It has been only a couple of hours since Edelgard had stopped by with an array of food, to fill the former Professor, but ever since the beating inside her chest had only intensified.

This feeling inside her chest had started to worry the blue-haired former mercenary even more than before.

Shortly after their kiss, Edelgard had been pulled away by Hubert. Metaphorically, of course. He would never physically lay his hands on his Emperor.

Edelgard mentioned it was to continue their council meeting from yesterday that had been postponed due to Byleth's own awakening.

Byleth couldn't help but apologise to the Emperor and her adviser for delaying their regular council meeting because of her.

Edelgard however, wasn't having any of it. She brushed a few strands from Byleth's hair and tucked them behind her ear, while pressing a kiss to her lover's forehead.

The Emperor dismissed her apologies saying that 'her health means more than some stupid meeting.'

Yet again, hearing her El say that sent that familiar feeling in her chest racing.

I seriously need to ask Manuela what this actually is.

If I should be worried.

If I should tell El.

No.

Byleth shook her head.

No, I just woke up and I still have to meet everyone.

With that in mind, Byleth wasn't alone for long as a certain purple-haired archer appeared from the infirmary door.


"Shhhh. It's okay Bernie bear. I'm right here."

"I-I-I was s-so worried a-a-a-about you."

"I know, Bernie bear. I'm sorry for worrying you."

Byleth had her younger adopted sister resting on her lap, with Bernie's head nestled into the crook of Byleth's neck. Byleth was rubbing the smaller girl's back, trying to comfort her and quieten her tears.

Still it wasn't much to calm down the shy archer.

"W-When E-Edelgard brought you to M-Manuela and Linhardt I-I-I didn't know what to do. T-There was so much blood and I-I-I-I."

"Shhhh. I know. " Byleth rubbed the archer's back. "I bet you did a good job keeping calm."

Bernie nodded her head into her former Professor's neck. "I-I-I... All I could t-think of is w-what would you do."

Hearing her influence starting to take hold onto the young woman brought a smile and a sense of pride stir in Byleth's chest.

Byleth lifted Bernadetta's head from her neck and moved it so they were eye level with each other. Tears still streaming down the archer's face. Byleth placed her hands softly on both sides of the archer's temple's.

"I'm proud of you." The swordswoman wiped away the tears that were running down her adopted sister's cheeks.

Bernadetta nodded her head. "T-Thank you sis-Professor."

The archer tried to cover up her mistake, but with the look of shock on Byleth's face she caught Bernie's little mistake.

"What was that, Bernie? Did you just call me sister?" Byleth asked, carefully taking Bernadetta's hands into her own.

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Hearing her call Byleth 'sister' that started that feeling again in her chest. Though this feeling felt different. Like a good different.

It's not the feeling she has whenever she's near Edelgard, but a good feeling. A happy feeling. It's almost like the feelings Byleth had whenever she was with her Father and Alois.

Quickly Bernadetta buried her head into Byleth's chest. "I'm sorry! Stupid Bernie, you've gone too far. Now she'll hate you." Bernadetta chastised herself.

Byleth hates the feeling she has whenever she sees her student's doubting themselves and beating themselves up. She can't describe this feeling, but she knows she hates it. Seeing her students, no, her friends, sad, makes her want to reach out.

"Hey, it's alright." Byleth carefully and slowly laid her hand on top of the archer's head. "I didn't mean to upset you Bernie, but I honestly didn't mind about being called your sister. In fact, I think I liked it."

Bernie slowly and hesitantly raised her head from Byleth's chest. "Y-You liked it?"

Bernie waited for confirmation from her would-be sibling.

"Of course, Bernie bear." Byleth answered as she tucked a tuft of Bernie's hair behind her ear.

Bernie's frown then did a complete 180 as it turned into a warm smile.

"Okay. Then as you sister, you have to tell me everything going on with you and Edelgard." Bernie ordered and from the look she was giving Byleth, there was no way she could try to change the subject of this conversation.

