Dimitri found himself unable to sleep as he lay in his bed, tossing and turning. This moon had been a tumultuous one and it wasn't even over yet. He found himself praying to the goddess that he and the professor were wrong about the Holy Mausoleum, and that the Rite of Rebirth would come and go without incident. But he knew that wouldn't be the case. Ever since that fateful day that he, Edelgard, and Claude had met the professor, it had just been one thing after the next.

And then there was Eve who had somehow become a part of all this. Deciding that he wasn't going to get any sleep that night, Dimitri got out of bed and walked to his desk. There, he pulled out the letter that had started them down this path. Back when he received it, he had no idea how much would change. And it was all because of this simple letter that Eve's life had become entangled with his.

Dimitri,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to ask that you come see me in Faerghus immediately. There is an urgent matter I must discuss with you. I apologise for the abrupt manner of this letter and the lack of details I am providing. Unfortunately, the matter at hand is of the upmost secrecy. I must ask that you do not tell anyone about this trip. I have already made the necessary arrangements with Seteth to allow you leave. Should anyone ask, you are simply going to Fhirdiad on official business.

- Rodrigue

When he had received the letter, Dimitri had been concerned to say the least. He didn't have much contact with Rodrigue after coming to the Officer's Academy, so it was already unusual to have received a letter from him. And it was very unlike Rodrigue to be so vague, so Dimitri knew that something was amiss. But Dimitri knew he could not refuse such a request, so he spoke to the professor and Seteth and departed for Faerghus as soon as he could.

Upon his arrival, Dimitri had been relieved to see that Rodrigue was in good health and that things in Fraldarius territory seemed to be peaceful. So, at the very least, he had not been asked there because of anything too serious—or so he had thought. Dimitri could still so vividly remember that afternoon when Rodrigue introduced him to Eve.

"Dimitri, my boy!" Rodrigue exclaimed, greeting the prince with a smile.

"Rodrigue, it's been too long." Dimitri bowed, relieved to see the Fraldarius Lord appeared healthy. His worst fear had been that Rodrigue wrote because something had happened to him.

"You've grown into such a fine young man, Your Highness." Rodrigue beamed as if Dimitri were his own son. "How's Felix doing? He's not giving you too much trouble, is he? That boy can be so stubborn sometimes."

"No, he's nothing of the sort." Dimitri shook his head with a good-natured smile. "He seems to have taken to our new professor quite well."

The two of them chatted casually as Rodrigue led the prince inside. They came to an office Dimitri had never been to before that was in a secluded corner of the Fraldarius estate. And when Rodrigue closed and locked the door with a firm thud, Dimitri knew that whatever he had been called here for was serious.

"Your Highness, I'm sure you're aware I didn't just call you here for a visit." Rodrigue's voice turned serious as he motioned for the prince to sit as he took his own seat at the table in the centre of the room. "And I want to apologise again for all of the secrecy."

As Dimitri sat, he finally noticed there was another person in the room. She appeared to be a servant, dressed in a plain smock and holding a pitcher of water. Dimitri found himself mesmerised by her as she strode forward to pour a drink for the two men. Her steps were graceful and silent, almost as if she was hovering just above the stone floor.

Following the prince's gaze, Rodrigue spoke up once more.

"This is Eve." He motioned to the servant girl. "She's trustworthy, so you need not worry about her hearing this conversation."

"Of course." Dimitri nodded. He wasn't going to admit that the issue hadn't even crossed his mind.

"In fact," Rodrigue continued, "Eve is the reason I've asked you here."

Dimitri looked once more at the girl named Eve and was startled to find her emerald eyes boring back into his azure ones intently. Her gaze was steady, unwavering, and completely removed. She regarded him without a single emotion; there was nothing in her eyes that gave away what she was thinking.

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand." Dimitri frowned as he turned back to face Rodrigue.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid I must ask you to do something that would change your life forever." There was regret in Rodrigue's eyes, as if it pained him to even ask Dimitri whatever it was that he wanted to ask.

"Please, Rodrigue." Dimitri said. "I am always willing to help you however I can. What is it you require of me?"

"I want you to marry Eve."

Dimitri was in shock as Rodrigue explained the situation starting all the way back when Eve had first come to House Fraldarius for help. She had a never before seen crest that could raise the dead, something Dimitri would have dismissed as a silly rumour had it not come from someone like Rodrigue. And as even further proof Eve had demonstrated the power of her crest right before his eyes by transferring a small cut from Rodrigue to her own body.

"I don't believe it." Dimitri found himself muttering aloud.

