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"...Is it true? Are Prince Dimitri and Princess Edelgard going out?"
Claude blinked. The fact that this young girl had approached him, her head of house, was exceptional in itself. The others behind her looked at him expectantly, his eyes darting between them and the little freckle nosed student. Immediately, an idea emerged.
"Well, yeah? Isn't that common knowledge?" Claude lied, careful not to let his mirth shine. "No?"
The girl's eyes widened, and she scampered off without another word, joining the flock. Must have been a first year.
"Ohh, you're evil, Claude," tutted Hilda, her finger on her lip. She was giggling away.
"I don't know what you're talking about," He shushed her, winking. "I just was mistaken, that's all. I would never LIE."
"You know it's gonna reach their ears in like, a day, right? The mill in this place is fast."
"I'm counting on it," he said, at last smirking, letting that devil out. "This should be a fun time."
-
The first-year girls were crooning about it. Their heads of house, engaged in a star-crossed tryst! Blue and Red both. Lysithea groaned. The library was supposed to be a quiet place.
"This is so childish. Who cares who's dating who. We need to study! As if..."
Annette overheard. "Who's dating who?"
Lysithea rolled her eyes. "Apparently Prince Dimitri is dating Edelgard. Like, okay, but that's none of my business, you know. We have exams, and everything."
Annette gasped. "He's doing what? Prince Dimitri?!"
"Keep your voice down! Honestly, am I the only one who doesn't care..?"
-
Annette was sitting with Mercedes at the crowded mess hall when she leaned in and whispered, "Did you know that Dimitri and Edelgard are dating?" In the din of the evening mess, only Mercedes could hear it.
Mercie gasped. "Dating? But they're from opposing countries..?"
"I know! Isn't it... isn't it so outrageous? And a little romantic, too?" Star-struck, she tittered.
"It is! It's like that book you gave me the other day.. the one with the queen and the duke. They loved each other but they had to be on opposite sides of a war... It was so tragic, wasn't it..?"
"Tragic, but so exciting!"
"What are you whispering about?" Felix snapped.
"None of your business, Felix! As if you'd care," Annette returned, hotly.
"Care about what?" He softened.
"Edelgard and Dimitri dating."
Felix's eyes widened. "What?"
"Dating. You know, going out. If you know what that is."
"Aw, Annie, there's no need to be so mean to Felix."
"You're right, Mercie. I'm sorry, I guess." She rubbed the back of her neck. Felix looked away, a little bashful.
"It's fine. I don't know anything about dating, I'll admit. I have no interest in such things."
Annie looked a little disappointed, but sighed. "Yeah, I thought as much."
"I thought the boar prince was similar. Too much of a wild beast to ever waste time on a woman. Guess I was wrong."
"Dimitri? He's always seemed a little soft and gentlemanly. I know quite a few of the first years have crushes on him," Mercie giggled. "Really, Felix. You should give him some credit."
Felix scowled.
"This sappiness better not dull his blade. If he gets slow, he'll be dead before he knows it."
How morose, Annette thought.
-
Felix could not help but bring it up while sparring with Dimitri the next day. He was not curious. He was merely concerned. Yes.
They'd gotten into it for around five minutes, Dimitri setting his cape aside and pacing, sipping from a water canteen. A few of his golden hairs had untangled.
Felix had stopped breathing heavily, swallowing, and laying it out.
"So you're dating Edelgard."
Dimitri spit out the water.
"What?"
Felix shook his head. "I have no complaints about the choice of partner. She's strong. Just be careful getting close to people. You know what happens."
Dimitri's blue eyes were wide. "I... what? Me and.. Edelgard?"
A raised eyebrow. "Yes. I heard from Annette."
Dimitri seemed befuddled. "Why would I..."
Felix threw his arms out. "Hell if I know! I don't understand these things! Yet they persist! Distracting!"
Dedue was in the corner of the room, almost invisible for how quiet he was. Yet his low, even rumble cut through.
"I have heard similar things, your highness. I simply did not voice them out of concern for your privacy."
Now Dimitri seemed as if struck by lightning. "I am.. I am not dating Edelgard."
Dedue nodded. "Then it is settled."
"Tch! Then I suppose the rumor is entirely false?" Felix crossed his arms.
"Yes. Entirely. I see her as a valuable friend and a respectable rival. Nothing more," Dimitri confirmed.
"What a waste of time," Felix said, though he seemed oddly unburdened. He did not think on why.
-
"There are... whispers, Lady Edelgard. That you and Prince Dimitri are... involved." They were secluded, far from prying ears, when he finally let himself ask. He stood in half shadow behind her, the garden serene.
Edelgard froze.
"Me and Dimitri?"
"Indeed. I know it is no business of mine who you choose to consort with, but... he will most certainly be our enemy, if things come to pass." Hubert did not place his stock in rumors. But they were good for understanding sentiment, and... causing havoc.
"I am aware. And I am no fool, Hubert. I would not chance such a folly, not so close to our plans."
