Great Tree Moon, Day 20, Imperial Year 1186
It had been roughly three months since Edelgard had led the Black Eagle Strike Team into battle against Dimitri and Rhea, slaying both and bringing the war to an end. It had taken the months since then to finally achieve total peace across Fódlan by finally tracking down and eliminating Lord Arundel, now exposed as Thales, the leader of the enigmatic group that had performed vile experiments on Edelgard, Lysithea and countless others.
With the final threat now dealt with, Edelgard and her most trusted friends and advisors were now putting plans into motion to further secure this state of peace: negotiating with or eliminating lords who still held loyalties to Leicester or Faerghus, sending envoys to neighbouring nations such as Duscur and Brigid to secure friendly relations, and stamping out whatever remained of Those Who Slither in the Dark.
Edelgard had been asked to meet Byleth on the top floor of Garreg Mach. While Enbarr remained the capital of Adrestia (and technically now all of Fódlan) Edelgard couldn't help but consider the monastery the true capital of her now victorious Empire. Not only had it been the staging ground for her battles against the Kingdom, Alliance and Church, but it was also where she had met her most reliable and faithful comrades... and been guided by her precious teacher as well.
She was sure Byleth hadn't realised this, but this particular day held a very special place in Edelgard's heart. In the years since she had ascended the throne, Edelgard realised, she had come to hold this date more precious than even the anniversary of her reign or her own birthday. Today was the sixth anniversary of the night they first met in Remire Village - the night her soon-to-be professor threw herself between Edelgard and a ruffian's blade and deftly deflected his strike.
Edelgard was instantly taken aback by how strong and reliable this woman was, and how striking a figure she struck as she cut down the brigand to save Edelgard's life. It could have been any of the three - herself, Dimitri or Claude - that Byleth had done this for, and she knew for a fact that Byleth would have thrown herself between any innocent and a villain intending them harm, but it was Edelgard that she had done it for. Even if it hadn't meant anything in particular back then, it came to stand as the beginning of Edelgard's intense desire to have this person by her side as she enacted her plan against the Church.
And she had gotten her. Byleth had chosen to teach the Black Eagles house, then to join Edelgard's rebellion against Rhea, and then continued to assist and guide her as the war raged on to its explosive climax. Edelgard could never have dreamed that a person as devoted to her as Hubert could come along, and yet she had.
Even after everything they had been through together, it had still taken a lot of convincing for Hubert to allow Edelgard to be alone with Byleth now, which she supposed was proof of his sincerity when he had admitted that he loved her. She felt that she could relate to this, seeing how her own feelings would likely go unanswered forever.
She hadn't said as much aloud, but Edelgard had fallen in love with Byleth. It had likely begun back in Remire Village and snowballed from there. She had kept her heart guarded against such feelings for so long, though, first because Byleth was her teacher and such a relationship would be stigmatised, even if the student in question was the Imperial Princess. Or perhaps because of it. But soon after Edelgard left the academy and that was no longer an issue, Byleth had seemingly been killed by the Immaculate One. Edelgard had tried not to hold out hope for her teacher's survival, but her belief in Byleth had refused to allow her to accept her death and move on. And in a sense, that faith had been rewarded when Byleth resurfaced five years later and continued to support Edelgard, even as Edelgard waged a war that even she herself occasionally held doubts about.
Even if she never returned her feelings, Edelgard hoped Byleth would at least remain by her side for the rest of her days, advising and guiding her through peacetimes as she had through wartimes. But she could never ask this of her teacher. She sensed that if she did, Byleth would agree to do so without regard for her own desires or ambitions. Either that, or she would say no, and Edelgard wasn't sure her heart could take such a rejection.
And so now, standing at the highest point of Garreg Mach, looking out over the courtyards and training grounds and restoration efforts across the place she had called home for so long, Edelgard redoubled her resolve to make today as special for Byleth as it was for her. It was all the could do to express her feelings without risk of ruining what the two had.
There was a knock at the door behind her and Edelgard suddenly felt that her dress was somehow dishevelled and not at all suitable for her to be seen in by her professor. But unless she planned to jump off the balcony and hope a wandering pegasus rider happened to be patrolling right below, all she could do was attempt to straighten it out some and invite Byleth to join her before her silence drew suspicion.
"Enter," she commanded firmly after quietly clearing her throat.
The door slowly opened and Byleth appeared through the expanding gap. As the professor's eyes fell upon her, Edelgard felt astoundingly self-conscious, as if Byleth were scrutinising her attire as she would her work at the academy. The dress in question was a new one, a ballgown in a deep wine-maroon. Edelgard had had it commissioned soon after Rhea's defeat, planning to wear it when next the Garreg Mach Establishment Day came around so the Black Eagles could properly have their planned reunion, albeit a year later than intended. But she had felt an odd compulsion to wear it today, before then. Did she hope to give Byleth a sneak preview of what she would be wearing that day to entice her? She did plan to ask her to dance, after all, since she hadn't gotten the chance to at the last ball?
