Chapter Text
5 Moons went by. It is now the night of the 29th of the Ethereal Moon. In a few days, the Imperial Year 1177 will end and give place to the Imperial Year 1178. Not something Edelgard noticed right away, however.
It was from the moment she was taken to the Kingdom in Imperial Year 1171 that the Moons and years mostly started blending in together, doubly so when she was first imprisoned. The passage of time felt especially irrelevant now that little El was dead. The only time she could afford to care for… was the very day she would embroil Fódlan in an endless rain of blood, tears and broken promises.
As for the present, Edelgard only became aware of the year nearing its end due to Hubert informing her. The indifference which soon followed was palpable in the air itself.
Another year of being Edelgard, the weapon of Adrestia… Another year of watching what little remained of her humanity plunge deeper and deeper into the darkness…
A knock on the door. Hubert, who was with Edelgard at the moment, appeared from the shadows and stood before the closed door.
“State your business. Now.” Hubert ordered threateningly.
“The Prime Minister Duke Aegir has sent me. He would like to speak to Her Highness, Princess Edelgard, personally.” The voice on the other side said.
Edelgard unfortunately could not hold back the flinch which consumed her body at the mention of that vile man.
For Edelgard and Duke Aegir to meet and speak face-to-face was fortunately a rare enough occurrence. But when it DID happen… it made her feel like a mere insect every time without fail. She simply… LOATHED how easily Duke Aegir could make her feel like she was worth nothing other than being his personal slave.
Hubert quietly growled, already aware this meant he would have to let his liege go alone. His gaze turned to Edelgard’s own. Her slightly dull lilac eyes presented pure defeat.
“Thank you. I shall head there with haste.” Edelgard assured. Hubert lowered his head in his own kind of defeat.
The sound of the person walking away. Edelgard stood upwards and gave Hubert a knowing glare, silently ordering him to stay put and not follow her. Hubert, though deeply unsatisfied, obeyed and simply watched the Imperial heir leave the room.
Walking through the Imperial Palace’s hallways used to be an everyday adventure. Little El, alongside her oldest brother Niall and her favorite sisters Emma and Zulie, would frequently roam around the palace’s many paths while running and laughing (the trio of girls, that is. Niall, having been the former heir to the imperial throne before Edelgard, would obviously act in accordance with his future station, acting far more mature and milder, but nonetheless kind). Soldiers and maids alike would treat them with a mix of exasperation and fondness (the former in particular, whenever the girls had the brilliant idea of going to the imperial kitchen to steal food to give to the palace’s many cats). It was a constant environment of happiness and innocence.
Now, everything has changed. With Father’s power having been stripped from him by Duke Aegir, along with the slithers taking over and her siblings’ (and the cats) permanent disappearance, the palace’s environment had dramatically diluted. A tense, vicious silence dominated everything. The same soldiers and maids who used to consider the Hresvelg children their friends now never dared saying a single word to Edelgard or even look her in the eye (a worrisome amount of the soldiers little El used to know were also replaced altogether, and Edelgard suspected the new batch to be slithers in disguise, or soldiers loyal to Duke Aegir, or both at once). And rumors as to what exactly had happened to Edelgard’s siblings kept circulating in hush tones among the peoples of the palace on a near daily basis.
The official, public explanation as to why most of the Emperor’s children had seemingly vanished forever, the one supplied by Duke Aegir, the disguised Thales, and Hubert’s father, Marquis Vestra, was that the whole Hresvelg family, including Mother, had travelled to the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus in Imperial Year 1174 (the year when the experiments began), but nearly all of them had contracted a dangerous disease during their stay in the frigid nation, with Mother and most of Father’s offspring dying (the previous throne heir among them), and Father becoming permanently bedridden, thus making Edelgard the sole member of the royal family who escaped contamination and survived the ordeal. By telling such lies, they not only covered up the experiments, they also hid the fact Mother had actually been gone from the Empire for far longer than that year. For as long as the Insurrection of the Seven, if not earlier. A fact little to no people were aware of.
Most of those in Fódlan who heard the news never questioned the veracity of such claims and moved on. But there were also those who doubted such information to compose the whole truth, if at all. Particularly, those who live in the Imperial Palace itself.
The dungeons where little El and her siblings had been imprisoned in were located in the very lowest catacombs of the palace. An area so secluded, little to no sound could infiltrate the walls and reach the castle’s surface. But as the years went on, a few of the palace’s residents could swear they could sometimes hear very faint and muffled screams and moans coming from below, during nighttime most of all. These simultaneously loud and quiet noises began to generate rumors, and now a lot of the palace’s residents believe the castle to be somehow haunted by the tormented spirits of Edelgard’s mother and siblings, who for unknown reasons were unable to move on and join the Goddess in the Blue Sea Star.
Needless to say… Edelgard could do without these rumors. Especially if one considers the Goddess to be the EXACT reason why everything happened. Because She refused to lend Her supposedly sacred hand to those who needed Her most…
Hubert usually did everything he could to ensure the people in the palace would stop mentioning such rumors aloud, aware of how unpleasant it must be for Edelgard to hear everyone constantly whispering such unpleasantries. But, with the limited control he possessed over everyone, he wasn’t always successful…
After what felt like a whole Moon in itself, Edelgard finally reached the Imperial Throne. As expected, Duke Aegir was waiting for her there, arms crossed and one of his shoes continuously tapping the floor impatiently, looking as spoiled and conceited as ever. Thales was (fortunately) absent.
“There you are! You kept me waiting, Hresvelg!” Duke Aegir loudly complained. “I suggest you take care not to repeat such a mistake next time. I am quite a busy man, and I do not appreciate lack of punctuality, especially coming from a mere Hresvelg like you.”
Edelgard bit her lip, gathering all her available willpower so as not to accidentally allow an enraged retort to escape her mouth. Instead, she put on an empty mask and (reluctantly) bowed to the man.
“Apologies, Prime Minister Duke Aegir. It will not happen again.” She replied, her voice completely devoid of emotion.
