#queen byleth

[crescentia-fortuna]

I figured I'll join the "FECChallenge81" by fecompendium over at Twitter. It's about redesigning Byleth^^ I didn't change Byleth that much actually, just made a design that is a bit of a mix of other characters designs, though mainly Byleths regular outfit mixed with Dimitri's. (Blue coat with fur, I just finished the Blue Lions route and have all the feels for Dimitri, haha^^) Anyways, hope you like it ^w^

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Commission info // Patreon // Twitter // Pixiv

[sothisbound]

Mother’s Day.

It’s a day that’s held no meaning to Byleth since the day she was born. She has no mother, why should she celebrate?

If anything, Mother’s Day had always been a melancholy affair. Jeralt had never been the most chipper person, but he always seemed especially weighed down on that day. For Byleth, it had been as unremarkable as any other day.

But even when she’d learned the horrible truth about her mother, after Jeralt’s fond recollections and Aelfric’s betrayal, after learning what Sitri was - and then there was the war, and then becoming Queen and all that comes with that.

She hadn’t thought about her mother in years. 

Which is why, when the people around her start talking about the holiday, considering what kind of gifts they can afford or plans to spend the day with their mother, Byleth feels something like guilt start to crawl its way into her unbeating heart.

Making arrangements to go to Garreg Mach for the weekend is no easy task. It’s been two years, but Fodlan is still in recovery. Byleth’s tasks are more demanding than ever, and most of it can’t be delegated. So she looses a few nights of sleep to get as much done as possible. The rest can be left alone for a little while, and her advisors can easily run a country for two days.

Sakhif is large enough to ride, and a short journey like this will be perfect to help cement their bond. It’s one thing for him to love her like a mother, it’s entirely something else to trust her on his back, after all. They spend a day in the air, flying without much urgency, before they land at Garreg Mach that Sunday morning.

Seteth, as always, has things well in hand. She is not bothered when she lands, Sakhif finds himself with a delicious treat, and the way to the graveyard is clear.

Though every step she takes towards the grave feels heavy, the passage of time is like a blink and she finds herself standing before the shared grave of her parents.

For a long time she simply stands there, staring at the headstone. At the dates, the names - Sitri’s still missing. 

She should get that fixed.

Eventually something in her chest starts to loosen its hold. She breathes a little easier, her posture relaxes, and she even smiles. 

Reaching into her riding jacket, she pulls out her father’s tattered journal.

“Mother...”