A/N:

Warning, this story contains spoilers from all routes and takes place immediately after Edelgard's path. With how exceptionally well written the game is, I would highly recommend playing all paths for yourself before continuing on with this story. Even after playing the game for a month and doing some research there is much to discover hidden in between the lines.

From the view of her balcony atop the Imperial Palace in Enbarr, Edelgard gazed stoically at the capital from up high. To the east there were rows upon rows of wooden houses clumped together with zig zagged roads and cobblestone paths to accommodate its expansive population. The people who dwelled there were just as colorful and varied as the company Edelgard had come to know.

As the sun set in the west, its remaining light would shine on the noble estates. A historical time capsule that stored the traditions and architecture of a millennia along with the wealth and stature of its residences. Blended between these two, the town square housed countless shops and stalls that made up the backbone of the Empire's economy. Lively during the day, the streets were now sparsely occupied as the city bell rung to signal the approach of dusk.

"Over there next to the opera house we will build the Imperial Institute of Reason and Crestology." The emperor replied blankly with only a passing interest. "To respect Linhardt's wishes he will only hold a superficial title there and relinquish his land rights. In exchange, he will be free to use the resources of the facility for any purpose he sees fit. Personally, I think his talents would have been better suited as an official of the Empire, but perhaps he will one day discover something of material value to Fódlan should it ever strike his interest."

"I know he will." The reserved man next to Edelgard replied confidently.

"Hmm." She withdrew her judgment for now as she secretly did share his optimism. "Well, both he and Hanneman seem to have found something new that has piqued their interest. It was crest this, and crest that when I spoke to them last. Almost as if they forgot my entire mission is to see the significance of those marks completely eradicated."

"In this case, I think you will find their research to be more valuable than its initial impression."

Edelgard gave a glaring look back and said critically, "You speak as if you know of their intentions."

With a subtle grin he said, "I may, but worry not. Everything will work out in time."

Immediately turning towards him, Edelgard had to forcefully restrain herself from inquiring more. He of all people knew how much she despised being kept in the dark. As emperor she could use any means necessary to pry the answers she wanted from those who would refuse to cooperate. Yet with him, she would begrudgingly settle for such a vague response. "I see. I must trust you are true to your word."

"I shall not misplace that trust."

With a large huff she said, "Is there anything else to report, or must that too be kept a secret from me?"

Relenting, Byleth turned to his betrothed and said, "I spoke with Ferdinand and Shamir about establishing an embassy in Dagda near its capital."

"Ah, yes." The emperor dressed in all red muttered back as she regained some of her poise amidst the fading orange horizon. "I do believe Shamir would make an excellent liaison given the difficult history between our two regions. Now that Fódlan is finally united, we must ensure that we are on good terms with our neighbors. We can no longer be sealed away from the world we inhabit."

With a solemn nod he agreed and said, "Petra and Claude will also be valuable in that regard."

"Indeed. It was always my hope we could ally with Brigid. Claude is also proving a far greater asset in Almyra than I would have surmised." Edelgard said still not able to make sense of the former Alliance Leader. "It would seem Claude and I are not that far apart in our world view. He would have made a good leader if our roles had reversed. Luckily for me, you chose the Black Eagles to watch over." She said with an uncharacteristic warmth in her last words.

Not betraying any emotion the former mercenary said, "I just went with my gut at the time. Following you seemed like the right choice."

"Whatever the reasoning, I am fortunate." Edelgard trailed off while briefly looking towards the ground before returning her gaze to her former professor. "There were many times where you could have written us off, me especially, yet you never wavered."

Resolutely Byleth said, "A professor has to have faith in his student."

Edelgard felt a heavy weight within her as she said, "Faith is one thing, but I was the aggressor and antagonist in many of our early encounters. Looking back, I can't say that all I did was right, or necessary either. Still, underneath the monastery without a moment's pause you turned to defend me from Rhea despite all the events I had concealed from you. I will never forget that."

He shook his head and said, "It was an easy decision. Like my father, I never had reason to suspect Rhea was telling me the truth. Having time to get to know you also led me to believe you had your reasons for concealing your other identity."

"You say that as if it were a natural conclusion." Edelgard bit her lip and said conflicted. "It would have been just as easy to assume I played a part in the death of your father or those ghastly experiments. In some ways I am to blame for assisting them."

"No." Byleth said simply. "It does not take a tactician to see the passions and dreams you confided in me were real. So was the conflict and pressure you placed on yourself. Not even Dorothea could hope to act out such a performance. As for my father, he died the way he would have wanted by protecting others. Being a mortal, I am not able to properly distribute the blame for his death."

