"Delly!" I grabbed her before she could hit the ground, pulling her close.

Her body felt cold to the touch, even through her clothes. Almost as if she was a literal ice maiden, formed from glacial snow.

"Allow me!" Hubert ran forward.

For a split second, I pulled Delly closer, unwilling to let go. But then my rational mind took over and I shifted her to let Hubert check on her.

The dark magic user faintly smiled when he saw my action, but that expression was quickly replaced by his usual stern face. His dark eyes focused on Delly's face and then he reached out to her neck to check her pulse. A moment later, he frowned and then started muttering, a violet aura appearing around his hand.

I frowned and opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, but before I could Dorothea ran over.

"Edie!" The former idol stopped a few paces away from us and said, "Is she alright? What happened?"

Hubert removed his hand and let out a sigh of relief. "It should simply be exhaustion. Courtesy of our dear professor's thoughtlessness and Lady Edelgard's own stubbornness."

Stella sighed and then said, "Would you think for once before acting?"

Hey! You're the one who said to give her a gift!

Not a ring! With how exhausted she was and her condition, what did you think was going to happen? Did you forget how often people fainted in your own world during such emotional moments?

…Maybe?

A deep sigh echoed in my mind.

Hubert shook his head and said, "Even so, while I believe it is just exhaustion, it would be prudent to confirm Lady Edelgard's condition with Professor Manuela."

I nodded and picked Delly up, holding her close to my body in a bridal carry. After that, I turned towards Dorothea and said, "Dory! Is Manuela back yet?"

"D-Dory? That's… no, focus, Dora." Dorothea slapped her cheeks a bit and nodded. "She is, Professor. She came back a few hours before-"

That was all I needed to hear.

I turned towards the gate and ran forward, being careful to hold Delly close to my chest to not disturb her.

"Wait, Professor!"

Dorothea called out after me, along with the others, but I ignored them.

The gatekeeper, Aidem, waved when he saw me approaching. "Congrats, Prof-" His eyes widened when he saw Delly and he stopped talking.

"Open the gate!"

"Yes!" He turned around and started pulling the rope to open the gate. Gears and chains clanked, moving in record pace.

By the time I reached it, the gate was wide open.

Aidem's eyes were furrowed in concern and he clasped his hands together as I passed. "May the Goddess be with you!"

I nodded in gratitude and kept running. As I did, I noticed my body felt heavy, lethargic. Not only that, but my arms were trembling, despite the fact that Delly felt as light as a feather.

"Dammit."

I forgot that I was exhausted. Still, I couldn't let that stop me now. It'd be dangerous if I collapsed, but I grit my teeth and forced myself to hold steady.

In the courtyard in front of the main building of the monastery, a battalion of wyvern riders mounted their steeds. Commanding them was Seteth, holding a shining gold and silver spear in his left hand while standing in front of his own wyvern.

Seteth heard me approach and turned. His eyes widened when he saw me and he said, "Professor? Thank the Goddess you are-" He paused when he noticed Delly and said, "What happened to-"

"Manuela!"

Seteth blinked, momentarily confused, but thankfully he was quick on the uptake. He nodded and said, "On standby in the infirmary. Up the stairs on the opposite side from Rhea's room."

I nodded and ran towards the main building.

A knight in full platemail armor was guarding it, but when he saw me run over, he quickly moved to the side and held it open for me.

Like to the others, I nodded my head in thanks and kept running.

The moment I passed through the doorway, the knight closed the door. Yet, as it was closing, I heard Seteth's voice echo.

"While the professor may be safe, our duty is unfinished. To dare attack not once, but twice… let us show our foes we are not as weak as they believe!"

A roar of approval echoed, followed by the sound of wing-beats. At the same time, blinding white light illuminated the night.

I didn't stop running, but for a brief moment I glanced out a window that I passed. Through it, I saw the Crest of Cichol blaze in the sky… and persist instead of fading.

After that, an ancient mana began filling the air, one that felt like a crushing mountain- no, the land itself.

My eyes widened. That… was possible?

What in the world?! Crests can be used in such a manner?

It seemed like I wasn't the only one surprised. I heard my dear sister's voice echo in my mind.

For a brief moment, I wondered what exactly was happening outside. But I threw that thought away.

Delly… my Edelgard. I had to make sure she was safe.

I reached the stairs.

My limbs were shaking, so I didn't dare risk continue running. At the same time, I couldn't waste time.

