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The castle was abuzz with activity the next morning. As she dressed, Byleth listened as Cyril explained from the other room it was because the other princes were returning. King Xerxes liked to send his children out into the world on a variety of missions to ensure they were doing something with their privileged lives. Although servants thought it was secretly because he wanted peace in the palace and keeping his children out of the capital seemed the best way. The bandit hunting expedition she’d joined had been Khalid’s ‘task of the month’. Her former student added that the king had been pleased she went. While that wasn’t her intent, she was happy to hear it. There was a knock on her door and Cyril hurried to answer it.
“Miss Goneril, His Highness is here to escort you to breakfast.” Cyril bowed slightly as Byleth nodded and stood. Khalid offered her his arm and she accepted it calmly.
“Ready to meet my siblings?” Amusement glittered in his eyes, but she also saw the undercurrents of worry.
“Depends, are they anything like you?” She asked as they walked.
“Well, I like to think I’m unique-”
“Good, I can only take so much ‘you’. Anything else I can handle.” Pouting, he looked down at her.
“You wound me, Teach.”
“It’s good for you.” Ignoring what his pout did to her, she asked about what his half siblings were actually like. Grimacing, he shook his head.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Already Byleth spotted similarities and differences between the half siblings. Because their mothers were Almyran ladies, all of Khalid’s brothers were a shade or two darker than himself. Simultaneously, the group turned to watch her and Khalid’s arrival. The king’s genes were prominent. The boys shared their father’s strong jaw and sharp eyes- albeit with different coloring. Some were black, some brown. Her prince preferred to keep his hair on the shorter side, so Byleth wasn’t sure if it was as curly as some of the others.
Closer to them now, Byleth noticed they seemed to group themselves together by family. Thanks to Cyril’s hard work, she had some background on them. Farzad and Shahid were blood brothers, separated by 7 years. Both wore the same arrogant, disdainful expression when they saw Khalid coming towards them. Or perhaps that expression was directed towards Byleth. The two were vocal about their dislike for those from Fódlan. Shahid shared Khalid’s green eyes, but rather than pulling her in, Byleth found the look in them was enough to turn her stomach. Such hatred and he doesn’t even know me yet . At present, Farzad returned his attention to Shahid. He was standing over his younger brother with arms crossed and nose upturned while loudly proclaiming Shahid’s performance that month was lacking.
Hassan and Arash were twins. From the back, Byleth hadn’t been able to notice any differences between them. From the front, however, there was stark contrast. Hassan’s expression barely changed at their approach. The boy merely raised an eyebrow, his dark black eyes were cold. Arash’s face was bright and his brown eyes warm. Bowing slightly, he held his hand out for Byleth.
“You must be Miss Goneril. I apologize for your unfortunate situation,” he spoke as he kissed the back of her hand gently. Alarm bells went off in Byleth’s mind and she barely managed to restrain herself from stiffening, although her fingers on Khalid’s arm shifted. “Being married to this oaf is not a fate I would wish on anyone.”
“We get along well enough,” Byleth responded evenly. Arash nodded simply and returned his attention to the doors of the dining room.
She suspected because Mirza and Behrouz were the only two without any other siblings, they stood near each other. Although not enough to indicate a close relationship. Mirza’s full beard matched the king’s, as did his height. The deep lines on his face said he frowned a lot, as he was doing now. Although, unlike Farzad and Shahid, Byleth believed the frown to be more so a result of her and Khalid’s tardiness than any prejudice against Fódlan. She’d suspected he was dreading the meal and hadn’t said anything when he walked slower than usual. Still, the eldest prince didn’t mention it.
Behrouz offered her a weak smile, nudging his glasses back into place. The thick frames made his eyes look smaller. Or maybe it was the squint. Cyril informed her that Behrouz was a scholar and the most likely to be a friend to her, if only to satisfy his own curiosities. The man’s face was covered in patches of stubble. Probably reads while he’s shaving . She didn’t recognize the language of the title of the book tucked under the prince’s arm.
After arranging themselves in order of age, servants bowed as they opened the doors. The princes and Byleth filed inside. Xerxes sat at the head of the table with Tiana at his side. Ever since he took the throne and named Tiana queen, the mothers of the other princes weren’t allowed within the palace. Like the wives of Mirza and Farzad, the ladies remained on their respective family’s private estate Almyra. Byleth was unsure of what that would mean for herself and Khalid considering the prince had not been named the heir, yet he resided in the palace.
The king greeted his sons before beginning breakfast. Servants placed food on the table and Byleth subtly checked it for any foreign substances with her magic. As they ate, the princes gave their reports to their father. Mirza had successfully headed an envoy to the capital of Rhedina. The results were satisfactory; the country would sign the treaty. Byleth knew what kind of accomplishment that was. The one between Almyra and Fódlan was a ceasefire- arguably easier to broker- and that alone could take months to hash out. Her arrival in Almyra had been a requirement just to start the talk. Juggling travel, a country’s personal struggles, the constant back and forth required between monarchies and other factors, the treaty was likely years in the making. The prince was rewarded with a nod from the king. Taking note of how Mirza sat up straighter, it was clear Xerxes was not generous with his approval.
