Planning the perfect party turned out not to be quite as easy as Byleth had initially assumed, but she'd be damned before she'd admit that to anyone else. On the plus side, as she had suspected, most of the students were both enthusiastic and willing to get involved in helping her pull things together. What she hadn't realised was how many different options there were on how and what to do.

'You'll need to get some entertainment if it is to be a proper party.' Lorenz insisted.

'Like the stringed quartet that you had playing at yours?' She asked, trying not to smirk. 'The ones that stormed off in a hissy-fit when cake accidentally got thrown at them during the food fight?'

'If I ever find out who instigated that nightmare, I will kill them.' Lorenz blustered.

Byleth wondered if she should admit that it had been her. By mistake, obviously, she had been trying to prevent a prank from Claude when it had happened...

'I don't think we'll have time to arrange a group to perform for us.' Byleth pointed out. 'It's a very last-minute type of event.'

'Hmm... Well, I suppose we students could get something together. I believe a number of us do play an instrument of some kind.' Lorenz looked thoughtful. 'We could also ask Dorothea to sing!' He added.

'In that case, I shall leave the entertainment arrangements in your thoroughly capable hands, Lorenz.' Byleth decided.

'A sensible idea, Professor!' Lorenz preened happily.

'Have you actually taken leave of your senses?' Sothis asked, aquiver with laughter.

'Surely having something in place is better than nothing at all?' Byleth sounded a little desperate.

'I will reserve judgement until after I've heard what he comes up with.' Byleth could physically feel Sothis' smirk.

.

Mercedes was recruited next.

'I will get onto baking as soon as I've finished with lessons today.' Mercedes offered with a beaming smile. 'Annette and Ashe have offered help too so we should be able to get a good batch of sweets ready in time. Flayn loves cake almost as much as she loves fish.'

'Me and my da will be fishing Friday.' Byleth told her. 'Thankfully, the kitchen staff have been very accommodating and are going to produce several fish-dishes with what we manage to catch.'

'Have you given any thought to decoration?' Mercedes continued.

'I'm going to hand that one to the Golden Deer. If I can persuade Hilda to actually help out, that is.' Byleth admitted.

'Hmm. If she proves to be difficult, send her my way.' Mercedes smiled. 'Dorothea sniffed out an interesting bit of gossip that Hilda would just die to hear. I'm not above using a bit of wholesome bribery for a good cause.'

'Sounds good!' Byleth agreed.

'On a completely different subject...' Mercedes went on. 'Seems we have something in common, Professor!'

'A secret brother?' Byleth guessed.

'Indeed! How interesting!' Mercedes giggled. 'I was so happy to hear that Myles is your brother and not your beau. I'm sure that my brother will be happy too!' She added mischievously. 'I understand that Emile is meeting with you tonight!'

'You literally know everything that goes on around here, don't you?' Byleth was seriously impressed.

Mercedes giggled again. 'I may occasionally forget to put my shoes on my feet, or mix up my homework with my diary and hand Professor Hanneman a three page telling of my most secret fantasies... but I am not so vacant that I can't sniff out a good rumour here and there!' She agreed.

'You didn't!' Byleth gogged. 'You really gave your diary to Hanneman by mistake?'

'Mhmm.' Mercedes laughed. 'He hasn't been able to look me in the eye for a while now!' She added wickedly.

'I don't think I want to know any further details!' Byleth sniggered.

.

As it turned out, Hilda was completely ecstatic to be in charge of the decorations for Flayn's party.

'This is quite literally the job I was put on this earth to perform!' She told Byleth happily. 'I mean - it's a shame that you want a fish theme of all things... Are there any pink-hued fish, by the way?'

'Use your artistic license...' Byleth suggested.

'Hmm, yes.' Hilda nodded wisely. 'I will get some templates from Ignatz and then enlist a band of helpful workers.'

'I'm sorry that the budget isn't huge...' Byleth had handed Hilda a rather modest coin pouch to purchase materials.

'Don't you worry about that!' Hilda smirked. 'Seems Dimitri and Claude have swelled the coffers quite handsomely from their own allowances. Only the very best for General Flayn after all!'

'Oh! That was kind of them.' Byleth enthused.

'A bit more time would have been preferable, but when it comes to miracles, and of course, getting other people to do most of the heavy lifting... I am most definitely your girl!'

'You are indeed!' Byleth agreed.

'I assume that you will make sure that the flowers will match my design scheme.' Hilda added.

'Right. Um... I'll get Dedue to speak to you.' Byleth had totally forgotten about flowers. 'I will go and see him as soon as I can!' She added.

.

Dedue was already in the greenhouse when she finally managed to get the time to go looking for him.

'I anticipated your requirement, Professor.' He told her when she rushed in and ran up to him. 'Are you alright? You are looking rather harassed if you don't mind me saying.'

'I have spent all day trying to orchestrate people and properly teach my lessons.' Byleth groaned as she took the opportunity to sit down and rest. 'It's been harder than organising a full-scale battle.'

'Well, you have no worries about the flowers. I have already received the okay from the gardeners to liberate several forget-me-nots. Luckily they aren't being used for the Rite of Rebirth, and they are Flayn's favorite flower.'

