A/N: A slightly shorter than normal chapter but I thought the ending was too good to extend it. Hope you all enjoy!

Blue Sea Moon 1180:

Fourth of the Blue Sea Moon:

The trek back to Garreg Mach had been slow, incredibly slow, but that could have just felt like that to Byleth as she had barely gotten any sleep since before the battle. Her body desperately needed sleep, and yet she couldn't. The deaths of Dedue, Ashe, and Muharib just wouldn't stop haunting her and she would quickly awaken. Before the battle she never had dreamt before and now she wished to return to how it was before.

She was not the only one to be plagued by nightmares, Ashe and Dimitri did as well; she also suspected others, but they never said anything. To help alleviate some of the boys' suffering, she had been pushing her body to cast light Faith spells. Because she hadn't allowed her body the chance to recover, each spell took a great toll on her. It was only a matter of time before she would collapse, but luckily Catherine stepped in.

On the fourth day of marching Catherine had enough and ordered Byleth to rest in the supply cart. It was incredibly cramped and uncomfortable; she didn't even think the most exhausted person would be able to sleep in it. Catherine had been on top of that and had ordered a healer to put Byleth to sleep. The professor had felt guilty about getting sleep but knew that she needed it and accepted the magically inducing sleep. She spent the entire day resting.

When it came time to set up camp, Catherine finally woke up Byleth. The former mercenary's body was incredibly stiff, but she felt so much better. Sothis had finally awaken too and Byleth wondered if the mysterious girl's exhaustion had been tied to hers, but there was no way to find out, without forcing Byleth to forgo sleep again.

The still exhausted professor was about to head over to the students' side of the camp when Catherine stopped her. "I didn't just wake you up because you were in the way," the knight said as she proceeded to drag Byleth away from the campsite. "I have some important news that I have been trying to discuss with you for the past few days."

Outside of camp and all alone, Catherine finally released Byleth. Wordlessly, she handed the former mercenary a rolled-up letter. Not really in the mood to read over something, Byleth just skimmed it, but she quickly chose to read it instead. Her eyes widen and she looked at Catherine for confirmation, who had dropped her cheerful attitude.

"I found it on Lord Lonato," Catherine explained and Byleth had to be mindful to not crumple the letter in a death grip.

The professor looked over the letter again and she just couldn't believe what she was reading, even though she knew she should. He wasn't shy about sharing his hatred for the church and the archbishop and yet, something just didn't feel right about it. Why would he hold onto such an important thing in battle? She was sure he knew that he would fall and that was why he sent Ashe away, but why have this? This could have been his back up plan but holding onto it, would almost guarantee for it to be revealed to the enemy.

"We can't tell who sent it," Catherine began and so Byleth went back to looking at the knight. "So, the source is suspect, but the content is too disturbing to ignore."

The professor nodded in agreement. "I agree but why are you sharing this with me? I'm just a professor."

"Your skills are too great to ignore." Really? Was that enough to tell her such a thing? And she was sure she didn't show any such skills in that battle. "And Lady Rhea, really trust you." Byleth pressed her lips together as she looked at the knight. "Your actions have proved that your loyalty lies elsewhere." Even if she hadn't known Dimitri beforehand, how could anyone expect for Byleth to build a strong loyalty to the church in two months? Despite some incredible circumstances she was a mercenary, normally her loyalty would be to money, her father, and her skills.

"But I have the most trust in Lady Rhea," the knight began and Byleth snapped out of her thoughts, "and for reasons I do not know she has great faith in you." The older woman's eyes narrowed into a sharp glare. "I do not know what your intentions are but if they are malicious, I will not hesitate to cut you down."

Byleth was no stranger to threats. She couldn't count the number of times she received one, but Catherine's was different. Catherine had the skills to back up her threat, especially when wielding Thunderbrand. A silence settled over them as the women stared each other down.

Byleth was the first to break eye contact as she briefly looked down at the letter, in her hands. Rolling it up, she handed it back to the other woman. Catherine snatched it back and didn't break her stare in the process.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

The professor started to stretch her back, continuing to ignore the glare. "You are not the first to threaten me," she answered as she twisted her torso back and forth, "and with how my life has been going you will probably not be the last."

