Byleth was sprawled out on the grass, his arms resting comfortably by his sides. The boy was shivering slightly, as the night air was quite cool, but the blanket his father had draped over him had staved it off somewhat.

As he lied against the grass, the boy's head was tilted up to the sky. The sky was quite clear that night, not a single cloud blocking his view of the stars. The stars were all shining so vibrantly. As he looked up at those big, bright lights, he idly wondered just what a 'star' was. His father's explanation of 'they're lights in the sky' didn't quite satiate the child's curiosity. How did they get there? Why were they lit up?

What were they?

Byleth tilted his head to Jeralt, who was lying only a few feet away from him. The older man's hands were linked behind his head, his eyes glassy and distant as he enjoyed the same starry night as Byleth. There was a small smile on his father's face as he looked out into the pitch-black sky.

"So, what do you think, son?" Jeralt asked, somehow knowing Byleth was watching him without actually moving his head. "Fan of the stars?"

The boy's gaze returned to those impossibly bright stars.

"I dunno." He shrugged simply. Truthfully, he didn't know. "Do you like them, Dad?"

"I do." The grass rustled as Jeralt nodded. "Your mother and I used to star gaze all the time."

Byleth took another glance at his dad. He didn't mention Mother often. In a way, she was just as mysterious to the boy as the stars were. Just like those stars, he didn't understand what a mother was, did, or how it got there.

Jeralt's eyes widened.

"Well, would you look at that?"

His hand raised, pointing to something above them. Byleth followed his finger until he too saw the streaking light cutting a path across the night sky's canvas.

"Do you know what that is, Byleth?"

Byleth did not, so he shook his head.

"It's a shooting star. They say that seeing one brings you good luck, and, if that luck is true, a wish of yours might be granted."

Jeralt turned to his son, staring at him expectantly.

"Go on, son. Make a wish."

Byleth didn't fully understand his father's explanation, but Dad hadn't led him astray before, so Byleth did what he was told. He closed his eyes and…

After a few seconds of silence, Byleth opened them. His father was still watching him.

"Well? What'd you wish for?"

Byleth turned to his father.

"Nothing. I couldn't think of one."

For a moment, a frown flashed across Jeralt's features. But, as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. It was as fleeting as that shooting star he had mentioned.

"Ah, that's okay." Jeralt smiled, turning his gaze back to the stars. "Maybe if you're lucky, a wish of yours will get granted anyways."

Byleth frowned- a rare expression of emotion from him. Again, he didn't quite understand his father's logic.

"Really?" The puzzled seven-year-old asked.

Jeralt nodded.

"I hope so."


Byleth's head was tilted upward. Seeing as it was only noon, there of course weren't any stars in the sky that were actually visible, but… As he recalled the evening he spent with his father so many years ago, he could almost picture those small, bright lights illuminated in the darkness.

The mercenary lowered his head back to the ground, reaching and out letting the palm of his hand rest against his mother's tombstone.

"Do you think that's true, Mother?" Byleth asked the stone quietly.

At the time, he truly did not have a single thing to wish for. Things were different now, as Byleth had many wishes. Some of them impossible, some of them not. If he could relive that single day, he'd wish for them all. He'd wish to meet his mother just once, he'd wish for his father's continued good health, he'd wish for the good health of his students, he'd selfishly wish for his own happiness, he'd wish for Edelgard's, he'd wish that he could live the rest of his life with her…

But, being the child he was that was unaware to all these things, he had wished for nothing. At that age, Byleth couldn't see those endless possibilities in life. It wasn't that he was without hope or depressed… He was just listless. He blindly followed his father's shadow, because he didn't know anything else. Byleth didn't know, and quite frankly, couldn't understand the joy life could hold.

Granted, if he could go back and change things, he most likely would not. He never regretted taking up his father's profession as a mercenary, he just regretted… not living a little more. If he could go back in time (rather ironic all things considered), the only thing he'd alter was meeting her. Byleth would want to meet her so much sooner, as it seemed that once he met Edelgard, his life became exponentially happier. He smiled more. Rooms were brighter. Food tasted better. Even his bond with his father felt somewhat stronger, and the two had always been somewhat close.

Byleth rubbed his thumb across the top of the stone.

"I didn't think so at the time, but now I wonder…" Byleth trailed off, his lips curving upwards into a smile. "Today's a big day, Mother. Wish me luck."

Retracting his hand from her grave, Byleth knelt down to place a bouquet of flowers up against the stone. Annette had helped him pick out this particular bouquet. He found its colors rather beautiful.

"Goodbye for now, Mother."

Byleth rose to his full height, turning away from his mother's grave as he made his way up the staircase that led back to the academy's campus.

"If you could make another wish, what would it be, Byleth?"

The professor glanced to his right. He couldn't actually see Sothis walking beside him, but he'd like to believe she was.

That's a secret.

"Well, are you not a cheeky one?" Sothis giggled. "For your sake, I hope your secret wish comes true."

Thank you, Sothis.

As Byleth walked, his heart felt unusually warm. It often felt that way nowadays, but today especially so. It didn't hurt, throb, or thump in his chest, but today it… felt warm. Warm and light. Fluttery, even. Like butterflies were swirling in his sternum. It was a strange feeling, but not one that he hated. In fact, he rather liked it.

Students milled past him as he walked, some of them greeting him with their usual cheerful expressions. They all looked so excited and chipper. Byleth couldn't blame them. Seeing as today was finally the grand ball, he was sure they were all looking forward to the festivities.

Byleth was much the same in that regard. His dance training with Manuela had gone swimmingly, and his preparation with Dorothea for the White Heron Cup had been a great success. Unsurprisingly, the songstress had pretty much swept the competition. It almost felt unfair that someone as talented as her had been a Black Eagle, but Hilda and Sylvain put up a good fight in the end. Sylvain was a surprising choice for the Lions, but… Byleth could see the merit in choosing him.

Despite those successes, he still had much to prepare for. As he told his mother, today was a big day. He wanted things to go… well. Byleth, being the man he was, was perhaps overly prepared for the evening. He had a backup plan, and a backup plan to that backup plan should things go south. Byleth had begun to realize to prepare this far in advance was probably born from his own nervousness, but as much as he tried to calm himself, he never fully could. How could he? Byleth had never done this before.

Byleth's wandering mind came to a halt as he spotted a familiar face in the growing crowd of students and faculty.

"Good morning, Mr. Gatekeeper," Byleth greeted the guard.

The gatekeeper flinched, spinning on his heel to face Byleth, giving him a prompt salute.

"Greetings, Professor! Nothing to report!" The man shouted his usual hello at seeing the professor, only for his smiling face to falter slightly near the end. The gatekeeper chuckled, sheepishly adjusting his misaligned helmet. "Hehe, I'm actually on break right now so I guess I shouldn't be saying that... If you see the Captain, don't tell him I'm still giving reports even when I'm off-duty."

"It'll be our secret." Byleth smirked. The gatekeeper was always an earnest man. "Taking a stroll on your break, huh?"

"That's right!" He nodded excitedly. "I'm usually posted up near the front gate, so I thought it'd be a nice change of pace to explore a bit. It's rare seeing the monastery buzzing like this!"

"That it is," Byleth agreed, taking a moment to look around at all the chattering students.

"Oh, Professor! That reminds me; have you heard of the legend surrounding the Goddess Tower?"

"Goddess Tower?" Byleth glanced back at the man, quirking an eyebrow. "Can't say I have."

Byleth knew of the tower and its location near the cathedral, but other than it having a nice view at its top, he wasn't aware of any 'legends' regarding the structure.