"Teacher …" Edelgard shook her head and corrected herself as she took note again of his vibrant blue hair "Byleth, I … Thank you. I cannot properly tell you how grateful I am you for your actions. As I've told you before, my desire was always to have you fight at my side, but I was too afraid that you would leave once you discovered my scheming. The path I chose is not one that many could accept."

"All the more reason I needed to be there to guide you." He replied happily.

Edelgard exhaled and tried her best to hide the growing red tint on her cheeks. "True enough. This continent, it can drive one to madness. The senseless bloodshed, unabated cycle of revenge killings, power gained based upon chance, and constant deceit. It was my mistake in thinking I could tackle it alone. Had you not been there it was likely I would have grown callous."

"It was not just me. There were others who walked with you." Byleth mentioned as he watched the last rays of the sun set.

"Yes there were." Edelgard said knowing she had the strength of many dear friends behind her. "Still, over the course of those painful five years that you were gone I want you to know that I still felt your presence with me. There were many times where it would have been more expedient for me to cooperate with my uncle to fight against Faerghus. It was even originally my plan to use their forces as a part of my own since Rhea had intentionally divided Fódlan into pieces so that no one county could oppose her."

"What changed?" Byleth asked curious.

"I could not bring myself to do it." The emperor said before quickly finding a flaw in her own statement. "No. That is not it. Rather, I don't think I could have faced you when you returned if you knew what I was intending. Leading the charge with you against the monastery also made me realized that there was another path. There was a way for me to defeat Rhea without having to use the corrupted and forsaken power of those who slither in the dark."

The tactician thought it over and said, "Didn't you risk your uncle turning his forces against you?"

"It was a complicated matter." Edelgard shrugged. "Hubert and I were always able to find some excuse or situation that made it impossible for us to directly coordinate with my uncle's forces even if we technically fought on the same side. Since our armies did not fight in sync, this usually gave Faerghus and the Knights of Seiros an opportunity to regroup and organize its forces to counter attack. Eventually leading to the five-year stalemate you woke up to."

"I see. I'm sorry I did not return to you sooner." Byleth said sadly.

"You cannot change what you had no control over." Edelgard said halfheartedly as she too would have liked for him to awaken faster. "Your return was a deciding factor in the war. It was also a great relief to have you again at my side. I'm not surprised, but more impressed and humbled that you were able to do in six months would I could not do in five years."

"You were the one with the plan. I just carried it out." Byleth replied trying to console her. He was keenly aware that humble was a word that Edelgard would have to spit out in disgust any time she used it. For her, it was a rare admittance that only she would confide to him.

"So you say." She replied blankly. "Even now there is so much left to do and an endless set of mysteries that need to be solved. All the more reason I will need you besides me."

"We will get through it one step at a time." He replied confidently.

Edelgard gave a soft laugh knowing that would be his answer. "Yes we will, but that is for another day. At least for tonight, I intend to spending my time idling away next to you. It is purely a selfish request that I have waited far too long to realize."

"It will be my pleasure to spend it with you, El." He added as he whimsically bowed in front of her.

"Hmph." The emperor involuntarily let out an off key pitch. It still ran a knot through her stomach to hear that name from her long time crush, but more so was the smirk and fanciful display he added to it. This was quite unlike the faceless mercenary she had first met. "Y-you are always full of surprises even when it seems like I finally have you figured out."

"A professor has to stay crafty to survive." He muttered back. The look of smug satisfaction on his face was enough to say what words could not.

Shaking her head, Edelgard steeled herself and said, "Still, as empowering as it is to hear you call me that name, I do not have a way to return the sentiment. All this time I have deemed you my professor or teacher, yet that is not a fitting title for the man I am beholden to. By any chance did your father address you differently in private like my family did?"

"He usually called me son." Byleth replied not having much else to go off of.

"That obviously wont work." The emperor shrugged. After thinking it over for a while she said "I suppose I could call you 'By' but that sounds too much like goodbye for my liking. Similarly, a shortened name like B-Y-L would be pronounced bile. Also not very romantic."

Byleth placed a his hand on his chin and said, "You could call me B."

"B?" She replied confused.

"Yes, like I will always B there for you." He replied somehow able to say that with a straight face.

Edelgard immediately grimaced. Clearly he had been spending far too much time with Alois to come up with something so … atrocious. Nevertheless, she supposed that was entire purpose of pet names. To be so, unsettling terrible, that only the two of them would dare share it in private. "… Very well. Soon in public I will have ability to call you my husband. However, when it is just us, I will refer to you as B."

"It is settled then."

Edelgard still looked unconvinced but hesitantly said, "Yes. Although may the ground swallow me up whole if those we know or our children ever were to hear it."

"Children?" Byleth said surprised.

