Two years after the war ended, Claude was now the King of Almyra. He used his new position to try and break through Fódlan's Throat so Almyra could make new connections with the united Fódlan. His days were busy and not once had he taken a day for himself. He had spent every day for the past two years being the king. That was until now.

The moment Claude found a break in his hectic schedule, he packed everything he needed for a long trip. He wasn't sure how long he would be gone and decided to leave some of his trusted advisors in charge for a while.

Once Claude secured all he needed onto Albus' back, he returned to his office. On his desk rested the Holy Armor of the Guardian. He had it stored in his office for just this moment. Now, he wouldn't return home until he had visited Munira. But before he headed to the west coast of Almyra, he needed to fly to Garreg Mach in search of Presea. He wondered if her old room would provide him with what he needed to find her.

Claude carried the armor out of his office to the stable where he left Albus. He tied the armor to the wyvern's back with his other things. Now having everything he needed, he departed.

A week later, the king crossed into Fódlan and flew to Garreg Mach. There, he was greeted by the knights and Byleth himself. "Look at you," Claude smirked at the sight of his former professor. "Never thought our reunion would be this soon, friend."

Byleth smiled. "It's good to see you again, Claude. I know you're not here to see me. What brings you back to the monastery?"

It had been years since someone last called him "Claude." As the new king of Almyra, he returned to being called his birth name, "Khalid." However, he did find himself missing being called "Claude" by all his friends. "Heh, guess I'm easier to read than I thought." The brunette glanced in the direction of where the dormitory was located. "It's been two years since Presea vanished and now, I have the chance to bring her home. The only problem is I don't know where she is. I want to check her old room to see if there might be a clue as to where she is."

"Go right ahead," Byleth said.

Claude, with his friend by his side, headed to the dormitory. They entered Presea's old room to find everything as she left it. The king smiled when seeing the stuffed deer he got her for her birthday seven years ago sitting on the bed. Crossing the room, he stood by the bed and picked up the plushie. He brushed off the dust that had collected on it. "I think Presea would be happy to see you again."

Byleth searched the desk while Claude checked the dresser and under the bed. He scoured through the various drawers until he found a folded-up map of Almyra. He pulled it out, unfolded it, and placed it on the desk. He saw a strange mark on the map. "Claude, I believe I've found something."

Claude walked over. He stared down at the map of his homeland. "I didn't know she kept a map of Almyra." He took a closer look and saw the same questionable mark Byleth saw. His eyes widened when realizing it was located on the western coast of Almyra, the same place where Presea had told him where Munira was. "How could I have been so stupid?"

Byleth's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

The king pointed at the mark on the map. "I remember Presea mentioning Munira was along the coast of Almyra, but she never specified where. I figured I would have to blindly search for the village, but it seems I won't have to. This mark has to indicate where Munira is. It's the only possible lead I have and I'll take anything at this point. I just want her back."

The mint-haired man handed the map to him. "Then take it. Find Presea and bring her home."

Claude nodded. "Thank you, my friend. I appreciate your help and support. I'll make sure she returns home."

"Send word when you have found her," Byleth said. "I wish to know how she is doing."

"I will." Claude took the map and the plush deer. "Hopefully the next time I see you, it'll be at the wedding."

The former professor smiled. "I look forward to the day."

Claude left the room and rushed back to Albus. He stored the stuffed animal with his other belongings before checking over the map of Almyra. He had a long journey ahead of him and was more than willing to travel so far to see Presea again. "Hold on, my queen. I'm coming for you. Just wait a little longer."

He mounted the wyvern and departed from Garreg Mach. He flew across Fódlan towards Almyra, taking breaks every couple of hours to allow him and Albus to rest. He rarely stopped for more than two hours, meaning he rarely slept. He was too eager to reach the western coast of Almyra to find time to sleep. He would take short naps on their small breaks, but it wasn't long before the exhaustion caught up with him.

Near the border of Fódlan and Almyra, Claude was forced to land when he was having difficulty keeping his eyes open and focusing on flying. His mind was a fuzzy mess and he could barely think straight. He was on the brink of collapsing from exhaustion.

Making a small camp, the king didn't even try to fight against sleep. He fell asleep within minutes with Albus watching over him. Half a day later, he woke up to realize just how long he'd been out. Instead of hopping back onto his wyvern, he decides to enjoy a meal. He unpacked a small amount of food from his rations and ate. While munching down on the small meal, he couldn't help but laugh. "Pres would be red in the face with anger if she saw me not taking proper care of myself."

