#corrhajat

Ryoma knew how much she suffered to be accepted -- more than once did she stop him from sending soldiers to subdue the people who would dare to lift a hand against her. More than once she would come back to their bed exhausted after an entire day of doing her best; more than once she cried herself to sleep, promising that she would be better on the following day.

It took time, but Elise became the most popular Queen Hoshido had ever have, being liked from commoners to nobles. Even more so after her pregnancy was announced.

In the subsequent days, the castle was flooded with presents and safe pregnancy charms from all over the kingdom.

Ryoma and Elise had been treading the path to peace from the day they accepted their feelings, and now, with their heir on the way, they could finally consolidate that peace.

A child born from a nohrian princess and a hoshidan King. If there were still people who didn't believe that nohrians and hoshidans could get along even after Elise's rise in popularity, certainly they started believing it the day Crown Prince Shiro was born.

The festival that ensued the prince's birth lasted for days as the people clamored for a glimpse of their new Prince, Elise making sure to invite everyone from her family to be with her during such special moment of her life.

Corrin and her wife, Rhajat, made sure to send their regards from all the people of Valla. "He's so big! Are you sure he came out of you, Elise?!" Corrin gasped, looking at the healthy baby.

Shiro was an active little guy -- he was always kicking his feet and bubbling his mouth, even though he could barely open his eyes yet. From her bed, still exhausted even after three days of the birthing, Elise puffed her chest with pride. "Of course he did! Look at his blonde hair! Mine! Heehee!"

Rhajat simply stared at the baby, looking from him to her deeprealm companions. Ignatius, Dwyer, Soleil and Mitama all shared her same expression, pointing at each other and then to the baby. If they had remained in the real world, THAT would've been their present -- a babe barely able to hold their heads up. Somehow, that felt a little weird.

At another corner of the room, enamored by the baby's puffy cheeks, Azura rest her head on Felicia's shoulder. Ever so softly did she place her index in front of the baby's face, who gripped at it with his little hands and squeezed it with everything he had.

"Oh..." Azura sighed lovingly, her heart warm.

Watching the scene, Felicia widened her eyes, gripping at Azura's waist as her heart thumped inside her chest. Watching that little baby gurgle and coo at her wife stirred something in her heart. Her mouth suddenly dried with nervousness, her entire being clamoring for her and her wife to advance yet another step in their relationship.

Unbeknownst to the maid, her princess shared the same thoughts. Being enveloped by her clumsy wife's arms as she interacted with such a little baby made a love she never thought that lived inside of her blossom.

She wanted to share that love with a child.

With her and Felicia's child.

Azura felt such a strong urge her breathing felt uneven, though Felicia didn't notice for she, too, was having her own moment of making their family grow.

Without any warning, baby Shiro started crying, squeezing Azura's finger before letting go altogether, wailing uncomfortably.

"Oh, oh no!" Elise gasped from the bed, extending both hands to his crib. "Bring him to me! I bet he's hungry, this little starving fella. He's gonna get so fat from all the feeding he does, you know?"

Azura's heart skipped a beat as she lowered herself to hold the crying baby, softly shushing him once he was in her arms. Watching the scene, Felicia felt her eyes burn with emotion.

What a great mother her wife would be to their child! Oh, she wanted to witness it, she needed to witness it! Oh, sweet, loving Azura...

"Thanks, Big Sister! Ryoma won't let me get up until I'm all better, boo." Elise pouted as she adjusted the baby on her bosom, giving her breast to him. Immediately did Shiro stop crying as he relished on his meal. "Haha, see? I'm getting the hang of this already!"

Corrin took one hand to cover her face in emotion -- look at her little sister, all grown up already!

Rhajat held her wife's hand, an embarrassed flush running across her face.

Felicia also had her hands over her mouth, but not for feeling a sibling love, no -- for simply looking at how much love there was in Azura's gaze as the princess softly watched the baby being fed.

As if she couldn't love that woman more, each day did she find another trait in Azura to adore. Ah, what a wonderful mother she would be!

For some reason, princess and maid walked silently to their place later that night. Being beside each other felt as natural as air since their marriage a few years ago, so they actually didn't mind the silence, their heads unknowingly thinking the same thoughts.

Once they reached the lake, however, they felt a burst of emotion inside their chests. The bright moon reflected in the lake; the countless stars illuminating their steps; the cold yet familiar breeze which lifted hair and skirt alike... It was all so overwhelming they squeezed each other's hands.

Felicia opened her mouth to speak, not finding her voice the first time. Gulping, she managed to let it out as they sat on the grass. "B-baby Shiro sure was cute, w-wasn't him?" She looked down, wondering how she could bring the subject up with her wife.

"Yes..." Azura replied absent-mindedly, her heart fluttering once again with the memory of that bundle of warmth in her arms.

If she felt such deep love for a baby that wasn't related to her in the slightest, she could only wonder how groundbreakingly happy she would be once she held hers and Felicia's baby.

She couldn't help it.

Her feelings were about to overflow.

A soul is inside me, awaiting a life. ♪ Eyes yet to open with wonder and delight.  ♫ A mouth yet to laugh, expressions untold.  ♪ To love and be loved, a hand yet to hold.  ♫ The journey of life, whatever will be.  ♪ Sleep now my baby, and wait for me.  ♫

Azura's feelings transformed into a heartfelt song, her cheeks flushing in an adorable pink after she was done. "How unlike me..." she whispered, grasping onto Felicia's hand as she clutched her beloved pendant with the other. "I know we shouldn't rush into decisions, however..."

"Oh, Azura! I feel the same!" Felicia wrapped her arms around her wife, squeezing her so hard the princess could barely breathe. "H-honestly I never really thought about children, even while we were at war." She confessed, pulling away as she looked down to their legs. "I saw our comrades have children and put them in deeprealms, but other than anxiety, I never really felt much."

The princess nodded, once again placing her hand over her wife's, urging her to continue. Felicia pressed on. "M-my head was filled with only y-you..." She did the adorable pout she always did whenever she felt embarrassed, making Azura's heart wrung with love. "But, after the war, after our marriage, after we settled down... and now after seeing how happy and fulfilled Lady Elise looked with her baby, I couldn't help but- but see you in her."

