I WILL BRING TRUTH.

      THE IMMEDIACY OF HER RESPONSE HAS THE EFFECT of a swift blow to the gut. ashe isn’t sure what to do about it. for a man who’s loyalty roots deep within himself he finds himself at an impasse. for what is the point of loyalty to one who does not value nor desire your allegiance. therefore he remains still, brows furrowed as his eyes move to fix on the woman he’d abandoned his country to stand alongside. 

      ❛    YOUR MAJESTY, THERE’S NO NEED TO BE RASH.    ❜  is all ashe can manage to say, crossing his arms over his chest as he contemplates how to best go about this.  ❛    i have no intention of leaving your side. not yet. five years ago i promised i would do all that i can to aid you on this path you’re leading us.    ❜  not only that but ashe promised to himself that he would do everything within his power to put an end to the church so his family could finally have the justice they deserve. he sighs, dropping his gaze to stare at the floor pensively.  ❛    i’m just not certain this is the right path to tread. is all of this – will all of this destruction & bloodshed really be worth it? do we really have to kill our old friends to create a better future for fodlan?    ❜

𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗇𝗇𝖾𝗋 𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗎𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗅𝗂𝖿𝖾  &  𝗂𝗇 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝖾,  she’s forced to see it written in the way he holds himself before her------   how incredibly the urge to hurdle herself through the open window just a little ways from them grows.  a part of her knows that she’s being unfair to him,  she wishes she could have killed rhea all those years ago.  though..  what good does idling in the past do now?  she lets many moments pass before gesturing to the empty seats between them,  “please,  sit.  help yourself to some tea.  i’ve ordered much more than i can drink alone.”  

        “ ah — ? of course, edelgard ! what is it that you require of me ? ” count him lucky to have even had the honor of being approached by her. it must’ve been a truly tremendous day indeed !

❛❛    ferdinand,  i need a favor from you.   ❜❜  

𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖺 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗒𝖺𝗅𝗅,  packed haphazardly to the brim with sorrows not all of her own.  edelgard thinks it’s her punishment,  very much deserved------  though,  it doesn’t dull the ache in her head,  hiding just behind her eyes.  when ashe speaks,  the pain explodes into starred capsules;  if her rationale wasn’t so muddled with the day’s work,  she might have thought she were dying. 

THERE IS A SOFT HUM ‘PON HIS LIPS, GENTLY ACCOMPANYING YOUTHFUL FEATURES. his smile shining, burning brighter than an all consuming star, though the world beyond the monastery’s borders were most unkind. ❛  easy, easy ! it was only a joke, edelgard.  ❜  / @hresvlgse· !

“you look more uncomfortable than hubert.”  edelgard leans against the vacant wall next to yuri,  just behind all the tables  &  the bustling students.  she sports a bemused expression for ahead of them,  dorothea leads hubert in a theatrical dance---  the mix of displeasure  &  focus on his face.  never prone to forgetting her manners though,  she nurses two cold glasses of the weak wine the academy allows their students to consume in her hands  &  she’s thankful for its frigidity when the ballroom seems so humid.  “would you like a drink,  yuri?  it’s an awfully warm evening.”