Chapter 19: I'm glad everything is cleared up
The blinding light was finally beginning to fade. Alexia could feel a breeze on her face and could smell grass. She lifted her head and blinked, she could make out trees and other plant life.
"Where…"
"I think we're in Lindwurm Forest," a familiar voice said. Rose held out a hand and helped Alexia to her feet.
"Wow, we actually survived all that. I'm very happy to see you're all right."
"Thank you, Alexia I feel the same."
"I also made it out alive," the silver haired pornography writer said.
Alexia looked at her. "What a shame."
Natsume narrowed her eyes. "I beg your pardon?"
"What a shame we don't know what happened to everyone else. That's what I meant."
Big tits forced a smile that was about as genuine as a businessman from Outlaw City. "Of course."
"I'm so relieved both of you are safe!" Rose said with a smile Alexia thought really was honest.
There was a growl from the woods and a massive form approached them.
"B… B… Bear!" The elf cried and crumpled to the ground.
Alexia and Rose both drew their swords and charged.
XXX
"I've never had bear meat before," Rose said. "I've never actually eaten out by a cookfire either."
"I've done it a few times," Alexia said. "It was part of my survival training. All the nobles in my country do at least a little of it."
"It's not bad," Natsume said. "But it would be better with salt."
"So sorry, we left it with the wine and side dishes," Alexia said with annoyance.
"I'm sure Natsume-san isn't used to this sort of cuisine, and it's been quite a day," Rose said trying to prevent an argument.
"Please, just call me Natsume. Given the difference in our station there's no reason for honorifics."
"Oh! I'd love that, Natsume! Have I told you how much of a fan I am of your work?"
Alexia sighed and munched on her roasted bear meat. With everything she'd gone through there was no point in going back to Lindwurm except to arrange transport. She needed to return home and report everything she'd discovered. She hoped Cid was okay but would trust that he would manage somehow like usual.
"I'd like to ask both of you to return to the capital of Midgar with me to act as witnesses. What I'm going to report will seem incredible. Having the two of you back me up would make everything more credible."
"Of course," Rose said.
"I will be happy to help," booby beast said.
"I appreciate it," Alexia looked at the sky it was shifting from black to purple. "It should be dawn soon. Let's finish our breakfast and then go arrange a carriage."
"Before that could we talk-" booby beast began but was cut off as Rose suddenly got to her feet.
"Alexia! I…" she began wringing her hands and fidgeting. "The… the subject we were talking about before Shadow's arrival. I… I would really like to hear your answer."
The big boobed snoop was looking curious.
"Oh, absolutely," Alexia set her food aside and stood up as well. "But not here, lets go for a walk okay?"
Rose nodded in eager agreement.
Alexia looked at the erotica writer. "If you'll excuse us."
"Oh, certainly!"
Alexia sent her a listless gaze. "I trust you'll respect our privacy and not try to listen in on us."
The girl gasped and put a hand to her mouth. What? I would never even think to intrude on someone's private conversations."
"Glad to hear it."
XXX
Alexia led Rose some distance away from the campfire. The entire way the other girl was silent. When Alexia thought they were far enough away she checked the area. There was no trace of mana and so far as she could tell there was no other presence. Satisfied she nodded.
"I suppose this will do," she turned to Rose and took a deep breath. "I guess it's time to have this conversation. Before we begin, I want to say I respect you, and no matter how this turns out I hope we can be friends." Alexia really meant it. She had only one real friend and it would be nice to have a second.
Rose nodded. "I feel the same way, though people only usually say things like that when they expect the other person to be upset with them. I know we were interrupted when Shadow arrived, but you did hear my declaration?"
"Of course," the last word had been cut off. But it was enough. When someone says, 'I love' without any sort of warning the next word can only be, 'you.' She'd even seen Rose mouth a one syllable word though she'd been unable to hear it. "I won't keep you in suspense, my answer is no."
"Just like that?" Rose demanded. "Can't you at least hear me out first?"
Alexia shook her head. "I'm sure you have your reasons, but you must know it's impossible."
"Why? Because it would be embarrassing?"
Alexia hesitated and picked her words very carefully. If Rose wanted to make her feelings public Alexia really couldn't do anything to stop her. That was why it was vital to reign her in and make her see the reality of the situation without upsetting her. Or at the very least upsetting her as little as possible.
"No, no of course not, but you have to admit it would be a path of thorns."
"I don't care how difficult the circumstances might be! If it's for the person I love I'd endure anything!"
