of advice to someone she viewed as a rival.

And then there was Howe.

Howe tended to give much even though not much was asked of her in comparison to someone like their eldest, and off the field, she mainly devoted herself to the pursuit of the perfect cookie. She was a good girl, she was available, and she had that hint of romance to her that would make her amenable to discuss what to do.

Howe, of course, was baking- It’s what she did with her time off, after all, and she seemed perplexed by the question. “Hm?” Howe began. “This is a strange thing to bring up. After all, you’re the one who gave me advice on dating, and good advice, too. This feels like something you ought to be able to sort without my help. You’re more than capable, I think.”

“Perhaps I have.” Prince of Wales sat down as she watched Howe busy herself with her kitchen. It was always a sight to see Howe wearing her baking apron and oven mitts over her knightly attire. “However, I believe I may have too much propriety to be as honest as I’d like. Littorio has offered to help me, but I don’t know if she may ask me to do something unbecoming to gain what I wish. Plus, the suddenness of her offer makes me suspicious of her motives- We do not speak to each other often.”

“Hm…” Howe thought about it for a moment. “Well, if Littorio was trying to do something underhanded, wouldn’t be doing something other than offer to help you?”

“How do you mean?” Wales inquired.

Howe paused to make sure the temperature was just right before she pushed the baking sheets into the oven. “I don’t think she’s someone who does subtle schemes, if only because she doesn’t know how to be subtle. If she had some other thing in mind, it might be to romance you herself. She does like a lady, after all. And usually that lady is Illustrious.”

“You think she may be genuine?”

“I can’t decide this for you, of course.” Howe began, immediately opening a cookbook to begin planning her next project while the current cookies were baking in the oven. “But I don’t believe Littorio would do some complex scheme because she’s compulsively ostentatious. I can’t say for sure how she might try to help you, but I do believe she means to help you when she says so.”

Prince of Wales shrugged. “If people are noticing, then I should give it another try on my own. After that, if I can’t manage it even then, I will ask Littorio for her help in this matter.”

Howe smiled. “Good! We’re here to help each other out, right?”

“Right.” Prince of Wales said. “…Mind if I stay here until your cookies are ready?”

Howe giggled. “I thought you might as soon as you came through the door.”

---------------

The very next day, Prince of Wales resolved to tell the truth to the commander, so she counted her blessings that the commander kept his schedule very public. He had taken it on himself to inspect the docks to make sure that people weren’t cutting corners and that things were otherwise operating to his satisfaction, and she waited until there was some moment when he wasn’t talking to the foreman or other Kansen.

She stepped up. “Commander?”

It was easy to get his attention when it wasn’t absorbed by people or his tablet. “Ah, Prince of Wales, something I can help you with? I have some time to spare before I move to the next inspection.”

Prince of Wales steeled herself.

“There’s something that I’d like to talk to you about. It has to do with our situation.” She began.

He stopped, and devoted his full attention to her. “Of course. There’s nothing that you can’t say to me. I’m open to anything you might want to ask.”

“You see…” And then she paused.

She couldn’t do it.

Prince of Wales wished to be straightforward with him, but he was her commander and she was his officer who fought for him in the field. And above all, knights were creatures of the Royal Navy and all of its traditions, and she was meant to uphold them as much as she could. The line of how long it took to make a ship and how long it took to make a tradition was something that followed her everywhere as she was both ship and tradition in one person.

She stayed quiet for a while, and then the commander spoke up. “…Is something the matter that you can’t say in public?”

Prince of Wales shook her head. She might have to have that conversation with Littorio after all.

“I was just wondering what you had in mind for your next deployment, it feels like me and my sisters have been cooling our heels for some time.” She said.

The commander didn’t even need a moment to respond. “Well, I wouldn’t borrow trouble. I know you feel like you have a duty to perform, but I wouldn’t say we should go looking for fights that we don’t have to. However, I don’t have hesitation about calling on you or your sisters if we need that kind of firepower. Action will come your way, I’m sure of it.”

“Thank you, commander.” She said.

“If I may.” He said. “…This does seem like a strange thing to ask. Are you sure that there isn’t something going on? Inside the Royal court, maybe?”

“No.” Prince of Wales responded. “I just want you to know that I am always at your disposal. For anything, Commander.”

“Thank you for your vigilance.” The commander said. “None of you are really replaceable.”

Prince of Wales saluted, and then left the docks, heading straight across the port. With any luck, Littorio would be home.

---------------

Littorio smiled, and plucked a rose from one of the bushes in her garden, giving it a dramatic sniff. “You proved unfortunate again, did you? I can think of no other reason that you would visit Littorio, especially at home!”

Prince of Wales sighed. The eternal bard said that all the world was a stage, but Littorio seemed to take that a bit too literally- Whether it was for an audience of many, one, or even, perhaps, none, Littorio never seemed to stop playing her character. But Littorio was also right, too, which was one of the more perplexing things about the Sardegnan battleship. “I had resolved myself to tell the truth, but I could not make it happen, so here we are.”

