The Same Night; Nine Forty-Seven P.M.:
Even though the Fall breeze was causing unassuming trees to shiver so violently that their leaves fell away and blew out into who-knows-where, the heat under the sheets of the emperor and empress's bed could rival the hottest of summer nights. Their panting breaths are louder than the wind smacking against the glass windows on either side of the bed, and the rocking of Edelgard, who's perched on Byleth's waist proudly, continuously shakes the headboard which groans inconsistently. The stark contrast of the crimson sheets bunched around Edelgard's shockingly pale waist is just a fraction of the reason Byleth gapes at the vision that is her wife. She finds herself stupefied as she watches Edelgard's hands pressed against Byleth's breasts to tease at her nipples while her hips grind back and forth rather than up and down on the thick toy on Byleth's waist. Moving up into Edelgard with the toy is always Byleth's job; one that she's doing poorly at right now, because Edelgard is just… beautiful. Her pale face is flushed along one cheek, over the bridge of her nose, and then to the other cheek while being framed by her long white hair that rests just above the curve of her breasts. Sometimes her bunny-soft hair covers Byleth's view of her maddeningly hard nipples that always seem to be wet with the empress's saliva (because Byleth can literally never stop kissing them no matter what position they're in) and Byleth always pushes her hair away in those instances for the sake of pinching them. And that's just what happens now; Byleth brushes the hair back over Edelgard's shoulders and twists. Edelgard's head falls back as she moans at the feeling and Byleth feels all of her blood rush to her groin as she breathes out,
"Perfect." She twists them again, and Edelgard moans louder, rocking a little harder.
"Wh-hh-What was that?" Edelgard asks, looking down while her chin is tilted upward still. The way the emperor is looking at her just gets Byleth's blood pumping even quicker, and Byleth finally starts moving her hips up and into he wife. "Oooh-nn! Byleth~."
"El," she breathes, feeling dizzy from all of the blood zipping through her veins. The high from sex with the one she loves is still addicting as all hell to both of them, and it shows on their faces as they stare into each other's heavy lidded eyes. "Is your heart ok?" Edelgard nods confidently while not sacrificing the speed of her hips. In fact, Edelgard hunches over so as to rest her hands on the opposite sides of Byleth's head for extra support as she quickens her pace. Of course, Byleth doesn't lag behind, and Edelgard whines as her wife pushes in so deep that Byleth's hard abs rub against Edelgard's swollen clitoris that's begging to be touched. It's just enough friction to make her body twitch while not being nearly enough for her to finish right then and there, which is exactly what she wants. Edelgard's determined to make this last. Then Byleth's hands squeeze her wife's backside and force her so far down the toy that it hurts just right, and Edelgard unabashedly begs for her wife to,
"F-fuck me harder." She breathily laughs at the way Byleth eyes narrow rather darkly. It only happens in times that Byleth is so turned on that she's able to forget herself and do purely what's asked of her. And Byleth almost does what Edelgard has asked too well, because she feels that scarily similar feeling of needing to pee with urgency while also feeling like her clitoris is spasming, and it happens all too fast. "Wait!" But it's a lost cause, Edelgard's already gushing her arousal all over Byleth's stomach and it's dripping down onto the sheets. The embarrassment of it freezes Edelgard up, but nothing compares to the absolute horror that shocks her complexion as when Byleth swipes some of it off with her finger and licks it off. "Byleth!"
"What?" Edelgard's lip just quivers in disbelief and Byleth chuckles, going for more before Edelgard roughly snathces her wrist.
"Whatifthere'surineinthat?" Edelgard mumbles, face about as red as the sheets. With a smug grin, the empress slowly takes one of Edelgard's hands and drags it through the watery ejaculate left on her stomach before teasingly licking each of Edelgard's fingers and sucking the tips. "...That was…" Byleth smirks, rightly satisfied with herself.
"Can I move inside you again?" Edelgard has to blink herself out of her own mind before she nods and leans forward so her hanging breasts are grazing Byleth's as the two slowly begin to build up to the same rhythm as before. It's almost comical how Byleth's eyes are glued to Edelgard's breasts as they gently swing back and forth with every thrust, but the emperor stays quiet. Well not quiet. She's moaning obnoxiously loud by now with a cracking voice and all. "Goddess, I love when you're loud, El. You have such a sexy voice and-nn-such a gorgeous body that I can't-" Byleth jerks up hard, and Edelgard whines. "Can't ever get enough of it." Even if she tried to talk back, the emperor knows she'd be able to get nothing out but a strangled groan. Her entrance is being stretched wide and her g-spot is growing sore from constantly yet perfectly getting slammed over and over which makes the toy itself pop slightly every time it moves. Everything's made better by the hands groping her waist and thighs, and the mouth latched onto the skin of her breast that's sucking deep dark marks that will remind her of this night for days on end, just how she likes it.
