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Aderyn smiled when she saw the letter. They had become more frequent since the war’s end, but still she delighted in seeing a correspondence from her son.
If only he would visit more, she lamented, taking a seat to read the letter. She supposed now that it was safe to travel, she could always visit the monastery to see him. She hadn’t been to Garreg Mach since the wedding nearly a year ago, and it was not a place where she necessarily felt at home. Not to mention he was probably very busy. Being married to the archbishop was a lot of work, it seemed.
Carefully, she unsealed the letter, finding her son"s neat handwriting on the page before her. It was brief as usual, but she didn’t mind. Any word from her son was enough. At the very least it meant he was still alive.
Hey mom,
Sorry I haven’t written in a while. Been busy. There’s actually something really important I need to tell you about.
I know you haven’t been in the best of health. Someone at the monastery has agreed to care for you for free. We also have a place for you to live here. I’ve arranged for a carriage to pick you up a day after this letter is scheduled to be delivered. I want you to at least meet everyone before deciding if you want to live here.
See you soon.
Love,
Your son
Aderyn blinked at the letter, unsure of what to think. Her son wanted her to live at Garreg Mach…? She had no immediate objections, other than that she might be a burden. To think someone from the church was willing to give her care for free was also a surprise. She wasn’t sure what she did to deserve something like that, aside from having her son marry the archbishop, but she was grateful nonetheless. Surely her son had to pull some strings for this to fall into place. To think he wanted to bring their little family together warmed her heart.
As she placed the letter onto the table, she felt a pang of sadness. So much time had passed. It had been decades since they had lived in the same place together. Not since he was just a child. Since then, she’d only corresponded to him with brief letters. He’d moved around to goddess knows how many places, changed his name several times, and even became a war hero. In some ways she felt she hardly knew her son, despite their constant communication. There was a barrier between them of untold secrets, from both mother and son.
She supposed this would be an opportunity to truly get to get to know him and begin to break down those barriers.
Yuri paced across the courtyard, feeling his heart-rate increase with each passing moment.
She would arrive any minute now. It had been a year since he had last seen his mother, and that had been at his wedding. And even then, he had barely a chance to speak with her due to all the festivities. The most he ever spoke to her, in fact, was through his letters.
Yuri was fully aware of how their relationship was. It was brittle and fragile, only kept together over the long years through their occasional letters. Yet he knew she loved him, and he loved her. They were the only family each of them had.
But in the front of his mind was a constant worry. Would she be disappointed in the man he had become?
Already he had told the others to refrain from mentioning his exploits in Abyss. All his mother would know was what he had told her in letters—he worked for the monastery in order to help people. That was all she needed to know.
A soft voice pulled him abruptly from his thoughts.
“Yuri?”
He turned to find Byleth looking back at him. Already he had comforted Yuri about his anxieties, for which Yuri was grateful, but until he saw her and spoke to her, nothing could quell his worries.
“She’s here?” Yuri asked.
Byleth nodded. “Seteth’s bringing her to her room.”
Yuri turned and started moving that direction.
Yuri felt a wave of relief when he saw Aderyn standing outside her new quarters. He knew the trip would not be kind to her, and by how she looked he knew his suspicions were correct. The bags under her eyes and her deflated posture showed just how exhausted she was by the travel.
Her hair, which was a shade darker than his, was still untouched by grey even despite the stress of her health. She also looked more frail than the last time he had seen her as well, which had been just over a year ago. He tried not to frown when he noticed, and instead hoped that the medical treatment Manuela would offer her would help her improve.
Seteth had just finished getting her set up in her room when Yuri approached. He smiled at his mother, and she looked toward him.
Before he could say anything, his mother rushed forward and embraced him.
“It’s good to see you, mom,” Yuri said softly.
She glanced up at him, smiling. “It’s lovely to see you too, my dear son. You look beautiful.”
Seteth moved toward them, smiling at the sight. “You should be all set up now. Manuela will introduce herself later, after you have a chance to get some rest.”
She released her son, turning to Seteth. “Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to meet you.”
Seteth nodded in thanks, then left them alone. Yuri gestured for them to enter the room.
Upon entering, she sat down on the bed with a sigh. Yuri pulled a chair over and sat across from her.
“How was the trip?” he asked.
“It was all right. You know I’m not very good with travel.” She looked up at him. “But it’s nice to be here. Thank you for inviting me.”
Yuri smiled. “I’m hoping you’ll stay here, too. I meant it when I said we’ll get you good care here. I’m hoping your health will improve.”
“I already feel like I’m royalty,” she admitted with a laugh. “I’m not used to being treated like this. I don’t even have to make my own bed.”
“Yeah, it takes a bit getting used to,” Yuri replied. “I’m still not used to breakfast being brought to our bedroom door every morning.”
“I’ll look forward to that myself,” she mused. Then she paused for a moment. “About your name… Must I call you Yuri?”
Yuri sighed. “When we’re alone, you can call me whatever you want. Only you and Byleth know my real name, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
She looked at him curiously for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.” Then she shifted, leaning back against the headboard. “I’m afraid I’ll need some rest after that trip, but I would love it if we could have some time together every so often. I know your schedule is probably busy, but surely you can make some time for tea with your mother?”
