The Last Scion of House Ordelia

by kenji1104

Lysithea was said to be bound for greatness when she was born. Join her in her life story as it began in Garreg Mach, forge bonds with various people and eventually find love and a reason to fight on for her life and happiness. A detailed story of Lysithea's journey in the Black Eagles/Crimson Flower route with its own unique take on the route's story.

16. Crimson Flower: Rain of Tears

Crimson Flower

Rain of Tears

---

Alright, I know you guys must be saying why it took me two months to update! First off, I do apologize for my lack of updates. October was... pretty much a bad month for me, I temporarily lost my will to write after a series of events both minor and major occurred. Also, because this chapter was particularly hard to write as well.

But never fear! Here's the update and I will try to update it again within the month. Also... we're finally at the Crimson Flower saga everyone! Without further ado, here is the first chapter of the saga!

---

"It's been three years." Lysithea said as she stared at the sky hanging above her, it was clear with tinges of white clouds hanging around. "So much has happened since that day."

A gust of wind slightly swept the long purple dress she wore, the golden decorated hems lightly flapping around.

Lysithea von Ordelia, now nineteen years old, reminisced on what had transpired the day Garreg Mach fell to the Adrestian Empire's might after Rhea was forced to retreat.

Despite their victory, it was merely a pyrrhic one for her, Edelgard and The Black Eagle Strike Force. They may have won that battle but they lost something greater than it.

Or someone.

A gust of wind blew past her, tossing her long purple dress as leaves from the tree she stood next to followed where the wind goes, the smell of morning grass and the aromatic scent of various flowers invaded her sense of scent.

"I'm sorry I haven't been visiting much. Besides my training and being with Edelgard most of the time, I'm afraid that I didn't know much what to tell you if I came everyday. I'll probably just waste my time fumbling on what words to say, what stories to share."

She scoffed, even now that she visited, she still can't seem to know what to say to him. No doubt he would tell her in his own way to do something or give her a look to get a move on or give her a gesture of concern.

Perhaps Lysithea only wanted to get out of the palace and avoid the serious and grim atmosphere that has been constantly permeating around it.

She wanted to smell the fresh air, undiluted by the stench of people or their city. In some way, she found solace alone outside.

"I miss you. You've always been there looking out for me, assuring me and giving me your gestures to make me feel better…"

Silence.

"Oh, if you are curious, Cordy has finally learned how to leap by herself to the bed! Last you saw her, she was afraid of jumping up unlike her brothers and sisters…"

Lysithea's forced smile faltered, sighing on the fact that she was talking to a small grave situated beneath the tree. She can't help but feel like she has achieved nothing these past few years but lose a part of her life, what remains of it especially the good ones.

First was the small peace she had with her plans for her parents, then her mixed days in the Academy, the professor's fall only made it worse and now…

"Ordelian… oh Ordelian…" Lysithea lamented, looking on the grave offered with white lilies. "Why did you have to leave me so soon?"

Only silence.

She shook her head, no matter how many times she asked that question, there was no answer. It was all part of life, she was aware of it but she wasn't ready when Ordelian died weeks ago, he showed no prior illness and he simply died peacefully in his sleep, being surrounded by his kittens and nuzzled by Hresvelgion, trying to wake him up to no avail.

His death hit her hard especially with all that is happening around her. Ordelian was a cat her parents had gifted her after the gruesome experiments on her

"Lady Lysithea." An Imperial soldier called out for her.

Lysithea slightly shifted her head to the side to acknowledge the soldier, a silent gesture to continue.

"Her Majesty is looking for you, she is requesting you to join her for lunch."

After receiving a short nod from her, the soldier left to return to his post. Lysithea knelt down on Ordelian's grave and touched the small gravestone meant for him.

Promising the grave that she will come again.

---

Edelgard, wearing a dark red dress with intricate gold trimmings, and the Imperial Crown around her head ate in relative silence as Lysithea briefly regarded her from the opposite side of the long table in the dining hall that they only occupied upon Edelgard's orders, not even Hubert nor Ferdinand were with them, both of which are the Emperor's advisors who mostly stick by her side.

Judging by the sullen frown upon her face, Lysithea could tell that there was only bad news for the Emperor regarding the state of the war that had gripped Fodlan since Garreg Mach fell to the Empire.

"You're not eating?" Edelgard asked, not looking at her as she sliced into the thick slice of beef in her plate.

Lysithea didn't speak from the other side of the table and merely took her own utensils and began digging down into her meal of roasted chicken paired with potatoes and a side of lentil soup, the latter being set aside with no intention to consume it.

The vibrating sound of utensils hitting the plate reverberated around the dining room, filling the cold silence between the two women, it felt so tense for Lysithea as she waited for Edelgard to say something, fully knowing that she intended to open up a topic to discuss.

An unpleasant one, otherwise Edelgard would have told her immediately if she bore good news on the situation.

They haven't spoken much since Ordelian died, Lysithea thought that Edelgard must have distanced herself to give her space or to avoid causing more distress for her with the dire state of the war, her duties as the Emperor still takes precedence over anything after all.

Lysithea took notice of Edelgard's face: her eyes had dark circles under it, suggesting her lack of sleep, there was puffy skin around it as well as just the sound of her voice when she spoke earlier… things have been taking a toll on her for the worse.

"We lost the front near Gaspard territory." Edelgard suddenly said as she dropped the utensils on the side of her plate. "Forces of the Kingdom and the Church have also been spotted on the Brionac Plateaus."

This alarmed Lysithea, recalling the geography of Fodlan.

"Wait, if that's the case then they may invade what was Nuvelle territory… they'll gain a foothold on the western part of the Empire!"

Edelgard bit her lip. "Not only that, the front protecting Garreg Mach from being reclaimed by the Church are getting increasingly battered as well, Ladislava has reported that they have been repeatedly harassed by guerilla warfare and it has been causing discontent among the garrison."

Lysithea could only keep quiet at the frustration and exhaustion in the Emperor's eyes. She must have spent long nights trying to formulate plans to turn the tide of the war into her favor but to no avail.

Ever since Garreg Mach fell in what was the Empire's first and only major victory, their advance has steadily been met with strong resistance from the Kingdom and the Church of Seiros while the Alliance declared neutrality.

The latter being a lie since some members of the Alliance have been secretly aiding the combined Kingdom and Church forces. Despite having the cassius belli to attack the Alliance, Edelgard couldn't risk open war with them due to the forces of the Empire being stretched too thin.

This also resulted in the disbandment of the Black Eagle Strike Force with Edelgard being forced to do so to direct their former classmates into key military positions to battle in different skirmishes across Fodlan.

From time to time, they can receive word of their friends being injured in battle, only for them to recover once again. It was a miracle none of them have become casualties of the war… for now.

The Black Eagles had maintained contact with each other via letters or rare visits except for a few ones such as Annette.

Lysithea still lamented Annette's departure from them before the Siege of Garreg Mach, the girl from House Dominic was one of her closest friends in their days in the Academy. Annette's departure was something Lysithea would very well understand but at the same time, can't help but hurt her with the thought that Annette would very well be their enemy now.

Then there was Felix, another former classmate of theirs from Faerghus. He had left the Black Eagle Strike Force all of a sudden one day after Garreg Mach fell. An explanation was given by Sylvain and Ingrid afterwards, Felix confided with them that he had no more reason to stay and join the war on either side now that he has nothing to fight for and the person he respected, Byleth, is now gone.

His departure saddened Sylvain and Ingrid and while Felix proved formidable with a blade, Edelgard made no attempts nor issued resources to help find the former Fraldarius heir, citing the ongoing war as a reason not to go on a wild goose chase for a deserter.

"Edelgard, are you alright?" Lysithea asked with concern over the wellbeing of the Emperor, seeing her so despondent as she thought of the ongoing conflict that she began.

It frustrated Edelgard that since Garreg Mach fell, not everything went according to plan. Was she this incapable of doing her reunification of Fodlan into one unified country? To end the Church of Seiros' long and tight grip?

It's like Professor's Byleth fall was the end of the momentum they had achieved, slipping away with Byleth. The increasing costs of the war, financially and the lives of her people were also weighing down on her despite having resolved she won't stop no matter how much blood flows down at her feet.

Despite being with Lysithea, one of the very few who she allowed to casually address her without her Imperial title, Edelgard could find very little comfort with her at the moment with the increasing pressure mounting on her shoulders as well as the headaches she has been experiencing so far, most likely brought by exhaustion.

