Crestwood

As a show of their close relationship, Arundel and Monica threw Dimitri a "Welcome Home Party." Although Claude and Edelgard begged Byleth to come, she declined, saying it was best if she and Arundel were not together in a small space. Most of the town had shown up since ignoring an invitation from Arundel could lead to severe consequences. Dimitri, uncomfortable in large crowds, wandered aimlessly. Monica told a story about how Dimitri used to be so awkward that he once gave a dagger to a girl he liked. She seemed to think it was a hysterical story, but Dimitri had no memory of it. Manuela noticed his unhappiness, "Look, I know this is a lot, but it's good for you. The smallest things can trigger your memories. Just try and have fun." She winked at him, "I'll even keep a certain redhead occupied so you can have a conversation with actual friends." Dimitri laughed and said he would try his best to enjoy himself.

Nearby, Claude and Edelgard observed their friend, "You know why he's so drawn to Byleth and miserable here?" Claude asked. "That bonk on his head temporarily weakened the curse."

"He's been anxious at large gatherings ever since -" Edelgard stopped herself. "And it wasn't a bonk - it was a mild concussion that caused some memory loss - "

"-Which is preventing the curse from replacing his story with fake memories."

Edelgard raised an eyebrow at Claude, but he continued, "And now is our chance to help him. We just have to get him to remember that he's - "

"The Blue Prince?"

"Right! We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Byleth together."

Edelgard laughed, "Good luck getting him unstuck from his past - and Monica."

Dimitri was relieved to find them, " Thank goodness you two showed up. I begged them not to make a big deal over me getting out of the hospital but look what they did."

"You can hide with us," Claude offered.

"Thank you - I will." He stabbed at the hors d'oeuvres on his plate with a toothpick.

"Those are some good skills - ever used a lance?" Edelgard elbowed Claude.

Dimitri laughed, "Claude, I don't know how you come up with half of what you say." He continued to poke at his food and stared intently at his plate. "Anyway, Edelgard, doesn't Byleth live with you now? Is she going to stop by?"

Edelgard explained that Byleth would not be joining them. Claude wickedly grinned when he saw Dimitri's disappointed expression. Edelgard shot him a pointed look.

Meanwhile, Monica sulked as she prepared food in the kitchen. Arundel found her, "You! You should be out there. There's plenty of food. You're supposed to be watching Dimitri."

Monica sighed as she cut up fruit with her ornate dagger, "He can't stand me. He just wants to hang out with Claude and Edelgard and Byleth ."

Arundel snatched the knife from her, "You shouldn't be using this dagger on fruit, let alone in a place where people could see you. I don't know how I ended up stuck here with you, but I do know that we can not let Dimitri and Byleth spend time together. You will keep him distracted as much as you can, and I don't care if you enjoy yourself or not."

Monica sighed and stomped out of the kitchen. Dimitri was nowhere. This concerned her after just getting snapped at by Arundel. She marched up to Claude and Edelgard to ask if they had seen Dimitri. Before they could respond, Manuela answered that no one had seen him.

Byleth was out in the front yard trying to hang a birdfeeder. This was not something she would typically do. However, Edelgard had yet to do it herself, and Byleth thought this was the least she could do for her while living rent-free. It was turning out to be more of a job than she realized. As she was cursing her height while reaching for a branch, she heard a familiar voice say, "Did you not get the invite?"

"Actually, no, I'm pretty sure your uncle made sure that I was not on the guest list, and I wasn't going to crash a party - even if Claude said it would liven the mood."

Dimitri took the bird feeder and hung it up on the branch with ease. "I thought you might be avoiding me because of what I told you. About how I felt. About you. Please don't tell me it's one-sided."

"We're practically strangers, and Monica thinks you two are in a relationship - so it should be no-sided," she retorted.

He continued, "What should be doesn't matter. I didn't choose Monica. I'm choosing you. Please, Byleth, I can tell you feel the same way."

