The sky was covered with heavy clouds. It had been raining on and off for several days now. The weather was just as gloomy as Byleth's mood. At least, nobody bothered her after she gathered herself up for a short walk around the monastery.
Wandering aimlessly through the courtyard, the professor was hoping to take her mind off the recent events. Father's death hurt just as much the second time as it did the first. This time, however, her grief was joined by a strong sense of guilt.
She knew the future.
She could have done more.
She definitely should have tried harder.
She chose another path, made many different choices. Why was the outcome still the same? How could there be nothing she could have done to save the one person she loved?
As if in response to Byleth's questions, Sothis's words rang loudly in her ears.
You couldn't have saved him. It was meant to be.
The woman snorted, shaking her head. This was no destiny, it couldn't have been. Her father was definitely not destined to die from a stab on the back from a supposed ally. And if he was, then… she would rather not think what other events had been predetermined.
A raindrop fell on the professor's cheek, mixing with tears. She wiped them with the back of her hand and headed back to her room.
"I'm happy to see you here."
Byleth froze with her fingers on the doorknob. She was so close to returning to her own sanctuary without bumping into anyone. With a well-concealed sigh, the woman turned to her student.
"Did you need something?"
With arms on her hips, Edelgard looked the professor up and down, her brows slightly furrowed.
"My teacher, you've been crying again. This is no way to live your life. You must open your eyes at once! You're blinded by guilt and can't see what is happening around you. Please, don't curl up in the corner with no will to carry on. Or have you given up on all of us?"
Without giving her teacher enough space to even process her speech, the Black Eagles leader went on.
"I have no intention to join you in your sorrow. Soon, the time comes for me to move forward, and I expect you to be on my side. Will you join me? Or will you stand back and watch? I hope you make the right choice."
When she was done talking, the princess left. Just like that.
"What an arrogant child, speaking her mind with no regard to the consequences," said Sothis in an irritated voice. Byleth didn't bother to comment, though.
She felt like crying again.
The woman went into her room, closed the door, and lied down on the bed, not even bothering to take off her shoes. She's just had one of the most unpleasant talks to date She'd never been spoken to in such a manner, with so little consideration for her or her feelings. And there she was, naively thinking that she had formed some kind of connection with Edelgard. After the girl told her about her siblings and the nightmares that troubled her, Byleth hoped that she would soon understand at least some of the student's motivation. This belief was, the woman supposed, the main reason she felt more hurt than she normally would.
She literally jumped when she heard a knock.
"Go away," said the professor without moving a muscle. She'd had enough of Edelgard's mind for one day.
A troubled voice sounded from the other side of the door.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but this is rather urgent."
"Dimitri?" Byleth was caught off-guard. She sat up without thinking. "Please come in."
The student accepted the invitation. He seemed unusually nervous, visibly uncomfortable to be in his professor's private chambers. He closed the door behind him but didn't go further inside.
"Professor, Lady Rhea is looking for you," said Dimitri. When he noticed Byleth's reddened eyes, he quickly added, "Still, if you don't feel like meeting with her yet, I'll think something up to cover for you."
The woman nodded, wondering whether she would be able to face Rhea at the moment. Meanwhile, the prince gathered enough courage to tell her the rest of the message.
"I'm very sorry for your loss. I wish I could have done something to prevent it." He took a small step forward. "Please know that I plan to stand by you and support your decisions. Even if it's revenge you seek."
Alarmed, Byleth stood up. She looked her guest in the eyes.
Months ago, the woman made a mental note to observe Dimitri carefully. She didn't remember what she should be looking for − until his comment on revenge.
"Revenge is not the answer to everything, Dimitri," she stated with emphasis.
The boy flinched, taken aback by her reaction.
"O−Of course it isn't, Professor." He cleared his throat. "I simply meant that I know how you feel. Four years prior, I experienced a similar pain."
The tragedy of Duscur! Byleth thought. How could she have forgotten?
When he was the leader of her own house, Dimitri told her about the day his family and friends were murdered. In many gruesome details she wished he had omitted. In this life, however, he barely mentioned it at all. Byleth felt an irrational sting of jealousy towards her former self.
Dimitri gestured at the door.
"I'll leave you now. Take your time to grieve before you force yourself to move forward. We'll be waiting until you decide to return to us."
What he said, made Byleth notice something important. In many aspects, Dimitri and Edelgard were similar to each other. They both came from royal families, were the future rulers of their respective countries, and lived through an unimaginable tragedy that cost them the lives of their loved ones. Yet, the influences these tragic events had on them seemed very different.
Edelgard became cold and distant. She cared for her goals more than for her people. Dimitri, on the other hand, was full of compassion and understanding. He was giving her the time and space she so desperately needed.
Seconds later, the woman found herself hugging a very surprised and awkward-looking prince.
"Thank you," whispered Byleth as she let go.
"Y−Yes… Well, um, you're welcome, Professor," replied Dimitri, his face red, before he hurried out of the room.
"I see that the prince was able to cheer you up a little," said Sothis with a knowing smirk.
For the first time in days, Byleth's lips curled into a smile.