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⠀⠀ ⠀ ❛ 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀
⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. ❜
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❝ I remember being so excited to come here, my lady couldn't sit still, chattering away and telling me how wonderful it was. And she had been right. Where now structures of black stand, there had once been golden fields and trees... it was beautiful... ❞

A nod was given, acknowledging they would be waiting a little while longer, but also acknowledging his question.

❝ Small... quaint. The people here prospered, even despite the sickness, and they appeared happy. ❞

She had been happy, too.

+

While she mulled all of this over, Prompto had made their order and paid for it, and she only really came back to the here and now when he gently pulled her to one side and asked her a direct question.

❝ Sorry, I was miles away... ❞

+

To say that she was confused would be an understatement, and perhaps she should be angry, too? Maybe the anger would come later, would be woven into her grief over all she had lost, the life she could have lived if Somnus hadn't found her...

But for now, confusion would reign.

+

There was much and more she didn't understand about herself now. Why she had been able to survive in that place for two thousand years without a drop of water or morsel of food passing her lips, or why she had been pulled out of it. How it had even been possible.

+

She pulls away from him, her fingers toying with the pendant that hangs around her chest, smiling at him as she does so.

❝ Hold onto that image, my lord, it will see you through the restoration efforts, through times that are hard. ❞

It fills her heart with joy to hear him speak of Tenebrae in such a positive way even though he has seen the ruins in now lays in. She doesn't have the mental image of it quite like he does, for she hasn't seen it with her own eyes, but knowing he wants to rebuild is enough for her.

❝ Good. ❞

+

heard her or not. Regardless of whether he had, she decided to respond to his statement of his potentially being rude if she were to sit patiently while he ate.

❝ Oh, um, no, that would be quite alright, sir. Besides, you're being so generous in offering to pay.~ ❞

realisation she was having was causing her a level of distress, enough that her grip tightened on Prompto's hand as they joined the queue, suddenly aware of how many people there were, how close they were to her.

❝ 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐? ❞ She whispered to herself, not even knowing whether Prompto had

+

Not that she saw many mercies in what had been done to her, the life that had been stolen from her. ❝ I was... I 𝘢𝘮 human, and I remember what it felt like to be hungry and thirsty but— ❞

She motioned to herself with her free hand, and it was clear from her expression that whatever

+

or clothing —Aera had seen to it that everyone in the Fleuret employ was treated fairly.

As Prompto explained the concept of hunger, Victoriam found herself remembering the sensation, but not when she had realised that her body no longer needed anything to survive. Perhaps it had been a mercy?

+

For a moment she switched between looking at him and the coins in her hand before a soft 'oh' sound left her. Of course currencies would have changed and the menial amount she had would be of no use.

Back then, she didn't have much by the way of money, but she'd never been without food

+

Prompto's offer and question gave her pause, her free hand reaching into her pocket and producing some very old looking coins.

❝ Would they accept this? For master Ardyn's treats? Also... I... I don't know? I think I last ate when Somnus still lived? Do I need to eat? ❞

It wasn't long before they were coming to a stop, the smell of the bakery filling her lungs long before it came into view.

But alas, no sign of Ardyn.

❝ Maybe we missed him? Or he is yet to arrive? ❞ She could wait if needs be, she was used to waiting.

+

Navigated the city streets with such ease. There were aspects of it she recognised; a statue here, an old building formation there, but on the whole she knew it to be different.

This wasn't the Insomnia she had come to think of as a second home. No, it belonged to people like Prompto now.

+

❝ I'll do my best to keep that in mind, sir. ❞ He hadn't given her an order, and she certainly wasn't in his employ, yet calling him 'sir' had felt right in the moment.

And speaking of moments, she realised that he had been holding her hand for many of them by now, his grip gentle as he

+

A bloom of rosy red stained the apples of her cheeks when he informed her that her giggle had been cute, even encouraging her to do it more often.

It had been so long since she had last had a reason to laugh that the sound seemed almost alien to her somehow, like it belonged to someone else.

+

She swallowed thickly, her expression becoming deeply earnest as she spoke.

❝ —Were I you, I would think the same, and yet here I stand. This world is filled with secrets and lies, of injustice and I feel you know that... I am just one of many who got caught in the Gods crossfire. ❞

As expected, he didn't believe her, and while she had been prepared for it, a part of her still felt deflated being faced with the fact.

Still, she wasn't to be deterred, even if her insistence would be viewed as rude.

❝ My lord, I have no reason to lie to you, naught to gain from doing so... ❞

+

Truth be told? She likes it. It makes her feel alive, which in turn makes her feel guilty for experiencing a moment of joy as he tells her of Fenestala's fate.

❝ I had no idea... I had hoped to see it again, to return home. I'm sorry you had to witness it alone. ❞

A faint dusting of rose stained the apples of her cheeks at his offer, the necklace given back to him as she tucks her snow white hair up and out of his way. ❝ Thank you, yes. ❞

The chain feels cold around her throat, but not nearly as cold as the metallic fingers that brush against her skin.

+

She seemed crestfallen by this, but accepted his wishes all the same. To press him would be rude, and she knew better than to do so.

❝ I understand, my Lord. ❞

His question had her shifting uncomfortably, though she wouldn't lie to him, even if he didn't believe her.

❝ Lady Aera Mirus Fleuret. ❞

Times had clearly changed since she served Lady Aera, but she would not give the Lord a hard time for this and instead lowered her head in respect.

❝ Yes, my Lord, a servant. I served before your time. ❞ Her head lifted, meeting his gaze. ❝ I was hoping to offer my services again. ❞