Archive of Our Own

It started as a normal day. Elise asked Niles to help her to cook the lunch. Nothing abnormal, he was her brother's retainer after all. Effie and Arthur were probebly busy. Jacob would have been a great help but he was probebly not avaible either. In Niles' mind knives were less linked to cooking than to dubious activities; but it doesn't meant that he was unable to make a meal; and his task would simply be to support Elise. Today the young princess was as full of energy as ever. She had decided to use meats and berries. And odd mix but Elise assured that it was recipe she learned from her nanny Cassita. Of course the idea that they could try something else never crossed Niles' mind. Elise may be kind and sometimes a bit naive when she was determinated to do something nothing could stop her, exactly like Corrin. And the former thief wasn't the kind of people who complain, especially not about food, before meeting Leo it wasn't rare for him to eat "food" that wasn't far from being worthy of being described as "garbage". He simply followed Elise's instruction.

"It's not bad. Actually you did it really well." she told him.

"Don't forget to tell Leo about this"

"It's good to see that you are able to cook. In that way you will have no trouble to take care of your spouse " answered the princess. Niles immediatly understood. Of course Elise didn't asked for him because she wanted his help. She simply wanted a good pretext to be alone with him. So they could freely talk about Corrin and he. They weren't officially together yet but no doubt that Elise noticed that something was happening between the prince and the outlaw.

Niles silently nodded. He was waiting for Elise to bring the conversation where she wanted.

" You became special for Corrin. You two , you will stay together, right? "

"It's indeed my plan if Corrin want to keep me." Of course it was a joke, Corrin wasn't the kind of person that trew people like that, but Niles knew that they formed an odd pair and that love isn't as eternal as people wish it was.

"I guess it was predictable, you complement each other. I know that Corrin has no trouble to bring the best out of you, and you can counterbalance is naivity. Many of our companion are suspicius of you but I trust Leo and Corrin. I could ask you to never give up, even when people will say mean things about you, but I already know that Corrin and you already won't."

So Elise simply wanted to give him her blessing. That's it. But she wouldn't be the last one of Corrin's siblings to speak to him. After that they finished to eat Xander ordered him to go with him to take out some bandits that were seen near a village. Of course the crown prince of Norh could easily take care of them alone. Niles had understood that he only wanted a reason to be alone with him. Still he obeyed. Xander was the crown prince of Norh after all. They had no issue to capture all the bandits. It was so easy that Niles couldn't find any pleasure in the activity. But he wasn't here for that.

Xander finally said the words that Niles was waiting.

" Niles can you stay a moment? I need to speak to you "

"As you wish my prince. Command, I will do anything"

As expected Xander did like if he didn't noticed how Niles said the word "anything

"You have been at Leo's service for years now. At the time I find his choice surprising but you proved worthy of his trust. Corrin like any members of our royal family is often observed and it extand to his lovers, spouses and concubines alike"

Niles knew that the prince was thinking about his own father who had so many mistresses, most of them being power angry women willing to use their own children as paws. The ones who were unable to keep a good facade were quickly ejected but in the end king Garon's numberous affairs gave a bad reputation to the whole royal family.

The prince then added: "Of course Corrin is only third in line for the throne and he doesn't have many interaction with the court so you won't be forced to follow strict rules but..."

" I have to tone down some of my "habits". I know that I can do it, for Corrin"

" I'm glad that you understand. Of course you still Leo's retainer, no one is asking you to change. But I wanted to warn you about the risks. Nasty rumors are easily crafted."

" Do not worry my prince. I've been a thief for a long time, I know how to be discreet"

After Elise and Xander it was Camilla who wanted to talk to him. Unlike her siblings she didn't even had a pretext to spent a moment with Niles. She simply came next to him when he was alone.

" Hello Niles. I want to talk with you. Can you spare a moment?"

"I'm avaible to you" he answered.

"You became very close to Corrin lately. I'm happy to see that he find someone. Of course if this someone hurt him I'll make sure to make them wish for death"

Being threatened was nothing new to Niles. Actually he expected worse from Norh's oldest princess, she had always been very protective of her younger siblings, especially Corrin. He looked at Camilla right into the eyes and smilled.

" If someone hurt Corrin I would take a great pleasure at making them pay."

"I hope so." She then added:

" You're not exactly the brother-in-law I expected to have but now that I think about it it's logic that he chosed you. He always liked to repaire broken people."

Niles wasn't sure that she was only refering to him. But it was the true, Corrin wanted to repaire broken people. It was maybe what made him attracted to Niles at first. But the former thief was sure that their link was more than that. Who care about how it started after all.

"I promised to Silas that I will help him at the training. See you soon. Don't forget" she said before leaving.

Leo also wanted to speak to his retainer. When Odin said he had to left "for his quest in controling his dark power" Niles understood what was going to happen. At first it seemed to be a simple conversation.

"I recall the day when we first meet, when you became my retainer. It was years ago" said the prince

" I'm grateful for that. Thanks to you I got the possibility to leave this life of a criminal. If I haven't meet you this day I would probebly be a dead body rotting somewhere now."

" You also helped me to get out of bad situations so many time."

" Corrin and I we spoke about how to live our live together while still fullfilling our respective duties. "

"I'm glad to hear that. I just wanted to say that I'm happy for you two. "

Corrin was already here when Niles returned to the private carters. He said to his lover:

"I heard that my siblings spoke to you. About us. I hope that they didn't intimidated you. "

"Don't worry all is alright. Don't forget, I used to face worse "

But he feelt that saying this wasn't enough. He then added :

" I feel weak saying this out loud...but I love you dearly."