"It's Byleth... She's awake."
Hearing those words sent Edelgard's heart beating. It threatened to escape from her chest.
She's awake... She's going to be alright...
Edelgard tried her hardest to keep her emotions in check. She placed her hand over her heart and let out a calming sigh, trying to calm herself down.
Just get through this meeting, Edelgard and then you can see the Professor.
"How about we can recess on this meeting to deal with the interruption." Hubert spoke which drew all of Edelgard's attention. A smirk growing on his face.
Hubert...
"Ah, a fine idea von Vestra. How about we reconvene tomorrow." Ferdinand spoke up with a smirk of his own appearing on his face.
Ferdinand...
The other council members grumbled out loud but agreed and quickly vacated the chamber.
With the other members gone Edelgard turned to her friends, but before she could get a word in, Ferdinand placed a finger over the Emperor's lips. "Upp upp upp upp upp. No talking, just go and see Byleth."
"Ferdie's right, Edie. We all know you want to see your Byleth." Dorothea teased her friend as a wide grin spread across her face.
"Yes, I very much want to see your faces when you see the Professor." Petra said smiling at her friends.
Bernadetta was the only one that looked on cautions and worried. Though she didn't voice this both Edelgard and Dorothea noticed the shorter girl.
"How about you and Edie see her first, Bernie." Dorothea said ruffling her younger friend's hair. "You're family after all. I'm sure Byleth would want to know you're alright."
The young archer looked up at her older friend and then towards the Emperor. The Emperor smiled warmly at her younger friend. "If that will make you comfortable Bernadetta, then it can only be us and Lysithea."
The shy girl lowered her head, while biting on her fingernails. "Y-Y-Yes p-p-please." The smaller girl stuttered nervously.
The 6 war survivors exited the council room as they began their journey to the infirmary as their former Professor laid on the verge of waking.
Everyone had gathered outside of the former Professor infirmary room. From former students to former Professor's and even former Knights of the defeated church. All waited for their Emperor to make her appearance. After sending The Songstress, the fearful archer and the foreign princess to fetch the aforementioned Emperor, they had all.
Edelgard glanced at Lysithea and Bernadetta. The latter looked to be on the verge of balling into tears, luckily her best friend, Lysithea was there with her patting her shoulders and rubbing circles around her back.
"Do you need more time, Bernie?" Dorothea asked as she pulled the smaller archer into her chest, wrapping her arms around the shorter girl.
Bernadetta sighed into her older friend's chest. "I-I don't know. T-The Professor is alright, r-right?" The young archer asked almost pleadingly.
"Of course. Manuela checked her earlier remember. It's why we ran to get Edie. Wouldn't want our Emperor to miss her dear beloved, now would we?" Dorothea teased as she smirked at Edelgard, who's cheeks had grown a bit red.
Edelgard avoided her friend's ever-growing smirk and instead made her way towards the door to Byleth's temporary infirmary room.
"I-I think I'm g-going to wait out here." Bernadetta said emerging from her friend's chest.
The timid girl wouldn't raise her head to look directly at her friend and Emperor. Though to help her feel better, Alois placed his hand on her shoulder. "Fear not, my young comrade in arms, I will fight these fears away. Just get a bit of Ale in me and I'll fight anything." Alois joked but it seemed to have worked as the young archer was beaming happily and even laughing at the former Knight.
Edelgard mouthed a quick 'Thank you' to Alois before she dipped into her former Professor's infirmary room.
It was kind of surreal. Not 2 months ago, she was standing alongside her Professor, facing off against the deceiver behind the Church of Seiros. A battle that sent her beloved into a deep coma. Now with Rhea defeated her love laid in front of her on the cusp of waking.
"Now she still might take a while to wake up Edelgard and remember she is still healing from her wounds. So please keep things above her chest." Manuela teased as Edelgard's entire face blushed.
"B-B-But we... We're not... I mean we've not..." Edelgard tried to form a coherent sentence, but unfortunately none would come out, much to the older woman's amusement.
However, her laughter was cut short as Manuela noticed her patient starting to stir. "E-Edelgard!"
The young Emperor followed the Physicians eyesight to the form in the bed next to the pair.
