A Lost Ballroom of Gold: A Fire Emblem Three Houses Masquerade Rarepair Zine

Wistfully, Marianne lifts her drink to her lips and lets the cool, fruity cocktail wash her worries
away. But her glass is empty far too soon, and after setting it down on a tray, she decides that the
mystery has gone on for far too long. This is her first official event as a host, and while she has at
least vague knowledge of every other guest, she knows absolutely nothing about Ionia. Without a
doubt, that has to change. Her honor as the new Marchioness feels at stake.

With a deep breath and a final, resolute gathering of her strength, Marianne leaves the safety
of the refreshments table and begins making her way towards the fountain where the quartet
performs. She waits awkwardly for a lull in the music, and when it finally comes, she slips into the
crowd of dancing nobles. She steps around couples and singles alike, winding through the maze of
color until she finally comes across Ionia.

“Um, I’m sorry to interrupt you,” Marianne starts, as she taps her guest gently on the shoulder,
but she doesn’t have the opportunity to apologize further before Ionia twirls around to face
her. To her surprise, Ionia breaks into a kind smile and makes use of their new closeness to take
Marianne’s lifted hand in her own, then sets her other hand on Marianne’s waist. Marianne
squeaks at the unexpected touch, Ionia’s gesture, but there’s such a familiarity to it that any
distress she might have felt is overridden by Ionia’s care.

“You can make it up to me by being my partner for the next set,” Ionia says, her voice a low
rumble that spreads down her arms into Marianne’s own and through her chest. It sends a thrill
through Marianne, and she finds herself nodding despite her reservations.

With a delighted chuckle, Ionia sweeps her into the flow of the music. While she takes the
leading role, her gaze occasionally flickering down to the ground to make sure the steps they
take are the right ones, Marianne in turn struggles to figure out the game that Ionia seems to be
playing with her as an unwitting participant.

“I, um, I wanted to say,” she begins awkwardly, “I’m afraid that I misled you earlier tonight.”

“Oh?” Ionia lifts her brows as she glances sidelong at Marianne. “How so?”

Marianne smacks her lips together as she tries to piecemeal together the way she wants to
phrase her confession. “I gave you the impression that I, uh, know who you are. That I recognized
your name, at least. But, um, the truth is that I really… uh, don’t.”

“You don’t?” To Marianne’s surprise, Ionia just laughs again as she twirls Marianne around to
the music wafting through the air. “Well, that’s no surprise.”

Marianne starts, taken aback. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“I mean,” Ionia says with a smile, “you know me. But Ionia isn’t my name.”

Marianne can’t believe her ears. If what Ionia is telling her is true, then she’s basically
let a complete stranger into her home! But she’d been let through the front gates with her
invitation, so she was obviously someone that had been invited in the first place. She closes
her eyes and sighs in frustration.

All of the pieces are there in front of her. She just can’t—she can’t put them all together in a
way that makes sense.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispers with a shake of her head. “I really don’t know who you are.”

“Then allow me to jog your memory, Marchioness,” Ionia whispers, mere moments before
dipping Marianne low and claiming her lips for her own.

Marianne’s knee-jerk reaction is to draw away from Ionia’s kiss, but, once again, the familiarity
that’s been following her around all night washes over her and overwhelms her senses. She knows
Ionia; she knows her kiss.

She’s brought back to her adolescent years, to a starry night at the window of the Goddess
Tower. She’d gone there to escape the frenzied activity of the White Heron Ball, but to her dismay,
someone had already laid claim to her sanctuary. It had been then that she’d had the chance to
speak with Edelgard, to do more than marvel at her strength from afar, and it had been then that
she’d fallen in love with Edelgard’s vision of the future.

And, well, perhaps Edelgard herself.

She remembers a warmth welling up in her chest, as well as a newfound determination to see that
vision to fruition by Edelgard’s side, and following Marianne’s whispered question and Edelgard’s
whispered permission, Marianne had leaned down to gently, sweetly kiss Edelgard in response.

Ionia’s lips feel just the same as Edelgard’s had, long ago on that fateful night, and despite the
different color of her hair, the name that she’d been given, and all the other things that fail to line
up, Marianne knows without a doubt that the woman above her is Edelgard herself.

“What happened to your hair—?” Marianne gasps once she and Edelgard part, reaching out
to rub the strands of Edelgard’s brown hair between her fingers. Breathless, her lilac eyes aglow
behind her mask, Edelgard shakes her head.

“It used to be this color when I was younger, actually,” she says with a chuckle. “It’s quite
a long story though.”

Drawing herself up to her full height, Marianne clasps Edelgard’s hands in hers. “I want
to hear the whole thing, Edelgard,” she says. “Tell me where you’ve been. Tell me why you’ve
been gone so long. Tell me—”

“I will, I will,” Edelgard promises. “Now go; I’m sure there’s other guests vying for your attention.”

Marianne shifts her weight on her feet, humming indecisively. Edelgard has a point, she knows,
and there are several other partygoers staring at them curiously, but it’s been so long since she’s
seen Edelgard that she’s reluctant to pull away.

In the end, the decision is made for her as she hears another guest calling out for her. With a
deep breath, Marianne squeezes Edelgard’s hands tightly.

“Promise me you’ll stay after the party ends,” she urges Edelgard, even as she’s drawn away by
her responsibilities. Edelgard nods in agreement, and Marianne is whisked away.

Being Marchioness is no longer the most bizarre thing that Marianne can think of. No, no—
that honor has been quite handily given over to her sudden reunion with Edelgard. But as strange
as the evening has turned out to be so far, Marianne doesn’t think it’s been all that bad.

She glances back over her shoulder to where Edelgard enjoys herself and her brief anonymity
for the night, then returns to caring for her guests with a smile.

No, it hasn’t been bad in the slightest.









Wishes and Dreams

“You look best in blue,” Hilda admits, holding her head in her hands as she rests her elbows on
her knees.
“I know,” Marianne says with a half-smile, “you’ve told me before. But I always wear blue. So
maybe… something different this time?”

“I think you’re a little pale to pull off pink, and you’d look washed out in a silver… try a black, maybe?”

“Black is for mourning,” Marianne mumbles, moving the dresses along the rack. Her hands
stop on a particularly bright yellow dress. The fabric is soft, and when she pulls it out, it’s covered
in gold glitter. It’s maybe a bit much for the occasion, but Hilda doesn’t fail to notice the way
Marianne’s eyes light up at the sight of it.

“Try it on,” she encourages, and when Marianne turns to her, she nods. “If it’s not right, there’s
no harm done, you can try another.”

Marianne nods, and heads towards the boutique’s fitting room, Hilda hot on her heels. It was
Hilda who recommended this tiny shop in Derdriu. Marianne has never known anything about
fashion, so it was nice to have a friend like Hilda who was on top of things like this. She helps
Marianne into the dress – the latest in Derdriu fashion – and pulls the laces tight on the back,
tying them off in a bow.

“You’ll have to get someone else to help you into it at Garreg Mach, but it looks great on you,”
Hilda croons, peering over Marianne’s shoulder to look into the mirror. “What do you think, though?”

“I like it,” she says with a smile, a proper one this time. “It’s so… different.”

“Everyone at the ball is going to have to pick their jaws up off the floor when you walk in, Marianne!”
Hilda says. “Oh, and you have to wear my accessories, I’ll make you some specially to go with this!”

“Don’t worry about that,” Marianne mumbles. “You have a lot on your plate at the minute.”

“Never worry about that! I can juggle everything on my plate and find time to make my best
friend some jewellery and a few hair clips. I promise.”

“Thank you, Hilda.”

The journey to Garreg Mach is as long and boring as Marianne remembers it the first two
times she made the trip. The first to go to the Officer’s Academy, sent unwillingly as a student.
Back then, she had almost crippling social anxiety, and didn’t really want to be alive, never mind
studying to become a soldier. There were upsides to the monastery of course, her friends being the
main one, but being sad most of the time really sours Marianne’s memory of the place.

The second time, somehow, was less bad. She travelled under the cover of night, on her own
horse from Edmund, meeting up with Lorenz and Lysithea on the way. Somehow, making that first
part of the journey on her own gave her confidence, and she found herself more able to speak out
at war councils and in social events. When she left Garreg Mach when the war was over, Marianne
knew that the rest of her life would not be anywhere near as bad as the start.

