Noelle

Noelle: Er, um...I'm Noelle. Thank you for having me here today.
Victor: The name's Victor. Tell me why you applied to become a messenger.

Noelle: Um, because...because I want to tell people things.
Victor: Such as?
Noelle: Well, I read in a book that you can... Er, I mean, that one can... ...... I'm sorry. I'm not very good at talking.
Victor: Yet that didn't deter you from applying for this position... Hmm... That's fine. Continue.
Noelle: *nod* Well, when I was a child, I read about how it's important to tell others how you feel. And if you can't speak your feelings aloud, you can do it with letters or other ways. I took that to heart, and ever since have... Well, I thought there must be some way for ME to tell people things.
Victor: I see. And yet, this is a job that requires stamina and speed in addition to speaking. Are you an active person?
Noelle: Not...really? But even if I'm kind of slow, I'll run as fast as I possibly can to deliver my message!
Victor: Hmm, I see. Well, I have a few more questions for you. Please reply with a simple "yes" or "no" answer to each.
Noelle: Okay. ...I mean, um, yes.
Victor: Are you aware that being a messenger requires you to work in foreign countries, including some that may be hostile?
Noelle: Yes.
Victor: Are you aware you will sometimes be tasked with delivering orders to dangerous places? And that as such, this is not a job for the faint of heart?
Noelle: Yes.
Victor: Such danger, yet you applied regardless. Does the act of telling things to others really mean so much to you?
Noelle: Yes!
Victor: Thank you, Noelle. That is all. You will have your answer soon.
Noelle: Th-thank you.
Victor: Every applicant thus far has boasted of their agility or stamina. Whereas Noelle... Well, let us just say I've never had an interview quite like that before.
Instructor: She lacks speed, she lacks stamina, and she can barely hold a conversation. I wouldn't entrust her with the task of delivering an advertising flier, much less any kind of important directive. I'm not sure what even possessed the poor child to apply.
Victor: If the ability to deliver things was all we cared about, we could leave this job to any old letter carrier. What we need is the resolve to deliver a message in ANY circumstances, regardless of the danger involved. A messenger must understand the import of their task and have the drive to overcome all obstacles in their way.
Instructor: And you think she has such qualities?
Victor: Speed and stamina can be trained, but a new mindset? Not so much. I wish to see how she takes to an aggressive training regimen.
Instructor: If that is your decision, I will abide by it. I will inform the girl that she has been chosen and arrange for her training to begin at once.
Victor: This one has a bright future ahead of her, my friend. Just you wait.
Noelle: *sigh* Passing on messages accurately is surprisingly difficult. I ended up having to write all of today's missives down in letters, too. I'm really not suited to this job, am I?
Victor: Why so glum, Noelle?
Noelle: Commander?!
Victor: Failing during training isn't the great shame you seem to think it is. Nor is the spoken word the only way to reliably relay information. If you have time to worry, you have time to work on bettering yourself.
Noelle: I...I understand. Thank you, Commander. ......
Victor: Noelle?
Noelle: Yes.
Victor: Enter.
Noelle: Y-yes, sir.
Victor: I take it you received your appointment.
Noelle: *nod*
Victor: Good. Your training is over—from this day forth, you will serve as a messenger under my command.
Noelle: I understand!
Staff Officer: Noelle. I hereby relieve you of your current appointment.
Noelle: What?! Why?!
Staff Officer: Because your former commander has run away, leaving his country and everything behind. You will be informed of your new task shortly—until then, you are to stand by. That is all. Dismissed!
Noelle: Wait, please! I don't understand! Why would he do something like that?!
Staff Officer: Know your place, messenger! We are done here!
Noelle: I could only assume everyone had been ordered to keep silent about whatever it was the Commander had done. I learned he had left the country, but I knew there had to be a reason. And so I set about trying to gather information as I continued my work.

Officer: Hmm... This is definitely the spot where my orders were supposed to be delivered.
 ???: ......
Officer: I suppose all I can do is stand by and wait for the messenger to arrive.
 ???: Um...
Officer: Whoa!
 ???: Here are your orders from HQ.
Officer: Wait, YOU'RE the messenger?
Noelle: *nod*
Officer: You scared the dickens out of me. Well, whatever. I guess I have my orders now, no matter how they got here.
Noelle: *nod*
Officer: Did HQ ask you to relay any other messages?
Noelle: ...Oh! *scribble* *scribble* ...Here.
Officer: You wrote it down just now? Why?
Noelle: E-excuse me!
Officer: Hey, wait!
Noelle: I couldn't speak today's message either. I need to pass on the information accurately, but it's hard to do it out loud. I wish I could be more like her...
Girl: ...Uh oh. She clammed up again.
Noelle: Um...
Boy: If you've got something you want to say, just spit it out already!
Noelle: Ummmm...
Girl: Oh, forget it. Let's go play over there, guys.
Noelle: Urk.
Boy: Yeah, I don't read so good.
Girl: Me neither.
Noelle: ...And yet, here I am still writing letters. I'm not becoming like her at ALL. I need to be more confident when telling others how I feel, just like she was. *sigh* Right then. What's my next message?