"UNGH! There! There, Byleth!" Edelgard stops her movements and leans back so she's vertical on Byleth's waist while her wife slows down and very purposefully grinds the toy up into Edelgard as deep as she can. It feels so good that all of Edelgard's body becomes covered in goosebumps, and her shoulders tense up to her ears as her head falls back so far that the cartilage in her throat presses flush against her skin and makes it harder for her to breathe. Yet that lack of oxygen gives her a head rush that makes every thrust of Byleth's hips, and every spike of pain from the nails in her backside feel that. Much. Better. "Angh… anghhh!" She blindly reaches for one of Byleth's hands to press it against her heart. Even though it sounds like she's struggling to talk, Byleth asks,
"Are you alright?"
"Don't stop," Edelgard pants, biting her lip as she moans again. The emperor squeezes her eyes shut and throws her head forward, feeling her insides rapidly being to convulse around the toy. "Please don't stop, pleasepleaseplease don't st-UNGH!" All this time, as Byleth watches, slack jawed and painfully turned on, her thoughts never stop repeating; I love you. I love you so much Edelgard. I love you so so much, El. When it's clear Edelgard is so close to cumming that she's nearly about to cry, Byleth flips Edelgard onto her back and fucks her slowly, passionately, and kisses her lips just the same. She smiles at the (cute) surprised noise that vibrates her lips before Edelgard fully sinks into the kiss and wraps her strong legs around the empress's hips to pull her in closer. With both arms underneath Edelgard's shoulder blades, Byleth can feel her wife's sobs of bliss building up until finally, Edelgard breaks the kiss, blowing the last shreds of a brain Byleth has as the emperor moans LOUDLY into the empress's mouth. Holy SHIT, Byleth thinks to herself, trembling in awe. The emperor's nails scratch down her wife's back, certainly drawing blood, as she finishes, probably harder than she's ever finished in her entire life, with her ejaculate gushing out of her yet again. Byleth doesn't stop thrusting until Edelgard goes completely limp after another whole minute.
….
….
"Are we not going to talk about how hot that was?" Byleth asks, looking happier and more sheepish than Edelgard has maybe ever seen her. Edelgard has to wonder why her wife has to be so adorably aggravating before she gently pushes Byleth off and winces at the initial loss of the toy. "Are you ok?"
"I'm more than ok," Edelgard raspily answers, having lost a good amount of her voice from moaning which was… so hot yet again. Byleth rather unflatteringly drops onto her side next to the emperor who's rubbing her forehead with the back of one shaky hand. The high of her orgasm is still coursing through her veins, and she's sure she's smiling like a fool just the same as Byleth. Although Edelgard wants to wince once she splits open her eyelids and looks down to find her thighs, stomach, and a good amount of other things covered in sweat and arousal, the way Byleth distracts her by tilting Edelgard's chin up for a sweet kiss causes her to forget about it just as easily.
"Do you need water? I'll go fetch a rag." Before Byleth can even sit up, Edelgard hooks an arm around her wife's shoulder and pulls her back down so they're nose to nose.
"You're not going anywhere right now," Edelgard demands, "That was something else entirely."
"Felt good?"
"You know it did," Edelgard jests, limply moving in to hug her wife who never ceases to make her feel safe (even when the sheets are drenched and bothersome). They become entangled in each other's limbs and loose hair as their breath intermingles and dances across each other's peaceful faces. Edelgard's fingers thread through Byleth's hair at the ends as she loses herself in thought, biting the back of her lip.
"You look distracted," Byleth points out, tracing Edelgard's jaw with her thumb.
"I've successfully delayed your leave for tonight," Edelgard starts, "But I'm worried you'll leave before I even have the chance to say goodbye."
"I'd never just take off on you." Byleth's sure that would trigger the fragile state of Edelgard's mental health if the empress just up and left like so many other people in Edelgard's life anyhow. She's not about to test it. "I'll leave once you're fully alert. You can't expect me to leave without thoroughly kissing you in the morning." The two smile at each other then. Yet Edelgard's heart starts to thump sporadically before freezing up for a second too long.