"Umm... Y-You see... Umm... Well E-Edelgard and I... We're um..." Byleth nervously answered but then she felt that oh so familiar feeling in her chest.

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

"I-I uh... Edelgard and I a-are to-together." Byleth eventually mumbled out under her breath.

"Louder." Bernie spoke.

"I said El and I are together." Byleth shouted startling herself as her cheeks blushed intensely.

"Oh." The archer answered as her mouth arched into a sharp smile. "Did you hear that Dorothea?"

Dorothea?

"Oh, you bet, Bernie." A voice from behind a door spoke gleefully.

Oh no

The door opened revealing a smirking Dorothea, Annette, Mercedes, Leonie and Lysithea. They all look like they were listening intently, meanwhile Petra, Marianne and Ingrid looked a bit hesitant about pestering their Professor about her love life.

Oh no

What have I gotten myself into?

"S-Sorry sister. They kinda force my hand." Bernadetta looked at the floor looking upset and scared by Byleth's reaction.

Byleth sighed.

Well they were gonna find out eventually. Might as well be from me instead of rumours from other less savoury people.

"I guess you've caught us out." Byleth spoke as she ruffled Bernadetta hair softly.

This lessened the tension in the smaller girl's shoulders and calmed her down.

"Yeah!"

The girls all managed to squeeze themselves into Byleth's little Infirmary room. Even the few reluctant one's had entered. Ingrid passed around most of the chairs from the waiting area and brought them inside. Once they were all seated Dorothea glanced towards Byleth.

"Now forgive me a head of time, but spill it, Byleth." Dorothea urged.

"Yup, we need all the details." Annette agreed nodding her head enthusiastically.

Mercedes chuckled at her friend antics. "I never thought you would be this excited Annie."

"I'm just excited for the Professor." Annette answered.

"Yeah, we need to know everything." Leonie also agreed as she played with her braided hair.

Well, I guess I don't have much choice.

"Well, El and I have been close for a while now." Byleth answered cautiously, pretty much testing the water.

"Oh, it's El now. Not Edelgard?" Dorothea teased, which earned ire from Ingrid.

"Let her talk." Ingrid gently punched the mage's arm. Though that didn't reduce Dorothea's teasing smile.

"Anyway, back to you and Edie." Dorothea asked as she glanced back at Byleth who was blushing deeply. "Did you tell her about the letter?"

"Letter?" Marianne asked quietly not wanting to intrude into Byleth's personal life, but none the less looked generally curious.

"Oh, you should have seen the Professor that night. She came to Dorothea and I asking for help to write a letter of confession to her dear Emperor Edelgard, though I guess it's her Edelgard now." Leonie teased as Byleth's cheeks darkened a dark shade of red, much to the amusement of the girls.

Even Marianne smiled and let out a small chuckle.

"You lot are all mean. If I was still your Professor, you'd all get detention." Byleth pouted at her former students, which caused them to all laugh louder.

It's a wonder how any of them can still laugh, especially after surviving the war. Seeing the bloodshed and the pain inflicted first-hand, would crush any normal person, hell even Byleth, herself, had problems keeping herself together. But somehow, they all managed to pull through.

It was... Nice to just rest for a little while, while Hubert and El begin their plans to deal with Those Who Slither.

"Anyway, back to your little confession with Edie." Dorothea spoke up staring the conversation back around.

"Yes, I-I..." Byleth stammered as her cheeks burned up. "I told her about how I felt since I got back. How... I'm constantly thinking about her. I told her; I love her. "

That earned the Professor a few 'awww's'.

Byleth then squeezed her hands tightly into the sheet cover of the bed as a deep crimson blush.

"I... I wanted to give my M-Mother's ring to her. In case I didn't make it..."

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Something in her chest pounded as soon as she uttered those words.

Byleth tried to continue, but her words were lost to the intense feeling in her chest.

The girls around her gasped, baring of course, Dorothea and Petra.

