Hey everyone, just managed to finish this chapter. The new DLC is fast approaching so I may disappear for a little longer to enjoy it. In another similar vein, many of the upcoming release dates for games I've been anticipating have been delayed which, in hindsight, is a good thing since I've been feeling like I've been running short on time these days. Anyways, hope you all enjoy this chapter.
R&R.
12/08 – Ethereal Moon
"One…Two…" Edelgard was saying as they moved about the classroom. The desks had been pushed to the side to give the two of them room to practice. The fire crackled in the fireplace, a mountain of neatly cut firewood beside it. Byleth caught the slight shift of Edelgard's body. He slid his foot forward, following the turn of her body. "A moment if you would, my teacher."
Lowering his hands, Byleth watched as Edelgard leaned on one foot, a hand on her hip. She wore a thoughtful expression. Running her hand through her hair, she smiled exasperatedly.
"It appears we've fallen back into I leading and you following," said Edelgard with a wry smile. "You have already learned the basics of following earlier, Professor. You must learn to lead."
"Sorry."
"No, there's no need to apologize. I am also partially to blame for taking the role of the lead. Now then, with that in mind, let's practice once more, shall we?" With unparalleled grace and elegance, Edelgard brought her left hand up to arc through the air while her right hand reached for him as if to embrace him. Her back straightened and she shifted her weight to her left.
No matter how much he looked at it, he couldn't help but think that the pose was difficult for those who didn't have proper core and leg strength. Yet, Edelgard was able to maintain it without any noticeable discomfort. When her lilac eyes met his, Byleth lifted his arms. He took her left hand in his right one and brought his right hand forward so that it rested below her shoulder blade. Her right hand came down to rest on his forearm.
"You must straighten your back, Professor."
Standing straighter, Byleth met Edelgard's gaze once more. He took the first step, hand tightening around hers when he felt as if he might fall over. Despite being an able mercenary who picked up weapon and magic skills with relative ease, he didn't have the same talent when it came to the art of dancing. He felt a slight tug from Edelgard, the Imperial princess silently supporting him. He took another step. Then another. Then he turned. Edelgard fluidly followed his lead.
It was the turning that always threw him off.
Edelgard was so close, he could clearly smell the faint scent of roses and bergamot tea. If he turned his head, he would be face-to-face with her. Smoothly stepping out of the turn, Byleth continued to lead Edelgard in an even-paced dance about the classroom floor. It was stilted at first with Edelgard compensating for his lack of dancing skills. As time went by, his dancing skills were noticeably improving.
After two hours of practicing, the two of them decided to end the dance lessons there. Edelgard, Byleth learned firsthand, was a rather strict teacher. And it was a very welcome experience to have their roles switched. He enjoyed this moment more than he thought he would. Seeing the faint smile on his face, Edelgard returned it with her own.
"Did you enjoy the dance lesson, my teacher?"
"I did. Greatly." Byleth said, moving to drag the tables back into place. Edelgard soon joined him, showing off her strength despite her diminutive size. "You're a good teacher, Edelgard…Maybe I should call you Professor Edelgard."
"Please, there's no need to tease me. As for teaching dance, this may come as surprising, but you are not my first student."
He felt a twinge of discomfort in his heart. It was a feeling he'd long since recognized as jealousy. In his mind, Sothis murmured in feigned pity for his "delicate" feelings as she put it.
"Who was your first student?"
Edelgard paused, her expression complex. "Hrmm…I cannot recall the name, but it was a boy in the Kingdom. He was a rather horrible learner and even a worse dancer. But…I remember it being a joyful time. The little bits I can remember about that time in any case."
"From the Kingdom…" Byleth adjusted the position of the table until it was in the correct position. "Was it Dimitri?"
"Dimitri?" Edelgard's brows furrowed. She reached up to press a hand to her temple, frowning. "No…I…I hardly remember if it was. Though I did live in the Holy Kingdom when I was younger, it was only for a brief moment. If I met Dimitri when I was younger, I cannot call forth the memories. Though I do remember meeting a young boy, the one whom I taught how to dance, who spent the days with me there. Those were…happier times despite the brevity of those moments."
Seeing the crease between her eyes grow deeper as she tried to recall the memories, Byleth shook his head.
"It's alright. You don't have to try to remember for my sake." He continued about the classroom to move the tables back into place with Edelgard's help. When the last of the tables was returned to its original position, he glanced outside the window. Snow was covering the ground of the monastery. It was the few inches of snow which had come fluttering down all of last night.
