"You want to go fishing. For our honeymoon?" Hubert said, trying to figure out her reasoning behind it. "You realise I have never been fishing before." He sat upon one of the chairs in their chambers, watching Byleth's silhouette potter about behind the changing screen.

She popped her head around the side of the screen, blue hair falling over her bare shoulder, "You've genuinely never been fishing before?" she asked, wide-eyed. She didn't seem disappointed. If anything, it looked like it had piqued her interest.

He closed his book, placing it on the small table beside him. "No. I've never had the time to indulge in such trivial pastimes. I fear I may lack the patience for it anyway," he said freely. He saw a slight glance of a smile as she went back behind the screen, every now and again a new garment would be flung over the top. She had been at this for a while, unable to decide through the wealth of choice.

Upon settling into the Imperial palace of Enbarr, he soon found out that Byleth had very few possessions, including clothes. He made sure she was furnished with everything she needed, but he was beginning to regret his choice. She had been at this for half an hour at least.

"Well, we need to make a decision soon, we only have a fortnight until we marry," Byleth replied. He smiled at the thought. "Besides, I'm sure you'd love fishing! And it will only be for a couple of days," Her voice muffled as she pulled something over her head, "It makes sense. We can't leave the capital, so travelling is out of the question. Plus, it will be just you and me, relaxing on the lake in a little boat." He heard her giggle at that last comment, and he felt himself melt a little. "You can always bring a book, or some paperwork in case you get bored…"

He had to admit to himself, it did sound rather nice.

"Do you think me so dull that I would bring paperwork on our honeymoon?" he brooded.

It struck him as odd that she was the one worrying about being boring. Ever since she woke up after losing her powers it appeared her emotions had been fully restored. They burned brighter than anything he could have expected. She had smiled and laughed more in the last month than he had ever seen. As a result, every now and again the self-doubt would hit him. It made him wonder if she fell in love with him because she had been emotionally stunted. He oft pondered how he had managed to have such an incredible creature return his affections. And now, with full access to her feelings, there was the possibility she was just putting up with him, trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

"I would never think you dull!" She said, humour behind her statement. He felt his heart thud at her words, almost pitying himself for doubting her. "Ok. I think I'm finally ready. I'm truly not used to having so much choice." She walked out from behind the screen.

Knee-high boots, tights, a skirt, and a lace top. Hubert tried to contain a humoured smile. "You're dressed completely in black." The only hint of colour was the slight pink to her skin and the blue of her hair.

"I'm fond of black," she replied, walking over to him. She fed her fingers through his raven hair, placing a kiss upon his head. "… It's my favourite colour."

His chest rumbled and he yanked her onto his lap, pulling her in for a full kiss. He felt her leg shudder as his free hand wandered up her skirt.

"Not now, we'll be late," She chided sweetly, breaking away. "We can't leave Manuela waiting."

"A pity," He replied with a smirk, releasing her from his hold. "Though I suppose it would spare me the suffering of you re-dressing. A small mercy at least," he teased.

"Perhaps in future, I'll do without the screen, save you the boredom."

"I'm quite sure we'd never leave this room if you did such a thing."

She hummed a laugh as he rose to his feet, taking her hand.

"You look lovely," he said, brushing his lips against her knuckles.

Her cheeks reddened a little, smile never fading. "You're not too bad yourself," She said, giving his hair a final tussle. She then grasped his arm and they exited their quarters, heading down the large corridor together. "Thank you for taking the day off. It's nice to have the extra company."

"I cannot deny that being with you is always preferable. I dearly wish, when the dust of war settles, we'll have more time for one another. Alas, Lady Edelgard's proposals of dismantling the nobility system and the church have caused a lot of tension within the houses, and the people. I suspect we'll be quelling more than one revolt before this is through. Not to mention those we must fight in the shadows."

For many the war was over, and that included Byleth. Edelgard had ordered her to step down following her injuries and due to her condition. It appeared that the reason she was able to endure such grievous injuries was due to the power of the goddess. Now, without that power, the echoes of her wounds had caught up, leaving her weakened and unable to fight without issue. Though she refused to be told the extent of it, it was obvious to him that she knew.

Her role was more of an advisor now, a confidant to the crown.

She seemed a touch disheartened. "If there is anything I can do to help -"

"- Please, don't worry yourself. If I find anything suitable to sate your inclinations, I'll let you know."

She nodded, still hold of his arm, leaning into him gently as not to hinder with their gait.

"I can't wait to get out of this place," she sighed, side-eyeing the guards.

