The grand ballroom of Adrestia’s palace was ablaze with torches that cast flickering shadows on the gilded walls as Emperor Ionius IX awaited the birth of his newest heir with bated breath. The air was thick with anticipation as whispers of Edelgard’s mother’s strange behavior during her pregnancy circulated among the courtiers—behavior that had led to her confinement in her chambers for months on end. The emperor’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he paced back and forth, his own substantial girth jiggling with each step he took. The smell of roasting meats wafted in from the kitchens below as chefs prepared an elaborate feast to celebrate the impending arrival of his child—a feast that would befit an emperor’s appetite.

The labor was long and arduous, with Edelgard’s mother crying out in pain that seemed to echo through every corridor of the palace. The midwives worked tirelessly to bring her through it, their faces etched with concern as they followed her final instructions—instructions that had been passed down through generations of her lineage, instructions that spoke of an ancient power that could be harnessed through fattening rituals performed during pregnancy. As Edelgard’s first cries pierced the air, her mother took one final shuddering breath before her lifeless body went still. The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in chaos as word spread of her death—a tragedy that would soon be overshadowed by the miracle that had been born in her stead.

The newborn Edelgard was brought before her father, swaddled in velvet blankets that seemed to strain against her already plump form. The emperor’s eyes widened in astonishment as he took in her size—she was larger than any child he had ever seen at birth—and his heart swelled with pride at the thought of her potential to one day surpass even his own legendary appetite. "She is perfect," he declared to his court as he cradled her in his arms, her cries for food already resonating with an unusual urgency that made even seasoned nannies exchange uneasy glances. "The future of our empire is secure."

The whispers grew louder as Edelgard’s nanny took her away to be cleaned and fed—whispers of dark magic and forbidden rituals that had been performed in secret to ensure her mother’s legacy lived on through her daughter’s insatiable hunger. The nanny herself had been chosen for her unwavering loyalty to Edelgard’s mother; she had been privy to the secret feedings that had been administered to her mistress during her confinement—feedings that had imbued Edelgard with powers beyond those of any ordinary child. As she held Edelgard to her ample bosom to nurse her, she whispered incantations that would guide her charge’s appetite towards greatness—or so she hoped.

The days turned to weeks as Edelgard grew at an alarming rate—each feeding more voracious than the last. Her nanny watched over her with a mix of fascination and fear as she devoured everything placed before her with an unnatural speed that left plates scraped clean in mere moments. The emperor’s other children looked on with envy as their father doted on their new sister—an envy that would soon turn to malice as they realized she was no ordinary child. Her siblings plotted in hushed tones in their own chambers, their eyes glinting with greed as they discussed how they might use her unique abilities to their advantage in their own quest for power within the empire’s feasting hierarchy.

But Edelgard’s nanny had other plans for her charge—plans that involved protecting her from those who would seek to control her for their own ends. She had been entrusted with her mother’s secret recipe book—a tome filled with enchanted dishes that could either nourish or destroy those who consumed them—and she knew that Edelgard’s true destiny lay in using her powers to bring balance to Fódlan’s feasting culture rather than to perpetuate its excesses. As Edelgard grew stronger with each passing day, her nanny continued to feed her enchanted foods that would help her harness her fattening abilities—preparing her for the battles that lay ahead in her quest to change her empire’s destiny forever.

As Edelgard grew from infancy to early childhood within her secluded chambers of Adrestia’s palace, her nanny remained steadfast in her mission to protect her from her siblings’ schemes while continuing her mother’s legacy of fattening rituals. The room was always filled with an array of exotic smells from enchanted foods that were brought in from all corners of Fódlan—each dish designed to both satisfy Edelgard’s insatiable hunger and strengthen her magical abilities related to weight gain. The sound of her nanny’s gentle voice reciting ancient incantations became as familiar to her as her own heartbeat as she consumed meal after meal under her watchful eye.