While I slowly ascended the stairs, I called out. "Manuela! Hanneman! Are either of you there!?"

Thankfully, it looked like my luck turned around for once. The goddess statue Stella gave me was putting in work, for sure.

Not long after I called out, a familiar male voice called back in response. "Just who is making all that ruckus out there?" Hanneman peered out from the stairwell. "Hm? Byleth, is that-" He stopped talking when he saw Delly and ran down the stairs to help me carry her. "Allow me!"

I sighed and held Delly out for him to carry.

The Crest Scholar carefully held the princess in his arms and then carried her the rest of the way up the stairs.

I took the time to regain my breath. At the same time, I cursed my body's weakness. It seemed like my over reliance on mana was coming back to bite me. To think that I couldn't even carry the one I loved all the way when she fell ill…

After stepping onto the second floor, Hanneman started jogging down the hall towards the infirmary.

I ran after him.

Hanneman turned his head towards me and said, "What happened to Miss Hresvelg?"

I shook my head and said, "She collapsed. Hubert says from exhaustion, but we need to make sure."

"Exhaustion?" Hanneman's eyes widened. "In her condition?"

I flinched.

Hanneman sighed. "Thankfully I informed Manuela of this possibility…"

I sighed in relief.

It was a good thing that Hanneman was smart and knew how to take the initiative. I'd completely forgotten about talking to Manuela about Delly's condition.

Down the hall, there was a set of double doors. As they came into view, they opened and Manuela walked out, yawning. She looked irritated and said, "Barely a few minutes dragged out of bed and-" She noticed us and that irritation and fatigue vanished. "In here, quickly!"

Hanneman nodded and moved inside.

I stepped inside the infirmary and took a brief glance around.

It was a double room, lit by glowing white lamps. Like those in hospitals, there was a curtain dividing the two sides of the room. Both had a bed placed beside a window overlooking the southern side of the monastery. There were a few chairs for visitors next to the bed, with a window side table pushed against the wall on either side. In the center of the room, there was a desk and a large cabinet, no doubt filled with medical supplies.

Hanneman set Delly down on the bed to the left. Manuela opened the cabinet, pulling out a stethoscope and a wooden healing staff before following Hanneman.

I walked over as well… but seeing the way they hovered around Delly kept me from getting too close, like taking someone to the ER-

"She's dead! You… You came too late! Why couldn't you-!"

Static. A flatline. Accusations.

Another room overlapped the one in front of me. Midnight, men and women in blue gowns.

I blinked and the vision vanished, leaving only a headache behind.

Manuela wore the stethoscope and knelt before the bed, using the medical instrument to check Delly's heartbeat.

Beside her, Hanneman muttered under his breath, countless glyphs surrounding Delly's body.

Manuela sighed and stood back. "There's a regular pulse, but her heart…"

Hanneman lowered his hand as well and nodded. "The influence of her Crests. Fortunately, they are stable for the moment… though they seemed to have undergone great fluctuations not long ago."

Manuela nodded and then set her stethoscope on the table. After that, she held out her staff, muttering under her breath.

Heart? Great fluctuations in her Crests?

I slowly walked over to a chair and sat down, feeling guilt press down on my chest.

Hanneman turned to look at me and said, "Byleth. What exactly happened to Miss Hresvelg?"

I shook my head and said, "From what the others told me, she was worried and waited all day for me to return. When I finally did, I… um, decided to propose to her?"

Hanneman blinked and then let out a long sigh. "…Often, I forget that you are still young despite your background." He shook his head and said, "Could you not have chosen a better time?"

Manuela tilted her head and said, "For once, I agree with Hanneman. I know I joked about it earlier, Professor, but there's a time and place for these kinds of things, you know? A girl's gotta prepare themselves! You can't just spring it on them unannounced!" She paused and glanced at Delly's hand. "Though I can see where your salary went to if that's the ring you got her…"

Hanneman shook his head and said, "Well, there is no helping what has already happened." He walked over to pat my shoulder. "It may be somewhat inopportune, but congratulations."

"…Thanks?"

"Now." Hanneman glanced at Manuela who was completely engrossed in her work. After that, he turned towards me and said, "Since Manuela has things settled here, would you mind telling me what is going on out there?" He stared out the window and said, "If I am not mistaken… that is the Crest of Cichol, is it not?"

I stared at Delly, frowning. The fact that Manuela was running so many diagnostic spells… and the pained look on Delly's face… was it that bad?

