Cecile

Cecile (セシル, Seshiru) is a supporting character in Suikoden III. She is the energetic and excitable leader of the Budehuc Castle guard.

Profile
"The high spirited Commander of the guards of Lake Castle."

- Cecile's profile

Appearance
Cecile is a young adolescent girl of average height. She has large blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. Under her helmet, her shoulder-length hair is tied in twin pigtails with red ribbon.

She is normally in her father's silver torso armor and helmet, with an orange plumage. The armor especially is oversized on her young frame, giving a somewhat comical appearance. She wears an orange and yellow plaid skirt with white fringe, long orange socks, and armored boots. She carries a large shield emblazoned with the Zexen crest as well as her spear.

Personality
Always full of energy and single-minded, Cecile took it upon herself to follow in the footsteps of her father, Brown, who was once the commander of Budehuc Castle's garrison, and continues to strive to fulfill her self-imposed duties, rain or shine.

Cecile is rarely discouraged in any situation and always speaks positively. She is filled with hope and a strong will to never give up. She could get nervous before battle, but her determination would see her through such obstacles.

She greatly loved her father's armor, seeing in herself the proud image of the father figure she admired so much when she wore it. She never took it off on-duty, regardless of the heat or cold. Her enthusiasm sometimes crossed the line into silliness, especially combined with the image of her wearing her father's oversized armor.

She is also a very good cook, preferring to make hot and spicy foods.

History
"I, the commander of the guards of Budehuc Castle, will not allow Thomas to be taken!"

- Cecile

Cecile was a brave girl, filled with boundless energy who served as the gatekeeper of Budehuc Castle. She had unofficially taken over the position after the passing of her father and previous guard commander, Brown. She had grown up in the castle before her father's passing.

She was well aware that she was not the official commander of the castle's garrison. Still, she strove every day to protect her home, which her beloved father had similarly cherished. Accompanying the newly appointed castle lord Thomas to Brass Castle, she would be momentarily stunned when Salome Harras noted that Budehuc had no appointed garrison commander.

With Thomas' intersession and Cecile's own determination shining through, Salome would ensure she was formally appointed as the official gatekeeper, sidestepping the standard Zexen bureaucracy. Thrilled at her pure-hearted dream coming through, Cecile was able to return to Budehuc with a new sense of pride and determination.

Thrilled at her official status, Cecile dedicated herself to protecting Thomas throughout the War of the Champions and aided him in rescuing his namesake from Mt. Hei-Tou. Later, when Zexen Council troops surrounded Budehuc Castle in an attempt to forcibly remove Thomas for his position, Cecile was determined to make a stand.

This was not due to simple optimism or naivety. For Cecile, to protect the things important to her without backing down formed the core of what she truly believed in. Together, the people of Budehuc were able to prevent Thomas's removal as castle governor, securing the future of the castle further. She would continue to support Thomas when Budehuc Castle became the base of operations of the Fire Bringer.

Though a good cook, Thomas fainted when he ate Cecile's food, as he wasn't used to her taste for hot and spicy foods. She formed a friendship with Emily and often trained with her. She also became friends with Alanis, who admired her strength and kindness.

Caesar Silverberg, however, wondered if it was appropriate for Cecile, and the dogs, who later served alongside her, to work in such an important position. Although Cecile liked having the companionship of the castle dogs, she acknowledged that they were useless as gatekeepers because they did not bark when anyone approached the castle grounds.

Cecile did write letters to Hugo on the dogs' behalf. She also wrote several letters on her own, mostly sharing how she got through the weather of the day, noting that being the guardskeeper in the rain was hard, but that she would try hard for the castle and that she didn't like cloudy days.

She once got into a confrontation with Branky, Mel's foul-mouthed puppet, and almost stabbed it with her spear. Cecile also showed admiration for Chris Lightfellow, wishing she could hurry up and mature herself.

Cecile would accompany Thomas, Sasarai, and Dios during the final battles of the war, helping to protect the Harmonian bishop at the Ceremonial Site as they raced to confront the Destroyers.

Following the war, she and her three subordinates (including young Thomas) continued to keep the peace at Budehuc Castle.