There was a bit of a pause for a moment before Catherine broke out into a laugh fit, causing Byleth to stop and stare. The tension was gone the more the knight laughed. Eventually, Catherine smacked Byleth across the back so hard that the younger woman stumbled forward a bit.

"You're an interesting gal!" Catherine wrapped an arm around Byleth's shoulder and began to drag her back to camp. "Let's get some dinner."

Byleth didn't mind the close contact but it did make walking a bit difficult. Eventually, she got fed up and pushed Catherine off her but continued to walk next to the other woman. If the blonde cared, she didn't show it.

"About the letter," Byleth quietly brought up and she got a raised eyebrow from her companion and that was her only sign that Catherine was listening. "How many people know about it?"

"Right now?" Byleth nodded. "Just you and me." Her eyes widen. "If word got out about this, it would cause a riot and that would put Ashe in a tight spot." Byleth could see that happening and she was afraid that it would. "I don't need you punching all my knights." The former mercenary smirked as she would have no problem doing such a thing.

"So, that's why you made sure we were alone?"

"That and I couldn't really threaten you in front of Prince Dimitri. I don't really want to make the Prince of Faerghus my enemy." Byleth laughed at that.

Fifth of the Blue Sea Moon:

Both Byleth and Catherine stood before the archbishop and Seteth in the Audience Chamber. Catherine gave her report and Byleth just commented on a few things that reflected differently on hers. It was going just as what she expected but the knight never voiced her suspicion of Byleth and sort of glossed over the part where Byleth punched a knight. It took everything for the professor to not stare at Catherine, like she was mad.

When the reports were finished Catherine handed over the letter. The archbishop quickly scanned it before crushing the letter in a strong grip. The holy woman's gaze was fierce and deadly, just like how it was when Byleth challenged her authority before the mission; though Byleth concede that it was at least fitting this time.

"So, they wish to try and assassinate me on the day of the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth? Preposterous!" the archbishop said and finished off with a dark chuckle. Seteth's eyes went wide but he didn't say anything. Byleth glanced at Catherine from the corner of her eyes and was disappointed to discover no change in the knight's stance or expression. Blind loyalty was scary and Byleth felt like a hypocritic for thinking that. She had a hard time picturing herself acting differently if she was in Catherine's position and Dimitri was in the archbishop's. Though, Byleth hoped to save Dimitri from his darkness before he can fall into such a low.

"To try to attack the archbishop on such a holy day is ludicrous but a threat is a threat," Seteth spoke up and he was a picture of calm, almost like he had already been aware of the information. "We must maintain a constant vigilance." Byleth nodded at that as she would have done so without their request, but she did wonder if she should alert them to her suspicions. It still made no sense to her that Lord Lonato would keep such an important letter on him during a battle of life and death. When she remembered how Lord Rodrigue responded to her suspicions about Lord Arundel, she found herself losing her confidence.

"For your mission for this month." She snapped out of her thoughts when she realized Seteth was addressing her. "I would like for you and your students to help with security on the day of the ritual." Finally, a decent mission. She gave him a firm nod.

"That is most reassuring. You have my gratitude," the archbishop said and Byleth had to keep herself from rolling her eyes.

"The archbishop and I will be confined to the Goddess Tower once the ritual begins," Seteth explained. "Of course, the knights will be on high alert as well, but there are not enough of them to keep watch on every corner of the monastery."

Not counting all the assassination attempts on her life, this would be Byleth's third time dealing with assassins as it seemed like fate liked throwing them at her. She wondered if she could consider herself an expert on handling such threats after this. Though that would only work if this were an actual attempt on the archbishop's life.

"It is far from ideal to be forced to mobilize students, but the gravity of this situation requires that we all band together to avoid breaking." She nearly scoffed at his words. Sending children into a war was okay but having them on guard duty was absurd? She struggled greatly to keep her expression impassive.

"While there is no need to fear for my safety," the archbishop spoke again," we cannot turn a blind eye to those who would blaspheme so heinously."

"You can count on us, Lady Rhea!" Catherine said and Byleth sort of forgot that she was there. "We shall keep you safe!" The archbishop smiled warmly at the knight, who in turn was beaming because of it.

