Chapter 2: Mala Fide, Part 2.

Nope, don't own anything.


"Gloucester," Hubert muttered as he paced in front of the desk. "Given his… ambition, I'm surprised a rebellion did not rise sooner."

Edelgard's eyes were closed when Byleth looked at her, her fingers absentmindedly stroking the ring on her fingers.

"Lady Edelgard, what are your orders?" Hubert's voice cut into her thoughts.

"There is nothing to negotiate," Edelgard replied, a cold anger burning in her eyes. "If we make concessions for every lord who so much as threatens rebellion, then all we have done in the past will have gone to waste. Gloucester will be dealt with. Permanently."

"Then a solution of force," Hubert conducted, his voice grim. "As you command, Lady Edelgard."

Byleth said nothing as she looked down at the map on the desk. The early morning light was supplemented with a few candles, but the map still made her eyes hurt. It was difficult to look at, but even with her mind still foggy, she could tell that Gloucester had placed them in a difficult situation.

"Professor?" Edelgard asked as Byleth looked up. "Do you have any ideas?"

Byleth bit her lip as she traced a finger over the map. "Hubert, how long would it take our armies to-"

"Weeks, at best," Hubert replied, recognizing her intent quickly. "Both of our most reliable armies are still in the process of subjugating House Gautier. It would take at least a week to so much as send a rider to them, and many more if we intend to rally them at Garreg Mach."

"What forces do we have on hand?" Edelgard asked as she pulled a chair next to Byleth, squinting at the map in the poor light.

"The garrison at Garreg Mach is significant," Hubert replied. "But if we require a strong force present to discourage banditry and… them."

Edelgard bit her lip as Byleth looked down at the thin black lines that represented a lifeline to the huddled masses of Fhirdiad's former citizens, now camped out on the Tailtean Plains, clogged with supplies for not only the refugees, but the armies that still sought to crush Gautier's resistance.

"Has there been any news from your apothecaries?" Edelgard asked Yuri as Byleth sank back into her chair, exhausted by the sudden prospect of war anew.

"Yep," Yuri replied. "The… serums have been delivered. We'll be able to continue anytime you wish."

"Is our… guest in a condition to answer questions?" Hubert asked, his voice low. "She has been uncooperative so far."

Yuri sighed as he leaned against a wall. "This is the strongest stuff I know that the apothecaries of Enbarr brew. There might be stronger elsewhere, but I wouldn't know how to get my hands on those. I'm not a professional interrogator or anything."

Byleth felt her lips curl down at the mention of the interrogations Hubert, Yuri, and Edelgard conducted. A memory came to mind, and Byleth shivered.

"Professor?" Edelgard asked, her soft voice snapping Byleth out of the dark memory.

"Yes?" Byleth asked, glancing at Edelgard to her right.

"We can deal with the situation here after dealing with Gloucester." Hubert explained. "He's the immediate threat."

Byleth nodded as she glanced back down the map. "What is our current relationship with Count Galatea?"

Hubert and Edelgard exchanged a glance before Hubert spoke. "Galatea is the most cooperative lord of Faerghus, but given that almost all of the other lords are dead, that does not count for a great deal."

"If we were to strike at Gloucester territory from behind-" Byleth started.

"No," Edelgard shook her head. "It would give him too much time to prepare."

"The people of Daphnel County very well may have joined this revolt of his," Hubert added. "It's likely we would be bogged down fighting their forces as well."

"More than likely," Yuri said with a shrug. "He's probably the only leader left."

"There's still Holst and Margrave Edmund-" Byleth started.

"No, they're both isolated and concentrated at the border to Almyra," Edelgard cut in. "The people of Daphnel would only recognize Gloucester, not two distant lords they had never met."

Byleth grimaced before she glanced up at Edelgard and Hubert. "Do you have a composition of Gloucester's forces?"

"His house guard is the equivalent of a veteran battalion," Yuri replied with a shrug. "Or so says General Bergliez."

"He'll have conscripts and whatever dregs of the Alliance's armies haven't demobilized as well." Hubert muttered. "Acheron's scum, and whatever dregs of House Daphnel we didn't cut down at Myrddin."

