Light from the moon shimmered down through the gaps in the trees. The great branches swayed in the breeze, the vibrant green leaves rustling with the wind. Crickets could be heard chirping their tunes from somewhere within the forestry. A wolf howled in the distance. A pair of owls were hooting from their perks in the towering trees.
This calm melody of nature was nearly drowned out by the drumming and crunching sound of hundreds of feet walking across the dirt path littered with fallen leaves. The night was dark, and being beneath a ceiling of branches didn't help matters, but the way was lit with dozens of bright torches.
Byleth kept his eyes forward as he marched, his gaze set on the backs of the high-ranking church officials in front of him. Rhea and Seteth were surrounded by nearly two dozen of their Knights of Seiros. It came as somewhat of a surprise to Byleth that the archbishop of the Church of Seiros would be walking with them on their return trip home, but all things considered, it made sense. It wasn't as if the knights could carry her back (although, knowing Seteth, he was sure that idea had been ventured once or twice).
Even so, despite the circumstance, the way Rhea carried herself was as dignified as ever. Her steps were soft, hardly making a sound. Her hands were clasped in front of her waist, and her face bore the familiar serene smile he was so accustomed to seeing on her. If he didn't know any better, he'd think she was taking a stroll through a garden instead of leading an army of students.
While Seteth did his best to mimic his superior, he couldn't seem to suppress his cautious nature. His head was on a constant swivel, scanning the underbrush for any signs of a possible threat. This must have been torture for him to have Rhea walking through such an open space like this.
"Ah, this really takes me back," Claude gave a content sigh, his hands laced behind his head.
Byleth glanced at the Golden Deer that flanked his left. He had insisted that the three house leaders along with Byleth marched together for 'old times' sake.' Byleth saw no reason to object, so he had obliged the request.
"Yes, it is very reminiscent of the day the professor first joined us." Dimitri smiled slightly as he stared at the moon overhead. "The four of us walked back to the monastery together then just as we are now."
"Granted, there was still daylight back then, and we didn't have this circus of students and church officials following us." Claude shrugged. "But still, it's the thought that counts."
Byleth nodded, turning his focus back to the path in front of him. He remembered that day vividly.
Back then, he hardly knew any of the three, and his first impressions of them had been… less than stellar. Dimitri had carried himself and spoke as any noble in his position would, but there had been something that laid behind his troubled eyes that gave Byleth pause. Originally, he had found Dimitri's noble demeanor to be an act; a front he put up to keep whatever he was repressing at bay. Claude, on the other hand, was much more outright- almost to a fault. He had no qualms about making his 'strategic retreat' when Kostas ambushed them and didn't seem to particularly care about what happened to the other two. Pair that with the fake smile he wore, and Byleth trusted the man about as far as he could throw him.
Then there was Edelgard. The distant, somewhat cold, and almost aloof leader of the Black Eagle house. She had been the biggest question mark among the three, not because of some massive character flaw, but because Byleth couldn't discern anything past her surface. The way she talked and acted gave off a feeling of superiority, but all of her responses and mannerisms had almost seemed… mechanic, as if they had been loitered over beforehand. As if she didn't want to reveal any more about herself than she needed to. Try as he might, Byleth hadn't been able to gain any insight to her character past that barricade. It was concerning, much like with Dimitri. One didn't go to such measures unless there was something to hide.
And yet… there had been something about her that drew him to her. Something about her that made Byleth abandon logic and risk his life to protect hers; something he had never felt the need to do before. At the time, he couldn't place a finger on it. He still couldn't, even to this day. The only explanation he had was that something he had witnessed that day gave birth to the strong feeling of kinship he had towards her.
"It's hard to fathom how much time as passed since that day…" Edelgard finally spoke, but her eyes were drawn to the gaps within the trees. With a little help from the moon, the form of the monastery could be seen perched on its hill in the distance. "In a few months' time, we'll be graduating."
A fact that never strayed too far from Byleth's mind.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Claude mumbled, his shoulders drooping.
"Does the full-time job of running the Alliance not appeal to you, Claude?" Dimitri asked, smirking slightly at his friend's dejected face.
"How very Claude to shirk on his responsibilities." Edelgard shot him a disapproving frown.
"Jeez, I didn't even say anything, and Princess here is already- whoa, is that a rat by your foot?!"
"BAH!"
Edelgard shrieked, jumping away from where he was pointing-
Only to find that nothing was there.
Claude's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.
"You fall for it every time."
"Claude…" Dimitri sighed, shaking his head.
Edelgard took a deep breath, the expression on her face perhaps angrier than Byleth had ever seen. The glare she was giving the Deer was certainly in the top ten he had witnessed from her.
"Professor…" the princess was seething. "I am afraid that if you do not restrain me, I will throttle this man."
"C'mon, you wouldn't let her do that, right, Teach?" Claude was still grinning despite Edelgard's volatile threat.
"I'm remaining neutral."
But, volatile as it was, he knew better than to get on Edelgard's bad side.
Edelgard huffed, crossing her arms and turning her head away from the trio.
"Anyways," Dimitri interrupted, clearing his throat. The prince turned to the professor. "Have you thought about what you might do once we graduate, Professor?"
"Me?" Byleth raised an eyebrow. "Teachers don't graduate."
"Well, no, they do not, but I was asking if you still planned on teaching come next year."
Byleth hummed to himself, his brow furrowing. Truthfully, he hadn't considered that. He enjoyed being a professor, incredibly so, but it felt like most of that enjoyment stemmed from the class he was instructing rather than the job itself. The thought of having to let go of his current class only to teach another one the next year didn't sound extremely appealing. Even if nothing could come from the feelings he harbored towards Edelgard, he'd prefer to follow her and continue being her teacher than to lose that chance all together.