"Byleth?"

I blinked and saw that Hanneman was staring at me.

He looked outwardly curious, but there was a warm look in his gaze that showed he was concerned. Probably, the conversation was just a means to distract me.

I sighed and decided to go along with his efforts. "The ones that attacked the monastery before are back and hiding around the mountain path. Somehow, they figured out how to turn invisible and use wind magic to get short bursts of speed. My father and his troops are leading the Blue Lions back after they snuck out, but I think that." I pointed towards the Crest of Cichol. "Is a countermeasure Rhea left behind."

Hanneman nodded. "I see… It would indeed be effective against invading forces. Applying a Crest on such a large scale… with your hypothesis about the true nature of Crests, I thought it possible, but to think the Archbishop had such a device at the ready… Hm. Strange."

"It is, isn't it?"

It seemed to come out of left field. If Rhea had something like that, why didn't she use it when the monastery was being invaded in the future?

Did she just not have time to use it since she was caught off guard? No, that didn't make sense.

…Was it possible that it already existed and was being used for something else?

Right now, since it was showing the Crest of Cichol, Seteth was probably using it. But with Rhea, it would be the Crest of Seiros.

From the way the mana was being amplified, it seemed like the Crest of Cichol was pressuring everything on the ground. A domineering mana that was like the land itself… that was what it represented and how it was being applied, preventing those the land didn't approve of from moving.

Following that line of thought, the Crest of Seiros… she was a sky dragon, if I remembered right. In that case, the Crest should be something similar that dominated the skies…

I forgot who mentioned it, but someone said that the Javelins of Light the Agarthans had didn't work on Garreg Mach. Was that why? Did the Crest of Seiros prevent aerial bombardments?

"One moment." Hanneman frowned and looked at me. "What was this about the Blue Lions sneaking out of the monastery?"

Before I could answer, Manuela lowered her staff and let out a long sigh.

I quickly walked over and looked at Delly. "Is she alright?"

Manuela nodded. "She's fine now." Her voice was weary, exhausted.

I blinked and looked over towards her.

Manuela was pale, even more exhausted than she had looked initially. Noticing me staring, the songstress shook her head and smiled. "What? Worried about someone like me? I'm flattered, but shouldn't you be worried about your fiancee?"

"…Was it that bad?"

Manuela sighed. "Saw right through me, huh? Maybe I am getting a bit too old for this…" She shook her head and then looked at Delly. "As for your beloved… it's complicated. She was already under a lot of stress, physically and emotionally, and then you had to go ahead and spring the question on her. Poor girl's heart couldn't take it."

I froze.

Manuela rolled her eyes and tapped my head with her staff. "Relax, Professor. I meant it figuratively, not literally. Your lovely fiancee is fine." She paused. "Well, mostly. Her body has a lot of internal damage and her mana levels are frighteningly low… but she's holding steady. As best as she could for her condition anyway."

I knelt down at the bed and grabbed Delly's left hand.

It was cold, frigid like it usually was. But it was warmer than when I carried her. It seemed like Manuela hadn't just waved her staff and sent her off with a few words at least.

Manuela sighed and pulled a seat over. "You men are so foolish… No, I suppose that girl is too." She shook her head and said, "The first thing either you, Hanneman, or Edelgard should have done was come to me about this." She glanced at Delly and said, "While the person who did emergency first aid on her was skilled, they missed the deeper internal wounds in her organs and bones."

My eyes widened and I stared at Delly's face. "You mean that she… that my Edelgard was walking around with that much pain?"

Manuela shook her head. "No. Fortunately… or unfortunately, it was deep enough that she wouldn't feel it. At most, she would have just felt cold and numb."

"…She said that every day was cold and numb. Just a phone call, just a text message! You should have-"

"…Stayed with her today instead of going out, Byleth." Manuela sighed. "To be honest… I'm surprised that she managed stay alive until now. With how hard her heart was working to keep her blood under control, it wouldn't have been a surprise for her to suffer a heart attack at any time."

I suddenly felt thankful that I was kneeling. If I had been standing, my legs would have given out on me. Even as it was, my hands shook. "…She never told me."

How hard it was, how exhausted she must have felt, how much of an effort it must have taken for her to even get out of bed…

Manuela stood up from her chair and walked over, placing her hand on my shoulder.

I turned my head towards her.

