A Cold Welcome Afterstory 3 part 5

Pain. Passion, and some pressure.

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It did not take Kaguya very long to cross the Arena and head towards the changing room Corrin had run off to, but to Kaguya, it felt like an eternity as her mind raced through the options in her head. Why was Corrin so mad at Sigrun? What was all this about being a failure, being useless, being only good for being bred? The thoughts were so unlike Corrin it seemed as if some vile entity had possessed her daughter!

As Kaguya got close to the locker room, a wave of creeping frost began to leak from the doors. “Oh, Honey…” Kaguya’s worried sigh left her mouth as she stepped onto the ice spreading from the frozen doors. Unlike the vile words that had left her little princess’ mouth a moment ago and seemed so alien to her, Kaguya was all too familiar with this. Corrin was having a frozen bawl.

Kaguya did two things at once, she grabbed a small pill and swallowed it, then used her magic to cut the ice freezing the doors shut and opened them gently. A frozen world awaited her as the doors opened wide. Shiny blue ice and frost had covered everything, freezing over the molten Lightveins to paint the room in an eerie, somber glow. Kaguya’s keen ears heard it a moment later. Quiet, choked sobs. A fist seemed to close around Kaguya’s throat and heart as her daughter’s cries softly echoed in the frozen room.

“What is… wrong with me…” Corrin’s voice sounded broken, choked out through tears as Kaguya slowly, soundlessly walked up to her daughter. Corrin was curled up in the corner, her knees wrapped up tight to her chest, her head in her hands. Ice crystals had formed around her like a barricade. Her training armor was frozen solid and shattered to pieces, thrown to the sides of the locker room without a care in the world. As if they’d been choking her the longer they stayed on. Kaguya reached a hand out.

“Corrin…” The moment Kaguya spoke, Corrin flinched, clutching her head even tighter as she whimpered. Kaguya’s eyes widened. Corrin had never flinched from her. “Corrin! Snowbear, please! It’s Mommy.” Kaguya filled her voice with love and warmth as she took another step forwards and kept her hand out. Gently grabbing her daughter’s hands.

Corrin shook it away and curled up tighter on herself. The ice crystals grew higher. “Go… go away!” Corrin cried through more soft sobbing. Kaguya refused. Kaguya grabbed the icy barricade forming around her daughter and shattered it. Not caring about her fancy dress, Kaguya dropped to her knees.

“Snowbear. Look at me.” Kaguya’s voice was gentle but firm. Corrin almost looked up instinctively, but she kept her head down, trying to bury it in her hands and knees.

“Corriiiin. My darling daughter. Please look at your Mommy. Before she cries from being ignored.” Kaguya grabbed Corrin’s hands with both her own, trying to reach her daughter. She put more weight on her knees and touched her forehead to Corrin’s as Corrin’s cries softened.

“Don’t- don’t hate me… please don’t hate me… they wouldn’t stop staring at me… everyone hates me…” Corrin cried in between sniffles. Still refusing, no, unable to lift her head and look her Mother in the eye. Kaguya’s eyes widened before she closed her eyes and gave a soft smile.

“How could I ever hate you, Snowbear? You are my beloved little girl.”

“B-b-but you yelled at me! Twice in- in two days! You- You never yell at me!” Corrin’s voice grew louder as did her sobs as Kaguya hushed her, pulling back and kissing her forehead again and again.

“Shh, shh, my little Snowbear. I did scold you, yes. But I could never hate you. Nor does Sigrun, or Isaac, or any of them.” Kaguya assured her. Her cold lips soothed Corrin as Corrin’s chest heaved with a wave of sadness.

“But- But I’m a bad girl! I yelled at everyone, I yelled at Sigrun! At Brother! I just- I can’t stop screwing up! I’m a failure! Pathetic! And then I just… I just…” Corrin’s voice trembled as the tears rolled down her cheeks, frozen blue orbs splashing against the ground and remaking the icy barricades as Kaguya kept kissing her forehead.

“And that makes you think I’d hate you? Oh, Snowbear. You are so foolish.” Kaguya smiled as she realized what her daughter needed right now. A good smothering and lots of mothering. Despite Corrin’s attempts to resist. Kaguya pulled her daughter into a one-sided hug, practically burying her tall, little princess in the Queen’s frosty bosom and arms.

“M-Mommy! St-stop!” Corrin cried, conflicted between sadness, humiliation, and embarrassment as her Mom buried her in love as if she were a baby again! But Kaguya didn’t stop, she wouldn’t until every trace of that sadness, that anger, was out of her baby’s voice.

“Even if you kick me off, even if you stabbed me. I wouldn’t stop hugging you. Just as I won’t ever, ever stop loving you. Your father may be my Virrate, but you three- my children- you are my gifts to the world, to your father, and his gifts to me, my precious, precious gifts. I could never hate you. Even if you failed me a thousand times or a million, even if you swore you hated me, even if you tried to kill me. I am your mother. And nothing will ever change that.” Kaguya spoke firmly as Corrin stopped resisting. Corrin’s hands trembled as she let go of herself. Listening to Kaguya’s words as Corrin sniffled. Her mother would always love her… Corrin’s hands were almost afraid to hug her mother back, but as she kept listening, her hands wrapped around her mother’s back and Corrin’s dam burst open.

“UUUWWAAAAAAAH! MMMOOMMY I’M SO SORRY! I’M SORRY I’VE BEEN SUCH A BAD GIRL! I’M SORRY I’M SORRY I’M SORRY! PLLLLEASE FORGIVE ME MOMMMMMYYY!” Corrin screamed into Kaguya’s chest as Kaguya’s smile blossomed. Despite becoming more powerful, despite her body growing up, Corrin was still her needy little princess. And she would always be that. She’d be that even in five hundred years. Even in a thousand. As long as Kaguya was alive, Corrin would be her little baby.

Kaguya rolled over onto her back. Lifting Corrin with her as Corrin fell on top of her. Corrin gasped as Kaguya cracked the ice underneath her before Kaguya gave a small, wry smile and summoned little clouds of frost to float around them. Kaguya looked into Corrin’s eyes. “There they are~” Kaguya grinned. Corrin’s gorgeous eyes. Sclera as black as the darkest nights, with glowing blue eyes. Cyan, Celeste, Azure. Such beautiful blues, and they paled to the color in her daughter’s glowing eyes that shined down upon her. Kaguya gently caressed her daughter’s face, wiping the tears from her eyes as she grabbed her head softly and pulled her back into her smothering bosom.

And Kaguya began to sing.