"Will you not look at me, dear Felicia?" Azura raised her wife's chin, making their eyes meet. Both of them had rosy cheeks and expectant gazes.

"I... couldn't help but wanting so, so much to see you holding o-our baby. To love that baby, to leave a seed of our l-love for all the world to see, not only showing it through these rings we always wear." Felicia struggled to keep eye contact, utterly embarrassed as Azura's piercing golden eyes softly looked at her.

Silently did the princess scoot over to her wife, touching their foreheads. "Sweet Felicia, how is it that our thoughts are mingled so? I felt the same while I held baby Shiro in my arms...! That little bundle of warmth, fruit of their love, only made me long to have our own love blossom the same way."

The maid sniffled, not noticing how the tears streamed down her face. "Oh, Azura! W-will you be the mother of my children? There's no one else in this world that I would ever think of saying this to. Only... only you’re the one for me."

Azura giggled, cupping her wife's cheeks as she stole a kiss. "Sweet Felicia, I thought you would never ask! Of course I want to -- to see our family grow is my only desire."

Felicia also tenderly held Azura's cheeks, closing her eyes to lose herself in their kiss. More tears overflowed through her face into her wife's hands, their hearts one.

"We mustn't be hasty, however," Azura huffed as they parted, caressing one another's hair. "Let us think everything through with time; I don't want our baby to arrive while we are unprepared."

"Of course, of course, of course..." Felicia agreed, saying each word while smooching her wife all over, trailing down her mouth to Azura's ear and neck.

"Heehee, F-Felicia, you are tickling me" Azura giggled, losing her balance and falling on her back, Felicia laughing by her bosom.

"I can't help it! I'm so happy! Oh, Azura, I can't wait to hold our baby in my arms...!" She sniffled, covering her wife in kisses.

During the following week, they started to plan everything: From where they would do the Conception Ritual to choosing an appropriate Deeprealm to spend the pregnancy in.

In light of recent events -- the assassination attempt, Azura's disposal of her life-long pendant as well as Felicia's lack of free time due to her work as maid -- Azura was the one who suggested they spent most of the pregnancy away, just the two of them.

With the added bonus of choosing a DeepRealm in which time flowed just as fast as the one Rhajat and the others grew up in. That way, Felicia could take an extended leave from serving Corrin, enter the portal with her wife and spend the first eight months of the pregnancy in there with her, coddling and smothering her beloved. In the real world, only two days would have passed, so it was the optimal place for them to spend their time.

"Why don't you want to stay during the entire nine months?" Felicia asked, tilting her head to the side as they browsed a list of Deeprealms owned by both nohrian and hoshidan Crowns.

Already feeling as though a child grew inside of her, Azura caressed her stomach. "I want our baby to be born here, in the land of my Mother and Father. Valla wasn't my home during my childhood, however I want it to be for our child."

"Oh..." Feeling bad for asking, Felicia shyly squeezed her hand on her wife's as though to give her support.

Azura smiled, pulling her beloved to her chest, "oh, but dear Felicia, it is nothing like how you're thinking -- I do not feel bad nor do I long to meet them again. Of course, I'll always miss the time I lost, but now... Now I'm ready to give such happiness to our child instead. I want us to grow old together; to educate this little baby in the ways of our people; to see them grow to love both this land and the ones above. I never thought I could feel so much for someone I never met! And this is all because of you, darling Felicia." She caressed her adored puffy cheek, feeling it warming up under her touch. "Being with you made me discover so many parts of myself... I simply cannot wait to spend the rest of my life by your side."

Sniffling, Felicia lifted her tear-stained face to gaze upon her beloved. "H-how unfair! I'm not good with words like that, so I don't know what to say when you say stuff with such eloquence...! I- I just love you, Azura!" Felicia squeezed her eyes, intent on stealing a kiss.

Once their lips touched, she seemed surprised. "Oh, I did it! We didn't bump heads this time!!!" She clamored by her wife's lips, deepening the kiss to celebrate.

"Pfft, heeheehaha!" Azura couldn't contain her laugh, giggling inside her wife's mouth. "Oh, adored Felicia, never change!"

They needn't consult with any experts regarding the choice of the mage to perform their Conception Ritual. Azura immediately went for the Queen Consort, Rhajat, who had been by their side from the beginning, always being a silent helper of their relationship.

It was also the Queen Consort who had saved Felicia's life back at the setsubun festival. Azura knew she could entrust hers and Felicia's blood to Rhajat -- and that she would leave the room with their baby inside her.

The ritual was rather simple, though it could only be performed if the couple had an unbreakable bond strong enough to sustain the strain the magic would surely bring upon both of them. Rhajat would ask for Azura and Felicia to put samples of their blood inside the same vial (by using a ritual knife infused with healing magic; it would heal the cut immediately after a bit of blood was drawn) and would put a single drop of a special potion inside of it, transforming the mixture completely. Then, she would ask to Felicia, the one who would not conceive to drink the potion and kiss the one to be pregnant, Azura.

By sharing such bond, the potion would be augmented and transferred through their love for the princess' womb.

"We'll know if it succeeded if you faint." Rhajat said in a low voice, feeling rather nervous about it all. Such great responsibility! "The strain of housing a living being inside of you through magic will sap you of your stamina, so don't worry if your vision starts to darken."

"Awawa," Felicia's heart thumped so hard inside her chest SHE was the one feeling faint. "Are you sure it's okay? She's gonna pass out!"

"But I'm not worried," Azura placed one hand over Felicia's shoulder. "You'll catch me, won't you?"

The maid blushed furiously, opening and closing her mouth. "O-of course I will, geez!"

Azura woke up two days later, already inside their new quarters at the DeepRealm. Corrin and Rhajat both had made sure that Azura and Felicia would be well attended to during their time there, hiring a team of midwives and healers to stand by them inside their new, temporary home.

"Oh, thank goodness! You're awake, Azura!" Felicia jumped into her wife's arms. She had never left the bedside, always holding her beloved's hand much like Azura did so many months ago.

Feeling foreign, Azura trailed her fingers from her own chest to her stomach. "Am I...?"

The maid blushed, her eyes immediately shining with tears. "Uh-huh! It was a success, Azura! We'll be mothers!"

