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Byleth's eyes scanned the crowds of guests filing into the banquet hall, a peculiar mix of knights and generals with nobles and commoners seated together at long dining tables placed around the room. Along the far wall, the banners of Faerghus, Leicester, and Adrestia hung side by side, marking the opening of the celebrations of the peace treaty. She caught a glimpse of Ferdinand conversing animatedly with Lorenz while Felix scowled at both of them and Ignatz nodded along politely. At another table Shez was gesturing wildly as she recounted some tale of adventure to a rapt audience that included Ashe, Mercedes, and Leonie. Derdriu had been chosen as the location for the celebration of the peace treaty largely because Dimitri refused to come to Enbarr and equally refused to have Edelgard in Fhirdiad. Tensions were, to say the least, still high.
Her eyes came to rest on the central table, where beneath the watchful double-headed eagle of Adrestia, Edelgard was already seated next to Claude. She was resplendent in scarlet and gold, a flame blazing in the centre of everything. Her hair was bound up in a tight knot instead of its usual silver wave, and her dress's high collar hid the delicate skin of her throat that Byleth's lips had so carefully explored the night before they'd left Enbarr.
This is hardly the time to recall your amorous exploits, Sothis chided her. And while Byleth acknowledged that was true, it was difficult not to let her mind drift in that direction when Edelgard was so radiant and Sitri's ring was like a burning brand in Byleth's pocket.
Sothis huffed. The sooner you hand her that ring the sooner we'll have some peace. You've thought of nothing else since your father gave it to you.
Byleth's hand darted to her pocket to feel the cool band of metal. I'm just eager to share this with her.
There was no more time to debate the issue though as Byleth had arrived at the front of the line of guests and one of the attendants was leading her to her assigned seat. Judging by the careful groupings at each table she was certain a great deal of planning had gone into the seating of guests. That was why she was more than a little confused when the attendant led her to the central table and slowly walked along its length. The further they walked, the more certain she was there had been a mistake. When the attendant finally stopped and pulled out the empty chair next to Edelgard, Byleth could do nothing but shrug as Edelgard peered at her with an arched eyebrow.
Byleth leaned closer to the attendant. "I think there's been a mistake?"
"No mistake." Claude's voice blared over the swell of chatter. His broad grin made Byleth's hackles rise. "I wanted a chance to talk to Commander Eisner. And," he added, flashing a smile at Edelgard, "I didn't think you'd mind sitting with your girlfriend. Or does she have an official title now? 'Imperial Mistress' maybe?"
Edelgard's face flushed up to her ears but she managed to keep her expression impressively neutral as she replied, "No, Claude, Byleth does not have a title and I'll thank you to leave my private matters out of this."
"Where's the fun in that?" he said with a wink. And then, as his gaze moved to a commotion across the room, "And we're going to need some fun. Dimitri's just arrived."
Chatter stilled as a brief fanfare announced the arrival of the King of Faerghus. As it faded, the room was filled with the click-click-click of Dimitri's silver cane as it tapped against the marble floor with each slow step. He cast a dour look at Shez as he passed her, obviously displeased about the still-healing wound she'd left him in his right leg. Dedue followed close at his elbow and was ushered to the seat next to him when they finally reached the central table.
"Welcome," Claude said raising a goblet. "Take a seat and enjoy all the hospitality Derdriu has to offer."
Dimitri eased himself down into his seat next to Claude. "Thank you, Claude, though I’m afraid good cheer is in short supply in Faerghus at present with winter closing in on us."
"Supplies are already on the way," Claude replied breezily and downed the remains of his goblet.
Edelgard said nothing, but beneath the table her hand reached for Byleth's and intertwined their fingers. Without so much as batting an eye, Byleth kept her attention on Claude, and squeezed Edelgard's hand.