"It is quite unbelievable, Your Highness." Rodrigue agreed. "I never would have believed it if I didn't see her power with my own eyes."

"Forgive me, Rodrigue, but I fail to see how this leads to marriage." Dimitri's brow furrowed. He understood that Eve was powerful and that she had saved Rodrigue, but what he didn't understand was why it mattered now if people knew about her crest.

"The Church of Seiros has asked that Eve leave House Fraldarius to serve Lady Rhea instead." Rodrigue explained. "They say they want to protect her from those who would seek to exploit her crest, but I'm afraid if she goes to Garreg Mach she will never see the sun again."

"Surely the church doesn't mean to take her as a prisoner." Dimitri balked at the idea. Rodrigue was a devout man, so it puzzled the prince that such words would come from him.

"No, of course not." Rodrigue shook his head. "But I cannot bear the idea of Eve being locked away even if it is for her safety. She would be forced to live a life of secrecy, only ever allowed to use her crest for the Archbishop."

"Was she not also living a life of secrecy here?" Dimitri asked. It felt odd to speak about Eve as if she wasn't standing just beside them, however she seemed to show no interesting in taking part in the conversation.

"Perhaps," Rodrigue glanced at the girl in question, "however it was on her own terms. She was the one who asked to be a servant and serve the house as anyone else would. Eve is in this situation because she saved my life. I simply could not live with myself if I repaid her by allowing her to be taken away against her will. That is why I must ask you accept this proposal. I assure you Eve will serve you well. She is trustworthy and loyal, and I would feel a great comfort knowing she is by your side to protect you."

Dimitri turned the idea over in his head as Rodrigue looked on expectantly. He knew that it was more likely than not that he would never have the freedom to choose his own bride. And the idea of arranged marriage had always been a rather bitter taste in Dimitri's mouth. He didn't like the idea of some poor girl being stuck with him against her will. If he were to accept this arrangement that Rodrigue had convinced the church to agree to, he could at least know that he was helping someone keep their freedom rather than taking it away with his marriage.

And all of this was in addition to the fact that Rodrigue so desperately wanted to help Eve. Dimitri still wasn't sure what kind of relationship Eve had with the Fraldarius family, but it was clear that both parties meant a lot to the other. He knew nothing of Eve other than her crest, but the prince of Faerghus knew Rodrigue as a surrogate father. If Rodrigue wanted to save Eve and Dimitri was the only one who could do it, then he knew exactly what had to be done.

And whether Dimitri wanted to admit it or not, he had his own ulterior motives to wanting to help Eve. He hadn't been able to save his father or his stepmother or Glenn, and now their voices haunted him. Why did he survive when so many had died? Unbeknownst to even himself, Dimitri was seeking something, someone, that could give him permission to continue living. If he could save Eve, be a good husband and a good king for her, perhaps then the voices that haunted him would allow him to exist in peace.

With all this in mind, Dimitri trained his gaze on Rodrigue as he made his decision.

"I accept."

Felix stared at his ceiling in frustration, willing himself to find sleep as he lay in bed. There was too much on his mind, though; he couldn't get his thoughts to quiet long enough for him to fall asleep.

With a sigh, he hoisted himself out of bed and slipped back into his clothing save his academy uniform vest. Perhaps a walk in the fresh air would serve to clear his mind and bring about sleep. And if not, there was always the training grounds where he could tire himself to the point of exhaustion and force his body to sleep.

Silently, Felix wandered around the monastery in the cool night air. It was a cloudless night and the stars above shone brightly. It was almost too quiet, and Felix once again found himself plagued by his own thoughts. He hated it—hated that he was unable to keep his emotions in check. Felix always strived to be level-headed and objective. He wanted to be the best swordsman and that would take unwavering focus. But now his mind was filled with thoughts of Eve, of how she came to be at the academy.

As his mind wandered to think of Eve, Felix's feet moved without his awareness until he came to a halt before her door. He was surprised that he had managed to unconsciously find his way to her room. And he was even more surprised to see the faint glow of candlelight coming from the crack beneath her door.

Impulse getting the best of him, he reached out to knock on the solid wood. He heard a rustling behind the door and watched the sliver of light as a shadow approached.

"Hello?" Eve opened the door a crack and peered out at Felix, surprise settling into her features as she recognised him. "Felix. Come in."

She opened the door wider and stepped back to invite him inside. Tentatively, he shuffled into her room and looked about.

She had several candles lit around the room, illuminating her quarters with a soft glow. Her wide windowsill was covered with cushions on one half where a book lay open face down. A still steaming cup of tea beside the book told Felix she had been up reading rather than sleeping.