"H-Hmm..." The Professor groaned.
"BYLETH!" Edelgard shouted as she immediately went to her Professor's side.
"H-Hmm... El...?" Byleth groaned again. Her eyes barely open.
Hearing her Professor speak for the first time in months set Edelgard's heart ablaze as well as tears cascading down her face. Sensing the feelings in the room, Manuela quietly left the room. Only leaving Byleth and Edelgard.
"It's alright, Byleth. We're in Enbarr at the Imperial Palace. You're safe." Edelgard spoke up with tears running down her eyes as she gripped tightly to her Professor's hand.
"I-I'll feel s-safe... anywhere with you... Edelgard." Byleth softly spoke as she tried to sit up in her bed, but her wounds and Edelgard dissuaded her.
"Careful." Edelgard warned, but Byleth, ever the stubborn self, ignored Edelgard's protests and pushed herself to sit up.
"Haaahaaa..." Byleth grunted and groaned as she tried to sit up in her bed, much to the Emperor's annoyance.
"You really know how to drive my patience." Edelgard muttered dryly, but it put a smile on Byleth's face.
"N-Nice to see you've still g-got that dry wit." Byleth smirked as she tried her hardest to widen her eyelids.
"I-I-I thought I lost you." Edelgard cried as she held one of her former Professor's hands in her own.
"I-I-I Promised I w-wouldn't leave you a-again." The wounded and recovering former Professor groaned as she tried her hardest to stay awake.
"Maybe you should get some rest, Professor. You look like you can stay awake." Edelgard said squeezing one of Byleth's hands tightly.
The Professor shook her head sleepily. "N-No... I've been asleep for far too long. I-I swore, I-I would s-stay w-with you."
Hearing this sent Edelgard's heart aflame again as well as set her cheeks on fire. The young Emperor tried her hardest to disguise her blush. Thankfully, it seemed that her Professor was too exhausted to notice.
"It will by fine, my teacher. You're here, that's all that matters to me at this very moment." Edelgard said sweetly as she tucked her unruly bangs behind her left ear.
"S...So... How is e...everyone? D...Did they make i...it out?" Byleth asked determinedly trying to stay awake.
"Everyone is alright. We pick up a couple of scrapes and bruises, but otherwise fine."
The Emperor decided not to reveal Shamir's situation as to not add to her beloved's worry.
Though she needn't have said anything as Byleth saw through her lie. "E... El... Please. I can tell... When you're holding something b...back."
Edelgard sighed as she tucked another stand of hair behind Byleth's ear. "I forgot how perceptive you are. But please understand, I will tell you in the morning. You need your rest. Please... For me, Byleth." Edelgard pleaded as she leaned her forehead against Byleth's own.
The older ex-professor gave in slowly, yet carefully gathering her strength to move a strand of hair and tucked it behind the younger Emperor's ear. "F...Fine. J...Just because I...I could never s...say no to y...you."
The Emperor chuckled. "Please to know you can still follow orders." Edelgard squeezed her Professor's hand one last time. She drifted close to Byleth's lips.
Do it...
You love her, don't deny yourself this...
Voices of her affections for Byleth from inside of Edelgard's mind speak up.
However...
But she's vulnerable...
She's in no state to reciprocate anything...
She can barely keep her eyes open...
Edelgard's thoughts continued to hound on her. Until she settled on something else. Something a lot harder to follow than her thoughts.
"Good girl." Edelgard spoke kindly as she ruffled Byleth's hair.
After a few moments, Edelgard pulled away from the bed, as she helped Byleth to lie back down into the bed.
"Now, please my teacher. Please get some rest and save your energy." Edelgard ordered as she squeezed Byleth's hands.
"I...I'll try. F...For you m...my lo- Edelgard." Byleth mumbled out as her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep. Her chest steadily rising and lowering.
"Goodnight, my love." Edelgard pressed her lips to Byleth's forehead.
It took all the strength that Edelgard could muster to stand up and walk away from her sleeping lover. But the others had to be informed of Byleth's progress.
The Emperor took once last glance at her former Professor and let out a teary laugh before brushing it away.
She really did make it...
