Thank you BrandedKing for being a good beta. Sorry about the delay with the chapter, I'll try to be better. Please let me know your thoughts and hope you enjoy!
Byleth's victory carried her throughout the rest of the day. Dimitri, and Dedue to some extent, were equally elated by the news. It was not like much changed in their situation, but one more ally would go a long way. It gave Byleth a new channel to feed information and less burden with her identity. And even though her renewed friendship was young, she had high hopes for the cleric. Her optimism made it easy to make her rounds and retire for the night with no complaint.
Her first day in Fhirdiad was over. Much had happened in such a short span of time. She would continue to put in the effort to make a difference. Alas, her sleep was far from sublime. Her guilt-induced nightmares would never go away. Her recollections of what she conjured were vague. Did she see Hanneman? Manuela? Claude? It was unclear. However, she managed to collect enough slumber to manage. It was unclear if she recovered her divine pulse, but her small stockpile would keep her and her friends safe. She would not do anything risky like reveal her identity right away, at least not with someone that she did not trust.
As the sun started its climb, she departed from her soft bed and dressed in her bulky armor. The gambeson and plate mail hid her frame well. The emblem of Faerghus rested on each of her pauldrons. She felt a twinge of jubilation at her status. Long ago, she would have detested the duty. She never thought she would celebrate graduating from mercenary work. There was no etiquette required for her father's company. She once liked that fact of mercenary life.
Without another thought of her current situation, she disappeared into the halls and relied on her memory to find the king's chambers. Dimitri's softness toward her made her feel less constricted in her status. She was his knight and retainer, but she did not have to bend the knee as an act of subservience. Still, she again pondered why was he so lax around her?
It had her head spinning to think about the man's trust in her. She expected everything to be so much more difficult for herself. She did not even think she would make it to Fhirdiad so soon after defecting. Then again, Rhea was none the wiser to her presence. She hoped Flayn would keep her word.
Those thoughts occupied her through her morning routine to her walk to Dimitri. She continued to entertain herself with those thoughts as she freshened up by the water source in the guest chambers. Her situation could draw scrutiny. Most knights did not get the best amenities. But, she had the excuse of being a personal guard to the king. Nobody batted an eye as she stood outside the king's door.
She curtly knocked and was answered by the man's call. With proper permission, she entered the familiar room. Byleth was surprised to find that it was only her and Dimitri present. "Where's Dedue?" She could have sworn the retainer would avoid leaving his charge alone at any time. Even with Dimitri adorned in his regal armor, he was without any armed protection until she arrived.
"I had him entertain Flayn today too. He really is considerate of her," he remarked that much with his aforementioned softness. Dimitri's attire was decorated by shimmering silver alongside blue cloth. It pronounced his rugged shape underneath. He looked more than imposing dressed as a great lord. He could have lived up to the lion namesake off of appearances alone. Instead, his compassionate demeanor made him more of a cub.
A cub was still better than the alternative. "You should be more considerate of your health. What if I was late? What if an assassin dropped in?" Byleth spoke from a place of love, but Dimitri was horribly naive.
Dimitri stood from his seat, tempted to be closer to her. The difference in their heights was apparent even with the small distance between them. To the untrained eye, one would think of her as unfit to protect him. Dedue had the fortune of being the tallest man within the Kingdom. "I hardly think my life is in danger while I wait for you to wake up. Besides, you've only ever slept in once for as long as I knew you."
Byleth was quick to register his joke with his playful smile. "Funny," she rolled her eyes. "That little cat nap was for five years." Her absence was still a sore subject. Her tone was almost scathing, but it lost its bite without her cool gaze. The helmet saved the man from a cold sweat. "Look, it's fine. I'm here now."
"My apologies for being insensitive," he sheepishly muttered. His stare fell to the floor. His cheeks were an obvious shade of pink.
He was absolutely a cub, far from a ferocious tyrant. Byleth remembered his meekness toward her at the academy. But with him being that much more imposing than her, this behavior should have been out of character. "So what now?" She changed the topic for his sake. "And please, don't tell me you haven't thought this far ahead."
It took a minute for Dimitri to realize what she was referring to. "Of course!" He blurted out. "I considered this outcome. It was my plan after all, yes?"
Byleth found his words hardly that convincing. Yet, she so easily went along with his words. Her former student had succeeded in getting her situated in Fhirdiad. She almost forgot that they were enemies only weeks ago. "If you say so. Having Flayn will be helpful, but what specifically would you ask of her to do?"