Staff Officer: Noelle, I am assigning you the task of looking into the Commander's current situation and whereabouts.
Noelle: Huh?!
Staff Officer: In truth, the story you were told about him abandoning our country was just a cover. You're aware of the former Kingdom of Alberia in southern Grastaea, yes?
Noelle: Y-yes.
Staff Officer: Ever since they changed their name to the Dyrenell Empire, the country has become deeply unstable. And so, the Commander took on a false identity as a mercenary and entered the country to learn more.
Noelle: But...why would he do that?
Staff Officer: He is acting under royal decree. After forming a band of mercenaries, he had been working to establish himself in the Empire in order to gain their trust. All of this was good news, and our agents had been keeping us apprised of any new developments. However... Yesterday, we received word that his mercenary force was wiped out.
Noelle: Oh no! What happened?!
Staff Officer: That is all we know.
Noelle: ......
Staff Officer: But as the Commander was acting under royal decree, we must learn the truth. Hence, you are to make contact with our agents in the Empire and conduct an investigation.
Noelle: Understood.

Noelle: Um...could you maybe share what you know about the Shadewolves?
Male Spy: Everything I know was in my report, so don't bother asking me how they managed to get slaughtered.
Noelle: Did you...see the battle personally?
Male Spy: Not the battle, but the aftermath. I'm gonna be having nightmares about that for the rest of my life...
Noelle: ...And the Commander?
Male Spy: Didn't see him, but then again, it was quite the mess. Even if he did manage to escape, it doesn't mean he's still alive. Still, I've heard a rumor about a man who's been going around recently hunting down imperial soldiers. And not just them—apparently more than one innocent person has gotten caught up in the crossfire. You ask me, the Shadewolves' leader is still alive—and thirsty for vengeance.
Noelle: And you think that man is... the Commander?
Male Spy: Like I said, it's just a theory. But imperial soldiers ARE being attacked— that much is certain. Hell, I heard tale of an entire village that got wiped out when someone poisoned the well. If you're curious, you might try asking some of the other agents. Doubtless they've heard rumors I haven't.
Noelle: *nod*

Noelle: Th-these are your orders from HQ.
Female Spy: Thank you. Please take my report back to them as soon as you can.
Noelle: O-okay. Also, um...
Female Spy: You want to hear what I know about the "Shadewolves' leader," yes?
Noelle: ...If you don't mind.
Female Spy: Well, take this for what it's worth, which may be nothing. Rumor has it that a hooded man has been going around murdering anyone who has given aid to the imperials—even if they had little choice in the matter. He sets entire towns to blaze even if imperial soldiers only passed through, and kills any who try to escape.
Noelle: That's...that's awful. But why?
Female Spy: I can only assume that he's afraid of his identity being discovered. Although given that all the rumors are calling him "the Shadewolves' leader," it seems a bit late for caution. So maybe he's just pissed off and wants to see the world burn. Hell, I've even heard rumors of him roaming the countryside at night with a bloody sword in his hand.
Noelle: What could drive someone to that...?
Female Spy: I don't know—but even assuming the stories are exaggerated, this is a headache the world doesn't need. Oh, but if you want to know more, talk to my friend in the town east of here.
Noelle: Th-thank you. I'll do that.

Elderly Spy: A'yup. We had us a report of someone what looked just like the Commander.
Noelle: R-really?! Where?!
Elderly Spy: Can't promise it's him, now. Just repeatin' what I heard.
Noelle: That's fine. I'll go see for myself.
Elderly Spy: In that case, you wanna make your way to the Halidom—a castle deep inside the Mistholt. Apparently he's joined up with the seventh heir to Alberia, the prince what's fightin' the Empire.
Noelle: I may have finally found him... Er, thank you. I'll go back to HQ and let them know at once!
Staff Officer: ...So it's true, then. The Shadewolves are no more. Though it appears the only way to find out HOW is to ask the Commander himself. You heard he had joined up with Alberia's seventh scion, correct?
Noelle: Yes, but I...um...wasn't able to confirm it myself.
Staff Officer: It makes sense. In fact, it is consistent with why he was originally sent to Alberia.
Noelle: What do you mean?
Staff Officer: The Commander's true mission was to learn the secrets of the Alberian royal family's dragonblood. I will write down new orders for him. You are to deliver them at once.
Noelle: Y-yes, sir!