Hubert, Dorothea, Petra, everyone. They were all right.
Edelgard sobbed as she remembered the kind words for her Byleth. The servant's taking extra care to report to her friends and Manuela if anything had changed in Byleth's recovery. Without them staying optimistic of Byleth's recovery, Edelgard would not dare to imagine how she would have reacted.
Edelgard spent a few minutes to try and compose herself. To wipe away the tears trickling down her face. After a few moments, she breathed in and out, trying to compose herself again.
Come on Edelgard. Just like Byleth taught you.
Breath in...
. . .
. . .
Breath out...
. . .
. . .
Okay...
I have to bring up her letter. I can't keep myself in check with these feelings going on in my head.
Edelgard sighed massaging her temples.
First, deliver the news.
As soon as the Emperor had returned from the infirmary, she was surprised by the scene in front of her.
Currently, both Lysithea and Bernadetta were both passed out on Mercedes's and Dorothea's laps respectively. Petra was sitting close to Dorothea with her fingers intertwined. Caspar and Linhardt had also passed out, though Caspar had seemingly laid his head on top of Linhardt's chest. Ashe was half asleep as Annette had snuggled into his chest for the evening. Alois was talking to Manuela and Hanneman about what to do with the Garreg Mach Monastery. Sylvain was playing a card game with Ferdinand, Felix, Leonie, Ingrid, Lorenz, Raphael, Igantz and surprisingly Hubert.
Though the young Emperor can guess that it is because of Ferdinand's influence that he joined in.
Lastly, Marianne was kneeling alone with her hands close together in a prayer. Even with the church branding the Strike Force the enemy of all of Fódlan, and vice versa. And even with the war against Rhea Edelgard gave time to Mercedes, Ashe and Marianne for their praying. She wasn't opposed to Sothis after all.
"Edelgard!"
A voice from her left spoke up. She glanced around the room and saw that Catherine had joined the rest of the former Strike Force.
Edelgard turned towards the captain of her Royal Guard. "How is she doing?"
Once Catherine asked, everyone's attention, who were awake, were on the Emperor's.
Edelgard let out a sigh of relief and a wide comforting smile. "She's doing fine. Exhausted but alright." Edelgard spoke, which seemed to lessen the fears everyone had. Even Hanneman and Felix looked relieved to hear the news.
Catherine herself looked to be on the verge of tears. "Thank the godes- Um, I-I'm glad she's doing well."
Edelgard smiled at Catherine not commenting on her little slip. "How's Shamir?"
Catherine had a knowing smirk. "She's uh... Itching to get out of bed. She doesn't like being cooped up for long."
"That's good news. I'm glad." Edelgard spoke as she tapped the much taller and older woman on the shoulder. "Has Manuela spoken to you for when she can be released?"
The swordswoman nodded her head. "Yeah, she said she'll check on her by the end of the week, if all's well she'll be back to training by next week."
"Providing of course a certain owner of Thunderbrand can keep her hands to herself!" The strike Force's physician stepped towards us, her heels tapping onto the hard wood.
At this Catherine's face was ablaze. "I-I... W-We..."
This caused both Manuela and Dorothea to laugh, though their laughter was subdued a bit due to the sleeping members of the Strike Force.
"Uhh..." Slowly the sleeping members started to stir.
"E-Edelgard?" Bernadetta murmured. She slowly sat up from her older friend's lap while rubbing at her eyes. Then realisation set in for the Archer and she started to worry again.
The Emperor immediately went to her friend's side. "She's okay, Bernadetta. Byleth is just exhausted."
Hearing her own word come out of her mouth not only drove Bernadetta to tears, but also the Emperor as well. "She's actually going to be okay." The Emperor cried happily not believing the words coming out of her own mouth. "I-I t-thought that..."
Edelgard then felt herself being pulled away into someone's arms. Hands then began to rub and stroke her hair, while also rubbing her back comfortably. "Shhhh... Byleth is fine, Edie. You saw that yourself." Dorothea spoke as the Emperor glanced at her friend. Tears were flowing from her eyes as well.
The Emperor glanced around the room and saw that mostly everyone was barely keeping themselves together. Even Hubert was finding it hard to keep his emotions in check.
