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“Your hands are so warm…Have they always been?”

Rain fell in endless sheets around her, but all that Byleth could focus on was Dimitri. His eye was closed, face relaxed with a contentment that she hadn’t seen in years as he held her hand to his cheek and nuzzled into its warmth. For the first time in ages, Byleth felt hope welling in her chest. Finally – finally – she had gotten through to Dimitri.

The distant rumble of thunder broke Byleth from her thoughts, bringing her back to the reality of their surroundings. The rain was icy cold, already soaked through her clothes and only growing fiercer by the second. Dimitri still appeared unbothered, but Byleth knew that even the hardiest man of Faerghus could fall ill if left drenched and cold too long.

“Dimitri.” For a moment, she worried that her voice might be too low for him to hear over the wind and rain, but Dimitri’s eye flickered open at once. “We need to get somewhere warm and dry. Now.”

Dimitri only nodded in response, though he kept his hand firmly clasped around hers throughout the walk to the dormitories. As they reached the stairs leading to the second floor, Byleth paused to observe him. Although Dimitri’s expression was still free of the darkness that had clung to it for so long, his eye was dazed and there was an almost feverish flush to his face. He glanced at the staircase, frowning slightly as his grip tightened around her hand. Byleth had intended to send Dimitri up to his room on his own, but as she watched him, she was gripped by the sudden fear that despite his apparent breakthrough, he might not be there in the morning if she left him alone.

With that terrifying thought in her head, Byleth couldn’t stop herself from turning and tugging Dimitri along once more. They continued along down the line of dormitories – some quiet because of the late hour, others because their former occupants were now enemies – until reaching her room at the very end. Dimitri hesitated when she opened the door, a familiar bashful look on an unfamiliar face, but he followed her inside obediently enough after a few gentle reassurances.

“You should take off your armour.” Byleth walked to her desk, lighting the candles with a weak fire spell. “If any of your clothing underneath is damp, take that off too. I don’t have anything you can change into, but the blankets should be enough to warm you up. Or I could go ask Dedue for some spare clothes.”

As she spoke, Byleth knelt before the small fireplace in her room. She could hear the unmistakeable clanging of Dimitri removing his armour behind her, and smiled at his easy compliance. The Dimitri she had known for the past few months would have raged and argued with anyone who dared to suggest such a thing, accused them of some nefarious plot and refused to follow orders even to his own detriment. But tonight, his meekness reminded her of the sweet boy she had known at the academy, and hope flared brighter in Byleth’s chest. Perhaps everything really could go back to the way it once was…

Satisfied that the growing fire would soon warm the room, Byleth rose. She shed her sopping wet cloak and unbuckled her breastplate automatically, nudging open her wardrobe to grab the nearest set of lounging clothes. She bent over to remove her knee guard and slide off her boots, thoughts distracted as she wondered if she could coax Dimitri into visiting the sauna in the morning. Byleth stood straighter, carelessly slipping her fingers beneath the edge of her soaked shirt.

“Professor.”

Dimitri’s voice was low, but some unfamiliar emotion in his tone sent shivers up Byleth’s spine. As she turned to respond, Byleth found herself gaping instead. She hadn’t seen Dimitri out of his armour once since her return, but Byleth had assumed that his imposing stature would be diminished without it, closer to his figure at the academy. She quickly saw that she was wrong – his broad shoulders and muscular chest needed no embellishments from armour to be impressive, a fact made even more apparent by his lack of shirt. Her eyes traced the curves of his musculature and the jagged scars that covered his body, though they did nothing to detract from his beauty.

“Professor.”

Byleth regained control of her senses at the deep rumble of his voice, finally looking up as Dimitri closed the distance between them. Her mind blanked again as she met his gaze. The haze from before had left his eye, replaced by a burning intensity that froze her in place. It was a look she had caught glimpses of at the academy, when Dimitri successfully pinned her in a training fight or when they sat by campfires long after the others had retired, but he had always been quick to hide it before – to shield it behind his princely mask.

Something…strange coiled within Byleth, something that demanded she press closer to Dimitri at once. As if reading her thoughts, he reached for her, one hand gently laid on her cheek as the other gripped her hip tightly and pulled her forward. Byleth opened her mouth, intent on asking Dimitri what was happening, but before the words could escape he had crushed his mouth to hers. Her eyes widened as Dimitri kissed her desperately, clumsy and inexperienced though certainly not lacking in enthusiasm. Warmth spread through Byleth along with a weird mix of longing and urgency that she had never felt before.

Byleth had known that she felt differently about Dimitri from the moment they met, but she had never been able to define those emotions, to understand why he made her feel things that no one else ever had. But as she stood there, wrapped in his arms and lips pressed together, it finally all made sense. This was what they were always meant to be.

But just as Byleth was about to move her lips in response, Dimitri pulled away. He dragged her body closer, curved against his, and buried his face into her hair. Sobs echoed through the small room.

“Professor, please.” His voice sounded as broken as it had beneath the rain. Byleth’s chest ached. “I-I…I’m sorry. I should not have…just. Please. Don’t leave me.” The rest of his words were muffled as he pressed his face tighter against her, but his incoherent begging caused Byleth more pain than she could have imagined. She had to do something.

Dimitri reluctantly loosened his grip as Byleth pulled away, his face etched with misery as he looked anywhere but at her.

“Dimitri,” she said, tone gentle but firm. “Look at me.” He complied as easily as she’d hoped, tilting his head back toward her even as his lips quivered and his eye refused to meet hers. Byleth took a steadying breath, then rolled forward onto the balls of her feet. She stretched up, placing her hands against Dimitri’s chest for support, and brought their lips together once more. For a moment he was still against her, but before Byleth could even begin to fear that she’d made a mistake, Dimitri had resumed his fervent kiss from before.

As their kisses deepened and their hands grew more desperate, Byleth guided an obliging Dimitri toward her bed. She didn’t know what would happen that night, or how they would move forward in the morning, but she did know that being here with Dimitri felt right, and in the moment that was all that mattered.

Byleth woke slowly the next morning, content to bask in Dimitri’s warmth a little longer. His arms were still wrapped around her, holding her close enough to hear the reassuring beat of his heart. Cuddling closer for a few more moments, she marvelled at what had passed between them the night before. She hadn’t expected to sleep with Dimitri when she brought him back to her room – hadn’t even considered the implications of her invitation – but even as she thought more rationally in the light of day, she knew that she had made the right choice.

Eventually, the drifting sounds of conversation from outside grew loud enough that Byleth reluctantly opened her eyes. She lifted her head from Dimitri’s surprisingly comfortable chest, intending to wake him, but found herself captivated instead. He appeared utterly relaxed, his handsome features on display in the sunlight and free of the scowls and bloodthirsty grins that she had grown accustomed to. But even more than that, he looked so…vulnerable. Byleth’s chest burned with emotion at the sight, her affection for Dimitri impossible to contain. She couldn’t stop her smile any more than she could resist the urge to brush her hand against his face, to gently trace the jagged scar slashing through his eye. Dimitri mumbled sleepily at her touch, the pale lashes of his good eye fluttering.

Cute.

Dimitri tilted his head to follow the warmth of her hand, blinking up at Byleth with a dazed expression. Awe replaced his sleepy confusion as he recognized her though, the smile stretching across his face brighter than the sun. It was a familiar expression, one that Dimitri had directed at her many times at the academy, but that she hadn’t seen in so long – that she’d feared she would never see again.

“Byleth…” His voice was impossibly gentle. Warm. Loving. Elation filled Byleth, drawing her down to his lips for a kiss.

Strong hands shoved her away before she could reach. Byleth blinked in surprise, watching in confusion as Dimitri sat up and stared down at her. His eye was wide, all traces of sleepy awe replaced by horror.

“Dimitri?” Concerned, Byleth reached for him, but Dimitri jerked away from her hand. In a flash he had climbed from the small bed, hurriedly grabbing for his clothes.

“I – I apologize, Professor.” Panic laced Dimitri’s tone as he haphazardly dressed. He spoke rapidly, eyes averted. “I should not have – I did not mean to…Felix is right, I am nothing but a wretched boar with no self-control.”

“Dimitri –” Byleth tried to interject, but Dimitri ignored her. His incoherent ramblings and half-formed apologies continued without cease as he finished dressing and hastily buckled on his armour. Suddenly finding himself without anything to occupy his hands, Dimitri froze.

“Dimi–”

“Professor.” Finally, he looked at her. Chills ran down Byleth’s spine at the agony and regret burning clearly in his eye. “I cannot apologize enough for my actions last night. What happened…it was a mistake.”

A mistake. The warmth. The joy. Everything that had burned so brightly within her turned to ash. A mistake. Everything that transpired between them had felt so right – Byleth had thought that she finally understood her relationship with Dimitri, finally found her place at his side.

Perhaps it was right for her, but it clearly wasn’t for Dimitri – even if she tried to argue with his words, she couldn’t deny the regret in his pained expression. She was a mistake.

Byleth looked down. Tears burned at the edge of her eyes, the pain in her chest threatening to overwhelm her. She’d always thought the phrase ‘broken heart’ to be dramatic, but now she knew that it was true. However, she couldn’t bear the thought of burdening Dimitri with her misguided feelings. Byleth suspected that his mental state was still fragile, that it would be easy to shove him back over the ledge if he realized how he hurt her and became consumed by guilt once more. She would not be the reason that he suffered again.

“Dimitri.” Her voice was cool. Indifferent. She looked up at him slowly, meeting his gaze with her best Ashen Demon stare. “There’s nothing to apologize for. It was an emotional night for both of us. We just needed comfort – it meant nothing.”

For a moment, Byleth was almost certain that Dimitri grimaced at her words, but he turned aside before she could confirm. His scarred eye faced her as he grabbed his eyepatch from the night table.

“Of course. You are right. It meant nothing.” He tied his eyepatch as he spoke, his voice sounding as cold and dead as hers.

“Let’s just pretend it never happened,” Byleth said hurriedly. It hurt beyond belief to realize that Dimitri didn’t love her the way that she loved him, but perhaps their old friendship could still be salvaged if they just erased this night from their thoughts. She could not – would not – allow this mistake to sour their relationship that had survived so much.

Dimitri nodded stiffly. He kept his gaze averted as he walked to her door, hesitating with his hand on the knob. “…I plan to attend the strategy meeting this morning.” His voice had lightened, a hint of his old joviality warming his words even though Byleth could hear how forced it was. “I hope to see you there, Professor.”