Albus snorted as if to reply to the man.

Claude glanced over at the wyvern. "You wouldn't rat me out, would you, buddy?"

The creature looked away with another snort.

He laughed weakly. "You definitely would..." Huffing out a sigh, he leaned back and laid down on his back. He stared up at the darkening sky. He placed one hand under his head while the other reached out towards the sky above. "I wonder... Are you watching the sun set right now? I wish I was there with you so we could watch it together."

Albus had been listening to his rider. He strode over to him and curled up beside him. The king lowered his hand and placed it against the wyvern's scaly side. "You miss her too, huh?" His fingers trailed across his white scales. "Don't worry, buddy. We'll see her soon. I just know we'll find her. When we do, the three of us will return home."

Albus growled lowly in agreement.

"We better get some more rest," Claude said. "We'll need it for the journey ahead."

<------------<<<<<

After two weeks of flying, Claude crossed into Almyran territory. He would check the map every few minutes to ensure they were heading in the right direction. As he and Albus enjoyed the gentle, cool breeze, the king started to think about the western coast of his homeland. He had never explored too far from the capital when he was a child nor when he became king. His work doesn't allow him to travel much as he was stuck in the capital tending to his heavy workload. He was curious and intrigued by the beautiful sunsets Presea mentioned that could be seen from the shores of Munira.

Claude was drawn out of his thoughts when the breeze blowing around them soon became hinted with the faint scent of salt and orange blossoms. His eyes widen when smelling the gentle scent. He knew they were close to the ocean and it wouldn't be long before they reached the coast.

Thirty minutes later, the ocean came into view. Claude guided Albus higher into the air so they could get a better view. Flying above the mountain range, he spotted the ocean in the distance. He scanned the coastline for any sign of a village but found nothing. Wondering if they were too north, he pulled out the map to check it again. As he examined the surrounding area where the mark was on the map, he heard a faint voice ring inside his head.

"Claude..."

His head shot up with a gasp. Eyes wide, he looked around again. "That was..."

Albus screeched to grab the man's attention. He turned his body to the south in hopes his rider would get the message. Luckily, he did.

Claude held on tightly to the reins. "Take me to her, buddy."

The wyvern took off. He flew as fast as possible towards the southwestern coast of Almyra. It wasn't long until the remnants of a village came into sight. Albus descended from the sky and landed in a patch of grass next to a scorched house.

Claude slid off the wyvern's back as his eyes raked over the remains of Munira. Many of the houses and other buildings were nothing but piles of debris with burn marks littered across the surface. Ash had turned the once green grass black. Among the remains, he did manage to find a house that was still standing. It wasn't in complete disrepair, but parts of it were missing.

Walking up the stairs to the front door, he was greeted by the sight of various flowers potted in vases. Some were cracked while others seemed to be in pristine condition. A small smile crept onto his face at seeing the blossoming flowers. The scent from the flowers bathed the house in a gentle, pleasant fragrance.

When he entered the house, he saw crates filled with vegetables and fruits. Beside them were baskets filled with herbs and spices. Not too far away from the supplies was a pile of folded blankets with a few pillows surrounding it. There was also a few baskets brimming with different kinds of seashells. Someone was living in the house but they were currently gone.

Claude wondered if Presea was living in the house. Seeing she was not there, he exited the house to search the rest of the village. He walked down a stone pathway and followed it to the outskirts of Munira. It only took him a few minutes to reach the cliff that overlooked a sandy beach. He admired the beauty the scenery had to offer before his attention was drawn to the coastline below. Near the water's edge, he spotted a figure. Seeing the snowy tresses bleating in the breeze, he smiled.

Scanning the area, Claude found a path leading down the cliffside towards the beach. He carefully made his way down to the shore. He trudges through the sand, his smile growing with each step he took. He stopped a little ways away from the woman and watched her fondly pick up seashells and place them in a basket. He admired the simple yet elegant dress she wore. It was a light purple with white flowers embroidered on the skirt. The sleeves were puffy, see-through, and reached her wrists. The top of the dress was a dropped waist bodice. Around her waist was a golden bow. Her snowy hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with a braid on each side of her head.

Seeing the sun reflect off the emerald engagement ring he'd given her, Claude could no longer remain silent. He took a few more steps forward. "Still as beautiful as ever."