At first, Corrin was about to thrash in embarrassment, but all the emotions building up in her the last few days yearned for her mother’s songs. All her sadness, all her anger, her confusion, her happiness, her lust, her fear. Everything from the loss of her soldiers, what she’d done with Sigrun, her nightmare, all of it hit her at once as Corrin stopped fighting it and grabbed her mother. Burying her head in Kaguya’s cold love, Corrin began to cry once again.

At first, gentle and soft like falling snow.

Then, the ugly wails of a raging blizzard.

The howling sobs of a storm.

The gentle rain of tears as everything passed.

Corrin and Kaguya did not know how long they were like that. And neither of them cared. Kaguya simply sang until her daughter’s tears became gentle sniffles. Until everything melted away but love. Something Kaguya could never have given before she met Cassinder, and yet here she was now, singing for her sweet little daughter, brushing her hair all the while as Corrin’s cries finally quieted down for good. Her sadness having melted away like the frost after Thawmas.

Corrin smiled. A calm, gentle, warm smile. Perhaps the first time she’d felt at peace since starting her mission weeks ago. She was home. Home again in her mother’s embrace. She was loved.

Kaguya sang for another minute until Corrin interrupted her. “M-Mom?” Corrin’s small voice stopped Kaguya immediately as she looked up at her daughter.

“Yes, Sweetheart?”

“Can I… Can we talk?” Corrin asked shyly. She didn’t know how to… talk… about things.

Kaguya nodded as she let Corrin go. The two of them sitting up as Kaguya adjusted herself. Putting a hand to her belly instinctively, Kaguya felt the warmth within as a small smile bloomed on her face. But it wasn’t yet time to tell Corrin. Right now was all about her beloved little princess.

“What do you wish to discuss?” Kaguya said more refined. She wanted Corrin to be open, but not mother her like normal. Corrin wasn’t crying and yelling her sadness or anger anymore. She was acting like a young lady, and Kaguya would treat her as such. Or at least, she would try to. Kaguya had to fight the urge to spoil her baby and try to make sure everything was perfect for her. (Corrin needs to tell me herself. Even Darling has scolded me for smothering them a few times~) Kaguya thought as she resolved herself. But as the seconds passed… Corrin made no move to speak up as the two drifted into an awkward silence.

Kaguya tilted her head. “Sweetie? Am I supposed to be reading your mind?” Kaguya’s tease was gentle as Corrin’s cheeks turned a pale blue.

“N-no… I just… Mmgg… uuuu…” Corrin grumbled and looked at the floor. Kaguya thought she was about to start pouting again before Corrin steeled her gaze and looked back at her mother. Her eyes filled with strength. With resolve. “I don’t know.” Corrin said flatly.

Kaguya was dumbfounded for a moment. (Snowbear never was good at wording out her feelings… at least she is trying right now. I still remember how much she screamed and cried and yelled I was mean when I had to fail her at Math… Every single time… But she refused to study unless Arkyn or Isaac or Cassinder watched her~ Haaa my little princess. What am I to do with you?)

“That doesn’t help me, Corrin.” Kaguya was a teeny bit exasperated, but her voice was full of nothing but love as Corrin kept staring at her. Her face turning even bluer as she looked away again.

(What am I supposed to say? Mommy might get mad at me if I take forever! But I don’t know how this works… I always just… Ugghh! I  always just cry and yell and someone gives me a snack and I feel better! But that isn’t working right now! Nngg what would Isaac and Arkyn do? Or Daddy? But Daddy never seems worried about anything… even Mommy and the King listen to Daddy… I’m not… like them…) Corrin’s brow furrowed as she lost herself in thought before Kaguya put her hand on her thighs and startled her. “Mo-“

“Shh.” Kaguya grabbed her hands and pulled them in. Sitting directly across Corrin and making them stare face to face. “Don’t think, Snowbear. Tell. I can almost see the steam rising from your ears~” Kaguya teased as Corrin’s jaw dropped in shock before a small smile bloomed on her face.

“You- You butt!” Corrin giggled as Kaguya grinned as well, letting Corrin’s giggling end naturally. Kaguya felt a ping in her head, someone was trying to [Message] her. Kaguya rolled her eyes slightly. If it was anyone besides her Husband or one of her sons, she would be irritated. In case it was them, Kaguya answered normally.

[Yes?]

[H-Hello, Lady Kaguya. This is-] The Dwarf who was in charge of fitting Corrin’s training gear’s voice filled her head. Kaguya fought the urge to scowl in front of Corrin.

[Is something wrong with my Children?] Kaguya interrupted him, her mental tone turning much harsher.

[N-No! Not at all My Lady! It’s just-]

[Then do not interrupt me again if you value your vocal cords.] Kaguya’s mental voice dripped with venom before she forcibly shut the [Message]. Kaguya almost wanted to storm out there right now and rip the stupid little thing’s arms off for daring to-

“Moooom. You’re scowling.” Corrin’s sweet voice brought Kaguya back to her senses as she huffed and exhaled a cloud of frost over them both.

“Sorry, Snowbear. A gnat dared to interrupt us. I’ll deal with it when we finish.” Kaguya let the anger melt from her as Corrin squeezed her hands.

“Are they waiting on us…? We can go… I just…” Corrin’s voice began to fill with hesitancy. She remembered everyone staring at her… The fear in Irina’s eyes, the sadness in her brothers’, the anger in Sirin’s… the tears in Sigrun’s… Corrin’s chest felt tight as she looked down and shut her eyes. She’d screwed up so badly…

“Corrin.” Kaguya’s voice grabbed Corrin out of her thoughts as she looked back at her Mother. “You are the most important thing to me right now. Unless one of your brothers is suddenly in danger waiting there in the stands, they will all wait until we work this out. Understood?” Kaguya pulled Corrin’s hands closer to herself as Corrin nodded. Sheepish, somber, but a bit happy to know her Mother was so caring. But the doubts came back almost right away.

“But… that’s… I’m already so spoiled…” Corrin said softly as she looked away again. Kaguya huffed. This was getting nowhere.

“You are spoiled. Because you are our little princess. Becoming a young lady, becoming a leader. And something is eating you up inside, and as your mother who must spoil you even after you have children of your own. I am not letting you leave until you tell me what is wrong.” Kaguya said firmly before she turned her head and let go of Corrin’s left hand. Clenching her hand into a fist, Corrin watched as the doors of the locker room froze solid with over three feet of her mother’s ice. Essentially trapping the two of them in there. And making sure that they could talk in peace until it was done.