"Shall we go find Dorothea?" Edelgard asked.
"We should."
The two of them had promised to meet the former songstress in the afternoon to help her with her dance practice for the White Heron Cup, which she was extremely excited for. After receiving the unanimous nomination from her classmates and reassurance that she wasn't the wrong or inaccurate choice, Dorothea took up her role as the representative with unmatched enthusiasm. She was practically beaming as each day went by, her mood unchanging even when Lorenz happened to be in her presence.
They found her on the second floor above the reception hall, in the empty room beside the council room. All the chairs and tables inside had been pushed to the wall just like Byleth and Edelgard had done in the classroom earlier. In the center of the room on the lush rug was Dorothea. Beside her were Ferdinand, Petra, and, surprisingly, Bernadetta.
"Professor, Edie!" Dorothea smiled widely at their appearance.
"Dorothea." Edelgard's eyes drifted from face to face. "Have we arrived too early? Are we interrupting?"
The four of them were animatedly speaking with one another before Byleth's and Edelgard's arrival. Dorothea shook her head.
"Actually, they were helping me with my dance practice. I wanted to do a dance that hasn't been seen before—not one from back in my opera days or any well-known and famous dances. I wanted it to be novel and unique, something that represents all of us from the Black Eagles. Naturally, that includes some Brigid touch as well." Dorothea gently tugged on Petra's braid earning a smile from the younger girl, her eyes curving into half-moons.
"Yes, Dorothea is asking about Brigid dancing. I was teaching her." Petra said proudly. Perhaps it was because someone took interest in her culture, but the younger girl was more animated and excited than Byleth ever saw her before. "We have been practicing together before your arrival, Professor, Lady Edelgard."
"I've read about Brigid dances." Edelgard said, eyes bright. "Many of Brigid's festivals are celebrated with unique dance. In particular, I hear the dances to celebrate your many spirits are filled with vigor and fierceness. I would be most appreciative if I ever the chance to witness a Brigid festival."
"It sounds like we know exactly where to visit if we want to have a fun time," Dorothea said, winking at Petra.
"Yes! If you are having interest I would be liking it very greatly to have you visit Brigid!" In her excitement, Petra's grammar and vocabulary began to become incoherent but none of them said anything, content to see the Brigid student laughing happily.
Due to the cold weather, Petra's spirit had been diminished. When he'd asked Edelgard, she said that it must have been a case of homesickness Petra was experiencing. To that, Byleth didn't know what to do. Never having felt particularly attached to one place, he wasn't able to empathize with her. Luckily enough, he had students whose emotional intelligence were leaps and bounds ahead of his own.
Dorothea, Edelgard, Bernadetta, and, shockingly, Hubert were very sensitive to the downcast Petra. They went out of their way to pay special care to her, which meant a constant stockpile of logs by the fireplace in the classroom, near impenetrable winter wear for the Brigid princess, and sometimes, even trying their hands at cooking Brigid cuisine. A part of it was their caring nature, but he would bet that another part of it was because of how sweet Petra was that it made it difficult to see her so despondent.
"It can be a class trip. We can even take the professor with us. I bet with the climate of Brigid you wouldn't be able to wear your stuffy armor every day," said Dorothea teasingly. Content with their brief daydreaming, Dorothea eventually brushed a hand through her hair. "Well, lovely as all this sounds, we have a competition to win. Focus, everyone!"
"Yes, my lady," Edelgard played along, her expression would have been serious had it not been for her teasing eyes. "Your orders?"
"Since you're the pinnacle of class and elegance, I need your honest critique on my dance. You as well, Professor. You're not a professional dancer, but the way you move in battle is a dance in of itself."
"Very well, let us see it." Edelgard nodded. She turned to Ferdinand, Petra, and Bernadetta. Admirably, Bernadetta didn't flinch when her gaze met the Imperial princess's. "What of you three?"
"We will be staying to help as well! Though this is a competition between representatives, it is still a house effort." Ferdinand said, clenching his hand into a fist. "I shall be Dorothea's support and give her my all. That is my pledge to her and our class!"
"You're surprisingly enthusiastic about this," Edelgard commented as they moved to stand off to the side while Dorothea gathered herself.
Byleth raised a brow in curiosity when he saw the ever confident Ferdinand von Aegir's cheeks flush. Even Edelgard's eyes widened when she saw how bashful her self-proclaimed rival looked. But his attention was soon stolen when Dorothea began to dance in the center of the room. Having never seen a dance made for a performance, Byleth's interest was already piqued. And he wasn't disappointed. She stared off drawing her foot in an arc across the floor. What followed after, Byleth couldn't begin to describe.
