Time for my take on the Dorothea/Ingrid Paralogue, and it's going to be a significant departure from that battle in Ailell.

Chapter 42 – Rumored Nuptials (Wyvern Moon)

Ingrid furrowed her brow as she read the contents of a letter from her father. Yet again, her father had sent her a marriage proposal, something that always irked her. She was thinking to tear up this one like so many others.

Before she could, she heard a familiar voice as two figures strode down a nearby hall.

"I still need someone to play the role of Siegfried," Dorothea said as she walked alongside Byleth. Then, realizing that Byleth was staring off elsewhere, she said, "Hey, Professor, aren't you listening?"

Dorothea looked to see where Byleth was staring and saw Ingrid with the letter in her hands. Ingrid let out a loud sigh as she finished reading the letter.

As Byleth walked over to Ingrid to see what the issue was, Dorothea followed close behind and said, "What's the matter, Ingrid? I never hear you sigh like that."

"Oh, hi, Dorothea. And hello, Professor," said Ingrid. "Nothing's the matter. Well, nothing major."

"You don't look like it's nothing major. Then again, I suppose you always have a furrowed brow, don't you?"

"Truth be told, there's rather a lot going on. It seems that there's always something to worry about…"

"Well, what's worrying you right now?" asked Byleth.

"Now? Oh, I really did not wish to bother you with such trivialities…" Then, with a gloomy look, she added, "You see, I received a letter from my father recently."

"From Count Galatea?" asked Ingrid. "What a kind gentleman to have for a father."

"I thank you. But the content within the letter is what I find troubling."

Ingrid handed the letter over to Dorothea as she said, "Let me see!" Dorothea took a moment to look at the letter and then said, "Oh, it's a marriage proposal… For you."

As Dorothea continued to read the letter, Byleth asked Ingrid, "Have you ever met the suitor?"

"I've not met him, though I've heard his name here and there. He's the son of a minor noble family in the Empire. It's most likely that he wants the Crest of Daphnel that I bear to adorn his family name."

As Ingrid was saying this, Dorothea was still reading through the letter. But then she saw a name, and her eyes shot open in dismay.

"What is his name?" asked Byleth.

Before Ingrid could answer, Dorothea said icily, "Clovis." She then glared at Ingrid and said even more spitefully, "Clovis von Eadwald."

"Dorothea? Is something wrong?" Ingrid asked upon seeing Dorothea's expression.

"Ingrid, you CANNOT accept this proposal for any reason! Clovis is nothing more than a loathsome, selfish prick! Just like his father!"

"D-Dorothea!" Ingrid was surprised by Dorothea's outburst. "Do you know him?"

"Oh yes, I know that jerk. He tried courting me when I was a singer. Even when he knew I might be his… his…"

Dorothea's hands were shaking at this point in barely restrained fury.

It was then that Byleth's eyes shot open in realization. She remembered the name Eadwald.

"Dorothea, is he your…?" Byleth started to ask, to which Dorothea nodded.

"I'm sorry, I'm completely lost," said Ingrid. "What is this about?"

"It's just a guess at this point, but we think Clovis might be Dorothea's half-brother."

"What?!"

"Dorothea told us her father had an affair with one of his maids and then threw her and her mother out when she bore no Crest. We think Lord Eadwald is Dorothea's father."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Well, not entirely," said Dorothea. "I can't quite prove Lord Eadwald is my father, but I'm pretty damn sure he is. In any event, you need to stay far, far away from Clovis."

"He's offered a sizeable dowry, so I must at least consider it–for the sake of my family."

"Dowry? Ha! Blood money! That's all it is!"

"D-Dorothea, I–"

"The Eadwald family's whole fortune is soaked in blood. Do you want to rebuild your house with that kind of money?"

Ingrid paused for a moment to think on Dorothea's words, and then said, "Do you have any proof of that?"

"Proof? I… uh…"

"It's not that I don't believe you, Dorothea, but I'd need more than just your word to turn down this proposal. Perhaps you are simply misinformed on the subject."

"M-Misinformed?! I wouldn't go saying those things unless I knew for certain!"

"Regardless, my father would want physical evidence, not just rumors."

"F-Fine, then I'll prove it! I'll show you just the kind of snake Clovis and his father are!" Turning to Byleth, she said, "Come on, Professor!"

"Dorothea, please calm down," said Byleth. "Have you thought about how you're going to find that proof?"

The question took all the wind out of Dorothea's sails, metaphorically speaking. She hadn't actually given it any real thought.

"I… um…" Dorothea then made a loud, defeated sigh.