She gave me a soft smile and said, "Then you need to treat her well, Professor- no, Byleth. The fact that Edelgard's still alive is a testament to how unwilling she is to part from you." She sighed and said, "Ah, to be young again."

I nodded. "Then, is she going to be fine?"

Manuela paused and took her hand off my shoulder.

I felt a chill creep through my heart.

"Her condition won't get worse, but asking if she's going to be fine…" Manuela shook her head. "I know that you and Hanneman are looking to solve the problem of her Crests… but even if you do, the toll it took on her body won't disappear. Promising yourself to her was a good idea, since it gives her a reason to keep living… but unless a miracle happens, it will be hard for her to see the new year, even if the problem of the Crests is resolved. Though." She looked at me and said, "You already knew that, didn't you? That's why you gave her the ring. To buy a bit more time."

I didn't respond. Instead, I rubbed circles on the back of Delly's hand, trying to warm it up.

She wasn't wearing her usual gloves, so that let me feel the rough skin on her hands, the callouses and scratches formed on fingers that should have been soft and unblemished.

"Lighten up, Byleth." Hanneman's voice echoed and he walked over. A bright smile was on his face and he said, "While the situation may be dire, you have all of us at your side. The preeminent Crest Scholar, the best physician in all of Garreg Mach, and you, the one whose insight can peer into even divine secrets… And that is not to mention the Archbishop and the others as well." He placed his right hand on my left shoulder and said, "If a miracle is what is needed, a miracle we shall create!"

Manuela laughed. "My, Hanneman. And here I was thinking an old man like you didn't have any spirit left in him."

"Old?" Hanneman took his hand off my shoulder and smiled. "Perhaps, but while these bones may be old, I still retain my youthful spirit!"

Manuela giggled and shook her head. "My. Such optimism… well, I suppose we'll need it. And it would be a shame to tell Dorothea that she won by default."

At that time, footsteps echoed from behind the doors.

"That's the infirmary! I mean, I was just here the other day, so I'm pretty sure it is…"

I blinked. "Caspar?"

An exasperated sigh echoed and then a lovely female voice said, "Well it looks like your habit of getting into fights finally paid off, 'big bro'."

"Stop calling me that!"

I started to get up, but Manuela pushed me down.

"You stay put with your lovely fiancee, Professor," she said. "I'll deal with the idiots yelling in a sickbay."

Hanneman looked at me and then said, "I will give you two some privacy. It is the least I can do for helping me with my own wayward students." With that, Hanneman followed after Manuela.

The door opened and I saw the Black Eagles rush in. But before they could get far, Hanneman closed the curtain divider and cast Silence on the surroundings.

"What do you mean we can't-"

A hush fell over the air… and then it was just me and Delly.

I held her hand and stared at her face.

Delly… my Edelgard. Beautiful, intelligent, noble, and stubborn Edelgard.

"This…" I muttered. "Is this my fault?"

While her collapse was clearly my fault, I meant her condition as a whole. The fact that she was suffering… was it that 'Byleth' was fated to hurt her unless he followed the bloodstained path with her? Could there be no compromise otherwise?

Sothis had mentioned it. That Edelgard… that Delly was just as foolish as me for turning her back on her Fate. Then, was this the aftermath of that? A body that could not feel warmth and wouldn't last through the year?

That…

Thump.

…made me angry.

My heart burned white hot and my body, which should have been drained of mana, felt flooded with it.

I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath.

Focus. I had to focus. Anger wouldn't help anyone here.

When I calmed down, something Manuela said came to mind. "The ring bought a bit more time?"

I lifted Delly's hand and took a closer look at the ring I gave her.

Glittering gold, shimmering silver, and a ruby rose. Now that I saw it up in the light, I realized that I recognized what it was made of.

The gold and the silver… it was the same that I saw in Rhea's room. The material that made up her throne. At the time, I didn't realize what it was, but now I knew.

The gold was refined Nabatean blood plasma while the silver… was probably mithril, what was used in the sacred weapons. A legendary mineral that amplified the plasma's restorative effects.

As for the rose… I thought it was just an ordinary red diamond, but from the ripples I felt from it, the gem had the effect of amplifying strength, a drop of energy that had been crystallized and distilled.

"Mom…"

Did you know that something like this would happen?

The gold that made up the ring… that refined blood plasma. The mana in it was familiar and warm… but it wasn't mine. Neither was it my sister's or Rhea's. That meant…

I shook my head and focused on what the ring was doing rather than what it was.