Edelgard tilted her head to the side when his eyes met hers. He could sense the unasked question that lurked in those purple orbs. It was something the two hadn't discussed yet.
"You know, if this teaching gig isn't cutting it, I've got a comfy position for you in the Alliance," Claude suggested, wrapping an arm around Byleth's shoulders. "I can make it worth your while."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't try recruiting my teacher in my presence." Edelgard scowled. "Professor Byleth is free to do-"
"I imagine I'll stay by Edelgard's side." Byleth nodded to himself. If he had a choice, that would be his desired future.
Edelgard's eyes widened. For some reason, she seemed shocked to hear this revelation.
"If you'll have me," he promptly added.
"O-of course, my teacher," Edelgard stammered, hurriedly trying to compose herself.
"Gah, figures."
Claude detached himself from Byleth and took a step away.
"Just make sure to invite me to the wedding, I guess," he remarked, his hand gesturing flippantly in the air.
"Claude…" Edelgard growled.
Byleth turned his head to the trees, blatantly avoiding the smirk on Claude's face and the intrigue on Dimitri's.
"While it is regrettable that I won't be able to work with you myself in the future, I suppose it's a blessing in disguise that you'll take up a position in the Empire," Dimitri said. Byleth was ever thankful for the prince's ability to stay on topic. "Given our positions, I imagine we'll still be seeing a lot of each other even after we've left here."
"Valid point, Dimitri, valid point." Claude nodded. "Maybe we can hold summits and have little bites to eat together. Dish about the good old days, have a few drinks, share a few laughs."
"My thoughts exactly." Dimitri smiled. "Just because we'll be leading different nations doesn't mean we can't still continue being friends."
Byleth grinned slightly. He wouldn't mind staying in touch with these two. While his first impressions of them had been harsh, he found the two to be good men and excellent leaders. He felt lucky to call them friends.
The professor looked to Edelgard to see her reaction to the suggestion, only to feel his smile dissipate.
Edelgard was looking pointedly at the path ahead, her gaze avoiding the three of them completely. Her lips were curved downwards in a tightened frown, her eyes cloudy with thought. It was reminiscent of the expression he had seen from her the last time they had walked this path together so many moons ago.
"What do you think, Edelgard?" Dimitri voiced Byleth's unspoken question.
Byleth could see her purple eyes glance at them, lingering for a moment before pulling away.
"I imagine my own responsibilities won't allow such frivolities," she responded coolly, her tone betraying nothing.
Dimitri frowned. The hurt in his eyes was nearly palpable, despite how he might try to hide it.
"Ah, Princess here is always a stick in the mud." Claude waved her off. "She'll warm up to us eventually."
With Edelgard's curt reply, the conversation slowly petered out. The four of them continued to walk in a strained silence. By now, they had made it out from the grove of trees. The winding path before them snaked up the hillside, eventually stopping at the gate to the monastery. There wasn't long to go now.
Byleth's eyes darted around the three.
Edelgard kept looking straight ahead.
Claude was wearing his usual crooked smile, but he could see his eyes occasionally jump to Edelgard.
Dimitri's head was lowered, the traces of his frown still lingering on his features.
What had been a light conversation with the occasional banter hurled back and forth was now fraught with tension.
"They have grown considerably since the day you first met them, but some things never change, do they?"
Byleth jumped at the sound of Sothis's voice in his ear.
"You okay, Teach?" Claude asked, raising an eyebrow.
Byleth nodded. Claude didn't look entirely convinced, but eventually the Deer shrugged and dismissed it.
"Nearly a year has passed, yet you are still surprised by the sound of my voice?" Sothis sighed. "And please, have the wisdom to not voice your reply. You realize you can simply speak to me in your mind, correct?"
Right. Sorry.
"Honestly, you have the subtlety of a rock sometimes!"
Byleth rolled his eyes. This hadn't been the first time he had been likened to a rock, and he doubted it to be the last.
Sorry, Sothis. You were saying?
"I was simply going to warn you to stay vigilant when it comes to these three. It is unwise to grow complacent in this status quo."
What do you mean?
He asked, but he knew full well what she was referring to.
"Their suggestion had been an innocent one, yet the princess didn't want any part of it."
Sothis was quiet for a moment before continuing.
"You saw it as well, did you not?" Her voice was soft. "Her reluctance to agree, as if she knew full well it was a promise she could not keep."
Of course he saw it. He saw all of it. He missed nothing. Every little glance, every flicker of emotion. Every time there was talk of the future, Edelgard's sturdy façade slipped. It was always something small, but Byleth zeroed in on it immediately. There were far too many instances where that same forlorn look would adorn her eyes. Too often would she withdraw into herself as she stared off into the distance.
Just the other day, it was almost as if she had wanted him to see her falter, as if she wanted him to see her stumble. He was beginning to wonder if these little displays of emotion were deliberate rather than subconscious.
It is pointless to try and guess her intent based on her reactions alone. Perhaps she simply thought she'd be too busy being emperor to entertain such a request.
"How long will you continue to avert your eyes to the truth, Byleth?"
Byleth frowned, his head angling towards Edelgard.
"I know your father once told you the simplest explanation was usually correct, but the hearts of man are rarely so simple."
Edelgard met his gaze. It took her a moment to register that it was her he was staring at, but when she did, she smiled at him.
Except this one didn't look so genuine. It was only her lips that bothered moving. The rest of her features remained motionless; her eyes remained clouded.
"It is not my intention to cast a cloud over your impending feast," Sothis continued uncertainly. "I only wish to prepare you for the reality you find yourself in."
That reality being…?
"Nothing can last forever, Byleth. Enjoy your frolicking for today, but be aware these days cannot go on forever… I think you know that as well as I."
Sothis's ominous warning rattled around, back and forth in Byleth's skull.