Yuri smiled. “Of course.”
Over the next month, Aderyn enjoyed her time at the monastery. She decided to call it home, at least for now, since she had begun getting better care than she ever had before. And, of course, she got to be close to her son.
Manuela was a joy. Always smiling, always gossiping, there was never a dull moment with her. She learned a lot about life at Garreg Mach from her, since she herself could not always get out and walk around, and even learned a few things about Seteth that surprised her.
And, best of all, once every week her son reserved time for them to have tea together.
So far, their conversations had remained light. Too much so, she decided. She wished to ask him about deeper topics, but things remained just about her health or the weather or what they had for breakfast. Aderyn sensed that he was specifically not going into detail about himself, and it concerned her that something was troubling him.
She decided that day she’d press him a bit more and get a feel for what was really on his mind.
When she arrived in the courtyard, he was already there, tea poured, waiting for her. He smiled as she approached.
“Hey, mom.”
She sat across from him, remembering to not speak his real name. “Hello my dear son.”
“How are you feeling today?”
“Well enough. Manuela’s care seems to be helping my symptoms.”
He nodded with approval. “Good.”
“How about you? We often talk about how I’m feeling, but I never get to ask about you.”
He blinked at her, clearly not expecting the question. “Oh. I’m… fine.”
She looked at him carefully, taking a sip of tea. “I imagine it can be difficult being married to the archbishop. Marriage by itself is difficult, but for someone like Byleth, it must be even more so.”
He glanced down, eyes thoughtful. “Yeah. He always makes time for me, though, so I can’t complain.”
“That’s good.” She took another sip of her tea, noticing him fidget. “If there is something to complain about, I will always listen, my dear.”
He frowned, and began idly tracing the rim of his saucer. “Well, nothing really to complain about. He’s wonderful. He’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met. We’ve never gotten in any fights or anything like that. He always treats me with kindness and respect. He makes me feel so loved.” He sighed. “Sometimes I feel like I’m not good enough for someone like him, I guess.”
Aderyn looked at him seriously. “My dear, I’ve seen how he looks at you.”
Yuri looked up at her curiously.
“He clearly thinks very highly of you. I think he is very lucky to have someone like you.”
He considered this for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah… I suppose you’re right. It’s just that… since I’m—“ he paused. “My background isn’t exactly…”
“So what if you’re a commoner,” she said. “Didn’t he come from a commoner background too?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Yeah. You’re right.” He shifted again. “By the way, next week we might need to reschedule. Some important nobles are visiting and I need to attend some meetings.”
Aderyn nodded. “I understand. Hopefully nothing too dreary. I know how those nobles can be.”
Yuri glanced down. “Yeah… Some of them can be pretty slimy. That’s one thing I don’t enjoy about this position.”
“Hopefully they show you respect, considering your position,” she replied.
He shrugged. “Minimal respect. Some of them see me as just—“ He sighed. “Never mind, we don’t have to talk about that.”
She considered pressing him further, but decided not to. He was already opening up more than she anticipated, and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. She turned the conversation more toward trivial things again, like the weather, the flowers in the greenhouse, and how he coped with so many animals around the monastery.
Then they parted ways once again, and she headed back to her room. She was glad it was on the ground floor, since going up stairs was sometimes too much for her, although considering the care she was now getting she wondered if she should try going up the steps in the main building sometime.
Manuela was waiting for her when she returned, preparing a salve for her.
“Hello there,” Manuela said with a smile. “Having tea with your son?”
“Yes,” she replied, taking a seat on her bed. “He seemed a bit melancholy today.”
Manuela frowned. “Probably because all those nobles are visiting soon. A lot of us have been a bit on edge.” She finished her work, holding out a bottle to Aderyn. “I suspect things will go well, though. We have the Lord of the Underground working with us now, after all.”
Aderyn tilted her head, placing the bottle beside her. “The Lord of the Underground?”
Manuela paused for a moment as though she misspoke. “Oh, um, yes. Just rumors, mostly. They say there’s a man who leads the underground city below the monastery. He sticks up for commoners most of the time, but since the war ended, they say he’s been helping the church.”
Aderyn wondered if her son knew of such a person. “Interesting. Sounds like a real hero.”
Manuela laughed. “Some don’t agree with his methods, but to many he’s a hero. I hear he’s quite handsome, too.”
“How charming,” Aderyn mused. “Perhaps I’ll get to meet him eventually.”
“Me, too,” Manuela commented. “Me, too.”
Yuri knew their rule would be broken that night. The rule that he and Byleth would not speak about official business once they were in their private chambers was very rarely broken, but that night, as Yuri tossed and turned in bed, he knew it was only a matter of time before he voiced what troubled him.
And almost as if on cue, Byleth sat up in bed beside him and lit a candle.
“Hey,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”
Yuri sat up with a sigh. “Got a lot on my mind.”
“Is it about… Count Rowe?”
“Yeah. You okay with talking about it now?”