Following the flow of mana from it, I felt how it interacted with Delly's own mana.

It was hard. Since it wasn't my own mana or my body, I couldn't see it quite as clearly. Like how the body rejected foreign substances, her internal mana was trying to stop me from observing it.

Still, I managed to get a glimpse in the short time I looked.

The ring was sending soft pulses, softening the more jagged clashes from the Crest of Seiros and the Crest of Flames. At the same time, it healed the worst of the damage that resulted, gently piecing things back together.

An equilibrium… but like when I first tried to heal Annie, it wasn't enough. While things weren't getting worse, they weren't getting any better either.

"Dammit. All this power and knowledge, but I still…"

I wished I could BS it. That I could just wave my hand… no, that the power of love would just magically make my Edelgard better. That Delly would have been saved after I proposed to her.

But… it looked like that wasn't happening.

No, even if it did, I felt… I knew that there'd be repercussions.

My decisions were like jenga, a carefully stacked tower of blocks. To reach the ending I wanted, I needed to take out pieces and carefully reposition them to go higher… but one misstep and everything would fall apart.

Not only that… but paired with what happened today, I felt overwhelmed.

Would everything I use just be copied and turned against me? Was this time an isolated incident? No, how much did the Flame Emperor and the other side know?

I…

Delly's eyes fluttered and she started to stir.

I threw away my thoughts and leaned forward, staring at her. "Delly?"

Her violet eyes opened, but they were unfocused. After blinking a bit, she noticed me and looked over. "My… teacher?"

I nodded. "That's right. It's me, your Byleth."

Delly frowned. Her eyes slowly focused and scanned the surroundings. "Where am I?"

"You're at the infirmary. After you collapsed, I ran all the way here with you to make sure you were alright."

"I… collapsed? Why-" She noticed that I was holding her hand… and then noticed the ring on it. Seeing that, Delly's eyes widened.

I laughed and said, "Yeah… sorry about springing it on you so suddenly."

She didn't respond, instead entranced by the ring on her hand.

"Delly?"

She slowly shook her head and muttered, "This isn't a dream, is it? That… that would be very, very cruel."

"Of course not silly." I brushed a strand of her bangs away and said, "And if someone played a prank like that on you, I'd be very upset."

Delly smiled, a radiant expression that made my heart race. And then she tried to sit up.

I frowned and gently pushed her back. "No. Lie down. It's late, and you need to rest."

"But I-"

"Rest." I stared at her and said, "I don't want my lovely fi- fian… er, the one I hold dear in my heart to be sick."

Delly shook her head. "I'm a bit hurt. To think that my beloved doesn't dare to call me his fiancee…"

Beloved. Hearing that from her, I felt my cheeks warm up.

Delly's eyes widened. "Byleth! Are you… embarrassed?"

"Who? Me? Embarrassed?" I shook my head. "As if. I was just… caught off guard."

"Is that so, Darling?"

My mind blanked out.

Darling? Me?

Delly's smile turned to a grin and she said, "Or would rather be called sweetheart?"

I blinked. That one… wasn't so bad. It was enough that I could focus again.

Delly noticed and muttered, "No effect huh? Then…" She looked at me, her violet eyes soft, and then she tenderly whispered, "My love."

…

…

…

The soft sound of laughter echoed.

I glared at her and said, "Think it's funny, huh?"

Delly shook her head. "I'm sorry, but it's only fair. I had to deal with the embarrassment of you calling me Delly for so long, so being able to do the same to you is quite satisfying."

Well, two could play that game.

I leaned forward and stared into her eyes. "Is that so, my beloved fiancee? The love of my life, light of my heart, and future wife… do you enjoy teasing me that much?"

It was her turn to blush. Delly's pale skin instantly colored red… though from the bright smile on her face, it seemed like she enjoyed it.

Seeing that, I realized what I said and looked away, feeling the tips of my ears heat up.

It didn't help that we were still holding hands either. Suddenly, I was very conscious about the fact that I was whispering sweet nothings to a beautiful young woman who deeply cared for me… and who agreed to marrying me. To being my wife.

At that time, Delly squeezed my hand and then whispered, "Thank you."

I looked back. "For what?" I shook my head. "You don't need to thank me for anything, Delly."

"No. I must." Delly stared at me and said, "…You hid it well, but I saw the indecisiveness you had in pulling out the ring. The others might have been fooled… but I know you well enough to tell you were surprised. And hesitant."