“Indeed!” Littorio said. “You and I are here together, one who is looking for advice on love coming to someone happy enough to give it. After all, there is much that can be learned about love by merely watching Littorio. So, you can count on Littorio to unite you Innamorati without delay or error.” 

Prince of Wales winced at the term. She preferred to believe that she didn’t come off as that clueless. “I take it you’ve already thought about it?”

“There is almost never a time when Littorio does not think of such travails and adversities, and how to overcome them.” Littorio smiled, and sat at a table. She snapped her fingers twice, and one of the Meowficcers- Those round, catlike creations from Akashi’s lab- came by with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Littorio wasted no time pouring for both. “Please, have a seat, drink, relax.”

There was a small amount of hesitation. Because of how extravagant Littorio was in her bearing, it was tough to say if the Sardegnan was starting to make her own romantic overtures or thought that such a display was appropriate for a merely friendly chat. She did sit down, knowing that she could always leave. “So, what did you have to say to me?”

“Well, I can hardly concoct some zany scheme or another.” She began, curling her gloved fingers around the stem of her glass. “As amusing as it would be, it serves neither of us, especially you. No, we must do it the way that a Prince must do. But the manners of a Royal officer contends with the love of a Royal Lady, does it not?”

The royal battleship took a sip from her glass. Whatever she might think of the woman’s perpetual performance, she did have good taste in wines. “If anything is at the root of the problem, then that would be it, yes.”

Littorio smiled as she swirled the wine in her glass. “If that is the case, then I have this to say to you. You are not wrong to want to tell the truth, because you deserve to speak it, and he deserves to know. What comes of it after, who can say?” Littorio put her glass to her lips, and emptied half of it in one gulp. “But if he does admire you, it may well be for the same reason you admire him. You, who prize being an honest woman, would like in turn to have an honest man, would you not?”

“…Yes.” She said. “And if he prizes things like I do, then…”

“Then Littorio will say this to you.” She crossed one leg over the other, keeping her confident grin. “Someone who likes to hear the truth, and someone who likes to tell it? How could they not be a match? If not now, then perhaps sometime after all of this is settled, and you may be able to think of things as other than soldier and officer.” She chuckled. “When it comes to such declarations is not now the best time of all? Best too early than too late.”

“And if it does not go well?” Prince of Wales replied.

“Well, if he should take umbrage, then he was hardly the man for you.” Littorio replied. “And do you believe that there is only one person of quality in the entire world?” She went on. “But, I know you have an eye for quality, and our commander is certainly a man of such virtues- No doubt from having the opportunity to observe Littorio, in part.”

Prince of Wales finished her own glass of wine, and leaned back in her chair, looking around the garden before her eyes came back to Littorio. ”The one thing that you have said that makes sense is that I can’t keep going on not going one way or the other. I am going to have these feelings whether restrained by protocol or not, so I must, at least, make a decision.”

Littorio leaned forward with a smile. “And that decision is…?”

Prince of Wales finally smiled. “That decision is… Between I and the commander. But what I will do is what I have always meant to do.”

--------------

The commander seemed surprised at the sudden invitation to practice fencing, but he shrugged and went on his way once he had finished work.

Once he arrived, she was there with a pair of fencing swords in hand. “Thank you for coming on such short notice, Commander.”

He took the time to put on a padded vest and helmet- He knew that Prince of Wales didn’t need either of those. “It was a surprise, but I spend way too much of my job sitting down- I’m glad for any excuse to get out of the chair and move around, especially if one of you is involved. Don’t think I’m going to be much of an opponent for you.”

“It’s not about the competition, commander.” She said, and tossed him a sword, which he caught with ease. “There are other things at play, after all. Ready?”

“Ready!”

She readied herself, and let the commander come forth. She needed to let herself get worked up a bit, get comfortable doing something with him that did not involve him being the commander and her being the soldier. She fended off his swings and lunges, only barely giving ground, but staying on the defensive nonetheless.

It was a quiet match, not at all like the one involving the court fool that was Littorio. Calling her that in her mind was not an insult- After all the fool was someone who was, in some ways, free to speak their mind. She would occasionally lay out a strike of her own to get the commander to back off if she felt she was being pressed too hard- She would make sure to make him use his feet more if she felt that was lacking.

She took a few breaths, letting the sound of the room be filled only with sword against sword and the occasional grunt as one or both had to find a new position for themselves.

Prince of Wales became sure that this was the right way to do what it was she meant to do- Have it be done in some place and time that was less tense than anything involving duty.

That is why she let it go on for so long- She wanted to hold on to that atmosphere, and would wait until the commander had tired himself out in practice. It would take some time- While not a swordsman, he was a navy man- But it was time for her to make her move.

Once he had fatigued himself she found whatever gap she needed to score her points, first one, and then the other, and then, at last, a third.

The commander sat down and removed his vest and helmet to cool off, but soon found he was joined by Prince of Wales, the royal battleship right beside him. “Commander.”