"D-Did she accept? " Came from a small timid voice. Byleth, as well as the other girls, followed the voice to Marianne. The timid woman quickly ducked her head trying to avoid everyone's glances. "I-I should have s-said that. I-I'm sorry."

Marianne was about to run away but was stopped by her friends from the former house known as the Golden Deer. Leonie patted her slightly on her shoulder as Lysithea held her hands.

"It's quite alright Marianne." Byleth answered as she smiled at the timid young woman.

This seemed to reassure and calm her down.

Marianne took a deep breath and was back to her chipper self.

"As for the ring, I'm not sure. She wasn't wearing it earlier." Byleth spoke with a frown.

"I'm sure she has just been too busy with running Fódlan with Hubert." Mercedes spoke as she placed her hands on her lap.

"Yeah, Mercie's right. Edelgard probably has a lot on her mind. Marriage is a big step after all." Annette agreed with her friend.

Dorothea fidgeted in her chair as she squeezed her lover's hand. Feeling this, Petra glanced at Dorothea and nodded her head. "Actually, there is a different reasoning." Petra spoke up.

All of the girls' attention was now drawn to the soon to be the Queen of Brigid.

"Hmm?" Byleth mumbled.

"Yes, but you must be understanding that Edelgard did not be meaning you to feel anything... uh... badly." Petra explained as she stood from her seat.

"You see, Linhardt found your ring alongside the note. She didn't want to see it early. Not until you propose to her." Dorothea explained as there was another chorus of awwwws from their friends.

Byleth on the other hand looked more confused as ever. Like something was troubling the former Professor.

"Is something wrong, Professor?" Ingrid asked.

The Professor was hesitant. She didn't want to scare her students... her friend's... her family, if this feeling in her chest was another one of Rhea's schemes.

"You can tell us anything, Professor." Annette said cheerfully. Everyone agreed.

Byleth took a deep breath and tried to organise her thoughts in her head. "I... get this feeling in my chest. I don't know what it is, but it scares me." Tears started to roll down Byleth's face, dropping onto the bed covers. She tried to wipe them away, but that only made her more confused.

"When I'm here with you all, the feeling is there. When I was with El, the feeling was there, but a lot more intense. I... I'm not sure how to feel." Byleth mumbled out as she squeezed her hands into fists.

"This feeling... What does it feel like?" Bernie asked as she took one of Byleth's hands into her own.

Byleth thought for a moment, studying the feeling in her chest. Searching deep down inside of herself trying to find this feeling.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

There...

"Here." Byleth took Bernadetta's hand and placed it over her own chest. "Can you feel it."

Bernie looked a bit confused, wondering why Byleth held her hand over her chest. She knows she doesn't have a heartbeat. However, that changed as the Archer started to listen.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

"Huh!?" Bernadetta flinched her hand away lightning fast, her face shocked. "But that's... Impossible."

"What is it Bernie?" Dorothea asked wearily as she moved from her seat next to her lover to in front of her former Professor.

Dorothea didn't like the look her friend was making after touching Byleth's chest and had put everyone on edge and worried. Not to mention Byleth herself. She looked terrified.

"It's okay, Byleth." Dorothea spoke softly, soothing her dear friend.

Byleth took a deep breath and nodded her head. Dorothea placed her hand in the exact same spot as Bernadetta did. It didn't take long before she discovered the same beating.

"I-I... That can't be right." Dorothea mumbled out sharing her archer friend expression.

"Dorothea, what's wrong?" Ingrid asked wearily, getting to her feet. "Is there something wrong with the Professor?"

This one question set the room's mood. No one had dared to say what was on their minds, in fear of it coming true.

Rhea did something.

Though Bernadetta cut through the tension in the room as she gleefully hugged her Professor and sister figure. "Everything's gonna be alright, Byleth."

Byleth looked confused as Bernie rested her head in the crook of the neck of her former Professor.

"The things you're feeling. They're normal." Dorothea began as she wiped away her own tears. "It's your heart. It's beating."

