Byleth couldn't help but be curious as to what had her class so preoccupied that morning as she lectured. There was an underlying excitement buzzing around the room that she wasn't so foolish as to believe was a result of her explanation on battalion leadership techniques. The Blue Lions were a rowdy class to begin with, but today was something different. To their credit, they did seem to be trying to focus on her lecture; but whatever had them all riled up was keeping them from giving their all and she could tell. Even her more reserved students like Mercedes and Dedue, who more or less seemed to stay out of trouble, were distracted.
With a small sigh, Byleth decided that it was probably best if she gave the class a small break before their afternoon training. That way, they could hopefully get whatever it was out of their systems and focus on the rest of their classes that day. And though she would never admit it, Byleth was also curious to know what it was that had everyone excited. Not much happened at the monastery in terms of excitement and she was beginning to miss the tumultuous life of a mercenary. Perhaps whatever gossip was circulating could be of some entertainment value to her.
"That's enough for this morning," she said flatly, closing her notebook with a dull snap. "You can use this time to relax or study before we go to the training grounds. But remain in the classroom."
She added the last bit as an afterthought. Not only did she want her students staying around so she could eavesdrop, she also didn't want to give Seteth any more reasons to lecture her. Surely if he saw her students roaming around when they were supposed to be studying she wouldn't hear the end of it for another moon.
As soon as she broke class, the room erupted into a cacophony of voices and Byleth watched her students gather around Ashe of all people. She noted that the excitement seemed to have lifted even his mood which was an improvement after their last mission.
"Ashe, tell Ingrid what you told me." Sylvain said, moving from his seat at the back of the room to sit on Ashe's desk at the front.
"Sylvain, unlike you I want to use this time to actually study instead of gossip." Ingrid sighed but made no move to retrieve her study materials from her bag.
"Is it true, Ashe?" Annete asked, bouncing on her toes. "Did you really hear the knights saying that Dimitri's bringing someone back today?"
"A-ah, yeah." Ashe stuttered and nodded. "W-well actually I'm not sure."
"What do you mean you're not sure?" Even Felix was involved now, though he was still putting on an air of indifference.
"It's just that, well, I heard one of the knights this morning say that a new student was arriving today." Ashe now had the attention of the full class. And though Byleth was doing her best to look like she was marking papers, she was also listening closely to their conversation. "And I remembered that His Highness is supposed to come back from Fhirdiad today too. So I figured chances are whoever is coming here is coming with him."
"Do you know anything about this, Dedue?" Mercedes turned to the prince's vassal who sat apart from the group, the only one not involved.
"His Highness was not permitted to share with me the details of his trip to the capital." Dedue replied.
It had come as a shock to everyone when Dimitri announced he was leaving for Fhirdiad on official business without his closest aide. The whole trip had been shrouded in mystery and even before today there had been plenty of rumours on what the prince was up to.
"I'm telling you," Sylvain started with a laugh, stretching his arms to interlock his fingers behind his head, "Dimitri finally started paying attention to girls and found himself a lady up there. I'll bet gold that the new student is his fiancée."
"Just because that's what you would do doesn't mean that's what Dimitri did." Ingrid chided.
"Ooh I hope whoever it is is nice." Annette giggled before turning to Mercedes. "Do you think they'll be nice Mercie?"
"I'm sure they'll be nice, Annie." The older girl smiled sweetly.
A new student, huh? Byleth thought to herself. She hadn't been told anything about a new student joining her class. But it wasn't like Seteth trusted her with much information. Though she had only been at Garreg Mach a short time, the former mercenary got the feeling that the monastery was very much run on a 'need to know' basis. And for the time being she was still not included in the list of people who needed to know.
"Maybe we shouldn't get so ahead of ourselves." Ashe cut back in to the conversation as the others speculated what kind of person this new student could be. "After all, there's no guarantee this person is actually joining our class. It could be totally unrelated to His Highness returning today."
"Aw, I guess you're right." Annette deflated slightly.
"Come on Ashe!" Sylvain clapped the sliver haired boy on the back. "Have a little fun. Who cares if we're right or wrong. I'm just thankful something's finally happening around here."
"I just hope they're someone worthy of crossing blades with." Felix muttered.
"That's all you care about, Felix." Ingrid rolled her eyes. "Do you have any theories as to who this new person could be?"