"With any luck, this will be all for naught," Seteth said. "Still, be on your guard."

With that, Byleth gave the church officials a nod, while Catherine bowed. They both turned their backs to leave when the archbishop called for Byleth to stay behind. Catherine gave the professor a small glare before leaving. Seteth stayed behind for a second before excusing himself after a brief whispered conversation with the archbishop. The women were alone and Byleth had to take a deep breath to keep her frustration from showing.

The archbishop kept up her normal little smile, but it grew as soon as the doors closed behind Seteth. She stepped forward and gently placed her hands on the younger woman's face. Startled, Byleth jerked her head back. Without thinking Byleth took a few step backs to create some distance again.

A slight pained expression flashed over the archbishop's face before it returned to her normal, even one. "Forgive me for starting you." Still trying to comprehend what just happened Byleth muttered out her forgiveness. "I was just so glad to see that you have returned." The archbishop's eyes flickered to Byleth's bandaged hand for a second. "I am thankful that the goddess is gracious with her divine protection."

Byleth struggled to keep her expression neutral. There was no divine protection in that battle. It was hell and she nearly lost two of her students in that madness. Students that should have had no business fighting in a war! If the goddess really cared, wouldn't she had stopped it before it started?

"But it was not only divine protection that shielded you, was it? You are just as skilled as I had hoped."

Of course, she was. She did that for a living, but her students didn't. It only should have been her sent into battle with the knights. Maybe then she could have been of better use, instead of the mess she became.

"My students deserve the praise," she said as she looked right into the archbishop's eyes. She wanted the archbishop to acknowledge the hard work she forced on students still new to battle. Especially the stress she put on Ashe.

"I am not so sure." Byleth narrowed her eyes. "I heard some of the students were…hesitant about fighting militia."

Of course, they were! They were children sent off to fight in a war and against one of their friends' fathers too! You sent the prince to kill his own citizens! Byleth wanted to scream all that out but didn't because of Sothis reminding her to behave.

"However, we must punish any sinners who may inflict harm upon believers, even if those sinners are civilians." Byleth balled her fists tightly and bite her tongue. She would understand with wanting to protect people, but she didn't agree with the church's methods. "I pray the students learned a valuable lesson about the fate that awaits all those who are foolish enough to point their blades towards the heavens." Did the archbishop just forget about Byleth's outburst before the mission or was she just trying to provoke another outburst? It was only by Sothis' constant reminders to remain calm that the former mercenary just stood stiff as a board.

"May I see your hand?" the archbishop asked, and it snapped Byleth out of her little happy place that Sothis had directed her too; it was just her emptying her mind.

It took the younger woman a second to register that the archbishop wished to see her bandaged hand. A bit hesitantly, she gave the older woman her hand and received a slightly, larger smile for doing so. The archbishop placed her other hand over it and Byleth could feel the warmth of Faith magic that would have no effect.

The archbishop stared down at their hands for a moment before glancing up at Byleth. There was a new look in the holy woman's eyes that Byleth didn't know what to make of it. Once again, the archbishop channeled Faith magic into the bandaged hand but that time it was an alarming amount of magic that was able to surpass the resistance her necklace provided. Byleth pulled back her hand when it was done and looked at it, despite the bandages hiding the visual proof, the pain in her hand was completely gone and her body was lighter, letting her know that she was no longer suffering from the affects of her botched spell. Unable to even fathom the words to reflect her shock, she just stared at the archbishop, who still had that weird look.

"I just sensed a great power from you," the archbishop said in atone that Byleth wasn't sure what to make of it. It sounded like the archbishop was trying to contain a great amount of joy. Joy at what? Was that power what she was expecting of Byleth? Eager to disappoint the former mercenary removed her necklace and handed it to the archbishop, whose eyes widen upon holding it.

"It's not my power," Byleth took a little too much joy in saying, "it was gifted to me for helping a strange creature."

The archbishop's smile grew as she clutched the necklace to her chest. While the holy woman's joy skyrocketed, Byleth's deflated at an alarming rate. The younger woman struggled to not show her displeasure when the archbishop stepped towards her.

