The decision between king and vassal made what came next obvious. There was to be little delay between their conversation and their next target. Byleth made sure that they did not get sidetracked. As much as she should have rebuilt her trust with Flayn, she did not feel comfortable taking things slowly. There was bound to be another invasion, the Empire could not waste their momentum. And more pressing than that, they both knew Rhea would get involved soon. They needed to build a base before the archbishop eventually discovered the rat.
Despite being the master of the castle, Dimitri opted to knock before entering Seteth's office. "Ah, King Dimitri, I was not expecting your visit." The church advisor greeted them warmly. Barring the title, he addressed the royal almost casually. He was not in the least intimidated by the younger man. "Are you here for another counseling? I do not mind the impromptu visit. Though, I would like prior notice next time."
The clergyman's friendliness did not offend Dimitri in the slightest. He welcomed a candid conversation. "My apologies, Seteth. It was not my intent to bother you."
"You are no bother," Seteth gladly reassured him. Back when she was a professor, Byleth remembered fondly how the advisor always made an effort to extend her a hand. Once he overcame his initial reservations, he treated her like an old coworker. "My workload can be quite monotonous. I welcome a little interaction during the day. Come, have a seat." He motioned for Dimitri to sit across from him.
Dimitri warmly accepted the invitation. "Thank you. I appreciate your generosity." He gracefully took his seat. Byleth opted to stand. She needed to take a passive role in this conversation until the opportunity presented itself.
"You look well," Seteth stated warmly. "I had worried your condition would act up again." The unspoken condition was easy to surmise. Both Dimitri and Byleth caught on to the man's meaning.
Byleth was unbothered by the matter. She already decided to help her liege through his inner darkness. Dimitri on the other hand winced at the mention. "Please, no need to bring up something sensitive in front of company." His eyes shifted to his guard before returning to Seteth.
The advisor glanced in her direction too. Having his attention had Byleth stiffen. She fretted over the possibility, like if he could see through her helm. Ever since she entered the palace, she was on thin ice. Anyone could pull off her mask. "Ah. I see you have taken up Dedue's advice in having another knight around. Your safety is of the utmost importance to us all."
"I am confident I can handle myself in a fight," Dimitri latched onto the new conversation. Given his monstrous strength, even the goddess's vessel recognized she would need to expend a few time pulses to best him. Her five-year slumber allowed all of her old allies to surpass her strength and skill. Her blood, magic, and tactics were what kept them from truly surpassing her as a unit. Still, she agreed with Seteth's sentiment. He had to stay alive above all else.
"You can never be too careful. Assassins can be anywhere. But, I don't deny your abilities. So, to what do I owe your visit?" Seteth remained cordially. Grim circumstances rarely changed him. He was the same as he was five years before. With Dimitri and the other Lions, they acted fairly similarly but they matured with time.
"Did I look like I came for a favor?" Dimitri cocked his head at the implication.
Seteth shook his head. "It was only a guess. And, it looks like I was correct."
"As sharp as ever, Seteth. I did have some business that I'd like to discuss if you had the time." Dimitri began to broach the important topic. Byleth wondered if the man was truly ready to take this leap. It was her idea to seek out Seteth before the sympathetic ear of Alois. She too chose to be hasty. She was not even sure if Flayn would keep the secret yet. Risks needed to be taken for everything to work out.
Seteth was none the wiser to her machinations. He readily welcomed his ally. He and the Church saw Dimitri as their great compatriot. He would not doubt the royal's loyalties. He had just as much to lose as the Church. "No trouble at all. Besides, it would be rude of me to turn you away. What is it that you wished to discuss?"
Despite being given little to prepare, Dimitri slid right into the topic without worry. "It was about the war meeting, actually. I would like to hear your opinions more on what you heard."
"On what transpired at Arianrhod?" Seteth raised an eyebrow. The most groundbreaking news came from the king's lips.
"Correct."
"About the death of former professor Byleth?" There was a sudden change in tone in his voice. It appeared her name still had some power over the advisor, despite her apparent death.
