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A young woman was currently running through Askr’s castle. Her beautiful white hair swayed from side to side with every step, and despite the difficulty in doing so due to the purple Gremory attire she currently wore, she persisted while lifting both sides of her dress. Her reason for doing so is that the results for the Choose Your Legends voting gauntlet had just been announced, and she was running towards the second-place victor for the men’s division.
After a few moments of running, the white haired beauty had found her target, without a moment’s hesitation, pounced on him while his back was turned.
“BYLEEETTHHHH!!!” she said, voice filled with excitement.
In a matter of seconds, the Tested Professor found himself being hugged from behind with arms over his shoulders, the culprit a woman he held very dearly to his beating heart, and currently, their faces were right beside each other.
“L-Lysithea! I mean, Lys!!” Byleth said calmly despite the welcome surprise.
“Congratulations on winning second place, Darling!” Lysithea said, kissing his cheek in her excitement.
Currently, the Earnest Seeker herself was filled to the brim with happiness, causing her to act even more childlike; such behavior from her occurred when she indulged in her favorite sweets or when it involved her favorite person in all of Askr, just as it did now.
“Thank you, Dear, it means so much to me!” the professor said, giving a gentle smile to his beloved.
“I cannot wait to see the outfit you shall receive, the possibilities that they can come up with,” the scholar said, already thinking of the many outfits that could be given to her darling.
After a few moments, she released her hold on him, dropping her feet to the ground, and proceeded to run in front of him. As their eyes met, both could see pure joy within them, despite Byleth’s being more subtle.
“I wonder that as well. It is also quite coincidental that you and I managed to take second place in the voting gauntlet,” Byleth stated.
A fact proven by her second-place victory in the women’s division during the gauntlet's fourth year.
“Yes, coincidental indeed, now then, what attire shall they give you?” Lysithea said, placing her finger on her chin.
The noble had begun to list off the ideas she could come up with as Byleth listened and gave his own opinion.
“The Sothis Regalia, you would look quite wonderful in it!”
“I would rather not,” the professor said, not wanting to copy the exact clothing of his female counterpart.
“But the female version of you was given the Regalia, was she not?” Lysithea stated.
“She was, but I don’t see myself wearing something similar to hers.”
Byleth’s female counterpart from another world had claimed victory during Choose Your Legends' sixth run. After claiming victory, she was gifted the Sothis Regalia, a beautifully adorned attire similar to the one the goddess of the same name wears. The outfit itself was beautiful, but he felt unwilling to wear it, for reasons not even he wanted to explain.
“Then what about the attire your father wears? I have no doubt it would suit you,” she said, giving her second option.
“That’s quite the suggestion,” the instructor said, already imagining himself wearing his father's battle clothes.
To wear his father's clothing was quite an interesting thought; he cared deeply for his father, after all, Jeralt was the only family he had growing up. To be able to wear something similar was almost welcoming, but still something to be considered.
“There’s also one more outfit they could give you,” Lysithea said with a playful smile.
“Oh, and which one is that?” Byleth asked, puzzled by his beloved's reaction.
“How about we wait and find out?”
The tested professor’s confusion rose ever more, to most it would have been hard to tell, but to the earnest seeker, it wasn’t that difficult to see what went on in his mind. They were together after all, but she figured it would be fun to play with him a little.
Months Later
“You look so handsome, Byleth!” Lysithea gushed, enjoying the view of her beloved right before her.
Before her, did not stand the professor with his dark clothes and black overcoat; instead, there stood a student of the Officers Academy donning a uniform of black and silver, black gloves, and a matching hat and cape for added effect.
Byleth himself felt a bit ridiculous, an instructor turned student, not to mention the hat and cape didn’t help.
“Are you sure, Lys? I feel ridiculous, and why are you wearing that?” the professor turned student said.
Lysithea herself was wearing a modified version of her Officers Academy uniform; the overall look was the same, the only difference being that it had been adjusted to fit her more mature physique. Or rather, her taller height.
“I’m very sure, and why am I wearing this, you ask? simple so that we can share this feeling,” Lysithea said, answering his question.
“Now come along, we will show ourselves to our fellow allies.”