The woman froze at the sound of his voice. She almost dropped the shell she had in her hand. She willed herself to move and slowly turned to face him. She held the basket with both hands. "Claude..." She closed the distance between them and pulled one hand away from the basket to place on his cheek. She gazed hopefully into his emerald eyes. "You're...real, aren't you?"

Claude smiled warmly. He placed his hand over the one that gently cradled his cheek, curling his fingers around hers. He leaned into her touch as he basked in the warmth he dearly missed. "I am, and I'm not going anywhere."

Presea dropped the basket. She removed her hand from his cheek and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. Tears of joy spilled from her eyes. "Thank the goddess..."

He wound his arms around her waist, embracing her back. He nuzzled his nose against the side of her head. "I'm sorry it took me so long to find you."

"Don't be sorry," she whispered. "You're here now. That's all that matters. Thank you for finding me, Claude."

Breaking the hug, Presea's hands rested against his chest. "What happened these past two years?"

He smiled. "Do I have a story to tell you."

The couple sat down in the sand. Claude told her everything about what happened after the war with Fódlan and Almyra. He skipped over the minuscule details and only covered the big changes. Once he finished, he saw the look on the woman's face. He could tell she was trying to wrap her head around all the information.

"So..." Press began. "You've become the King of Almyra. Should I call you Claude or Khalid?"

"To be honest, you can call me either. Both sound amazing when you say them."

She laughed at his reply. "I've gotten so used to calling you Claude, but I do miss calling you Khalid."

"It took me a while to get used to hearing my birth name again," he confessed. "But I have to say I miss it."

"Then Khalid it is," she smiled.

Claude fell silent for a few seconds before asking, "What happened to you that day two years ago?"

Presea gazed out across the ocean. "I exhausted too much magic, more than I have ever before. I was able to rewrite Acheron's own spell to make it my own, but it required all the mana I had left. In order for me to recover, my body discorporated." She held out her hand, remembering when she saw her body turning transparent. "It took a couple of months for my strength to return and my body to materialize again. When it did, I found myself back here in Munira. It was convenient, but I have a feeling my soul returned home so I could regain my strength easier."

"Have you been all alone these past couple of years?" He asked, even though he felt like he already knew the answer.

She nodded. "I have. No one travels this far west in Almyra, which is probably why my father decided to build Munira here. These past two years have been peaceful but lonely. If I had the strength to travel, I would have left to reunite with you."

"You're still recovering?"

"I am. It will still take some time for me to fully recover. It will take even much longer for me to regain my ability to transform, but I'm okay with that." She stood up and brushed off the sand from her dress. She picked up the basket of shells. "I know you're probably hungry from all the traveling. How about I make us something to eat?"

Claude got to his feet beside her. "A meal does sound nice right about now. But first, I think there's someone else who really wants to see you."

The couple left the beach and returned to Munira. Claude took Presea by the hand, escorting her to where Albus was. The moment the wyvern saw the girl, he dashed over with his wings spread out. He nuzzled his snout against her cheek, his tail thumping against the ground as a sign of his joy.

Presea put the basket down and stroked the sides of Albus' face with a giggle. "It's good to see you again, Albus. I feel like you're bigger every time I see you."

While she petted the wyvern, Claude untied everything from his back. He carried it back to the house before returning to them. When he did, he saw Albus laying on his back with Presea rubbing the scales along his belly. He laughed at the sight. "He'll never get over belly rubs."

Presea smiled. "That's okay. I love rubbing his belly." After a few more minutes of rubbing the wyvern, she stopped. "I'll get dinner started for all of us." She picked up the basket of shells.

Claude walked beside her back towards the house with Albus on their heels. "I have some rations left. If there's anything you want to use, go right ahead."

"I'll take a quick look."

The snowy-haired woman got to work on dinner when they returned to the house. She cooked a simple meal consisting of roasted vegetables and broiled fish that she added extra spices to amplify the flavor. She served Albus and then Claude since the wyvern was outside the house waiting patiently for his meal.

The couple sat at a small wooden table and enjoyed their meal. A moment after Claude took the first bite, he sighed in contentment. "Amazing as always. I missed your cooking."

"Glad you like it," she beamed.

He paused before taking another bite. He looked away from the fish to meet her gaze. "I brought the armor with me," he said.

"I was wondering what happened to it," Presea commented. "I'm happy you brought it with you. Could you help me bury it?"