Dimitri blinked at the question. He likely did not expect Seteth to catch on to his meaning so quickly. "Yes, actually. How did you-"
Byleth reasoned that the news of her fate was the most earth-shattering for their allied forces. She recognized that Seteth likely still was adjudicating over the account. "I was, and am, well aware of how you viewed her. You so often asked if there was any news of the professor's whereabouts following the fall of Garreg Mach." Or not? "For her to die again, I understand that the news might not sit well with you." Seteth's tone did not match her imagination. It almost sounded like he was teasing the prince. The older man was rarely that playful, but he had an eye for his subordinates and students. He seemed to mean no offense, only voicing his observations.
"You were quite the avid learner of hers. I would venture to say that you always made an effort to reach out to her back at the academy." He seemed far less focused on the possibility of the Church's most wanted being dead or alive than how her fate affected the lord. Perhaps it had to do with the counseling. Either way, Seteth's words brought color to her lord's cheeks.
Byleth recognized the implications. She was not the best with emotions but was catching on to how Dimitri saw her. She believed that he thought too highly of her and even idolized her. Why else did he have so much faith in her? Seteth and the others understood that he looked up to her. Some misunderstood and thought his feelings were more than that.
"H-how is any of that relevant? Besides, it is hardly appropriate." Dimitri got flustered by the vague allegation. That made sense. The very woman was in the room with them. She could not blame him for getting bothered when she was listening to the whole conversation.
"You're right. That was insensitive of me. Admittedly, I am still unsure of how to process what you had relayed." The grim reality made the conversation turn somber. "Not only has the tide of war somehow changed overnight, but we have lost old friends. I think of Professor Manuela and Professor Hanneman too. Neither of them had ill intentions towards us."
"You think that too of Professor Byleth, right?" Dimitri brought her up again. He was unsure of when she would step in, so he kept Seteth's thoughts on her. Keeping him sentimental would be a boon.
The older man tilted his head before genuinely considering the question. He scratched his chin before giving an answer. "It is complicated. While I knew her for only a short time, I thought of her as a friend. I would like to think that she was ignorant of what her choice to back the Emperor meant."
"As do I. I believe she could've made for a good ally," Dimitri confessed rather flagrantly.
A little too on the nose. Byleth did not say that aloud, but she did raise an eyebrow.
The idea was met with a scoff. Seteth did not think the same. Byleth expected as much. "We both know that she made her choice. Her decision in the Holy Tomb is not something that can be taken lightly. Regardless of her intentions, she turned her blade on the Church." He spoke of the event like he was present. Seteth had only heard the accounts from the archbishop. Quite the reliable narrator.
Byleth herself remembered the day all too clearly. The Sword of the Creator felt heavier as she pointed it toward her former employer. She too had felt queasy when she was met with the crazed look in Rhea's eyes. After months of processing it, Byleth could not determine if those emotions came from guilt or fear.
"Is there no room for forgiveness then?" Dimitri did not get bothered by Seteth's position. He did not bat an eye to adversity. Having him speak first proved to be a good idea.
"There is, but her actions already proved her convictions. What happened in the Alliance could very well have happened in the Kingdom." Byleth winced at the mental image. She could picture Ashe taking the place of Ignatz, or worse yet Dimitri taking Claude's place. She would never allow such a tragedy again.
The blonde did not let the suggestion even give him a shudder. "But if she turned her back on the Empire, what then? Would you have accepted her?"
This was an interesting tactic. Byleth figured that Dimitri would have to be just as frank as her. Given that she wanted to reveal herself in this parlay, she recognized why the other took this route. She was only uneasy as she feared any possible misspeaks. She had no control over Dimitri. She could have waited until she had all of her divine pulses. Though, she was not confident that she would ever truly recuperate. Her nightmares and restlessness kept her from a peaceful slumber. And with Rhea around, she had no time to dawdle.
As things stood, her once plentiful, world-shattering resource was now a limited commodity. She would be worried if not for her stockpile. She expended few when it came to her conquest of the east.
"Your Majesty, I understand your sympathies for her. But, I do not understand your desire to discuss hypotheticals. I do not mind giving you a consultation, especially if it involves your episodes. However, I was under the impression you wanted to go over business." Dimitri's push began to bother Seteth. The older man looked to understand that the other's words held more meaning. His brow furrowed and his arms crossed once he caught on that this was no thought exercise.