This caught Byleth off guard.

My heart... Beating? But how?

"Oh Professor. That's fantastic news." The rest of the girls from the Black Eagle Strike Force cheered.

Everyone seemed to be overjoyed to have their Professor back, with a beating heart. Byleth however, wasn't as ecstatic with the news. Something that caught the eye of the Princess of Brigid.

"These feelings. If you are wanting, we can be helping you to understand them. " Petra asked as she smiled happily at Byleth.

Byleth glanced at every one of her former students. Each one wore the same expression. One of cheerful agreement.

"And I'm sure Emperor Edelgard would more than help with the... intimate parts of your feelings." Ingrid spoke as she had a small blush on her face. Something that Dorothea caught and started to tease her.


In a separate infirmary room, later in the day, another patient was going through a very different emotion.

"Catherine, I swear to the goddess, can you please stop." Shamir growled at her newly found lover. "I'm not made of glass; I can put my own bandages on."

Shamir attempted to wrap the bandages around her ribs to cover the mending wound, but pain strikes... Again. "Rgh!"

Catherine sighed. "Here let me help. "

Catherine took the bandages from the Archer's hand. Shamir grumbled, giving in. As Catherine wrapped the bandages around Shamir's chest and ribs, Shamir leaned into Catherine's touch.

"Hmm..." Shamir groaned but felt a sharp pain as the Swordswoman's hands trailed over her wound.

"S-Sorry." Catherine apologised immediately her hands withdrawn from her lover's side.

"It's fine. Just... Be careful." Shamir spoke quietly. Catherine nodded her head, without adding a comment.

Soon the bandages were quickly wrapped around Shamir's chest and she was quickly back in her jacket and armour. Catherine sat and watched on Shamir's former infirmary bed, wearing her usual black shirt and beige trousers.

Shamir turned back to her lover with a small smile. "Thanks, Cathy." Shamir placed her hands on the chin of the Swordswoman.

Without wasting any time, Catherine quickly placed a kiss on Shamir's lips. "Love you." Catherine wrapped her arms around Shamir's neck, bringing the two closer.

Shamir drew closer to Catherine's tight embrace as she pressed her own lips onto her partner's. "I love you too." Shamir spoke as she rested her forehead onto Catherine's.

"Thank you, Catherine." Shamir closed her eyes as her voice began to waver slightly. "I mean it. You being here with me... It means the world."

Catherine chuckled. "What? Scared that you'd miss me." Catherine teased which caused Shamir to withdraw from Catherine and pout.

"Here I was trying to have a moment." Shamir quickly jabbed Catherine in her shoulder as she went to pick up her bow. Though before she could, Catherine had caught her hand.

"I was joking Sham." Catherine intertwined her fingers with Shamir's and pulled her lover closer. "I'm sorry. Just when I... I saw how pale you looked... I thought that you wouldn't..."

Shamir placed her hands on Catherine's cheeks. "Hey. I'm here." Shamir pressed her lips onto Catherine's "And I'm not going anywhere. So, get used to it Royal Knight."

Shamir teased as a smirk grew on her face.

Slowly one grew onto Catherine as well. "Huh, well since I'm your knight in shining armour, do I deserve a reward?"

Shamir pulled away from the Swordswoman and retrieved the rest of her gear. "That can wait for later." Shamir smirked, swaying her hips. "For now, though, don't you have a Professor to check on?"

Catherine's face immediately fell at the mention of the former Professor.

"I-I... I can't." Catherine sounded defeated.

Shamir dropped her bow and arrows and went to her partner's side. "Hey, she's fine now. Byleth is alive. You are Edelgard's personal Knight. She trusts you, as will Byleth." The archer placed her hands on both sides of her lover's cheeks.

However, Catherine couldn't look Shamir in her eyes. "I-I don't know, Sham... I... I gave the order to... to shoot her down. I'm the reason her Pegasus is dead."

Shamir shook her head. "No, you were just following orders. You are not to blame for what you're told from others."