The dance was fluid, each movement flowing into the other. She moved like water. But the elegant dance wasn't simply elegant, there were moments in which the movement became fierce before slowing down into one another. Brigid influence? One glance at Petra who was avidly watching Dorothea confirmed his curiosity. When it ended, Byleth felt a greater appreciation for dance. He didn't know much about it from a professional standpoint, but the dance Dorothea displayed was moving.
It moved even his unstill heart.
There was a soft clap. Byleth glanced to his side to see Edelgard clapping softly. Joining in, Byleth smiled when he saw Dorothea's flushed look.
"Well, what do you think?"
"…That I would have been a fool to have taken the spot as representative when we already have an unparalleled dancer in our class." For a brief moment, Byleth thought he saw hearts in Dorothea's eyes given how Edelgard's coolly spoken words swept the former diva off her feet. He wondered if she was charismatic as a result of her status or if it was an innate talent of hers. There were times when Byleth found himself quite taken with Edelgard's sincere and sweet words as well.
"Indeed! You were like a fairy gliding across the waters!"
The hearts disappeared the moment Ferdinand spoke. With a more measured smile, Dorothea laughed breathlessly.
"You think so? It wasn't…bad? Overdone?"
"Not at all."
Hearing Edelgard's reassuring words, Dorothea released a breath in relief.
"Thank goodness. I was anxious. What about you, Professor?"
"It was lovely. Did you incorporate Brigid dance into your dance?" He asked.
"Yes! Since we have a wonderful princess from Brigid, it's only natural I do my best to represent her as well as the other students in our house. If you were able to see it, I must have incorporated it well. What do you think, Petra? It's not horrible? Did I represent a part of Brigid dance well?"
"Yes! Dorothea was moving very beautifully. I am having much gratitude to you for learning Brigid dance. I am…very happy."
"Is that so? I'm glad."
Hearing a slight sniffle, Byleth turned to find Bernadetta wiping the corner of her eyes. When she felt his stare, she hurriedly explained, "It was a very beautiful dance! I'm…I'm so moved. How can someone move like that? I can barely walk without having trouble but Dorothea danced so well."
After giving a few suggestions, Edelgard said, "What of your clothes for the competition, Dorothea? Have you thought of what you wish to wear? We are running short of time to have a dress custom tailored from Enbarr, but I can still have one purchased and delivered posthaste."
"There's no need to go so far as custom tailoring it to me. And there's really no need to purchase it from Enbarr either. That's a little over the top. The town here has a boutique we can peruse. There'll be some very nice dresses there I'm sure." Dorothea said.
"Be that as it may, I would like to contribute to this competition in my own way."
Dorothea smiled helplessly. "You're oddly stubborn regarding certain matters, Edie. But if it'll make you happy, then we'll purchase a dress from Enbarr. The color has to be red. I know we like to style ourselves as the Black Eagles, but black is very dreary. We have be bold and bright to capture the interests of the audience and the judges. As for the style, I just need it to be easy to move in. Anything else, we have Bern to help us out with."
"Me?" Bernadetta pointed to herself, eyes wide.
"You have a talent for sewing, Bern. I trust you to adjust and alter my dress," said Dorothea, patting Bernadetta on the shoulder.
"Dress wear is an important criteria for the competition. We will be relying on you, Bernadetta."
"Huh—oh, uh, okay! I'll do my best!" Bernadetta said when pinned with the many stares from her classmates. Then she said in a not-so-hushed voice to Edelgard, "Please don't—"
"I will not execute you if anything goes awry, Bernadetta. You have my word." Edelgard interrupted the purple-haired girl. She raised a brow, amused. "I'm beginning to believe you are trying to condition me to forgive any and all transgressions that could warrant execution on your behalf."
"No! I wouldn't dare to do something like that!"
"Relax, Bern, Edie's just teasing you…Right, Edie?"
"Naturally. It'll take more than losing a competition for me to order your neck be placed in a guillotine, Bernadetta."
"My neck?!" Grasping her neck as if to protect it, Bernadetta hid behind Byleth. "T-there's nothing interesting with my neck! You wouldn't want it anyways!"
"Yes, Bernie is not be making good prey." Even Petra was joining in on the teasing.
Lips twitching, Byleth glanced down at Bernadetta who was clinging to his overcoat looking like frightened hamster. Letting her hide behind him, he turned to Dorothea.
"Do you need anything from me, Dorothea? How can I help?"