Byleth wanted badly to tell him that she felt a connection too, but years of broken attachments rang in her mind. She had worked so hard to free herself from feeling things towards people. Every time I've gotten remotely close to him, Monica has shown up. Best not to encourage this. So instead of telling him how she felt, Byleth said, "I know you think that we have this connection, but maybe it's because I happened to be the person who saved your life? So why don't we leave it at that?" She ran into the house.

Fhirdiad, 1174

"Careful, son, we're going to run out of training lances!" Lambert called out while laughing at his son attacking a training dummy.

"I'm sorry, father. I just want to be able to use Areadbhar someday."

"And you will someday, but not until you learn to control that massive strength. It's our blessing from the Goddess but sometimes can be very inconvenient." He gently scooped Dimitri up in his arms, "Come, let's get some afternoon tea." He looked over at his wife, "Patricia, will you join us?" His stepmother was sitting by the window working on some embroidery. She jumped when Lambert called out her name but said softly, "Of course, that sounds lovely."

Crestwood

Byleth angrily scrubbed the dishes in the sink while Edelgard observed her. "You might want to ease up, or that Brillo Pad's going to press charges," she teased.

Byleth continued to scrub, muttering, "The dishes were just piling up. Trying to be a good roommate is all."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with Dimitri, would it? I saw him leaving when I pulled up tonight." Byleth continued to mutter and scrub. Edelgard continued, "Yeah, I know. Grumble grumble. For what it's worth, I think backing off from him is the right thing."

She stopped scrubbing and turned around to look at Edelgard. "He made a pretty compelling case."

"But he's dealing with a lot of baggage. It's always going to come first."

Byleth crossed her arms, "You know, one of these days, either you or Claude is going to have to tell me just what this 'past' of his is. I need to know."

Edelgard deflected, "You need to stop cleaning and have a drink." She began to fill two wine glasses for them. "Here's the thing - I don't know a lot about relationships. But generally speaking, if you have serious doubts about your feelings, you shouldn't ignore them. So, you both need to figure out what you want in life." She handed her a glass, "Cheers."

Monica was staying entirely too close to Dimitri while he was looking through Arundel's library books. She wrapped some of his hair around her finger, "Your hair is getting longer. You used to hate to have it long. Said it was itchy."

He took a step away from her, and she let go of his hair. "I guess I haven't been paying much attention to it lately." He continued to search for his uncle's book of financial contributions. Monica stood behind him and blew in his ear. "I'm going to bed. You could come too.

Dimitri scooted away again, "Goodnight then."

Monica stepped in front of him and tried to kiss him. "What's the matter, Dima? You know how I feel about you."

Dimitri was utterly flustered. Now he was never going to find his uncle's book. "This isn't right," he blurted out and left the room.

Fhirdiad, 1175

Dimitri followed his father through the castle. Portraits of previous Blaiddyds filled the long hallway. "Father," he said, "Why does Ingrid already know that she will marry Glenn?"

Lambert paused and replied, "Because their families are good friends, and Galatea needs help. Their land doesn't produce enough food. If Ingrid marries Glenn, then Fraldarius will aid the people. Sometimes, people marry each other because it will help those that depend on them."

"Then, Father, will I have to marry someone to help my people?"

Lambert led his son over to the picture of his late mother. "No, son. Our family has always married for love. I married Rhiannon because I loved her. She was kind and beautiful, and she was so happy when you were born. I know you'll find someone like that." He pointed to the emerald ring in the portrait. "And when that day comes, you will give her that ring."

Dimitri wished that he could have met his mother, but at least Stepmother was kind. "Do you love Stepmother?"

Lambert hesitated, "Of course I do. It's just different. Rhiannon and I could be seen together in public. We have to keep Patricia a secret because it would make some people angry. When you meet the right person, I'm sure that you won't have to keep her a secret."