For the last three years, she’s been studying. Night and day, she reads and writes – heavy
textbooks, magic tomes, letters, essays, theses. Her goal is to become an orator. That’s the short-
term goal at least, helping the Alliance in peace talks with the remainders of Faerghus and
Adrestia. To change things on the borders with Almyra and Sreng. To let the people of Brigid and
Dagda free from the grasp of the Empire, now that it’s gone.

The main goal, long term, is to take over House Edmund when her adoptive father steps
down. It’s something that’s been mentioned in passing. Margrave Edmund is in good health, but
Marianne thinks it’s nice that he’s planning for her to take over. If they were to go by old rules of
nobility, she would have no claim to the house whatsoever, and so it’s important to her that she
does get her claim – in her adoptive father’s eyes, she is the rightful heir to the House.

“Everything okay?” Her travelling partner asks, pulling her out of her stupor. Claude von
Riegan is a busy man, a man she hasn’t seen for the best part of three years. He looks no
different than he did when he was leading the Alliance in war, aside from the fact that he’s
grown his beard out a little more – somewhere between what’s fashionable in the Alliance and
what is common for those from Almyra.

“Just reminiscing,” she admits. “It’s strange to be going back here, don’t you think?”

“Oh, absolutely. I haven’t been back once since I left. I know Byleth isn’t too happy about
that,” he says with a grimace.

“The professor will be glad to see you, I’m sure.”

“And you! It’s been a long time; someone really should’ve visited between then and now.”

“I haven’t seen you either,” Marianne reminds him, and he rolls his eyes.

“You’ve been doing an excellent job on your own. Anyone who can keep Lorenz under control
at the Roundtable Conference is a saint in my book.”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” Marianne giggles.

“Oh, I definitely would. Saint Marianne, with healing skills to rival Saint Cethleann’s, and
a heart twice as big.”

“If you said that in front of the professor you’d be executed for blasphemy.”

“You say that as if the professor actually cares about the church. Rhea left it to him, and that’s
the only reason he’s still there. He’ll probably run off as soon as he gets the chance.”

“I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing everyone again, though,” Marianne says, changing
the subject from her saintliness out of embarrassment.

“I’m not looking forward to arguing with Lorenz again. Or Ferdinand, for that matter. I can get
along with Sylvain just fine.”

“I feel a bit strange to be coming along,” Marianne admits. “Ferdinand and Sylvain are
representing Adrestia and Faerghus, Lorenz Leicester and you Almyra… and I’m just there.”

“You’re representing all the sane people in the Alliance,” Claude reminds her. “There’s still a
split over people who think that the Empire was in the right, and those who agreed with our attack
on them. We’re struggling to unite as it is, and that’s where you and Lorenz both come in. A united
front from the country’s leaders, to show that we are getting along properly.”

Marianne nods, and sighs to herself. There’s a lot of pressure riding on this conference – many eyes
will be on them, trying to gather the pieces necessary to have peace in Fódlan once and for all. She may
not feel as important as she actually is, but regardless, Marianne is determined to do a good job.

Garreg Mach looms tall in the distance. Marianne feels nervous for the first time on this
journey. Three years isn’t that long, but she’s been so busy these last three years, accomplished so
much for herself, and so much for Edmund. She’s hopeful, though, that this whole event will go
smoothly, and she won’t accidentally cause trouble for herself.

Marianne elbows a sleeping Claude in the ribs as they approach the gates, effectively waking
him up. And a good job too – Byleth is there to greet them, as well as the teachers, Knights of
Seiros and all the current students of the Officer’s Academy. Their school year is almost over, with
the Millennium Ball just around the corner, and their final exams just around the next one.

They wave excitedly as Marianne and Claude pass – sometimes, she forgets that Claude is a big
deal, being the heir to the throne of Almyra, the current Duke Riegan, and the man who led the
Alliance to victory in the war with the Empire. Marianne is much more occupied with waving to
Annette, Bernadetta and Linhardt, some of her closest friends from her days at the academy.

The carriage comes to a stop, and fully ignoring her travelling companion, Marianne
practically leaps into the arms of her friends, a genuine smile on her face. The smile is
infectious – soon all her friends are smiling too, glad to see each other after what feels like a
much longer time than it really has been.

She’s quickly ushered away by Byleth and Claude, waving over her shoulder to the crowd
that’s gathered. They walk through the monastery, headed in the direction of the stairs to the
second floor. Marianne breathes in the familiar smell of the monastery’s wooden facings, the
lingering scent of cups of tea taken in offices. She remembers well the long winding corridor to the
cardinal’s room – much easier to traverse when she’s not rushing to get there in a long dress.

They’re the last to arrive. Sylvain offers a friendly wave and Ferdinand a polite nod of the head,
while Lorenz tries to hide his disgust at their apparent lateness. Marianne takes a seat in between
Claude and Lorenz, and folds her hands carefully on her knees. Byleth starts the meeting, his voice
just as monotone as Marianne remembers from her days as his student.

Sylvain is the first to talk, outlining the state of the former Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. It seems
to mostly be at peace, with most of the citizens accepting their fate without much complaint (“the
Faerghus way,” explains Sylvain). They’re a little shaky without a proper figurehead like Dimitri
was, so Byleth appoints Sylvain as the official Faerghus Ambassador on the spot, to which he
responds with a polite amount of shock and decorum.

Ferdinand is in the same boat as Sylvain, except with a lot more civil unrest. Many of the
Adrestian people agreed with Edelgard and her ways, and want to see a complete reformation of
the church at an absolute minimum. Thankfully, Byleth agrees to their demands, and appoints
Ferdinand as his Prime Minister for Adrestia, the title he was always meant to take, albeit under
different leadership.

Lorenz and Marianne explain their situation together, though Lorenz does most of the talking.
It’s clear that Claude is barely listening when he speaks, though he pays full attention when
Marianne tells her side of the story. The people of the former Alliance need as much help as the
rest of Fódlan – historically the poorest, though a much more multicultural country that still held
onto its nobility system as if it were the only thing holding it together.

As Marianne explains her points of view, pointing on the map laid out, handing out copies
of a dossier her father helped her make, she feels a surge of pride in her chest. Not only is she
successfully delivering her well prepared presentation, but she is the only woman in the room –
the only woman invited to sit at a table of men who outrank her, and she is speaking on the same
level as them. She can’t help but smile when she sits down.

Claude’s speech is the most interesting – Almyra is doing a lot better financially after the end
of the war, what with their army being hired by Fódlan to assist Claude. Their economy is booming
with the loosened border restrictions, allowing trade to flow more freely across the two countries.
While Fódlan’s Throat is still tightly guarded, Almyran traders are now free to come and go as they
please, provided they have the necessary paperwork. Perhaps this makes Holst Goneril angry, but
above all else, it amuses Claude.

As the meeting comes to an end, Claude vigorously shakes Marianne’s hand, mouthing ‘well
done’ before he follows Byleth out of the room, already in another conversation. She finds herself
smiling once again, and makes no attempt to hide it behind her hand as she tidies her things away.

With a friend like Hilda, Marianne has lots of experience of trying on dresses. She’s become
an expert in doing her own corsets up, lacing and pulling tight with only a mirror and her own
muscle memory to help her. This is a useful skill tonight – after a week of long meetings, tonight’s
overrunning, she gets to attend the White Heron Ball.

She’s well aware that this is the highlight of the year for most of the students. When she was
attending the Officer’s Academy she spent the whole month dreading the event, and made every
excuse to either not attend, and on the night itself, to leave as early as she could. Presumably
other students felt similarly, but their feelings were overshadowed by how exciting the event was
for the more extroverted among them.

Tonight, Marianne is determined to make this Ethereal Moon better than the one eight years
ago. She’s a different person than she was at school, she likes to think. More confident in herself, not
wanting to disappear off the face of the earth, determined to make a difference. And she likes herself
now, which she thinks is the most important. She’s happy enough to wear that bright yellow dress,
even though she knows she’ll stand out within a room of students in their evening uniforms.

When she makes it to the ball, fashionably late, Bernadetta is quick to ambush her, grabbing onto
her arm as Marianne reaches for a glass of champagne. She’s secretly relieved to see the teacher
wearing a long pink dress that barely grazes her ankles. Marianne isn’t the only one dressed up for
the event, and though she loves her dress dearly, she’s glad to not stand out too much.