#
Hours later, when the feast had run its course, and most of the guests had trickled out of the grand hall (or staggered out in some cases), Byleth finally made her way through the palace corridors to the guest wing. She passed the door to her own room and continued until she reached one flanked by a pair of familiar guards. "Good evening, Commander Eisner," they greeted her in unison.
"Good evening," she replied. "Everything quiet?"
The first guard—a young woman by the name of Jenica—gave Byleth a rueful smile. "Aside from a few guests who enjoyed the feast so much they couldn't figure out which room was theirs."
"And," added the second guard, a fellow named Bren, "the one who tried to take a nap in the middle of the corridor."
Byleth chuckled. "The proceedings were certainly lively."
"Her Majesty hasn't returned yet."
Byleth nodded. "She's still talking to Claude. She should be back shortly though."
The guards nodded and wished Byleth a good night as she entered Edelgard's rooms and settled herself in the little parlour with a book on cavalry tactics. While Byleth could often excuse herself early from official functions, as emperor, Edelgard always had to stay late. Waiting in Edelgard's quarters for her return was sometimes the only way for Byleth to see her over the course of a day.
When, some time later, the door finally swung open, Byleth's pulse skittered and her hand flew to the pocket where she'd placed the ring.
The moment Edelgard stepped into the room and saw Byleth, her shoulders relaxed and her expression softened, a tiny smile making its way onto her face. "Byleth."
Byleth set down her book and rose to meet her. "El," she said softly, hands cupping Edelgard's face as she leaned in to kiss her. A hint of spiced wine lingered on Edelgard's lips and her gloved hands tangled themselves in Byleth's hair, tugging her closer. After hours spent keeping a respectful distance and attempting to remain professional in spite of Claude's constant needling, it was a relief to finally shed their armour.
When Edelgard drew back, her hands lingered, fingers trailing down Byleth's cheeks. "I'm sorry about Claude."
Byleth shook her head. "I wasn't bothered but he does try very hard to put you off-balance, doesn't he?"
"He's fond of having the upper hand, even in informal settings," Edelgard said with a huff.
Byleth raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Edelgard crossed her arms. "It's true that I do prefer to have the upper hand as well but I don't do so by prying into Claude's personal affairs."
For a moment Byleth appeared to consider this seriously, stroking her chin as if deep in thought. "I don't think he'd be quite as flustered if you brought up his personal affairs."
Edelgard's fingers trailed briefly along Byleth's arm before she moved past her to sink down onto the divan. "No, he'd surely make light of it. I sometimes doubt he's even capable of sincerity. Anyone he chooses to court will no doubt be in need of a stout heart."
Smiling, Byleth moved aside her tactics book and seated herself next to Edelgard. "Perhaps he lets down his guard in private. Some people are known to do that."
Edelgard cast her a sideways glance. "Perhaps."
Once more, Byleth's hand drifted to her pocket. If she'd had a heartbeat she was sure it would have been thundering—her pulse, certainly, was doing a jig. She took a deep breath and let it out before she spoke. "I know it's late but there's something important I wanted to speak to you about."
"Oh?"
"I—"
A sharp rap on the door was followed by "Your Majesty?"
Squeezing Byleth's hand, Edelgard gave her an apologetic glance before she rose and answered the door. "Yes Hubert?"
His eyes darted for a moment to Byleth before he bowed. "My apologies, Lady Edelgard, but there's been an… incident. I'm afraid you're needed immediately."
She gave a sharp nod. "I'll be there in just a moment. Excuse me." She shut the door and turned to glance back at Byleth.
Byleth offered a wry smile; late night summons were, after all, not unusual for the emperor. "It can wait."
"Please don't stay up. I'm afraid this may take some time."
And then she was gone and Byleth was left alone with her tactics book and the ring still safely nestled in her pocket.
#
Moving through the familiar flow of sword forms always helped Byleth clear her mind. Whether in a mercenary camp, Enbarr's sprawling training grounds, or here in Derdriu, the rhythm of her blade slicing the air was always the same. In truth, before Sothis had awakened within her, her mind had rarely been troubled. These days it was another matter entirely and she was glad to have a means of stilling her turbulent thoughts.