Byleth remained in bed after Dimitri left, waiting until the sound of his footsteps had faded away before she rose. Her body was sore and her mind bleak as she dressed. There was a war to win. She didn’t have time to wallow in unnecessary emotions. And it wasn’t like a future was possible between a king and a common mercenary, she reminded herself coldly. Perhaps it was better this way, to crush that dream before it could root itself in her heart. Yes, perhaps it was better…

Exhaustion clung to every inch of Byleth as she dragged herself into her temporary room at Castle Blaiddyd. It had been three days since they killed Cornelia and freed Fhirdiad from her reign, but there had been little time for celebration before the war demanded her attention once more. She’d been evaluating and training new recruits for the growing kingdom army, attending strategy meetings non-stop to discuss plans for retaking Arianrhod and saving Derdriu, managing communications with their forces stationed at Garreg Mach and Myrddin…and her reward each night was returning to this cramped room barely larger than a servant’s.

Byleth sighed as she sat on the narrow bed, observing her surroundings. She knew she was being unreasonable – her assigned room in Castle Blaiddyd was still fancier than her spartan room back at the monastery, and certainly more extravagant than anything she could have dreamed of during her life as a mercenary. She didn’t even really mind her simple accommodations, but seeing the luxurious suites selected for Ingrid and Annette earlier that day had soured her mood – not that it took much to upset her these days. It was a stark reminder of the difference in birth and circumstances between Byleth and her students, one that she often forgot about when they acted as equals during the academy and war. Or to be more exact, it reminded her of the insurmountable gap between her and one of her students in particular.

Stop thinking about that. Byleth frowned as she prepared herself for bed. Despite her best efforts, memories of her night with Dimitri always seemed to linger on the edge of consciousness, her newly discovered love refusing to be suppressed.

The past month had been…difficult for Byleth. On the one hand, she was overjoyed to see Dimitri acting more like his old self. Things hadn’t been perfect, and shadows still hung behind his pleasant demeanour, but it was undeniable that he was doing better – taking charge of their army and proving himself to be the noble and capable leader that she knew he could be. Dimitri worked tirelessly, repairing old friendships and regaining the trust of his people, having a kind smile and earnest interest in any who came to him for aid, regardless of status or birth.

All except for Byleth.

He wasn’t rude to her, didn’t yell or rage at her like he once had. He still favoured her with smiles and always spoke respectfully, supporting her plans in strategy meetings unconditionally. And yet there was a distance between them now – a polite barrier separating each of their interactions that Byleth hadn’t felt since her earliest days at the academy, those first few weeks before Dimitri trusted her enough to bare his heart unreservedly. He avoided being alone with her, finding excuses to reject her tea party invitations and never lingering at the end of a meeting. On the rare occasion she did manage to catch him alone, Dimitri was clearly uncomfortable, avoiding her eyes and fidgeting as he sought an escape.

Somehow, it was almost worse than when he’d been lost to his ghosts. Byleth had missed the Dimitri she knew every day, longed desperately for him to return and smile at her once more. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for their night together, she might have been able to accept this new version of Dimitri – to accept that what he had been through had changed him enough that they could never fully regain their old easy rapport. But she had seen him – had seen the old Dimitri and knew that he still dwelled within his current self, yet chose to hide away behind a distant, princely façade. He didn’t want to renew their former closeness.

It hurt. More than Byleth could have imagined. It was pathetic really, for the so-called Ashen Demon to be lying in bed moping over a romantic rejection, but it had been harder and harder to control her emotions recently.

The other women certainly didn’t help. Since the army had begun marching to Fhirdiad, kingdom nobles had been flocking to their ranks, their numbers increasing exponentially with the capital reclaimed. Byleth appreciated the new resources and soldiers they provided, but found herself less grateful for the countless unmarried daughters that now gathered around Dimitri at all times. She took some satisfaction in how obviously uncomfortable Dimitri looked in their midst – even as his fake princely smile fooled the nobles – and that he was even quicker to escape their presence than he was hers, but overall the sight only made her increasingly morose. Dimitri might ignore the attentions of noblewomen now, but that wouldn’t last forever. One day he would be king, and as king it would be his duty to marry a suitable queen and produce an heir.

Byleth ached with jealousy. She couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning in the small bed. Before arriving at the monastery, she never would have believed that emotions could cause physical pain, yet here she was. The thought of Dimitri marrying another woman made her stomach roil, and her throat burned as if she was about to vomit.

Wait.

Suddenly wide awake, Byleth rolled off the bed and desperately grabbed for the nearby chamber pot. Her painful retching lasted several minutes, leaving her weak and trembling as she leaned back against her bed. That was new. Throughout her life, Byleth had never been prone to illness. She’d thrown up on rare occasions after eating something that had gone bad, but didn’t think any of the food provided by the castle kitchens fit that description. Now that Byleth thought about it though, she had felt nauseated on and off for the past few days, and hadn’t slept well either despite her persistent exhaustion. Perhaps the war efforts were finally too much and had caused her to catch some northern Faerghus illness. Or maybe…

Byleth’s eyes snapped back open. Ignoring her weariness, she crawled over to the desk and found her journal. She flipped to the calendar pages, quickly confirming that her period was late. Not late enough to necessarily be worrying, but combined with the nausea, the exhaustion, the uncharacteristic moodiness…

Byleth placed the journal back on the desk, her mind utterly blank. Slowly, she looked down and placed a hand against her flat stomach. Could she really be…?

For a moment, Byleth was overwhelmed by happiness. It was still too early to be certain, but the thought of having a child – a family – with Dimitri consumed her. After all of the suffering and loneliness they had both been through, having their families ripped away and being left adrift in the world, they could create a new family to love and cherish. Happy tears pricked at her eyes.

It was a mistake.

Byleth’s joy evaporated in an instant. Of course. Dimitri didn’t see their night together as an expression of love, but as a mistake that needed to be forgotten. A baby would only complicate that resolve. Hand still resting on her stomach, Byleth wondered how he would react when she told him. Knowing Dimitri’s honourable nature, he would probably insist upon marrying her, but the thought didn’t fill her with the excitement she would have expected. She might love Dimitri, but she couldn’t bear the thought of trapping him in a marriage that he didn’t want.

Then there were the political complications. Dimitri’s rule was still shaky and uncertain, and would likely remain so regardless of how the war ended. He needed a wife who could bring him influence and resources, a proper noble lady with a suitable lineage, not a commoner mercenary who brought nothing but her skill with a sword. And Dimitri didn’t need a child, he needed an heir – one born to an appropriate woman in a legitimate marriage, worthy of being the future ruler of Faerghus.

The more that Byleth thought about telling Dimitri, the more fears filled her mind. There was his reputation to consider. Many still doubted his fitness to rule after his unhinged behaviour earlier in the war – when news spread that he’d impregnated a commoner, surely unfavourable comparisons to his uncle would emerge, attacking his suitability as king from another angle. And she had to think about Dimitri’s mental state as well. He might be doing better now, but perhaps he would be set back by the stress of impending fatherhood, or of fighting a war while his lead tactician was pregnant, or of handling the political fall-out.

Byleth realized that there was only one choice that she could make. She returned to her bed slowly, though she doubted she would sleep much tonight. Her worrying might all be pointless – she still had no definitive proof that she was pregnant after all. But if she really was with child…Dimitri could never know.

Byleth packed efficiently, refusing to indulge in sentiment. She had accumulated a surprising amount of items during her time as a professor and tactician, but a mercenary had no use for such things. She sorted through her belongings with the cool indifference of the Ashen Demon – of one who saw the world without emotion, evaluating the worth of everything around her by its practicality. It had been a long time since she was that person. She had never wanted to return. But as reality closed around Byleth, she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and wear the face of the Ashen Demon once more.

The war had ended a week prior, on the third day of the Verdant Rain Moon. Most of Byleth’s former students had since been dispersed across Fodlan to bring stability to the war-torn continent, but she had returned to Garreg Mach alongside members of the church. Not for the reason they hoped, however. Despite desperate pleas from a weakened Rhea and relentless arguments from Seteth, Byleth staunchly refused to accept the position of archbishop. She insisted that she wanted to return to mercenary life now that the war was over and her duties to the Blue Lions fulfilled, implacable in her resolve until Rhea and Seteth finally gave up.

Honestly, Byleth wasn’t opposed to the position. There was an appeal to reforming the church, and she dreaded returning to the cold loneliness of mercenary life, but her personal desires didn’t matter. She had to leave.

Byleth was pregnant. No healer had confirmed it – she was too wary of her secret spreading – but her symptoms had persisted for the past two months. And just a few days prior, she’d finally received definitive proof when she noticed the slight bump to her usually flat stomach. Byleth had managed to keep her secret so far, but with the war finally over and her pregnancy beginning to show, she didn’t want to push her luck. It was time to leave Fodlan behind.

Despite her best efforts to become the Ashen Demon once more, Byleth couldn’t quite suppress the twinge of nostalgic pain as she placed her tea set into a donation box. Mercenaries don’t have tea parties, she reminded herself coldly, though the reprimand did little to stop the flood of fond memories. But of course, most of those memories involved him…With a harsher grip than was strictly necessary, Byleth grabbed the next item from her dresser – a simple jewelry box.

Compared to her beloved tea set, most of the trinkets within were easy enough to discard, just random pieces of jewelry that she’d picked up as a professor. Byleth examined the more expensive pieces critically though. She wouldn’t be able to work for a few months before and after giving birth, and would need any source of income she could get – even if it meant selling off gifts from her cherished students. Trying not to dwell on how happy she’d felt each time someone picked out a gift just for her, Byleth set aside the expensive jewelry to sell before she left.

Then she found the Blue Lion brooch. Byleth held it carefully, unable to stop herself from tracing the delicate workmanship. It was a gift from the entire class in theory, but everyone knew it was really only from one student. Dimitri had blushed fiercely when he gave it to her, stuttering through his obvious lie that everyone had helped pick it out. Sylvain had gleefully told her the truth when questioned – that Dimitri hadn’t just chosen the brooch, he’d commissioned it from the royal jewelers in Fhirdiad specifically for her and hadn’t spared any expense.

The brooch was undeniably her most expensive piece of jewelry. Probably the most expensive thing she owned. She could likely live off the proceeds for months. And yet…

Byleth sighed as she carefully wrapped the brooch and tucked it into the safest pocket of her bag. It didn’t take up that much space after all. And it would be nice for her child to have one keepsake from their father.

