21What We Do Next
Amorette laughed loudly in excitement as she ran across the rooftops of the buildings of Bronze, leaping across the gaps and allowing the air to flow freely through her hair. Jumping had quickly become her favorite way of crossing Gwenael. She was strong enough to jump between the plates, even accounting for the need to leap the straight vertical distances. She had taken to not wearing skirts any longer, instead adopting a rather form fitting pair trousers instead.
Since she had come back, the sight of her traveling the city this way had become rather common to the people down below. A few still gaped up at her as she rushed by, but most people just continued on their day without a reaction. It was also easier on her because, despite becoming more accustomed to large airships – mostly with the aid of medication to calm her stomach - the smaller aircabs still made her sick.
Just at the moment, in fact, she was racing one of the aircabs. Cupid was in the back and, occasionally, when she jumped high enough, she could see him laughing in the back, egging on the pilot who had a look of intense concentration on his face.
It wasn't the first time she had raced an aircab. She had gotten to know more than a few of the pilots just because they enjoyed racing her when she had to go somewhere with Cupid. It was fun that they normally didn't get to have in the course of their day.
She leapt across Bronze, then mostly ran across Quicksilver. There were fewer buildings to leap from, but the flatter, greener space gave her more room to propel herself quickly along the ground before she reached the other side and jumped to the top of the wall.
With a dramatic flip, she landed at the top of the wall leading down into the Royal Complex. The aircab only now reaching the edge of Quicksilver. She waved at the pilot before jumping down to the ground below. He had to go to the docks to land properly, so it was the end of their race. Yet again, she was the winner.
Today was the day that Amorette was formally taking her vows. She had been promised a party later and she had to have a meeting with a painter to get a portrait made – she was getting her own portrait! - but the vows were taken in a more intimate setting.
She had spent yesterday at the Sacellum, spending time with the acolytes and priests there, getting to the know the Master of the Sacellum, a very nice man named Gael. Though her powers were quite obvious, she was still an adult and it was still expected that she underwent a small trial to prove herself as a genuine paladin. She broke a few boards, some rocks, then lifted some heavy objects, competing with the strongest men they could find, before it was declared a success. Since she had already had her first paladin fight – quite a while ago – they stated she didn't need to do it again. Elaine and Colette had already given their account of that fight and proof of her victory.
There was a great deal of ceremony involved in being a paladin. Which Amorette was trying to find fun and not overwhelming. The idea of a party was exciting and everything, but people still insisted on bowing to her and calling her by a title she didn't feel comfortable wearing.
Although, on the other hand, there were certain benefits she hadn't expected. She would be getting paid for being a paladin. Which had been a surprise to her for some reason. She had thought she would be expected to devote herself for no cost. She had also been awarded gold for her efforts in freeing Jorives from its siege.
Her newfound riches were how she had bought these new clothes that had been designed to fit her. They had been styled to her preferences, made just for her, and were more comfortable for that fact. Though dresses were certainly easier to wear, she found that she actually preferred trousers. They were far easier to run in and she didn't have to worry about people seeing her undergarments when she jumped. She had also taken to wear her hair back into a tail at the back of her head since it had finally grown out long enough that she could do so without half of it falling out.
She had her sword, Pillar la Fermete, with her today. It was tied on the belt, resting uncomfortably at her hip. She wasn't used to carrying it. Usually, she kept it locked in a trunk. She didn't know how to use it and she didn't really want to learn how. Her strength was in her own limbs, she wanted to continue using them freely. However, today, Gael had asked her to bring it with her for the purpose of the ceremony.
She was also told that she, by right, could live in the Paladin's Suite. However, the entire building had been cleaved clear in half by her actions breaking pillars below and the building was, thus, unlivable. No one had tried to repair the manor yet as reestablishing energy in the city was far more important. The paladins could live in the palace until then.
But she chose to stay with Cupid in their little house in Bronze. It was their home. It was also easier to get to the lifts down into Iron from there. She had used the rest of her reward money to buy things for her father and the others below the plates. His majesty was continuing to supply the aid the princess had started, but Amorette still wanted to provide for her father, even if he refused to move back up above the plates with her. Stubborn old coot.
Humming with the thrill of victory of her win, she walked with a happy pep in her step, hands stretched down behind her. It would take a little while for the aircab to land and for Cupid to catch up, so she wasn't in any hurry.
Since she was going to take her vows today, she fully expected to see Manon. Which would be the first time since they had returned to Gwenael. According to Veva – who acted as Manon's personal aide and bodyguard now – the princess had been forbidden from leaving her room or communicating with anyone that wasn't deemed necessary by her mother - the queen. The victory at Jorives had been attributed to Lea and Amorette, not to Manon, and so the princess was taking full responsibility for disobeying her king and a paladin's orders.
But Veva had told Amorette that Manon had anticipated as such and that nothing in their plans was changing. They were going to have to be obedient for a little while, to earn a bit of trust back, before they could begin rebuilding a base of power for the princess.
Which was Amorette's current goal in life: building a base of power for the princess. It started with them, her loyal followers. She wasn't sure what the purpose of building a base of power for the princess was, but she wanted it for her. She wasn't made for thinking or plans; just doing heavy lifting, punching very hard, and protecting the people around her.
She reached the crossroads in the path before Cupid and stood there, waiting for him to catch up as she looked around curiously.
It was interesting to see the damage she had done from this angle. Interesting, and more than a bit guilt inducing. She hadn't really been thinking about what her actions would do to the uppers; she had only been thinking about getting their attention. And while destroying the pillars underneath had been destructive below, it was nothing compared to what was transmitted above.
Besides splitting the entire Paladin's Suite – which was the size of a manor in its own right – she had also collapsed a gazebo, of which only the foundation was left, split large fissures in the courtyard grounds, and destroyed a great deal more. A few things were already replaced, but most of what had been broken had only been cleared away for safety's sake.
They had opted to not repair anything but the most essential buildings and objects. All available resources had been diverted into clearing the remains of Gold and trying to rebuild it. At the moment, they had only succeeded in breaking through to the ground in a few places. They needed to get the energy plant up and running again. Amorette didn't know much about it – such things were far too complicated for her – but what she did know was that it wasn't going well.
But since her focus was on getting Manon into a position of secure power, she wasn't thinking about it. That was for others to worry about.
The only thing in the Royal Complex that remained whole and unaffected was the palace. It stood strong, looking out over the entire city as a whole as the artificial peak of the mountain. A beautiful, architectural marvel that was easily the most wondrous structure that Amorette had ever laid her eyes upon. It was all built up with gleaming gold, creamy ivory colored bricks, and glass that shined like crystal, setting the palace ablaze with each sunrise and sunset.
