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Viscount Edgar Brennius's first glimpse of the relationship between the now-General Eisner and the prince had been back when she had been the Blue Lion's professor, back at Garreg Mach. In early Wyvern Moon she had sent him a letter.
Viscount Brennius,
I have heard your region makes the best blades in Faerghus. I want to commission a sword for Dimitri's birthday, Ethereal 20th. Can you forward this request to a smith you think will be capable?
Enclosed with the letter was a sheet of shockingly detailed specifications. Most people asked for just a weapon in a particular style with a few embellishments. Skilled fighters would ask for a particular blade or handle shape, or perhaps a particular balance point. This went beyond even that, dictating particular measurements, materials, and details for almost every part of the blade. And all that for a sword that she would never carry!
His sister's letters had been right. Professor Eisner must be extremely skilled, to have such deep knowledge about swords and to put so much thought into what someone else would want out of their weapon.
His sister had also been right on another front: Professor Eisner was an odd duck. There was the matter of putting in so much thought and effort into a weapon for someone else. But she hadn't referred to the prince as His Highness in her letter, and had even included his birthday, as if anyone in the kingdom wouldn't know it!
When Prince Dimitri was slain and the Empire invaded, Viscount Brennius made no outward sign of resistance. They were a province of smiths, not soldiers, unlike their eastern neighbor Charon. Still, orders made by the Empire always were slower with more flaws than they would have been before the war. And no one noticed that the garrison of his castle was barer than usual. Even if they did, it was easy enough to claim that their light numbers were due to deserters.
So when Fhirdiad was freed and a battalion in blue marched up the road from Charon, it was with joy that he welcomed back his men and retook his oath of loyalty to the Blaiddyd line. It was easy to accept the offer of a steward from Charon to look after his territory while he went to join the kingdom army.
It was no secret that the prince and General Eisner coordinated closely on plans and watched each others' backs in battle. But it was only with the context of her letter from five years before that Edgar saw just how much the general watched the prince. Even outside of battle, she was always watching, cataloging his every movement. And she didn't do it for anyone else. Sure, she was insightful, and had given Edgar some tips to improve his swordsmanship, but only His Highness was handed a document just as he mentioned the topic it was about. She only subtly rearranged supplies and documents to fit his reach.
But, Edgar realized, it wasn't just that. The prince watched the general, too. He would hand off his cloak to her the second she shivered minutely. He just happened to be around and have something he needed to ask her any time an overambitious lord looked her way. And he was almost never without a fine sword on his hip - a sword whose length, shape, and handle were familiar.
So when His Highness approached Edgar asking to commission a fine dagger as a gift, Edgar didn't bother to ask who it was for. It was only when he reached the end of the detailed list of requirements and saw that one was a gem in the pommel, but no gem specified, that he had any questions.
"Which gemstone would you like, Your Highness?"
The prince fidgeted. "A sapphire, perhaps? Though, it seems presumptuous to give a gift with the colors of my house...."
"A pink sapphire, perhaps? It would match the tassel on the medallion she favors."
"What an excellent idea! Please, inform me of your progress, or anything you need from me," the prince said, beaming. "If you'll excuse me...." He walked away, toward the command tent. Edgar was unsurprised to see General Eisner join him moments later.
She might be an unconventional choice for a queen, but there were none better suited. And the order he held in his hands confirmed that His Highness agreed - a textbook Queen Consort dagger.
It was time to win this war - and soon. Edgar had a wedding to attend.