Byleth nodded. “If it’ll help you sleep.”
“I just know he’s gonna have spies. He’s up to something, I just know it.”
Byleth frowned. “Do you have a plan?”
“Yeah, I’ve talked to my people about it. I’m prepared for multiple scenarios. But he’s good at covering his tracks, and his spies are good. That’s why he’s evaded getting blamed for treason for so long.” Yuri looked at him with a frown. “At worst, I’m afraid he’ll try to hurt you, or even my mother.”
“Seems a bit foolish for him to attempt that,” Byleth replied.
“I’m more concerned about blackmail. Especially regarding… me.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Byleth assured him. “I’ll make sure he can’t get away with something like that.”
Yuri sighed, feeling a sense of dread. “This could be serious, By.”
“I know. But I have faith that he won’t be able to get away with anything.”
Yuri couldn’t help but smile at his confidence. “I hope you’re right.”
Byleth leaned over and kissed the side of his head. “Get some sleep, love.”
After Byleth snuffed out the candle, Yuri cuddled beside him, trying to calm his mind.
“One more thing,” Byleth said. “I think you should tell your mother about everything. About Abyss, your past—all of it.”
“Maybe some day,” Yuri replied. “But not anytime soon.”
Had she not been so desperate for fresh air, Aderyn would have stayed in her room all day. Since the nobles were visiting, the monastery had a rush of activity, from servants running around, to areas being blocked off, to strangers wandering around her usual walking paths. It was all rather stressful for her, but she imagined it was even more stressful for Byleth and her son.
She moved a bit off her regular path and found a bench to sit and rest for a while. From behind she heard all kinds of commotion from passersby, ruining the normal tranquility she experienced around the monastery.
She was about to leave when someone came and sat beside her.
At first she decided to pay him no mind. Perhaps he just wanted a place to rest like her. But then she noticed him glancing her way a few times, and the temptation to look at him in return was too great. She turned her head, only to find the older man smiling back at her. Something about him unsettled her.
“Hello there! Are you visiting the monastery too?”
She blinked at him. “I live here,” she replied.
“Oh, well in that case—“
A new voice interrupted him. “There you are!”
Aderyn turned to find her son approaching, frowning. “I’ve been looking for you.” He narrowed his eyes at the man sitting next to her. “I need you for something.”
She nodded to the older man, then stood, moving beside her son.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
“It’s not safe for you to wander right now,” Yuri replied quietly. “Come with me.”
She glanced back briefly at the man on the bench, who she found watching Yuri curiously. “Do you know who that man beside me was?”
“I could make a good guess,” Yuri replied.
She followed her son quietly as they made their way through the monastery. She could tell he wanted to rush, but he kept his pace slow so she wouldn’t get worn out keeping up. Their path was not one she recognized, and as they continued, the crowds from before slowly disappeared.
At last, they stood in a dark corner of the monastery, near what appeared to be a dark tunnel with stairs leading downward.
“Sorry about all this,” Yuri said. He frowned with worry, which only concerned Aderyn. “I was hoping you would be spared from everything, but I made some mistakes.”
“What’s happening?” she asked, feeling more confused by the minute.
“Remember those slimy nobles I mentioned? Well, they’re being extra slimy. They found out you’re my mother and I think they might try and get their spies to target you.”
“Spies?”
“Yeah. It’s fairly common among the slimy ones. Anyway, just as an extra precaution, I figured I’d find somewhere for you to stay until the coast is clear.”
She glanced over toward the tunnel, noting the stairs again. “Where exactly are you taking me?”
“The only place they can’t get their spies to infiltrate.”
“A dark tunnel?”
“Underground,” he corrected.
She recalled the strange rumors Manuela had told her of such a place. “I heard there’s a city down there, with its own lord of sorts.”
His eyes widened. “Well, you heard right. It’s called Abyss.”
“And we’ll be welcome there?”
He nodded. “You could say I’m on good terms with the underground lord you mentioned.” Then he glanced toward the stairs. “Anyway, I know you probably aren’t too keen on walking down all those stairs. So I can carry you if you want.”
“Do you think you could carry me that far?”
He smiled. “I’m not the weak child I once was.” With that, he lifted her with ease. “I’ve even carried Byleth out of sticky situations back in the war.”
He hadn’t been exaggerating, it seemed. She knew he had fought in the war, but she had never thought of her son as a strong fighter. Apparently war changed many things about people, she realized. She just hoped he didn’t have to kill too many people. He had always been soft in that regard. It was difficult enough to imagine him holding a sword, let alone actually hurting someone.
Another thought crossed her mind: perhaps she didn’t know her son as well as she thought she did.
It was a sad thought, but one to be expected. They had lived apart for so long, and kept their letters brief and their visits even briefer. He had told her that he had worked at the monastery, but perhaps he’d learned to fight during that time as well.
Once they had finally reached the last step, he carefully put her on the ground and gestured for her to follow closely.
The city was fascinating. It was as though it was in an old ruin. Ramshackle buildings were scattered about, with people of all ages inhabiting them.