"You say it was a creature that bestowed this power onto you?" Unable to trust her voice Byleth could only nod. "Was it a massive beast that could speak?" She narrowed her eyes but nodded. "Incredible! To think you would meet such a creature! The goddess surely smiles upon you favorably!"

"I…I do not understand," Byleth said after she found her voice.

"My child. My sweet, dear child," the archbishop said with such unabashed joy that Byleth wished to run away. With an unparalleled grace the archbishop directed the professor's sight upwards towards the massive stained-glass window that would paint the room in dazzling colors when the sun would set. On the outside of the circled window were the symbols of each crest, interesting in its own right but it was the center imagine that was the most eye catching. At the top of the center was the image of a beautiful winged woman that Byleth was sure was the goddess, and at the bottom dyed in purples was a woman in white and four other people stood in the back, and she assumed that those were the saints. But in the middle is what caught Byleth's attention it was a massive white dragon that reminded her of Indech in some strange way.

Having her fill, she returned her attention back onto the archbishop. "That creature you meet was a creature blessed by the goddess. Saint Serios, herself, received help from a similar creature, the Immaculate One." Byleth didn't like where all this was going. "The fact that you received the blessing from such a creature means that the goddess must expect great things from you!" Hearing that did not make Byleth feel happy at all.

Byleth stood awkwardly in place, not sure of what to say or do. Was the archbishop expecting her be the next coming of Saint Serios? Why? She only received that power because she helped Indech, not because he was expecting something of her…right? The fact that it and the other strange creature, in Sreng, called her Sothis was bothering her more than ever. What did Sothis have to do with all this? She could feel the mysterious girl frown and shake her head. The girl had no answers and Byleth was terrified of telling the archbishop about her and so Byleth would remain silent on that subject.

"About my punishment," Byleth said, in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

The archbishop stopped her examining of the necklace to smile widely at the professor. She stepped forward again and was standing far to close for Byleth's comfort as she helped Byleth wear her necklace again. The former mercenary stood perfectly still throughout the whole process. When the necklace was secured in place the archbishop cupped Byleth's face, who dared not to move.

"My dear child, you do not need to worry about that. From what I heard the knight is to blame and is deserving of such an action."

Byleth wanted a punishment. She knew full well at how people got jealous and would lash out at her when she was showed such favoritism. But despite that she didn't argue and said nothing. She just wanted to hurry up and leave.

Early Morning of the Sixth of the Blue Sea Moon:

Dimitri awoke in a cold sweat. His body felt so incredibly heavy as he could still fell the hands of the dead clawing at him. Just as he had done every time after he and Byleth were separated he curled into a ball and waited for the voices of the dead to grow tired of him. He never knew how long it would take for the voice to be done with him, but his body always felt so stiff as he uncurled himself each time.

Since he tried starting to keep his distance from Byleth again, he had a nightmare every night. He had accepted it as punishment for his negligence, but after the battle with Lord Lonato they became more intense. The battle had reminded him of that night four years ago. It was horrible but he would have been okay with it if it wasn't for Byleth.

When she first awoke him, the night of the battle, with the same gentle method that she used to take care of him with right after the Tragedy, he found his resolve weakening and his method useless. Her gentle caresses, her soft voice, and her patience with him; it was all too much for him. It was so wonderful. He wanted more. For her to take away his pain to bring back the happiness that allowed him to forget his quest for revenge. She was absolutely wonderful, but at the same time, so very cruel.

He continued to sit on his bed for a few more minutes. The last traces of his nightmare and Byleth's touch retreated to the far reaches of his mind. His body felt so heavy as he walked over to the window. The moon was shining brightly in the night sky and he sighed. It was going to be a long night for him.

His gaze drifted downwards almost as if it were being pulled towards that direction and he could see two people talking, a knight and Byleth. He shoved the curtain closed and turned his back towards the window. He wanted her gentle touch. To hear such sweet words of her promising to stay with him. He so desperately wanted those things that he did not deserve.

His body went ridged as he felt hands grip him and pull him down towards the floor. He dropped to his knees and felt a particularly strong grip on his neck. He looked forward as if he could see the person, choking him. A shiver ran down his spine, as the voice of his father began to speak.