A sudden knock at the door broke Byleth from her thoughts. “Professor, are you in?”

“…I am.”

A moment later, Dedue entered. He observed her packing efforts with an inscrutable expression, but didn’t comment. “His Highness requests your presence. He has a matter of grave importance to discuss with you.”

Byleth arched an eyebrow at that. Of all her former students, only Dimitri and Dedue had stayed in Garreg Mach, needing to sort out some administrative issues before continuing on to Fhirdiad. Byleth had spent most of the past week avoiding them, though that was hardly difficult – Dimitri’s forced distance between them had never once wavered through the last few months of the war. She had noticed him staring at her on occasion, his eye unnervingly intense, but he always looked away the moment she noticed.

But now after three months of ignoring her, Dimitri suddenly had a “matter of grave importance” to talk about? Despite her carefully blank face, Byleth felt a frustratingly complex mix of emotions. She was irritated at the abrupt summons after such cold treatment, and afraid that he had noticed her pregnancy, but couldn’t deny that she felt excited at the prospect of spending time with him. Especially since this would be their final meeting – Dimitri was departing for Fhirdiad the next morning, and she would leave Fodlan not long after. No…she couldn’t leave without seeing Dimitri one last time.

Byleth stood with a sigh, gesturing for Dedue to lead the way. A brief flicker of some emotion she thought might be relief crossed his face, but his expression regained its usual solemnity before she could be certain. They made their way across the monastery in silence, heading to an unused office that Dimitri had claimed as his own during the war.

Dimitri was pacing the office when they arrived. With his furrowed brow and obvious frown, hands clasped tightly behind his back as if to keep them still, she could tell that he was deeply distressed about something. Byleth hesitated in the doorway. Could he have realized that she was with child? She was certain that no one knew. Well, no one other than Mercedes. The healer hadn’t said anything directly, but her eyes had been far too knowing when she randomly began giving Byleth ginger tea for nausea and airily suggesting nutritious foods that she should eat. But surely she wouldn’t have told anyone. Right?

As soon as Dimitri saw Byleth, his expression lightened with an emotion that was unmistakeably relief. He smiled, eye bright. It was a look that Byleth hadn’t seen in ages, genuine happiness rather than the polite smiles she’d come to expect.

“Professor…you came.” He moved as if to reach for her hand but abruptly stopped himself and turned away, though not before Byleth noticed his faint blush. “Dedue, you are dismissed.”

For the first time since that fateful night, Byleth found herself truly alone with Dimitri. Fears that he’d discovered her pregnancy still lingered, but his happy expression at seeing her made her less certain. Having collected himself, Dimitri looked back at her at with that wretchedly polite smile and motioned for her to sit. Byleth observed him closely. Dimitri had taken to wearing his hair pulled back in a half ponytail recently, a decision that had left Byleth unfairly distracted in far too many strategy meetings. Up close, he looked healthier than he had in the months following her return, his face less gaunt and skin brighter, and the dark shadow beneath his good eye barely visible. Still, nervousness lingered in his features as he took the seat across from her.

“Professor…” Dimitri trailed off, sorrow filling his eye even as he studied her intently. “Is it true? That you plan to leave and become a mercenary once more?”

“Yes,” Byleth replied simply. Dimitri looked at her expectantly, clearly waiting for more details, but Byleth was determined to give nothing away.

“I see…” Dimitri averted his gaze. They sat in silence for several minutes, Dimitri opening his mouth as if to speak several times but never letting the words escape. Just as Byleth started to consider leaving, he finally continued. “And are you…happy, Professor? To return to mercenary life?”

Byleth hesitated. Her Ashen Demon side said to tell him yes and put an end to this strange meeting, but Byleth couldn’t bring herself to outright lie to Dimitri again. “…I was a mercenary for most of my life,” she answered vaguely, hoping that Dimitri wouldn’t pick up on her lack of answer. Unfortunately, he did.

“Then, you are not eager to return,” Dimitri said quietly. Hope bloomed in his expression. “Professor, I – that is – would you…” He hesitated, eye dancing around nervously. Once more his hand twitched as though reaching for her, but he quickly clenched it into a fist. “Professor – please. Please, consider returning to Fhirdiad with me!”

Byleth froze. Dimitri stared at her, earnest gaze tinged with desperation, but Byleth had no idea what he was asking of her. Had he found out about the pregnancy? Was he just requesting her services as a strategist? Or…could it be a confession of love? She kept her face perfectly neutral, channeling all of her experience as the Ashen Demon to hide her roiling emotions. Her mind was blank, unable to respond as the silence dragged on.

“I…what I mean to say is…” Dimitri broke the silence first. An edge of panic had surfaced in his eye. “You see, I – err…I have a problem. With the nobility. That I believe you could help me with.”

Byleth tilted her head in confusion. Dimitri took it as a sign to continue.

“Well, as you might know, many of the nobles have been quite…persistent…that I…choose a bride.” Byleth stiffened at those words, Dimitri himself looking deeply uncomfortable. “Since the end of the war, they have only grown more determined. It has become bad enough that I can scarcely talk about reforms or relief efforts without several nobles bringing up the topic of my marriage and derailing the discussion.” He scowled, shaking his head in disgust. “It is impossible to accomplish anything of value with them behaving in this manner.”

“…That’s unfortunate,” Byleth replied carefully. “But what do you expect me to do about it? If the nobility won’t listen to their future king, they won’t listen to a random mercenary.”

“Ah, well. That is…” Dimitri’s discomfort returned in full force, his face flushing bright red. Nevertheless, he kept his eye fixed on hers. “I was hoping that perhaps you would – you would be willing to enter a courtship with me.”

Byleth was stunned. Despite her best efforts, her Ashen Demon exterior was unprepared to deal with this. Eyes widening, lips parting, her own cheeks beginning to burn…could he really…? A sliver of hope wormed its way into Byleth’s unbeating heart.

“Oh. No! I-I did not – what I meant to ask was…a fake courtship.”

Ah. The hope in Byleth’s heart evaporated, replaced by crushing disappointment. Of course he didn’t want to actually marry her – Byleth had known that Dimitri didn’t love her for months. Still, she couldn’t quite stop from looking down at her lap, taking a few moments to breathe.

“A fake courtship?” she finally replied, voice dull as she looked back up at Dimitri.

“Y-yes.” Dimitri took his own deep breath, then faced her with a resolute stare. “I believe that if I can convince the nobles that I have already chosen a potential bride, the majority will back off and allow me to focus on real issues. The perception that the Blaiddyd line will continue should also help my reign to appear more secure.” Dimitri paused, his expression painfully sincere. “Professor, I know this is sudden but – there is no one else who I can…you are the only one who I can trust.”

Byleth sighed, forcing Dimitri’s mention of the Blaiddyd line from her mind. “Dimitri, I’m a commoner. Pretending to court me will only cause more problems.” She resisted sighing again. What was he thinking? Byleth was more than aware of the many obstacles standing between them, surely the future king would understand how the nobility think. “Ask Ingrid or Annette. You can trust them, and they have the right lineage.”

“No!” Byleth blinked at the forcefulness of his reply. Dimitri looked embarrassed and cleared his throat awkwardly. “That is, I cannot ask either of them. Ingrid’s father has always placed so much pressure on her to marry well, I could not subject her to facing his excitement and disappointment. And Annette is not possible either – Felix asked to court her after the Battle of Enbarr.”

“Fine. You can’t ask either of them. But I’m still not a good choice.”

“That is not true at all, Professor.” Dimitri shook his head fervently. “You may not be a noble, but you proved your military prowess countless times in the war, both as a warrior and a tactician. Such accomplishments are greatly admired in Faerghus.” He scowled slightly. “And although I find it to be distasteful, your major crest would likely placate most of the nobility.”

How painful it was, to hear Dimitri argue so passionately for how they could marry when his intention was only to pretend. But even if he thought this plan could succeed, Byleth couldn’t bear the thought of pretending to be with him. She pursed her lips, desperately trying to maintain an indifferent expression.

“It would only be for a few months,” Dimitri said, looking agitated by her prolonged silence.

“No,” Byleth replied instantly. Even ignoring her unwanted love for Dimitri, she couldn’t risk her pregnancy being discovered. She needed to leave.

“Then…until my coronation?” Desperation laced Dimitri’s words. “It is to happen at the end of this moon. Your presence would be a great comfort.”

Byleth continued to stare at him silently. Sometimes she forgot how stubborn Dimitri could be. His single-mindedness had its uses, but trying to deter him from a decided course of action could be frustratingly difficult.

“I-is it because of that night?” Dimitri looked away suddenly, his desperation replaced by regret. “I would understand if you no longer feel comfortable around me, after the shameful way that I behaved. I–”

“No.” Byleth’s voice was firm, allowing no rebuttal. “You don’t make me uncomfortable. And we agreed that night meant nothing.”

Dimitri’s lips twitched into a grimace for a moment, but he quickly resumed his desperate expression from before. “But then…why are you so determined to leave?”

To her irritation, Byleth began to waver. The way that Dimitri looked at her was all too reminiscent of that night in her room, when he’d desperately begged her not to leave him. Being around Dimitri – pretending that he loved her in front of an audience – was a painful prospect, but the sight of his suffering was her greatest weakness. She couldn’t bear to hurt him, to leave him lost and alone in a time of need. And it was only three weeks until his coronation. Surely she could hide her pregnancy until then…

“Fine. I’ll do it. But only until your coronation.” Dimitri’s pathetic expression transformed at once. His smile was blinding.

“Thank you, Professor. I am so relieved…” He laughed. “I promise that you shall not regret this decision.”

Byleth was less certain of that. Even as her chest warmed at Dimitri’s happiness, fear and sadness lingered in her mind. The next few weeks would be difficult, but she would do anything for them – for Dimitri and her child.

A nervous young maid led Byleth through the halls of Castle Blaiddyd. The poor girl had been assigned to tend to her every need, but clearly hadn’t been expecting to serve such an unorthodox mistress. In the two days since she’d arrived, Byleth had dismissed the maid at every opportunity. Partially because being waited on made her deeply uncomfortable, but more importantly to guard the secret of her pregnancy. The maid was allowed nowhere near her during bathing, and only reluctantly permitted to help Byleth put on the more complicated outer layers of her gowns.