"A-ah," Edelgard groans, clutching at her chest. Byleth gets up on her elbow to better be able to soothe Edelgard by rubbing at her chest for her. "Thank you, my light. That already feels quite better."
"You're gonna be ok," Byleth tells her with furrowed brows. "It'll pass. Let me just get you water."
"Wait, Byleth? I know it's late, though I don't want this night to end quite so soon. Would you be willing to soak in the bath with me?"
"Of course. Let me get the water in then. Sit tight." Though Edelgard's gut reaction is to argue, throw herself out of the bed, and stride towards the tub herself, she obeys. ...Her chest is hurting too much to get up right now anyway, but she won't utter that aloud. Her lilac gaze grows transfixed on Byleth's back before she's completely out of view, hidden away behind another door. Slowly Edelgard sits up, hissing and groaning as her heart tries to settle back into a steady, healthy, rhythm. It takes too long, and her face becomes one of sour anxiety that puckers her lips.
"How are you supposed to help me, Byleth? I can't even help myself," she whispers, digging her fists into the sheets. "But we have to try, don't we, my love?" Byleth's stoic yet well-meaning smile pops up in the back of her mind as she compares it to the drastic sad look she wore earlier tonight. I never want to see that face again, Byleth. You deserve nothing but happiness now.
Seven A.M.:
Byleth's the first to wake up like always. As promised, she doesn't dare inch off of the bed or do much else but reach over and pull Edelgard into her chest, peppering kisses all over the emperor's head. The younger of the two begins to stir, and she curls her toes before stretching out her arms above her head. The somewhat loopy smile that spreads across Edelgard's face makes Byleth chuckle and nuzzle her nose into Edelgard's lavender smelling hair.
"You're still here," Edelgard says, reaching back to rub Byleth's neck.
"I promised you I would be, El. Now let me kiss you."
"I never said you couldn't," Edelgard chides, already leaning in. The first touch of their mouths sends a wave of elation throughout the entirety of their bodies that's comparable to soaking in a perfectly heated and medicated bath. Their throats vibrate as they hum, and Byleth is quick to run her hands up and down Edelgard's sides as she sits them both upright against the headboard. Will I ever tire of this? Edelgard wonders. Preposterous. If I were to tire of her lips, I would be admitting my boredom to our love. Such a thing will never transpire for as long as I live- Yet there's a chance "as long as she lives" really isn't much longer. She shivers against her wife's torso and subsequently hugs her closer.
"Why don't you come with, El?"
"I have much to do here."
"But this is your life. Our life." Edelgard finds it hard to come up with a response to that, although she doesn't have to because there's a knocking against their bedroom window. And then they both blink. "...This is ten floors up," Byleth mumbles, feeling the anxiety of a sinking stomach that may well fall out of her body. Byleth jerks off the bed before whipping the curtains open.
There he is. On his wyvern. Claude von Riegan. Byleth's breath expels from her lungs with a cough. It's almost scary that he isn't smiling. He's just looking down at her with his chin held oddly high, as if he's lowly upon her; It makes Byleth feel ill. She stops putting it off and finally opens the window. She hardly notices Edelgard who's already left the room with a start.
"...Claude."
"Hmm." His wyvern flaps its wings hard enough to blow Byleth's hair around before he hitches his thumb over his back towards the small gap in his saddle. "I kinda expected you to be ready by the time I showed up. Lysithea told me she sent a letter to your crazy wife so I figured it was a matter of time before you came running. I uh… yeah I appreciate it." He clears his throat awkwardly and Byleth sort of just stands there before nodding uselessly.
"I will meet you by the front gates. I just have to ready my bag and say goodbye to Edelgard."
"Actually… lemme talk to the emperor too. There's something I've gotta ask." Before Byleth can say another word, he flies off, heading straight for the gates.
"Goddess let this be peaceful for once…."
Minutes Later:
"OF COURSE!" Claude shouts, half-laughing, seething even, and shaking his fist at both Edelgard and Byleth who are standing rather than sitting near their respective thrones. Suddenly Claude points directly at Byleth and just about growls. "So you're only helping because SHE'S sick, huh? Not because of Lysithea. Not because I asked for your help, and you-"
"-I tried to tell you I'd help, Claude. I-"
"-No you didn't! You just told me you were busy with Edelgard doing whatever crazy murdering bull-crap you-"
"-We haven't murdered anyone," Byleth argues tiredly, rubbing her head that's pulsating every other second.