Azura's eyes welled up with tears, making her bring one hand to her face in emotion. "T-truly?" She looked down, an uncertain, nervous and yet overjoyed smile fighting to sprout over her lips. "My love, my Felicia! I cannot believe it!" She pulled her wife for a kiss, her heart so warm and full of love she felt as though it could burst at any time.

Breathing heavily, they pressed their foreheads together after their kiss, exchanging the same air. "This is the first day of the rest of our lives, my love. Our first day as mothers!" Azura felt tears itching down her face towards her ears, still lying down.

"Mothers..." Felicia bit her lower lip in anticipation. "I wonder if I'll be a good mother to our baby... I can barely hold a tray straight, let alone hold a fragile baby! I fear I might hurt them instead."

"Hush, my love. You are the most dedicated and hard-working person I know. I am absolutely sure you will be a great mother to our baby, always brightening their day with your light and smile."

Felicia lowered her head to rest in on Azura's chest, her princess' heartbeat soothing her anxieties away. "I'll... I'll do my best! Yes, I will. I'm sure I can do it if I try, right? I never gave up after all these years and managed to actually make drinkable tea! I'll learn from you!"

"My dear, it is also the first time I conceive." Azura ran her hands through her beloved's straight hair, loving how her ring matched its color. "We shall learn together."

"Together."

Felicia wasn't used to free time, let alone to be served by the people Corrin and Rhajat had hired for them, but for her wife, she would sit still and hold her hand throughout the day.

They would spend their time under the cold sunlight, or under the windy shadow of a tree. Since the DeepRealm was in hoshidan lands, the climate and atmosphere much resembled the White Kingdom's, a bit foreign for Felicia, but especially homely for Azura.

Sometimes they would take walks to the nearby village, to browse the library in search of baby names. They would spend afternoons simply lying down in each other's arms much like they did at their place, wanting nothing more than to take their baby there as soon as they could.

"If it's a girl, what do you think about Linnea?" Felicia suggested, lying on her wife's lap as she put the book down.

Azura blinked, flashing a pleasant smile. "What a wonderful name, Felicia. Was it in the book?" She also put down the one she read, leaning comfortably on the tree trunk.

"No... I read something that reminded me of this name. Back in my village, it's usually given to girls since it's the name of a small blue flower, just like the one in your pendant." The maid smile shyly, looking up to said pendant, her heart filling with pride.

Only twelve weeks had passed and Azura's bump could already be seen under her clothes, but she still managed to bend over to kiss her wife's forehead. "Let us settle for this name should we be blessed with a girl, then. A perfect name for a child born unto us both."

"And the Shigure you wanted from a while ago if it's a boy!" Felicia chuckled, covering her face in glee. She could barely wait!

"Indeed." Azura rested her head at the trunk, closing her eyes to enjoy the breeze. "Thank you for being with me this entire time, my love. I am unsure if I would enjoy it should you have remained back at our world."

Felicia suddenly sat up, "of course I am here! I wouldn't let you be by yourself with my baby inside you!" She puffed her chest. "C'mon, it's getting a bit chilly, right? I still can't tell what's cold and what isn't to other people, but it's windy, so it must be chilly."

The princess smile, giving her hand so her wife lifted her up. "You are a treasure, my Felicia. It is also time for the midwife to visit, so let us walk hand in hand back to our room."

Felicia smiled, never letting go of her beloved's hand.

Back at their room, the midwife didn't even need to check under Azura's dress to point at her and exclaim: "My! You're growing twins inside you!"

"T-twins?!?" Felicia screamed, jumping in surprise. Azura widened her eyes, bringing both hands to her stomach.

"I'm sure of it!" The midwife said. "Come, now, darling, lie down here so I can check."

Flabbergasted, Azura followed, her eyes never leaving her stomach.

"Yep, there's room for two here!" The midwife concluded, letting Azura compose herself.

"A-Azura..." Felicia stuttered, looking from the woman to her wife. "TWO babies?" She felt faint, but managed to run towards her beloved, who waited for her with open arms.

"As if I couldn't feel happier, the gods give me even more happiness!" The princess sniffled by her wife's shoulder. "How our family will grow, my love!"

"I can't wait to meet them, oh, I can't wait!" Felicia let go so she could embrace Azura's waist instead, placing her ear by the small bump. "Develop well, do you both hear? I can't wait to meet you two..." She said with a strangled voice, emotion taking over her body.

If they weren't anxious before, they started being anxious with each passing day as Azura's belly grew. Since there were two babies in there, the princess' slender body stretched itself to accommodate their children.

Instead of spending the day outside, they would now enjoy the breeze by the balcony; Azura sitting down in a couch overflowing with pillows as Felicia sat on the floor, snuggling her face in her wife's belly. The maid would tell stories about her life back in the village, and about her days serving Corrin. "I can't wait to tell you both this once I meet you," she would say, ever so slightly caressing Azura's stomach. The princess, on the other hand, would tell them about how she fell in love with their mother, trailing her fingers through her dress.

At the beginning, they thought that time was taking too long to pass, but soon eight months flew by them, and the time for them to return to Valla was nigh.

Everyone back home knew that two days in their world meant that eight months had elapsed in the DeepRealm Azura and Felicia were in, but they were still surprised to find Azura so... big! In only two days!

Corrin didn't know how to hug her cousin, so she instead quickly took her to the room they had prepared for the birthing. Azura and Felicia would spend the subsequent month in there; preparing and nestling for their children to be born.

Azura missed being only by her wife, not too keen on having so many visitors the weeks that followed their return. She felt cranky with each passing day, her body simply wanting to rest by her wife's arms like before.

Needless to say, after four weeks had passed, Azura absolutely refused to listen to anything the medics would say. "Please, let my wife in- I cannot go through this without her by my side."

"Milady, outsiders aren't allowed-"

"She's my-ugh- she's my wife...! Not an outsider. Bring her in at-aughh- at once! I will not have my children without my wife by my side."

Felicia also protested outside, wanting to break in to stay with her wife. It wasn't needed, however, for the midwives gave in and allowed the maid through, sighing in relief as Azura started to cooperate the moment she held hands with Felicia.

Anxious, but, most of all, expectant, Felicia didn't know where to look -- to the midwife who yelled at Azura to push, or to her suffering wife? She wanted to see her babies being born, but Azura's strong grip on her hand made her feel bad for not being able to share her pain.

