When I arrived back in my room, I was greeted by an upset young teen with long blue hair and matching eyes.

Stella huffed and crossed her arms. "And just where have you been all day?"

I closed the door behind me and set my bags down against the wall. "It's only been all 'morning', Stella. No need to be too concerned."

"It is my job to be concerned! Knowing you, the moment you are outside of my sight some other troublesome event is bound to occur!"

I did my best to not think about the strange man I'd met and simply shrugged. "And I appreciate the sentiment, but you need to be concerned about yourself as well." I stared at her and said, "How was your sleep?"

"My sleep? Why would you-" She froze and then glared at me. "Were you watching me sleep?"

I poked her head and walked over to my wardrobe, shrugging off my coat. "I'm not the type of person to do something weird like that. But I've also noticed that you've been a bit clingy recently. Not to mention that you were tossing in your sleep when I came back this morning." I hung my coat in my wardrobe and then turned to face Stella. "Just what were you dreaming about?"

She tensed and then shook her head. "That is none of your business!"

"Isn't it?" I closed my wardrobe and then walked over to my chair, sitting down and staring at my dear sister. "You might not really be my sister, but I do care about you like one, you know? Even as weird as this turn of events came about."

Seriously, who would have thought that it would end up like this?

I shook my head and said, "You can tell me if something's bothering you, you know, Stella? There's no need to keep it to yourself."

Stella stared at me, her face unreadable, and then she shook her head. "I am fine."

"…If you say so." I shrugged and stood up, stretching.

Stella glanced at my bags of coffee beans and then said, "I take it that Seteth finally supplied you with your coffee?"

"That guy?" I shook my head. "As if. I was lucky enough that Anna was willing to sell me some." I paused. "…It's going to be tricky to store it properly, but I should be able to figure it out."

Just gotta make some vacuum tight containers later. Shouldn't be too hard. Just need a container, a rubber lid, and then some fire to seal it… or something. But that was later. It should be good for a few days without being a concern.

"Anna, you say?" Stella walked over and sat down in the chair I left behind. "I take it you finally ironed out the details of our mission?"

"Something like that. Mostly logistics. Still gotta send out some letters to people to make sure, but we should be good to go. The plan is to head out in the next week or so."

"So soon?" Stella frowned. "Will that not be an issue in regard to your lessons?"

I smiled. "So now you're worrying about lessons, are you? Concerned that you'll fall behind in your studies!"

Stella rolled her eyes. "Nothing of the sort. I simply do not want my dear older brother to work himself into an early grave." She paused and then narrowed her eyes. "And speaking of your work, just how late did you work last night?"

I coughed and then said, "Don't worry about it. What's important is that I got most of the grading done."

"Byleth."

"What? It's fine. Not like I need much sleep anyway."

"Byleth!"

"…Fine. I haven't slept yet, alright?"

Stella let out a long sigh and shook her head. "You are insufferable."

"I should be saying that to you."

She rolled her eyes again and said, "It is fortunate that your body is more resilient than most, but take care. Rest is important, especially so for you. While you may not physically fatigue so simply, the mental fatigue will surely catch up to you. After all, if one such as I takes the time to achieve proper rest, surely you must as well."

"…Isn't that because you're back in a teenage body?"

"Byleth."

I held up my hands. "Fine, fine. I'll remember. Tonight I'll turn in early. That sound good?"

"…It would. However, it seems you have forgotten."

"Hm?"

Stella tilted her head. "We are holding the celebration for Ferdinand's day of birth. Or have you forgotten already?"

I paused and then placed my hand on my face. "Right. They did say that, didn't they?"

And Hubert was the one organizing things. Official letters and all too.

"…I'm going to have to deal with nobles, aren't I?"

Stella nodded. "Indeed. Which is why I brought up the point of you resting. Hm." She paused and then said, "Well, you have nothing else planned for the day. I suppose it is a bit early, but 'that' is viable."