"Well, they say that on the last night of the Ethereal Moon, on the same night as the ball…" The guard paused for dramatic effect. "If a man and a woman go to the Goddess Tower and make a wish, it's sure to come true!"

Byleth's eyes widened.

"I have a wish, but I can't find anybody to make it with me…" The gatekeeper gave a self-deprecating chuckle as he shook his head. Byleth suddenly felt very sorry for the poor man. "Anyways, what about you, Professor? Anyone come to mind?"

The mercenary hummed as he nodded slowly. Yes, someone immediately came to mind.

"Then make sure to take 'em up there!" he continued eagerly. "I'm pretty good at guarding stuff, so I'll make sure to keep it blocked off for you."

Byleth chuckled, grasping the man by the shoulder. He wasn't sure how he felt about one of the church's guards closing off an area of the monastery for his own personal use, but…

"I would greatly appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Gatekeeper."

"It's my pleasure!" The gatekeeper shot his hand up for a salute.

Byleth gave the man a nod as he walked away, his mind already racing with dozens of possibilities revolving around this Goddess Tower.

"Isn't that a convenient twist of fate?" Sothis remarked. "Perhaps you'll get another chance to cast this secret wish of yours."

Perhaps, indeed.

As Byleth walked through the Officers Academy, his grin grew a few sizes larger.

The students that passed him by returned his smile with one of their own. Months ago, seeing the visage of a smiling Byleth was a near myth. Anyone that claimed to see this rare sight was often disregarded, as the idea that the mercenary-turned-professor could actually smile was a topic that was always heavily debated. There were some that swore up and down they had seen him make that expression from time to time, while others disagreed rather vehemently. No one could come to a clear consensus on the matter.

But, as the days went on, seeing Byleth smile wasn't nearly as rare as it once was. Now, it was more of an accepted fact.


Meanwhile, the Black Eagle class was gathered together in their homeroom, spending a few hours together before the dance. All members but Hubert were present. Even Felix, the former Blue Lion was there. That was something of a surprise to Edelgard. It seemed the swordsman didn't go out of his way to partake in these group activities. Not that she minded that he was here now, of course. Edelgard enjoyed seeing them together.

"This is simply divine! I feel so… so ladylike!" Flayn exclaimed happily. "I have never had 'make-up' applied before!"

"I'm happy to hear that, sweetie." Dorothea grinned, only for it to crack a moment later. "Just, um, please don't tell your brother about this."

Edelgard watched with great amusement as Dorothea sat across from Flayn, brush in hand as she swiped it across her face. The two were sitting at their desks, chattering away as they worked.

"Dorothea, if I may, what is this powder used for?" Ferdinand asked, who had been hovering around the two as he watched.

"That is foundation, Ferdie," Dorothea replied, rolling her eyes. "It improves your complexion."

"I see! Very useful, indeed." Ferdinand nodded sagely. "Perhaps I should apply some. It is a noble's duty to always maintain their appearance, after all."

"Oh?" Dorothea smirked, turning her head away from Flayn and to him. "Maybe when I'm done with Flayn I could glamor you up some? Goddess knows you could use it."

"I would greatly appreciate-"

Ferdinand paused, his brow furrowing.

"'I could use it?'" The noble mumbled, his fingers grazing his cheeks. "Is there something wrong with my appearance?"

"I'm just kidding, Ferdie," Dorothea laughed, swatting him away. Her eyes then moved to Felix, who was standing in the corner of the room with his arms crossed. "What about you, Felix? With a little make-up, your handsome face would pop!"

"No."

Dorothea sighed, her attention returning to Flayn.

"He's no fun, is he, Flayn?"

Seteth's sister giggled, a hand moving up to cover her lips, which Dorothea hurriedly pushed back down before she could smudge anything.

"They certainly look to be enjoying themselves."

Edelgard turned her sights to the girl besides her.

"Do you wish to join them, Lysithea? I am sure Dorothea would be more than thrilled."

"No thanks." Lysithea shook her head, her hair bobbing with the movement. "That kind of stuff… isn't for me."

Edelgard nodded, humming softly.

"I understand the feeling."

"Really?" Lysithea glanced at her. "I would have thought someone of your position would be quite acquainted with this."

"I cannot say I am." Edelgard met her eyes, smiling slightly. "I suppose we have a few things in common."

"I suppose we do." Lysithea narrowed her eyes slightly as she examined Edelgard, her pupils moving from her snow-white hair to her purple eyes. "Say, Edelgard… may I ask you something?"

"Of course, Lysithea. You can ask me anything."

Lysithea frowned, her brow crinkling as she thought.

"…On second thought, it can wait until after the ball. I wouldn't want to sour the mood."

Considering who she was speaking with, Edelgard could wager a few guesses as to what Lysithea had in mind when she wanted to ask her something.

"Very well. Then, perhaps we can discuss it later over some cake and tea? I recently acquired some goods from Enbarr, and I find the cake far too sweet for my liking. You are welcomed to have some."

"Isn't that the point of cake?" Lysithea raised an eyebrow, but Edelgard could spy her fighting off a grin. "In any case, you know I'd never say no to sweets."

"Heh. Good girl."

Edelgard placed a hand to Lysithea's head, tousling her hair affectionately.

"T-there's no need to pander me!" Lysithea protested, pushing her hand away. "Goodness, you're just like the professor!"

Edelgard could tell her friend was partially annoyed, but even so, she couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"He does seem to do that often, doesn't he?" Edelgard said, moving her hand back down to her side. "…Do you dislike it?"

Lysithea huffed, her cheeks turning a slight red as they turned away.

"I don't hate it," she mumbled sheepishly before shooting Edelgard a sharp glare. "But I am not a child to be coddled, understand?"

"I do." Edelgard's smile became strained. No, Lysithea was nowhere near a child… A child shouldn't have to suffer through the things they had suffered through. "I promise, it won't happen again."

Lysithea's eyes widened.

She lowered her head to the floor, a finger timidly scratching her cheek.

"I wouldn't go that far."

"Hm? What was that, Lysithea?"

"N-nothing," Lysithea grumbled. The blush in her cheeks deepened.

Whatever conversation remained between the two would have to be put on hold, as the sound of the classroom's door opening cut them off.

All heads turned to the door, where a blank Byleth stood motionless, a bundle of papers and books tucked beneath his arm.

Byleth's gaze moved from Dorothea and Flayn, to Caspar, who was sitting beside a sleeping Linhardt, to Edelgard and Lysithea.

"What seems to be going on here?" The professor asked, his eyes falling on Flayn, who was smiling up at Byleth with half of her face covered in make-up.

"Oh, you know," Dorothea chuckled nervously, the hand holding the brush slowly falling. "A little of this, a little of that."

"I see." Byleth nodded. "Don't let me stop you, then."

Their teacher slid past the two and walked towards his desk. Placing his belongings down, he turned his sights back to the full classroom.

He scooted a little closer to Edelgard and Lysithea.

"Why is Dorothea brushing powder on Flayn's face?" Byleth whispered to the two.

"They're putting on make-up, Professor," Lysithea replied, eying the man. "You sound like you've never seen it happen before."

"I traveled across Fódlan with a band of mercenaries. Most of them were hairy, burly men," Byleth said in a very flat tone. "I cannot say I have, though I do understand the concept."

Byleth watched the two for a moment longer before shaking his head.

"Edelgard, may I have a moment?"

Lysithea's eyes darted from the professor, to Edelgard, then back to him.

"I shall excuse myself, then." Lysithea took a step away, nodding at the two.

Turning herself to the rest of the class, the mage seemed rather hesitant on where to go to. After a few seconds of consideration, she walked towards Felix, who was still standing in the far corner of the room.

Byleth smiled slightly as he watched her.