It didn't happen as often anymore, but sometimes the sheer wealth and incredible ingenuity of the uppers still took her breath away. The palace was one of them. The sight of it, in all of its glory, never failed to leave her in awe.
As she was gazing at the palace, enjoying the beauty of the complex architecture, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. She smiled as she took in a deep breath of the scent of fresh air that clung to Cupid. It was another experience in the upper world that she found she could never get enough of.
His scent. His embrace. Just him.
"You're getting faster," he whispered sweetly in her ear.
"Maybe you're getting slower."
"No. You're getting stronger." He ran squeezed her tighter. "I didn't really think of it before, but it occurred to me while I watched you run that you were incredibly tiny when I met you."
Amorette laughed, pulling away from him to look into his eyes. "You just realized that now?"
He took her hand, but instead of lacing their fingers together, he ran his hand up her arm. Not as a caress, but more of a clinical touch. Squeezing her muscles.
"No, I don't mean your stature. I mean, you were weak and malnourished. It wasn't easy to see, when I was distracted by how strong you were. But you're getting stronger as you get healthier. As your muscles develope. I can't even imagine how much stronger you'll be when you're at your peak."
Amorette smiled at her own body. There were times when she looked at her reflection and was surprised by the face looking back at her. Her skin had a healthily color now, her cheeks had filled out, her hair was shiny and smooth for the first time in her life.
The upper world looked good on her. Having a purpose, having a reason for greeting each day, filled her with a sense of happiness that she hadn't experienced in her life until now. She was no longer suffering through the days like they were just something to survive. She was thriving.
And Cupid was her entire reason for living. He was the sunshine that warmed her skin. He was the fresh air that filled her lungs. Even more stunning than the beautiful palace. Nicer than anyone that she knew. There was no more perfect a person.
She smiled just to see him. A smile that grew when he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles with playful warmth dancing in his bright eyes.
"Are you nervous?" He asked as they turned to walk towards the palace doors, both of which were standing wide open.
The inhabitants of Gold that hadn't found new lodgings yet were still living in the palace as guests of the king. All of them had businesses to run, and that didn't stop just because they were out of a home now. Because of that, the palace doors were almost always open these days because people were constantly moving in and out of them.
Amorette might have been a paladin, but the nobility here were used to seeing those. After the newness of her presence wore off, none of them even glanced at her. They were too busy focused on their own priorities to care about what she was doing unless it was directly affecting them.
It was pretty refreshing, actually. Amorette thought she wouldn't like the nobility. They were so far separate from who she was and where she came from. However, to her own surprise, she actually found that they were far easier to like than the commonfolk. Not because they were nicer – they certainly weren't – but they treated Amorette like a normal person and that was a relief.
"Why would I be nervous?" She asked, looking to Cupid as he led her down the halls towards the throne room, the location where her vows would be taken.
"I was nervous when I took my vows as a physician."
"Why? Did you doubt the decision?"
"No, of course not." He chuckled. "It was just a big moment."
Amorette shrugged. "You all put more value in this than I do."
"The vows are serious, Amorette. You cannot break them."
"I kind of figured that much," she laughed. "Relax, I don't intend to break them. I like helping people, you know. And Manon told me that I'm allowed to tell her if she ever stops being a good person. Believe me, I will not hesitate to do so." She held her head proudly high as she assured him of such, as though that were the duty she took the most seriously
Cupid could only laugh. "Well, I'm glad. Because I'm nervous."
"Why are you nervous?"
"This is a big moment! You're going to be a paladin. I know that you can't appreciate that fully because you weren't raised up here, but it's quite an important thing."
Amorette hummed thoughtfully, "I guess... Hey, is Master Hue coming to my party?"
"That's what you're focusing on right now?"
"Gael says that it won't be as big as it should be, because of everything that's going on, but that it will still be pretty impressive."
He laughed. "Really? Not even a twinge of uncertainty?"
"I told him that if it's a hassle, I really don't need a party. I've never been to a fancy upper party before, so I'm afraid I'm going embarrass myself. But he said that it's good for people to remember that there's more to life than just worrying about war."
"Well, he's not wrong." Cupid stopped trying to impress upon her the magnitude of what was about to take place. "It's going to be a nice party. Master Hue bought me a new coat for it."
"That's so nice of him!" Amorette beamed. "The queen gave me one of her gowns because I told her I didn't own one. It had to be taken in. A lot. But the queen paid for it."
"So, we'll both be fancy for the party. It will be a pleasure to take you to your first fancy party. I can teach you how to dance."
"I know how to dance."
"Not for a fancy party, you don't."
"Fancy people have their own way of dancing?" Amorette asked, shocked, as they came to a halt in front of the double doors leading into the throne room.
Two soldiers from the royal guard were standing there. So long as the king or queen was inside, the room was sealed and guarded. Not just to protect their majesties from any potential assassins – a real concern these days – but also because the swearing of her vows was a private ceremony that wasn't privy to the public.
"Lady Amorette," the guard on the left nodded his head to her. "You're expected."
"Please, go inside whenever you're ready," the other added.
Amorette took in a breath, but she didn't immediately grab the latch. Cupid tilted his head at her curiously, watching her blank face.
"Nervous now?" He asked softly.
She shook her head easily. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"What I'm going to say."
"Gael is going to lead you through your vows."
"Yeah, that's the part I have to think about." She gave him a smile. "I'm ready."
Cupid nodded and released her hand so she could push both doors open. He walked in just a step behind her as she walked confidently into the bright throne room.
The wide hall was empty, her boots echoing on the smooth, polished marble as she crossed the room towards the group of people waiting at the far end.
Gael was there, wearing his white robe and golden sash, holding an equally white and gold book in his arms. He offered her a peaceful smile. Standing at his side – looking quite uncomfortable and holding a small box in his hands – was a man of about the same age with sandy blonde hair and enormously muscled arms. Across from the two of them, Princess Manon and Captain Veva were both standing together. Manon had dressed in a fine gown, and the captain in her military finery. Both of them grinned upon seeing Amorette and Cupid.
Amorette waved at the two excitedly before turning her eyes to the throne in the middle of the dais at the back of the room. It was occupied by a rather ordinary looking man, except for the bright golden hand he had attached to his arm to replace the one he had lost the same day he lost his brother. Upon catching her eyes, he gave her a big smile, the crown on his head shining in the bright light coming from the massive windows taking up the entire far wall.
Amorette had first seen the king at her funeral. He was wearing far finer clothes for the taking of her vows today. Since coming here, she had met him a couple times. And since the first time, when she had been formally presented to him as a paladin prospect, she had come away with the impression that he was an incredibly nice man.
Even so, he had a literal golden hand and it was more than slightly intimidating. He was so far distant from his common people that she couldn't even imagine getting close to him, even when he insisted he wanted her to be a close friend of his.