“This is where people go when they have nowhere else to go,” Yuri commented as they moved through the tunnels. “I used to live here.”
She frowned. To think he had had nowhere else to go saddened her, and even made her feel a bit guilty. If only she had been well enough to take care of him…
He led her to a particularly empty tunnel, then stopped at a door. After unlocking it, he gestured for her to enter.
Inside was an office of sorts. A desk sat on one corner, and a table with chairs sat at another. A shelf full of books lined one wall, and crates full of papers and supplies sat beside them.
“You’ll be safe here,” Yuri assured her.
“How long must I remain here?” she asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs.
He glanced down, the worry in his expression returning. “Not too long. I’m sorry for doing this to you. I just want to make sure you stay safe.”
“I assume you’ll be leaving, then?”
“Yeah, but you won’t be alone,” he replied, moving toward one of the crates. “There’ll be a guard by the door.”
She nodded. “Could be worse, I suppose. You suspect the man on the bench was a spy, then?”
“Yeah.” He pulled a sword and belt from the crate.
“Do you plan on… fighting someone?”
He looked at her like a guilty child getting caught sneaking candy. “I, um, well, it’s just a precaution.”
Her own worry was starting to overwhelm her. “Perhaps you should stay here with me, then.”
“No, I… I need to do something. I’ll be back soon.”
“Be careful, my dear.”
“I will. I promise.”
Yuri returned to the surface quickly. If this was how count Rowe wanted to play his hand, then he would respond appropriately.
He wasn’t sure how they found out about his mother, but he realized it was likely a mistake on his part for not being careful enough. He’d have a lot of explaining to do afterwards, but at least for now she was safe.
For now, however, he rushed back to the meeting room where Byleth sat with the count, listening to his threats. He hadn’t taken kindly to the accusations of treason they had presented him with, and on top of that demanded to take back the fortress of Arianrhod for his territory. It was bold, which meant he had a scheme up his sleeve.
As much as Yuri didn’t want to see that man’s disgusting face, he wanted to keep a close eye on the situation. One thing Byleth had told him in private kept circling in his mind, however.
“Don’t kill him. ”
Yuri knew it would look bad if the count mysteriously died during his visit to the monastery. It wouldn’t look quite as bad, however, if he was found attacking them first and accused of treason. Yuri was tempted to goad him into it, but he knew he was treading in dangerous waters.
When he reached the meeting room, he opted to wait outside next to the knight who guarded the door. When the knight gave him an uneasy look, he knew things hadn’t changed from when he stepped out. In the dead quiet of the hallway, he listened to what was said beyond the door.
“I only ask that you accept my proposal,” Rowe said calmly, “if you wish for things to end amicably. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the other visiting nobles died during their visit?”
“I still refuse,” Byleth replied. “Your threats are meaningless.”
Rowe laughed. “Do you really put so much faith in that whore?”
Yuri winced at his words.
“Do not speak of him in such a way,” Byleth replied, his voice tinged with anger. “You’re living very dangerously right now.”
His voice got louder as he spoke, and Yuri guessed he was approaching the door. He stepped aside.
The door opened, and Byleth glanced immediately at the knight and nodded. The knight nodded back, then rushed away, likely for backup. It was then Byleth noticed Yuri standing there and frowned, knowing he had likely heard the conversation.
“I can’t leave yet,” Byleth whispered. “Do what you can.”
Yuri nodded, feeling a sense of dread at his words. He should have guessed it’d come to this.
The count wasn’t targeting Byleth directly… he was targeting their other guests, in order to frame Byleth for their deaths. Assassins disguised as servants and other visitors could be anywhere in the monastery right now. It was the perfect plan, executed at the perfect time. Yuri wanted to kick his past self for being a step behind.
Byleth still seemed confident in their ability to fight back, so Yuri tried to calm his own thoughts and do whatever he could. His people were already in place, ready to fight back if necessary. As Byleth closed the door to continue his verbal battle against the count, Yuri began his walk back to Abyss.
He was about halfway there when one of his people rushed toward him.
“Boss. Got some of the goons in Abyss. They took someone hostage.”
Yuri let out a sigh of frustration. “Take me there.”
As Aderyn waited in the almost disturbingly quiet room, she began to wonder how strict the guard would be about her leaving.
There were no signs of threats in this strange underground city, at least from what she could hear in the hall outside the room. And it was stuffy and dark in there. She desired fresh air, maybe even a short walk. Surely that wouldn’t be too dangerous.
She unlocked the door and opened it enough to peek at the guard outside. He dutifully stood right beside it, keeping watch on the surroundings.
“Excuse me,” she said. “Do you think it’s safe for me to wander around a bit?”
The guard looked conflicted by her question, frowning. “Haven’t seen anything myself. Coast seems clear. But the boss said to not let you leave the room until he gets back.”
She tilted her head, curious if her son was the boss he mentioned. “Well it sounds like—“
A shout from down the hall interrupted her. The guard rushed ahead in response, drawing a sword.
A woman in tattered servant’s attire stumbled toward them, glancing behind in fear. Soon her pursuers came into view as well; cloaked figures in dark clothes, all wielding weapons.