"Don't fret over me, I'll be fine." Edelgard said with unintentional coldness in her voice, startling Lysithea.

The young Emperor realized her mistake almost immediately as the words left her mouth, she cursed herself for such a blunder and deeply sighed.

"I'm sorry." Edelgard quietly apologized but avoided eye contact with her friend who just regarded her with a more concerned look.

Lysithea knew better than to pursue the topic further with Edelgard at this state, last time when someone asked her how she was doing in her exhausted state and further tried to push her to rest, she ended up dismissing in a barely restrained fit of anger, the unlucky recipient being Hubert.

Instead, she wanted to lighten up the mood, to steer away from the stress of the war if she could.

"My father sent me a letter today." Lysithea began.

Edelgard slightly tilted lavender her eyes up from her meal to take a glimpse of Lysithea. "Oh?"

"Well, he was asking me if I was fine. You know, the usual things a father would ask from his child…"

Edelgard's grip on her knife and fork tightened unbeknownst to Lysithea.

"Father wanted to know when…"

Lysithea was interrupted when Edelgard suddenly coughed out violently, her hands tightly gripping on the utensils as her entire body convulsed, alarming Lysithea as she stood up from her chair and rushed to Edelgard's side who had fallen to the floor beside her chair.

Once she arrived by Edelgard's side, the young Emperor started making violet retching sounds as if she was trying hard to prevent what was about to come out from her mouth to no avail.

"Edelgard?! Edelgard?!" Lysithea called out in distress as she placed her hands on one of Edelgard's shoulders and her back, rubbing her back in a desperate effort to alleviate whatever pain Edelgard was feeling.

Lysithea feared Edelgard must have been poisoned due to how sudden her reaction was while eating a meal until such thoughts ceased when Edelgard suddenly vomited quantities of bile mixed with blood much to Lysithea's horror.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Lysithea screamed out for the guards and servants waiting outside the huge dining hall as she began casting healing magic for Edelgard in a desperate effort to heal any kind of damage she must have suffered.

As the guards and servants went inside the room in an urgent manner, they looked alarmed at how the Emperor was looking down at the puddle of vomit and blood, their proud ruler looking broken as she tried to catch her breath from the ordeal she went through, steadily recovering as she gasped for air.

"Call for the physicians! You! Help me carry Her Majesty to the-" One of the guards said as he moved to aid his Emperor.

"N-No." Edelgard said as she struggled to compose herself. Standing up while using the table to support herself up and taking Lysithea's hand to aid her.

"But Edelgard-"

"Your Majesty-"

"This isn't the first time this happened." Edelgard said in a more clear tone as her breathing became more stable though she still felt dizzy from her ordeal. "The physicians already checked on me previously, there is nothing they can do…"

"But-"

"It's just exhaustion." Edelgard said, forcing a tired smile to Lysithea before she groggily walked out of the dining hall as the guards followed her from behind, still alarmed to see the Emperor in such a state and wanting to safeguard her safety.

Lysithea watched Edelgard depart through the open door before turning back on what Edelgard vomited. Normally, such things would repulse her but her anxiety overwrote such a feeling.

She couldn't help but feel more distressed about what just happened to Edelgard all of a sudden, it almost seemed like poison but her earlier statement that it wasn't the first time it happened somehow relieved her that it wasn't poison yet at the same time bothered her.

Not to mention, what Edelgard went through was something eerily familiar for Lysithea. The sudden convulsions, the painful coughing and then the vomiting of blood.

For she also had experienced a similar affliction, only for her… it was much worse.

---

Lysithea returned to her chambers within the Palace of Enbarr, a room that Edelgard had refurbished for her after Lysithea settled in Enbarr following Garreg Mach's fall.

It was quite a large room, much larger than what she was accustomed to back in the Ordelia Mansion with a color theme of black and purple with hints of gold, a room that was too big for one person.

Except she wasn't alone as Hresvelgion meowed after noticing her arrival followed by a series of different meows from underneath her bed.

Five kittens of different fur color and patterns emerged from her bed, some where wholly white and black much like their parents while one was the only one that had a color and pattern of black and white.

The kittens were all that remained of Ordelian, his sons and daughters with Hresvelgion Whisker, his legacy before his passing.

"Hello everyone." Lysithea listlessly greeted them, the event earlier was still fresh in her mind.

Lysithea then made a move to her bed and threw herself on it face first, her head buried on the sheets for brief moments before turning herself as Ordelian and Hresvelgion's litter of kittens jumped or climbed up to the bed and positioned themselves around their owner.

One particular kitten, the one who bore both colors of his parents, climbed up to her chest and stared down at her with curious blue eyes.

"Letho." Lysithea called out his name, out of all the kittens Ordelian left behind, Letho was her favorite for his blue eyes and his stoic personality reminded her not of Ordelian or Hresvelgion but of Byleth.

Letho merely purred before leaving Lysithea to join in with his more playful siblings before Lysithea could even pet him. Such behavior reminded Lysithea of how Ordelian was like when he was just recently gifted to her by her parents as someone to keep her company after the tragedy that befell her siblings, it would take a while before Letho completely warms up to her.

Groaning, Lysithea sat up once again, her mind wandering on what just happened to Edelgard earlier.

The grisly scene of the Emperor vomiting blood and just attempting to brush it off… it all felt wrong for Lysithea, she wanted to press Edelgard for answers now but she knew that wasn't wise and she should let the Emperor recover, noting her disposition earlier and now compounded with her condition.

With another sigh, Lysithea got out of bed and approached the sheathed sword that laid on her table, beside it was a memento, an object of both practical and sentimental value for her, the tactics book that Byleth gave to her on the day of her birthday, days before the fateful day everything changed.

She gave the book a bittersweet smile, remembering her fondness of it and the person who gave it to her but it also reminded her of the loss of such a person, a person she had grown to love… and grieved for.

Not wanting to linger on into the memories that bring joy as equally as pain, if not more so, Lysithea took the sheathed sword from the table and left her room.

---

She swung her sword to the side with her right hand before placing both hands on the handle and spun around to deliver another slash to the air, placing every force she had with the momentum of her movements.

Lysithea then raised her sword above her head as it glowed with dark purple energy, the aura of dark magic before slicing the air with the dark magic infused sword, leaving trails of the dark energy as she waved it away.

Soulblade… a weapon art that she had discovered thanks to Dorothea's training of her.

Lysithea using a sword was something she never thought was possible, finding herself too physically fragile to engage in close combat until Edelgard asked her to learn its ways so that she could learn how to defend herself when the enemy comes close.

She protested it at first, citing her weak physical strength but Edelgard expected such response and it was there that she presented Dorothea to help her channel her magical power into the sword she carries to help her wield it and empower it to cut down anything even greater than what a normal blade could do.

Lysithea was surprised at Dorothea's graceful skill with a blade, what it lacked in power, it compensated with agile movement and the application of magic in it. Despite Lysithea's misgivings on the matter, Dorothea awed her with the use of Hexblade, the combat art that she used to channel her magical power into the blade, enchanting it with magic of various elements and making it efficient in cutting through metal.

While Lysithea knew Reasoning magic and its use of elemental magic such as fire, ice, wind and lightning, her knowledge of such pales in comparison to that of dark magic.

Applying the same logic of utilizing Hexblade, Ordelia created a variation of Hexblade that uses the power of dark magic clouding it, it's capabilities as potent as Hexblade with its own unique properties that matches the profile of what dark magic can do.

Despite being proficient in using Soulblade, Lysithea still felt lacking in her movements while wielding a sword, Edelgard had previously sparred with her at one point and criticized her clunky movements which ended with Edelgard declaring Lysithea would most certainly lose her life in battle if she was deployed into the front lines of war.

The sparring ended just as it began, even while using the power of the Soulblade in her sword, Edelgard effortlessly disarmed with nothing but pure skill to prove her point of Lysithea's lack of skill.

Ever since Dorothea comes to train her when the former isn't occupied, Lysithea would be noted to be steadily improving with the handling of a sword. This further motivated her to continue training besides studying to improve her magic.

In the past, physically straining activities would immediately wear her down but thanks to the professor for conditioning her body with the stamina needed to persist longer, she was able to afford spending hours upon hours of physical activities before her body gave up for the day.