Not that she could, really, with Lorenz and Ferdinand both in attendance. Claude’s traditional
Almyran get up has all eyes on him too, and Sylvain has made an effort as well, though it’s unusual
to see him sitting talking to Annette casually, rather than in the middle of the dancefloor.

Marianne takes a seat with Bernadetta, the two finally having the chance to catch up. She’s
asked to dance by both Claude and Ferdinand, but turns them both down in order to speak longer
with Bernadetta. The girl in question has no intentions of dancing herself, happy to share gossip
about her fellow teachers with her friend.

It takes a lot of Marianne’s willpower not to make eye contact with the man who stares at her
from across the room. Professor Linhardt, as he’s come to be known, has always had an interest in her
and her Crest for as long as she’s known him. He’s always been kind, if a little pushy, and Marianne
can admit to anyone that asks that she did have a little bit of a crush on him during the war (but she
always put this down to his kindness and the fact that all emotions were running high due to the
circumstances, and was happy to ignore it and forget that those feelings had ever existed at all).

But tonight he sits across from her, offering her a soft smile when she happens to turn her
head in his direction. His hair has grown even longer, it seems, and she wonders vaguely if he’s
ever actually cut it. He wears something that looks similar to the robes he wore at their meeting a
few days prior, but these ones seem fancier, emblazoned with more gold embroidery.

As she talks to Bernadetta, out of the corner of her eye she notices that Linhardt has gone
missing. Perhaps this is a good thing, she thinks. Her eyes will stop wandering to him when she’s
trying to have a proper conversation. But then he appears right in front of her instead, causing
both Marianne and Bernadetta to jump in alarm. He holds his left hand out to her, the other arm
tucked behind his back.

Miss Edmund, I don’t suppose you’d like to dance?” He asks, tilting his head a little with a wry smile.

“No need to be so formal. You know me better than that, Linhardt.”

“Just a little joke.”

She hesitates for a moment. He raises an eyebrow. Bernadetta elbows her in the ribs, and
Marianne finds herself placing her hand into his own without much else thought. He pulls her to
her feet, and they find themselves on the dancefloor without much effort.

Linhardt’s hands are cold – one held within her own, the other one freezing on her waist, even
through the layers of her dress. Marianne doesn’t dare comment, happy just to be dancing with
him. It’s a little bit of a strange feeling – she’s not a particularly accomplished dancer, and she’s
surprised that Linhardt is. He leads her around the floor with ease, while she just concentrates on
staying upright and not standing on his toes (or her own, for that matter).

“Is everything okay?” He asks, peering down at her with concern on his features.

“Oh, yes. I’m just very tired after the travel here, and the back to back meetings, and sleeping
in the Knight’s quarters while they’re away isn’t the most comfortable of situations.”

“Ah, I understand that well. When we first arrived here, Bernadetta and I, that’s where we
ended up as well. Not the most pleasant sleeping arrangements. We eventually got our own
quarters, of course.”

“Are you enjoying teaching here?”

“Less than Hanneman is enjoying his retirement, I would assume. Though he stops in from
time to time to check that I haven’t broken any of his equipment. There are only two crest reading
machines in Fódlan now – one in my possession, and the other in his.”

“I suppose that most people no longer feel the need to check for crests. At least in the old Empire,”
Marianne muses, letting go of his hand to gather her skirts while they spin.

“True. I doubt I will ever have children of my own to test for Crests. A lot of people would think
that immoral, I suppose.”

“You’re not old yet,” she soothes, “if you still want to have a child, I’m sure… that the right person
will come along for you.”

“Unfortunately, the person I am interested in seems most uninterested in me,” Linhardt says, and
Marianne can hear him sigh with more than exertion from the dance.

“I’m sure… I’m sure things will work out for you,” she says, offering him one of her rare smiles.

The rest of the dance passes in relative silence, Linhardt occasionally humming along to some
of the patterns in the music. Eventually, the dance comes to an end, and the two bow to each other
in the traditional manner. They make their way away from the dance floor, and it is then that
Linhardt turns to Marianne, an unfamiliar look on his face.

“Care to join me for a walk?” He asks, and this time, Marianne does not hesitate before saying yes.

They end up at the Goddess Tower. It’s cold up this high in the middle of winter, and Marianne
finds it hard to suppress a shiver. Linhardt seems to notice this, and moves to stand closer beside
her, in the hope that some of his body heat will emanate off him and towards her instead.
“I’m surprised there aren’t students up here, what with the legend,” Marianne mumbles,
leaning against the railing, looking down at the monastery below her.
“That’s Annette’s job for tonight, actually. She’s supposed to be keeping them all away from
here. It’s entirely off limits to students, but that doesn’t stop them from trying, unfortunately.”
“Is it off limits to staff too?” Marianne asks, teasing evident in her tone. Being up there
reminds her of being in school – breaking the rules in order to spend time with someone special.
This was never something she did, but she heard enough stories from Hilda to have a strange
sense of wistfulness about the experience.
“Probably,” Linhardt shrugs. “Rules have never stopped me from doing what I want, though.
Why, I even snuck into the Holy Mausoleum one time. It’s really not that interesting.”
“Don’t let anyone else hear you say that,” Marianne warns, but her threat lacks all strength
when she smiles softly.
“It’s nice to be up here,” Linhardt says, blue eyes staring intently into her own. “You
can see everything.”
“Yes,” Marianne agrees, finding herself unable to pull her gaze away. “It’s a nice view.”
“Do you believe in the legend?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve even thought about the legend. But I like to think that the Goddess
will grant wishes… I have no evidence that she actually does, however.”

“Do you have a wish? They say if a man and a woman wish for the same thing, it’ll come true.
That sounds a bit too specific for my liking, but we may as well give it a try.”

“I… yes, I suppose I could think of something,” Marianne says, taking a step back from the railing.

“Then tell me, and I’ll wish for the same thing. Then the Goddess will apparently grant us our wish.”

Linhardt holds his hands out to her, palms up, and Marianne is quick to place her own hands
atop his. She takes a deep breath, trying to form the wish in her mind, trying to get the words just
right, trying to ignore how Linhardt’s eyes are sparkling even in the low light.

“I wish that we can come to an agreement about the political state of this country and the
surrounding ones, so that we can live in peace for at least the rest of my life, and hopefully the
lives of many generations to follow.”

“That is a good wish,” Linhardt concludes. “Though it sounds like you’re going to have to do
some hard work to make that happen.”

“Yes, I think so. It’s very tiring, all this… politics. I enjoy what I do, but that doesn’t mean that
it wouldn’t be nicer if the whole thing was a lot easier. Perhaps with the Goddess on my side, I’ll be
able to make a breakthrough in these meetings.”

“I have every confidence in you, Marianne.”

Still smiling – so unusual for her – Marianne drops his hands, instead folding them carefully in
front of her. Linhardt continues to stare intently at her, and she finds her mouth dry and her hands
shaking. Since when was she this nervous around him?

“Do you have a wish?” She asks.

“I don’t think it counts if we make more than one wish,” Linhardt says, finally tearing his
gaze away from her.

“It’s just a legend,” Marianne reminds him. “It’s nice to believe that the Goddess grants every
wish made here under her very specific set of circumstances, but it’s a little silly to think that she
doesn’t listen to other wishes, or that… or that I won’t listen to your wish. I’m not the Goddess,
but I am your friend, and I’d like to help, if I can.”

“I find myself with a problem,” Linhardt begins with a sigh. “I would very much like to be
romantically involved with someone I know, but I have no idea how to approach them about the
subject.”

“Oh, I’m not sure I know how to help with that,” Marianne laughs, tucking a stray strand of
hair behind her ear. “But I think an honest approach is best.”

Linhardt considers this for a moment, staring at his feet before looking back at Marianne.
There’s something almost entirely unreadable in his expression, and Marianne finds herself
swallowing hard.

“Then let me be honest. Marianne, I am in love with you.”

“Oh! I-“

“You don’t need to say anything. In fact, it’s probably better if you don’t say anything. This
whole affair is rather embarrassing.”

“No, I need to say something. I… well, I don’t know about love. That’s perhaps a step too far.
But I do care for you dearly, and…”

“Truly?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Linhardt.”

“Oh.”

“Then… well, can I kiss you?” Marianne asks.

