.a conflict of interest.

[cheri_blossom]

[ Day 15, 7:40pm - Cheri's Rooms ]

Cheri quickly scans Raven's small, neat handwriting. She was drinking some tea and opening some mail (two marriage proposals for Gwen, a wedding invitation, and some chocolate from Caloria, but no word from Fanfan) when a flustered-looking maid brought her a note.

She is relieved that Raven has returned safely,

Comments

[soulfilled_eyes]

Clean and redressed in his uniform, he walked down the corridor towards Cheri's rooms. He debated whether it was proper to call on her this late but he had said that he would report to her.

He paused outside the door to her room, finger raised to knock on the wood. It took him a second to gain the courage to actually make the next move. It was proper for a suitor to have a chaperone with him when calling on a lady of good social standing. Sighing, he pushed his hair out of his eye before letting his knuckle rap on the door.

He stepped back a little, as he waited patiently for Cheri to answer.

[cheri_blossom]

Cheri is so deep in her own thoughts that she almost doesn't hear the knock at the door. She's suddenly very tired. She hasn't been sleeping very well and the day has been long, like all the rest she has spent attempting to keep herself busy -- all the while waiting for news from Dai Shimaron that never comes

[soulfilled_eyes]

Raven is slightly surprised with the greeting. He carefully wraps an arm around the woman's waist and lets her hold him until she is ready to let go. He had never been good with words so just stayed silent until he heard the tiny whisper from the former Maou

[cheri_blossom]

"Better, I think," Cheri says, pulling back. Her words aren't entirely true, but he is looking at her with such concern that she feels the need to quell the unease in his eyes. Her smile becomes a just a tiny bit forced.

"I'm much more interested in how you are," she says. "Come in, come in and sit down. You must be tired -- it's a long ride from home, isn't it?" She gestures for him to follow her into her spacious sitting room. He trails her slowly, hesitantly, as if afraid to disturb the ambiance. To most people, Raven is a difficult man to know, but Cheri instantly recognizes that something is amiss

[cheri_blossom]

Cheri accepts her tea gratefully, her smile becoming thoughtful. She briefly wonders what the maids truly think of the nobles they so dutifully serve. Her own maids are lovely and intensely loyal -- their love of gossip, she knows, while widespread amongst the servant class, mostly likely won't reach the ears of scheming nobles. Well, at least not right away.

And even if it does, Cheri doesn't really care. Things like this has stopped bothering her years ago.

The fire is warm, her tea hot and soothing. She slips her feet out of her rather uncomfortable shoes and tucks them beneath her. She has just thought of a question for Raven that is hopefully a safe topic to breach. A question, she realizes with some shame, she has never really thought to ask before.

"Raven," she says, her tone soft. "Are you happy with Stoffel and me?"

[soulfilled_eyes]

Raven was shocked by the question. To be perfectly honest, he had never stopped to think about it.

"My... my Lady?" Raven could not keep the shock out of his voice.

He gently took the cup out of her hand and placed it to one side. He reached out and took Cheri's hand. The words were hard to get out but he made the extra effort.

"Cecelie, I have been with your family since I was a child. I owe your family a great deal but more than that. I was made to feel at home and will be forever greatful for that. But... I do not stay just out of duty, Cecelie. I am loyal to you and Stoffel-san and would do whatever asked to keep you safe and well, without second thought."

Raven blushed slightly as he admitted his feelings.

[cheri_blossom]

Cheri has to work hard to hide her surprise at Raven's words. Was that how he really felt? She has known this man for years, and yet she never really thought about these things, never knew he felt this way.

She finds herself hesitating, almost not knowing what to say. How odd. Normally he was stoic and quiet and kept every thought to himself, while she had no problem saying what needed to be said. The role reversal is disconcerting. Not normal.

...but whatever happened to normalcy, anyway? There is nothing normal about the cirumstances they're currently in. There is nothing normal about the random appearance of doubles and kidnappings and talking sheep and deceased husbands walking the earth...

"I'm glad, darling," she finally says. She squeezes his hand gently. "I'm grateful that you regard us so highly, even if we don't deserve it."

It's getting harder to keep her voice even. "I want you to know that you owe us nothing. You are more to us than you know. You are more to me...than..." Stupid voice, stop shaking! "...than you know

[soulfilled_eyes]

Raven smiled slightly at Cheri, trying to reassure her. He reached out, brushing the side of her face with the edge of his knuckle.

"Cecelie, you do deserve it... And more."

He looks into ther deep green eyes and smiles. Time seems to pass until he looks away, not embarrassed, although that would be the closest word. He had been too forward, too open. He coughs nervously and then looks back at the beautiful woman before him. Where did they go from here? Raven looked to Cheri. She knew more what to do in situations like this. Would she think him too forward on what he had said? Had he crushed his chance again?

[cheri_blossom]

"I hope so," Cheri whispers. Gentle fingers stroke her hair and she sighs tiredly. The air suddenly feels heavy and the breath she draws in is shaky, but Raven is solid and warm and she can't help but take comfort from his strength.

She wishes she could talk to Raven about Conrad, voice her fears for Yozak, for her poor darling Greta...about the unspoken tension between them...

And about Dan Hiri.

Dan Hiri especially.

But she can't. As much as she hates the space between herself and Raven, that space full of unspoken feelings...

Well. She wasn't even sure what Raven's feelings for her really were. She was sure of her own. She loved Raven. She always had, even when she was a little girl and was only capable of expressing it through teasing and torturing him relentlessly. And when they grew up, time had never made any allowances for them. Her family had pressured her to marry Gwendal's father, and Raven committed himself to serving Stoffel

[soulfilled_eyes]

Raven watched the emotion play over Cheri's face. He could only hold her if she would not open up to him. He wished that he could think of the words that it would take to help her realise that he would always be there for her. It hurt him to see her like this.

"I..." It was time to say something. "I will always be here for you when you need me Cheri. If you need anything, you know you only have to ask. My shoulder, I have been told, is quite a comfortable place."

He smiled down at the former Maou, his arms circling her protectively. His lips pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head. She would probably not feel it, Raven realised but that did not stop him.

[cheri_blossom]

It is a comfortable place. Cheri lowers her head onto his shoulder and breathes deeply. Steadily. Calm. Calm. Everything is going to be all right. Raven said so. It's fine. Perhaps all her worrying is for naught. Who knows, maybe Yozak and Dan Hiri have managed to rescue Conrad by now. Perhaps they're all safe somewhere together, along with the other Anissina...somewhere

[soulfilled_eyes]

Raven pushed her back gently and lifted her chin up until he was looking her square in the eye. He smiled that familiar little smile, knowing for sure that Cheri would take comfort from it the way that she had done from childhood. His hand brushed away the goosebumps from her arm