???: ......
Victor: I know you're there, Noelle.
Noelle: C-Commander...
Victor: I'm not a commander anymore. Just a mercenary.
Noelle: I finally found you.
Victor: I assume you're looking into the rumors of the "Shadewolves' leader"?
Noelle: I heard such terrible things...
Victor: And yet, you have not come all this way just to verify the veracity of such rumors, now have you?
Noelle: ......
Victor: What do you want of me? ...No, I suppose that's a foolish question for a messenger. You bring new orders, I take it?
Noelle: Yes, um... Here.
Victor: ...Hmph. So they want me to capture the prince and drag him home, do they?
Noelle: Y-you just tore up your orders!
Victor: Go home, little messenger. Go home and tell them that I will carry out this mission in my own way. The choice of capturing—or killing—this prince will be made by me alone.
Ranzal: Glad I was around to hear that.
Victor: Ranzal? What are you doing here?
Elisanne: We caught word that someone was skulking about outside, so we decided to strengthen our patrols.
Victor: Ah. I see you have all come, then.
Euden: I think we deserve an explanation, Victor.
Noelle: Run, Commander! I'll handle this!
Victor: Stand down, Noelle. With them, it's safer to show no readiness to fight.
Noelle: ...After holding me back, the Commander told everyone the truth about what brought him to their door. Shockingly, the prince didn't seem fazed by the fact that he was a spy at all. In fact, he even invited him to join them as an ally at their castle! They spared my life as well. They set me free at the edge of their territory and told me to go home.

Noelle: After being released, I chose to remain in the Empire instead of returning home. I wanted to learn more about the awful rumors of the "Shadewolves' leader." As far as I knew, the Commander WAS their leader—but I couldn't ever imagine him harming innocent people. So where did all of these rumors come from? To find out the truth, I kept my eyes and ears open as I traveled.
Imperial Soldier A: Oy! You hear about the supply unit that stopped off at that village the other day?
Imperial Soldier B: The one wiped out by a hooded guy with a sword? Yeah, I heard all about it.
Imperial Soldier A: Apparently he came back and torched the place in the night. Cor, what a madman!
Young Man A: Sounds like an entire force of imperial soldiers got wiped out on a ridge over the mountain.
Young Man B: A guide from a nearby village ended up getting crushed by rocks along with them.
Young Man A: I get that this guy wants revenge, but why not just go after imperials?!
Young Man B: Now you mention it, I think this guy DID just target them—at first, anyway.
Young Man A: Yeah, I remember that. Back when people were saying he was a sword master with scars on his face.
Noelle: Um...
Male Spy: Oh, it's you. New orders from HQ?
Noelle: N-no. I wanted to ask if you know anything about the "Shadewolves' leader."
Male Spy: This again? Look, I told you already— some hooded guy is going around on a revenge spree and killing anybody who gets in his way. Kinda funny how people change, eh? Apparently the guy was ONLY targeting imperials in the first little bit after the Wolves were defeated.
Noelle: You heard that?
Male Spy: Sure. Early on, everyone was talking about the crazy guy who charged imperials without even hiding his face.
Noelle: Um...can you tell me more?
Male Spy: Not much. Apparently he was just some tough guy with scars on his face.
Noelle: Then... Then when did he start hiding his face?
Male Spy: Hmm... Now that you mention it... Sometimes he's got it covered and sometimes he doesn't...
Noelle: *scribble* Umm...here.
Male Spy: What, a letter? Okay, lemme see... "After hearing uncountable rumors and your testimony, I finally know the truth." "There are two different rumors circulating. One is about a hooded man exacting revenge without a care for the cost." "The other is about a man with scars on his face who fights only imperial soldiers." "The two fight in very different ways." "Whenever something inhuman happens, the hooded man is responsible." "But when imperials alone are attacked, the fault lies with the scarred man." "One hides their face. The other does not." Wait a second... You think there are TWO survivors from the Shadewolves that are out there fighting the Empire?!
Noelle: *nod*
Male Spy: Huh. And somehow all those rumors just sort of smooshed into one big one?
Noelle: *nod*
Male Spy: I can't believe you worked that out. That's pretty impressive!
Noelle: N-not really... B-but I have a favor to ask... Please make sure that everyone knows the truth of these rumors!
Staff Officer: Excellent work, Noelle. This concludes your investigation into the Commander. There has been a good deal of bad news, but the mere fact he is alive is fortunate.
Noelle: Still, now that he's alone...
Staff Officer: I know. It will not be possible for him to continue his mission. I regret we will lose a means to sow chaos in the Empire, but there is nothing for it. Here. Deliver this to the Commander and let him know that he is to return at once.
Noelle: Y-yes, sir! Y-you tore up your orders again!
Victor: I'm not going back. I can't. I abandoned everything in the name of revenge—including my home and duty— yet now that revenge feels hopeless. What future is there for a man who has lost everything?
Noelle: You...you haven't lost everything. Everyone else is waiting for you at home, including Kirsty! So you should just—
Victor: ...Here. Give this blade and this sword to your superior and tell them I died in my blind pursuit of vengeance. Then never return to this land again.
Noelle: B-but...
Victor: Forget all that has happened and be free. That is what I intend to do, and you would be wise to follow my example.
Noelle: I wanted to call out to him. I wanted to run after him. But in the end, all I could do was watch as he disappeared into the distance.