After their imminent appointment with Manuela, they had decided to look for a house within the capital. Byleth had lamented on no too few occasions at how frustrating it was living within the palace. She desired a house of their own. She told him she wanted something small with a garden, unoccupied by nobles, spies, guards, and servants. Somewhere to call their own.

"With any luck we'll find somewhere suitable," he replied. He had picked out a few promising places, close to the palace of course. Though he preferred the security of the castle, he found her happiness to be more important.

Before long they had made their way to Manuela's office at the infirmary. It appeared to be a slow day, barely a murmur through the rows of beds, just the distant footsteps of nurse and the shuffling of paperwork.

Hubert began to feel a slight apprehension. Manuela had advised that they visit her each week to check on the baby, and it was for good reason. Ever since Byleth shared the fact that her mother had died during childbirth, everyone began to take things more seriously than he was comfortable with. Contrary to his usual thorough mind, he dared not think about the possible outcomes.

Byleth knocked upon the office door, he felt her squeeze his hand, helping to brush away the idle thoughts.

There was a terse sigh from behind the door, "Come in," Linhardt said.

"Lin?" Byleth said, happy to see him.

"Hello, Professor… and Hubert." Linhardt's smile wavered when he saw him. Hubert didn't care.

"It's good to see you again. But where is Manuela?" Byleth asked.

"Manuela is… indisposed at the moment. She asked me to act in her stead."

"Indisposed…" Hubert grumbled, "More than likely hungover." He made a mental note to look into the matter further. "Are you even qualified for this?"

"I am. In fact, I have been working closely with Manuela for the past month for this purpose."

Byleth hopped up onto the examination bed.

Hubert grimaced. "Forgive my prying, but I find it difficult to believe that you have a vested interest in our child. You clearly have an ulterior motive."

"Right you are, as usual, Hubert."

He could feel the irritation bristle up his spine. "Care to share your reasons?"

Lin yawned, eyes lazily regarding him. "I'm researching how crests develop, and if they present in the womb or not." He turned to Byleth who was patiently listening. "Specifically, you professor, are fascinating, as you lost your crest. Which brings me to my next area of interest. Being able to examine you may help towards me finding a method to remove crests. This would greatly help the likes of Lysithia and the Emperor."

"I'll assist you in any way I can," Byleth said, she seemed happy enough.

"Hmph," Hubert huffed. Perhaps he had judged the man too swiftly. "It's about time you put your talents to good use. If this could be used to help Lady Edelgard, I have no objections."

"Now, Hubert, if you would kindly step out of the room for me," Lin said.

"Why?" He scowled, surely there was nothing for Byleth to be embarrassed about.

"Because you're a bother."

He heard Byleth stifle a laugh, letting out a snort. Hubert sat upon a chair in defiance.

"Ich. Fine, have it your way. Just… please be quiet," Lin said as he gestured for Byleth to lay down.

Hubert watched as Linhardt placed a couple of fingers upon Byleth's bare stomach, faith magic weaving around them both. That was when a new, intense feeling hit him. Jealousy. He had not expected such an adverse reaction, especially when it concerned Linhardt of all people. He tried to bury it, for her sake, but it was clear he was burning with ire. He detested another man touching her, even in innocence.

"I can't sense a crest in the child… Perhaps it's too early to tell," Lin mumbled.

"How about a heartbeat?" Byleth asked wryly.

"Oh, yes, there's definitely a heartbeat. There is no cause of concern, everything seems in order."

Relief.

"Is it a complicated magic to learn?" Hubert asked, curious to know if he could do it himself. The thought of Lin touching her on a weekly basis made him internally wretch.

"The method is delicate and complex, not your forte. You'd probably end up killing the poor thing," he replied sourly.

"For your own sake, you're quite lucky I have a decent amount of self-control."

Byleth walked over, guiding him by the arm. "It's very sweet of you, but let's leave it to the professionals, yes?" she said. It was sweet, but he could feel the underlying threat in her voice.

"Very well, as you wish." He stood up, allowing Byleth to guide him out of the room. Lest he be chastised by her in front of Linhardt.

"Commiserations on your impending marriage, by the way," Lin said after them, "I hope you don't mind if I pass on buying you a gift, I'll be quite busy over the coming fortnight."

"The gift of not seeing your face, for a time, is more than acceptable," Hubert replied with a scorching glare.


"Honestly, it looked like you were about to set him ablaze!" Byleth said. She wasn't angry with him, but she also wasn't blind, it was quite obvious he had a jealous streak in him.