Feeling her heart racing accompanied by her pants for air, Lysithea went to one of the wooden benches in the training courtyard of Enbarr's palace for use only by the Imperial family or those given permission by them in which case, Lysithea and Dorothea.

Her training clothes, consisting of a simple black shirt and white pants were soaked with sweat as she cooled down her body by drinking water from her waterskin, feeling a sense of relief as it washed down her throat and distributed in the inner mechanisms of her body to replenish her stamina.

She undid the ponytail she tied behind her head, letting her snow white hair loose as she looked up at the afternoon sky. It was clear and blue, one person wouldn't think there was a war happening around if they were to just judge the sky's condition.

It felt peaceful but it also made her heart wrench at the memory of when the skies were always clear and blue back in Garreg Mach, the sweet smell of morning grass as she goes to class, the casual chatter between her classmates and friends, and finally, the class silencing themselves as Professor Byleth comes in to begin.

Such days felt forlorn to be repeated again and will never be even if they, the Empire wins this war. She knew her remaining years can be counted on one hand by now and she had bitterly accepted such a fate.

A fate she had consigned herself to despite Byleth's vow to her to find a way, a cure, hope… Now, merely a vow unfulfilled that will remain as such.

Heaving a sigh after her quickened breathing had stabilized, Lysithea reached in for the folded letter in her pockets, a letter from her parents back in Ordelia lands.

This wasn't the first time she read this letter, she had read it earlier before she went out to visit Ordelian's grave. She had frequently exchanged letters with her parents on a weekly basis, she wished it was more frequent but doing so would threaten the ruse that she and Edelgard had established.

The ruse being that Lysithea was being held as a political hostage by the Adrestian Empire and that she was coerced to participate in the Siege of Garreg Mach and then taken hostage from her home, as a result, House Ordelia is left unable to retaliate in any form lest their heir's life forfeited.

It was a ruse that Edelgard suggested which Lysithea had protested out of concern for Edelgard's reputation but the Emperor merely told her that Edelgard's reputation was already stained since she instigated the war or she would prefer to call a revolution against the Church. This ruse was meant to prevent House Ordelia from receiving any form of ramifications by other lords of the Alliance as Lysithea aided Edelgard in her endeavor as long as the ruse was maintained.

Of course, her parents disapproved of the choice she had made upon her return to House Ordelia after Edelgard allowed her to come home to inform Count and Countess Ordelia of what she intended to do before she was taken 'hostage' by agents of the Empire that were assigned to perform the act.

"Why? After all the Empire did to our house? Your siblings? Your cousins? Why would you side with them?"

Her father's outraged questions rang within her mind, her mother was silent but her expression bore great disapproval for Lysithea's decision.

"Edelgard had nothing to do for what happened to our house, father. Despite her flaws, she's genuine about her goals and a person that I admired and believed in also believed in her. That is enough for me, I believe that her vision of the future is truly the right way for us to move forward."

Lysithea explained yet her father wasn't convinced mainly due to his concern of the possible blowback of Lysithea's decision until Lysithea revealed the ruse that she and Edelgard had planned out. A plan that was again met by great disapproval from her parents yet Lysithea was deterred, she made a vow towards her professor that she would be there to steer Edelgard to the right path in case he was absent, to set her straight again and such a vow wasn't something she can easily forsake.

It hurt Lysithea to part with her parents in such sour terms afterwards and she had feared that they would disown her for her decision, she was thankful such thing never came to pass when she received her first letter from them sent via pigeon given by the Empire to her parents as their means of sending missives.

It has been three years since they began this ruse and like Edelgard, this war was beginning to take its toll in Lysithea as they have never made any major strides to get to their goal. Edelgard's refusal to allow her to be deployed in the front lines had also caused great tension between them, Lysithea felt Edelgard was holding her back and lessening her contribution due to her overbearing concern for her, a sentiment she doesn't welcome from the Emperor.

"I wanted to fight for you, Edelgard. Not to be cooped up with you in this palace, doing nothing but making plans despite not being on the field to see it for myself!"

Her patience ran thin one day and while Edelgard didn't raise her voice like she did, she was adamant with keeping her in the palace, something that insulted Lysithea because she truly felt like a hostage in Enbarr due to Edelgard's order for her to stay cooped in the palace and simply study or train for a war she hasn't taken part in since Garreg Mach.

What was she even fighting for anyway? What can she do if she just remained in the palace while her friends and former classmates were out there fighting?

"I figured I would see you here." A cold voice that seems to hit to shudder anyone not used to it spoke from behind her.

Lysithea glanced behind her to meet Edelgard's right hand man, Hubert looking down at her with a cold calculating gaze fixated upon her.

Among all of the Black Eagles, Hubert, besides Linhardt was the one Lysithea couldn't find herself getting along with, the others had their own quirks but they more than made up for it with other aspects of their personality… but Hubert? Something in him, bothers her yet she refuses to feel intimidated by him like most others does.

"What do you want?" Lysithea dryly asked him, she could feel that ever since her induction into the Black Eagles, she felt Hubert's judgemental and suspicious look casted upon her as if measuring her every move whenever she was with Edelgard.

Hubert scoffed in amusement at the veiled hostility the young snow haired woman was showing him.

"First off, I would want to thank you for calling for aid when Her Majesty felt sick…"

Lysithea blinked, did she hear him right? Did he actually thank someone outside of Edelgard?

"I wasn't there for Her Majesty due to a task she had me do and so, it fell to you to make the call." Hubert explained his absence from earlier.

Still, Lysithea could feel there was something more than just this cold and taciturn man suggests.

"You didn't come here just to thank me, didn't you?"

Hubert stifled a short smirk. "Observant as always, that keen observation you have-"

"Stop patronizing me."

"Very well." Hubert shrugged, his amused smirk never faltering much to Lysithea's chagrin. "The Emperor wants you to join her later for the war council."

This changed Lysithea's disposition. "Later? Shouldn't Edelgard be resting?" She asked in concern, remembering the grisly memory earlier.

Lysithea didn't know if her eyes were deceiving but she could see Hubert's expression soften and look saddened when Lysithea mentioned Edelgard's need to rest.

"As much as many try to advise Her Majesty on such matters, the war council cannot be postponed as all participants are scheduled to arrive later. It starts within two hours." Hubert said in finality and gave Lysithea a bow before leaving her.

Leaving Lysithea to sigh at Edelgard's stubbornness to push through with matters at the cost of her personal health.

---

Edelgard had her right hand's fingers massaging her forehead's temples as the various generals and lords on the table within the council room argued. The room was more than big enough to fit a long and wide table, Hubert stood behind Edelgard while the others had their own loyal aides standing behind their tall chairs. Lysithea was seated beside Edelgard who was at the center of the upper end of the table, in the middle of the table was a map of Fodlan and several pieces depicting various troops and their factions scattered around it.

"We cannot win this war by attrition alone!"

The Emperor sighed, feeling an intense headache to occur as the bickering continued.

"If we did try to use overwhelming force at the cost of our soldiers' lives then we will risk being invaded by Almyra if we did succeed in our conquest!"

Edelgard began tapping her left hand's fingers on the table as she listened on.

"Then what do you suggest we do then? Let the forces of the Kingdom and the Church whittle us away slowly?!"

Then finally, Edelgard curled her left hand into a fist and slammed it on the table strong enough that the sound vibrated all over the large room and made some pieces on the war table in the middle lose their balance.

"Your Majesty…" One of the generals who took part of the heated argument muttered weakly, a far cry of his strong and fiery voice earlier.

Edelgard finally opened her lavender eyes as the room went silent and everyone regarded her with silence, all of them cowed at the authority and the unreadable expression she had as she eyed them one by one.

"We did not gather here to fight among ourselves when we have a war to fight outside these walls." Edelgard sternly reminded them, despite a solemn yet unreadable look upon her face, the tone and the presence she was exuding was one that cowed most of them within the room.

Placing her elbows on the table and clasping her hands, she eyed one of the few women who was within the room.

"Ladislava, what is the situation in Garreg Mach?" Edelgard asked the woman with brown hair, pink eyes and a battle hardened look. The woman wore a set of plate armor that were reserved for someone in command of the wyvern platoons in the Imperial Army.

The woman gave Edelgard a nod before speaking from her chair as the other lords and generals looked at her.

