Chapter Text
Byleth has a life that most would envy.
She is the archbishop and future queen. She has political power, is a celebrated war hero, and wields a sword that can cleave a mountain in two. An astonishing number of the next generation of nobility, across all regions in Fodlan, are loyal to her and the king is openly smitten with her.
She has so much, yet Byleth is not happy.
Byleth doesn’t care about the Church of Seiros at all and finds the lessons Seteth has forced upon her boring and pointless. She doesn’t care about what the saints did or what Sothis supposedly decreed. She especially doesn’t care about how Lady Rhea would have done things. If Seteth didn’t want any changes, he should have insisted that there be no change in archbishop.
She has been more focused on changing the church so it can help more people, but the religious parts of the job are things Byleth actively dreads. The sermons, the ceremonies, the holidays, none of it interests or matters to her.
Not that her duties as future queen fill Byleth with anymore positivity.
She liked being a mercenary and even her time as an army’s chief strategist. This is very different and despite knowing it is all important, Byleth cannot say she is enjoying her life.
People depend on her and Byleth’s duties are necessary and crucial, but she wakes up every morning already wishing the day was over.
Byleth has reread this same document at least ten times. It is about the sewage system in Fhirdiad. Dimitri kept telling her that it was important to learn about the capital, but it is just so uninteresting that she keeps finding herself skimming the document instead of reading it.
Her musings are interrupted by knocking at her door.
“Come in.” Maybe this will be a good opportunity to take a break.
A maid quickly entered the room. “Hello Your Grace. The wedding planners are here as scheduled and would like to see you.”
Byleth did not know they were coming by today. Not that it really matters. She isn’t even sure why her presence is needed.
Her ideas are always shot down and nothing being chosen are things she likes. Valerian is apparently not a flower they should be using in the wedding and roses would be more appropriate. Byleth doesn’t even like roses. The ceremony is also supposed to take over an hour, even though there was an option that would have lasted less than twenty minutes.
It is also getting old watching everyone look scandalized when they get reminded that Byleth was not raised in nobility and doesn’t know much about it.
The wedding planners were particularly shocked when they realized she didn’t wear dresses or know the difference between one type of fork and another.
Byleth stands up with a sigh. “Alright, I’ll go see what they want then.”
The maid beamed at her as she turned away. “Of course Your Grace, I’ll go inform them.” The maid left with a skip in her step.
At least someone was excited about things.
“Thank you for coming Your Grace.” One of the wedding planners said as she entered the room. Byleth had been told all their names at the start of this ordeal but can no longer remember what they are. “Today we will be discussing the food for your wedding feast.”
Byleth can actually feel herself perk up at that. She loves food, so today should be better than usual.
“Now usually, the wedding feast, especially for a royal wedding is a grand affair with a large assortment of options,” the wedding planner continues. “However, we were asked by the council to make things smaller for your wedding.”
Byleth can feel her stomach drop. The one thing she was actually looking forward to…
“The council believes that showing modesty after the war is important. It will also show solidarity with the people dwelling in former imperial lands as they are facing a famine.”
Byleth can understand their points but finds it hypocritical since the planners are spending a lot of money on the ceremony and everything else. If given the choice, she would prefer a big feast and a much smaller everything else.
Not that she’s had much say when it comes to the wedding anyway. There’s no point in even speaking up anymore.
“All that being said,” one of the other planners interjected. “We are planning on turning what is usually a five or six course feast into a two course one. Do you have any preferences on what we serve? We have a few options of dishes prepared, using ingredients from all over Fodlan, if you’d like to sample them.”
“No, I don’t have any preferences.” Byleth likes all food anyway, it really doesn’t matter to her what specific dishes they pick. It might have been fun to try a whole bunch of them, but Dimitri isn’t even here to debate possibilities with.
Sure, he can’t actually taste the food, but he was bound to have some opinions.
“Just pick whatever you think is best,” she said. That was what they were going to end up doing anyway.
Byleth goes back to work and slogs through some paperwork. She knows it is all important, but today’s stacks are all about things she doesn’t care much about.
She just feels so tired.
Everything lately has felt so mind-numbing. When she took on the archbishop position Seteth and Rhea assured her everything would be fine. They promised the religious aspects of the job would be minimal, that her day-to-day life would largely be unchanged, that being the archbishop would all but guarantee that people would have to listen to her opinions.
Byleth cannot help but think she’s been swindled. There have been too many days when it felt like she was insignificant. Like the position mattered, but she did not.
Maybe she should try talking to Dimitri about all this. The king and archbishop were similar enough in status that he might be able to understand her struggles.