If she had any doubts about swearing herself to his daughter instead, they were banished when she looked at the untouchable man on his high throne, gleaming crown on his head.
Cupid gave her a small smile of encouragement as he stepped past her to stand beside the man with the big arms. As he did so, Gael stepped forward. He gave Amorette a bright smile as he closed the distance between them.
"Morning, Amorette. How are you feeling? Nervous?"
"Why is everyone asking me that?" She asked, laughing. "No. I'm not nervous. I, er, don't have to read the vows, do I? I mean, I'm better at it, but I don't trust myself to..."
"No." Gael assured her with a smile. "You're just going to be agreeing to the vows."
"Great! Shall we get started?"
He laughed at her enthusiasm. "Calm down. Before that. We have a gift for you. Let me introduce you. Ferrant."
The young man with big arms came forward, giving her a weary smile. He bowed his head a bit jerkily, stopping next to Gael. "Lady Amorette."
"Hi." She waved at him jovially. "You look familiar. Were you at my funeral too?"
The question made him laugh. "Yes. I'm the one who made that sword for you."
"Oh. Er, thanks." Her words were wooden. She knew that she was supposed to be grateful for the gift, but she didn't even know how to use the sword.
"You shouldn't be thanking me. I should be thanking you."
"Huh?"
"You don't remember me, do you? I'm the guy who was chained up with you beneath the plates."
Amorette gasped in delighted understanding, a large smile breaking over her face. "It's you! You lived! That's great!"
He laughed at her reaction, holding up the box. "I did. Thanks to you. I'm glad that I get the opportunity to thank you properly."
"Don't worry about it."
"No. I want to worry about it. I wanted to make you a good weapon all the more. And while I know my sword is a good one, it's useless if you can't use it. But I was told that you were rather fond of a pair of knuckles you found in Jorives."
She nodded. "I was. But they were a bit too big, so I had to give them away."
"I figured. So, I made you these." He lifted the lid off the box, holding out for her view.
Amorette squealed in delight, grabbing immediately for the beautiful pair of knuckles resting on a bed of blue velvet, one beside the other. The inversely colored, twin rings were the exact right size for her hands. One was predominantly iron, the other mostly golden. A stunning filigree design was embedded into the sides in their opposite colors and came up into a raised, slightly floral pattern at the top that, while beautiful, she could see was also sharp and deadly.
"To represent where you came from and where you've come to," he explained with a smile. "They're my own metal recipes. The gold might need polishing every now and again as you use them, but I'm happy to take care of that for you."
"I love them!" Amorette keened, holding up her hands and admiring their gleam over her knuckles. A thin, beaded, black cord came down from each one, allowing her attach them to her belt. Or, she supposed, she could put them into her pockets. They were small, but strong.
"They need names," Ferrant prompted her with a smile.
"Huh?"
"All great weapons have names."
Amorette looked from her fancy sword to the knuckles. Holding up the golden then the iron one alternatively, she said, "Iron and Gold."
Ferrant laughed. "Simple. I like it."
Amorette beamed as Gael opened the fancy book open to a blank page.
"So, then, can you declare your name and weapons for me. For the Record."
"Amorette Tilde, wielder of the Pillar la Fermete, Iron, and Gold," she announced proudly.
He chuckled as he wrote it out onto her page. Right below her initial entry, the details of her funeral and the original declaration of her name. He had already penned, in shimmery gold ink, the explanation of her return from the dead and her actions in freeing Jorives from siege.
Ferrant stepped back to join the others who were there to bear witness. Gael finished writing her declaration and looked to the king happily.
"Shall we begin, your majesty?"
He nodded his head, gesturing with his good hand for him to continue.
"Excellent. Amorette, if you would kneel?" He asked, holding his head high. "It is time for you to make your covenant."
Amorette's gaze drifted to Manon quickly who gave her a tiny, subtle nod. With her permission, she sank down to one knee and looked up to Gael, waiting for him to begin the vows. Veva had told her approximately what to expect and what she should do to change her vows. The anticipation of it wasn't making her nervous, but it did make her tense.
"This is a very serious vow, Amorette," Gael said formally. "You cannot break this oath. You must abide it, no matter what it might cost you. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I mean, I do." She nodded quickly.
He smiled at her slip. "Then, do you make this vow by your own will? No one has coerced you into it?"
"No."
"Let us begin, then. State your name."
"Amorette Tilde."
"State your title."
A smile formed. "Paladin of my Lord and Manon."
Gael, already thinking ahead to the next portion, hesitated as he looked back to her. She could see in his face the confusion that her words didn't match what he was planning.
"Man... Er, Amorette, you were supposed to say 'king', do you remember?"
"I remember." She nodded, completely confident. "I am swearing myself into the service of the Lord and the princess. But since I don't know that she'll be a princess forever, I'm just going to say her name. What's the next part?"
Gael frowned, looking back to King Cyrille, who was already glaring at his daughter.
"Manon, what did you do?" He asked, his voice tense.
Manon, standing there with supreme calmness, keeping her head held high, looking at Amorette as though nothing unusual had happened. "I did nothing, papa. Amorette made this decision by herself. I had nothing to do with it."
"I don't believe you."
"That hurts." She pouted. "Really, it was Amorette's idea. I didn't even ask it of her."
"I'm not swearing myself to him," Amorette told Gael, gesturing to the king. "I don't mind taking these vows you say I have to be bound by, but I am choosing who I want to commit myself to serving. And I choose Manon."
Gael frowned from her to the king. Cyrille let out a long breath.
"Gael, has such a thing ever been done before?"
The young master made a face. "Not that I can think of. The vows have evolved and changed through the generations, but I haven't heard of something like this before."
"But it's not forbidden, is it?" Manon prompted with a smirk. "I've been doing some research in the archives since I was imprisoned, and it's not written anywhere that she can't do such a thing if she chooses. So long as her vows are made of her own free will."
Gael took in a breath, hesitated, then shook his head. He couldn't really think of a counter to her argument because, simply, she was right. He hadn't heard of any such thing before, either as a precedent or as a taboo.
"I will defer to your majesty," he finally said. "If you will accept the change, I will bind her in the vows all else the same."
Cyrille thought for a moment before looking to Amorette. "Do you understand what you're doing?"
"I do," she nodded firmly.
"You understand, then, that binding yourself to Manon would mean you are lower in rank than all of the other paladins. As well as Erec and Manon both."
"I'm not really concerned with that."
He shrugged. "If you are certain, I don't have a problem with it. Continue, Gael."
The young master nodded before looking back to her. She was smiling at him calmly.