"Of course, Lady Edelgard. It is the chattering of fools. I had thought as much."
"Where did these rumors come from?"
Hubert smiled. "It seems Prince Claude was involved. I should have known he would poison the well, so to speak. He is beyond my means of surpression, but some of the others could be... convinced to stop spreading such slander."
"No." She said.
"No?" His surprise was genuine.
"What better way to cover up our actions than a harmless, but sensational, rumor?" Edelgard mused. "Let them talk. Let them speculate. It's better if I'm thought of as some lovestruck schoolgirl, than..."
"Than the instigator in the concerning events as of late." Her brilliance was striking. "You never cease to amaze me, Lady Edelgard. Very well. I shall let these... childish rumors continue to float. May they mask our dealings."
Edelgard seemed quite smug, too.
-
It'd been three days since Claude had coaxed the ember into a flame, and now, it was almost common knowledge.
"Students should endeavor to remain chaste, while in these halls." Seteth's brow was furrowed, standing beside the splendored Archbishop, who greeted her blessed children.
"What brings such a thought to your mind, Seteth?" She blessed a young boy, who stared up at her reverently. She gave him a warm smile as he scampered off.
"There is a rather pervasive rumor that two of our most senior and well regarded students have begun to... court."
"Courtship is a necessity, is it not? How else would we maintain our lineages, long and storied as they are? How would we pass on our crests?"
His lip curled. "They are young, Lady Rhea, and the young are often foolhardy. Their trysts, I dare call them, are said to be... immodest. Obscene, even."
Rhea looked at him now, her eyebrow raised. "Obscene."
"Obscene. I dare not use the words I heard again in your presence. It greatly exceeds the modest courtship that we would normally condone. All I must say is that this courtship, if I can even call it that, is hardly aspirational for the students. Considering the power and sway these two have... it may send a bad message to their juniors." He muttered, "In all honesty, I did not expect this from those two. they have always seemed far more disciplined, even if not as pious as I were to wish."
"And you have verified the validity of these rumors, Seteth? It would not do to simply assume."
"They denied it, of course." Said Seteth. "Blayddid was... evasive, while Hresvelg remained impassive as ever. But the rumors are quite pervasive. I considered asking our newest professor to investigate, but I suspect his methods would lack in the appropriate subtlety."
"Hmm."
"I worry about the influence it will have on Flayn," He admitted. "She has had her.. flights of fancy, before."
Rhea sighed. "There are a great many things occupying my time currently, Seteth. While students should conduct themselves when under my care, I believe it is best for them to embrace their youth. And love, too, is part of youth. If these circumstances exceed mere rumors, then, I will step in. Until then, I suggest you leave those children be."
"They are not children any longer, Rhea. They have reached the age of major-"
"Seteth." Her glare was sharp.
"Yes, Lady Rhea." He nodded, curtly.
-
"You could do a great deal better than him, I assure you, Edelgard. Me, for example! Ferdinand von Aigir! Nobody better to wear a crown, dare I say..."
"Ferdinand, I am not courting Dimitri."
"Ah. Well, my offer still stands."
"No thank you, Ferdinand."
-
Four days in.
Dimitri had a hell of a time sneaking in there, crawling through the bramble. He'd never been the stealthiest, and the window made an awful creak as it shuttered open, and he hefted himself inside with a low grunt. There she was, by the lamplight, pretending to read but really waiting for him. Her hair was undone and her ribbons on her bedside, nightdress quite charming.
She put the book aside and shut the window behind him as he tried to dust himself off without scattering foliage onto her pristine carpet. He was not successful.
"It's good to see you, El." She led him to the bed, where he sat down. "I'm sorry for the trouble, really."
"Hush, Dima. You never need apologize to me." She picked a thorn out of his coat. "Take that thing off. I'll have it back to you."
He did as she asked, laying it on the cabinet. She snuck it into her lower drawers, the ones she told the maids not to touch.
She looked into his eyes then, and kissed him.
"What fools we were, to ever hide this." She sighed, pressing her head into his shoulder.
He put his hand around her, feeling her bare shoulder, so slender, pale and crossed by scars paler still. She was so beautiful.
"I understand if you regret it. Being in a relationship with me, I mean."
She shook her head. From the first time they met as children till now, she had never regretted it. Not once had she wished they had not shared those days, not fallen in love.
"I could never. I... I wanted to tell you something, Dima."
He nodded.
Her mouth opened, and she froze for a second.
"I..."
She swallowed.
"I am glad we were able to have this, while it lasted." And it hurt to say.
He leaned in, and she held her breath. He was so handsome like this, his eyes so deep, like planets made entirely of ocean containing a myriad of life to never be known, like the blue sea star twinkling for a trillion years. He kissed her forehead.
"It will last, El."
She believed it. Even if fate and god and the devil alike willed otherwise, when Dimitri said it, it was true and she believed it.
It wasn't a rumor, it was a fact.
-
Byleth Eisner, outside the window, decided not to report what he had seen.
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