Dimitri gave a small chuckle. He realized that his musings were not enough to sway the advisor. "I haven't explained myself very well. My apologies for that. This is all related to business." He spoke from a place of confidence. He seemed almost zealous with how he trusted her words.
The clarification only added to Seteth's confusion. He leaned forward in his chair. This was no longer a simple, friendly chat. "Has further news of her been received?"
"Not quite," the king answered, "I am only mulling over what I heard still. I do not doubt Lord Rodrigue's and Felix's trust in Lysithea. But, could she have been covering for the professor?" Dimitri's companion did not like the thought of implicating Lysithea in some sort of plot. But, she had faith that her lord knew what he was doing. From the looks of it, his words looked to captivate their present company.
Seteth narrowed his eyes. His expression turned deadly serious. "There could be major ramifications if what young Lysithea told us was incorrect. While our plans are not wholly based on Byleth's death, having her unaccounted for will be a major oversight. Furthermore, Lysithea herself could easily be feeding information to the Imperials." It made sense that he would cast doubt on her. Given the accounts of Derdriu, she had willingly sided with the Empire prior to Claude's fall. She had been swayed by the Church's most wanted.
The older man's fear was met with Dimitri's own scoff. "I highly doubt she is a traitor," Dimitri quickly corrected. "I believe Felix's judgment of character is reliable."
"The same person who still refers to you as a boar?" Seteth raised an eyebrow. He never particularly understood why the royal put up with the insult. Byleth barely understood it either. But, she never made a fuss of it when Dimitri shrugged the nickname off.
Given the small bout of madness she witnessed, she could begin to understand why Felix seemed so wary of his childhood friend.
"Heh. He can be quite the clown."
Massaging his temples, Seteth retreated back into his head. The news definitely caused him further stress, if only he knew better. Would he feel any better having her here? She would always remain a liability. "There is nothing concrete to suggest that Lysithea is against us. You believe she is on our side too. So, why would she fabricate important information? What could she have to gain from deceiving us?"
Byleth found it quite trying to guess what the king would say. She could have been more thorough with her plans. However, she knew that talking was not her strong suit. Talking Flayn done from tattling on her was not a great counterpoint. She had rapport with her former student. She too had her time pulses to fall back on. She failed to stop Flayn once.
"If I had to guess, I would say it is a means of keeping Byleth alive."
That... was not what Byleth had suspected. Her eyes grew wide at the casual admission. She supposed honesty was important to rebuild her relationships with the Church. She needed the advisor's trust if she wanted to have a meaningful role in the war. Still, they were in an extremely precarious position. She could not afford to make too many fumbles. However, she too had to gamble.
Dimitri's honesty was met with an incredulous look. Seteth did not have it in him to buy such a theory. "I highly doubt she would need someone to cover for her. Given her position in the Empire, she would be under the Emperor's eye. No one would dare give her trouble."
"What if she wanted to get away from the Emperor?" The question was what turned the whole conversation upside down. The mere idea gave their company pause.
Rather than address the matter, Seteth honed in on the king. The atmosphere was no longer playful or casual. While Dimitri did not look daunted, Byleth shivered at the dangerous look in the advisor's eyes. "You make it sound like you know more than you let on, Dimitri. As allies, I would be perturbed if you kept quiet on important matters."
Neither was in a position to threaten the other. The king could eject the knights. The knights could oust the king. But, Seteth had more at stake than the Church. "I am only speculating. Ever since I heard the news from Rodrigue personally, I have been thinking." Dimitri's eyes momentarily wandered to his guard. He did not wish to be obvious, but he had to signal her somehow.
Dimitri had diffused some of the tension. "Your Majesty," Seteth opted to address him by title, "I confess that I do not think nearly as highly of her as you do. But, there is nothing wrong with speculation. It works to keep your mind sharp."
"Would you allow me to continue my thought?" The king said with a small smile. He took the other's words as an invitation. Byleth understood that Dimitri was setting up for her entrance into their talk. They only needed to keep Seteth's temper in check. He was usually a composed man, but lying for the Church's most wanted would be read as a betrayal.