"Hah! You literally helped Edelgard annihilate half of the-"
"-For a reason," Byleth murmurs, looking down at her feet. She feels exhausted all of a sudden. The weight of her past actions are just… suffocating even now.
"Tell that to Hilda, or Ashe, or-"
"-You really have to bring them u-"
"Byleth!" Claude shouts, flailing his hands around. "What you did was just… I try to forget it. I try to forgive you. But I just can't seem to move on." The two friends slump over in unison. After ten dead silent seconds pass by, Edelgard tightly wraps her hand around Byleth's upper arm.
"My light," she whispers with hot breath that makes the hair on the back of the empress's neck stand tall. "This bickering is getting you nowhere. May I step in?"
"No," Byleth sighs. "No," she repeats louder, looking up into Claude's glossy emerald eyes. "We have to get past this. We're friends aren't we? Friends argue. And then they make up, yes?" Claude wrinkles the side of his lip before tapping his toes against the ground. She's not wrong, Claude thinks to himself. I'm being ridiculous-WE'RE being ridiculous, arguing like two Lorenzs' or something. ...Yeesh. Scary thought.
"Ya know," Claude starts with a faint grin. "You're wrong about one thing." He almost chuckles at the pout Byleth sends his way before slapping it right off his face when Edelgard glares at him. Yikes. Alright alright, Emperor Up-Tight. "We aren't just friends. We're best friends."
….
"Yeah," Byleth agrees with a growing grin. "We are." The two smirk and Edelgard looks between them with narrowed eyes.
"This is all it takes to mend a friendship?" Edelgard comments dryly with a hand on her hip. "You'd think the two of you argued over who spilled the milk instead of someone's life." The sourness comes back up both Byleth and Claude's throats for a minute.
"Not helping," Byleth sighs.
"Heh. You tell her, Teach."
"I don't need you to antagonize me," Edelgard barks. Claude smirks at her cockily before opening his mouth again.
"-Claude," Byleth jumps in. "And Edelgard. Please just… behave." Like two reprimanded dogs, they both drop their heads in obedience. "Now what have you learned about El-Edelgard and Lysithea's condition? Knowing you I bet you seeked out answers in Almyra already."
"That I did. Thanks for giving me so credit," he chuckles, pacing lightly back and forth. "Well the best way to go is surgery. Pull those extra crests out of them."
"You say that as though it's easy to come by a surgeon who won't mess up. This is open heart surgery," Edelgard says, rubbing at her chest. Just the thought reminds her too much of back then, down in that wretched lab. How she survived, she still can't say.
"Yeah and let's be honest for a second, dear ol' emperor." Claude rather aggressively stops just short of Edelgard with his hand on his hip. "I'm sure you've realized losing your second crest will mean you won't be freakishly strong, and then you'll be worried about appearing weak to the fragile people of Fodlan you've forced to be obedient to you." Edelgard growls under her breath and Claude skittishly backs away. "I'm just being honest. You don't want to be any less strong incase all of Fodlan decides to someday overthrow you, for whatever reason, yeah?" Edelgard has to shut her eyes and count to ten because she is SO close to just throwing her fist at his hea-
FWSSH!
"Ah! Teach?!" He stumbles backward holding his left shoulder with both hands.
"You really deserved that," Byleth mumbles, shaking out her fist. Edelgard smirks behind her own hand. "Though I can do that again."
"No thanks!" Claude hurriedly says. "I'll uh- I'll stop bothering Edelgard now. I'll be good. Promise." Byleth then turns to her wife and rests a hand low on the emperor's back before whispering in her ear.
"Are you going to be ok with me gone?" Edelgard knows what she means. Because despite his brashness, Claude's right. The state of a united Fodlan is still filled with unrest. Different regions and their past prejudices towards one another still need reprimanding, and the general approval of Edelgard herself is mixed. However, Byleth… Byleth is praised and liked despite her hand in the bloody unification. There is something to say about having part of a Goddess on your side after all. So when Byleth asks if she'll be ok, Edelgard knows she's worried for both the emperor's safety should word get out that the empress is gone, and she's worried about Edelgard herself being alone. Enbarr is barren of old friends after all. And then there's the other thing… Edelgard losing her strength. Crests mean nothing to the emperor when it comes to the commoners and the nobility, though Edelgard really relies on her own. Hypocritical, she knows that. Yet if Byleth can hold the respect of the people without having a crest any longer, Edelgard should be able to as well. Maybe. She can feel her temples tightening just at the thought.