"What did you wish to speak with me about?" Edelgard prompted, Byleth's focus being pulled back towards her.

"Oh, right."

Byleth took a step towards her, his eyes jumping around the room before falling back to her face.

"Later tonight, could you meet with me? There are some things I would like to discuss with you."

Edelgard felt her brows raise at that. There were numerous things she had expected Byleth to say considering all that the two had discussed, but having a secret rendezvous on the night of the ball she had not expected. What could it be that they would have to meet on this night?

"Of course, my teacher," Edelgard replied, staring up at him puzzlingly. "Though, I have some time now if you'd rather."

"No. What I want to talk about is best done privately."

Byleth's response was immediate.

"If you don't mind…"

Then, he hesitated.

"I would prefer tonight. Two hours after the dance commences. In the Goddess Tower."

Edelgard's eyes widened, her heart somersaulting in her chest. The Goddess Tower?

She of course knew the stories that the tower held. She even had one of her own regarding her parents and how they had met. Of all the places in the monastery, that tower was perhaps the one that had the most sentimental value to her. Originally, she had planned to go there alone when things had calmed down, but since Byleth was asking…

What could he wish to speak with her about in a place as… as romantic as that?

"I shall meet you there, then." Edelgard nodded, her mind already racing with possibilities.

"Thank you," Byleth sighed. For some reason, he seemed awfully relieved to hear her answer. "I'll see you then."

"You're leaving?" She asked. It was probably a silly question given the fact the professor had already begun to make his exit, but at seeing that, it was a question she couldn't help but ask. He was acting somewhat strange.

"Yes." Byleth nodded, tilting his head back to her. "I have quite a few things to go over before night falls."

Flashing her another smile, Byleth turned and walked away.

Edelgard's eyes followed him as he left. She had witnessed him smile numerous times before… but something about that look he had just given her left her dumbstruck. There was something about it that seemed different than before.

As she chewed on her bottom lip, Edelgard pondered what kind of conversation awaited her tonight. She didn't want to presume anything, but…

Her 'blackened' heart fluttered in her chest, filling with heat as the flames of hope flickered and grew.


Finally, the time had arrived. The past month had felt like it crawled by, but the ball was finally here.

Byleth stood off to the side, sipping some apple juice from a champagne glass (as alcohol wasn't allowed on the premises), listening to the gentle tunes of the church orchestra as he watched the students dance with one another. The music was quite beautiful and… gentle. Byleth didn't know fully how to describe the sounds he was hearing, but gentle seemed like an apt enough term. A piano, violins, cellos, harps, they all played together in unison, their harmonious melody filling the room.

As Byleth watched the students dance, he was immensely grateful for Manuela's instruction. There were many faces he didn't recognize, as well as a few he did, but regardless, they all danced with such grace. Their feet moved with such precision, no step wrongly placed or wasted. If Professor Manuela hadn't taught him a thing or two, he probably would have looked like a bumbling child compared to these young adults.

Even Dimitri, the slightly clumsy fellow with obscene amounts of strength, elegantly moved around the dancefloor with his partner. Byleth wouldn't have thought that Dimitri would have much skill with this activity, but with the way he moved so skillfully and, he daresay, delicately, Byleth would have assumed he was watching another man.

The professor ignored the increasing group of female students that had gathered around him, his eyes moving to the only woman that had captured his heart.

Edelgard was dancing with some student that Byleth couldn't recall the name of, but if he remembered correctly, this particular student had a high-ranking father in the… Empire? Kingdom? Truthfully, he didn't know much about this one.

It hadn't surprised him in the slightest that Edelgard came dressed to this event as she normally did. In fact, it seemed like the crowd was split fifty-fifty on who came dressed up and who wore uniforms. Dimitri, for example, wore a rather luxurious looking suit that presumably Hilda and Marianne had chosen for him, while Claude, unsurprisingly, came in his usual uniform. Hilda probably didn't appreciate that. And, now that he thought about it, it might be wise for Byleth to avoid her tonight as well. He wasn't sure if she'd be annoyed that he came dressed in his usual black clothing and armor after she had gone through all that trouble to pick clothing for him.

As Byleth watched Edelgard get swept around the room, he felt a batch of unfamiliar emotions burn in his chest. Jealousy? Envy? Anger? He didn't care for these things, but he was fully aware as to why he was feeling that way.

Byleth shook his head, hoping that the movement might shake those feelings off as well. It was silly; he knew this opening dance was only a formality. There was no reason to feel like that.

…Yet, he couldn't help it.

"Hey there, Teach."

Byleth perked his head up as he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

Through the sea of woman that closed him off, he saw Claude wiggle his way through the crowd.

"Jeez, what's with all the people over here?" Claude muttered, dusting himself off as he came to a stop beside him.

"Good evening, Claude," Byleth greeted the man. As the music was quite loud in this large room, his voice was hard to hear, but it didn't seem to affect Claude at all. "Enjoying the ball so far?"

"Yeah, it's not bad." Claude nodded, snatching a glass of juice from a nearby waiter's plate. "It's a little swanky for my tastes, but not bad at all."

"Good." Byleth nodded, glancing at the still dancing students as a thought occurred to him. "Shouldn't you be out there? You're the next leader of the Alliance, after all."

"Eh." Claude shrugged, taking a sip from his drink. "I get that's supposed to be a tradition or something, but I don't particularly care for formalities like that."

Claude smirked, a rather common sight coming from him.

"Plus, I enjoy breaking the rules now and again."

That sounded like something he might say.

"What about you?" Claude asked, setting his glass down on a nearby table. "Why aren't you out there dancing instead of hanging around all these-"

He paused, his eyes moving around the crowd. They were all chatting amongst themselves, but occasionally, one would throw a look in Claude and Byleth's general direction.

"Girls?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Man, there are a lot of women here. You're quite the lady-killer, huh, Professor?"

Byleth frowned at that, as he certainly didn't see himself in that light. Though, it was somewhat curious why there were so many members of the opposite sex here now.

He decided not to touch on that.

"The opening dance is for the students, not the faculty," Byleth reminded him. "I am simply observing."

"Well, in that case, would you care to break some more rules with me?"

Byleth's eyes moved to Claude's offered hand, then to his grinning face. As usual, Claude's smile hadn't reached his eyes.

While he didn't particularly mind if Claude were to be his dance partner, the thought of being the only professor out there left Byleth feeling somewhat awkward.

Noticing his hesitation, Claude laughed, letting his hand drop back to his side.

"I was just joshing, Teach. Honestly, I was hoping I could get some kind of reaction out of you…"

Claude frowned slightly as he tilted his head back and forth, his curious eyes examining Byleth.

"It seems I've still got a lot to learn." Claude's smirk returned, his gaze moving out to the dancers, and in particular, Edelgard herself. "Besides, I wouldn't want to steal your first time like that."

Behind them, one of the students that had been listening in choked on her drink.

"First time?" Byleth raised an eyebrow in question.

"Yeah. I mean, it's pretty obvious you've never done something like this before."

The professor blinked in surprise, turning his head away. As always, Claude's skills in deduction weren't anything to scoff at.

"I've had some practice," he corrected him. "But, you are right. I've never done this before."

Byleth flinched as the people around him began to clap. He had been so distracted by his conversation with Claude, he hadn't even noticed that the dancing and the music had stopped.

His eyes immediately jumped to Edelgard, watching as she bowed to her partner with a polite smile on her face.

As if she could sense his gaze, Edelgard lifted her head, her eyes meeting his.

The princess's smile widened as she looked to him.

Byleth returned the gesture, nodding his head.

And then, the rest of the students waiting in the wings spilled onto the dancefloor, obstructing his vision of her.