"And when these carefree days cease to be, you'll have a choice to make."
What do you mean-?
"Professor?"
Byleth flinched at the sudden voice that hadn't emanated from his skull.
Edelgard was still watching him. Her brow was creased with hints of worry.
"Is everything alright? You look rather pale."
"Really?" Claude jumped in, his head snaking over Byleth's shoulder to get a closer look. "Doesn't look any different to me."
"Come now, Claude, let's not go invading the professor's personal space," Dimitri chastised, tugging his friend back.
"Fine, fine, but I'll get a read on you one of these days, Teach." Claude chuckled. "So, what's eating you?"
Byleth looked at the two men two his left, then Edelgard to his right. He stood between them.
He exhaled through his nose and closed his eyes.
"Nothing."
It was near ten in the evening when the troupe finally made it within the monastery's walls. The moon was fairly far along on its path through the sky, but they still had a few hours left before midnight. They might have to bend the curfew rule slightly, but they should still have ample time to share the 'grand' feast together.
There was only one, small problem.
"Damn," Claude cursed, rubbing the back of his head. "Did the cooks already leave?"
Dimitri poked his head past one of the doors that led into the kitchen, the nodded.
"It appears so."
Byleth frowned at the empty kitchen counter. There were no cooks, nor was their any food leftover from today's dinner. Their celebratory meal was not off to the greatest of starts.
"Really?" Ingrid piped up from somewhere behind him. "You're saying there's… no food?"
"No food?!" Raphael exclaimed.
"Doesn't look like it," Annette murmured. "And after that long walk, I'm starving. Are there any sweets at least, Professor Byleth?"
"No."
A chorus of groans erupted from the sizeable crowd behind him. Unsurprising. The students here loved their sweets.
"What are we going to do now?" Mercedes inquired, a hand on her cheek.
"I guess go back to our rooms and turn in for the night," Ignatz mumbled.
Byleth took a quick scan of the herd of students. Their faces looked sullen and dejected at the unfortunate turn of events.
That wouldn't do. After a hard-fought battle, it was important to partake in some 'rest and relaxation' for all sides, both winners and losers. A celebration of their efforts would have lifted their spirits, and morale was important.
He locked eyes with Manuela at the back of the group. The two nodded in unison.
"Don't be too hasty, Ignatz."
Byleth reached into his shirt, pulling out a small, leather bound book, its cover crinkled with use.
"Professor?" Edelgard raised an eyebrow. She instantly recognized Byleth's infamous notebook.
Byleth raised a finger to stop her, licking the tip of his other index finger once before flipping through its pages.
"Dedue, Ashe, Bernadetta, Mercedes, Professor Manuela." Byleth closed his book and raised his head. "Please accompany me to the kitchen. We will simply have to cook the meal ourselves."
"Now we're talking!" Manuela giggled, weaving her way through the blob of students. "I knew you were a man that could take charge, Professor."
Byleth tried to restrain a frown. While his colleague's constant flirting with him was flattering, he wasn't particularly sure how to feel about it. A woman's advances, bold advances at that, were something of an anomaly to him.
"Er, are you sure we're allowed to do that?" Ashe asked, looking hesitant. "Wouldn't we be using their supplies without permission?"
"I wouldn't want to use their ingredients without permission…" Mercedes agreed quietly.
"Do not fret, Mercedes. It is perfectly alright."
All heads turned to the commanding voice in the back of the dining hall.
Rhea and Seteth had seemingly materialized behind them all. Bernadetta stifled a shriek, bowing her head to avoid looking directly at the archbishop and her second-in-command.
All conversations immediately died out at the sight of the two church heads. The hall had grown so silent, one could hear a pin drop.
"You all have worked so exceptionally hard this past month," Rhea spoke, her voice echoing off the walls. "I believe a celebratory meal is in order, don't you, Seteth?"
Rhea turned her head to her partner, flashing him her trademarked serene smile.
"I do not see why not, if that is what you wish, Lady Rhea," Seteth replied. His eyes narrowed as he examined the students. "Just make sure not to stay up too late. It is a school night, after all."
"It is what I wish." Rhea nodded, turning back to the crowd. "Please, use whatever supplies that you need. The church will cover the cost."
The archbishop met Byleth's eyes, her smile widening.
"If it means strengthening friendships, no cost is too great."
"Then won't you join us, Lady Rhea?" Byleth inquired. If she was footing the bill, it was only common courtesy to invite her to stay and enjoy the meal with them.
"I would love to." Rhea hesitated, her smile becoming strained. "But regretfully, I cannot. I am afraid there is much work to be done."
"Understood." Byleth placed his arm to his chest and bowed. "Thank you, Lady Rhea."
Rhea dipped her head, her smile returning.
"Enjoy yourselves, everyone," Rhea declared, her head tilting back and forth as she met each face. "It is not every day we can share moments like these."
The crowd nodded in unison.
With that, the archbishop and Seteth turned and left the room, leaving Byleth and the others to their own devices.
"Well, you heard her." Byleth clapped his hands together just once to quiet the murmuring group. "People whose names I called out, follow me to the kitchen. Everyone else, take your seats, and dinner will be served shortly."
The conversations returned as the crowd began to split apart into their predetermined groups. Most house members stuck together, but smaller, more mixed groups began to take form as well. Lorenz and Ferdinand, Felix, Sylvain, Dorothea and Hilda, Dimitri and Marianne, Ingrid and Raphael, Claude and Petra. A part of Byleth worried some of the more… shy students would stick to what was comfortable for them, and while that was true for the most part, it was relieving to see many of them branch out to other houses.
The only ones that didn't seem to move with the current were Edelgard and Hubert. Unsurprising. Those two weren't as outgoing as say, Dorothea or Ferdinand.
But, before Byleth could call out to them, he was approached by Hilda.