Byleth was unused to wearing long skirts or fancy dresses, but she was secretly grateful for the trends in kingdom women’s fashion. Unlike the tight-fitting and often revealing garments favoured in the former empire and alliance, the colder climate of northern Faerghus had led to a loose, layered style even in the heart of summer. The layered, billowing skirts might be cumbersome compared to her usual shorts and tights, but were effective in hiding the shape of her stomach. For now, anyway.

“Um. My lady? We have arrived at the Summer Gardens.” The maid ducked into a curtsy, elegant despite her obvious nerves.

“Thank you. I can find my way from here,” Byleth replied. She tried to be as polite as possible when speaking to the servants, yet her naturally blunt manner seemed to scare them regardless. Byleth suppressed a sigh as the maid fled from her sight, then walked into the Summer Gardens.

Despite the kingdom’s harsh climate for most of the year, the gardens truly were beautiful in summer. Carefully arranged flowers blossomed in every colour, daintily trimmed hedges outlining paths through the gardens while sleek trees provided pools of shade. A number of tables dotted the gardens, most occupied by nobles dressed in the styles of all three regions, and even more courtiers wandered the paths in polite conversation with one another. Byleth frowned faintly, suspecting that there were far more people in the gardens than normal today.

Her suspicions were confirmed as she walked down the paths. Although each noble wore a perfectly polite smile and greeted her with cordial nods, Byleth could feel disdainful stares at her back, could hear the faint laughs and catch mumbled words about commoners. She kept her face blank and her stride unhurried, refusing to let it bother her outwardly even as she winced internally. How Dimitri thought that announcing a courtship with her would help him, she did not know. Since his announcement of their – fake – relationship upon arriving in Fhirdiad, the nobility somehow managed to spend more time talking about his future marriage, even those that supported his decision.

“Professor!” Byleth turned at the familiar voice. Dimitri stood at a table not too far away, smiling as he waved to her. He looked painfully handsome out of his armour and with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. Byleth willed down her blush, forcing herself to walk with the measured, unhurried grace favoured by most of the noblewomen.

“Dimitri,” she murmured, quiet but firm once she reached his side. “We talked about this. You need to call me Byleth if you expect people to believe this act.”

Dimitri blushed as he pulled out her chair. “Of course, Prof – ah, that is.” His blush somehow deepened. “B-Byleth.”

Fortunately, saying her name had rendered Dimitri embarrassed enough that he looked away while taking the seat across from her, preventing him from seeing Byleth’s own blush. He’d only ever said her name once before after all – that morning when everything went wrong.

Seeking a distraction, Byleth turned her attention to the mountain of sweets and sandwiches on the table before her. An ornate tea set and bouquet of valerian and lilies completed the arrangement. Although such things normally filled her with happiness, today Byleth felt bitter instead. This wasn’t a normal teatime with Dimitri like they used to have. This was a performance for the nobility. Byleth tried to maintain her composure as she grabbed a sandwich. After months of Dimitri rejecting her invitations, she’d barely contained her irritation when he’d suggested they have a tea party in the gardens for their “first date.” Considering the number of nobles lingering near them, too far to easily eavesdrop but close enough to watch, it was a good idea. Or would be, if the two of them weren’t so obviously uncomfortable.

Trying to hide her discomfort, Byleth poured them each a cup of tea, though the drifting scent surprised her.

“Ginger?” Byleth asked, taking a sip. She’d been expecting chamomile, but it had been over five years since she last drank tea with Dimitri. Perhaps his tastes had changed in their long time apart, she mused sadly.

“Ah, yes. I noticed that you have been drinking ginger tea frequently these past few months.” Byleth raised an eyebrow at that comment. Predictably, Dimitri blushed and looked away. “N-not that I have been watching you. I just–” Whatever he meant went unsaid as Dimitri gulped down his tea instead.

In the past Byleth might have pushed, but their relationship was different now. Strained. Awkward. She sipped at her tea instead, eyes downcast. Everything had been so much easier back then, when they were simply a professor and her student.

Byleth’s memories drifted back to their very first teatime – her first with anyone. She’d been strangely excited upon receiving the tea set, an emotion that she rarely felt before coming to the monastery, and eager to participate in one of the parties that she often saw in the gardens. Dimitri was naturally her first choice to ask. He’d been with her every step of the way, guiding her so kindly from the moment they met. The perfect person to try something new with.

Now that she thought about it, their first tea party was rather similar to the current situation. After serving the tea, they had sat in awkward silence for a painfully long time. Normally, Byleth relied on Dimitri to provide small talk and carry the conversation, but he was oddly quiet, clearly uncomfortable in her presence. Her mind had gone completely blank, desperately searching for some topic that would be appropriate for a tea party with a prince. Eventually, Byleth had haltingly brought up sword sharpening techniques. She doubted that was a normal teatime conversation, but to her surprise Dimitri had responded with a bright smile and begun an enthusiastic discussion. From there, their awkwardness disappeared, replaced by the pleasant exchange that she grew to expect when speaking with him.

And now they were back to sitting in silence. Byleth munched on a cookie to hide her frown. Speaking to Dimitri used to be so easy, but now she was lost for words.

A nearby laugh disrupted Byleth’s thoughts. The nobles. Right. This tea party wasn’t about her and Dimitri having a nice time, it was about convincing others that they were in love. No one who saw the two of them sitting in sullen silence would believe that lie. Byleth forced herself to focus. If she was going to suffer through pretending that she and Dimitri were in a loving relationship, then she was going to do it perfectly.

She reached across the table and laid her hand on Dimitri’s. He flinched noticeably, but thankfully didn’t withdraw from her touch. It pained Byleth, to think of how he once clung to her hand so desperately, but she pushed the memory aside.

“I’m sorry to make you uncomfortable,” she murmured, leaning forward to keep her voice as low as possible. “But we need to convince these people we’re together.”

“Of course…” Dimitri replied softly. Suddenly, he smiled, but it was not his true smile. It was that fake, princely mask – a charming look that would surely send any maiden into a swoon, but only sent a spike of pain into Byleth’s heart. He rearranged their hands to twine their fingers, then spoke in a loud, carrying voice. “You are right as always, Pro – Byleth. I pray you shall forgive me for dwelling on reform policies when I should be focused on you.”

That explanation and performance seemed to satisfy some of the nearby nobles, but it wouldn’t be enough. The conversation needed to continue. Desperately trying to think of some topic, Byleth found her mind returning to that first tea party.

“I bought a new type of whetstone from Anna,” Byleth blurted out. “It’s from Morfis. Imbues weapons with magical protection to keep them from breaking as easily.”

Dimitri blinked. Then slowly, beautifully, his smile shifted. Byleth’s pulse quickened at the sight of his true smile, so gentle and warm.

“We talked about something similar at our first teatime, as I recall. What a wonderful memory…” Dimitri laughed, lifting his teacup with a fond look. “I remember being so nervous at first though…I was terrified that I would break your brand new tea set and you would never want to speak with me again. I even managed to convince myself that you would be upset enough to leave the Blue Lions and become the Black Eagles’ professor instead, because Edelgard would never do something so boorish as to break a teacup.” Dimitri’s smile turned sheepish. “As you can tell, I was prone to spiralling even then. But once you started speaking about sharpening swords, all of my fears faded away…”

Byleth tilted her head in surprise as she contemplated his words. She was proud to hear him mention Edelgard without losing himself to anger or sadness, but his description of their first tea party pleased her even more.

“That’s why you were so quiet?” Byleth selected another sweet. Feeling happier, she noticed that all of the sweets were her absolute favourites. Probably just a coincidence. She liked most food after all. “I just thought I was making you uncomfortable.”

“Never!” Dimitri shook his head fiercely, hand tightening around hers. “You could never make me uncomfortable, Professor. I always feel happier when I am in your presence.”

For a moment they stared into each other’s eyes, until the meaning of Dimitri’s words crashed down on both of them simultaneously. Byleth shoved an éclair in her mouth and looked away, though not fast enough to miss Dimitri’s red face and awkward cough. Well. At least those reactions should convince the watching nobles.

As Byleth chewed however, the warmth began to fade from her chest. Dimitri was lying, of course. She did make him uncomfortable – his horrified rejection after they slept together and pointed avoidance of her for months after proved that. It was probably just his compassionate nature that led him to lie.

“Ah, I called you Professor again. I apologize. That habit may prove difficult to overcome.” Byleth glanced up. Dimitri was still staring down at his teacup studiously. Good. He had always been skilled at reading her emotions, and Byleth didn’t want him to see how much the lie hurt her.

Byleth made sure her face had smoothed back into neutrality before responding. “A few slip ups shouldn’t matter. Just do your best, and I know you’ll get it.”

Dimitri finally looked back at her, smiling softly despite his embarrassment. “Thank you for your support. Your continued confidence in me means more than you could imagine…Byleth.” His face brightened, filling with enthusiasm. “But enough of that. I seem to have derailed our original conversation rather severely. This whetstone you spoke of, it sounds quite interesting. I believe it would be a valuable asset for the royal armoury.”

The conversation picked up easily as the two fell into their familiar rapport. It was almost like old times at the monastery, when Byleth could talk with Dimitri for hours and still be reluctant to part. Sadness continued to linger at the edge of her consciousness though, knowing that she would be leaving forever soon enough. But despite herself, Byleth was swept up in Dimitri’s happy mood, content in the knowledge that she had one more memory to cherish when she inevitably ended up alone.

“Next, wrap the stem around so that it’s lined up with the others.”

The children gathered around Byleth hurried to follow her instructions, twisting their flowers to varying degrees of success. After a moment of hesitation, she placed the beginnings of her flower crown on the ground and reached over to guide the hands of one of the clumsier younger children. She’d barely finished helping him before a half dozen other flowers were suddenly in her face, the kids eagerly asking “Lady Byleth” to inspect their first attempts. Byleth smiled. It was nostalgic really. Despite the age difference, their behaviour reminded her fiercely of how her students used to act when she would teach them a new technique or strategy, so eager for their professor’s approval.

Of course, one student had always been even more desperate for her attention than the others. Byleth glanced over at where Dimitri sat nearby, happily playing with another group of children. The grin spread across his face was genuine, bright enough to distract Byleth from her new pupils until yet another cried out for her help.

