troubadamsel | IC INBOX

... The most tragic day of my life.

[She sighs. It's a sad thing to share, all jokes and weirdness aside.]

... In my realm, Ylisse, we have a royal family. Lissa, the youngest, Chrom, her older brother, and the eldest sibling, Emmeryn. The burden of rule was on her shoulders, as their parents died young. But... she was a wise, beautiful, noble leader. She guided us through difficult times, always with dignity.

... Her father, the king... he led a slaughter to our neighboring land of Plegia, an awful "cleansing". So when he died and his daughter took the throne, the blame shifted onto her, even though she never ordered any such act. Once, when she was out among the people, relatives of those who lives had been lost to her father struck her with a rock... Yet even still, she smiled and forgave them.

... Then came the mad king, Gangrel. He rose to power in Plegia, and sought a most terrible revenge... hurting innocent people in our land of Ylisse. Emmeryn left our protection to talk with him and mend the wounds between our lands. But instead, he took her hostage, and prepared to execute her publicly. We... the Shepherds tried to rescue her, but we were out-numbered. Gangrel said the only way he'd let our ruler go is if we handed over the Fire Emblem... an ancient relic of Ylisse said to hold unthinkable power. Handing it over would be the same as surrendering our kingdom.

Being forced to choose one over the other... it was... She begged us not to hand it over, but Chrom, Lissa, they would have done anything... to see her safe...

[Her voice begins to break. Although this has now happened years ago, it still brings pain to remember.]

[...Somehow she'd been expecting a story like Keigo's where the pain is at mundane levels but instead she's left without anything to say.

Ylisse was the place Maribelle loved so much.

And to think she would have to choose between that and the ruler she had so obviously respected. Her voice is soft this time:]

...You don't have to...keep talking about it, if you don't want to.

[Maribelle is quiet for a moment, save for some obvious sniffling, but the curtain shifts as she wipes away her tears.]

No... No, we must make sure the quest is fulfilled. We can't take any chances.

[A deep, deep breath.]

... Looking back... I know that many of us, myself included, couldn't have done anything to stop what happened. Yet for the longest time, each of us felt so... helpless. Useless.

... Lady Emmeryn... was to be executed atop a cliff. But... as she heard Gangrel's demands, and knew the conflict in Chrom's heart... she made the choice for us all.

... She... she walked off the cliff.

[She took her own life, in other words.]

[Believing that everything would work out, that no matter what there would be a way, is hard.

And it's just as hard to make a decision like taking your own life to save those of countless others.]

....I'm sorry. [For Lady Emmeryn, for Maribelle having to tell this story when it clearly was still so very painful for her.]

[Maribelle needs another moment to compose and clean her face.]

... Not that I think you would, but I'd prefer you not to share this.

I won't. I promise.

[Though she doesn't pry or push at this moment, giving Maribelle all the time she needs.]

....you okay?

... I suppose that depends on how you define okay.

I... No one's really... discussed this for some time. It was a few years ago, but... some wounds take longer to heal.

That's...true.

[Especially since it sounds like no one had been prepared for it to happen in the first place.]

Do you...have any memories of her before that? Happy ones.

[A pause, but there's a shadow of her nodding.]

I'm closer to the royal family than others... Lissa is my best friend. So I was allowed in the castle on many occasions... Lady Emmeryn always had a warm smile, and a warmer cup of tea ready for me.

That sounds like it must have been nice. [And a happy memory was important to have, she thinks. It’s important to remember people not just for their sacrifices, but for their day-to-day lives, for the little things they did that brought happiness to others like a smile or a cup of tea.]

Lissa is... her sister?

Yes, her younger sister... Lissa is the youngest out of the siblings. She... almost collapsed when Emmeryn...

[You know.]

I thought she might never smile again. But... she's so strong. Even with tears streaming down her face, she helped our fight, healed our wounded, and refused to give up...

...She sounds amazing. [Because something like that must be hard on everyone, not to mention family. And there is Lady Emmeryn’s legacy, she thinks: people who power through even tremendous loss, doing the best for the country they all loved, refusing to give up.]

...You know, I don’t really... know her other than what you’ve told me, but... I think she would have been proud of all of you.

... You're trying to make me cry again, aren't you?

[And you're succeeding, dammit.]

...No.

[She’d been hoping it would help, actually.]

But...you know it’s fine to cry, right? I mean, what better place than in your own room with the curtains drawn?

... Uh.

Yes, th-that's why I had them drawn.

[liar, liar, liar]

[She doesn’t sound very sure which would indicate a lie. Still, Shiho isn’t going to pry on this matter. Not to someone already crying.]

...Well, then you’re all set, right? It’s fine to feel sad about something just like it’s fine to talk it out with someone else if you need it.

... I do appreciate that. If I had to tell someone about this... I'm glad it was you.

There are lots of nice people here though. [A lot of them nicer than her even. Which is to say don't say things like this, Maribelle, she'll get embarrassed.]

Would it kill you to take a compliment?

[honestly, she was trying to be nice, and she meant it too! huffhuff.]

[the only compliments she'll take with the minimal amount of fuss are the ones about her being cute and strong.]

Of course not? It's just...I.... didn't really even do anything besides listen.

I guess.

And have you noticed no one else made that offer?

...No one?

[Because she hadn't checked after. No one, huh...]

Well... that doesn't mean they don't care. Or that they wouldn't have been good listeners, too.

Ifs, buts, whatever. You're here, and that's what counts. I won't have you dismissing yourself for any reason.

[And now she's embarrassed, looking away and kind of glad Maribelle decided to hide behind a curtain in the first place.]

Fine.

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