“Hmph. We’ll see about that. Your kind is not and shall never be trustworthy…” Duke Aegir cleared his throat. “To business. As you must surely be aware, the Imperial Year 1177 is coming to an end. Meaning, in a mere 2 days, the usual annual gala celebrating the new year shall happen here in the Imperial Palace. You are to participate in the gala this year… and you shall serve as my son’s partner. Of course, you are to obey his every order. As well as mine, should I choose to intervene for any one reason.”
Oh…
Hubert’s deductions were once again proven correct, as expected.
For quite some time, Hubert had very strong suspicions that, should Duke Aegir succeed in fully acquiring the title of Emperor for himself, he would one day force Edelgard to marry his son, Ferdinand von Aegir. Such a heavily crucial political marriage would ensure Ferdinand would become eligible to be the next Emperor with immediate effect, thus successfully and permanently transferring all the Adrestian Empire’s supreme authority from House Hresvelg to House Aegir, making it Adrestia’s new royal family. What was fundamentally Duke Aegir’s ultimate goal in life.
Edelgard knew Ferdinand from her days as little El. And while she couldn’t say she hated him, his relation to Duke Aegir naturally made her distrust him. The boy’s insistence in always challenging her and proving he was better than her only further added to the annoyance. Such childish attitudes towards her inevitably caused friction between him and Hubert, who considered Ferdinand quite a bothersome nuisance.
So… THAT is Duke Aegir’s plan. He already desires to slowly start setting up Edelgard and Ferdinand’s future marriage. And what better opportunity than the New Year Gala, where every noble of Adrestia would be present to lavish in excesses and stroke each other’s ego? A very effective way for Duke Aegir to send the message he intends to transmit to the whole Empire nobility.
The same nobility who took everything from her family… The same nobility who worships Crests and uses them to keep themselves richer, all while the commonfolk suffer and die with no end in sight…! The same nobility who are kept afloat unchecked because of the Church…
…no.
No losing control. For now, all she could do is keep her head low and bid her time. All for a better future…
“I understand. I shall do so, Prime Minister. For the Empire’s sake.” Edelgard artificially spoke.
“Huh. Very good! For once, you are acting exactly the way you should. About time a mere Hresvelg such as yourself realizes her place.” Duke Aegir condescendingly praised. It truly was fortunate this man isn’t very smart. “All you must do that day is act as my son’s perfect partner, and all will be fine. Ah, since we’re on the topic of my dear son, I might as well announce this: Arundel and I have recently discussed and decided your future enrollment in the Officers Academy shall happen in two years’ time, at the same time as the future enrollment of the Faerghan Prince, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. Your mission whilst inside Garreg Mach Monastery shall be to weaken the Church of Seiros, as well as the Kingdom and possibly the Alliance, from within by sowing discord and aiding Arundel’s own side of the larger design. Should you find a way to assassinate the Faerghan Prince, all the better.”
Dimitri, Prince of Faerghus… She had heard much from him before. Or rather, what had HAPPENED to him.
He was the eldest son of the former King Lambert Egitte Blaiddyd and the sole survivor of the Tragedy of Duscur, an event which happened almost two years ago, not long before Edelgard was freed from the dungeons. The Tragedy of Duscur was an event she and Hubert were aware had been orchestrated by Duke Aegir and Thales in an attempt to severely weaken the Kingdom ahead of time so they would be unable to stand a chance against the Empire once war was to be sparked. After all, the Kingdom was easily the Empire’s stoutest obstacle next to the Church, and should the two factions join hands, it would only complicate everything.
Edelgard could not say she was surprised the Prince had to die. She only wondered about the Alliance and what she could do against them…
Perhaps she might not have to do much, in their case, with the Duke Riegan heir’s very recent death at the hands of Demonic Beasts…
“As a bonus, my son shall join the Officers Academy that same year.” Duke Aegir continued, unaware of everything going on within Edelgard’s head. “As such, I would appreciate it if you were to treat him the exact same way you are to treat him during the New Year Gala the entire academy year. Are we clear?”
Heh. Of course. Predictable as always.
Unfortunately for this man, by the time her future school year is over, she’ll have the perfect plan to depose him. Compared to Thales and his slither faction, Duke Aegir will be easy to deal with in the future. In this case, there was simply no need to listen to his ostentatious dreams. She was certain, once she became Emperor, Thales would no longer need Duke Aegir either way. And neither would she.
“Yes, Prime Minister.” Edelgard pretended to obey.
“Good. That is all for now. Get out of my sight already! I have better things to do than wasting my time with a Hresvelg like you.” The vile man spat. “And please remind your precious servant not to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong. I’ve seen him spending too much time with that Brigid beast lately, and that won’t do! The two of you are nothing more than mere tools for the noble House Aegir to use, so our glorious Empire may soon return to its former glory! You both would do well to keep that in mind, if you do not desire more… unfortunate accidents in your immediate futures.”
“Yes, Prime Minister…” She said for the last time before wasting no time at all leaving the Imperial Throne. Only once she left that room, did she finally allow herself to breathe.
Stars above, how she hated this man… She hated him so, SO painfully much…! Every time she saw his face, the urge to put her two Crests to good use and break the bastard’s neck with her own two hands bubbled to the surface of her scarred skin. She normally disliked killing, but in this case, she would gladly end this man’s life for good, so her family could finally rest in peace…
Like always, whenever she was forced to deal with the aftermath of a meeting with either Duke Aegir or Thales, she closed off the world around her. She would take a few deep breaths… and focus on her inner hate. On why she had to wait for the right opportunity, no matter how far it seemed.
All for Fódlan… All so no one can ever experience what little El and her siblings went through… All so the people of this world can have a happy, prosperous future…
With one final deep exhale, Edelgard felt her resolve renew itself for the nth time. She reassumed her usual cold upfront and resumed her retreat to her office, where Hubert awaited her.
Two years… In two years, she could finally, TRULY start moving things along. That, and she’d be free from Duke Aegir’s (and Thales’, although to a lesser extent) presence the whole way. A win-win situation all around.
Too bad she would have to endure Archbishop Rhea’s presence instead. But in her case, Edelgard could at least actively avoid her. At most, she might be forced to see Rhea at the beginning of the year, in some mandatory religious ceremony or a summoning, and then no more until the declaration of war. Hopefully.