"You must eat for your mother’s legacy," her nanny would whisper as she spoon-fed Edelgard another mouthful of lard-infused porridge that seemed to make her stomach swell with each bite. "Your power will set us free from this prison of excess." Edelgard’s eyes would glaze over slightly as she felt her body respond to the magic within the food—a power that was both thrilling and terrifying in its intensity. Her thoughts were simple yet profound: she knew that her appetite was more than just hunger; it was a gift that could be used to protect herself from those who wished to harm her or use her for their own purposes.

But her siblings were relentless in their pursuit of power—even going so far as to enlist corrupt chefs to help them understand Edelgard’s unique abilities in hopes of turning her against their father or using her as a weapon in their own feuds for succession. These chefs would sneak into her chambers under cover of darkness, their eyes gleaming with greed as they offered her treats that promised to make her even larger than she already was—treats that her nanny had warned her against consuming without her guidance. Edelgard’s stomach rumbled at the sight of these tempting morsels, yet she remained strong in her resolve to follow her mother’s path of moderation despite her body’s urges to indulge in every delicacy presented to her.

One fateful night, as Edelgard lay in her crib dreaming of feasts yet to come, she was abruptly awakened by the sound of her chamber door creaking open. The scent of greed was thick in the air as two shadowy figures approached her—chefs from her father’s kitchen with knives glinting in their hands. "We’ve come to claim what’s rightfully ours," one of them hissed as they reached for her plump form. But Edelgard was no ordinary child; she had been prepared for this moment since birth. With a surge of power she didn’t fully understand, she caused their stomachs to balloon to grotesque proportions—their eyes bulging with pain as they stumbled backward, unable to move or breathe properly due to their sudden weight gain. They collapsed to the floor with gurgling cries for mercy that went unheeded as Edelgard’s nanny rushed in to whisk her away to safety.

The incident with the chefs was kept quiet—their bloated bodies disposed of discreetly—but it served as a stark reminder to Edelgard of the dangers that lurked within her own family’s ranks. Her nanny’s lessons grew more intense as she taught her to control her fattening magic—how to make foods more filling or less so with just a thought; how to manipulate her own weight to gain an advantage in combat; how to create illusions of food that could distract or entrap her enemies during feasts of war. Edelgard’s appetite grew with her power, yet she remained disciplined—eating only what her nanny deemed necessary for her training as she honed her skills in secret.

The corrupt chefs’ failure to capture Edelgard only served to fuel her siblings’ determination to uncover her secrets—secrets that could make or break their own claims to power within Adrestia’s gluttonous court. They sent spies to infiltrate her chambers, hoping to learn more about her fattening abilities or perhaps even to sabotage her training. Yet Edelgard’s nanny was ever vigilant—a fierce protector whose love for her charge was matched only by her commitment to her mother’s cause of culinary equality. She taught Edelgard to be wary of those around her—to trust no one outside their small circle of two—and together they plotted their next move in this game of feasts and thrones that would determine Adrestia’s future.

As Edelgard’s power grew too great to be contained within Adrestia’s palace walls without risk of discovery, it was decided that she would be sent to live in exile in the Holy Kingdom of Huge—a place known for its more balanced approach to feasting and its strong ties to House of Gorge’s teachings of moderation in all things. The journey was long and arduous, with Edelgard’s nanny fretting over every morsel that passed her charge’s lips—fearful that any misstep could lead to disaster for them both. Upon their arrival at Huge’s castle, they were greeted with open arms by King Lambert—a man whose own love for food was matched only by his kindness towards those less fortunate than himself.

The castle of Huge was a stark contrast to Adrestia’s opulence—its halls were lined with simple yet hearty fare that spoke of a people content with their lot in life rather than obsessed with excess. The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with that of roasting meats in a way that was comforting rather than overwhelming—a stark reminder of what Edelgard had left behind in her quest for acceptance. It was here that she met Dimitri—a boy her own age whose gentle nature was as vast as his appetite was modest—and together they began to dream of creating a world without weight-based prejudices.

Dimitri’s friendship became Edelgard’s lifeline during her time in Huge—his carefree laughter cutting through the tension that surrounded her like a knife through warm butter. They would share meals together in the castle’s great hall—Edelgard marveling at how Dimitri could eat his fill without succumbing to gluttonous urges—and he would regale her with tales of his training as a knight under Byleth’s tutelage at House of Gorge. "You don’t have to eat like that here," he assured her one day as they sat side by side at dinner. "We value strength of character over size of waistline." His words resonated within her like a bell tolling in an empty chamber—a revelation that filled her with both hope for her own future and guilt for her family’s sins back in Adrestia.