"Hey, Professor!" Hilda greeted him with her usual cheer. "So, you remember how during the battle you kind of smacked my hand out of the blue like that?"
"It was to disarm you, but yes, I recall." Byleth frowned. He had an inkling of where this was going.
"Call it what you will, but after that ferocious attack, I think you owe me a favor." Hilda pouted. "You could have broken my delicate hand, you know!"
That was a bit of a reach he thought, but Byleth knew better than to object.
"What can I do for you, Hilda?"
"That's the spirit!" Claude's partner beamed. "If you cook one of my fave dishes, we can call it even."
"Ah, yes."
Byleth opened his notebook, flipping through a few of the pages.
"Would this… 'cheesy Verona stew' work?"
Hilda brought a hand up to stifle her gasp.
"How did you know?!"
"It's a professor's duty to know about the students," Byleth replied curtly, closing his book and putting it away. "Even if it's not one of mine."
"Well, aren't you a reliable one?" Hilda giggled. "Thanks, Professor!"
Byleth nodded, lifting his head back to the brooding duo a few feet away.
"Edelgard, Hubert, if you would join me as well, please."
It was almost impressive how quickly Hubert could scowl at Byleth's request.
"You already have a gaggle of chefs, I don't see the merit in me assisting you," Hubert protested.
"Oh, come now, Hubert. The professor is requesting our help specifically." Edelgard quickly quelled it. "Besides, it could be useful to broaden our horizons once and a while."
Hubert hung his head and sighed, his shoulders drooping.
"As you wish, Lady Edelgard."
Her aide still didn't look terribly thrilled with the idea, but he followed along after her regardless.
"How can we be of assistance, Professor?" Edelgard asked, ignoring her annoyed colleague.
Byleth smiled at the two. Sothis's warning still lingered in his thoughts, but for now, he could follow her other piece of advice.
"Just do as I say, follow the recipes, and everything should be fine," Byleth replied, motioning for them to follow. "Let's go."
They had only made it a few feet towards the kitchen door before a thought occurred to him.
Stopping in his tracks, he turned to Edelgard, pointing his index finger at her.
"I cannot stress this enough, but you may not use an axe in there. It is not a proper cooking utensil."
The blush that bloomed in her cheeks was a vibrant red. It spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
"O-one time that happened!" The princess exclaimed indignantly. She covered her face with her gloved hand, turning her head to the floor. "Must you bring that up every time we prepare a meal?"
"Yes." Byleth nodded very seriously. "Now, come along."
It had been a monumental effort to cook so many different dishes in such a short amount of time, but with the help of his students and Professor Manuela, somehow they managed to scrape by in just under an hour.
Various entrees, appetizers, and deserts had been prepared. Everything from different stews and pastries, to grilled fish, chicken, and steak meals. Byleth hoped that Rhea didn't mind covering the costs, as by the end of it all, they had used an exorbitant amount of ingredients. He truly didn't envy the kitchen staff that had to clean this mess in the morning.
Stepping out from the kitchen with a colorful apron tied around his neck, Byleth placed the final platter of food down on the counter. By now, the pleasant aromas of the finished meals had wafted out into the seating area, rousing the students from their conversations. Many of them had already formed a single file line at the counter (Ingrid and Raphael at the front) and were not so patiently waiting for the go ahead from Byleth.
"Go on," Byleth said, waving a hand at all the dishes. "Eat up."
The winding line belted a loud cheer. A certain, larger man was cheering a little more enthusiastically than some of the others.
"Thanks a ton, Professor!" Raphael boomed as he scooped a heaping pile of food on his plate.
"Hey, leave some for the rest of us, big guy!" Claude called out from near the back of the line.
Raphael seemed to not have heard him as he plopped another, sizable portion of the meat skewers onto his plate.
After he had gotten his enormous helping, the rest of the line moved rather smoothly. One by one the students came and claimed their own portions, giving the professor and his helpers a heartfelt 'thank you' on their way.
Byleth watched on cheerfully, his eyes following each face as it passed by. His features might not have shown it, but he really was quite happy.
"Impressive work, Professor. That apron suits you." Manuela was smiling beside him as she watched the students scurry by. "Who knew that someone with looks like yours could make for such a dependable housewife? I'm almost jealous."
That last little bit was spoken a tad more harshly than the rest.
"It was nothing." Byleth shrugged. "All I did was follow a recipe."
"Hm, I see." Manuela's smile turned predatory as she batted her eyelashes at him. "Then, perhaps you can add a little more love to my dish? They say that's the most important ingredient, you know?"
Byleth tilted his head to the side. He did not know that. Did people really say that? Maybe he should tinker with his recipes, then. But how would one go about adding something as ill-defined as 'love' to a meal?
Edelgard interjected herself between the two, finding something incredibly intriguing with one of their dishes.
"Yes, Professor Byleth is quite the cook," Edelgard cleared her throat. "The food looks delicious."
"Oh?" Manuela's smile grew at the sight of the smaller girl beside her. "Is everything alright, dear Edelgard? It sounds like you might be developing a cold."
"A cold?"
Byleth took off his black glove, placing the back of his hand to Edelgard's forehead.
"You don't seem to have a fever…" he mumbled. "But, just to be safe, you probably shouldn't be around all of this food."
"Y-your concern is noted, my teacher, but I am perfectly healthy," Edelgard spluttered, lightly pushing his hand away. "I-I just had something in my throat, is all."
"If you're certain." Byleth frowned, still not entirely convinced. He had never seen Edelgard ill before, but there was a first for everything. And given her... condition, he was doubly worried.
Manuela laughed as she tried, and failed, to mask it with a hand.
"Well, aren't you two just adorable?" she sighed, wiping a stray tear away from the corner of one of her eyes.