"What are you talking about? Hesitant? When it comes to you?"

Delly shook her head. "You're lying again. You really weren't planning to propose to me, were you?"

"…"

"…You weren't planning on it… and yet you decided to do it anyway." Delly carefully looked at me, her violet eyes searching.

For a moment, I had the illusion that she saw straight into my core and I felt like looking away… but I didn't. Instead, I firmed my heart and said, "You're imagining things."

"Again, you're lying." She sighed. "My teacher… my Byleth. I could see the hesitation in your eyes. But… I could also see the moment you decided to accept it. The moment that hesitation faded into resolve and determination. That… that…"

"W-Wait! That's not fair!"

Delly's violet eyes glistened with tears, and her voice caught in her throat. "I'm… I'm so happy that I can't…" She started sniffling, but then that sniffling turned into a full-on sob. She reached up to grab me, crying into my chest.

I froze and then sighed. I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing circles on her back to try and calm her down, and said, "There, there. Don't cry, Delly. If you're happy, be happy."

She shook her head and mumbled. "I'm sorry. I… I didn't realize that I could ever meet you, my teacher. And… And you tried so hard too. Spent so much time trying to save me even with all I did-"

I held Delly back and stared at her. "Enough. You're going to make me angry if you keep talking like that, Delly." I shook my head and said, "Just relax and get some rest. Tomorrow, after you get a good night's sleep, we can spend the whole day together and you can rant at me then over some nice tea, sweets, and proper food." I smiled and said, "Sound good?"

Delly looked at me with watery eyes and nodded.

I sighed and brushed the tears off her cheeks. "Geez… I never knew you were such a cry baby."

"…Stupid. You're the one who made me like this."

"Yeah, well… I guess I just have to take responsibility. Wait. I suppose I already did… So it works out in the end, right?"

Delly leaned her head against my shoulder and nodded. "That's right… and I won't forgive you if you run away and disappear now."

"I would never."

"…You'll be here when I wake up?"

"Of course."

"We can laze around, drink tea, and eat sweets tomorrow?"

"Well, we need to get you some real food too… but of course. I'll even bake some special chocolate cookies, just for you. Sound good?"

"Yes. That sounds… nice…" Delly trailed off, and then the light sounds of snoring echoed next to my ear.

I shook my head and gently laid her back down on the bed.

She stirred a bit the moment I let go, but then she moved her left hand over her heart and calmed down, letting out a relaxed smile. Her breathing slowed, and then she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Seeing that, as well as how happy she looked, I leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Pleasant dreams, Delly… no, my Edelgard."

FINALLY!

I jumped and spun around.

When I did, I was faced with a curtain flung wide open and all of the Black Eagles staring at me.

Stella was in the front of the group, a wide, impish smile on her face.

The Silence spell was still in effect, so I couldn't hear anything, but I could see and make out their reactions.

Dorothea was squirming in place, her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes closed, clearly stuck in fantasy land.

Bernie… had a book propped open and was furiously writing in it, no doubt recording the tender moment I had just shared with my Edelgard.

Hubert looked satisfied, a faint smile on his face, and nodded when I caught his gaze.

Petra and Caspar hi-fived each other, both of them giving me a thumbs up. I couldn't hear them, but from how rapidly their lips were moving, they were probably sending out a stream of blessings.

Linhardt… was fast asleep on one of the beds, but he was holding a tiny flag with 'B + E 4ever' written on it.

And then there was Ferdinand, who stood there brushing a tear away from his eye, like a proud father.

I looked away from my students and then glared at the people who were supposed to stop them from entering.

Manuela looked away and pursed her lips, probably whistling an innocent tune.

Seeing that, I turned towards Hanneman.

The Crest Scholar shook his head and mouthed, "I'm sorry."

I sighed.

Author's Notes:

Gah, too sweet. My heart...

Unfortunately for Byleth, the other shoe's going to drop soon. While it's all nice being with Delly and his own little world, it seems that he forgot about a certain straight-laced advisor who cares a great deal about the image of the Officers Academy...

I think that's about all that comes to mind right now, so I'll leave it at that.

Thanks for reading and leaving your input! I really appreciate it.

I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you soon!

P.S. I just noticed that Black Eagles is abbreviated as B.E. Which could also stand for Byleth Eisner, as well as Byleth and Edelgard. Neat little links.