Noelle: After relaying the Commander's message, I was assigned to another mission in the Empire. All talk of the Shadewolves—once the only thing on everyone's mind—was now forgotten. Nor could I obtain any new information about the Commander's whereabouts... Wh-who goes there?!
Man: Urrrgh...
Noelle: A-are you all right?! You look hurt.
Man: Deliver this...to the Halidom... Please...
Noelle: Wait! I don't...
Man: ......
Noelle: Stay with me!
Imperial Soldier: He should be around here.
Imperial Commander: He can't have gone far with those injuries. Search every nook and cranny!
Noelle: Imperial soldiers?! I need to hide! ...Oh. I guess I'm still hanging onto the letter and stuffed toy he gave me. Wait, this toy is—
Imperial Soldier: Over here! This way!
Noelle: Oh no!
Imperial Soldier: Looks like he's out cold.
Noelle: Oh. I thought they'd found ME.
Imperial Soldier: Damn! It ain't here!
Imperial Commander: He must've passed it off to someone else. Expand the search perimeter! We can't let that information get into the hands of the traitorous prince!
Noelle: Ah! That poor man must have been carrying a message to the Halidom! I know what he was going through— and I will see his work finished!
Imperial Commander: Well? Did you find that missing information?
Imperial Soldier: No, but we located a set of footprints leading in that direction.
Noelle: They know this land better than I do. It's only a matter of time now. Eeek! Who's there?!
 ???: Shh! Quiet.
Noelle: Huh?
 ???: Is someone chasing you?
Noelle: You're th-the prince?!
Euden: Wait, I know you. You were with Victor.
Noelle: Um...this letter is for you.
Euden: How do you have this?!
Noelle: A man gave it to me. He told me to deliver it to you.
Euden: I see... It seems I didn't make it in time. Still, thank you for protecting the letter in his place. Let me return the favor by protecting you.
Noelle: It didn't take long for the prince to defeat all of the soldiers. Afterwards, the two of us were able to carry the messenger back to the Halidom.

Euden: Thanks, Noelle. I wouldn't have been able to bring him back here without you.
Noelle: Um...it was nothing.
Euden: He was on a secret mission to obtain information on a new fortress the Empire is planning to build. I heard he'd found important info, and was on my way to meet him. But I didn't make it in time to get it from him. And after he risked his life to get it!
Noelle: Oh, he also gave me this.
Euden: A stuffed toy? Hmm...
Noelle: I think there's more to it than that. There's something inside. I'll pull open the seam a little.
Euden: It's a blueprint! I never would've thought of hiding it like this. Well spotted, Noelle.
Noelle: Something felt...off when I touched it for the first time. And I also thought...a messenger would hide important information...just like this.
Euden: That makes sense.
Noelle: Um...can I ask you something?
Euden: Of course.
Noelle: D-do you know where the Commander— I mean, where Victor is?
Euden: Sorry, but I don't.
Noelle: ......
Euden: He said he was leaving on "a journey to move forward."
Noelle: What does that mean?
Euden: I don't know. But he might come back here at some point, so you should try to drop in from time to time.
Noelle: But...he told me never to come back.
Euden: Only because he was worried about you ending up in danger. If I was in his place, I would have said the same thing, I imagine.
Noelle: You...really think so? But why would he care about a nobody like me?
Euden: He cares. Trust me. If he didn't, he wouldn't have offered himself up to ensure your safety.
Noelle: ......
Euden: I can't swear Victor will come back here, but we DID promise to meet again.
Noelle: So...I can really come back?
Euden: You're always welcome here.
Noelle: I thought I wouldn't ever be able to see him again. That I mustn't ever see him again. But if I come here, maybe... Until then, when I think of something I want to say to him, I'll write it down. That way, I can tell him all of it. Because connecting people is what messengers do!

Formal Noelle: E-everyone here looks so...fancy. It's just how I'd imagined a royal banquet would be!
Formal Noelle: Say, Joachim? What do you do at events like this? It's my first time, and I don't know what any of the rules...
Formal Noelle: ...are. Er, Joachim?
Formal Joachim: Oh, that? It was nothing.
Nobleman: Such modesty—yet you managed to sweet- talk Chelle, of all people. Tell me, lad, what WAS your trick? I must know!
Formal Joachim: Sorry, friend. That's classified.
Formal Noelle: Oh, there he is! Joachi—
Large Nobleman: Oof! Oh, I beg your pardon, madam!
Formal Noelle: N-no...it was my fault.
Formal Noelle: Joachim? Oh, drat. I lost him again.
Formal Noelle: Aw jeez... J-Joachiiim? Where are you?

