The return of the Emperor was greeted with a round of thundering applause and cheers, the population standing in a giant and tight crowd once the Imperial army returned within the confines of the Imperial Capital, Enbarr. Edelgard let her gaze wander through the dozens of people who were celebrating their successful and safe return, allowing a small but gentle smile to form on her face before she directed her full attention towards Byleth, extending her hand.

He froze for a moment at the gesture, glancing at the surrounding masses of people with barely suppressed discomfort until his eyes settled back upon her hand that she was offering to him. Her eyes merely lidded slightly before she closed the distance between them, sparing him from making a quick decision once she took his hand into her own and led him through the main streets.

"I believe I am not the only one who wants to escape this situation as quickly as possible…?", she cast a glance towards him along with a reassuring smile, receiving her answer once she witnessed Byleth staring at the crowds of people with mixed feelings. She was glad that they were both thinking the same thing.

As the people parted in front of them to make way for them, Edelgard slowed down slightly to allow her to walk beside Byleth in an equal pace, more than aware of Byleth's sheer hesitancy to openly hold her hand amidst the street that was filled with entire crowds, if his weak grasp was anything to go by.

"The people are grateful that the war has come to an end, and with it, it allows us to move into a bright future. All these people, I will make sure that all this suffering will not have been in vain, I will make sure that they can use their own potential to their fullest, without any birthright to dictate their lives.", Byleth looked back at her with concern, knowing that she would undoubtedly take it upon herself once more to see it come true.

"You have always wanted this, but you shouldn't neglect your own wishes… what will you do?", Edelgard's smile widened slightly as he subconsciously held her hand a little more tightly.

"As for me? Well…", her eyes wandered towards the Imperial soldiers who were holding back some of the people, standing guard at the side of the crowds.

"All of these people were once living a life in which the Church dictated how it should be, and despite its tyranny, it created an illusion of a peaceful life that no one dared to break, especially not those who profited the most, namely a large part of the nobility.", her eyes rested on Byleth once more, stepping a little closer to him.

"However, now that this illusion no longer exists, and the people are finally free to think for themselves, there will be undoubtedly those who will seek to manipulate others for their own gain instead. A free mind without any restrictions allows for alternate methods to pry on those who can't defend themselves, misusing the rights that I have granted them. And even among those who were formerly suppressed, there is potential for everyone to turn into such a person. The nobility is proof of what a human being can become, it doesn't matter whether they were born into this position or obtain it through other means.", Byleth listened intently to her words before their eyes met and he witnessed a fire within them that he knew too well by now.

"And this is what I am here for, with my position, I will make sure that I defend the system we have created with everything I have and to maintain a balance that will punish those who misuse their new freedom. I won't allow anyone to become like the nobility and to rise into a position that may threaten our future. I… I have originally planned to step down as the Emperor and to give up the crown, but… I don't trust anyone else to maintain what we have strived for all this time. I…", Edelgard averted her eyes from his own for a mere second before she suddenly quickened her pace, intertwining their hands even further while silently urging him to follow her, her sudden desire to lead them away from the crowds of people catching him off guard.

And he couldn't help but reminisce about her words.

…

Edelgard heaved a long sigh as they reached her quarters within the palace, wanting to retire for the rest of the day. She needed this moment to herself, as there was something important within her mind that she hadn't dared to talk about until now.

"Are you alright…? You wanted to escape the crowd as quickly as possible.", she was aware of Byleth's concerned gaze, pondering about her next words carefully as she regarded a certain object within her hand.

"There is something that I wanted to share with you for a long while.", she faced him directly, trying to pick up where she had abruptly left her previous thoughts when they were still upon the streets. Byleth nodded his head ever so slightly, signalling that she had his full attention, hoping that she would speak up about whatever it was that she had kept to herself mere moments ago.

"Normally the Empire would expect many potential heirs, as this has always been the case. That is why I had originally planned to choose the next Emperor myself should my time come to an end…", her voice lowered slightly at the end, her gaze fixating upon him.

"... the thought of having to choose a potential partner disgusts me to no end, I would never do so under any circumstances. Not when there is only one person I would ever accept to be with me.", Edelgard suddenly held her hands close to her chest as she took slow but deliberate steps towards Byleth, his eyes widening in the process.

