Chapter Text
With one final brush stroke the piece was done. Edelgard set yet another canvas aside, she wouldn’t let herself forget even one detail of the professor’s face.
Explaining to Hubert why she needed so many canvases would have been hard, but he never asked. Edelgard appreciated him deeply for that.
She felt like a red rose seeking the sun.
Covered in thorns. Stained by blood.
Cold.
She felt a knock on the door and rushed to stow the canvas in her closet. She composed herself and opened the door.
“May I come in?” Lysithea asked. Edelgard had yet to get used to the fact the younger girl had gotten taller than her.
“Oh, I was expecting Hubert” Edelgard said “Sure, come in. I can send Hubert to fetch us some tea if you’d like” Edelgard felt bad about burdening her best friend with menial tasks, but the last time she’d dared go to the dining hall and brew herself a cup he’d lectured her about how unsafe the kitchen was and how he was always glad to help. Edelgard appreciated this aspect of her best friend a lot less than his aversion to prying.
Lysithea walked into the room “It’s alright, no need for tea I’ll be brief” she said as she sat down on the bed. Over the years Lysithea had grown much more comfortable around Edelgard, the Emperor appreciated her dearly. Edelgard sat down at her desk and turned towards Lysithea.
“As you wish. By all means go ahead” As comfortable as Lysithea had grown around Edelgard she still always waited for her turn to speak, no doubt thanks to Duke Ordelia’s upbringing. Edelgard had faint memories of the man and his wife, they were always very prim and proper and that reflected in their daughter.
“I heard you speak to the professor.” Lysithea started, Edelgard’s eyes briefly widened upon hearing her refer to Byleth. The Eagles had, probably, agreed not to mention her in Edelgard’s presence. Be it out of respect or fear of an outburst. Edelgard felt deeply remorseful that her friends had come to fear her, but she couldn’t deny she grew quite irrational when talk of the woman came into play. “Five years ago, I mean. I was on my way to the library and heard you guys in the Captain’s quarters. Sorry for eavesdropping.”
Edelgard took a second to try and remember the occasion but Lysithea cut her off
“After Captain Jeralt died I heard you talk to professor Byleth about grief. Your words spoke to me, as much as it was out of line of me to hear them. If you wish to punish me for that I only ask that you wait until I’m done” her eyes showed no fear or jest, Lysithea was truly offering herself for punishment for something as minor as overhearing a conversation.
“Lysithea, you know I care about you. I wouldn’t punish anyone for something as small as that, let alone punish one of my closest allies.” Lysithea showed her a small smile.
“You can say best friends, Edelgard” the words made Edelgard blush, being able to call someone other than Hubert a friend was new to her. New, but not unwelcome.
Edelgard cleared her throat “As you were saying?” She hoped the younger girl would catch onto her silent plea to go back to less embarrassing topics.
“I just came here to parrot your own words, I’m afraid I’m not as skilled as you are with them.” It finally clicked in Edelgard’s mind.
“You want me to stop… grieving for the professor” she tried not to sound strained but she could hear some of the warmth leave her own voice. In that moment she couldn’t blame the other eagles for not wanting to mention the professor in her presence.
“Yes, that’s what I came here to tell you. But I’m not going to tell you to accept that she’s gone.” Edelgard’s gaze grew puzzled, Lysithea continued.
“You need to believe in the professor, you need to trust her. She said she wouldn’t leave you and I believe her, she’ll come back to us. I just know she will.” Lyisithea’s voice sounded slightly choked up, as if she was holding back her own tears for the professor. Edelgard realized she’d been extremely selfish ever since the professor had left them, focusing on her own grief and discarding the others’.
“And when she comes back, I want to be able to greet her with a smile. I want to be able to tell her ‘Took you long enough to come back! The war’s almost won already!’ because I’m too awkward to bring myself to welcome her back sincerely.” Edelgard smiled at Lysithea’s self-awareness.
“What I’m saying is… Don’t let the professor come back to find a scared young girl, show her the might of Emperor Edelgard. I know you’re more than capable of it.” Lysithea had moved to the edge of the bed while giving her speech.
“That’s all I wanted to say, sorry for taking up your time” she got up and headed towards the door. As she was about to leave the room Edelgard stopped her
“Lysithea” she said “Wait for me in the dining hall, I’ll get us something sweet” Lysithea’s face lit up
“As you wish, my Emperor.” She smiled at Edelgard
“Just Edelgard is fine” she found herself saying once more.
“Very well, Edelgard. Don’t be late.” And with that she was off.
Edelgard opened her closet and stroked the canvas gently
“I’m sorry” she whispered “I’ll be stronger from now on, I promise.”
Her flame had been reignited, the Hegemon could spread her wings once more.
But first she’d need to find some sweets.