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The show went off without a hitch as far as Bernadetta could tell. Dorothea had warned her to expect hiccups or missed cues, this being the first night the Mittelfrank Company was showing this particular opera, but Bernadetta hadn’t noticed even a slight wrinkle on the costumes. She stood and clapped with the rest of the audience as the actors came out for a final bow, beaming when Dorothea’s gaze lingered on her.
The crowd began to file out shortly after. Bernadetta hesitantly made her way towards the backstage door Dorothea had told her to use. She had permission from the star of the show, of course, but what if someone stopped Bernadetta before she could explain that? What if they didn’t believe someone like her could be the Dorothea Arnault’s girlfriend?
As Bernadetta came upon Dorothea’s dressing room door, however, she found the guards otherwise occupied. Several men holding flowers and small gifts were arguing with Dorothea’s Imperial guard detail. Bernadetta exhaled, immediately grateful that Edelgard and Ferdinand had insisted Dorothea have her own palace guards when the opera house reopened last year. One guard made eye contact with Bernadetta, knocked on the dressing room door, and gestured for Bernadetta to approach. Ignoring the outraged men, Bernadetta hurried inside.
Straight into Dorothea’s waiting arms.
“There you are!” Dorothea squeezed Bernadetta tight. “Is it still bad outside? I was hoping you could get here before them.”
“S-Sorry,” Bernadetta managed.
“No, no, don’t be. They’re just that desperate, I suppose.” Dorothea stepped back and cupped Bernadetta’s face. “So? What did you think?”
Bernadetta shook off her nerves and smiled for Dorothea, who was still wearing her makeup from the final scene. “You were amazing! So was everyone else, b-but you were incredible!”
Dorothea laughed. “What part did you like best? Which song?”
“Oh, um.” Put on the spot, Bernadetta was suddenly having trouble recalling any one part of the opera. She knew Dorothea had performed flawlessly and that the story had been absorbing. But in that moment, with her girlfriend glowing in her arms, Bernadetta’s mind had gone blank.
After a few seconds– during which Bernadetta silently screamed at herself to say something– Dorothea’s smile gentled. “Never mind. Here, help me out of this.” She took Bernadetta’s hand and led her over to the vanity table. Turning, she indicated the zipper on the back of her dress, still smiling at Bernadetta in the mirror.
Bernadetta unclasped the top of the dress and began undoing the zipper. It was hard to keep eye contact with Dorothea, so she watched the zipper unwind instead. “Sorry,” she said quietly. “I really did like it. I’m messing things up again. I should’ve brought you flowers or something like those guys so you knew how much…”
The dress pooled at Dorothea’s feet. Her slip was a silky brown that almost matched her skin. Dorothea kicked the dress away and sat at the vanity bench facing Bernadetta, clasping her hands.
“Oh Bern…” Her tone alone was a balm to Bernadetta’s nerves. “Anyone can give me flowers. You’re the only one who can give me what I really want after a performance.”
Bernadetta stared. Her mind, previously filled with a light buzzing as her anxiety cooled down, was suddenly flooded with images, any of which could fit into what she believed Dorothea was implying.
Sliding her hands from Dorothea’s, Bernadetta cupped Dorothea by the chin, and kissed her. At first she easily slipped into her girlfriend’s mouth– but pulled back when she felt Dorothea tense. “I-I-I’m sorry!” she squeaked as Dorothea’s wide eyes met hers. “I just thought– Didn’t you mean–”
She was cut off by Dorothea pulling her back in for another heated kiss. Bernadetta stumbled forward until she was practically in Dorothea’s lap. “That is exactly what I meant,” Dorothea said against her lips. “You just took the hint faster than I thought.”
“O-Oh.”
“Do you want to keep going?”
Bernadetta wanted to say that she would do whatever Dorothea wanted. That she was happy to have an edge over those men outside. That Dorothea deserved only best after carrying the show the way she had.
Instead, she drew Dorothea in with a kiss to the cheek, chin, and finally lips. Dorothea hummed in triumph, and Bernadetta decided that this was her favorite part of the opera.