Author's notes:

DISCLAIMER: Every work posted on this account uses IPs that the author does not own. Fire Emblem is property of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and do not represent the opinions of either company. This is simply a derivative work made without any sort of profit nor is it explicit; It is only created for fun.

Whether this story is A.U. or not is up to the interpretation of the reader. Count Varley is not entirely accurate to his actual character because this was written in 2020-2021.

Cover created by my sister.

Rated T for (Content guide has been updated as of 10/29/2021):

Violence: Depictions of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, but nothing extremely in-depth. Self-harm is NOT in the story. In short, the violence won't be any worse than what the actual game has to offer in terms of story/action/cut-scenes.

Language: No profanity. The closest thing is "darn" and "heck".

Suggestive themes: Romance and orientation are discussed throughout the story, especially around Chapter 6. Symptoms of falling in love are discussed, and a kiss is suggested in a book. LGBTQIA terms are used. There is NO sexual abuse.

WARNING: There are minor support spoilers peppered throughout and Crimson Flower route spoilers in the second half of the story.

NOTICE: This story is going to uploaded onto Fire Emblem Amino and Ao3 under the pen name "FE_Fanby". Just to throw out there to let people know it wasn't stolen.

Without further ado, the story begins.

Bernadetta's POV

"No!" I screamed as I flailed around. Regardless of what energy I released to escape this over-the-shoulder grasp, it was futile. However, I did not give up. I kicked his back. I felt his arm around me tighten. "Nooo!"

I heard a loud voice respond. "You're going outside whether you like it or not. If you do not do a good job today, your room will remain locked for the night and you will sleep outside. Do you hear me!?"

His arm got super tight around me as he finished the statement. I could not breathe. His arm was a boa constrictor, slowly awaiting my demise. Grasping for air was impossible. My stomach resting against his shoulder felt like a shard. Calling out for help was impossible.

Why can't I just be alone? Why can't I just be in my room? Why can't my mother just stop him!?

My eyes shot open to see the wooden ceiling of a familiar abode. My heart was pounding. I felt a cold sweat on my face.

I...was...dreaming...

My room! I was so happy to see my room! I felt my eyes water as I skimmed the details. I saw my messy dresser with sketches and books piled, my plants sitting by the window, and the bold red rug on the floor.

Everything was alright. I was far away from my father, and in my haven. I breathed deeply, and exhaled pleasantly. I would've hummed, but my throat began to close and my stomach began to churn.

I have class today...

I forgot about that. I really don't want to step out of my room! Why should I if I had a rough night anyway? Can't I just skip just this once?

Oh...get a grip Bernie...

Reluctantly, I got up and gathered my books. I was just about to open the door, but I had to breathe first; this was always the hardest part of the day. I turned the knob slowly, and peered outside. Unusually, no one was there. The church bells were not ringing. No other students were out on their way to class.

Am I late?

I began to panic, and ran to the Officer's Academy.

...

I ran through the entrance to see my entire class staring at me.

"Aah! I am so sorry! You see, I had a t-terrible night and uh..."

Professor nodded at me. "Have a seat."

As I took my seat beside no one, I heard chatter amongst my classmates:

"Aw yeah! Bernadetta ran the mile today!" That was Caspar.

"It is not noble to be late!" That was Ferninand.

"I can't blame her. I had a rough night myself..." That was Lindhardt. He yawned.

"I do not have the understanding of being late." That was Petra.

"I hope she is all right... Did she meet someone?" That was Dorothea.

"Ugh...why can't my class just keep it together?" That was Edelgard.

"Lady Edelgard, you must be more assertive to your peers!" That was Hubert.

"Enough, everyone," Professor stated. "No more interruptions. We still have a lecture to discuss. Today, we will be talking about the psychology of the enemy."

"Interesting. Is it possible that I can use this outside of battle?" Lindhardt asked.

"Lindy, what enemy would you have if you're not fighting? " Dorothea asked.