"Our grip in Garreg Mach is still strong since it's fall to us but the harassment the garrison has experienced there, no thanks to the guerilla tactics employed by either the Church of Seiros or the Kingdom has been causing discontent among the men, all of this I have submitted in my report prior and nothing has changed for the better." Ladislava explained as the others discussed among themselves before promptly shutting up when Edelgard spoke.

"Casualties?"

"Only a few, Your Majesty."

"Then, I shall provide you a platoon of the best trackers and assassins led by someone I know that has recently finished her diplomatic mission to Brigid."

Everyone especially Lysithea knew who Edelgard referred to: Petra.

"Her role is to track and destroy any location that our enemies use to retreat to, considering the distance between Arianrhod and Garreg Mach. I expect her to return to Enbarr once those problems are rooted out."

Ladislava's hardened expression showed a hint of gratitude for Edelgard's decision and promptly nodded in thanks.

Edelgard then eyed the man who bore the same blue hair color of her classmate, this was Count Bergliez and the father of Caspar. A seasoned general who had succeeded in repelling the forces of Brigid when they tried to invade the Empire years ago.

"How is the effort to push through Charon lands, Count Bergliez?"

The count with a scar on his left cheek nodded to acknowledge his Emperor's inquiry.

"Remarkably well, we have succeeded in gaining a foothold in Charon lands but I must be honest with my fear concerning the neighboring lands of Galatea, they are in the position to send reinforcements if we push too deep."

"And as such, you feel that it is better to establish a stronghold to keep an eye and bar any armies from the Kingdom and Church from marching into Garreg Mach?"

Count Bergliez agreed with Edelgard's observation. "Yes, Your Majesty although there is more I must inform you."

Edelgard gestured her right hand forward for him to continue.

"I have received reports of supposed caravans hailing from Daphnel lands that bear supplies, meeting up with forces from House Charon within the Valley of Torment."

This sent shockwaves among the rest of the participants in the room with one of the nobles standing up from his seat and screaming, outraged.

"If such things are true then House Daphnel and by extension, the Leicester Alliance is covertly aiding our enemies despite their claim of 'neutrality'!"

"We're all aware such claims were a sham but to think they would resort to the same thing House Ordelia did-"

"Silence." Edelgard ordered after she saw Lysithea flinch at the near mention of what happened to her house many years ago.

"Even with evidence and probable cause, we cannot avoid open war with the Leicester Alliance." Edelgard started with a hint of frustration, she couldn't help but feel like this was part of Claude's schemes when he declared the Alliance's neutrality in the midst of the political chaos he brought about within the Alliance after he succeeded Duke Riegan.

"But Your Majesty, if we take this affront unanswered, we would look-"

"I am aware." Edelgard interrupted with a slightly raised voice. "But doing so will leave Garreg Mach Monastery more vulnerable, the only reason why our troops from the Adrestia region can cross over is because of the use of small boats and ships to cross the Airmid River and such process is timely and costly, we do not have enough resources. We are far too stretched thin as it is."

Ferdinand, who was one of the participants of the discussion nodded in affirmation.

"That is correct, to antagonize the Alliance would also make us susceptible to a three-pronged assault from the Kingdom, Church and the Alliance, we are already struggling as it is against the former two, we cannot afford to combat a third one." Ferdinand reasoned but this didn't help to pacify those seeking retribution against the Alliance.

"But they already are provoking us!"

"The Alliance is not to be meddled with until I say so." Edelgard decided in finality, earning groans from the lords who wanted to take action against the Alliance's meddling.

Lysithea could only sigh inwardly at the situation and she felt useless for the most part despite the Great Bridge of Myrddin falling under the jurisdiction of House Ordelia, the lords of the Alliance had effectively wrestled control of it to secure it from her father's control, they are unwilling to risk Count Ordelia from opening it for the Imperial Army to pass through without any resistance and thus gain a foothold in Alliance territory.

"Your Majesty, there's also the matter of us losing whatever hold we have of Gaspard lands."

This was the most pressing matter that everyone dreaded to speak about but also needed to for it bore great importance if the reports they received were to be believed.

"It is the only front that keeps the armies of the Kingdom of Faerghus from directly stepping into the northern Empire. We must reinforce it."

Count Bergliez nodded in support. "I must agree, if our hold on Gaspard lands is lost then the campaign against House Charon will undoubtedly fall as a result, Garreg Mach will be open for invasion from the Church and the Kingdom."

"If we send more men to reinforce Gaspard lands then we won't have enough to repel the Kingdom and the Church that took control of the Brionac Plateau! And if reports are to be believed, King Dimitri himself led the charge!"

Edelgard scrunch her brows and her teeth gritted at the mention of Dimitri's participation in the battle, she too did not expect news of Dimitri entering the front lines. She knew how powerful the king was, she had sparred with him on many occasions and in those times, he had been holding back against her out of courtesy yet she too had difficulty fighting him even at his restrained state.

"They said the moment he arrived on the battlefield, he swept through his enemies like a raging tempest, leaving nothing but death and devastation at his wake." One of the generals said, having heard of the stories that came to being after Dimitri's victory in breaching the defenses in the Brionac Plateau, he had instilled fear among the Imperial army that they had retreated as their general died by Dimitri's hands with no effort at all.

"But if we don't send another army into Gaspard lands, the north would be open!"

The sound of someone purposely clearing their throat brought silence upon the whole room once again, it was not by the Emperor's lips but from someone closely related to her, the only man that she had left for family and from his side of the family Edelgard inherited such lavender eyes.

"You all speak as if my house, my lands and my people are not in danger from the threat of the Kingdom's army on the Brionac Plateau." Lord Volkhard Arundel spoke as his voice and his gaze alone commanded such authority similar to Edelgard's own as he sat on the side of the table opposite Edelgard's position.

"We... do not mean any offense Lord Arundel..." One of the generals who argued with the others earlier meekly spoke as he felt a heavy grip in his soul as Arundel's eyes briefly looked into his own.

"With our hold on Gaspard falling and the northwestern part of our Empire in enemy hands, my lands will be the first to fall victim into the enemy's forces before they march south to Hevring." Arundel spoke while looking at the huge map of Fodlan in the middle of the table, all eyes also went to take a look.

Edelgard was silent as Lysithea noticed the cold stare she was giving off to her uncle, bereft of any form of familial love despite their relationship as uncle and niece.

"If Hevring falls, they will have access to the ports of Hevring for safe passage and a stronghold of their naval forces."

Count Hevring, Linhardt's father who shared his son's hair color although grayed out due to age, agreed.

"The Kingdom and the Church will then be free to attack from both land and sea if they take the ports, they will then have the position to attack Fort Merceus from both sides, cutting the fort off from receiving any supplies to maintain it before they make way here, to Enbarr." Count Hevring assessed.

"They can also march through the Ogma Mountains and assault Garreg Mach after passing through Varley and Hrym to cross the Airmid River- and if our suspicion is correct on the collaboration of the Alliance and Kingdom, they will pass through the Great Bridge of Myrddin and assault Garreg Mach from the south while an army passing through Charon will attack the north." Arundel finished as the lords and generals quietly discussed the hypothetical results should they fail to hold their defenses.

"Add that to the possibility that the Alliance can turn on us at their leisure, I believe they will only show their hand if they think open war will guarantee their victory with the Church and Kingdom." Count Bergliez added which did little to ease the feelings of the others attending the meeting.

Ferdinand closed his eyes at the grim reality of their situation. "The odds are stacked against us." He said with a rare case of hopelessness when he was usually one of the more optimistic people in his class, this is one of the moments that he did not desire glory or getting an edge on Edelgard.

Arundel cleared his throat once again to gain their attention.

"The Empire will then be surrounded should that come to pass." Arundel grimly said before coming forth with something.

"I may have a solution to help turn the tide of this war in our favor."

All eyes went on him, pondering what he had to suggest to change the tumultuous direction of the war yet Edelgard and Hubert gave him a look of suspicion which barely masked their contempt.

Lysithea herself felt uneasy at the mere presence of Arundel, as if there was something within the man that disturbs her despite rarely seeing him ever since her arrival in Enbarr.

Arundel clasped his hands together, placing them calmly on the table.

"The experiments regarding the creation of Demonic Beasts have been perfected." Arundel said as the reactions of the various participants of the meeting varied.