Byleth felt at least somewhat calm when Jeralt's voice boomed through the training room. "Hey, kid, so how'd it go? Did she like the ring?" He looked so eager, almost bounding towards her and she had the sudden thought that that must have been how he'd looked when he'd been offering the ring to her mother.
"She got called away on an urgent matter before I could show it to her." A pang of disappointment trickled through her even as she sheathed her sword and turned to face her father.
He chuckled and clapped her on the shoulder. "Well I suppose that's what you get for courting an emperor."
"I suppose so," Byleth said with a shrug. "Though it's not as if I planned to. It just… happened."
This earned a bark of laughter. "That's how it is. Love has a way of turning all your plans on their head."
When her father had given her the ring and revealed to her that it was the same ring he'd given her mother she'd been hesitant to take it. If nothing else she'd had to admit that she didn't know if she could marry Edelgard given the difference in their status and the precariousness of Edelgard's political position as she pushed through her reforms of the crest system. But Jeralt had shaken his head and said, "I've seen you two together. She may be the emperor but she still looks at you like you hung the moon. So even if you can't make it official, at least she'll know how you feel."
So she'd taken the ring and it had been hidden in her pocket ever since.
"I know she'll have a few minutes after lunch," Byleth told him. "I'm hoping to catch her then." In Enbarr, Edelgard usually took lunch privately in her study or had something brought to the council room when there were ongoing meetings. But during the peace celebrations all her meals would be in the dining hall with Claude, Dimitri, and a host of other political actors hoping to use the event to further their own aims. Byleth supposed she should wait until they'd returned to Enbarr when at least Edelgard's schedule was more regular but that wouldn't be for several weeks. And now that she had the ring, she desperately wanted to offer it to her.
Just as she'd hoped, she managed to intercept Edelgard's party coming out of the dining hall. As was often the case, Edelgard was flanked by Hubert and Monica. Byleth noted that Hubert's expression grew more dour than usual as he spotted her, but it was only a passing thought as Edelgard's gaze met hers and for a moment the whole world melted into the warmth of those violet eyes. She opened her mouth to ask if Edelgard had a few moments to spare for her but before she could get out a single syllable she heard Monica exclaim, "Oh Commander Eisner, I've been hoping to speak to you."
Byleth froze. Edelgard arched her eyebrows and, reluctantly, Byleth tore her attention away from her and turned to Monica, hoping her expression was politely neutral and didn't show the disappointment that crackled through her as her hand darted to the pocket that contained the ring. "What can I do for you?"
Monica all but dragged her along as she commandeered a small sitting room and had the staff being tea. It wasn't until they were seated across from each other, each cradling steaming teacups, that Byleth finally asked, "So what is it you wanted to speak with me about?"
Clutching her cup like an overboard sailor might a lifeline, Monica squared her shoulders and looked Byleth in the eye. "I've been considering quite seriously the matter of whether you should marry."
Byleth blinked, sipped her tea, and set down her cup. "In general? Or to someone specific?"
Monica bristled. "I mean Her Majesty of course! Who else could you possibly wish to marry when Her Majesty stands before you?"
"You didn't say this was about what I wished to do but what I should do."
"Oh of course," Monica said, flushing. "You're quite right. And it's to answer that very question that I've assembled a list."
Byleth quirked an eyebrow. "Of?"
Monica drew a paper from pocket and unfolded it. "Yeas and nays."
" Yeas and nays?" Byleth repeated as she raised her cup to her lips.
"Yes, the advantages and disadvantages. To… formalizing your union." Monica dropped her eyes and stared at the paper as if a great secret might have been scrawled in its margins.
"With Edelgard."
"Yes," Monica croaked. "With Her Majesty."
She does not sound as if she's reconciled herself to this course of action, Sothis noted.
