An adaptation of the Dorothea/Edelgard B-Support is here, along with some references to some 90's classics.

Chapter 45 – Romantic Views (Wyvern Moon)

Edelgard knew she was already quite late. She and Byleth were supposed to be in the cathedral over half an hour ago, but a fire in the kitchens had demanded their attention. Now, both women were making a mad dash across the bridge leading to the cathedral, hoping not to be too late for what was going on within.

The Adrestian princess cursed herself. Dorothea had been preparing this play on the Ballad of Celes for weeks, with her playing the eponymous Celes, a general from the Kingdom of Faerghus who lived some 300 years ago. Celes, a legendary commander and warrior, was captured by an Imperial commander named Siegfried during a battle and taken to his castle. Though she was ostensibly a prisoner of war, she was not treated as such, for Siegfried had fallen for her the second he had laid eyes upon her. Eventually, Celes too had fallen for Siegfried, enamored by his noble spirit and compassion.

It was a well-liked romantic tale in Fódlan, though Edelgard had never seen a play done on it so far. And now she continued to berate herself silently for missing much of it.

As she and Byleth reached the giant doors of the cathedral, Edelgard was surprised to see Hubert waiting for them.

"I take it something came up, Lady Edelgard?" asked Hubert.

"Yes, a fire in the kitchen," Edelgard said as she caught her breath. "It took quite a while to put it out."

"Surely that is something the servants could have handled."

"Perhaps, but the Professor insisted that I help out."

"I'm sorry, Hubert," said Byleth. "I know Dorothea's been readying this play for a while, but people could have gotten hurt if we had done nothing."

"I am certain Dorothea will be… understanding."

With that, Hubert gave the doors a push as he opened them slowly, so as not to cause too much of a distraction. Edelgard and Byleth slipped in as quietly as they could, looking over to the center of the cathedral as they did.

A temporary stage had been set up with various props fashioned by the students. Students and faculty alike were seated in the pews, and all eyes were locked upon the star of the stage. Dorothea was dressed in a regalia that made her look like royalty, beautiful yet dressed as if for war. She was alone on the stage for now, as the sole character in the scene.

The scene being played out was following the release of Celes from Siegfried's castle, as Siegfried had allowed Celes to go back to the Kingdom to protect her from his rival, Palazzo. But by this point, Celes had also fallen for Siegfried.

Edelgard and Byleth fixed their gaze on Dorothea. She was singing, her voice carrying through the cathedral with each graceful step she took in her soliloquy.

The way that you

Embrace with me with your strong and powerful arms

Your haunting words

Keep me close

To everything about you

Romantic in ways

In ways that almost tear upon my heart

Can't let you go

Don't you know

Io sono prigioniera

A captive in your gentle hands

A prisoner of your soulful eyes

Your special smile

We'll never part

If the morning sun should free me

It really wouldn't let me go

I'd still be caught inside your love

Can't rise above

The chains of your heart

Even as the scene transitioned to the next phase of the play, and even as Dorothea stepped away to give time for the stagehands to do their work, Byleth and Edelgard could not help but be enthralled by the diva's song.

…

The play finished after another half hour. The crowd's applause had been audible all the way from the greenhouse. Byleth had been called away by Alois to speak with Rhea, leaving Edelgard now standing behind the makeshift stage waiting for Dorothea to come down. The singer was presently thanking the audience for their presence and applause.

It reminded Edelgard of the days she would go to the Mittelfrank Opera House in Enbarr to see Dorothea's performances. Granted, this production didn't quite compare to those at the opera house, given what Dorothea had to work with, but she had still performed the role of Celes with aplomb.

At last, Dorothea emerged behind the set and walked down to see Edelgard, continuing to hum the notes to the song Edelgard had heard when she entered the cathedral.

"My, my, you're in good spirits tonight, Dorothea," said Edelgard.

"Well, why wouldn't I be?" Dorothea said with enthusiasm. "That performance went better than I could've hoped."

"You've always had great talent in bringing history to life, Dorothea."

"Oh, stop. You're flattering me."

"In any event, I apologize for my late arrival to the play."

"Don't worry about it, Edie. That fire wasn't going to put itself out, was it?"

"I suppose not."

Dorothea took a seat in front of a mirror at this point and began removing various ornaments that had been placed in her long brown hair. Edelgard had half a mind to tell her to leave them in, but she knew Dorothea wouldn't go for it.

"Hey, Edie, what do you think about Celes' story?" asked Dorothea.

"What do you mean?"

"She was such a great warrior and yet she fell in love with someone who was supposed to be her sworn enemy. Do you think it really happened like that?"

"It does sound a little surreal, but I suppose it is entirely possible."