"I have never thought about any of this before you entered my life, I haven't once cared about nor considered it. You know how I feel… I won't accept anyone else in my lifetime…", she glanced at her balled hands, hesitating for but a moment to meet his eyes before she finally let go of anything that was holding her back, opening her hands to reveal a golden ring within them, a crimson ruby glimmering upon its front.

"Byleth… will you-"

A sudden knock erupted on the door, tearing both of them out of the moment. Edelgard narrowed her eyes with a frown, her hand instinctively covering the golden ring as a guard entered her quarters with haste and exhaustion written upon his face. However, it wasn't long until he regained his breath, glancing at the Emperor with shock, her unflinching gaze reminding him of the formalities he had just neglected.

The guard immediately bowed his head to the ground once he noticed Byleth as well, his mind racing as he desperately tried to calm himself.

"Y-your Majesty, there is an urgent matter I m-must report!", his voice was quivering, but before he could continue, Edelgard was glancing back at Byleth, seeing the expression that he was holding.

"Calm yourself, and take a moment to collect yourself.", her voice turned more gentle, taking away the tension that was filling the air while effectively managing to calm the guard, the latter unwillingly feeling a wave of relief flooding him.

"Now, what is it that you need to report?"

"The dungeons, an intruder has gained unauthorized access towards the cells. The imprisoned Archbishop has been set free, we are already searching the entirety of the Capital for any signs of their whereabouts."

And just like that, her mind turned blank.

A sudden eruption shook the ground of the chambers, causing Edelgard to stumble slightly before a powerful roar pierced the very air.

"The Immaculate One… ring the alarms and assemble whatever forces we can muster.", the guard vehemently looked around in shock, not hesitating to take his leave as soon as he registered the order.

"Rhea…?", Edelgard snapped out of her thoughts once she witnessed Byleth standing at the window, staring out into the chaos that was reigning upon the streets of the Capital. Mere moments ago, the people were cheering and applauding for their return, and now they were scattering everywhere among the destruction that was inflicted by the giant dragon within the sky.

Edelgard hesitated for a moment, her gaze wandering to the ring within her hands before she clasped it tightly, holding it close to herself.

"I could have expected as much from her… there is no point in trying to reason with her.", she shifted her eyes back towards Byleth, the latter regarding the scene in front of him with an internal struggle. Years ago, he was willing to follow her orders no matter what they included. Even if it meant to sacrifice his own happiness and to bury it into the deepest depths of his indifferent mind.

"... what will you do, Byleth?"

He balled his hand together.

"... if you don't want to fight, you are not forced to do anything-", with that, Byleth turned to face Edelgard, the latter being silenced upon witnessing the determination within his eyes. And a small smile formed on her face instead.

"No hesitation."

"You need to leave, you can't take the entirety of the Capital upon yourself!", Dedue shouted among the different screams of the Imperial citizens, his eyes trained upon the hovering form of the Immaculate One above.

"I will tear through these walls and bring judgement upon those who dare to confine the professor here. She will show herself sooner or later…"

Her eyes scanned the ground below before they stopped upon Dedue's form, her mind already set in stone.

"You needn't lose your life here, leave if you want. I will see to it that her traitorous heart will beat no longer."

Dedue gritted his teeth and was about to argue once more before he noticed the first battalions of Imperial troops emerging from the streets, moving in unison. He couldn't leave.

He had made a promise to deliver Dimitri the Emperor's head, and he would avenge his death no matter what.

With a swing of his axe, he charged headfirst into the nearest battalion that he could see, the Imperials trying to stop him by forming a shield wall.

He narrowed his eyes, but he didn't even consider slowing down. With a direct contact, he rammed right through the pair of soldiers trying to stop him, sending them flying. The general that was standing behind didn't even have enough time to react before an axe came crashing down on him.

"Just a little longer…!", Dedue's breathing was uneven, and he could hear the next pair of soldiers stopping in front of him, their lances raised.