Farzad had been sent to clear out a smuggler’s camp. Apparently, it was one that had been plaguing the country for a while now. The group stopped at nothing; stealing valuables, poaching, and even kidnapping people. While the man hadn’t been able to capture the entire group, he did rob them of one of their main bases and rescued many women and children from being trafficked. Shahid hit another branch of the same group and had similar results. Probably too prejudiced to be trusted to deal with foreign affairs.
Behrouz spent his time in one of Almyra’s southern neighbors, Morfis, as a student. During his free time, he tutored and learned what he could about the country from various people- noble and commoners alike. Hassan and Arash had been sent to Mineaster in search of wives. Looks like the king is trying to improve relations all around. Given its warrior culture and love of battle, Almyra tended to be the country of ‘fists first’ and cooperation with other countries was pretty much nonexistent.
Still, Byleth had to admit the Almyran way was effective. There was never an heir apparent for the throne. As a result, all of the princes took any mission set to them by their father as a way to prove themselves worthy. And since Xerxes hadn’t sired any more children since Khalid was born, that meant all of the competition was seated at the dining table today. The battle for the crown was a silent, almost invisible one. The king’s say was not always the end all. A prince needed to acquire noble support on his own. It was closer to a back-and-forth. Xerxes' favor would give a prince an edge, but if he couldn’t sway the nobility he had no hope of being king. And as the princes succeeded- or failed- their missions, it opened doors for them to make more connections. Those connections would, in turn, influence the king’s decision.
Khalid’s task was unimpressive to the others. For them, bandit hunting was practically a hobby. Despite their taunting and smug smiles, he reported proudly. Byleth couldn’t help but smile at that. He also made sure to mention her part in all of it. Xerxes scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“Well done.” Surprised by the sudden praise, Byleth glanced down at her food, feeling oddly shy. By the time all was said, breakfast was done. As usual, she and Khalid took their daily walk in the gardens.
“So, what did you think?” The prince asked once he was certain the fountains would muffle their voices.
“Definitely not like you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes. Very much so.” Glancing up, Byleth noticed Khalid’s ears were red. His lighter skin tone made it easier to see. “What’s wrong?”
“I just…” He shook his head. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so direct.” Despite the small smile that touched his lips, Byleth knew he was worried. Stopping, her hand still resting on his arm halted his motion as well and he gave her a quizzical look.
“What’s wrong?” As he blinked in surprise, she stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest. As she suspected, his heartbeat was irregular. And she doubted it was because of one little comment from her. “Do they worry you so much? Your siblings.” It didn’t feel right to call them his family. His eyes avoided hers as he hesitated. “Don’t lie to me. You’re a terrible liar, Khalid.”
“I guess there’s no point,” his shoulders slumped as he sighed. “You heard Hassan and Arash, correct? That they were sent to a neighboring country in search of brides.” She nodded. “Mirza and Farzad are married, with children. Behrouz is unwed, but he’s not interested in the throne. All of us know that . And Leila- that’s Farzad and Shahid’s mother- has been looking for a wife for Shahid as well. Marriage is essentially an alliance. Our father’s missions have become more frequent and they’ve been sending us farther. All of this shows he’s preparing to select an heir.” As Byleth listened to him ramble, he suddenly paused and the blush on his face deepened. “Sorry. You probably already know all of this.” Her smile encouraged him to continue. “It’s just… this means that you’ll become a target.”
“Was I not already?” She raised an eyebrow. Khalid scratched the back of his neck.
“Well, yes. And no. You were because of your Fódlan heritage. But now, especially since we have yet to marry, one of my unwed brothers might try something. They might attempt to ruin our ceasefire with Fódlan or they could try to steal you or something else nasty. And well, I don’t think you really signed up for that.”
“You think one of your brothers could steal me?”
“No.”
“Well, aren't you confident?” Even before she finished, Khalid seemed to realize what he’d said and his embarrassment only grew. Byleth found it rather cute. It was so rare to see him vulnerable and genuine.
“I mean- I just- That wasn’t to say-” She patted his arm gently as he hid his face in his hands.
“It’s alright. I get it.” Seeming to think of something, his arms fell to his side and there was a serious look on his face.
“You didn’t like Arash.” Ah . Of course her reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. When she didn’t deny it, he pressed further. “Why?”
“Instinct. And I’ve learned to trust my instincts.” Byleth replied softly. While her response seemed to unlock his curiosity, he ignored it in favor of staying on topic.
“Well, I’m glad. He and Hassan are.. they’re pieces of work.” They continued walking. “Hassan can be charming when he wants to be. He’s got that whole ‘broody prince’ act down pat. And Arash.. well, you saw how he is. But he’s worse than Hassan when it comes to their dark sides. I haven’t been able to prove anything, but I’m pretty sure they’re responsible for some real bad things that have happened in the palace before.” The expression on Khalid’s face darkened briefly and she wondered just what sort of plots the twins hatched. “In terms of danger, they’re definitely top of the list. Farzad and Shahid are loud and obnoxious, but that’s about it. Farzad is a little quicker on the uptake, but both of them tend to meet issues with brute force. Mirza is alright as far as my brothers go, but he’s pretty bitter about the fact that he hasn't been named heir. Even though this has been Almyran tradition for generations, he feels like he’s entitled to the throne. If he is crowned, I have no doubt he’ll try to change the style of succession.”