"In any event, Dorothea," said Ingrid. "Clovis is coming to meet with me in town later today. I have to go meet with him or it will reflect badly on House Galatea."

"Ingrid, you can't… After everything I told you about him?"

"Don't worry about me, Dorothea. I can take care of myself."

"That just makes me even more worried!"

Giving it a moment's thought, Byleth then said, "Dorothea, why don't you accompany Ingrid to meeting Clovis to make sure nothing goes wrong?"

"Well, what about you?"

"I'm going to go speak with Anna and see if she knows anything about the Eadwald family. If anything turns up, I'll join the two of you."

"Thank you, Professor Eisner," said Ingrid, "but this really isn't necessary."

"Please, just let us do this for you."

Sighing again, Ingrid said, "Very well, I accept your help."

…

A few hours later, Dorothea and Ingrid were on their way by foot to the White Wolf Inn, an establishment on the edge of town. Dorothea had taken the time to gussy up Ingrid beforehand, despite her resistance, so Ingrid's face was now drawing quite a few admirers along the way.

As another villager gave Ingrid a glance, Ingrid scoffed and said, "Dorothea, was this really necessary?"

"Hey, if you're going to be distracting Clovis while I check his dirty laundry, you've gotta look the part," said Dorothea.

"I still think you're being pessimistic. Maybe Clovis isn't like his father."

"Oh, trust me, he is. Don't let him fool you. He's a snake underneath all his pomp."

Ingrid sighed at this and said, "Don't you think you might just be assuming the worst of him? What if you're wrong?"

"If I'm wrong, I'll eat my hat."

"That's… um…"

"Here we are, the White Wolf Inn." Dorothea and Ingrid stopped as the singer added, "This is where he said to meet him, right?"

"That's what it said in the letter."

Now whispering, Dorothea said, "Remember, keep him talking and give me a chance to slip into his room. I'll see if he's got anything in there."

"What if you get caught?"

Dorothea was about to shush Ingrid when the door to the inn swung open, and the singer did her best not to express disgust at the man who came out.

Clovis von Eadwald was a lean man with dark blonde hair, similarly yellow eyes, and wore an outfit that showed his money-hungry ways. A coat of arms bearing the symbol of House Eadwald ran down his left shoulder.

"Ah, Ingrid, a pleasure to meet you at last," said Clovis, his voice clearly an exaggeration of nobility in Dorothea's ears. "Your father clearly did not do you justice when he spoke of your beauty."

Dorothea immediately noticed as Clovis' eyes darted across Ingrid's features. She had to fight not to frown at him; he was just as perverted as she remembered.

"You must be Clovis," said Ingrid.

"Indeed I am. And your friend here?"

Clovis turned to look at Dorothea, and again his gaze darted over her curves. It was becoming much harder for Dorothea to maintain her composure.

"I remember her from the Mittelfrank Opera. Dorothea, was it? The Mystical Songstress? My, my, it has been some time since I last saw you. What brings you here?"

"Ingrid invited me along for this little date," said Dorothea. "She and I are in the same year at the Officer's Academy."

"Are you? Not from the same house, I take it?"

"No, Dorothea is part of the Black Eagles, while I am of the Blue Lions," said Ingrid.

"Really? Must have been rather difficult for a commoner to make her way into the Black Eagles. I myself never attended; father thought it would be a waste of time and money."

"You'd be surprised what you can learn there," said Dorothea, trying to mask her disdain.

Clovis then looked to Dorothea's thigh and, upon seeing Joyeuse strapped to it, said, "Is it customary for cadets to be armed while in town?"

"One can't be too careful these days," Dorothea said with a fake smile.

"Well, you two can tell me all about it inside. Come, come, I had the entire inn rented out for tonight. Let us have a seat so we can speak of… important matters."

Clovis swung around so that his cape flourished behind him as he walked back into the inn.

Ingrid and Dorothea took a glance at each other. It seemed Ingrid had noticed Clovis' stare as well.

"You sure you don't want to just head back right now?" asked Dorothea.

"Well, I suppose you weren't wrong about him being a lecher," whispered Ingrid. "But I still need to go in or it'll look bad for my family."

"Is something the matter?" Clovis asked from inside the inn.

"Oh, our apologies," said Ingrid. "Come on, Dorothea."

The two girls followed Clovis into the White Wolf Inn. But as they did, they failed to notice several figures look in their direction as they entered.

I know the idea of Dorothea having a half-brother sounds a bit cliche, but I think it works. I mean, her father must've sired a bunch of kids, and had to have kept at least one even if he didn't have a Crest.

If you need a mental image of what Clovis looks like, he'd look a lot like Zorzal from the anime of Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri. Yeah, that asshole.