Linhardt doesn’t respond with words, just taking a step forward and lifting Marianne’s hands
within his own. She stands on her tiptoes in order to be able to reach his mouth, but the second
her lips meet his, she finds herself melting, Linhardt having to bend down instead, tilting his head
to deepen their kiss.

She finds herself sighing as she pulls away, which turns into a laugh when she sees residue
from her lipstick on Linhardt’s mouth. Marianne is quick to rectify it, running her finger across the
smudge. Linhardt laughs, a joyous sound, and pulls Marianne close to his chest, his arms wrapping
around her.

It helps with the cold somewhat, but it’s much better to know that she’s cared for here
within his hold.

“We should head back to the ball. I’m on clean up duty,” Linhardt says with a sigh,
mumbling into her hair.

“I have another meeting in the morning,” Marianne agrees, beginning to pull out of his grip.

“Then you should get some sleep. If you have some time after your meeting, I would love to
have dinner with you.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged.”

“I’ll walk you back to your room, then. Bid the lady goodnight.”

“You have a job to do,” Marianne reminds him, “though your romantic tendencies are… appreciated.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” Linhardt asks, voice hopeful.

“Of course.”

Linhardt is quick to swoop in for another kiss, a goodnight kiss that leaves Marianne giggling.
He gives her a wave as he descends the stairs, and another when he’s at the bottom. She waves
back, finding herself almost giddy. Perhaps she doesn’t love him, not now, but that crush of hers
from the war is back with full force, and maybe, in time, that will grow into something special.





Underneath the Stars

“Annette stop!”

Frozen in her position, Annette turned her head towards Hilda behind her. The confusion was
clear on her face. She opened her mouth but when Hilda pointed at the ground, Annette closed it
without saying a word. Though when looking down, her dress blocked her view. “What’s there?”

With an amused expression, Hilda left her position on the bed and crawled towards Annette. “I
don’t think you’d be able to dance with Mercedes if you slice up your foot.” With those words, she
grabbed the hand mirror from the ground and waved it at her.

“Oh, no!” Annette looked at the mirror in Hilda’s hands and for a moment the nervousness for
today’s evening made place for the fear of breaking it. “That would have meant seven years of bad
luck!”

Hilda played with one of her pink hair strands and twirled it around her index finger, tilting her
head left and right while she looked at herself in the mirror. “What would happen? Getting even
clumsier?” A cheerful laugh escaped her with the mental image.

“Hilda!” Annette exclaimed, cursing the dress when she took a step forward, “Don’t jinx
it, please!” She didn’t need bad luck, even less today when she was spending the evening with
Mercedes and all of her boisterous feelings for the older woman.

With a long yawn, Hilda fell back on Annette’s bed, both arms and legs stretched far from
her body. “I wish, I could go, too,” she confessed and stroked her hair out of her face. “But I’ve
promised Holst to help him out.”

“That’s still too bad!” Annette turned around, facing Hilda. “I’d love to share a dance with you!”

“Oh, oh! Annie, my darling!” Hilda swung herself up in a sitting position and clapped her
hands together. “I’m pretty sure your eyes will be on Mercedes all night long anyway!”

“Wha-?!” Annette’s words stuck in her throat and her face turned bright red. She wasn’t able to
get an immediate counter out. Her mind was running miles, thinking hard about a sassy response.
In the end, all she was able to spit out while stumbling over her own tongue was a simple denial.
“That’s-That’s not true!! Some of the others will be there, too!”

The smile Hilda’s lips formed in combination with the slightly squeezed eyes were everything
needed for Annette to turn away, arms crossed in front of her chest. Her heart was beating fast,
and she was sure, cooking fried eggs on her cheeks would have been a cakewalk.

With a soft sigh, Annette dropped the pout on her lips and loosened the grip on her arms. She
leaned forward to have a closer look of the make-up Hilda helped her with. It made her eyes shine
bright. “What about you?”

“Hmm?” Hilda crossed her legs and supported her elbows on her knees. “What’s with me?” she
asked with a voice that bubbled over with innocence. There was no way, Hilda wouldn’t know what
Annette had meant.

“You know,” Annette swallowed the lump in her throat down. “Is there anyone you like?”

An amused laugh escaped Hilda. “Of course!”, she answered her friend and counted on her
finger. “There’s Marianne, Caspar, Lysithea, Balthus-”

With each person Hilda listed, Annette’s eyes grew bigger until she realized, Hilda was teasing
her. “Wha- Hilda!” She didn’t know what she actually wanted to say and Hilda burst out in a loud
laugh and held her belly. “Hilda!! That’s not what I meant and you know that!”

When Hilda was able to stop laughing, she swiped the tears in the corner of her eyes away. “I’m
sorry,” she apologized and clapped her hands together. “Can you forgive me?”

Annette had her lips curled and her arms crossed again. “Maybe,” she then agreed. “If you buy
me a piece of my favorite cake!”

“Alright!” With that out of the field, Hilda rolled herself out of the bed and walked towards
Annette, pulling a bit on the puffy sleeves of her dress and adjusted one of the clips that was
supposed to be hidden in the orange hair. “It’s about time you meet up with Mercedes.”

Hearing the few syllables of her friend’s name made Annette’s heart skip a beat. To get
herself together, she clapped her cheeks and grabbed the mask. Hilda helped her to put it on. “I’m
nervous,” Annette said when she got the full picture of herself in the mirror.

“It’s horrifying, right?” Hilda’s voice had changed from teasing to soft and empathic. “But I’m
sure you’ll rock that.” Then, for a brief moment, her eyes widened, and she raised her finger. “I
almost forgot something!” With that, she left Annette’s side and rushed towards her bag, taking an
object out of it before she appeared right next to her again.

Before Annette was able to ask, Hilda reached around her shoulders. She flinched in surprise.
The metal of the necklace was cold on her skin, but she instantly loved the filigree design of the
charm when her eyes fell on it.

“It’s a lucky charm for the clumsiest person I know,” Hilda explained and elbowed Annette
gently. “It’s a heart sitting in a paper plane. You never know where your life will go but your heart
will always find the right direction, Annie.” With that, she kissed her friend’s cheek. “So don’t
overthink it.”

It took all of Annette to hold back her tears and not ruin the hard work, Hilda has put into her
make-up. “Thank you, Hilda!”

Hilda smacked her back and smiled at Annette. “Thank me by not stumbling in your heels or
over your dress. Don’t get your drink on anyone else and don’t step on Mercedes’s feet-”

“Hilda!! Stop that!!” Annette interrupted her and while taking a footstep forward to put
emphasis on her words, she tripped by stepping on the hem of her dress. Lucky for her, Hilda
caught her.

“I’ll bring you to the dance hall. I’m not sure if I can leave you unsupervised,” Hilda said and
laughed behind her hand. Nonetheless, her amusement was visible in her eyes. “Or else you may
break your leg before it even started.”

A light pink decorated Annette’s cheeks, a pout her lips.

When they stepped outside together, it was still warm but the sun was setting. Voices came
from all sides and it was a colorful ocean of dresses and suits. Annette couldn’t help looking down
on her own, stroking over it gently. She had memorized the feeling of the fabric, therefore even
with gloves, it felt soft.

Annette, you can do it. One step after another and speak one sentence at a time.

“Annie, sweetheart, are you listening to me?” Hilda asked next to her while she walked her
friend to the entrance of the huge building. Annette looked at her, a clueless expression on her
face. “I asked if you have your ticket with you,” she repeated her question.

For a brief moment, Annette’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. She did have it with
her, didn’t she? “Of course, it’s right here in my-”

“Dearest friend’s hand.” Hilda laughed and hit her head with the ticket. “You’re such a big
airhead.” Then she carefully hugged Annette. “I swear, if you don’t tell me all the news, I’ll find
ways to torture them out of you.”

Annette couldn’t stop the giggle coming up and reassured Hilda that she would be the first one
to hear everything. “Thank you for helping me out.”

Hilda waved briefly at Annette while she walked towards the entrance door, scanning the
area for Mercedes.

“I’m here, Annie!”

Scared like a kitten, Annette felt as she jumped a few meters up.. “Mercie!”

If she was honest, Annette merely recognized her friend thanks to her gentle voice. The dress
Mercedes wore was out of this world and the mask on her face complimented the outfit fully. It
was hard for her to say something about it without sounding like a naive child trying to describe
the show they loved. “You look beautiful.”

