[It was rather plain of him. But to be fair, before she had departed, as that singular meeting for her name day had presented, he had been very plain with her that day. Very to the point. Very direct. Very straight forward. All in ways that while Eirika had found herself quite dedicated to her post in life, had not been able to continuously reject the idea of her and Connor truly becoming a thing she'd thought otherwise impossible. He had come to accept it earlier than she, apparently, and when she heard him speak up again, the lingerings from that day that seemed so long before to her returned.

She eyed him, quiet, and thoughtful, but attentive to his words. She took them, absorbed them, held them, and was reminded of why she enjoyed listening to him so, even if he was to speak of nothing. If only that she could hear him, for it meant he was in her midst and she did not feel so hollow or that her world had been painted in shades of black and white.

All of those women are the same, Connor, she had wanted to say and yet somehow she found it in her to refrain. Because he wasn't wrong, even if he wanted to list one out separately. If anything, they were different sides to her and each affected her in different ways, but beneath all of the titles, the beauteous gowns, tight-lipped diplomatic smiles, and obligatory stances, she was simply Eirika. And of anyone else in the academy, no one knew it more than he did.

And he also knew the woman at her bare core better than any other could have the privilege of claiming.]

Looking to render me speechless already when I have only just returned. I imagine you will have plenty of opportunities to do so. Do not use them all at once.

[Eying his hand, she did find herself pausing.]

I do, however, believe you owe me something and I am quite overdue for one.

[Care to guess what that is?]