“Mommy-“

“Ah, ah. That’s Mother to you right now, Young Lady.” Kaguya said before smiling and pulling Corrin forward, kissing her forehead and letting her back. Corrin’s blush deepened, but the smile didn’t leave her face this time. “Now. Seeing as a Great Khrom apparently steals your lips whenever you try to start. I will start for you.” Kaguya said as Corrin nodded. Despite wanting to try to do it herself, a big part of her felt relieved. Now the hard part was on Kaguya.

(She’s never treated Sigrun so harshly before. But that feels like a hidden blade waiting to strike. Sigrun should be the last thing I bring up.) “Sweetheart. Close your eyes. Do not think, just blurt out the first thing that comes to you.” Kaguya instructed as Corrin nodded and shut her eyes. But before the memories could come back, Kaguya kept speaking. “We’ll start from the ground up. Melt through the thick ice hiding all of these emotions my little Snowbear is struggling with. Give me one word. What have you been feeling the last few days?”

“Failure…” Corrin blurted out. Kaguya’s eyebrow raised. Failure wasn’t an emotion, but it was a good start.

“Don’t think. Just speak. Why have you felt like a failure?” Kaguya asked. Corrin’s brows furrowed as she grimaced.

“Because I- I don’t know! I just-“ Corrin’s voice started to fill with anger before Kaguya shushed her.

“Shh. I am not scolding you, Darling. I am your guide. Keep your words short. Keep them honest and sharp. They will sting you. They may cut like a blade. Let them.” Kaguya said as Corrin nodded. Trying to force her frustration down.

(I’ve only done this with Arkyn… Corrin’s definitely frustrated, but I have to let her realize that herself. Or at least say what’s frustrating her so I can deal with it.) Kaguya thought. “Now. Why do you feel like a failure?”

Corrin opened her mouth before closing it. Grinding her teeth a little bit. Corrin opened her mouth a few seconds later. “I keep screwing everything up.”

“What did you screw up?”

“Everything! The mission! Our dinner! My dream! My training! Sigrun! I keep failing at everything! And everyone wants something! But I’m useless! I’m an idiot! I can’t-” Corrin’s voice got louder, more frustrated as she went on. Slowly filling with that venom that she’d unleashed earlier.

“Shh, shh, shh, stop there. Corrin. There is the sting of truth, and there is the poison of doubt. You are dipping your hands into both wells.” Kaguya said as Corrin’s eyes stayed shut, but her grimace didn’t change.

“I hate little metaphors, Mother…” Corrin spoke mostly politely. (True… But that is what works best with Arkyn, so you’ll have to bear with it, Sweetie.) Kaguya thought.

“Corrin. Out of all those things. What is bothering you the most?” Kaguya continued.

“Everything.” Corrin scoffed as Kaguya nodded. (You never did take failure of any kind very well… Cheating at sledding and ice skating until Arkyn said he wouldn’t play with you and Isaac yelled at him for it while you cried and said sorry~)

“Pick one.”

“I don’t know!... My training. There!” Corrin grumbled.

“I am not an arrow. Do not deflect from me. Pick one. One that stings.” Kaguya put force into her words. She would not let her daughter lie to her.

“I… Nngg… The Mission… and Sigrun.” Corrin’s voice softened considerably.

(That is much better. While I said one… that was truthful.)

“Your Rite of Leading. Why do you think you failed?”

“I already told you…”

“Corrin.” Kaguya’s tone deepened. Corrin huffed. Clenching her hands in Kaguya’s own, she swallowed… her throat was starting to feel tight…

“I… I didn’t save them all. My first mission… and so many died…. Because of me!” Corrin suddenly shouted, opening her eyes as fresh tears threatened to spill. Her eyes shined with rage. With fear. With disgust. Kaguya took that anger in and kept holding her hands. “I couldn’t do ANYTHING! No matter how many I killed, no matter how much I fought Night Eater… they kept TAKING them from me! I am supposed to be their Centurion! But all I can do is fight while my Commanders have to do everything else for me!” Corrin spit the final words out as Kaguya nodded.

The Ambush. The fact that they seemed to have information they clearly shouldn’t have had about Corrin and her troops… already there were several things that exonerated her, and Kaguya had already told her this. But Kaguya knew that wasn’t it.

“If only one died, and you had killed every last one of the filth that ambushed you, even Night Eater, or perhaps saved her. Would you still have failed?” Kaguya asked as Corrin stopped. Her eyes widened as Kaguya’s words hit her. Corrin looked back at Kaguya, her beautiful eyes like saucers as tears began falling down her lap.

“I don’t know…” Corrin tried to think. Anger at herself, anger at the world, anger at Sigrun, anger at… her brothers and father? Could one of them have done it? Killed every last person without losing a single one of her troops? Varnh? Verlithi? Asa…? Alwin…? Janna… Sapphique? Audun?? Marcus Amatius!? Se’le!? 

Corrin’s tears began to pour down as she couldn’t think of how to save them. Even now she couldn’t think of what to do differently. But surely, surely her brothers or her father or her mother could have done it? Surely they could have! Corrin looked up at Kaguya as her mother gave a somber smile, watching the tears roll down her daughter's cheeks. “Mommy… could… you could have saved them, right?”

“Snowbear. It was an ambush. Your father and I could have killed all of the filth Whiteridge sent, and I could have killed Night Eater myself. But even we would have lost the lives of at least one of your soldiers. War doesn’t care about perfection…” Kaguya spoke calmly as she let go of Corrin’s hands and stroked her cheeks over and over. Letting the icy tears roll through her fingers.

“There will always be mistakes, always be accidents, always be death, always loss. Even if both your brothers worked together with Sirin and Euwen as commanders for your troops. They couldn’t protect all your soldiers.”

“No… no… no no nononono….!” Corrin’s tears fell faster as she stood up suddenly. Grabbing her hair and crying into her hands. Kaguya felt tears stinging her own eyes. She hated seeing her daughter like this. But Corrin needed to understand.

“They… they looked up to me! Varnh was my friend! He wanted to be a musician when he retired from the military! Asa and Vassi were going to go on a double date when we got back! Verlithi was always alone but he- but he finally opened up with us! Saphee called us her family! I want them back! I want them back!” Corrin cried before screaming as Kaguya stood up immediately. Grabbing her daughter and pulling her into a deep hug.

“AaaaaAHHhh Ggaah! It hurts! It hurts! I want them baa-ha-ck!” Corrin screamed into Kaguya’s shoulder as Kaguya nodded. Tears rolled down her cheek onto her daughter’s snow-white hair as she kissed her head again and again.