"Bandits?" Byleth asked.

"The same level on Acheron's scum," Hubert sneered. "It's not like Gloucester has a spare Miklan in the wings to gather and train bandits."

The mention of the dead bandit lord silenced the room until Edelgard stood up, her fingers tracing the map on the desk.

"El?" Byleth whispered.

"My teacher," Edelgard murmured in turn. "Do we have any ships available?"

"Ships?" Hubert had stepped closer to the desk. "I- no, our fleet is moored at Enbarr or Brigid. Even to get them to sail here would be too slow, as they would need to navigate treacherous waters."

Yuri made an exaggerated coughing noise, and Byleth glanced over to the crime lord.

"The Mittlefrank Opera Company troupe was set to leave for Derdriu in two days," Yuri explained. "Part of their volunteer effort."

"And they possess the ships to go down the Airmid River?" Edelgard asked.

"How else would they get to Derdriu?" Yuri asked with a shrug. "The overland route would take weeks longer."

Edelgard blinked at the weak sunshine outside. "Are the leaders of the troupe awake?"

Yuri paused at the question before he shook his head. "Beats me. I couldn't tell you when they went to bed."

"Opera shows in Enbarr tended to start in the afternoon and finish in the evening, Lady Edelgard." Hubert chimed in. "It is likely that they would have some work crews awake, but I doubt the troupe leaders would be."

"Then we will wake them," Edelgard said as she stood up. "This matter is very important."

Byleth nodded as she also stood up. "El, do you want me to bring the map?"

Edelgard paused as she glanced down at the map on the desk. "I suppose so. We'll need to inform the others where we need to go."

Byleth nodded as she gently rolled up the large map from the desk.

"Professor," Hubert coughed lightly. "Allow me to carry it."

Byleth nodded as she handed the heavy map over to Hubert, freeing her hands to hold onto Edelgard's, who glanced over at her slight touch.

"Professor," Edelgard smiled softly as she squeezed her hand. "Have you ever seen any plays from the Mittlefrank Opera?"

"I was always on the move growing up, remember?" Byleth reminded Edelgard. "I'm not even sure if I ever went to Enbarr before I went with you."

Edelgard nodded as they stepped out of the room, her pace quickening as she spotted Yuri waiting by the doors to the grounds outside.

The rest of the walk was uneventful, having resumed to a middling, but steady pace, slowed only by the sidestepping of the aftermath of the riotous party.

"Hubert," Edelgard called as she stopped before a crashed carriage, its regal and expensive frame now soiled and stained beyond repair. "Find each member of the nobility who attended this… celebration and send them the repair bill. I will not have our supply trains weave through the aftermath of a war zone."

"And if they cannot pay it?" Hubert's voice held a dangerous edge of murderous humour, his cruel intent clear."

"They will," Edelgard said as she stepped over a muddy puddle. "One way or the other."

Hubert made a slight bow as he responded. "As you wish, Lady Edelgard."

"We're almost to the camp," Yuri said as he appeared through a side alleyway, kicking the mud from his boots. "I've alerted one of the work crews there that you've demanded a meeting."

"Were there any problems with your… request?" Edelgard asked as Yuri gestured to a cleaner path to the opera troupe.

Yuri shrugged. "Looks like I was only talking to a grunt. Doubt he knew anything about the plans of the higher ups."

"But even so," Hubert cut in. "Only a madman would deny a direct order from Imperial High Command, delivered by a ranking officer of the Black Eagle Strike Force."

"We've run into our fair share of madmen in this war," Edelgard's face had turned into a hard grimace when Byleth glanced back at her. "There's every chance one of them would be within the ranks of Mittlefrank."


The inside of the tent had lightened up to a point where candles weren't needed by the time the handful of Mittlefrank troupe leaders had gathered.

The first thing that Byleth noticed about the group was that they were nervous. The first one to arrive had taken one look at Edelgard and almost collapsed on the spot, having been held up by Hubert and dragged to a small chair to the side, with the other troupe leaders having a similar reaction upon entry.