Catherine however didn't seemed convinced, so Shamir took another step.

"I'll come with you. We'll do this together." Shamir moved her hands from her partner's cheeks to her hands and took a tight hold of them.

Without wasting any time, Shamir pulled the swordswoman along.


As the sun started to set on another day in Enbarr's royal palace Byleth had started to settle into her bed for the night. After the events of today, she had tired herself out.

A lot of things weighed heavily on her mind.

Her beating heart.

Her relationship with Edelgard.

Though nothing tired her out more than the conversation she had with her good friend, and guardian Alois.


Shortly after her former students had left, after prying every last detail about her relationship with Edelgard, Alois dropped by. He decided to tell Byleth of his impending departure to Remire Village. He had promised that he would protect Byleth during the war in honour of his greatest friend and Byleth's father. Though with the war over and the letter delivered from his wife about their daughter's impending wedding. Alois decided that he should return to his wife and daughter, for good this time. Finally putting down his axe for good and instead becoming a family man.

Byleth wrapped her arms around Alois, though his armour got in the way of the hug, Byleth didn't mind. If this would be the last time, she sees Alois, she's gonna make this last hug mean something.

The pair stayed together for a good few minutes as tears fell down Byleth's face. Alois whispered small comforting words into Byleth's ears. How Jeralt would be so proud of her. How he is proud of her and the progress she's made since the two had first met. How he supports Byleth's relationship with Edelgard. How Jeralt would approve of her relationship.

However just as the flow of time proceeds, all good things must come to an end. Alois pulled away from the tight embrace as Byleth noticed that he too had let loose a few tears of his own.


Now as the sun had descended into the earth and the moon had risen, Byleth started to get comfortable in her bed, ready to turn in for the night. Though as she tried to sleep, she heard a quiet knock on the door.

"By... It's me Edelgard. I've got Shamir with me. Can we come in?"

El, You're back!

Byleth tried to keep her newly found heartbeat in check as she placed her hand over her chest, listening to the intense beat.

"O-Of course." Byleth answered with a small blush colouring her cheeks

The former Professor tried to sit up, though the pain from her wounds tried to halt her. Ever the determined force Byleth pushed through the pain, just as Edelgard opened the door.

In walked in Edelgard without her pointed crown and Cape, along with Shamir.

"I apologise if you were ready to turn in for the night." The Emperor spoke as she crossed the room and sat down next to her love, taking her left hand into her own.

"Hey, Byleth!" Shamir answered as she stood by the door leaning on it.

"Oh Shamir. I hope you are feeling better. Dorothea mentioned you were hurt from the last battle." Byleth spoke as she glanced worryingly at her friend.

Shamir held out her hands, shaking them in front of herself. "Oh, don't worry, I'm fine. I'll be back to 100% in no time." Shamir then retracted her hands. "Though when the others said you got hurt, I started to worry. Though looks like you were in more capable hands."

"We had Manuela and the others to help out. I'm thankful for all of their efforts." Edelgard nodded her head as her face softened into a smile. She then glanced towards Byleth. "I dread the thought of what would have happened if you had passed."

"That's never going to happen, Edelgard." Byleth took both of Edelgard's hands into her own, making a solemn declaration. An eternal oath.

"I know... This just scared me. Seeing you this weak was... too much to handle." Edelgard squeezed her hands.

"Ugh, all this mushy crap is giving me a headache." Shamir teasingly gagged. Shamir then turned her head towards the still opened door.

"Will you get in here. She won't bite." Shamir growled out at the opened door. She stalked outside the room for only a moment.

This confused Byleth immensely.

"Is everything alright with Shamir?" Byleth asked.

Edelgard didn't answer she just sighed and shook her head.

Shamir's head appeared in the door frame struggling to pull whoever was giving Shamir trouble into the room.

"F-Fine." A voice sputtered out, giving in as the new figure entered the room.

As soon as Byleth's eyes locked on to the person her hands tightened in Edelgard's hands.