Besides, if his council was behind them not having a wedding feast, he might be able to help her. He certainly didn’t share her passion for eating, but Byleth had a difficult time imagining him agreeing to such an idea. Maybe if they both said no, the issue could be resolved.
Maybe. Hopefully.
Once it was around the time they usually had dinner, Byleth left her office to go to Dimitri’s. Whenever Byleth was visiting Fhirdiad they always made it a point to eat dinner together. On the occasions Dimitri was in Garreg Mach, they did the same thing.
Byleth knocked on his office door, but there was no answer. She tried again only to get the same result. Was he even still in his office? He couldn’t be on his way to hers, she would have seen him in the hallways.
Since there was only one way to be certain, Byleth opened the door, only to see Dimitri hunched over his desk. He looked to be deep in thought over his own paperwork, which might explain why he hadn’t heard her knocking.
“Dimitri? Is everything okay?” It’s not like him to be so engrossed with his work that Dimitri loses track of his surroundings.
“Beloved!” Dimitri immediately jumps up to greet her. “How long have you been waiting at the door?”
It lightened her spirits to see Dimitri perk up at the sight of her. “Not long, don’t worry.”
Dimitri’s smile somehow brightened. “Then shall we go get dinner?” He glanced out the window. “Apologies that I hadn’t noticed the time.”
Byleth shook her head. “It’s alright, let’s get going.” Unlike her, Dimitri actually likes paperwork, or at least the result of it. He seems to be thriving here. He once told her that every document he goes through represents people that he’s helping and that he had a lot to make up for.
She thought Dimitri was being too hard on himself again, but if it helps him get through the work Byleth probably shouldn’t complain about it too much.
Besides, Byleth is hungry and wants to get going. She also hasn’t seen much of Dimitri during this visit and would prefer not to waste any of their time together.
“Of course,” Dimitri gestured towards his door, “shall we be off then?”
Byleth nods and begins to exit the office, but the sound of a drawer opening draws her attention.
“Oh, sorry,” Dimitri was smiling sheepishly at her. “I’ve been keeping the ring you gave me in here for safety reasons. I sadly cannot wear it until I find someone who can quickly resize it for me. I like checking on it throughout the day though.”
That makes sense. It would be devastating if it got lost somewhere if it fell out of his pocket or something.
“I wonder what we’ll be having for dinner tonight,” Dimitri said as he led them out of his office. “I don’t think anyone came by to inform me earlier.”
“I’m sure, whatever it is, it will taste good,” Byleth assured him. Fhirdiad may not have the abundance of choices that Garreg Mach offered, but Byleth had yet to have a disappointing meal.
They did not make it far down the hallway when a servant rounded the corner in a hurry,
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” he called franticly.
Dimitri immediately sped up to meet the servant.
Byleth wasn’t sure what to do. Was the apparent issue any of her business? Until she was married, Byleth was in a bit of an awkward position. She was the head of an organization that had a lot of power while being distinct from the government. To keep things simple and fair, there were many things she and Dimitri just couldn’t share with each other.
“Beloved,” Dimitri’s voice cut through her thoughts. “I am afraid I will be unable to join you for dinner tonight.” He sounded so tired. “There has been an issue that requires my immediate attention.”
That usually doesn’t happen this late in the day.
“Do you need any help?” Byleth is willing to put dinner off for a bit if need be.
Dimitri shook his head. “No, I’ll be fine on my own.” He gently nudged her to continue in the direction they’d been walking. “I’ll try to be quick so I can still join you.”
“Alright.” Though eating in a large room alone is probably going to be awkward.
Dimitri bowed then walked off before Byleth had a chance to ask just what the problem was.
Once Byleth was done with her silent dinner she went back to her office. There was still a mountain of paperwork and she wanted to make a dent in it before going to bed.
The night was long and boring, like so many others lately.
Hopefully, things will get better once she finally has a chance to speak with Dimitri. They’ve just both been so busy lately that she hasn’t had much opportunity to do so.
Things will get better. Byleth knows they will, she just needs to keep being patient.
The next morning Byleth has a scheduled visit to the Cathedral.
Getting off the chair she fell asleep in is a chore, as it usually is, but Byleth does so without complaint. She ignores the dress some maids laid out for her the night before, as she always does, and instead dresses in her priest robes.
She would much prefer to wear her old clothes, but these at least leave her with freedom of movement. Byleth will still be able to defend herself with ease and not have to worry about tripping over the hem of a skirt or something. She isn’t sure why the maids don’t seem to understand that she has no intention of wearing any of the many dresses they’ve provided her. Either way it would be nice if they stopped. Getting ready to visit the Cathedral was unappealing enough without having to ignore the looks she gets when she doesn’t leave her room in something fancy.