A sudden cry washed away all bad feelings, however. "It's a boy!" The midwife exclaimed, giving the baby to her assistant to clean. "But it's not over yet, milady! Keep pushing so we can meet his brother or sister!"

"Let... let me see my... baby!" Azura contorted in pain, doing everything she could to let the words out. Soon the assistant brought the baby to Felicia, who nervously held him close to Azura's face. "Shi...gu...re..."

Another cry was heard not three minutes after, "how wonderful! It's a little girl, milady! You gave birth to an adorable pair of twins!"

Exhausted, Azura wasn't able to call for her baby Linnea. She immediately passed out, never letting go of her wife's hand.

Felicia sobbed alongside her children, holding one with each arm. "They're so smaaaall!" She cried as Corrin and Rhajat ran inside after the midwife gave permission. "L-L-Lady C-Corrin!" She sobbed, "look at how they cry! They're gonna sing j-just like A-Azura when they grow uuuuuppp! Waaaah!"

"I feel like we have three babies in here, haha!" Corrin laughed as tears fell from her eyes, so very touched. "Is Azura okay? She's sleeping..."

"She's tired, is all, milady." The midwife said from behind. "She should wake up before dusk."

"Shi-Shigureeee! Look at his blue hair! He's just like Azura!" Felicia still cried, rocking her body back and forth so as to calm their crying.

"What's the girls name?" Corrin wrapped her hands around her wife's arms, very much wanting to snatch the babies and cover them with kisses. "She has your hair color, Felicia!"

"She dooooes!" The maid sobbed, "L-Linnea is a true child of the Ice Tribeee! O-oh, I wonder if they'll inherit my powers? Or Azura's?" The crying stopped mid phrase as she started to think of the future, the babies immediately stopping as well.

"Oh, they're resonating with you..." Rhajat clutched her heart. "To think that I would be that age had I not grown up in a DeepRealm..."

"Don't worry," Corrin gripped at her wife's hand. "I'm so glad you didn't. I would've never loved someone as much as I love you and I'm sure I would have waited for you to grow up."

"... I wouldn't have minded to marry someone older, either," Rhajat teased, drying a single tear that escaped her eye. Corrin giggle in response, smooching her wife before turning back to her newest nephews.

"I wonder when we'll have our babies, hm?" She teased back, winking, making Rhajat's face redden in such a bright color, she snorted immediately.

"C-Corrin...!"

"Heehee!" The Queen trotted to Felicia, offering to hold one of them.

Azura indeed woke up a little before dusk fell, feeling something heavy over her chest -- soon she discovered that it was her slumbering Shigure. He slept so well Azura thought she was still dreaming.

Her babies were born safely. Her wife sat there beside her, making funny faces to their little girl.

The princess never once doubted that she was utterly happy after her marriage with Felicia -- but what she felt at that moment? The profound BLISS that invaded her whole body? That feeling was forever. That feeling alone made her entire life of suffering worth it. "Felicia?"

"Azura!!” Felicia gasped, jumping from the chair to the bed, securely holding their baby Linnea close to her chest. “How are you feeling? I’m gonna call the midwife-”

“No- No, Felicia, stay. I-” Azura choked a sob, weakly holding her wife’s hand. Felicia’s warmth on hers. Shigure’s calm breathing by her neck. Little Linnea’s adorable coos by her wife’s chest. “I- I love you so much, Felicia, oh, my dear Felicia!” She sobbed, tears overflowing through her face towards her ears. “I- I cannot believe it yet- It all feels like a dream…!”

Immediately did the maid’s eyes well up in sympathy with her wife. She had though she would have calmed down by then, after five hours of being in her babies’ presence. But no. Now, her feeling thumped inside her chest with more ferocity than ever: her wife was awake!

They could share that moment together!

“Thank you so much for giving me these wonderful children, my love!” Azura cried, hiding her face with one hand, the other one protectively over Shigure’s small, warm back. “Oh, Felicia…!”

“W-wahhh! Azura!” Felicia bent down to her wife, bonking their foreheads while trying to simply rest them on one another. “Owowow…! Waaah!” Still she cried, happy, embarrassed and more than overjoyed to be able to once again share a bonk with her beloved.

Azura choked a laugh under her sobs, her rattling chest startling Shigure, who started crying.

As though on a cue, Linnea, too, started to wail, their small bodies producing such a loud cry that made their mothers laugh instead. “I-I’m sorry I bonked you againnn!” Felicia apologized, shedding tears but with a warm smile plastered across her face. She bounced little Linnea up and down.

“What a wonderful life I’m about to have! With two-nay, three wonderful children!” Azura giggled, hiccuping a sob as she patted Shigure’s back.

“H-hey! I’m the one who put them in you!” Felicia pouted her cheeks, “well, not ME exactly since it was Lady Rhajat’s spell, but- you get it!” Flustered, the maid stumbled on her words, though Azura couldn’t help but smile even more -- Linnea had the same hair color as Felicia, making the princess truly feel like their family was complete.

First, they had shared their nights, then, their rings, and now… They’ll share their lives, alongside their wonderful (and very loud) babies. Still sniffling, both wives couldn’t take their eyes away from each other as they each calmed down a baby, though as soon as the mothers stopped sobbing, so did the children.

Babies born from Conception Rituals shared a very deep bond with their parents, and were much more sensitive to their mood and its swings. However, Felicia and Azura still had their entire lives ahead to discover such detail that would surely deepen their love even more.

Once the twins settled down, Felicia sat back on the bed, caressing her wife’s hair with one hand. Azura placed one hand over her wife’s leg, simply enjoying the warmth close to her body. She closed her eyes yet again, humming the same song she had sung nine months ago. “Now I’m holding these hands,” she whispered softly, the exhaustion still taking grasp of her body, “and I’ll never let go.”

A few weeks after the birthing, the babies were finally able to hold their heads up, meaning that they could be taken outside. Eagerly did their mothers wait for that moment, so they could take the babies to a very special place.

The place where it all began, the place that was so very important to them. The place that would turn into a family spot for them to spend their time in, for them to grow up in, for them to be happy in.

