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Evelyn looked over at Youkimi as she arrived and she bowed her head, bending her knees slightly in the best form of a bow that she could muster "Lady Kai" she said before looking at the woman, being so far north had caused Evelyn's tan skin to pale and though she didn't look sickly- the paler skin made her seem less exotic then she once was "The winds were nonexistent today and though the cold has eased up it is still cold enough to break though and bite at me in either form" she said to him, she spoke politely if not a bit to formally.

She stared at the woman for a moment and felt a small spike launch itself at her heart, but Evelyn mentally stopped venom from entering her. She had asked this woman to do this. Neither of them had to do what she had asked. So Evelyn took a deep breath and adjusted the boy on her hip "My son" she said to her and the boy turned slightly in order to look over at Youkimi. The boy looked a lot like his mother with his pale skin and underlying tan that seemed to be hidden away thanks to all the time he had spent in the north, his black ravenette hair laying in wisps around his forehead, the curve of his lip and the shape of his nose also belonged to his mother, but it was his eyes- both blue and crisp like a winter current found at the bottom of the river, the only noticeable feature that must have come from the boys sire...whomever he was Evelyn didn't seem to desire to tell, and by the mere act of asking another to take in the boy it spoke volumes to the fact that the man was either dead or long out of sight. "He is Nero Helios Alexios, after my late father and a dear friend" she said "He knows how to walk and speak... and I've had him learning his letters... in both the common tongue and Bellrisian" she said "The man that was taking care of him just after the eruption had been teaching him some of the natural tongue of Ethe... the many languages can some times mesh together when he speaks" Evelyn paused as she looked at her boy and slowly set him down.

The boy, small for his age of nearly three stood straight and proud, sporting a lopsided smile "He shouldn't be to much of a handful so long as he's kept away from weaponry... we had an incident once..." she trailed off and looked at her son, placing a hand back on his head "I do not dare hope I will see him again soon... If I was to do so I would soon starve, but it is one of my deepest wishes that we are not parted for to long despite how he was-" she paused herself. Evelyn had more of the mind of a warrior and even though she had once held the title of high princess (and still should), she had spent most of her younger years around the harsh words of men and the fast pace of an ever moving army, and Evelyn saw Youkimi as more... not frail, but more so part of the nobility... her knowing whom Nero's father was and how he was conceived made her feel like the woman would reject taking him in... and right now she could not jeopardize that.

So instead Evelyn sighed "I know you have your own duties as head of Kaishin and as Stewardess, I do not expect you to be always watching and teaching him" she paused "nor do I expect you to pay for his well being..." she paused again and looked at her "I will compensate you for any troubles you run in to, new cloths as he grows, and I have enough coin for a tutor... I want him to continue learning about Bellris and Ethe... As well as Zalto and Phobos." Evelyn's lips were a thin line, if Evelyn was to ever become Empress of Epsilon this boy was, as far as it could be seen, her sole heir. "If my son is to ever follow in my footsteps as I am attempting to follow in my fathers... I will not have him able to claim any ignorance of another culture as reason for his failures" she told her "and I will not allow others to dispute him on the bias of their own ignorance"

Evelyn looked into Youkimi's eyes almost as if she could see what she was thinking, and though she didn't actually know what she was thinking she could only guess. Evelyn smiled at her and nodded her thanks before she moved onto her knees and hugged her son tightly, the little boys arms moving up swiftly so they wouldn't be caught under his mothers tight embrace. She hugged him so hard that he let out a soft ouch sound. Evelyn looked at the boy as she slowly moved back and spoke in Bellrisian (not going to try translating into German so... just pretend its in German I guess) "You are my son, grandson of Apollion and descendant of Ivirth. You have the blood of Llewellyn flowing though you and the blood of Bellris..." a pause in the brutal sounding words and the boy nodded his head as his mother continued "I am strong, your grandfather was strong, your grandmother was strong, your aunt, uncle, and all that have been brought together to create you are strong...." another pause as she grit her teeth before finally saying "Even your father was strong... In a terrible and evil way, but even after what he has done to me and countless others" she stopped and gave her sons shoulders a hard squeeze "Despite how you came into my life I would never trade you for anything, I would rather give up an empire then let you go. Though I hate your father with every fiber that created me, though I hate him for what he did and how you were created, I would NEVER forsake you for who he is." she looked into her sons eyes as she switched to the common tongue "because you are my son. not his. I go fight because I will not see you become like him or like me, I leave you now not because I do not love you but because it is time you learn to become your own and find your own strength" she told her son as she moved one hand from his shoulder to his face.