I think I still fall somewhat short of her standards of decorum where Edelgard is concerned.
Sothis huffed. I believe her idea of decorum would involve you and your emperor never being in the same room at one time.
Very likely.
Byleth set down her teacup and did her best to look attentive. "So what are nays?"
Straightening her shoulders, Monica nodded and proceeded to read off the list. "One: You are completely unworthy of her Majesty."
Byleth nodded. "That would apply to any suitor of hers wouldn't it?"
"Naturally. There is no one who can truly equal Her Majesty, which is why we must consider your other merits and faults." Monica looked quite pleased that Byleth understood that much at least. "Two: You have an exceedingly poor grasp of the etiquette required when in Her Majesty's presence." She glanced up as if expecting Byleth to protest, but she only sipped her tea. "Three: Your prodigious appetite is cause for embarrassment at imperial functions."
That caught Byleth off guard and she tilted her head. "Really?"
"Yes! You eat like a ravenous beast. And how is it you can consume an entire roast in one sitting and still look like—" she waved her hand vaguely in Byleth's direction "—that?"
Byleth shrugged. "I do train a good deal every day."
Monica snorted. "Four: Your inexperience with political matters may be a liability to Her Majesty."
Unease prickled Byleth's skin. Monica had named one of her own concerns. She was an expert in all things on the battlefield, but the political arena of Enbarr's court was another matter entirely. There, a killing blow could come from mere words with nary a blade in sight. It sat ill with Byleth that some small action of hers could put at risk everything Edelgard had worked towards. "What about the yeas?" she asked.
"Very well," Monica said and turned over the sheet of paper. "One: Your particular skillset would allow you to protect Her Majesty in situations when even her personal guard isn't present."
Byleth gave a little nod and Monica continued.
"Two: Your lack of noble standing means you have no ulterior political motives—the desire for reduced land taxation or other similar benefits."
If Shez were here, she would surely make a quip about the other benefits Byleth was receiving. While Byleth generally did appreciate having Shez around to smooth over awkward social situations, she was rather glad in this one instance that she was absent.
"Three: Marrying someone of such humble origins as a common mercenary who served in her army during the war would do a great deal to exemplify the principles Her Majesty wishes to build upon."
Byleth's brow furrowed as she considered the matter. She had never once considered that her relationship with Edelgard could be politically beneficial; she'd always rather assumed the opposite. "You're proposing it as a political alliance then. But aren't there others who would suit the role better than me?"
"That's true," Monica said slowly, "but that brings me to my final points."
"Oh?"
"Four: You have similar temperaments. And five…" Monica kept her eyes firmly fixed on the paper as she finished, her voice growing quiet. "You seem to make Her Majesty very happy."
#
Byleth caught up to Edelgard as she was leaving her quarters for dinner and they fell into step together as they made their way towards the dining hall. They were always careful to avoid shows of affection in public, but even so Byleth couldn't help but notice that Edelgard walked closer to her than anyone else, close enough that their arms brushed and their hands almost touched.
"I hope Monica wasn't too hard on you," Edelgard said, glancing at Byleth with raised eyebrows.
Byleth shook her head. "It was fine. She really does have your best interests at heart."
Edelgard sighed. "I realize that, but I'm perfectly capable of looking after my own affairs."
"I wouldn't call it an affair," Byleth said, stroking her chin as if deep in thought.
Colour rose in Edelgard's cheeks. "That is not what I meant." And then casting Byleth a sideways glance and noting the slight curl of her lips. "As you well know."
"I suppose I should be more serious or I might damage my reputation as the Ashen Demon."
That elicited a derisive snort. "That's unlikely if anyone has actually seen you on the battlefield." They turned a corner and rather than continue toward the dinner hall with the other guests Edelgard stepped into an empty meeting room, its long table and chairs familiar to them both from the weeks of fraught negotiations between the Fódlan leaders. Edelgard reached out and clasped Byleth's hands in hers. She wore gloves, as she always did in public, and Byleth wished she could feel the warmth of her skin like when they were alone. "There was something you wanted to speak to me about, wasn't there?"
