I know someone's going to be skeptical of this chapter (coughPlasmaKnightcough), but I hope you will enjoy the work I put into it.
This chapter will contain an adaptation of the Byleth/Edelgard C+ Support.
Chapter 72 – The Perfect Heir (Red Wolf Moon)
Edelgard could not help but shiver a bit as she walked through the cold halls of Garreg Mach. It was well after midnight, but she could not sleep, so she had dressed herself for a late-night stroll. Many would have called this unwise, as the frost covering the monastery would attest, but she had always been calmed by the feeling of the nighttime air.
As she reached an exit that led to an outdoor balcony, she was met by a worrying sight. It was a group of the second-year boys, four in all, and they were standing in a semicircle before Dorothea. Despite the cold, the singer's outfit was still somewhat revealing, though she at least wore enough to keep herself warm. Dorothea was in a ready stance, and it was clear to Edelgard that these four boys were threatening her in some way.
One of the second-year boys then said, "You said you'd see me again after that night. You said that to all of us at some point, didn't you?"
"Not very sincere, are you, Dorothea?" said another one.
"What, you don't think we're good enough for you?" snapped a third. "You think a street rat like you can look down on us like that?!"
"We think you owe us an apology, Arnault," said the fourth boy.
"I don't believe I owe you anything," said Dorothea. "What, you can't stand rejection?"
The boys stepped toward Dorothea at this moment, prompting the brunette to channel her Mana. Electricity crackled between her fingers, but the boys were not intimidated.
"Don't think that I won't hurt you!" said Dorothea.
The second of the four laughed as he said, "You think you can do that and get away with it?"
"We'd be more than willing to tell the Knights that you assaulted us," said the third.
"It'd be our word against yours," said the first one. "And who would believe a street rat over us?"
Dorothea let out an audible hiss as she realized her situation. However, she did not drop her guard.
On the side, Edelgard scowled unnoticed at the boys. She knew these second-year students were all talk and no skill, and that Dorothea could defeat them easily even with such odds. But she also knew they were the type who would surely follow through on such a blackmail threat.
The third of the four boys smirked as he took another step toward Dorothea.
Then, all four stopped as Edelgard said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
As the princess emerged from the shadows, Dorothea said, "Edie!"
"L-Lady Edelgard!" the fourth boy said nervously.
"If you intend to harm her in any way, I will ensure none of you live to regret it," said Edelgard. She then made a dramatic wave of her arm as she said, "Now get out of my sight!"
Knowing they were in serious trouble, the boys turned tail and fled.
Dorothea waited until they were all gone before she loosened her stance. She then turned to Edelgard and said, "Thanks, Edie."
"I'm glad I could help, Dorothea," said Edelgard. "Though I'm sure you could have taken them by yourself. What was this all about?"
"Oh, they're all boys I've dated in the past. Never spoke to them again afterwards. Most of them just saw me as… well, you get the idea."
"So, you brought that upon yourself?"
Dorothea made a slightly offended expression as she said, "Hey, it's not my fault they can't take a little rejection!"
"Even so, this was no doubt a result of your constant flirting. Dorothea, please do not be so careless about it; you could get into serious trouble someday."
"I know, I know. But it's a risk I have to take. I need to find someone out there who won't just see me as another pretty face." Dorothea then made a sigh as she said, "It's getting hard, though. Just this last week, I've had three guys completely turn me down."
"No doubt a result of your actions."
"Ugh, Edie, do you have to make me sound like the bad guy here?"
"Sorry. I'm just telling you how I see it."
It was then that they heard someone else approaching them. The two girls turned and saw Byleth emerge from the same opening that the boys had fled into.
"Oh, hello there, Professor Byleth," said Dorothea.
"Out late again, I see," said Edelgard. "What brings you here?"
"I could ask you both the same thing," said Byleth. "And I could ask why those boys were running from here like scared children."
"I was on another date and they were all boys I'd gone out with at some point," said Dorothea. "They, well, weren't happy with me dumping them afterward."
With a displeased expression, Byleth said, "I see…" Then, turning to Edelgard, she said, "I assume you're the reason they were running."
"I won't deny it, Professor," said Edelgard. "They were trying to blackmail Dorothea when I stepped in and ordered them to leave."
"I'll take your word for it. But what are you doing out this late?"
"I just wanted some fresh air. I always wander outside when sleep evades me."
"What about you, Professor?" Dorothea asked playfully. "Out on a midnight rendezvous?"
"No, I couldn't sleep either," said Byleth. "But you two should be getting back to your rooms."
"I know, Professor, but…" Edelgard made a loud sigh as she continued, "Have you ever felt a sort of longing for the outdoors? I have. There are times I long for the warmth of the sun, for a sweet breeze on my face…"
"Well, it isn't exactly sunny or warm right now," said Dorothea. "But I get what you mean. I can't stand it if I'm being cooped up in a room all the time."
The three were silent for a moment, and then Edelgard took a deep breath before saying, "Dorothea? Professor Eisner? Do you remember what I told you the other night during the Verdant Rain Moon? About… my past? None of my siblings had a chance to lead the sort of life they deserved. An ordinary life."
"I remember," said Byleth.
"Didn't you ask us to forget about that?" Dorothea said playfully. Edelgard gave her a little frown but decided not to address Dorothea's joke.
The princess then said, "I suppose I should tell you more about it. My siblings and I were… We were imprisoned underground, beneath the palace. The object was to endow our bodies with the power of a Major Crest. I have always possessed the Crest of Seiros, inherited through the Hresvelg bloodline. But it was only a Minor Crest, and most of my siblings bore no Crest at all."
"Wait, what do you mean by 'endow you with a Crest'?" asked Dorothea.
