Days go By:
"Alrighty, Lysithea. Ready to go see everyone now?" Lysithea, sitting in front of a grand mirror that's decorated with elaborate eagles etched into the wood frame, finally finishes tying a section of her hair back. She holds her chin high, taking a breath as she stares into her own rose pink eyes. Claude's standing behind her, smiling cheekily as he rests a hand on her lower back. He hasn't left her side in a week, hugging her when she's in pain, brushing her hair when she can't sleep, and bringing her countless Empire-only sweets that she could never dream of affording. He's been perfect, she thinks to herself with a smile. And smiling, she does it so much more now, even when she's in so much pain that she's crippled. But there's a weight completely lifted from her shoulders now. She glances at the second deadly crest, set in a small wooden box surrounded by black velvet, recently taken out of her body. Lindhart intends on keeping it for study, but he insisted that she hold on to it for now, "So long as you don't go chucking it out a window," he half-joked.
"It's funny how such a tiny little thing could do so much harm," Lysithea laments, twirling a piece of her hair around her fingertip.
"Makes sense. You and Edelgard are pretty tiny yourselves. And you guys can take on anything," Claude states confidently, squeezing her hip and making her squirm. He grins at her squeaking yelp.
"No tickling, Claude!"
"Yeah yeah," he says, straightening up. "Now are you ready to head out?" Lysithea, standing up somewhat nervously with fingers tapping against her thigh, approaches the door as well. She takes a breath and pushes the door open. Claude happily rests a hand on her back yet again, and they start their walk, being careful of their speed as they go. When they turn down the hall however, Lysithea's mouth drops in surprise.
"E-Edelgard!" She squeaks. The second the emperor, walking at Byleth's side with her hand in hers, spins on her heel, Lysithea books it. "Ah, Professor too! I've missed you both so so so much!" She was just about to throw her arms around Edelgard with all of her force before awkwardly stopping herself, skidding on the floor and almost falling backwards before two different hands grab her forearms. "Well that was embarrassing," she mumbles, blushing hard.
"We've got you," Byleth says through a smile.
"Just as always," Edelgard agrees, smiling honestly as well. Lysithea's heart pitter-patters in her chest, especially when Edelgard beckons her closer and opens her arms.
"Edelgard," she sings, rushing in for the hug she wants so badly. They embrace with the affection of two people who have known each other for years, and in her mind, Edelgard wonders if that sacred necklace from her closest sister would suit this girl just as well. Perhaps that would be best, making the harsh memory sweet again. Hmm. They hug for a long time before finally pulling away, still holding each other's arms until their fingers brush and there's nothing left to touch. "I'm so happy you're alright," Lysithea sniffs, and Byleth pats her shoulder affectionately.
"As am I in your case," Edelgard remarks. "It seems you have a ring. So Claude is your choice after all." Claude steps up, rubbing the back of his neck as he grins proudly.
"Yep, that's my ring alright."
"I swear he's been sweet," Lyisthea tells Edelgard who's eyeing Claude rather concerned. "And he's not always making those stupid jokes anymore."
"My jokes were never stupid."
"Yes they were," Lysithea and Edelgard blurt. Claude sinks down and Byleth bites back a smile. The loud creaking of the hallway's door has everyone's heads turning. Out comes a pack of Golden Deer.
"Professor! Lysithea!" Ignatz cheers. Behind him, Raphael towers over him, and with his booming voice, he goes,
"Hiya little sis the second!"
"Grrr. I'm NOT little, alright?!" Lysithea barks. Leonie comes blowing past the two men, staring right into Byleth's eyes.
"Ah. If it isn't Captain Jeralt's daughter."
"And she has a name too," Claude inserts, shaking his head as he throws an arm around his best friend. Edelgard's just rolling her eyes, imagining if Hubert were here bearing witness to these people not even greeting the emperor and then walking all over the carpets with slightly dirtied boots. A familiar pale blue head of hair, being completely hidden behind Raphael's large body that's barreling towards a weary Lysithea just murmurs out a,
"Hello."
"Hi Marianne," both Claude and Lysithea greet. Suddenly both Edelgard and Byleth are realizing these hallways are far too narrow to be having all of these very affectionate people in it. After they share a look of concern, Byleth sneaks Edelgard past the mess of hugging and shouting all while Leonie's incessantly nagging at Byleth for a new duel.