“I know, Snowbear. I know.”

“Why does it huuurt Mommy!? Ahug” Corrin choked on a sob and gripped Kaguya tighter.

“It’s called Grief. Snowbear.”

“I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT! I hate iiiit… I want them back…” Corrin’s throat felt tighter, her chest felt like a fist was pressing down on it. Tighter than any armor or constriction clothing she’d worn. Like a rope was being tied around her lungs and squeezing. Kaguya squeezed Corrin as her daughter wailed. Finally letting out the pain that had been twisting and poisoning her mind for the past few days.

Kaguya stayed there, hugging her daughter. Letting the room fill with her tears and nothing more. They stayed there in their little frozen world together. How many minutes passed? One? Two? Ten? Neither of them counted.

After what felt like an eternity for Corrin but was far too soon for Kaguya. Corrin broke the hug. “Th-thank you, Mother. I… I feel a lot better.” Corrin said, wiping her eyes and nose. She sounded angelic. “I’m sorry… I got snot on your dress…” Corrin said with a soft blush, her eyes darkened from so many tears.

“Gross, my little piglet. But it was a worthy sacrifice if it meant my dress could help you.” Kaguya smiled as Corrin gave a small giggle.

“Sacrifice… heh… that’s right… that’s what Saphee did for us…” Corrin said softly as Kaguya interjected.

“Out of love. Just as my dress did for you, she did for you, your troops. Her family, as you said.” Kaguya made sure Corrin understood as she nodded.

“Yeah… she wanted to protect us from herself… just like… like how I want to protect them now.” Kaguya smiled at Corrin’s words as Corrin looked at her mother. “At The Calling tomorrow… I want to say it to them. Whoever comes back. I want to tell them- I want to tell them I’m sorry. And that I won’t let this happen ever again.” Corrin said softly, still trying to find her strength.

“Don’t say you're sorry. The King does not bow his head to his subjects. Tell them thank you for all that they have done. And all they will do. To die in battle is one of this country’s greatest honors. Do not take that honor from them. When those who became Einherjers come to greet you. Thank them and tell them you will expect nothing less from now on, and that you will make them proud.” Kaguya said, her posture straightening as she looked like the regal queen of the Irrvasts. A queen of ice in a land of frost. A merciful tyrant. Even covered in Corrin’s tears and some snot, Kaguya struck Corrin with awe.

“Yes, Mother. I will!” Corrin said with some power back in her voice as Kaguya smiled.

“How do you feel now, Sweetheart?”

“I’m still sad… but I don’t feel… my chest doesn’t hurt anymore. Does that mean the pain is gone? Should… Should I feel bad?” Corrin asked, confused.

“Of course not, you should not feel bad at all. You haven’t stopped caring. You just let go of the ball of grief inside you. But where there is grief, there is anger. Do you still feel like a failure?” Kaguya asked as Corrin’s smile dropped entirely.

“I… a bit… I just… You and Father, Isaac, Arkyn… Everyone says I am perfect but… There’s so many things I can’t do… Compared to Arkyn I’m so clumsy. Compared to Isaac I’m such an idiot… How can I be perfect if I am-“

“You are perfect, not because you are flawless, but because you are who you are. If you were flawless, you would have to be a Goddess. But you aren’t. You are my little Corrin. My dearest daughter. A star shining in the frozen lands. You are clumsy and trip, you are quick to anger and quicker to cry, you are as spoiled as can be… and yet, you are kind, you are caring, you fight to protect others, you dance across the battlefield. Your blades bloom from you like the flowers of a Yoru tree.” Kaguya listed off some of her daughter’s strengths as Corrin had a small, pouty frown.

“But that’s all fighting…”

“Do you not love to fight? Have you not begged your father every year since you turned five to join him on his Hunts, and to eventually have a Hunt of your own? Did you not beg us for an entire summer to let you participate in Rein’s Arena for a rank, rather than just using it to train?” Kaguya asked with a teasing voice as Corrin wanted to pout more, but a small grin grew on her face and wouldn’t go down.

“My darling daughter. You and I both know your passion, and your strength is in the fierceness of battle. You are a Blade. You yearn to be pointed at the enemy and slash it to pieces without mercy, and every foe you strike down is one less threat to those you love. But, as my princess, you must do more than just that. Even if you do not want to.” Kaguya said as Corrin’s smile grew and grew, before fading a small bit as she nodded.

“Yes Mother, I know. I need to become a Leader, a Centurion, like Father, the King, and Lord Gudrik expect of me…” Corrin said as Kaguya added on.

“And you will. That passion, that grief, that anger. That does not come from someone who does not care. From someone who throws the lives of his men away. You may think you have no right to be a leader, you may think your commanders are better than you at it, you may not have the natural talent of Arkyn, or the inspired, often crazy ideas of Isaac~ But you, my dear daughter, have will. And will is what separates the conquerors from the fighters.” Kaguya beamed a bit evilly as she pinched Corrin’s cheek.

“Oww! Mother! Hehe… Heeheehee!” Corrin started laughing, finally laughing properly as Kaguya grinned.

“You also need to keep up with your studies and make sure you become a proper princess. Understood?” Kaguya scolded as Corrin nodded frantically. Hating her studies but knowing she needed them too…

“Good girl. And Corrin, I am very proud of you for wanting to talk to me. It was quite mature of my spoiled little princess~” Kaguya teased as Corrin huffed and blushed. “And I am so happy that I made you feel better, even if I did not get rid of all your pain, even if there are things you haven’t told me. I am always here to help. I love you, Corrin.” Kaguya said as Corrin nodded again and smiled gently.

“I love you too, Mother. And thank you… I feel much better now… Though Mother…” Corrin said as Kaguya tilted her head again. Corrin’s cheeks were turning a darker shade of azure as she fidgeted.

“Yes?”

“I um… Mmg… Tharic called me a battle maniac before… I think he was right… Do you want to… spar with me a little?” Corrin asked sheepishly as Kaguya smiled broadly. Kaguya wanted to say yes… before a few things flashed through her mind at once as a wry grin and blue blush settled on her face.

“This time, I think you should spar off against that Furball teacher of yours. Her Haldrun form should be a big hitbox for you to take your anger out on~” Kaguya said as Corrin whined.

“I don’t want to take my anger out on Koyo!” Corrin denied as Kaguya’s grin grew.