The woman seemed to notice the guard was not an enemy, and rushed past him. It was then that she locked eyes with Aderyn.
As if by instinct, Aderyn gestured for her to enter the room. The woman stumbled in, breathing labored, and Aderyn locked the door for safety. It seemed staying in the room was the best option after all.
“Thank you,” the woman said between breaths. “Goddess bless you.”
“Who were those people chasing you?” Aderyn asked.
“I-I’m not sure,” the woman replied, fear in her eyes. “I was just visiting the monastery with my lord. One minute I was walking to the kitchen and the next minute I was in a sack. They brought me down here and then started questioning me about my lord and lady.”
It seemed her son’s suspicions about danger were correct. “You are safe now,” she assured the woman.
Outside she heard the fighting continue between the guard and the woman’s pursuers. She strained to hear every detail of the fight in order to get any kind of indication of who was winning, but it was impossible to tell.
That was when she heard the voice. It was an angry voice, its tone alone a death threat.
“You really want to die, don’t you?”
Aderyn felt a chill at the sound of the voice. It was her son’s.
It was probably foolish of her to open the door. The already terrified woman was probably even more terrified by her doing so, but she couldn’t help herself. She had to see if the speaker was truly her son. She had to see if he was here, and what he was doing.
She peeked out the door, careful not to draw any attention. Her ears had not deceived her; Yuri was in the hall, facing the attackers, sword in hand. The guard was still standing, though appeared injured, walking away from the fighting with a slight limp.
Two attackers were left standing. Aderyn watched as her son cut them down in mere seconds. He moved so quickly that her eyes had a hard time keeping up with his movements. This was a man incredibly skilled with combat. This was a man who knew how to kill efficiently.
And this was her son.
She closed the door, locking it once again. It was hard to see in the dim lighting, but the scared servant woman seemed to be calmer now. Aderyn didn’t pay attention to her, though. Instead she was still thinking about her son.
She wondered how he’d become like this. It was almost as if she had been watching a different person. A stranger. Had his life been so difficult that he’d been forced to turn into a killer…?
Perhaps her son was just a stranger at this point. Perhaps she knew him even less than she had thought.
The door was unlocked a few minutes later from the other side. Her son appeared, his expression full of worry.
“Are you okay—“ he paused as he saw the servant woman who regarded him in fear. “You must be the hostage.”
“W-who are—“
“You’re safe. We freed the other servant they took, too. You’re lucky you got away when you did.” He held out a hand to help her up. “One of the guards outside will escort you out of here.”
She took his hand, getting to her feet. “Thank you.”
Once she had stepped out of the room, he turned to Aderyn, looking distraught. “I’m so sorry. I was hoping you’d avoid all the mess going by hiding down here, but it seems they were stupid enough to invade my territory.”
“Your territory…?”
“Never mind that. We chased them out, so you should still be safe here. Just don’t leave the ro—“
“Boss!”
Yuri spun around to face an armed woman who appeared in the doorway.
“We secured Rowe. The archbishop suggested we take him down here for questioning.”
Yuri sighed, his expression turning cold. “Take me there. And get Byleth down here, too.” He took a step, then turned back around to Aderyn, his expression softening once again. “Sorry about all this. I promise this isn’t normal. I’ll explain everything once I’m done.”
Aderyn blinked at him. “Are you going to… kill him?”
He turned back around, taking a step forward. “I hope so.”
Yuri was seething by the time he reached the room where Rowe was being held. Not only was he a traitor during the war, but now he threatened his mother, his husband, and his territory. Most wouldn’t have gotten away with the first, but Rowe was sly. The fact he’d managed all three only made Yuri hate him more.
Rowe sat in the back of the room, wrists tied together. He showed no fear as Yuri approached, sword drawn. Only contempt.
“Finally run out of tricks?” Yuri asked, placing a boot on his stomach and pointing the sword at his throat.
Rowe said nothing. Yuri put more pressure on his stomach with his foot. “Not in the mood to talk?”
“I must admit,” he said through a sneer, “I’m impressed at how you’ve come up in the world.”
“And I didn’t even commit treason to do it,” Yuri replied.
“No. Seducing the archbishop was all it took.”
Yuri kicked him. “Leave him out of this.”
“Does it embarrass you?” He asked, smirking. Clearly the kick wasn’t enough to shut him up. “Everyone knows the truth. You’re just the archbishop’s whore. Seduced him for power. You’re a clever one. It’s what I’d expect from you.”
Yuri kicked him again, harder. “Shut up.”
Yuri was losing his patience. The only thing keeping him from killing this man outright was his promise to Byleth.
“So you admit to it, then? You’re just a filthy—“
Yuri kicked him again. “I said shut up .”
After a long silence, the sound of footsteps from behind gave him a wave of relief. He turned his head, and found a few of his guards entering the room with Byleth.
“Finally,” he said with a sigh.
“Did you learn anything from him?” Byleth asked.
“No. He won’t tell us anything.”