"It's not that we need anything from her in particular," Dimitri regained his composure. His confidence reverberated in his voice. "Sure, she can be useful towards making you appear less suspicious. But, that is hardly groundbreaking. Any information gained from her would be of little value. The Church has no reason yet to think that I am in league with a traitor. What we stand to gain is not all too important for now. We needn't think about what to do with Flayn. Instead, how about you try to spend some time with her?" Byleth was in agreement until he proposed his closing thought. That caused her to blink.
"You think that's a good idea? Wouldn't it be better if I help with the warfront? I do have some necessary information," Byleth chimed in. She remembered that she did not arrive in Faerghus empty-handed. On top of her relic, she had plans. Ones that demanded a great amount of secrecy. While a direct hand-off to Dimitri would suffice, she could not play her hand too soon. It was why she felt uncertain, even at that moment. The plan risked the lives of her other allies.
Likely sensing something amiss with the former professor, Dimitri hummed at her words and gave a prompt reply. "I wouldn't mind listening, but there will be time for plans later. The loss at Arianrhod was not too costly for us. However, the defeat coupled with your betrayal likely has the Empire far more hesitant to do anything risky."
His insight was enough of an excuse to refrain from divulging any details. It was far too early to tell him. "You're right. To be honest, I might need to wait on discussing further details. I have the time to see how things pan out first." She was not above holding her tongue toward Dimitri, but he deserved to know that she was holding back on him. If she could not tell him everything, then she would not surprise him later
"I will make sure to keep you alive. I can wait," he once again presented his belief in her.
"Thanks…" Byleth felt undeserving of this level of trust. It continued to throw her off. She had no reason to doubt him, but it all felt too good to be true. "Anyways, what are my orders?"
Dimitri cocked his head at her question. "I am truly not trying to order you around. We are partners in all of this."
"A partner that serves you as a retainer?" Byleth had a point. Their relationship was not exactly equal. Not that she took offense at being the servant, but there had to be a limit to Dimitri's humility. They would draw unnecessary attention if Dimitri acted too friendly. Dedue was a special case, one that everyone in the Church already understood. The masked knight that just arrived would not be granted the same luxury.
Unable to fight her, the monarch let out a sigh and acknowledged her argument. "For now, we can relax. Things are going smoothly. I have an idea in mind for you, but I would prefer you treat it as a suggestion." Byleth raised an eyebrow at his wording. He was too stubborn for his own good. She understood Dedue's predicament back at the monastery.
Her eyes wandered the empty room. Her ears twitched as she listened in for any other voices. Dimitri's earlier carelessness had her on guard. He already messed up in one timeline. She did not want to waste a divine pulse on a dumb mistake like announce her identity and be overheard. "You really could act more kingly. I wouldn't mind that."
"Then you probably won't like my idea that much," Dimitri admitted awkwardly. Byleth already found herself rolling her eyes. She had a hunch on what the other was about to suggest.
Nothing good was to come from his ideas. He was a great man that loathed war, but she had enough reason to believe that his methods needed her assistance. "Please just say it, your majesty."
Dimitri took the invitation to propose his thoughts. "Ha. Fine, fine. I would like for you to take things easy for now. Your breakthrough yesterday was faster than I anticipated." Sure enough, Byleth saw this outcome coming. It tracked with his idea to play nice with Flayn and stay away from the actual fighting. It sounded unproductive to her.
Steady progress would not do. She felt like the continent's fate relied on her every action. She needed to undermine her former house leader at every turn. Byleth's emotions compelled her to fight these orders. "Do you remember we are fighting a war that could decide if we live or die?" She did not intend to sound so uncouth, but the king did not chide her bluntness.
Dimitri took no offense. None at all. Why should he be offended by the snarkiness directed to him by his knight? Byleth wondered if he still held her up as his mentor. "I am aware, but I insist all the same. Come, I wouldn't mind a little company to talk more."
"We are talking now. All we've done is talk," Byleth spelled out bluntly. A single day was all the Empire needed to attempt another border incursion. Cornelia attacked her fellow countrymen at the drop of a hat. There had been no action since she arrived in Fhirdiad, nor did Dimitri hint at any violence within the city. Fighting and strategy were what she was best at. That and fishing. But, she could use none of that cooped up in the frosty capital.
Her point was valid, even the king understood that. "It's not like we can run off the frontlines or fight demonic beasts. As much as I would jump at the chance to fight with you, we don't exactly have many options." Thinking critically, a counterassault was not feasible with the strike force in shambles. Edelgard had yet to make a move after Arianrhod.