“You should. Didn’t you just admit you’re a battle maniac? When your Father and I spar, he says I have a gorgeous, predatory smile on my face for hours afterwards~” Kaguya continued as Corrin groaned. Her mom was probably right… “And before you go and break that little baby stealer’s legs… let’s talk about Sigrun.” Kaguya said cautiously.

Immediately, Corrin froze. Thinking of Sigrun brought a swirl of emotions back into Corrin’s heart, and a cloud of thoughts all swirling at once. Sigrun… She’d been so mean to her for no reason and didn’t even understand why! Even now she felt a tightness in her, but unlike before this wasn’t a tightness in her chest, a clawed hand gripping at her heart and choking her slowly. It was a tightness in her stomach, a queasiness mixed with excitement.

“She’s an idiot…” Corrin said without even thinking as her cheeks flushed a soft blue. A small pout forming on her face as she hoped her Mother would be satisfied with that answer. Kaguya just stared at her, her smile turning into a slightly annoyed frown.

“Corrin, didn’t I say before I can’t read your mind. I’m not a Dream Eater or a Daemon despite what little worms might whisper behind my back~. Now give me a proper answer. What happened with you and Sigrun? Why did you snap when you saw her? If you want me to, I can go out there right now and punish her.” Kaguya said firmly as Corrin’s eyes widened and she turned to her mother.

“No!” Corrin realized she’d raised her voice as Kaguya gave her a small smile and tilted her head. A classic little expression Kaguya had, a subtle way of asking “Why?” Though it was most often used as “What way should I kill this standing meat?”. Even without being too bright in her studies, Corrin knew she’d fallen straight into her mother’s trap.

“I… I don’t know… Whenever I think about Sigrun I just-! Uuugh…” Corrin’s voice rose in excitement before falling in shame and confusion again as the blush on her cheeks grew worse. Kaguya’s Bloodjewel wobbled on her chest as Kaguya waited for Corrin to continue but the seconds ticked on and on. Sighing impatiently, Kaguya reached into her bosom and pulled out a small, extravagantly embroidered white coin purse covered by ice and popped it open. Within the extremely expensive gift Cassinder had purchased for her a few years ago, hundreds of items swirled within the Pocket Purse. At her will, it reorganized and Kaguya reached her hand in.

Pulling out two scrolls of [Clean Item] Kaguya spoke up. “Well, while you try and think of what to say. Why don’t I clean us up. While I hate how starchy this spell makes my clothes, I think I prefer that to snot.” Kaguya smiled as Corrin’s cheeks turned even darker and she looked down.

“Sorry…”

“I already said to pay it no mind, sweetie.” Kaguya activated the scrolls, not caring in the slightest for their price, and as they burst into blue flames and their clothes magically dried up and cleaned themselves, Kaguya had an idea. “Snowbear, when you saw Sigrun, before you became angry, you were excited to see her. Right?”

Corrin nodded, her stomach feeling quite tight as she thought about Sigrun. In her mind, a thousand little things flashed together at once. Sigrun spoiling her, Sigrun annoying her, Sigrun cleaning her after they got dirty from training, Sigrun being her chariot in Chariot sledding when they were children, Sigrun standing up for her when she threw a tantrum and all the adults were angry at her, Sigrun loyally following all her orders, Sigrun accidentally burning her when they were children… Sigrun and her both growing bigger and taller, and her heart and head starting to feel fuzzy around Sigrun recently. The panic she felt when Sigrun got hit by the fireball during the ambush… the look on Sigrun’s face when she’d turned into a Snowball and was crying for help… Sigrun’s strange transformation, her Sigrun, covered in flames with huge horns…

Corrin grabbed her belly as it felt like it was twisting into knots. “Nngg… Mommy I think I’m gonna be sick…” Corrin whined as she looked up at her mother.

“You’ve got steam again, darling~. Stop overthinking. Don’t think at all, just tell me how you feel, remember? Hmm…” Kaguya had a thought, seeing her daughter obviously twisting herself into a mental labyrinth. Though she was quite sure she knew why.

“Corrin. When you’re with Sigrun. Do you feel a cold pit inside you, but also feel like you’re getting hotter at the same time? As if you will burn up at any second, but your insides feel like they will freeze solid if you don’t do something?” Kaguya asked as Corrin’s eyes widened like saucers.

“How did you know that!? Did Sigrun tell you? She really did betray me!” Corrin’s face flushed even deeper before her scowl reappeared. It was as plain as the white of snow to Kaguya; her daughter was getting grumpy and embarrassed, and it was quite adorable.

“Relax, Snowbear. Sigrun has told me nothing besides her own feelings for you, and her resolve.” Kaguya said as Corrin looked down before snapping her head back up.

“W-what did she say about me?” Corrin’s voice lost half the power in it instantly as she fiddled her fingers adorably. Kaguya almost wanted to burst into laughter, but she had to fight to control herself. Both her emotions… and her body. Right now was all about Corrin getting her feelings sorted and neither of them could afford unnecessary… distractions.

“Don’t focus on that, Corrin. Focus on your feelings. Your thoughts, or else the blizzard inside you won’t ever be channeled properly.” Kaguya softly instructed as Corrin responded she would from now on. Kaguya thought of what questions to ask next before smiling. Might as well finish off the Yuki Onna questions first before trying to figure out how the practically teenage emotions were swirling around with it. “When you are with Sigrun, do you sometimes get the desire to… chill her? To wrap your hands around her and freeze her, even if she is already cold from the weather? Have you had to restrain yourself from letting out your Frost Breath on her?”

Corrin’s lips puckered in shocked silence as her cheeks turned a deep, arctic blue. How did her Mother know about that!? Sigrun must have said everything! She’s such an idiot Retainer! She was going to be in so much trouble when she talked to Sigrun after this!

“So I’m right~ Well that is wonderful. Then, my princess…” Kaguya let her next question drop for a second. (I already know she has our race’s usual traits of infatuation. How many idiotic Yuki Onna couldn’t control themselves and froze their beloved solid… though I’ve nearly done that to my King a dozen times… But I need Corrin to try to understand her own feelings a bit as well. And that still doesn’t explain why she was so angry when she saw Sigrun…)

“Snowbear, you like it when Sigrun watches you fight, correct? And you like it when she bathes you, and when she is your Steed in Chariot Races and your partner in sports? Even though you used to love it when Arkyn and Isaac were your teammates, eventually it always came down to Sigrun, except Isaac and my own songs of course~ Poor Sigrun has no talent for singing yet Ufufufu~” Kaguya giggled as Corrin almost squealed.