The years passed quickly as Edelgard learned to control her fattening powers in secret—using them only when necessary to protect herself or her newfound friends from harm. Her friendship with Dimitri grew stronger with each shared meal—his kindness acting as a balm to her soul that had been scarred by her family’s cruelty. Yet she knew that her time in Huge was temporary; her destiny lay back in Adrestia, waiting for her to claim it when she was ready to challenge her siblings for control of their empire’s feasting future.

One crisp autumn day as they practiced their combat skills in the castle’s courtyard, Dimitri stumbled during a sparring match—his foot catching on an uneven cobblestone as he lunged towards Edelgard with his wooden sword raised in playful challenge. Without thinking, she reached out with her magic—enveloping him in an invisible cushion of food that softened his fall so that he landed unscathed at her feet. His eyes widened in shock as he looked up at her—his expression one of wonder mixed with fear at what he had just witnessed. "What...what was that?" he stammered as he climbed to his feet. Edelgard’s heart raced—would he reject her now that he knew her true nature? But instead of revulsion, she saw only curiosity in his gaze—a curiosity that mirrored her own when she had first discovered her powers so many years ago.

"It’s...it’s nothing," she replied with forced nonchalance as she helped him to his feet. "Just something I’ve been working on." Dimitri studied her for a moment before smiling—his trust in her unshaken despite her deception. "Whatever it is," he said with a wink, "it’s pretty amazing." And with that simple exchange, Edelgard felt something she hadn’t felt since her mother’s death—a sense of belonging that transcended her weight or her lineage—a bond that would shape her destiny in ways she could never have imagined when she first set foot in Huge’s welcoming embrace.

As Edelgard approached adolescence, she knew that her time in Huge was drawing to an end—it was time to return to Adrestia and face her destiny as an heir to her mother’s legacy of fattening power. The journey back to her homeland was bittersweet—leaving behind her friends in Huge yet filled with determination to change her empire’s feasting culture from within its very heart. Upon her return to Adrestia’s grand feasting halls, she was met with hostility from her siblings—each of them eyeing her with suspicion as they vied for their father’s favor in his ever-expanding waistline.

The smell of greed was palpable as Edelgard made her way through the crowded banquets—each sibling’s plate groaning under the weight of food that was more for show than sustenance. Her father’s eyes lit up at her arrival—his own girth having grown to legendary proportions—and he beckoned her to join him at his table with an air of curiosity tinged with wariness. "You’ve been away for too long," he boomed as she took her seat beside him—his voice echoing through the hall like thunder before a storm. "It’s time you proved your worth as my heir."

Edelgard’s siblings watched her with narrowed eyes as she began to eat—each bite calculated to showcase her skills without revealing her true abilities. Yet she could feel their malice like an itch beneath her skin—a constant reminder of their desire to see her fail or be consumed by her own power as their mother had been before her. But she had come prepared; she had studied under House of Gorge’s tutelage during her time in Huge—learned to control her appetite as well as her fattening magic—and she was ready to claim her place at her father’s side as his rightful successor.

The opportunity to prove herself came sooner than she had anticipated—an impromptu feasting contest that her siblings had arranged in an attempt to discredit her before their father’s eyes. The air grew thick with tension as platter after platter of food was brought forth—each more decadent than the last—and Edelgard’s siblings began to gorge themselves with reckless abandon in an effort to outdo one another. Yet she remained calm—her eyes never leaving her father’s as she took her time to savor each bite—each morsel imbued with her own brand of magic that would soon show her true colors to all present.

As her siblings grew bloated with food—their faces red with exertion—Edelgard’s plate remained mostly untouched. "Is that all you can do?" she taunted them with feigned innocence—her voice carrying across the hall like a knife slicing through lard. "To think you could best me with such gluttonous display." With that, she began to eat—her movements swift yet precise as she consumed dish after dish without appearing to gain an ounce of weight—her fattening magic working in perfect harmony with her disciplined willpower to leave her opponents in her dust. The sound of their protests grew fainter as they struggled to keep up with her pace—their stomachs stretching to breaking point as they realized too late that they had underestimated her prowess.