"Of course," he replied, smiling.

He did just that.

Once their bellies were full, Claude carried the holy armor and followed Presea to the cliffs. She showed him to the graveyard of her people. He was in awe at the sight. Headstones were made from wood and each one had a unique strand of shells attached to it. Names were carved into the wood and the shells were painted with small designs. He lowered in armor as he gaped in surprise. "You did all this by yourself?"

"Yes," she replied. "It is amazing what you can accomplish in two years if you have enough determination."

"I always thought graveyards were grim and melancholic, but..." He scanned the various headstones and shells. "This place is not either of those things. It's warm and inviting."

"I wanted to create a place where not only the dead could rest in peace but the living to also find peace of mind," she stated.

"You did an amazing job, I must say."

"Thank you." Presea guided Claude to the center of the graveyard. There, she had created a beautiful flower bed. It added color and life to the graveyard. In the center of the flower bed was a large hole she had dug a year ago to place the holy armor in. She asked him to lay the armor down into the hole and he did just that. With their combined efforts, they buried the Holy Armor of the Guardian.

Now done, Presea smiled widely. "I really do appreciate your help, Khalid."

Hearing his birth name roll off her tongue sounded like the most beautiful melody he's heard. "Whenever you need help, I'll always be here."

She gazed down at the ground where the armor is buried. "Now, my people are finally at peace, and so am I."

Claude stood next to her and took her hand in his. "They can finally rest because of you."

"Because of us," she corrected him. "And now, I need to focus on our future."

He found himself gazing deeply into her cerulean eyes. "You still want to marry this old man?"

She snorted with laughter. "You're not old, Khalid. You're only twenty-six."

"Exactly! I'm a bag of old bones," he sighed in feign drama. "I'm pretty sure I plucked a gray hair a few weeks ago. Next thing you know, I'm going bald."

"Pretty sure that gray strand was just from stress, not age," she remarked. "You are a king, after all. What king isn't stressed out?"

"Good point." A grin tugged at the corners of his lips. He tugged on her hand and pulled her into his arms, their bodies flushed against each other. He held her hand and wound an arm around her waist as if he were going to dance with her. "I know the perfect person to help with all that stress."

Presea decided to feign naivete. "Judith? No, not her. Oh! How about Nardel? He acts tough, but I know about that sweet tooth of his. I think he's just a nig teddy bear."

Claude only laughed. "You really haven't changed these past two years, and I am so happy about that." He kissed her on the forehead. "I was thinking more along the lines of my beautiful, sweet, and caring fiancée. She just has a magic touch no one else has. I usually find myself to be putty in her hands."

A playful smile came to blossom on the woman's face. Her free hand slid up Claude's arm, across his shoulder, and begin his neck. She leaned against him as her hand slithered up the back of his neck and her fingers tangled into his hair. She gently stroked his chocolate locks. "Something like this?"

Claude hummed in bliss, eyes sliding shut at feeling her fingers gently combing through his hair. "Exactly like this."

Seeing his eyes were shut, she stole a kiss from his lips. A laugh slipped from her lips when his eyes got open at her actions. "I would ask if you were lonely without me, but I know your plate has been full ever since you became king. Your mind was probably occupied with all those new duties."

"My mind was occupied, but not enough to forget about you," he answered honestly. "I missed you every day for the past two years. I dreamed of having you back in my arms and now I do. Don't expect me to be letting go anytime soon."

"I wouldn't want you to," she remarked. "My future is you."

Claude leaned his forehead against hers, smiling gently. "And you're mine."

<------------<<<<<

Four months later...

In the capital of Almyra, Claude and Presea we're tending to the final touches of their wedding which so happened to be flower arrangements. The King and his fiancée were in their shared bedroom. He was at his desk tending to a few documents. He was growing weary and glanced out the open doors that led to the balcony. The sun was beginning to set, meaning he had been working on paperwork for the last six hours. He had dedicated his morning to helping Presea with the final wedding arrangements because his afternoon and evening would be focused on paperwork.

Claude's eyes traveled over to his beloved. She was curled up on their bed fast asleep. She had been sleeping more often than usual, but he knew it was because her body was still trying to recover. He was relieved to see her getting some rest. Putting the quill down, he abandoned the paperwork. He stood from his desk and meandered over to the bed. He laughed lightly when he saw she was hugging the plush deer.