His frown deepened. Byleth was beginning to think there was something he was missing with the way Edelgard and Manuela were acting.
"I'll just leave you two to it and get something to eat myself," Manuela stated, shrugging off her own apron. "As Edelgard so eloquently put it, the food does look rather tasty."
The professor gave Edelgard a rather pointed wink before she left.
"Am I missing something?" Byleth murmured, his eyes darting back and forth between the two.
Edelgard exhaled, rubbing her temple with her hand. Her head was angled away from him, but he could spot the familiar red of a slight blush tinging her cheeks.
"It's times like these that I'm thankful for your inexperience in these matters."
"Inexperience?" Byleth raised an eyebrow. "Inexperience in-"
Byleth closed his mouth.
No. That couldn't be it. It was only because of Professor Manuela's presence and Claude's previous teasing that such a thought crossed his mind.
He shook the thought from his head.
"Should we get our own meals as well, my teacher?" Edelgard asked, turning to face him once she had composed herself. "I'm sure we are not needed to supervise the line."
Byleth glanced at the growing crowd near the counter. He reasoned the students were mature enough to not need supervision in getting their food. It was curious that Hubert was no where to be found, but he brushed that thought off. The gloomy man probably wouldn't have accepted Byleth's invitation to join them anyways.
"True." Byleth slipped the apron off. "Let's do that."
The feast was more for the students, but he couldn't deny that he was feeling a wee bit famished at this point as well. The last thing he had eaten was the single apple he had for breakfast.
The duo walked out from behind the counter, making their way to the back of the lengthy line of hungry men and women. The wait would be long, but Byleth didn't particularly mind. He enjoyed having the chance to listen to them all have fun, even if he felt like something of an outsider in these kinds of situations. They were all laughing and talking, for once the walls of their separate houses not impeding them. Days like these didn't come often enough. To him, he didn't feel the need to try and butt in or feel included.
Just seeing them all look so happy was more than enough.
"It's nice, isn't it?"
Edelgard looked to him, then out to the various students enjoying their meals and their conversations.
"Yes."
To his surprise, she was genuinely smiling as she watched them. Her gaze was drawn to the shy Bernadetta, who was coming out of her shell slightly as she talked to an equally timid Marianne. Then they moved to Petra, who was pointing to the pair of glasses on Ignatz's head. Then to Ferdinand and Lorenz, who seemed to be having a passionate discussion about the tea they were drinking.
Then finally, they landed on Lysithea, who, despite her best attempts to hide it, was marveling at the plate of pastries in front of her and Annette. It appeared they were trying to get Felix to have some, but he was having none of it.
"It is nice," Edelgard whispered, her voice so fragile that Byleth feared it might crack.
She averted her eyes and her smile vanished. Her mask had slipped as it had before, and just like before, she had donned it just as quickly.
Byleth could practically feel Sothis leering at him, even if she hadn't manifested herself.
And she had been right, of course. He couldn't ignore this forever. The longer he tried to deny what was right here in front of his eyes, the more dire the consequences would be. If it truly was nothing, and it was just his imagination jumping to unnecessary conclusions, then there was nothing to worry about and this could be put to bed. Nothing gained, nothing ventured.
However… if what he theorized was true… The longer he put this off, the more difficult it would become. He had to know sooner rather than later.
If he confronted her with this now with such little information other than his gut feeling, everything could change. These peaceful days he enjoyed so much would be lost, and he wasn't sure if he was prepared to relinquish them just yet. And who knows how Edelgard might perceive his assumptions? He didn't want to lose her trust, either.
But, if he didn't, then things would continue as they are. If that was the route he took, who's to know the consequences that could cause? For months he couldn't shake the feeling that some unknown entity was working behind the scenes, calling the shots. First it had been the holy mausoleum, then Flayn's kidnapping. If he didn't do something now, would things get worse? Was there something lurking in the darkness, barring its teeth, preparing to strike? Could Edelgard truly be involved? She spent an awful lot of time with Monica, someone who also rose many of Byleth's red flags, but was that really enough? Again, it was all speculation without any hard proof.
Is this what you're referring to, Sothis? Is this the choice I will have to make?
Silence. If the girl that inhabited his mind had heard his pleading thought, she made no indication of it.
What am I supposed to do? Sothis, please… I need you.
There were a few more seconds of silence before her voice rang in his ears.
"Byleth, how can I tell you when I am not sure of the answer myself?" She remarked. "All I know is that when the time comes, you will know. It is a decision you will have to make by yourself. No one else can make it for you."
Byleth frowned. Sothis's words were as vague as ever. They hardly helped.
And yet, there was truth to it. He would know it when the time came, and his instincts were telling him that time wasn't now. His gut and Edelgard's actions were not enough to confirm his suspicions. The evidence he had to the Flame Emperor's identity was shoddy at best. Acting now could prove to be the more dangerous action until he had more to go off of.
But... he had to know.
"Here you are, my teacher."
Edelgard placed a plate and some silverware in his hands. She was completely unaware to his conversations with Sothis, or to his internal dilemma.
"Thank you."
The princess nodded with a slight smile. She looked the same as she always did, as if that little moment of indecisiveness had never transpired at all.
…There were still so many things he didn't know about her. Suspicions aside, it felt like all he knew about his student were such terrible, troubling things. He wanted to know more; more about who she is rather than who she was. Sure, he knew little inklings about her preferred food or how she might spend a day off, but did those things really count? Did those things really make the sum of one's parts?
If these peaceful days really were coming to an end, he didn't want to squander any more chances.
"Come with me."
"Huh?" Edelgard blinked, her eyes widening as they followed Byleth. "Professor? What are you doing?"
Byleth took a hold of her arm as he walked past, leading her to the front of the line.
"Hey, what gives?" Caspar protested as Byleth cut in front of him. "There's a line for a reason, you know!"