With a rush of adrenaline, he shot up from his position and slammed into the one closest to him, the lance cutting him in his side before the Imperial crashed against the wall behind him with enough force to render him unconscious. The second one attempted to pierce him from behind, but it was swiftly countered with a step to the side. Dedue didn't hesitate to use the advantage he held, and the Imperial could merely watch with widened eyes through his helmet as he saw his axe crashing down on him.

Before a sword suddenly blocked it in its path.

The Imperial watched with barely suppressed shock as the axe halted almost immediately in front of his head, glancing to the side to see Byleth holding it in place.

Dedue was frozen in place the moment he realized who it was, and he simply couldn't comprehend the situation altogether.

Much to Byleth's advantage.

With a strong push he forced Dedue back before following suit with the hilt of his relic, striking him amidst his face. He staggered for but a moment, his widened eyes seemingly staring past Byleth before he finally fell to the ground, unconscious.

The quivering Imperial was still frozen in place until Byleth looked back at him, tearing him out of his trance.

"Are you alright?", after a slight hesitation, he shakily nodded, trying to get a grip upon himself.

"Yes, sir!", he had never seen the new 'advisor' fight before, he had only caught a glimpse of him before. He had thought he was simply taking advantage of his position, being allowed to stay within the presence of the Emperor without any kind of use… just like any other member of the nobility.

Byleth allowed a small smile to show on his face before he moved on, intent to reach the Immaculate One at the center of the Capital.

He was wrong. He had earned more than his respect in that moment. With a rush of newfound vigor, the Imperial moved as well to gather any nearby battalions, his increased morale influencing the ones of the others.

…

The moment Byleth stepped upon the center of the Marketplace the eyes of the Immaculate One were upon him, fixating upon him intently while ignoring everything else that was moving through the streets. The burning flames and screams were almost inaudible for the both of them as they regarded each other, a long silence stretching between the two of them.

And Byleth gripped the Sword of the Creator tight in his hands.

"You are alive…"

Even though he couldn't depict any kind of expression upon the draconic head, her tone was enough for him to know that she was yet unaware, her giant form landing upon the marble ground with a wave of dust. Her wings settled upon her sides and the rage within her eyes diminished slightly, showing a more controlled and composed side.

Byleth didn't move from his position, focusing to remain alert as his eyes fixated on her.

"I have prayed that the Goddess would protect you… and you are alive."

For a long moment he closed his eyes, the memory of Sothis appearing in his mind.

"She did. She protected me all those years ago from certain death…"

"What are you doing here?"

Byleth averted his eyes from Edelgard as Rhea spoke from behind, following her gaze towards the dark figure that was standing atop of a small hill.

The Imperial army was swarming the Monastery with seemingly no end, and the Demonic beasts were tearing apart anything in their way.

The figure merely smirked with a deep hum, and he could see Edelgard narrowing her eyes upon catching sight of him.

However, before Rhea could act any further the Demonic beasts were upon her, forcing her to the ground even as she swatted them away, their sheer number overwhelming her after a mere moment.

Without thinking about it any further, Byleth moved forward as fast as he could while extending the relic into a chain, his eyes focused upon the beast that was closest to him. The figure smirked once more, a dark spell starting to channel within his hands.

Edelgard witnessed all of this with genuine fear, her emotional mask falling apart entirely once Thales released the magic from his hands and sent it flying towards Byleth, the latter merely being able to hear her calling out for him.

The impact hit Byleth sooner than he could react and the ground was crumbling beneath him. He lost his balance once it succumbed entirely, his eyes widening in horror as he fell off the cliff, his sword falling out of his hand.

Edelgard moved as fast as she could, her hand reaching out for him just as he fell off, and yet, she could only watch helplessly as she missed his hand by an inch, her screams left unheard once he vanished immediately after, his body falling further and further away from her into the depth.

Until he was gone forever.

"... I have heard her voice, after all these years that were taken from me. And she has reminded me of something very important."

"I knew that she has always been with you, I knew that she was watching over you all this time… what did she tell you?"

It was then that he finally opened his eyes, and his eyes met her own with a fiery determination.

"That my choices are mine alone… and I will follow my heart."

A barrage of fire balls suddenly shot into the air, tearing her gaze towards the sky as the fiery glow reflected upon her eyes. And they made contact soon after.