Crestwood

Byleth started her day as usual with a cup of coffee from Ashe's while she checked the headlines. Arundel walked in and once again invited himself to her table. Byleth started to get up, but Arundel gestured for her to sit back down.

"I wanted to talk to you about Monica. She is like a daughter to me. But more specifically, I wanted to talk to you about my nephew Dimitri. You don't belong together. He's not yours. Find somebody else."

Byleth laughed and hit her hand on the table. "Wow, is there anything you don't try to control in this town? Not that it's any of your business - but Dimitri and I haven't done anything." She sipped her coffee and went back to her phone.

Arundel smirked, "Oh really? Then explain why he has so abruptly moved back into his apartment this morning and won't talk to either of us? Poor Monica is heartbroken!"

Byleth set her coffee cup down, "He what?"

Arundel leaned forward and narrowed his eyes, "You didn't know. Well, I suspect you soon will so listen carefully, my dear. Because it's in your best interest, stay away. He's in a fragile state. He doesn't know what he's doing, and you're this close to wrecking his life. So before you do something that you can't undo, let him remember who he was." Arundel stomped out of the diner before Byleth could respond. She smiled before taking another sip of her coffee.

Duscur 1176

Dimitri couldn't get up. The flames were burning his body, and his wounds from an ax attack were bleeding profusely. From the fire, he heard his soldiers screaming for mercy. He caught a glimpse of his stepmother before she was engulfed. His father's severed head shouted to him, "Avenge us! Those who killed us. Tear them apart! Destroy them all!"

He replied, "I will, Father. I promise I will kill them all."

Crestwood

Byleth sat at her desk while Ingrid was out on patrol. In came Dimitri, looking for her. "I'm guessing you're not here to report graffiti or other shenanigans?"

Dimitri chuckled, "I needed to see you."

Byleth smiled, "Are you here to tell me that you moved out of Uncle Dearest's house because of me?"

"No, because of me. I realized that my investigation wasn't going anywhere while staying there and that I can't stop feeling this way about you."

Byleth began working on paperwork to keep from looking into his eyes, "I'm trying hard to stay away from you."

He sat down across from her, "But why?"

"Because feelings lie. We only feel something because we shared a stressful moment."

Dimitri took her hand, "Meet me tonight. At least think about it. I'll be at the pond where you found me at eight o'clock. Think about it and then decide. If you don't show, I'll know, and I'll never bother you again. But if you choose this, if you choose us, you know where I'll be." He gave her one last long look and left.

Byleth tried to finish her paperwork when she was once again interrupted. This time it was Claude with doughnuts. She looked up at him, annoyed. He shrugged, "Hey, cliches can be true! Why do you look so pissed? You usually get excited about food - it's about the one thing you and Ingrid have in common."

She set down her pen and began to eat a doughnut, "It's Dimitri. He's moved out of Arundel's house for me. He wants me to meet him at the pond tonight."

Claude's face lit up, "So? This is great news! You two are perfect together!"

"What should I do?"

Claude was flabbergasted. "How can you even ask? You should go!"

"Wow, your advice is way more enthusiastic than Edelgard's," Byleth said as she started her second doughnut.

Claude took a doughnut for himself, "Everything about me is more enthusiastic than Edelgard. Think of it this way - it's one thing to say that he wants you, but it's another to make a choice. Before you came, Dimitri was obsessed with finding out what really happened to his parents. Now he's choosing you. That's all you can ask for."

"Will someone just tell me what happened to his parents? Every time I start to bring it up, the subject gets changed."

Claude shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "It's not my story to tell - and it's confusing. So, Edelgard's parents divorced, and she lived with her dad, Ionius. Dimitri's mother died when he was a baby. Dimitri's dad, Lambert, married Edelgard's mother Patricia - who was Arundel's younger sister. Lambert was a military hero and decided to run against Arundel for mayor. One night they were having a strategy meeting at Dimitri's house. Dedue and his parents were there, and Felix's older brother Glenn, the town Sheriff. Ingrid had such a crush on him that everyone used to joke that they would get married someday. There was a fire. Everyone was killed that night except for Dimitri and Dedue, and they were both badly injured. Gilbert barely got them out. Everyone said it was faulty electrical wiring, but Dimitri has always believed that someone did it on purpose. He suspects Arundel, but why would he kill his sister? Since then, he's always super polite but cold and distant. At least until the past few days. Ever since you came around, he's started to act like differently - talking to people again, interested in other things."