"Are we ready to begin?" Yuri asked as the fifth troupe leader filled the last chair in the room, staring down the group as he toyed with his sword.

"Yes!" one of the men exclaimed, seemingly snapping to attention. "We can begin. How may we help you-"

"You have a ship that's to send you to Derdriu, correct?" Yuri asked from his corner of the room. "When is it due?"

The troupe leader who had spoken opened his mouth before closing it, exchanging a nervous glance with one of the other men.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Yuri said with an exaggerated sigh, slamming a dagger into the table. "Would be a shame if my hand slipped."

"The ship is to take us to Myrddin three days from now," the only woman of the group stammered. "I- I'm not entirely sure why you would want to know about it."

"Where is the ship docked?" Yuri continued his interrogation as Byleth focused on the first man to speak, and the look of panic in his eyes as he glanced around the room.

"If the ship is sailing on the Airmid River, then there's only one place the ship can dock." Byleth pointed out. "Is the ship docked at the harbour to the east?"

One of the men nodded wordlessly as Byleth glanced to Edelgard.

"May we ask why you want to know the location of the ship?" one of the men asked.

Byleth exchanged a glance with Edelgard before she looked at Hubert, who gave a faint nod.

"Count Gloucester has declared a rebellion," Byleth said to the assembled troupe, watching as the assembled group gasped, their jaws falling as they exchanged glances with each other.

"We believe he might seize the Bridge of Myrddin if his rebellion is not put down quickly," Edelgard said. "And your ship is the only vessel on the Airmid River that can get us to Myrddin quickly enough to nip this rebellion in the bud."

"We-" one of the men stammered. "We can't do that."

Byleth turned over to the man and the panicked look in his eyes. "Why not?"

"You would deny a direct… request?" Hubert cut in, his voice low and dangerous. "From her majesty herself?"

The man whimpered as one of the other men swallowed hard.

"You," Hubert hissed, pointing to the man who had spoken. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't seize the ship right now."

"The ship isn't ours," the only woman managed. "We would need permission from the owner."

"And where is the owner?" Hubert asked. "Enbarr?"

The woman grimaced. "The owner has someone here, but yes, he's in Enbarr."

"Does the owner have a name?" Byleth asked.

"We were given the name Peri," one of the men stammered.

"I'm not familiar with anyone with that name," Yuri shrugged from the corner.

"It's not a name," the woman stammered. "He explained it at the time that it was what he would do to us if we displeased him."

"Do tell," Hubert said from his position, his voice betraying obvious interest.

"Pulverize, Eviscerate, Ruin, and Impale," the woman explained.

"Ah," Yuri said, amusement evident in his voice. "And Peri for short. Creative."

"Yes," the woman stammered, trailing off as she looked down. "He provides us with a number of… services in exchange for a quarterly fee."

"Including this ship," Byleth guessed, to which the woman nodded.

"How long would it take to get a message to this… Peri?" Hubert asked. "Does he have an address in Enbarr?"

"I- I would believe so," the woman looked up and around, as if trying to find someone to save her from Hubert. "Although none of us have ever met him in person."

"Then he has some form of intermediary." Byleth muttered.

"The head of our guard contingent," one of the men explained. "We would send all our reports through her."

"Hardly a wise move to deny a direct request from the Emperor," a voice sounded from behind the table.

Byleth spun around at the voice behind them, finding a single, tall woman at the entrance of the tent, an ugly frown on her face.

"The ship is yours," the woman said as she stepped past Byleth and Hubert, heading to the back of the tent with seemingly no acknowledgement of their presence.

"I-" the troupe leader at the right of the table turned pale. "Olivia-"

"Save it," the woman growled to the man as Hubert blocked her way, forcing her to remain in the tent. "He would rather have the ship on loan for a few days than to have it pressed into Imperial service forever."

"A wise man," Hubert observed.

The newcomer paused before she looked at Hubert. "He would not be where he was if he was an imbecile."

Something clicked in Byleth's head at the mention of the name. "You were the guard Dorothea mentioned."

The woman said nothing before she turned back to the troupe leaders. "The message to the orphanage has been sent. The show will go on as planned in the afternoon."