"But of course. I did not mean to interrupt," The advisor remained tense but his voice was even.
"I remember vividly the conversations I had with her. She was not some cold-blooded killer. Despite her expression, she was... soft," he spoke with fondness of her. His words caused a myriad of emotions in Byleth. She barely understood them. But, they were not important.
Dimitri projected his sincerity and belief in her. "It's hard to describe. She seemed so emotionless at first. As time went on, she began to smile. She would chuckle. She would even be a bit humorous. She was not my instructor, but I witnessed the changes from afar. I can attest that she does not agree with this war."
His argument was hardly solid evidence. But, his belief in his own words gave Seteth pause. "Even if that is the case, she chose to follow Edelgard. This is their war now." His counterpoint sounded almost weak in comparison, even if it was true for a time.
"What if she made a mistake? What if she had regrets?"
Regret. Byleth had a lot of it. She could spend a whole day unpacking those feelings. But, she stayed her tongue. She allowed Seteth to digest the thought. "... Be that as it may, Byleth took a shine to the girl. She was a mentor to the Emperor. If it were my sister, I would go to great lengths to keep her safe. Flayn means the world to me. I can empathize with Byleth's choice."
His points caused Byleth to nearly visibly wince. His words cut deeper than she could have anticipated. He was right. Despite her defection, she carried these sentiments still. Edelgard was the closest thing she had to family. Out of everyone in her class, the house leader entrusted so much of her past to her mentor. Who was it that sacrificed sleep to comfort the princess after a nightmare? If not for this war, she would have continued to be a shoulder for the Emperor.
"Would you ever consider forgiving her? Posthumously or not?" Dimitri jumped on the other's empathy. He took it as a chance to use his own words against him.
"Even if I forgive her, the deaths in the Alliance cannot be ignored. But in time, I could better understand her choice." Seteth too mourned for the dead. He did not see their ghosts, but he felt their absences. She could not forget how she indirectly hurt him. That feeling extended to everyone she hurt.
Drawing on this momentum, Dimitri continued to push the subject. He looked on the cusp of a small, yet necessary, victory. "Do you think she's capable of atonement?"
His words, alas, were too obvious and too purposeful. Seteth spotted the fixation on the former professor. "These questions are starting to take on more meaning. Your majesty, there is more to this. I do not believe this is a mere hypothetical. You do not need to dance around the topic with me." His tone reverted. He was just as tense as earlier. His gaze reflected the seriousness of his unspoken accusation.
"What do you think my intention is?" Dimitri's confidence held, but he was shaken by the resistance. He likely was banking on a friendly conversation over a serious discussion.
Seteth was not amused at the question. "If I had to guess, there is something you did not include in your news. There is more to the story than Lysithea relaying news." He had suspected collusion of some kind. But, he still failed to recognize the knight's existence. Dimitri did not give any response to what was put forward. Should he acknowledge the truth or wait to show his hand?
Without any reply, the advisor took the opportunity to expand on his thoughts. "While I do not condone you withholding information, the Church is not transparent either. Still, any information is vital for the war. By keeping quiet on anything, more men may die." His pointed stare landed on only the king. Still, Byleth trembled in reaction. She had been on enough battlefields to know when she was dealing with a tough opponent. When Seteth showed the smallest amounts of hostility, he could cause even her some worry.
Where she nearly faltered, the king hummed and responded accordingly to the direction of their conversation. How could one be so confident when faced with one of the Church's strongest? "That is why I'm approaching you individually. There are things that cannot be shared at the round table. In particular, I had to give a more convenient explanation of Byleth's fate. There was a real reason why she was around Arianrhod. She too did not die before the battle either." Dimitri chose to be genuine with his candidness. He made the advisor tentatively listen. The King of Faerghus did not match the cunning of the other two scions, but he still stood toe to toe with them. He would bring prosperity to Fódlan should he win this power struggle.
"She had fought to defend the fortress," Dimitri said straight from memory. There was not a hint of doubt.
In the face of hard truth, Seteth tensed and shook his head. He was more confused than frustrated in that instance. "Your majesty, I am afraid I do not follow. Are you suggesting that Byleth fought against Imperial forces?"
