Byleth had been dragged to her room by Dorothea and Mercedes, who were soon fawning over how to dress the Professor for the Ball that had been decided on not ten minutes ago.
"Now, Professor, this is an important night. It's for you, after all." Mercedes smiled at Byleth. She, like all of the others, was different from how Byleth remembered. Her platinum blonde hair was much shorter, only really reaching her ears rather than having her hair tied to the side and falling across her shoulder. Mercedes and Dorothea both were going through Byleth's drawers, looking for anything that could be used.
"Yes, especially since I was able to convince Edie to go through with it." Dorothea smiled, but it then faded as they finished the last drawer that Byleth had, finding no real formal attire. "Ugh, Professor. Why don't you have anything suitable for the Ball? You wore something nice last time."
"Manuela let me borrow something to wear last time. I don't own anything like that." Byleth sat on her bed, hands on her lap. She felt lost when it came to this world. Balls and parties were so much more different than the battlefield. She always felt out of place.
"Well then, I suppose you're going to have to borrow something again. Mercedes, I'll be right back. I may have a few dresses that the Professor could wear." Dorothea stood up and left the room quickly, leaving Mercedes and Byleth alone together.
The former stood up and sat on the bed next to Byleth and smiled. "It is so good to have you back, Professor. Things have been difficult since we've left the Kingdom. It's been a stalemate, but now with you here, things can start moving again."
That's right. Byleth thought. Mercedes was a part of the Blue Lions, from the Kingdom. "Why exactly did you leave the Kingdom?"
Mercedes looked down at her lap. "Sylvain, Felix, and I all left at the same time, together. They both had their own reasons. I went with them because I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. This way, I'm helping people. Even if it doesn't seem like it all the time."
Byleth looked at the older woman. "What happened to you?"
Mercedes smiled. As Byleth looked at her, she could tell that, once like she saw in Claude, the smile did not reach her eyes. "I am originally from the Empire, actually. My father died while my mother was still pregnant with me. After I was born, my mother ended up marrying the head of House Bartels. Shortly after, my mother bore a true Bartels child who bore a Crest. She and I were treated as though we were no longer useful to the family after that. We were kicked out, and we fled to a church in the Kingdom. Where I lived for ten years like I had told you before."
"House Bartels is in the Empire, correct?"
Mercedes nodded. "Yes, it is."
Byleth shifted on the bed to look more towards the older woman. "So aren't you worried that you might help out the man that hurt you and your family?"
"That shouldn't be a problem. He's… he died some time after my mother and I left his house."
"I see. Well, I'm sorry that you have had to deal with that." Byleth shifted uncomfortably. She had never been one for emotions or how to console, but showing sympathy was always something she could do.
"It's not too bad. Things will be changing soon enough."
The door burst open, and Dorothea came running in with several dresses before Byleth could ask Mercedes something else. "I'm back! Alright! We have a few things to decide on, Mercedes. I hope you're ready Professor!"
"Alright, Professor. We have to go and get ready now. I hope we helped you. We'll see you soon!" Dorothea winked before leading herself and Mercedes out of the room.
Byleth sighed. That was an ordeal. There were more questions that Byleth wanted to ask Mercedes, but with Dorothea there, she didn't feel like that was the time to bring it up. She looked down at the dress that had been picked out for her: dark blue. That was what she was given, and the color was basically everything that she knew, or cared to know, about it. Byleth was never a fashion expert. Hell, her own standard attire was looked at with strange glances upon her first arrival to the Monastery, and that was really the only outfit that she had ever put together.
Byleth stood up and doffed her jacket. She might as well start getting ready now. Soon the rest of her clothes populated the floor. She held up the dark blue dress to herself. Byleth sighed again and worked to put the dress on. This was something her students wanted, and so she would partake, even though she knew how out of place she was. She had seen Edelgard's face when the idea was brought up. She looked unsure, but still happy. The fact that this was something that Edelgard wanted, even to some small degree, made it worth it to do this.
But why was it her opinion that mattered the most? Byleth wasn't sure, but she knew that it was. And so she would go to this Ball, if not for any other reason than for Edelgard.
The time was upon them. As dusk approached, they gathered inside of the reception hall. Byleth looked around and saw a rather… rushed set up for a Ball, but due to how quickly it was decided that morning, it wasn't too surprising to see it rushed. Still, it looked well prepared given the time scale. They had even acquired some musicians to play for the dance.
Dorothea, Mercedes, Sylvain, Felix, and Petra were already in the hall, waiting patiently. Sylvain, Felix, and Petra, like the others, looked different in their own ways. Sylvain's face was older and a bit more hardened, but his hair was incredibly similar. The only real change was that his orange hair no longer fell forward into his face, but was parted to either side. Felix's hair was shorter, though still in its messy style. It seemed to be somewhat taken care of for the Ball, but it could still be seen as somewhat messy. Petra had ditched her single braid to the side and instead left her burgundy hair tied in a ponytail and hanging past her shoulders.
The group of them were standing off to the corner, dressed to impress and talking among themselves. When they saw Byleth approach, Sylvain was the first to make any remarks. "Wow, Professor, you look beautiful. Dorothea wasn't joking when she said she had found the dress that was right for you." That earned him a jab from Dorothea.
"Sylvain! Remember what we talked about." Dorothea hissed. She leaned in close to Sylvain and whispered. "She's off limits." Dorothea wasn't the best whisperer. Byleth heard everything, but she ignored it. She didn't know what Dorothea meant, but whatever it was that the ex-songstress meant, Byleth was at least mildly intrigued.