"You will give us our revenge," his father said in a fury that Dimitri had long forgotten if his father ever spoke without it. "You had your little fun, now hurry and give us what we demand!"

He tried to swallow but the grip on his neck prevented him from doing so. He continued to stare forward, imagining the look of disgust that his father surely had. Tears spilled from his eyes as he imagined the hatred from the people that once loved him, must be feeling after his brief moment of abandoning them. Or did they never hold any love for him to begin with?

"I will," he chocked out in a tiny whisper. "I will give you your revenge. I promise."

The grip on his neck vanished and he began to cough violently. He hunched forward and cried, he felt so alone. He had no right to be wanting such happiness. Wanting such comfort and peace. His mind, his body, his everything belonged to the dead so that they may have their revenge. Byleth's kindness was wasted on a wretched fool like him.

There was a knock at the door, and he jumped. He stared at the door, unsure if he heard it or if it was just a trick of his mind. There was another knock and he got onto his feet, but he did not move from his spot. He continued to stare at the door waiting for the universe to respond for him.

"Your highness?" Dedue called from the other side and Dimitri didn't realize how grateful he would be to have someone else at that moment. "Are you awake?"

"Yes!" he shouted, despite not meaning too. Without thinking he lunged for the door and he nearly ripped the door off its hinges in his desperation to open the door. For a brief moment Dedue flinched but just as quickly returned to his more normal, stoic stance. "What can I do for you?"

"Byleth would like for you to come visit her." The smile on Dimitri's face dropped along with his heart. His gaze drifted towards their feet and his grip on the doorknob was incredibly weak. He opened his mouth to say something but there were no words he could think to say; no words that could properly convey his turmoil.

"She suspected you had a nightmare." Dimitri was back to looking at his friend. How did she know? He laughed through his nose because of course, she would know. Was fate testing him? Seeing if he truly had the resolve to stay away from her?

"I…," he stopped so that he could add some more strength to his voice, "I am fine." That was all he had the confidence in saying, anymore and he feared his voice would betray him.

"She suspected you might say that and urged me to convince you to come." He scowled briefly, but it vanished just as quickly as it came. Why did she have to be so damn perceptive? How did she still know him so well? Did he not change in the four years they were separated? She did. She changed so much. She was so much stronger, so much more experienced, more confident, and so much more. And her kindness, that damnable kindness, was still the same and he was still seeking it out.

He gripped his pants' legs as if that would be enough to hold him back. He needed to stay strong and yet it was so hard. For four years, he thought little of anything else besides getting revenge and yet she was challenging all that. He was weak, so very weak.

He opened his mouth to tell Dedue that, but his voice was nowhere to be found. Weakly, he just shook his head. He hung his head as he couldn't bring himself to look at his friend anymore.

"I also believe that you should see her." Dimitri bite his lower lip, in a desperate attempt to hold back his tears. "You always look so much better being by her side after having a nightmare." Dimitri bite harder to the point where he could feel the warmth of blood on his tongue. Why was Dedue trying to destroy his resolve?

Did Dedue have any idea how much of a fool Dimitri had been since he reunited with Byleth? What would the Duscarian man think, if he knew that his friend had forgotten all about getting revenge for two months? The revenge that Dimitri wanted was not just for the dead, but it was also for him and Dedue. To kill those vile fools that stole their families from them.

"If you will not come for yourself, will you at least come for Ashe?" Dimitri looked up and Dedue stared down at him, with his normal, stoic expression. "Byleth allowed him to stay in her room as he had been suffering from nightmares as well. She hasn't stated it, but I am sure she could use some help."

The prince's gaze dropped again as he once again lost himself to his thoughts. He needed to keep his distance from Byleth but if Ashe was suffering…He wanted to help Ashe. He would help Ashe! If he saw her with that mindset of being there for Ashe than he should be okay. He just needed to focus on Ashe and nothing more. He could do that. He would do that.

As they neared Byleth's room, Dimitri got cold feet and stopped at the stairs that led up to hers and Dedue's rooms. The light shinning from her window was so inviting, like a beacon in the night, a stunning beacon of hope. He wanted the false salvation she would bring and yet he could not grasp it. He needed to remain lost in the dark.