"Shigure, Linnea, I know you won't remember this introduction, but welcome to our most important place." Azura whispered, looking from the little girl she held to the little boy her wife did. "You will be familiar with it in no time."

"Just like we did," Felicia's chin trembled, the torrent of memories they shared over those blades of grass overwhelming her. "I love you so much, my dear Azura." She blurted out, entranced by her wife's beauty under the sunlight (they didn't want the babies to catch a chill so they decided to take them there during the day instead).

"I love you too, my sweet, sweet Felicia." Azura placed a lock of hair behind her wife's ear, closing in for a kiss.

Their family had grown, and so did their love.

Ah, they couldn't wait to spend their lives together!

Azura would laugh, her melodious voice rumbling through Felicia's ears. "I've been often told that lately my singing has nothing to do with how I sang in the past -- that now it looks like I truly understand what it is to make someone happy and that it shows on my voice. See, sweet Felicia? It's you." She would lift Felicia's chin and finish the conversation with a kiss, not wanting to hear any more protests regarding the depth of her love.

Every single time, Felicia would lose her grip on Azura's dress, the princess' kiss always taking her mind places instead.

Feeling giddy and uncharacteristically peppy, Azura had decided to paint an extremely detailed and bright portrait of her teacher Kagero so she could present it to her during the upcoming Hoshidan festival. Day and night the princess would work on the painting, all the while keeping it a secret from Kagero so it would be a surprise.

As a dutiful wife, Felicia made sure to stay with Azura whenever her work schedule allowed -- from making tea to giving massages or wake-up chills; anything her wife would need. More than once she almost tripped over the painting or spilled ink over it, but Azura had always been there to catch it before it ruined the portrait.

"Please be more mindful about it, Felicia... I truly want this piece to be finished." She said one evening, after Felicia tripped over her heels as she was getting more paint.

Dreading ruining something her wife worked so hard on, Felicia gulped, straightening her back. "O-of course! I won't do anything to it, you can count on me!" She puffed her chest, however uncertainly.

Perhaps she had gotten used to her wife smothering her whenever she made a blunder. Hearing Azura's serious tone as she gripped at Felicia's hand made the maid's heart grow cold. It was something very important to her... Meaning that Felicia wouldn't get close to it!

Simple!

That way, she wouldn't have any means of ruining it.

Having decided that, Felicia steered clear from the general area Azura used to paint -- inside a secluded study at the northeastern tower of Castle Gyges. She would bring tea and leave it by the table instead of pouring it by her wife as she painted.

She would call Azura from the door instead of coming close to hold her hand. She would wave her wife goodbye instead of asking for a kiss once her break time was over and she had to return to work.

Anything so she wouldn't feel that dread of ruining something so precious to her beloved.

The day before setsubun, the hoshidan Spring Festival, Azura was adding the final touches to the painting. Engrossed in her work, she didn't realize it was way into the afternoon once she finally finished. "Oh, my. It's almost time for afternoon tea! Felicia must be on her way." She stretched, looking at her complete work.

A prideful smile slightly grew on the corners of her lips as she got up. "Perhaps I should go to her today instead! Heehee, I wonder if she'll be surprised." She took one step away, then turned the painting a bit more to the left to enjoy the sunlight that beamed form the nearby window. "Alright, there you go, Teacher. Dry well now."

The princess left the room, heading to the nearby pantry, knowing her wife would be there, brewing tea. This time, however, she went through a shortcut in between corridors instead of using the main halls, such was the desire she felt to hug Felicia and tell her she was finally done.

She knocked on the door before opening. "Felicia? Are you there- oh, good afternoon, Jakob. Isn't Felicia here with you?"

The butler was preparing his Queens' afternoon tea, the cart full of pastries and sweet-smelling beverages. "Why, I'm surprised you didn't run into her on your way here, Lady Azura. She left just now to bring you tea-" His eyes trailed off to the table, where they usually placed the condiments and seasonings. "That BLOCKHEAD! She took the salt again!" He ran past Azura, intent on giving the maid yet another scolding.

"O-oh, Jakob! Wait!" Azura giggled, trotting behind the butler.

At the 'painting room' (as she and her wife called it), Felicia was just about to place the tray over the table when a draft lifted both her hair and the curtains. "Oh, Azura must've be on break." She pondered aloud, mesmerized by the sunlit painting. "Oh, wow... She really outdid herself this time..."

As though hypnotized by it, Felicia didn't realize she was midway to pouring a cup when her feet took her closer to the portrait, her hand still holding the teapot. "It's really pretty, like I'm seeing Kagero herself right in front of me." She mused, inadvertently reaching out to it.

"FELICIA!" Jakob banged the door open, fuming. "How many times must I say-"

"K-KYAA! AWAWA! Oh no, the tea!" Startled, the maid threw everything she held upward, placing one hand over her heart. The teapot was flinged straight onto the painting, knocking it down as the tea gurgled out all over it. "O-oh no! The p-painting is...!"

Azura was still smiling once she got inside the room, hearing Jakob mumble something about having to train Felicia all over again -- but it died as soon as her wife screamed and flinged the pot.

Her heart grew cold as she saw the colors melt and merge under the hot beverage, all voices sounding distant by her ears as she took step after step towards it.

She passed by her apologizing wife, her eyes never leaving the product of weeks of hard work simply lying there... ruined.

Azura clenched her hands as her heart pounded by her ears, crouching down to touch it. When she did, the hot water slightly burned the tip of her fingers; what she was most worried about was how her hand was now smeared in paint -- everything was melting right off.

As she looked down, her hair fell over it as well, staining some locks with the disgusting mix of blue, yellow, green and brown. Everything was a mess.

"I-I'm sosososo sorry, Azura! P-please let me help you fix it! I'm sure that if we work together, we can do it by tomorrow-" Felicia touched her wife's shoulder, worried that the pale blue hair was getting dirty.

"Don't... don't touch me." Azura said in a low voice, making Felicia's heart freeze.

Never once in her whole life as a person from the Ice Tribe did Felicia feel something so cold as Azura's words at that moment. The shock was so, that she retracted her hand immediately, her shoulders trembling.

"A-Azura..." Felicia watched as her wife lifted the portrait once again, the paint dripping all down, the brown of Kagero's hair staining all the rest.

