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“Do you have any regrets?”
“I…” Edelgard’s mouth hung open as she tried to find the words to her feelings.
“There are… many things I wish went differently. I wish I saved Monica, I wish I could have rid myself of those who slither in the dark sooner, I wish…” Edelgard let out a wet laugh, “I wish I trusted the professor sooner. Oh, how many problems would have been avoided if I just trusted them sooner…”
“But even if given the chance, I don’t believe I’d change a thing.”
“Even after seeing this world?” Shez asked.
“No, there are many things in this world that I wish were true in mine but…” The former Emperor gave a small smile, “Those days at Garreg Mach are some of the moments I cherish most. I made friends with people I was sure would be enemies, and grew closer to the ones I already had. Friends who stood by me even during the war.”
“I even fell in love.” Edelgard’s eyes drifted to the ring on her finger, “I fear if I did go back, I’d lose something along the way. Just look how much you being here has changed things.”
Shez couldn’t help but stare at this Edelgard. The Edelgard who’s hair had begun to regain its pigment yet still looked impossibly older than her own. The Edelgard who had won the war that Shez and her friends were still struggling to end. The Edelgard who, despite everything, was at peace.
“Hearing you say all that, I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’d have been better for me to die in those woods…”
Shez turned to face Edelgard, trying to fight the frown forming on her face only to break when she saw her… her friend staring back at her with a pained expression.
“Don’t say that. As I said there are many things in this world I wish were so in mine.” Edelgard’s face hardened into one of determination, and for the first time in their conversation Shex felt like she was staring at an Emperor. “Neither of our worlds are perfect, but stewing in what ifs will get us nowhere. Besides I doubt your friends would trade you for my world. This is all just… a matter of perspective.”
And despite the feelings of uncertainty bouncing around in the back of her head Shez couldn’t help but smile, “Heh, thanks Edelgard. You’re almost as good as my Edelgard at pep talks.”
“Well I haven’t had to give one in awhile so perhaps I’m a bit out of practice.” Edelgard chuckled, “Now come, I believe we’ve been out long enough. We should get back to the base before Byleth starts to get jealous.”
“She really gets jealous?” Shez laughed, “Our Byleth has been with us for a while and I still have trouble reading them. I just thought they were serious 24/7.”
Edelgard smiled, her eyes crinkling with how wide it was, “Oh trust me she does. She gets this adorable little pout and is extra clingy.”
Shez couldn’t help but laugh at that. The idea of the terrifying and emotionless Ashen Demon being clingy was just too funny.
“Hey, Edelgard?”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to worry about getting home. We’ll find you two a way back, I promise.”
Edelgard just smiled back at her, “I don’t doubt you for even a moment.”