So now it has been a year since the game first released, and I wanted to do something for it. There are only a few games which ever stuck with me after a single playthrough, and this one is still my favourite of all of them, it never ceases to give me the same feeling of excitement from my first playthrough whenever I'm starting it. I think it will become a habit to play through it at least once a year from now on…

And with that being said, I hope you enjoy another piece of sweet Edeleth, and hopefully many more to come!

Edelgard heaved a gentle sigh as she signed another document on her desk, the sound of the quill in her hand scribbling upon various parchments slowly getting on her nerves. However, knowing that after she was done with her work, she would have the rest of the entire evening to spend with a certain someone.

A small smile graced her lips when Byleth suddenly placed his head against her own from behind, looking over her shoulder with concern in his eyes. His black clothing and armor seemingly melted with her crimson attire, matching like no other with the only difference being that the back of his armor was now adorned by a golden, double headed eagle. Another sign of his status that he held alongside the Emperor.

He was worrying about her overworking herself, and yet, what he didn't know was that the motivation that was driving her stood directly behind her. The fact that he was unaware of her various imaginations on how she would spend her time with him afterwards caused her smile to deepen, for he was solely focusing on her well-being in that moment.

She was aware of his curious gaze as he regarded the pile of parchments, neither of them minding the silence that hung in the air. It was the complete opposite, for the two of them simply relished in each other's presence. And yet, as his eyes wandered to a slightly scrunched up document that was laying beside her hand, his gaze suddenly focused on it entirely. Noticing the slight stiffening in his form, she followed his gaze to the partly damaged parchment.

And her eyes narrowed immediately.

There was a reason why it was in such a state, for Edelgard had merely scrunched it with force the moment she laid eyes upon it. It was not the first time she had received one of them, and it was definitely not the first time she had destroyed one of these in anger.

"Is that… a marriage proposal…?", Byleth's voice was akin to a whisper, causing her eyes to widen once she looked back at him. While his expression didn't betray anything, his voice couldn't hide the emotion that she had only once seen on him before, and it was tearing at her heart.

Jealousy.

"The moment I have claimed the throne and title of Emperor, it was unavoidable that I would receive these. There were numerous requests before, and each of them have met the same fate time and time again.", not once taking her eyes off of his own, she placed her hand onto his in the hopes of banishing the subtle hurt within his gaze. He smiled at her in return, but Edelgard remained unfazed, for he merely intended to reassure her.

But he couldn't hide his true emotions from her.

Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly as a thought occurred to him, a memory coursing through his mind.

"I know you wouldn't… but I know as well that a political marriage is an important factor with the nobility. You once said so yourself, but… have you truly ever considered that during the war?", Byleth's voice was gentle, his tone neither cold nor questioning. And despite anything else he might have tried, Edelgard knew that he was doubting himself, and she was the only one to be able to take that away from him.

She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments before she placed down the quill in her hand, taking the damaged marriage proposal instead as she slowly got up from the chair.

"Truthfully, I have once considered the possibility, if it meant that it brought me closer to my goals, then I would have done anything for it.", she refused to look away from his eyes, even as she witnessed the hurt flashing within them. Thus, a strong feeling of determination coursed through her when she stepped closer towards him, placing a hand onto his own once more.

"... needless to say, it was at a time where you hadn't entered my life yet. My previous thoughts didn't matter, anything I imagined at that point didn't matter, for I believe that whatever might have happened, we were bound to meet…", a gasp escaped him as Edelgard didn't stop there, slowly but gently driving him back as she continued to step forward.

"... and you showed me what it meant to be surrounded by those who would support you no matter what happened, to rely on those whom you know could be trusted. And just like that, my previous imaginations turned out to be so foolish, so far fetched…", his back was touching the wall by then as Edelgard moved her hand upwards and upon his chest, holding the parchment over a candle that was standing on a table beside them, the fire beginning to reach out for it.

"... and by then, the mere thought of another so much as touching me…", the parchment was burning away, leaving nothing but ashes before she intertwined her hand with his own, lifting the ring on her finger upon where his heart was.

"... disgusted me to no end.", leaving him with no choice for doubt, she claimed his lips with her own, giving his hand a light squeeze. However, feeling the urge to go farther than that, she barely restrained herself for the moment and slowly pulled back, gazing into his eyes with a smile upon witnessing that the liveliness had returned within them. Tilting her head to the side ever so slightly, she nudged him playfully.

"Does that answer your question?", giving a small huff in return, Byleth avoided her gaze even though he couldn't suppress a small smile.

"More than was necessary.", her smile turned into a light smirk, however, after a moment a thought suddenly occurred within her mind as her eyes wandered towards the golden ring upon Byleth's finger, the crimson ruby glimmering in the light of the candle. Byleth never took it off, and every time she regarded it upon his hand, she felt a sense of pride swelling up in her chest.

And yet…

"You know, now that we have no need to hide our bond any longer and that the public is aware of it, I was wondering…", her eyes trailed upwards to look into his own once more, witnessing the curiosity with which he regarded her.

"Byleth von Hresvelg. How would that suit you…?", his eyes widened immediately, much to her dismay, as he stared at her in a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

"You don't approve?", she couldn't stop the disappointment from showing in her tone and expression, causing Byleth to ponder about his words carefully.

"No, it's not like that, I simply… would you truly want me to take that name as well?"

"Yes, of course! I want to separate myself from any of my predecessors, we will create our very own legacy. We, who fought together against the Church's decades of tyranny and freed humanity of its chains. We, who found each other in the darkness and walked this path as one…", she placed her forehead against his own, a hopeful glint in her eyes.

"... or do you prefer Edelgard Eisner?", witnessing the smile on his face, she nudged him playfully before she pulled back slightly, her expression becoming more serious. Thus, Byleth realized that she was actually serious.

Imagining the public outcry at such an event, even though it should not even prove to be a problem anymore, he merely shook his head in response.

"I doubt that would be fitting for you…", Edelgard merely smiled in return with a shake of her head.

"Anything would suit me as long as you choose it for me. But as I said, I would be honored if you approved to take my name for yourself.", the mere thought of sharing it with him made her feel happy, for in her eyes, it would connect them even further. Their very own legacy, after everything they had been through…

… and they still had a bright future to look forward to.