The king, after taking off his boots and gloves, crawled onto the bed to join her. He laid beside her, gazing at her sleeping face. He saw she was peacefully slumbering and doesn't want to disturb her. Instead, he joined her in the realm of dreams.

It wasn't until an hour later was the couple stirred from their slumber when someone knocked on the door. Claude groaned in annoyance as his eyes opened. He saw his beloved was also awakened but laughed at seeing the childish pout on her face. "I'll get rid of them as quick as possible."

She sighed and shook her head. She sat up, tucking her knees underneath her and placing the plush in her lap. "It's fine. I shouldn't be sleeping while you're working so hard."

"I don't mind. You're still recovering, after all. And it's not like you're doing nothing. I know you've been working hard on your studies."

"Not as hard as you, though. You need a break." She crawled off the bed, placing the plush deer by the pillows. "How about we take a stroll through the garden after dinner?"

Claude was about to accept the offer when the knocking started again. He reluctantly opened the door to find one of his advisors. He informed the king of dinner before excluding himself. The brunette closed the door and glanced over at his fiancée. "Speaking of dinner..."

She smiled. "Let's go."

They left their room and headed to the grand dining room. They enjoyed a tasty meal and soon found themselves in the garden of the castle. Presea ran ahead of Claude when she spotted the dahlias and star gaser lilies she was growing. She had received the seeds from Claude when they returned to the capital and she wanted no time planting them. She would visit the garden at least twice a day to check on them. A smile bloomed on her face when seeing they were doing well. She sat on her knees in front of her flowers. "I was a little worried they wouldn't do so well, but I was wrong. They're doing wonderfully."

Claude kneeled beside her. "Ever think about growing more?"

"I have, actually. I was thinking about growing some lantanas or marigolds," she answered.

"How about both?" He proposed. "I have a few new connections in Fódlan who could provide some of the best seeds for any flower you want."

"I would like that very much. Thank you, Khalid."

He smiled back. "I'd do anything to see you happy."

"In that case..." Presea grabbed his hand. She pulled him up to his feet alongside her. She tugged on his hand and walked in the direction of the fountain. She situated themselves in front of the fountain. "Dancing with you always makes me happy. Would you mind indulging me in a moonlight waltz?"

Claude felt his heart flutter. "I don't mind in the slightest. Actually, I'd love to dance with you." He took her hand and placed a hand around her waist, smiling. "We don't have any music, but that's okay. Mind if I take the lead?"

"Please do," she responded. "I would be stepping all over your feet if I was put in charge."

So began their slow waltz.

The king led his soon-to-be queen into a gentle, slow rhythm. He hit every step precisely and led without a single mistake. He kept count in his head and ensured he didn't miss a step. He smiled down at Presea when her fluent movements matched his perfectly. "I have to say, you're the best dance partner someone could ever ask for. Every time we dance together, I can clearly see why you won the White Heron Cup."

"Dancing by yourself and dancing with a partner are two completely different things," she commented.

"Okay, I have to agree with that. But I still think you're an excellent dancer. You wouldn't have beaten Edelgard and Dimitri if you weren't."

"You say that now, but wait 'til our wedding day. I'll be stepping all over your feet in high heels because of how nervous I'll be."

"Then I'll make sure everything goes smooth by being the lead," he said. "I'll want to show you off to everyone and the dance will be a perfect time."

Presea held Claude's hand tightly when he spun her. "I can't wait for next month to come."

"Neither can I," he spoke from the heart. "After so many years, I'll finally be able to truly call you mine."

She eyed him curiously. "Did you ever think this would've happened when we first met?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. When we first met, all I could think about was how someone could hurt you kike that. I didn't even think that we would've become friends. There was a part of me that was convinced you would leave once you healed. There was also a time I never thought I would've fallen for you. I was wrong. And now, we're getting married. Crazy how some things play out, right?"

She nodded in agreement. "Some things are crazier than others."

"I think our love story falls into the crazy category," he commented. "It took a war and two crusty old bastards to get where we are now. It almost feels like everything was a crazy dream."

"Can't argue with that," she said. "It does feel like those days are a blur. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again on our wedding day."

"Even our dear old professor will be there," he said.

"More like the archbishop," she corrected him. "I am surprised Byleth found time to attend. He's been busy himself these past two years."

Claude spun her a second time before pulling her body flush against his. He ended their dance and kissed her on the lips. When he peered into her cerulean eyes, he saw the familiar tiredness in them. "I think someone needs to go to bed."