Formal Noelle: H-huh? How did I end up out here?
Remuel: Julia, my turtledove! At long last!
Julia: Oh, Remuel! How I've burned to see you!
Formal Noelle: (Eeep! Oh gosh, is this a lover's tryst? I mean, I've read about them in romance novels, but never actually...seen one.)
Formal Noelle: (They're clearly nobles based on how they're dressed, so I guess they snuck out of the banquet?)
Remuel: You don't know how I've pined for this day to come, my sweet. I knew we were both slated to attend tonight's banquet, and here we are together at last!
Julia: Ah, but I do know—for I have pined for it just as long! Oh, WHY must our fathers persist in their silly grudge?! Why must our families hate each other so?!
Julia: If they would only accept our union, we could spend every night locked in each other's arms!
Formal Noelle: (I guess their families don't like them being together, which explains the secret meeting.)
Formal Noelle: (Oh gosh, Noelle, stop spying on them! ...Good luck, you two! I hope everything works out!)
Formal Noelle: (Eeep! Someone ELSE is coming! Better stay hidden right here...)
Julia's Father: There you are, Julia my dear! I've been searching high and low for...
Julia's Father: Fie, but I know the man with you! He's the son of that detestable snake!
Julia: I don't care WHOSE son he is! Remuel and I are in LOVE!
Julia's Father: Poppycock! I won't hear another word of it! No daughter of mine will consort with the spawn of that viper! Now come.
Julia: F-Father, please! Wait!
Julia: Remuel! Remuel, my love!
Remuel: Julia, no! Juliaaa!
Remuel's Father: So THIS is where you've gotten off to, Remuel. Goodness, what is all of this absurd shouting abou...
Remuel's Father: I say, what are you doing with this slavering hyena and his cur daughter?!
Julia's Father: Better a hyena than a pathetic carrion jackal such as yourself!
Fathers: HARUMPH!
Julia's Father: I'm suddenly overtaken with a wave of nausea. Julia, come along this instant!
Remuel's Father: For once, we're in agreement. Remuel!
Remuel & Julia: My love...
Formal Noelle: Whoa... That was crazy!
Formal Noelle: Huh? What's that?
Formal Noelle: Some kind of brooch? That poor woman must have dropped it.
Formal Noelle: I should get it back to her. She's probably over in that building where her father dragged her off to...

Formal Noelle: Found her! Um, m-ma'am? Excuse me, ma'am?
Julia: Hm? Can I help you with something?
Formal Noelle: BROOCH! Er, I mean, um...this is yours here please take it I'm really sorry!
Julia: Goodness, it IS mine! Thank you so much. Where in the world did I drop it?
Formal Noelle: O-outside... It probably fell off after you were, um...dragged away.
Julia: So...you saw that, did you?
Formal Noelle: *gulp* Um...sorry?
Julia: It wasn't my intention to blame you; though I would consider it a great kindness if you kept the matter to yourself.
Formal Noelle: *nod*
Julia: I appreciate it, Miss... Hmm. I don't think we've actually met.
Julia: I know most every face in Chanzelia, yet I've never seen yours before. Are you a visitor from elsewhere?
Formal Noelle: Y-yes, ma'am. My name is Noelle, and I... I'm part of the diplomatic contingent from Svenitla.
Julia: You're with that military from up north? Oh, I've heard some wonderful tales of your brave exploits!
Julia: Impressive work recently, by the way: Securing a deal out of Chelle is no mean feat.
Formal Noelle: Oh, J-Joachim is the impressive one. He, um...did all the important stuff.
Formal Noelle: All I did was run around and deliver orders. S-same as always, really...
Julia: But don't high-ranking officers usually give orders? Forgive me if I'm overstepping; I'm largely ignorant of military affairs.
Formal Noelle: Oh, I don't come up with the orders! I'm just a messenger. My job is to deliver letters without being caught, basically.
Julia: Well, that sounds very important indeed. And also very brave, to be sneaking past an enemy to deliver...
Julia: Ah! I am struck with a flash of inspiration!
Julia: Let's continue this conversation outside, shall we? It wouldn't do to be overheard.
Formal Noelle: Um...all right?

Julia: We should have a bit of privacy here.
Julia: Noelle, I need your help to deliver this love letter to my beloved Remuel.
Formal Noelle: A l-l-love letter?!
Julia: Yes. Seeing as how you're an expert in delivering letters in secret, I trust you can find a way to secure this into his care?
Julia: You saw for yourself earlier how our fathers' inane feud is standing in the way of our true love.
Julia: If we can't meet in person, then I must at least share the contents of my heart with him by way of the pen!
Formal Noelle: That...sounds nice...
Formal Noelle: A-all right! I'll make sure your feelings reach him one way or the other!
Formal Noelle: Connecting one person to another is a messenger's job, after all!

Formal Noelle: I accepted the job of delivering this letter to Remuel, but maybe I should've thought things through a little more first...?
Formal Noelle: Sneaking into a manor I haven't been invited to isn't the best look for a member of a diplomatic mission...
Formal Noelle: If I get caught, it'll be really, REALLY bad. But still...
Julia: Remuel! Remuel, my love!
Remuel: Julia, no! Juliaaa!
Formal Noelle: In a fair world, those star-crossed lovers would be connected...so I can't let this sad ending stand!
Formal Noelle: I have to get this message through... I have to see Julia's letter delivered!