Byleth paused upon seeing her, though Edelgard had to force herself to assume this was merely because Byleth had never seen her in such an outfit and not because she was particularly enticed by her visage. This was, after all, a person who had always seemed rather emotionally stunted in some way, to the point that her heart had only recently started beating.
Closing the door behind her, Byleth stepped closer and bowed before the Emperor. This was a recent development, starting after Rhea's defeat, which Edelgard supposed related to the aforementioned beating of her heart. "Good evening, Edelgard," Byleth greeted as she rose back to full height.
"P-Please, I've told you before, there's no need for such formalities between us. You have always been more to me than a mere vassal. This recent bowing trend is unnecessary."
"If you say so. I suppose our victories over Rhea and Dimitri, then Thales, have just made the whole 'you being Emperor' thing feel more real."
"Oh? It didn't feel real before, did it not? Did I not meet your standards for what an Emperor should be?" Despite her attempts to maintain a joking tone, a harshness slipped into Edelgard's voice, sounding more confrontational than she intended. It did work as a cover while she recomposed herself, however.
"You are a woman, for one. Right off the bat, that doesn't fit how most people would imagine an Emperor to be."
"Well, I have always viewed the term 'Empress' as a second place title, one that would be outranked were I to marry a man and have him take the equivalent male title. But I am the one holding the power of the throne, regardless of whomever I choose to marry. I refuse to allow anyone to believe anything less of me based on outdated terminology."
"What title would a man hold if he married you then?"
"So long as it is understood that I stand at the pinnacle, I care little for what he calls himself. But all of this is besides the point. You called me up here for a reason, I imagine?"
Byleth nodded. "I did. I'm not sure if you realise this or not, but today is actually a very important day."
"I-It is, is it? How so?"
Byleth's lips curved into a slight smile. "You realised it too, I see."
Edelgard averted her gaze. Byleth had grown quite adept at reading Edelgard since her return. Edelgard found herself backing away a few steps as Byleth began closing the gap between the two, seemingly oblivious to the effect her proximity and surprising awareness were having on Edelgard. Or, perhaps, she was intentionally taking advantage of that.
"It's been exactly six years since I first met you, Dimitri and Claude. Well, not exactly - we still have a few hours to go before then. But I felt it best to meet with you at sunset instead."
"I-I'm happy you realised the significance of today, but... why sunset, spec-" Edelgard's question was cut off as Byleth took her by the shoulders and turned her around to face the setting sun. The sky, she now realised, was awash with crimsons and oranges and even a little peachy pink near the horizon. How she had missed this beautiful sight while waiting here for Byleth's arrival eluded her. Perhaps her nerves had distracted her, or maybe Byleth herself made the sky so much more wonderful by simply pointing it out to her.
"It's like the sun is setting on Fódlan's discord and rising on a new era of peace."
"S-Since when were you so poetic, Professor?"
"Hm. I'm not really sure. But this light is perfect for what I wanted to discuss with you."
Edelgard reluctantly tore her bewitched eyes away from the wonderful sight before her to give her professor the attention she deserved. "The aforementioned era of peace?" she guessed.
"Nothing so grand. Something smaller, more personal. Here." Byleth reached into a pouch on her belt and produced something small enough to conceal in her palm. With her free hand, she took Edelgard's white-glove-clad hand and opened it up to place the tiny object in her palm. As Byleth moved her hands away from Edelgard's, the Emperor found in her open palm a small silver ring with an intricate pattern running along the outside, coming together at the front in a shape that looked almost like a cross between a flower and an insect with tiny purple gemstones that were a match for Edelgard's eyes.
"What... is this?"
"It's a ring," Byleth answered flatly, matter-of-factly, highlighting how odd her question must have seemed.
"I-I can see that," Edelgard replied with the mildest annoyance. "And it's beautiful. But why-"
Byleth slowly, gently, reached out and took Edelgard's free hand and began to slip her glove off her hand. Only now, six years after first meeting the Professor, did Edelgard realise that the strong hands that had always protected and guided her were actually a little smaller than her own.
"This ring belonged to my mother," Byleth explained in a gentle, partially wistful tone. "My father left it for me before he died. He told me that he wanted me to give it to someone special to me - the most important person."
A flush came to Edelgard's cheeks as the ring slid to a stop at the base of her ring finger. Byleth continued to hold Edelgard's hand in hers as she took in how the ring looked on her Emperor's hand.
"At the time, I didn't really know what that meant. You know how difficult expressing or even understanding emotion was for me back then. But after coming back, I began to realise that you were always special to me. You were always such a dedicated student, always intently listening to my lectures, coming to me for advice, and even letting slip more about your plans to fight the Church than you
The smile on Byleth's mouth at that last point made Edelgard shrink away in embarrassment. Whether it was that smile that was making her cheeks burn or everything else Byleth was saying, she wasn't sure.