Byleth frowned, looking at Rowe carefully. “Then maybe—“
“I called you here for one reason. And it wasn’t to question him.”
Byleth looked at him curiously.
“Do I have your permission to kill him?”
Byleth looked between the count and Yuri carefully, his eyes contemplative. “Well—“
“Wait.”
Yuri froze at the voice. It was his mother’s.
Aderyn approached slowly, looking at him with deep concern. “Why does this man have to die?”
“I told you I’ll explain all this later.”
“But is this what the goddess would want?” She glanced to Byleth expectantly.
“Leave him out of this,” Yuri said. “This man needs to die.”
“But why?” she pleaded. “Haven’t you seen enough death already?”
Yuri closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he turned to his mother, looking at her seriously. “If you knew what this man has done to me, you’d want to kill him yourself.” Then he looked at Byleth. “May I?”
“Yes,” Byleth said.
Rowe looked like he was going to say one more thing, but Yuri didn’t let him. He slit his throat in one swift movement. Aderyn gasped from behind him.
Yuri dropped the sword on the ground, and then, ignoring his mother, he turned to the guards, who now consisted of both knights of Seiros and his own people. “Clean up. Check for any other attackers or victims.”
Then he turned to Byleth. “Take her back up to the surface to her room.”
“Where are you going?” Byleth asked.
“I’ll meet up with you in a bit. I need to take care of a few things.” And by that, he meant he needed some alone time to process everything that just happened. To let the cruel words Rowe had said to him leave his mind.
“I would like for you to come with us,” Aderyn said.
Yuri didn’t look at her. “I… I just—“
Byleth took his hand. The count’s last words came rushing back to him, giving him a mix of emotions. He tried to ignore it, but deep down he really did fear what people thought of his relationship with Byleth. It was something always in the back of his mind, something he always ignored. He knew he shouldn’t let someone like Rowe get to him, but his words had been like a stab in the gut.
“I agree,” Byleth said. “You should come with us.”
“All right,” Yuri relented.
The walk back to Aderyn’s room had been quiet. Byleth carried her this time, while Yuri trailed behind, his mind spinning.
He knew what would happen once they all reached her room. His mother would be upset with him. Byleth might even be a little upset with him. And then Yuri would need to explain everything, including how he had been wronged by Rowe in the past. He’d have to justify killing him without it sounding like a personal desire for revenge.
And he dreaded it. He wanted to be alone and process everything, not be interrogated.
Once they solemnly reached her room, they all entered and closed the door. Aderyn sat in the arm chair by her bed, clearly exhausted from the day’s events. Byleth remained standing, looking at Yuri with concern.
Perhaps Byleth had become good at reading him, because before Yuri could say anything, Byleth wrapped his arms around him in a firm embrace, pulling him close.
“It’s all right,” he whispered.
Yuri returned the embrace, holding Byleth tightly, resting his forehead on his shoulder. And for a long moment he remained like that, fighting back all the terrible thoughts that entered his mind. How he was not good enough for Byleth, how he was just a cold-hearted killer, how he was just filthy and unlovable. His mother was now afraid of him, his husband now pitied him, and he felt worthless.
“I’m sorry,” Yuri said softly. He glanced up over Byleth’s shoulder, spotting his mother looking back at him in despair.
“You did nothing wrong,” Byleth assured him. “We didn’t know he’d go this far.”
“I’m sorry you had to see all that,” Yuri added.
“He’s right, dear,” Aderyn said. “You were trying to protect everyone.”
He released Byleth, then sat at the table across from Aderyn. Byleth sat across from him.
“You had a history with that man,” Aderyn pointed out. “I suspect he was the one behind the kidnapping of that servant woman?”
“Yeah,” Yuri answered. “He was a horrible person.”
Aderyn nodded, glancing down. “I… heard what he said to you.”
Yuri winced.
“I’m sorry for getting involved in what seemed like such a personal conflict,” Aderyn continued. “I’m not sure what this man did to you, but I’m sure you had your reasons for killing him.” She glanced away. “I was just… surprised to see that side of you.”
“Do you want to know what he did to me?” Yuri asked.
She folded her hands in her lap, contemplating his offer for a moment. “You’ve been through a lot today. I don’t want to upset you further by making you recall any bad memories. You can tell me another day.”
Yuri nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Get some rest, dear,” she continued. “I’ll be all right.”
As if to further her point, Byleth stood, offering his hand to Yuri. He took it, and together walked back to their own quarters in silence.
“Are you all right?” Byleth asked once they returned to their room.
“I’ll be fine. Are you all right? I can’t imagine spending that much time alone in a room with him was pleasant.”
“Well, it wasn’t pleasant, but I’m fine. I was mostly upset at how he talked about you.”
Yuri sighed, taking a seat on the bed. Byleth sat beside him, taking his hand once again.
“I can… make a good guess at what he said to you,” Byleth continued. “I want you to know that I’d never think of you that way. Ever.”
“I know you wouldn’t. I worry about how others think of you. Your reputation.”
“I don’t care—“
“You should care. You’re the archbishop now, not some professor or mercenary. Your reputation matters.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Byleth said. “I don’t care what one slimy man thought. Most people think highly of you.”
