Marianne and the Forbidden Codex: A Fire Emblem Three Houses story

The Empress and The Fool

Leonard entered Edelgard 's store. Until a while ago, the Empress was protected by a metal breastplate, which seemed durable enough for a battle. Now, she wore a completely red dress. She wore her white hair taken, which fell in a ponytail. Leonard studied her as she ushered him in. She was relatively slender, with a graceful body that did not match her attitude or strength. She was shorter than Marianne, from what he could tell, too. Now he had time to observe her delicate face and purple eyes that left him a little abstracted.

"Well, let's sit down so you can tell me about your secrets," Edelgard said, offering Leonard a seat with a wave of her arm.

"Thank you," Leonard replied, sitting up before speaking again. "I will start my entire explanation in reverse. After all, they have also implanted a Crest on you."

"Yeah," replied the girl, somewhat stupefied by his wise comment.

Leonard returned to display his Agarthan aspect. Edelgard 's expression changed from serious to a little fearful. Without noticing it, she clung to her seat a little. Then, the boy straightened and raised his left forearm to protect his mark.

"This is the Crest of the Tartar," he continued." It is artificial; I can't tell you who its creator is because I don't know. As you can see, whoever can resist the implantation rite changes their appearance to that of the inhabitants of Agartha. That way, you can use the Heroes' Codex. Therefore, this weapon could only be used by those people."

"Now I understand why Arundel wants to get it," the young Empress replied, her expression serious.

"Most likely."

"You must have lived through a real ordeal," she added, getting up from her chair.

"Yes, but I don't think it was less than yours. May I know which Crest you acquired through the blood rite?"

"...It was the Crest of Fire," she replied, somewhat taciturn.

"I see," Leonard replied with a worried expression. "You must have lived through hell. I mean, it's an extremely powerful Crest. The rite was certainly violent and traumatizing. I can't quite understand you; I don't know you. But I assume your intention to wipe everything out is due to the degeneration the continent has reached by tolerating practices like this. You are brave in taking charge of that purpose."

After that answer, Edelgard remained silent briefly. "He seemed like an immature boy, even talented in battle. He turned out to be much more rational and thoughtful," Edelgard thought, surprised by the clarity of that comment. The boy would be a great ally.

"My ancestry allows me that possibility," she replied, sitting back down, as battle-weariness was now taking its toll. "Ugh, and I also have a moral obligation to do so. It is the purpose that I have set for myself, and I will fulfill it."

"I see," the young man added, giving the girl a brief look while bowing his head. "People as damaged as you and I can only keep their sanity thanks to some purpose, I imagine."

"You said so," she replied, resting her forearms on her thighs and looking down. "Could it be that the only thing that destroys our purposes is ourselves?"

"Most likely, Edelgard," he replied, in the same pose as the Empress. "But here we are, stoic despite everything."

Edelgard gave a kind of smile. It was an expression of sorrow and relief. Someone understood her, not the Empress, class representative, or impeccable-looking woman. In front of her was a being disfigured inside, just as she felt at every moment. She felt a little sorry for him, but she noticed that she could feel sorry for herself for a few moments.

"Hey, I think it's time to explain more about my story, "Leonard resumed the word, looking for the Empress's gaze. "After telling you everything, I want you to tell me what you intend to do."