Since arriving in Derdriu both Byleth and Catherine had suddenly found themselves being exceptionally busy. Byleth had the unenviable task of managing the reconstruction and restructuring of Fodlan. Thankfully the Alliance had been mostly unharmed by the end of the war but former Kingdom and Empire lands had been ravaged throughout the five years of conflict. Sending aid to those who needed it most would be the most immediately pressing ordeal but it would be far from the only one.
Byleth also had to manage sending emissaries to Almyra, Sreng, and all of the other neighboring regions that Fodlan had chosen to isolate itself from. Most of the emissaries had failed to message back yet in the time since he had dispatched them but it had only been a week or so and he knew progress would be slow. When he did see progress he was usually forced to at least partially delegate the task to more local nobles who could respond more quickly, no matter how much that worried him.
Of course there was also the issue of rewriting Fodlan's history books. With Rhea's reveal on the true history of heroes' relics all of Fodlan's history required editing. He had tasked Seteth with assisting various scribes with correcting and compiling the various books across Fodlan into a single comprehensive volume. Byleth still had to get into contact with Ignatz to commission him for art portraying Shambhala's fall, the final battle with Nemesis and many of the other battles from the last war.
Byleth placed his head into a pile of papers and forms resting on his table. As a professor he was used to spending hours making and grading assignments for his students but for the two weeks he had spent in Derdriu he found himself sitting at a desk or in various meetings nearly nonstop. Quite frankly he was mentally exhausted, he was so exhausted that when he heard a set of knocks on his office's door he didn't bother to sit up and see who it was.
"My liege?" came Catherine's voice as she slowly opened the door.
His fiance's voice reminded him that they still needed to prepare for their wedding announcement for next week and after that to actually begin planning for the wedding. He let out a tired groan at the thought of adding more work onto his already full platter.
"Byleth?!" Catherine said now worriedly rushing to the man she loves "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine" Byleth muttered as he slowly sat up "just tired."
Catherine let out a sigh of relief and put a hand on his shoulder "Thank the goddess, I was about half a second away from calling for a healer."
Catherine turned around and closed the door to his office. "Even if you were never far" she said as she turned the lock on the door "I was starting to miss you."
Byleth stood up from his desk and embraced her. He had felt the same way, since they arrived the pair rarely had any time together and none of it was just them. With Byleth busy fixing Fodlan and Catherine ensuring the safety of her king they had spent two weeks without being able to express their relationship. As if sensing his thoughts the knight locked lips with her king, quickly Byleth felt the fog of tiredness lift from his mind. After a few seconds he broke the kiss and placed his forehead against hers.
"Thank you, I needed that" he quietly said with a smile.
"You're welcome" she whispered before letting go.
Byleth couldn't help but smile. He cleared his throat, "So, I hope you being here means that you're done with doing the rounds of the city and that you'll be able to spend a bit more time at my side."
"I've taken a look around the city and the Administrative Palace and seen room for security improvements." Catherine replied, "Then again that may be the Faerghusi in me that can't help but want to turn every city into a fortress. I do have to admit, Derdriu is a good deal prettier than Fhirdiad and Enbarr, although for the latter it may not be a fair comparison."
Catherine walked past Byleth and to a window in the office. She lifted the latch and opened the window allowing a slight breeze into the room. She leaned on the window sill and admired the view of the city, he did the same behind her instead admiring her in the light of the low sun.
Catherine chuckled to herself before saying: "I don't know how you can focus when there's a view this perfect so close to you."
Byleth sat back down in his seat and looked over to the pile of papers he still needed to address "When there's this much work I don't really have a choice."
The knight looked to the pile of papers and then to the king. "I think what you need is a break." she said before grabbing his arm and pulling him from his seat.
"No, I still need to finish my work" he replied, barely struggling in her grip.
"You were nearly catatonic when I came in here and I know just the way to fix that" she said.
As much as he hated to admit it she was right, he needed to take a break even if it meant that his work would continue piling up. Plus it had been too long since they had had an opportunity to go on a date.