“Tha-that’s because she’s my Retainer! I always want Sigrun to be there! That- That doesn’t mean anything, mother!” Corrin pleaded with Kaguya as Kaguya fought back another wry grin. (Oh yes it does, Princess.)

“And you get annoyed with her when she gets defensive of you, even though you could say she is just trying to protect you as your Retainer~ But you know it’s more than that. She gets jealous. If I recall it was only a year ago when that young Elf turned his 116th birthday and he asked you to become his first woman, and before any of us even reacted Sigrun was screaming at him, punching him, and nearly kicked him in the head~! Such a feisty look for a regal Primus.” Kaguya grinned ear to ear despite herself as Corrin’s entire face and even her ears began to turn a nearly oceanic blue as she grabbed her dress and scrunched it up desperately.

“Mommyyy! That- that was- she wasn’t supposed to- Iymbrill wasn’t-“

“That’s his name! I’d purged it from my mind. I should pay his family a visit for daring to be so bold as to think he could walk up to our home and ask to share my baby’s hand in a Harem! As if he were even a thousandth as important as you are and not pathetic dirt like the rest with longer ears! If anyone will have a Harem it, will be you having as many men and women as you want, all of them bowing on you hand and foot and hoof and claw! If Sigrun hadn’t have started beating him you’re Father and I would have-“ Kaguya was beginning one of her motherly tirades…

“Mommmyyy! Stoooopp!” Corrin’s embarrassment was mixing with shame at levels she was not at all prepared for right now!

“Eh? Oh… Excuse me, Princess. Well…” Kaguya exhaled her frigid temper as Corrin also calmed down a moment, before Kaguya spoke up. “Why did you get so angry when you saw her? Was it something she did when you were supposed to be drained by the Valkyries?” Kaguya asked as Corrin’s mind flashed with a hundred things at once before she grabbed her head. So many thoughts hit her at once it almost felt like a physical blow!

“No! I just! Nngh… I don’t know!” Corrin groaned with her head in her hands. Kaguya grabbed Corrin’s right hand and put it back on her lap as Corrin huffed and tried to piece through her thoughts as best she could. “I wasn’t angry to see her, I was happy to see her safe. I… When I saw her… she was on fire with massive horns… she had such a look on her face when she saw me, and I was so big and scared and sensitive… but I wanted it too… I’d never felt so full or so… empty…” Corrin pulled back from Kaguya’s hands as Kaguya’s eyes widened but she allowed it. Corrin’s gaze had softened, her full faced flush was fading, but the deep color did not fade from her cheeks. Corrin’s hands wandered, covering herself from her mother, and from herself, as Corrin’s eyes turned glossy. Her right hand covered her chest while her left wandered between her legs, hiding herself like a newly wed maiden.

“I was so scared but I… I wanted it so badly… It was like I was possessed… I couldn’t think, I couldn’t move, I was helpless… all I could do was feel the tightness growing, the pressure, the emptiness, then… Sigrun. And for a moment it was the best feeling in the world. I forgot everything but her… my failure, my troops, my responsibilities, even my own name seemed to fade away. It was just… my cold and her warmth… and everything kept building and building and growing in me until I thought I was going to… to explode! And then Sigrun was gone and the warmth was gone and I was in that nightmare… my Link to Fate… Crashing back down on me after all the good things and all the bad… I’d completely forgotten them all just because of Sigrun! I’m so… I don’t know! Isn’t that awful of me, mother?” Corrin looked up at Kaguya, as if finally remembering she was there. Her hands were still covering her body as Corrin finally realized and put them to her side, her ears turning a light blue again as she waited for her mother to respond.

“Haa… Oh Sweetheart. To have such a wonderful thing tainted by something so hollowing. Time truly is one of the cruelest Gods of them all. He does not hate, he does not love, he just marches on and on and forces us to follow.” Kaguya said solemnly as she stroked Corrin’s cheeks. Corrin grabbed her mother’s hand and nuzzled it comfortingly, despite feeling totally naked in front of her mother even with the dress on, Corrin felt… more relaxed than before.

“I don’t understand, mother. What does that mean?” Corrin asked as she looked up at Kaguya with those gorgeous piercing eyes of hers.

“Sigrun’s flames… She broke the shackles on her [Flameblood Beast], unleashing her Rosyn blood fully, and now it pumps through her veins stronger by the minute. There is no going back for her, or for you, my Princess. There is only forward.” Kaguya said regretfully as Corrin’s eyes widened in shock.

“No, no no no, but Sigrun hated that! She- she was terrified of her blood and her fire and sealed it away! And she… unsealed it because of me… and I called her a beast…” Corrin let go of Kaguya’s hands and put her right hand to her right eye, rubbing it as she pulled her knees in. Tears started forming once again as Corrin’s voice came out softly. “She’s an idiot… such a stupid idiot… and I was so mean to her!” Corrin started to cry into her hands as Kaguya scooted over and wrapped her arms around her again. How many times had Corrin cried today? Surely it was a record, but not one that she would be counting this time. Even if Corrin cried a hundred more times for an hour more, Kaguya wouldn’t chastise her.

The knots that had been twisting inside Corrin were all slowly coming undone one by one.

After letting Corrin cry for another half a minute, Corrin stopped and weakly asked Kaguya a question. “Mommy, do you- do you think she’ll forgive me? Even when I was so horrible to her and… and everyone? Even though I just keep screwing up?”

Kaguya kissed Corrin on the forehead again. “Shhhh, shh, did we not just discuss that before? You are not a failure, you did the best you could do and next time you will do better. You make mistakes, you triumph, you learn and grow, and Time marches on all the same. If anyone ever calls you a failure, you have my blessing to cleave them in two on the spot. Understood?” Kaguya said as Corrin nodded and suppressed a small laugh.

“And as for Sigrun. You will apologize to her, and to your brother. And both of them will forgive you, trust me, Sweetheart. Your bonds are far stronger than that. We are Irrvasts, we never abandon our own to the cold. And I, well I am far too proud to allow that either~” Kaguya held Corrin close as Corrin smiled softly and nodded. “Snowbear, I will tell you a secret that very few in the whole world know. Your Father and I have disagreed on many things, but we have only fought once, and it was so awful I feared I had torn our love in two. I… I forced a dreadful choice on your Father when his entire world was changing, and despite how much he loved me, I could not have faulted him if he severed our bond then and there and I left the walls of Blacktorch forever. Alone.”