"It is more than that. She won the battle for the Kingdom."
"Where did you hear this?" The mere idea was difficult to swallow. Byleth, as well as Dimitri, expected this type of wariness. Her place on the battlefield made no sense to anyone outside of her and Lysithea. She was lucky that Cornelia intervened.
"From Rodrigue," Dimitri referred to his most trusted comrade. Lord Fraldarius had earned Seteth's respect already. While Seteth could chalk Dimitri's words to hopeless optimism, he could not deny a seasoned commander and statesman. "He informed me of everything that happened before and during the battle. I was not far from the area and even went by the fortress. I can confirm personally that Arianrhod still stands and in no small part thanks to her."
"I still do not understand. For her to turn against the Empire... you must admit the absurdity of the scenario. Surely she had only assisted us to infiltrate your ranks?" Seteth's expression soon reflected his panic. He had arrived at a startling realization. "Wait, is she even dead?"
Byleth knew it was her turn to speak soon. While she initially wanted full control, she started to believe that she was better off relying on Dimitri. He had managed well thus far, better than her most likely. "That would be the logical conclusion to make. I have heard testimonies from the others at Arianrhod. Sylvain, Ingrid, and Felix all testified for her. Byleth too was the one that killed Hanneman and Manuela. She made sacrifices to join us."
That kernel of truth was a double-edged sword. Their deaths proved Byleth's convictions, but they too inspired scorn. Seteth thought of the other professors as friends at one point. "She was responsible for that?"
"Would Byleth have killed them just to get closer with the Kingdom?" The king wanted to focus on the meaning behind their deaths over emotions. If there was anything that the students and faculty learned about Byleth, it was that the woman made sure everyone was safe. As callous as she once was, she valued the lives of her comrades.
"Dimitri, is she alive?"
He ignored the obvious question. Seteth already knew. He would know soon that she was more than alive. She was present. "She proved herself. I'm not alone in this sentiment. I trust her, and I believe she will change the tide of the war."
Seteth's gaze was icy. He did not hide his concerns. He did not entertain the other's reasoning either. "Tell me where she is," he ordered.
This would be the best cue as any. There was no redirecting the conversation, not when Seteth was actively showing defiance to the lord. If she stayed silent any longer, he might get too worked up for a civil discussion.
"Your majesty, I can step in now," her voice cut the tension like a knife. The standoff between king and advisor ended as she stepped in. Both their eyes were on her. They both watched with two very different expressions. She slowly removed her helm, allowing Seteth to confirm her identity. Byleth had not changed in those five years. She looked the same as she did when she took Rhea's attack.
"Did I do alright?" Dimitri asked her softly. His earlier bravado disappeared. He gave her a meek stare.
"We will see," she whispered to him before redirecting her full attention to Seteth. The man no longer saw it fit to sit and chat. He stood alert and ready for action. A fight seemed so much easier than talking her way through this. "Hello, Seteth. It has been some time since we last spoke. It was rude of me to hide my face, but... I'm sure you understand why I did this."
Seteth was overtaken by a flurry of emotions, most of them were not good. Byleth understood that much. She seated herself while Dimitri stood. This was not a confrontation. She wanted to talk, nothing more. "Please tell me what this is about," Seteth hissed. He looked torn between comprehending this impossible sight or outright challenging her. Emotions ran deep when a traitor sat across from him. He too was worked up by Dimitri's deception.
"Dimitri asked you if I could be atoned. He was asking on my behalf," she responded coolly. She did not know how to handle delicate subjects well. She only had her natural poker face to rely on.
Based on his exasperated look, the advisor was on the verge of a massive headache. Byleth was most definitely the cause of it. "Let me get this straight. You organized all this to have a talk about atonement." Seteth was about ready to suffer a breakdown. He had not mentally prepared himself for this turn of events.
Byleth nodded to the basic sentiment. Her motivations were largely based on correcting her mistakes. She had to make an effort to stop the Emperor for her sanity and for the world. "Correct. I want to formally switch sides. What Dimitri speculated of me earlier was true. I turned my back on the Empire. My aim is to be of use to you both."