She sounded worse.

Mercedes gave a light bow as a thank you, raising the dress a bit. “I’m honoured to hear that
from you. Your dress looks marvelous on you, too. I almost didn’t recognize you with it.”

With a soft hug, they greeted each other and Annette couldn’t help but notice the sweet scent
around her best friend. “I’m sorry, did you wait long?”, she asked her and nervously fidgeted with
her fingers.

Mercedes shook her head. “I’m fine, Annie. Ashe was here until a moment ago and I had the
chance to talk to Ingrid.” With an elegant movement, she stroked a loose hair strand behind her
ear and tapped her mask a little to adjust the position on her nose.

Hearing the casual talk, gave Annette the chance to relax both her body and mind, and she
jumped onto the wagon. “Oh, I’m glad! I haven’t seen them since we graduated. How are they
doing?”

“Hmm,” Mercedes hummed and offered Annette an arm to which she linked them happily.
“Ashe is here with Dimitri. Did you know they ended up dating right after our graduation?”

Annette shook her head. She didn’t know about the love life of her former classmates because
back then she was too busy studying to notice her own feelings. “They always looked good
together. I’m happy for them.” She didn’t like it but a bit of jealousy washed through her body.

“Right?” Mercedes gave her ticket to Seteth, who was controlling all the tickets, and received a
colorful paper in exchange. “I feel like we will get wedding invitations soon!” A lighthearted giggle
followed her words.

“Oh? I hope we can attend it together by then.” It took her a confused look from Mercedes, to
understand what she had dropped “I mean- work! We are both working so hard that-!”

Amused, Mercedes shook her head. “Oh, Annie!”

After receiving her own paper stripe, a light orange, from Seteth and the best wishes for the
evening, she followed Mercedes to the huge bamboo stalk which was overflowing with knotted
papers. She took one of the pencils and started to write her wish down:

I always want to be with Mercedes. Don’t let me ruin our friendship.

She had thought a long time about what she should write down as her wish. Annette walked
over to knot it onto the bamboo and made sure nobody was able to see it. Though when Mercedes
appeared behind her, she flinched back and held her hand in front of her heart. “By Sothis, you
scared me, Mercie!”

“Oh?” Mercedes smiled at her. “Do you keep any secrets from me? Writing about your crush?”

Does she know?! Is this some twisted thing of fate?

Annette was pretty sure her heart stopped working for half an eternity and it was only when
Mercedes bumped her fist slightly against her shoulder that she entered reality again. She blinked
a few times and the horror scenarios faded into the back of her mind.

“It was a joke, Annie.” Mercedes looked at Annette. “We both know, it’s a bad omen to
reveal the wish you offer the stars this night.” With a gentle gesture, she took Annette’s
hand and squeezed it.

A nervous laugh escaped Annette.

Mercedes tilted her head and her eyes softened more. “Is anything wrong? You’re acting not
like yourself today.”

Annette’s eyes fell down on their joined hands and took a deep breath. “Everything’s fine,” she
answered and gave it her best to convince Mercedes with one of her cheerful smiles. “Really, it’s
just the lack of sleep because I was reading too long into the night.”

The worried expression on Mercedes’s face faded slowly, yet, before she was able to say
anything else, Annette pulled her into the crowd of dancing people. “Come on, let’s dance.” She
cheerfully smiled at Mercedes and actually felt the stiffness going away.

It was not a song Annette knew, but she couldn’t care less about it while she danced through
the ballroom with Mercedes by her side. It made her feel all bubbly and happy when the skirts of
their dresses flew together; the music twirling around them.

Being like that with Mercedes felt close to dancing on top of fluffy clouds. Light-hearted and no
worries about feelings. The two of them together as they were still going to the academy, carefree.

“Annette! Mercedes!”

Both of the girls turned around when they heard someone calling them from afar, searching
the spot where the voice was coming from. Annette instantly knew it was Sylvain. Even his red hair
usually stuck out in crowds, it was actually hard to find him right away with the people around them.

“Oh no, I’m disappointed, girls,” he dramatically sighed behind them and both Annette and
Mercedes turned around to him. “How did you not see me? Don’t tell me I lost all the brilliance I
had back in the academy days.”

Both girls hid a laugh behind their hands. “I don’t know which brilliance you’re even talking
about,” Annette teased him and elbowed his side. Without doubt, Sylvain still had this brotherly
aura she always felt around him. “Definitely not the brilliance in knowing what girls want.”

Sylvain laughed about her counterattack. “Ouch, that hurt real bad!” One of the girls,
each linked with one of his arms, guided them through the crowd to the side where they
were able to talk a little bit better. “So how are things going between you two? It’s been so
long since we saw each other!”

Annette’s face flamed up, and she was about to panic, looking down to the floor and unable to
take a glimpse of her friends right in front of her. Even less bringing out one word.

“Sylvain,” Mercedes spoke with her calm voice, “you know we work at the Monastery so paying
us a visit wouldn’t hurt you, right?” A soft smile appeared on her lips.

In his defense, Sylvain raised both of his arms, his hands flat in front of him. “I’m in high
demand. It’s hard to find time off.”

A raised eyebrow was the answer of both girls and Annette was glad about the change of topic.
She loved Sylvain, but she didn’t trust herself to not tell him things right here.

Dramatically, Sylvain placed his hand over his heart and the other one over his forehead. “The
girls don’t trust my words anymore. What has happened?”

Annette was unable to stop the laugh coming out of her throat and she felt so light. How did
Sylvain always manage to blow away all her worries? “You’re such a dork, Sylvain, do you know this?”

“You’re too nice, Annie,” Mercedes said and elbowed the redhead in front of them. “I’m glad
you’re doing fine though. It’s gotten so hard to meet our old friends regularly.”

“You’re right but we shouldn’t overshadow the evening with sad thoughts,” Sylvain said and
gave both of the girls a brief hug, not wanting to ruin their dresses. Then he adjusted the mask on
his face a little bit and bowed in front of them. “I’ll have to excuse myself now, ladies.”

“See you later!”

When Sylvain had disappeared in the crowd, Mercedes turned around to Annette. “What about
we get some drinks and take a small break from dancing, Annie?”

With Sylvain’s lighthearted aura missing, Annette could feel the nervousness creeping back
into her stomach. Slowly, she nodded as an answer to her friend’s question and blinked a few
times to focus on her. What would she give to be able to be her quirky self right now. Instead, her
stomach made loops and she felt unwell.

Annette was pretty sure she wouldn’t touch any of the alcohol but maybe some cold grape
soda could help her calm down and make that dizzy feeling go away. However, before Annette was
even able to take more than one step forward, she stumbled and fell against Mercedes.

“Annie!”, her friend exclaimed worriedly and held onto her friend to offer her support, trying to
help her back up in a straight position. “What’s up? Don’t you feel okay?”

Annette wanted to deny it, to say that she was okay and took a wrong step only, but she knew
Mercedes would see through her lie without any second of hesitance. “I feel a little bit dizzy. It’s
probably the warm air.”

Mercedes raised her hand towards her face before lowering it again, realizing that she wasn’t
able to check Annette’s temperature with the mask blocking her skin. “Maybe we should go
outside for a little bit,” she suggested and after Annette had nodded, she guided her into the
backyard of the building.

It was almost empty outside, merely a few couples getting some fresh air, too.

To be honest, Annette was feeling better with the fresh evening air. Yet, the fact that she was
close to Mercedes, and the wind making her flowery scent dancing around her nose in its purest
form, didn’t help her to actually get rid of the dizziness.

Carefully, Mercedes guided her to the fountain and helped Annette to sit down before she
placed herself next to her. “Annie, you should have told me that you are not feeling well.”

Feeling guilt creeping up in her body, Annette fidgeted with her fingers on her lap and pulled on
the tips of her thin gloves without pulling them off. “It’s just- I kinda forgot when Sylvain was here.”

For a moment, Mercedes’ eyes widened in surprise even Annette wasn’t able to see it. “Sylvain
always had that kind of impact on you, huh?”

“Yes!” Annette answered without hesitating and not realizing the change in Mercedes voice,
her lips forming a soft smile. “He’s good at boxing me out of my mind and forcing me to enjoy
my time with other things than books.” She looked up at the sky, the moon and stars visible. “He
always was like a big brother to me.”