"Well, aren't you smitten? I'm getting nauseous just watching you two."

Claude stepped past him, his hand falling on Byleth's shoulder.

"Best of luck with Her Highness over there, Teach," Claude told him, his grin turning mischievous. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mingle."

With that, Claude walked away. Considering that Byleth could see Hilda's smiling face poking out from the crowd, her arm swaying back and forth as she waved enthusiastically at him, he had a good guess on who Claude was planning to 'mingle' with.

Byleth turned his head behind him as he felt someone tug on the sleeve of his jacket.

"Um, Professor Eisner?"

The culprit was a student from the Blue Lion house. She had long, brown hair tied up in a ponytail that spilled over her shoulders. Byleth didn't have any dealings with this one, but he recognized her face from the ones he had seen on a daily basis.

"W-would you like to dance with me?"

Byleth hadn't planned on dancing right this second, but with how nervous the younger woman looked as she asked him, he felt obliged to agree. Plus, he was rather flattered by the surprising increase in his popularity tonight.

"I would be-"

Byleth paused as his eyes landed on an awkward looking Lysithea, who was currently talking to a smiling Sylvain.

Sylvain?

Sylvain?

Now, Byleth had no qualms with the well-known flirt. In fact, Byleth was quite fond of him. Sylvain was a good man, and sometimes he might try a little too hard, but he was a good, just man nonetheless.

That being said…

"Happy to," Byleth finished, looking down at the student beside him. "However, I already agreed to dance with one of my students. Find me later, and I would be honored to."

The girl blushed as she nodded perhaps a little too excessively.

"O-okay!" The student chirped, her beaming face fluttering back to her group of friends that were waiting behind her.

With that wrapped up, Byleth began to move through the crowd and towards the two students.

As he got closer, he could hear Sylvain 'putting the moves on her.'

"You know, Lysithea, I find your harshness positively charming. It's one of the things I-"

Sylvain stopped as he saw Byleth approaching.

"Oh, hey, Professor!" The Lion grinned at him as he lifted his head. "Having fun tonight? I saw you killing it over there."

'Killing it?' Given who he was speaking with, Byleth had a few guesses as to what he was referring to, but he knew Sylvain never meant any harm.

"You could say that." Byleth nodded. "I just came by to let you know Ingrid was looking for you."

"I-I-Ingrid?" Sylvain blubbered. "What did she want?"

"Not sure."

"Ah, man," Sylvain sighed, a hand rubbing his head. "She's probably going to talk my ear off again."

The red-head turned to Lysithea, smiling apologetically.

"Sorry about this, Lysithea, but I should go see what she wants."

"Please, take your time," the girl said with a roll of her eyes.

Sylvain nodded at the two before he took off in a near sprint in the opposite direction, a handful of 'pardon me's' and 'excuse me's' being thrown out like candy.

With him gone, Byleth looked to his student. Lysithea stood there with her arms crossed, her head purposefully turned away from him.

She was wearing a dress that Byleth had never seen before. It was a deep lavender color. It looked quite nice on her, he thought, but Byleth didn't have much experience when it came to these things.

"I could have declined him myself, you know," Lysithea remarked. "I didn't need you to come and swoop in."

"You saw right through me. Sorry."

As the music began to play again, the crowd began to part slightly as students and faculty members hurried off to find someone to dance with.

Byleth held a hand out to Lysithea.

"Would you like to dance?"

He realized this would mean giving away his first dance to someone other than Edelgard, but he was sure she'd understand. Besides, he cared a great deal for his student. Lysithea was one of the many people in his class he wanted to share a dance with before he retreated for the evening.

Lysithea looked to the offered hand, then to Byleth's face.

Letting out a disgruntled sigh, she accepted his hand.

"Very well, but I'll have you know I'm not very good at this."

"That's alright." Byleth smiled as he placed his other hand on her back. "Neither am I."

"I-is that so?" Lysithea mumbled, her body flinching slightly at his touch. "You would have fooled me; you seem to know what you're doing."

"I've had a lot of practice."

As the melody of the instruments continued, Byleth took the lead as he and Lysithea began to move.

Her eyes were wide at first, her hands hesitantly grasping his hand and shoulder respectively. But, after a few seconds into their dance, she began to ease into it. She didn't seem as nearly as stiff as she was at the beginning. As the time went on, their joined movements became much more fluid.

The two danced together in silence for a few more moments before Byleth opened his mouth once more.

"You look very beautiful tonight, by the way."

Byleth didn't have any intentions behind that statement other than to honestly compliment her. It was a statement of fact more than anything else, as Lysithea did look nice in her dress. And, as Professor Manuela had made sure to emphasize on more than one occasion, it was proper etiquette to compliment your dance partner.

Instead of replying with some kind of sassy or annoyed remark like he had been expecting, Lysithea simply dipped her head, her gaze avoiding his as she stared at their feet.

"Thank you," she mumbled under her breath. "Dorothea helped me pick it out."

"She did a great job, then."

It took a great deal of willpower to not examine her a little closer, as Byleth was morbidly curious if Lysithea bore similar scars to Edelgard, but he knew he shouldn't. It would have been incredibly tactless, and he doubted the dance floor was the place for such things.

"I feel somewhat out of place in it, though," Lysithea admitted meekly. "Do you really think it looks okay?"

"Absolutely." Byleth nodded. "Very mature and ladylike."

Now, that statement did have a hint of pandering to it. He knew how hard Lysithea tried to appear as a proper adult, so he was aware that compliment would probably make her happy. She always hated being compared to, or treated as, a child. And while on more than one occasion Byleth had done just that, he still wanted to try and honor her wishes when he could.

It was just hard sometimes. Byleth never had siblings. There were no older or younger brothers and sisters to speak of, so perhaps Byleth was transferring those brotherly quirks he would have had towards them onto her.

Byleth would admit that on occasion he might treat her as though she really was the younger sibling he never had. He couldn't describe it, but there was something about her that made Byleth want to protect and coddle her. Perhaps it was because he knew the torment she had gone through as a child, or perhaps it was because of the hardworking and determined girl he had come to know these past few months, but regardless, the feeling was the same.

It was much different than the feelings he harbored towards Edelgard, of course. One was of a romantic nature, while the other was more… familial? Again, it was hard to describe. These types of things were a first for him.

"I am not one for dancing, as it feels like I'm being tossed and thrown around, but…" Lysithea smiled a little, her eyes darting to Byleth's before moving away. "I must say, this is kind of fun."

"I'm having fun as well."

As the two continued, the expression Lysithea was making began to match her previous statement. The small smile never left her face, and while she seemed to be trying quite hard to avoid looking directly at Byleth, her eyes did eventually leave the floor. They would drift around the room to all of the other smiling faces, then to Byleth, then back to the others.

And, in that moment, Byleth began to think that he wouldn't mind if days like these could go on forever.

However, as if to spite him for thinking such a thing, the music stopped, and so did their dance.

Lysithea let go of him and took a step back.

"Thank you for the dance, Professor," Lysithea said as she bowed. "I rather enjoyed myself."

"And thank you as well," Byleth replied, placing his arm to his midsection as he returned the gesture. "I did too, Lysithea. Would you like to share another?"

"Oi, Byleth."

Byleth felt his lips move into a smirk, immediately recognizing who that voice belonged to.

The professor turned his head to Felix, who was now standing behind him with an uncomfortable look on his face. The swordsman was wearing his usual academy uniform, but the fact that Felix was here at all came as a great surprise to him. A welcomed one, but still.

"Oh, good evening, Felix. Did you perhaps want to take my place?"

Lysithea snorted. She appeared to find that question quite amusing.