"Thank the Gods Lorenz isn't here," Claude wheezes, being hugged to death by Raphael who's lifting the shorter man off the ground as everyone laughs at them. Edelgard pulls at Byleth's sleeve when she sees the empress smirking into her fist.
"Just you watch," Byleth whispers to her wife, walking her towards the hallway door before it swings open dramatically as Lorenz makes his grand appearance.
"Ah. It is I, Professor! So good to see-Ugh. Is that Claude I spy already?" Raphael roughly sets the Almyran down before Lorenz stalks his way over with Byleth smuggly looking over her shoulder. Claude sees her and shoots daggers her way with his lips reading as, YOU. ARE. DEAD.
"How about we leave them to it for a second? We've got our own friends to meet with again, my heart." Edelgard smiles gently and links her arm with Byleth's.
"I can hardly wait."
Minutes Later:
"HEYYA PETRA!" Caspar comes sprinting down the hallway, armor and all, before Dorothea jumps in front of him with a hand on her hip. He comes to an abrupt and… shaky halt, nearly flying forward with all of his earlier momentum.
"You only greet my lovely wife and speak none of me? The nerve, Caspar!"
"Oh uh, heh." Caspar rubs the back of his head, scratching his scalp and twitching his leg. "Sorry, friend. I uh. I just missed my old training buddy," he awkwardly mumbles.
"Oh you are too cute," Dorothea sings, pinching his cheek until he swats her away like a bunch of gnats.
"Dorothea you are making him redder than when I make you red," Petra says, getting closer to Caspar who easily forgets everything and goes in for an abrupt hug. "Ah yes! This is what I am most familiar with when it comes to greeting in Brigid. I missed you too, Caspar."
"Ah Petra," he sniffs, hugging her with the strength of a bear. She pats his back and smiles into his shoulder all the while. Moments later, the door to the thirty-seat dining room opens, and Ferdinand and Bernie come in holding hands.
"Hey Ferdie!" Dorothea greets. "Oh Bernie! You're looking fabulous! Is that makeup I spy on your face?" Bernadetta groans and Ferdinand pats her head.
"Well you see, I-I thought it made me look older. Which is good…."
"-Until you realize you're too old," Manuela cuts in, walking in behind them with all of the sass in the world as her hips shake with every loud step. "And then when you're too old, you'll just never find yourself a man."
"Manuela!" Dorothea snorts. "I see that my favorite lady," she leans into Petra's ear, "Besides you of course, sweetie, are still single and hurting?"
"Expect nothing less," Manuela sadly jokes, hanging her head as she approaches with open arms for Dorothea to jump into. Which she does. Seconds later, Hanneman, Hubert and Lindhart stroll in, discussing the surgery for the thousandth time. Even Lindhart is tired of it, and that's saying something. As soon as he spots purple and brown hair, his eyes lock on.
"The Queens have arrived. ...And everyone else. I think I'm satisfied now. I'm gonna go take a nap," he groans, moving towards a bench on the far end of the dining room by the lowly burning fireplace.
"Everyone," Hubert speaks up, voice deep and authoritative. "I'm warning you now; the Golden Deer have all arrived, and they are approaching from the far end of the West wing."
"Hubie, why are you talking like this is an attack strategy?" Dorothea asks, rolling her eyes.
"Because it could easily become a…" he holds back on the word "bloodbath," and chooses, "Altercation. I thought I might give a warning that we must keep things civil for the sake of the emperor."
"Uh," Caspar starts, naive as always, "I'm pretty sure it's just you and Edelgard who would be having problems with them." Hubert frowns and crosses his arms.
"I know not what you mean. We've already achieved our goals."
"I am not having understanding," Petra adds in, waving a hand. "Why would you think Hubert and Edelgard would not want them here?" Lindhart, from the very back, says,
"Because Hubert and Edelgard can be grumpy. I say it's from a lack of sleep."
"Well they can also be scary," Bernie murmurs. Of course Ferdinand jumps in with a shake of his fist and says,
"Well if that Lorenz Hellman Gloucester is here, Hubert and Edelgard, and ME of course, should kindly get him out of-"
"-Oh stoppit Ferdinand! This is about poor Lysithea too," Manuela asserts, wagging a finger at him. "If she wants the Golden Deer here, then they should be here."
"For once I agree with her," Hanneman remarks cheekily, fixing his monocle.
