(A/N: Yes, the chapter title is a reference to song '100 Letters' by Halsey. There's not much reason for it, really; I just wanted to use it as a chapter title at some point.)
Edelgard wasn't particularly fond of being disallowed to fight. However, she wouldn't admit it out loud—especially when her uncle was close by—but it was nice knowing that her guard cared for her well-being. Even if that concern was vexing at the moment.
She heard voices from outside her room, a little before midday. Once the voices quieted, someone knocked on the door. "Ill news from the battlefield, Your Majesty." It was Hubert; knowing that, Edelgard's reply held more emotion than it might have had otherwise.
"Come in and we can discuss," Edelgard said. Hubert did as she asked, bowing in her presence.
"The Death Knight returned late last night," Hubert reported grimly. "He was unable to keep Fort Merceus; the Resistance Army now has a foothold within the Empire."
Edelgard sighed, but took notice of something Hubert held in his hand. "I expected as much. The letter you're holding is for me, then?"
Hubert nodded. "From the professor." He looked at it with complete discontent. Dark and serious, he asked, "Shall I burn it for you, Your Majesty?"
Perhaps too quickly, Edelgard said, "No. I'll…take it for now, Hubert. Thank you for the report. If that's all…"
Hubert bowed again, but before he left, he turned back to look at her. "Lord Arundel will visit after dinner. It would be best to make sure the letters are hidden when he comes."
Edelgard nodded, and Hubert left. She waited a few moments, then opened the letter, setting it next to the other two. She read them each, one by one, as she had several times before.
"It's possible that this is the first you've heard of my return. If it is, then… Well, now you know I'm not dead.
I don't know how you'll take it. I can't quite understand…why did you choose this path? You're not one to believe in gods, so you're not making yourself into one. You've told me of your history…a bit of it, anyway. I assume it stems from that.
I'll be honest; I'm sorry for leaving you on your own. That being said, I don't regret my choice. I truly believe I can save people from within the Church."
That was the first letter, send back with Randolph. Edelgard couldn't really describe what she felt when she read it; anger, pain, a tinge of regret and sadness. It wasn't betrayal…but it just hurt, in some way.
"This would be our second victory. At this rate, we might make it to Enbarr. But believe it or not, I don't want to fight you. I won't make assumptions, but I think you feel the same. You said you didn't want to make an enemy of me, even if you just fear my strength.
If we fight, like I feel we will, and I have you on your knees…when—not if, mind you, but when—I reach out my hand, would you take it? Even if a quick death would be a mercy, more so than forgiveness?
What if the roles were reversed? If I fell, would you give me the option of life or death? Would you be able to let your axe fall and live with your choice? Simply put, I don't have that strength—and it's not something I'd want to have anymore."
The second letter was worse than the first. Guilt-tripping…that's what it felt like Byleth was trying to do. Edelgard knew she wasn't—her time at the academy taught her that much—but that's what it came off as. Perhaps the most painful thing was that Byleth sounded like she still knew her. Even if the professor's guesses were accurate and her questions made Edelgard wish she had thrown the letters in the fire first-thing as Hubert always suggested, instead of letting them sit in her room, hidden from sight.
Edelgard looked at the last letter, but it took her a few moments before she prepared herself to read it.
"The Church has won three times now. We might not be killing our enemies, but we have a stronger army. At least, it seems like it.
You don't have much assets left, Edelgard. I'll offer you this: if you want to begin peace talks now, simply come to Fort Merceus with a small guard. I'm not currently there, but I can get there as soon as possible. You won't be attacked—if anything, you might just be cautiously watched.
I know we have a common enemy; but I also know you're currently allied with them. If we join together, we can defeat them.
Isn't that apart of the Fódlan you want?"
At least the third letter made her more firm in her beliefs. It also confirmed that Byleth didn't know Edelgard…not anymore. She might have, five years ago, when she was Edelgard's teacher and friend—but those days have long passed, and she's no longer Byleth's student.
Edelgard started putting all the letters away. Lord Arundel's visit was likely to discuss their next course of action, since Edelgard was deemed 'too wounded' to leave her room for an extended amount of time; Hubert accompanied her whenever she did leave. She personally felt like she could manage fine, but she knew her guard had reason for concern.
She continued preparing for her uncle after she successfully hid the letters, reminding herself of what he expected from her. Thinking on the last letter, she remembered Byleth's final question. Edelgard told herself, quietly, that she would give Byleth a reply when they next met.
Perhaps if one of them broke and shattered, the other can include the pieces in their walk to their ideal future. Should that happen, their paths could cross, albeit with one person being tattered and torn. It only posed one question: who would be the first to fall?