"I won't lie to you. The thought did cross my mind," he replied darkly.

"Don't worry, no one is going to sweep me off my feet and whisk me away from you," she laughed as she pushed her arms either side of his waist, hugging him from behind. She smiled as she felt his heart rate quicken at her embrace.

"Precisely. Because I won't allow it."

She rested her head against his back, listening to the horse hooves upon the cobblestones. She was sat behind him side-saddle, watching as they passed through a small district of the city. She smiled. What a sight they must have been. Both dressed in black upon a midnight steed. They had received some confused and worried looks from the residents. As if they were harbingers of darkness prowling the bright town; remnants of a war thought to have ended.

Enbarr wasn't at all what she had expected. It was lively and bustling, full of colour and beautiful architecture. Living in the palace had been nice, for a time, but with Hubert being the new minister she found herself often alone. Everyone else she knew had an agenda and tended to be busy. Nevertheless, she tried to stay positive, even though she often found herself feeling incredibly useless.

The idea of having her own home and more independence helped somewhat, perhaps she could find something new within the great city, away from the ever-present eyes of the palace. She knew that Hubert would always have eyes on her, his or not, that was a given. Strangely she found herself craving a normal life. Well, as normal as one could be when your fiancée was fighting a secret war in the shadows.

With her body weakened and being stripped of her station, she felt like she had lost a large part of her identity. Intrusive thoughts on whether Hubert still saw her as the strong general he fell in love with plagued her. She wasn't sure whether his overprotectiveness was a symptom of her weakness, or that she hadn't put much stock into it previously.

"You've fallen quiet, is everything alright? Not feeling weary, are you?"

"I'm perfectly fine - cease your fretting," she replied curtly into his back.

He huffed a laugh, "That will be quite difficult. I must admit, I take pleasure in doting on you. Besides, what type of husband would I be if I did not care for your wellbeing?"

She sighed a response, not willing to admit he was right. Then something caught her eye. "Oh, look at that!" She pointed out towards a building.

"The chapel?" He asked.

"Yes! Can we go have a look?" The building was rather small and quaint, it's perfect white walls hidden behind a quell of trees. Something about it felt nostalgic, perhaps the way the stone was carved or the peacefulness of its presence.

"I see no reason against it. We still have plenty of time to see the third house."

As they approached, they noticed an elderly priest tending to the weeds outside the doors, his face dropped a fraction when he saw them approach – he looked uneasy at their presence. He fixed his posture, eyeing them cautiously. Hubert dismounted first, before assisting Byleth onto the ground.

The priest spoke firmly. "I'm sorry, but the church doors are closed for the time being. Please understand, though worship is not outlawed, we are wary about outsiders within our walls."

"Outsiders, you say?" Hubert smirked. Byleth raised an eyebrow, slightly worried for the pastor. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Hubert von Vestra, Minister to the Imperial household."

His eyes wide with realisation, he stammered, noticing the embroidered emblem upon Hubert's coat. "Please forgive my unfamiliarity, sir," he bowed respectfully, "I am Pastor Wallace. We have had many travellers of late, many with ill intentions towards the church due to recent events…"

"I will overlook your ignorance and disrespect… Just this once. My betrothed, Miss Eisner, and I wish to have a look around. If you would be so kind."

"By all means, my lord and lady." He opened the door, allowing them to enter without issue, "The place is empty at the moment, take all the time you need, our doors are ever open to you. Also, please allow me to congratulate you on your engagement."

"Thank you," Byleth said gently as they walked through the doors.

She noticed upon entering why it seemed so familiar. The delicate stained glass and the colourful tiles that adorned the un-swept floor. It seemed the architect had taken inspiration from Garreg Mach itself. It was an odd feeling like she was home for the first time in a long while. She longed to return to the monastery, but as it stood, they wouldn't be for a long time yet.

She ran her hands over the wood of the benches, dust collecting on her fingertips.

"Apologies," the priest said, "with all funding halted, I have found it difficult to maintain by myself."

"I want to get married here," she said steadily.

She noticed Hubert give her a curious look, followed by a humoured smile.

"Truly, my lady?" the priest spoke, quite dumbfounded, "surely there are more suitable places for such a grand event!"

"I suppose this is more fitting than the royal palace," Hubert said, "loathe though I am to admit it, having our wedding as a significant event felt rather daunting."

Byleth beamed at him, "Yes. Something more quaint feels… right."

