A boy of five ran towards the house, tracking little footsteps through the snow. This was his first Christmas away from his Papa, and he missed him fiercely.
It was quiet where grandpa and grandma lived, and he got his Mama all to himself. Crown princes did not complain, he reminded himself. Mama missed Papa too, and she would be sad if she knew he was sad, so he had to be a big soldier and keep Mama smiling. He held onto the little snowman he made for her, his breath puffing out in white.
“Zain!” His mother called again.
“Coming!”
Dashing up to the verdana, he quickly kicked the snow off his boots.
“Look Mama, I made this for you!” Zain held up his gift for her to see.
“Oh did you? Aren’t you the sweetest.” She beamed at him, ruffling his hair. “Why don’t we put Mr. Snowman in the freezer, and that way, he’ll stay nice and cold?”
“Yea!”
“Let’s hurry. We don’t want to miss Papa.”
Storing away Mr. Snowman, Zain and his mother sat in a cozy tatami room where the TV streamed the festivities from Sanctis. Zain looked at his mother’s face. It was a look she had whenever she saw Papa’s image. Even as a child, the look made his heart hurt. Looking around to make sure there was no one else watching, Zain climbed into his mother’s lap.
“Oh! Zain. What are you doing?”
Zain shook his head and squeezed his mother’s hand. He had grown too tall to do this, but he didn’t think his mother cared. He tucked his knees to his chin, and smiled when his mother hugged him close.
“Zain. Zain?” The sweetest voice called him from his reverie.
“Hm?”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, just thinking.”
She slipped her hand in his lacing their fingers together. She didn’t pressed. It was simple to follow his gaze until it landed on their son, playing in the snow with the other palace children.
“He’s already so grown.”
“Time passes fast with children,” she murmured, laying her head on his shoulder.
“It does doesn’t it?
“Shall get call him in?” she offered.
“No let him play some more. He only gets to be a child once.” His wife squeezed his hand tightly.
His son was now the same age he had been when his world had turned on its head. He hadn’t known then that his first carefree Christmas in Oriens would be the last he would have with his mother. Christmas had been her favorite holiday. If only she could see what he had made for himself now. Would she be proud of him?
Like what you see? If you’d like to support me, feel free to visit my ko-fi page, and contribute to my caffeine intake. It is the lifeblood of creativity and insomniacs!
Oh yeah, how in the world would the BMP princes convince a freedom-loving MC mercenary to join in on a war where she could lose not only her life, but also her reputation as a reliable sell-sword? She could just politely decline, then later get more money out of working part-time for the generals of each army; using the coliseums scattered across the countries as a financial backup is another option.
I say this a FE veteran used to recruiting mercenary units with money. Provide more cash for your recruit’s salary, BOOM, new ally. Better hope the enemy doesn’t give larger royalties to woo your soldiers-for-hire away.
And don’t get me started on my chronic arena abuse. Boss abuse too.
The royal family also has to fund its army and govern its nation first, after all. No need to blow cash on a foreign tactician when you have home grown ones who negotiate at a more reasonable price.
Only this roaming tactician has proven herself in her career. All before Shaharazal’s royal court thrust the country into a spiral of civil conflict, which left the royal family decimated, save for one.
Then I remember Nobel Michel exists and in this AU he oversees the capital’s annual coliseum tournament. After all the fights the MC tactician’s gone through, she’s not leaving without some compensation. Not when her identity had been outed, and especially since Shaharazal’s child heir is relying on her.
That’ll leave some leverage through delayed payment for each of the princes to try and persuade the MC to come to their side.
Two weeks. Two weeks are all they have to individually convince her to join their side. And Prince Yakov already has the upper hand through his match with her.
So what would be their prologues?
Well, Prince Keith I already considered using the grandeur and prestige of Liberty to try to convince the MC to his side. My MC in particular gives him the added bonus of saying:
“Hey, your family’s in Liberty. Best not to fight against them in combat by staying with me. Now stop fooling around and become my tactician: that’s an order from your Crown Prince! ...Unless you prefer being called a traitor, now would you?”