Today was the first time Byleth and Dimitri had left Castle Blaiddyd for a public “courtship” outing. In the week since their first tea party, they’d appeared together around the castle at least once a day, whether for afternoon tea in the gardens, walks around the grounds, or once even fishing. Despite the occasional mistake or awkward silence, their performances seemed to have been effective in convincing most of the castle’s residents and visitors that their relationship was real. To Byleth’s surprise, many even seemed to support the relationship – she’d once come across a group of maids cooing about how adorable Dimitri was whenever he bashfully stumbled over her name, and she’d even overheard a few of Dimitri’s potential brides gushing about how they were “just like Loog and the Maiden of the Wind!!”

The outing today was only partially an excuse to prove their relationship, however. In reality, they were celebrating one of Dimitri’s first political accomplishments. Even before defeating the empire, he’d diverted resources to provide for the countless orphans around Faerghus, and the issue had become his top priority since the war’s end. The orphanage they visited today – bright, clean, and housing its own spacious garden – was in one of the poorer sections of Fhirdiad, and would soon act as a free school for all of the local children as well. Although similar orphanages had been opened around the continent and even within Fhirdiad itself, Dimitri confided that this one had a special place in his heart – he had spent the first few months of his exile hiding in the area, and was still shocked and gratified by the kindness he’d received. Byleth herself was eternally grateful to anyone who had helped keep Dimitri alive during those long, dark years, and had eagerly approved of his proposal to visit the orphanage.

After a brief tour and a speech from Dimitri, they’d finally reached the highlight of the trip – spending an afternoon with the children. Byleth had been a bit hesitant at first, but for whatever reason, her blunt and unemotional demeanour that intimidated most adults always seemed to endear her to children. She’d quickly been overrun by far more kids than expected in her flower crown lesson, but she was filled with happiness at the sight. It was…nice, to teach something unrelated to killing, that was beautiful and harmless and only intended to bring joy to others.

Byleth’s thoughts drifted back to Dimitri. It had been his idea that she and the various knights and nobles accompanying them avoid any warlike activities or discussions with the children.

I know that one day, our peace will be broken and the people will need to raise arms to protect one another, but for now…I want these children to know only peaceful lives.

His words from the previous day might have been idealistic, but they still warmed Byleth. A few nobles and knights weren’t quite following his request – she could hear Duchess Ifan giving some of the older children a lesson in weaponless self-defense nearby – but Byleth had been happy to switch from swordplay to flower crowns.

“Lady B’leth! Look, look!!”

Another small child eagerly held up her messy cluster of twisted flowers, eyes bright and expectant. With a smile, Byleth returned her attention to the children. She spent enough time thinking about Dimitri, she should at least focus properly on the kids in front of her. For the next hour, she patiently guided the children while weaving her own flower crown. It was a pleasant afternoon, and as she watched over the happy kids, she found herself looking forward to teaching and playing with her own child.

The last step finally arrived as Byleth showed the children how to tie the final loop. She gazed at her own finished flower crown critically. With the many stops she’d taken to help the kids, the crown had taken far longer than normal and was messier than her usual work. Still, she supposed the arrangement of flowers in various shades of blue, interspersed with delicate white valerian was pretty enough.

“Yours is soooo pretty, Lady Byleth!”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

The children crowded around her, praising her flower crown with undue admiration. Byleth huffed out a faint laugh.

“Is it for the king, Lady Byleth?” The girl looked at her with wide, dreamy eyes. Around her, others began to nod enthusiastically.

Byleth froze. Give it to Dimitri? Logically, it was a good idea. Handmade flower crowns were a popular gift between lovers after all, but Byleth squirmed at the thought. They’d been pretending to court for a week, but so far none of their activities had been that different from what they used to do at the monastery. Presenting him with such a romantic gift though…the prospect was so embarrassing that not even Byleth could will down her blush. Of course, Dimitri would just interpret the flower crown as part of their fake relationship, but Byleth knew the truth. It was a representation of her love for him, just as intended – the colours she’d chosen proved Dimitri was on her mind even if she hadn’t realized it.

Her feelings didn’t matter though. It would look strange if she didn’t give him the crown, endangering the success of their scheme. Byleth forced a smile.

“Yes, it’s for him.” As she stood, the children cheered and shouted encouragement.

“Soooo romantic!!”

“You can do it, Lady B’leth!”

“Just like in the stories!”

After patting a few heads, Byleth slowly made her way over to Dimitri. The blush lingered on her cheeks, her palms even feeling sweaty as she tried not to clutch the flower crown too hard.

Dimitri was still sitting on the ground, surrounded by children. At some point, he’d lost his cloak to a group of children now enthusiastically playing a game with it. Another child sat on his shoulders, clearly enjoying her new vantage point as she pointed out things to her friend trying to crawl up Dimitri’s back. Yet another was draped over Dimitri’s arm, utterly relaxed as he slept without a care to the awkward position, while Dimitri’s other hand gently stroked the hair of a child sleepily leaning against him. Two more were telling him a story, excitedly talking over each other and gesturing wildly. Dimitri listened intently, sincere interest in his expression as he nodded along.

Byleth smiled fondly, nerves forgotten at the charming sight. She thought back to when Dimitri first asked her to help him teach the monastery orphans all those years ago, and couldn’t help a small laugh. To think, Dimitri had tried so hard to convince her that he was terrible with children – the obvious adoration in the orphans’ eyes each time he patiently corrected mistakes or earnestly praised their growth quickly proved his words wrong. Seeing him surrounded by children now, Byleth was certain. Dimitri would make a wonderful father one day.

Without thinking, Byleth placed a hand on her stomach. The loose skirts still obscured her shape, but she could nonetheless feel the small bump. Her child. Dimitri’s child. Regardless of how he felt about her, Byleth knew that Dimitri would love their baby with all of his heart, would give them the unconditional love that he’d lost so early in life. For a moment, her resolve almost wavered.

It was a mistake.

No. Even if Dimitri would be a wonderful father, she still refused to trap him in a loveless marriage. He deserved so much more. The privilege of raising a family with him would belong to another woman, one who could support him as king and give him legitimate heirs. A proper family for a king. Some of the young noblewomen she’d met had been so kind and openhearted –Dimitri could surely fall in love with one of them, securing both political advantages and marital happiness. Byleth could grant him neither.

“It’s the queen!!”

Byleth startled. The child sitting on Dimitri’s shoulders was now pointing at her, directing all of the other children to silently stare at her. Dimitri turned to her as well, whipping his head around to find her before the kids in front of him had even stopped talking. The bright smile he directed at her made Byleth’s pulse quicken painfully fast.

Before Dimitri could speak, Byleth marched toward him. Between her nervousness and sudden melancholy, it would be better to get this over with as fast as possible.

“Here. For you,” Byleth said brusquely, shoving the flower crown into his face. She winced internally. That was hardly the romantic gifting everyone was expecting, but it was too late now. Byleth couldn’t bear to see Dimitri’s disgusted expression at her awkwardness, averting her gaze as she waited for him to play his part and accept.

“This…is for me?” Dimitri’s voice was impossibly soft. Disbelieving. Byleth glanced back at him, and was shocked to see Dimitri looking up at her shyly, the awe in his eye painfully similar to the way he’d looked at her at the academy – and the way he’d first looked at her that fateful morning. It was captivating. Dimitri gripped her hands gently, guiding Byleth to place the crown on his head. “It is beautiful, my b-Byleth. I shall cherish it forever.”

“Oh. Good.” Byleth tried to look away, but she was trapped in Dimitri’s gaze. Distantly, she could hear the children cheering around them and feel others tugging on her dress and asking for flower crown lessons, but her mind was wholly consumed by Dimitri, and how desperately she wished that the love in his eye was real.

Byleth paused before Dimitri’s study, taking a calming breath in an attempt to cool her irritation. With a curt nod at Dedue, she pushed open the door and strode in.

“Dedue, I already told you that I do not require –” Dimitri cut himself off when he noticed Byleth, his moody expression brightening abruptly. “Byleth! What are you doing here? I thought you were touring the greenhouses this afternoon?”

Byleth didn’t deign to respond. Instead she gestured to Dedue, directing him to place the heavy tray laden with food and tea on the desk before Dimitri. Only after Dedue had bowed and taken his leave did Byleth look at him. She stared at Dimitri coldly, brows furrowed slightly and lips pursed. On most people, the expression would be mild, but on her…judging by Dimitri’s quick shift from bemused to panicked, her irritation was clear.

“Professor? Er, I mean…Byleth? Have I done something to displease you? Please, tell me so that I may make amends, I beg of you.” Understanding dawned of his face. “Is it because I cancelled our walk today? Byleth, I cannot express my regret enough. These proposals have taken so much longer to write than I expected, and I thought the head gardener would be able to provide you with a much better tour than I ever could, but you are right to be upset with me. I should never have – ”

“Dimitri.” He fell silent at once. Byleth crossed her arms, barely managing to maintain her stern expression. It was always difficult to stay mad at Dimitri when he looked at her with that distressed desperation, but she reminded herself that her anger was for his own good. “That’s not why I’m upset. I’m upset because Dedue told me that you’ve barely left this room since I saw you yesterday, not even to sleep. You need to rest.”

In a flash, Dimitri’s panic was replaced by irritation of his own. “I cannot afford to rest when my people are suffering. I – ”

“You don’t have to do it all on your own, Dimitri. You’re surrounded by people who want to help you – take advantage of us, and take a break.” With a sigh, Byleth stepped closer to his desk and reached for the teapot, but Dimitri intercepted her, grasping her hand in his.

“Us? Then…you include yourself as one of the people by my side, Byleth?” Dimitri asked softly. Byleth nodded in confusion. Hadn’t she proven her loyalty enough times during the war? But regardless, Dimitri seemed to get something from her words as he smiled up at her brightly. “You are right, of course, Byleth. Even I must rest at times. But please, join me for this lovely meal that you have prepared. Your company improves every occasion.”

Byleth smiled at Dimitri’s overly dramatic language, but was happy to accept. The food that she and Dedue had prepared did look delicious after all, and her appetite had somehow increased as her pregnancy progressed. As she moved to sit across from him though, she noticed something strange.

“Dimitri? You’re still holding my hand. There’s no one here to see us, we don’t have to pretend.”

Dimitri dropped her hand at once, face burning bright red. “Ah, yes. Of course. I apologize.”

Byleth raised an eyebrow, but decided to let it pass. He’d probably just gotten into the habit since they almost always held hands when in public. Besides, there was food to eat.

