After hearing Seteth's report on her performance, Rhea asked someone to get Byleth. She wasn't among those who explained what happened—that was done by Seteth and the Black Eagles' leader—so she imagined she tried to get some time alone. The mercenary still avoided others, perhaps more than before now that she had the Sword of the Creator. Her status as the 'mercenary-knight' had only recently dulled, renewed by her wielding that famed Relic.
Seteth frowned while Rhea smiled, both considering the same events—the same outcomes. She told him what she intended to do the coming month.
"Giving the Sword of the Creator to that mercenary is a risk by itself," Seteth said, maintaining some level of caution. "Bringing her to the Holy Tomb—with the students, as well—isn't a wise choice."
"She is on her way here now, so the time to debate this has passed. If nothing else, Byleth and the house leaders will go—those children should bear witness to the event."
"And if nothing happens?"
"Something will occur there. I know it will." She smiled, already thinking and dreaming about the day her mother could return—the day the goddess guides the world yet again. "When she goes to the Holy Tomb, and they watch her sit on that throne, history will be made."
When she looked at him, Seteth did not seem convinced. Rhea frowned.
"Do you not wish to see her again?"
"Not to the extent you do," Seteth reasoned. "I do not agree with your…experimentation. Perhaps it istime for the goddess to return—but by what means? Consider it, Rhea: you have created twelve failed attempts to resurrect her. You have kept that mercenary from seeing the people she's most familiar with by lying to both groups. Would she be pleased to hear everything you've done to bring her back?"
"She will understand," Rhea insisted. "Once she sees this wayward world, she will know why I chose what I did. Sitri, and those before her; keeping Byleth here by hiring Jeralt's Mercenaries to a remote location, so he couldn't convince her to leave—I've only ever done anything for her benefit."
She barely noticed some noise outside the door to the audience chamber. Seteth sighed, slowly going towards the door.
"I will trust your judgement, Rhea. I only advise to be prepared should the worst come to pass."
Rhea turned towards the door, putting on a kind smile for the person behind it. "Everything will fall into place soon, Seteth. The day I've been praying for has finally arrived."
—
She didn't like where Thales insisted on meeting her—it was too close to the monastery, and while it was nighttime she knew there were students and knights still awake. She opted to make the report quick.
"Rhea wants to bring Byleth and a few students to the Holy Tomb for next month's mission," she explained. It hadn't been introduced to the students yet—Byleth told her that morning, with the vague reasoning of 'I thought you would like to know.' "I've heard every chosen student is a noble—the ones that will guide Fódlan in the future."
"You would best get everything in order before then," Thales replied simply.
"I'm leaving for Enbarr again within the week. Don't get in my way while I'm there."
He gave her a cold smile. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, Flame Emperor."
It wouldn't be very long before the title could hold worth. Rhea made things a bit difficult, but she could manage; she already knew she had to do things quickly.
She turned to leave, but like usual he spoke up.
"By the way," he said, "How long did you know that the mercenary could wield the Sword of the Creator?"
"Who told you?" Edelgard asked, curiosity replacing anything else. She knew it wouldn't take long after the most recent mission, but she didn't want to report it directly.
"I simply overheard it. First, a mercenary joined the Knights of Seiros; then, that mercenary-knight is given the Sword of the Creator, last used by the King of Liberation. You knew about it sooner than I did."
"I heard about it with the rest of the students," she reasoned.
"I find that hard to believe, but I'll accept that answer for now." She took two steps before he spoke up again. "Just remember who gave you the power to make these decisions—to live out history, and to shape it."
"I never asked for this. You and your people will not go unpunished for what you've done to the world—in Duscur, in Enbarr, in Remire."
His only response was a laugh, cut short by movement somewhere out of sight; Hubert wouldn't stir and make his presence known, so it had to be someone else. She tensed, but Thales didn't seem concerned. She partially turned just to give him a frown he couldn't see behind her mask.
"There's a reason I wanted to be farther away," she muttered.
"Listeners will always be present," Thales replied, nonchalant. "Just one person won't change anything, no matter who it is."
He lacked basic caution—or maybe he lacked her care for caution—and that bothered her. Still, she let out a short sigh.
"We'll continue this later," she decided. "If someone's listening, it wouldn't be wise to discuss anything else."
Thales didn't offer any protests, and she left. When she returned to her room, she got ready for bed as quietly as she could.
Edelgard realized she didn't have her dagger with her, but couldn't go back out to see if she dropped it without risking staying up later than she should. She managed to convince herself that she might not have brought it with her when she met with Thales, thus it was just somewhere in her room that the darkness hid.
She was proven wrong as soon as the next morning.
(A/N: Okay, I know the 'eavesdropping' part of this chapter is inferred, but it'll be addressed in the next chapter! At the very least, clarification on who was eavesdropping and for how long would be stated.)