"I... am baffled by this," Seteth's confusion only grew. He was too overwhelmed to verbally lash out. He had not yet turned to shout. "You cannot expect me to agree to all of this. I don't even know why I am humoring you either."
"Well, I did corner you into this conversation," Byleth muttered to herself. She had not meant to say that aloud. It just slipped.
Seteth let out an audible groan. "That does not help your case. You should know that by now." His hearing was impeccable. She should have remembered.
This back and forth reminded Byleth of days gone by. She remembered vividly similar one-sided chats. She found nostalgia in how Seteth popped a vein over her dumb mistake. "You still lecture me after all that has happened."
"It is how I vent," he snapped. His fury finally started to come through. "What possessed you to think this was a good idea?!"
"Probably the goddess..." Byleth thought back on Sothis. Ever since she gifted Byleth this power, her emotions had a greater effect on her behavior. Her comment was met with a piercing glare. "Not an appropriate joke, I got it."
Seteth was at his wit's end. His breathing was erratic. His composure had long since left. "Do you not realize the danger your presence here represents? I cannot overlook your presence when I have to think of Flayn. That is to say, if I even believe you."
Byleth felt a little relief at seeing him think about other things than strangling her. Seteth always thought ahead. Even in such a peculiar situation like this, the advisor did not simply stew in his emotions. He had the foresight to think of the ramifications. Like Flayn, he too thought about what would happen if he did nothing.
While she had rapport with Flayn, Seteth's goodwill only extended to Byleth rescuing his daughter. He had only fought beside her once. His interactions with her were most professional. However, he was actively hostile to her. He at least provided her an audience. His better judgment was what gave her the chance. She already had the king on her side. Whether he liked it or not, she already got herself entangled with his allies.
"Much like in the Holy Tomb, I turned my blade on the Empire. My crimes against them will someday outweigh the ones I committed against the Church. What I've done and what I plan to do will make me an even greater traitor in the eyes of Edelgard. If I wanted to get away, I would've stayed dead. I chose to come to Fhirdiad for a reason. Like it or not, but you must believe me." Byleth exposited the important details. She abandoned her camp and spilled blood. If she was anyone else, Edelgard would have her executed in an instant.
"Suppose I do believe your words, what reason is there for me to believe in you?" Seteth left it to her to convince him why he should bother with her.
It was hard to say if he was giving her more than his attention. Aside from letting her ramble, he made no other promises. With how their conversation was going, she did not feel confident one way or another. "I can recognize that his Majesty and his allies have made their choice. Going against them would be a reckless move. However, you already understand the risk that comes with inviting an enemy into headquarters. Assassination is not foreign to mercenary work. It is already an issue to keep you alive, but it is a greater issue to accept your atonement."
Byleth did not deny his words. While she rarely received such jobs, she had been a mercenary for all her life. She had experiences with many of the jobs that came with it. She had to commend him. Despite the chaos, the advisor was attempting to think pragmatically. She just wished he would genuinely entertain the thought of relying on her. "You are wise, Seteth. I cannot deceive you. Hiding from you would be foolish. It doesn't help either that I had a similar talk with Flayn."
The mention of his daughter, however, quickly had him seething. "If you did anything to her, I will-"
"I would never hurt her," the woman quickly cut him off. Her word choice put her in a tight spot again. "She was my student and a friend. I hope to regain her trust, and hope that she could convince you to have mercy if you drag me off to jail me and toss away the key." The idea was a bit amusing. She always found it sweet how close he and his daughter were.
"Is humor truly appropriate at this moment?" Seteth was scratching his head at the dumb idea.
Perhaps it wasn't. Byleth should have known better. "It's not. But, I want to be forthright. Out of everyone in the Church, I respect your opinions most of all. You can look past my crimes and understand my value." Her compliments were not meant to convince him. They were to serve as reminders. Seteth thought for himself and did what he thought was best. He never expressed the same zealotry as Catherine or Rhea.
Alas, her words did not have the desired effect. She was no smooth talker. She was in over her head. "Will I now? You have become quite presumptuous since we last saw one another." Seteth had yet to sit. His brow remained creased.