"It's fine, Professor. I've everyone here helping me. I just need you for moral support." She replied with a wink.
"Do we know who the representatives are for the other houses?" Edelgard asked.
"I have already scouted out the competition!" Ferdinand puffed out his chest, he brushed a hand through his hair when he did so. "The Blue Lions have picked Mercedes while the Golden Deer have chosen Lorenz. The competition is quite fierce this year."
"I can see why Mercedes was chosen to represent the Blue Lions. But Lorenz for the Golden Deer House?" Dorothea crossed her arms, brow raised. "Really?"
"Despite his, at times, pompous air, Lorenz is very well-versed in the art of dancing, Dorothea. He will not be an easy opponent. He has the grace and elegance befitting to dance," Ferdinand explained. "It will not be an easy victory against the two of them."
"Is that so? Well, if you insist I'll make sure not to take him lightly then." Dorothea touched the rim of her hat. "Alright, since competition is stiff around here, let's not waste any time! I'll continue practicing. Everyone, give me all of your honest thoughts! Don't hold back!"
12/15 – Ethereal Moon
It was a hectic time leading up to the White Heron Cup.
Like promised, Edelgard immediately ordered a dress to be delivered from Enbarr to the gates of the monastery. Somehow or another, Hubert executed the order with astounding speed. The order was placed and the dress arrived within a few days despite being from the most southern part of Fódlan. When Byleth went to see it, he was promptly refused by Dorothea who reasoned it would only ruin the surprise of the White Heron Cup.
Thus, with the combined efforts of the young women and Ferdinand, the dress was worked upon in utmost secrecy. Byleth, Linhardt, Hubert, and Caspar were given the task of conducting espionage on the other two houses. At first, Byleth had resisted the idea given as he felt there wasn't a need but when he saw Edelgard's brightly smiling face, he immediately set to blending into the shadows alongside Hubert.
Seeing his students enjoying the winter festivities made him want to join in on the fun as well.
"What are you doing, Kid?"
Glancing up from where he was crouched behind a barrel, Byleth found Jeralt standing over him wearing a traveling cloak with snow lightly dusting his shoulders and hair.
"Father." Letting the cat in his arms free, Byleth gestured for his father to join him. Jeralt raised a brow but then slid into the shadows of the building and hid with Byleth behind the barrel. "I'm currently gathering information about the Golden Deer House."
"…What for?"
"The White Heron Cup."
There was a slight chuckle from behind him, then a large hand ruffled his hair. "Anything worth noting?"
Byleth peered around the barrel to watch as Lorenz spun on the tip of his toes in the most flamboyant of manners. His arms were outstretched and his face skyward. The more Byleth observed, the more he felt he didn't truly understand what it was he was seeing. It didn't help that Claude, Hilda, and Raphael were there applauding Lorenz. Each reaction was more fervent than their previous one. Was it…supposed to be good? Or was his aesthetic sense misaligned with his students? With Fódlan culture?
"What is that kid doing?"
Thankfully, Byleth wasn't the only one questioning the dance Lorenz was so passionately displaying for his classmates.
"I'm…not sure. Dancing, I think."
"Huh. I guess I'm not too knowledgeable about these things so I wouldn't be able to comment otherwise. But if you're enjoying yourself, don't let me stop you." Jeralt said standing to his feet. Byleth took another glance at Lorenz and then stood as well. He felt he saw all he needed to see. He wondered if Hubert and the others had a better chance at gathering intelligence regarding the Blue Lions House.
"Welcome back, Father." Byleth said remembering he still hadn't welcomed Jeralt back from his mission that month. "When you have time to rest, we can talk about patrolling the old chapel Lady Rhea tasked us with doing for this month."
"I was about to say the same thing. Give me a day and we can talk about this mission. It shouldn't be too hard. The old chapel has been closed off for some time and the only ones with access would be the staff here at the monastery. Though we can't discount the possibilities of foes like Tomas and Jeritza within our midst," said Jeralt with a frown.
Byleth nodded. He'd put off investigating the chapel until his father returned from his mission. With Jeralt back, it was time for them to start planning for their investigation as they were tasked by Lady Rhea and Seteth. His eyes darted to the flowers in Jeralt's hands. They were bright and colorful. Nor did they look like they were local to the area.
"Are those for Mother?"
Jeralt's eyes widened. Then he smiled softly. "That's right. I thought she might like them. I'm going to visit her before I head to my office. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go together and see her."