She doubted that he understood everything that she had told him, after all he was nearly three. Evelyn lowered her head "Learn." she finally said, a very simple thing even one so young as he would understand "Learn here" she put a finger on his forehead and then moved it down to his heart "Learn here." she then moved both her hands and held up her sons "Learn to fight" she leaned forward and left a kiss over his heart and on his forehead "but use these to know when to give mercy" she lowered her eyes "yes?" she said and the boy slowly nodded.

Evelyn's entire body shuddered as she stood up. She looked over at Youkimi as the boy took a few tentative steps in the Baronesses direction. The boy was looking at the ground, but his lips were set and his posture firm as he gave Youkimi the cutest bow. Evelyn then met Youkimi's eyes "Thank you." she said "Is their anything you need before I go?" she asked her.

Evelyn took the sword and held onto it before bringing it to her chest "I make no promise as to my Safety, I will most likely be on the front lines when it comes to battle" she said to her "And if it comes to the point that I need aid, the only think I would request is..." she looked over at the guards and then for the sake of anonymity said "that you help me do right by the people for their betterment" she smiled, it was a casual enough phrase.

She then bowed her head "you have my eternal gratitude for this and if you are ever in need of assistance I will reach out to you at your request" she said to her before she looked at her son and gave him a sad smile before shadows exploded from Evelyn and ate her. Evelyn would then vanish from Ethe.

[Evelyn Exit]

The guards reported the arrival of the lady with all the haste that could be afforded. The regent was sitting down and looking over papers and letters of correspondance when the lady arrived, though, interestingly enough, the walls of her estate were not terribly thick and for an abode where someone important resided, the main semblance of security was fond in the added stone walls that reinforced the structure and the wall that allowed archers a clear view of the sky. Simple, but practical, and hailed after days when the phoenix often fought in the air and against other flying opponents.

She tasked a guard to see the lady in, and at her request, the guard bowed to the visiting lady and led her into the estate to where Youkimi was reading. She was in her study at this particular point in time. A young black-haired boy was looking out of the window, having watched the display and seemed to be quite distracted from the book he was supposed to be studying from and from the tutor who had been tasked to go over Bellris' letters with him.

When the lady arrived, the tutor and the young lad were advised to move their study to the library, where there was better light to read by. The tutor took the suggestion, and in a moment, the room was empty, save for the two cousins.

"Welcome to Kaishin, Chusi." Youkimi set down her letter and motioned for her visitor to find a seat wherever would be comfortable. Youkimi herself was seated upon a pillow and inches from the floor, which was strange in its way, but this was her home. This study also seemed to lack many tables, save for the small one at the regent's elbow, which was armed with a quill and ink.

"I do not think I need the congratulations for taking on so great a burden," Youkimi humbly replied. Nevertheless, the surprise about her home and that she chose to continue living here was noted as a surprise. Youkimi could acknowledge this, and sympathize with it, as it was generally supposed that one of power was better suited to living in places such as the capital. If the other nations were convinced of this as well, then perhaps it was safer here in Kaishin.

Though, Chusi was again correct. Having written and asked for her presence, what Youkimi would ask was something she asked as Regent, and not as a favor from kin.

"You are more prepared for battle than I and its dangers. A point of concern for us in Ethe is the dam that has blocked flow not only in Bellris, but eventually here to our nation. What can we do about this?"

It was true, Chusi's tactics were bold enough to drive Susumu to drink, but the seasoned general wouldn't admit it to either of these ladies. He had to admit that the uncanny and furiously terrifying tactic did very little for enemy morale. Youkimi lamented that the civilians did not think well of corpses being used as ammunition, as it led to thoughts of what might become of them if the war literally fell to their doorsteps.

She cleared her throat. She had her hands very full, of this there was no question. Perhaps that was another reason she chose to live out here instead. There were many in the main city, and there was much going on. She had her reports daily from those who were carrying out her instructions there.

"I can think of no particular plan for it, save that if it is left unchecked, that the lack of water will hurt Ethe. I wish to avoid this eventuality." Youkimi folded her hands in her lap, all the appearance of one who was quite used to taking care of things and handling disputes with words and resources. "Can I trust you to remove this dam and prevent such a blockage from being erected a second time?"

Youkimi cleared her throat. She was grateful that her cousin hadn't been in the process of falling asleep, but she didn't seem to be accustomed to sitting without anything supporting her back. The dam could be removed, and it sounded like a simple procedure. The objection was noted. She nodded slightly, trying not to react too much to her cousin's.... rugged behavior.

"I understand. For now, the only thing we need is that dam removed, and at present, the threat isn't too dire..." However, if her experience as a refugee and with a budding nation was of any merit, then anything that was a minor irritant could go quickly downhill. Any situation can change quickly. If a disaster could be avoided, did it not stand to reason to take the necessary preventative measures?

"Removing that dam will do. Thank you for looking into this matter for me." She inclined her head, offering a slight bow to the armored woman. "How do you think this will end? This conflict instigated by the emperor?"