Oh boy! Not good! She sounds like all those lovesick freshmen who confessed without even talking to me! "But you wouldn't endure it alone, would you? Are you really going to force the person you love to suffer as well?"
Rose frowned. "Not by choice, but I believe true love can overcome all obstacles."
Gently. Kindly. Delicately. "Yes, but that's only if both people feel the same."
The reaction was not what Alexia was hoping for. Rose crossed her arms over her chest and looked defiant. "We do."
Alexia blinked. "Excuse me?"
"We love each other! The words have never been spoken aloud but they don't need to be! I have seen it unspoken and unbidden in their actions. I've seen it blazing within beautiful ruby eyes! Eyes filled with such passion and will! I don't need to hear the words to know that the one I love loves me every bit as much as I love them!"
Oh shit! Shit! SHIT! Alexia though in sudden mounting panic. She's completely delusional!
Rose reached out and grabbed her hands. "Alexia Midgar! You care nothing about Cid Kagenou! Please break up with him so I can be with the one I love!"
Alexia could see the single-minded obsession in her honey-colored eyes. Could hear it echoing in her voice. Alexia was sure that no logical argument would get through to her. Terrified of what could happen when everyone found out she shouted the only thing she could think of.
"I can't! I LOVE CID KAGENOU!"
As the shout echoed Alexia thought she heard a tree branch snap.
Rose let go of her hands and staggered as if she'd been slapped. "Wh… What? B… But you said-"
"I lied!" Alexia was running along a cliffside with her eyes shut. She had no plan, and this was all she could think of to try and convince Rose that she was NOT in love with her. "I'm a princess, he's a minor baron's son. How could I admit the truth? But we're lovers! Passionate lovers! When we're alone we just can't keep our hands off of each other! We have a deep physical connection that's not like anything I've ever known! We've made love everywhere! In his room, my room, in the bath, in the school park, on the floor of the dojo, on school rooftops, and even in empty classrooms! We make wild, frenzied, animalistic love! I can't get enough of it! His hands, his mouth, his body, whenever he has his way with me, I cry out his name and start begging him to do anything he wants to me! I crave his touch with every fiber of my being!"
Rose stood there, mouth gaping, and looking absolutely gob smacked. "I… I had no idea."
"You can understand why I'd want to hide it, right? My marriage candidates are all from families that are High Count, Ducal, foreign royalty, or a champion of the God of War Tournament. If the candidates knew how desperately I need him they'd do anything to break us up. As a woman and fellow princess, I'm sure you can understand."
"I… ah…"
"So, now that you know the truth, you'll respect my wishes, won't you? I mean you wouldn't want to try and force your feelings onto someone who is in love with someone else, would you?"
To Alexia's great relief, she saw Rose take a long shuddering breath, then slowly nod her head. "I… I understand. I won't do anything to come between the two of you if you really do have that sort of relationship. I certainly won't do anything that would hurt or embarrass the one I love. But," Rose set her jaw. "I refuse to give up. My feelings are genuine, and I intend to fight for the person I know I'm meant to be with."
"All right," Alexia said cautiously. She'd managed to come to a stop an inch from the cliff's edge and needed to back away carefully. "All I ask is that whatever's done is done in private. Big public displays will only cause trouble."
Rose nodded. "Of course."
"I don't know if it's possible, but I really would like us to be friends." Alexia held out a hand.
Rose hesitated but accepted and shook. "So long as you understand that I'm not surrendering. Can we be friends even if there's competition?"
"Sure."
Alexia could already imagine the kind of trouble with would cause with Poochie as Rose tried to push him aside. She would need to keep a watchful eye on Rose from here on out and warn Pooch that she might be a problem. That this would cause issues Alexia didn't doubt. She only hoped they'd be manageable.
"Well, at least I'm glad everything is cleared up now."
Rose nodded her agreement.
XXX
When the two of them returned to the campfire they found Natsume jotting something feverishly into her notebook. Her eyes were wide, and she was biting down on her lip so hard there was a stream of blood dribbling down her cheek.
"Hey, you all right?" Alexia asked.
The silver haired elf looked up from her writing and stared at her with the cold lifeless gaze of a shark. "Just fine, I'm just writing a few notes down you filthy dirty slut."
"Wh… What did you just say?!"
Natsume paused collected herself and then answered. "I said I was writing down some notes, Princess Alexia. You filthy dirty slut."
When Alexia started slapping and kicking the big tit fiend it took Rose all her strength to pull her off.