After glancing back at Lorenz who was still proudly doing his dance in the middle of the snowy garden, Byleth followed behind Jeralt towards the direction of the cemetery. Snow crunching beneath their boots, they made the short walk to the cemetery which had snow piled up on the grass but the tomes were clean save for the light dust of snow that fell on it earlier this morning. Byleth and Jeralt dusted the tombstone off, his father gently placing the flowers atop the stone in the most delicate motion Byleth ever seen him do.
"Hey there," Jeralt said softly, laying the flowers before the tombstone. "I brought you some flowers. They're pretty tough to find in the middle of winter. So I hope you like these…Why don't you say something to your mother, Byleth?"
"What should I say?"
"Anything you want? I bet she'll be happy to hear from you." Jeralt's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
Staring between his father and then the tombstone, Byleth said softly. "Father…Mother…I fell in love."
There was a crunch of snow under Jeralt's boot as he shifted in surprise hearing Byleth's soft-spoken words. His orange eyes were wide. He blinked a few times, then his lips shifted, splitting open into a wide grin as he laughed, deep and booming. Byleth raised a brow Jeralt's unexpected reaction. He didn't think his father would be so enthused upon hearing his confession. When he was done laughing, Jeralt grinned.
"I didn't expect to hear you ever use those words in this lifetime, Byleth…But I'm glad," Jeralt said, expression softening. "So, who's the lucky lady?"
"She…" Byleth trailed off, unable to say the name. There was a difference in speaking it mentally and physically. If he said it a loud, it was an acknowledgement to the world that he loved her rather than saying it to himself. Edelgard…was someone far out of his reach. This brief moment they had together at the monastery was going to end in a few more moons. Trying to ignore the ache in his chest, Byleth merely said, "She's someone much different from me."
Thankfully, Jeralt didn't push the matter. "I see…Did you meet her here at the monastery?"
"I did."
"Looks like you and I are the same in that regard. I met your mother here at the monastery and we fell in love. And just like you and the woman you love, back then I thought your mother was someone very different from me as well."
"But the two of you still fell in love."
"We did. I was very lucky," Jeralt said, gaze reminiscent. "Do you plan on doing anything about your feelings?"
Byleth shook his head.
There were too many lines between them that he didn't dare to cross. The most he could do was toe those lines as close as possible. There was also the unspoken secrets she was keeping from him—secrets that Byleth knew the moment they were given words would change the dynamic of their relationship forever. Thinking about the Flame Emperor at Remire Village, Byleth's heart ached. Pushing the thought to the back of his mind, he smiled faintly up at Jeralt.
"I like the way things are currently. They don't have to change."
"And that's okay, too. So long as you're fine with matters there's no need to force change." Jeralt ruffled his hair. He then smiled at the tombstone. "Looks like our kid has it rough. Watch over him on that end, alright? I'm not really good when it comes to love."
There was no reply, but judging from the fond smile on Jeralt's face there didn't need to be one. The two of them stood there shoulder to shoulder until Jeralt rubbed Byleth's head once more, telling him he had to unpack his traveling gear and settle back in at Garreg Mach. Seeing his father off, Byleth lingered in the cemetery.
It was there Edelgard found him.
"What are you doing out here, Professor? The snow is beginning to fall, should you not be inside least you catch cold?" Edelgard stood beside him, warmly dressed in a heavy red cloak with thick fur lining. Her small face was flushed red from the chilly winter air.
"I'm fine."
Edelgard stared at the nondescript tombstone. "Is this someone…you know?"
"My mother." Seeing the surprise and apology in her gaze, Byleth shook his head. "It's fine. She passed away long ago and I have no memory of her. There's no need to feel sorry for me, Edelgard."
"Even if you say such, how could I not? I will always wish that the world was not so cruel to separate a parent and child. But the reality is not so kind as to entertain such. Though perhaps being who I am, I understand the world's refusal to indulge my wish," Edelgard said. Byleth didn't follow-up on her cryptic words, choosing to let them fade into the silence surrounding them. "…My mother passed away as well."
"What…Ah…" Remembering the details surrounding Edelgard's family, Byleth's brows furrowed. Edelgard's mother was one of the victims of the Tragedy of Duscar. "…I'm sorry."
"What for? You weren't the one to have killed her." Edelgard sighed, her breath coming out in the form of a small white cloud. Her violet eyes rested on the colorful flowers on the tombstone. "Your mother liked flowers?"
"Yes. My father brought them for her."
Edelgard's lips parted. She hesitated, then said, "The snowfall is becoming heavier. We should retreat indoors." When he nodded, she smiled faintly. Her gaze darted to the grave once more. She politely inclined her head. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Eisner."