"...You are all as foolish as ever," Hubert darkly states, being ignored by everyone. He only sulks for a moment afterward. Perched against the wall nearest the exit, Hubert watches with a faint grin on his lips. You have done well, Professor. They've all grown closer because of your presence. And now, as we all age and go our own ways, we still feel as unified as ever. ...Perhaps I am glad Edelgard took a liking to you after all. Then he hears footsteps approaching. Two pairs. They're heavy and determined. He grins wider, opening the door as he bows before them. "Your Majesties."
"Hubert," Edelgard responds fondly, needing to say no more.
"Edie!" "Professor!" "Ah, my rival!" "Emperor Edelgard. Hello again." "Heyya Edelgard!" "Yawwwwn." "Hi Byleth!" "Professor. Edelgard." "We were supposed to be forever alone together, Professor!"
All of the Black Eagles crowd around the emperor and empress with huge smiles on their faces as they bombard the two with questions that all demand elaborate answers here and now. Byleth finds herself stuck on Edelgard, staring at her with a heart that's still fond just as it was years ago. Only Dorothea notices the indigo eyes lit up from the inside out. She doesn't say a word, just silently wraps her arms around her own wife that makes her feel just as good, and hums with her eyes closed as the chattering continues. Noticing Petra and Dororthea swap a quick kiss, Byleth starts to yearn for the same, but she knows better (last time she tried kissing Edelgard in front of their friends she got a slap on the wrist and embarrassedly dismissed from the bedroom for the night). Though she will never understand why Edelgard allows them to hug or hold hands in front of everyone (but she's not complaining). Slyly does Byleth slip her hand into Edelgard's, and she figures she's the only one to notice the slight stutter in Edelgard's response to whatever question she's being asked. Her heart soars at the sweetness.
You are so soft, Sothis complains. Byleth grits her teeth for a second.
Am not, Byleth argues.
I mean… it is kind of nice seeing the band back together. Dorothea got even more pretty somehow. Hubert's Hubert. Ferdinand and Bernadetta though. Weird.
I think it makes sense, Byleth defends, squeezing Edelgard's hand a little and pointing at the crowd of Golden Deer walking in.
Gah! Where's my popcorn?! This may turn out to be real entertaining seeing all of these goofs in one room. Byleth just promptly ignores her and waves for everyone to come closer. The Golden Deer do so quite skittishly.
"We don't bite," Dorothea laughs, trying to sound as friendly as can be. "Well unless Her Majesty says to." The Black Eagles grin amongst themselves, but Marianne, hiding behind Lorenz's back, just whimpers out,
"Is that supposed to be a joke?"
"Yeah we have a bunch of comedians here," Claude insists, walking with Lysithea in the lead.
"Lysithea," Ferdinand hums. "It is so good to see you well at last. I am glad to be in your presence once more!"
"Yeah… you too," she responds unenthusiastically, which only he doesn't notice, continuing to prattle on to her.
"Hey Petra," Raphael calls out, stumbling forward with Ignatz by his side. "You still climb trees?"
"When I like to have quiet time, yes. Have you gotten better? Have you Claude?" Claude groans and Raphael smiles widely.
"You bet I have! I also really wanna eat that dish you made me one time! Ya know, from before the war." At the word "war," a few members of the group go quiet; namely Leonie and Lorenz, who look at the empress with so much guilt and resentment. Byleth shivers.
Yikes, Sothis says. I'll be your emotional support.
It's to be expected, Byleth says back, shrugging it off.
"Lunch is to be served in mere moments," Hubert announces, bowing slightly as he motions his hand towards the long crimson decorated table with cutlery already set out. Raphael and Caspar are the first ones seated.
"Fancy Empire food," Raphael rasps, nearly drooling on the napkin he's already stuffed into the collar of his shirt to protect his buff chest. Caspar leans over and whacks him on the shoulder in a friendly way.
"You can just bet this is gonna be the best food you've ever swallowed!"
"Ugh," Dorothea disgustedly says, tapping Petra's arm. "Let's sit on the opposite end of the table. Or else we'll be seeing wayyy more than we want." Petra, wanting nothing more than to sit by her best friend, sadly nods along with her wife and walks far far from Caspar. Ferdinand chuckles under his breath and says,
"Hah! She's whipped."
"Ferdie," Bernadetta calls out happily, "Let's sit by Ignatz."
"Anything you say, my love!" Claude rolls his eyes at that and heads towards the top of the table where Byleth, Edelgard, and Lysithea are. The second he sits down, Leonie plops down right next to him. He raises a brow at her in surprise. And then it clicks once he sees her eyeing the empress.