Her eyes wandered from the sky back down to her fingers. “I miss him around the monastery,”
she confessed to Mercedes, again not noticing the change in her posture, relaxing with her words.
“So much has changed since we all graduated.”

“You’re right,” Mercedes agreed and shifted a little bit in her sitting position, the fabrics of her
dress shifting. “But being here with you, it almost feels like being back in our academy days.”

“Oh but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed.”

“Me and you, right?” Mercedes looked up at the sky now before her eyes wandered to her
friend. “We’re the same old friends we always were.”

Annette was unable to look back at her, eyes focusing on her hands. “Yes, we are the same-”
She stopped her mouth before she was able to finish the sentence. Was that how Mercedes thought
of them? Friends and nothing else? Was that her answer? It hurt more than she had expected.

“Annie? Is something wrong?”

With Mercedes’s worried voice, her arm around her body and her scent being more present
again, Annette couldn’t stop her next words from bursting out from her. “I don’t want to ruin our
friendship.”

Confusion was clearly written all over Mercedes’s face and for a moment, she didn’t know
what to say. “Why would you ruin our friendship, Annie?”, she asked eventually, her voice soft and
reassuring. “Has anything happened?”

Annette didn’t answer and her brain was running miles after miles because she wasn’t able to
grab one coherent thought.

“Annie, you know you can tell me everything, right?”

A nod was her answer, her eyes glued onto her own fingers intertwined. “I love you, Mercie.”

The second the words were out, Annette couldn’t tell if she felt better or worse about the
situation. Still, the moment of silence between them let her heart slip down her body, down to her
slightly hurting toes.

Did she choose the wrong words? For sure there had to be a better way to confess your feelings
without being so direct. She never felt comfortable hiding it but on the other hand, she was never
able to gather enough courage to confess her feelings.

“I love you, too, Annie.”

The words almost felt like a soft breeze, disappearing before Annette had a chance to notice
them. Yet, Annette couldn’t help but looking up from her hands, to Mercedes. Her heart beat super
fast and her face felt extremely warm.

Annette opened and closed her mouth like a fish on land. “But I mean in a romantic way,
you know? I know it’s weird after all those years but when Felix was visiting half a year ago, he
smacked the words into my face and-”

“What words?”, Mercedes interrupted her and despite it being barely visible with her mask, she
had raised her eyebrows.

“Oh, uhm-” Annette was caught off guard. “I can’t hear about you two lovebirds anymore,”
she then answered eventually, parroting Felix’s grumpy voice. “I’m sorry mister I’m-the-best-
swordsman that I talk too much-”

Mercedes raised her hands to stop Annette from talking. “Annie, Annie!”

The second she heard her name in Mercedes’ voice, she stopped talking, only staring at her
while realizing what she said hit her hard.

With a soft smile on her lips, reaching her eyes, Mercedes grabbed Annette’s hand and
intertwined their fingers. “Annie,” she said and leaned in closer to touch their foreheads with each
other. “I feel exactly the same way about you.”

The warm breath of Mercedes on her cheeks and lips gave the butterflies another excuse to dance
in loops in her stomach. She really hoped she wouldn’t mess up the moment now. “I’m sorry, I just-”

Before she was able to finish her sentence, she felt the warmth of Mercedes lips on hers. It was
a brief moment, half a second, but it was enough to fully relax and kick her worries far away.

“Can you- uhm-” Annette swallowed hard and chewed on her bottom lip. “Do this again?”

A chuckle escaped Mercedes before she cupped Annette’s face and kissed her tenderly.









“Oh Annie, are you sure it suits me?”

“Course it does, Mercie.” Annette paused

Mercedes thanked her friend with a smile
worn, with a silhouette common in Duscur. The
with what they could find during trips to the fa

If she was being honest, she quite liked th
shocking in how it felt to wear something so di
her usual full skirt, her curves were more prom

Staring at herself covered in swathes of se
suited her. The delicate beige shells, the bodice
embellished. Mercedes truly did feel gorgeous. A
like the Goddess or Saint Seiros would’ve been
pantheon and explained invoking their image w

An added benefit had been giving busines
the gown, what with the fittings with the seams
Dedue in his own outfit, homaging the earth-go

The snap of a cosmetics case closing drew
party is the most exciting mission I’ve had in m

“Dedue and I appreciate the backup,” Mer
typically be invited to attend. Accompanying Fa
friends. “We know how busy you and Dimitri ar

Fleckerl

in her primping to look her way, blue eyes flitting over her figure. “You make everything you wear gorgeous!”

e, then considered her own reflection one more time in the mirror. The ball gown was in a style she’d never before
e seamstresses’ she commissioned the piece from did not have access to traditional materials, and so made do
abric market.

he gown by itself, with its finely sewn in patterns and textures she traced with her fingertips. It was simply a bit
ifferent from her usual, more conservative outfits. She could see her arms through the sleeve fabric, and without
minent. But she did not feel uncomfortable, In fact...

eafoam whites and hazy purples, while a departure from her usual choices, Mercedes couldn’t help but find it
e’s cut emphasizing the curves of her torso in a way that looked lush, like the rolling tide rather than artificially
Almost like she was living up to the idea of the gown— to pay homage to Duscur’s sea-goddess, Yedurja. Dressing
blasphemous, but Dedue had been the one to suggest commissioned costumes in tribute to his culture’s
was an act that honored the Duscur gods.

ss to the Duscur people living in one of the poorer districts of the capitol. This wasn’t the first time she’d worn
stress, but it was the first time it had come all together with cosmetics and Annie’s help. Mercedes had yet to see
od Yeduardo, and the possibilities of how he would look fluttered inside like butterflies.

w Mercedes back to the present, and Annette turned towards her with a grin. “And to be honest, ‘infiltrating’ a
months!”

rcedes smiled back. Her adoptive father attended many high-society gatherings, ones neither of them would
aerghus’ royal couple neatly sidestepped that issue, though she hoped this favor wasn’t a burden for their
re these days.”

“It’s no trouble at all, Mercie!” Annette strode up behind her. She was wearing a beautiful ball gown, cinch
a few petticoats. The gown was gold and accompanied with another ribbon-festooned cape. The final details wer
though it unfortunately only brought her to the height of Mercedes’ chin.

She gave Mercedes’ arm a reassuring pat. “When you two came to us with the information on the party, it w
floor. “...Well, it’s not confirmed, but still interesting that there are so many previous Empire sympathizers going

“Oh, Annie...”

“But, that’s neither here nor there! Main goal: get you and Dedue a talk with Gobbo.”

“Yes... it’s long overdue.” Mercedes nodded. “With the number of business partners attending, my father’s

Despite the many, many letters Mercedes had written then posted, and even her attempts to visit the in-pe

Annette smiled at her in the mirror before linking their arms. “And when he agrees— because he has to agr
their gowns swish back and forth.

There had already been a simple ceremony, at a humble chapel with her only surviving family… but someth

“Yes, that’s what I’m looking forward to.” Mercedes’ tone was warm when she thought about the upcoming
the rest of the Blue Lions, where she met Dedue… she never would have expected to build such close and true bo
relationship. “Now, we should get going. Don’t want to be late.”

“Right! The boys will meet us there. Dimitri and I have complementary masks, so we’ll be able to find them
statement with a roll of the eyes, before tying on her mask, which was ridged and decorated at the ends to evoke

Mercedes turned back to the final, unopened package amongst the rest of the items. “Oh, right. I nearly lef

Just like the dress, the mask was truly a work of art: starting with shells gathered at the inlet just outside o
part of the mask rested on her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, the ends decorated with strings of glass beads.
shimmered in the light. Finishing off the mask was a gorgeous top ridge that circled her left eye, evoking a crest

hed at the waist with a sunset-orange ribbon to flatter her figure before branching out to a wide skirt assisted by
re long white opera gloves and high-heeled evening shoes. She had taken to higher heels since marrying Dimitri,

wasn’t something either of us could turn down. Also, there’s—“ Her friend paused, bright eyes looking at the
g to this party.”

sure to be there. He won’t be able to ignore us any longer.”
erson, her adoptive father had avoided contact since the first mention of her engagement.
ree— then you and Dedue will have the best wedding we can give!” She then twirled them around a bit, making

hing grander for her friends to attend would also become a precious memory.
g celebration. Her life had been lonely until she met Annette, and then when they all banded together among
onds with so many. And she was so happy that those precious people at least supported hers and Dedue’s

m. Don’t forget to bring yours, otherwise Lorenz will probably act like a stuffed shirt,” Annette ended her
e a sunburst.
ft it behind.”
of Fhirdiad, an artisan created a mask that truly befit a ruler of the sea. The shells were carved and curved so that
. The sides fanned out, giving the impression of fins that were decorated with strung mother-of-earl disks so they
ting wave.

