"We're finally here, Captain! Oh, and for crying out crowd! Look at all these people."

Sure enough, the gates of Garreg Mach were packed with people cheering the triumphant return of Alois and the three house leaders. Jeralt did his best to keep a low profile, but among the crowd, he caught whispers of his name being tossed around. He was going to have to avoid a lot of questions during his time here, however short it would be. Still, he had a bad feeling about being back at the monastery. Something told him he might not get to leave as quickly as he would like to.

As the entourage marched up the stone steps into the entrance hall, the students rejoined their peers. All eyes were on Jeralt and his daughter as each house leader, in turn, thanked their saviours. Out of the crowd, a large, well-built silver-haired young man of Duscur stepped forward and bowed politely.

"Thank you for watching after his highness, sir. I am in your debt." he said, his voice surprisingly calm and gentle despite his appearance.

Jeralt nodded, then replied to the foreigner.

"Thanks, but truth be told, my daughter here had more part in the rescue than I did."

The vassal of House Blaiddyd turned and offered Byleth a polite bow.

"Then, I thank you also miss, as does his highness."

Byleth looked on, a million questions racing through her mind, but rather than speaking, she disguised her thoughts behind her big blue eyes and blank expression. She was good at that, staying quiet and keeping to herself. It was easier for her to observe, document, analyze. Social interactions were kept brief and to the point, living in a band of mercenaries. But presently, here she was, surrounded by more people than she had ever seen. Overall, the whole place made her nervous. Even having her father nearby did nothing to ease her anxiety.

A knight of the Church made his way into the assembly and attempted to get Jeralt's attention. Jeralt noticed the armor-clad man and acknowledged him.

"Pardon me sir," said the knight, addressing Jeralt.

"The archbishop would like to speak to you privately. Come with me please."

Jeralt shifted uncomfortably in his armor, and turned to Byleth.

"I'll be as quick as I can, little one. Just... don't go too far. And stay out of trouble."

he smiled at her, and as usual, she smiled back. Just on the inside instead.

Sighing, he followed the knight through the monastery, and up the stairway to the second floor. Then he was led into a large room where, standing in the centre was the Archbishop herself. In all of her magnificent adornments, wearing immaculate robes, and her long majestic green hair was carefully arranged to utter perfection. She looked identical to how she had when Jeralt had last seen her. Then again, the same could be said about him from her point of view. He hadn't changed at all, physically.

"I believe I have you to thank for rescuing my students, do I not?" her voice gave Jeralt shivers.

"I can't take all the credit, your Captain Alois was there, too."

She smiled, that's all she ever seemed to do. If Jeralt had not spent so much time with his daughter, he would've had a much harder time reading the Archbishop's true emotions. Right now, she was playing patient, but clearly very agitated about something.

"Oh, Alois isn't the Captain of the Knights. Truly, we do not currently have anyone in the role. I had planned to ask you to take up that position much later in our conversation, but seeing as how you've brought it up now, why don't we discuss-" "No way," Jeralt cut her off before she continued.

"You know damn well why I left the Knights in the first place. I didn't come here to ask for employment. Mercenary work has me all tied up, I'm afraid. "

"Perhaps I should ask your daughter then?" the faintest glimpse of obsession lit her eyes for just a moment. "I am not so blind as you would like me to be, old friend. It is her, is it not? Your child from those many years ago? The one thought killed in the fire?"

This is exactly what Jeralt had feared would happen. He could bluff his way out of this, but the Archbishop, Rhea, would likely see through any lie he could muster. He could manage to run away and take Byleth with him, but the Knights would surely hunt them down to the ends of the earth.
With no real options available to him, he silently apologized to his wife and daughter, and acknowledged Rhea's claims.

"It's her."

Byleth loitered around in the Entrance Hall. Everyone was giving her the strangest looks. It didn't matter. Jeralt would return any minute now, and they would leave this place together and go back to Remire Village. They hadn't given any of the villagers a proper farewell. Jeralt never left a location without a proper goodbye, so they would be going back. Not that it was the most delightful place around, mind you. Byleth always hated moving around all the time. She envied the simple farmers, blacksmiths and hunters, who had permanent homes. They had a place to belong. Not Jeralt, and not her.

Something caught Byleth's attention.
Movement from the far corridor. Small. Female. Strikingly pale hair. She was carrying something. The other girl looked around, as if afraid of being watched. Their eyes met. Now the other girl was coming right towards her!

"You saw, didn't you?" the other, younger girl said in accusation, pointing at Byleth.

"I didn't see anyth-"

"Please don't tell anyone. I-I'll bribe you to stay quiet!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Byleth tried to deescalate the situation, having no idea what she had witnessed.

"Oh, I see. You're not the bribe-taking sort. Well then, you leave me with no choice!" the small girl, and she reached into the small pouch she was carrying.
Byleth's sense of danger was roused, and she drew her knife to defend herself.

"Ah, is that a knife? Splendid! It'll be so much easier to cut you a piece of cake with it. Here, may I?" the girl held out her hand. Utterly confused, Byleth placed her dagger in the young girl's palm. Within seconds, she was handed a warm, sweet-smelling slice of cake.

"Well? Do not forget, that's your hush payment. The last thing I need around here is a student going around spreading the word that I'm completely obsessed with sweet cakes."

"Oh, I'm not a student..." Byleth muttered in reply.

"WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME THIS TO BEGIN WITH?!" the other girl cried aloud. "I wasted a perfectly good piece of cake as part of my genius plan to earn your friendship, and you're telling me you're not even a student here? You're unbelievable!" she folded her arms and pouted. "Well, at least you came out of this a winner. Go away and, I don't know, eat your cake or something!"

Byleth, who hadn't touched the slice, extended her arm towards the young girl, offering her the piece of cake back in appeasement.

"Here, I haven't touched it. Just take it back. I'm sorry, this has all been a misunderstanding."

"Keep it." the pale-haired girl said, disappointment ringing clear in her voice. "But you must tell me anyway, how was it? The whole cake bribery act. If you were a student, do you think that you would feel compelled to befriend me after that?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not exactly familiar with the process of attaining friendship. So maybe try it on someone that isn't me?"

"Hmm... not the most helpful response, but alright. Say, what was your name again?"

"Byleth Eisner."

"Pleased to meet you, Byleth. I'm Lysithea. Sorry for bothering you." she handed Byleth back her knife. "and enjoy the cake."

She watched in silence as Lysithea walked away, rounded the corner and was gone.

Byleth hoped that Jeralt would hurry up and get back here; this place was full of such odd people, she mused.