"Byleth? May we speak alone?" The empress nods immediately and Claude's already taking his leave.
"I'll be waiting for you outside, Teach. Let's head out soon though. We'll hit Garreg Mach first." Shkk. The big doors close and they're alone. Edelgard relaxes her back and drops down on her throne with a long sigh. Of course Byleth chooses to kneel in front of Edelgard and rest her chin on the emperor's knee instead of just sitting in her own throne. The emperor finds that she likes that anyhow, because she slips one of her gloves off and runs her hand through Byleth's hair and smiles when those blue eyes slip shut.
"Thank you for doing this," Edelgard quietly says, kneading Byleth's skull. "If I'm being honest, I would be somewhat lacking in my search for help."
"Why?"
"For the same reason Lysithea is. We're fearful of going through another life-threatening surgery." Byleth's eyes pop open. I never thought about that aspect. It would be traumatic to be putting yourself in that position again. Byleth abruptly stands up and leans in.
"I won't leave you or Lysithea's side for even a second while it happens. And I'll make sure to watch everything the doctor does." Taking Edelgard's face in her hands, she moves to kiss Edelgard's nose. "Please El. Trust me to take care of this. All you need to do is wake up once it's done, and I'll do anything to ease the pain after."
"...Alright." They both supportively smile before Edelgard hooks her arms around Byleth's neck and tugs her into the throne as well. "Please don't take long," she says against the empress's lips. "I'm going to miss you like nothing else."
"I know. But I rather a few days without you than my whole life." Edelgard shakily nods her head, only distracted when Byleth kisses her again. "I love you."
"I love you, my light." They kiss for far too long, yet not long enough.
Evening:
"Hubert!" Byleth calls out, just about yelling over the loud flapping of the wyvern's wings flailing in the wind. Both she and Claude wave to him from up in the sky as they near the Officer's building. The three students he's speaking with look up in aggravated confusion before their eyes blow wide open at the realization that this is none other than the HERO of Fodlan coming down from the heavens. They just about drool as Byleth's boots touch the ground before a whole mob of teenagers come rushing their way.
"Woah woah woah," Claude chuckles, scratching his neck as everyone rapidly approaches. Byleth smiles warmly at a couple of them before Hubert huffs and slaps his hands together, creating a whirlwind of something strong enough to knock everyone (including the wyvern) back a few feet.
"Apologies," Hubert gruffly says to the crowd who are pouting and groaning. "I must speak to Her Majesty on my own. Please continue on to your next class period." The students look back and forth at one another before everyone leaves with dejected, hanging arms at their sides. With Claude next to her, Byleth curtly bows her head towards Hubert who's somehow looking younger these days with less bags under his eyes and more of a shine to his hair.
"Wow," Claude says, putting a hand on his hip as he checks Hubert out. "You're lookin' better. Finally." Hubert hisses at his feet before turning his head to the side to only face the empress.
"Why is he here, exactly? I'm assuming this has to do with Her Majesty, yes?" Right away Byleth notices Hubert begin to tense his brow and stiffen up around the shoulders.
"She's not in any danger. ...Necessarily." Hubert sucks in a hard breath and Byleth winces. "Sorry I'm… having a hard time coming to terms with it," she admits wearily. "It's her second crest," Byleth whispers.
"...So Arundel did lie," Hubert sighs, covering his eyes with a large gloved hand. "He swore her body could handle it. Tch. It must have been a way for him to eliminate her in the end. One of many."
"Lysithea's even worse off," Claude tells him quietly with green eyes fixed on some random spot behind Hubert's head. "And I'm not ready to lose her. We need your help finding a surgeon who can get those ticking time bombs out of our women."
"I hate to hear Her Majesty being referred to as just Byleth's 'woman,'" Hubert croaks, shaking his head. "But yes. Yes I will help. As will Lindhart. Let us fetch him and Hanneman both." Hubert turns on his heel, digging into the grass without another word as he takes off. Claude audibly lets out a relieved breath and Byleth chuckles.