"With a small margin for failure, we can deploy the Demonic Beasts en masse, each of these carries the strength of fifty men and if we use them, they will change the tides of the war into our favor." Arundel continued as many voiced varying opinions while Edelgard and Hubert retained their glare at him.

Among the varying opinions were of Ferdinand's who was obviously voicing his displeasure at such a drastic form of action.

"But such a thing is unethical! We are aware of how those monsters come to be! What poor souls did you subject those inhuman experiments for?!" Ferdinand demanded which was followed by voices of support from some of the lords and generals which included Ladislava and Count Hevring.

"As far as I remember, we are at war and as much as I hate to admit it… desperate times call for desperate measures." Count Bergliez responded in defense to Arundel's proposal. "We cannot hope to win this war if we are heavily shackled by ethics that only serves to hold our armies down.

Count Hevring countered back at Count Bergliez while at the same time, insulted him for his lack of moral compass, accusing him of something which served to enrage the hawkish lord as arguing filled the room once again.

"To answer Duke Aegir's question," Arundel calmly began, silencing the whole room. "The 'poor souls' that he decides to take pity with are prisoners of war, what better to use defeated soldiers of our enemies for such purpose? They have no use… no value to us and they only drain our food stores as they waste away in the dungeons."

"But-"

"With the magic we have perfected to fully subjugating such monsters, we will have no trouble controlling them if that is one concern-"

A hand slammed on the table, alerting everyone to the direction of the north but it was not from the Emperor as they thought but it was from her ward, Lysithea.

"Absolutely not!" Lysithea spoke out in a mix of shock and anger to the fact that these nobles were willing to even consider such measures bereft of any moral code. "You can't be seriously considering using monsters born from unwilling subjects?!"

Most of the lords glared at her, their glares were like daggers pointed at her yet the Ordelia heiress didn't falter as her glare focused more on Arundel who simply looked at her with irritation.

"I do not recall that a ward of the Empire is allowed to speak her mind and address me as such." Arundel began. "You are merely her due to the grace of Her Majesty but that does not give you the right to speak and interrupt delicate matters such as this."

"Such insolence."

"Why is she even here?"

"Isn't she the daughter of Count Ordelia? The one the Empire gave a lesson for meddling into the Hrym rebellion?"

Lysithea gritted her teeth, she was standing by now, her hands curled into fists as she barely tried to restrain her indignation at what she just heard.

Count Bergliez maintained his glare at Lysithea. "You will silence your tongue, young lady." Caspar's father spoke and it was at that brief moment of knowing him that Lysithea saw how his son was fortunate not to have inherited anything from him.

"Speak out of turn in this council once more and I will have you thrown to the dungeons."

"You will do no such thing." The entire room went silent at the sound of Edelgard's stern voice in response to the Count of Bergliez's threat.

"But Your Majesty-"

"You and your forces owe their lives due to her strategies that she had presented. If it weren't for her efforts here in Enbarr, you wouldn't be participating in this meeting." Edelgard harshly said as her lavender eyes narrowed in her glare towards each and everyone who spoke against Lysithea.

"As a matter of fact, many of you owe your lives to her." Edelgard pointed out with contempt. "And that is why she has a right to attend this council and speak her mind whether you approve or disapprove."

"But Your Majesty-"

"I have spoken. Do not make me repeat myself, Count Bergliez." Edelgard coldly said, effectively intimidating the count who was renowned for his valor and numerous victories against Brigid.

This brought those who expressed their vexation towards Lysithea silence as soon as they saw how Edelgard brought the renowned Count Bergliez under heel, all except for Arundel. Edelgard setting an example of how she easily removed Duke Aegir from power, Marquis Vestra's mysterious death and the purging of various corrupt nobles who had committed atrocities to their own people's welfare, they had every right to fear the Emperor and her meteoric rise to power, she had effectively sent them a message that she would not be like her father, Ionius IX that they easily reduced to a puppet.

"That does not affect what decision we must choose for the Demonic Beasts to help our efforts in this war." Arundel said, undeterred as he leaned his back on his seat. "Now is not the time to be shackled by mere ethics when the very existence of our nation and ideals is at risk."

"I must concur with the Emperor's ward." Linhardt's father spoke in defiance to Arundel's plan. "We will be perceived as nothing more than monsters hiding behind human flesh if we can continue to present such dishonor even to our enemies. If we are to reunify Fodlan under one Empire, we cannot forget the founding principles that established the Empire to what it is today."

Arundel scoffed. "Founding principles that were used to manipulate the first Adrestian Emperor by that monster, Seiros, to use as a leash to control humanity. It is that very same monster we are fighting against, what good is there in using the values she used to manipulate our kind for so long?"

The room fell silent for a brief time as they thought of how long has Seiros manipulated the populace of Fodlan as the Archbishop Rhea following Edelgard's revelation of their identities as one, it was a blow that sent shockwaves throughout Fodlan to find out about such duplicity.

"I agree with Count Hevring, despite Seiros using such principles to use Wilhelm to forge the Empire under her guidance, we cannot ignore the good that such values have shown for our people throughout the years whether it is her doing or not, we cannot deny that it is the proper code of ethics everyone must follow." Ferdinand reasoned with in support of Count Hevring.

As more and more discussions continued on the nature of Arundel's proposal, Edelgard was in deep thought as to how to proceed with the war. She cursed herself for overestimating the strength of the Empire against the other nations and she couldn't help but feel so weak without the guidance of Byleth after all these years, she missed him terribly for both his counsel, his power and the emotional strength he had provided her. Despite the evidence laid out that discourages his status of being alive, a part of her wishes he was still out there and wanted to keep believing it despite the pain such futile belief gives her.

But whether or not she believes he was still out there or not is irrelevant for now, as Emperor of Adrestia, she needed to make the hard decisions here and while she prefers to take the idealistic approach, she must balance it out by being pragmatic enough to consider the practicality of the situation at hand.

"Lord Arundel." Edelgard began as everyone held their tongue at bay when Edelgard addressed her uncle formally with the intent to declare her decision.

"See to it that the deployment of the Demonic Beasts are prepared for the counter attack to reclaim the Brionac Plateau from the Kingdom's hold." Edelgard declared, sending shockwaves that bore varying reactions from the people in attendance.

Count Hevring sighed in defeat, knowing he cannot do anything and acquiesce to his Emperor's decision. Ferdinand tried to protest but was urged by Count Hevring to stand down. Lysithea looked pained at Edelgard's decision to resort to such methods.

"This decision is not easy but we need to have the strength to carry on with hard decisions in order to win this war." Edelgard said as she felt a form of hatred within herself as she resorted to such a decision.

"Lord Arundel will lead the fight against the combined army of the Kingdom and the Church to reclaim the Brionac Plateau. Once the Plateau is reclaimed, half of the forces will be sent to reinforce the stronghold we have established in Gaspard." Edelgard then turned to Count Bergliez. "I would want you to remain on standby in Charon lands and act if either forces from Charon or Gaspard are attacking, in the event that simultaneous attacks occurs, prioritize Gaspard."

Receiving a bow from Count Bergliez, Edelgard stood up from her seat, all others mirrored her except for Lysithea who only bore the same look she had when Edelgard made a decision she deemed horrible.

"The council is adjourned, orders will be sent out soon. For the Empire." Edelgard said in finality.

"For the Empire!" Everyone except for Lysithea repeated, some of them meekly did so due to being dismayed over the drastic decision.

---

Edelgard knew the decision she made was not an easy one and she wasn't a fool to believe that everyone in that war council accepts it, she expected Ferdinand would disagree with it as he always does but not out of pettiness of being better than her but based more on the ideals he had set as a standard for nobles to follow.

Lysithea, on the other hand, is making sure her grievances are heard as she argued with Hubert outside the door to her room after she had entered it to rest for the entire day.

"Her Majesty is resting, you yourself know what she had to go through today after witnessing it firsthand." Hubert's voice spoke.

"I don't care." Lysithea responded. "She needs to hear this from me otherwise I'll-"

"Turn your back on her after all she has done to safeguard you? The steps she took to sacrifice her own reputation to cover for you?"

"Gratitude does not equal blind subservience to what she's doing, Hubert. Don't compare me to you."

The Emperor still wasn't feeling well from earlier coupled with the stress she had to endure receiving nothing but bad news with nothing to compensate for it. Yet, she knew she needed to settle this with Lysithea, she knows how stubborn her friend is and in these past few years has welcomed her counsel (which had saved lives with her strategies) and was the one she had talked to relieve her mind even for a bit.