"Please excuse me, Caspar," Byleth mumbled as he examined the various platters. "It's come to my attention that there was something wrong with… Ah, here they are."
Byleth let go of her arm to grab the plate of vegetable pasta salad and the bowl of peach sorbet.
"These two dishes. Edelgard and I will take care of it. Thank you for understanding."
He pushed one of the dishes into her hand, then motioned with his head for Edelgard to follow.
"M-my apologies, Caspar," she hurriedly apologized for the both of them before being swept away by Byleth.
"Professor, where are you taking me?" She asked, her head swiveling back and forth as she looked around the quiet monastery.
The academy was deserted. Any students that weren't currently in the mess hall enjoying their meals had most likely gone to bed. The only souls that inhabited the sleeping Garreg Mach were the occasional church guard they passed. The knights gave the fleeing duo curious looks as they passed, but none seemed to care enough to stop them.
Edelgard looked down to the hand that was still clasped to hers. She worried that she might drop the food in her hand or the plate under her arm with the way he was pulling her along, but she didn't particularly mind it.
"We're almost there."
Byleth led her around a corner and through a door. They were now in the courtyard that housed most of the classrooms.
She could formulate a guess as to where he might be taking her now.
"The Eagles' classroom? You're not planning to give me a private tutoring session, I hope," Edelgard joked lightly.
However, when the professor didn't respond, she began to genuinely worry that might be the case when they made it to their classroom.
"You're not… right?"
"No, of course not." Byleth shook his head, fumbling around with the handle as he tried to open the door without using his occupied hands.
Eventually, the door gave way, creaking as it opened.
Byleth turned to her. He almost looked… hesitant to speak.
"It was rather crowded in there. I thought it'd be nice to share our meal somewhere a little more… quiet."
He frowned as he mulled over his next words.
"I hope that wasn't too presumptuous of me."
"Not in the least." Edelgard gave him a small smile. If that was his intention behind this, she couldn't find herself to be very upset. "Are you sure you wish to abandon the party so soon? You were the one that set it up, after all."
"It was Claude's idea." Byleth shrugged. "I just helped prepare the food."
He entered the classroom, so Edelgard followed.
Byleth placed the food and his plate down, lit a few of the torches to give them a little more light, then moved to some of the empty desks around the classroom.
"You looked to be enjoying yourself, though."
Her brow furrowed as she watched Byleth push two of them together, her lips curving instinctively into a frown. Edelgard suddenly felt… very guilty, as if she were stealing away the professor for herself.
"This is not necessary, Byleth. If you wish, we can return to the others."
"No need." Byleth shook his head, motioning to one of the desks. "While I was enjoying the festivities, I find that I'm not very skilled at the 'partying' part."
Byleth pursed his lips, sheepishly scratching his cheek as he looked away.
"I'm not a very good conversationalist. The feast was for their benefit, anyways. I'd prefer eating alone with you."
Edelgard smiled. Yes, she would rather that as well. So much had been going on, there weren't as many opportunities for the two to be alone together. If it wasn't Hubert or her own responsibilities weighing her down, it was the incessant buzzing of Monica that prevented her from having anything close to a social life this past month.
"Well, I think you are just fine at making conversation," Edelgard said as she took her seat.
"That's just because it's easier with you."
Byleth said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. There wasn't even a hint of shame on his features for saying something so... sentimental.
Edelgard rested her chin in her hand, doing her best to fight off the growing heat in her cheeks. It was remarkable how easy it was for Byleth to get a rise out of her nowadays. She used to find his heavy-handed bluntness amusing at times, and commendable at others. Edelgard appreciated people that spoke their minds. Granted, he caught her off guard numerous times with some of the things he said, but she never thought much of it, and after the initial embarrassment, she simply brushed it off as just Byleth being Byleth.
But now, when they were alone together like this… she was hyper aware of everything he said and did. Just something as simple as him grabbing hold of her hand caused her heartbeat to elevate. It was childish, and made her feel like some frail, vulnerable schoolgirl, but… she wasn't exactly opposed to it. Never had she met someone that could make her feel like that, and while it was embarrassing, it was something she cherished, as silly as it was.
Byleth retrieved the food, then placed the two dishes in the middle of the conjoined desks. He scooped some of the pasta salad onto her plate, then some onto his and sat down.
Edelgard forked some of it and plopped into her mouth, giving a few cursory chews.
As she registered the salad's familiar taste, she smiled.
"Well?" Byleth prompted, his chin resting on his fist as he watched her eat.
"It tastes great." Edelgard dabbed her lips with a napkin, then met his eyes. "I've always loved this meal. How did you-?"
Byleth's lips tugged upwards into a very slight smirk.
Edelgard stopped herself, sighing and shaking her head.
"I suppose I should have expected that of the two dishes you'd pick, they were two of my favorites."
"Funny how that works."
"Quite the coincidence, indeed," Edelgard laughed. She looked down to her plate of food, her smile persisting. "Thank you, Byleth."
"You're very welcome."
Edelgard eyed him as he took a much more reserved bite of his own salad.
"Now I feel guilty; you should have taken something you liked."
He swallowed his food then shrugged.
"Food was always more of a necessity than an amenity to me. As long as it has nutritional value, I don't care." Byleth paused, his brows knitting together as he thought. "Though, I suppose I do like tea."
Edelgard chuckled. She had originally pegged him for a coffee man much like Hubert, but he certainly enjoyed his tea.
"Besides, I thought you could use some cheering up."
"Hm?" Edelgard hummed, tilting her head to the side as she feigned confusion. "What made you think that?"
"Edelgard…"
Byleth gave her a blank look. To be fair, most of his arsenal consisted of blank looks, but this one at least appeared much more slanted.