Formal Noelle: *sneeeak*
Formal Noelle: (I'll need to think of this as a battlefield— and if the front lines are full of enemies, I'll need to move quickly and carefully.)
Formal Noelle: (First, I need to observe the situation. I can take cover there and...)
Formal Noelle: (Eeep!)
Butler: ......
Formal Noelle: Phew!
Formal Noelle: (You've got this, Noelle... Keep calm, keep cool, and keep moving!)

Remuel: *sigh* Oh, my Julia...
Remuel: Hmm? Who's there?
Formal Noelle: Er, I have a message. From Julia. Can you, um...open the door?
Remuel: From Julia?! Can it be true?!
Formal Noelle: *nod* This letter is...um... Here.
Remuel: This is sealed with her family crest!
Remuel: Hmm, yes... Yes, I see...
Remuel: Oh, my sweet Julia! My heart sings to see your feelings writ large across the page!
Remuel: I shall pen my response immediately. Pray tarry a moment, good messenger.
Formal Noelle: S-sure. No problem.
Formal Noelle: (Yay! It looks like the letter is doing its job to connect the two of them.)

Formal Noelle: ...Hup!
Formal Noelle: Er, thank you, Julia. Hanging that rope out of your window made it a lot easier for me to get into your room.
Formal Noelle: Here, this is... This is Remuel's reply. To your letter, I mean.
Julia: You're sent by the Goddess herself, Noelle. Thank you.
Julia: Now let me see...
Julia: Oh, happy day! He accepts!
Formal Noelle: Um...accepts? Accepts what?
Julia: We're going to elope!
Formal Noelle: WHAT?!
Julia: If we stay in these awful houses, we'll never be together—so if loving him means leaving everything behind, that's what I'm ready to do!
Julia: I told him exactly how I felt in the letter, and he feels exactly the same!
Julia: Oh, I don't know how I'll ever repay you.
Formal Noelle: Um... Y-yeah, that's... *gulp*
Julia: Goodness, things are about to get busy; I need to discuss the details of our plan with Remuel.
Julia: Your help is going to be more vital than ever in the coming days, Noelle!
Formal Noelle: Oh, um, right. That's... Sure.
Formal Noelle: (They certainly managed to connect, but...now they're eloping?)
Formal Noelle: (Does that count as a happy ending?)

Formal Joachim: ...So now you've come to me for advice.
Formal Noelle: *nod* D-do you really think they should, um...elope?
Formal Joachim: If that's what the two of 'em want, who am I to say otherwise?
Formal Joachim: You only get one thing from sticking your nose into other folks' romances: trouble.
Formal Noelle: You...really think so?
Formal Joachim: Yup. And with THAT squared away...
Formal Joachim: Noelle, don't you think invading a noble's manor is a little over the top? Or a LOT? One wrong step, and we've got a diplomatic crisis on our hands.
Formal Noelle: Urk! I'm s-sorry...
Formal Noelle: I know it's wrong. I knew it while I was doing it. But I just... Um...
Formal Joachim: You felt there was justification for going over the top like that?
Formal Noelle: ...Yes.
Formal Joachim: Well, now that you've pulled off your crazy stunt and gotten dragged even deeper into it, do you regret anything?
Formal Joachim: Any thoughts about how maybe you shouldn't have gotten involved?
Formal Noelle: N-no! I don't think that at all!
Formal Joachim: Didn't think so. So what makes you think the two of them feel any different?
Formal Noelle: Wh-what do you mean?
Formal Joachim: I don't see them regretting their decision, no matter what happens after they elope.
Formal Joachim: They have a reason to shoot for the moon, so they'll find a way to live with the result.
Formal Noelle: Ah!
Formal Joachim: I expect they'll still be thankful for your helping them, too.
Formal Joachim: Nobody can say whether the future holds happiness or sorrow.
Formal Joachim: But I'm pretty sure a present where two people in love can't be with one another is likely to be the latter.
Formal Joachim: That's why you agreed to help, right?
Formal Noelle: *nod* R-right!
Formal Noelle: Thank you, Joachim. I feel like the knot in my chest is...gone.
Formal Noelle: I want to help Julia and Remuel stay connected for good!
Formal Noelle: I want to change their unhappy present!
Formal Joachim: Sounds like you've got your answer, then.
Formal Joachim: Just try to wrap this up quick, yeah? We're supposed to head back soon.
Formal Joachim: Oh, and try not to start any wars.
Formal Noelle: Eep! O-okay. I'll be careful...