With that, the scholar took her partner's hand and proceeded to accompany him as they walked around Askr together.
Throughout the whole day, the couple visited various locations. They went shopping, sightseeing, and even stopped by famous cafes to taste their delicacies. Along the way, they also ran into their many friends from Fodlan and the many other worlds the Order had visited. Byleth himself even earned a laugh from the likes of Leonie and Shez.
When asked for the reasoning behind going around Askr, Lysithea would answer that they were helping Byleth get accustomed to his new outfit, but he knew what it was. The trip itself was, in actuality, a date. A date that made up for the amount of time they couldn’t spend together due to their stations and eventually, the war to come. No longer a forbidden romance between teacher and student, but now between two equals.
As night fell, the couple dropped off their purchases in their shared room and from there they proceeded with their ‘date’. As they walked, both of them found themselves in a garden with a beautiful pond at its center, reflecting the gorgeous moonlight. Giving it a magnificent glow.
Seeing a nearby bench, the couple sat down.
“Haaaaah, what a lovely day, don’t you agree darling?” Lysithea said, sweetly.
“It truly was, it was wonderful to roleplay as students, no doubt something you wanted us to do while at the academy,” Byleth said, responding to his lover.
Despite his response, the scholar was relieved to know that her significant other understood the assignment.
“Of course, you and I have had feelings for each other for the longest time, and because of that, we weren’t able to fully enjoy ourselves the way we wanted to.”
“Because of our status as teacher and student,” the professor said solemnly.
“Not to mention the war that came, and your disappearance,”
Even today, the five years he went missing, or in his case, fell into slumber, still felt fresh in his memory. Five years of conflict and bloodshed, and he couldn’t even be there for the one he loved most. The pain she must’ve felt having to endure that long wait, the happiness and tears falling from her eyes when he returned. He would never forget it, not now, not ever.
“I’m so sorry, sorry I left you alone, the pain you must’ve felt…I.”
Before he could finish, he felt a pair of soft lips place themselves onto his. After a few seconds, they removed themselves, and a soft pair of hands fell onto his cheeks.
“You came back to me in the end, we also have our future to look forward to,” Lysithea said with a smile.
“You're right,” Byleth said, returning a smile of his own.
After a few moments, the couple readjusted themselves on the bench. Byleth had lain himself flat, taking up both ends, while Lysithea found herself lying on top of him, face planted on his chest.
“Byleth?” the scholar asked.
“Yes, Dear?”
“How would you feel about having a family?”
A question that he would often think of from time to time presented itself. After the war's end, he envisioned how life would be for both of them. To wake up and see her right beside him atop their very own mattress, freed from her shortened lifespan, to go so far as to imagine small, innocent children running around. They would have both their looks and personalities. Truly, a future he desired with her.
“I would love that more than anything,” the professor said happily.
"Then, once everything is settled, for now let us enjoy being students," she smirked.
Once more, she kissed him, a kiss filled with love and passion. Eventually, to breathe, they had to separate.
“But when the time comes, I get to be the mother,” Lysithea said proudly.
“And I get to be the father,” Byleth said, just as proud.
As if on cue, a set of fireworks began erupting into the beautiful night sky; perhaps it celebrated them, or perhaps it was truly a coincidence; regardless, they remained happily staring at them, focusing on the future.
Elsewhere in Askr
“So Felicia tripped, somehow had a match in her hand, and managed to set off a bunch of fireworks,” Corrin said, surprised by what he had just heard.
“Y-yes, I truly cannot fathom it myself, my love,” Flora said, speechless.
“I’m so sorry, darling!” Felicia said, embarrassed at her misfortune.
Seeing the look on their faces, Corrin spread his arms out, inviting both of them to a hug, one which they happily accepted. Nothing warmed his heart more than having the women he loved within his arms.
“It’s alright, accidents happen, besides, it was a nice night for fireworks anyway,” the fateful prince said, smiling happily at his beloved maids.
"We love you, my love/ beloved," both maids said simultaneously.
"I love you both," the fateful prince said.
With that, the three of them looked up at the fireworks and enjoyed them together, smiling happily.