Princess Adila staggered from the force of the blow, legs shaking. When had it happened? When had she broken? Wasn't it just yesterday that she'd smiled that invincible smile? When had... everything...

+I'm doing this for everyone's good+ she thought on pure reflex, eyes welling up with tears she didn't understand. +It's... not like that...+

[s]Dandy [/s]Eska! Eska was in trouble and that was meant to be her priority...! But why was it this way? That trying to do the right thing hurt people? She was so [i]certain [/i]but she couldn't reconcile that certainty with the tears that both of them had in their eyes. She just wanted to stop. She just wanted to stop and work this out but... how could she? There was still... so much work to do... and she couldn't wait. She couldn't take the time, the chance. C-could she?

+I'm s-sor-+ the thought tangled and snarled through tears and confusion. And then she was rushing away to do what she had to do and it felt like her heart was breaking all over again.