"You should be resting." He said, perhaps a little more accusatory than he had meant to be.

He turned to look at her and flushed slightly when he noticed she was only in her bedclothes. Her nightgown with its thin straps and flowing material exposed more of her than he had ever seen. And despite the fact that she had invited him inside in the first place, Felix felt as if he shouldn't be there.

"Forgive me." He averted his gaze when he noticed he was staring and covered his face with his hand.

"There's nothing to forgive." She glided on silent feet past him to pick up the book she had left out, placing a ribbon to mark her spot before snapping it shut.

"Loog and The Maiden of Wind?" Felix raised an eyebrow at her as he read the gilded lettering on the cover.

"Ashe lent it to me." She said as she turned to place it safely with the other books on her shelves. "He caught me sneaking away to read in the forest and was excited to share book recommendations."

Felix watched her as she retrieved her cup of tea and brought the steaming liquid to her lips. His expression clouded when he noticed the red line that marred the skin over her left clavicle. He had never seen the wound she had earned because of him other than that first time on the battlefield. And though he was glad to be able to see it was healing well, the sight of it still boiled his blood.

"Why would you sacrifice yourself for me?" Felix asked angrily.

"Not this again." She sighed and placed her tea down. "We've been over this, Felix."

"I still don't get it, though." Felix shook his head. "Why would you care so much about me or my father?"

"Your father protected me." She answered.

"But he failed you." Felix retorted. "So why do you have to keep your side of the bargain now?"

"Even if your father had betrayed me and cast me out from House Fraldarius, is it so hard to believe that someone would care whether or not you died?" Eve shot back. "Would you not sacrifice yourself for your men on the battlefield?"

"No, as a matter of fact, I wouldn't." Felix hissed. "You're just like everyone else, thinking that sacrificing yourself is the best thing you can do. The best thing you could do is keep living and fighting. Dying uselessly doesn't help anyone."

"He didn't die uselessly." Eve's voice was soft, so soft he almost didn't hear her.

When he turned to look at her, she had her back to him. And though during training and on the battlefield she had such a commanding presence, now she looked so small- even standing at her full height several increments higher than him.

"You sound just like my father." Felix said bitterly. "Next you're going to say he died with honour like a true knight."

"He was slaughtered." She whipped around to face him, her eyes filled with a flurry of emotions Felix couldn't put definitions to. "He didn't throw himself upon an enemy blade to save someone else. He didn't sacrifice himself. He died in an ambush that left all but Dimitri dead."

"He could have saved himself if he wasn't so worried about what was honourable." Felix crossed his arms.

"Is that what you think?" Eve asked with a furrowed brow.

"He was the strongest person I knew." Felix replied. "But he still died."

A look of understanding flashed in Eve's eyes and for some reason it enraged Felix. It was as if she had made some kind of conclusion about him from just a few words.

"Just because you are strong doesn't mean you can't fall." Eve said with a shake of her head. "I have known so many strong soldiers in my lifetime, but they all fell eventually."

"Tch." Felix clicked his tongue and turned away from Eve to glare at the door.

He wasn't sure why he had come to Eve's room, but this certainly wasn't it. Why was it that every time he spoke to her, he ended up arguing with her? It was as if he were incapable of remaining impartial as long as she was involved.

He just didn't get her. Why would one flimsy promise make her so devoutly loyal to his house? She could have run away as soon as the church discovered her. She didn't have to risk her life to save him on the battlefield. And even now she didn't have to humour him. She could easily send him out from her room, and he wouldn't have blamed her. Yet she allowed him to berate her, listened when he shot accusations her way.

"Felix." She called out to him softly, reaching to grab his sleeve tentatively. "I don't mean to upset you."

He down at her hand on his sleeve then up to her face. What was it about this girl? Why did she consume his thoughts like nothing else?

"I'm not upset." He said. "I just don't understand why you think the way you do."

"Why does it matter?" She asked with a small smile, releasing her hold on his sleeve. "Why do you care what I think?"

"Why?" He recoiled at the question. It was a valid one, though. Even he didn't really understand why Eve's opinions held so much weight in his mind.

"Yes," she came to stand in front of him, "why does it matter to you what I think?"

"Because I-" Without thinking Felix found himself reaching forward to grab Eve's shoulders, pulling her into him and crushing his lips onto hers. He held her there for just a moment, mind racing and his reason screaming at him to pull away. And when his reason won out over whatever impulse was controlling his body, Felix ripped himself away from Eve, turning on his heel without hesitation to storm out of her room and leave her standing there, speechless.