And then milk it for all that it’s worth.
Hit repeat every morning when the MC is invited to breakfast after Nobel persuades her and her charge to stay for two weeks while he finalizes her prize money, to be split between her and Yakov. Come to Liberty, we have higher pay, higher man power, flexibility, you name it. Now stop mousing around and join already!!! Don’t ask about those expensive gifts left at the MC’s door, they’re just samples of Liberty’s prestige. See, excess you can use! Keith’s method is a strong-arm persuasion, what else did you expect from the proud lion at this point?
Prince Wilfred has his stance as the 100th ruler Philip to maintain; his people are depending on him to get the best defense for his kingdom. Unlike Keith, his persuasion has a refined lilt to it. I could see him observing her during each meal and then dropping small suggestions here and there. He’d also ask to join her for a spar or two to gauge how he holds up against her, learn her quirks first-hand while continuing his gentle urges to get her to join his side. Think of him as the shoulder adviser, except he has an agenda to fulfill.
As for what he’d say specifically, probably how Philip has lasted for so long, has a military rivaling Liberty’s, enough finances to ensure its citizens continue living without too much strain from the war, and then a few hints on his interests. He never truly opens up during this time, but he becomes more comfortable and less quiet around her as he tries to convince her to join him. You bet he’d invite her to tea around the end of the second week as a last effort boost to his appeals, parting hand kiss included.
Oh boy, Prince Edward will make the poor MC so confused by his flowery speeches and generous actions, whether it be asking her out for tea, a walk in Nobel Michel’s gardens, or a talk after a meal. He doesn’t need to try to endear people to him; you could say it’s in his nature drawing people to him, as Roberto also has. Edward’s greetings, speeches, and small actions in tandem with his talk about Charles’ strengths as a nation of the arts, home of the pegasus knights, and leading efforts in healers would lend itself as a strong argument for joining his side.
His country may not be the strongest, but it has its own merits. Edward’s actions can either help or hinder him, depending on how the MC reacts to them.
Prince Glenn would be in a hard spot, being the youngest and also still showing signs of his immaturity through his personality. He’d be so awkward despite his efforts of professionalism during the first week. Even more once he finds out she doesn’t remember him. But the presence of the Shaharazal Prince exile would allow him a way to become comfortable around her, reminding him of Alan.
The canon MC of BMP is from Oriens, so the main crux of his argument would hinge both on his familiarity towards the MC and her origins as a Oriensan citizen. Obey the crown prince or be branded a traitor, except please come to Oriens’ side so he doesn’t have to.
An MC neither familiar to him nor a native to Oriens would be a harder subject to tackle for Glenn. At best, he’d be the best in conversing whenever the Shaharazal prince is present. He’d talk about Oriens in a mixture of facts about the military and well-known stories to help familiarize the MC to his country. From there, he can only hope his words about his country will endear her enough to join him.
Prince Roberto would be the more energetic version of Edward, minus the eloquent literary soliloquies and outward actions a bystander would describe as possibly romantic. Playfulness, sudden outings, and friendly conversation would describe his efforts towards the MC. The young prince of Shaharazal would also be brought along with them, as Roberto would make sure to include him whenever he was with the MC. If anything, Shaharazal’s heir would become his best spokesman at the end of the second week if Roberto manages to become his friend.
Roberto may know his country would benefit from having a proven tactician on their side, but he doesn’t agree to strong arm or heavily try to persuade her. No. She has to pick his country out of her free will. So, he’ll only talk about his country to her in a positive light without delving into its military or prowess. How about this tale about Altaria’s people and its guardian dragon? Isn’t it a great story?!
Prince Joshua is the most straightforward of the princes, no lacing his country in embellishments, no excess speeches, no cheap flattery beyond politeness because despite her lineage as a commoner he cannot afford to insult her, be it in either extreme of etiquette. All persuasion will be the expected stock advice given from textbooks, which is double-edged sword for him.