"Very well. Do you, Amorette Tilde, swear to uphold the teachings of the church and not to betray our Lord or His commands as decided by the Holy Sacellum and the High Seat?"
"I do." Amorette didn't really understand the first vow, but Gael told her it basically meant that she had to obey his orders – essentially that of the church.
"Do you, Amorette Tilde, swear to uphold the laws of the king and queen, er... I mean, swear to uphold the words of the princess, and to follow her commands, so long as those commands do not force you to betray the teachings or commands of the Holy Sacellum and the High Seat?"
She hadn't heard the vows before, but she could hear where he had been forced to change it and the words made her smile as she said, "I do."
"Do you, Amorette Tilde, swear to uphold the peace and safety of the country of Vasconia and her people, doing everything in your power to see to their protection, so long as that action does not betray the laws and commands of, er, the princess or the teachings and commands of the Holy Sacellum and the High Seat?"
She beamed, nodding happily. "I do."
He chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Amorette Tilde, you have been given the power of great strength. You can, and have, held the weight of a city on your shoulders. This gift has been given onto you by the Lord, marking you as a paladin and calling you into his service. Do you swear from this day forward to use this gift in His name, wielding it as a weapon, shield, and tool so long as that use does not betray your previous vows?"
"I do."
"Amorette Tilde, you have also been given skills in combat not equaled by the common man. You are stronger, much stronger, faster, and possess more endurance than an ordinary person. Do you swear to use these skills judiciously, taking care not to harm those who were not gifted as yourself, so long as that inaction does not betray your previous vows?"
"I do." Amorette was getting lost in the wordiness of the vows. She was only grateful that Gael had gone over this yesterday so she didn't accidentally vow herself into something that she didn't agree with by accident.
Gael nodded once in satisfaction. "Then, I name you from this day henceforth to the grave, Lady Amorette Tilde of Gwenael, Paladin of our Lord and princess, protector of Vasconia and her people, Pillar la Fermete, wielder of Iron and Gold. Rise now and take your place amongst your sisters."
"I have sisters now?" She asked as she got to her feet obediently. She was actually looking around, wondering if Manon or Veva was supposed to be her sister.
Gael chuckled, taking her shoulder. "Your sister paladins. They can't be here now, but they will always be your allies. Though, I suppose, you are the little sister of the paladins because of how you chose to make your vows."
Amorette smiled, looking over as Manon crossed to her side. The princess smiled at her, as though she were proud.
"You won't regret swearing yourself to me. I guarantee it."
Amorette smiled taking Manon's arm in hers. She was a bit surprised when she did so because she felt something hard – the hilt of a tiny blade – pressed against her arm, hidden by the volume of her long sleeves.
She was quick to cover her surprise, however, laughing as she squeezed the princess' arm. She imagined that such a thing was one of the many traits that she seemed to want to keep hidden from the people around her. Manon grinned at her conspiratorially and the two of them giggled together like little girls.
"What's so funny?" Cyrille asked, narrowing his eyes on his daughter suspiciously. After the many stunts she had performed, he could no longer trust that anything she did was at all innocent. She was his precious daughter, and he was inclined to want to believe in her, but his queen had warned him against that time and time again.
"Papa, really, what can I even do, imprisoned here as I am?" Manon asked sweetly.
"I'm afraid to find out. And stop acting so dramatic." Cyrille's eyes narrowed on her but he couldn't find anything wrong with her behavior thus far, and Amorette had taken her vows of her own free will so there was nothing he could say.
"What are you wearing to the party?" Manon was asking Amorette, wondering if she was going to wear a gown or something more austere. How a paladin chose to dress herself at her first party could set the tone for how people treated her.
The two of them followed the conversation with the sort of easy carelessness of two girls who had nothing more important to think of at the moment. Gael smiled between the two of them then up to his king who only appeared more suspicious in response to their sweet, innocent conversation that had progressed to the possibility of having tea the next day and how likely the queen was to allow Manon a friendly visit since she was still in trouble.
Cupid, chuckling into his fist, came over to Amorette's other side. As he approached, she gave him her familiar smile.
"My lady," he greeted her formally making her laugh.
"That's so weird," she told him.
"Your title?"
"Hearing you use it. I don't really feel like a lady."
He took her hand and kissed it sweetly, his eyes shining with pride and love. "You are my lady. And you always have been."
Amorette spent the rest of her first day as a paladin with her father and Cupid in Iron, eating a meal they had brought down to celebrate her vows with him. Her father looked a great deal better since Amorette had been able to provide for him. A permanent lift was being built off the side of the Bronze docks so that supplies could continue to reach the people here even after Gold was rebuilt – which meant Amorette would always be able to come down here again. Even if her father didn't want to follow her up, she didn't want to leave him behind.
A couple days later, she left Cupid's house to go to the palace so that Manon could help her into her very first gown. It was a much more complex dress than she was used to wearing, and the princess had offered to allow her lady's maids to do her hair and make up. To really make her beautiful so that she could surprise Cupid.
It had honestly never occurred to Amorette that she could dress up like one of the fancy upper girls to impress Cupid. Sure, she had been envious of the more beautiful women a time or two before, but she didn't think it was something she could do herself.
So, she was excited to get to the palace and meet up with the princess. She had the queen's hand me down gown in her arms as she walked through the palace halls with a jaunty skip in her step. It had been delivered to her a couple days ago after having been tailored to her body and updated a bit in style, since the cut was a couple years old.
Manon was already dressed and waiting when she arrived. The princess was wearing a spring green ballgown trimmed in orange and yellow. The long sleeves, cinched at her wrists, still left her shoulders bare. She was sipping at a chalice of wine when Amorette stepped into the room, smiling and laughing with her lady's maids.
"Are you ready?" She asked, when she spotted her, clearly excited for her about what was to come.
"I've never been made up before," Amorette said, watching the lady's maids with a mixture of excitement and weariness as they began walking around her, whispering to each other about the state of Amorette's hair and skin.
"That's just going to make this all the more fun." Manon chuckled, sitting back in a chair, swirling the wine around. She had made sure to get dressed earlier so that her lady's maids could focus fully on Amorette instead.
She sat back and watched, occasionally critiquing and offering advice as they worked. The rest of the morning passed in a haze of girlish laughter and excitement and the evening, the time of the party, slowly came around.
Cupid and Master Hue were going to the palace together. The paladin's physician had, of course, been invited and, since Cupid would be meeting Amorette there, he had opted to travel to the palace with his former master.
Since Master Hue's home was bigger, the two of them were dressing there. Master Hue's husband, Fiacre, who was attending as Master Hue's guest, offered to help Cupid with his hair when he found him struggling to get it under control while Master Hue changed in another room.
"Your hands are shaking," he remarked with a chuckle as he smoothed Cupid's blonde hair back. "Are you nervous or excited?"