"I told you all your fretting was for nothing."
"Gah," Claude groans. "You say that, but you also say ol' Edelgard is a 'cutie' and I FAIL to see any evidence in such a bold statement."
"She is cute!" Byleth argues, finally hurrying along towards Hubert who's long skinny legs take him way farther than anyone else's. "Very. Very. Cute."
"Nnnn. We gotta agree to disagree, Teach." The two grin to themselves as they keep moving.
Minutes Later:
"Oh. It's you, Professor." Byleth blinks at Lindhart as he greets her with a bored shrug before Hanneman comes dashing out of his office and into Lindhart's (which used to be Jeralt's).
"Professor!" Hanneman excitedly waves and bobs his head. "And even Claude. My, it's lovely to see you both again."
"Yep, same to you," Claude politely responds with eyes that look entirely uninterested. "Sorry I've gotta cut the pitter-patter short but we've got big problems." Claude quickly gives a run down of everything going on with Lysithea and Edelgard with Byleth's help, and Hubert adds in that,
"Their shared trauma will become an issue. They've barely escaped such tumultuous surgery once. I cannot imagine the painstaking mental handicap agreeing to this surgery will cause the two."
"They don't have time to be getting picky," Lindhart bluntly says with a nonchalant wave of his hand as he leans back in his bulky desk chair that has three blankets hanging off of the back. I have a feeling he does a lot more sleeping in that chair than anything, Byleth thinks. Hubert looks peeved, yet Lindhart goes on. "If it's gotten this bad that Edelgard needs to ask anyone for help… I'd say they're both ready to take this seriously." The five of them in the room all lean up against some piece of furniture as they hum to themselves. ...Certainly one of the most cliche things Byleth's ever experienced, and she has to smirk to herself.
"I can do the surgery myself," Hanneman claims, puffing out his chest. Hubert frowns deeply at this. "As long as Manuela is by my side with her team of healers so as to keep the subjects asle-"
"-Subjects?" Byleth cuts in with an edge to her voice. Hanneman coughs and tries to fake a smile.
"To keep Lysithea and Her Majesty asleep," he corrects. Byleth glances at Lindhart who looks unaffected by Hanneman's slip up, and she finds her face getting hotter with aggravation. "Of course Lindhart will help as well. We just need to be sure we have the herbs and the medical supplies beforehand."
"And where do we get these things?" Claude asks.
"The scalpels we have are… mediocre," Lindhart confesses. "And the herbs leave much to be desired-yawwwwn-Perhaps it's best if we just cut them open with what we have, and-"
"-I think not," Byleth cuts in with a wrinkled brow. "Have some compassion, Lindhart." The man chuckles and shrugs tiredly.
"That's sort of hilarious coming out of your mouth, Professor."
"She's my wife!" Byleth barks, surprising Hanneman who hasn't ever seen this much emotion in the empress. "And your friend! Let us not forget who set up shop for both you and Hanneman to have all sorts of crest and whatever other information you two have at your fingertips. Show some respect," Byleth finishes curtly. Lindhart and Hanneman both purse their lips.
"Apologies for my tongue then," Lindhart says quietly.
"Same here," Hanneman tells her, wringing his hands together. "I speak loosely but I hold a great amount of respect for both the emperor and my friend, Lysithea." Claude's face grows serious at his unrequited love's name. "I can promise I will do everything in my power to help them both. Though, we do need help receiving the necessary supplies."
"Where can I get them?" Claude asks.
"Bridgid," Lindhart announces.
"Let's go, Byleth."
"Give me ten minutes," Byleth asks of Claude. He reluctantly agrees with a slow nod. "Feed your wyvern while I'm gone. Hubert?"
"I already expected as much," Hubert replies with a crooked jaw. "Let us go." The two creep away up to the third floor where the Archbishop, the emperor's, and now Hubert's room is. Byleth glances around the dimly lit room that looks just about the same as it has when her and Edelgard moved out to Enbarr. "Not much to see. The only difference is that I had the mattress changed." He drops himself down on the edge of the bed, crossing his arms as he shoots a rare smile at her. "After the wedding night this bed no doubt saw, I shivered at the thought of laying in it." At that, Byleth laughed, loud and free. She was even happier when Hubert chuckled along with her.
"Perhaps you just wish you were there."