"Fine, I will admit that perhaps the feast had proven a little too much for me," she sighed, absently poking a few strips of torn lettuce with her fork.
"Why's that?" Byleth asked, looking genuinely curious. "If you don't mind my asking."
Edelgard adjusted herself on her seat. There were numerous reasons, too many to count. Though, if she were to pick the one that troubled her most…
"There will come a day where we won't be able to partake in such carefree things."
She paused as she took a bite of her food. It tasted bland now.
"I suppose I just didn't want to be reminded of that fact just yet."
Edelgard kept her words purposefully vague. More or less, that was the truth. One day, they wouldn't be able to share a meal together like that. One day, none of them would be smiling. There would be no laughter. There would be no happiness.
There would only be blood and death.
The argument could be made that given those outcomes, she should have taken this chance to enjoy a grand feast one last time. These days came few and far between, and one day, they would cease entirely for a time. Why not enjoy it while it lasted? Who knew how many years of war it would take until these peaceful days could return?
But, she just couldn't. It was easier for her if she didn't get attached. She already developed so many wonderful friendships with the people in her class, and the simple thought that one day she could lose them was nearly more than she could stomach already. To form even more bonds that one day she would inevitably have to crush was much more than she could handle.
It was better this way. Everyone could still enjoy their party, and she could avoid growing attached to the people that would one day be her enemies. No one would probably notice her absence until after the day was over. In fact, they'd probably be thankful come a year, when they looked back to this day, that the instigator of such strife wasn't present at such a happy time.
"…I see."
Byleth frowned, his blue eyes lost in thought as they stared through her. To her relief, he didn't seem upset… it was more like he was concentrating on something. Something she couldn't see.
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"Well, the next time we're faced with this situation, let me know and I'll swipe the necessary entrees for a quick exit."
Edelgard felt a grin form despite herself. Hearing him speak like that lifted her spirits more than any meal could. She wasn't aware if he had realized this yet or not, but lately whenever Byleth spoke of the future, he always said 'we' or 'us.' The thought that Byleth was consciously or subconsciously including her in his future made her rather happy.
The thought of the future was always so dark and dreary to her. Many times she wondered if these days here at the monastery would be the happiest ones of her life. Her future felt so bleak, she couldn't imagine there being anything resembling happiness for her down the road- only pain and heartache. How could that not be the case? She was prepared to give her own life, as well as the lives of others, for the sake of her dreams of a more just world. What happiness could there be?
Yet, when Byleth spoke like that… the future didn't seem quite so dim. He was this great ray of light, and with each passing day that light grew a little brighter. There were still so many unanswered questions and fears that plagued her thoughts regarding where he might stand, but for now, she continued to allow herself to hold on to the small, sliver of hope that come a year they'd still be together like this.
Edelgard took a deep breath, calming her nerves.
"Was it true what you said earlier today, Byleth?"
"Yes. But you'll have to be more specific. I say a lot of things nowadays."
"That you'll continue to stay by my side once I've left here," Edelgard reminded him, her voice soft.
"Of course," Byleth answered swiftly. "That'll never change."
'That'll never change…'
If only she could truly believe such a thing. A large part of her still had nagging doubts.
"Do you remember, long ago when I tried to enlist you into the service of the Empire?"
Byleth nodded, chewing slowly as he listened.
"Well, I take that back."
Byleth blinked, his jaw freezing.
"Huh?"
"Now, I only wish for your continued guidance during my eventual reign," Edelgard continued, her eyes meeting his. "I may be heir to the Imperial throne, but first and foremost, I'm your grateful student. Nothing can change that, even when I fulfill my destiny and become emperor."
"'First and foremost…'" Byleth repeated her words quietly, one of his small grins forming. "Don't let Hubert hear that. He might just keel over."
While the imagery was somewhat amusing, Edelgard couldn't find the will to laugh at his joke.
"Byleth, please. I'm being serious."
"I know."
Byleth grabbed his napkin, swiping it across his lips once before placing it down on the table.
He leaned forward in his seat, his gaze staying on her.
"Edelgard, you do not need to wish for such a thing. There's no place I would rather be," he assured her, his smile growing. "As I told you before, you gave my life purpose. I'm not going to relinquish that any time soon."
Edelgard returned the smile. His words gave her strength, more than he could possibly know…
Yet, just as the flame of hope burned so brightly in her chest, the murky waters of doubt still flooded her mind.
"Thank you, Byleth," Edelgard spoke, leaning back in her chair.
Byleth's brows twitched as he watched her. He must have noticed the flickering of her expression. He looked down to his plate once, indecision shadowing his features for only a second before lifting his eyes once more to meet her's.
"Edelgard, there's something I need to ask you as well."
The princess raised an eyebrow at the severity of his tone. It was a stark contrast to the way he had been speaking earlier.
She straightened her posture, her heart doing somersaults in her chest.
"I know there's something that you and presumably Hubert are hiding from me. I've seen how you two seem to constantly be brooding over something, and now with that… Monica girl in tow."
Edelgard's eyes widened. It has always been her design to leave her professor breadcrumbs, but for him to broach the topic came as something of a surprise.
"I've seen the troubled look you get whenever the future gets mentioned. Even today, while we were marching with Claude and Dimitri or again while we were waiting in line. I've seen it all, Edelgard."
She stiffened, lowering her head to avoid his piercing eyes. Something inside of her was screaming to deny these claims. To deny it all and assure Byleth that nothing was afoot.
But, she couldn't. As long as she wanted to continue hoping that he might stand by her side, she couldn't lie to him. If she did, she might as well plunge the dagger into her chest herself. If Edelgard lied now, she couldn't see a possible outcome in which Byleth joined her.
"What are you asking me, Byleth?" Edelgard raised her head.
"Just…"
Byleth frowned, his eyes boring holes into hers.