The pair quickly fell into a comfortable conversation as they ate. Byleth was mildly irritated to notice Dimitri kept bringing the discussion back to his policy proposals, as the point of the meal was for him to relax, not dwell on work, but she couldn’t help but be drawn in. She had missed this – debating with him, challenging his point of view with new perspectives, working together to solve problems – it reminded her of the academy, when they would stay up late planning for missions or discussing Dimitri’s hopes for the kingdom. It was…nostalgic.

And to Byleth’s surprise, it also felt natural. After so many months of awkward interactions, whether caused by Dimitri’s rage or his distance, it was strange how easily they slipped back into their old dynamic. She supposed that they had been spending a lot of time together, the most since the war began all of those years ago. Ridiculous as it was, this fake courtship had somehow brought them back together, soothing tensions that Byleth thought would never fade.

Their conversation continued for hours, until Byleth finally noticed just how dark the study had grown. To her amazement, she realized that they had also long finished the food and tea. It seemed that both of them had been caught up in the pleasure of talking.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to distract you for quite this long,” Byleth said with a soft laugh. She stood, moving around the room to light the fireplace and various lamps with fire magic.

“There is no need to apologize, Byleth. I value your opinion greatly, and your ideas today will surely prove invaluable in perfecting these proposals.” As she returned to the front of the desk, Dimitri looked up at her. It was hard to tell in the warm light of fire, but she was almost certain he was blushing. “And as I have told you before, your presence is always a great comfort to me.”

“I’m glad to help, but I would rather you take actual breaks in the future.” Byleth sighed, her earlier irritation now replaced by worry. “Dimitri, I’m serious. You can’t keep skipping meals and staying up all night. You need to take care of yourself, or you’ll end up in an early grave.” She paused. The thought of Dimitri dying, especially in such an avoidable manner, pained her beyond belief. “Please, Dimitri. Even if you don’t care, do it for those of us who do care about you.”

Dimitri stared back at her silently. Byleth expected him to brush off her concerns, or maybe even get annoyed at her lecture like he had earlier, but to her surprise, a wide grin spread across his face.

“As long as I have you by my side every day, there is nothing to fear. You know that I would never disobey your orders, Professor.”

Despite the warmth of his words, Byleth found herself turning away. Something about his phrasing bothered her…ah. Of course.

“But I won’t be at your side for much longer. I’m leaving after your coronation.”

Byleth couldn’t blame him for forgetting. In the pleasure and nostalgia of their conversation, she too had ignored the reality of her impending departure. It didn’t matter if they regained their old friendship. She was leaving in little over a week. It wouldn’t be her at Dimitri’s side, fussing over his health and coaxing him to rest. It would be some other woman – and even after the months that she’d had to accept that reality, the thought still left her feeling as though she’d been stabbed in the chest.

“Oh…yes, of course,” Dimitri finally replied. His previous good humour had vanished.

As the awkward silence dragged on, Byleth wavered. Logically, she knew that she should leave, allowing her relationship with Dimitri to fall back into polite distance. It would make her inevitable parting easier for both of them. But her heart, unbeating as it was, demanded that she not let such a pleasant afternoon end on a sour note. She didn’t have much time left with Dimitri after all, and she selfishly wanted to make the most of it.

“…Is there anything else I can help with?” Byleth asked as she turned back to him.

Mercurial as ever, Dimitri’s expression brightened at once, though a hint of sadness still lingered in his eye. “Ah, yes. There are a few more policy ideas that I would like a second opinion on. If you do not mind…”

A few minutes later, Byleth was seated on the study’s daybed. As she read through the pile of documents stacked neatly at her side, she could hear Dimitri’s quill scratching away nearby. Byleth settled back more comfortably against a pillow. Despite her genuine interest in the proposals, she was finding it difficult to concentrate. Her mind kept drifting, focusing on just how…domestic the current situation was.

If she and Dimitri really were courting – if they were married – is this what every night would be like?

Even as the thought of what could never be hurt, Byleth couldn’t stop herself from musing further. What if he was aware of her pregnancy? Byleth just knew that Dimitri would be doting – probably to an annoying extreme, but endearing all the same. He’d probably insist on carrying her everywhere, she thought with amusement.

Byleth shook her head. She needed to focus, not dream. As she stretched her legs across the daybed though, she found her eyes drifting closed. While her nausea had thankfully come to an end, her exhaustion had only increased in the past few weeks. Byleth fought valiantly to stay awake, but…

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she awoke. The only thing Byleth was really aware of was how comfortable she was. She was wrapped in some blanket, the fur on its edge soft against her face, and her head rested on something warm and comfortable, though too firm to be a pillow. She cuddled closer.

“Oh, Byleth. Are you awake?”

Something large and warm settled on her head hesitantly. Byleth finally forced her eyes to open, tilting her head back to blink sleepily up at Dimitri. It was difficult to see between the darkness of the room and her still blurry vision, but she thought that he looked stunned as he stared down at her. Regardless, she pressed into his warm hand, humming in contentment. Her movements seemed to jolt him into action though, as Dimitri jerked his hand away abruptly.

“I-I am sorry for taking such liberties, Byleth. I only meant to cover you with my cloak, but then – ”

“ ’s fine,” Byleth mumbled sleepily. She was too tired and comfortable to care about things like propriety. After a moment of hesitation, Dimitri’s hand returned to her head, gently stroking her hair. Good.

Even as she drifted back to sleep though, one thought stuck in Byleth’s mind. Why was Dimitri doing this? They were alone in his study – there was no one around to convince that they were in love. Maybe he was just paranoid about someone entering unannounced? She knew that must be it, and yet, for some reason that explanation didn’t feel quite right.

“You…”

When Byleth exited her dressing room, she found Dimitri pacing nervously in the waiting area of her suite. He froze when he saw her, eye wide as it rapidly swept up and down her body. Byleth averted her gaze, feeling shy. She had gotten somewhat used to wearing informal court dress in the past few weeks, but this…this was different.

“Byleth…you look lovely. No, beautiful. Stunning!”

Byleth forced a light laugh at Dimitri’s fervent praise, though the attempt to will down her blush was in vain. Ignoring the excited whispers of maids behind her, she swept across the room gracefully despite her nerves and linked her arm with Dimitri’s.

“You look good too,” she replied evenly. Byleth often wished that she had a way with words like so many of her students did, but she could only hope that her sincerity came through. Fortunately, judging by his fearsome blush and bright smile, Dimitri appreciated her simple praise.

Dimitri did look good though – in his outfit of dark blue and silver, golden hair in a low ponytail, and the silver Blaiddyd crown resting on his brow, he looked every inch the king that he had just become. He had looked equally splendid during his coronation earlier that day, when the new Archbishop Seteth placed the crown on his head and officially named him King of Fodlan.

Byleth was arrayed similarly, dressed like a Blaiddyd queen for one night at least. The dark blue gown that she wore was similar in style to the usual court dresses, but far more luxurious. Delicate silver embroidery interspersed with white pearls covered the outer gown, while layers upon layers of lace trimmed petticoats increased the bulk and flair. Sections of the outer skirt were pinned up to reveal the petticoats beneath, each layer carefully arranged to create a lovely gradient from pale blue to white. The outfit was completed by jewelry belonging to the royal family, a priceless sapphire choker wrapped around her throat and a sapphire barrette pulling her hair back in a half ponytail.

Byleth felt a little ridiculous in the elaborate gown, but it did serve its purpose of making her and Dimitri look like a couple. And tonight that was more important than ever, for tonight was the coronation ball – the last major event of their false courtship.

In a week from today, Byleth would be gone.

“Is that…” Dimitri’s surprised voice drew Byleth from her thoughts. He was reaching a hand toward her chest but abruptly stopped himself, snatching it back with an embarrassed apology.

Byleth smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s the brooch you gave me.”

The Blue Lion brooch rested in the hollow of her collar bones, dangling from the sapphire choker. Although it hadn’t been created to act as a pendant, the maids had been only too happy to find some way to attach it after Byleth shyly explained that she wanted to wear a personal gift from the king.

“I did not realize that you still had it, after all these years,” Dimitri replied softly. He looked at her so fondly that Byleth’s chest began to ache, filled with a weird pressure that demanded she do something. For a moment, she thought that he was leaning closer to her, but a giggle from one of the maids brought both of them back to reality.

After thanking the maids for their efforts, the pair departed her quarters and made their way to the castle’s ballroom. They were mostly silent as they walked, both seemingly lost in thought. Byleth wondered if Dimitri was worrying about the same thing as her – that they would soon be performing for their largest audience yet. Nobles from across Fodlan, members of the new commoner councils, their friends. Everyone would be watching them. Even if they were planning to end the courtship in a few days, they still couldn’t risk anyone realizing it was fake – discovering that the king was lying to everyone and pretending to court a woman would surely lead to ridicule at best and questions about his fitness to rule at worst.

When they finally reached the doors to the ballroom, Byleth found herself clinging to Dimitri’s arm tighter than normal. He gave her hand a brief squeeze, then nodded to the servant standing at the entrance.

“Announcing His Majesty, King Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, and the Lady Byleth Eisner.”

The words were spoken loudly to be heard over the hum of conversation, but the crowds fell silent at once. The ballroom was already full when they entered, as tradition dictated that the king be the last to arrive. Byleth was normally hard to intimidate, but as every eye fixed on her, even she felt the uncharacteristic urge to turn and flee. She felt Dimitri’s arm tense beneath hers as well – as much as he tried to hide it, he still struggled in large crowds after so many years alone.

Fortunately before either of them did something stupid, salvation came in the form of familiar faces. The Blue Lions emerged from the masses, crowding around Dimitri and Byleth. Byleth felt herself relax at their smiling faces, and noticed Dimitri losing some his tension as well. Conversation resumed around them as guests turned back to each other, the drama caused by their entrance forgotten.

But even though Byleth was happy to see her students, she was still nervous. As far as she was aware, only Dedue knew that the courtship was fake. How would their friends react to the sudden relationship? Surely if anyone could see through it, it would be them.

To her surprise though, the Lions all seemed overjoyed as they congratulated her and Dimitri. Even Felix smiled, though he still managed to fit in a jab about “taming the boar.” Dimitri bashfully accepted their congratulations, beaming throughout.

“Oh~ I’m just so happy!” Annette squealed, grabbing Byleth’s free hand. “His Majesty’s crush was always sooo cute, but no one actually thought he’d ever work up the nerve to tell you!”

Byleth tilted her head curiously. Dimitri’s…crush? The other Lions were all smiling and nodding, apparently understanding whatever Annette was talking about. She glanced up at Dimitri, wondering if he knew what was happening, only to see him staring at Annette in panic.