The contest ended with Edelgard’s victory—her siblings slumped in their chairs like overstuffed sausages while she remained poised and unblemished—her figure as lithe as it had been at the start of the feast despite having consumed more than any of them could have dreamed possible. Her father’s gaze was one of begrudging respect as he acknowledged her skill—his own appetite momentarily forgotten in the face of his daughter’s triumph. "Perhaps," he murmured to himself as he wiped his greasy chin with his sleeve, "perhaps you do have what it takes to lead our empire."

The seeds of Edelgard’s coup had been sown—her siblings’ fear of her growing with each passing day as she began to gather allies among Adrestia’s nobility for her cause of culinary reform. Her fattening magic was now more than just a weapon; it was a tool for empathy—a way to understand the struggles of those around her as she worked tirelessly to dismantle the weight-based hierarchy that had ruled her empire for generations. Yet she knew that true change would come only through action—through challenging the very system that had created her mother’s tragic fate—and so she bided her time—waiting for the moment when she could strike at the heart of Adrestia’s excesses and claim her rightful place as its emperor—a leader who would bring balance to its feasting tables once more.

The day of Edelgard’s coup dawned with an air of foreboding—the smell of fear mingling with that of roasting meats as whispers of rebellion spread through Adrestia’s palace like wildfire. The grand feasting hall had been prepared for an exclusive gathering of high-ranking nobles—each one handpicked for their influence over Emperor Ionius’s decisions—and Edelgard knew that this was her chance to expose her family’s corruption to all of Fódlan. With Hubert von Vestra at her side—his own loyalties shifting towards her cause—she donned her finest gown—its fabric stretching to accommodate her growing power—and made her way to her father’s private chambers with determination in her step.

The room was dimly lit—the only sound that of her father’s heavy breathing as he lay in his bed—his stomach distended from his latest gluttonous indulgence. "Father," she called out softly—her voice filled with both respect and steel—"it’s time to wake." The emperor stirred with a snort before his eyes snapped open—his gaze falling upon his daughter with surprise that quickly turned to suspicion as he took in her serious demeanor. "What is it?" he demanded—his voice thick with sleep and food. "What could be so important that it requires my immediate attention?"

"Your reign," Edelgard replied—each word enunciated with precision—"has been one of excess and cruelty—of using food as a weapon to control those weaker than yourself." Her father sneered at her accusations—his hand reaching for his belt to summon his guards—but it was too late; Hubert had already cast an enchantment that sealed the room against any interruptions. "You have feasted on your people’s suffering for too long," she continued—her eyes flashing with anger at his greed—"and it’s time for that to come to an end." With that, she unleashed her fattening magic—causing his already substantial frame to balloon until he was trapped within his own flesh—unable to move or speak as she laid out her terms for his abdication.

The feast below had begun without them—the sound of silverware clinking against plates rising like an orchestra of greed as nobles gorged themselves on foods that had been enchanted to make them more fattening than ever before—unaware of the drama unfolding above their heads. Edelgard descended to the hall with Hubert at her side—her heart racing with excitement as she prepared to take her place as Adrestia’s new ruler—the Engorged Empress whose reign would be marked by justice rather than excess. The sight that greeted her was one of chaos—nobles rolling on the floor in agony as their stomachs distended to impossible sizes—their faces twisted in pain as they realized too late that they had been duped.

"Citizens of Adrestia," Edelgard called out—her voice ringing through the hall like a bell—"today marks the beginning of a new era—one of balance in all things." The room grew still as all eyes turned to her—their fear palpable as they took in her unnaturally slender form amidst their own suffering. "We will no longer live in fear of our appetites," she declared—her words echoing off the vaulted ceilings—"but rather embrace them as part of what makes us strong." With that, she released her hold on their stomachs—allowing them to shrink back to normal as they gasped for air—their eyes wide with shock at what they had just witnessed.