"Pssst! You better behave," Claude whispers.
"Yeah yeah," Leonie sighs, already looking pouty as she picks at the tablecloth. He spares one last reprimanding glance at her before lunch is served. It's kind of amazing how peaceful it all is, with all of the people within the two old houses intermingling and finding their niche. That is, it's all good until Lorenz coughs and asks for Edelgard's attention.
"I know this may be the wrong time," he begins, already rubbing Edelgard the wrong way as she sips on her drink, holding Byleth's hand under the table. "Yet I find the trek here hard… considering such brutal memories," he mumbles. All three of the old professors share equally nervous looks. "I understand the idea of unifying Fodlan… but having nobles's territories stripped away? You could not believe the repercussions it has caused amongst my family and the commoners in our town alike! Is there really no way to give us property back?" Before Edelgard can even speak, Ferdinand interjects.
"I can speak as someone who opposed her ideals at one time. So I can tell you why you are wrong."
"Tch. I implore you and the Majesty both to come visit mine or Claude's or-or even Ordelian territory and you will see that-"
"-Is this really the time, guys?" Claude holds his head in his hand as he says this.
"There will never be another time!" Lorenz argues aggravatedly. He roughly pushes his chair back so he can cross his legs and shake his foot to calm himself.
"If you would just calm yourself Gloucester," Hubert starts, using his louder voice when he needs to put someone in their place.
"Lord Gloucester," Lorenz insists, and Dorothea rolls her eyes hard. "You may have stripped us of our titles, but I assure you us nobles will never be-"
"-If your problems are so important," Hubert cuts in again, slicking his hair back in defiance. "Her Majesty is more than fair, and will speak with you when asked to be spoken to."
"Yeah," Lysithea interrupts, just trying to stuff her face with the cake sitting in front of her and move on from this ridiculous conversation. "This really isn't the time."
"For real," Raphael manages, swallowing down way too much food at once with Caspar doing the same at his side. "Everyone's just trying to have a good and hearty meal." And to nearly everyone's surprise, Marianne, picking at her peas, quietly says,
"Everyone but Hilda." Her eyes close immediately after, and Claude's fist resting on the tabletop clenches painfully. All of the Golden Deer go silent, ducking their heads in respect to her. Byleth's neck is burning, and she drops her head as well, trying to scratch the anxiety away with cold fingertips. She can see it all over again, just like in her dreams. Byleth was the one who dealt the final blow once Hilda charged at her and made it clear she wasn't backing down. Even though she had no choice, Byleth's always hated what happened, especially because she knows just how close she and Claude were (and that's always been one of the heaviest unspoken issues between them). It's been fun Claude. Byleth's body breaks out in goosebumps.
….
"I still can't believe you betrayed Captain Jeralt like that." Every single Black Eagle's head snaps up.
"Leonie," Claude hisses, frantically shaking his head and looking between her and Byleth whose eyes are blown wide. Leonie herself looks on the verge of tears as she snarls at the empress. "Do you think he would have been happy with what you did? I think not! He would never have-"
"-Who do you think you are?" Dorothea defends gruffly, taking her voice to a deeper place than it's been in a long, long time.
"E-Even Bernie thinks that's cold," Bernadetta stutters. Ferdinand is gritting his teeth by her side, trying to even fathom how someone could say that to the empress of Fodlan, let alone his professor. Still Leonie doesn't back down, and she's clearly growing agitated at Byleth's lack of response as her heel begins to tap the floor. Lindhart is sitting by Marianne, watching as if he doesn't care (even though he's actually growing antsy at the shifting energy in the room).
"I really don't think it's right to talk about the empress's father like that," Ignatz intervenes, trying to keep his shuddering voice even.
"Captain Jeralt once told me that peace is what he fights-fought. Fought for," she corrects, shaking her head angrily. "If you had just joined our side-or even the Church's-All of the damage you did would never have been as irreparable-"
"-Just stop," Byleth pleads. The room goes quiet. "Stop talking about my Dad." Leonie's lips twitch, and her eyes gloss over as Byleth stares her dead on. "I think it's great that he had such an affect on your life, but you talk to me as though you know everything about him." Byleth's jaw slackens as she freezes up, trying to repress the images of that awful night. The knife in his back. The way her tears dripped down onto his face. Only Edelgard, squeezing her hand to get her attention, pulls her out of it. With the strength of Edelgard beside her, Byleth can keep going. "You think it hurts you when you remember he isn't there? Imagine me, getting engaged, getting married, having a child at some point…. All things Dad will never see." Edelgard shuts her eyes, breathing heavily out her nose as those things sink in.