Byleth sighed. Her finger tapped against the side of the helm impatiently. "You're right."
Dimitri motioned for her to sit on a chair across from him. His room was filled with local teas, snacks, and a decent collection of books. It was far from immaculate, however. It was about as well-stocked as his dorm room, barring the size and the antiques that lined the walls. Faerghus's reputation was prevalent with royalty and nobility. As grand as their palace was, there was no comparison to the amenities of the other three seats of power. Still, Byleth preferred the more rustic style. The pelts and weapons were what mercenaries were accustomed to. She felt more comfortable here than when she was given an invitation by Edelgard to visit Enbarr. However, her comfort did not make it any easier to relax. Her brow furrowed.
While her expression was obscured, Dimitri seemed to catch on quickly to her mood. Their time together yesterday and traveling made it easier to read one another. "Are you bothered by spending time with me?" He inched closer to her as he spoke. He approached her with hesitance, almost afraid of offending her. Even with supreme authority within his realm, he still accommodated her feelings.
"Not really. It's not you," Byleth corrected him promptly. She had no qualms with the man. She barely understood why he acted so skittish around her. The level of courtesy he showed her was in character with his younger self. But, he was no longer a student or a prince.
"Then there is something wrong," He pulled that meaning from her words. She had acknowledged her feelings in her reassurance.
Though, all of that was obvious. She already spelled out to him that she was troubled by her passive role. "Yes. You're too wise," she exposed her dry sense of humor. Her inability to emote caused her humor to develop far differently from someone like Alois.
"I would like to think so," he answered with a chuckle. "Anyways, I wouldn't mind listening to whatever is on your mind." He invited her to expand on her earlier thoughts.
Byleth had nothing to hide from Dimitri. Everything she withheld was irrelevant or needed to be relayed at a specific time. She was tempted to remove her helm. She wished to show how her emotions visibly changed her. Her deadpan still existed, but it no longer worked as a facade. She could not hide her greatest doubts. "It's not easy for me to rest when I have fresh blood on my hands. My involvement in the war so far has cost many lives. I was the one that gave the Imperials the drive to push into Alliance territory. I want to end the killing before more lives are lost. I can't live lavishly while soldiers toil on the battlefield."
It brought the woman gratification to see the other actively listening. Dimitri only spoke up after Byleth finished saying her piece. "You must remember that you were not the one that started the war in the first place. You were acting out of a desire to end the war sooner, right?"
The preparations for the war predated Byleth's first meeting with the lords. Edelgard had been plotting behind the scenes, from the failed assassination attempt on the teacher to the invasion of Garreg Mach. Byleth knew that she could not blame herself for events. "You're right. I thought that the killing could be lessened if Adrestia won before Faerghus or Leicester could put up meaningful resistance. Who would fight for a losing cause?" She believed the words of her peers. She thought that her decisive victories would kill morale. And in a twist of fate, she only emboldened the Church and the Kingdom to fight harder. Claude had planned to extend Alliance resistance by partnering with their greatest rival, Almyra.
Byleth's strategy backfired harshly. Winning the war was very possible, but the cost of conquering Faerghus would be the deaths of thousands. They would fight to their last man for king and country, much like Leicester. "But, Claude… he did not surrender. He fought until he was captured. Aside from Lysithea, everyone on the road to Derdriu fought to their deaths."
"You feel guilt for their deaths," Dimitri hummed. The sentiment had him almost catatonic. His eyes reflected unknown emotions.
"More than that," she added. Her words worked to snap him from his stupor. "I thought my methods could've saved lives. Yet, an absolute force was always met by resistance. Superior tactics and orchestrated assaults always lead to a rout. More blood was spilled by my hand than if Edelgard had led her forces herself. Hilda and Ignatz. Those two weren't fighters. My involvement in the war was what killed them." Her warpath claimed more than soldiers. She forced civilians onto the battlefield.
Dimitri was candid with his feelings. He did not react warmly to her confession. His cheeriness and hope were replaced by empathy. He grasped the horrors of war. He knew the cruelty that came with conflict. "I see now. You're restless. The consequences of your actions run deeper than the lives lost. The people killed in your wake did not deserve their fate. You gave them an ultimatum, but they had no choice. They had to fight back to save their friends and home from tyranny."
What he said caused her to nod solemnly. She could not deny any of what he speculated. Even with her flawless victories, she still failed her mission. "That about sums it up. I can't slow down, not when my mistakes are still causing problems." What right did she have to take life easy? Her ghosts did not seek her damnation, but they wanted her to press onward. She had to save Fódlan. It was her duty.
