Description

Jeritza was born Emile von Bartels in the Imperial Year 1158 as the son of Baron Bartels. He is the younger half-brother of Mercedes, as his mother was a commoner who married his father for financial security. He remained in House Bartels after his mother and sister left in 1167. In his supports with Mercedes, it is revealed that he remained behind to keep them safe, believing that his father would hunt them down and kill both of them if they fled with him. Some time afterwards, Emile learned that the Baron had discovered about Mercedes and her mother's whereabouts, and since Emile's mother was past the age of bearing children, he intended to take Mercedes as his wife. Upon hearing this, Emile snapped and slew his father, along with the entirety of House Bartels; though many believed he was responsible for its destruction, none had solid proof. It's heavily implied the incident caused him to develop his homicidal split personality known as the Death Knight, a persona born as he blacked out from sheer rage and didn't remember anything save for coming to at the scene of the massacre. House Bartels and all its lands were inherited to a distant relative after the massacre. Emile was eventually found and taken in by Edelgard, who helped him erase his past and changed his name to Jeritza. He was then taken into House Hrym as an heir and given hunting grounds to satisfy his bloodlust. Since then, Jeritza has been entirely loyal towards Edelgard and follows her every decision. Eventually, with the recommendation of Edelgard's uncle, Volkhard, Jeritza is given a position at the Officers Academy and was given a role as a fencing instructor.