Byleth… Sothis says softly. I'm still so sorry I couldn't save him. Byleth says nothing as she tries to hold back whatever emotion is burning inside her chest and clawing at her throat. For some reason, she's caught off guard when Leonie sniffs into her hand and covers her eyes. SCRRRR!
"I just wanted you to be my teacher," Leonie rasps, clearly on the verge of sobbing as her breath hitches. "I wanted to be just like you. Dammit!" She sprints out of the room with Ignatz hurrying after her. The silence in the room after that is pregnant with discomfort.
"...I am sorry to have caused this," Lorenz mutters with a hand over his heart. "I should have kept quiet."
"Yeah," Claude agrees curtly. "You shoulda." Lorenz sighs in repentance. "Listen guys. The war is over. What's done is done. No matter what, we all got away with our lives. Besides… my goals and Edelgard's were never that different." He looks up at Edelgard who looks back at him with matching sincerity. "We all agreed that the unification of Fodlan was necessary to broaden ignorant minds. We just had different ways of doing it. Very different."
"I appreciate that, Claude," the emperor acknowledges, keeping her chin high. "I promised you before, and I can promise you now that your ideals and mine will continue to make history. Everyone here can agree that we strive for a better future that becomes clearer each day, bit by bit. Let us not let the past, however brutal it may be, hold us back." She looks each of them in the eyes, one at a time. "Please trust me now. And if not me, then believe in the truthfulness of our Professor." Claude nods Byleth's way, looking like the proud best friend he is.
"Your Majesty," Marianne speaks up, "I believe in you. And the Professor too."
"Thank you," Edelgard hums.
"No, thank you," Lysithea says, inching her hand closer to Edelgard's that's gripping the edge of the table. Her eyes are telling Edelgard to relax. She's on Edelgard's side, so Edelgard believes her, letting go of the wood that was groaning subtly. "You saved my life. Both of you. And you did so again just this week." She turns to Claude this time, "And thank you for holding out for me."
"Trust me. I'm so so happy you're with us."
"Cheers are in order," Hanneman offers, glass already held high.
"It seems so," Manuela agrees with a hum.
"Heh. Our academy days may be over, but here's to the best house," Claude chuckles. "Cheers to the Golden Deer!"
"I think you mean the Black Eagles," Edelgard asserts, holding her glass and clicking it with Byleth's, who's grinning along with her.
"Screw it," Caspar laughs. "Cheers to the Black Eagles AND The Golden Deer, yeah?!"
"Yeah!" Raphael shouts. Everyone toasts at once with smiles on their lips.
Late Evening:
Most of the guests have already gone back to their rooms for the night, but Byleth, Edelgard, and Lysithea chose to stay where they were out in the garden. Sitting under a candle lit gazebo with sweet tea in front of them, they couldn't ask for a better way to end a series of physically grating days. For the better half of an hour, the three have stayed silent, just enjoying the stars and letting the tea soak into their taste buds. Byleth leans back, balancing on two legs as she taps her middle finger on her thigh and retreats into her mind just like old times.
Hey Sothis?
Hmm? What is it Byleth?
I missed you, Byleth says internally. The amused noise Sothis makes is the only response she gets for a while.
I suppose I can admit that I missed you as well, you lovable fool. Byleth grins, brushing a piece of hair out of her face as it blows around in the breeze. She passively realizes that Edelgard and Lysithea are talking to one another. Is Rhea truly my daughter? Byleth straightens up a little.
During the war Claude stayed with the church for a while, demanding some answers. Turns out I have your heart in my chest.
What the heck…?
Exactly my response… right after I fainted, Byleth says.
Heh! Sothis chuckles. I can see it. And then Edelgard would go freaking out and everyone would start panicking and trying to slap you awake. Haha!
...Not sure that's how'd it go, but I'm glad you think it's so funny, Byleth sighs. Lysithea glances at her. Rhea took over my body a few months ago.
What?!
Yep, Byleth hums aloud at the memory and tips her head to the side. Remember the Death Knight? He joined us during the war… and when Rhea took over my body… I… I killed him. Byleth rubs the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes and seeing him there on the ground all over again. When she breathes in, she can almost smell his blood. He was a friend, just like so many others that I…
Byleth….
