Rinoa Heartilly

A beautiful and spirited young woman.
A lively, young woman with the ability to touch people's hearts. Open and honest with her feelings, Rinoa has a tendency to speak her mind without concealing anything. Driven by her ambition, she is known to be stubborn at times.

One summer before the start of the game, Seifer and Rinoa were romantically involved, a fact that does not come to light until arriving at Galbadia Garden. Their prior relationship is never fully explained or developed; once Seifer is further manipulated into the sorceress' scheme and Rinoa starts falling head over heels in love with Squall, their relationship is rendered obsolete, save him sacrificing her to an ambiguously-gendered sorceress.

They aren't exactly on the best of terms, but then again they aren't exactly on the worst of terms. Rinoa still apparently cares for Seifer, and his assumed execution announcement obviously struck a chord within her.

Rinoa: I...really liked him. He was always full of confidence, smart...Just by talking to him, I felt like I could take on the world.
Selphie: Your boyfriend?
Rinoa: I don't really know. I... I think I was in love. I wonder how he felt...?
Selphie: Do you still like him?
Rinoa: If I didn't, I wouldn't be talking about it. It was last summer...I was 16. Lots of fond memories...
The small conversation between Rinoa and Selphie reveals a lot about the stability of their "fling." If Rinoa is not able to discern Seifer's feelings for her, then how does someone expect impulsive and rash Seifer to? Seifer's actions speak louder than his words, however, since it is common speculation that Seifer himself introduced Rinoa to Cid during Squall's Graduation Ball. He cares about her - even if a little bit - enough to help her gain assistance for her liberation group. There, Rinoa and Cid sealed a fate-induced deal and gained the help of SeeDs for The Forest Owls, and Seifer even had an indirect hand at introducing Rinoa to her future love and his eternal rival, Squall.

If Seifer should ever have a post-FFVIII type story and went back to Garden, it is my opinion that Rinoa would be one of the first to befriend him. She is the forgiving and caring type and would not cast away a person with whom she had intimate relations before.

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