Byleth's heart ached. Suddenly remembering something he saw a child do at Remire when they stayed there during the winter many years ago, Byleth crouched and began to gather the snow in his hands. He shaped it into a rough sphere then he made another smaller sphere to stack atop the larger one. Finding two small pebbles and twigs, he gave his small creation eyes and a stiff smile. Edelgard took one look at his art, crouched and replicated the same exact tiny snowman beside his.
"They'll keep her company," was all Byleth said as an explanation.
Sharing a smile, the two made their way to the dining hall together only to be ambushed by Claude and a flurry of flying snowballs. It took all of Byleth's efforts to prevent an all-out fight between Edelgard and Claude especially when Hubert had walked by and caught sight of his liege being pelted with snowballs.
12/16 – Ethereal Moon
Being nervous wasn't a feeling he was familiar with. But standing just beneath the stage made his stomach twist uncomfortably. The torches lining the walls were burning brightly, casting a soft orange glow about the reception hall. Braziers were placed in each corner, keeping the large and drafty hall warm. The students of the three houses milled about, their eyes focused on the center stage.
"Dorothea will be fine, my teacher." Byleth turned his head. Edelgard was staring up at him with a reassuring smile. "You look rather nervous. It's a first for me to see you like this."
"I feel nervous…"
Since he didn't specialize in dance, it made him anxious sitting here and watching from the sidelines. Though he'd been an active part of helping Dorothea practice, he still wasn't completely sure he was a good asset to his students despite them reassuring him that he was.
"There's no need to be. We have Dorothea representing us."
That Edelgard had utmost confidence in Dorothea filled him with warmth. The two young women have come a long way to being close friends. In fact, he would say his class as a whole was much closer than when he first met them. Even Hubert was showing significant change in relations to his classmates. That the broody man wasn't threatening death every other sentence was a significant improvement on his part.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" A booming voice drew all of their attention. Strolling out from the side hall was the burly figure of Alois. He wasn't dressed in his armor and instead formal wear that looked a little outdated. "My sincerest apologies for the wait!"
Behind him were Manuela and Shamir. The two of them were both wearing formal attire as well. Manuela donned a black dress similar to her everyday clothes while Shamir had settled for a formal suit. The ex-mercenary wore a dagger on her hip and he was certain she had a hidden weapon somewhere he didn't see. The three of them walked up the steps and took center stage.
"Thank you for gathering here on the eve of the highly anticipated ball to bear witness to the academy-wide dance competition! Welcome to the White Heron Cup!" Alois's voice echoed throughout the reception hall earning a raucous round of applause from those gathered. Grinning widely, Alois continued, "The competition will be judged by…me! Your humble servant, Alois Rangeld!"
After receiving applause and some whistles from the crowd, Alois swept his hand grandly towards his right where Manuela stood.
"And also, the acclaimed former songstress of the Mittelfrank Opera Company, Manuela Casagranda!"
The claps grew louder. Several students, young men and women shouted their undying admiration for Manuela. Byleth clapped along, smiling at how popular his coworker was.
"Yes, yes, thank you." Manuela bowed elegantly. She blew a kiss towards the crowd. "Oh, and it should go without saying, but I swear to show no bias to my own house. Got it? Good."
Alois gestured to his left towards the blank faced Shamir. "Last but not least, the glamorous assassin who does all of her dancing in the dead of night…Shamir Nevrand!"
The applause the stoic Knight of Seiros received was just as loud as Manuela's. Shamir didn't blink an eye at the reception. She tilted her head, looking as if she didn't know if she was interested in being present. That Alois managed to convince her to be a judge was a testament to his strength of perseverance. Once Shamir finished the small wave of her hand, Alois loudly grabbed everyone's attention again.
"The three of us swear on our honor to judge the following proceedings with utmost impartiality and fairness! And with that, the stage is set for the first representative to come forward! May the representative of the Blue Lions House, Mercedes von Martritz, take the stage!"
When Byleth thought the applause for Manuela and Shamir were loud, the one Mercedes received was like a thunderous roar echoing through the reception hall. He felt it was so loud it could even shake the stone walls. Some students were roughly pushing and shoving each other to get a better view of the stage as the three judges exited and a lone figure approached from the darkness near the stairs.
When the figure emerged into the light, the screams and shouts grew even louder. The other two representatives hadn't even appeared yet but it felt like Mercedes was pulling ahead in the race for being the most popular representative of the three. She wore a deep navy dress that flared out towards the end of the skirt. The collar of her dress was lined with white fur. Her deep blonde hair freely waved down her back.
