After an exciting spar with the duke Rei fled to the orphanage to seek shelter. He reasoned that Jasper couldn't have told the duke of Ariellia's plan to divorce him at the end of the month. If he had there's no way David would have let him walk out of the knight's training ground alive. For now, Rei simply wants a level of normalcy and routine to gather his scattered thoughts. He feels his emotions are spiraling all over the place lately, pulling him towards thoughts and directions he never deemed possible. He intuitively knows something has changed but he can't say what it is exactly. All he knows is it has something to do with his wife.
In recent times, he finds himself pondering over her every move. She never struck him as the studious type before, yet her latest favorite spot happens to be the duke's library. She used to pick fights with Anya over every little thing, now she hardly even mentions her in his presence. She seems to be plotting something, being rather tight-lipped about it in a way that makes him very curious about her future plans. He changes out of his fine clothes and into the clean but simple linen tunics of the church while thinking of a certain silver-haired beauty. He heads to the kitchen to help Anya prepare breakfast for the kids.
"Brother Rei, is something wrong?" Anya seems to have noticed his absentmindedness while dishing out the food.
"Nothing…just thinking." He quickly brings himself back to the present, giving more attention to properly portioning out each serving of oatmeal equally for the kids.
"Ariellia did something to you didn't she! I'm so sorry, I know how bad she can be. If only I didn't get caught up in her trap, you wouldn't be stuck in a loveless marriage." Anya truly looks depressed, beating herself up for falling into Ariellia's trap, and being used as leverage against him.
'Is it really as hopeless as that?' He catches himself questioning his situation for the first time since their wedding.
"Say Anya, I'm asking for a friend but if you suddenly got to see a whole different side of someone you thought you knew, and you realized they aren't as bad as people say what would you do?" He's unusually focused on setting the table, not daring to even look her in the eye while asking.
"Hmm, well I suppose I would be conflicted. I would be happy to know they're not so bad, but worried that they're being misunderstood by others." Anya looks confused, answering in a slow deliberate manner as though trying to see through his intentions.
'Misunderstood…no way, she may have changed recently but Ariellia is essentially still the same person.' He shakes his head to ward off the fanciful thoughts being conjured up in his mind.
"You know Rei I've been thinking, perhaps we can sign up at the adventurer's guild. You only promised to marry her, that doesn't mean you have to be around her all day. We can use long distance missions as an excuse to stay away." Anya looks pleased with her clever scheme, her emerald eyes shining with excitement at the thought. It's easy to see her wanderlust nature enchanted by the idea of an adventure. She probably feels this would kill two birds with one stone, venturing out of the city while staying out of Ariellia's wicked grasp.
'But is she really wicked though…?' He pauses, stumped by her suggestion. He's not stupid, it's a feasible plan, yet for some reason his mind had never even considered such a thing. He's always clear about his bottom line. If Ariellia were truly an evil disaster in his life this would have been his first course of action. Does this mean he's not as repulsed by her presence as he originally thought?
"I'm the son-in-law to the duke, it wouldn't look right for me to abandon my bride to seek fortune and fame elsewhere."
"Why not, a lot of people do and no one judges them?" He can see by the true innocent look of confusion on her face that she's never considered the complicated side of politics involving nobles. As an orphan at the bottom of society one has no fear of judgement or condemnation, only the constant struggle to survive matters. Yes, on the surface it may look like no one is judging but that is hardly the case underneath. Entire family lines have fallen through unseen political maneuvers and gossip to the right ears. Rei would never wish such misfortune to befall the duke's house.
"It is not that simple Anya." He sighs and ruffles her soft hair, recalling simpler times when they were kids. Anya and Ariellia hadn't always been at odds like this. It was Ariellia that changed shortly after her first trip to the capital. In their eyes she became paranoid, questioning his relationships with others, trying to keep him to herself. At times it makes him wonder what she encountered at the capital to return so jaded. After their marriage it seems whatever kept pressing her to act that way has finally been alleviated, she seems to be returning to her bright, cheerful self. This makes him wonder if it's safe for him to take her back to the capital with him, what if her attitude deteriorates again?
"If I said I plan to leave Rahnoff, would you come with me?" He's not sure why he even asked. Perhaps, he hopes that if Riell and Anya came along he wouldn't feel conflicted having all the people he cares about nearby. At times he can't help but think he's a bit greedy, unwilling to let go of the few precious bonds he has.
"Of course! I've have always wanted to travel and see so many things with you brother Rei." Anya can barely contain her joy, her furry tail and ears practically dancing in the air.
He smiles at her positive response, grateful to know his selfish desires wouldn't be an inconvenience for his friends. He plans to ask Riell as well the next time he sees the spirited fox. He pats his chest, feeling like the gaping hole that was always present seems to be finally closing. He knows the instigator of this change, a certain dark skinned silver haired elf with her nose constantly stuck in a book lately.
"Say Anya, I'm asking for that friend of mine again. Do you know what it means to 'like' someone?"
…
The wolf girl looks stunned by his question, her cheeks blooming into a rosy red. Her lush lips tremble as she shyly replies, "yes."
…
Rei is equally shocked, throughout all their years together he'd never seen her be close anyone other than him and Riell. To think she might already have someone in mind, for some reason his heart felt lighter at the thought. He'd been worried that her strong headed nature might drive away prospective suitors. It looks like one managed to snatch her away right under their watchful eyes.
"Really, who is it?" He's usually not one to pry into other people's hearts. He's only slightly curious to know the man that managed to capture her affection.
"It's-…" She began to say but never got to finish. Riell came barging into the kitchen more like a bear than a fox. His sharp nose drawn in by the smell of food with a bit of drool hanging down his chin.
"Is breakfast served yet, I'm starving!"
"Well met, we just finished dishing it out. Come help me round up the rest of the kids so we can all eat." Rei turns his attention to his bleary-eyed bestfriend, never noticing the deep frown on Anya's face behind him.