She Comes To A Decision

"This is a secrecy contract that only the highest authorities may acquire." Jasmine explained. "Contracts usually remain as a page. However, that is their weakness. Should the contract be discovered by a third party, it could reveal information that others should not know. Thus, the secrecy contract is specifically formulated using mana paper. This mana paper is consumed during the activation of the contract, in order to preserve the contents as a magic circle within the individual."

Jasmine smiled at Robin. "Please understand that the magic contract between you and me....well...Since it was intended to be revealed, I used the normal one so that others could tell the terms and conditions were fair."

"Is that so?" Robin realized only now that Jasmine had prioritized Robin's secret to the highest extent.

"I....thank you." Robin, said, feeling conflicted. She wasn't certain if her secret was worthy of such an effort. However, it was in little details like this that she had felt Jasmine's sincerity. Robin took in a deep breath.

"Well...where to begin?" She said weakly, sitting down in the parlor chair.

"The name, obviously!" Jasmine eagerly pointed out.

"... It's Christian." Robin admitted.

"Wha-!? Why would you like that no good ruffian!?" Jasmine stood up from her chair in shock. She had never expected Robin to begin to like Christian, after what happened back in the Capitol. Thus it came as quite a shock.

"Do you need a reason to like someone?" Robin asked, looking conflicted. "But I confirmed with Keith that Christian's secretly liked someone ever since back when I became the hero..." Robin slumped in her seat. "I neither have the bravery to ask, nor the qualification to interfere, because I'm leaving." She admitted.

Jasmine could not believe her ears. All of a sudden, she burst out laughing. It was not the ladylike giggle that most noblewomen aspired to use. No! It was a full-bellied laughter which left one sprawling across the table gasping for breath.

"Is it truly that pathetic?" Robin asked morosely, not feeling even the least bit inclined to laugh.

"No, haha! Not at all! It is truly -haha!- hilarious." Jasmine tried to speak despite the chortles which escaped her mouth. When she finally calmed down, Jasmine revealed what she knew.

"Robin, the person Christian secretly likes is you."

Robin looked at Jasmine suspiciously. "You do realize that he still thinks that I'm a man, right?"

"It's because he thinks you're a man that he can only secretly like you." Jasmine explained, another laugh escaping her mouth.

"He even consulted me because he thought there might be aftereffects of that spell potion he drank by accident. You might not know, but he secretly acquired a flask of holy spring water to make sure I wasn't secretly adding the spell potion into his drink- Hahahahahah!"Jasmine broke down into laughing again. "He's even begun to doubt whether he might be gay or not because of you-Pffft!"

Robin paused, thinking back. The holy water flask, their conversation in the tower room, his care of her at the hot springs...Christian's protective behavior earlier... She had always thought that he was just paying extra attention because she was the hero. But now that she thought of it...

He...

might...

actually..

like her?

The idea took root quicker than a dandelion weed. Robin felt like everything was a dream. She felt light, like she could suddenly float out of the window. But she also felt her stomach itch, as if many tiny wings were fluttering about, tickling it from the inside.

Robin realized that her first emotion was relief; she was relieved that Christian didn't like someone else...that he liked her. But right after that, Robin felt guilt twist her insides, because she did not deserve his love. She would be leaving, after all. Robin grasped her hands tightly. The pain in them helping to bring her back to reality.

"You knew this?" She asked Chelsea, calmly.

"Mmmn." Chelsea nodded absentmindedly. "He also thinks that you still liked someone else, so he never intended to say anything."

Robin thought back to her conversation with him while escaping the tower. Ah...She had said she liked someone back then. Robin didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Robin's entire face became uncharacteristically red. She really had been a little fool, hadn't she?

But...it was good that she was a fool. Robin sat up straighter. Perhaps this way, it wouldn't hurt Christian as much when she returned to her brother's side.

"But, Robin," Jasmine paused. "Now that you know, are you going to tell him yourself?"

There was a long pause as Robin came to a decision. She grit her teeth. But, despite her inner conflict, she eventually looked up and said only one word.

"No."

""No!?"" The other two exclaimed.

"But why ever not!?" Chelsea objected with a pout.

"Because, I'm leaving." Came the quiet reply. "It would hurt far more, knowing that despite my affections, I still decided to leave his side. At the very least, parting as good friends, it would not be such a bitter farewell..." Robin's voice fell off into silence as the atmosphere became heavy.

Jasmine frowned, words stewing inside until finally, she smacked the table. "Well I think it's a perfectly horrid idea!" She stood up, and scolded Robin.

"Who told you that you have to give up on love simply because of a little distance, huh!? You got here once, you can do it again! Just say the word, and I'm behind you one hundred percent!"

Robin's heart ached. "But I can't leave my brother alone." She insisted.

"Then bring him along too!" Jasmine shot back. "I don't understand how you can forget that on your wrist is a storage device that can hold living things! It's easy enough to take him out once you get back!" Jasmine burst out impatiently.

"It just isn't like you to shrink away from a challenge. Just tell us what you need, and we'll put our heads together to solve any other problems blocking your path! So, what do you really want, Robin? Do you want to leave us all behind forever? Give up on love? Spend the rest of your days in misery and boredom? Or do you want to bring your brother back here so you can spend the rest of your days with all the people who truly care about you? What'll it be, Robin?" Jasmine gave the ultimatum.

Robin blinked again. And there was another long pause.

"Your answer?" Jasmine narrowed her eyes.

Robin sheepishly ducked her head, and scratched at her jawline bashfully.

"Well....when you put it that way...the second choice definitely sounds far more appealing."

"So you won't give up on yourself anymore?" Jasmine asked, suspicious.

"I won't." Robin answered obediently. "Even so, I won't say anything about this to Christian until after I get back. I have no idea if I can even come back, after all."

"You can." Chelsea suddenly spoke up. "It's true."

Jasmine looked at Chelsea in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"Because, I have seen it." Chelsea replied. "Besides, didn't that prophecy state that the hero would grandly return? Odds are, the extra companion may very well be Robin's brother. I'm more concerned about the 'fire and war' part, though. I can't see what'll happen on the other side. Would your brother be crazy enough to start a war while you're gone?"

Robin blinked in surprise for the third time. "You know, while I don't think that he would easily do such a thing, now that I'm thinking about it, I really can't put it past him. I have no idea what he would do if he were desperate enough while looking for me."

"Just keep it in mind." Chelsea reminded. "Your return home might involve more chaos than you realize."

In that case, I need to speed things up. It's best I get home as soon as possible." Robin's determination was stoked up more and more. Chelsea and Jasmine turned to face each other, and smiled wryly. Robin was not Robin without her stubbornness.

"In that case, I think our talk is over." Jasmine took the initiative to stand up. "Chelsea? Are you coming with me?"

Chelsea nodded and stood up as well. "Oh yes. I need to find a quiet place where I can have a progressive meltdown alone over the things I learned today."

"Good luck with lover boy there sticking to you like glue " Robin joked.

"I'd be more worried about yourself, I think." Chelsea shot back mischievously.