"C- Catherine?"

"Oh... Eh... Hi, Byleth... Fancy meeting you here." The owner of Thunderbrand spoke nervously.

Byleth glanced at Edelgard looking for comforting words... Or anything to help. She however said nothing. She looked like she was anticipating something. Waiting for something to happen.

"No. No more hiding." Catherine spoke as she stepped closer to Byleth's bed. "Byleth there's something I have to tell you. About the last battle." Catherine's eyes steeled as her eyes firmly locked on to Byleth.

"During the battle yourself and your Pegasus fell. Your Pegasus died and I'm so sorry to say, that I was the one to give the order. I was the one that killer your friend. That nearly killed you." Catherine ended her explanation as she let Byleth take in.

The fact that Byleth hadn't lashed out and tried to kill her yet, Catherine can only thank the goddess for this small miracle.

"Edelgard, can you help me? I don't think I'll be able to stand upright." Byleth asked as she glanced at her lover.

Byleth undid the bed covers and positioned herself on the end of the bed. Her eyes glancing to Catherine ever now and again.

As Edelgard helped up her love by placing on of Byleth's arms over her shoulder, the two slowly approached Catherine. As the two got closer to Catherine, a large lump started to form in her throat. Shamir however stayed by her side, taking her hand into Catherine's.

Now with Byleth standing with the assistance of Edelgard, Catherine spoke again as she removed Thunderbrand from its sheaf and handed it to Byleth. "I accept the responsibility of my actions and place my life in your hands."

Catherine closed her eyes, awaiting her judgement.

Shamir was about to stop Catherine from going through with his, but Edelgard stopped her as they both glanced towards Byleth who was staring intently at the sword in her hand.

Catherine stood still waiting for the blow that would end her life. Awaiting the retribution that Byleth rightfully deserved.

However, all she heard was her sword clang on to the floor and hands rush around her.

"I'm so glad you're here." Byleth mumbled into Catherine's chest, catching the swordswoman off guard.

"B-But... Why?" Catherine questioned utterly shell-shocked that Byleth would be so accepting. With help from her lover, Byleth slowly pulled away from Catherine. She was standing unsteady but standing all the same.

"Because you idiot, they're different." Shamir answered nudging her head towards Byleth and then Edelgard. "I've seen the way Rhea used to handle things. All the senseless death. The innocent lives taken. Edelgard is different. She's helping everyone she can."

Hearing Shamir spread word of Edelgard's accomplishments made the young Emperor blush.

"B-But what about your Pegasus? I ordered my men to... to..." Catherine spoke up despite the lump in her throat.

There's no way they would be this accepting. Edelgard named me a Royal Knight for Goddess sake. That's not normal for a soldier on the opposite side.

Byleth shook her head. "You were following orders that you were told to follow not the orders you thought were right. That is no fault of your own."

Byleth then dipped her head in remembrance. "Athena was a dear friend and she has helped me through thick and thin." Byleth raised her head as she took a deep breath in and out, squeezing her hands tightly. "But I think she knew her time was coming. She just knew these things."

"You may have sided with her but when those that matter to you the most are in danger; you made the right choice in the end when it mattered." Edelgard said as she left Byleth's side and placed her hand on Catherine's shoulder.

Catherine was shell-shocked at hearing the words for the Emperor of Fódlan and her dearest companion. Never had she dreamed she would earn forgiveness for her actions from that day. Especially, not from the woman who she nearly killed.

Catherine fought back the tears that threatened to fall down her face. Instead she opted to bow and salute the Emperor.

"Thank you, Edelgard. And you too, Byleth... I mean it." Catherine raised her head glancing at the two women in front of her. "I swear it. While I live, I will never betray this trust you both have for me."

Byleth placed her hands-on Catherine's shoulders for a moment before Edelgard noticed that her love was starting to sway unstable like.

"Byleth!" Edelgard was at her side within a moment. Catching her in her arms. Catherine and Shamir both backed away to give the pair some room.