"Is that even possible?" asked Byleth.
With an expression that clearly showed she was disturbed by her memory, Edelgard said, "Yes. In order to create a peerless emperor to rule Fódlan, they violated our bodies by cutting open our very flesh. They used dark magic and vile arts to alter the blood in our veins and change our very being to their design. It went on for months before it all ended. Now here I stand as the fruit of that endeavor, bearing the power of two Crests. But that came at too high a price… The others, my brothers and sisters, were sacrificed. Ours weren't the only lives devastated by that terrible process. Innocents died as well, without even knowing what they were dying for. People snatched from the streets, from farms, and even from the homes of nobles, all lives lost to ensure I would become the 'perfect' emperor."
Dorothea looked at Edelgard in absolute horror as the princess told her tale. Byleth, while not nearly as expressive, also showed disgust at the story.
"And there you have it, the truth of the Hresvelg's Empire…" said Edelgard.
"Edie, that's… that's unbelievable…" Dorothea said in muted shock.
"Who is blame for all of this?" asked Byleth.
"The prime minister and his gaggle of nobles," said Edelgard.
"Duke Aegir?" asked Dorothea.
"They had the Empire under their thumbs. You obviously know how Duke Aegir and the other noble families gained power following the Insurrection of the Seven. My father, the emperor, tried to stop them, but… it was futile. My father was nothing but a puppet on a string by then. He was powerless to save us, even as we pleaded for him to save us from our torment. Had he made any move to try and save us, it would have meant the destruction of the entire Hresvelg bloodline, and perhaps the end of the Adrestian Empire itself."
"Duke Aegir commanded that much power?" asked Byleth.
"There's no way he could've done that all on his own," said Dorothea. "Even with the other noble families on his side."
"I suspect he had outside help," said Edelgard. "But it is not something I can prove. And revealing the truth publicly would only make things worse, even if I had proof."
Dorothea made a loud sigh as she said, "This all just sounds so… unbelievable, Edie."
"I know how it all sounds. But when you see my true strength, you will know I speak the truth. Yet before I do, you two must swear to me that you will not reveal it to anyone, least of all to the Church."
"The Church? Why?" asked Byleth.
"If they know of the power I possess, they will see it as an affront to the Goddess, and no doubt the Empire will suffer for it. Mine would be far from the only life that would be forfeit if the truth were to come out. Dorothea, you are my closest friend, and Professor Eisner, you have taught me so much in the time we have known one another. If I cannot trust you with this secret, then there is no one left."
"I understand," said Byleth.
"Of course, Edie," added Dorothea.
Edelgard gave them a nod and said, "I have kept it hidden all this time, but… I will reveal to you the power of my second Crest."
Edelgard then placed her left hand to her chest as she raised her right with her palm facing up. Her body began to radiate a glowing green energy as a Crest took form above her hand.
The sight of the Crest left both Byleth and Dorothea in utter shock.
It was the Crest of Flames.
"T-That's…!" Dorothea stammered, unable to finish her thought.
"Edelgard…" said Byleth.
"It is the same as yours, Professor Eisner… the Crest of Flames," said Edelgard.
The princess lowered her hand and the green glow that surrounded her disappeared as the Crest of Flames vanished from sight.
She then said, "When it manifested for me, I swore a silent oath. For the sake of my family and for all the poor souls whose lives were traded for my existence… For their sake, I will build a world where such meaningless sacrifice is never again sanctioned. When I become emperor, I will change the world! I swear it!"
Byleth and Dorothea could only stand in awe before Edelgard as she finished her words.
…
The next morning was filled with the same chill that had been present the previous night. Dorothea awoke in her bed with a soft moan as she stretched her arms absentmindedly.
Her mind was still going through everything Edelgard had told her. She still could scarcely believe it all. But Edelgard had shown she bore the Crest of Flames, the same Crest Byleth had.
How was this possible? Having two Crests was supposed to be impossible, yet Dorothea had seen Edelgard wield the Minor Crest of Seiros before, and her possession of the Crest of Flames was unmistakable. Who could possibly have the power to not only give Edelgard a second Crest, but for said second Crest to be one that had been lost for centuries? It didn't make sense for Duke Aegir and his cohorts to be capable of such a thing. So, who was it?
And why was it so critical to keep Edelgard's second Crest a secret from the Church? Rhea had been elated when Byleth had manifested the Crest of Flames back during the Blue Sea Moon. Did the Church consider twin Crests to be some kind of taboo? Or was there something else to it?
Another thought crossed Dorothea's mind. If Edelgard had the Crest of Flames, why hadn't the Sword of the Creator reacted to her? It was no secret that the Crest Stone for the sword was missing, but it still glowed whenever Byleth drew it. But when Edelgard had handled it during the incident with Aelfric, it hadn't glowed in her hands.
A loud knock on her door startled the singer out of her thoughts.
"Dorothea? Dorothea? Are you up?" came Byleth's voice.
"Y-Yes, just a second!"
Dorothea quickly slipped on a robe and went to her door, opening it to reveal Byleth with a look of urgency on her face.
"Professor, what's wrong?"
"Get yourself ready for battle. We have to get to Remire as soon as possible."
"Remire?"
Not much of a rest before the next nightmare, huh?
I know some of you will think Dorothea learning about Edelgard's twin Crests cheapens the gesture of Edelgard revealing it to Byleth, but remember how Dorothea is closer to Edelgard in my story than in the game.
And as for those boys who were threatening Dorothea, yes, she could've beat them up by herself. But having Edelgard intervene both prevents any issues from cropping up and also helps to expand on Dorothea's friendship with Edelgard.
Now, when it comes to the next few chapters, I plan to make several original twists. This won't be easy for me. Wish me luck.