Ah, right. It’s a good thing she remembered. Once she rejoins Hubert, she should speak to him about Petra.
Petra Macneary. Granddaughter of the King of the Brigid Archipelago. And… a hostage to the Empire.
More than a year before Edelgard was freed from the dungeons, the Dagda-Brigid War occurred. The two foreign nations joined forces and attempted to conquer the Adrestian Empire, leading to House Ochs, the House of her former best friend Monica von Ochs, losing their head at the time, and the complete extinction of House Nuvelle. Despite such notable losses, the Empire emerged victorious in the end. In retaliation, Duke Aegir’s government forced Brigid into vassalage, and Petra, Princess of Brigid, was brought to Adrestia as insurance so the archipelago would never consider attacking the Empire again.
It was only during the first month since being freed that Edelgard first learned about the Dagda-Brigid War and Petra. According to Hubert, she was under the care of Duke Gerth, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Sometime later, Edelgard got the chance to meet Petra personally, though only briefly. From what little she witnessed… it was enough to make her feel ill.
The poor girl could barely understand the Fódlan language, if at all. No matter who she set her eyes on, she always bore the look of a cornered animal. And other than Duke Gerth, no one else within the palace treated her with any respect, some even going so far as to call her a “beast”. Like Duke Aegir.
That moment struck Edelgard right through the heart. It felt too close to home. And she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She covertly asked Hubert to keep an eye on Petra as much as he could and to protect her the same way he’d protect Edelgard herself. Hubert assented, and he dutifully followed his mission throughout the end of Imperial Year 1176 and the entirety of Imperial Year 1177. Unfortunately, however, it seemed his actions caught Duke Aegir’s attention, which wasn’t ideal. Per Hubert’s reports, Petra had started faring much better since he became her bodyguard. Such must be exactly what displeased Duke Aegir. He for certain must not want Petra to adapt to her new environment in the slightest, or she could end up posing a long-term threat in his eyes. At the end of it all, it was always about his own safety and position of power. As expected from a noble like him.
Edelgard cannot allow him to win on this one. Foreigner or not, Petra was a human being above all else. She deserved to be treated as such.
It was with such thoughts that the Imperial Princess returned to her office. She needed to speak to Hubert on how best to circumvent the Petra situation so the Brigid Princess wouldn’t completely lose his protection.
As for the incoming New Year Gala… well…
…she supposed she ought to do the one thing she became quite good at since her uncle took her to the Kingdom 6 years ago.
To endure… and await her opportunity.
***
6 Moons went by. It is now the 22nd of the Garland Moon, Imperial Year 1178.
If little El were still alive… this day would also symbolize her 16th birthday.
Her birthday used to be one of little El’s favorite times of the year. It was always a rare day when her entire family (Father, Mother, Uncle Volkhard, her siblings and her bestest friends Hubie and Monica) would discard their responsibilities, come together and celebrate little El’s existence and their united love for her. They would shower her with praise, happy birthdays, lots of food, and, of course, gifts. All in all, on those days each year, it was like the world around her stopped existing. There was nothing else. Just her family and their shared bonds. It was a day personally gifted to her by the Goddess.
…it had the complete opposite effect now. Now, the 22nd of the Garland Moon was one of THE worst days of her life. A day of nothing but formerly sweet memories now tasting like iron. A day which tended to test her resolve to one day abolish Fódlan’s system.
A day… that always left her on the edge of the precipice. Always nearly drove her to… give up on everything.
It was also the single day of the year Edelgard forced Hubert to stay away from her the entirety of it, despite his protests. She simply… couldn’t face him at all that day. The memories… They…
It was… like she was continuously drowning in the vast sea… all alone… and forgotten…
Yes… Such was how she was going to end up once the war is over, and her time is up.
With her dead somewhere out there… Her body, probably vandalized by those who shall inevitably hate her and depict her as this demonic conqueror who destroyed Fódlan with no mercy left in her soulless self-
“Hello, dear Niece.”
Edelgard’s entire body froze at the voice. A voice which, in the past, used to sound melodious and warm.
The voice… of her uncle. The voice which no longer belonged to her beloved uncle.
A cold hand landed on her shoulder. It drove Edelgard’s body to instinctively jump. The perpetrator enjoyed the sick sight.
“You appear lost in thought, dear Niece. Is something troubling you?”
Thales, the person who took her uncle’s likeness for himself, was standing behind her, so she couldn’t see his face at that moment. But she could sense it. The heartless, uncaring smile…
Why…? Why is he here…?! And why TODAY, OF ALL DAYS?!
This was on purpose… It had to be. Of course Thales knew about her birthday… Why shouldn’t he…?!
And now… he was going to force her to stare at her uncle’s appearance, ON HER BIRTHDAY! Because WHY SHOULDN’T HE?!
“Dear Niece. Do me a favor… and look at me.”
To the average person, it sounded like a simple request. But she knew better.
Completely at the man’s mercy, Edelgard timidly turned around, wishing she could go blind for the entirety of the incoming conversation so she wouldn’t have to face Thales and the skin he was wearing at the moment.
She could not believe she was admitting this… but for once, she genuinely wished Thales was wearing his true slither appearance instead. She hated it… but at least the monstrosity was laid bare. Not hidden below the skin of someone she once loved.
“Hello, Uncle… What brings you here?” Edelgard struggled to speak.
“Aww, why else would I come to visit my dear, beloved niece on this day?” Thales asked, his voice completely devoid of sincerity. “It is your special day, my dear El. Your birthday! How could I not come here and wish you a ‘happy birthday’ in person? What kind of Uncle would I be, hm?”
(DON’T CALL ME ‘EL’, YOU MONSTER! EL IS DEAD, AND YOU KILLED HER!) Is what Edelgard wished to say aloud. But if she valued her future goals, she knew to remain quiet.
“You… are right. Thank you, Uncle. I am… pleased… that you remembered.” Edelgard said instead, her voice more and more fragile by the minute.
“But of course! How could I possibly forget your special day? I’m a very busy person, yes. But not for you. Never for you…” The last sentence, lower in tone, gave promises of a threat. “Do you want to know what else I did not forget? Why, a gift, of course! And I must say, I outdid myself this year. I do not believe it possible for you to have ever received a better birthday gift than this one before.