"Hey, Professor?" Lysithea calls, waving her hand slightly. Byleth blinks back into reality and comes face to face with a very worried Lysithea and a half-aggravated wife.
"Hey."
"Uh, you alright? Your eyes are looking a little red there." Byleth turns her head away, pretending to be looking at some bush over there.
"It's nothing," she tries, just to be kicked in the shin by Lysithea. "Ow."
"At least lie better."
"Hmm," Edelgard hums in humor, setting her cup down and observing Byleth closer. Byleth can't hold contact with her, because those lilac eyes are way too piercing right now.
That girl still always seems to know something you don't.
You aren't wrong, Byleth admits with a shrug.
"Fine fine. I'll drop it," Lysithea decides, playing with her bangs. Seconds later she wrinkles her lips and looks at Byleth once more. "T-there's something I ac-actually wanted to um talk to you about," she coughs, shimmying in her seat.
"What's wrong?" Byleth immediately asks, growing gravely serious. Lysithea goes slightly pink and furiously rubs at one of her cheeks.
"Aaaah, I hate when you look at me like that! You're looking right through me it feels like." Completely straight, Byleth asks,
"Want me to close my eyes for you?" Edelgard snickers and so does Sothis. Lysithea just looks slightly offended as usual.
"Of course not," she barks. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Byleth says, leaning on the table with her head in her hand. "What's wrong, Lysithea?" The girl bites the inside of her lip and kicks her foot back and forth before speaking up.
"It's about Claude."
"If he's done even one thing wrong to you, consider him dead," Edelgard warns.
Are you sureeee she's softened up? Sothis asks worriedly.
She has. She just likes to act tough in front of everyone else.
"I wouldn't say that," Lysithea giggles, "It's just I've never d-dated someone before I don't really know what to expect. Guess I should have set down the philosophy books and picked up some dating ones, huh?"
"Expect? Nothing happens as expected," Byleth retorts honestly. Lysithea's lips tighten up, so Edelgard jumps in.
"Byleth's not wrong. No matter how much we plan things, they will never go accordingly when it comes to romance. Though… it seems as if you're regarding something specific. What is it you really mean to ask?" As if building up the courage, Lysithea whimpers in the back of her throat, then she starts bobbing her leg up and down, shaking the entire table, and then she smacks a hand on her thigh with a mighty FWTT!
"I don't know anything about sex!" Both Edelgard and Byleth sinks backward in their seats as Sothis busts out laughing. "H-How am I supposed to do it and when and where and will I even be good at it or like it or-"
"-Pretty sure you'll like it," Byleth mumbles. Edelgard hisses at her and Sothis laughs louder.
"-But when will he ask, or do I ask? I-I don't know! And it's not like I can ask my parents, because that's just weird," she reasons, covering her eyes with one shaking hand. Byleth and Edelgard look back and forth between each other, awkwardly gesturing towards each other and then their friend as they try to figure out what to even say. After a big sigh, Edelgard decides to take the plunge. To recapture Lysithea's attention, she leans over the table and touches her tight fisted hand.
"It only feels scary because you aren't in an intimate situation right now. I promise you, once it happens, and the mood is right-"
"-And when both of you can talk about it while it's happening," Byleth adds.
"Then everything will fall into place," Edelgard finishes, trying to nod sympathetically. Lysithea stares down at Edelgard's gloved hand holding her own, and lets out a shallow breath.
"You're right," Lysithea relents, looking up at her closest friend and seeing nothing but reassurance on her face.
"And I'm sure Claude will be pretty good," Byleth comments offhandedly. Lysithea's face goes red and she groans into her tea.
"Byleth, hush," Edelgard tells her with a shake of her head.
"You can't act like that's not part of it; worrying it won't be good." Lysithea limply nods in agreement but keeps quiet. "Anyway, you two will most likely be waiting a while. Don't feel pressure to do anything. And if he tries to pressure you, come to me. Not El. She might murder him."
"I will." Lysithea grins at her friend's words then. "On a different note, will you come back to our room for a moment? There's something I want to give you," the emperor says.
"Oh?" Lysithea squeaks accidentally before clearing her throat and standing. "I see. I'm pretty tired anyhow so may we go now?" Byleth and Edelgard look at each other in agreement and stand up.
"You two go ahead," Byleth says, gathering up the dishes and waving off Lysithea's help. "I'll take care of this. Just enjoy each other." Edelgard presses her hand to her wife's chest and freezes before she has the nerve to kiss Byleth's temple in front of the younger woman who just smiles at the sight.