"Even if I didn't realise it, you were always special to me, Edelgard. From the day we met and I threw myself in front of that bandit's blade, the goddess gave me her power to try again and make a better attempt at it-"
"Are... Are you suggesting that you literally turned back time itself to protect me? P-Please, Professor, you know I am ignorant to the full extent of the power the goddess granted... you..." Edelgard trailed off as she looked into Byleth's deep, steely blue eyes and saw only sincerity. "You... No, you cannot be serious."
"I am. In a way, it almost feels like destiny that out of the three of you I could have been given that power to protect, it wasn't Dimitri or Claude, but you, the one I would come to teach, to advise, to fight alongside, and... hopefully, to spend the rest of my life with."
"J-Just what are you saying here, Professor?"
"I'm saying that I love you, Edelgard. And I'm sorry it took me so long to understand that."
"P-Please don't joke about such things, Professor. I am ignorant in such matters and for you to tease me in such a way..." Again, the sincerity and what she now recognised as love in Byleth's eyes made Edelgard trail off. This incredible woman, who had done so much for Edelgard these last six years, was now telling her that she was in love with her? Edelgard had a hard time believing such an incredible stroke of good fortune were possible - especially for one who had opposed the goddess' descendant and her followers.
"I wouldn't joke about something like that. I understand how important such matters are now. I sincerely do love you."
"I-I see... A-And suppose I take what you say as true... i-is this okay? As my teacher and... as a woman as well-"
Byleth chuckled. She actually chuckled! And it was just about the most beautiful sound Edelgard had ever heard. "I would think that people's issues would be with you being with one of your servants."
Edelgard blushed as red as her dress. "P-Please, Professor. You are more to me than that. Much more."
"And you are more to me than just my former student, El."
Edelgard gasped. "You... You called me El..."
"That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
"I... Yes... very much so. Thank you, Professor. You don't know what this means to me."
Byleth shook her head. "I have an idea what it means. Because I want you to do something similar."
"...You want me to call you by name?"
"I do. Very much so."
"I... I cannot. You are my teacher. Ever since the first night we met, you have always been there to protect me, to guide me, to lead me-"
"To love you."
"I..." Edelgard closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was being silly. Of course, Byleth would always be her teacher, her advisor and her protector, but she was so much more to her than just that. And she, in turn, was so much more to Byleth than just her student, former or present. "I love you too, my teacher- no. I love you, my Empress."
"I'm second place now, am I?"
Edelgard worried for a moment that she might have offended Byleth, but the other woman's smile made her heart melt. "Y...Yes?" Edelgard responded instinctively, her mind struggling to comprehend the intent behind that gorgeous smile.
"I'm glad."
"W-Why?" Those two simple words sounded outright alien to Edelgard in this context. What could she
"Because you're finally taking a step ahead of me. Truthfully, I've been worrying that you've been relying on me too much and that you might need me to continue leading you despite being the real head of this Empire."
"I do need you!" Edelgard practically exclaimed. "I-I mean... I don't need you to lead me, but I do still need you in my life. I love you, and I refuse to let you go, Byleth."
"And you won't have to. I've been yours since that day in Remire. I just didn't realise it until now."
"As I have been yours. And I have always been aware of that fact."
"Are we going to keep talking about it, or are you going to kiss me?"
"I-I was waiting for you to-"
"I thought you didn't need me to guide you anymore." Byleth's smile was now a cheeky grin that just begged to be shown what for.
"Is that so? Well then, prepare yourself. We're not going to stop until I'm satisfied. And we still have five years apart to make up for."
"Five years apart is a small price to pay for a lifetime together."
"S-Seriously, where did all of this smoothness come from? Were you closer to Sylvain than I realised?"
Byleth chuckled. "I think... I think this is how I was always supposed to be. Before Rhea did... whatever it was she did to me as a child."
"If that is the case, then I can only love this part of you all the more as a final victory over Rhea and her schemes. One might even say that our love is itself a victory over her."
"It's a nice way of looking at it. But it would be nicer if you stopped stalling and kiss-"
Byleth's comment was cut off as Edelgard let out all of her frustration by throwing her arms around Byleth's shoulders and pressing her lips against hers. Edelgard could feel Byleth's shock at the sudden move, and she felt it melt away as Byleth gave herself to Edelgard completely. And Edelgard's hands met behind Byleth, her fingers running gently across the surface of the ring that represented Byleth's feelings for her Emperor.
It would be quite some time before either one even entertained the thought of bringing this moment to an end. Even the sun itself grew tired of their display and departed below the horizon before they emerged from their own little world into a beautiful moonlit sky. And then, it was the moon and stars' turn to bask in the beauty of Edelgard and Byleth's love.
I finally, three years after dropping the game six hours in, actually finished the Black Eagles route of Three Houses the other day after getting back into it through Three Hopes. Maybe it's just because I've not seen the worst of Edelgard yet, but I would and will kill to achieve this woman's dream, so don't push me.
This might become a series of shorts, similar to "Tales From The Metaverse" and "Mortal Kombat Khronicles". It depends how many more ideas I come up with.