"What would you like to do?" He posed the question back at her. Byleth had been looking to him for orders and guidance. She continued to seek him out for his approval. And before him, she surrendered herself to Arianrhod under the pretense of becoming a vassal to the Kingdom. While she had her plans, she did not aim to take command. She was a tested officer, but she believed no one would truly trust her.
"That's what I was hoping to find out once I got here. Honestly, I was better off staying on the border and delivering any intelligence when the moment was ripe." Byleth believed she had no place in the Kingdom's heart. She was a dangerous element to her critics, and she was incapable of doing much outside of fighting. Going to Fhirdiad with the king sounded ideal, but it was practically foolish.
However, Byleth saw the makings of Dimitri's plan. By repairing her friendship with Flayn, she understood her purpose to him. "Though, I know why you brought me here."
Dimitri's endgame was unclear to her. She had to wonder what he planned to do with their progress in Fhirdiad. "We are here to make allies. To defeat the Emperor, I need you. I need to untether you from your past actions," Dimitri confirmed simply. "And since you don't wish to rest, it appears we must continue the current objective. Flayn will not be enough to turn the tide of opinion. I wished to build your rapport first before we try anything more, but I am willing to let you act sooner. The cost of human life warrants us to act swiftly. We cannot forsake the innocent for our means."
He was not done with his thought. Byleth spotted a glimmer in his eyes. "With a power base within the Kingdom and Church, you will ascend as a hero and rebuild your reputation. You, the Emperor's mentor and friend, must be the one to slay the Empire." As symbolic as it would be for a would-be Savior King to slay the evil emperor, only Byleth could so effectively destroy Edelgard's ambitions. Dimitri's legitimacy as ruler of a united Fódlan could only be realized in the graveyard of the Emperor's vision. They must purge her legacy. Who better to do so than the person that cultivated it?
"So, was that your plan all along?" Byleth asked. She tried to tease him for getting so impassioned, but she too was swept up in his zeal. Dimitri had the makings of a great king. Had he not been afflicted by an unspoken darkness, he could bring the continent into a new era. A small smile crept onto her face as she listened to him.
Dimitri softened to her like he had before. He flagrantly showed his fondness for her. "Partially. I am trying to think more on the fine details, but I have confidence everything will work out here." He no longer shied from standing beside her. He dwarfed her, but it still felt like they had an equal partnership. He did not carry any haughty ideas, nor did her pleas to be dignified sway him entirely.
Byleth had to confront again how he thought the world of her. He treated her differently than his other knights. He did not show as much concern or thought for Dedue as her. Whether that was because he held her so highly or his retainer had convinced Dimitri to recognize him for his station, she could not say. She believed Dimitri would never budge on calling Dedue his friend. But, she also could not wrap her head around why he saw her as a hero and wished to project her as one. "Your belief in me is astonishing."
Her comment looked to fluster him. Dimitri only regained his calm moments after. "It was as I said. Whenever you are around, victory seems to favor you. You got here safely, right? Most wanted fugitives would have been stopped near the border." His example was very on the nose.
She let out a nervous chuckle. She thought back to when she relied on her divine pulse to thwart Cornelia's and Hubert's plans. There was no way she could refute his point. "Just… tell me who my next target is."
"Well, I have two people in mind. One is easier. One is trickier," Dimitri exposited. The color on his face faded as they returned to business.
Byleth already had a hunch who he was referring to. There were only so many people she already had rapport with. Any Church official she was not acquainted with would gladly out her. Some she knew were too loyal to Rhea to believe her. "I can do any task you ask of me. Just say the name."
Dimitri smiled at her enthusiasm. "I'm sure you already know who I am thinking of."
"If I had to guess, easier would be Alois, right?" She thought back to when the news of her death broke. Even if she was the Church's most wanted, he still vocalized his sorrow. He readily admitted his anguish. The senior knight was bound by his duties, but he did not wish to fight Byleth. If it meant honoring her father, he would come through.
But, it was for that reason Byleth focused on the other option. Convincing Alois would not be a challenge. He would only be remiss not to report her. Between him and Flayn, he would be more willing to notify Rhea. He would, however, be faster to appeal for her. He would stand up for her if it meant living up to his promise to Jeralt. If her identity was revealed prematurely, she could count on him.
"You are correct," the king answered her question first. "He would be another good ally for obvious reasons. But, his seniority within the knights can only go so far." Dimitri was correct. Byleth recognized that his station would not be sufficient to solidify her place amongst the allies. He did not have the influence to convince Rhea or Catherine.