“Yes?” He said. “…It seems like there’s something on your mind that isn’t the match.”

“Yes, there is.” She couldn’t stop herself from scooting closer, almost up against him. “There is something I wanted to say about us before, but it was difficult to be in the right time or the right mood to do it, since you are my commander and I am your officer.”

“I’ve always said that you can tell me anything that’s on your mind.” He replied. “I want to hear what you have to say.”

“Well…” She began. “Since you have been here, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with myself. Indeed, what I can do now that I am this self… And it’s not enough to simply avoid making old mistakes, but also stop myself from making new ones.”

The commander put his hands in his lap, but his eyes remained on Prince of Wales. “What mistake did you not want to make?”

“I want to be more than just a ship this time around.” She sat straight up. “The last thing I want is for this to be a repeat of the old days, and I don’t want to let any chance I have to make things better for others and myself. So…”

“So, you’ve started thinking about more than just sailing, huh?” The commander leaned back. “…I guess I’m not just your commander.  I think that I’m in charge of more than just your deployments.” He began to stretch. “I don’t know how much I can do to help you live, but I’ll do everything I can.”

“I know that you’ll do everything you can.” Prince of Wales put her hands on her thighs. “…That’s why things could never be as bad now as they were even in the darkest times of the old days. And that’s why…” She put herself in a place where she had to finish that thought. Even though it might be beyond propriety, it shouldn’t be hidden forever. “I want more, and I want to be more to you, because, whether by purpose or accident, you have become so much to me.”

That caught the commander’s attention, and he stopped mid-stretch. “…I’ve always wanted to do right by you and the other girls, no matter what that meant. Too many of you have suffered because of lies, and I couldn’t be that person.”

“I know…” She steadied herself. “So, I must tell you that you’re the person that my heart has accepted. This is the truth. What you do with that truth is up to you, but I refuse to keep quiet about it any longer, no matter what comes of it.”

There was silence in the room for some time after.

However, she soon became aware that the commander felt that words were, at least, initially inadequate, because his first response was to loop an arm around her waist. “…I want to let you know I’m not doing this out of pity for your past... But if this is how you feel, it just feels wrong to not give it a try.”

Prince of Wales blushed, and blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He said. “I can’t promise I’ll be as great of a person as you think I am once you really get to know me, but I’d be happy to take that chance. No telling if I’ll get another, right?” He followed that up with a smile. “That sounds good to you?”

“More than good, commander, I…” She stopped. There was nothing more to say or explain, he had already said yes.

So, she simply leaned on him as he held her- Sometimes saying nothing more is what spoke volumes.

---------------

Howe giggled. “Well, Prince of Wales seems like she’s in a good mood, so I guess things worked out in the end. She was even talking about what other talents she could show the commander, like playing the saxophone. I can’t for the life of me guess how she picked that up without any of the rest of us noticing.”

Vittorio Veneto smiled as she sat across the tea table from Howe. “I guess it worked out after all- I was worried that my sister might have been a nuisance to yours. I know that her ways have rubbed a few of you the wrong way, but it seems things worked themselves out after all. Naturally, my sister has been quite vocally pleased with the outcome, but I think it’s okay for her to strut about for now.”

“Mmm…” Howe went as she had a sip from her tea. “…That is what happened, but, just between the two of us, do you think they have a chance?”

“The commander and Prince of Wales?” Vittorio Veneto paused to think. “At least as much of a chance as anyone else, perhaps moreso. They both strive to be honest people, so I think they will figure it out very quickly, one way or another. But it also means they may be more likely to mend things, if it comes to that.”

“That sounds fair enough.” Howe said, and pushed a plate of cookies towards the Sardegnan flagship. “More?”

“Ah, I’ve taken so many already, I shouldn’t…” She paused, and took another anyway.

Howe giggled. “So, you can resist everything except temptation?”

“I only said that I shouldn’t, not that I wouldn’t.” Vittorio chased down the cookie with some tea. “But yes, those are my thoughts on it. And it doesn’t sound like you disapprove either.”

“Ah…” Howe shifted in her seat. “Walesy has always been a bit gloomy about the past, and anything that helps her get better and makes her happy is something I’m all for, even if a certain maritime peacock is who helped make it happen.”

Vittori Veneto leaned back in her chair. “I think that Littorio believes everyone deserves love, but especially Littorio.”

Howe giggled. “But as you say, it worked out, right? So, I think the two of us should leave it at that.” She paused. “…Anyway, you’re free to take as many cookies home with you as you like, if you don’t want them now.”

Vittorio Veneto blushed a little. “Ah, I shouldn’t.”

Howe put on a mischievous smile. “But you didn’t say you won’t.”

“Ah…” Was the Eternal flagship’s only response.

Howe giggled. She also didn’t know how things might work out between her sister and the commander in the end, but on a sunny afternoon like this one, it was easy to be hopeful. She trusted her sister, and she trusted the commander with said sister.

Walesy would be fine.

Which meant she could make her own fun.