…she… was very afraid of what was coming. Truly.
“I… see. May I know… what gift you acquired for me, then?”
“Yes, let us not keep it a surprise any longer. Mages.”
Three slither mages teleported inside Edelgard’s bedroom. They were carrying… a large black armor with multiple red ornaments decorating it. Attached to the helmet was a red and white mask.
What… IS this…?! She had never seen an armor like this before…!
“The Flame Emperor Armor.” Thales proudly named, a satisfied grin decorating his lips. “The perfect shell for our perfect weapon. You, my niece, are to use this armor once the time for you to move to Garreg Mach Monastery, the headquarters of the hateful Church, is at hand. It is you, Flame Emperor, who shall rain the cleansing flames onto this land, so the false goddess and her miserable followers can be exterminated once and for all, so the TRUE owners of this land can reclaim it for themselves! It is YOU, Flame Emperor, my most prized weapon, who shall restore Fódlan to how it once was! To how it should have always been.”
The intrusive hand on Edelgard’s shoulder tightened its grip. She wanted to scream.
“You, Flame Emperor… you shall be doing us a great service. And for that, you shall have our eternal gratitude. I am certain you shall serve us well. Our greatest weapon ever conceived… One strong enough to defy the false goddess herself…”
Yes… A weapon…
Such is all she is… A weapon to destroy. To kill. To bring misery and rage.
Such is the truth… behind Edelgard von Hresvelg…
Her siblings… If they were alive now… they would most certainly HATE what little El’s animated corpse had become…
“Bear in mind, however… that you are only allowed to wear this armor once you have infiltrated Garreg Mach. Attempt to use it before so… well, I am certain you are already aware of the consequences which await any sort of disobedience…” The hand finally, MERCIFULLY left Edelgard’s sore shoulder. It is only too unfortunate the sensation of the hand was still there, though. Like a ghost touch. “And with that, I must regrettably take my leave. You must understand. Much as I love spending time with you, my dear niece, I am also the Regent of the Empire. I cannot stray away from my work for too long, or it will pile up to alarming levels. Farewell for now, dear Niece.” He lowered his head to her level and proceeded to whisper in her ear. “May you never forget… I am always here for you. Always.”
He warped away from the room, the other three mages warping with him, taking the Flame Emperor armor with them.
The rest of day… Edelgard spent it locked in her room, laying down not on her bed but on the floor, crying until there were no more tears left. When she eventually fell asleep, she was plagued with the worst nightmare she had ever experienced, and coming from her, such was saying too much. She failed to sleep for the rest of the night, and only by keeping herself in a fetal position did she force her body not to move so she wouldn’t succumb to the temptation of throwing herself out the bedroom window.
Hubert will never forget the sight that graced him the next day when he finally allowed himself to enter his lady’s bedroom again…
***
8 Moons went by. It is now the 11th of the Pegasus Moon, Imperial Year 1179. In little more than a year, Edelgard and Hubert would leave Enbarr and settle in Garreg Mach Monastery for an entire year, both to expand their horizons and acquire better theoretical and practical knowledge on the art of fighting, and to perform the final, more direct preparations for the incoming war against the Church of Seiros.
As for Edelgard herself… today was a more auspicious day than the norm.
It had been beyond difficult to find such a chance, to the point it was becoming worrisome… but it arrived. The perfect opportunity for Edelgard to begin her own secret sabotaging against Duke Aegir’s puppet government and Those Who Slither in the Dark especially.
Duke Aegir was currently away, having returned to his home territory for a few days. As for Thales, it had been nearly a month since either Edelgard or Hubert had last seen him, and according to a disguised slither Hubert had luckily spied on without being noticed, he was going to majorly stay away from Enbarr for the incoming year, apparently desiring to make his own mysterious preparations for when the time for Edelgard to enroll in the Officers Academy arrived, with someone else from the slithers taking over Regent duties in his place.
There would be no better chance for her to act than now. And she shall seize ANY chance she can get, for the sake of freeing the Empire from its darkness forever!
Around a week prior, on Edelgard’s orders, Hubert sent a few Hresvelg-loyalist Vestras to secretly meet with Count Bergliez and Count Hevring so they could supply them with a single message: the heir to the Empire wanted to meet them personally.
Count Bergliez was very ready to accept the offer. Count Hevring wasn’t as eager but nonetheless chose to heed Edelgard’s call.
Now, a week later, Edelgard, Hubert, Count Bergliez and Count Hevring were all in the exact same place. They were currently located in a secret chamber known only to House Vestra and a few others. Here, there would be no risk of Duke Aegir’s loyalists or Those Who Slither in the Dark overhearing their meeting.
“Count Leopold von Bergliez, Minister of Military Affairs. Count Waldemar von Hevring, Minister of Domestic Affairs.” Edelgard recited. “I, Edelgard von Hresvelg, Princess of the Adrestian Empire and heir to the Imperial Throne, am deeply grateful for your willingness to answer my summons in the face of these dark, difficult times we all equally face.”
Despite being the person in the room with the least height by a significant amount (Count Hevring, in particular, completely towered over her), Edelgard commanded a presence and a level of authority and fiery determination that demanded utmost respect and attention from everyone in the room. Count Bergliez had to admit, he was impressed someone so small and young already possessed such a capacity for leadership.
“We cannot waste much time. Duke Aegir’s or Lord Arundel’s soldiers could notice mine and possibly your absences as well at any moment. Hence, allow me to begin our emergency meeting by asking you a question: do any of you possess a semblance of an idea over why I summoned you in the first place?”
“You have just mentioned it yourself.” Count Hevring readily answered. “It is something about Ludwig and Volkhard. Or rather, something about the Insurrection of the Seven of 8 years ago, as well as the campaign those two have been plotting since then.”
“Does this mean… you called us to judge us for our involvement?” Count Bergliez warily concluded.
“I could. And believe me. A great amount of those involved in the Insurrection which took everything from House Hresvelg shall be judged and punished accordingly in due time.” Edelgard promised. “But the two of you are not included in the list.”