The princess' chin trembled with rage, her mind a dizzying mess. "Please I... want to be alone. Leave me." For the first time since they met; since they had made their feelings clear... since they married, Azura turned her eyes away from Felicia.

The maid felt hers burn with tears as she clutched both hands over her heart. "I-I'm... I'm so very sorry, Azura. P-please don't tell me to leave, I'll do anything to help...!"

"You'll help me by leaving...!" The princess said bluntly, raising her voice as though she was ordering Felicia, sitting once again by her bench. "I'm going to try and fix this, but I need to be alone. Please... Jakob." Azura looked over to the butler who stood there by the door with a guilty look on his face.

"Understood, my lady." He bowed and walked over to Felicia, taking her by the arm.

Unresponsive, Felicia felt tears streaming down her face. They clouded her sight as she was led away from her wife; Azura's slightly hunched over posture etched in the maid's heart.

She had done that to her. She had made Azura regret to have ever chosen her to be her wife.

Nothing Jakob or Rhajat said would cheer her up after they went back to the pantry as Corrin ran back to talk to Azura. Felicia felt numb to any words, silently leaving the room to go back to her quarters.

The next day, she would be a bodyguard of sorts -- she would patrol the premises of the temple alongside Kaze, Jakob and the hoshidan ninjas so as to keep everyone safe.

The festival itself was in welcome of the upcoming spring and it contained a very special ritual: The heads of the houses would dress-up as demons as their families would throw fortune beans at them, expelling all the evil as the beans would bring luck instead. There would be many masked men dancing at the main temple’s yard as King Ryoma and Queen Elise would throw the fortune beans at them from the second floor of the goju-no-to, alongside both royal families.

It would also be the very first festival that Hoshido's new Queen would participate -- she had spent the first few months of her rule studying her new home's customs, choosing not to appear publicly until she could properly honor her husband's and people's beliefs.

Due to the many years of war against Nohr, despite not wanting to believe that there would still be extremists inside their borders, Ryoma and Corrin had decided that it would be for the best that they tightened security, making all of them look like peasants attending the festival so as not to rise suspicion.

Felicia would wear a short working kimono and style her hair in a hoshidan manner so as to blend in with the populace.

At least she was good at killing.

She walked back to hers and Azura's quarters quite late at night, wanting, and at the same time not, to meet her wife there. Or ex-wife. What would Azura tell her next? That she was going to break anything she would touch? That their relationship couldn't go on? Felicia's always known that Azura was too good for her, and that she was wasted on someone like herself.

However, once she opened the door, she found their room empty. Cold, even to Felicia's standards.

The maid's lips trembled. "Maybe it's for the best," she sniffled as she lied down without bothering to change. Azura's smell filled her nose, making her tears flow faster. "I-I hope she at least lets me look at her from time to time..." She held the ring Azura had given her close to her chest, its pale blue gem so full of memories, and now of sorrow.

Felicia could barely sleep a wink, too worried about what to say should Azura come back, but that wasn't needed. Azura never returned to their quarters that night.

Expressionless, Felicia got ready for her duty, changing out of her uniform to the kimono she and Azura had picked so many weeks previous. She pressed her lips into a thin line so as not to burst into tears again, equipping her daggers under her skirt before leaving.

At least she was good at killing.

At the painting room, Azura tried all she could to fix her ruined portrait, to no avail. At one point, she gave up on it and started another one, barely finishing the sketch once the first sunlight broke by her window.

"Hah... this is pointless." She groaned, placing the pencil back at the table, massing the bridge between her eyes. An uncertain knock sounded by the door, Corrin's head popping in right after.

"Azura? Are you feeling better? I'm here to pick you up."

"Corrin... I thought I told you I'm not going anymore."

The Queen trotted inside, her delightful uchikake kimono flowing behind her. "C'mon, it's gonna be fun! I have the perfect kimono for you to wear, too! Besides, Felicia probably cried herself to sleep, she was feeling so bad yesterday. You girls gotta make up! She said you hated her..."

"That silly girl." Azura sighed. "Of course I don't hate her; I worked hard on that painting, so I may have said something I didn't truly mean. Perhaps I should apologize later."

Corrin smiled, taking her friend's hands. "C'mon, you can apologize at the festival! She's gonna be there doing security anyway."

"Corrin-"

"And I won't take no for an answer! I know how it is to make your wife mad, so I kinda relate to Felicia a bit, hahah..." She scratched her head. "I knocked over one of Rhajat's potions once, and she had been working on it for half a year. Boy, was she livid."

Azura laughed, surprised that she was able to do so after having such a terrible night. "I can imagine." She looked down to the kimono Corrin had brought. "Very well, you've convinced me. Let us go to that festival so I can take my clumsy wife into my arms."

"Well said!" The Queen winked.

Once Felicia was in soldier mode, no mood swings could steer her away from her duty. She was focused and her eyes were sharp; not even the thundering beat of the taikos disrupted her concentration. She had been assigned to the westernmost exit of the temple, where the concentration of masked men would come through.

She scrutinized every mask and every behavior of the men wearing them, the happy dance they twirled to doing nothing to move her heart.

At the corner of her mind she was happy for being able to forget about their fight for a bit, though dread was always holding her down, clutching at her heart.

It was then that she found one single man straying away from the procession into the inner yard. Raising her eyebrow, she followed him from an alley, jumping onto the material shed to get a better look: He was heading straight to the temple at a tremendous speed.

Reflexively, she threw one of her daggers at him, which landed a bit ahead as he, too, used his reflexes to dodge. "Hey! You there!" She called, running towards him. "What're you doing, getting away from the procession?"

The man looked up to the temple's balcony, seeing the entire royal family as well as that little nohrian intruder they called Queen. He lifted his mask and spat on the ground. "I'm going to cleanse the demons out of Hoshido!" He yelled back as he ran once again to the temple.

Felicia glanced to all sides, looking for someone to back her up as she ran. Finding no one, she looked at the balcony, feeling her heart grow cold -- Azura was sitting right there alongside Corrin and Ryoma, looking so wonderfully lovely the sight would take Felicia's breath away weren't she dreadfully worried. "Azura...!" She gasped, taking two daggers out and filling them with ice. "Stop right there!" She threw them at her target, freezing part of his leg where one grazed.