Unbeknownst to her, the Imperial mages had taken the time to arm several of the fire orbs scattered around the city, preparing to fire at the Emperor's command.

Byleth's form relaxed when a gloved hand suddenly placed upon his own, the warmth taking away the sheer amount of hesitation and uncertainty that was plaguing his mind a mere moment ago, even if it didn't show on his face.

"Please don't insist to meet her on your own, I have promised that I won't leave your side… we will finish this, together.", no more words needed to be exchanged between the two as he nodded, and they stood side by side.

The relentless assault never ceased, burying the Immaculate One in an endless amount of flames. But suddenly, a terrible roar pierced through the air, forcing the mages to cover their ears before a sudden blast tore the defensive structures apart, and the Imperials along with them.

"You…! I… I…"

The last shreds of self awareness and composure vanished within her eyes, and she couldn't contain the sheer madness anymore that was beginning to overwhelm her.

"Give her back…!"

"When humanity stands strong, and people reach out for each other, there is no need for gods.", Edelgard narrowed her eyes, their future flashing in front of her mental eye.

"Rhea, your reign of tyranny is over."

And she wouldn't let anything take that away from her.

With yet another roar, the Immaculate One charged a devastating attack, the large amount of energy tearing through the air and ground alike once she released it in a last attempt to obliterate the two in front of her.

Within the last second, the destruction missed them by a mere inch as they rolled out of the way, charging ahead with their weapons tight in their hands.

"Let's finish this, once and for all!"

Their combined weapons glimmered in a bright light, and with a last glance at each other, the pair jumped high in the air to strike the Immaculate One with everything they could muster.

And it was finally over.

The green, thick blood trickled down her head before the Immaculate One finally succumbed to the ground, her now lifeless body laying upon the ground in front of them.

Byleth stared at the fallen dragon with an unreadable expression, his eyes glancing down upon the blood stained relic before his mind suddenly turned foggy, and for the briefest of seconds, he saw a flash of green light in front of him.

"Is it… is it really over?"

Byleth snapped out of his trance, raising his head to meet her eyes, looking for any sign of an injury she might have sustained. But in the end, his own vision suddenly turned black, a sharp pain coursing through his head and the light flashed in front of him once more.

Edelgard's eyes widened in utter horror as Byleth stumbled forward, her arms catching him in his fall before he collapsed against her entirely, his head hanging loosely against her neck.

Her surroundings were all but forgotten as she held Byleth in her arms, feelings of utter horror and despair gripping her heart. She didn't… she couldn't…

"Byleth…?", her gentle shaking did naught to gain a reaction from his unmoving form, and her mind turned blank.

The cheers of the Imperial soldiers all died as they approached the destroyed Marketplace, and not a single soul dared to move an inch as they stared at their Emperor kneeling at the very center of it.

And her body began to tremble, her arms shaking as she held Byleth closer against herself until finally, she buried her head in his neck, violent sobs beginning to shake her body.

It echoed through the air, tears falling against Byleth's neck as she held him against herself, and it was in that moment that the soldiers slowly began to kneel on the ground, lowering themselves one by one with their heads facing the ground, a hand placed upon their heart.

However, it was one particular soldier that refused to move, his arm suddenly snapping upwards as he pointed at the lifeless form of Byleth, and sure enough, the Imperials began to look up as well.

Edelgard's tears did never cease, failing to realize when Byleth's hair suddenly began to change, losing the green glow that was once symbolizing his connection to the goddess.

And she could suddenly feel something against her chest, faint, but moving nonetheless.

Her tear stained eyes widened, pulling back once more to gaze deeply upon him before she placed her head where his heart was.

It was beating.

There was… a heartbeat. There…

She buried her head behind his neck once more, a smile that no one had ever seen upon their Emperor growing on her face as she cried freely against him, joining with a joyful laughter that she could not suppress any longer.

And the cheers that followed afterwards filled the entirety of the Capital, along with the first rays of sunlight shining brightly upon the heart of the Marketplace.

I hope you enjoyed! Even though it might look like it, it is actually far from over, but it was the first part. As for what will happen now? For starters, Byleth might have to settle for a new family name… and a new title. What will Edelgard do now that she has a bright future to look forward to?

All in all, I hope you liked it thus far.