Her declaration surprised Count Bergliez.
“We’re not? Really? May I ask why?”
“It is simpler to reach a conclusion as to why than you perceive. But allow me to explain, nevertheless. Count Bergliez. Count Hevring. I, Edelgard von Hresvelg, one of the many victims of Duke Ludwig von Aegir and Lord Volkhard von Arundel’s greedy ambitions, am well aware the two of you were not willing participants of the Insurrection of the Seven. Duke Aegir forced you into compliance, under threat that, should you defy him…” A tense pause. “…your sons would be included in the experimentation program without your say… The same way me and my family were…”
In spite of her less logical, repressed feelings on the matter, Edelgard, deep down, could not truly resent either Count Bergliez or Count Hevring for their decision to side with Duke Aegir. They did what they had to do to keep their sons safe. Had they stood against Duke Aegir, it would only have caused more needless death. Such was unacceptable in Edelgard’s book.
Painful as it is to admit so… if it meant keeping their innocent sons safe… then perhaps it was worth it to some degree.
“Sorry to interrupt…” Count Bergliez barged in. “But let me tell you a little something, little Princess. I can already tell you’re a pretty sharp girl. And yes… I sided with Ludwig in order to keep both Jac and Caspar safe. The thought of that slimy bastard laying his fingers on them was…” A shake of his head. “Still. This doesn’t change the fact I betrayed His Majesty. I betrayed your family. Worse, by siding with Ludwig and his dishonorable crusade, I betrayed my very principles, my very code of life. And for that… I can fully understand if you choose to never forgive me. I won’t try convincing you otherwise.”
Count Bergliez’s honesty and earnestness came as no surprise to Edelgard, having heard a great deal from this man throughout her life. While seemingly brutish and obsessed with fighting, he possessed a bigger heart than appearances may suggest, caring a great deal for any soldier below him and being more than willing to lay down his life for a worthy cause.
Edelgard could tell, from mere facial expressions and tone of voice alone, the man truly hated and regretted his actions. He would, without a doubt, compose the perfect ally, one who should never betray her, taking into account his own principles and the lessons he had learned.
The bigger variable in the equation… was Count Hevring. While not the selfish monster the likes of Duke Aegir or Count Varley were, and even possessing an admirable reputation as the Empire’s greatest healer, its Miracle Healer, he was still one to be a little too proud of his own noble status and sometimes would rather act for his own House’s benefit alone, rather than the larger whole. He was also known to be excessively calculating and analytical towards those around him, though in such a case she could not truly judge him, for she was now much the same.
With Count Hevring, she’d have to be a lot more careful on what to say. After all, he possesses complete authority over the Empire’s finances. It is imperative she pulls him to her side, at any cost.
“Do you have anything to add, Count Hevring? If so, the floor is yours.” Edelgard allowed.
Count Hevring spent a few seconds stroking his chin in thought, before he spoke again.
“I do have topics of my own to mention.” He admitted. “But first, I would like to hear the exact purpose as to why you summoned us. I shall deliver my own verdict then.”
An expected request. To the point at hand, then.
“I am certain the two of you, as participants in the Insurrection of the Seven, are aware, to some extent, Duke Aegir and Lord Arundel intend to wage war on the Church, Kingdom and Alliance in the future so the Adrestian Empire can reclaim Fódlan as a whole for itself, like how it once was countless centuries ago. They performed experiments on me and my siblings in order to create a peerless, invincible puppet Emperor who could serve as their own personal weapon, while they hold the true power of the Empire from the shadows.”
She purposefully chose not to mention Lord Arundel’s true identity as Thales and the true essence of Those Who Slither in the Dark. That information was far too delicate and fate-sealing in the wrong hands. One day, Edelgard shall consider telling them. But certainly not now.
“Left to their own devices, there is no telling what kind of damage their united front could cause to the Empire. Duke Aegir claims he desires to reunite Fódlan and restore Adrestia to its glory days, but what he truly desires is for himself and House Aegir to become Fódlan’s supreme rulers for all eternity. Should we allow such a thing to happen, our beloved Adrestian Empire and its people will enter an age even darker than the one we live in these days. It could very well lead to Fódlan’s permanent decadence and even eventual destruction. We must prevent such a scenario at ANY cost! Which leads me to my proposal to the two of you.”
A proposal… in which either its acceptance or rejection shall reshape the Empire’s future forever…
“Count Leopold von Bergliez! Count Waldemar von Hevring! I, Edelgard von Hresvelg, the heir to the Adrestian Empire’s throne, hereby request for the two of you, the Ministers of Military and Domestic Affairs respectively, to betray the Prime Minister, Duke Ludwig von Aegir, and rejoin House Hresvelg’s cause by pledging your full support to me, my future coronation and my future war, which I shall wage in the Prime Minister’s place, not to bring ruin to Fódlan, but to lead it to a new dawn! To create a world free of corruption, where the Church of Seiros shall no longer dictate how we should live our lives, and Crests shall no longer dictate who has the right to rise to power and who doesn’t! With my future authority as Emperor of Adrestia, I shall create a world where everyone without exception can exist as equals, free to rise and fall by their own merits, by their own choices, by their own free will! Join my cause… and in return, I will give you my undisputable word: once I ascend the throne, you will both be pardoned of your involvement in the Insurrection, with your ministerial titles, as well as your positions as Counts, remaining untouched. And that is all. What shall be your decision?”
Count Hevring narrowed his eyes, most certainly already suspecting all this from the beginning. As for Count Bergliez, he appeared a little surprised, though not completely.
“So… you intend to wage war on Fódlan yourself? Just like Ludwig?” Count Bergliez interrogated.