"Alright, what's the plan?" He asked as stood beside her.
Catherine couldn't help but smile hearing him say that. "While I was looking over the city I happened to notice a few locations I think you would like. Since I doubt you want to dress up tonight I know just the place."
Catherine left his room, her fiance following just behind her. She looked over her shoulder, the pair of guards stationed outside his room had begun following them. She turned around and spoke to the pair, "You two don't have to follow us, he'll be safe with me. Just tell the others that we'll be back later tonight". With that they both bowed and turned back down the hall.
"That reminds me," Catherine said "we'll have to make a slight detour but I know the perfect way we can have a night out without anyone recognizing you."
Byleth hadn't really thought about that aspect of ruling, the special treatment he would receive whether he wanted it or not. When he had arrived in Derdriu there had been a parade celebrating him and he had practically been put on display for all to see. Other than that the people had rarely had an opportunity to see him and it didn't help that he was a relative nobody to those outside of Garreg Mach.
They continued chatting as they talked until they had reached the palace's armory. Catherine walked over to a locker, she opened and revealed the armor of an alliance soldier. "Put this on" she said as she pulled the armor from the locker and tossed it to him.
He undressed from his normal attire and put on the set of unfamiliar clothes. He found that the armor fit surprisingly well, he assumed that Catherine had set this one specifically for him.
"I don't understand how an outfit change will help me blend in much more" he said, standing up and brushing the armor off.
Catherine tossed him a helmet and a silver sword. "With that helmet on and without the Sword of the Creator you'll look just like any other soldier in the army."
He placed the helmet over his head, "This helmet still leaves my entire face exposed" he responed.
Catherine chuckled, "You probably wouldn't know this but most of the people in this city still don't know what you really look like. The most they tend to know is your name and that you have green hair."
"What'll be my alias then?" he asked
"You're Private Jackson, a recent transfer into the city but you and I hit it off while out on patrol today." she wrapped her arm around "Jackson's". "So we decided to head out for drinks at a local bar."
"So that's the plan for tonight? I've heard you're a pretty heavy drinker but this is the first time I'll be seeing you in action." Byleth said, smiling.
Catherine laughed "I guess this is the first time we've gone drinking together, huh? Well this night is sure to be a memorable one no matter what."
The pair exited the Administrative Palace with Byleth in disguise. To his surprise as they traveled the city he found that no one seemed to see through his outfit. The only notice given to them was when a patrol of guards stopped to salute Catherine before continuing on their way. As they traveled along the busy streets and avenues of Derdriu Byleth found himself enjoying the atmosphere of the city.
Eventually Catherine stopped, her fiance looked to the building they had stopped in front of; It was made of brick like most of the city, and above the door a sign displayed the name "The Golden Knight".
"Come on!" Catherine said as she pulled Byleth with her to the front door "It's late enough that we might not be able to find a seat."
As Byleth approached the door the sounds of revelry became louder. When the door opened and the couple took a step inside they found the scene of a nearly packed bar. Byleth's eyes instantly started darting around the room. He quickly noticed a high density of armored individuals, evidently this place was popular with the local knights. He also noticed a lack of available seats anywhere, every table was full and every seat was taken.
"Dang, I knew this place was popular but it looks like we arrived a bit too late." Catherine said before turning to Byleth. "This is fine, we can just-"
Suddenly she was interrupted by a knight now sitting in a booth with a group of his fellow knights. "Captain, we'd be willing to leave if you really wanted a seat" the Knight said as he and his group stood from their seats.
"Really?" Catherine asked "Are you sure?"
"It's really alright," the Knight answered "we were just talking about we'd prefer a quieter bar."
"If that's the case, thanks!" she replied.
The knights quickly shuffled away from their seats and out the door as Byleth and Catherine took seats on opposite sides of the table.
"That was lucky," Byleth said as he settled down.
"Oh they were just sucking up to a superior officer," Catherine said, leaning back into the cushion of the booth "I'm surprised you didn't realize that".