"Don't stop me, nohrian dog! I'll cleanse Hoshido of your kind!" He drew out his weapon, turning to her.

As per her training at the Ice Tribe, Felicia used her powers to create a sort of chilly barrier around her -- it would slow down anything that crossed it, giving her a very slight chance of dodging it. She got into her battle stance and jumped towards the man, intent on capturing him so they could question him later.

The battle was hard fought -- she managed to graze her chilly weapons on his skin, though capturing him without wounding him was proving to be more difficult than she had previously thought. The man finally tired of wearing the mask and tossed it aside, revealing himself to be a trained ninja from Mukushu.

They had plans to ally themselves with Nohr to take Hoshido down, but they would only keep that alliance until they had full hold of the hoshidan territory -- they, too, couldn't stand to be in the same place as any kind of nohrian.

Felicia could feel the hatred oozing out of his pores -- he WAS going to kill her should she let down her guard. She glanced up at her wife for a split of second, taking her beauty in.

At least she would die after seeing something wonderful. She leaped once again towards the man, though he threw one of his daggers right on her hand, making her own weapon fly away. It landed by Azura's foot, all the way up on the balcony, which made the princess widen her eyes and look down. "Felicia!"

"Azura- get away from there!" The maid held down the mokushujin as he tried to skewer her with his dagger, her own hand bleeding from the previous hit.

"Felicia!" Once again Azura called, putting both hands over her mouth. What could she do-

"Maybe I'll kill that one first!" The ninja laughed, switching the grip over his knife so as to throw it.

"NO!" Felicia pulled the ninja to her, wrapping her legs of his arm, making him fall on his back as she tried to disarm him.

His free hand, however, still held a knife, which he used to stab her on the thigh and lower abdomen. Felicia's ice barrier could only hold out so much, making her cry out in pain, finally taking his dagger away from him, throwing it right into his eye.

Immediately did his grip on the dagger loosen as life ebbed away from him, his head falling limp on the side.

Bleeding profusely, Felicia felt her head spin as she looked up to her panicking wife. Azura quickly jumped out of the balcony and knelt beside Felicia, staining her pure white kimono with the blood that never stopped flowing.

Ah... finally Azura was looking at her. Felicia smiled, feeling the princess bring her cold hand to her own wet cheeks. "I-I'm-" She coughed, feeling her wound pour more blood as her vision darkened. "I'm so sorry, Azura... Please don't stop loving me..." She said, the words 'I love you' dying by her lips, unable to be uttered as her own head limped on the side, too tired to even keep her eyes open.

"FELICIA! No, no, no, darling Felicia, please open your eyes! D-don't leave me!" She cried out, looking around. "Someone! Sakura! P-please, Felicia..." Desperate, she looked back to the approaching princesses -- they had all witnessed the battle after Azura first shouted.

Ever with her staff close, Sakura quickly began to shine its light over the maid, making the bleeding stop for the time being. "P-please take her to the castle, but don't move her too much! She might've been p-poisoned..."

Azura brough one blood-stained hand to her face in horror, looking at the ninja's daggers. "Save her-- Sakura, please...! Save my wife!"

Corrin, Rhajat, Sakura, Jakob and Azura went back to Castle Shirasagi -- if Ryoma or Elise left, the festival would be a disaster, so despite wanting to quickly make work of the traitors and help as much as they could, they had to rely on their comrades to keep Felicia alive.

Azura sobbed as the healers quickly cut Felicia's clothes to take a look at the wounds -- they weren't as deep as they could have been, surely due to her barrier, but her flesh was torn in multiple areas around her tight and abdomen regardless. Corrin couldn't bear to look as she, too, cried by her wife's arms, blaming herself for leaving Felicia alone.

"This is a very strong kind of poison." Sakura said after they were done stitching the larger wounds, two assistants never stopping their staves' lights over the maid. "It's a bit diluted, probably due to her magic, but much of it is already in her blood..."

Trembling, Azura reached out to her little sister, her hand cold and skin white as a paper. "Isn't- isn't there a cure? An antidote?"

"I've... never seen anything like it, so I'll need t-to r-research." The young princess looked down, powerless.

Azura felt as though a hole on the ground sucked her in, not even feeling her body. "Please... please save her, Sakura. I-" a single tear fell from the princess' eye, "I can't lose her..."

Rhajat squeezed her wife on her arms, taking it upon herself to look for a cure spell in her magical books. "I won't let her die." She whispered, patting Corrin's back so she could leave the room. "I'm getting to work immediately."

"T-thank you, Rhajat." Azura couldn't take her eyes off of her bloody wife -- all bandaged and so, so very pale, even her veins were visible through the transparent skin. She didn't feel her legs as they took her to the bed, one hand protectively holding onto Felicia's. How cold it was! No, no, no... She needed to be warm!

Tears flowed through her eyes unbeknownst to her as she frantically covered her wife with every blanket she could find, blind to anyone else in the room.

It was only she and Felicia in the whole world. "It's going to be okay, you'll be fine..." She said over and over, her eyes unfocused as a forced smile froze over her lips.

She lied down beside her wife, placing her head over the same pillow, softly patting Felicia's chest. "You're okay now, you're okay..."

Sakura brought both hands to her face in emotion, sobbing at the pitiful sight right in front of her. Jakob looked away, trying to make himself useful by taking the bloody clothes off the floor.

Azura then started caressing Felicia's hair, almost smiling. "What's wrong, dear Felicia? You've been sleeping for quite a while," she hummed, blocking away reality as her mind unconsciously made her believe that her wife was simply napping. "What's-" her eyes trailed off to her own bloody kimono. "W-what's-" She stuttered, fighting the memories of reality, wanting to keep believing that her wife was simply sleeping. "Oh, Felicia...!" She sobbed, throwing herself over Felicia's chest, under all those blankets. "Don't let my immature words be the last ones you'll hear from me!"

The hours felt like days -- Azura would change her behavior by the minute: one time she was giggling, looking forward to when her wife would wake up from the nap; the next minute she would sit down on the floor, hold Felicia's hand on hers and cry.

Worried about her sister, Sakura made sure someone would always stay inside the room, but Azura never noticed them.

When food was brought in, she would refuse it. "Why are you bringing breakfast now? Can't you see it's still night, since Felicia's still sleeping?" She would say sometimes.

