Time for us to shift over to the Loyalist side of things. And me to do a Paralogue without Byleth being present.

Chapter 50 – The Curse of the Beast (Lone Moon)

Marianne did her best not to nod off as she sat in her royal carriage with Mercedes. The blonde cleric was keeping herself busy by knitting, but Marianne hadn't brought anything to keep herself busy like her handmaiden had.

The Loyalists had begun to move. Dimitri had finally massed enough manpower to march his army southward, and the destruction of House Rowe's army gave him an opportunity to act before Cornelia could recover from her losses. Now, after five years of waiting, he was ready to push into the Empire and take the fight to Edelgard.

It was deemed a great risk. Dimitri had taken the bulk of the Loyalists' forces for his campaign to the south, an army 30,000-strong, leaving only a fraction of the armies of Houses Fraldarius and Gautier behind commanded by Sylvain's father, Matthias Raoul Gautier. If their offensive into the Empire failed, the Dukedom would have no trouble conquering the rest of the Kingdom of Faerghus.

For Dimitri, who rode near the front of the Loyalists' column, no risk was too great if it meant the destruction of the Adrestian Empire and the death of its emperor. And no matter what obstacles came before him, he would not stop until he tore Edelgard to shreds.

Riding alongside him, Dedue and Rodrigue kept their eyes peeled for any sign of a threat to their king, while Ingrid rode above the formation on Celdia to look for any distant obstacles. Sylvain and Gilbert rode near Marianne's carriage, having been ordered to protect the queen with their lives. Fortunately, no threats had come their way over their week-long march thus far, though Gilbert had cautioned for the Loyalists not to lower their guard. There was no telling whether Cornelia knew of their movements or not.

The Loyalists had only just entered Alliance territory, having crossed near Ailell without entering the volcanic wasteland itself. This brought them close to Derdriu, and the Loyalists had no idea how House Riegan or House Daphnel would react to their presence. For now, though, there appeared to be no hostile response from the Alliance.

Looking out of the carriage, Marianne sighed as she saw a family of swans on a nearby lake. The mother swan was leading five chicks as they swam around, looking for greens to eat.

Mercedes turned to Marianne and asked, "What are you looking at, Mary?"

"Huh? Oh, there's some swans on the lake," Marianne answered.

Looking over at the birds, Mercedes said, "Oh, look at the little ones! I've never seen baby swans before. They're so cute!"

"Yes, they are. And yet they grow up to be such majestic creatures."

It was at this moment that a duck started swimming near the swan and its young as it looked for food. Once the duck got too close, the swan, which had first hissed at the duck, rushed forward in the water and tried to bite it. The duck abruptly darted away from the swan.

"Oh my!" Mercedes said, startled by the swan's attack. "I didn't know swans did that!"

"They're very protective of their young," said Marianne. "Mother swans will even attack adult males to keep their little ones safe."

"My, my… That's overdoing it, don't you think?"

"Baby swans are defenseless. You can't blame the mothers for being aggressive."

"I guess not. I don't think I'd be that overprotective of my kids if I had any."

Marianne paused for a moment before asking, "Have you given any thought to having kids, Mercedes?"

"I can't say that I've never thought about it, but it's not a priority for me right now. I have enough to worry about as your handmaiden, after all."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realize–"

"Don't worry about it, Mary. Besides, I haven't found a man I'd want to have children with anyway. Almost everyone who's ever courted me in the past has only thought about my Crest."

"I see…"

Mercedes paused as Marianne looked out at the swans again, watching as the mother doted on its chicks. The cleric watched as Marianne sighed in disappointment.

Then, after giving the queen a moment to her thoughts, Mercedes asked, "What about you, Mary?"

"Pardon?"

"Haven't you thought about having a child yet?"

Marianne's eyes shot wide as she said, "W-What? M-Me?"

"You are the queen after all. It's only natural that you should bear an heir at some point."

"I… I don't think I'm ready for a child yet!"

"What about Dimitri? Does he want an heir yet?"

"D-Dimitri?! No, no, he hasn't said anything about it!"

Mercedes then put a hand to her chin as she said with a mischievous smile, "Come to think of it, you still haven't shared a bed with him, have you?"

"Of course not!"

"But you've been married for over two years now. Wouldn't you want to consummate your love for him by having–"

Marianne's face went red as she said, "Please stop, Mercedes! I don't want to talk about something so indecent in this carriage!"

"As you wish, Mary."

Groaning, Marianne said, "You almost sound like Hilda."

Mercedes was about to chuckle at this comparison, but upon seeing Marianne's frown, she decided against it.

"I'm sorry, Marianne. I know you haven't seen or heard from her in such a long time." Sighing, Mercedes then said, "Just like me and Annie."

"Sylvain did say she was alright, didn't he? That she was with the Professor?"

"Yes, he did. And I'm glad to hear she's safe. But… when he told me about it, he also told me not to tell Sir Gilbert. She must still be mad at him for leaving her with Baron Dominic."