“Indeed. Like the Prime Minister, once I ascend the imperial throne, I shall wage war on the Church of Seiros and abolish it, as well as the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus and the Leicester Alliance, so Fódlan can be once again united under the single banner of the Adrestian Empire. However, while Duke Aegir intends to do so in order to rule Fódlan with an iron fist while maintaining the Crest, commonfolk and nobility system intact, all without a single care for those who suffer under such a corrupt system; I intend to use the war to reform and reshape the entire antiquated system forcibly placed on our land by the Church and the corrupt nobles it inevitably spawned. Under my rule, everyone shall live as equals, living by their own merits alone, rather than birthright. Everyone shall be free to live as they see fit, rather than as the Church and its system dictates. The experiments I went through… painful and hellish as they were, they opened my eyes. They made me see the world clearly and objectively. They made me see the world… for what it truly is: broken and painted in blood and apathy. I intend to destroy such a world and create a new one, where no one has to suffer and die for nothing ever again. But I cannot do so without your express support. Which is why I require an answer from you. And I require it with haste.”
Silence predictably followed after that. The two Counts carefully considered Edelgard’s proposal and their available options. Now and again, they would glance knowingly at one another.
As expected, Count Bergliez was the one who decided fastest.
“I’m in.” He declared with no doubts. “I very much want Ludwig to pay for what he forced us to do in his name. That alone is enough for me. As for your war… I guess whether you truly mean to wage it for everyone’s sake remains to be seen. But you know? When I look into your eyes… how haunted you look with everything… it’s hard for me to have any doubts. Alright. I’ll trust you. Would much rather trust you than Ludwig any day, anyways.”
Good. The easy part is done. Now, the hard part.
“Count Hevring? What about you?” Edelgard inquired. “Can I count on your support?”
Count Hevring met Edelgard’s lilac eyes with a calculating glare.
“Your Highness. In case you have not been made aware of such a fact… I am one of the nobles who worked alongside Ludwig, willingly or not, who desire the same as him: for the Kingdom and Alliance to disappear, so the Empire can become the sole nation of Fódlan once again. It is a dream I genuinely possess.” Count Hevring confessed. “However… despite our dreams aligning, our acceptable methods and very end goals certainly do not. Ludwig lied to us. He falsely convinced us the Insurrection would lead to everyone from the Noble Six, safe for House Hresvelg of course, acquiring equal power within the Empire. But when the fateful event happened, all the Empire’s power was uniformly concentrated onto House Aegir instead, which was not what he had promised us. Then, he had the gall to threaten Leopold and I the way he did if we did not comply with his ways… He humiliated us and our stations in a way I never thought possible from a fellow Noble Six…”
A pause.
“For those reasons, and because I still desire to see Fódlan united solely under the Empire’s banner… I suppose I have no option left but to accept your proposal. That being said, let me make something clear: you cannot and should NOT consider my trust placed onto you at all. You intend to use the same reckless methods as Ludwig, not to mention you seek to abolish the nobility. House Hevring is my whole life’s work. Your plans possibly destroying everything I’ve worked for for decades is not something I appreciate in the slightest.”
Hubert sent Count Hevring a very threatening glare in response, though he did not move from his spot per Edelgard’s orders. Their plans depended on Count Hevring’s definitive acceptance, after all.
“Thus, if you truly desire my full trust in the long run, you must prove yourself first. Starting with the war’s exact beginning point. That’ll be when?”
“In two years time.” Edelgard revealed. “In about a year from now, I am to head to Garreg Mach Monastery, the seat of the Central Branch of the Church of Seiros itself, and enroll in the Officers Academy for a year. During such time, I shall use my advantageous position to slowly weaken the Church in any way I can. If possible, I might even be granted the chance to assassinate the Prince of Faerghus and sole heir to the royal throne himself, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, for he will join the academy in the same year as myself. Once the school year nears its end, that is when I plan to depose both Duke Aegir and Lord Arundel, ascend the throne and officialize a declaration of war towards the Church of Seiros and all their allies.”
“I see. That is good, indeed. Leopold and I were once Black Eagles ourselves in that esteemed academy. The experience will certainly help shape you into a hopefully competent leader. Then I suppose I shall use such a chance myself to evaluate your progress in the academy from afar. Should the results satisfy me enough, you can consider my full loyalty sealed for good. Do not disappoint me, are we clear? I am already entrusting far too much of the future of the Empire to you as is.”
“Goddess, you never change, do you, Waldemar?” Count Bergliez openly mocked while rolling his eyes. “Once a nerd, always a nerd. No wonder you had no friends other than me back at the academy. Sometimes I wonder how I even became your friend in the first place.”
“I am merely being cautious, Leopold! A word you apparently know NOT what it means! After what Ludwig did to us, we know not who we can and SHOULD trust. Should we risk having the Empire fall into the wrong hands again, Adrestia will fall to ruin and the Church might even interfere and use their too vast influence to extinguish it altogether to increase their own power! Is such what you want?!”
“Obviously not! But think about it for a second, will you? Her Highness was experimented on like a mere rat! And she, too, defends the Church should not have as much power as they do! After all that, you STILL think she’s the same as Ludwig?! Get off your high horse, friend! Even you can’t possibly be THAT stuck up!”
“The future of House Hevring and the Empire ITSELF rest on the shoulders of a measly child! How am I in the wrong for desiring to study her better and determine if she truly has what it takes?! But I suppose I should expect no less ignorance from a mere juggernaut such as yourself, should I?”
“Heh, a juggernaut, huh? Jokes on you, that qualifies as a compliment to me! Also-”
“SILENCE!” Hubert interrupted the Counts furiously. The two Counts quieted down. “Lady Edelgard has better things to do than to entertain your pointless bickering! Let us resume our business AT ONCE!”
Edelgard wanted to shake her head in exasperation (for the situation itself and Count Bergliez comparing her to a RAT of all things, meaning so or not), but remained professionally still, instead.
At least she had confirmation now. The Counts were on her side. That is what truly matters.
With Houses Bergliez and Hevring once again sworn to House Hresvelg, the fight against Duke Aegir and Thales became very possible. For now, that was enough.
“Count Bergliez. Count Hevring. I sincerely thank you both for your vote of confidence. I will do everything in my power not to break it.” Edelgard showed her genuine appreciation. “Then I suppose we can consider this emergency meeting over. For now, all I ask is that you keep on pretending you’re loyal to Duke Aegir and Lord Arundel. You may also keep on openly working on the incoming war effort as you were doing before. Duke Aegir himself desires war, so he should suspect nothing amiss. In the meantime, Hubert and a few Vestras loyal to him will remain in contact with both of you, in case we require your services in any special way until my future coronation is at hand. Dismissed!”
