FE3H one-shot Collection

Girl Talk - Dimileth Angst

Azure Moon - The Delusional Prince

Professor Byleth's Quarters

Knock knock knock
"Professor, it's me and Ingrid!" a soft voice called on the other side of the door.

Byleth closed her journal, having been hard at work for the coming mission. "Come in." She could use the distraction, not much else could be prepared going over those notes.
Ingrid opened the door, followed by Mercedes, who was carrying a large tray filled with a teapot, a few mugs, and freshly baked pastries.

"I hope you don't mind," Mercedes began. "But Ingrid and I were about to chat over tea and thought you might like to join us!"

The former mercenary smiled softly. In her old life, spending time with other women was rare, and even then, it's not like they would have had homemade sweets and the finest teas. "I'd love that." She waved a hand to the table, inviting the ladies to set up.

The two young women stepped into the room. Mercedes gently placed the tray on the table, the glasses clinking quietly. She began pouring and serving each friend a cup of tea, while Ingrid handed a pastry to Byleth and Mercedes, saving a muffin for herself. The tea was the best brew of chamomile Byleth had ever tasted, and the sweet bread was warm, no doubt fresh from the oven. Wasn't this tea his favorite?...

"What's on your mind professor?" Mercedes seemed to be reading her mind, sweet but direct.

She couldn't bear to keep following that train of thought. "I was just thinking..." she took a small bite of her muffin, stalling.

"Most people would find you two an odd pair for a chat, but I just remembered what you have in common."

"Oh?" Ingrid perked up, briefly setting down the muffin she was eager to eat. "Do tell."

"Crests and dreams," their former professor explained. "You both have dreams you could never give up, but since you have crests, your family expects you to enter an arranged marriage and give up on them."

"You hit the nail on the head," Ingrid let out a laugh. "Mercy and I end up complaining about that a lot."

"Yeah, you're lucky," Mercedes chimed in. "You didn't even know you had a crest until you got here, right?"

The professor nodded, but she wouldn't call herself "lucky" these days.

"Did your father ever speak to you about marriage?" Ingrid's curiosity got the better of her.

Byleth's eyes lowered, bringing back the memory. "Just once," she recalled. "When he told me about my mother..."

"I guess that wouldn't be a priority as a mercenary." That was Ingrid's assumption.

"What did he say?" Mercedes was more excited to learn more.

In response, Byleth reached into her pocket. "This was the only keepsake he had from my mother after she died." In her hand was a simple, yet elegant silver ring. The blue and purple jewels in the center caught the soft glow of the fire. "He said this would one day be mine, to give to someone I loved like he did my mother."

Mercedes leaned over the table for a closer look, nearly spilling her tea. "That's beautiful!" She exclaimed. "Have you given any thought on who you'd give it to?"

"You don't have to answer," Her friend noted how their professor's emotions shifted. "But I can't help being curious too, and this would stay between us."

Byleth's green eyes fell to the table, hoping her former students wouldn't see the tears threatening to cloud her vision. Was this some kind of twisted joke, going on without so much as a whimper her entire life, only to cry a second time in, how she perceived, a few months?
"I guess one name came to mind at the time," She took a breath, trying to keep her voice from betraying the turmoil in her heart. "But at this point, it's impossible anyway."

"I'm so sorry," Mercedes reached out a hand, gently holding Byleth's in an attempt to comfort her. "Was it someone that disappeared during this war?"

Byleth shook her head, unable to speak without her voice revealing her heartbreak. If only it were that simple. If he were dead, would it be easier to bear than to witness what he'd become over the five years she missed? "N-no..." She found herself shaking, the tears even closer to realizing their threat to betray her. "He....he's..."

"It's His Highness, isn't it?" Ingrid cut it, sparing her from finishing the thought. "Dimitri?"

This put Byleth in shock, her gaze swiftly rising to meet Ingrid's, eyes wide. This made it completely obvious to her friends.

"Five years ago, you wouldn't have had any trouble," Mercedes was thinking, trying to console the professor. "It always seemed to me that he was smitten with you."

"That's an understatement!" Ingrid shook her head, smiling at the memories. "Even I noticed."

Byleth's eyes darted between the two of them, confused. "Smitten?" She bit her lip, trying to stop the sadness that threatened to control her actions.

Ingrid couldn't help but laugh. "I remember seeing him following you out of the ball years ago, just waiting for you to leave!"

"Not to mention how much of a big deal he made when you started smiling more." Mercedes let out a few giggles herself. "Not to say we all weren't happy, but his reaction was the biggest out of all of us."

"Even if that's true," Byleth removed her hand from Mercedes's soft grip. "Even if..." she sucked in a breath through her teeth. She needed to keep it together.

"It's not like he still feels that way." A more thoughtful tone came from Ingrid. "But Professor, I don't think he's beyond bringing back around."

"Neither do I." Byleth saw Mercedes's hand reach out, her soft grip returning. Her former student let out a soft laugh. "Although, I'll be honest, your feelings are a bit of a surprise to me."

Finally, the last of Byleth's resolve broke. Her tears seemed endless, the heartbreak and frustration from the last few months overtaking her heart and mind. How was she supposed to get through to the heart she thought she knew? He wouldn't come to training or the dining hall, let alone speak to her outside the battlefield. When she reached out to him in the darkness, he wouldn't even take her hand, accusing her of haunting the prince.

Suddenly, warmth caressed her, momentarily breaking her spiraling thoughts. Mercedes was on her side of the table, embracing the professor, while gently stroking her grass-green hair. Her left hand was lifted and held up, Ingrid's rough, calloused hands gently holding her's.

"It's going to be alright," Mercedes whispered near Byleth's ear. "We're gonna get through this."

Byleth's tears kept flowing, her broken heart touched by the kindness of her former students. With one arm, she slowly returned Mercedes's embrace, while her other hand lightly grasped Ingrid's. "Thank you..." was all she could manage to whisper through her tears. She allowed Mercedes to release the hug, but Mercedes merely moved her hands to Byleth's shoulders.

"Professor, you were always there for us," she said with a smile. "Let us be there for you. It's going to be alright, I can feel it."

"And if it isn't," Ingrid added with a smirk. "We'll make sure His Highness pays for making you cry."

This got a laugh out of Byleth. "That isn't necessary, but thanks." She left out a breath, starting to feel herself stabilize. "Let's change the subject...Have I told you how much I like the shorter hair on the both of you?"

That night, bonding over tea, snacks, and the occasional shared trauma, was one the three of them were all thankful for. Byleth could feel the pieces of her broken heart coming together, now that she knew she wasn't alone. But once in a while, the same thought came to mind.

If only he knew.

If only he could see that, should he wish, his friends and former classmates would welcome him back in an instant.

If only she hadn't been gone for so long to prevent this from going this far.

If only they could put an end to this war.