"I'm not sure we'll be able to leave before then," one of the men muttered, his eyes darting to the direction of Hubert. "These… fine people may have more questions."

"El?" Byleth whispered to Edelgard when she leaned back into her chair.

"You're dismissed," Edelgard said to the assembled troupe leaders. "As for the information you've learned, remember that it's confidential until the problem at Myrddin is dealt with."

The five troupe leaders didn't need any more encouragement as they scurried out of the tent, ducking past Hubert to do so.

"You're staying," Edelgard said as the guard turned to leave. "We have questions."

The guard paused before she sat down on one of the spare chairs. "What do you want to know?"

"Why did you attack the messenger?" Edelgard asked.

The woman shrugged and kept a blank face. "I thought he was a drunk noble. It's my job to deal with those."

"How large is your contingent of guards?" Byleth asked.

"Professor?" Edelgard whispered from next to her as the woman raised an eyebrow in lieu of answering the question.

"By the time we reach Myrddin, there's a chance we would need to fight through a blockade to reach Count Gloucester." Byleth explained to the woman. "How many soldiers are under your command?"

The woman shook her head and sighed. "Thirty men, most of whom the company hires to look intimidating. They'd be useless in an actual fight."

"This… Peri has no relationship with the guards you hire?" Hubert asked.

"No," the woman responded, her eyes burrowing into Byleth's. "Our employer has three of us following this troupe. The rest of them would blow over in a strong breeze."

"Would you be willing to come with us?" Edelgard asked. "Once the Gloucester situation is dealt with, we would return the ship to you."

"What is happening with Gloucester?" the woman sounded skeptical as she turned her eyes to Edelgard. "And why is it that you need our transport ship?"

"You would need to come with us if you wanted the answer to that," Edelgard replied.

The woman blinked and paused for a moment before she nodded. "Fine."

"Count Gloucester has closed off his territory from our forces," Edelgard explained, her voice falling lower, as if she was worried about eavesdroppers. "He's demanding… negotiations."

"Which you have no intention of giving to him," the woman finished. "Because it would cripple your position."

"You understand then," Edelgard nodded as she placed her hands on the table.

"My employer has faced this situation in the past," the woman's face had turned grim. "Such a challenge can only be answered one way."

The room fell into silence until Edelgard stood up, extending a hand to the woman. "How long until the ship can sail?"

"I would need to confirm the presence of the rowing crew beforehand," the woman replied, rising and shaking Edelgard's extended hand. "But I should have an answer for you by the performance this afternoon."

Edelgard nodded as Yuri and Hubert stepped toward the entrance of the tent. "Professor?"

"I just have a question," Byleth turned to the stranger. "What is your specialty on the battlefield?

The woman raised an eyebrow as she replied. "You expect me to fight?"

Byleth grimaced before she met the other woman's eyes. "Just in case something goes wrong."

The woman paused for a moment before she raised her hand, a small ball of fire roaring to life in her palm.

"You're a mage," Byleth guessed.

"I am," the woman replied, snuffing the flame with a flick of her wrist. "Though I'm not exactly registered by any professional body."

"Can you heal?" Byleth asked.

"On a limited scale," the woman said with a shrug. "My work before joining the opera rarely required me to heal any injuries."

Byleth nodded as she stood up. "If you need to find us, we'll be in the central hall of the Officer's Academy."

Edelgard was quiet when they left the tent, the two of them walking silently to the waiting forms of Hubert and Yuri.

"Well," Yuri started as they arrived. "That was productive."

"Yuri, you look like you have something to say," Edelgard said.

"I admit that you're not wrong," Yuri chuckled, pausing for a moment before his face turned grim. "I would like to begin with the serums we received from Enbarr."

Byleth grimaced at the mention of the torture that Yuri and Hubert would be planning. Even though she knew exactly what their prisoner had done in the past, the thought of deliberately causing pain to another human being brought a shiver to her spine.

"Professor?" Edelgard asked, her face full of concern when Byleth turned to her. "Are you alright? You were shivering."

Byleth shook her head in response. As unpleasant as the prospect of torture and drug-induced interrogations were, she knew that it had to be done.