"Ah, right you are, Dorothea. Regardless, I am looking forward to this dance. I would love to dance with any of you." With a huff from Felix, Sylvain turned to his left to see the rest of the former students approaching in their own formal attire, including Edelgard.
Edelgard's red dress accentuated her figure. She was incredibly attractive; she always had been, but this was something that Byleth hadn't really internalized until… well, Byleth would say recently, but she had been asleep for five years. Byleth hadn't internalized it until the last few weeks before Edelgard left the Monastery. She couldn't help but stare as the Emperor entered the room with Hubert at her side. Byleth was going to dance with her tonight.
Shortly after everyone had entered, Dorothea stepped up to the front of the group and addressed the group. "Welcome, everyone to the Ball that we have organized to celebrate the return of our amazing Professor!" Dorothea motioned towards Byleth, and the other people in the room cheered. "Now, without further ado, we will start tonight's festivities. Enjoy yourself, everyone!" As soon as Dorothea stepped down from in front of everyone, the musicians started playing a waltz.
Byleth turned to her right as she walked around the edge of the dance floor to see Edelgard walking towards her with a purpose. She unconsciously smiled briefly and turned her attention to the young Emperor.
"Good evening, Professor." Edelgard spoke with formality upon arriving close to Byleth.
"Good evening, Edelgard. I was hoping to find you at some point tonight."
Edelgard looked shocked. "You… you were?"
"Yes, I was. I wish to make up for the last Ball. We didn't seem to have the opportunity to dance then." Byleth's mouth turned into a very slight frown.
Edelgard nodded and looked at the ground for a split second before returning her gaze to Byleth. "Ah, too true, Professor. We were both incredibly busy with those that wished to dance with us."
Byleth turned her head to either side, and then looked back to the young Emperor. "Well, all I see now is you, Your Majesty. May I have this dance?" She reached out her hand towards Edelgard.
Edelgard smiled wide and took Byleth's hand in her own. "I would like that very much, Professor."
Edelgard stepped forward and placed her unoccupied hand on Byleth's shoulder, who responded by placing her own unoccupied hand on Edelgard's back, pulling her closer. Though her face bore no emotions at this act, she could still feel the heat on her face. As the music reached the start of a new measure, the two of them joined the others on the dance floor, dancing in step to the fitting music.
As the music swelled, Byleth pulled Edelgard even closer, almost instinctively. She had no qualms with being closer to her favorite student, but she wasn't exactly sure why she had done so, either.
The first song drew to a close, and the pairs of dancers bowed to each other as an acknowledgement of the dance itself.
"Thank you, my teacher. That was an excellent dance. Those lessons that you asked me for when we were students at the Officer's Academy really paid off." Edelgard complimented.
"Well, I had a great teacher." Byleth motioned towards Edelgard who merely blushed in response.
"Thank you, my teacher. I…" Edelgard started, but before she could finish, Sylvain interrupted.
"Professor, Edelgard. Looking lovely as ever." The redhead approached with some pep in his step that was rather usual.
"Sylvain. You look to be having a good time." Edelgard commented.
"I'd be having a better time if I was able to dance with you."
"Well, I…" Edelgard looked to Byleth.
Byleth simply smiled. "It's okay, Edelgard. You can go enjoy the Ball."
Reluctantly, Edelgard took Sylvain's outstretched hand, and the two made their way to the dance floor.
"I take it you're free for this next dance?" Byleth heard Dorothea's voice from behind her. Upon turning around, she could see that the brunette was, in fact, talking to her.
"That would be the case, yes."
"Well then, Professor, may I have this dance?" Dorothea asked with a smile.
"Certainly."
Byleth and Edelgard both danced through multiple songs with multiple different people. Yet, every few songs, the two would end up dancing together again.
After a few hours, Byleth grew tired. As her dance with Mercedes ended, she excused herself and walked to the Goddess Tower for even a brief moment of respite. As she stared out over the landscape, Byleth heard a familiar voice from behind her.
"Well, isn't this just like our days in the Officer's Academy?" Byleth turned to see Edelgard standing in the middle of the room
"What are you doing here?" Byleth asked, tone neutral and face expressionless.
"The same as you I would wager: getting space. Balls are fun, but they can often be hectic and draining on me mentally."
Byleth nodded. "I can certainly understand that."
The two sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, content with each other's company. The cool gentle breeze of the night pushed its way into the stone room, sending chills down both of their spines.
"It's cold. Perhaps we should go inside." Byleth turned to start heading back, but was stopped by Edelgard grabbing her arm.
"We can do that in just a little bit, Professor. There's something that I'd like to tell you first." Edelgard's face was nearly crimson in color. It was clear that this was something important.
"Alright." Byleth nodded, stepping back to face the young Emperor.
"You are important to me, my teacher. You are the person that I care about the most of any of my people. As Emperor, it is reassuring to have someone like you by my side…" Edelgard trailed off.
Byleth took the lull as her own chance to respond. "You are important to me as well."
"My teacher, I…" If it were even possible for Edelgard's face to redden further, it did. "I… Lo-" Edelgard's words were cut off by the clanking of armor on stone. One of Edelgard's Imperial Soldiers ran up the stairs into the Goddess Tower.
"Your Majesty! I'm sorry to interrupt! The scouts that you had sent out a few days ago have returned. There are two armies marching to Gronder Field in the Empire. They will be here within a week's time."