#sing for absolution

He broke and went to her.

The sheer curtain couldn't hide the way her entire form quivered. His heart ached for her. As soon as he drew the curtain aside and opened his mouth to speak, to apologize to her, she reached for his hands and drew him close.

That's another question @drones-of-innocence would probably answer much better than I! ^-^ But one way or another, he would be absolutely appalled that such a thing happened. 😨😥

I imagine him spotting the Captain of the Guard while on his early routine walk the next morning, and noting how frazzled he looks. As soon as he would hear the news- ("A fight has occurred in the Princess' chambers, Sir! The evil wizard Kamek has infiltrated the castle while the Kingdom was alseep. It appears he was aiming to cast a dark spell on Her Majesty." / "Thank the stars, mister Mario was able to intervene in time and neutralize the threat! Kamek has since been removed from the perimeter and is currently being detained." / "The Princess is physically unharmed, but she may need time to emotionally recover from the ordeal.") - he would hurry towards Peach's private quarters as fast as his feet can carry him. He would find the Princess quietly sitting in her bed, looking at the empty space next to her, alone and seemingly lost in thought. Appearing strangely calm and contemplative amidst the chaos left in her own room.

"My child! Are you alright?"

He would take her hands in his, fretting and lamenting about what happened, but to his surprise, Peach would seem... distracted. As if something else entirely was occupying her mind.

"I'm fine, Toadsworth. No need to worry about me," she would assure him softly, her gaze however drifting back to the covers. Letting his own eyes wander, the old toad would eventually see the red smears staining her carpet, near her shattered mirror and destroyed vanity.

"Goodness," he would breathe, recoiling in horror. "Is that..."

Beside him, Peach would lower her head with a trembling sigh, curling in on herself.

"He got hurt," she would mutter, waveringly. "And it's all my fault."

Suddenly remembering that the Guard mentioned Mario, Toadsworth would hum and sit beside her, patting her arm comfortingly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He would venture, offering her his handkerchief.

And so, she would recount her night to him. Telling him all that happened, from the moment she abruptly awoke to the moment she fell back asleep.

"I asked him to stay, and he did," she would murmur, with a touch of wonder. "Even before Kamek arrived, he could sense that I was in danger. And he protected me. Risked his life for me, again. How could I ever repay him?"

"Oh, I believe merely knowing that you are safe is all he needs or wants," Toasworth would answer, giving her a kind and knowing smile. "It's something he and I have in common."

Peach would lean a bit against him, letting out a fragile and thoughtful sound. "He is so good to me, Toadsworth. Always has been. I don't deserve a friend like him."

"A 'friend', you say?" Toadsworth would echo teasingly, earning him a tiny giggle. Peach would otherwise remain silent at his playful inquiry, and the old toad would nod sagely to himself at his daughter's reaction.

"I shall arrange something special for him. As a thanking gesture," he would promise. "Is there something that you know he likes?"

Peach would fiddle absentmindedly with the handkerchief, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"He... He likes spending time with me. He told me so himself, once," she would say, her voice taking on a dreamy quality.

Toadsworth would grin widely under his bushy mustache, his beady eyes twinkling with delight.

"Then it's settled! I shall prepare a nice retreat for you two to enjoy and send him the invitation myself. In the meantime, let's get you away from this dreadful mess and have another room temporarily accomodated for you. Would you like some tea?"