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The ball was extravagant and beautiful. The chandeliers hanging from the celling sparkled a beautiful blue that illuminated the dance floor with stunning results. People everywhere were in high spirts, dancing, drinking, laughing, and just enjoying themselves but , this was the coronation of a King, so It was to be expected. King Dimitri of Faegrhus was talked about for weeks on end before the coronation actually took place. It wasn’t a quick whim like when Dimitri was announced to be the rightful king during the war but that happened after Claude had left for Almyra and started his own journey to royalty. Claude had no idea how Dimitri was fairing otherwise but he knew that this should be a happy time, he had promised he would come back for Dimitri and now he was. He felt something, something for Dimitri that prevented him from staying away. Claude felt that something drew him to Dimitri, and he wasn’t sure what.
Claude walked around and he saw Felix and Sylvain chatting away about the end of the war and the future of their territories. It really did remind Claude that they were all grown up now with responsibilities and that any war responsibilities were not just some temporary things. It was like this for everyone now, having to lead their own life and take control of who they are. It was a revelation that changed everyone and everything. The war was that is. More often than Not Claude wonders what life would have been like if the war never started. What life would have been like if Edelgard had never been the flame emperor, if adrestria had never declared war on Fodlen, If the professor had decided to teach another house instead of the blue lions. The what ifs were endless, but Claude wasn’t going to think about the what ifs right now, now he was going to think about the present.
Claude ran into Dedue and started talking with him about politics and how life was going. Dedue was now the official ambassador between relations of Faegrhus and Duscar and he took that role seriously. Dimitri had been happy to trust Dedue with this and Claude knew that his loyalty for Dimitri could never be underestimated. Back at the academy, Claude’s retainer was technically Hilda and don’t get him wrong, He loved Hilda and they were still best friends to this day. They always planned trips together, wrote each other letters and all that fun stuff however, when it came to retainers, there seemed to be something more serious between Edelgard and Hubert and Dimitri and Dedue. Claude was actually glad that his relationship with Hilda wasn’t like that because he really loved just having her as a crazy best friend and she liked having him that way. “So, you say that the relationship between Faegrhus and Duscar has been improving my friend?”
“It has improved greatly. I am so grateful that Dimitri trusted me with this project. I think that the citizens of Duscar feel safer and more confident that somebody that is actually from Duscar is here to represent them.” Dedue smiles softly.
“That is great! You know that I plan to try and Improve the relationship that Almyra has with Fodlen as well.”
“Dimitri would of course been open to that, He wants everyone to be happy in his kingdom and out.” Dedue smiles.
“I feel the same my friend! Speaking of Dimitri, where is he? It is his coronation and I barley even saw him aside from when he was getting crowned.”
“His highness said that he had something to attend to with the Fearghus nobility.”
“On his coronation night? Wow he just got crowned and they are already piling him up with work. It must be stressful for him. I hope he is ok.”
“Yes, his highness gets into the habit of overdoing himself quite often. I am always trying to stop him from falling into these habits.”
“Well, that’s Dimitri for you! Always been an overachiever even when it’s at the cost of his own exhaustion. Anyway, I am glad that we got to talk Dedue! I am going to go take a look at the gardens. I heard that some Almyran flowers have been planted and I am interested to go and see!”
“That sounds good, please take care Claude.” Claude smiled and waved goodbye and walked out into the gardens to look around at the flowers. After he walked pretty deep into the gardens, he was surprised to see Dimitri sitting alone on a bench talking to himself.
“What must I do father? I have done it! I have killed that vile woman! Please do not look upon me with tears and scorn in your eyes!”
“Dimitri?” Claude walked over and sat next to him. Dimitri didn’t pay attention and just looked at the ground.
“tell me! Tell me what I have to do!”
“DIMITRI!!” Claude did the only thing he could think of to snap Dimitri out of it and kissed him. Dimitri got tears in his eyes and kissed Claude back and wrapped his arms around him.
“Claude…”
“Hey buddy I am back!”
“Claude, I missed you greatly.” This made Claude Blush and he looked at Dimitri.
“Are you ok? You were talking to yourself and seemed upset.”
“Oh…I must have been having another hallucination then. I black out when I have them and I don’t remember much. Thank you for pulling me out of it.”
“Anytime big lion.” Claude smiles and looks at Dimitri.
“Claude… when I am around you, I no longer hear the voices.”
“Then maybe I should stay forever then.” Claude blurted out and then covered his mouth.
“Stay forever? I can keep you forever?” Dimitri lifts up Claude and Claude blushes.
“Dimitri! I must go to Almyra again you know! You know I am the king there.” Claude laughs and Dimitri sighs.
“Can I say something crazy?”
“Lay it on me.”
“I am in love with you Claude. I wish to keep you by my side forever I want to make you my queen if it means I could keep you. It will unite Faegrhus and Almyra anyway which is what you want and what I want…is to make you mine.”
“I-I…Yes.” Claude blushes a lot. It was no secret that him and Dimitri had been having an affair since academy days. It is part of the reason Claude was willing to rely so heavily on Dimitri to save him during the war. He knew that Dimitri might be in a bad place mentally, but he also knew that with the professor, he would snap out of it and return to normal and come and get his lover. Dimitri was blushing a lot.
“I do not have a ring for you yet, my love.” Dimitri sighs.
“Hey, we can worry about that latter, ok? How about we go inside and enjoy your coronation night right now?”
“Yes, we shall, I cannot wait to tell all our friends that you are mine.”
“Be careful when using that term my lion king, it will get me all flustered inside.”
“Whatever you wish my fuzzy deer. Now let’s go.” Claude blushed and he took Dimitri’s hand and went inside to the ball with Dimitri finally leaving the ghosts of the past.