Despite Kaguya’s best attempt, tears began to fill her eyes for the second time that day as Corrin looked at her mother in shock. She couldn’t even imagine her parents arguing, let alone something this bad… Rather than become more curious, Corrin wanted her mother to stop, to forget about it and leave this pain behind just as she’d helped her do it.

Kaguya continued. “I feared I had ruined everything. I thought what I had done was irreversible, and it was. There was no going back, no turning back time. But there was a path forwards and your Father, my Virrate, my King of Kings, my beloved Cassinder… He leapt onto that path and grabbed my hand. Not letting me fall behind into despair. And he told me this. ‘Kaguya, I abandoned my father, and I would have abandoned my brother, and I would have failed the Irrvast clan. Were it not for Enzo, Omar, and you. I will never let that happen again, and I will never let you rob yourself of your happiness, my love. Will you follow me? No matter how much I fail? Again, and again and again. Until I become half the man you deserve?’ And after he said that… My heart that already belonged to him, that I’d shattered foolishly, that heart healed and became a thousand times his follower. I fell upon him, crying, begging his forgiveness, and declared him my King and my Virrate forevermore.” Kaguya finally finished as a few tears rolled down her eyes, turning into icicles on the floor.

“WWWWAAAHHHH! MMMOOMMY I DIDN’T KNOW THAT! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU AND DADDY ALMOST BROKE UUUUP! WWWAAAHH! BUT- I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT MOMMYYYYY!” Corrin screamed and cried into Kaguya’s shoulders as Kaguya’s face flushed and she half wanted to laugh, and half wanted to smack herself in the face. Laughter won.

“Ufu-Fufu- Ohohohoho-OO-WWAHAHAHAHAHA!” Kaguya’s stifled laughter turned into a mirthful teasing laugh, before fully melting into a gut busting cackle as she squeezed Corrin even tighter and spun on her heels. Using far too much strength as Corrin soared through the air and held onto her tightly in confusion and joy as Kaguya continued laughing. Her daughter was so pure! So foolish! So cute!

“Ahh Corrin, my Corrin! My sparkling snowflower! My little princess, my ferocious Snowbear! Oh I love you so much!” Kaguya yelled with joy as she finished spinning the two of them. Corrin was grinning ear to ear, though she was completely confused now as Kaguya stopped and quickly put a hand to her stomach for a few seconds. Her eyes went wide before she shook her head and looked back at Corrin.

“Corrin, honey. You really are about to make me put you back in school~” Kaguya teased as Corrin’s smile shattered.

“EHHH!?”

“I told you that, because even at my worst. Even when I had screwed up so badly the only thing, I could have done worse would have been to attack your Father, he still loved me and made me his wife, made me your mother, his Queen. Your brothers will never leave you, never hate you, they will always be there to comfort you, scold you, tease you, and spoil you. And Sigrun, Sirin, Euwen, they are all as stubborn and loving as your father is. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have chosen them as Retainers for our children. Do you understand now?” Kaguya asked, exasperated yet oh so happy to just explain it straight to Corrin. It finally clicked in Kaguya’s head completely. Even a little metaphor soared right over her daughter’s head! But if that was the case, she would gladly spell it out for her little princess.

“Corrin, from what you told me, and how you have always had my temper and my… haa my Queenly neediness as your Father teases me. I think I know exactly what is bothering you about Sigrun.” Kaguya said boldly as Corrin looked at her mother with interest, worried and hopeful her mother would magically fix all her problems. “You, my dear daughter, are in love with Sigrun. And you are a-“

“WHAT!? NoOOOoo No no NNOO! I am not, mother! How could you say something so- so- She’s an idiot!” Corrin screamed and stamped her feet, her cheeks turning dark blue once again as her eyes swirled like vortexes. Kaguya’s grin grew even more.

“You called her an idiot again! Ohohoho~ Unfortunately for Sigrun, that is my second conclusion, my Princess. You love Sigrun, and you are an Elskuga!” Kaguya declared with a wolfish grin, pointing an accusatory finger at Corrin. Corrin’s eyes spun even faster as she processed the damning accusation her mother had just laid upon her. An Elskuga! Her!

“NNNOOOO! I AM NOT!” Corrin screamed and shut her eyes, stomping her feet adorably as Kaguya’s cheeks almost hurt from smiling so much as Corrin acted exactly like an Elskuga would when called out on it. Elska and Elskuga were two more words originating from the lands buried in frost within Zarahi’s Wrath. Elska was a romantic or brotherly way of calling someone a lovely idiot. While Elskuga was a far more teasing word. A ‘Love Liar’. One who couldn’t be honest with their feelings even to themselves, sometimes even going so far as to declare they hate the very person they are smitten for!

“MMMOOMMY! TAKE THAT BAAACK I AM NOT AN ELSKUGA! I DO NOOOT LOVE SIGRUN LIKE THAT! V-VASSI IS AN ELSKUGA! SHE- SHE ALWAYS YELLS AT REOFA! AND HER WINGS AND TAIL START WAGGING! IF ASA AND SIGRUN DIDN’T CONVINCE HER, SHE’D NEVER HAVE SAID SHE’D DATE REOFA! I DON’T DO THAAAAAT!” Corrin cried and yelled with her eyes shut as Kaguya laughed proudly. A deep, gorgeous laugh as she let Corrin yell her denial before she swooped in like a frost owl and scooped her into another hug.

“Oh, my darling baby! You absolutely do treat Sigrun just like that in your own special way~ Always bossing Sigrun around, but always wanting her to come back soon after you ordered her away for annoying you!” Kaguya spilt more loving, mortifying truths on Corrin as Corrin was getting close to hyperventilating from embarrassment as she broke the hug.

“I- I don’t! I don’t! I do not like Sigrun like that! She’s my- she’s- she’s!”

“Yes, Snowbear? Spit it out.” Kaguya’s placed a hand on her cheek to help complete her smug, motherly sneer as her daughter had a much more wonderful meltdown than earlier.

Like a cornered beast, Corrin’s embarrassment transformed into bratty temper as she stomped her foot again. “NNGG, Mommy you jerk! Jerk jerk jerk! UUUUUUGH!” Corrin stomped her foot with every jerk, though there was no earthshattering power behind it. Still… Kaguya’s heart ached at being called a jerk by her daughter, even if it was such a light insult. Kaguya just rode it out as Corrin continued lightly stomping for a few moments before she huffed a deep frigid sigh and slammed her butt down onto the frozen bench.

“I’m not an Elskuga…” Corrin said quietly as Kaguya nodded and kissed her forehead again.

