[ When she's flanked between them like this with the warmth and security that they provide, it's difficult for her to remember why she's voicing these worries in the first place. It's like the nights since their return where she's woken up to check for signs that they've returned had never happened.

Surely this easiness has always been here and her insecurities were a byproduct of the stress and lack of sleep they had endured over the last several weeks, right? It can't be indicative of anything else because that would be ridiculous. She hmphs in an attempt to lighten the mood. ]

Who said I was feeling neglected? I have Petra and Marianne. Not to mention Sylvain and Claude Junior. They actually listen to me when I call.

[ The lightness is an attempt to combat the rising guilt caused by the realization that she's being selfish. There's no other word to describe her unspoken demand that they cope in a way that makes sense to her brain.

It's easier to deflect that with the thought of nights out like this, together, arm in arm, where they can be silly warms her heart. Appeases the spoiled part of her in some way. Simply put, they (Claude, Petra, Sylvain, Marianne) can do what they'd like, she just doesn't want to be forgotten in the process. Her eyes sparkle, like all really is forgiven. Or it will be soon. ]

But if you're both sorry, you can both make it up to me now by carrying me up the stairs later when we get to the inn. And by both, I mean Claude. Sylvain already carried me here.

[ They aren't the only ones good at deflecting. ]