"A bit of both?" He admitted with a grimace, straightening his coat. "I really don't want Amorette to embarrass herself, but I'm quite proud of her."
Fiacre nodded understandingly. "It's a big night for her. I hear Ferrant is going to be there though, so I can guarantee that she won't be the most awkward person in the room."
"That's something." Cupid chuckled as Fiacre stepped back to look him over. His eyes moved up and down critically before nodding once.
"Very handsome. There's a mirror there if you want to see."
Fiacre pointed to a corner of the room and Cupid followed the motion, stepping into the mirror's view so he could get a decent look at himself. As Master Hue's top apprentice, he had attended more than a few formal events with him, so he already owned a couple formal outfits that he tended to keep safely tucked away.
He had chosen his best clothes, a pale yellow coat and steel gray trousers, today. They had been perfectly tailored to his form, sitting well on his frame even despite the fact that it was the first time he had worn the outfit in months. There wasn't any flashy ornamentation or embroidery, but the austere appearance suited him well.
As he was checking himself for any flaws, the door from the bathing room opened and Master Hue stepped out, mostly dressed. He had only to put on his own coat, the emerald green garment laid out across one of the sofas in the room.
"Ah, look at you," he said, warmth infusing his voice, as he stepped close to Cupid. "I think Amorette shall be quite pleased."
"Yeah?" Cupid stood a bit taller. His lady was a paladin; he needed to carry himself with the appropriate air.
Master Hue chuckled, patting his shoulder. "I have something for you. Fiacre?"
His partner nodded, grinning conspiratorially as he walked over to a small box sitting on one of the side tables that Cupid hadn't noticed before. Fiacre brought it to Master Hue who turned to Cupid with a self-satisfied grin on his face.
"My dear apprentice, it was quite a loss for me when you chose to join the military. Though, it was not a decision I could fault you. You were willing to sacrifice the achievement of your dreams to protect our people, and that has not gone unnoticed."
"Master?" Cupid looked between him and the box, excitement building in his gut as he had a pretty good idea of what must be in the familiarly sized box.
"It took quite a bit of arguing on my part, which is why this took so long. Those stuffy academics at the college are buried so deep in their books, I'm shocked they know there's a war going on at all. But I finally managed to convince them."
Cupid's breath caught in his throat when Master Hue lifted the lid on the small box and revealed what was coiled up inside. The elder man took it out with steady fingers, unfurling the deep maroon sash for his viewing.
"It is my pleasure as your master to present you with the sash of your rank," he said formally, passing the box back a smiling Fiacre so he could lift it over Cupid's head. "You have achieved, to my satisfaction, mastery of your craft of healing and so have earned the right to call yourself a physician, certified and recognized by the medical college of Magnesium. Your name has already been inscribed into the record there."
Master Hue tied off the end of the sash as he spoke, then stepped back so he could look at it resting there across Cupid's chest. Fiacre was clapping his hands quietly as Cupid stared down in wonder at the dark maroon splashed across his yellow coat. He reached up with shaking fingers to touch the sturdy silk of the fabric.
It honestly hadn't occurred to him since he had returned to think about applying for his sash. He knew that Master Hue said he would work on it, but it wasn't something that he had been worried over. There were so many other things to think about. He hadn't even gone back to Master Hue's clinic as Princess Manon, true to her word, had sent him the official paperwork to be her personal physician. She wanted him and only him and she hadn't cared if he was recognized by the college.
"You, and others like you who serve an appropriate military service, as well as proving your skills to a master, are now qualified to earn your sashes," Master Hue told him proudly. "You proved your skills to me long ago. And especially if you're going to be working for the princess, you should be certified by the college."
Cupid laughed in disbelief before stepping forward and enveloping his master in a tight embrace that was returned with a soft chuckle.
"Thank you, master."
"Oh, you don't have to call me that anymore, you know. We're equal in rank now."
Cupid shook his head as he took a step back away from him, still beaming. "You will always be a master to me. I'm sure that I couldn't have possibly learned all you have to teach yet and will still seek out your advice through the years."
Master Hue nodded, accepting his words. "You will always be welcome in my clinic, even if you just want to stop by for a friendly visit."
"Okay, that's enough!" Fiacre declared, setting the box aside. "You're both going to make me cry. Let's go. I hear there's a big party up at the palace."
Master Hue chuckled. "Indeed. It's your job to wait for your lady, Cupid, not make her wait for you. Shall we be on our way?"
Cupid nodded once, firmly. The sash on his chest wasn't heavy, but he was acutely aware of its weight as he followed the two men out of the dressing room and through Master Hue's home. All he could think of was how excited he was to show Amorette the sash, to tell her its significance. He could only imagine how wide her smile would be for him.
He really wasn't thinking of how nice she would look once he saw her again or how this was the first time he would see his lady dressed as she should be. She was always beautiful to him, and he had seen her at her very worst. He was more excited to see her taking her place as a paladin at long last.
He seriously underestimated the change that could come over her.
He waited by himself in the hall outside of the ballroom, right where Amorette told him that she would be meeting him. Master Hue and Fiacre had gone inside already, as had most of the guests. The musicians had already started playing and the scent of food from the tables lining the wall was drifting into the hall.
Unconcerned with the wait – the party couldn't officially start without her presence – he meandered between the fabulous paintings that were lining the walls. They were depictions of various cities throughout Vasconia that seemed to be the collection of a single painter. He didn't recognize the name of the artist – or even half the cities – but they were beautiful. Mostly, he was just killing time as he waited, his gaze flitting frequently down the hall.
His vigilance was rewarded as he saw the very moment that Amorette and Manon stepped together around the corner. The two of them were chatting, laughing together. Neither of them looked forward immediately, immersed in their conversation.
He barely noticed the princess. His tongue was suddenly too fat for his mouth has he drank in the sight of Amorette in her gown. He had thought she couldn't be more beautiful. He had seen her in rags, skin and bones, pale and dehydrated and dirty, and he had still found her attractive. She only became prettier with each passing day. So, surely, a dress couldn't change her that much.
But the lady that walked his way, her familiar smile with a new sweetness breaking over her face when she finally looked over, catching sight of him, made his heart stutter in his chest. He took in a deep breath that didn't seem to satisfy his breathlessness as he stared, entranced.
The gown that the queen had given her had needed to be taken in a great deal to fit onto her much smaller frame, but the result was a tight, burgundy bodice that accentuated and highlighted her trim waist, pushing up on her small breasts and leaving her shoulders completely bare. The staggered layers of the dress became progressively lighter, each one revealed by the long slits going up the center, ending with a final layer of gold. Golden chains that he knew weren't hers were draped across her neck, wrists, and dangled from over the helix of her ears. Her hair seemed somehow brighter, more golden, and had been carefully set into gentle, waving curls that rested down against her shoulders.