"I doubt Felix of all people wants to-"

"I would, indeed."

"Eh?" Lysithea blinked, her jaw hanging open.

"Then, allow me to excuse myself," Byleth said, motioning for Felix to take his place. "I'll leave you two kids to it."

Lysithea's head snapped from Felix, to Byleth, then back to Felix again. She was still in a stupor from Felix's ready response.

As Byleth walked by his student, Felix met his eyes. His student nodded at him as he passed.

Good man.

Not even he expected Felix's honest response, but, he had to admit, he respected the way the man was able to keep up his usual bravado. Knowing Felix, this situation must have confused him greatly, but you couldn't tell that just by looking at him.

Byleth returned the nod, retreating into the crowd once more. Maybe he could find Petra, Dorothea, or Bernie before they found their own partners.


Edelgard stood at one of the tables out of the way, her elbows leaning against it as she took reserved sips from her drink. She was thankful that it was apple juice she was drinking rather than wine or champagne, as Edelgard didn't care for alcoholic beverages. She liked her mind to be clear and sharp. Anything that altered her faculties or her state of mind was something she could do without.

She watched the dances commence from her perch off to the side. Her eyes were always drawn to their smiling faces and those bright, happy eyes that looked into those of their partner. Occasionally Edelgard would search the room for Byleth. Most of the time, it was too cluttered for her to spot him, but she had seen him a few times. In one instance, he was dancing with Lysithea, while in the next, he was with Dorothea.

It was rather sweet seeing her friends and classmates dance with their professor. True to his word, Byleth seemed quite adept at dancing. The girls he shared a dance with seemed to greatly enjoy it.

To her surprise, Edelgard didn't feel jealous watching them have fun. In fact, she was quite happy to see them looking so joyful.

Instead… she felt the pangs of envy. Edelgard knew it was silly considering in a short hour she would be meeting with Byleth in private, but she still felt that way. Edelgard no longer enjoyed dancing as she once did, but even she wanted to share one with her teacher.

So, why didn't she? Why didn't she just go out there and find him? Well, for one, it seemed that a growing line was waiting for their chance to dance with Byleth, but…

Edelgard pondered that question as she took another drink from her juice.

"Hello, Edelgard."

The princess straightened her posture, turning her head to Petra, who had approached the table without her knowing.

"Good evening, Petra," Edelgard greeted her friend with a smile. "Enjoying yourself?"

"I am greatly." Petra nodded politely. "I have discovered it is great fun to 'dance.'"

Edelgard chuckled at her 'discovery.'

"Well, I am happy to hear that."

"Why are you over here, Edelgard?" Petra asked, frowning slightly. "Are you not having enjoyment?"

"No, I am. I suppose I'm just more content watching rather than participating."

Edelgard paused, her gaze moving out towards the sea of dancers.

"They all look to be having fun, don't they?"

Petra followed Edelgard's line of sight.

"I have confusion, however…" Petra smiled as she looked back to her. "I also have understanding. Sometimes it is nice to observe fun commerce."

Petra shook her head as she realized she had used the wrong word.

"I mean, commence."

"Indeed." Edelgard nodded, fighting back the urge to chuckle.

"Ah, Petra! There you are!"

Both of their heads turned to the new voice.

Somehow, Ferdinand had materialized behind Petra, one arm tucked behind his back while the other was held out towards her. As expected, the man was dressed in perhaps the most luxurious and noble looking suit Edelgard had ever seen.

"Would you do me the honor of sharing this next dance with me?"

Petra looked at his gloved hand, then glanced to Edelgard.

"Go on." Edelgard smiled at her hesitation, motioning for her to join him. "Have fun, I'll be fine."

"Very well." Petra turned to Ferdinand, who was waiting rather anxiously at this point. "I would have happiness to… I mean, I would be happy to."

Ferdinand beamed, shooting Edelgard a conceited look.

"Watch and learn, Edelgard! I will show you how a true noble dances!"

Edelgard sighed and rolled her eyes, watching as the two took to the floor. She usually found Ferdinand's constant boasting to be terribly grating, but on this night, she didn't find herself that terribly annoyed.

Taking one final sip from her glass, Edelgard set the drink down and turned away.

There was still an hour to kill before she met with Byleth, but she elected to head to the Goddess Tower anyways. It would be nice spending that hour in the place where her parents found each other.

Navigating her way through the crowd, Edelgard made her way towards the ballroom's door. It took her a little bit thanks to how many bodies she had to slide by, but eventually, she was able to exit the room.

Now that she was in the hallway, she took a moment to catch her breath, her head swiveling as she examined the empty corridor she found herself in. Even with the door behind her closed shut, the tunes from the band and the stomping of hundreds of feet could still be heard very clearly.

With her bearings gathered, she made her way down the hall.


Within a few moments, the Goddess Tower was within sight. There was not a soul out on this night, as mostly everyone was still dancing away. Edelgard was somewhat thankful for that. She enjoyed being able to walk around the monastery at night. It was calm, peaceful. Many times when her nightmares kept her awake, she walked these very same paths by her lonesome.

Though, that didn't hold as true anymore. Byleth always had a way of finding her when her mind had retreated into the darkest of depths.

As Edelgard walked, she looked up at the night sky. A falling star streaked across it.

She smiled as she watched it descend. They say seeing a shooting star was a good omen. Edelgard didn't really believe in those superstitions, but on this night, she found herself making a wish all the same.

"Greetings, Lady Edelgard!"

Edelgard lowered her head, raising an eyebrow at the Gatekeeper that blocked her path towards the tower's door.

Before she could return the greeting, the guard continued.

"I'm terribly sorry, but the Goddess Tower is closed to visitors tonight."

"Is that so?" Edelgard murmured, confused. Why would Byleth ask her to meet him here if it was closed tonight? "How strange… I'll inform the professor, then."

"Professor?" The Gatekeeper's eyes widened. "Professor Byleth?"

"That is correct, yes." Edelgard nodded slowly. This exchange was growing suspicious.

"Oh, in that case."

The Gatekeeper stepped aside, motioning for Edelgard to continue onward.

"Please be on your way, Lady Edelgard. My mistake."

Edelgard walked past, her confusion growing.

What was that about? If the Gatekeeper just let anyone by that dropped the professor's name, he wasn't doing a very good job at guarding things.

However, confusing or not, Edelgard was thankful. It would have been a terrible damper on the evening if she couldn't see the Goddess Tower just once before this night was over.


Byleth stepped out into the cool, night air, a hand fanning his sweating face.

"T-they were relentless," the professor stammered, tugging at his damp collar.

The dances… They just never stopped. Whenever he finished one, another student took their place. It was like the tales of the hydra; the moment one head was cut off, another two would appear. Had he not made a quick exit, using the bathroom as a convenient excuse, Byleth feared he wouldn't have left that room alive.

Byleth had fought in countless battles. He had trained his body for a decade and a half, yet after two hours of dancing, he was feeling pretty wiped.

Sothis giggled, amused by her friend's exhaustion.

"You hardly had the time to breathe in there. Oh, how hard it must be to be the favorite teacher at the ball. Poor, poor Professor!"

"It was more difficult than I expected," Byleth exhaled, running the back of his hand across his brow. He was well aware the student body's perception of him began to change as the days went by… Byleth just wasn't aware how steep of a change it was. Again, it was rather flattering, but it was still quite a shock.

"So you do think you're the favorite! I might have known."

Sothis gave him another smarmy giggle.

"Well, the Goddess Tower awaits you. You better run along, Byleth; you wouldn't want to keep her waiting."

Byleth nodded. Now that he had recovered somewhat, he set out for the tower. Unfortunately, he was already running a bit late. It was already five minutes past their designated meeting time, but thankfully, the Goddess Tower wasn't too far from where he was now.