I frowned. "What do you mean by 'that'?"

Stella shook her head. "You need not concern yourself with it, dear brother of mine. For now…" She held out her hand.

I stared at it.

"Go on! Take my hand, you fool!"

"Why?"

Stella rolled her eyes and then stepped forward to grab my hand. "Honestly… IT seems that you will have quite the ways to go before the ball."

"Huh?"

"Simply shut your mouth and follow, fool brother of mine."

I stared at the tea cup placed before me with a bemused smile.

Across from me, Edelgard did the same, my dear fiancée shaking her head.

After the abrupt exit from my room, Stella had dragged me over to the gazebo and placed a platter of tea and various sweets on a table before shoving me in a seat. Not long after, Hubert walked over, leading a rather confused Edelgard. After showing her to the seat across from me, he left as well.

Edelgard shook her head. "I suppose you are just as in the dark about this situation as I am, my love?"

"I am… and you're really getting too smooth with that, Delly."

Edelgard smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about, my love."

I sighed and then poured a cup of tea. When it was filled, I gestured towards her. "Want some?"

"That would be lovely."

I nodded and passed it her way.

Edelgard took the cup from me and then took a sip. "Hm. Hresvelg blend. It seems that someone was prepared."

I poured myself a cup and said, "Obviously not me. I didn't even know what was going on or that I'd be dragged out to see you."

"Why I'm hurt, my love. Are you tired of seeing me already?" Edelgard frowned and lowered her head, looking up at me with watery eyes.

I rolled my eyes and said, "That won't work on me. And stop it."

Edelgard laughed. "I suppose that is a bit too much. But I must admit I am a bit hurt. Did you not wish to see me today, my love?"

I shook my head. "It's not that. You know I'm always glad to see you, Delly."

"Then what is the issue?" She took another sip from her tea and said, "You cannot be telling me that my company is not relaxing."

"I'm just worried about the work I've got to do. I still haven't finished reading through all of the short response questions, you know?" I sighed. "I got coffee today and managed to finish all of the multiple choice yesterday, but it might be another long night ahead for me." I shook my head and then took a sip from my tea. It was a bit bitter though so I reached over to grab a pastry.

There were a few different ones to choose from. Sugar cookies, donuts, strudels… in the end I decided to keep it simple and grabbed a sugar cookie.

Edelgard wrinkled her brow and looked at me. "My love. Have you… stayed through the night doing your work?"

I considered how to respond to that question while I munched on the cookie, using it as a small break to gather my thoughts. Faced with Edelgard's accusing look though, I couldn't really bring it in myself to say anything but the truth. In the end, I sighed and said, "I… might have stayed up til dawn, yes."

Edelgard set down her tea cup and crossed her legs, leaning back in her chair. "Attempting to adhere to your duties is one thing, my love, but I think you are taking it too far."

"As if. This is the bare minimum for a professor."

Edelgard shook her head and said, "If your class consisted of just us officers, perhaps. But with how many students you are teaching in the Black Eagles, it will be impossible to teach them all equally." She paused. "Though I suppose this is my fault."

"Hm?" I raised an eyebrow. "How is this your fault, Delly?"

She shook her head and said, "While I did admit that I was concerned about students progressing at inequal rates in lessons, going so far as you are now to appease everyone is too much."

"…I don't think I'm doing anything extra though?"

Edelgard leaned forward and laced her fingers together before giving me a blank look. "You wrote two separate tests for the officers and cadets. Furthermore, you took the time to plan out extra lesson plans for us officers and even wrote one out for Lysithea within a day of her transferring."

"Isn't that to be expected though?"

Edelgard sighed and leaned back. "Honestly… You're a bit too self-sacrificing at times, my love. No, I suppose it was that way in the past as well. If that wasn't the case, they wouldn't have followed you."

I frowned, wanting to answer Edelgard. However, I didn't really have a good response, so I decided to finish up my cookie instead.