As they traveled through the streets of Fhirdiad in their prepared coach, Mercedes took the time to ask abo
hadn’t been able to speak with them much as of yet.

“Ashe and Ingrid have been a big help, even though she has to go back to Galatea territory more
which is actually kind of a surprise...”

“Those two certainly voiced their complaints about noble society, in school and during the war. It’s impres
previous compliance to expectation, how it was both scary and thrilling to step out of line. “Everything I’ve hear

“I don’t think it’s that special, in a sense. When you think about it, a lot of terrible things happened becaus
our part in paving the way for a better future. Even if it gets flack from some today doesn’t mean it won’t be wor

Yes, that was definitely frustrating. Some that sided with Adrestian troops had sought to curry favor with t
Annette tried to push it off, Mercedes saw a few strands of gray beginning to peek through the bright orange str
felled among the wreckage. Annette and Dimitri were trying to find another path.

Annette then clapped her hands together. “But! Enough about that. You still haven’t told me in detail abou

“Oh, nothing so dramatic. We just... went to visit my mother and Priest Faria. It’s the southwest corner of F
entire orphanage, despite ox carts making for a slow trip.”

It had been wonderful: Mercedes could still remember the looks of absolute joy on people’s faces when the
children might like, they filled up two ox carts and set off.

She raised her hand, lightly resting her fingertips on the jewel resting against her chest as she thought of i
gift of her own, in a small box by her bed that she placed in Mercedes’ hands.

“It was something your fat

Her father: her birth father, Lord von Martritz. She still wondered what he would have been like if she had
Martritz. Even if it was silly, having it with her made it feel like he was on her side, as well as her mother.

“That sounds wonderful, Mercie,” Annette’s eyes shined, even in the dim light only given by the outside oi

Mercedes smiled at that. “Yes, he’s truly a wonderful man. Everyone loved meeting him, both mother and P
without hesitation and the more reluctant orphans had been won over with the gifts. It’d moved her to tears to b
Most of all she hadn’t needed to explain, her mother had understood she was happy… how unfortunate it was th
There’s so much misunderstood about Duscur…”

out the welfare of everyone since she and Dedue had set off. Their return was still relatively recent, and she

e often right after rather than stay. Felix and Sylvain are doing pretty well handling their duties,

ssive how they’re changing the way things are done in the Kingdom.” That made Mercedes reflect on her own
rd about you and Dimitri’s proclamations seem to be just as daring, Annie.”
se leadership stuck to a status quo.” Annette shrugged, then frowned more seriously. “Dimitri and I want to do
rthwhile tomorrow. And yet… some still think my uncle’s public words were my private ones during the war.”
the young queen. Mercedes did not know their aims: whether for influence or clemency, they still came. Though
rands. Edelgard spoke of tearing down the walls that had brought them down, perhaps regardless of who would be

ut your travels after the war! Where did you and Dedue go to? Anything exciting?”
Faerghus on the Adrestian border, in a tiny farming village. Dedue was kind enough to pack enough gifts for the

ey came up the path into the village. Dedue had thought of it, and with some of her aid in understanding what the

it. Though it was traditional in Duscur for the bridegroom to bring gifts to the family of his intended, Portia had a

ther gave me on our wedding day.”
had the chance to know him. In a way, the jewel was the only thing she had of him, of anything of House

il lamps that lined the street. “Dedue seems to share and understand what’s important to you.”
Priest Faria gave us their blessings.” Kindly and accepting as ever, the old priest had openly welcomed Dedue
be with them all again, the villagers even visiting the chapel to ask about her life and meet her companion.
hat her adoptive father refused to understand. That he continued to reject Dedue. “If only everyone could see it.

Annette’s mouth closed, and Mercedes could tell that her jaw was clenched, how she usually got when she
rebuild the lives that were taken from them. You and Dedue are already doing that yourself... and, if it’s alright,

“Yes, they took such care making this for me.” Mercedes couldn’t help but run a hand over the embroidered
silk to be finer. Some might’ve critiqued the lack of petticoats and other layers, but the seamstresses knew their
seamstresses lived and worked out of a small section of the capital, in what some referred to as ‘the slums’, and
translation that their costumes had been commissioned, brought to life through his peoples’ dedication and har
customer in the future.

“I’m sure they’d do the same for you. Maybe we can even make Duscur fashion a trend.” She also added, fe

“Absolutely.” Annette replied. “I will help make it a trend, but after tonight, I know people will be running

Mercedes nodded, knowing well how fashion trends were set. Attending large celebrations thrown by nobil
especially the haughty squawking. In Adrestia it had been her mother who’d pointed this out to Mercedes, how s
would be set during these big events. Although it felt like a lifetime ago when she’d been a noble daughter of Ho
During those quiet years living in Priest Faria’s church, with dances held over-energetic children merely celebra

After being claimed as Herime Gobbo’s adoptive daughter Mercedes had been forced back into the featheri
to be ogled and gossiped about, because she hadn’t thought to disobey. It’d changed somewhat after meeting An
with purpose, and more importantly by choice.

Her loved ones and a gorgeous dress only helped her determination to leave the masque-ball with no regre

The crier wearing muted beiges with a simple domino mask called out with a ringingly loud voice, “Her roy

Annette began descending the stairs with a proud grace once announced, while keeping her arm linked aro
drilled into her until she’d begun to move like this— in the same careful way Dimitri moved. Although Mercedes
energetic, usually clumsy friend looking every inch a queen.

was set on a task. “Times will change again. And we will do everything to ensure the people of Duscur can
I would love to commission an outfit from the ladies that made your dress. It’s gorgeous.”
d material of the skirt, a linen locally available yet so carefully dyed, cut, and stitched she couldn’t imagine
craft in how comfortably the gown felt on her figure, all according to another culture’s fashion. The Duscur
Mercedes wouldn’t have known if Dedue hadn’t guided her to the shop. It was through his presence and
rd work. Mercedes would tell anyone who’d listen the origins of her dress, and very much intended to be a repeat

eeling a little punchy. “And better than Adrestians getting all the tailoring business.”
around like chickens trying to copy your outfit.”
lity was akin to walking amongst a flock of earthbound birds— the exotic colors, the swanning about, and
silly they all could be, and helped teach her how to look through the tomfoolery and understand what trends
ouse Martritz, and then House Bartels… and then the untitled child of Portia von Lamine for years and years.
ating life in the moment.
ing of grand balls, sent costly gowns in styles she’d never choose for herself. She’d worn them, paraded around
nnie, being able to attend with a friend and then even more in Garreg Mach. But tonight she’d feathered herself

ets tonight.

yal highness, Annette Fantine Blaiddyd and her lady-in-waiting, M.”
ound Mercedes’ arm. Since even before she’d married into the House of Blaiddyd, royal mannerisms had been
s had been present to witness the lessons and transformation, it always left her a little in awe to watch her over-

Even the turns of her head were measured as Annette searched through the crowd, until she gave a small

“They do rather stand out,” Mercedes whispered as they descended the stairs. Both the blond and darkly sk
advantage. She also couldn’t help but notice the large amount of cleared space around the men, and the looks b

“All the better that they are our beloveds.” Annette breathed a small sigh of relief as they moved closer am
whenever he gets nervous...” Annette whispered back.