Sylvain smiled slyly at her confusion. “Don’t tell me you never noticed him staring at you in class, Professor. His Majesty might’ve wanted you to think he was just being a teacher’s pet, but the rest of us saw where he was looking. And don’t get me started on the training spars. He always – ”

“I-I believe the music for the first dance is starting,” Dimitri blurted out. He tugged at her arm, determinedly looking out at the ballroom. “It is tradition that we open the dance, Professor – ah, I mean…Byleth. I am sorry everyone, but we really must leave. Now.”

Dimitri certainly didn’t sound apologetic as he dragged her along to the centre of the ballroom, their regal grace from earlier abandoned. Byleth’s confusion was quickly replaced by new concerns though, as Dimitri pulled his arm from hers and turned to face her. Despite his own apparent nervousness, he gently guided her into position, pulling their bodies close and leading her into the first steps of the dance.

Byleth followed him obediently, happy to let Dimitri lead. She had only ever danced once before, at the Garreg Mach ball. Luckily, she was a quick learner, and dancing wasn’t that different from sword fighting. It still required her full concentration though, at least while the entire ballroom was watching her. She would hate to embarrass Dimitri.

Eventually, other couples began to join them on the dancefloor. No longer the centre of attention, Byleth allowed her focus to weaken. It was nice to be so close to Dimitri, near enough to feel his comforting warmth. Her mind drifted back to the academy ball, a sudden thought catching her attention. Feeling confident enough in her dancing to hold a conversation, she looked up at Dimitri but found him already staring at her. His expression seemed almost dazed, but was quickly rearranged into a polite smile when he noticed her stare.

“We never did get to dance at the ball back then,” Byleth mused, electing to ignore Dimitri’s strange expression. She’d danced with many students that night, from her class and others, but not with the one person she’d most wanted to.

“No, we did not.” Dimitri smiled wryly. “You know, I was so jealous when I saw Claude lead you out to dance that I almost broke the hand of the poor girl I was dancing with. I could not believe he would have the audacity to ask my professor to dance.” He shook his head. “I was determined to claim your hand next, but it seemed that someone always beat me to it.”

Byleth smiled back at him. “Really? I wanted to dance with you too, but from my perspective you were the one always surrounded by partners.”

“Is that so…” Dimitri laughed suddenly. “Well, we need not fear that tonight.”

As the night went on, Byleth realized that Dimitri was right. At the academy ball, both of them had been swarmed by suitors the moment a dance ended, but tonight no one approached. Even as the dancers surrounding them changed partners with each new song, Dimitri and Byleth remained in each other’s arms, stopping only for the occasional drink or snack. Apparently no one dared ask for the hand of the king’s lover.

Eventually, the music came to an end. Dimitri laughed at Byleth’s pout, explaining that it was only an intermission to give the musicians a break and provide the guests with more opportunities to chat. Even though she wanted to keep dancing, Byleth realized that exhaustion was catching up to her as Dimitri led her to one of the tables at the edge of the ballroom. They hadn’t made it more than a few steps though before being swarmed by her former students.

Before anyone else could speak, Sylvain pushed to the front and cleared his throat loudly. Dimitri tensed against her, and Byleth couldn’t blame him – judging by Sylvain’s mischievous smile, he had something planned.

“Distinguished guests,” he called out in a carrying voice, drawing the attention of people across the ballroom. Sylvain raised the champagne flute in his hand. “I propose a toast to our noble Saviour King, whose tireless fight for justice brought peace and stability to the land.” A cheer rose from those listening, causing even more people to turn and stare at them. Dimitri’s smile was uncomfortable, but he nodded graciously in response.

“But where would our king be,” Sylvain continued, sly grin aimed at Byleth, “without the never-ending support of his beautiful lady love? A toast, to the lovely Lady Byleth!”

Byleth managed a weak smile and an awkward nod at the people now applauding her. She was surprised by the crowd’s apparent enthusiasm, but assumed they were just being polite. By this point, most of the ballroom seemed to be paying attention to Sylvain’s spectacle. Unfortunately, he wasn’t done yet.

“And now, Your Majesty. My lady. Please, grace your adoring subjects with a show of true love – a kiss, to celebrate your union!”

Byleth’s mind went blank. She and Dimitri had never done more than hold hands in public before, let alone kiss before such a massive crowd.

“S-Sylvain, please. This is hardly appropriate,” Dimitri stammered out, face bright red. But as Byleth looked around them, she realized that no amount of pleading would get them out of this situation. The guests were clapping, cheering for a kiss, and even the Blue Lions were too excited to censor Sylvain. They just had to kiss and get it over with.

Dimitri seemed to have come to the same conclusion, cupping her cheek gently and pulling her closer. Byleth shivered. It was just like that night – except now his gaze was apologetic rather than desperate. As Byleth stared up at him, emotions battled beneath her blank exterior. She dreaded kissing in front the eager audience, dreaded kissing Dimitri knowing that he felt nothing for her in return. But she also craved him, the desire for his touch pushing her forward.

Something flickered in Dimitri’s eye – something intense – and then he was leaning down. Byleth rolled up onto the balls of her feet, the motion feeling completely natural as their lips pressed together.

Byleth had been expecting a chaste kiss, something simple and brief to satisfy the audience. But Dimitri kept pressing forward, hand landing on her side to keep her in place. Byleth was hardly innocent herself, leaning into him as she stood higher on her toes for a better angle. She placed a hand against his chest for support, delighted to feel his heart racing beneath it. The sound of the crowd’s applause faded away, all of Byleth’s senses wrapped up in him.

They broke apart finally, both breathing heavily. Byleth’s eyes fluttered open, though she had no memory of closing them. Distantly, she could hear cheers and someone – probably Sylvain – whistling, but she was mesmerized by the look on Dimitri’s face. He was staring at her with awe, so soft and gentle. Warm. Loving. Just like…

Just like that morning, right before he’d shoved her away and called her a mistake.

Byleth’s stomach dropped. She looked down, no longer able to meet Dimitri’s gaze. Some uncomfortable feeling – panic, maybe? – set her pulse racing, the need to flee overwhelming. She tried to breathe deeply, tried to latch onto Dimitri’s stuttered argument with Sylvain to ground herself, but nothing worked. Without warning, she pushed herself from Dimitri’s arms.

“Sorry, I…I need some air.”

Byleth turned, ignoring the calls from her friends and congratulations from the guests as she marched from the ballroom. She sped through the halls of Castle Blaiddyd, wandering at random until she finally found herself on an empty balcony. Breathing in the cool night air, Byleth’s panic calmed, though it was quickly replaced by devastating sadness. She never should have agreed to this stupid plan that could never end in anything but more heartbreak for her. Byleth leaned on the balcony’s rail, ignoring the faint rain. And the tears burning at her eyes.

“Byleth! There you are.” Of course he would find her. Byleth stared resolutely forward, willing her tears away as Dimitri draped his cloak over her shoulders. “Is everything all right? You left the ball so quickly…”

“I’m fine,” Byleth replied curtly.

“Are you certain? You looked quite distressed…” Dimitri’s large hand lingered on her shoulder, his warmth seeping through the fabric. Byleth shrugged him off. “…Byleth, please. Come out of the cold at least. You might catch ill.”

“I’m fine. Go back inside.”

Usually Dimitri was obedient when she spoke firmly, a tone reminiscent of her days as his professor, but of course tonight he decided to be stubborn. “Byleth, please tell me what is wrong. Did I – ”

“Stop!” Byleth’s irritation, pent up for so many months, finally spilled over. She walked away from Dimitri, still refusing to look at him. “I can’t do this anymore. We need to end this. Now.”

“We need to end…?”

“This fake relationship.” Byleth closed her eyes, trying to speak more calmly. “I’m sorry Dimitri. I know the plan was to wait a few more days, but I can’t do this anymore. Tell everyone that…I don’t know, the ball made me realize I’m not cut out for this life.”

“W-what?” She could feel Dimitri hovering behind her, but at least he didn’t touch her this time. “But…I thought…”

“I’ll leave tonight.” It was better just to get this over with, to protect her heart from more pain. She turned toward the door. “…Goodbye, Dimitri.”

Byleth barely made it two steps before Dimitri grabbed her arm with bruising strength. He let go abruptly as if scalded, but quickly stood in front of her. Byleth looked away.

“Byleth, please. Speak to me.” Desperation laced Dimitri’s every word. “D-did something happen? I thought…I thought we were doing so well…Unless…Was it me?” It took all of Byleth’s resolve not to look at Dimitri, even as the self-loathing in his voice cut into her. “Was it the kiss? I-I am so sorry. I should not have touched you like that. It was despicable. The act of a wretch. You…you are right to despise me. But please do not leave.”

Byleth shook her head. “I don’t hate you Dimitri,” she replied quietly. Even now she couldn’t resist comforting him. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just…need to go.” She moved to walk around him.

“Then why?” Dimitri’s voice cracked, stopping her in her tracks. “Why are you leaving me again?”

“Because I’m pregnant!” Byleth froze, her words lingering in the air between them. She hadn’t meant to say that, had never wanted Dimitri to know.

“You are…” Dimitri’s voice was barely audible, but Byleth could hear the shock. The wonder. She needed to put an end to this. Now.

Byleth forced her face to become smooth and devoid of emotion, settling the mask of the Ashen Demon in place. She slowly looked up at Dimitri. As expected, he was shocked, but Byleth could also detect hope in his expression. Her heart longed to embrace him, but she knew there was no future for them – she’d repeated the reasons why they couldn’t be together every day for months.

“It’s starting to show,” Byleth spoke with cool indifference, refusing to let her voice or gaze waver. “I need to leave now, or people will think you’re the father.”

“People will…think that I am the father?” Byleth struggled to parse through the mess of emotions in Dimitri’s voice. His desperation was clear, but she also heard pain, disbelief, anger.

“I guess some people will realize the truth and just think I was trying to pass it off as yours.” Byleth shrugged. “Either way, the scandal would damage your reputation. It’s better for me to go now, before anyone notices.” She moved to walk away.

“No.”

Dimitri blocked her way, towering over her. Byleth stared up at him coolly, ready to tell him to move – he hadn’t intimidated her during his darkest days, and he wasn’t about to start now. But before she could speak, he dropped to his knees before her.

