(A/N: Character/relationship development, but short for once. Main plot will continue as per usual next chapter! Just didn't want to miss the conversation opportunity.)

Everything was decided in less than a week, and preferably they could head out the next day. Claude left in advance—Edelgard's troops would move a bit behind with the prisoners. They opted for a route through Ailell; it provided access into both the Alliance and Garreg Mach, and there was a chance they wouldn't be followed after they entered. Word was already sent to the Alliance lords on that side of the valley to support them.

She didn't have a lot she needed to do; she had free time after she made sure everyone was getting ready. They needed to give time for the Alliance's army to clear some of the way, so they could move on without needing to worry about the prisoners—either the prisoners escaping and joining the enemy forces, or the enemy forces noticing the prisoners and working harder to free them.

Edelgard stepped outside the castle when she confirmed no one would need her. She did miss the warmth Enbarr—or even Garreg Mach—would have in summer. It conflicted with the warmth of the sun—the same of that at home—and reminded her she was in enemy territory. It put her a bit on edge instead of reassuring her.

She entertained a certain idea while she stood there, then noticed Byleth stepping outside as well—Jeralt was leading her and they were both talking, but they stopped when Jeralt seemed to notice. He mentioned something to Byleth, went back inside the castle, and Byleth stood there for a moment before shenoticed Edelgard. It only took another moment before the mercenary was close enough to hold a conversation with.

"I would have assumed you were busy," Byleth noted.

"Everything's been decided," Edelgard replied. "At this point, we just need to wait for Claude to make progress."

Byleth nodded, and they fell silent for a moment. Edelgard looked at Byleth with some curiosity.

"I was thinking of walking through the town," she said. "Most townsfolk left before or during Cornelia's time here, but Hubert wouldn't like it if I was alone. Would you like to come with me?"

"I'm not doing anything else, so I can."

Edelgard cast her something like a thankful smile. She led, through a combination of vague memory and general knowledge of where everything was, but Byleth was only a few paces behind and to the right of her.

She entertained conversation, since it felt like a wasted opportunity otherwise.

"I assume you've been this far north a few times."

"Most work was further south, closer to the border, but by now I assume I've been to every territory at least once—if not as a mercenary, then when I just traveled with them." She paused for a moment, then continued. "This would probably be your first time in the area, right?"

"I came to Fhirdiad before," Edelgard replied, glancing back at the mercenary before looking ahead of her again. "Only once—I can hardly recall, honestly, but my uncle brought me when I was younger."

"Your…actual uncle, or the one you said just acted like him?"

The question caught her off guard for a moment before she remembered that she had told the mercenary that much. She responded after another second. "…I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. I know it's possible my being here caused some…events that the man played a part in, but otherwise I'm not sure when the change occurred."

"The time spent here wasn't pleasant, then?"

Edelgard almost chuckled, even if the memories were so faint. "I was miserable. It's colder here than Enbarr, and I didn't have as much to do. Hubert wasn't even there to watch from a distance; it was just my uncle and a noble's son. The latter didn't know who I was, but in that time we were friends—I don't believe I've seen him since, but again I just know he was there, not necessarily what he looked like or what his name was."

"It doesn't sound that bad."

"It wasn't, in hindsight," Edelgard admitted. The faint memory still held some kind of fondness for her—her mind wandered a bit, attempting to chronologically recall any interesting details, before she frowned. "I was happier in Fhirdiad, away from my family and without any friends, than I was when I returned to Enbarr. If I realized it then, I would have treated it as a blessing."

"…Is it related to those nightmares you told me about a while ago?"

Edelgard smiled, but it held no joy. She knew it looked pained, but the forced expression came a bit more naturally than faltering.

She intended to say more, but Byleth took the look alone as an answer.

"Sorry for bringing it up."

"It's all right." Barely a second's pause, then the false smile fell and she glanced at Byleth. "Do you have any interesting stories from when you've been here? Or any stories, really. I'd rather not fall into very deep silence when our chances to speak are a bit limited."

"They're not interesting," Byleth warned, accepting the change in topic with something that almost sounded like faint humor.

"It only needs to start another topic."

Byleth nodded some agreement, and after a little while they were chatting rather freely. Conversation went on from a story, to things done at the academy—reflecting on the progress each had made since they first met.

As they went back to the castle, Edelgard surprised herself a bit with where her thoughts wandered. She almost wished chances like this came a bit more often—and she couldn't quite imagine if Byleth wasn't there for her to chat with. Even if things were left unsaid, it was so easy that she couldn't picture it without her.