[ Most of Cecil is relieved when Diarmuid releases her hand; the touch was pleasant, but her mind can't seem to forget Lancer's question to her before the other knight came to speak to them. "...natural?" Why would he ask that? Is it not natural to care for Diarmuid?

She remembers Diarmuid's pain from the other day, what he was so upset about and it strikes her suddenly that, no, it isn't natural. At least, it wasn't to love him— not for Lancer, not for Ryoji, not for all these people that have been hounding Diarmuid all week.

A cold chill runs down the paladin's back, like gnarled and icy fingertips counting the bones in her spine, and she realizes what Lancer meant by "natural". She thought her feelings for Diarmuid were a result of them becoming closer friends, but surely it can't be that easily explained. Her guilt over betraying Rosa has been trying to tell her this all along, hasn't it? The line between platonic and romantic blurred for her recently, yes, but she didn't think before this moment that her stronger affection for the man was his curse troubling her...

Is Lancer be right?

But I've never been affected before. I don't... I don't know.

Cecil forces a smile onto her features and she folds her hands behind her back. ]

He's only teasing again. Anyway, I am glad to hear that. Hopefully, now everything can begin to go back to normal for you.