"Oh certainly not," Hubert answered with a wicked shiver that has his hair standing on end. "After what I heard the last time I visited the Imperial Palace, I quake at the thought of Her Majesty… barking orders in such a… urgh." Byleth sniffs in humor before sitting down in a satin chair by the foot of the bed.
"That was a good night. A great one even."
"Please," Hubert croaks, covering his face as the memory of all those… moans and… whatever else he heard start to haunt his mind yet again.
"Plus you're probably the most obedient man I've ever met. You know you would love it if Edelgard told you exactly how she wants to be-"
"-SILENCE! No more of this ruthless teasing!"
"Fine," Byleth huffs, completely satisfied now as she smiles devilishly. This push-and-pull relationship she's grown to have with Hubert is one of her favorites now (just don't tell Claude. He's quite jealous). "Though the reason I need to talk to you in private may well be a little more embarrassing." She leans forward in her seat with her hands locked together as she looks up at her once bitter-rival of sorts. "I know I can trust you with this. It's… sort of embarrassing. For El more than me." With a deeply interested grin, Hubert leans slightly closer with his acid green eyes that just about stare into Byleth's soul. "I've been looking into ways Edelgard and I can have a child." Hubert's head bobs in surprise. "Of course we can adopt, but with all of the magic out there, I'm assuming there's some sort of way she and I can have one more naturally?" Byleth rubs the back of her head insecurely before Hubert opens his mouth.
"Interesting…."
….
"That's it?"
"Well, this is quite a roundabout way to ask me if I'll impregnate her in your stead."
….
….
"...I was joking," he sighs.
….
Byleth bursts out laughing, and it goes on for a full minute with her accidentally spitting into her hand and hiccuping as he boredly looks on. It really wasn't that funny, he thinks to himself.
"No-HICK-it's just-Heh. Heh." She raises up one finger, daring to order him to wait a second longer. "I'm just imagining how frustrated she'd get when you'd keep asking her if she's ok while you're-"
"-Your Majesty."
"Or how you'd probably be reminding her of all the work she has to get done while she's-"
"-Urghhhh. Byleth! For the sake of my curious mind; STOP." Finally Byleth sobers up and gets serious again before Hubert combusts right in front of her.
"Honestly though," she begins again. "I don't want Edelgard to go through the anxiety of adopting a child from some snobbish family just to keep up appearances. She wants to abdicate in a few years anyway. We talked about having a child last night. All hypothetically of course. But if you could find some way magic can help me get her pregnant, I'd be even more grateful for you than I already am." Hubert presses his tongue up to the back of his teeth as he thinks through the mountain of the dark magic books he's read.
"She will need much time to recover after her heart surgery. Therefore I should have time to ponder such wild thoughts for your sake and Her Majesty's." Byleth bows her head at him in honest appreciation.
"I'm thankful," Byleth swears.
"As am I for you. Even if it pains me to admit such a thing."
Late Evening:
"And here we are," Claude comments as he and Byleth casually walk down the eerily empty streets of Brigid. His wyvern is following them from high up in the sky, which Claude only asked it to do so Petra, most likely stationed with Dorothea in the castle they're beelining it to, has a heads up they're coming on such short notice. The clouds up above have completely dissipated, leaving only the twinkling stars and faintly glowing street lanterns guide their way down the dusty cobblestone streets that only seem to start when the castle is in view. Brigid is much more of a tropical looking place. Where there are oak trees in Enbarr, there are papaya trees; where there are shrubs back home, there are ferns and banana plants here. Byleth finds herself enamored with the humming of birds from off in the distance that sound nothing like the ones at Garreg Mach or Enbarr, and when she spots a very darkly lit dock where stakes to catch fish are, she wonders what the fish are like here. ...Perhaps I'll ask Petra to allow me to catch something for lunch tomorrow.
As they pass over the mote that leads to the leniently guarded front gate, Claude and Byleth both get to moving a bit faster. The second they step into the courtyard that looks more like a massive training ground than anything, tons of eyes bore holes into the two foreigners from the windows of the castle.
"Cuz that's not creepy at all," Claude mumbles, and Byleth grunts in agreement. The uneasiness continues to pile on as they step into the foyer, where ten servants stop and stare at them without saying a word, before finally bowing in greeting. "Uh. Hi. We're-"
"We know who you are, silly." The two turn their heads to the right and are greeted by the sight of a very Brigidian-dressed woman Byleth knows all too well.
"Dorothea," Byleth happily greets.