"Huh?" Edelgard mentally cursed at herself for saying something so haphazardly and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry that was carelessly of me. As the sole heir to the throne it was always assumed I would produce the next in line. The way I was raised it was as natural of a conclusion as breathing, but I suppose none of that will matter in time. As I have told you before, when all this is settled I will relinquish my claim to the throne. If I am to truly change this world then I cannot continue the thousand-year precedent of rule by inheritance."

"Children?" He repeated with wonder as he was only half listening to her. "Yes, I would want to have children with you."

Edelgard immediately turned away from him with a blush as deep as the Empire's colors. "I uh … well, that is to say … I-"

"Everything okay? You act like you've seen a rat." Byleth smirked.

"You promised never to speak of that day!" Edelgard said suddenly very uncomfortable with how little control she had in this situation.

"Dorn turn away. It's very cute to see you like that." He added intent on reminding her.

Refusing to look back at him, she said flustered, "To think of all the ways our paths could have crossed, this is where we are now."

"I have no regrets about my decisions." He replied placing his hands on the rail of the balcony and taking in the night air.

Edelgard winced and said, "I wish I could say the same. Still, I cannot dwell on that which I am unable to change."

"Nor can I." The tactician said peacefully.

At a loss for words, Edelgard merely sighed and looked back at the city now blanketed in darkness. Only the half moon and the scattered light from torches gave an indication that the night had not fully swallowed what remained. Seeing the landscape made her eyes dim as it was a reminder of the threat they faced. "Make no mistake, I do desire for a day where we can raise a family together, but I think it would be unwise to do so now. Those who slither in the dark will use it as a way to exploit us and make us choose between our children and their twisted goals."

"All the more reason to defeat them with haste." Byleth acknowledged.

"Yes, I agree." Edelgard replied strongly. "Although it's not just my uncle and his twisted followers. I am attempting to change an entire order. Doubtlessly, there will be nobles seeking my head to reclaim their stature or prejudice. Many aggrieved families might justifiably seek revenge against me for what I've done. Not to mention opportunists who would use the outrage and anger of past injustices to seek power for their own personal gain. The growing list of enemies I've made will seek to destroy both of us at every turn now that we stand united."

Byleth closed his eyes and imagined the possible threats he would now encountered. He fought with swords, not knives and daggers. There was no question that the enemies they faced were more deadly when they were disguised with warm greetings and cloaked hands. "I will not let that happen."

"We will not let that happen." She corrected adamantly. "Preferably, it would be best if we remained close to one another most of the day to mitigate the opportunity of assassination or kidnapping. Hubert would also be better equipped to deal with such threats if we are nearby."

"Is that the only reason you wish to be near me all day long?" Byleth questioned seeing a secondary motive.

Edelgard glanced back at him and said routinely. "Given my feelings towards you it is obvious that I also benefit from this plan. For now we may not be able to live a peaceful life together, but that does not mean we must forgo all joy. You've taught me as much."

"I have?" Byleth said curious.

The emperor gave a faint smile as she thought back to the times they spent at the monastery. "If you recall, when we first met I suspected we had similar personalities. Perhaps I have always been drawn to your confidence, but the subtle change in your demeanor over time was striking. I think discovering joy would be an apt way to describe it. Taking pleasure in the little things that offered a respite from the grueling nature of Fódlan."

"It is strange." Byleth admitted as numerous people had observed the same thing about him. "Being with the Black Eagles is probably the first time I truly felt that I was alive. Before then it seemed like my legs moved simply because they had to, or that my arms were merely an extension of my sword."

"My younger self would have been jealous." Edelgard muttered back interested. "Hubert and I struggled to learn how to withdraw our emotions for some time. Anger proved the most difficult for me to conceal."

"That is the thing. I don't believe I had emotions." Byleth frowned back. "Even as a child my father said I seemed removed from the world. He wrote as much in his diary. To him, I was a child born without a heartbeat."

"Hah!" Edelgard laughed not taking the phrase literally. "I assure you that is not the case. When you collapsed after we defeated Rhea I was grief-stricken. I thought I had lost you and it brought back the agony and guilt of losing you five years prior. However, when I heard your heart beat shortly after it was the sweetest thing I have ever heard."

"Wait." Byleth paused shocked. "You heard my heart beat?"

"As clear as day." Edelgard said thinking it a strange question. "I will never forget the joy and sense of relief it brought me."

"I was never able to…" He trailed off while quickly placing a hand on his chest to see. Sure enough, he could feel a faint thump. It was not something he would notice unless he was looking for it, but it was there all the same.

"Is something wrong?" She asked growing concerned.

Byleth shook his head and said bewildered, "I was never able to feel it before."

"Your heart?"

He nodded and said, "In my father's diary, he believed that Rhea had done something to me when I was born. I do not know what or why, but when I was secretly taken to a physician I never showed any signs of a heart beat."