Just as Hubert and Lysithea renewed their argument, they heard the lock within Edelgard's door click open and the door opened slightly, Edelgard's tired eye looking at both of them.

"Come in." Edelgard dryly said before leaving them to open the door to let themselves in.

Lysithea entered first, sharing a glare with Hubert as she went in before shifting the glare towards Edelgard who had her back turned at her as she looked outside of the window from her room to oversee the city of Enbarr as a whole.

"Not you, Hubert." Edelgard said without turning her back to see Hubert who had just stepped foot in her room. "You are dismissed for the day."

Hubert didn't react and merely bowed in obedience to Edelgard's wishes, he snuck a quick glance to Lysithea who had her eyes glued on Edelgard's back before taking his leave, gently closing the door behind him.

The two women of different strands of white hair were left alone within the room, a tense atmosphere building up between them, an atmosphere that was in danger of blowing up at any moment.

Edelgard had readied herself for this confrontation ever since she made the decision, she knew very well she would anger Lysithea for her willingness to use unethical methods to create more Demonic Beasts even though she had assured her and the Black Eagles years earlier that she won't resort to them anymore.

This wasn't their first argument, they had disagreed over many things in the past such as Edelgard's refusal to allow Lysithea to join the battlefield citing the complication of their situation, that if she were seen fighting out in the open, it would jeopardize the ruse they had created to safeguard House Ordelia from any reprisal.

Lysithea was willing to agree with Edelgard's argument over that, she was even willing to give Edelgard leeway when the Emperor revealed to her and the Black Eagle Strike Force about her affiliation to the group that had been orchestrating attacks on the Church during their days in the Academy, while some were shocked and outraged over it for some time, they came to accept it when they discovered that Byleth knew and still decided to place his trust in Edelgard as well as them thinking that her path is the right way for the good of all.

It took time for Lysithea to live through that fact despite being promised justice by Edelgard for what was done to her and her family as well as the grief they had caused Byleth for Jeralt's death which Edelgard had assured her that she had nothing to do with it and it was merely by Kronya's impulsive act that caused Jeralt's untimely demise.

She was already teetering on the edge of her trust and patience with Edelgard until earlier when Edelgard turned back on her word and permitted the deployment of Demonic Beasts into battle.

Lysithea wanted Edelgard to see the error of her ways, to make her see that this would only worsen the perception of the battle to her and also because, she made a vow towards the professor that she would be the one to set Edelgard straight in her path during his absence and that is what she plans to do today.

All because of a promise she made as well as the duty that she mandated to herself, the duty of a friend.

And she was going to beat it into Edelgard's head.

"You went back on your word."

It was a brief but cold and straightforward accusation.

Edelgard didn't move and just looked outside the window.

"I did." She didn't even bother to deny nor insert a reason to justify it.

"Why?"

"You already know why."

That dismissive way of talking felt like it pinched Lysithea's ever lessening patience.

"Do you know what this would mean to everyone who believes in you? Our friends who you also swore to?"

She was just still as she stood.

"They will have to accept it whether they like it or not."

She didn't mean that, in fact, she hated herself for allowing her mouth to run off like that. Unlike the majority of the nobles or people of military command, she genuinely viewed the Black Eagle Strike Force as friends, not subjects she could merely command like anyone else. It made her sound so uncaring, cold and distant.

"Just like that? That's your reason?"

Edelgard clenched her fists tightly at her side and with a sigh of exasperation, she snappily turned around to face a seething Lysithea, their distance closer than what she anticipated.

"And what would you have me do in our situation?" Edelgard questioned her, tints of frustration in her eyes as she locked it with Lysithea's.

"Find a better way, there must always be another way rather than just… that…"

"And if there isn't and our need is dire?" Edelgard added in. "Lysithea, I understand what you and the others tried to point out but if you have been listening earlier, we ARE losing this war. This stalemate is beginning to turn into a situation that's against our favor."

"But sacrificing unwilling lives to be turned to those… monstrosities? Is that how far you're willing to let yourself sink to?" Lysithea questioned, her voice getting higher.

"We cannot just base our decisions by lofty ideals and ethics alone, compromises must be made when the situation demands it and right now, I have no choice…" Edelgard said as she felt more and more tense at the growing argument between her and Lysithea.

"Such is the burden of leadership, I must do what is best for my people even if I would be seen as a monster to others." The Emperor added.

"Others who you plan to rule over if we win this war, those others you speak of that lives in Fodlan will never accept you as the ruler of Fodlan if you went about this path! They already have their own grievances at you for instigating this from the beginning! What more if you allowed these atrocities to continue?!" Lysithea argued back with bared anger.

"What is ideal is far from what is the reality we live in, Lysithea. Sentiments, beliefs and morals… all are meaningless when the reality of the situation is overwhelming-"

"Then the ideals that you based your decision on starting this war..." Lysithea interjected. "Are they nothing to you now? The resolve you showed, what drove you to do all these for what you deemed for the greater good of the people of Fodlan… is it all a lie now?!"

Edelgard looked deeply affected by what Lysithea told her, she certainly did not expect such a counter argument from the Ordelia noblewoman.

"That's not- you're twisting my words!" Edelgard exclaimed in denial. "I still fight for the future of Fodlan and what I think is best for its people!"

"Then tell me why are you allowing those people, the very same people who did those atrocities to me and my family do the same thing to prisoners of war?!"

"Because I have no choice left!"

"YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE!" Lysithea yelled out as loudly as she could after seeing how Edelgard won't listen to reason.

"I need them, Lysithea! I need them to win this war otherwise-"

"With what you're doing on these Demonic Beasts... you're no better than the very same people who sacrificed so much of our loved ones just for their sick experiments!" Lysithea accused out of anger had completely taken over her, as if she had been hiding such emotions from the beginning.

Edelgard was stunned at what Lysithea had just said, her hands balled into fists as the very thought of being compared to the likes of Kronya, Solon and their fellow members boiled her blood adding to the fact that she was being lectured for a decision that was the right one in a pragmatic point of view.

"Don't you dare compare me to them…" Edelgard muttered lowly but with escalating indignation.

"It's the truth and you damn well know it!" Lysithea wasn't quite finished yet as her infamous barbed tongue lashed out something that she had been keeping at bay but couldn't quite do it now.

"The professor... Byleth will be ashamed of you if only he was here to see this, how you turned out to be."

If Edelgard wasn't feeling that much angry earlier from how Lysithea compared her to those monsters in pale white skin, she was now. The very thought that Lysithea invoked his name, the name of the person she respected and admired most, to use against her has finally made her run out of patience towards Lysithea's ceaseless reproach.

"Don't you dare invoke his name to use it against me, Lysithea!" Edelgard by now was also shouting as the fuse of her patience had finally reached its end. She may care for Lysithea and well-being to the point of going through great lengths to protect her and her family but this time, she felt she had gone too far.

"Can't I? Or because you can't see that you yourself is turning into the very same people who did this to us! You're so blind and fixated with your own selfish goals to subjugate-"

Edelgard gritted her teeth as she waved her right hand in front of Lysithea as if swatting away the latter's words.

"Selfish now is it? Selfish? I do this for the people of Fodlan and the future generations who would benefit from it! Don't you presume to say that this war was-"

"Or perhaps you are doing this for your self-righteous drivel? That in the end, you are nothing more than just one of those nobles who would do everything to secure your own self-interest!"

While Edelgard had kept her cool, despite the rousing anger she felt towards Lysithea, that had been the final straw, releasing any restraint Edelgard held in both mind and tongue.

"How dare you! Unlike you, I chose to spend what remaining years I have for the people of Fodlan and if it weren't for me, you would waste it on selfishly bettering your parents' lives without regard for-"

The sound of a hard slap across the cheek resounded the entire room, the room that was just now teeming with loud and enraged voices have now gone fully silent.

Edelgard's head was tilted on the right side as her mindly slowly registered what had happened with the stinging sensation of pain on her left cheek being the thing that indicated what Lysithea did to her just now.

She had never been slapped before, not even by her parents nor any of her captors during those dark days of being helpless. She had experienced what it felt like to slap someone but never did she know the feeling of being the recipient of such action.

And for it to be given to her by someone she deemed as one of her closest and most genuine friends she had, it made it more painful for her heart more than the sharp pain on her cheek.