Mercedes recalled how Dimitri stood hunched and listless those early days after reunion. “He’s come a long

“Mm. If only everyone saw that...” Annette replied, before the two of them easily passed into the cleared sp

Dedue Molinaro, her battle-hardened yet soft-hearted suitor. Her gentle, pretty beau with his plush mouth
most aimed insults at him that he’d not dignify with responses. Mercedes thought their barbs were partly fueled
cosmetic could hope to achieve. She knew and loved his face, almost felt as if she could see beyond the cover of

Yet if Dedue was a gem, then his setting for the night polished the sight of him to splendor. He wore a Dusc
his forearms yet billowy about his upper arms, and matching loose pants. The finely-woven cotton was dyed a d
looped over both his shoulders, but trailed farther down his left side. A tasseled sash of blue, gold, and umber wa

Like the rest of his ensemble, Dedue had commissioned his mask from his countrymen, providing lumber f
embroidery on his robes, he Duscur the craftsmen hand carving geometric patterns like mountain peaks in the h

He was a dazzling sight, one she could hardly tear her eyes away from— yet Annette letting go and walking

Dimitri’s tall figure was covered in blacks and silvers: a fitted black doublet with slashed sleeves that displa
fur-trimmed cloak. His mask was more unusual: a silver half-moon which covered half his face, bad eye, and cur

However, it appeared to sit uncomfortably as Dimitri was fiddling with the mask’s tie about his head. “Anne

“Of course! Just bend down for a moment—“ Annette went onto her tip toes to assist, even in high heeled s

Yet when she did, a stray loop of ribbon on her glove snagged the end of his crescent mask, making his hea
clutched at the impacted body part, trembling with mouths screwed up in what might’ve been an attempt not to

l gasp of delight seeing two tall figures in one corner. “Ah-ha! There they are.”

kinned men towered over the surrounding crowd— simply by having good posture and a goddess-given vertical
being shot by surrounding strangers at the taller of the two.

mong the bedazzled and dazzling guests. “I’m glad Dimitri doesn’t seem too nervous. His shoulders hunch over

g way.”

pace, filling up the gap.

h, strong jaw, and thick, long eyelashes that most women envied. Yet rather than compliments on his comeliness,
d by jealousy, insulted that this uncommon man from Duscur was more beautiful than any costly cream or
the carved wood mask.

cur fashion called agbada: an embroidered robe which fell to his knees, with double sleeves with a pair tight on
deep blue and embroidered with angular patterns in gold thread. A burnt umber scarf with similar embroidery
as tied at his waist, secured by a broach with the familiar winged shape Dedue had always worn about his person.

from a tree that grows exclusively along Fodlan’s north-western mountains. The result was as arresting as the
honey-colored wood. Sparkling glass beads in blue and yellow added streams of color to the lower corners.

g to her husband’s side had Mercedes’ gaze following.

ayed a pale undershirt, dark riding boots with diamond cutouts revealing a lighter layer of leather, and a familiar
rled from his forehead all the way down to the edge of his jaw.

ette, could you perhaps help me with this mask? I’m afraid I put it on incorrectly.”

shoes Dimitri still towered above her.

ad tilt up quickly and his chin hit Annette’s forehead with what appeared to be no little force. Both of them
o scream out in pain.

Mercedes had to raise a hand to her mouth and stifle a laugh, as she asked, “Are you two alright? If you nee
Once sure of her composure, she brought up both hands in a pose to cast a healing spell. Yet both Dimitri a
Beside the king, Dedue heaved a sigh. “Your Majesties...”
“It’s fine! I have a hard head!” Annette declared with a shake of her head.
Mercedes allowed herself to chuckle. “I just noticed how you two match.”
Annette’s smile stretched into a grin, though still resembled a slight grimace. “Mm-hm! It was Dimitri’s id
Dimitri’s other hand was rubbing chin but his gaze was unclouded as he said, “Yes, I was inspired by yourse
Though he was wearing a mask that covered a portion of his face, Mercedes could tell by how he shifted fro
turned back to give his undivided attention to Mercedes.
Dedue’s smile, sometimes only reserved for more intimate moments, graced his features when he looked a
“Good evening, Mercedes.”
“Good evening.” Mercedes’ heart fluttered, despite the easy familiarity of his attention. “Did we keep you w
“No. We arrived soon before you two,” Dedue frowned, turning more serious. “I’m afraid it’s been difficult t
“Well, that’s no trouble. At least Lorenz was kind enough to share the invitation list, so we know he’s here.
“Right. He will not slip from our sights,” Dedue continued to hold her hand in his, as if not wanting to brea
With releasing the arm, Annette flashed them a thumbs up. “We’ll see you both later, then!”
Dimitri nodded with a smile. “Ah, very well. Good hunting, my friends.”
For a moment Dimitri’s eyes flashed with a look that more suited the battlefield, but it quickly vanished as
incensed, offering to visit far harsher things on the merchant should tonight’s plans at locating the man fail. It w

ed I can...”
and Annette lifted up one hand to wave away the offered spell, strained smiles curving two sets of mouths.

dea.” She wrapped her own arms around her husband’s, looking content with the closer proximity.
elf and Dedue. Moon and sun, earth and sea.”
om foot to foot that Dedue was embarrassed. “Yes. It was a surprise when you decided to follow our idea.” But he
at Mercedes. Once they were beside each other, he gently took her hand, thumb brushing over the top of her palm.

waiting, Dedue?”
to track Lord Gobbo’s location so far.”
. We’ll find my father together.”
ak the contact they had before turning to Dimitri. “Your majesty, I will my leave to search with Mercedes.”

s he looked back at Annette. Both Mercedes and Dedue had shared their struggles with the king and he’d been
was comforting and disturbing in turns, knowing everyone cared enough to be angry on her behalf.

“You two have fun.” Mercedes waved, walking off with a hand tucked against the crook of Dedue’s elbow. A
the surge of the sea changing tides. “My... you wouldn’t guess most of those guests had been fawning over Corne

“Duke Rowe, I would be happy to discuss rebuilding our fair Faerghus at next week’s scheduled council meetin

“Indeed.” Dedue frowned with only a momentary glance back. “Smiling faces tend to hide the most easily tur

Mercedes smiled sadly at that truth, how very different such people were to Dedue’s unwavering loyalty. “The

“That they do.” Dedue turned back to her, and for a moment felt like he was about to speak his past words, b
people are drawn to each other.”

Mercedes thought of her adolescence, year spent in the School of Sorcery and how she gravitated to Annet
Let alone that she’d care about someone like me... But I’m sure Dimitri’s thought the same about you, Dedue.”

“If he has, then I also think of his virtues in turn, as Annette has of you to me and I’m sure a fair amount o

“You’re all too kind...” Her smile dimmed a little. Her mind recalled all those who’d wanted to use her in th
nobles trying with Annie and Dimitri made her angry, just like how she has to resist glaring at the guest scurryin

Dedue gently squeezing her hand again brought her back to the present. Offering her a small smile, “I mysel

It was so odd, but in such a comforting way, that Dedue seemed to know what to say to assure her. Not belitt
we’ve found and dealt with my father.”

“I look forward to it.”

They both begin to look around more earnestly. As expected, a fair amount of the costumes were popular empi
she’d framed Dimitri? How many toasted to the destruction of the Kingdom’s autonomy in the hopes they would b
old thoughts and outdated feelings of superiority.

As they moved away the crowd who had been standing at a distance began to move towards the royal couple, like
elia just a year ago with the way they’re swarming Dimitri and Annie.”
ng!” Annette’s voice carried over the din of the crowd, a high-pitched politeness covering her anger and irritation.
rned blades.”
ey have us and know which friends are true.”
but then turned from searching to catch her gaze.“Honestly, they are rather lucky with friends. I suppose good

tte. She nodded, “I would’ve never dreamed of meeting someone like Annie, so bright and determined and kind.

of others.”
he past— her step father, her adoptive father —how she’d been willing to let them. But the thought of those
ng out of their path, away from Dedue.
lf cannot think of a more ardent defender than you.”
tle, but truly understand. Mercedes felt herself blush, but she squeezed back. “You flatterer... tell me more, after

ire styles that Mercedes could remember seeing in her childhood. How many of them had supported Cornelia, after
be the selected few, not knowing what plans Cornelia and her allies had in mind? And yet, they still clung to their

As they approached t
waltzing music started t
gathered to the danceflo

Dedue held out his ot
we dance our way throug

Mercedes looked at h
“Oh! You know... how to

She’d learned ballroo
over: with mother, with
under tutors paid for by
thought Dedue would ha
learn at the castle, even
And from their discussio
way in which the People
was completely different
Fodlan’s ballroom.

“Dimitri taught me a
ball at Garreg Mach. Sinc
might be dancing at this
a few more lessons.” His
away, looking a tad shy. “
way through a decent wa

Mercedes pictured th
and wondered how many
upon. She smiled brightl
hand, “Yes, I’d love to da