As if she understood, Edelgard moved to bring her arms around her waist, the two of them standing together for a moment.

"I don't like it either," Edelgard whispered. "I know what it feels like, being alone in the dark, but we have no choice."

"I know that," Byleth buried her head in Edelgard's hair. "I just hope that this serum works."

"It will," Yuri said from the side. "I've seen what this does to people. She'll tell us everything we'll need to know."


"We're ready," Yuri said from the desk of the office, his usually cheerful demeanour gone. "We're waiting on you and Teach."

Byleth put down the cup of tea she had been drinking and stood up. The light had shined through the windows and eliminated any need for candles or torches.

"Let's go," Edelgard said as Byleth pulled her cloak on.

The hallways that led to Abyss grew progressively colder and emptier as they walked forward, with the stream of servants quickly being replaced by heavily armed guards.

Abyss itself was somewhat more crowded, with far more guards than the hallways above, but lacking in activity otherwise, with one lone exception.

"Dorothea," Byleth murmured.

"Oh, Professor," Dorothea started, her face clearly nervous. "Do you mind if I talk with Edie for a moment?"

"Dorothea, what is it that you need?" Edelgard's voice was neutral but tense.

"The children at the orphanage would like to meet with you," Dorothea admitted. "And I think it would be-"

"No," Edelgard cut in, shaking her head furiously. "I can't, not now."

The disappointment on Dorothea's face was palpable, and Byleth cleared her throat.

"Professor?" Dorothea asked.

"If I'm not needed, I could go," Byleth offered.

Edelgard bit her lip before she nodded. "Dorothea, if that's alright with you."

"It is," Dorothea said, glancing down the dark halls of Abyss. "I'll… leave you to it."

Byleth walked next to Dorothea without a word until they stepped into the midday sunshine.

"Professor?" Dorothea asked as they walked through the lawn.

"Yes?" Byleth turned to the former songstress, her face pained.

"Sorry, I- I shouldn't have taken you away from Edie and the others," Dorothea shook her head. "It's related to the war- my concerns aren't-"

"Dorothea," Byleth started slowly, gently. "Is there something you wanted Edelgard for?"

Dorothea shook her head. "It's… it's just that I can't bear to watch her to torture another person, no matter how terrible they are."

Byleth glanced back at the brightly lit halls they had left and thought about the dark, forbidden hallway in the depths of Abyss their prisoner was being held.

"I don't like it either," Byleth admitted softly. "I don't want El to become something even worse than… them."

"I see," Dorothea said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you believe they'll find something with this?"

Byleth closed her eyes and thought of the time she had heard screams echoing from the room. "I hope so. We'll need a lead soon, if not, how can any of us wake up in the morning knowing that they're still out there?"

Dorothea nodded before she looked up. "We'll be at the church soon."

Byleth nodded as she scanned the street they had crossed into and the church at the end of the lane.

"Professor?" Dorothea asked, her tone nervous. "I know you two weren't on the best terms, but-"

"Dorothea, is something wrong?" Byleth asked, alert at the sudden change in Dorothea's voice.

"The children at the church really like a set of books," Dorothea said, looking almost sheepish at the mention of the books. "I was wondering if you could read one to them."

Byleth frowned at Dorothea's previous statement. "Dorothea, who was it that I wasn't on good terms with?"

Dorothea sighed. "The books were written by Seteth. I know that means they should have been turned over to Hubert, but-"

"They're children's books, right?" Byleth asked.

Dorothea nodded, relief evident on her face.

"Then they should be fine," Byleth said, even as her mind drifted to Seteth and Flayn, or as only she and a handful of others knew, Saints Cichol and Cethleann. "Hubert will never find out from me."

"Oh thank you," Dorothea said as she placed a hand over her heart. "I thought- I thought you were obliged to turn them over."

Byleth shook her head. "They're children's books. Even Hubert wouldn't burn those."

"I would hope so," Dorothea sighed as she reached the steps leading to the church. "I'll go find the sisters, just wait here."

Byleth nodded as she glanced around the street, still bustling despite the midsummer heat. Then she saw someone she recognized in a nearby alleyway.

