"Oh, my silly little Corrin!" Camilla cooed, her hands either side of his blushing face, "You're so sweet, I can never let you go!"
"Enough of this, Camilla!" Corrin snapped, "I'm not a child anymore!"
"You're still my adorable little brother! I can't resist giving you a big cuddle!" she responded, ignoring his outburst.
"No, Camilla! Just... stop." Corrin pushed his sister's arms away and stormed off.
Camilla reached out, but decided not to stop him. "Oh, my dear Corrin..." she said, dejected.
She knew Corrin had grown into their dependable leader, but Camilla just couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt when she wasn't there to protect him. She thought watching him get stronger would help her worry less, but she just feared being discarded when she wasn't needed. In troubling times like these, she often went to speak to her older brother Xander.
"I see," he said after hearing her worries, the same stern look on his face he often wore. "So you're still worried for him, despite his strength on the battlefield."
"It's not just that," Camilla explained, "I want him to be safe, yet he gets so angry with me sometimes, I feel like I'm becoming a bit of an inconvenience to him. What if he just had enough of me one day, and casts me aside?"
"There's no need to worry about that." Xander reassured her, a small smile on his face. "Corrin is kind, he would never do such a thing. I'm sure deep down he can see your good intentions. Perhaps he just needs to grow up a bit more to appreciate the care you give him."
"So you think I should keep treating him the same?" she asked, surprised by what Xander was implying.
"I didn't say that. I think you should just give him some space for a while, let him think about his words and actions." Xander clarified.
"Hmm... You may have a point there..." Camilla conceded.
A few hours later Camilla was sat at a desk in her room, reading. She was trying to keep her mind off Corrin, but couldn't help worrying about him constantly. She had accepted Xander's advice, but felt like her heart was about to burst. All this from one afternoon, she couldn't bear to think about him being without her care for much longer. She buried her head in her arms.
Her anguish was interrupted by a knock on her door. "Lady Camilla?" asked a voice on the other side.
Camilla looked up. "Yes?" Her dependable retainer Selena opened the door and walked into the room. Her other retainer, Beruka, followed her in somewhat reluctantly.
"How are you doing?" the red-haired mercenary asked.
"Dreadful." Camilla answered honestly. "I just can't stop worrying about Corrin. How has he been?" She asked Beruka, whom she had tasked with watching over him in her absence.
"Nothing significant to report." Beruka responded flatly. "Lady Camilla, must you give me such menial assignments?"
"Beruka!" Selena chided her, "Nothing is more important to Lady Camilla than her brother!"
"I see. My apologies." Beruka said in the same flat tone.
"So!" Selena said, changing the subject, "I was out shopping, and I asked the old potion lady if she had anything for worrying."
This got Camilla's attention. "Oh?"
"Well," Selena continued, "She brewed up this potion, right then and there, and said it will discourage you from thinking about a particular person too much!" She pulled out a small flask filled with a green liquid.
"Ah, I see. Thank you Selena." Camilla smiled, "So I won't worry about Corrin so much if I drink this?"
"Y-yeah, that's right!" Selena stuttered oddly. She decided not to go into the yucky details, like how she had to give the lady one of Corrin's hairs for the brew. Fortunately she had found one of his distinctive white hairs stuck to her sleeve after talking to him not long beforehand.
"Well, I suppose I'll try anything at this point." Camilla sighed. "I just can't stop worrying about him. I know it's silly, but I can't help it."
"Then it's settled!" Selena stepped forward, only to be stopped by Beruka's outstretched arm.
"Wait." Beruka said in a warning tone.
"Ah! W-what is it?" Selena asked, surprised.
"This could all be part of a plot to assassinate lady Camilla. The potion might be poisoned." Beruka informed her.
"What? No way!" Selena protested.
"Regardless of what you may think, it is a possibility. I must first taste it for poison." Beruka snatched the flask from Selena.
"Hey!" she shouted, "There's no need for that! I-I tried some of it earlier." Selena said, revealing more than she would've liked.
"I have tasted many poisons. One sip and I'll be able to tell." Beruka insisted, uncorking the flask and taking a swig.
"That's more than a sip!" The mercenary argued, worried there would not be enough left for her liege.
Camilla laughed. "There's no need to get worked up over such a silly thing, my sweet girls!"
Beruka waited for a moment, letting the potion sit on her tongue. "No poison." she finally announced, handing the container to Camilla.
"I'm glad, but I trust Selena." Camilla announced before taking the flask. She carefully sniffed the potion. It smelt pleasant enough so she sipped it. Surprisingly, she found it tasted very nice, somewhat like sweets. But how much should she drink? Well, she was worrying quite a lot, so perhaps she should drink the whole thing? Her mind made up, Camilla downed the rest of the potion.
Finishing her drink, Camilla stood and gave the empty flash back to her red-haired retainer. "Thank you, Selena. But you know you can talk with me about any worries you may have!" she teased.
Selena's face flushed red, her hands waving in denial. "I-it's not like I was worried or anything!" she denied, "I just saw how down you were feeling, and I happened to find this while I was out shopping." she looked away, breaking eye contact.
Camilla chuckled. "Oh, my darling Selena." she pulled the shorter woman in for a hug, "I'm glad you think about me. You're just even more adorable than normal today!"
"Of course I am, lady Camilla!" Selena boasted, a smug smirk on her face despite the slightly too strong hug. Camilla released her, smiling at her for a moment before ruffling her hair. She giggled as Selena frantically smoothed it down.
"Any more orders?" Beruka asked.
"No, that'll do for today." Camilla responded. "I suppose I should retire for the night soon."
"All right." Selena said, heading for the door with the other retainer. "Goodnight, lady Camilla!"
"Goodnight, Selena." she waved goodbye as they shut the door.
About an hour later, Camilla was ready for bed. She had just gone to say goodnight to her siblings, including Corrin of course. Changed into her bedclothes, she briefly reflected on the evening's events. She hadn't been thinking about Corrin much, but perhaps that was because she knew he was safe and sound in the castle for the night. She absentmindedly adjusted her bedclothes. They were a bit loose, but that was the way she liked them. Turning out the lights, she climbed into bed. As she went to sleep she thought of Corrin again, worried about the battles they may see in the next day.
Early the next morning, Camilla woke up. Bleary eyed, she remembered the dream she had about Corrin. She was already forgetting many of the details, just remembering him. The potion hadn't had its intended effects. But what had happened to Camilla?
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