Julia: Okay, I've got clothes, food, and money. That's all a girl needs to elope, right?
Julia: Oh! I almost forgot Remuel's letter!
Julia: I would never forgive myself if I left his beautiful words behind.
Julia: I'll treasure this all my life, for it is the precious seed from which our happy future is sure to grow!
Julia: Heh. I really do owe Noelle a huge debt for all she's—
Julia's Father: Julia, my dear, I wanted to speak with you about the upcoming—
Julia: F-Father!
Julia's Father: Hmm? What did you put behind your back?
Julia: I, um...don't know what you mean?
Julia's Father: And why is your bag packed? I don't remember you having a trip planned.
Julia: What, this? Noooo, this isn't my bag! It's...um...
Julia's Father: You are acting very strange, child. Just what are you...?
Julia: Eek!
Julia's Father: Show me what you're hiding this instant!
Julia: No! Don't!
Julia's Father: A letter? What in blazes is...?
Julia's Father: ...Remuel?! Love?! ELOPEMENT?! Explain this letter at once!
Julia: I'm sorry, Father, but I love him! I do!
Julia's Father: I am aware that you believe as much. However, I am more curious how a letter from that dog found its way in here!
Julia's Father: Was it the butler? Did you enlist a maid? By Ilia, I'll have the entire staff sacked before the sun crosses the horizon!
Julia: STOP! It wasn't anyone from the manor!
Julia's Father: An outsider, then.
Julia: N-no! Listen to me, Father, there isn't—
Julia's Father: Stay your words, girl! I'm doubling the guard at your door—no, TRIPLING it! By the time I'm done, not even AIR will be able to get in here without my say-so!
Julia: What have I done? How will Remuel and I ever be together now?
Julia: Oh, and poor Noelle! When she comes back with Remuel's reply, she'll be caught red-handed for sure!

Formal Noelle: Um, there's no rope? She usually hangs it out of her window for me, so...
Formal Noelle: Has something happened?
Formal Noelle: Ah! S-someone's coming! I have to hide!
Formal Noelle: Ummm... Uhhh... There! Shrubs!
Guard 1: Huh? Thought I saw someone just now.
Guard 1: I bet it's that cad who's carrying letters to trick the young miss into marriage!
Formal Noelle: (Th-they know about the elopement! ...And about ME!)
Formal Noelle: (Guess that explains all the security.)
Guard 1: Might still be lurking in the shadows... Oy! Over here! I need backup!
Guard 2: Ho there! Did you find our man?!
Guard 1: I saw a shadow moving this way, but then I lost it. Here, help me beat the bushes.
Formal Noelle: (Oooh, this is bad... If I stay here, I'm as good as caught.)
Formal Noelle: (But if they know about the elopement, there's no point in delivering this letter anyway. I have to run.)
Formal Noelle: (Still...)
Remuel: My future with Julia rests in your hands!
Formal Noelle: (...No. It's not up to me to decide if there's a point to making a delivery or not.)
Formal Noelle: (Only its recipient can make that call... which means I must get it to Julia.)
Formal Noelle: (There's no other choice!)
Formal Noelle: (Okay... Let me see if I can find a rock around here... Ah! There we are.)
Guard 1: Hey! Did you hear that?!

Formal Noelle: *sneeeak*
Formal Noelle: (Whew! I made it into the manor.)
Formal Noelle: (Oh, but security is just as tight in here!)
Formal Noelle: (Okay, Noelle. Be calm... Be careful... Watch their movements closely...)
Formal Noelle: (My hiding spots are...there. And there.)
Formal Noelle: (Aaand...now! The coast is clear!)
Butler: Very good. Next, I must attend to the...
Formal Noelle: Eep!
Butler: Hrm? Did something just...?
Butler: ...Goodness! The master is calling! And to think I nearly missed it, my word.

Formal Noelle: *CRASH!* Oh no! I knocked something over!
Formal Noelle: What do I do, what do I DOOO?! If anyone heard that, I'm...
Formal Noelle: .........
Formal Noelle: Whew! Okay, I think I'm safe.
Formal Noelle: Er, but what is this room? I just jumped in here when I saw it was empty, but...
Formal Noelle: I think it might be a storage closet. There's lots of random... Huh? What's this?
Formal Noelle: Oh, there's a letter inside! Looks old...
Formal Noelle: Wh-what?! Am I reading this right?!
Formal Noelle: B-but if this is... No, it has to be!
Formal Noelle: If this works, it could solve everything! Julia and Remuel could meet out in the open whenever they wanted!
 ???: Hm? Is someone in here?
Formal Noelle: Eep!

