"So then, Seiros fought against Nemesis-"
Dimitri nodded as he listened intently. He knew all this already, most people in Fodlan did whether they were religious or not. Even if he didn't already know, this wasn't the first time Mercedes had gone on a tirade about Seiros and the goddess Sothis. However, he didn't want to stop her. And even if he did, there's no way he could bring himself to. Mercedes was such a gentle soul who was always looking out for others, the least he could do is let her talk about something that was clearly important to her.
Mercedes was always focused on religion. Of course she was, it was a big part of her childhood. She found herself talking about it a lot. Sometimes she'd just go on and on about the stories of the Goddess and her children. Dimitri knew other at least somewhat religious people, like Yuri. But he didn't talk about it as much as Mercedes did. Mercedes would sometimes be so focused on it, that she'd forget to eat or follow her responsibilities. Dimitri had to help her with that from time to time.
Mercedes also found it hard to do things she wasn't that interested in. Dimitri found that letting her do things with her hands helped her focus at least. He sometimes wondered if she had some sort of condition related to what he had to go through. Not that she'd hear the voices of the dead, but something was going on in her head, just like him. He didn't know why that was the case, or where it came from. Perhaps there was something that triggered it, like catching it from someone? Or maybe it was by birth. How it happened wasn't important, what was important was making sure she could still function. That's not to say she couldn't take care of herself, she very much could. But it was a spouse's duty to look after their significant other. It was how a marriage worked, how loved work. One always has the other's back.
Mercedes's facial expression dropped a bit. "Sorry, am I boring you?"
Dimitri smiled gently. "Not at all. I'm always happy to listen."
Mercedes noticed the sun was shining brightly. It was still dark when she started. She began early in the morning, and was still going now. "I'm sorry… I didn't realize I had been talking for so long. You must have a lot to do."
"I do." He agreed. "But I always have time for my wife."
Mercedes blushed lightly. "That's sweet, but you're king now. We're not students anymore."
"I always had responsibilities as a prince." Dimitri explained. "But once I was crowned king, those duties increased tenfold. Not only do I have to help Fodlan heal from all the fighting, I had to reform the nation too."
Dimitri didn't agree with Edelgard's methods or her endgame. But he can't deny that she had a point that the way Fodlan is, was not ideal. Those with crests were always going to be privileged over those without. He respected the fact that Edelgard, despite having a crest herself, fought for the oppressed. But in the end, she still had to be defeated, at least from his point of view. He wouldn't let her efforts be in vain, as he had plans to make sure everyone had a voice. Everyone respected each other, and their strengths, crests or not. The exact Fodlan that he expressed to his professor. "Does being a king mean I must neglect my beloved? You deserve attention, just as the nation does."
"Surely my ramblings aren't as important as the nation…" Mercedes mused.
"You are the most important thing in the world." Dimitri said while rubbing his hands through her hair. "Changing Fodlan is going to take a long time, whether I sit here and listen to you or not."
"...Are you sure this really doesn't bother you?" She asked, needing reassurance.
"Not in the slightest." He confirmed. "I'd be ashamed to call myself king if I didn't listen to my queen."
Mercedes smiled brightly, an expression Dimitri adored. "If you're sure!" She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She felt lost in his expression. It radiated kindness and warmth. And Dimitri felt her eyes did the same. The two shared a kiss. "Oh! I forgot to mention!"
"What about?" Dimitri asked.
"About the story of Seiros. I forgot to mention-" She began to rant again, and Dimitri could only smile and nod as he enjoyed her speaking. She told him much, and even learned a few new things about Fodlan's religious history that he didn't know about. In the middle of her rant, Mercedes started to fidget.
"Do you need to move around? You've been sitting still for a long time." Dimitri inquired.
"I still have more to say though…" she lamented.
"You can do both." Dimitri suggested. "It's not distracting or anything."
"If you insist." Mercedes was a bit embarrassed, because she felt it looked silly. But she began to flap her arms. Suddenly she looked rather peaceful, like a load had been released from her body. She decided to continue her information dump, and eventually stopped flapping her arms. Dimitri at no point laughed, or even smirked. He had a poker face while nodding, with the occasional smile. But it seemed to not be one born of malice.
At no point did he judge her or act like she was being strange. The only other person she felt this comfortable around was her best friend Annette. "Okay, I think that's everything." She had a gentle smile on her face.
Dimitri smiled back and took her hand. "We should start the day then."
"What do I need to do?" She asked.
"I have to check, but don't worry. I'll help you through it all, as always." Dimitri said happily.
"I'll help you too! If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Mercedes wasn't fond of working too hard, but she'd do it for her husband.
"I know. There are many uncertainties in the world, and our future, but I know you'll always be there for me."
"And the same goes for you Mister. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."