She needed to act decisively. Alois presented risk and little reward. If Dimitri's idea was to succeed, greater risk and greater reward were necessary. Divine pulse would make everything easier on that front. "Then, I am willing to choose the trickier option."
Even without clarification, she surmised the individual. There was only one person that could truly stand against Rhea and keep the Church on the Kingdom's side. "Flayn can help us convince him too. I don't feel completely confident, but I can try to get through to Seteth." Out of everyone within the Church, Seteth was the most pragmatic and wise. He could very easily see her involvement as a threat, but she had worked with him before. Their history together as well as the current reality of the war would appeal to his rational side.
"Correct once again. I'm impressed, Professor." Seteth was to be their target. He was someone capable of at least sparing Byleth from outright execution.
Byleth was ready to press for further orders and leave Dimitri's quarters, but she spotted the other's verbal slip. "You said it again."
It took a second for the man to catch on to her meaning. "... Oh. Old habits die hard." His face resembled a tomato. Divorcing herself from the gravity of their conversation, she never imagined in her youth flustering a sovereign. Her time at Garreg Mach allowed her to see past the shiny veneer of royalty and nobility. Dimitri and Edelgard were both human, capable of being praised and teased. The two royals both acted so candidly around her. She struggled sometimes to grasp how powerful they were with how cordial they treated her.
His misspeak could have potentially revealed her identity. But, Byleth was caught up in better times. She thought back on the days when she could poke fun at her overly serious house leader. "Just try not to make the mistake in public."
"And what about in private?" Dimitri asked playfully. He attempted to go along with his slip to keep the conversation light.
His question oddly enough stumped Byleth. "I am not sure," she replied whimsically. She could not decide if she deserved the title. She not only abandoned her role, but she also turned her blade on former students and colleagues. If the officer's academy was to be restored, it would be without two of its finest instructors.
Dimitri recoiled at how thoughtfully the woman considered his question. "It was just a joke," he specified first. "Though, it would be easier. Calling you Byleth never feels completely right. It always feels so informal."
Informal was fine by Byleth. She fretted over his blatant favor for her. She worried it would draw suspicion, but she too was confounded by it. What gave her the right to be treated so well? "I am supposed to be your knight now. It would be better if we remain formal."
"I don't mean like that. It's difficult to explain. It's not like I can't call you by your name, but I see you as the woman I met years back." His explanation only had Byleth continue to reflect on past events. She thought back to their interactions at Garreg Mach. At what point did she leave such a strong impression? It was an impression that lasted a five-year-long war, kickstarted and reignited by the very woman he respected.
The king recognized the confusion in her tone. "Even if you did not lead the Blue Lions, I still found myself attending your seminars and seeking out your advice on improving my skills. It meant the world to me to have your expertise."
The mentions of her seminars worked to jog the woman's memory. She recalled vividly the prince taking every opportunity possible to sit in on her lectures. He was not shy about approaching her at the end to go over any questions he still had. He even attended her office hours, the only student outside of her class to do so. She appreciated the gesture then but never thought about how often she saw him. Being a new teacher meant she devoted most of her attention to her class. "That's very thoughtful of you. I never noticed how much you cared."
"Well, I didn't ever find the chance to tell you." Being the charming king he was, he gladly took ownership. Dimitri readily took responsibility, even when he had no fault. "I wanted to say all of that around graduation. It would be strange for the house leader of the Blue Lions to say all of that to the professor of the Black Eagles. I had a great teacher in Professor Hanneman, but he never went above and beyond like you."
It was cathartic to be recognized for her work. Byleth strived to return lost items, offer gifts for every student's birthday, and carried out requests made by the inhabitants of the monastery. "I would've been proud to have taught the Blue Lions."
Her words had Dimitri's warmth momentarily fade. Though, the king acted before his knight. "How about we grab some breakfast? I had not expected our conversation to have lasted so long. I'll admit I am famished."
"That would be smart," Byleth agreed. She jumped on the change of topic. Her words inspired so many hypotheticals. Ones that she had been grappling with for weeks.
"Before that, I have one question. Do you plan to spend your second-day convincing Seteth?" Dimitri had to wonder what Byleth's approach would be. Cornering him and forcing a dialogue would not work.
Byleth already had an idea on how to get through to the Church's advisor. "No. I plan to be by your side while you talk to him. Will that work for you?"
Dimitri beamed at her question. "I can make time in my schedule to do so."