"In any case," Edelgard said. "I suppose I understand what this is all about now."

"You mean this tea party?"

Edelgard nodded. "Of course. It's a way to get you to relax and rest. As a matter of fact…" Edelgard stood up from her chair and then sat down on the grass next to me.

I stared at her and frowned. "Delly?"

Once she was settled in, she looked up at me and then patted her thighs. "Here."

"…Here?" I blinked and said glanced down. It took me a moment to figure out what she was asking and then I sighed. "I am not going to use your thighs as a pillow, Delly."

Edelgard flushed a bit, but she remained determined. "It's clear that you're not going to rest unless someone forces you. Stella might be reluctant to do so, but as your fiancée, I insist that you take some time for yourself."

"A bit bold of you, declaring that so freely. Aren't you afraid someone will overhear?"

"Don't try to distract me, my teacher. I won't let you off this time."

She changed her way of addressing me again. It seemed like she was serious about this.

I stared at Edelgard and sighed. "You aren't going to change your mind?"

"And allow you to continue to overwork yourself? Never."

"And you're not afraid of being embarrassed? What will people think if they see the future Adrestrian Emperor letting some nobody use her lap as a pillow?"

Edelgard frowned. "You are not some 'nobody', my teacher. And if they do… then what of it? My life is my own. I have never cared about what others think of me. That much you should know."

I sighed. "Annoyingly well. That's an unfortunate trait of yours that's both a boon and a bane."

Edelgard stared at me and said, "My teacher."

I gestured towards the food. "What about that?"

Edelgard glanced to the side. "Hubert?"

In an instant, the dark mage appeared, as if waiting for his cue. "Allow me, Lady Edelgard."

With an ease that was well-practiced, Hubert quickly swept up all the pastries and tea, stacking it in his right arm. At the same time, he pulled out a neatly folded blanket from under his left arm and placed it on the table. That done, he vanished.

I shook my head, bemused at the sudden actions.

Edelgard stared back at me and said, "Well, my teacher? You have no more excuses." She paused and then said, "Unless you find my body too grotesque to be in contact with."

I sighed. "That's not fair, Delly. But… I guess you have a point."

I had been trying a bit too hard recently. It had been a while since I got some quality sleep.

"Still…" I glanced back at Edelgard's thighs and then up at her. "This is a bit…"

Edelgard rolled her eyes and then reached out to grab me, pulling me off my chair.

"H-Hey! That's-"

I was worried that I'd knock her over, but firm arms held me in place before shifting me around. In a few moments, my vision shifted and then I was staring at the sky with Edelgard's face looking down at me.

She had a content smile on her face and nodded. "There we go."

I frowned, looking back up at her. "That was a bit abrupt, don't you think?"

"For a man like you, a bit of force is needed. After all, you aren't the type to take the initiative."

"Hey, I proposed to you, didn't I?"

"After Stella prompted you to."

"…She told you, didn't she?"

"It was obvious."

I sighed and leaned back. "Well, guess I've got to listen to my wifey, don't I?"

"W-Wifey?"

I smiled and poked Edelgard's cheek. "Fine. I'll take a nap. But don't blame me if you get embarrassed."

"Hmph. As if I would be ashamed of anything involving you."

"I warned you."

I yawned.

Maybe it was since I was with Edelgard. Maybe it was the fatigue finally catching up to me. Either way, I actually felt a bit drowsy lying there.

Edelgard noticed and said, "Go to sleep, my love. Everything will be alright."

"Sure, sure…"

I closed my eyes, letting the fatigue wash over me.

The last thing I remembered was the scent of roses and a soft brush against my lips. "Sleep well, my love."

Author's Notes:

. Had to rearrange a lot of plans because of the virus. A bit annoying, but I have some time to write I guess. A bit of fluff and slice of life this time. Still getting into the flow of things again, but I hope it's a good read. Thanks as always and make sure to stay safe out there!