She pursed her lips. "You ruined the moment..."

He chuckled. "I know, I know. We'll have plenty of other sweet, tooth-rotting moments together after we're married. For now, the mighty Presea needs to sleep and I'd rather it be in a bed than the garden."

Presea groaned. "Fine..."

He stole another kiss. "And, of course, I'll be joining you. I'm beat from all that paperwork...which I have yet to finish."

"You can finish it tomorrow. Let's go to bed."

The couple left the garden and returned to their room. It didn't take long for them to change into their sleeping attire and climb into bed. Within the hour, they were both fast asleep.

<------------<<<<<

Another month flew by quickly. It was now time for the wedding. Instead of hosting a large wedding with all of Almyra watching, Claude and Presea held it at one of the very few Churches of Seiros in Almyra since the country became close allies with Fódlan. It had been built in the last year and was a small church. The couple only invited their friends and former professors.

Presea was in one of the small rooms located in the church. She stared down at the wedding dress she picked out a couple of months ago.

Hilda squealed excitedly. "You. Look. Amazing! I don't even think amazing is the best word to describe you! Maybe beautiful? Or-Or gorgeous!" she sighed dreamily. "Claude-er, Khalid-is a lucky guy!"

Lysithea, who was helping Marianne with Presea's hair, shooed the warrior away when she almost knocked over the basket of jasmines. "Hilda, you're way too excited for someone else's wedding."

"How could I not be?" She remarked. "My best friend is getting married! Even though it's to our former house leader."

"You almost sound like you disapprove," Leonie commented.

"Not at all!" Hilda denied. "Just shocked, is all. So many guys at the Officers Academy were crushing on Pressy, but it was Claude who snagged her in the end." She realized she made the same mistake and groaned. "I swear, I will never stop calling him Claude..."

"It's fine, Hilda," Presea replied. "You can still call him Claude."

Marianne finished braiding Presea's hair. She smiled at her successful attempt at a braided bun with side braids. "There."

Lysithea picked up the basket of white jasmines and started to thread them in her friend's hair. "You'll be the first one married out of all of us, Presea."

"I thought you and Byleth would've tied the knot before us, Lysithea," she retorted.

The lilac-eyed woman started to blush. "W-Well..."

Leonie gasped. "Did he pop the question?"

"Yes..."

"Did you say no?" Hilda asked. "Because I don't see a ring on your finger."

"Of course not!" Lysithea denied. "He proposed a week before we receives the wedding invite. I chose not to wear the ring and cause a stir at Presea's wedding if someone were to see it. It's her and Claude's day, not mine."

"Aw, how kind of you, Lysithea," Leonie cooed.

She cleared her throat and out the last jasmine in presea's hair. "A-Anyway, let's focus, ladies. We've finished the hair, put on the dress and shoes, did the make-up... Are we missing anything?"

Hilda gasped, eyes widening. "The bouquet!" She was about to dash towards the door to search for it but was stopped when the door opened. Flayn and Seteth entered.

Flayn walked over with the bouquet, smiling. "You look like a goddess in this dress, Presea."

"Thank you, Flayn." Presea took the bouquet when Flayn handed it to her. "You did a wonderful job on the bouquet. It's so pretty and smells wonderful!"

She giggled. "I had some help from Lady Rhea and my father."

"Flayn wished for the bouquet to be perfect and worked on it for days," Seteth confessed.

"I can tell so much love was put into making it," Presea replied. "I'm glad you three were able to make it."

Hilda suddenly clapped her hands to grab everyone's attention. "Okay, enough chitchat! The ceremony's about to start!"

"Oh!" Flayn gaped. "We better rush back to our seats." She and Seteth left.

"We should too," Leonie said. "I think we can leave the rest up to Hilda."

Lysithea, Leonie, and Marianne left.

Hilda adjusted the sleeves of the wedding dress with a fond smile. "It's almost time. Are you ready?"

Presea nodded. "I am."

"Then let's get you hitched!"

Hilda escorted her best friend to the altar. Once the bride was in place, she rushed back to her seat as the music began.

Holding the bouquet tightly, Presea slowly made her way down the aisle. She smiled at seeing all her friends gathered in one place again. Then, her eyes met Claude's. She admired him dressed in traditional formal Almyran clothing. She thought it suited him perfectly. What made him even more handsome was his joyous smile.