It was Olivia, the head of the Mittlefrank Opera Company's guards, and she wasn't alone.

The man standing in the alleyway wasn't someone Byleth recognized, although she was certain she had seen him before.

"Professor?" Dorothea asked from the top of the steps. "What are you looking at?"

Byleth jumped at the sudden voice of Dorothea, and when she looked back into the alleyway again, the man had disappeared, and Olivia was looking right at her.

"Is that-" Dorothea started, her voice falling as the other woman strolled toward them.

"Professor, I'd like to introduce-" Dorothea started as Olivia stopped before them, but fell silent when she cleared her throat.

"We've already been acquainted," Olivia nodded to Dorothea. "I had the pleasure of meeting your Professor earlier."

"What were you doing with that man?" Dorothea continued, her voice dripping with disgust. "Isn't he working for Count Varley?"

"He is," Olivia said with a shrug. "But he's also heading back to Enbarr, and I need to let my employer know that his ship has been… requisitioned."

Dorothea blinked. "I don't understand."

Olivia glanced around the street before she continued. "Your Emperor had demanded the use of the ship the company was going to use to get to Derdriu. I needed to let the actual owner know that his ship was going to fulfil an… unintended purpose for a few days, as for the method of transportation, well, beggars can't be choosers."

"Has there been any news from the crew?" Byleth asked Olivia.

"I told the ship captain that his forces would be required by the morning," Olivia replied. "He promised me that he could gather his entire crew by nightfall if needed. The threat of Peri receiving a negative review was enough for him to concede to my demands."

Dorothea nodded slowly as Olivia turned around. "Well, if you don't mind, I'll deliver the news to your Emperor-"

"Edie's… busy," Dorothea cut in. "She's not seeing anyone right now."

Olivia turned to Byleth, then nodded. "Alright then. I'll be at the tent if you need me."

An idea came to mind as Byleth glanced up at the burning sun. "How would you like to remain here for a while?"


It was midway through the story of the hungry fox that Byleth heard a gasp from the sister in the chair next to her and glanced up, finding Edelgard's pale violet eyes and a faint smile.

Slowly, the crowd of children looked up, and Byleth felt the book be pulled from her hands.

Go, Dorothea mouthed as Byleth stood up, stepping past the crowd of children to join Edelgard and Hubert at the door.

"My teacher," Edelgard said softly, her eyes darting around the room. "Is there a quiet place we can talk?"

Byleth glanced behind her, and noticed Olivia out of her seat, walking slowly toward them.

"The crew for the ship is ready to go by tomorrow," Byleth said quickly, and Edelgard nodded.

"Good," Hubert said quietly, giving Olivia a nod. "We got something, but it's not good."

"What happened?" Byleth asked.

Hubert looked up and glared at what Byleth realized was Olivia. "There was only a single word we could get out of her."

Byleth turned back and glanced at Olivia, now a respectable distance away. "What is it?"

"Shambhala," Hubert said, his tone neutral and his voice close to a whisper.

Byleth blinked, and Hubert shook his head.

"It's meaningless so far," Edelgard admitted. "But it's the only word that came up repeatedly."

"Was there anything else?" Byleth asked.

"She only spoke in another language," Edelgard said with a shake of the head. "And it's not a language I've ever heard."

Byleth was about to reply, but found her thoughts drowned out by a gaggle of cheering children.

When she turned to look at the dozens of children with the various nuns, she found that they had formed messy convoys, giggling and laughing as they walked from a side door.

"They're heading to the theatre troupe," Olivia explained as she stepped closer to Byleth. "There's a free performance later, and they were invited."

"That's rather kind of you," Edelgard said. "What play is being performed?"

"Baron of Courage," Olivia's voice was dripping with sardonic amusement. "The watered down version, not the real one."

"Even then, it's a good show," Edelgard said with a nod. "Professor, would you like to come with us?"


They remained together long after the play had finished, though Hubert and Dorothea had retired early, enjoying the quiet afternoon and early evening together.

"Would you like to have something before we head back to the Officer's Academy?" Edelgard whispered as they passed a tavern.