Byleth was reeling, " That's what everyone has been dancing around? The possible mass murder that your psycho mayor might have committed? You've had me chasing fairy tales, and you've been sitting on this information?"

"I know! But I didn't live in Crestwood when it happened and was waiting for either Edelgard or Dimitri to share it with you. Besides, no matter what you believe, Arundel is hiding something. And I think you and Dimitri are good for each other. Give him a chance tonight."

Byleth smirked, "And it's just one more thing that will infuriate Arundel."

Claude grinned, "All the more reason to do it."

Garreg Mach, 1180

"...What do you wish for, Professor?"

No one had ever asked Byleth a question like that before. Byleth had also never danced the night away at a ball before, either. Now she was at the top of the Goddess Tower with her house leader and feeling strangely giddy. He took her hand as they looked out over the monastery. She couldn't think straight, so she said, "You wish first, Dimitri."

He thought for a moment, "Hmm - a wish of my own? I suppose my wish - is for a world in which no one would ever be unjustly taken from us." He looked at the ground, "Or - something along those lines."

It was pretty standard for Dimitri to think about others instead of making a wish for himself. She simply said, "That's a good wish." Dimitri smiled broadly and took both of her hands. He looked deeply into her eyes, "Thank you, Professor. Although - perhaps it would make more sense for me to wish that we'll be together forever. What do you think?"

She felt like her brain short-circuited. She wanted to say yes, but at the same time, were professors allowed to be with students? Even if they were only like two years apart? How old was she anyway? Before she could say anything, Dimitri forced out a laugh and let go of her hands, "Well now, Professor! You must admit I've improved in the art of joke-telling?"

Byleth felt crushed, although she didn't fully understand why. Of course, a prince wouldn't confess his love to some random mercenary commoner that was also his teacher. She crossed her arms and looked down at the ground, determined for him not to see the tears forming in her eyes. "It didn't sound like a joke," she said softly.

Dimitri, seeing that she was upset, put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry - I guess that was rather thoughtless of me. Honestly - I do regret saying such a thing. Please think nothing of it. I've blurted out irresponsible things like that to my classmates: promises that we'll see each other again and the like. I have no business making such promises for the future. There are certain things that I must accomplish, even if it means risking my life. I may not even have a future to promise to someone."

Crestwood

Dimitri walked the streets of Crestwood, excited to head to the pond. Hopefully, Byleth would come as well. His life had been full of chaos and uncertainty for the past ten years, but everything somehow felt better when she was around. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he bumped straight into Arundel. "Dimitri, where are you going in such a hurry? You shouldn't overexert yourself." He was smiling.

"Sorry, Uncle, I'm going to the pond by the church," he stated with confidence.

Arundel continued to smile, "So, you're meeting a special someone there? I don't suppose I can convince you to change your mind?"

"I can't change how I feel, Uncle," he replied firmly.

"Of course not, Dima. You know you're like a son to me," he crooned. "Did you know there's a shortcut to the pond - just go to Hubert's Pawn Shop. There's a fork in the road, take a left, and you'll be on the hiking trail to the pond. It will get you there faster. You wouldn't want to keep anyone waiting."

"I didn't know that. Thank you, Uncle!" He took off towards the pawnshop.

Arundel waved, "Good luck, Dimitri! I hope you find what you're looking for!

A short time later, Dimitri entered Hubert's shop. He stopped to admire a tiara in a display case. Hubert was surprised to see him. "The headpiece. Isn't it charming? Exquisitely designed for religious ceremonies - supposedly, the wearer was enlightened. Masterfully crafted. I could get it out if you like. You can hold it."