Dedue called out to him and broke him out of his thoughts. He turned to his friend, and away from the light. So, desperate was he for contact with someone that he didn't even realize that it was late for his friend to be up.

"By didn't wake you up to go get me, did she?" he asked and Dedue simply shook his head no as his response. Dimitri expected that. She wouldn't do that, but that meant that Dedue had been awake for another reason. "Did…did you also awake from a nightmare?" It was a personal question and Dimitri felt bad for asking about it, even if he knew he would not get an answer. He knew full well that Dedue would choose to suffer in silence like he also preferred, until he felt such a gentle touch again.

Dimitri wanted to turn around and run. He could already feel his resolve weakening and yet he found himself rooted in place. Thinking about Ashe, Dimitri found the resolve to step forward. Or was it just the convenient excuse he wanted?

He knocked on the door firmly, and shrunk into himself when he heard her voice welcoming him in. Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door. As soon as he laid eyes upon her, he felt his heart constrict.

Ashe sat incredibly close to her, eyes red and swollen. Dimitri tried so very hard to focus only on Ashe but he couldn't and he knew deep down, from the very beginning that all his attempts would have been futile; and it did not help him in the slightest when Dedue had directed him to sit in front of her. She wore such a warm, comforting smile, while she greeted him but the bags under her eyes gave him a glimpse of the secret she was hiding.

He had basked in her comfort during the march back to Garreg Mach, completely ignoring the suffering she was in. He was appalled at himself for ignoring it so much that she needed to be magically induced to be put to sleep. It was just more proof that he needed to avoid her; it would also be for her own benefit. He did nothing for the dead and he could do nothing for her but bring her down. He was always holding her back.

A light touch on his arm jolted him back to reality. Warm, steel-blue eyes looked up at him. Those same steel-blue eyes that made him believe that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be alright and that it was fine for him to live for himself. He gave her a small nod when he realized she had asked him a question and he looked away; though, he had no idea what the question was.

It took a second before she pulled her hand back and he instantly felt empty without her warmth. He was vaguely aware of the playing cards she was handing out and was even less aware of the rules she was explaining. Despite his turmoil he could at least take comfort in knowing that Ashe seemed to be looking better, or at least he hoped his fellow student was doing better.

Even if he had been properly listening when the directions were being given out, Dimitri was sure that the card game, they were playing, would still be confusing. It was some game he never heard, and he wasn't surprised to hear that it was something Claude had taught her. It was a game that required great focus, but his distracted mind was unable to keep up with it. While he was having a hard time, it seemed that the others were having a good time, at least.

After a few more games and a cup of chamomile tea later, he found himself relaxing enough to forget about his earlier worries. Everything had started to work out greatly for him, until Ashe fell asleep. The boy needed sleep, there was nothing wrong with that; but he fell asleep while using Byleth's lap as a pillow and again there would have been nothing wrong with that. What was bothering the prince was how Byleth kept running her hands through Ashe's hair. It was the same gesture she comforted him with and he knew it shouldn't bother him, that Ashe needed all the comfort he could get; but if Dimitri couldn't have that comfort he didn't want anyone else too, well at least not for anyone to receive it from Byleth.

"Aster," she called, and he snapped out of his thoughts. He didn't realize he was staring until that moment; he hoped he wasn't glaring. "Come here." She patted the open spot to her right. He didn't get up at first but the continue patting eventually got him to move.

At first, he tried to sit with some distance between them, but she wouldn't have it and he was forced to sit closer. He stared at the desk, before him as he desperately tried to ignore the pounding in his heart. He froze when she guided his head to rest against her shoulder. When he came to his senses, he tried to pull away, but she wouldn't allow it. Her grip was something that he could break with ease, but he couldn't bring himself to do so; especially not when she started to run her fingers through his hair. He found his resolve to break away greatly diminishing with each new round her fingers started.

It wasn't long after that did Dedue excuse himself. Byleth tried to stop him but he left as she couldn't persuade him to stay. Dimitri could not tell if his friend were being honest about needing to sleep because he had to wake up early, or if he left so that Dimitri could have some alone time with Byleth. Either way, the prince was alone with his love when he shouldn't be. He needed to leave quickly but he couldn't bring himself to get up.

