(A/N: I apologize if these two parts don't quite make sense together. Originally it was just the first section with Edelgard, but I wanted to add on Dimitri's portion because I won't have the chance to explain for a while.)
Edelgard waited near the gates as reports came in from the battle. Most repeated the same information—a majority of the Kingdom troops left, and anyone else was let go or killed. She didn't want to risk keeping the enemy in their own fort, even if it seemed counterproductive or cruel.
Among those who came to report was Hubert.
"I sent a few people to look for Cornelia," he said, offering a bow. "I apologize that I couldn't keep watch of her for the rest of the battle."
"She would have slipped away whether or not anyone was watching her," Edelgard replied.
"I heard she came here?" Hubert asked.
"She didn't do much more than talk," Edelgard said, guessing what his next question would be. There was, however small, a change in his expression—a bit of relief. He must have worried, to some extent, that history would repeat.
Monica glanced at Edelgard, started to say something, stopped, then cautiously ventured on. "She mentioned a stepbrother?"
"Dimitri," Edelgard explained, looking at her. It would be more trouble to think of a suitable lie than just to tell her; even if she wasn't instructed to stay silent on the matter, Monica did know when things were best kept between those present. "The situation is a bit hard to describe, but my mother married King Lambert. Dimitri knew longer than I did."
"That explains why he seemed to friendly with you," Monica mused. "Although it makes it stranger that Dimitri looked so…troubled in the Holy Tomb. I have a vague feeling that he might have stabbed you back then, if given the chance."
"It's entirely possible," Edelgard reasoned. His reasoning for going to the academy was 'justice'—she was willing to guess that it was for the people of Duscur, if not for those that died in the Tragedy. Somehow, she was tied into the direct cause of it.
With that in mind, Edelgard looked back at Hubert. "Do you still have copies of that research on the Tragedy of Duscur?"
"If not, it wouldn't be too much of a detour to send someone to Garreg Mach to fetch what's there," Hubert replied simply. "I take it Cornelia mentioned the event?"
"Somewhat. I just want to review what you've already collected and see if I can make any other connections."
"What in particular has piqued your interest?" She knew he didn't mean it to sound accusatory, but it did hold some dissatisfaction.
"I don't want to kill any more people than I have to," Edelgard said honestly. "As it stands now, Dimitri seems to think I'm tied to the Tragedy of Duscur—if I could fully determine why he feels so strongly, I might be able to find a different solution."
Hubert started to speak, but she cut him off with a reasonable guess on how he would respond.
"'You should focus your efforts on matters within the Empire, before you look towards examining an opposing ruler's mental state.'"
The impersonation got a small chuckle out of Monica and a frown out of Hubert. He waited another moment before continuing on as intended.
"You acknowledge it, at least," he reasoned. "That can be enough for now, just keep in mind that you cannot save everyone. Could you still kill him, if it came to it?"
"If that was the best or only option, yes," Edelgard replied. "That would go for nearly every enemy. But I want to hold out a bit of hope—just this once."
Hubert seemed satisfied with the answer, and after another moment a different report came from the mercenaries. They were ready to leave, and Edelgard gave them permission.
The main army stayed until Count Bergliez's troops came, afterwards they switched positions—Edelgard and her army went to Enbarr, while Count Bergliez held on to Arianrhod. News came, every now and then, of the Kingdom attempting to retake the fortress. The soldiers kept there never had any trouble, and reports stopped.
For now, Edelgard let her army rest. Negotiations with some of the Kingdom's lords began near the end of the month, and they would move out whenever exact loyalties would made clear. She preferred to be cautious and slow than make any kind of mistake—it was still early in the war.
—
"Boar."
Dimitri looked up from his work, surprised by who stood at the door.
"Felix? I only just got word that we lost Arianrhod. I assumed you would be another few days. Was it bad enough for Rodrigue to send you ahead?"
Felix already seemed to be out of patience. "The man here as well. I'm just here to give the full report."
"Go ahead, then," Dimitri offered. His attempt at kindness just made Felix frown, but there wasn't any difference in his tone.
"Initially, we were only facing small attacks from Count Rowe's knights," Felix explained. "There might have been some members of the Western Church as well, but they were never identified; Rowe's forced were led by one of his knights. They continued to give small attacks on the outer walls, but they didn't make any progress. Edelgard's army arrived after a few days from the east. As far as I can tell, no one interfered on their march there."
"And the battle itself?" Dimitri asked.
"I'm getting there, boar." Felix replied sharply, not quiet sighing but it was more than just a frown. "They stayed outside for a few days before attacking. After a few hours of fighting outside the gates, I went with some others to try to send them off. My whole group fell back, and the gates were opened. Roughly two hours later, Cornelia approached me and my father. She said that she would 'save us' from the results of the battle, claiming Arianrhod was as good as lost as soon as she came there. My father and I, along with about a third of the troops, were…sent away somehow, roughly halfway across Faerghus."
They took over his own thoughts for a moment. "Cornelia isn't with you, then?"
"She disappeared at the end of the battle. Considering she was seen talking with Edelgard, I assume Cornelia joined her."
There it was, then. He wouldn't have thought anything more about it if he hadn't seen Edelgard's papers, but there was proof. Somehow, Cornelia was involved in the Tragedy of Duscur—he couldn't imagine that Edelgard herself didn't know. If Cornelia went with Edelgard, then they were working together; Edelgard still must have known.
Dimitri didn't think the revelation did much, but apparently his expression changed. Felix gave up a disapproving, almost disgusted look.
"My father's coming up with a complete loss report. Go find him when you want it."
He left in that next second, leaving Dimitri alone with his work. He tried to focus on the papers in front of him, but eventually left to speak with Rodrigue.