“You absolutely are~. Oh my little princess, growing up, falling in love! I’m so happy for you sweetheart. Though we’ll have to break the news to your father very carefully. Or else even with how much he loves Sigrun, he may lunge across the dinner table and want to castrate her himself!” Kaguya said wickedly as Corrin’s entire face had turned into a painted blue cherry by this point.

“Muu…” Was all Corrin could squeak out as her heart thumped in her chest and Snowbeetles flapped around in her tummy. As her mother held her gently, Corrin saw flash after flash of Sigrun running through her head. Sigrun’s boisterous laughter, her broad smile when she praised Corrin, her furious face when any of the troops started bickering while Corrin told them to behave, that look on her eyes when she entered wherever Corrin had been teleported while she swelled up…

“Ngh!” Kaguya let out a sudden sharp grunt as Corrin looked up at her mother slowly, wondering what was wrong. Kaguya quickly brushed it aside, though a bead of cold sweat formed on her brow. “It’s nothing, Snowbear. Now, are you ready to return to the others now?” Kaguya asked as Corrin shook her head and gave a soft smile.

“One more minute please, mother.” Corrin said softly, her voice as gentle as falling snow as she nestled against Kaguya’s bosom and let herself relax. All the knots inside her had come undone. There was still so much she had to process, so much she had to learn and get better with… but Corrin felt as light as Fii’s feathers right now. There was still a lot of anger, sadness, and frustration swirling inside her, but so much of the confusion and guilt had melted off her heart. Plus, she was about to go battle Koyo and get rid of a lot of that frustration! Corrin smiled warmly as she nuzzled Kaguya and sighed in relief.

Kaguya was having the exact opposite reaction inside her at that moment. Her Quick Delayed Reaction pill from Dave’s Labyrinth was wearing off! Kaguya grit her teeth as her stomach was starting to wake back up with a furious vengeance, but she still refused to ruin her daughter’s moment. (Ohh hold on a little longer! I knew I should have eaten a proper elixir from our potion brewers! But I needed something that works quickly! Nghh that damn Dark Elf! It feels like a Morningstar is spinning around inside me! If only I knew where that labyrinth store was I would mount his head on a spike but Katia won’t tell me where the entrance is! What do you mean I am banned from a store I’ve never even visited!?!)

While the Ice Princess relaxed and basked in the moment, the Ice Queen’s condition grew worse and worse as her grimaces were barely contained. “C-Corrin. Do you think you are ready now?” Kaguya struggled not to let her cramps slip into her voice as Corrin pulled back from the hug.

“I… I must be at some point, right, Mother?” Corrin stood up and adjusted her dress as Kaguya looked up at her through one eye. The other shut tight in a wince Corrin hadn’t noticed. “Can you come with me? I… I don’t know how to say sorry that well… I always end up just crying and saying sorry again and again… and I know I owe everyone a proper apology, especially big brother… and Sigrun.” Corrin said thoughtfully as Kaguya was fighting not to fold inwards as the pill wore off entirely.

Kaguya wanted to be so proud of her little girl. She still had so much growing up to do, she still cried like a baby just a few minutes ago over something silly, but here she held her head like a princess. Here, she was taking responsibility for once and wanted to own up to her mistakes. She really was becoming a young lady, even if she’d always stay Kaguya’s young lady forever thanks to her Yuki Onna blood. Kaguya opened her mouth, about to tell Corrin that she would gladly go with her and help her apologize…

BBBLLLOOORRBBBRLLOOOOBBBLLRRROOOBBBLLE

Kaguya groaned audibly and clutched her stomach, leaning forwards as her belly finally made itself known. The princess had had her time, now it was the queen’s turn! Corrin’s eyes went wide with horror at the noise her mother’s tummy had made. It sounded like the last air bubbles of a massive beast that had fallen through the ice and was drowning from the temperature shock of frigid water. Sinking deep into the abyss where it would rest until the beasts under the ice devoured it. The final sign it had ever existed would be the splashing waves and those bursting bubbles at the surface. Corrin’s hands shot to her own stomach in fear as she now wanted to be as far away from her mother as possible before her Sympathy Gas kicked in!

“Umm! I can do it myself, mother! I love you!” Corrin said as she quickly went towards the frozen solid door, about to cut it down so she could escape.

“Corrin- w-NNGGH! Wait, Snow-GHhhG, hng SHIT I’m going to kill that ELF! Fffaaa! Here, darling. Don’t you ever forget I am so NNG proud of you!” Kaguya was clutching her stomach now as it rebelled against her. Using as much of her strength as she could, she reached into her Pocket Purse with her right hand and pulled something out as Corrin watched. Corrin’s eyes were half torn between her mother’s violent belly, and what her mother was pulling out of the enchanted little coin purse. And then her eyes widened as Corrin felt fresh tears fill her eyes alongside a bright warm smile.

A crown of black as dark as a starless sky. With a small Ever Ice gemstone embedded within. Shaped like a Tiara, modelled after the spikes of Blackheart Castle. Made of Cold Obsidian with the teamwork of Charred and Makyr Dwarves and Cyclops.

The Crown of the Ice Princess.

Despite how much she was wincing, and the growing hurricane inside her. Kaguya stood up and carefully placed the crown on Corrin’s head as Corrin shut her eyes and wiped the newest tears to form. The crown was naturally enchanted with several spells both to give it more durability, and to help Corrin perform her duties as the Irrvast princess. One of those spells was the calming spell [Tranquil Heart] that would automatically activate if Corrin became too anxious. Cassinder had personally demanded the spell be placed after the incident at one of Corrin’s first meetings with Nobility when everyone discovered that Corrin had two levels of anxiety. Freezing up like a stone statue, unable to talk unless with family… and Pufferfish Syndrome… Named after the Blackspine and Quilted Puffers found in warmer waters, though no one from Blacktorch had ever seen one, Kaguya and Cassinder had to learn quickly what it was when their daughter began violently swelling up all because of a party with people she’d never met.

Corrin fiddled with the crown as a small blush passed over her cheeks before she smiled and kissed Kaguya on the cheek. Corrin wasn’t good at speeches, so she’d be direct just like her mother. “Thank you, mother. I love you so much. I’ll go say sorry now, and give Koyo a small thrashing for you Heehee~. Goodluck, Mommy!” Corrin said as Kaguya nodded, her heart filling with joy and pride as Corrin put her hand on the frozen door and the ice began to melt. Corrin quickly escaped the locker room right as Kaguya’s stomach roared again and she nearly fell from the cramps.

-------------------------------

Fifteen minutes earlier.