There was not a dry eye in the Infirmary that night.
The day after Byleth's awakening was the course for celebration, only with this celebration everyone from the Black Eagle Strike Force is in the mood for it. Even Hubert seemed generally excited, although he chalked it up to Ferdinand's 'childish' influence. Though that didn't stop a small embarrassed smile from appearing on his face whenever he glanced at the aforementioned Knight.
They had scheduled the celebration for when the Professor was due to be released from the Infirmary. That way even Byleth could enjoy herself and it gave the servants and the chef enough time to prepare for the feast.
They just had to wait a week.
"Hmm..." The former Professor groaned as she awoken early in the morning the next day since her awakening.
"Ah, you're awake, Byleth. The Captain always said you're an early riser." Said the familiar bubbly voice, though this time it was a lot softer.
"A-Alois?" Byleth groaned again as she opened her eyes.
The light was a bit too bright for her, so she closed them again.
"Ah, sorry Byleth. Your eyes haven't adjusted yet." Alois spoke as he closed the wooden covers for the windows.
With the windows closed, Byleth tried to open her eyes again, thankfully the light was greatly minimised, so she kept them open, barely.
"Now, how are feeling?" Alois asked as he held on of Byleth's hands.
"Hmm... Tired mostly, and hungry." Byleth grumbled as she squeezed Alois's hand.
"I thought you would be." Alois chuckled. "Your students said one time you devoured a whole turkey. Captain Jeralt always said you quite the appetite."
Byleth smirked a little. "You should have seen Father back at our camp when we were Mercenaries. Father ate 2 Chickens and a jug of Ale and then he said he still had room for training." Byleth smirked at the memory. "Father's stomach on the other hand, didn't quite agree. Father was throwing up until the later hours of the morning."
Hearing this, Alois couldn't stop himself from laughing. "Hahahahahaha. That sounds like the Captain alright."
Seeing Alois laugh like this stirred something inside the chest of the Professor.
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
What was strange to Byleth was that it was coming from her chest. She hasn't felt anything like this before.
Is something wrong with me?
Was this something Rhea had concocted before we killed her?
Am I going to leave Edelgard again?
These were the thoughts that were stuck in the former Professor's head. Something that Alois noticed.
"Something wrong, Byleth? Should I go get Manuela?" The former Knight asked, his voice dripped with concern.
"I uh... No." Byleth shook her head, trying to not panic the older man. "I'm alright, Alois. Just thinking about something."
Byleth tried her best to cover for herself, hoping that her father's friend believed her little white lie. Thankfully, Alois seemed to believe her lie.
"Oh? For you Byleth, I'm all ears." Alois spoke moving his chair closer to Byleth.
U-Uh... Umm...
Quick Byleth, think of something...
Umm...
Oh right, that...
"Umm, do you know if Edelgard has read a letter?" Byleth asked nervous as she squirmed in her bed.
"Hmm." Alois sat and thought. "The Royal Highness has been preoccupied with keeping Fódlan in one piece as the stupid nobles in Faerghus are voicing their displeasure as they found out Rhea was slain."
Oh... I guess she didn't find it. But I swear, I left it in my pocket...
"Oh wait!" Alois spoke up suddenly. "There was that piece of parchment that the Emperor would take out, time and time again. I remember Dorothea and Petra mentioning it yesterday." Alois explained.
"D-Did she say anything?" Byleth asked.
The feeling in her chest returned but it felt a lot worse.
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
What is this feeling? It's like something in my chest is tearing itself apart whenever I think about Edelgard or Father.
Do I see Edelgard like Father?
"Emperor Edelgard seemed generally happy whenever she read it. Bernadetta and Lysithea also said she was blushing whenever they asked what she was reading." Alois continued.
She was happy and blushing? Was that my letter? Or was that letter from a secret admirer that has turned secret?
"Was this parchment important in anyway?" Alois asked earnestly.
Byleth shook her head.
She was about to talk but was cut off as the door to her infirmary room.
"Oh, you're awake Byleth." A familiar voice spoke up as she entered the infirmary room holding a tray of food while dressed in her usual imperial garb, minus the Cape.
El...