"How dare I...?" Lysithea questioned as she panted for air after delivering such a vicious slap to Edelgard for her remark. "How dare you? I decided to pledge my life to your cause, the plans I have for my parents, delayed just for your own plan's sake so don't you dare tell me I wasted all these years for nothing when I wasted it all on you!" She yelled out as she opened the floodgates of her grievances towards Edelgard.

Edelgard still hasn't moved as her lavender eyes were wide open and stared blankly at the floor.

"I sacrificed friendships, meaningful friendships just so I can fulfill both my promise to the professor and my role as your friend to help you in the future you tried to build!"

An image of Annette's eager smile flashed in her mind, her hopeful requests for Lysithea to tutor her despite Annette's seniority over her age and Annette telling Lysithea to approach if she ever needed something, precious memories that they shared, all of which faded as her last memory of Annette was her departing away from them out of loyalty to her country.

Cyril soon came to mind, the boy who was one of the first few to show kindness and care for her in Garreg Mach, he had helped her over various things and she helped him learn how to read and write, they had their ups and downs but she still viewed him as one of the few she calls her friends. The crushed look he had when she attacked him in a move to send him away to avoid getting killed by Byleth or any of the Imperial soldiers still haunted her whenever she thought about it.

Then, there were those from the Golden Deer, her first batch of classmates that she had grown attached to (minus Lorenz) over the months they were together prior to her admittance in the Black Eagles. Despite Claude's antics and the various quirks of her classmates there, they cared for her even after she left them, now here she is… her existence of being a hostage… a ward to Edelgard, a lie to deceive them and her homeland. Underneath her, she feared the day would come when she would be forced to fight against them.

Finally, there was the one who mattered the most to her and he was perhaps the person who had truly left an impact in her life: Professor Byleth. The person she truly fell in love with, the person who pushed her to be better, showed her proper respect, ever so considerate towards her and lastly, he had the most faith in her. Their mutual respect and fondness for each other, the amount of times they had work together, the smiles they shared and the tender kind words… his fall in Garreg Mach to save the woman before her still haunts her to this day.

"It should have been you." Lysithea spoke out in a low but vitriolic tone.

Edelgard had recovered from her shock by now, looked back at Lysithea, her eyes looking awakened with renewed realization mixed with pain of both physical and emotional towards Lysithea.

The bitter memory of Byleth falling into the chasm that Rhea caused painfully reminded Lysithea of that dark day when Edelgard was saved by Byleth at the cost of his own life.

Briefly closing her eyes, her pinkish red eyes glared towards Edelgard's increasingly hurt and shocked eyes.

"It should have been you who fell that day... Not him." Lysithea spat out with all her anger and hatred towards Edelgard as the words left the tip of her tongue.

Despite just saying such hurtful words, Lysithea immediately regretted what she had just allowed her overflowing emotions to say without any restraint. She felt a tremendous amount of guilt as the words left her mouth and seeing Edelgard's devastated reaction, an emotion rarely shown by the Emperor, further worsened the feeling.

Lysithea felt regret and shame, unable to bear it in front of the person she had just hurt, she swiftly turned around and fled the room, leaving Edelgard alone as she watched Lysithea depart and shut the door close.

Edelgard's legs wobbled as she nearly fell on her knees, her fall being prevented when she used the nearby tea table as a crutch, it could have been because of what happened to her earlier during lunch or what Lysithea harshly told or perhaps both.

Nonetheless, what Lysithea had just told her, shook her to the core of her entire being.

Had she truly gone off her path in her pursuit to emerge victorious in this war? To realize her vision for Fodlan and its people?

Is her desperation to see her goal come to fruition cost what values she once held? Lysithea's words to her that she was beginning to turn into an example of the nobility that she abhorred had made an impact to her resolve in making the difficult decision.

But what hurts most? The mention and the thought of Byleth looking at her with disgust and disapproval for the measures she had done to keep the Empire together, despite her affirming her resolve last time they spoke that she would stop at nothing, the opinions of her friend had begun to shake such resolve.

"My teacher…" Edelgard muttered out weakly with a shaking voice. "How I wish you were here."

Bitter tears fell from her lavender eyes and onto the surface of the table.

Her teacher seemed to always know what the right path was, he knew the answers to almost every solution and she had wished he was still with her.

---

Lysithea ran out of the palace gates as she went towards the streets of Enbarr, leaving behind a trail of tears wherever she passed by.

Not caring who she bumped into or almost ran into, Lysithea's obscured vision due in part from her tears, led her to a beeline for somewhere she could pour out her emotion in isolation and outside of her chambers in the palace.

The skies darkened from the inevitable rainfall to befell the Imperial capital for the entirety of the night as people scrambled to get inside their homes for shelter from the rain and vendor stalls took steps to close down early to avoid their trade from getting soaked by rain.

Finding a gloomy alleyway filled with clutters such as rotted wooden boxes and barrels, going inside and leaning her back on the brick walls of an establishment, Lysithea allowed herself to slip down as the rain began to pour in heavy drops, soaking the city of Enbarr with its cold drops.

Her hot tears mixing in with the cold rain, Lysithea began sobbing out from a mixed array of emotions: anguish, guilt and sadness being prevalent.

She cried as she lamented the current state of her life and the direction it was going, she felt that what she sacrificed was for naught ever since she became Edelgard's ward, she was never allowed to go out and directly help the war effort due to Edelgard's own objection to it.

Her parents that she had left behind and set aside her goal for them to have a peaceful retirement, she had begun harboring thoughts that they will never find their peace away from the tumultuous politics of Fodlan and the aftermath of their suffering. What more with her own realization that what remaining time she had is running out and she was nowhere near to that goal.

Regret, she had begun harboring a semblance of regret for joining Edelgard's crusade after Byleth fell. She had thought what would have been her life instead if she went to the other path of the crossroad that laid before her when she contemplated if she would join her friend and professor.

She was angry, not just to Edelgard but also herself for being unable to steer Edelgard to a better path, for being so powerless to change anything.

Yet, despite all those thoughts…

"Lysithea?"

The sound of that voice she hasn't heard for years interrupted her thoughts as she looked up at a man standing before her.

She didn't know if it was her tears or the rain that obscured her vision but for a moment, she didn't know if the man before him was someone she hasn't seen for a long time now.

"C-Cyril?" Lysithea stuttered as her eyes widened after she cleared her eyes to see the Almyran man before her, he had grown since the last (painful) time she had seen him but those orange eyes of his and the scar on his forehead were unmistakable.

Scrambling to stand up, she felt a sense of relief to see him alive after last they saw each other, she marveled at how he had grown up from looking like a young boy to a man before her.

The same could be said for Cyril who felt happy to see his friend and reading mentor fine and growing up into a fine young woman.

Without another word, Lysithea embraced Cyril, thankful and relieved that he survived the siege of Garreg Mach after many years of his fate being unknown to her. Cyril was taken by surprise by the sudden action but nonetheless reciprocated the hug, feeling a wave of relief.

Though he wanted more time in such warm contact under the cold rain, he had to let go of her after he felt Lysithea's embrace loosening.

"W-What are you d-doing here?" Lysithea asked the question that rang across her mind as she got over the initial shock of their unexpected reunion.

Cyril looked as if he expected the question as his hopeful smile faltered for a bit.

"I've been here for weeks now, spying for the Church and trying to get important information about the Empire's plans." Cyril replied.

Lysithea could only solemnly stare at him as rain dropped heavily on them. She had mixed feelings on their reunion,

"Also…" Cyril added rather shyly, a small blush burning across his cheeks. "I've come to rescue you."

The Ordelia heiress stared at him with shock, in her sadness, she had forgotten of the fact that she was playing a part in the ruse of being a hostage to Edelgard to have a bargaining chip against House Ordelia.

Cyril had been keeping a forlorn hope that he would rescue Lysithea from her situation in Enbarr when he was given this assignment but Shamir had told him to cease such thoughts and focus more on the task at hand, they needed information on the Empire's plans for the war not the rescue of a fallen noble house's heiress.

Yet despite the grim reality, Cyril never lost hope that the Goddess may smile upon him in his mission. He loves Lysithea, having developed feelings for her ever since they became friends and she taught him how to read and write, things that greatly elevated his status among Rhea's peers instead of being looked down upon back then.