The teacher set a brisk pace towards his destination.

Each hallway and room he passed by was barren; not a soul lingered under this starry night. Byleth was quite appreciative of that. The walk wasn't long, but he would prefer to not be interrupted from his thoughts on the way.

Everything was set to go. The Goddess Tower was the perfect location. Edelgard was waiting for him and for what he had to say. The night was beautiful. The flowers were sent, though she wouldn't be receiving those until later most likely.

It had all come together rather nicely.

The only problem was that Byleth was faced with so many possible words. So many possible ways to describe how he felt towards her. And with those hundreds upon thousands of possibilities, Byleth had trouble picking just one. He wanted to be honest. He wanted the words to come from the heart. He didn't want there to be any room for misinterpretation.

So, what should he say?

No one was around, so no one could hear him speak freely.

"Sothis, what should I say?"

"You are asking me? You realize who you are speaking to, do you not?"

"I do. But you've always given me sound advice before. You are very wise, Goddess Sothis."

"Hah!" Sothis scoffed. "Flattery will get you nowhere, dear Byleth. But, I suppose I can guide that lost soul of yours one more time."

Byleth grinned.

"Do not get lost in all of those possibilities; if you consider them too much, you will be left with none. The words will come to you in the moment."

He didn't completely feel comfortable with that logic, but he agreed it made sense. Byleth preferred to have a plan of action in place for all things. To 'wing it,' as his students might say, left him feeling uncomfortable, but he could give it a shot.

"Hm," Byleth hummed to himself. "I will consider it."

He paused, remembering the words Sothis had just told him.

"Not too hard, of course. Thank you, Sothis."

"Anytime, Byleth."

As they rounded the corner, the Goddess Tower came into view.

Thump.

True to his word, Byleth could see one solitary man standing near the entrance.

Not only did Byleth himself not think of using the Goddess Tower, but if it wasn't for the guard's help, it was highly likely the tower would be a popular spot to visit on this particular night due to its legends. The Gatekeeper had done him a great favor today. Now, he and Edelgard could talk without being interrupted.

Thump.

"Good evening, Mr. Gatekeeper," Byleth spoke as he drew near.

The Gatekeeper immediately perked up, his hand shooting up in a salute.

"Greetings, Professor!" The usual hello, as always. "I have something to report!"

"Do tell."

"I let one Lady Edelgard through!" He announced proudly, only for that pride to dissipate a second later. "I, uh, do hope that was the person you planned on seeing."

Thump.

"It was." Byleth nodded as he walked by, stopping to offer the man his hand. "Thank you."

Byleth could spot the Gatekeeper's eyes widened underneath the brim of his helmet. His hand eagerly accepted the offered shake, jerking them both up and down.

"I-It was my honor, sir!"

Byleth clasped him on the shoulder as he strode past.

Thump.

Now, the door to the tower was the only thing that separated him from his desired fate.

Thump.

Edelgard was waiting for him.

Thump.

And, if he was lucky, so were the immense amounts of happiness. More than Byleth had ever known.

Thump.

Taking a final deep breath to compose himself, Byleth placed his hand on the doorknob.

As that decision was made, the drumming in his chest ceased.


Edelgard stood at the railing of the Goddess Tower's balcony, her head turned to the sky as she watched the moon shine down on her. The sky was clear, and the sight breathtaking. Every star in the sky was clear to see, their brilliant lights dotting the black backdrop of the night. As Edelgard stared up at this beautiful slice of nature, she pondered if perhaps her mother and father had seen the same sight when they met here so many years ago. She liked to think so. It would be comforting knowing that she had been able to share this sky, this location, this night with her parents. Years separated her from them, but… knowing that perhaps this night wasn't much different from theirs made her feel closer to them.

She tore her gaze away from the view as she heard the slight sounds of footsteps climbing the stairs.

And as those steps grew louder and closer, her heart rate began to accelerate. She took a single, deep breath to compose herself.

Eventually, Byleth's form appeared from the staircase.

Near instantaneously, his eyes latched onto hers. It was as if he knew where she was before he had even entered the tower.

And, as those striking blue eyes met hers, she smiled instinctively.

"Ah, there you are," Edelgard said, stepping away from the balcony. Rays from the moon's glow enveloped her as she stepped into its light.

The emperor hesitated, nervously straightening out the hem of her blouse.

"What did you wish to speak with me about?"

Byleth walked further into the room. As he stepped into the moon's glimmer, the ethereal light illuminated his face.

"A handful of things," Byleth replied cryptically, giving a pregnant pause before continuing with a small grin. "But mostly, I just wanted to spend the evening with you."

"I would like that as well." Edelgard returned his smile with another genuine one of her own. "It feels as though we haven't seen much of each other this past month."

Byleth's grin faltered. His eyes flickered towards the ground before coming back to her.

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be, my teacher. We are both busy people."

Edelgard turned her gaze to the tower's ceiling. Fearing that their conversation might drift to the unsavory topics they had discussed before, Edelgard changed the subject. On this night, she did not wish to speak of those things.

"I'm rather thankful that this was the location you wanted to meet at."

"Oh?" Byleth raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"The Goddess Tower was special to my parents. You see, my father attended the Officers Academy himself. A few years after, he was crowned emperor."

Edelgard stepped out of the ray of light, returning to her spot on the tower's balcony. Byleth followed after her, propping himself up on the railing with an elbow.

"One day, during a visit to the monastery, he snuck into the Goddess Tower on a nostalgic whim," Edelgard continued, tilting her head back to the night sky. "And there she was: my mother. She had just enrolled in the academy that very year. They were instantly drawn to each other."

"That almost sounds like the premise of a fairytale."

"Doesn't it?" Edelgard looked to him, her smile growing. "You could say it was love at first sight. It was the first time either had truly been in love…"

Edelgard turned away, her features slipping.

"Or, so the story goes."

Byleth, having sensed her worsening mood, spoke up once more.

"Their first love?"

"Yes. As emperor, my father had already married for political reasons. As the Empire demands many heirs, he also had numerous lovers."

As she spoke, Edelgard stole a glance at her teacher. Byleth's posture had visibly stiffened at that, his hands now clenching the railing as he stared out into the monastery below. The smiling face that she loved so had twisted into a nasty frown.

"Byleth?" She called out to him, inching towards the man.

"That just hardly seems… fair." Byleth shook his head. "Forgive me; please continue."

Edelgard nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on his form.

"In the end, my mother settled for becoming one of his many consorts. But I choose to believe there was genuine love between them… I suppose that's a silly story to cling-"

"No," Byleth cut her off, his piercing eyes moving towards her. "It's not silly in the least."

The professor lowered his head, turning his gaze down to the floor.

"It's a lovely story, and… I'd like to think the same."

"I'm glad you agree."

Despite the somewhat depressing implications her parents' love story might have, Edelgard felt herself smiling at Byleth's quick response.

She scooted a little closer. Not much space separated the two now.

"It's truly a shame the lovely stories ended after I was born. For as long as I can remember, my mother had already been exiled from the capital."

As she stared into Byleth's sad eyes, Edelgard realized how dark her little story had become.

"It's strange…" Edelgard trailed off, her lips moving on their own accord as she peered into those deep, blue orbs. "Something about you makes me reveal all of the things I so carefully keep concealed."

Byleth held her gaze steadily. The only physical response she had gotten from Byleth was the slight twitching of his brow.

"I am beginning to feel the same," Byleth spoke quietly, his hardened eyes softening.

Again, Edelgard felt her mouth move before her mind could send the signals to stop it. Edelgard supposed her desire to know more about this man outweighed any logic or reasoning her brain could hold.