As he talked, Byleth wondered what sort of life he’d had growing up. Tiana von Riegan wouldn’t have had any connections to Almyran nobility and she certainly couldn’t call upon her Fódlan friends. Mothers were generally the ones to select wives for their sons. Was he chosen for the ceasefire because Tiana had been unable to find another willing family? Perhaps that was part of it.. A sudden image of a very young Khalid popped into her mind then. The prince’s child eyes were wide and he was tugging on the hem of his shirt as a youth might when nervous. Peeking out from under long bangs, looking around for a friend and finding no one.
“Khalid,” overcome with an emotion she couldn’t quite understand, Byleth spoke. He stopped rambling and glanced down at her.
“Hm?” Reaching out, she took hold of his hands and brought them to her lips. They were warm and calloused and already they felt so right in her grip, as if they were meant to be there. It reminded her of the custom sword her father had given her one year.
“You are not alone.” She murmured and something flashed in his green eyes. She watched as his mouth opened and closed a few times. Before he could say anything, though, a servant coughed slightly. Turning to the man, the servant bowed deeply.
“Your Highness, the council is meeting soon.”
“I’ll be there in a moment.” Finding his voice, Khalid dismissed him. Bowing again, he scurried away. “Byleth…”
“Go,” releasing his hands, she shook her head. “You can’t afford to be late.” The specifications of the ceasefire were being discussed and, since the prince was the one whose marriage would solidify it, he was permitted to take part.
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” he informed her firmly and grabbed her hand to give it a squeeze. Smiling slightly, she waved for him to leave.
Byleth spent the afternoon in the library. Most of the books were about wars or various martial arts styles. Heroes and myths. Despite looking, she’d yet to find anything similar to the Heroes' Relics of Fódlan anywhere else. Of course, the ancient weapons were often attributed with Fódlan’s victories against Almyra. The sound of the door opening and closing interrupted her reading. Glancing up, the figure of Prince Arash came around the bookshelf. Upon spotting her, he smiled slightly.
“Miss Goneril, it would seem the rumors were correct in that you spend your free time here.” Byleth rose to meet him. As he walked towards her, she didn’t fail to notice his steps barely made a sound on the hardwood floor. He’s well trained .
“Were you looking for me, Highness?”
“Indeed. It’s a shame,” with a well practiced, sweeping bow he took her hand and dropped a kiss to the back of it, “your beauty is wasted on my brother.” Byleth raised an eyebrow at the prince’s words.
“What is your implication, Highness?”
“Please, call me Arash. You address my brother by his name, do you not?”
“Your brother is to be my husband.” He acknowledged the point with a nod of his head. “Not to be rude, but what brings you to me today?” The less Byleth had to interact with this phony, the better. His lips quirked.
“Does my presence displease you? I was just wondering how you were liking Almyra. If I understand correctly, you haven’t had the chance to see much of it. The servants say the only thing he’s shown you is the gardens. And taking you out bandit hunting ? How dull for a lady such as yourself.”
“I’m not sure what I did to garner such interest from you, Highness, but I assure you my stay has been perfectly fine. If you fear your youngest brother has been ungracious, rest assured; Khalid has been an excellent guide.” The man blinked slowly, but seemed to take the hint. She supposed he wasn’t used to rejection, but she had no time to entertain him. If he thought he could flatter her and turn her against her intended, he was very wrong. Recovering, he offered her a smile and bowed slightly.
“I apologize. I hadn’t meant to offend. I only wish to show a woman from Fódlan all the best of what Almyra has to offer. If you ever change your mind, know that I’m here.” With a wave, he left. At the sound of the door closing once more, Byleth heaved a sigh and sank back into her chair.
“My, that was rather forward of him.” A voice spoke in her head then.
“What brings you out, Sothis?” The goddess had gone quiet ever since Byleth agreed to take Hilda’s place. The woman’s displeasure, it seemed, had not decreased in the slightest.
“You were so callous. Do you truly think it was such a good idea to rebuff a prince’s friendship? Even if it were fake from both sides, you were too direct.” Byleth scoffed.
“You gave me the cold shoulder for weeks and now have the gall to come back to criticize my choices?” The goddess had no answer. “Well, regardless of whatever was more advantageous, I refuse to pretend to like someone so two-faced.”
“Really? You barely know the man and yet you call him as such? Weren’t you the one who was irate at being judged by the two princes upon your arrival?”
“Prejudice is one thing. Instinct is another.” Byleth had trusted her instincts long before Sothis came into her life. And she would continue to do so, even if the woman did not agree. At that, the goddess only sighed.
“I hope you do not regret this. A snake like that would’ve been easier to watch from the same side.”
“Easy is not always the best option.” Byleth didn’t receive a response and Sothis’ presence faded. Flipping open the book she’d set down, she returned to reading.