"Consider me honoured, my lord and lady. Your story has become very beloved among the people from what I've heard. To meet you both has been quite humbling."

"We will, of course, make a donation to help with the preparations," She said.

"My thanks," he replied, bowing. "I will excuse myself and leave you both to your privacy. I must tend to the gardens."

He left, walking with a joyful gait as if a few years had been restored to him.

Byleth turned to embrace Hubert who seemed to be readily waiting on her. "Thank you," she said, unable to remove the smile from her face.

"I dare say I've come to enjoy your impulsiveness. But I do agree, this place is quite fitting."

"Getting married before a crowd of strangers didn't feel right."

"Indeed."

He placed a kiss upon her forehead before they parted, walking down the aisle towards the dishevelled alter. She felt a sudden pang of sadness as she noticed something would be starkly missing from the ceremony. Her father would not be there to walk her down the aisle. She could picture his face, beaming with pride as he took her arm. She knew he would be proud, as the memory still rang clear as day in her head.

The day she died; he came to her.

She closed her eyes, taking a moment to recall it.


"Father?" She spoke, his face seemed to be one of the few things she could remember through the haze. It was a strange feeling as if she no longer needed to breathe – all pain had dissipated. It was hardly unwelcome.

"Hey…. Kid," he replied, the soft sun lightening his hair. The great expanse of the plains led before them, green and lush, one they traversed much in her earlier years. She always loved it there, it felt like the world belonged to them.

"Got yourself in a bad situation, eh? Honestly, I thought I'd taught you better," He said, gaze not entirely chastising, "Didn't think I'd be seein' you so soon."

"Yes… that's right," she replied with a cringe, exasperation setting in. She found it so hard to order her thoughts. "You… died. I remember it."

"Lucky for you, your path doesn't end here." He pointed at the healing magic springing up around her, she heard the echoes of a familiar voice, but couldn't put a face to it.

"No…" she replied, voice quivering. "I don't want to leave you again."

"Yeah, well, life is never easy, kid. Things are gonna get tough. Make sure you face the world with a smile and a laugh. Just like your mother did."

"Mother…" she mumbled, "Is she not with you? Is she not here?"

"I've not met with her yet. Been waiting for you, actually," he said with a warm smile. "Wait… is that a ring on your finger? Are you getting married?"

"Yes." She knew the answer immediately, but she felt so tired.

"Well, would you look at that! My little girl is getting married! Ah, sorry I won't be around to walk you down the aisle."

"You'll be there in spirit," she smiled.

"Aye. That I will. So, who's the lucky guy?"

"It's…" What was his name anyway? She tried to think over the miasma… Ah, that was it. "Hubert."

"You mean the strange one? Followed that princess around like a dog? Wait, didn't he threaten you once?"

She laughed, "Yes, that's the one."

"Hmm. Does he make you happy?"

"Yes, very much so!" she beamed.

"Well, that's good enough for me," he laughed. "If he makes you smile like that then you have my blessing. I suppose you'll be starting a family then… hm."

"Actually, yes, I'm…" she words escaped her, desperation taking hold. "I need to go back."

"Yeah," he replied with a sad smile. "I guess high time it's time I moved on. You've got a life for yourself now."

"Father…" She uttered, tears welling at her eyes.

"Don't worry. I raised you to be strong. And you'll raise your kid to be strong. Take care of each other." He held her in an embrace. He had no heartbeat, but it was warm, clearing the fog from her mind. "And try not to get stabbed, alright?"

She laughed into his coat, "Alright, I'll do my best."

"I love you, Kid."


"It's a shame my father won't be walking me down the aisle," she brooded, feeling the silken wood beneath her palm. "I swear I spoke to him that time…" She trailed off, she didn't expect Hubert to be interested in some near-death fever dream of hers.

"Indeed, you said as much not long after you awoke. Something about giving us his blessing."

"You believe me?" She was a touch taken aback at his response. His tone was not mocking or jaded. It was sincere.

"Yes. I do. In fact, I experienced something similar during the attack on Arianrhod. Though I can imagine your experience was considerably more heartening."

"Is it something you want to talk about?" She asked gently.

"Perhaps… some things are better kept to memory. Real or not, it served to wash away many doubts," he replied, averting his eyes, "though, I still find myself wondering…"

"You'll be a wonderful husband. And an excellent father," she said, nudging him with her hip. "So long as no one else dares to touch us," She added with a giggle. "And I'll do my best not to get stabbed."

Hubert frowned at her last comment, "Indeed… I'd appreciate that very much."