"What about you, Byleth?"

Byleth blinked, his previous expression being replaced by the confusion that had taken its place.

"What about me?"

"I believe it's high time that you revealed one of your long-held secrets. You can share a story about your past…" Edelgard hesitated to gather the resolve to press on. "Or perhaps tell me about your first love."

It was brief, but Edelgard could immediately see the way his eyes narrowed as she asked that question. The way his mouth curved into a frown, only for his lips to prop themselves back up again.

If possible, her heartbeat sped up even further.

"I can do that." Byleth nodded, taking a step away from the railing.

He turned so that his entire body was facing her.

"On one condition."

"Oh?"

Byleth held out his hand, palm facing upwards.

"Dance with me, Edelgard."

Edelgard's eyes widened, then immediately darted to his offered hand.

"Dance?" Edelgard asked, meeting his gaze. "Here?"

"That's right."

"But there's no music, my teacher."

"I don't care." Byleth shook his head. "I don't care if there's musical accompaniment, as long as it's you I get to dance with."

Edelgard's breath caught in her throat. She could only hope her surprise at hearing Byleth's startlingly romantic declaration wasn't as audible as it felt.

"Unless, you don't want to, of course. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Byleth," Edelgard sighed, taking his hand in hers. Her teacher's eyes were instantly drawn to their conjoined hands. "It is not that I don't like dancing. I just don't find the activity as… enjoyable as I once did."

She took a step closer, looping her other hand around his shoulder. Her touch was hesitant at first, but after a second, she let her hand relax against his back.

"However, if you are my dance partner…" Edelgard drifted off, smiling as she looked up at him. Maybe if she was lucky, Byleth wouldn't be able to see the red of her cheeks in this dim light. Maybe, if she was lucky, he couldn't hear the hammering of her heart.

Byleth returned her smile with a small one of his own, placing his own hand to the small of her back.

The first thing Edelgard noticed was how warm his hands were. How warm, strong, and firm his touch was. It felt as though the heat from where their bodies were connected had spread, moving through her veins and down her limbs.

And, before she could even realize what was happening, Byleth began to lead her around the room of the Goddess Tower.

Edelgard couldn't restrain the laugh that so easily jumped to her lips as Byleth swept her around. She usually preferred to take the lead in these kinds of scenarios, but she found that she didn't much care when it was Byleth that led her.

"Sir Jeralt must be quite the dancer," Edelgard remarked with a laugh.

Byleth frowned for a split second, his brow furrowing.

"Oh, right. About that…"

Edelgard tilted her head to the side, waiting for him to continue. Their shared dance didn't pause, however.

"I'm sorry, but that was a lie."

"About your father teaching you?"

"That's right." Byleth nodded. "Truth is, before this month I couldn't dance to save my life. I had Professor Manuela teach me."

"Professor Manuela?" Edelgard repeated dumbly. "You know that wasn't necessary, Byleth; I wouldn't care one way or another if you could dance or not."

"I know… But this was something I wanted to do with you most of all."

This time, Edelgard ducked her head to hide the blossoming blush in her cheeks. Always the honest one Professor Byleth was.

"I even went clothes shopping," Byleth continued, shaking his own head in disbelief. "I decided against wearing the suit, though."

"How come?" Edelgard asked, raising her head. Her genuine intrigue to hear his response won out over her desire to hide her embarrassment.

"With a little help, I realized you probably wouldn't want me wearing something I didn't feel comfortable in."

"You're right; I wouldn't have," Edelgard replied sternly, but her tone was betrayed by the giggle that escaped her lips. "You really went all out for this ball, didn't you?"

"Of course. I wanted tonight to be special. Why do you think I chose the Goddess Tower?"

Edelgard felt her heart skip a beat when she heard that.

"Special? Why would-?"

Edelgard yelped as Byleth twisted the two sharply.

"A little warning would have been appreciated," Edelgard glowered at the man standing over her.

"Sorry." Byleth smirked. "Anyways, I believe you asked me a question, correct?"

Edelgard only now remembered the conversation the two had shared moments before. She had been so wrapped up in the dancing that she nearly forgot.

"Yes, I did."

"Since you've already shared so much with me, I'll answer both of them."

Edelgard swallowed the lump that had grown in her throat. So, he was going to tell her…?

"I don't know much about my beginnings, I'm afraid," Byleth began. "All I know is that my mother died during labor, and that for a time, I lived in Remire Village. Then, I traveled all around the country with my father and his group."

These were things she already knew, but she found herself listening just as intently as she would have if this had been new information.

"I was seven when my father taught me how to wield a sword. A few years later, I followed in his footsteps and became a mercenary."

"You were but a child," Edelgard said softly, her heart aching as she pictured the young Byleth. This was hardly the first time she had heard this news, but even now, she couldn't help but picture a younger version of Byleth holding a sword covered in blood, lifeless eyes staring at a gory mess on the ground.

"Yes…"

Byleth paused, the thumb of the hand on her back slowly tracing circles on her uniform.

"For over a decade, that's what I did. And then, as you know, I met you and… Well, everything changed."

The hand that gripped hers shifted in her hold, so that Byleth's fingers could intertwine with hers. Edelgard didn't object to the more intimate contact.

"What do you mean by that?"

Edelgard of course knew what he meant when he said 'everything changed,' as she too had witnessed the shift in Byleth's personality and general demeanor. The Byleth now compared to the mercenary she had met so many moons ago was like night and day. Now, he was more open. More thoughtful. More expressive. More… everything.

Edelgard still often thought back to his proclamation that she had been that light for him.

"I didn't realize it at the time, but there were so many things I didn't understand," Byleth answered, his eyes growing distant as he recalled those mercenary days. "Friendships, family, happiness… love."

Byleth closed his eyes and shook his head. How he was able to maintain the wherewithal to continue dancing as he did all of this was beyond her.

"Back in those days, I just couldn't understand those things. They seemed like detriments more than anything else. I would see my colleagues form friendships, fall in love, start families… Only for it to all fall apart when the dangers of our profession reared its head. At the time, I couldn't understand why someone would willingly go through such grief. Why do all of that, if it was only going to end in pain and heartache?"

Byleth's movements began to slow as he opened his eyes to peer into hers. The grip on her hand tightened, the hand on her back pressing slightly harder against her.

"Then, I met you, and these impossible things became a little more… possible."

Their feet slowly came to a stop, but Edelgard had hardly even realized it. She was too enraptured in where the conversation had gone to even notice.

"I've spent countless nights trying to think of the right words to say," Byleth mumbled. "But, now that we're here… None of it comes to mind."

"It's okay, Byleth," Edelgard's voice cracked. "Speak to me as you normally would."

"…Very well. Just promise me that if I say this, nothing will change between us."

"I promise." Edelgard nodded, her mouth going dry. "Nothing could ever change what we have."

Byleth averted her gaze, his head turning to their feet.

"I think..."

He stopped himself.

"No."

Shook his head.

"I know."

And met her eyes once more.

"That these feelings I hold toward you are love. I think they always have been."

Edelgard froze, the air stolen from her lungs. She looked up at Byleth with wide eyes, but he never looked away.

The words that she had dreamed of hearing. Words she longed to hear, but now that she actually had, Edelgard could hardly believe it. The very first thought that jumped to her mind was:

Are my ears deceiving me?

"What?" She breathed.

"I was going to wait to tell you until after the year had ended, but… Well, after what my father said, I didn't want you getting any wrong ideas."

Byleth lowered their conjoined hands. The hand that had been placed to her back moved to her forearm, squeezing it gently.