The smell of delicious smoked meat with the hint of exotic herbs was more than enough to convince Byleth to step toward the tavern at the side of the road, one she recognized Ingrid liked very much.

"What about here?" Byleth asked as she nodded toward the smell of the roasting meat.

Edelgard smiled and nodded. "Shall we?"

Byleth nodded as she moved forward, pulling the heavy tavern door open, parodying Hubert with a low bow.

When she stepped inside, Byleth winced at the look of shock on the faces of the room's patrons, none of whom probably expected to meet with the Emperor and her consort over dinner.

However, much to the credit of the tavern's staff, they were led to a quiet table at an isolated corner with a pair of menus and a pitcher of icy lemonade.

"Do you have any idea what you want to eat here?" Byleth asked after she gave the dinner menu a quick glance over.

"Their sauteed pheasant and eggs are rather excellent," Edelgard replied, her eyes still on her menu and her fingers drumming absentmindedly against the table. "What about you?"

Byleth shook her head. "Anything on the menu is good. I was thinking of a fish sandwich perhaps."

Edelgard's eyes lit up. "And am I allowed to have a bite?"

"Only if I get to steal a sauteed egg in turn," Byleth said with a smile.

"I can live with that," Edelgard smiled as she waved down a waiter. "I'm certainly willing to make that trade off."

Byleth nodded as the waiter reached for the menus.

"Wait-" Edelgard cut in, a quick, apologetic smile flashing to her face. "We'll be ordering dessert afterwards."

"Dessert?" Byleth glanced down at the back of the leather bound menu. "Saghert and Cream?"

Edelgard shook her head, though the smile remained on her lips.

"Peach-" Byleth guessed again, falling silent when Edelgard pressed a finger to her lips.

"It's a secret," Edelgard replied as she withdrew her hand.

They sat there in silence for a while, sipping the cold lemonade and waiting on their food.

To Edelgard's surprise and disappointment, Byleth's sandwich came first, with her eyes darting between Byleth's face and the sandwich.

"El," Byleth said quietly, suppressing a giggle when Edelgard flinched at the silence being broken. "Why don't you have the first bite?"

Perhaps sheepish at being caught, Edelgard shook her head furiously, but her stomach voiced its disagreement, and Edelgard turned as red as her dress, her eyes falling down to her lap as Byleth pushed the plate forward.

"I'll only take one bite," Edelgard mumbled as she raised the sandwich to her lips, her eyes darting back and meeting Byleth's.

Edelgard didn't say anything more, but took a bite, small and ladylike. Then she took another, and Byleth felt herself smiling.

It was only three bites later when Edelgard stopped, placing the half-eaten sandwich back on the plate and pushing it back toward Byleth.

"Was it good?" Byleth whispered.

Edelgard nodded with a slight smile, glancing around the room before turning back to Byleth. "It was good, really quite good."

"How many bites did you take?" Byleth asked. "Remember, we agreed on an egg for each bite."

Edelgard's jaw dropped as she looked down at the sandwich. "I- I don't remember. I was so caught up in the moment-"

"Your sauteed pheasant with eggs," the waiter declared as he placed a plate in front of Edelgard. "Enjoy."

Byleth said nothing as she speared an egg with her fork, savouring the well-seasoned egg.

"Delicious, isn't it?" Edelgard asked. "Hubert would often get me food here over the war."

"It is," Byleth replied. "You mind if I try the pheasant?"

"No, of course not," Edelgard smiled. "I think you'll like it."

Byleth picked up her knife and fork, noting the pale, clear juices that leaked from the bird when she cut a portion off before she dipped the meat in the glaze around the roast.

"This is good," Byleth murmured as she held the piece of roast bird up, watching as a drop of gravy fell back onto the plate. "So good that I think you should try it."

Edelgard beamed as Byleth poked the fork forward, and after she glanced around the room, Edelgard opened her mouth.

Byleth lowered the fork into Edelgard's mouth and felt the slight shift of weight as the cut of bird disappeared.

Edelgard's reaction was far less subtle, for she sank back into her chair with a blissful look on her face, a slight sigh escaping her lips.