When she smiled, her blue eyes became crescent shaped.
"Mercedes!"
"You're beautiful!"
"Marry me!"
Feeling eyes on him, Byleth lowered his gaze to find Edelgard staring up at him with a blank look. He tilted his head. She made a slight shrug of her shoulder before her gaze returned to the stage. Bewildered by her sudden change in mood, Byleth bent his back slightly to speak close to her ear.
"Is something wrong?"
"No…I was only thinking how well received Mercedes was is all." Edelgard replied, her lips close to his ear as she turned her head.
Was it strange that she was? Mercedes got along well with everyone regardless of house or status. And being older than the other students, she had a tendency to watch out for them like they were her younger siblings. It was natural for her to be so widely popular.
"She's a good student. And an even better classmate."
Hearing his response, Edelgard smiled looking rather pleased. She murmured her agreement and the two of them turned to the face the stage once more as the orchestra began to play. The song was soft and calming yet with the energy fitting a ballroom. When Mercedes danced, he could hear the sighs of admiration. The mood given off with her dance was decidedly different from Dorothea's dance he witnessed before. And he wasn't sure if it was intentional or not, but her dance coupled with her smile came off as rather…sensual. He glanced to Sylvain who was a few bodies away from him and the redhead looked as if his eyes might pop out of his head as he all but ogled at Mercedes. A few paces away from him, Annette had her hands clasped and was grinning proudly as she watched her best friend take the stage. When her dance ended, there was a moment of silence before booming applause broke the silence.
Face flushed, Mercedes elegantly bowed and then waved to the audience.
"You did it, Mercie!" Annette's shrill voice could be heard over the crowd.
"What a beautiful performance from our Blue Lions representative, Mercedes! Now for our next representative, we have the representative of the Golden Deer House, Lorenz Hellman Gloucester!"
When Lorenz stepped onto the stage, there was a stunned silence. Mercedes who was seated with the judges off to the side giggled behind her hand. The reception was completely different from Mercedes. Lorenz's hair was neatly combed back. He wore an outfit that was completely gold—the gaudiest outfit Byleth had ever seen in his entire existence. Red roses were sewn onto his outfit and he even had one in his breast pocket.
This is…rather difficult to look at, Sothis sounded pained when she spoke.
Then when the music started, a fast and striking tempo, Byleth wasn't quite sure how to react. Beside him, Edelgard sighed deeply and held a hand to her face as if she was physically pained by the display before her. When Byleth glanced towards Sylvain, he saw the redhead laughing hysterically only to be silenced by a gut punch from Ingrid. In front of doubled-over Blue Lion student, Claude and Hilda were grinning widely as Lorenz danced about on the stage. Their smiles…held a touch of mischief and exasperated fondness. Lorenz's dance would have looked elegant had it not been for how he was dressed coupled with how overly flamboyant his moves were. And when it was done, there was polite smatter of applause from the crowd save for the Golden Deer House who bellowed their overflowing support of their representative. From the side, Manuela wore a fond but exasperated smile as she clapped and graciously accepted the rose from Lorenz as he went to join Mercedes in waiting alongside the judges.
And then when it came time for their house, Byleth felt his lungs squeeze and his blood pound in his ears. It was a feeling similar to the first time he held a sword in real battle. Edelgard calmly kept her gaze forward, eyes focused solely on the stage as a tall figure ascended onto the platform. When she stepped into the light, there was a collective inhale.
A red dress clung to her body, a slit neatly running up to mid-thigh on her left leg. Unlike Mercedes's whose dress was lined with fur, Dorothea's dress was designed with black feathers. She wore black stockings on her legs and her heels were a deep red to match her dress. The earrings she wore were uniquely designed. He realized upon second glance that it was similar to the accessories he sometimes saw Petra with. Gone was her signature hat, allowing her thick chestnut hair to freely cascade down her back. Her emerald eyes were calm, not a ripple of anxiety to be seen as she calmly stood before the gathered audience.
When the music started, a medium tempo with a heavy emphasis on drums, Dorothea began her dance. It was similar to what she demonstrated to Byleth before. Unlike Mercedes and Lorenz, however, Dorothea's dance was more practiced and overflowing with stage presence. It was clear how different the performance was between a seasoned veteran of the theater compared to one who wasn't. The music suddenly picked up tempo. To match it, Dorothea moved even faster, her arms cutting through the air in a manner that wasn't like ballroom dancing at all. Brigid influence, perhaps?