"Sorry, I guess my legs weren't ready yet." Byleth apologised as her gaze avoided Edelgard's.

"You've got nothing to apologise for, Byleth." Catherine spoke. "You've just woken up around a week ago after being in a deep sleep for months. You're bound to still be a bit unsteady."

"Well I can think of something that can fix it." Edelgard pressed a kiss to her lover's forehead as she picked her up, bridal-style, and carefully placed Byleth back into the Infirmary bed. "Bed rest."

Byleth groaned, something that both Shamir and Catherine laughed at.

"Get all the bed rest you can, cause once you're ready I want the first dual." Catherine declared.

"You might have to wait in line. I'm sure Felix, Petra, Leone and Jeritza have already said they wanted the first." Byleth spoke as Edelgard kissed her forehead.

"And that can wait till you're feeling better."

"Yeah we better head back. Manuela wants to perform one last check up before she releases you. Wouldn't want my lovely partner to get hurt again." Catherine ruffled Shamir's hair, which earned her ire.

Shamir glared at her partner as she silently grumbled and stamped out of Byleth's infirmary room.

"Oopsie, looks like I've stirred up a bee's nest." Catherine sighed nervously rubbing the back of her head. "I better catch up to her, before she puts a hole in one of the walls."

Catherine then formally bowed as she glanced at both the Emperor and Byleth. "Goodnight Emperor. And you too, Byleth. I'm... I'm glad that you're okay." She left with one more small smile as she closed the door after herself.

Without wasting any time Edelgard immediately asked Byleth if she was alright. Byleth calmed her Emperor down as she rubbed her back and shoulders.

Though Byleth thought of something that would definitely help to calm her down.

"Here, I have something to show you." Byleth spoke as her lover glanced curiously at Byleth.

Byleth motioned for Edelgard to lay her head down on her chest.

"Listen."

Edelgard didn't understand what her lover means, but she would humour her. After choosing to stay by her side, the least Edelgard could do was humour her.

As Edelgard rested her head onto her Byleth's chest it was evident what she was excited to show her.

. . .

. . .

. . .

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Upon hearing the beating from Byleth's heart, Edelgard immediately recoiled in disbelief. Byleth smiled as a few tears fell down her face.

"B-But... that's not possible." Edelgard mumbled as she checked again placing her ear on her lover's chest.

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Ba-Bump... Ba-Bump...

Edelgard pulled her head away gazing into Byleth's eyes. "B-But how?" Edelgard asked as Byleth wrapped her arms around the Emperor's back and pulling her closer as she placed a kiss onto her forehead.

"I don't know. I've been feeling something in my chest since I awoke yesterday." Byleth said as she placed her hand over her heart as it continues to beat. "I spoke to Linhardt and Hanneman earlier. They were confused as well, but they came to the hypothesis."

Her Emperor nodded her head, wanting her to continue as she intertwined her fingers with Byleth's. "They hypothesised that after we killed Rh... The Immaculate One the crest stone that she implanted into my Mother, and then into me, disappeared or was destroyed and then that gave me life."

As Byleth finished her newly found emotions were on display as tears started to fall down her cheeks. Byleth must've noticed as she quickly wiped away her tears.

"Sorry. I just... I'm feeling things... I'm not sure how to feel." Byleth looked conflicted not knowing what she should be feeling. "I feel like how you all reacted after I woke up after being missing for 5 years. I feel like how Dorothea reacted when Petra asked if they could be together. I feel like how Bernie reacted when I asked her if her and I could be sisters. I feel like when you and I kissed."

After tried to explain the feelings she was having, Edelgard pressed her lips onto Byleth's forehead.

"The feeling is called happiness." Edelgard answered as she pressed another kiss onto Byleth's forehead.

"Happiness...?" Byleth studied the feeling, trying to get familiar with it. Shortly after, she gently pulled Edelgard into her chest, wrapping her arms around her love's back.

"I like this feeling."