"Hmph, I didn't notice much of a change when I helped run the Alliance army" Byleth responded.
"I'd blame that on you acting more like a teacher than a general," she answered "I have a feeling that's why you were able to transition into a leader so smoothly, you hardly needed to change at all."
"Even now I still feel like a professor more than a king," he said "my class size has just increased from around a few dozen to the everyone on the continent."
Catherine laughed, "Well, if you're giving everyone on the continent the same focus that you gave your class it's no wonder you're overburdened with work."
"I do try to make sure even the smallest requests still get resolved" the disguised king said.
"Really?" Catherine asked
At that moment a server approached the booth the pair were sitting at. "Sorry for making you wait." the server asked "Is there anything I can get ya?"
"Just start us off with two pints of your best ale" Catherine answered, as the server left she turned to her fiance. "You do mean that you make sure it goes to the correct person, right?"
"I don't understand." he replied "Is it wrong to make sure everyone's needs are met?"
Catherine placed a hand on her forehead, "No, but if you try and do everything yourself like back at the monastery you're going to spend the rest of your life giving every person in Fodlan back their lost items."
"That's the only style of leading that I know, what would you suggest I do?" Byleth asked, staring intently at his fiance.
She sighed before answering, "You remember how the Adrestian Empire used to have several ministers in charge of running different parts of the empire?"
"Of course, I still remember when Ferdinand told and quizzed me about it." he replied "with the noble houses supporting me they still handle most of their own problems but what makes its way to me is still overwhelming."
"You have to remember that those ministers weren't just in charge of their own territories but that they helped with affairs that concerned the whole Empire" she said, tapping the table to emphasize her words. "Remember how in the army issues and problems only moved up the chain of command if they needed to? It's the same thing here, and right now it sounds like you could do with adding another link or two into the chain to stop yourself from being overwhelmed."
Byleth sighed and leaned forward against the table. "At least I have no shortage of dependable individuals to appoint as ministers. I'm sure Ferdinand if nobody else will be up to the challenge."
Catherine gave a short chuckle, "See, you're already a natural at finding people to delegate your responsibilities to."
The server came back and placed two pints on the table in front of each of them. "If you need anything else feel free to call me over."
"Actually," Catherine butted in, "just keep bringing drinks for me and my friend here every few minutes and put it on my tab."
The server smiled and left to handle other patrons at the bar.
"Are you sure about that?" Byleth asked.
"What?" she replied before giving him a light punch in the shoulder "It's a new bar and a new tab, plus I can alway rely on you to pick up the tab if I really go overboard."
"No, I was trying to ask if you think drinking that much is a good idea," he responded. "I don't want to have to drag you back to the palace drunk."
"Whoa whoa whoa," she said practically scoffing at his remark"what makes you think you'll be dragging me home? We'll both be drinking here and I know I'm more experienced than you at coming home tipsy."
"I helped my father make it back to camp after he visited local bars for years. I'm sure you know of his drinking habits and how much experience I have in the matter."
Catherine had seen Jeralt at bars near Garreg Mach several times and she knew that his penchant for alcohol was no trifling matter. Even still she had never had the chance to try and match him drink for drink. Even if his son had been drinking alongside him that didn't mean that Byleth was a match for his father or for her.
"There's only one way to find out who'll be carrying who home" Catherine said before holding her glass up.
"Alright" he said, also lifting his glass up.
The pair clinked their glasses and set about drinking their contents. They went late into the night matching each other drink for drink. At the end they were the last to leave the bar staggering back to the palace. It would come to pass that they would both have to drag each other back but neither would come to remember that in the morning.
The light of the morning sun broke through the curtains in Byleth's room shining on the sleeping king's face. Almost instinctively he rolled to the side, after his late last night he felt that he could use a few more minutes. His roll was stopped halfway through, strangely he felt a warm mass in his bed that he had now unintentionally wrapped himself around. He felt his face resting in a tangle of hair.