'How do you always manage to be so reliable, Dedue?' Byleth asked. 'And calm!' She added.

'Believe me, I wasn't so calm when I was told I was being brought back to the Monastery on the back a Wyvern after our last mission.' Dedue chuckled. 'It took quite a bit of heavy medication to make that possible!'

'I'm sorry I missed it!' Byleth smiled.

'I haven't yet had the opportunity to thank you for saving Prince Dimitri's life once again.' Dedue took a seat on the ground next to her, and his huge hand fell lightly on her shoulder. 'Sometimes, I believe that you may actually be super-human.' He murmured.

'And then I get into a tizzy over a birthday party, and you realise that I am just as much an idiot as anyone else!' She laughed.

'You are doing an admirable job, Professor.' Dedue told her. 'Just don't completely wear yourself out. You only have to ask if you need help with anything.'

'Be wary of what you offer me, Dedue!' Byleth advised. 'I am pretty sure there may be quite a bit of heavy lifting required on the day!'

'Then I am your man. I am sure that Sylvain and the Prince will offer their services too.'

'Thanks.' Byleth stood and offered him a hand to help him rise, which he took, although he looked amused by the gesture. 'I'd love to stay and spend some quiet time with you, Dedue, but I still have roughly a million things to do...'

Dedue nodded to her. 'Everything will be just fine.' He promised.

'I hope so.' She muttered as she ran off to grab the next person on her list.

.

It was getting dark by the time Byleth was finished, and she managed to grab a very quick bite to eat before she was due to meet with Jeritza for their chess session. She detoured to the kitchen to grab a few sweets for them to share, but when she arrived, she found Mercedes in full baking mode and Jeritza himself sitting on a stool using his fingers to clean out a mixing bowl of what looked suspiciously like cake mixture.

'Hello again!' Mercedes called cheerily as she took one tray of baked goods out of the oven and replaced it with another. 'We are getting on really well here. We shall have a veritable feast available come Saturday!'

'Mercedes has promised there will be jelly and ice cream.' Jeritza added contentedly.

'If you are busy, I don't mind canceling our games evening.' Byleth told him as he cleaned off his fingers.

'Don't you dare, Professor!' Mercedes answered for him. 'Emile has been very excited about spending the evening with you... haven't you Emile?' She smiled encouragingly at him.

'Ah... um... well...' Jeritza stuttered, looking anything but excited.

'We used to play chess together when we were small. It was always such fun!' Mercedes continued fondly. 'I'm sure you will pick it up quickly, Professor!'

'Hopefully.' Byleth glanced at Jertiza, who was still looking slightly embarrassed.

'Go on then!' Mercedes took the bowl from Jeritza's hand and picked up a cloth to wipe his mouth. He sat placidly still under her ministration. 'There now.' She beamed at him, then pulled him into a tight hug. 'It's been so much fun cooking together.' She told him warmly, planting a solid kiss on his cheek.'

'Indeed.' He agreed as he stood.

'Have a good time you two!' Mercedes handed them a small box of sweets and gave a little wave. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do!' She added with a chuckle as they left the kitchen together.

'Things seem to be going well with Mercedes.' Byleth noted as they walked together towards her room.

'Yes.' Jeritza agreed. 'She is very affectionate, but I appear to be able to manage it quite well, I think.'

'It certainly looked that way to me!'

'It is nice.' Jeritza admitted. 'You were correct in your assessment that Mercedes is both soft and warm. It is calming and helps me to manage my control.'

'I'm glad for you both.' Byleth smiled.

'Oh!' They had turned the corner to the dormitory block. 'There appears to be someone awaiting you outside of your room Byleth.' Jeritza pointed out. 'Would you like me to disappear?'

'Not at all.' Byleth took a firm hold on his arm before he could melt away. 'It's only Myles.' She added as they walked up towards him.

'Hey, sis!' Myles greeted. '...And Jeritza...' He looked a little surprised, especially after noting that Byleth was clinging tightly to the weaponsmaster.

'Myles.' Byleth nodded at him. 'Did you get the presents for Flayn?' She asked as she unlocked her door.

'Of course, that's what I'm here to show you.' Myles went to work straight away, lighting the fire in the hearth and then setting the kettle to it, while Byleth shrugged out of her cape and hung it in her cupboard. Jeritza stood awkwardly by the door.

'So have you heard that Byleth and I are siblings?' Myles looked up at Jeritza with an open grin.

'I have.' Jeritza inclined his head. 'I note that you do not look very much alike.'

'I'm the good looking one.' Myles agreed with a smirk.

'You are indeed quite pleasant in appearance.' Jeritza agreed flatly. 'Byleth is beautiful, though.'

'Is that so!' Myles raised his eyebrows at Byleth, who was trying to hide a blush.

'Oh, this is fun!' Sothis giggled.

'Let's see what you got then.' Byleth said gruffly, going over to the window and opening it to allow Colin to jump inside. The kitten made a beeline directly to Jeritza.