While hardly a clue on how to get through to him, Byleth at least had some resources at her disposal. She did not need to fall back on her divine pulse yet, not when she had news to share. Had Dimitri been harder to sway, she would have told him her whole plan immediately. She had been holding back out of fear of endangering her comrades. If someone so much as overheard them, they would be in danger.
It might have been a good idea to have told Dimitri earlier. See how things pan out? She should have given him more to work with if she wanted to convince Seteth and not confuse Dimitri in the process.
"I did not come to Fhirdiad empty-handed," Byleth decided that she did not have much else to say. She just wished that Dimitri would not react strongly to what came next. Withholding information from her allies was a bad look in front of Seteth. "I know that I can't convince you with just empty platitudes. Out of everyone, you are the one most loyal to your own interests. You want a peaceful world for Flayn. You want to protect her and the world you both cherish. I can help."
Like a miracle at work, Seteth did not laugh at her proposal. He still provided her ample opportunity to speak. "I do not trust you, nor do I understand you. However, I will allow you this opportunity, if only so that I may comprehend why the Blue Lions have put their faith in you. I want to know that before I go to Rhea." He seemed adamant about his decision. And yet, he gave her an opening.
She really hoped that she did not mess this up. She also really wished she had told Dimitri. He could probably explain this a lot better than her. Too late for that.
"I did not come here just to fight for the Kingdom. It would've been easier if I stayed near the border. I came to Fhirdiad because it made sense to me. I can end the war. I just need your help." Byleth needed to make sure everything worked out. She went to great lengths to see things through. There were too many risks involved. Her goal was to mitigate those risks.
Seteth gave her a skeptical look. Byleth took it in stride. It was far better than a glare. It was cold comfort, but it would suffice. "You came all the way into enemy territory so that you may tell me some outrageous idea? Please tell me that's not it."
She was not about waste either of their times. She steeled herself and mentally rehearsed. "I am not alone. Well... I came here alone. Lysithea and I left for the Kingdom, I mean. The only way to end the war is by killing Edelgard and taking Enbarr. And... I can make that happen." Accomplishing those two objectives would end the war. Everyone knew that. But, Edelgard was near impossible to kill. When she was with the Black Eagle Strike Force and at her most vulnerable, she had her elites on hand.
Why had Byleth not killed her sooner? For one, she knew that a simple assassination would solve nothing. Arundel could seize power if Edelgard was gone. Hubert too could uphold his master's dying wishes. She knew that conquering the capital was also necessary. As for the second reason, she did not have the ability to kill her best friend yet.
She could talk all she wanted about killing the Emperor. She knew she may be the one to take the other woman's life. But, she needed more time. A few more days? A few more weeks? A few more months? She could not even let Hubert stay dead when she was at Arianrhod. Granted, she would have died in the process.
Seteth could use her hesitance against her. Byleth had to answer to her inability to kill Edelgard thus far. Rather than give him or anyone the opportunity, she would address any concerns before they could be made. "Without the capital or the Emperor, the war will end subsequently. We would decapitate our enemies." Her brutal wording brought on a shudder.
"How could you accomplish such a feat? And why would you turn to the Church for help?" The advisor did not look in the least bit convinced, but he still indulged her. He challenged her in the best way possible.
"The previous Emperor was taken down by a coup. I propose that we do the same to Edelgard," Byleth stated, summoning her courage for what came next. "I am not alone in my distaste for the war. I came to the Kingdom and Church so that we may find cooperation."
Her words did not look to bother Dimitri. Seteth, on the other hand, was mulling over every syllable. "And why did you of all people come here? You should know by now that the Church could never forgive your actions." He placed emphasis on the Church, referring to the Archbishop most likely. Last they met, Rhea had tried to destroy her maliciously.
Byleth understood that. She never came with the intent to change hearts. "I do not wish for forgiveness, my aim is atonement. This mission could be the death of me. I volunteered since I could accept dying for this cause. And, I believed I could make things happen." After all, she was the only one with temporal abilities. Any of her comrades would have died to Cornelia.
"I am afraid I don't have any letters or physical proof. I only speak on behalf of House Aegir that we can work together to end the fighting."