Reaching the altar, she placed her hand in his. "Never thought you could get any more handsome. I was completely wrong."

Claude laughed airily and squeezed her hand. He too found himself admiring her dress. "And here I thought you couldn't get any more beautiful. No wonder you were so secretive about the dress."

"Got to have a little mystery for the wedding day," she giggled.

Standing side by side, Claude and Presea exchanged vows. They listened closely to the priest before being presented with their silver wedding bands. They exchanged their words of love and the rings then sealed their external vow with a kiss. Their friends started to clap and cheer.

By the time of the after-party, the excitement had yet to die down. When it came to the dancing, Claude eagerly escorted his wife to the dance floor. Just like their moonlight waltz last month, he took her in his arms and danced to the gentle melody. "I have been waiting too long for this," he confessed with a faint grin.

"Do you really think anyone would try to hit on me now that I'm married?" Presea wondered.

"There are some desperate people out there," he replied. "Not that any of our friends are desperate, crazy people...I think."

"Desperate, no. Crazy..." She looked over at Hilda, who was smearing frosting across Raphael's face. "Maybe a little."

When it came time to switch partners, Lorenz was supposed to be the next person Presea would be dancing with. She thought Claude would hand her over to Lorenz, but did the opposite. He spun them away from him with an apologetic grin. "Sorry, Lorenz, but I'd prefer to dance with my queen a little longer."

Lorenz was about to make a remark when Presea was snatched away from Claude by Hilda. The fuschia-haired woman laughed as she started dancing with her best friend. "You have Pressy for the rest of your life. At least share her for today."

Claude watched in perturbed silence as Hilda danced with Presea before being passed to Lorenz. She then danced with Marianne, Ashe, Lysithea, and even Byleth. Judith had come over to the king and danced with him after seeing him beginning to pout. "You really are a jealous man when it comes to her, boy."

The emerald-eyed man groaned. "You're still calling me that?"

"Of course," she replied. "No matter what your title is, you'll always be a boy to me. And try to keep your jealousy under control. It can make you look ugly."

"Okay, okay..."

After Presea finished dancing with Ignatz, she found herself back with Claude. She smiled up at him when he wrapped an arm around her waist. "Miss me?"

"Very much, actually," he beamed back. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "How about we sneak out for a little bit?"

"At our own after-party?" She questioned.

"It'll only be for a little while, I promise."

She glanced around at their friends to see they were all enjoying the food and dancing with each other. Looking back at Claude, she nodded. "Okay."

Arm still hooked around her waist, he escorted her outside. They walked a little ways away from the church to a beautiful meadow of flowers. Seeing the vast array of flowers, Presea gasped in awe and broke away from Claude. She grabbed the front of her dress and hiked it up to prevent ruining the flowers. She found a large patch of flowers and sat on her knees, not caring if her wedding dress got dirty.

Claude followed her with a fond smile and sat beside her. He too didn't care if the fancy clothes he wore got dirty. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her as she gently cupped a blue flower in her palm.

Presea gently picked the blue flower. She turned to Claude and tucked it into a small fold of his clothes near his chest. She adjusted it slightly, smirking. "Blue suits you well, too."

"Should I invest in more blue clothing?" He asked, glancing down at the flower.

"Only if you want." She picked another flour. This one was red. She held it up by his face. "Honestly, every color fits you."

Claude picked a purple flower with yellow tips and did the same. He smiled when seeing how well the colors compliment her snowy tresses and cerulean eyes. "I could say the same. Maybe I should have dresses of every color made for you."

"I think that would be too many dresses," she giggled.

"How about three?" He asked.

"Three sounds like a good amount."

"Then it's settled. Once we get back to the capital, I'll have some dresses commissioned for you.

Presea's attention was drawn to another flower when a butterfly landed on it. She saw how beautiful its wings were. They were a mix of blue, purple, and yellow. Slowly, she lowered her hand to the flower and stuck out a single finger. She edged it closer to the flower gradually to avoid frightening the butterfly. The insect moved across the petals and onto her finger. Carefully, she lifted her finger. She smiled gently as she recalled what a butterfly symbolizes in love. "Eternal love..."

Claude had been gazing at the butterfly when he heard her. His smile was as warm as hers. "Our love will be just that."

The butterfly flew away.

Presea watched as it fluttered its wings and disappeared. "Our life together has finally begun."

*****• END •*****