Yuri sighed, leaning over to rest his head on Byleth’s shoulder. Byleth wrapped an arm around him. “At least he’s dead now.”
“Do you feel okay about it?”
“I don’t feel guilty, if that’s what you mean. He deserved it.”
“I agree.” Byleth went quiet for a moment. “Do you want me to be with you when you tell your mother about your past?” Byleth asked.
“That’s sweet of you. But I think it’d be best if I went alone.”
“All right.”
Silence passed. Yuri wrapped his arms around Byleth’s waist. “Back when I lived with that horrible man, I didn’t think it was possible for me to be loved. I was convinced that I would always be unlovable. And today when I saw that fear in my mother’s eyes… I was worried she’d lose her love for me.”
“That’s not how love works,” Byleth said.
“I know, but… the son she does love is a version of me that doesn’t exist. I’m not sure what she thinks of the real me.”
“I think she will love you all the same. You’re still her son.”
“I hope so,” Yuri said.
“And if for some reason she doesn’t,” Byleth continued, “you still have me. I’ll always love you no matter what.”
Yuri smiled. “Thanks.”
The following day, while Byleth dealt with the aftermath of the attack, Yuri found himself returning to his mother’s quarters. She ushered him in quickly, and then he sat across from her at the table.
“First of all, I want to apologize again,” Yuri began. “Normally the monastery is very peaceful, and yesterday was an exception.”
“I understand,” Aderyn replied. “This place is still much safer than the village. I plan on staying, if that was your concern.”
“Yeah. Good.” He shifted in his seat. “Um… I also wanted to apologize for what you saw of me yesterday.”
Aderyn placed a hand on top of his. “Relax, Regulus. There’s no need to be so formal.”
Yuri tensed at the use of his real name, then let out a deep breath.
“I don’t mean to shame you for killing that man,” she said. “I know you had your reasons. I was just sad that you were forced to kill. I know it’s not an easy thing to do.”
Yuri glanced down, feeling a pang of guilt. “It’s become such a normal part of my life,” he admitted. “It doesn’t faze me anymore.”
She remained quiet for a moment. “I don’t think that’s entirely true. You seemed bothered by it, even for that man you hated so much.”
Yuri didn’t reply. He shifted in his seat.
“And maybe you’re right. Maybe I’d have wanted to kill him myself if I knew what he’d done to you.” She looked at him seriously. “If… you are comfortable telling me, I would like to know just what exactly he did to you.”
Yuri sighed. He knew she was probably dying to know every detail, and he was comfortable telling her. But it was still a difficult topic for him to think about let alone speak about. “Yeah. I’ll tell you everything.”
He paused, taking in a deep breath. Aderyn laid her hand on top of his for reassurance.
“I met count Rowe when I was a young teen. I was homeless and starving and poor. He… noticed my charms, and made a deal with me. He would adopt me and let me live like a noble, and in exchange I would provide him with my… services.”
Aderyn looked at him sadly. Perhaps she already guessed. “And what did that involve?”
Yuri glanced down. “I became his prostitute and assassin. Mostly the former.” He fidgeted again, avoiding looking up at his mother. “He’d pawn me off to people he wanted to impress. They’d do whatever they wanted with me and then send me back.”
“That’s…you were just a child!”
“A teenager was old enough in his eyes.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut. “You should have never had to go through that. I—“
“It’s not your fault,” Yuri assured her. “I did what I could to survive. Thanks to him, I eventually got to go to the Officer’s Academy, which only changed my life for the better.”
“But at a steep price,” she said. “You should have never had to go through that!”
Yuri sighed. “He was not a nice man. He’d berate his servants—and me, of course—at the smallest offenses. He was conniving and scheming and greedy. He’d—“ Yuri winced at the memory, his voice becoming weak, tears forming in his eyes at the dark memories he usually avoided. “He’d have his way with me whenever he wanted. He’d call me filthy and disgusting and a whore.” He closed his eyes, letting the tears fall. “I always felt so worthless. I felt so filthy and unlovable.”
Aderyn took his hand and squeezed it, looking at him through her own tears. “Regulus. No matter what that horrible man did to you, you will never be unlovable.”
“It took me years to realize that. I was convinced that if you ever found out about my filthy past, you wouldn’t love me anymore.”
Aderyn frowned, her expression pained. “You know that would never happen! You are my son, and I could never stop loving you as such.”
He smiled. “Thanks, mom. It’s reassuring to hear that.”
“And what about Byleth? Does he know about this?”
“Yeah. He knows everything about me. And he’s been so incredibly kind about it all. He makes me feel truly loved and respected.”
She nodded with approval. “Good. And he doesn’t… pressure you into anything?”
“Never.”
“Good, good.” She glanced down, her eyes distant. “I… know the feeling of being just a pretty face. Of being used for the pleasure of others. I always thought I was unlovable, too. There was only one person who made me feel otherwise.”
Yuri tilted his head. His mother had never mentioned any of her past relationships to him. In fact, much of her past was still unknown to him. “Who was that?”