'I think I outdid myself, sis.' Myles opened the bag he had brought with him. 'This is what I got for you to give.' He added, bringing out a smaller cloth purse. Inside was a silver whistle on a shimmering ribbon that had been shaped like a fish.

'Oh, that's perfect!' Byleth commended.

'Look at the engraving I had done on the other side.' Myles beamed.

Byleth laughed. 'General Flayn.' She read.

'Good, right?'

'Very! What do you have for yourself and dad?'

'This book that she's mentioned on healing for Jeralt, and from me...' He brought out a delicate chain with a forget-me-not pendant dangling from the end.'

'She will love it.' Byleth breathed. 'What do you think, Jeritza?'

'A distinct lack of weaponry for my taste.' Jeritza noted.

Myles chortled at that. 'Flayn isn't really a weaponry type of person.' He said as he went and got teacups and filled the pot up. 'So what do you kids have planned for this evening?' He asked curiously.

'Jeritza is going to teach me chess.' Byleth went to grab the set that Jeritza had left for her.

'Chess?' Myles asked. 'I haven't played in years!'

'Neither have I.' Jeritza admitted.

'Say, it would probably be useful for us to have a couple of games to explain how it works!' Myles suggested.

'Demonstration would be a much more practical idea than trying to instruct blind.' Jeritza agreed.

'Dad would probably be happy if I stuck around to chaperone you as well.' Myles shot a smug look towards his sister.

'Thanks for that.' Byleth muttered, rolling her eyes.

'I assure you that I am not planning on killing Byleth yet.' Jeritza told Myles seriously.

'Oh... um - well, that's good to know...' Myles spluttered.

'This is better than an opera!' Sothis remarked happily.

'Chess then?' Byleth said quickly.

Jeritza set the pieces while Myles poured the tea. As the lads started their game, they both explained the movement of the pieces.

'You know, I remember this game too.' Sothis said thoughtfully. 'I believe that I was very good at it once. Maybe I even invented it!'

'So, with your assistance, I would probably have a hard time losing?'

'Oh, definitely. Now shush... let me pay attention...'

Jeritza won the first game, and Myles won the second.

'I'd love to have another round to crown an ultimate winner... but I have an early shift tomorrow.' Myles said sadly.

'You have proved a worthy opponent.' Jeritza complimented.

'Yeah, you too.' Myles stood and stretched. 'It's getting late. Don't stay up too long.' He ordered Byleth. 'And I trust you to act like a gentleman with my sister!' He put a friendly hand on Jeritza's shoulder. 'Or perhaps it's her I should be warning to behave...' he smirked.

'Thanks, dad!' Byleth grouched.

'I think I love your brother.' Sothis commented.

Myles gave Byleth a quick hug then went to the door. 'Have fun!' he said cheerily as she let him out. Byleth returned to the table where Jeritza had already set up the pieces for a new game and was in the process of removing his mask.

'Do you think you have had enough instruction?' He asked politely.

'I believe so.' She nodded.

'Definitely.' Sothis agreed. 'We will whup him.' She giggled.

'You fancy a wager on the outcome?' Byleth asked nonchalantly.

'I don't think that would be wise, Byleth. It will take a few games to get the hang of things.' Jeritza pointed out.

'Are you too chicken to risk it?'

'No.' Jeritza sighed. 'Very well, what are your terms?'

'I haven't decided yet.' Byleth grinned.

'An undisclosed boon to the winner then.'

'Sounds fair!' Byleth agreed.

.

'Are you sure you have never played before?' Jeritza demanded twenty minutes later after he had taken an epic defeat.

'On my honour, I, Byleth Eisner, have never learned or played chess before in my life.' Byleth replied formally.

'Beginners luck then.' Jeritza decided, sitting back in his chair and stoking absently at Colin, who was cuddled up on his lap. 'You displayed some very intuitive thinking, though. I believe you have the makings of a very skilled player.'

'Too right, I do!' Sothis agreed.

'I should probably call it a night here.' Jeritza added regretfully, picking up his mask to fix it back on. 'Can we play again sometime soon?'

'I'd like that.' Byleth agreed, walking him to the door.

'Have you thought about your boon? I admit that I am unnerved not to know what you will demand of me.' Jeritza prompted.

'Hmm. Yes. I think I will use it now.' Byleth mused.

'Of course! What do you require?'

She looked up at him mischievously. 'I'd like a kiss.' She demanded.

Sothis groaned. 'You used my expertise to wantonly extort some affection? That's wrong on so many levels!'

'I see...' Jeritza said with a slight frown. 'That is... acceptable, I suppose... although I do believe it to be a complete waste of a good boon.' He took her hand and raised it to his lips, brushing them against her knuckles with unexpected gentleness.

'I definitely don't think it was a waste.' Byleth breathed as she opened the door for him.

'Really?' Jeritza sounded amused. 'You used up your boon...' He pointed out.

'Yes...'

'...And I was planning on kissing you anyway. It is simply good manners after a pleasant evening of company...'

'You were?'

'I believe that I win this round.' Jeritza rumbled a laugh as he walked away.

'Well, damn.' Byleth lamented to Sothis.

'You totally deserved that!' Sothis chuckled.