#fe 17

“Uhh…Byleth? You in here?” He wasn’t entirely convinced the paperwork hadn’t swallowed you up and transported you to another world. It was just that staggering. “Damn, the emperor really has put you to work, huh? Isn’t this maltreatment?”

“I’m here, Lin.” Your hand popped out from the far side of what he assumed was a desk beneath all the parchment. “And it’s really not as bad as it looks.”

“Not as bad as it-- I can’t even see you in the room!” He protested as he waded into the room, cringing when documents crunched beneath his boots. Hopefully those weren’t too important if they were scattered on the floor.

He made it to your still-waving hand, taking it gently in his and pressing a swift kiss to your fingers. 

“Are you trying to romance me when you can’t even see me?” Your question was raised with an amused smile, which he was finally able to see as he came to your side. You didn’t look too worse for wear, mercifully, but the bags under your eyes were still concerning.

“I try to romance you at all times. Especially when you can’t see me.” He countered smoothly enough, settling your hand on his hip so he might swipe his thumb just under your lovely eyes. “...You aren’t sleeping much, huh?”

You looked away, caught red-handed. “Not lately. But it’s for good reason, I assure you.”

“Even though we’re in peace times, hm?” His fingers shifted over, running through your hair. “I know how important your work is, especially to you. But if you don’t give your body and mind some time to rest, it’s only going to hamper your health and your work. Which I’m sure you hold both in equal esteem, but…you know which one I’d prefer you watch.”

“I do.” You turned in your seat, resting your head against his body and giving him a squeeze. “It’s just important to Edelgard…and to me. We’re doing so well with rebuilding the- well, the continent, honestly. And that’s only because everyone’s been working so hard on it. I want to do my part, too.”

“But your part is burning candles down to the wick and then some. The paper castle you’ve built for yourself won’t get any smaller overnight.”

“There’s only so much I can do about that, but some of these documents must be completed by tonight. There’s a lot of things that require priority.”

“Really? Is the messenger going to pick them up first thing in the morning?”

“Well, no, usually it’s closer to midday.”

“Then we shall finish our work for the night and resume first thing in the morning.” He decided, plucking the parchment directly in front of you and holding it away from your reaching hands.

“But that one’s almost finished!” Your protests fell on deaf ears. The greatest advantage Linhardt had over you was his height extending far beyond your wingspan. You were helpless when he held your belongings over his head.

Granted, you could give him one good punch to the gut to bring him back to your level, but thought it might be a bit harsh to do to your soft, delicate beloved.

“Even better-- we can finish it right away in the morning.” He glimpsed at the ordinance, brow suddenly furrowing. “Wait…this is the one you’ve been working on?”

“One of many.”

“Are you aware that half the words in the opening paragraph are spelled wrong or completely illegible?”

“I- what?”

He handed it back to you, pointing to the aforementioned writing. “I can’t read anything after ‘Greeting Lord Vestra’, can you?”

“It’s not that bad. It says ‘I am writing in regards to…the…planned rebuilding of…” You squinted harder with each word, grasping the paper with both hands in an attempt to steady the squiggles. “...Carrot Town...?”

“Carrot Town.”

“......Perhaps I am a little tired.”

Linhardt was able to take it away without a fight this time, while you rubbed at your eyes. He offered his other hand to help you from the desk, which you were grateful to accept.

“It’s better to work with a clear, rested mind than rushing through a night shift with a muddle one, my love.” He reminded you gently, with just the slightest pinch of “I told you so” in his tone.

He steadied you while the both of you crunched through the paper floor, making it back to the office door with little issue. You could only nod, trying to bite back a yawn when you were exposed to the night air that had been cool and dark for the last six hours. The last time you’d been able to look out the doorway, it had been bright outside.

“Gods…dare I ask what time it is?”

“Better you don’t.” He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, drawing you close for your lovely evening walk from the office to your bedroom across the courtyard. “But I don’t plan on letting you sneak off to work this late in the future. I don’t like falling asleep alone; or waking up and you aren’t there. So, if you can find it in your heart to grant your husband’s deepest wish, I would like to go to sleep and try to wake up together from now on.”

“...How late are you going to let me stay up?” Your eyes narrowed, not liking the sound of his plans. He could easily clear a 10 hour sleep if Linhardt was tired enough. Just the thought of all the time you’d lose was enough to make your body tense.

“I won’t send you to bed after dinner, if that’s what you’re asking.” He laughed, “But if you could trust me with taking care of your wellbeing when you won’t, it would mean the world to me. We have a whole lifetime of paperwork ahead of us; so let me make sure you stick around for it as long as possible.”

“Will a good night’s sleep really do that much for me?”

“If it’s beside me every night, I assure you it will.” His smile was so warm, your heart skipped a beat. You looped your arm around his waist, to give an affectionate pinch to his side. 

“All right, all right. We’ll try this method. But if it starts impeding my work too much, we’re going to have to revisit it.” He kissed the top of your head. 

“Fair enough. Now let’s get ready for bed.”

Despite your wariness of his plot, you passed out in his arms 10 seconds after you crawled under the covers. Him stroking your hair until you slept certainly didn’t help; those wicked fingers of his were effective at soothing your weary soul.

So effective that you remained asleep until noon the next day. Linhardt woke up before you when the handmaid informed him the messenger was waiting for the completed paperwork for the town of Carridan's reconstruction.

Hubert was not amused when he opened the envelope only to find a hastily scribbled “Sorry, I’ll get it to you later” across an unrelated letter…that was also crumpled and stamped with a boot-print for good measure.