Reading Conrad's letter.
[ 10:25am - East Wing ]
The east wing really was far away from the rest of the goings-on in the castle. Cheri herself never liked the isolation the wing provided, but Conrad was the sort of person who was content with solitude, so she never bothered him about it. She never could deny her children anything they wanted...
Still holding Conrad's letter, Cheri heads towards the one spot where she knows she won't be disturbed. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't dare intrude, but Conrad wasn't even here to intrude upon, was he? And besides...she really hasn't come to explore. She is looking for some solitude of her own.
Conrad's rooms are at the very end of the wing. She makes her way through the winding corridors to the doors only to realize she has left the skeleton key that opens every door in the castle upstairs in her own rooms. Undaunted, she taps the doorknob with her fingertip, and the doors open easily.
Okay, so maybe it was frowned upon to use maryoku for daily tasks, but everyone cheated every once in a while, right? Riiiight? ♥
It's darker and quieter inside than she anticipated, so Cheri leaves the door open to let in some light while she finds some candles. The only sound is the silvery clink of her bracelets as she walks through the rooms. She locates the candles rather quickly and, having lit them, settles herself on a comfortable chair in the sitting room.
Now that she is finally situated, Cheri gently breaks the seal and unfolds the page. Conrad's handwriting is small and she squints a bit until the words come into focus.
Hahaue,
I know you will scold me when I get back, but I am sorry that I had to leave so abruptly. You know why I have to do things like this, though, so don't worry.
Maaa~! "Don't worry"? First Dan Hiri, then Anissina, and now Conrad is telling her not to worry? With everyone gone to such a dangerous place, how was she not supposed to worry?
I will do everything I can to come home as soon as possible. Please watch out for Yozak. I know he's a big boy and can take care of himself, but I have a bad feeling about this know how he worries. Make sure that he gets all moved into my rooms, too.
Hmm. Cheri quickly surveys the sitting room. It's noticeably cleaner than the last time she saw it -- her husband's doing, she's sure. It's a comfortable room, simple and elegant, but rather plain-looking for her taste. It is very...Conrad.
"Needs more Yozak," Cheri says aloud, as if she's sampling a stew. Yes. Just a bit of Yozak here and a dash there -- and then the rooms will look like they're inhabited by more than one person.
Perhaps she should do some redecorating to keep herself occupied? Ehehehe! Now that would be grand. Oh, but not too much. She doesn't want Conrad to be unhappy with her if when he comes back.
You seem to know everything that happens around here --
Well, not lately she doesn't. Cheri really needs to get the latest from her little spies maids more often.
You seem to know everything that happens around here, so please make sure he gets settled and comfortable. A lot of his things got destroyed with the barracks, so he will need new thigh highs clothes and stuff. You know what he likes better than I do.
At that, Cheri giggles. Yay! A project! "You can count on me, darling."
Please don't worry yourself over me. Yuuri and Wolfram need you more, I think. And please take care of yourself.
- Conrart
Cheri stares for a long moment at the signature. Conrart. Only Dan Hiri has ever really called their son by his given name. She, on the other hand, has always preferred to be more familiar with her sons, even if they wouldn't do the same with her. She mulls over the formality of the signature for a moment.
"Ah, Conrad," she sighs. "I have a feeling Yozak will be good for you."
Of course he will. Being in love does wonderful things to people. It brings everyone into the light. Makes them feel as if they are seeing everything for the very first time. Love makes everything and everyone beautiful. Everything new.
Cheri smiles. Yes, Conrad and Yozak needed something new, something better to come home to. They deserved some happiness. Everyone who knew the pair wished that. Even the doubles.
Speaking of the doubles...
Cheri remembers the words she had heard spoken in here the other day...not by Conrad, but by his own double.
"...Conrad’s been dying for awhile, hasn’t he. Slowly, piece by piece his soul has been losing its hope for a long time..."
"That isn't so," Cheri murmurs, her audience the empty room. "Is it?"