He owed her a personal debt for it and hearing of the outrageous and atrocious abduction of Lysithea that took place in House Ordelia to keep them in check by the Empire and also hearing about the atrocities that the same Empire did to the Ordelias in the past, Cyril's resolve was stronger than anyone's in his personal mission to rescue her.

And such an opportunity arrived when Lysithea had nearly run into him as she ran through the streets of Enbarr in tears, he thought that she may be feeling distressed from having escaped her captors and thus, provided him the chance to take her back to her home.

"You did?"

Cyril nodded and smiled in response to Lysithea's question.

"It's time you finally go home to your family, Lysithea. I have no doubt that you miss them terribly." Cyril said as he held both Lysithea's hands.

While it was true that Lysithea longed to meet with her parents again, she had reservations from doing so…

"We can go now, Lysithea. Shamir and the others are just waiting for me at our hideout then we'll depart-"

"I can't."

Two words, those two words were enough to nearly destroy the newfound hope and joy he just felt as he looked on in surprise at Lysithea who had looked down on rain soaked ground below them.

"You can't? What do you mean? This is the perfect chance to escape!" Cyril reasoned, assuming that Lysithea must have thought that her escaping with them would put them at risk.

"I can't." She refused for the second time.

Despite her explosive argument with Edelgard earlier, the words they exchanged, the clashing opinions and the emotions they unleashed, in her heart, Lysithea knew she couldn't go with Cyril despite having the opportunity to do so.

Despite her own misgivings to Edelgard's path, she could abandon her.

She made a promise and that wasn't just what was holding her back, she knew that despite the means, Edelgard's crusade was the only path ahead that gave the chance to change Fodlan for the better. She still believes in such a vision.

And Edelgard was one if not her closest friend, she had been there for her ever since they bonded, she had watched her back and made her feel welcome despite Lysithea's own doubts and suspicion to her prior. She may have gone about it in the wrong way but the lengths Edelgard went through to safeguard her signified how special she was to her heart and Lysithea cannot help but reciprocate the same amount of devotion and love to the Emperor.

She didn't feel like Edelgard was simply using her for her own ends, she felt genuine attachment between the two of them. Their hatred to the same set of systems that brought about the suffering of many including Lysithea's own was also one of the reasons why she could connect with Edelgard.

To abandon Edelgard, especially in the time where she needed guidance, is to spit on the promise she made to Byleth, to be there for her and steer her to the right path when she swore to him under the moonlight before Garreg Mach and Byleth's fall. It would also fail her moral obligation as Edelgard's friend if she was to forsake Edelgard in her time of need.

She has to keep trying, she needs to otherwise she couldn't look straight into Byleth's eyes in the afterlife (if it existed) and she wouldn't be able to bear the guilt of abandoning her friend should she perish.

"I have to stay."

Cyril couldn't believe what he was hearing from Lysithea, his hold on her hands loosened at her refusal.

"I don't understand, they kidnapped you!" Cyril exclaimed as he listed the crimes the Empire had done. "That monster of an Emperor who dared to attack Lady Rhea had been keeping you prisoner for years! Why would you still decide to stay?!"

He was practically shouting at her now, bewildered at her decision.

"It's because she's my friend." Lysithea replied, closing her eyes as various happy memories of her time with Edelgard flashed across her mind. "I can't abandon her."

"Y-Your friend?! Are you mad?!" Cyril exclaimed out in extreme bemusement. "How can you possibly think of that?!"

Lysithea only remained silent, she didn't think Cyril would understand why she thought of that way to Edelgard, they never once talked about it nor gave Cyril any clues pertaining to their bond.

She felt Cyril's hold on her hands renewed, his hands squeezing hers.

"I love you, Lysithea. Please… you have to come with me."

Lysithea's eyes opened widely as she met straight with Cyril's own eyes, eyes that were filled with resolve and genuine emotion towards her. Lysithea couldn't help but tear up at it.

She couldn't help but tear up because she couldn't return such feelings.

"I'm sorry… I can't… I'm so sorry." Lysithea sobbed once again as she parted her hands from Cyril's hold, she could see the look of pain form in his face, the hope he once held earlier had all but left him.

"Lysithea, please…" Cyril begged, adamant and clinging to the last vestiges of hope he had left but the look in Lysithea's eyes crushed every bit of hope he had left.

"Cyril! We have to go. Someone found out about our operation here!" Another familiar voice said as both Cyril and Lysithea looked at the other side of the alleyway to see Shamir looking distressed and holding her bow.

The Almyran boy could only look back and forth towards Lysithea and Shamir, confused on what he should be doing next.

"Go." Lysithea urged him, looking away from him. "I… can't return your feelings-"

"He's still in your mind, isn't it?" Cyril asked as he felt anger rising up in his heart after realizing the harsh truth that his hope to rescue Lysithea was all for naught. "That until all these years, you still cling to that traitorous bastard. He deserved what happened to him."

Lysithea didn't respond and just continued looking away from him.

"I don't know why you decided to stay with the Empire…" Cyril muttered.

"Cyril, get moving!" Shamir said as she drew from her quiver and fired an arrow to someone.

"But if I see you in the battlefield on the side of those against Lady Rhea, I will not hesitate." Cyril coldly said, he tried to sound cold yet his hurt and confused voice betrayed it as he gave Lysithea one last look before he painfully departed from her to go with Shamir as the alarms of Enbarr in the form of bells rang across the city, signalling enemies within the city as the city watch scrambled out.

As search parties formed to look for the spies that were found out, Lysithea slowly made her way back towards the palace while being soaked to the bone by the heavy rainfall. An unreadable look etched upon her face as she did so.

Unknown to her, Hubert had been watching and listening to her and her conversation with Cyril from a distance, witnessing everything after he followed her out of suspicion after he had overheard her argument with Edelgard from outside the Emperor's room, discreetly hiding away as Lysithea stormed off.

---

As Edelgard watched the heavy rainfall befell her Empire's capital as well as hear the city's alarm all over her city, Edelgard couldn't help but clutch her chest in dread and sorrow to what she and Lysithea had argued about.

Shortly after Lysithea stormed off, filled with regret, she had ordered guards to find her when she tried to check on with Lysithea in her room only to be met by Hresvelgion and her litter of kittens.

Edelgard feared that Lysithea may have run off and it was only further exacerbated when she received word from her guards that spies were discovered by Hubert's own spy ring lurking within the city.

She began fearing for the worst that Lysithea may have possibly been taken after she wasn't found by the guards until now… until the door to her room slowly creaked open.

Alerting her, Edelgard grabbed the dagger that laid on her study table near the window, unsheathed it and pointed it to who she assumed to be an assassin, only to see a heavily rain soaked Lysithea standing near the doorway, her tear stained and dry eyes never escaped Edelgard's view.

Feeling relieved at her arrival yet alarmed at the devastated look of her friend, Edelgard set her dagger back on her table and took steps to approach her friend but not before pausing to explain herself.

"Lysithea, I'm glad you're okay…" She said with a relieved smile despite Lysithea's blank stare at the floor she was soaking with the dripping rain drops from her.

"I…" Edelgard slowly began as she worked up the courage to try and remedy what happened between them.

"I'm sorry for-" She was about to apologize to Lysithea for what she had said and also tell her that she was right earlier for telling her off about her plan on using Demonic Beasts but she was interrupted when Lysithea suddenly lunged at her.

Lysithea buried her head on Edelgard's chest and tightly clung to her robes as she started crying loudly, soaking Edelgard's clothes with warm tears and cold water as she wept.

Edelgard was stunned by Lysithea' sudden action and show of emotion, she had an inkling of what Lysithea was thinking but didn't say anything as she allowed her to release her emotions onto her.

She felt Lysithea needed this release and she too needed it. Tears pricked the corners of her lavender eyes as she listened to her friend's cries, wrapping her arm around her and softly rubbing the back of Lysithea's head with her other hand to comfort her.

The two didn't say anything for a while as they shared a tearful moment of reconciliation, the rain outside resonating with more heavier downpour as they both wept with each other.

---

Woah, that was intense! The last few scenes were probably the hardest ones I have done due to how packed they are with drama and angst. I'm glad I managed to write them as I saw fit and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

Once again, I apologize for the long delay of this chapter. Next on my list is to update my Age Regression fic: Turning Back Your Body Clock, before I update Last Scion again!

As usual, reviews are very much appreciated! Thank you!