Your Great Self-Destruction // Walhart and Emmeryn
She had been a symbol of peace, the Exalt of Ylisse. Stately, benevolent, beautiful Emmeryn. Even across the oceans, on the plains and in the valleys of Valm people spoke of her infinite grace. For her citizens, she was a beacon of hope in troubled times. For the rest of the world, she was an icon, someone nearly inhuman in her majesty. She was radiant with her love for her people, and her people loved her back just as ferociously. It was said that if anyone could bring Ylisse and the world into an era of peace, Emmeryn could.
And then she fell off a cliff and Ylisse came crashing back to join the rest of the world in reality.
Walhart had not been surprised to learn of the Exalt's fate. He had long held the opinion that the Queen of Ylisse was a foolish, weak woman who was deluding herself if she honestly thought peace could be achieved without bloodshed. He was certain that a more aggressive nation would eventually put an end to her pacifism, one way or another. And when he heard about how she had been forced to throw herself to her death, Walhart felt only the satisfaction of being proven right.
After that, he barely gave a thought to the poor woman who had died for her ideals. Until one day at camp when he spotted a woman bearing the Brand of the Exalt on her forehead.
Those meant to rule were ridiculously hard to kill, it seemed.
"It would appear I've misjudged you, Exalt," Walhart said, approaching the woman. "It was reported to me that you threw yourself from an impossible height. You appear weak and frail, but surviving such a fall must have required tremendous strength."