She was a vision. A true lady in every sense of the word. But as she came in closer, she waved brightly to him with that same innocent attitude she always had. Seeing her enthusiasm was somehow comforting. She was still his Amorette under all those beautiful trappings.
"Cupid! Look! We match!" She said excitedly, pointing between them.
His eyes drifted down to his coat and sash and then back up to her dress. He began to chuckle, thinking it couldn't be a coincidence that the queen had given Amorette that particular color of gown. His head shaking, he focused back onto her, hand held out for her to take.
Which she did eagerly, their fingers lacing together as she came to stand at his side. A sweet scent, like that of fresh, ripe fruit tickled his nose. His mouth watered with the desire to take a few tastes of her shimmering skin.
"What did she do to you?" He asked, grinning as he held her at arm's length. "I almost don't even recognize my simple lady anymore."
Manon, head held up in pride, gazed at Amorette over his shoulder. "My girls are good, are they not? I should offer them a raise."
Amorette flushed in pleasure at their compliments and the splash of color across her cheeks only made her more lovely. There was a sheen of gold across all of her skin from a powder that Cupid knew was quite popular amongst the noble ladies at the moment. He had never really considered the practice as anything but a passing fad of those rich enough to afford such a thing but he could understand in an instant why they would want to don it.
"My iron lady all dressed up in gold," he murmured to himself, succeeding in making her eyes sparkle with delight.
"Is that a poet master's sash?" Manon asked with a laugh, stepping around him to approach the door. "I'll see you on the stage later for your formal presentation. Try not to take too long to come inside. You're not the only one who should see my masterpiece."
Cupid didn't even spare her a glance as she walked into the ballroom. He was entranced by the sight of his lady and he continued to stare until she shifted her weight under his gaze.
"Are you ever going to look away?" She asked, getting embarrassed now. She didn't feel any judgment in his stare, but it was so steady that she wasn't sure how to react.
"I suppose I'll have to eventually," he responded regretfully. "Would it be too much to ask if we can leave right now?"
"What?" She laughed.
"I know I'm the one who initially said that you should be a paladin, but I've changed my mind. I want to keep keeping you to myself. Can't you go back to being my secret little paladin girl so I don't have to share you with anyone else?"
"Oh, I don't think so."
The new voice, firm and unwavering, startled both of them into looking away from each other. Lady Sybille was staring at both of them, a grin on her face, as she walked calmly down the hall. Without a doubt, her gown and jewels were of a much finer quality than anything lent to Amorette. It couldn't be denied that Sybille was a woman of fine breeding and beauty.
Still, she couldn't hold a candle to Amorette in Cupid's eyes. He nodded to her once in greeting as he pulled Amorette into his side.
"Only thinking out loud, my lady," he said sadly. "I can't rightfully ask to keep such a treasure from the rest of Vasconia."
"A treasure, perhaps, but a weapon is more what I'm thinking." Sybille looked Amorette over with a careful, dissecting gaze. "We've met in passing a few times, but I haven't really had a chance to sit down and talk with you yet."
"There's been a lot going on since we got back," Amorette agreed with a nod. She had met a great many people – powerful people – and she was having trouble keeping track of all of them in her head at once. But she did remember Sybille.
Despite her elegant, refined beauty that made her look, at first glance, to be nothing more impressive than an ordinary court lady, there was a shrewdness in her gaze that made Amorette uneasy. She couldn't say that Sybille had even once been mean or even impolite, but there was just something about the way she looked at her that she couldn't really call friendly.
"Well, this seems as good a time as any." Sybille crossed her arms carefully. "I am the strategist of the paladins. Do you know what that means?"
"You make the plans, right?"
"Mm. That's the nice way to describe what I do. What I do is use people. I treat them and their skills as tools. I stop thinking of them as people and think of them as assets. You are not a treasure to me. You are strength; you are power. You are a weapon I can utilize."
"My lady..." Cupid started, feeling Amorette tense under his grip.
But Sybille held up a hand, cutting off his words, without looking away from Amorette. "I have two lives to save from within Gascony, two war fronts to push back, and thousands, hundreds of thousands of lives to save from impending death. And you, Amorette, are going to be the key to helping me accomplish all of that."
Amorette could only nod. She had already made the oaths, after all. It wasn't like she was unaware, by now, of what they would entail.
Sybille nodded once. "Enjoy yourself tonight. It is probably the last night of carefree festivities you will have for quite some time. Come morning, I am going to have orders waiting for you. Be prepared for them."
As Sybille turned to walk around her, Amorette called out quickly to her back.
"I am sworn to the princess. She is the one I work for."
"Yes." Sybille glanced back at her only briefly. "And I fully plan on using her as well."
Surprised by her answer, Amorette could only stare as Sybille walked away. It was the first time she had heard someone say that they had no qualms about using the princess as a tool. And somehow, she knew that the princess would be quite pleased with her words.
"Are you all right, Amorette?" Cupid asked cautiously, squeezing her waist to pull her attention back onto him.
She turned with a smile, nodding her head as she leaned against his shoulder. "She seems rather..."
"Harsh?" He scowled at her back.
"Sad."
"What?" Cupid started in surprise.
"You can't see it? She looks miserable. I feel kind of bad for her."
Cupid looked over Amorette's head to where Sybille had gone, but the lady was already far out of their sight, mingling in with the other nobles come to celebrate. Sad was never a word he would have used to describe Sybille.
Although, when he thought about it, looking past her perfect smile and composure, the impression made a sobering amount of sense.
"I suppose, carrying the weight of the kingdom is quite a burden," he mumbled.
"I can relate to that," Amorette beamed, laughing. Her innocent reaction made him laugh as well and he took a single step away from her so he could wrap his arm through hers properly.
"Shall we grace them with your presence?" He asked, holding his head high. "I'm sure they're eager to meet you."
"You mean, I have to meet more people?" She started in surprise. She had been under the impression that it was just going to be more of the same army of people that she had already met since coming back to Gwenael.
"You haven't even met half of the nobility," he said, turning her towards the open doors. "They've come in from all over the country just to have the chance to greet you tonight."
Amorette squared her shoulders like she was going into battle. "All right. Let's do it."
Cupid leaned over and whispered in her ear. "And I get to dance with you as well. Don't forget that in the excitement of meeting all your new friends."
Just as he hoped, the promise of dancing together banished that look of trepidation that had settled over her face.
Amorette didn't like going into crowds or being treated with reverence and deference. She didn't like people addressing her with fancy titles. Cupid knew that full well, which was why he did his best to distract her through the rest of the evening.