She looked up at him, smiling faintly. “Your father.”
Yuri felt his eyes widen. “You… you knew who my father was?!”
She nodded. “I’ve always known. I just… never found the right time to tell you about him.”
Yuri blinked at her. “Is he alive?”
“No.” She frowned. “He died a few months before you were born. He never got to meet you.”
Yuri felt a rush of emotion at her words. It made sense that she’d never talk about it, considering how tragic it sounded. He felt relief, curiosity, and heartbreak all at once. “What was he like?”
“He was a wonderful man. Very kind. But also very sickly. He was a tailor in the village where I… worked.”
“So he wasn’t a customer?”
She shook her head. “Never. He didn’t have money to spare for a night at a brothel.” She smiled as she continued. “He knew who I was, and what I did. But he didn’t care. He treated me with respect and kindness. Much like myself, he always wanted to help people. We bonded over that.” She glanced down again. “We didn’t have the money to get married, but I eventually moved in with him. He couldn’t afford his medicine, and became more ill as time went on. By the time I was pregnant with you, we both knew he didn’t have much time left.”
Yuri frowned.
“We always loved looking at the stars together,” she continued. “Before he passed, we decided to name our child after the brightest star in the sky. That’s how you got your name.”
Yuri felt his heart ache. “That’s… that’s really sweet.”
“I know you mostly take after me,” she said, “but you have his eyes.” She smiled, looking directly at him. “I think he would be very proud of you. Just like I am.”
He felt the tears well in his eyes. “Even with everything I’ve—“
“Yes,” she answered, not even letting him finish his question. “He would have adored you. The kind man you’ve become. The way you take care of those who have nothing. Who live in that city underground. Those who can’t afford medicine. You take care of them, don’t you?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I guess… you’ve figured it out by now.”
Her smile widened. “It seems you’ve accomplished a lot that you never told me about.”
“Yeah. Sorry about that.” He smiled at her. “And thanks for telling me about my father. I’ll admit I… always kind of wondered about him. What kind of man he was.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, either. It appears we both had our own secrets.”
“I promise not all my stories are depressing.”
She laughed. “No matter what your stories are about, I will listen. It’s nice to be here with you.”
Yuri felt relief at her words. “I’m glad you think so.” He sighed, then stood. “I should probably be going. I need to help Byleth with all the aftermath.”
Aderyn stood beside him, then wrapped her arms around him tightly. Yuri returned the gesture, smiling.
“I love you, my son,” she said softly.
“I love you too, mom,” Yuri replied.
In the month that followed, Aderyn settled into a peaceful life at the monastery. No major political happenings, no upset noblemen, just peace and quiet.
Her son had been as busy as ever, but he still made time to have tea with her every once in a while. Sometimes they shared more intimate stories, and other times they talked about trivial things. But there was one question she had for her son that had been ruminating in her mind for weeks. That day during their teatime together, she decided to ask him.
He had been more relaxed since he’d opened up to her that one day. She felt as though she was seeing more of the real him instead of a carefully tailored version of him that he had been presenting as before. He laughed more, smiled more, and overall seemed more comfortable in her presence.
“There’s one thing I’ve been meaning to ask you about,” Aderyn said, watching him from across the table.
“Yeah?”
“Do you remember that ring I gave you a long time ago? Silver, with a green gem?”
Yuri nodded. “Of course I do.”
“Do you still have it?”
He froze, hesitating. “Uh, well, no. I… gave it to Byleth. Not that I was trying to get rid of it! It was always special to me. That’s why I proposed to him with it. It’s now his wedding ring.”
She smiled. “That seems appropriate. I’m glad it’s safe.”
He looked relieved. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, there was a reason why I gave it to you when you left home. It was kind of… a good luck charm, in a way.” She glanced down, realizing she was avoiding the truth again. Why was it so hard to talk to him about that man? Perhaps it was his eyes, which were very nearly a match, with both color and shape. Perhaps it was the sad memories they brought back. “In truth, your father gave it to me. We never married, but it was his way of promising me we would always be together.”
When she looked back up, Yuri was staring at her in surprise.
“I… I’m sorry, I should have kept—“
“No, please don’t apologize. I’m glad you gave it to the one you love. It’s fitting, I think. And I think he would have liked knowing that his son could do what he could not.”
He smiled sadly. “I’m glad you think so. And… thanks for telling me.”
“I realize there’s probably much more I should tell you about my past. You’ve already shared so much with me about your own.”
“There’s no rush, mom. Whatever you"re comfortable with. But like you told me, I’ll listen to it whether it’s sad or happy.” He leaned back. “The most important thing is how you’re feeling.”
She smiled. “Thanks to the care I’ve gotten here, I’ve been feeling better. I hope to even one day walk down to Abyss on my own.”
Yuri laughed. “Well, don’t go doing that without telling me first. But I’m glad you’re doing better.”
It was, in fact, the best she had been in her entire life. For the first time, she felt she had a future that wouldn’t end in illness or loneliness.
The love of her life might be gone, but he had left her with the most wonderful son she could ever ask for.