When Byleth started to hum some song, he didn't recognize, he found himself drifting off. He didn't deserve this. He deserved this. His mind would argue back and forth, with no clear winner to be found.

Forcing his eyes open to fight off sleep, he stared at her desk. It was devoid of any personal touches like the desk she once possessed when she had a room in the castle. It brought a feint smile to his face when he realized that not everything about her had changed. It was a small comfort that he latched onto.

He wouldn't allow himself to sleep, not yet at least. "By," he called so softly that he wasn't sure if he even said her name. Her humming stopped so he took that as a sign that he did say it. "How did you know that I had a nightmare?"

"I saw you closing your window," she said just as softly as he did. "That was the only reason why I could think that could explain why you are awake at this time."

"When you were talking with that knight?"

"That knight is Wil, you remember him, right?" He furrowed his brows as he couldn't recall the person. It was strange that he couldn't remember the man, he thought he as aware of all the men that she was close too. "He was apart of my father's mercenary company. He helped to protect you on the night when we were reunited." Ah, that explained it. That night Dimitri's focus was entirely on Byleth and he could remember little outside of her and the bandits' attack.

"He became a guard here, instead of leaving with the rest of the company. He's often stationed as a gatekeeper." So, that was why she was so close to that one gatekeeper. That fact wasn't sitting well with him.

"Are you close with him?"

"Yes." He didn't mean too but his displeasure was very clear on his face, but she didn't seem to notice. "He joined the company last year and was the first person in the company to be close to my age. We became friends quickly. His mother is sick, so he became a mercenary to help take care of her but now he has a safer job to do so."

Byleth once told him that she wasn't used to being so close to a man before, but he was starting to have his doubts. He did not think of her as a liar, but she often resorted to such close interactions with almost everyone she interacted with. Granted that time she had told him that was during a time when they were in an intimate closeness, but they were currently in a similar closeness, even how she had Ashe on her lap could be considered intimate. She could have had such similar interactions with Will and not even know it.

If Byleth was close to Will then maybe it was a good thing for Dimitri, even if that thought made him feel incredibly bitter. If Byleth was in a… If her heart belonged to… His mind couldn't even finish those thoughts because his heart refused to accept them. But if she were with another…as painful as that thought was, his heart would have to accept it and he could focus more on his revenge.

He hated that thought. Despised it! And yet if it were to come true… He didn't want to think of it anymore and turned his face towards her shoulder. He breathed in deeply of her scent of jasmine and there was a new mix to it, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. To have her warmth belong to another was just too painful to think about.

"Aster?" she called, and he lifted his face to peek at her.

Their faces were so close, the closest yet since he kissed her when he was twelve. He brushed some of her hair out of her face, but he didn't pull back his hand and basked in her warmth that he wanted to covet it all for himself. He wished he wasn't wearing gloves, but he didn't dare pull his hand back. Her fingers stopped their movement and rested on the back of his neck, holding him in place, like he was doing to her.

It would be so easy to kiss her. To give up everything and accept her false salvation. To claim her before anyone else could dare to do such a vile thing. To surrender his entire being to her and pray that she would do the same. Oh, how he so desperately wanted to do that. To give himself over to her beautiful lie that everything was alright, but it wouldn't be, and he couldn't.

So easily his fingers slide away from her and the stinging cold of reality assaulted his now exposed fingers. Silently, he got up and she called out to him. He ignored her question. He ignored her pleas to stay as he closed the door behind him. The cool summer breeze on any other night would have felt hot to him but on that night, it felt colder than even the coldest, Faerghus's, winter night as he rushed back to his room.

Once the door to his room was closed shut, he slide down against it. He brought his knees up to his chest and pressed the palms of his hands into his face. It hurt. It hurt so very much. If he knew rejecting her was going to be this painful than he wished they were never reunited. He wished to have never been reminded of her warmth.

"You finally choose wisely, my pitiful son," his father sneered.

A/N: The angst continues!

So, I'm close to starting finals (got one more week before they start) but this does mean that I have more papers again. Yay! I would say to expect some delays from me but given my track record, I don't know. I guess don't be surprised if the next chapter is delayed.

I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!