Byleth never likes going to the Cathedral. The priests and bishops are always demanding and are continuously shocked about how little she knows and cares about their religion.
They are also always trying to get her to lead a sermon.
It’s just so exhausting. An hour at the Cathedral usually leaves her tired for the rest of the day and it’s not like she has the time to take a nap.
On the one hand, Byleth does understand their disappointment. The leader of their religion does not care about their religion. She is not devout, never has been, and never will be. Logically speaking, the archbishop should be invested in the religion.
On the other hand, they already know how undevout she is. It has been made clear to them more than once, and them being pushy about things certainly isn’t helping.
As soon as she enters the ‘sacred’ building, the priests descend upon her.
“Your Grace, it is so wonderful to see you!”
A lie, Byleth is fully aware that they dislike her, if their glares when they think she isn’t looking mean anything.
“Your Grace, it’s been so long.”
It’s been around a month or two. Not horribly long all things considered.
“We are so looking forward to our meeting.”
Doubtable, they never seem to like what she has to say,
Honestly, this would probably be easier if they were more straightforward instead of constantly trying to suck up to her.
It would certainly make these occasions quicker if nothing else.
They quickly usher her into some office before the usual discussions begin.
“About upcoming sermons Your Grace, we’ve been focusing on the importance of humility and restraint. Do you think we should continue on that avenue or move on to different virtues?” A bishop asked.
“Yes, in these turbulent times, we need to steer the people in the right direction,” another man adds.
Why are they asking her this? Byleth has made it clear every time that she comes here that she doesn’t care about what they preach. As long as they aren’t advocating for things like bigotry or murder, the specifics do not matter to her.
“Your Grace,” the priest sounded scandalized by her silence, “surly you have some thoughts on the matter. As the archbishop, these are the kinds of things that should be important to you.”
If people wanted an archbishop who spent time on church sermons every day, someone else should have been chosen.
Byleth sighs, “right now my focus is on my reforms, and I trust your judgment on how your sermons should go.” They actually know and care about what they are doing, it would be disastrous in comparison if she tried micromanaging as they seemed to want. “If you want any guidance, I suggest that you consult the edicts Seteth and I have already sent out.”
Seteth mostly wrote them, but she trusted him.
As Byleth walks the halls of Castle Blaiddyd, she can hear chatter about the upcoming wedding. She isn’t listening too closely, but more than one maid has mentioned the wedding planners as she passed.
Hopefully it was just general excitement, and the wedding planners were not around. Byleth was truly starting to dread ‘helping’ prepare for the wedding.
She just wants a short reprieve. Is that too much to ask?
When Byleth finally enters her office, it is to find that the stacks of paperwork have multiplied. It’s kind of like rabbits, if left unsupervised, more and more will always appear.
So much for a short reprieve.
As she stares at the mountain of work forlornly, there is a knock on her door.
Upon opening said door, Byleth is greeted by the sight of Dimitri. “Hello.” What is he doing here? He’s never come to her office outside of getting her for dinner before.
“Beloved,” Dimitri smiled at her. “I wanted to apologize for missing dinner last night.” He took one of her hands. “And that such a thing is becoming more common lately.”
“It’s fine, I know that you are busy.” Byleth isn’t exactly fond of it, but Dimitri has very important responsibilities to contend with.
She leads him into her office and Dimitri closes the door behind them.
Dimitri squeezed her hand. “Still, I should make more of an effort to see you when you are able to visit.”
That would be nice. Byleth only has opportunities to truly enjoy herself when Dimitri or one of her other former students come by to do things with her.
“I’ve also been so busy lately that I have been unable to help with planning our wedding. How has it been going?”
He looks so earnest, Byleth hates to have to damage whatever excitement he has.
“Not very well to be honest. I’m looking forward to our marriage,” Byleth hastily adds, “but I’m not looking forward to the wedding itself. I’d honestly prefer to stop meeting with the planners altogether.”
“Why?”
Was he not being updated about the state of their wedding or how the various meetings went?
“Nothing I say seems to matter,” Byleth responds. “My thoughts and opinions are discarded at best.”
Dimitri pulled her close before responding. “I am so sorry; I had no idea you were being ignored.” He shook his head. “I promise to do something about it. The wedding planners should have never treated you that way to begin with, but if I say something to them things should be straightened out.”
Byleth appreciates his words, for all that they don’t make her feel better.