"Thank you, love."
"Anything for you, El." Lysithea whimpers on the inside. Gosh they are just so cute together! Her stomach does happy little flips until Edelgard's finger beckons her onward.
Once they finally get to Edelgard and Byleth's chambers, and the door shuts with finality, Edelgard hurries towards her tall vanity and has Lysithes sit down at the satin stool before it. Without saying a word, Edelgard fishes out the velvet necklace box Byleth found and gifted her two weeks past. She stares at it in her hands with a pensive look on her face, and Lysithea worriedly looks up at Edelgard, but doesn't dare interrupt.
….
"I only had one sibling of the ten that I ever felt truly close to," she begins, not looking at anything but the box in her gloved hands. Lysithea's ears perk up, acknowledging how rare this is for Edelgard to be admitting anything of her past. "On Byleth and myself's anniversary, my wife found something of my sister's greatest treasures." Pop.
"Wow…" Lysithea remarks. The diamonds in it shine in Lysithea's wide eyes. The younger woman focuses on the "E" hanging off of the chain.
"Her name was Elincia," Edelgard tells her, speaking in a raspy sort of way that one does when the memory hurts as much as it soothes. "She was… hmm." Edelgard shuts her mouth, trying to keep down the emotion that's bubbling in the pit of her neck. Lysithea's eyes make it harder, because they're looking up at her, encouraging and innocent with one of her small hands quite obviously wanting to touch Edelgard but holding back. "I just… have come to realize that I've somehow found myself a new family. And… and you're one of the pillars in it." Lysithea drops her head and bites down on her lip. "This is my way of asking you to take this. You don't even have to wear it. And… perhaps you can take the "E" off, seeing as it stands for her name and all."
"Why would I take the 'E' off when 'E' stands for 'Edelgard,' and y-you're like, um." Lysithea shakily sucks in a breath before standing up, looking right into Edelgard's face as she gently takes the box into her own hands. "S-sometimes I feel like you're my sister," Lysithea sniffs. Edelgard narrows her eyes in a loving way, and for once, doesn't hesitate in touching someone who isn't her wife. Her initial pat on Lysithea's arm spurs the younger woman into launching at Edelgard, trapping the box in between them as she hugs Edelgard with all of her power. It makes Edelgard smile just as it does mortify her, having someone pressed so closely to the body she feels so much repulsion for in her everyday life. "I love you," Lysithea breathes bravely, hugging Edelgard's neck somehow tighter. Those three words steal away all of the oxygen in Edelgard's lungs, and she stares dumbly at the wall for five belated seconds.
Admit that you feel the same, comes a voice in her mind. It sounds familiar. Familial, more like. Edelgard blinks. Don't let moments like this slip away anymore, El. Edelgard knows who that voice belongs to now. Her eyes shut, and she quietly thinks of her sister's long past face.
"I love you too," Edelgard says aloud. Then she wraps her arms a little more firmer around Lysithea's waist. "I love you too, Lysithea." Edelgard smiles at the little whine that rumbles against her shoulder. They pull apart soon, and Edelgard tenderly brushes loose bits of Lysithea's bangs out of her eyes. They stew in the silence of the moment before Lysithea yawns into her palm. "Off to bed with you," Edelgard urges, guiding the young woman to the door. Her heart soars melancholily when Lysithea almost smacks into her back because she's staring at the necklace so hard.
"Sorry! It's just so pretty. I've never had something that even had diamonds in it."
"Well now you do."
"Yeah," Lysithea sighs dreamily. She takes one backward step from the room, looking at Edelgard as she goes before asking, "What color was your hair?"
"...Brown."
"Mine was black," Lysithea tells her. "Goodnight, Edelgard."
"...Goodnight."
Shttt.
Edelgard carries herself to bed with heaviness that only speaks of the relief she feels. She doesn't bother to change out of her dress yet, instead just lying back, closing her eyes with her ankles crossed. Elincia. El. I hope I've made you proud.
Shtttt.
"Hey El?"
"Byleth."
"Why did Lysithea just attack me in the hallway? I've never been hugged so hard in my life," she coughs, scratching at her throat. Edelgard smiles, still with eyes closed. She can feel the pressure on the bed as Byleth removes her clothes and tosses them at the foot of the bed.
"I gave her my sister's necklace." She can tell Byleth paused. "I'm so glad she's alright," Edelgard mumbles, frowning deeply. Byleth makes a noise from the back of her throat and gets into her pajamas.