"Ah, Emperor. Byleth was just talking about you." Alois stood up from his chair. "Here you go, your Highness." Alois says as he glances back at Byleth.
"I'll see you later tonight Byleth. There's... Something I have to tell you."
Before Byleth could answer back Alois had left the room, now only herself and Edelgard remained.
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...
Yet again, the feeling from before returned as she glanced towards Edelgard.
"I thought you would be hungry, so I grabbed you some of your favourites."
Edelgard laid the tray of food onto Byleth's lap. Without missing a beat, the former Professor devoured the entire tray of food, leaving the Emperor rather amazed.
"Well your appetite certainly hasn't changed." Edelgard chuckled as she tucked a loose piece of hair behind Byleth's ear. "How are you feeling?"
Byleth contemplating whether or not to bring up the feeling in her chest, but as she noticed the bags under her Emperor's eyes, she decided against it.
I don't want to worry Edelgard more than I already have and I have a feeling, whatever is happening in my chest can't be good.
"Yes Edelgard. I'm feeling a lot better." Byleth smiled trying her hardest to make her lie believable.
Edelgard sighed thankfully. "That's good. Everyone will be pleased. Bernadetta especially. She's been worried about you none stop for the past month since you've been out."
Byleth's eyes detached themselves from Edelgard and trailed lower as another feeling one that she hated settled in her gut.
I've put my students, my friends, through so much grief. For that I need to atone.
"There's no need to worry. As soon as she heard you were awake, she's been back to her usual self."
Byleth couldn't help but smile at her adopted sister's behaviour.
Well that's good to hear at least.
"I'm glad she's doing well." Byleth then took one of Edelgard's gloved hands into her own.
"How are you doing El?" Byleth asked as she squeezed her Emperor's hands. "And be honest with me, I know when there's something wrong."
The Emperor dryly chuckled. "You always have me figured out, huh? There is something, b-but I'm not sure how to... approach this."
"My, my. The mighty and powerful Emperor is lost for words." Byleth teased as Edelgard returned an icy-cold glare. Yet, the former Professor couldn't stop laughing as she saw her star student blushing deeply. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. What is troubling you, El?
"Umm... Y-You know... T-That thing?" Edelgard nudged her head to the side, indicating at... Something?
"I'm not following." Byleth muttered, but this time she was genuinely confused.
"I'm so glad Dorothea, isn't here to see this but, excuse me Professor." Edelgard ended as she did something that the former Professor wasn't expecting.
The Emperor leaned forward and pressed her lips against the older woman.
Byleth's eyes shot open at the shock of her former student. The Emperor herself kissing her. Though those thoughts dissipated as Edelgard pulled away.
Edelgard looked on trying to figure out Byleth's feelings. Though when she couldn't decipher the Professor's feelings, she instead opted for an apology. "Sorry, my teacher but that was someth-"
She needn't have bothered as Byleth forcefully pulled Edelgard into another kiss. One that was a lot deeper as both of their cheeks glowed bright red.
Immediately, Byleth's hands were caught roaming around Edelgard's hair as she took off her spiky crown and unravelled her hair.
Edelgard on the other hand was a lot more careful a resistant, trying to keep in mind of the other's injuries. The Emperor instead opted to curl her gloved fingers on the covers of Byleth's bed.
The two soon split apart both trying to catch their breath. Byleth rested her forehead against her Emperor's.
"I take it you saw my letter." Byleth spoke softly as she pressed a kiss to Edelgard's forehead. "I had to ask Dorothea and Leone for help. I'm not that good at expressing how I feel about things."
Edelgard sweetly chuckled. "So, I've noticed." Edelgard then intertwined her gloved fingers with Byleth's. "I never would have imagined that you would truly have feelings for me."
Byleth broke off from Edelgard's forehead and instead pressed kisses to each of Edelgard's fingers. "I... I love you Edelgard von Hresvelg. I never want to spend another day of my life without you."
Edelgard was taken back by Byleth's confession as tears started to trickle down her face. "Y-You have N-no idea how long I wanted to hear those words."
Byleth pulled the younger woman into her chest carefully and started to rub her back. "Well from now on, I'm never leaving your side, my love."