The coup was swift—her siblings easily overpowered as they were caught off guard by their own gluttonous desires—their fattened forms no match for Edelgard’s disciplined control over her own weight gain. The corrupt chefs were rounded up—their foul practices exposed for all to see—and Edelgard’s vision for Adrestia’s future began to take shape as she addressed her new subjects with a mix of authority and compassion that was as surprising as it was inspiring. "We will feast together," she promised them—her eyes scanning the room with determination—"but we will do so with respect for our bodies and our land." The applause was tentative at first—then grew louder as hope began to replace fear in their hearts—a hope that Edelgard vowed to nurture as she set forth to rebuild her empire from its very foundations.

The Feast of Unity was Edelgard’s first public act as emperor of Adrestia—a declaration to her people that she intended to lead them towards a future of culinary equality regardless of their size or appetite. The grand ballroom of the palace had been renovated to accommodate guests of all sizes—its once-exclusive tables now replaced with communal benches laden with foods from across Fódlan that catered to every taste bud imaginable—from delicate pastries to hearty stews that could fill even the most insatiable of stomachs. The air was thick with anticipation as citizens from all walks of life filed in—their eyes wide with wonder at the sight of such abundance laid before them without judgment or prejudice.

Dimitri of Huge had been invited as an honored guest—his own beliefs in balanced eating aligning with Edelgard’s new vision for her empire—and he watched with admiration as she moved among her people—sharing her own personal struggles with weight gain in an effort to connect with them on an intimate level. "This is what true power looks like," he murmured to her as they surveyed the room together—his voice filled with pride for his friend’s courage—"not in size or excess, but in compassion." Edelgard’s cheeks flushed with emotion—his words resonating with her own beliefs that had been forged in the fires of her mother’s tragic legacy—and she knew that together they could change Fódlan’s feasting culture for good.

The feast began with Edelgard’s opening speech—her voice clear and strong as she outlined her plans for reform—plans that included outlawing harmful fattening rituals and promoting healthier eating habits among her subjects. As she spoke, she used her magic to create an illusion of abundance—each plate seemingly never-ending as guests helped themselves to food that was both nourishing and delicious—a testament to her commitment to ending weight-based discrimination within her empire’s borders. The sound of laughter and conversation filled the air as people of all sizes mingled freely—sharing their own experiences with food in ways that had once been unthinkable under her family’s rule of gluttonous excess.

Throughout the evening, Edelgard made her way from table to table—her eyes shining with hope as she listened to her people’s stories—stories of hardship and triumph that had been born from their struggles with weight in a world that had once valued size above all else. She shared her own tale of exile in Huge—how Dimitri’s friendship had taught her that there was more to life than just filling one’s stomach—and her determination to ensure that no one else would suffer as she had under her family’s tyranny. The room grew quiet as she spoke—each person hanging on her every word—their hearts swelling with hope for what lay ahead under her enlightened rule.

As the feast drew to a close—the last morsels of food consumed with satisfaction rather than gluttonous haste—Edelgard raised her goblet in toast to her guests. "To unity," she proclaimed—her voice ringing out like a clarion call—"to feasting without fear—to an empire that values strength of character over size of waistline." The room erupted in cheers—the sound echoing through the halls of Adrestia’s palace like thunder—as her people embraced her vision for their future with open arms—a future that she had fought so hard to claim for them all.

The Feast of Unity was deemed an unparalleled success—Edelgard’s popularity soaring among her subjects as they saw in her a leader who truly cared for their well-being rather than one obsessed with her own power or image. Yet she knew that her work was far from over—that there were still those in Fódlan who clung to their old ways—who saw her reforms as an affront to their very existence. It was time to take her message beyond Adrestia’s borders—to House of Gorge itself—where she would learn from Byleth’s balanced approach to weight gain education in hopes of spreading her mother’s legacy of compassion to all corners of the continent. And so she set forth—her heart filled with both hope for what could be and fear of what might stand in her way—determined to create a world where every person could feast without fear of judgment or retribution—a world that celebrated diversity in all its forms—from the size of one’s plate to the shape of one’s body—a world that was truly worthy of her mother’s sacrifices so long ago.