It was inevitable that she would meet a steady stream of people. But he took her mind off of their formalities with the incredibly fancy food. Tiny little finger sandwiches cut into the shape of flowers and minuscule pastries that were packed with sweet, creamy flavors. Expensive and intricate foods that they wouldn't get anywhere else.
When she was nearly overwhelmed with the dizzying array of colors, wealth, and gems that were worth more than everything she had ever owned in her life, he took her to the dance floor. He swept her away into the sounds of the music. She didn't really know the steps, but she took far more joy in the moves than anyone else. She laughed like a child when her skirt swirled around her legs. The sound of it rang throughout the room, echoing amongst the crystal of the massive chandelier.
It wasn't an easy task, and it certainly took him anticipating her moods and planning around everyone's attempts to get close to her, but the smile on her face made it worth the effort. Taking care of his lady was a joy in and of itself.
When it came time to introduce her to the people formally, it was Princess Manon, not King Cyrille, that did the honors. She spoke of her victory at Jorives and how her great power had single-handedly crashed a dozen ships. She spun quite a tale and Cupid almost couldn't believe it was the reality he had lived through.
Amorette couldn't do more than thank everyone for their support. She looked so uncomfortable on the dais that Cupid could tell she was done even before she stepped off.
He was there to greet her immediately, taking her arm in his and immediately steering her towards the exit as she tried to catch her breath. She certainly wasn't made for the stage. He could feel her hands shaking just from standing up there.
"Ready to go home?" He asked, even as he was taking her out of the ballroom.
"I thought I was going to vomit up there," she admitted breathlessly.
"All you did was stand there."
"I could feel everyone looking at me."
He chuckled, giving a few people hard looks telling them to step back every time it seemed that one of them wanted to come forward to talk to her. She had met most of the people here and, although she hadn't been impressed with all of them, she had been polite to each one. Which he knew was difficult for her when she thought someone wasn't a nice person. Which, he could admit, wasn't a trait of all of the nobility.
They fell silent as they stepped out into the hall and walked through the palace. It was still early enough in the evening that none of the other guests were leaving yet and late enough that the rest of the palace had gone to sleep.
When they stepped out into the night air, the late summer night breeze caressed their faces. The scent of the fresh air seemed to calm Amorette. This late at night, the aircabs weren't running, so they needed to walk back home. But when Cupid turned to take them to Quicksilver – so they could walk through to Bronze – Amorette stopped him on the path.
"What is it?" He asked, turning to her.
But she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were turned down the opposite path. He tilted his head, trying to catch her eye.
"Amorette?"
"Can we go through Silver?"
"Er, sure. What's in Silver?"
"I don't care about Silver. I want to see Gold."
Cupid looked at her curiously but he didn't resist as they changed directions to walk to the lift that led down towards Silver. They had toured through the streets before – which were of better quality than Bronze – with the thought of buying a new house there once Amorette began getting paid as a paladin and Cupid as a royal physician. Together, they would have more than enough money to afford a home in one of the finer neighborhoods there.
But those walks had mostly been just for fun, idly planning for their future. Thinking of a home that could support a real family, not just his little house – no matter how much she loved it. Tonight, she was more focused as she went through, straight to the other side.
When they stepped into one of the back alleys lining the high plate wall, she put her arm around Cupid and jumped both of them up to the top of the wall. They landed neatly on the maintenance path. She gave him a smile as she released him so she could walk to the edge.
This late at night, it was almost impossible to see down into the depths where Gold used to be. The scar left over from the crashing of the plate was a deep, dark one. The breeze was stronger up here at the top of the wall. She could feel it coming up from below, the winds sweeping up the mountain, coming out from under the plates. She could detect the faint scent of Iron and, although it was distant and it certainly wasn't a good scent, it was a comforting one. It smelled like home. Like her childhood. Standing above it all, wearing such a fabulous gown, seemed completely unreal.
Cupid stepped up to stand at her side, looking down as well. The depths below were dim, but the moonlight was illuminating just enough.
Some of the shadows were thrown into sharp relief in the pale light. They could see the obvious line down the middle of the ruins where Amorette had halted the fall of the plates. The energy plant was nearby. The absence of it left the city dark when, once, the artificial lights would make it bright as day. From here, she could also see, almost perfectly in the middle, a massive tree that was somehow, impossibly, thriving. Despite the trauma it must have gone through, it was surviving.
A single tree, living in a broken city. Somehow, it was a sad, and yet beautiful sight.
Much of the rubble had already been cleared away. Amorette had heard that they weren't planning on cleaning all of it. They were only clearing away the spaces they would need to place new pillars into the ground. Though she couldn't really see it now in the darkness, she knew that already half of said holes were already complete.
"How long do you think it will take to rebuild the plate?" She asked Cupid sinking down and taking a seat on the edge of the wall.
He let out a long, thoughtful breath before sitting down next to her, one leg drawn up to his chest, his arm resting carelessly on it. The wind brushed through his hair, upsetting a few of the strands. He was so handsome in that moment that she almost didn't hear his response.
"Hard to say. The plates were made so long ago that I don't even know if they know how any longer."
"Who are 'they'?"
"The royal family. Sybille's family."
"Sybille? Why her?"
"Well, her family is the one in charge of maintaining the plates. They had the blueprints for all of them but, er, I think the original builder's notes were in their home vault, which..." His voice trailed off, looking down into the abyss.
"So, not anytime soon, I guess?"
"I really can't say. I don't have any experience with such things. But I don't think it will be a quick process. There's no one alive who even remembers these plates being built. If no one knows how to do it and we lost all the notes, we're starting from the beginning."
Amorette sighed sadly. "I wish... I had been able to do more."
"What could you have done differently?"
She half shrugged. "Maybe, if I had fought off those soldiers back then, none of this would have happened. If I hadn't been afraid of their weapons, if I hadn't hesitated... I hesitate a lot."
"True." Cupid nodded along with her words before reaching out and taking her hand in his. He offered her a sad smile. "I can't say that I'm happy with what happened. Far too many lost their lives because of it. Both here and on the war front. But I will say that, if it hadn't happened, I probably would have never met you."
She smiled, scooting closer so she could lean into his side. Her head came down on his shoulder and, after a moment, he rested his head onto hers.
"Maybe one day I would have just gotten tired of it myself and came up here whether you all were ready for it or not."
"No, you wouldn't." He laughed. "You would never make that kind of change on your own."
"You're... probably right. It feels wrong to be glad that things turned out this way, doesn't it? I mean, it wasn't a good thing, right?"
"No. It certainly wasn't. But..." He squeezed her hand. "I don't think it's wrong to find joy where you can in dark times. Just because a tragedy struck doesn't mean that you have to define your life by that tragedy."