The conversation was interrupted when the carriage suddenly came to a stop. This confused Mercedes and Marianne, as it was still mid-afternoon. Dimitri wanted his army marching until sundown each day.

Opening the window of the carriage, Mercedes asked Sylvain, "What's going on, Sylvain?"

"Not sure," the redhead answered. "I'll check it out."

Sylvain was about to ride toward Dimitri when Ingrid swooped down on Celdia, stopping him.

Confused, Sylvain said, "Ingrid, what's–"

"Move over, Sylvain," Ingrid interrupted. Turning to Marianne, she said, "Your Majesty–"

"What's going on, Ingrid?" asked the queen.

"It's your father. Margrave Edmund. He's come to meet with us."

Marianne's eyes widened in surprise.

…

Dimitri glared at Margrave Theodore von Edmund as the two conversed in a small villa. Theodore was a thin scholarly man with black hair and a monocle who did not bear any resemblance to his adopted daughter. The king's bodyguards were outside, though Dedue insisted on being in Dimitri's presence in case the head of House Edmund tried anything suspicious. Though Margrave Edmund did not look threatening in any way, he wasn't doing well to stay on Dimitri's good side as he spoke.

"I understand you and my daughter have great feelings for one another," said Margrave Edmund, "but you jeopardize her safety and your own with such love."

"And why should I believe a word of what you say, Margrave Edmund?" Dimitri said crossly. "Unlike you, I have protected her for the past five years."

Margrave Edmund was about to continue when the door to the villa swung open. Everyone turned as Marianne and Mercedes entered the building.

"Father!" Marianne said to Theodore.

"Marianne, are you alright?" Theodore asked as he rushed over to her.

"Yes, I'm fine, father. Dimitri has taken such good care of me."

"That's not what I'm asking you!" Marianne was shocked as Theodore asked, "Have you consummated with him at all?"

"N-No, father! Of course not! W-We don't even share the same bed…"

Marianne's cheeks turned red as she admitted this, prompting Theodore to sigh in relief.

"We are fortunate, then. The curse has not yet taken full hold upon you."

"What are you talking about?" asked Dedue. "What curse?"

"That is not for you to know, Duscuri."

Dedue frowned as he stood up and said as he reached for his axe, "Choose your next words carefully, Margrave Edmund."

"Dedue, please don't!" said Marianne. "He didn't mean anything by it!"

"My sincere apologies, Sir Dedue," said Theodore. "I mean no offense to your heritage."

Dedue still frowned at him, but he moved his hand away from his weapon.

"You will tell us about this so-called curse, Margrave Edmund," said Dimitri. "It has to do with Marianne's Crest, I presume."

Mercedes looked at Marianne as the queen's countenance turned gloomy. The cleric knew Marianne had a Crest of some kind, but Marianne never elaborated on it.

"Yes, it does," answered Theodore. He turned to Mercedes and said, "Please, shut the door. We must not be overheard."

Nodding, Mercedes closed the door behind her.

Content that they now had some privacy, Theodore said, "Marianne bears the forgotten Crest, first possessed by the hero Maurice. It is known today as the Crest of the Beast."

"The Crest of the Beast?" asked Mercedes.

"The legends of the King of Liberation and the Ten Elites omit that there were, in truth, twelve heroes in total. Nemesis, Blaiddyd, Riegan, Lamine, Goneril, Daphnel, Dominic, Gautier, Fraldarius, Gloucester, Charon, and Maurice. Together, these twelve heroes saved Fódlan when it was threatened by wicked gods."

"What happened to this 'Maurice'?" asked Dimitri.

"The records are incomplete at best, but from what I have been able to gather, Maurice was turned into a monstrous creature, cursed by the negative energies of his Crest. In this bestial state, he slaughtered countless innocents, and so the people of Fódlan scorned him as an abomination. His whole clan was conquered, and the people attempted to wipe out Maurice's bloodline to ensure no others would turn into a monster as he did. But even to this day, there are those who inherit his Crest, and his curse, which transforms them into beasts. Marianne… is one of them."

Mercedes and Dedue turned to Marianne with concern as the queen turned to avoid their gaze.

"Hogwash," Dimitri said dismissively. "If there were such a curse upon my wife, I would have noticed it by now."

"That is due to how the curse manifests, King Dimitri," said Theodore. "Ordinarily, the Crest's power manifests as misfortune to its bearer and those around them."

Dimitri said nothing to this, knowing Marianne could have extraordinarily bad luck at times. However, this did not prove she was cursed. She had never turned into a monster in the six years he had known her.

"However," Theodore continued, "it is far less likely that the greater effect of the curse will take hold as long as the Crest's bearer remains a virgin. Otherwise, there is a significant risk that the curse will turn them into a monstrosity if they should overuse their Crest's power, especially in the light of a full moon."

Dimitri's one good eye widened at this revelation. He turned to Marianne, who was too ashamed to look him in the eye. Standing, the king strode over to his queen and grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her to face him.

