Summary: Rinea's concerns reach a tipping point.
It had been a tumultuous transition from winter to spring at Rigel Castle, starting with Lord Berkut's engagement to Lady Rinea the previous autumn. Even with her lower status among nobility, the two took to each other like a moth to the flame, often sneaking moments whenever their respective duties allowed it. When the snow began to fall and they had been all but cooped up in the castle, the two became practically inseparable, often seen walking the corridors together.
Needless to say, Valentine's night and a visit to the royal physician the month after was enough to turn Rinea's world upside down.
As sunset bathed the castle, she sat in the parlor of their shared suite, her hands in her lap as she mulled over the news. Her eyebrows furrowed as she peered down, watching her fingers turn the ring in the opposite hand. Comprised of sterling silver with flourishes and fine etching, almost like herringbone, all surrounding brilliant emeralds, it was a beautiful ring presented to her months ago, and yet at this moment she felt ugly wearing it.
Since arriving in Rigel long ago, her family had managed to rise in power, and yet one thing kept them from reaching further heights: the passing of the Crest of the Beast. Despite their distance from Fódlan, the idea that their crest brought about misfortune continued to haunt them, and now Rinea found herself bringing someone into the world with that cursed blood.
"P-pregnant," she softly mumbled to herself as her hand crept close to her stomach, her other hand rising to conjure the crest. "I'm so sorry, child… Berkut… for perpetuating this curse of mine." Watching the materialized circle bathe the darkening room in its light, her eyes began to water as thoughts of a dark future filled her mind.
"Rinea, dear, are you there?"
Blinking her tears away, she turned her head to find Berkut in the threshold to the parlor, the still-cast crest causing her to cram her hand in between her body and the chair she sat in.
"Are you practicing magic? I appreciate your efforts, but you should do it in the yard, it's much safer that way." He watched her lips purse as she looked back down at her lap, her hands moving to hug her body. "My sweet, sweet Rinea, is something wrong?" As he moved closer, her jaw clenched slightly, a shaky exhale leaving her lungs.
"I'm sorry." Rinea felt his hands ghost over her shoulders, having stopped in place upon her speaking. "I've been so caught up with our engagement, and, truth be told, I love you so, so much…"
Berkut's hands moved to the back of the chair, his weight pressing into the cushion. "I suppose there's a lot on your mind, is there?" A tentative nod answered him. "Whatever you have to say, I want to hear it. I don't want us to drift apart over unsaid words."
A long silence passed as he waited for her to speak once more, her mouth opening and immediately closing as she thought over her words. Creaking her head towards him, her eye glanced away as soon as it met his, worry continuing to decorate her features. "My family's bloodline is cursed, Berkut," she finally said, shrinking in on herself as her hand moved in front of her again, conjuring the crest once more. "This crest is supposed to bring nothing but contempt, the happiness we've found together won't last, I fear." Another silent moment found them as Berkut didn't answer her. Turning her head slightly to look at him from her periphery, instead of shock or anger on his face, she instead found him in awe, his eyebrows raised as his gaze remained glued to the crest floating above her hand. "... Berkut?"
"That's…" A low chuckle bubbled from his throat as he lowered himself to better view the glowing circle and its marks. "That's Duma's likeness."
"Pardon me…?"
Lowering himself to kneel in front of her, his hands resting at the armrests, he looked into her eyes despite the glowing crest between them. "I don't know anything about these 'crests', but to be carrying Duma's image… Perhaps it was us meeting that's finally brought about our happiness, and once we eventually take the throne—"
"But, this crest is supposed to—!" Despite her initial outburst, his soft grin didn't waver, and she felt herself returning it. "... I suppose I've just had so many worries today."
"If there's anything else on your mind, please tell me, Rinea."
Taking in a deep breath, she felt her nerves steeled from his comforting words. "You know how I've been ill these few days? Well, the physician said that I'm—we're—expecting a child."
Watching him blink a few times, Berkut's smile simply grew in response. "We're… we're going to be parents?" She returned a nod. "Gods, a little prince or princess for us…"
"You're not mad?"
"I can't be mad with you, Rinea," he answered, his cheeks pushing out a few tears. "You don't know how happy this makes me!" His excitement left her speechless as he rose from his place, pressing a kiss against her forehead. "I'd still want the marriage ceremony to take place once my uncle gives us the throne, but I would love to have this child with you."
"I… I really thought you'd be upset," she said, glancing up at him. "I know how much tradition means to you."
"Well, we'll have to keep them out of the public eye for a while, but I will love the two of you with all of my heart, I will promise you that." He gently took her hand as she rose from her seat, her eyes still looking at him. "We'll have to read up on what your pregnancy will entail and child-rearing tonight—"
"Berkut! We could just do this in the morning!"
"It wouldn't hurt to be prepared, Rinea…"
A bright giggle left her mouth in response to his sudden concerns. "Let's… just take this one step at a time, alright?"
His eyes glanced to the side as a light blush took over his face. "One step at a time," he repeated.
Author's Notes: I will admit I've actually wanted to write about Berkut and Rinea for a while despite not being in the plans, enough to where I didn't think I could continue Marianne/Byleth until I got this off of my mind. Think of this as a sort-of supplementary material to Chapter 2.
Also, to the first guest reviewer here, I'm glad you're enjoying this! I'll go back to slowly working through each Golden Deer member's own discoveries now that I've taken this little detour. Back to working on the present timeline (out of chronological order chapters aside).