However, she would regain reason for a few moments during meal times and sob silently, still refusing to eat. "If she cannot taste it, then nor should I." She would say.

Healers went in and out, never able to pinpoint the exact kind of poison that was infused on the dagger, but Azura could barely hear them -- she never let go of her wife’s hands, sitting still by the bed for hours at a time, her whole body numb.

She would caress Felicia’s hair and put it behind her ears, not used to how cold her puffy cheeks felt to the touch. Sometimes the maid would sweat and groan in pain, moaning Azura’s name and countless apologies as the poison ever so slowly dried up her life forces.

Not knowing what to do, Azura simply cried, her own body ready to give up life should her wife refuse to wake up. The princess didn’t eat nor sleep, not realizing the passing of the days around her, only noticing how this or that vein became more prominent by Felicia’s skin as it turned paler and paler.

Her voice failed her to the point that she was unable to speak, the only sound leaving her throat being sobs and strangled apologies. Felicia’s weak increasingly weak breathing brought horror to the princess’ heart, her entire body never feeling colder. What would she do if the worst came to pass? She… she wouldn’t be able to live without Felicia, not after tasting what true happiness was after an entire life of suffering. How would she go back to that life without her light? Without her love? No… she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

Rhajat banged the door open one evening, panting. Corrin ran inside, equally exhausted, though the ruckus did nothing to faze the apathetic princess. “We found an antidote!” She huffed.

Azura blinked, her own consciousness failing her as exhaustion finally caught up to her body. Rhajat stomped past her wife to the suffering maid, quickly throwing the liquid she held on a conical flask over Felicia. Instead of wetting her, the liquid turned into smoke, hovering over Felicia as she weakly inhaled it. The Queen Consort then uttered a few magical words under her breath, wondering if they had made it in time.

Felicia had been bedridden for a week. It was a miracle she had held on that long without any manner of antidote, but perhaps now it was too late.

Feeling something akin to hope bubble inside her heart, Azura slowly widened her eyes in expectation as the pink smoke faded away little by little.  She grasped onto her wife’s hand, her heart thumping by her chest. “F-Felicia…” She managed to let her voice out for the first time in seven days, her eyes welling up with tears. “Sweet Felicia, p-please don’t leave me…” She sobbed, now holding her wife’s hand with both of hers. She opened her mouth to sing, but her voice didn’t come out. She KNEW a soothing and healing song, but without Felicia, she couldn’t bring herself to sing. “Without you, I have no voice nor light in my life… Please, my loving Felicia, don’t leave me! I love you so very much!” She cried as she nudged her face on her wife’s cold hand.

Corrin took one hand to her mouth, once again sobbing by her wife’s chest as Rhajat tried her best not to do the same. The Queen Consort, however, softly gasped in surprise as she saw Felicia’s brow flicker. “Corrin…” She whispered at the same time Felicia opened her eyes.

The maid felt tears streaming down her hand, not fully understanding what was happening, her mind and sight hazy. “P-please don’t cry, Azura… I’ll make it up to you…” She said instinctively, bringing her bandaged hand to her wife’s face.

The princess widened her eyes as her head shot up, finally, finally, meeting her wife’s gaze after so very long. “Felicia!” She smiled, throwing herself into her beloved’s arms. “You silly girl! Never scare me like that again!”

Confused but not about to refuse a hug after making her wife mad, Felicia closed her eyes to enjoy Azura’s warmth on her body. Ah… was that what forgiveness felt like? She smiled widely, though her exhausted body was still rather unresponsive. “I-I don’t know what happened, but thank you for forgiving me, Azura… I know how important that painting was to you.”

“Forget about that!” The princess giggled, drying her tear-stained face. “The most important thing in my life is you, darling Felicia. Never forget that.”

The maid felt her eyes itch with tears. Ah, to love and be loved in return!

Felicia’s recovery was a swift one -- since her external wounds had already been healed by the staves, she only needed to purge the remaining poison out of her body by drinking liquids and having plenty of rest. Of course, Azura took it upon herself to pamper her pouty wife the whole time, making the maid blush more often than she had ever before.

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright? You can still take another day off.” The princess said one afternoon as Felicia changed into her summer dress.

“But we’ve been away from our place for so long! I really want to watch the stars with you again…” She pouted by the folding screen, popping her head out.

“Oh, how can I say no to that face?” Azura booped her wife’s nose, so utterly happy from even being able to do so. “Hold my hand the whole way, sweet Felicia. I want to bask on your warmth for as long as possible.”

Blushing, the maid looked down as she forgot to tie her hair up. “A-alright…”

Ever since her wound, Azura had been clingy and loving; not that Felicia was complaining, but it felt as though the princess put a distance between them by placing Felicia on a pedestal. She didn’t want that -- she wanted to touch her, tickle her and squeeze her into her arms, but she knew she had to take the initiative.

They walked in silence to their place, the maid’s heartbeat thundering by her ears. Once there, the view was as breathtaking as always, which spurred Felicia into doing what she needed to do. “A-Azura, you know, I have something to tell you…”

“Hm? The princess smiled softly, sitting down on the grass, her matching sundress fluttering with the wind.

“I’m so sorry to have worried you so much! I love you and I don’t want to hurt you!” Felicia blurted out, holding Azura by her shoulders and diving into her mouth for a kiss. She bonked their heads instead, squeezing her eyes in pain. “Owowow… Why can’t I never do this?!”

Laughing, Azura threw her head back as she massaged her forehead with both hands. “You don’t have to apologize, silly! Just promise me to be careful, hm? I can’t feel that way ever again.” She said in a low voice, slowly getting closer to Felicia.

The maid felt their cheeks rubbing against one another, their breaths intertwining. She closed her eyes to the impending kiss, at last tasting Azura’s flavor on her lips. Quickly did the maid wrap her arms around her princess, making Azura giggle under the kiss as they lost their balance and flopped onto the grass instead, never stopping the caress.

Azura held Felicia into her arms, slipping her tongue into her beloved’s mouth, closing her eyes to finally feel the true peace she had discovered by Felicia’s side.

The maid never forgot how she felt after ruining Azura’s painting, but later on she discovered that Kagero loved the present as it were, saying it was a perfect mix of both wives.