“No. Byleth, please. Tell me the truth, I beg of you. Am I…” Dimitri reached for her stomach hesitantly, but stopped before his hand could brush against her. He looked up at her, desperate and pleading, sorrow and hope burning in his eye as tears slid down his cheeks. With the rain falling against him, Dimitri looked just like he had that night when she finally broke through to him. Byleth’s chest ached.

Byleth sighed, then grabbed his hand and placed it against her stomach. She never could bear to turn away from his pain. “Yes,” she whispered, trying not to see the emotion blooming in Dimitri’s eye. “You’re the father.”

“A child…My child. Our child.” Dimitri spoke reverentially, his hand impossibly gentle. As a sudden sob escaped his lips, he pressed his face against her. “Byleth. Thank you.”

Byleth let Dimitri cry, taking the opportunity to strengthen her resolve. As much as Dimitri’s reaction filled her with joy, she knew this would only make it harder to leave. She’d never doubted that Dimitri would love their child after all – that was never the problem. Their relationship was the issue. It would be difficult to convince him, but she’d had her arguments prepared for months.

By the time Dimitri finally pulled away, Byleth had regained her Ashen Demon composure. She took a step back as Dimitri watched her in confusion.

“I still need to leave, Dimitri.”

“What? No!” Dimitri was on his feet on an instant. “You cannot leave. You are with child…Our child. Your place is here, at my side.”

Byleth shook her head. “No, it’s not. Think logically. You need a proper queen. A proper heir. Not a common mercenary and an illegitimate child. We’ll only ruin your reputation and make things difficult with your real family.”

“That is not true.” Dimitri grabbed her shoulders, but his hands shook. “I do not care about your lineage or connections – I care about you! No one else’s opinion matters…but even if they did, I told you before that you are more than worthy of being queen. And the people love you! Did you not see them applaud you at the ball? Have you not heard their praise each time we walked around the gardens?”

Byleth felt herself wavering. Dimitri wasn’t wrong – after the initial shock faded, she’d received far more support from nobles and commoners alike than she ever would have expected. But the biggest obstacle to their relationship, the one that bothered her the most, remained unchanged. She reached up, gently pushing his hands off of her.

“Dimitri…you deserve to be happy. Don’t throw that away for a loveless marriage out of some sense of duty.”

“Loveless…” Dimitri laughed, the broken sound sending chills down Byleth’s spine. “Of course. I am a fool. I thought that perhaps…but no. It would be impossible for someone as wonderful as you to love a beast.” He turned away from her abruptly. “I will not force you to stay. You are right to leave. I am certain that you – that both of you – will be far better off without the burden of my love.”

Byleth was clutching the back of Dimitri’s shirt before she’d even realized that she’d moved. Her mind was whirling, desperately trying to understand what she’d just heard.

“Dimitri,” she finally managed to whisper. “Your love…Are you saying…?”

“Yes…” Dimitri pulled free from her grasp with ease, turning back to face her. His face was pained, filled with shame and self-hatred. “I love you Byleth. I always have.”

Byleth couldn’t breath. Those words – the words she had longed to hear for so long. And his expression – beneath the shame, she could see his sincerity. He meant it. Dimitri loved her. She should be overjoyed. Except…

“No. No, that can’t be true.” Byleth shook her head fervently. “You don’t have to lie to spare my feelings.”

“I am not lying,” Dimitri replied indignantly. He paused. “…Byleth, what do you mean by your feelings?”

She ignored him. “Then why? Why did you ask me for a pretend courtship? Why did you avoid me for months? Why did you –” Byleth’s voice broke, the frustration and hurt emotions overwhelming her. “Why did you push me away and call me a mistake?”

Byleth shook, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling as she waited for Dimitri’s response. Slowly, hesitantly, he grabbed one of her hands. This time she didn’t pull away.

“I am a fool,” Dimitri repeated softly. “Byleth, I cannot apologize enough for the pain my stupidity has caused you. You truly deserve so much better. But I – I thought that I was doing the right thing.” He laughed bitterly at her incredulous look, but his expression quickly turned somber. “When I heard that you were returning to mercenary life, I…panicked. Faced with the reality of losing you, I was desperate to find any excuse to keep you at my side. Dedue thought that I should tell you the truth, but I did not yet feel worthy of asking for your affections…I hoped that if we could spend time together again, it would be a second chance…that I could atone for my past sins and win your love properly.”

Pausing, Dimitri looked down at their joined hands with a broken expression. Byleth squeezed his hand gently, encouraging him to continue.

“Byleth…the way that I behaved that night…it was beyond shameful. I took advantage of your compassion and forced myself upon you.” He grimaced. “I knew that you were not interested, that you were simply too kind to reject me, but I was too weak to care. When I awoke the next morning and realized what I had done to you…I was terrified that you would hate me.” Dimitri closed his eye, tears trailing down his face. “But when you said it meant nothing, all hope that you might love me in return disappeared. I was so ashamed…I could not bear to force my presence upon you.”

“Dimitri…” Byleth brushed away his tears with her free hand. She cupped his cheek, relieved as she felt Dimitri lean into her touch and open his eye. “You didn’t force me to do anything. I wanted to be with you. It felt…right.” She took a step forward, close enough to feel his warmth. “I was lying when I said it meant nothing. I was just….scared. And hurt. When you called it a mistake. I didn’t want to make things worse by confessing.”

Dimitri stared at her. Slowly, he brushed a damp strand of hair from her face, fingers lingering against her cheek. A sliver of hope shone in his eye.

Byleth took a deep breath. She’d been trying to hide her true feelings for so long, had been so afraid of being hurt further or harming Dimitri. But now, there was no more reason to hide. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.

“We’re both fools.” She huffed out a laugh at his confusion. “I love you too, Dimitri. I have for a while, even if I didn’t realize it until a few months ago.”

Dimitri was shaking, eye wide and mouth agape as he stared at her. Cute. Byleth couldn’t hide her amusement, tapping lightly at his cheek. Dimitri jolted at the motion.

“Byleth – you really…?” She could see tears forming in his eye once again, his lip quivering with emotion. Byleth nodded, smiling softly. “And…do – do you wish to…?”

“Yes, I want to stay. And I-I want to raise a family with you. Together. If you’ll have me.”

“Yes! Yes, of course!” Dimitri laughed, a loud, joyous sound. The look on his face took Byleth’s breath away. She’d thought the awe-filled way he’d looked at her before had been glorious, but this…Byleth had never seen him look so happy, pure and untainted by any lingering sadness. His wide grin, happy tears shining on his face, bliss and hope in his eye. It was mesmerizing.

In a flash, Dimitri was on one knee before her, their clasped hands at his lips. “Byleth. Please. Please, marry me.”

After so many months of suppression, tears finally fell down Byleth’s cheeks, but she hardly felt them in her happiness. “Yes. Of course.”

As the rain fell around them, all that Byleth could focus on was Dimitri. The warmth of his body as he embraced her, the loving caress of his lips against hers, the feel of his hand gently resting on her stomach. And the faint flutter inside her, responding to their father’s touch.

Finally, everything felt right again.

Byleth sank into the pile of pillows with a happy sigh. After a long, long day, she was relieved to finally be back in her own bed, warm and content beneath the soft fur blankets. Smiling gently, feeling an agonizingly powerful love that she once would have thought impossible, Byleth looked down at the small bundle in her arms.

Her daughter. Sofie Adèle Blaiddyd.

She was finally asleep, nuzzled happily against her mother’s chest. Byleth brushed a finger through her soft downy hair, admiring the lovely golden colour. Careful not to wake the newborn, Byleth traced the soft skin of her cheek. So smooth and free of blemish, innocent and untouched. She couldn’t look away, entranced by her daughter’s perfectly adorable face.

As the door creaked open, Byleth finally managed to tear her gaze away from Sofie. She smiled as she saw Dimitri in the doorway, ready to invite him to admire their daughter as well, but an unexpected guest cut her off.

“Mama!!”

Nikolai ran across the room, ignoring Dimitri’s alarmed cry as he clambered up onto the bed next to her. Byleth only laughed, petting the head of her firstborn affectionately. Niko beamed back at her, his angelic face charming as always. With his golden hair and icy blue eyes, he looked just like a miniature Dimitri.

Although there had been some whispers when Dimitri and Byleth married four years ago – Byleth visibly pregnant but as radiant as the goddess in her joy – no one could doubt Niko’s paternity once he was born. And with his sweet smile and polite manners, his tiny bow an adorable imitation of his father, he effortlessly charmed everyone he met. The people of Fodlan adored their crown prince.

Dimitri approached more sedately than his son, but his excitement was palpable and his smile blindingly bright as he looked down at his family cuddled on the bed. Gently – though not hesitantly, not anymore – he stroked Sofie’s hair and leaned down to kiss her forehead. Byleth’s pulse raced at the love clearly shining in his eye.

“Hello, little princess.”

Dimitri pulled back enough to kiss Byleth, then perched on the edge of the bed. He wrapped an arm around her and sighed, though Byleth could tell he wasn’t actually upset.

“I apologize, my beloved. I tried to put Niko to bed, but he was quite determined to see you and Sofie again.”

Niko nodded enthusiastically, utterly unrepentant. “I wanna play with Sofie!”

Byleth laughed, but was overjoyed at his sincere interest in his younger sister. “I’m afraid she’s too young for that right now, little one. But I’m sure she’ll want to play with you too one day.”

“Okay…” Niko pouted for a moment, but his eyes brightened immediately as he studied Sofie. Copying his father, he leaned down to kiss her forehead, pointing and laughing in delight when her tiny face scrunched up in a yawn.

Byleth began rocking her gently, but it was too late. Sofie blinked awake sleepily, her emerald green eyes settling on Niko’s outstretched hand. With another yawn, she reached for him, her tiny hand grasping at her brother’s finger.

“Look! Look!” Niko cried out excitedly. He leaned closer. “Hello, Sofie!”

Byleth smiled fondly as she watched Niko talking away animatedly to his little sister. Settling back into Dimitri’s familiar embrace, she glanced over at her husband. The look of pure joy on his face – a look Byleth once doubted she would ever see, but now saw everyday – filled her with more happiness than she ever thought possible. Noticing her gaze, Dimitri leaned in for a kiss that Byleth was happy to give.

“Thank you, my beloved,” he whispered against her lips. “Thank you for staying.” His voice began to quaver, tears falling on her face. “I love you – I love you all. So, so much.”

“I love you too, Dimitri. Always.”