"Probably just another stray dog the boar picked up off the streets," he spat with a pointed look at Dedue.
Dedue ignored Felix's comment and carried on with his studying, copying his notes from their morning lecture into Dimitri's notebook. And while he was trying to remain aloof, Dedue was the most curious as to who Dimitri could be bringing back with him. It already bothered the man of Duscur that he hadn't been allowed to accompany the prince in his journey. Whatever it was that Dimitri had been summoned for, he hadn't been able to tell Dedue anything about it.
Just as the conversation amongst the Blue Lions was reaching a peak, the doors to the classroom opened with a creak. Everyone turned to look at the open doorway, a hush falling over them. And even Byleth finally allowed herself the outwardly express her interest as she stood to greet whoever was coming through the door.
"I apologise for the interruption, professor." Seteth strode into the room, a critical eye scanning over the students. "I have an announcement to make."
"Of course, Seteth," she began, "I was just giving my students some free study time."
Everyone's attention was not on the Archbishop's most trusted aide, but rather the two figures that followed into the room behind him. The first was familiar, Dimitri standing tall as he greeted his friends and peers with a smile and a small nod. The second, however, was someone none of them had ever seen before.
By anyone's standards she would be called beautiful. She was tall, standing just shy of Dimitri's height, and held herself with the poise expected of a noble. Her black hair fell just below her shoulders, shimmering like ink as she moved her head to survey her surroundings. But what was most astonishing about her was her green eyes. They seemed to pull everyone in, drawing their attention with their mesmerising gaze.
"I would like to introduce you all to the newest student at the Officer's Academy." Seteth cleared his throat, moving aside to allow everyone a better look at the girl beside Dimitri.
"Hello," she greeted the class, her voice was deeper than expected with a hint of rasp to it that didn't seem to match her outward appearance, "my name is Eve. I do hope we can enjoy our time together here at the academy."
She bowed deeply towards the class and when she returned to her upright posture, she smiled brightly before turning to look at Dimitri as if for encouragement. The whole class watched as he smiled back at her, nodding with satisfaction.
"Eve and I are to be married once we graduate the Officer's Academy." It was Dimitri who spoke this time. "I requested that she join me here so that she can learn more about governing before we are wed. I trust you will all welcome my fiancée with open arms."
Murmurs rippled throughout the class, all with varying degrees of incredulity. Was that what Dimitri had gone to the capital for? It made no sense for his journey to be so secretive if it had only been for him to get engaged.
"I understand that there will be some…excitement," Seteth said over the din, "but please see to it that this does not distract from your mission this month. Do not forget we are operating under the threat of an assassination attempt at the moment."
With that and a stern look in Byleth's direction, Seteth turned on his heel to leave the Blue Lions class. For a moment, all was still after the doors were shut. No one quite knew what to say. It felt as if everyone was still reeling in shock from the notion that the girl that was stood beside Dimitri was his fiancée.
"Is that why you went to the capital, Your Highness? To get engaged?" It was Annette who broke the silence, her excitement finally bursting through her seams as she came to stand before the two of them. And without letting Dimitri answer she addressed Eve. "Hi, by the way. I'm Annette. You can call me Annie too, if you like. You said your name is Eve? That's such a pretty name. Are you from the capital?"
"Annette." Byleth called out to the orange haired girl.
"Oh! Sorry!" She blushed, stopping her tirade and stepping back.
"It's alright," Dimitri chuckled, "I can understand your excitement. And no, I didn't travel to Fhirdiad to get engaged. I'm afraid I can't share much about my visit, but meeting Eve was simply…"
He trailed off, turning to look at the girl beside him as he searched for the right word.
"Serendipity." She smiled. "Dimitri and I met by accident. But it's a long story and I'd hate to interrupt your class."
"You can chat all you like after our sparring session." Byleth cut in once more, moving out from behind her desk. "I'd like to see where you're at, Eve. I hope you're not too tired from your journey to join us for training."
"Of course not." She smiled once more, though she turned to glance at Dimitri first. The two of them shared a look that Byleth couldn't place, as if there was something only the two of them knew.
But all that would have to wait. Seteth was right, Byleth couldn't let a new student distract her from that month's mission. Eve could wait, and Byleth could only hope she wouldn't be a hinderance in finding out what the enemy's real objective was.