Hubert warped himself and Edelgard out of the secret chamber. A Vestra appeared afterwards and did the same to the Counts.
***
More than a year went by. It is now the 27th of the Lone Moon, Imperial Year 1180. Tomorrow, Edelgard would (finally) leave Enbarr behind and set out to Garreg Mach to begin the most important (and final) phase of her pre-war campaign.
By now, it had been nearly a year since Jeritza left Hrym territory and was placed at the Officers Academy as the school’s weapons instructor, per Edelgard’s orders (and Thales’ string-pulling, under the guise of her uncle). Jeritza’s appliance also allowed Hubert to seize the chance and place a few Vestra spies within the Knights of Seiros and the town’s merchants while no one was looking. Through his network, Hubert and Edelgard were able to spend the last year researching and learning how the standard school year at the Officers Academy worked, as well as gaining knowledge of Garreg Mach Monastery’s structure and its staff. Such research was how they found out Thales had placed someone under his direct command in the monastery. A slither named Solon, who was disguised as the monastery’s librarian, Tomas.
Tomas, commonly known around Garreg Mach as “Tomas the Librarian”, was a former member of the Alliance’s House Ordelia and a member of the Church of Seiros’ staff who served as its librarian for over 40 years. Not much of his past mattered to Edelgard, other than the fact he “temporarily” retired from his post in Imperial Year 1168 and returned to his home. The date mattered, because he retired around a year after House Hrym’s attempted seceding from the Empire. It was during that exact period that Duke Aegir and Thales, without Father’s knowledge (who at the time was still the true authority of the Empire), planted both imperial soldiers loyal to the Prime Minister and slithers inside House Ordelia, under the pretext of retaliation for the aid it provided House Hrym beforehand. Edelgard suspected Tomas was killed not long after his return to Ordelia territory, and was promptly replaced by Solon. Now, Solon was using Tomas’ identity to freely move around and inside Garreg Mach Monastery, taking back the latter’s librarian post without any suspicion.
Edelgard, of course, already had been expecting Thales to place someone from his people inside the monastery, no doubt to keep tabs on both Archbishop Rhea… and Edelgard herself. He and Solon were fortunately unaware the future Emperor already knew Tomas’ true identity, a situation that would prove to be a great boon to her in the future.
As for the Officers Academy staff, something else which greatly interested her, she already had knowledge of the academy’s faculty composition… and how to use it to her advantage.
The two professors of the academy were imperials. One was Manuela Casagranda, a former songstress at the famous Mittelfrank Opera Company. The other was Hanneman von Essar, a former prominent noble from House Essar and known throughout Adrestia as its most famous Crestologist, who renounced his nobility and permanently moved to Garreg Mach Monastery, where he continued his Crest research. While Edelgard had no issues with Manuela, she could not help but distrust Hanneman already. For him to go so far as to renounce his imperial nobility and join the Church fulltime for the sake of his research, research about Crests on top of that… Edelgard had a feeling Hanneman would be a certain enemy in the future, in spite of his imperial blood.
There was once a third professor among the faculty, but an accident during one of their house’s class missions left them unable to teach any longer and they were forced to resign, with Jeritza taking over the house’s teaching position for the remainder of the school year. They have apparently hired a new person whose identity didn’t truly matter to Edelgard. They were a liability to her, all things considered.
While she was genuinely considering finding a way to eventually rid herself of Hanneman, concerned about his loyalties and the possibility of him finding out about Edelgard’s twin Crests and revealing such delicate information to Rhea, the priority at the moment was the newly hired professor. Edelgard’s current objective was to find a way to make that professor permanently vanish. Their disappearance would force Rhea to have Jeritza join the effective teacher faculty again, guaranteeing his new position as the Black Eagles’ teacher. For her plans to go as smoothly as possible whilst inside the monastery, having Jeritza as the Black Eagles’ professor would be key.
Speaking of Jeritza, by now Edelgard was more than aware of the true purpose of the “Death Knight Project”. It consisted of the creation of a special armor, similar to Edelgard’s own Flame Emperor armor, that Jeritza was to use whenever necessary. Other than the armor, he was also gifted a one-of-a-kind weapon, a scythe imbued with powerful dark magic, a weapon so strong it could kill most people with one single slice. Both the armor and the scythe were made using technology wholly unknown to Fódlan, technology similar to the machines which killed little El and her siblings. Technology only the slithers possessed and knew how to use.
Such technology was something Edelgard urgently needed to figure out as fast as possible. Hence why the remaining Vestras loyal to her and Hubert who would remain in the imperial capital would spend the final year before the war (and maybe even during the war itself) performing secret research on the slithers’ technological prowess and hopefully figure out a way to counter it by the time it came for Edelgard to ascend the imperial throne.
The pieces were slowly falling into place. But there was still much to be done and many obstacles to surpass. Not that it mattered how many. Edelgard shall surpass them all, for Fódlan’s future. That is the purpose of her creation.
The slithers so “kindly” gave her all this power 4 years ago… She will make sure to use it wisely.
“Lady Edelgard. I have returned from my meeting with my spies stationed at Garreg Mach.” Hubert emerged from the shadows, joining Edelgard’s side at the palace’s training grounds. For the last two to three years, Edelgard consistently performed a strict training regimen, desiring to get her body to the best shape possible in time for the war. Relying solely on her two Crests alone was a mistake, not to mention it went against everything she believed in.
“And? Has Monica been found yet?” She whispered.
Hubert’s expression darkened.
“No. And from what they have gathered, with the beginning of the next school year fast approaching, the Church is already considering giving up on the search. If I were to predict… I sincerely believe Monica is at risk of never being found, for reasons you should already be aware of.”
Heh. So… it is as Edelgard feared.
Monica and little El used to be the bestest friends (other than Hubie), Monica being the sole person outside of little El’s family circle who could call Edelgard… well, ‘El’. Despite how far Ochs territory was in relation to Enbarr, Monica’s visits were still fairly frequent, and little El LOVED hanging out with her (a lot of times, though, she had to hang out with Monica without Hubie around, as Monica and Hubie didn't get along that well and were quick to bicker). In a way, Monica served as a respite of sorts to little El. Being able to hang out with a girl who wasn’t any of her sisters was always a very nice change of pace.