???: Is someone in here?
Formal Noelle: Eep! I have to hide!
 ???: Noelle? Is that you?
Formal Noelle: Um...h-how do you know my name?
Julia: It IS you! Oh, thank heavens no one else found you first.
Formal Noelle: J-Julia?!
Julia: I must apologize for the increased security. Things have been a bit—
Formal Noelle: Th-they know! About the plan to elope, I mean. I...heard a guard outside talking about it earlier.
Julia: But if you knew, why did you come inside? There's no point in trading letters when the plan has already been found out!
Formal Noelle: That wasn't for me to decide; this letter belongs to you.
Julia: !
Formal Noelle: Anyway, um...here. It's from Remuel.
Julia: You really are something else.
Julia: But thank you. Letter received.
Julia: ...Oh, I can almost see his smile as I read his words. He always was a hopeful fool.
Julia: But now our future will never be, and it's all my fault.
Julia: I don't even know how to tell him...
Formal Noelle: Th-that's okay! I'll write him back!
Formal Noelle: I've actually come up with a plan.
Julia: A...plan?
Formal Noelle: *nod* And if it works, you and Remuel should be able to meet up! ...Um, in the open, I mean. Whenever you want.
Julia: How is such a thing possible?!
Formal Noelle: With this!
Formal Noelle: It's a whole bunch of old letters I found— letters between your dad and Remuel's.
Julia: THOSE two wrote each other letters?! It staggers the imagination.
Formal Noelle: Y-yeah, and it seems like they used to be really close before something came between them...
Formal Noelle: So if, um... If we can fix that, we might be able to stop this whole feud thing!
Julia: At which point, they would have no reason to oppose our relationship...
Julia: Oh, this is wonderful. If it really works, it would change EVERYTHING!
Julia: But how do we go about doing that, exactly? They pretty much hate each other.
Formal Noelle: Reading their correspondence, I, um... noticed something: There was no reason for them to have fought in the first place.
Formal Noelle: I think it was all just a misunderstanding.

Julia: Father, you have a guest waiting in the drawing room. It seems they have a sensitive matter to discuss?
Julia's Father: Very well. Lead on.
Julia: Of course. Right this way...

Julia's Father: Wha—?! YOU!
Remuel's Father: What are YOU doing here?!
Formal Noelle: Um...I set it up. I asked Julia and Remuel to bring you here.
Formal Noelle: I, um... I just needed to find out what made a pair of old friends drift apart when they used to be...pen pals.
Fathers: ?!
Julia's Father: So you know of the letters, eh? How?!
Formal Noelle: I...read them. In a storage closet.
Julia's Father: YOU! YOU are the rat who's been breaking into my home to deliver those damnable missives to my daughter!
Julia's Father: You are nothing but a base criminal, and I will see you hanged for this!
Julia: Father, stop! Just LISTEN to her!
Julia: This feud you're clinging to all may have started as a simple misunderstanding!
Julia's Father: Pfft! Nonsense.
Formal Noelle: This letter here is, um... from Remuel's father.
Formal Noelle: See how there's a page missing?
Formal Noelle: I'm a m-messenger, so I always make sure to count the pages in a letter. It's...part of the job.
Formal Noelle: 'Cause, um, I don't want it to be out of order or...something.
Julia's Father: I suppose I don't pay overmuch attention to such things when reading my mail.
Julia's Father: But even so, a fellow can tell when a PAGE is missing! It would leave a jump in text! A gap in the language!
Formal Noelle: Y-yes, that's... Normally, that's true. But this letter just happened to line up.
Formal Noelle: So, um, if you take the end of page one and the start of page three, it reads, "You remind me of...moldy cheese."
Fathers: !
Julia's Father: Oh yes, I remember that quite well. ...But wait. Are you saying that ISN'T what the letter originally said?
Julia's Father: But that means the scathing reply I sent...
Remuel's Father: Oh, I recall THAT one well! Quite shocking, actually, to open a letter from a friend and find a firestorm of invective.
Remuel's Father: I asked what I'd done to merit such a tirade, but you only replied with still further abuse—and a snide remark about week-old bleu, if I recall.
Julia's Father: Erm...
Remuel's Father: At that point, I was seeing red myself, so I drafted a letter cutting off all ties and threw it in your face.
Julia's Father: From that moment on, it was war.
Remuel's Father: ......
Julia's Father: ......
Formal Noelle: Y-you see? All of this was just a... a misreading of a letter.
Formal Noelle: So, um, do you think you can reconcile with one another and see it in your hearts to accept Julia and Remuel's love?
Julia: Please, Father.
Remuel: I beg this of you!
Fathers: ......
Julia's Father: Hmm. Even knowing the cause, a man's feelings don't just change in a moment.
Remuel's Father: Indeed not. We've been at it for so long, and this isn't the sort of divide one can bridge overnight.
Remuel & Julia: No...
Remuel's Father: Instead, it will take work and dedication— as well as communication between our two families.
Remuel & Julia: ...What?
Julia's Father: V-very well. If he is willing to accept this... I suppose I am as well.
Julia: Oh, thank you, Father! Thank you! Remuel, did you hear that?!
Remuel: I can scarcely believe it, Julia!
Julia: We owe our future to you, Noelle!
Formal Noelle: Oh! Um, I mean... I didn't really...
Formal Noelle: I'm just glad that you and Remuel...er, and both of your fathers have managed to reconnect.
Formal Noelle: (It's hard to get feelings across when you speak—or even when you write a letter.)
Formal Noelle: (But that's why I'll never stop running... So I can make sure people are connected!)