Hmm…the Songbird is clearly well-cut for the stage. Pity she decided to leave it behind, Sothis murmured in appreciation.
Byleth nodded slightly to her words, eyes shifting from Dorothea to land on Ferdinand who stood close to the stage. One glanced at the noble youth's gaze made Byleth raise his brow. Ferdinand had the expression of someone who was completely taken by Dorothea's performance. The intensity of his gaze made Byleth feel as if the emotions Ferdinand harbored for Dorothea were much deeper than that of classmates.
Gazing moving back to Dorothea who seemed to glide effortlessly across the stage, Byleth felt his lips curl upwards when she arched her back, arms reaching and head tilting upwards. There was a wide smile on her lips and her eyes sparkled. Perhaps being on stage again brought her a feeling of being at home since Garreg Mach was an environment much out of her everyday life back at the opera company.
When Dorothea's dance ended, Byleth enthusiastically joined in on the cheering, clapping with as much strength as he could muster. Beside him, Edelgard was clapping with a bright smile that stretched her face. Somewhere in the noise, he could hear Bernadetta's shrill half-sob, half-cheer and Caspar's laughing yell of "You killed it, Dorothea!" Gracefully bowing, Dorothea waited on stage for Mercedes and Lorenz to rejoin her alongside the judges. She exchanged a smile with Mercedes and leveled Lorenz with a confidant smirk, making a face when Lorenz bowed over her hand to give it a kiss.
"What a wonderful performance by our three house representatives! Do give them all a round of applause for their spirit and dedication, everyone!" Alois said. After another round of cheers, he glanced at Manuela and Shamir, "After having witnessed all the performances, it is time to hear what the judges have to say. Professor Manuela, let's hear your vote first!"
"All of the students were wonderful and their dances moved my heart so, however, there must be one clear winner. And that person for me would have to be Dorothea from the Black Eagle House." Manuela fanned her face, eyes wide. "What a beautiful dance! Such passion and vigor. It reminded me of my younger days back at the Mittelfrank Opera. Well done, Dorothea and the Black Eagle House."
"And there we have one for the Black Eagles! Next, we have Shamir's vote!"
Shamir crossed her arms. She said in a cool tone, "I vote for the Blue Lions House. The way Mercedes carried herself was striking."
"It looks like it'll have to fall to me to decide the winner or if we have a tie!" With a deep laugh, Alois nodded to himself. "Yes, factoring in my humble opinion, I would like to announce this year's winner of the White Heron Cup…Congratulations to the Black Eagle House!"
The celebration that followed Alois's words made the night one Byleth doubt he would ever forget. Dorothea laughed, gaze darting to her class. Her emerald eyes were shining brightly as if she was going to cry and when she descended from the stage, they were upon her, hugging her tightly, laughing, and congratulating her. Byleth watched, feeling his heart ease at the sight of their closeness. And he felt he saw a burden ease from Dorothea's shoulders. Being able to do something for her classmates must have meant more to her than he initially thought. Watching her smother Edelgard and Bernadetta in an embrace, Byleth was glad he decided to pick Dorothea. Even if he did love Edelgard, his other students were important to him as well. Their closeness with each other…he was realizing he valued it just as much as he valued his own bonds with them.
"What are you doing, Professor?" Caspar asked waving to him with both arms. "Come on and get over here! We gotta celebrate together! We won! This year is our year! The Black Eagles are taking it all! Heck yeah!"
Not needing to be told twice, he joined them only to be smothered in another group hug, instigated by Dorothea once more. But unlike last time, this time he was more prepared and readily opened his arms to accept his students almost being mowed down in the process when students from other houses came over to join in on the celebration.
Like many recent events, he felt the White Heron Cup was one he would always remember. And seeing the laughter and joy on the faces of his students, he had no doubt he would ever forget this night.
So the White Heron Cup comes to and end. I decided to make Mercedes the representative for the Blue Blue lions because I have a headcannon where Mercedes is just the extremely popular old sister type that appeals to everyone in the monastery and the other Lions know this save for Dimitri. Also because Mercedes did come the Empire whose nobility most likely participated in more social events so she would know more about dancing than the nobles from the Kingdom whose harsh conditions doesn't seem like a place that would hold many balls. As for the Golden Deer, Lorenz was an obvious choice considering his classmates and their personalities and backgrounds. With the White Heron cup done, the ball is next and eventually the long awaited post timeskip.
See you all at the next chapter.