"Gosh you're looking great!" Dorothea says, rushing towards the empress before throwing herself into the woman's strong arms as she hums excitedly. "It's been so long, Professor! I've missed you. And Edie! Oh no!" Dorothea suddenly jerks back, digging her nails into Byleth's arm rather painfully as she asks Byleth in horror if, "Edie is alright?! Nothing bad has happened has it?" Byleth sighs and slinks her way out of Dorothea's hold.
"We have to talk about it in private. With Petra as well." Byleth's eyes shift towards the servants going about their tasks, all while watching the two outsiders rather obviously.
"Don't mind them, Professor. And Claude? I am having great happiness seeing you both." Everyone looks toward the long winding staircase with its black fur carpeting snaking down every step that Petra is quickly walking down. Her new (and fairly revealing yet somehow still modest) dress has a short trane that attracts Byleth's eyes like a moth to flame. Seeing Petra surrounded by her people in a place that's so distinctly decorated in order to celebrate the pride of Brigid is something that has Byleth smiling. She always hated hearing how out of place Petra felt sometimes, so to see her here, and to see the way Dorothea is looking, trying her absolute best to fit in for the sake of her lover, Byleth feels certain she's in the right place. These two will understand right away how much I need those supplies to help El. "My people just have harder time welcoming newcomers."
"Definitely," Dorothea adds, quickly holding out her hand for Petra to take before kissing her Queen on the cheek with not an ounce of shame. "I've been here for a year and they're finally listening to me when I try to speak to them in their language." Petra embarrassedly rubs her nose.
"I feel much sympathy for you both now. They don't speak English much, so they might not realize exactly where you both origin-originate."
"Hey I'm used to being an outsider," Claude mentions nonchalantly. "Besides. We aren't here for them. We're here for you, Queen Petra. We need your help." Petra's brows furrow in understanding as she leads them someplace else. Quickly do Claude and Byleth tell the two everything over a steaming hot fish dinner in a place where they thankfully can just relax without screaming at one another from opposite sides of a thirty-seat table like in Enbarr. The quiet bustling of the fireplace behind the head of the table where Petra insisted Byleth sit, eases their nerves as they talk of their worries.
"She's… really not doing well," Byleth admits, talking about Lysithea this time just so Claude won't have to. Dorothea sympathetically rubs Claude's back for a second before he nods in thanks. They're little more than strangers to Claude, but Lysithea is a friend of the entirety of the Black Eagles, and that gets him the team's respect alone.
"All you need are herbs?" Petra asks, taking a sip of her wine. Byleth nods. "Then I will pick them myself."
"I'll help," Claude speaks up.
"Allow me and my people to do this while having much pleasure. We are people who devote ourselves to friendships. Her Majesty and Lysithea are much more than just friends."
"That's right," Dorothea interjects, smiling at her wife with everything she has. Byleth finds it rather adorable that Petra still blushes at such a thing, and her mind drifts back to Edelgard back home. I wonder if you're going to sleep at all tonight if I don't drag you out of your study myself. ...Oh but Ferdinand's there. I did remind him to check up on her every now and then. I'm sure she'll have ran out of that room after he talked her ear off for too long. Heh. Byleth closes her eyes for a second, just picturing the whole scene playing out. What I wouldn't do to see the pout on your face right about now, El. "Professor?"
"What's wrong?"
"No no," Dorothea shakes her head, "I just wanted to know if you're alright." Both Claude and Petra somehow already got up and went somewhere else while Byleth was zoning out. "If I found out my Petra had something threatening her life… Well I'd just about lose myself in worry." Byleth skittishly adjusts in her seat, avoiding eye contact.
"...I just want her to be ok. The hardest part is what comes after the surgery. She's going to be in pain, constantly, and I'm-It's fine," Byleth finishes awkwardly. Dorothea's looking at her with her bright green eyes and it's too much for Byleth right now. "I just want her to live. I just want her to have the life she's literally bled for."
"She deserves it. And you too, missy." Dorothea throws herself in the seat closest to Byleth and boops her on the nose. She chuckles when Byleth's eyes shut in surprise. "You deserve to have your happy ending as well, Hero of Fodlan."
"I don't know about all that," Byleth dismissively says, standing up with her plate just for Dorothea to take it for her.
"You do! Now. Tell me all the Edie secrets I need to know as her self-proclaimed best friend."
I really missed this.