Slowly he opened his eyes and found himself staring at the back of Catherine's head. To the King of Fodlan it seemed as though the previous night had ended better than he had expected. He allowed himself a moment to lay next to her, one arm wrapped around her bare waist, the other playing with her golden hair.
It was only a matter of time before Catherine woke up as well, she turned over and faced him. Once again the pair lay there just soaking in each other's presence before she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"Good morning" she said to her lover
"Good morning to you too," he said back.
"You know, for a first timer you weren't so bad last night" she said before allowing herself a light giggle.
"You were incredible too," he replied.
Byleth's mind slowly tried to recall the previous night but after a few rounds each his memory went blank. For now he'd just have to assume that they just stumbled back to his room together.
Wait…
Their relationship wasn't meant to be public yet!
As if on queue suddenly a series of knocks came from the door. Instantly the pair sat up and looked each other in the eyes, evidently they had both come to the same conclusion. Catherine quickly leapt out of bed
"Your majesty, your breakfast is here" a maid said from the other side of the door.
"I'll be there in a minute!" Byleth yelled back to the maid. "You need to hide!" he whispered to his fiance.
"I know," Catherine whispered back, now reaching down to collect her discarded breastplate "help me pick up my clothes before they suspect something."
Byleth quickly helped the knight collect her clothes, the pair sifted through the piles of clothes to determine whose were whose. After nearly a minute they had found all of what they believed were Catherine's and they had both begun dressing themselves. Both were only half dressed when another set of knocks came from the door.
"Your majesty, is everything alright in there?" the maid asked once more.
"One second!" he yelled before turning back Catherine, "There's no time just grab your things and hide in my closet"
She nodded and did as she was asked. She quietly closed the closet door as Byleth wrapped a robe around himself and opened the door.
"My apologies" the king said to the maid "I just needed to get myself dressed."
"No, your majesty, I must apologize for causing you undue duress," she said, giving a slight bow.
In the maid's hands was a silver platter with a full assortment of hot breakfast food. Byleth usually started the day by having breakfast brought directly from the palace's kitchens to his room. He had asked that the breakfast be brought 30 minutes after he would normally wake up but after last night's activities it was natural that he slept in a little.
"Allow me to just put this -" she said, beginning to move into the room.
"No, it's fine I'll take it from here" Byleth interrupted putting his hands on the tray.
"If you insist…" the maid stopped mid sentence to look at something in the room.
Byleth quickly looked behind him where the maid was looking and resting on his table he saw what had caught her off guard. Thunderbrand was resting on the table in plain sight, it seems they had forgotten about something.
"I…" the maid stammered before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Captain Catherine wasn't found in her room this morning. Shall I tell the staff that she has been found in the palace?"
Byleth sighed and hung his head low for a moment "Yes, thank you".
The maid stepped back and closed the door leaving the king holding the tray of breakfast. He quietly walked over to the table and placed the tray next to the heroes' relic. The door to his closet slowly opened and Catherin walked out, now only missing some of her armor.
"I assume that means we've been outed" she asked as she tightened the straps on her breastplate.
"Yes, even if she hadn't just seen this" he said, lifting Thunderbrand into the air before tossing to its owner "I doubt we made our way back here without being seen by the guards."
Catherine sat down at the table and started helping herself to breakfast. "So, what do we do now?" she said as she put a piece of bacon in her mouth.
"Same plan as before" he replied as he took off his robe and chose a shirt from the closet "we just have make the announcement to Fodlan a bit sooner."
"Good, I was getting tired of not getting to kiss you in public" Catherine replied before kissing her fiance on the cheek. "I also look forward to having more nights and mornings with you."
Author's Note:
Hey hey everyone. Thank you all for the continued interest in my fic. I hope this chapter was enjoyable! I just wanted to say that I came up with the idea for Byleth struggling with leadership from how the gameplay of Three Houses shows Byleth leading. Byleth somewhat micromanages the entire army and I couldn't imagine that strategy working well for the entirety of Fodlan. Other than that for this chapter I just wanted to give the couple a chance for a date night.