"I said no more interruptions!" Professor stirred. "You do not want to see me angry, do you?"

"(With those soul searing eyes?) No! Not at all!" Dorothea gasped.

When class finally ended, I stepped out of the classroom exhausted. The lecture was rather boring. Why would I have to know how the enemy behaves if they're all out to kill me? Isn't it just kill or be killed?

I wanted to get back to my room quickly, but I also wanted to go look at the plants at the greenhouse. Last I checked, there was a venus flytrap ready to greet me!

...

I made a brisk walk to the greenhouse in hopes of not seeing anyone except my expected visitor. The gardener was there as normal, but she was too busy tending to her friends to notice me. Walking in, I saw all the usual angels that adorn the aviary. Could they just fly away and join me in a faraway land?

In the center lied a small venus flytrap I planted moons ago. I could not keep him in my room because the monastery regulations require carnivorous plants to be in the greenhouse only. Why did my favorite specimens have to not be with me in my room? Oh well. I stared at it in its full glory and began to whisper to it. Hey, I believe in talking to plants! They grow like that!

"Hey little guy! You seemed to have grown in the past moon! You must have found a huge feast to eat on!

"It's nice to know you're doing well. Sadly, I'm struggling to even survive. Being out here is difficult too. But you make it a little better!"

I began to frown as I started to think.

"You're my only friend, Venus. The people here are scary. I have considered making friends with my peers, but no matter what, I'm a coward. I fear they will judge me for who I am.

"Professor is nice. They keep me calm, but they are eerily quiet as well. Caspar is overbearing, Hubert is dead scary, so is Edelgard. Ferninand confronts me as if my lifestyle is wrong. I don't even know how I feel about Lindhardt. I could not be friends with Petra. She's too nice.

"Then there's Dorothea. She's so popular, dazzling, able to speak her mind... How could I be friends with someone like her?"

I stopped talking. I felt a presence behind me, and it wasn't the gardener. I felt like I was stopped in my tracks. My heart began to pound in my chest. Did I even dare to turn around!?

My body reacted before I could analyze my options. It was just who I suspected: Dorothea.

"Ah! Dorothea! Did you just hear all that!?"

"You're talking about the intimate details of your rendezvous last night. So, who is it!?" She stepped closer to me.

"What!? No! I didn't meet anyone last night!" I broke a sweat.

She blinked. "Alright then. If it wasn't that, why were you so quiet?"

"I was talking about...b-being friends with...you?" My heart fell. Stupid Bernie! She's out to get you for sure!

"Come again? I thought we were already friends."

"What!? we are!?" My eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah?"

Quick! Say something! "I'm sorry!" I screamed. "...but we can't be friends! It's impossible!" I began to lose my breath. "My father would..." I huffed. "He would..." I screamed the last I had and made a bolting towards the exit. I dared not look back. She had to be after me!

My eyes laid on the door to my room. Freedom! I mustered what I had left to run up to the entrance, turn the knob, and collapse on my bed.

I exhaled.

Everything is okay. You're going to be okay. There's no one here but Bernie!

But something felt off.

My room looked the same. I saw all eleven of my plants against the window sill, and my books and drawings were still a mess on my dresser.

Then my eyes glanced over to my door. A letter slipped through the crevice.

Oh no! Could it be Dorothea out for revenge!?

I struggled to get up. My legs felt jiggly. My heart could not catch a break. Could this be my hour of demise!?

My hands shook so hard that the letter felt insanely heavy. My vision blurred. What was the address!?

Just for a moment, my eyes regained vision and it read:

House Varley, Adrestrian Empire.

I saw it, and I felt as if I was about to faint. Anything but this! Anything but this! I began to hyperventilate. No! No! Everything went black.

...

A/N: If you noticed the parenthesis in any sort of dialogue (Like in Dorothea's in this chapter for example), it means the character is whispering. It's just something I took out of normal Fire Emblem dialogue in their supports.