Chapter Text
February 9 E.C. 506
Restricted Zone, Prehistoric Forest
Province of the People's Republic of Hybris
He couldn't forgive her. The despot who ignored the needs of her people to accomplish her own ambitions. The fascist who massacred hundreds for the sake of her wounded pride. A killer through and through. But for Miles' sake, he would be courteous and say nothing.
At least, that's how it was supposed to be.
It really was how it was initially. When the royal siblings were reunited, Phoenix kept his distance. They embraced and caught up-- it wasn't his place to interfere, and he was content just to see Miles happy. The former royal servant still had trouble displaying his emotions openly, but it was easy enough to detect in his eyes how much he cared for his sister. He still acted deferential, too, whether out of habit or on purpose, no matter how many times the disgraced queen chided him for it. Truly, love was blind and easily forgave.
But then there was Adrian Andrews. It became apparent before long that she actually knew the silver-haired woman's true identity, and at first, that was incomprehensible to Phoenix. After all, he had seen the carnage and ruins-- he had witnessed first-hand the tragic state the annihilation of her home and loved ones had left her in. And yet... Ms. Andrews failed to treat Franziska von Karma as a villain or an enemy. Rather, it was the opposite. In her speech, in her touch, in her attitude, it was as though she regarded the younger woman as a precious treasure. Not only that, it was the clear the aforetime self-absorbed monarch returned her affections, in her own way. It was almost as though the shared secret that was supposed to wrench them apart had instead brought them closer together.
Seeing this, how could he possibly hold onto his grudge? He decided to forgive. Just like that.
It came easier than expected as he got to know Ms. Franziska herself. She was prideful, sure, but it was harmless in the way Miles' sometimes patronizing attitude was harmless, and if anything, it made the both of them work all the harder to fulfill the lofty expectations they had for themselves. He also heard about how much of an impact Ms. Franziska had had on the monastery since arriving there: building it up, establishing the winery, raising funds for the impoverished in the area, and on and on. He honestly couldn't believe it. He would have been no more surprised if he had been told she had moved a mountain.
Yes... in action and the way she lived now, it truly, truly seemed she was atoning for her former crimes. And that was enough for him.
He realized, then, that people weren't 'good' or 'evil', life wasn't 'black and white'; the world was more complex than that. That's what made it so beautiful. If he wanted peace for his country, for those he cared about, for himself, he would have to work at it-- he and everyone else, together.
By the ninth day of the month, year five hundred six, Phoenix felt they had reached that point, and he hoped it would always remain that way. It had taken far too much blood, hatred, and heartache to get here.
The four of them-- Miles, his sister, Ms. Andrews, and himself-- were taking a long-planned-for journey on this day. They met clearance and crossed into the erstwhile territory of the Inersha Kingdom, journeying on to pay respect to the insufficient monument built in memory of all those who had fallen here. After that, they visited the still-standing ruins of Ms. Andrews' old place of employment. The site was evocative, bringing up vivid memories-- he could only imagine how much worse it was for her. Miles and Ms. Franziska remained gravely quiet.
A tree was planted in place of a grave marker, just before the weed-infested well. Apparently, it was both Ms. Andrews and Ms. Franziska's idea, dedicated to one Ms. Celeste Inpax. He didn't know much about this person other than that she held a special place in Ms. Andrews' heart. He and Miles joined the women in praying before the designated sapling all the same.
In the end, the former queen prayed longer than them all.