=== Alear & Hortensia === --- C --- [Hortensia] Hey, Divine One! What do you think? [Alear] Of what? [Hortensia] Come on! Am I cute? Sweet? Charming? Use your words! [Alear] Sure, you're cute enough. Just like always. [Hortensia] That's all you have to say? I put a lot of effort into being adorable, y'know. [Hortensia] The least you could do is notice! [Alear] I had no idea. Uh, forgive me for not noticing? [Hortensia] That's all I get? Hmph... [Hortensia] Ugh... [Hortensia] I can't believe that didn't work. A pouty face is usually all it takes for people to be extra nice. [Hortensia] Do you have some kinda god training that lets you see through fake crying, Divine One? [Alear] God training? [Alear] I don't think anyone needs special training to see through an act like that... [Hortensia] Hey! Fine, then let me ask you something else. [Hortensia] How come you're not fawning over me? I'm unimaginably cute! [Alear] I don't treat people differently just because they're cute. Kindness matters much more. [Hortensia] Wrong! Being nice is great and all, but cuteness is a huge advantage. Everyone knows that. [Alear] I see... [Hortensia] So, we'll try this again─only I'll be even cuter next time, so you can't possibly miss it. --- B --- [Hortensia] Hey, Divine One! What do you think of me this time? [Hortensia] I went out of my way to be extra-super cute. [Hortensia] So, are you ready to concede defeat and admit that you're completely charmed? [Alear] You certainly are cute. And I'm sure you put in a lot of work for it, but... [Alear] I told you before that cuteness doesn't affect how I treat people. Why are you fixated on this? [Hortensia] ... [Hortensia] I didn't want to bring it up, but...OK. [Hortensia] My mother was one of the king's mistresses. She suffered a lot of backstabbing in the court. [Hortensia] I never saw her upset, though. She took every insult with a poised and graceful smile. [Hortensia] That smile secured her place in court. It even won the king's wife over. [Hortensia] That's how I know charm has a power all its own. And I'm gonna use mine the same way. [Alear] I understand. But can I ask you something? [Alear] Do you think maybe your mother had more than just her own survival in mind? [Hortensia] What do you mean? [Alear] Maybe she did all of that in part so you could learn to survive the court as well. [Hortensia] ... [Alear] She must have known she couldn't always be there for you. She'd want you to learn from her. [Alear] To me, that is real charm─what we do to help the ones we love. [Hortensia] Mother... I never realized... --- A --- [Hortensia] Here you go, Divine One─enjoy! [Alear] Did you, uh, cook me something? [Hortensia] Yeah! And it's got spices that'll keep you warm. [Hortensia] I also gathered some healing herbs for you. Here you go. [Alear] Um, thank you. [Alear] This is all great, but...what's going on? [Hortensia] You said something that opened my eyes. [Hortensia] If I'm gonna be for-real charming, I need to practice helping people. [Hortensia] I'm sorry for the way I acted before. Do you forgive me? [Alear] Of course. I was never upset with you to begin with. [Hortensia] I'm glad to hear that. [Hortensia] Everyone loved my mother because she was both charming and kind. [Hortensia] I've got a long way to go to be like her. [Hortensia] But thanks for helping me figure that out. [Alear] You're welcome. And for what it's worth, I think you're well on your way. [Hortensia] I have to wonder, though... If I do become truly charming, inside and out... [Hortensia] How are you gonna keep pretending you don't care about cuteness, Divine One? [Alear] I'll figure something out. [Hortensia] Ha! I dunno about that! I think you just might change your tune! [Alear] We'll see. --- S --- [Alear] You seem to be in high spirits lately, Hortensia. [Hortensia] Yeah, I am. Turns out being kind to people makes them happy. And that makes me happy. [Alear] That does explain why you're constantly surrounded by friends these days. [Hortensia] I guess so. Hey, hang on. What's that I hear? [Hortensia] Am I picking up a hint of jealousy in your voice, Divine One? [Alear] What? Of course not! [Hortensia] Hehe, I can't believe the Divine Dragon's actually jealous of me. What an ego boost. [Hortensia] But you have nothing to worry about. However popular I may get, I'll always make time for you. [Hortensia] Because you're special to me. [Alear] I am? [Hortensia] ... [Hortensia] AHH! All my graceful composure destroyed by one moment of weakness! [Hortensia] Can we just pretend you didn't hear that? [Alear] Not a chance! [Hortensia] Merciless. [Alear] You were right, Hortensia. I was jealous. [Alear] I've always enjoyed our time together. I'm sad to have less of it now that you're so popular. [Alear] Understanding all this makes it clear what I need to do next. [Hortensia] That's...the Pact Ring. [Hortensia] You're giving it to me? [Alear] Yes. [Hortensia] I can't even begin to tell you what this means to me. I'll treasure it forever. [Alear] I'm in awe of what a wonderful person you've become. [Alear] So much so, in fact, that I feel I need to start working on my own kindness just to keep up. [Hortensia] Don't be ridiculous. You've been amazing since the day we met. [Hortensia] And you've only become even more amazing in the time since. [Alear] Haha, keep saying that sort of thing and you might actually convince me. [Hortensia] Good. The sooner the better. [Hortensia] Because if all that wasn't true, you wouldn't be so special to me.