He’ll mainly drop facts about his country’s force that the public already knows, discuss tactics with the MC as much as he can to at least extract strategies from her in case she doesn’t join him. He’ll be heavy with verbal persuasions towards her for both weeks, all capitalized whenever he can find her alone. And like Wilfred, he’ll also ask to join her for a spar. But, due to time constraints, he will run into Wilfred and have to keep himself professional while both he and the Prince of Philip spar with her.
Prince Yakov, poor man, is not part of the Nobel Michel alliance. At best, he only had the coliseum tourney to persuade the MC to his side. Not only does he have a country to unite and a crown to secure, but he also has to defend his country and seek the ice dragon present in Sanct Sybil’s mountains for power to rival the rest of the princes’ armies.
Should the rest of the princes fail to gain her favor, Yakov will have as much time as he can spare towards convincing her, especially since he is mobile. If anything, he’ll ask if she wants to join him in his efforts. Being familiar with the coliseums, he can use this to his advantage. Both the MC and he can benefit while he migrates back to Sanct Sybil. And that means all the time to get to know the MC. It’s the classic Fire Emblem relationship: fight together and increase your camaraderie. Pub visits optional but encouraged.
Zain I truly have no clue other than him just serving her as best he can under Nobel Michel. Maybe after I read his route I’ll have a better idea about how he is underneath his usual professional mask. Sorry. I just think he’s trusting of Nobel Michel’s power, so he doesn’t see the need to ask her for help defending his country.
Like what you see? If you’d like to support me, feel free to visit my ko-fi page, and contribute to my caffeine intake. It is the lifeblood of creativity and insomniacs!
Mystic Messenger
How he’d react to someone hitting on the MC: Jumin |
How he’d react to a serious fight: Jumin
How RFA Members feel about starting a family: Jumin, Zen, V, 707
Be My Princess PARTY
When his daughter asks to play during work hours: Claude
Enchanted in the Moonlight
How he’d react to MC bringing home an ice cream maker: Yukinojo |
Kissed by the Baddest Bidder
What the Bidders Would Do in a Heat Wave: Eisuke, Soryu, Ota, Baba
Samurai Love Ballad PARTY
How the Lords Spend Time with Their Children: Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Yukimura, Saizo, Masamune, Kojuro, Hideyoshi, Inuchiyo, Ieyasu, Mitsunari, Kenshin, Shingen
What Self Defense/Battle Skill Would The Lords Teach the MC: Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Yukimura, Saizo, Masamune, Kojuro
Claude (BMPP): When his daughter asks to play during work hours.
For @akira-miyori
Claude didn’t know how his little girl had escaped the staff daycare. She was just like her mother, a little troublemaker. He sighed as she tugged at his pant leg. Prince Wilfred was doing his best not to snicker as Claude had his pokerface on during tea service. When finally she realized she wasn’t going to get his attention, she plopped down in the middle of Wilfred’s office right under his feet. Nearly causing him to trip.
“Please excuse me Your Highness.”
Picking up the child, he proceeded to give one of his famous lectures before finally promising to play with her when he finished work. The negotiations ended with him in a tiara and with a pink boa scarf, but at least she wouldn’t be escaping daycare anymore.
"Princess, may I have this dance?" - Joshua (angst)
Silently you place your hand into his, curtsying. It had been a year since you were ordered out of DresVan. A lot of things change within a year. The two of you were engaged, not to each other, but engaged nonetheless. In that waltz though, it was only the two of you again and no one else.
But it was too late and you opened the drawer. Inside were books on planning children’s parties, books on birthday parties, balloon animals, and decorating 101 for dummies. “Did you do all this? Joshua….” Overcome with emotion, you fling your arms around him.
“You left me the moment you lied to me! If you were simply going to marry a noble woman in the end, I wish we never started this then! I wish we never met!”