Hey Byleth, Sothis cuts in. I can tell you really don't need me around anymore. She sounds quiet, upset even.
That bothers you?
...It does, Sothis tells her. I guess I'm just far more lonely than I ever thought I was. Byleth buttons up her top, gazing at Edelgard who's still lying down, thinking and thinking. Seeing you today, talking to everyone, paying attention to your wife, making sure people were happy… you've grown. I'm happy, and sad. I feel like I've missed a huge part of your life just within the past two years. Byleth huffs out of her nose, agreeing in her own way. It seems that Edelgard really takes care of you too. It's sweet. Maybe I don't have to be so worried, hah.
We take care of each other, Byleth tells Sothis, sitting down by Edelgard's feet. She can't help but reach out and run her hand along her wife's leg, keeping it soft and appropriate. But thank you for what you've done for me Sothis. I don't take it for granted. She can hear Sothis's toothy grin. I'll take you to Rhea soon.
I'm nervous, Sothis bleats. I've been trying to think of what I'll say to my, my daughter after all this time.
You can figure it out together, Byleth says, nodding for Sothis's sake. She's missed you like nothing else. The Goddess hums, and Byleth can imagine her scratching her chest in thought.
"My light?" Byleth looks down at her wife who's eyes are finally opening and staring back at her. "Will you help me change? My chest is hurting slightly."
Look away, Byleth orders Sothis.
Fine, fine. But don't start doing any FUNNY business! I'm not tired yet! Byleth rolls her eyes and stands up, pulling Edelgard with her until the shorter woman stumbles into Byleth, pressing a hand against her chest. Of course Byleth uses this to her advantage, wrapping an arm around Edelgard's waist before taking one of her hands and holding up midair. With a chuckle, Byleth starts swaying, forcing Edelgard along.
"Byleth this is not the time for dancing," Edelgard laughs, going with it anyway. Although it's hardly a dance when they're almost toe to toe, shuffling around on the floor. Byleth just twirls her dramatically before pulling her back in for a chaste kiss. Edelgard hums against her mouth, interlacing her fingers with the hand holding hers up. There's so much safety in the arm wrapped around Edelgard's hip that any of her exhaustion just dissipates and eases into relaxation. After a few more slow circles of their feet, Edelgard slumps against her wife's chest, breathing in her rose-like scent, and enjoying the meditative movements.
"I love you," Byleth breathes against her ear. Edelgard nuzzles her cheek into hers and hugs her closer with both hands on Byleth's upper back.
"I love you so much," she says back. The soothing breathing next to her ear pushes her even deeper inside herself. Soon she feels Byleth's hands unclipping her cloak and tossing it off to the side before working on the ties of her bodice. A kiss to her jaw tells her to lean back, to which she does, and Byleth helps her step out of her dress and hangs it. Slowly does Edelgard get to her dresser and fish out her long, collared and full sleeved nightgown, carelessly putting it over her head. The second she pops up, no cloth covering her head, she's pulled backward into Byleth's arms, and she embraces those arms with her own.
"I'll undo your hair," Byleth offers, lips against the side of Edelgard's neck. Edelgard hasn't worn her crown for the past few days, and it feels incredibly freeing, not carrying all of that literal and metaphorical weight for more than a night. Still, she's a creature of habit, and she puts her hair into those tight constricting buns.
"Alright. Thank you, my light." Quickly does Byleth make easy work of them, being well practiced at this point. It's almost funny how Byleth still drags her fingers through her hair once it's down, as if she's transfixed with the soft locks just as she was the very first time she touched them. It's that infatuation, that endless admiring Byleth still has for her no matter how long they've been together that sets Edelgard's heart to a thousand-beats-a-minute. It's from silly things like that, to how she looks at her when they lock eyes from opposite ends of a hallway, to how she embraces her at the end of a long brutal day of work. "You're something special, Byleth."
"Hmm?"
"You look at me just as you did so long ago. You still haven't tired of me."
"Of course I haven't. Have you gotten sick of me?"
"No."
"Then that's that," Byleth finishes easily, lifting Edelgard off of her feet and carrying her to the bed.
"Byleth… you don't have to carry me like this," Edelgard complains dryly.
"I want to. Just like I want to kiss you right now." She sets the emperor down with all the grace in the world (surprising for someone as brash as Byleth) and pulls the covers over them both. "May I kiss you?"
"When have you had to ask?"
"Mm."
They kiss until they fall asleep.