"I just think it's so romantic that she ended up finding true love with Siegfried. Even if it did end tragically…"

Edelgard nodded at this. The story, though quite the loving tale, wasn't one with an entirely happy ending. Siegfried had ended up murdered by his rival, Palazzo, during the final battle of their war. And though Celes killed Palazzo and avenged Siegfried, she had lost her one true love.

Sighing, Dorothea said, "I kinda wish someone like that would sweep me up into their arms and love me the way Siegfried loved Celes."

"Have you not yet found a good partner?"

"No, I'm afraid. So many boys here would only think of me as a means of increasing their wealth and influence. But I haven't given up hope yet. There's got to be someone here who'd love me for who I am."

"Well, I wish you the best of luck. I wish I had some advice to offer on the subject. Alas… I do not."

"Eh, don't worry too much about it, Edie. I'd guess romance isn't really something you're interested in anyway."

To Dorothea's surprise, Edelgard stammered a bit as she said, "I'm not… completely disinterested."

"Oh, yeah? Is there someone you have your eye on?"

"Hmm…" Edelgard took a pause before saying, "To be honest, there's nothing resembling romance in my life at present. It's not that I'm disinterested. I'm simply too busy with other endeavors. I have no time to spare for such things." She made another pause before she added, "A certain face comes to mind at the thought… though I'm not sure you could call what we have a romance just yet."

This piqued Dorothea's interest. Was Edelgard crushing on someone?

Deciding to stay on topic, Dorothea said, "That's not surprising. You're not just any old noble, after all. Anyone who has feelings for you… Well, they're in for a pretty complicated life."

Edelgard nodded and said, "True. And I can't ignore the possibility that I may have to marry for political purposes. I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity for a passionate romance as long as I live…"

"That's no way to talk, Edie," Dorothea said as she rose from her seat and clasped Edelgard's hands in her own. "You meet the right person and boom! You'll have passion to spare."

"You think so?" asked Edelgard.

"Of course! Could be someone you've just met, or someone you've known your whole life… There's no telling how life will go." Then, in a joking tone, she added, "Why, something could even spark between the two of us!"

Edelgard let out a short nervous gasp as Dorothea said this. She stood utterly transfixed by Dorothea gazing her in the eye.

After a moment of awkward silence, Dorothea then said, "Edie? Is something wrong?"

"I… I just remembered something important I had to do today! I'm sorry, I have to go!"

Edelgard jerked her hands free of Dorothea's grip and broke off in a run, leaving the diva utterly confused.

"Edie…?"

…

Edelgard kept running, all the way across the bridge of the cathedral and up to a hidden alcove in the hedgerows. She pressed her back against a wall as she caught her breath.

She was relieved that no one could see her cheeks blushing furiously.

"Dorothea…" Edelgard said to herself as she clutched a hand to her heart. It was beating frantically, and not due to the sprint the princess had just made.

"Hey, Edel! What's up?" said a familiar voice that made Edelgard jolt where she stood.

Edelgard whipped around to see Monica standing next to her, her hands behind her back as she leaned coyly toward the princess.

"Monica? What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing in particular, Edel. I just saw you running away from the cathedral in such a hurry. Weren't you seeing your singer friend there?"

"I was. She was putting on a play."

"Oh yeah, the one about that Kingdom general who fell in love with that Imperial knight." Monica then snorted as she said, "How ludicrous."

Edelgard frowned at this. She never could stand Monica's presence.

"You think such a bond foolish?" Edelgard asked, though it was more a statement than a question.

Giving a wide, unsettling smile, Monica said, "Why, of course it is! Those two were enemies who should have been trying to kill each other! If anything, that Palazzo guy had the right idea. A shame he got himself killed in the end."

"Only you would appraise the villain of such a story."

"Whatever." Monica spun around and took two steps away from Edelgard before she stopped and said, "You know what's also foolish? The way you and that singer girl hang out as though she's anywhere in your league." Melodramatically, Monica continued, "I mean, you're to be our glorious Emperor, and she's just some common street trash."

Edelgard was now visibly angry as she spun around and said to Monica, "You'll watch your tongue, you–"

To Edelgard's surprise, Monica wasn't where she had been a second before. Edelgard spun around to find the redhead was now right behind her. The princess had to fight not to show her shock at this.

"I'm just saying, Edel… Someone like her being your BFF? Well, let's just say that might make some very important people… very displeased."

Edelgard clenched her hand as she struggled to resist the urge to punch Monica in the face.

"Oh well, I gotta go," Monica said in a chipper tone. "Good luck with your mock battle, Edel!"

Monica then strode off with a snide giggle, leaving Edelgard almost quaking where she stood.

What a little bitch, isn't she? I assume you all know Monica's deal, so you'll know why she's being like this.

I would love to hear Allegra Clark (Dorothea's English VA) singing those lyrics. Who here can guess where they're from?