"There was—or is rather." The ring was still waiting in her pocket. She squeezed Edelgard's fingers. "I wanted to—"
"Oh there you two are." They stepped away from each other even as they turned to face Shez who stood in the doorway grinning at them. "Sorry to interrupt," she said gleefully.
Byleth tilted her head. "You don't sound sorry."
Edelgard sighed and massaged her temples. "Was there something you needed?"
"Yup." She strode over and snagged Byleth's sleeve. Byleth cast her a doubtful glance. "Sorry, Edelgard, but I need to borrow your girlfriend for that mission we were talking about. I promise to have her back by tomorrow."
A frown crinkled Edelgard's brow. "I thought you intended to bring Balthus since he knows Derdriu?"
Shez shrugged. "I was but some of his creditors showed up and now he can't leave the grounds. So Byleth is my next best bet. You've been to Derdriu before, haven't you?"
"I have," Byleth said evenly, "though I wouldn't say my knowledge of the city is especially detailed."
"I'm sure between the two of us we'll be able to figure out where we need to go, right?"
Byleth glanced between Shez and Edelgard. "What's this about?"
Shez was gripping her wrist now and gave her a tug as if to drag her along. "We need to get going. I'll fill you in on the way." And then, casting a look in Edelgard's direction. "Sorry, Edelgard."
"Go," Edelgard said with a sigh. "I'll give your regrets to Claude."
#
Byleth leaned back against the outside of a dingy building in a narrow laneway next to Shez. Her instructions had been "act casual," though Byleth was still trying to understand just what that meant. The door at the end of the lane was the one they were meant to be keeping an eye on. It was the building's only exit unless their quarry wanted to march through the brothel at the front and she doubted the upstanding lords in question would be willing to risk their reputations any more than strictly necessary.
"I guess we should give them a while to make sure they incriminate themselves properly," Shez said, foot tapping the ground. Shez always seemed to be bursting with restless energy. It was foreign to Byleth for whom stillness had always been second nature. "From what I hear the merc in there is a tough negotiator." Byleth only nodded. Shez glanced at her, a wicked grin curling her lips. "Soooo, what were you and Edelgard talking about earlier? Sounded serious," she added waggling her eyebrows.
"Is this really the right time to discuss this?" Byleth said under her breath as a pair of scraggly-looking men walked along the cross-street at the end of the lane.
"Why not? Two lovely ladies talking about their love lives—no one's going to take note of that."
Byleth tilted her head and peered at Shez. "Are we going to discuss your romantic life as well then?"
Shez's mouth opened but for a moment no sound came out and Byleth watched in fascination as colour slowly crept up her friend's face. "Well that's… complicated."
"Why is it complicated?" Byleth asked.
"I mean… I may have my eye on someone but…"
Byleth raised an eyebrow. "But you haven't told them?"
Shez sagged, like a wine flask that had had all its contents squeezed out. "No."
"I don't have a great deal of experience in such matters—"
"And yet somehow you're banging the emperor," Shez grumbled. Byleth ignored her and went on.
"But I'm fairly certain communicating your interest to the other person is required in order to have a romantic life." Shez shot her a scathing look. "Have you tried flowers?"
Shez crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. "Change of plans—let's just wait in silence."
Byleth shrugged. "I think it's been long enough," Byleth said. "Let's go in."
Shez's lips drew back in a wide grin. "Now there's a plan I can get behind."
They didn't bother to knock, instead tearing the door from its hinges and marching into the dingy room just as one of the lords was handing a sack of coins to the mercenary leader, a lean, muscular man with black hair reputedly nicknamed Darius the Dirk for his work as an assassin.
"Hey there, Lord Morin and Lord Farllan too," Shez greeted them cheerfully. "What a coincidence finding you here."