She smiled at his warm words. He really was the smartest person she knew.
"Sybille was talking about Lea, wasn't she?" She asked, softly changing the subject. "The person she has to save from Gascony, I mean."
"Yes, she was."
"What about the other person? She said there were two."
Cupid shook his head. "I don't know."
"What do you think she's going to do with me?"
"I don't know."
She frowned at his unhelpful answers, looking away from him and down to their clasped hands. It felt so right to have her hand there. She had held his hand at least once a day since she had moved into his house with him. It was just so natural to always be able to reach out and have him there, reaching back for her.
"Are we going to be able to stay together?"
"Absolutely."
Her gaze turned back to him, surprised. "You're sure?"
"I'll guarantee it." He leaned away so he could look into her eyes. "You are the best thing to come out of this horrible event. I'm not letting you go. Not now that I have you. Wherever Sybille decides to send you, I'll come with you."
Beaming, she threw her arms around his waist, holding onto him, her face pressed into his chest as he returned her enthusiastic embrace.
They stayed that way for a long minute. Simply content to be in each other's company. The steady sound of his heart beating in her ear was the most beautiful music she could imagine. There was no greater perfume than that of fresh air. And no better home than his little house tucked away in a culdesac deep in Bronze.
This fancy life of riches and elegance may be fun to visit from time to time, but it certainly wasn't where she belonged. She was a simple girl with simple desires. And, not for the first time, she wondered what was going to happen from here
"What do we next?" She asked as he stroked his hand down her back.
"Always that question with you," he chuckled, thinking back on how many times she had asked that very same thing. He imagined it was just because she was from a different culture. She didn't know the expectations for things and so she needed to ask to find them out.
But just like any other question, he was only too happy to answer it.
"I suppose, next I have to ask you to marry me."
"Huh?" She leaned back quickly, looking into his face. "Marry me?"
"What? They don't have marriage down in Iron?"
"No, not really. What do we need with a fancy ceremony? When you belong to someone, you belong to them. That's it, right?"
"Wait, wait... "He held up his hands, frowning, staring her straight in the face. "It's really just that simple for you? Just, you're mine; I'm yours. Done?"
"Does it have to be more complicated?"
"Amorette, you told me that you were mine within a week of meeting me!"
"Yes. And?"
He couldn't help it. He started laughing. It wasn't really funny. More absurd. "You can't really mean to say that you've considered yourself married to me all this time?"
"Not really. I don't really think about marriage."
"But it was the same feeling of devotion? Of loyalty? You intended to be mine for the rest of our lives? Just... like that?"
"Just like that." She nodded, smiling. "I was a bit uneasy at first. I mean, what if you were a really mean person? I wouldn't want to belong to you then, but I didn't really have a choice."
"Amorette-"
"I know." She cut him off with a smile. "I had a choice. I didn't know it at the time, but I did. I didn't owe you my life just because you saved it."
He let out a quick breath of relief before smiling at her. "What would you have done if I was a mean person though? What if I tried to take advantage of you?"
She shrugged. "I probably would have let you."
"That's not very comforting."
"But I also probably would have been found a lot sooner." She leaned back onto her hands, staring up at the starry sky. Even after all this time, the sight of the sky, unbroken and enormous, was enough to take her breath away. "I would have been taken to be a paladin against my will. And I would have gotten into another fight with them because they don't listen."
"They listen. You just didn't know how to talk to them yet."
"Still, I wouldn't have spoken right and they wouldn't have listened. I probably would have been killed for being too dangerous."
Cupid opened his mouth to immediately protest the idea of her being killed. But he couldn't deny the logic of her thoughts. If she had started making a nuisance of herself and couldn't be calmed, drastic measures would have been taken. She was too strong to allow to do whatever she wanted without consequence. The risk was too great.
"Lucky for me though," she smiled at him, "you are nice. And you did take care of me and keep my secrets and let me explore this world. You gave me the time I needed to get used to it so I was more prepared when I had to accept this position. Thank you for that. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me."
"Amorette..." He paused before reaching out and taking her hand. "Wherever you go, wherever this path you've decided to take following Princess Manon takes you, I'm happy to go with you. Refusing to let you go to the shelter was at once the best and most selfish decision that I've ever made. And I don't regret it at all."
She laughed, leaning in close so she could rest her forehead against his. "Marriage next. I suppose if I'm going to be an upper, then I might as well do things the upper way. Then a baby? I am your woman. I should be giving you babies."
He laughed. "One thing at a time. But yes. That is the general, expected trajectory of our lives. Is it good enough for you?"
"Better than anything I could ever ask for."
He was smiling as he took hold of her neck, bringing her in for a kiss. Sealing their promise for the future. He couldn't imagine what that would entail. But he was more than happy to follow Amorette into it, no matter what happened.
The feeling of his lips on hers never failed to make Amorette's heart race. Like the sky, the air, the abundance of the upper world, it was just one of those things that she didn't think she would ever get tired of experiencing.
Having him at her side was the only thing she wanted in this life. Protecting him was her entire reason for existing. If that meant joining this war between these kingdoms, then that was a battle she was willing to fight.
When they finally broke apart, both of them breathing quickly, she bit her lip and smiled at him while the starlight danced in her eyes. Cupid, entranced again by the sight of her, pushed back some of her stray hair as he caressed her cheek.
"For whatever the future holds," he promised softly, speaking more to himself than her.
But she smiled for him anyway, nodding her head in agreement.
"I like that plan. It's a good plan."
"I agree."
"That wasn't really what I was asking when I asked what we were doing next though."
"Hm?" He tilted his head curiously. "What were you asking about then?"
She laughed, looking around them. Taking in the sights of the darkened city, the gaping maw of Gold's absence, and the maintenance path they sat on.
"I meant more like... what are we doing right now? It's still kind of early. We don't have to go home now, do we?"
Cupid startled, started laughing. He had been expecting a deep question, more akin to the things she had asked in the past. But she already considered herself his, so why would she need to ask what was next in their relationship?
He nodded, getting to his feet. He offered her a hand with a smile. She took it, letting him pull her up to stand beside him.
"Shall we go take in a play? I hear there are some funny ones on right now."
She nodded excitedly. "Then, we can go home and make love?"
He laughed again, bringing her into another embrace. "You really don't shy away from that, do you?"
"I am your lady." She blushed in eager anticipation. "And it's one of the best parts of being your lady. Do you not like it?"
"I wouldn't say that." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I love you, my Iron Lady. I wouldn't have you any other way."
She beamed at the way he called her that. She couldn't say why, but she loved that name. It was better than any title that all the fancy uppers had given her.
And though she couldn't imagine what this future would hold for her, she was eager to meet it. With him at her side.