"I love you," Byleth reaffirmed. The distance between the two had lessened. "Only you. No one else."

Edelgard bowed her head, her mind running at a hundred thoughts per second.

He loved her?

Only her?

No one else?

It felt like a dream come true. It was almost too good to be true, but she knew it was. The three words that continued to echo within her head were a testament to that. It had been so very long since someone had last said those three, wonderful words to her… She had forgotten how powerful they could be.

The hand that Byleth was holding began to tremble as she replayed those words over and over and over again.

He… loved her.

Byleth loved her.

Edelgard's vision became blurry. The stone floor was becoming more difficult to see.

He loved her!

"Edelgard?" Byleth called to her, but it felt so far away… His declaration of love still blasted in her eardrums. It was hard to hear anything else over that sound.

The princess lifted her head.

Byleth's slightly red eyes widened as he looked at her.

"I-I've upset you." He frowned considerably. "Please… don't cry. Just forget I ever-"

"Say it again."

The professor blinked dumbly at her, his mouth opening and closing without any sound escaping it.

"Please." Edelgard smiled at him through the tears that had welled in her eyes. "Say it one more time."

His eyes were glistening in the moonlight as he cupped her face, his thumb slowly wiping away the tear that had broken free. There wasn't a moment of hesitation or doubt in his movements.

"I love you, Edelgard."

And with that-

Those final words-

The walls that enclosed her blackened heart crumbled away.

The mask broke.

And it all came rushing out.

The tears that had sprung to her eyes began to spill.

Her heart, which had gone suspiciously quiet as she had listened to Byleth's confession, began to beat rapidly once again.

And the world around them, that had seemed to slow down to a crawl, sped back up as the color to it returned.

Edelgard buried her face into Byleth's shoulder, wrapping both of her arms around his back. She squeezed him as hard as she was able, her hands splayed out as she tried to hold as much of him as she could. His body was hard and sturdy… Probably due to the years and years of mercenary work. Despite that, it was soft, too… Incredibly soft. Like she was hugging a pillow.

Byleth flinched, his hands hovering in the air, unsure of what to do. Her professor had rarely been hugged or been on the receiving end of someone else's physical touch, so this must have come as a shock to him.

"E-Edelgard?" He murmured. She could hear a rustle as his head tilted down to look at her, but she didn't move to detach herself from his shoulder.

After a second of indecision, he tentatively touched her quivering back. After another second, his arms sunk into her, grasping her tightly. Byleth lowered his head so that his cheek could nuzzle against her hair.

She knew how she must have looked- the infallible princess of the Black Eagle house; as cold as she was arrogant, now clinging to the man that she called her professor. Her mentor. Her partner. Her friend.

Her love.

The two stood like that for what felt like hours. Neither one spoke. They continued to hold each other in the darkness, the only hint of the outside world being the moon that hung over them.

Edelgard could feel Byleth shift his weight awkwardly once and awhile, but he never once voiced any protests. He simply waited for her to find the words to say as his hands slowly rubbed her back. His embrace was tender… yet firm. As though he feared hurting her, but at the same time, wanted to comfort her.

"I feared my feelings would be unrequited."

She could feel Byleth's head move to glance down at her.

"So long as I had you at my side, it wouldn't matter how many enemies I might amass. You, Byleth, became the only thing I ever needed."

Her voice was muffled as she confessed these feelings into the cloth of his tunic.

"For months, I longed to share my feelings with you," Edelgard murmured, her hands clutching his back. "For months, I have held myself back out of fear that… that good things never last. I held myself back out of fear that you might not feel the same. Ever since I received those… procedures-"

At the mention of her surgeries, Byleth hugged her a little harder.

"I've had difficulty believing that anything good might truly happen to me."

Edelgard leaned back, turning her head up to gaze at Byleth. He was still watching her intently.

"However, you have always been there to remind me otherwise. My… My Byleth."

His puffy eyes widened at the term, recognition flashing across his features.

An incident that had originally filled her with such embarrassment and shame now gave her the strength necessary to spur her onward.

"When the shadows of doubt and fear call my name, you have always been there to ward them off. To… protect me. To be there for me unconditionally."

The Adrestian princess was strong. She never needed one to protect her nor fight her battles for her. She had been built and trained to carry these burdens alone. For years, she did just that.

But, Edelgard… Now that she had felt the love and warmth of Byleth's guidance and protection…

"Originally, I never planned for another to walk this path with me. I never even entertained the idea; I was convinced that Hubert would be the only one I could call my ally."

Edelgard detached her hand from his back, snaking it up between the two to touch his face.

Byleth didn't flinch when her hand cupped his cheek.

"But now… I couldn't imagine a world where you weren't there with me, nor do I wish to."

"I promise to always be there for you, Edelgard."

Byleth's voice was quiet, yet resolute. There was no deceit or doubt that shadowed his features.

Edelgard had heard these words before, and while they gave her such comfort every time, it was only now that she truly felt the weight they held.

"I promise the same."

Her thumb brushed across his cheek, wiping away the one, single droplet of liquid that had begun to form.

"Because… I love you as well, Byleth. I will always, and have always, loved you. No matter what might await us, that will never change."

Byleth smiled and closed his eyes. He gripped the hand that held his cheek. He squeezed her hand hard, but Edelgard didn't mind in the slightest.

"Your words… make me happier than I ever could have known."

Edelgard ran her thumb across his fingers.

"Thank you, Edelgard."

Byleth pulled her closer, his arms wrapping her into a tight embrace once more.

Edelgard returned it, holding Byleth with as much strength as she could muster, as she didn't want an inch of him to go to waste.

And as those two held each other in that moonlit room in the Goddess Tower, the grand ball already gone and forgotten, their bodies began to sway back and forth. A slow dance only meant for them.

Their bodies swayed to the music that only they could hear.


Aaaaaand there you have it! 25 chapters, nearly 200k words, and here we are folks. The past 24 chapters passed by so quickly, I can hardly believe we're at some of the biggest chapters in the story, and we've still got a long ways to go.

Little backstory, but this particular chapter (and one coming later on near the time skip) were the very first two I envisioned for this story. Hence, the title, Love in the Dark. As you can probably tell with this scene and the Remire Village scene (where they're together after the battle), one of the things I ADORE about Edelith is how exclusive their love feels. They're so into each other, sometimes you get the impression that they just forget about the rest of the world, and I just love that. Their closely knit bond is one of the things that really birthed this story. It just feels so real, you know?

Anyhow, as you can tell, I'm shaking things up. This will, unsurprisingly, greatly influence and alter some of the later scenes. But, hey. There was no possibility I was going to wait until the very end to do this. One of the things I really wanted to explore was a Crimson Flower story line where Byleth and Edelgard were actively involved with one another. That's something I have actively striven for in this White Clouds section. Hopefully, you guys continue to enjoy what I put out there! Should be really fun to write some of the upcoming scenes like the fight with the Immaculate One, and of course, the reunion scene.

I really, really enjoyed writing this chapter. Everything from the opening flashback with Jeralt, to the scene with Claude, to the scene in the Goddess Tower. This chapter in particular just felt like the perfect embodiment of a bunch of things I've been building up to, so to finally write some of these BIG moments was so much fun. I can't tell you how happy I was to FINALLY reference the "My Byleth" scene from the first Moments Lost in Time. I've literally been waiting months to do that.

I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Funnily enough, I actually started with the confession scene and worked my way back (as there was no way I could contain the romantic in me).

As always, thank you all so much for the love and support. I get so much pleasure out of reading all of your wonderful reviews! And, of course, who doesn't love watching their fic's follows and faves rise?

Next chapter we'll get to that little after scene of the grand ball, and then some other stuff too! See you all next time!