"Is this true, Marianne?" Dimitri asked, his normally gruff voice now filled with concern.

Marianne hesitated to answer, but upon looking Dimitri in the eye, she said tearfully, "Yes… It's true. That's why I… why I wouldn't share a bed with you. I was afraid. Afraid that if… if we made love, I'd turn into a beast and… and…"

Marianne couldn't continue, burying her face in Dimitri's chest as she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Dimitri! I should've told you!" Marianne cried. "You must think I'm a monster!"

"Do not call yourself such a thing, Marianne," Dimitri said firmly as he tightened his grip on her delicate frame. "You are still my queen, and the woman I fell in love with when the world came crashing down around me."

"Dimitri…"

"Besides… I am more monster than any beast or horror caused by some ancient hex." Dimitri released his hold on Marianne and turned to Margrave Edmund. He then asked, "Is there a way to break this curse?"

"I do not know with certainty," said Theodore. "Yet there may be one answer."

"Tell us, then."

"As of late, a large creature has been stalking the woods of my territory that bears a resemblance to the recorded appearance of Maurice's bestial form. Whether it is Maurice himself or someone else affected by his curse, I do not know. If the monster were to be slain, perhaps the curse could be lifted. However, from reports I have received, the beast is impervious to normal weapons and resists all but the strongest magic. I speculate that only a Heroes' Relic would be capable of harming it."

Dimitri moved back to his chair and sat down as he said, "And you want us to hunt down this monster for you?"

Theodore nodded and said, "It would not only be a great service to my people and I, but it may free Marianne from its curse."

"Then I must decline."

Marianne's heart froze in her chest at hearing her husband's refusal.

"What?! Dimitri, why would you say that?" asked Mercedes.

"Marching our troops to House Edmund would require us to pass through the center of House Riegan's territory, Mercedes. I do not trust Claude to stay out of our way. Furthermore, such a journey would delay our advance toward Enbarr. And I have no doubt that facing this monster would cost us needless casualties."

"But–"

Interrupting Mercedes, Dimitri added, "In any event, you are not absolutely certain that killing the creature would remove the curse, are you, Margrave?"

Seeing Dimitri's point, Margrave Edmund said, "No, King Dimitri."

"If killing it does nothing to purge the curse, then we would be wasting our time hunting for it. Time and the lives of our soldiers."

Unable to refute Dimitri's argument, Marianne lowered her gaze gloomily at hearing her husband refusing to help.

"I understand, King Dimitri," said Margrave Edmund. "Forgive me. Asking for your assistance with my house's problem was discourteous. Allow me to make up for wasting your time by providing your army with supplies."

"I thank you for your generosity, Margrave Edmund."

…

The Loyalists decided to camp near the villa for the night after Dimitri's discussion with Margrave Edmund. They would need to wait for the following morning for his promised supplies in any event. Campfires were scattered around as the Loyalists settled in, as the clouds above hid away the moon and stars.

Dimitri, meanwhile, struggled with his own decision to refuse the Margrave's request. Deep down, he wanted to help Marianne. He knew this curse was tormenting her, and it meant they could never truly consummate their love. But even if he had chosen to help kill the monster, there was too much uncertainty regarding it.

And above all else, he had to prioritize killing Edelgard. The ghosts of his loved ones still demanded her death. Even now, they gazed emptily at him. Only he could see them floating before him. His father, Glenn, his mother, and everyone else who had been massacred at Duscur.

"Why can you not understand?!" Dimitri said in anguish. "You know I must kill Edelgard for what she did to you all! If she were here, I'd slaughter her this instant, just like any other I've slain thus far! Then… then, I would gladly aid Marianne in releasing her curse. But until the emperor is dead, I must not stray from my path. I will bring you all her head. And when I do, you'll finally be able to rest in peace. So please, do not–"

Dimitri's rambling stopped as he heard a loud shriek. The king immediately recognized Marianne's scream.

"Marianne?!"

Snapped from his madness, the King of Lions rushed to the source of the scream, fearful for the safety of his beloved queen.

As he ran, the clouds above parted as though by sorcery, revealing a full moon.

As Danny DeVito once said, "Sounds like a classic case of D-I-D. Damsel-in-distreeessssss!"

Man, I loved Disney's Hercules. James Woods was da-bomb as Hades!

I've always felt that Marianne claiming the Crest of the Beast will cause her to turn into a monster was kinda poorly handled in-game. If it were true, why wouldn't she be causing loads of damage to Garreg Mach every night? EDIT: I've altered Margrave Edmund's dialogue a bit, and now he explains that virginity decreases the risk of being transformed, but doesn't outright prevent it. Perverse, I know, but works for a reason I'll be getting into in later chapters.

Speaking of Dimitri, I did my best to make his refusal to help Margrave Edmund believable. He hasn't fully mellowed out since this isn't Azure Moon, and he's being reasonable in that Margrave Edmund's theory has too many holes in it, so he believes it could be a wild goose chase. That said, he's not so crazy here that he wouldn't rush to protect his wife.