The noblemen froze in place but Darius looked faintly amused. "Seems we have some uninvited guests."
"We'd like to talk about the contract you've just been hired for," Byleth said, her tone flat, her eyes already taking in the room and making a quick account of the armed men in women scattered around it, at tables drinking and dicing. No archers. Just blades.
Darius shrugged. "I don't discuss contracts with strangers."
"I recognize her," Lord Morin announced, pointing at Byleth. "She's the emperor's dog."
"And the other one," Lord Farllan added, looking paler than ever, "is one of the emperor's generals."
"That's me!" Shez said with a broad grin. "Now I heard a rumour that you good sirs might be here to purchase an assassination contract. Nothing too flashy, just enough to disrupt the new peace deal we worked so hard to set up."
Though he was paler than ever, Lord Morin turned to Darius. "Eliminate these two and we'll double the price."
"Triple," Darius said. "Three targets, three bounties."
"Fine. Yes. Just don't let them leave this room."
"Deal," Darius said and rose from his seat. Every other mercenary in the room rose as well and drew their weapons.
Shez was still grinning. "Aw come on, don't be like that. We just came for these two lords. You can all walk away right now."
That earned a laugh from the mercs who obviously assumed their numerical advantage guaranteed victory. Only now as they advanced did Byleth's hand go to her hilt. "If I'm the emperor's dog then perhaps you'd like to see my bite." She drew her sword.
Next to her, Shez began to glow with flickering purple light as she called on her ghostly sword. "Hey don't forget about me. I'm scary too even if I don't have a scary nickname like the Ashen Demon here."
The name froze the mercenaries in their tracks. They repeated it like an invocation, filled with awe and terror. Darius sensed the shift in morale and cast his band a look like thunder. "Pull yourselves together. There's only two of them."
"That's one more than we need," Shez announced before launching herself at Darius.
What followed could only be described as a melee. Byleth soon found herself in a knot of mercenaries who, though skilled individually, were wildly uncoordinated together and easily used against each other as she slashed and dodged in turn. Avoiding blows and dispatching opponents quickly and efficiently, Byleth made fast work of the first wave of attackers and soon she spotted several of them fleeing through the door that led to the brothel. Darius seemed the most skilled of the lot and Shez was still trading blows with him as Byleth finished off the last of his band who hadn't fled. "Shez?"
"I'm fine," she said a moment before shadow travelling to appear instantly behind Darius and pressing her blade to his neck. "Drop it," she commanded. His blade clattered to the floor and Byleth removed a rope from her belt pouch to bind his hands. Shez then hurried to intercept the two lords who'd been cowering in the corner but were now scurrying towards the exit. "And where do you two think you're going?"
"I think we'd better fetch the city guard," Byleth said, eyeing the collection of dead and injured mercenaries scattered around the room. "We've made a bit of a mess."
"Oh I'm sure they're already on their way after all that racket," Shez said. And then, a grin on her face once again, "So the emperor's dog huh?"
Byleth grimaced. "I suppose I should have expected that."
"That's what you get for being the emperor's girlfriend."
Byleth patted her pocket where the ring was still safely tucked and wondered if the emperor's girlfriend was all she would ever be.
#
It was evening again by the time she and Shez were back at Derdriu's palace. It had taken an inordinate amount of time to get things sorted with the city guards even though Shez had shown them the letter she carried with the seals of House Riegan and House Hresvelg, proving she was acting on behalf of both leaders. But the assassination of one of the Kingdom lords had been avoided and the peace celebrations could continue uninterrupted.
Byleth knew she was still early enough that she could have gone to the dining hall but she opted instead to head to Edelgard's quarters and wait there for the feast to be over. She was settled on the divan reading a tactics manual and hadn't expected to see Edelgard for some hours when the door opened and there in the doorway was the emperor of Adrestia.