The east wing really was far away from the rest of the goings-on in the castle. Cheri herself never liked the isolation the wing provided, but Conrad was the sort of person who was content with solitude, so she never bothered him about it. She never could deny her children anything they wanted...
Still holding Conrad's letter, Cheri heads towards the one spot where she knows she won't be disturbed. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't dare intrude, but Conrad wasn't even here to intrude upon, was he? And besides...she really hasn't come to explore. She is looking for some solitude of her own.
Conrad's rooms are at the very end of the wing. She makes her way through the winding corridors to the doors only to realize she has left the skeleton key that opens every door in the castle upstairs in her own rooms. Undaunted, she taps the doorknob with her fingertip, and the doors open easily.
Okay, so maybe it was frowned upon to use maryoku for daily tasks, but everyone cheated every once in a while, right? Riiiight? ♥
It's darker and quieter inside than she anticipated, so Cheri leaves the door open to let in some light while she finds some candles. The only sound is the silvery clink of her bracelets as she walks through the rooms. She locates the candles rather quickly and, having lit them, settles herself on a comfortable chair in the sitting room.
Now that she is finally situated, Cheri gently breaks the seal and unfolds the page. Conrad's handwriting is small and she squints a bit until the words come into focus.
Hahaue,
I know you will scold me when I get back, but I am sorry that I had to leave so abruptly. You know why I have to do things like this, though, so don't worry.
Maaa~! "Don't worry"? First Dan Hiri, then Anissina, and now Conrad is telling her not to worry? With everyone gone to such a dangerous place, how was she not supposed to worry?
I will do everything I can to come home as soon as possible. Please watch out for Yozak. I know he's a big boy and can take care of himself, but I have a bad feeling about this know how he worries. Make sure that he gets all moved into my rooms, too.
Hmm. Cheri quickly surveys the sitting room. It's noticeably cleaner than the last time she saw it -- her husband's doing, she's sure. It's a comfortable room, simple and elegant, but rather plain-looking for her taste. It is very...Conrad.
"Needs more Yozak," Cheri says aloud, as if she's sampling a stew. Yes. Just a bit of Yozak here and a dash there -- and then the rooms will look like they're inhabited by more than one person.
Perhaps she should do some redecorating to keep herself occupied? Ehehehe! Now that would be grand. Oh, but not too much. She doesn't want Conrad to be unhappy with her if when he comes back.
You seem to know everything that happens around here --
Well, not lately she doesn't. Cheri really needs to get the latest from her little spies maids more often.
You seem to know everything that happens around here, so please make sure he gets settled and comfortable. A lot of his things got destroyed with the barracks, so he will need new thigh highs clothes and stuff. You know what he likes better than I do.
At that, Cheri giggles. Yay! A project! "You can count on me, darling."
Please don't worry yourself over me. Yuuri and Wolfram need you more, I think. And please take care of yourself.
- Conrart
Cheri stares for a long moment at the signature. Conrart. Only Dan Hiri has ever really called their son by his given name. She, on the other hand, has always preferred to be more familiar with her sons, even if they wouldn't do the same with her. She mulls over the formality of the signature for a moment.
"Ah, Conrad," she sighs. "I have a feeling Yozak will be good for you."
Of course he will. Being in love does wonderful things to people. It brings everyone into the light. Makes them feel as if they are seeing everything for the very first time. Love makes everything and everyone beautiful. Everything new.
Cheri smiles. Yes, Conrad and Yozak needed something new, something better to come home to. They deserved some happiness. Everyone who knew the pair wished that. Even the doubles.
Speaking of the doubles...
Cheri remembers the words she had heard spoken in here the other day...not by Conrad, but by his own double.
"...Conrad’s been dying for awhile, hasn’t he. Slowly, piece by piece his soul has been losing its hope for a long time..."
"That isn't so," Cheri murmurs, her audience the empty room. "Is it?"