Dimitri jumped back from the case, "Oh no, please don't go to any trouble. I'm afraid I'm a bit lost. My uncle said that there's a shortcut to the hiking trail right around your shop, but I can't find it."

Hubert shook his head, "Well, it would seem Mayor Arundel has led you astray." He studied Dimitri for a moment, "One would think the mayor would know his own town. The correct way is out of the door, turn right, two blocks, you'll find the trail. Can't miss it."

Dimitri usually found talking about Hubert unnerving but appreciated the help. He started to thank Hubert and head out the door, but something caught his eye. It was a dagger, and it seemed so familiar. Was this what Monica was talking about? Hubert noticed him staring and cleared his throat, "See something you like?"

"Where did you get this?"

Hubert scoffed, "That old thing? It's been gathering dust for ages."

Hubert tried to shoo him from the dagger, but Dimitri reached out and touched it. Suddenly he felt cold. He could hear voices say:

Why do you bother with this girl when we are unavenged?

You belong to us, not her.

Stop being a disappointment and avenge us.

Hubert could tell something was wrong, "Dimitri?"

Dimitri calmly looked at Hubert icily replied, "I remember."

Hubert was alarmed, "You're sure?"

"Yes, I remember who I belong to." He left the store without saying goodbye.

Hubert picked up the dagger. "Well, that wasn't supposed to happen," he said to no one.

Garreg Mach, 1185

Byleth's army had repelled the Empire forces, but currently, Byleth could not celebrate. Dimitri had run into the battle without regard for anyone else. Then, she had to execute a general before Dimitri could torture him. He raged at her, "What is the meaning of this?"

She refused to be intimidated. "I was not going to let you torture him. That is not how we behave toward prisoners."

He laughed, but it was hollow and deeply upsetting to hear, "A grievous error, Professor!"

She tried a different approach, "I miss the Dimitri I once knew." She wanted to add, "the one I fell in love with," but the words would not come out.

Dimitri towered over her, still trying to intimidate her, "The Dimitri you knew was a pathetic lovesick boy that didn't remember his purpose. He is dead. All that remains is the repulsive blood-stained monster before you." He grabbed the end of her Sword of the Creator and put the point against his stomach. " If you disapprove of what I have become, then kill me. If you insist that you cannot - then I will continue to use you and your friends until the flesh falls from your bones."

He knew she wasn't going to run him through with her sword. He laughed at her and shoved the sword away. She could hear his demented laughter as he left. She quickly returned to her quarters so the others couldn't see her cry.

Crestwood

Byleth put on her best outfit to meet Dimitri. She had even splurged on herself earlier in the day by buying herself a ring from Hubert's shop. It was a simple emerald ring with a silver band. She was just drawn to it, and Hubert offered her a discount. Her heart began to beat faster as she saw him approach. He didn't seem particularly happy to see her, however.

"You came," he said flatly.

Byleth approached him, "You sound surprised. Wait, that's not it. Are you disappointed?"

"I remember my purpose," he said coldly.

"I'm sorry, but what?" Byleth couldn't believe this.

"I don't have a future to promise you. My only purpose is to find justice for the dead. My future belongs to them."

"Are you fucking kidding me? After all that you said? That was like five hours ago, at most!"

Dimitri looked conflicted for a moment, "I do have feelings for you. Intense feelings. Feelings I don't quite understand."

Byleth fumed, "So what, you're just going to keep hanging out with Monica and Arundel, hoping they'll magically confess to whatever it is you think they're hiding?"

He looked at her resolutely, "It's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do was not lead me on. Shit, I thought I had truly seen it all. Now I'm being dumped for dead people!"

He looked down and softly said, "I'm sorry."

"So am I. I'm sorry that I trusted you." She turned to walk away from him as tears started to fall down her face.