"When the time comes, will you tell me?"
He wasn't forcing her to tell him anything. There were no threats for her to divulge her secrets, no harsh words… only a simple request for openness.
Edelgard held his gaze. It took all of her willpower not to reveal all of herself to him, right here and now. To finally let her most guarded secrets out into the open once and for all, and for someone that truly seemed to understand her to actually listen to them.
Instead, she bobbed her head up and down.
"Good." Byleth's small grin returned. "Thank you."
He rested his back against his chair.
"I didn't intend for the conversation to get so serious." Byleth rubbed his head, glancing down at his forgotten plate of food. "Why don't we just-"
At that moment, the door to their homeroom burst open.
Both heads shot up to the startling sound.
Byleth's eyes widened considerably.
"Father?"
Jeralt paced into the room, his face grim. His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword.
His brown eyes darted to the shocked Edelgard once before resting on Byleth.
"You're back from your mission already?" Byleth tilted his head to the side, looking confused.
"Is everything alright, Sir Jeralt?" Edelgard asked. His grave expression had her worried.
"There's no time for that." Jeralt shook his head. "The archbishop has requested our presence immediately, son."
"Rhea?" Byleth mumbled, his head turning towards their meal. "Can't it wait? I'm in the middle of something."
"No, it can't." Jeralt frowned. "There's trouble in Remire."
Remire Village. The place where Edelgard had first met Byleth. Remire was a small settlement, a village that didn't hold much great importance, so what could possibly-
Edelgard's breath hitched.
They wouldn't…
She looked to Byleth, the lump in her throat growing in size.
His brow was creased in anger, his fingernails digging into the top of his desk. His nostrils were flared, his lips set in a firm line.
"Understood."
Byleth took a deep breath, and with it, the enraged expression she had only caught a glimpse of was all but gone.
"Edelgard-"
He looked to her.
"I hope you'll forgive me, but will it be alright if we continued this another time?"
"Of course, my teacher." Edelgard nodded. "Do not worry about me; go meet with the archbishop. I'll be fine."
Byleth nodded his thanks, shooting up from his seat so quickly that he nearly knocked his plate of food over.
"Let's go, father."
The professor took off after the captain, both leaving the room as quickly as Jeralt had arrived. They were in such a hurry, neither bothered to close the door.
Edelgard bit her thumb, her thoughts already racing.
Remire Village? If it was them, what could they have wanted in that town? She was fully aware of their… experiments, but for them to begin conducting them so quickly, and without informing her of the location first had her worried of what they were planning. The town would have been far too small of a sample size for their disgusting tests. There had to have been another reason.
Byleth's reaction… Was there some importance to the village that she had missed? Edelgard had rarely seen her teacher get so enraged like that. She has seen him smile, laugh, and one single, solitary time, she could have sworn she saw him tear up.
But unbridled rage? Now, that was something she had never seen.
"Lady Edelgard."
The princess nearly jumped out of her seat at the sudden voice emanating from behind her.
Inhaling slowly, Edelgard rose from her seat and turned to face her aide. Of course he would be snooping in on their conversation. She shouldn't even be surprised at this point.
"What is it, Hubert?" She asked hotly, brushing her hair back into place.
Hubert stepped fully into the room, closing and locking the door behind him.
His face was grim. Hubert's face was always grim, but this time especially so.
"We have a problem."
And there you have it! Super stoked to get this chapter out, and even more excited to expand on some of these plot points I've touched on more in the next chapter. Lots and lots of foreshadowing in this chapter, and finally Remire Village woo!
I did change up some things, as you can tell. I really pushed up Remire Village, as it felt kind of weird to me that this mission doesn't feel as rushed. I mean, you've got trouble in Remire Village, but the academy takes a solid month until they go there to investigate. Little strange, but understandable given how the game plays. Plus, the sense of urgency I think adds to the importance of this particular, upcoming chapter. It's actually, in my humble opinion, one of the MOST important chapters in this first half of the game. I also changed the ending scene of the feast a little bit, opting to create a new scene myself with some added bits to stick to the overall flow. Very curious how Byleth opts to spend time alone with Edelgard rather than stay with the big group of people... I know some people most likely would have wanted to see some more group shenanigans, but I felt it important to show how in these peaceful days, it's Edelgard that's at the front of his mind at the end of the day.
And of course, perhaps the biggest thing I did, was have Byleth confront Edelgard. For the story I'm writing and planning, this scene is highly important. Byleth's awareness that Edelgard and Hubert are scheming up something is another plot point I'll be touching on later down the road... Given the events of later chapters, you can probably hazard a guess as to why. Perhaps the biggest obstacle in Edelith's relationship is right around the corner, and to not broach that topic seems like a grave mistake.
Back to Remire, I'm also going to expand on its importance to Byleth and Jeralt. They touch on how angry seeing Remire Village attacked makes Byleth, so I want to give some more reasoning to that. And of course, I also plan on expanding on Mr. Hubert coming up. If you're wondering how Hubert and Edelgard are going to play out, well, wait no longer!
One thing I kinda wanted to dish about in this chapter is Edelgard. And in particular, her one line "first and foremost, I am your grateful student." That's straight from the game itself, if anyone forgot (there ARE a lot of lines). I actually think that's kind of crazy to think about. Edelgard, someone who always talks about her birthright to inherit the throne, openly states that she considers herself a student before the emperor. It's line I certainly glossed over the first time I played CF, but going back through to nail some of the scenes it REALLY stood out to me. I just think that's kind of a neat little hint of her growing development and how she begins to change based on Byleth's influence.
Anyhow, thanks for reading everyone! It's been such a long time coming, but coming next chapter we'll get to Remire. That's where the tone of the story (outside of the ball) really begins to take a steep change.
See you all next time! And as always, thanks for all of the love!