Immediately, Edelgard clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. She thought back to how she was experimented on as a child for the sake of a crest. The thought of Byleth having to suffer a similar fate as a new born only further convinced her what she did was necessary. "There really was no limit to the depths of her madness. She did that to you even knowing that you came from the same lineage."

"I would agree, but my father only had his suspicions. I don't have any proof otherwise."

Already convinced Edelgard said sternly, "Defeating her was proof enough. Whatever mechanism or spell she placed inside you at birth burned away after her defeat. Your hair is as much of an indication as your heartbeat."

"I do feel different." Byleth acknowledged as he remembered Rhea said more than once about reclaiming his heart and calling him a failure like the others. There was also the matter of Sothis which he had kept mostly to himself. "It's almost like I am lighter in a sense."

"No doubt that is the feeling of having a great burden lifted from you." Edelgard said stanchly. "However, as a precaution you should visit Manuela or Hanneman to investigate. Despite it being late we should be able to find them if we have Hubert assist us in tracking them down." The emperor said urgently wanting to get to the bottom of this. His wellbeing was more important to her now than her own health.

He shook it off and said, "No. That can wait until tomorrow. Like you said, tonight is our night to idle to ourselves."

Quickly, the emperor opened her mouth to protest only to be stopped when Byleth grabbed her by the hand and removed the crimson glove she was wearing to reveal a ring hidden underneath. Furthering his advance, Edelgard's concerns were momentarily sedated by the warmth and comfort of their hands connecting. The feeling of life that seemed to escape both of them for so long was found there in the palm of their hands.

"Don't worry. Everything will be okay. In a way, I suppose it is fitting that the first time my heart would beat, it would be next to you." Byleth said happily.

"Y-you can't just say things like that." She objected feeling the same overwhelming joy that came from when they confessed to one another. "At least give me some warning first. I-I admittedly have wanted this for some time now."

With care, Byleth placed one hand on her hip while his other remained firmly grasped with hers. Humming to himself, he drew her close and slowly guided her across the balcony as if they were dancing at the ball. While it was safe to say Edelgard was wearing a deep shade of red across her cheeks as they danced, so was Byleth. In his time with the Black Eagles he had learned to experience joy, wonder, excitement, sorrow, pain, loss, and now love as he gazed at her unyielding magenta eyes.

…

As they danced the two discussed trivial matters ranging from pleasant memories to planning their future when they were free from their burdens. Whenever their musings drifted back to current events, a squeeze on the hand or warm embrace was enough to steer the conversation back to more pleasant thoughts. In turn, time simply slipped away from them as one lively discussion transitioned to the next.

"What I would do to see this night never ends." Edelgard mumbled tiredly with her head buried in Byleth's chest.

The former mercenary reassured her by saying, "It is only one of many to come."

"Yes, I will see to it." She said placing a hand on his chest. "As much as I detest the idea, it would be wise for us to retire for the night. I am quite exhausted after the trip from Fhirdiad to Enbarr. You returning the feelings I've had for you this week also seems to have worn me out in ways I was not expecting."

"Would you like me to carry you to your bed?" He asked seeing her eyes droop. Since the balcony was attached to her sleeping quarters he figured there was no risk of anyone seeing their emperor being delicately carried by one of her generals.

"I am not that tired." She said stubbornly and with some pause. "Although, if you were to do something of the sort I should warn you there is a dagger underneath my pillow that you should remove first. Perhaps it would be better for me to fashion it to the side of the bed frame since I wouldn't want you to accidently chance upon it as we slept next to each other. In addition, it would be prudent for you to keep a sword or weapon within arm's reach at night."

"We are to share the same bed?" He asked curious.

"Of course. It is for our own safety." Edelgard smiled back peacefully. "We would be twice as likely to detect an intruder under the circumstances."

Byleth gave a faint laugh at her reasoning and said, "Let me guess. You benefit from the arrangement as well."

"Hmph." She momentarily gave up her resting spot determined to look him strongly in the eyes. "Not only I, it is my hope you benefit from it too. You'll find I am always trying to shoot two birds with one arrow. Sometimes three or four if the angle is there. I am a Hresvelg after all."

He nodded and said, "That much is for certain."

With pride, she returned her head to his chest. The gnaw of sleep starting to overtake her as she enjoyed a moment of peace in between the long weathered path still to come. The fight against those who slither in the dark would start tomorrow, and the answers they sought from the former Church of Seiros were currently out of their reach. Not that it mattered in this solitary moment of peace they found atop the palace balcony.

"Thank you B." She expressed clutching him tighter. "You are the unwavering light I have always been searching for. I find peace knowing you stand beside me as my equal and partner. Most of all, our paths will forever be intertwined. There is no turning back now that I have you firmly within my grasp."