"Is it that good?" Byleth whispered.

Edelgard nodded. "You should try some."

Byleth nodded as she cut off another portion for herself, savouring the tender, juicy meat.

"So," Byleth said as she fed Edelgard another cut of the bird. "What is this… dessert that you want me to try?"

Edelgard paused as she ate the bird. "It- it was a special dish I tried when I was a little girl. I believe it was Lysithea who brought it back to our headquarters one night."

Byleth chuckled. "That's Lysithea for you."

"I had gone for a walk, but I discovered her stuffing herself in this little corner." Edelgard smiled and shook her head at the memory. "She offered to bribe me with some if I kept quiet."

"Did you?"

Edelgard chuckled at the question. "I did, but Hubert was shadowing me, as he does, and he informed me of where I could find the restaurant."

"Did you get to try it?" Byleth asked.

Edelgard shook her head as the slight smile returned. "I was going to try it the night I found you. I had forgotten all about it until I came across this tavern earlier."

"Well then, let's try it," Byleth decided.

Edelgard looked down at the two half-eaten plates of food. "I think we should finish up with what we have here."

Byleth nodded as she took a bite of her sandwich, watching Edelgard finish the last of the eggs.

"So," Byleth started. "Could you give me a hint on what the special dessert you have in mind is?"

Edelgard paused as she glanced back at the waiter, gesturing for him to come closer, whispering at such a low volume even Byleth couldn't hear them.

The waiter's face was grim. "I'd regret to inform you that only a single slice is still available. One of our, erm, regulars took several slices with her."

"Lysithea," Byleth muttered.

Edelgard grimaced as she leaned back into her seat, the disappointment evident in her eyes.

"Just one is enough," Byleth cut in. "It's better to be shared together."

"If that's the case, then get us a peach sherbet too." Edelgard nodded to the waiter. "But please, hold it until we're finished here."

The rest of their dinner went quickly, with the two plates clean within minutes. It was only then that a large serving of sherbet was placed in front of them, along with a slice of dark, rich smelling chocolate cake.

"Will you do the honours?" Edelgard asked as she cut a corner of the cake away, the cake falling away smoothly.

Byleth nodded as she took in the cake from Edelgard's fork, savouring the dark, pleasantly bitter chocolate and the layer of rich coffee.

"It's delicious," Byleth whispered.

Edelgard smiled and nodded as she took a bite for herself. "It's just as I remembered it."

Byleth nodded as she cut into the cake again, taking a slightly larger bite this time. "El, this is for you, now and always."

"Then this is for you," Edelgard replied, holding up a fork with an even larger bite.

"On three," Byleth agreed, pausing for a moment to slide the slice of cake back onto her fork.

"Three." Edelgard interrupted, and Byleth felt surprise as the smooth cake slid into her mouth.

"Clever," Byleth murmured as she swallowed the cake in her mouth. "Your turn."

Edelgard leaned over and Byleth tipped the cake into her mouth, watching and smiling as Edelgard leaned back into her seat.

"So," Byleth said, her fork scooping up the last piece of the delicious cake. "Would you like the last piece of the cake?"

Edelgard's violet eyes opened again, irritation visible in the flash Byleth saw.

"Professor, I have no intention of becoming like Lysithea," Edelgard sighed. "No matter how… delectable the treat is, I must insist that you have the last bite."

Byleth paused. "But we'll be out of Garreg Mach until the situation can be dealt with."

Edelgard closed her eyes and paused before she nodded. "That is true, but I can still take a few bites from the peach sherbet if I'm not satisfied."

Byleth nodded as she placed the fork down, reaching over the small table to pat Edelgard on the belly.

Edelgard flushed a deep crimson as she spun her head around, as if fearful of anyone watching them. "Professor!"

"You'll finish the cake or I'll do it again," Byleth warned Edelgard with a slight grin on her face.

"Alright Professor," Edelgard admitted as Byleth snaked her arm halfway across the table. "You win."

Byleth said nothing in response, but she did raise her fork toward Edelgard.


AN: Chapter 2 is complete.

Read, Review, yada yada.

Note: This work has not been read by a beta reader.