"One of my aides told me you were back," Edelgard said as she closed the door behind her.
Byleth set down her book and rose to meet her. "I thought you'd be stuck at the feast all night."
"I told Claude I needed to receive an urgent report."
Byleth straightened. "I can give you all the details you—"
Edelgard stopped her with a kiss. Her lips lingered only a moment before she drew back to look at her, fingers trailing through Byleth's hair and down her cheeks. "I don't need the report, only you."
Those words made something in Byleth melt away. The assassination attempt, the political tensions, the 'emperor's dog'—none of these things mattered when she was here and when Edelgard was looking at her with such fondness. She would shoulder all of it just to see that look in her eyes.
She reached for the ring nestled in her pocket and finally, finally held it out to Edelgard. "Edelgard, will you—"
"Did Monica put you up to this?" Edelgard cut in, her expression suddenly stormy. "I can't imagine it was Hubert."
"I—What? No," Byleth stumbled, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Though Monica did come to me with a list of yeas and nays of 'formalizing our union'. But what does Hubert have to do with it?"
Edelgard was rubbing her temples. "Please sit," she said and her clipped toned made Byleth's insides writhe. Perhaps she'd been presumptuous after all. Perhaps Edelgard really would always be out of reach and even a symbolic gesture was more than was appropriate. So she sat and said nothing as Edelgard seated herself next to. She didn't meet Byleth's eyes as she spoke. "There's been some discussion, particularly between Monica and Hubert about the political ramifications of—" Her eyes darted up to Byleth's face and then returned to studying her hands clasped in her lap. "Of a marriage."
"A marriage?" Byleth repeated.
"Our marriage." Her face turned scarlet as she said it, but she pressed on. "Though Hubert has considerable reservations about you, he concedes that the political optics would be advantageous given your status as a commoner and a commander in my army. It would forward the doctrine Adrestia has espoused that a person's efforts and not their birth should determine their position." Byleth nodded along as this was much the same argument that Monica had put before her the other day. Edelgard sighed and finally raised her eyes to meet Byleth's gaze. "I knew long ago that I might have to marry for political reasons, but I don't wish to impose that same burden on you." She reached out to press her hand to Byleth's cheek and even through her glove Byleth could feel the warmth of her palm. "I don't want to use you as a political pawn."
Byleth wrapped Edelgard's hand in hers and brought it to her lips. "My father gave me the ring when we arrived in Derdriu. It belonged to my mother."
Edelgard's face was redder than ever. "So you weren't acting on Monica's suggestion then? I—"
Byleth raised a hand. "Let me speak. Please, El." Edelgard went very still and only nodded. "I want to help you build a better world, where no one has to go through what you did, and no one has to be what I am," she said, her hand dipping down to touch the dagger at her hip. "I want to walk with you. In whatever role you need me. I can be your sword, be your tactician, I can stand in the shadows or at your side—whichever you need. As long as I'm with you." The ring rested in the palm of her left hand and she held it out to Edelgard.
"Byleth…" There was a tremor in Edelgard's voice. "If you're willing to shoulder this burden with me…"
"I am."
Byleth's breath caught as she watched Edelgard peel off her left glove and slip the ring onto her finger. "I want to walk with you as well." The smile on Edelgard's face matched the one spreading on her own.
As Byleth took Edelgard's hands in hers and leaned in to kiss her, she could feel the ring on Edelgard's finger. For all the interruptions and disruptions that were a regular part of their days, she had finally been able to show Edelgard how she felt, what she hoped for their future. And whether others thought of her as the Ashen Demon or the emperor's dog, the butt of jokes or a political pawn, what they saw was immaterial so long as, at the end of each day, she could come here and be only Byleth. Just as Edelgard could shed her role as emperor and be only El.
The softness of Edelgard's lips beneath her own, the warmth of her as they drew close, the way she whispered her name before leaning in to kiss her again—for these moments, Byleth would shoulder any burden.
The End