I figured I had teased you guys enough with the little interactions between Edelgard and Byleth throughout the story.
So at long last, I present to you an Edelgard chapter. I hope it was worth the wait.
Enjoy.
The Professor was quiet. Too quiet.
He was quiet leaving the castle, he was quiet leaving Enbarr, he was quiet arriving at the Monastery. It was starting to unnerve her. Why wasn't he saying anything?
She could feel his eyes on her, burning a hole into the back of her head. She gulped and stopped in her tracks, standing in the entrance hall she turned to The Professor; shivering slightly at his intense gaze. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.
"Is something the matter, Professor?"
The man didn't say anything, simply continuing to glare at her. She stared back, awaiting his response. When he finally did speak she slightly jumped in surprise.
"Edelgard, what's going on?"
"W-What do you mean, Professor?" She stuttered, she never stutters. Why was she was terrified of the Professor? Why was she so jumpy? Was she still tense from her inauguration? The Professor continued to stare at her before finally speaking.
"What is going on, Edelgard. Are you hiding something?" He repeated, his stern gaze unyielding. Edelgard was searching for something to say, there was no way the Professor could have known. But she had underestimated him before.
"I'm afraid I have no idea what your talking abou-"
"Those mysterious mages that we saw with The Ones who Slither in the Dark. They were there, in the castle."
What now? Should she feign ignorance? Pretend to be surprised? Shocked?
"...And they weren't sneaking around either. They were in plain sight." The Professor's eyes stayed locked on her. "What are you hiding from me, Edelgard? What are you hiding from your classmates?"
Edelgard gulped. She should've known bringing The Professor to the capital was a risky move. She should've known he would quickly pick up on everything. She had no choice, she had been backed into a corner now. She had to come clean, it was the only way to secure The Professor as an ally. To keep him with her.
"Fine, I'll explain everything...But not here, follow me."
Edelgard turned and walked forward, The Professor following closely behind her. She saw Hubert out of the corner of her eye approaching them, but she turned to him and shot him a stern look shaking her head. Hubert glanced in between both The Professor and Edelgard before nodding and turning around.
"I'm guessing Hubert was in on it too?"
"Please Professor...Once we get to my dorm I'll explain everything to you."
The Professor remained silent as they walked. Finally they arrived, Edelgard shutting the door and locking it behind them as they both entered. She turned to her Professor, his gaze ever stern; she met it with her own.
"I'll start from getting it out of the way first...I am the Flame Emperor..."
The Professor remained silent at her confession, he didn't even flinch or move; just kept staring at her. Did he already know? Edelgard continued spilling the secrets she had kept from everyone.
"I seek to end the tyrannical rule of the Church, and reunite Fodlan under one ruling power. To achieve that, I was forced to work with Those Who Slither In the Dark."
She regretted those words, oh she regretted them instantly; the look The Professor gave her almost made her regret everything she had ever done. That look was one he only reserved for his worst enemies. The last time she saw those eyes was when he was hunting down Kronya. Right now, this wasn't her Professor.
Right now, this was the Ashen Demon.
His voice caused her to jump, and her heart almost leapt into her throat. "Remire village..."
"I-I already told you that wasn't my fault! Remember!? I came to you as the Flame Emperor and said that if I could have stopped them I would've!"
"And my father?"
Edelgard froze, her eyes widening. "Y-You don't think that..." She trailed off, The Professor's look said it all.
"I-I had nothing to do with your fathers death! You must believe that!"
"And why should I?"
"Because it is the truth! That is all I am giving you is the truth!"
The Professor crossed his arms. "Kronya killed my father. You and Kronya talked a lot."
Edelgard was trembling now, her eyes and body full of panic; her blood had gone cold. "H-How could you think I orchestrated the death of your father...How could you think that of me!? After everything we've been through!?"
The Professor didn't say anything, narrowing his eyes at Edelgard. He walked past her, towards the door to her dorm. "W-Where are you going?" The Professor stopped and turned to look at her.
"To report this to the Church, and tell everyone else."
"You think the Church can stop what's already in motion?" She shouldn't have said that, the more she revealed just how long she had been lying to everyone the deeper she dug herself. The Professor turned away from her, trying to the door but finding it locked. He turned to Edelgard.
"Give me the key, Edelgard."
Edelgard ignored him, she didn't want it to end this way. "I-I'll admit...I didn't think much of you, I figured you would simply be a good tool, o-or maybe get in my way. But now I see that I need you Professor..."
"What are you talking about?"
Edelgard held her hands to her chest and she looked to the ground. "I-I can't do this without you...I thought I was strong enough, but ever since I've met you I began to lean on you. I only had my goal in mind, I only ever wanted to achieve it. I didn't have time for the enjoyments of life...But recently I've begun doing just that..."
She brought her eyes to meet The Professor's, tears beginning to form. "And now that I've come to this point in my path, I realize I cannot continue without you...If you aren't with me...I'm afraid of what I'll become..." She stepped towards the Professor, gripping his coat and pressing her forehead against his chest; tears beginning to stream down her cheeks and drip from her chin.
"What I'm tryng to say is...I need you by my side...So bad...Please don't leave me Professor, please don't become my enemy..."
There was nothing but silence, save for the few sobs that managed to escape Edelgard; despite her best efforts to hold them back. She felt something touch her head, looking up she saw The Professor was staring down at her, having put his hand on top of her head. His gaze wasn't one of a demon, it was soft; it put her at ease.
"I won't become your enemy. I'll stand with you."
Edelgard's eyes widened before she began to cry again.
"P-Professor...Thank you...I-" She couldn't finish what she was going to say before she began crying, bawling like a child as she held onto The Professor. He simply stroked her hair as she cried.
Eventually she stopped, and shyly backed away from The Professor.
"Thank you Professor...I won't tell you what my plan is yet...But please believe me that I will soon."
The Professor nodded. "I hope you understand that the rest of the class will have to know." He said. Edelgard nodded. "And I will tell them in time...For now, I would like to get some rest...This has been a very emotional day for me after all."
The Professor smiled and nodded, Edelgard unlocking and opening the door for him. He stepped out into the hall, walking down its corridor before stopping in front of Hubert.
"Spending some time with Lady Edelgard, are we?" He questioned the stoic Professor, who nodded in response. The two remained staring at each other, completely silent. The Professor walked towards Hubert and past him, descending the stairs from the noble's dorm.
"I hope Edelgard knows what she's doing..."
Well I hope it was worth it the wait, and I hope you enjoy this. I may or may not be doing more of Edelgard in the future, she was never a favorite of mine to be honest so I struggled to come up with this idea. Hence the long bout of silence.
And as always huge thanks to T.S. Atlas for helping me with this idea as I was at a loss for what to write.
Until next time.