Then, the Insurrection happened. Followed by her exile in the Kingdom. And finally, the dungeons.
Through all those years, little El lived and died, without ever seeing her beloved Monica again. It wasn’t until sometime after her transformation into the peerless weapon Edelgard that she acquired some modicum of communication back with the girl via letter.
It was as soon as Duke Aegir revealed the Hresvelgs’ false fate to the public that Edelgard received a letter from Monica (who took care to send it to Hubert directly so no one would intercept it). She, of course, being as remarkably perceptive as she was, was one of the few people who immediately pinpointed everything Duke Aegir had revealed was a lie, hence why she sent the letter. To see if her old friend would tell her the truth, and to see if Monica could help her in any way she could.
Unfortunately, she didn’t obtain the results she expected. Edelgard chose not to tell her anything, even went as far as to send a letter of her own telling Monica she was ending their friendship for good and for her to never return to the Imperial Palace if possible. She did this hoping with all her humanity (what remained of it) that Monica would understand the hidden message and listen to her. If she did, their newfound distance would keep her safe from the slithers. And to Edelgard, that was all that mattered.
The complete silence from her old friend in the subsequent 4 years made Edelgard believe the girl had understood the message. Which only made it more unfortunate that, in the long run, it made no difference.
A year ago, Edelgard was informed by Hubert that Monica had enrolled in the Officers Academy. Time went by, and by the time of the Graduation Ceremony, which had happened 6 days ago, she received news that Monica didn’t attend the ceremony, which was very out of character coming from the red-haired girl. As her whereabouts were apparently already unknown a few days prior, her lack of attendance at the Graduation Ceremony was what drove the Knights of Seiros to perform an investigation into where Monica could’ve gone. Now, nearly a week later, they hadn’t found her yet and were already thinking of ceasing the investigation and assuming the girl had simply run away.
Solon… It had to be him. He had to be the one responsible for Monica’s disappearance. Thales had to be aware of Edelgard and Monica’s old friendship and thus ordered Solon to kidnap her so the slithers could gain leverage over the Imperial Princess. If that was the case…
Edelgard had tried everything to keep Monica safe. But it was for naught. Now, she might be as good as dead, and Edelgard cannot do anything about it.
…so be it. If this is how fate chose to run its course…
Morbid as she may sound, perhaps this was for the best in the long run. Should Monica die, that would save her from having to involve herself in the war. Edelgard knew little El would’ve never wanted Monica to become a mere soldier destined to be discarded whenever convenient or whenever death decided it was her turn to go (it was already bad enough Hubert was in this deep, Hubie or not). Even if Monica chose to join her, El is dead regardless. As for the Peerless (future) Emperor Edelgard von Hresvelg, she is just a weapon to kill and conquer. A mere weapon cannot and does not have friends. Such is reality.
“Then if that’s the case… we, too, must abandon Monica.” Edelgard coldly decided. “We cannot possibly risk our future plans for the sake of one single person, old friend or not. We must keep forging our path ahead. That is all.”
“A wise decision, my lady. I could not agree more. Anything to keep the slithers out of our way.”
“Right. If you have nothing else to report, you’re dismissed. I have just finished my training session, either way. I should go prepare myself. Tomorrow is the day we leave for Garreg Mach, and we cannot afford to be late in any way.”
“As you say, Lady Edelgard.”
Hubert returned from whence he came. Edelgard left the training grounds to clean herself from the effort she had just placed her body through. The whole way, she only had one person in mind: Monica.
(Forgive me for this, Monica…) Edelgard thought to herself. (Fódlan needs me, and I cannot possibly sacrifice the entire world for your sake alone. All I can hope… is that you rest in peace, alongside El. I promise you. It will ALL be worth it. I swear it with all that I am…)
Yes… All of it, every sacrifice, shall be worth it. For the new dawn to come…
***
The day came and went. It is now early morning of the 28th of the Lone Moon.
It is finally time. Today is the day Edelgard and Hubert leave Enbarr behind for a whole year to join Garreg Mach Monastery’s Officers Academy.
If little El were still alive, she would’ve been RADIANT that this day had finally come. Joining the Officers Academy had always been one of El’s biggest dreams. But now… one could say it was an ironic shame it had to happen like this. She was not going to join the academy to have fun, after all. It was all so she could infiltrate the heart of the Church, as well as learn how to shape herself into the best possible Emperor from the academy. The kind of Emperor who could lead her troops with maximum efficiency and certainty, so no one would ever dream of opposing the might of the Adrestian Empire.
She already had a general idea of who most of her classmates would be. One was Petra, who was fortunately able to join the academy thanks to Hubert and Duke Gerth’s string pulling, something which came as a great relief to Edelgard. The thought of leaving Petra behind, completely unprotected from Duke Aegir’s merciless ire, made the Imperial Princess deeply worry over the Brigid Princess’ safety. Now, such a grim scenario won’t be an issue any longer.
Other than Hubert and Petra, Ferdinand would be there. Edelgard was sincerely NOT looking forward to seeing him again. The New Year Gala from 2 years ago was still far too fresh in her mind… To summarize it, she did not have a good time at all.
Count Hevring also recently informed her that Count Bergliez’s younger son and his own son were joining this year, the Counts having strategically decided to enroll them at the same time as Edelgard. A carefully planned situation which could prove useful in the future.
Other than the aforementioned classmates, there were also two more, though Edelgard didn’t know who they were yet. She supposed she would find out soon.
“Your Highness. Master Hubert.” A soldier addressed the pair meanwhile. “The imperial carriage is ready for departure. Please, follow me to the Imperial Palace’s Entrance Hall. The Brigid Princess is already there and waiting for you.”
Edelgard and Hubert shared a knowing look before looking back at the soldier.
“Thank you. We shall go immediately.” Edelgard replied.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The moment is at hand. Nothing and no one shall stop her.
The Goddess and Her Church… They will RUE the day they abandoned Fódlan and its people.
They will rue the day they allowed Edelgard von Hresvelg to be born.