Chapter 8 – Teacher Escort

Once word of Rhea stepping down spread far and wide, there was naturally concern that followed, even some uproar. How could the Archbishop leave the people during this critical juncture? What qualifications did this newcomer have? She was talented on the field, but how could that translate to church leadership?

And so on and so forth over the months. Felix was privy to many of the complaints himself. As the "Shield of Faerghus," he fended off many who sought an audience with Dimitri and Byleth, easing the burden from both of them as they focused on uniting Fodlan and the relief efforts from the war.

Unfortunately, this left him little time for the matters that really concerned him. Chiefly the attack on his family home.

Once he arrived at Garreg Mach a week after the attack, he immediately met with Dimitri and Byleth about the matter. "This news is very troubling to hear," Dimitri said. "Thank the goddess everyone is safe. Where is your brother now?"

"He's watching the manor while I'm here. Sylvain and Ingrid promised to check in on him once they've seen their own families. What about the 'goddess' children'?" He looked to Byleth, but she seemed as lost as he was. Further interrogations before he left the manor yielded no results. Whatever the mysterious assailant meant, he kept it close to his chest.

Dimitri folded his hands and rested his chin atop them. "The church often refers to the people of Fodlan as children of the goddess. Could that be it?"

"What would their plan be though? And why would it involve you?"

Dimitri simply shrugged, offering no answers. Byleth turned to Felix. "I'm also concerned about the other thing they said. 'Continuing the war.' Could this person have been an Adrestian Empire expatriate? A sympathizer?"

"I don't think so. He didn't seem like it," Felix said. "But I can't say for sure."

Her brows knitted together. "He was by himself, no one else?" Felix nodded. "Then how could he possibly offer them all of Fraldarius? There's no other major army around here, is there?"

Dimitri shook his head. "No, none that I've heard of."

"A rebel army raised during the war?"

"If so, why wait to attack us now instead of when we were focused on Enbarr?" He sighed and slumped in his chair, pursing his lips in thought. "This feels like something else. Another faction operating on their own. Not quite Adrestia, not some rebels, yet someone who can sneak in behind us and almost usurp noble land." He opened his arms. "I'm afraid we don't have enough information to determine what's happening yet.

"Maybe there's something in the church's records or archives about the 'goddess' children'," Byleth said. "I'll talk with Rhea about it as well."

"And I'll send out some of my men, see if they can learn anything about this unknown assassin and who he may be working with. In the meantime, we'll make sure your family is safe," Dimitri said. "I'll lend you a detachment of soldiers to guard your manor."

He nodded. "Thank you."

The conversation gradually wound down and Byleth soon left the private room to attend to her duties. Felix and Dimitri decided to leave as well for the mess hall. "It seems I missed the crowds," Felix said as they traveled the halls. There were plenty of signs of previous occupants in rooms they passed, including used beds and trash from celebrations here and there. Not to mention a liberal amount of empty wine and alcohol bottles gently rolling around.

"Yes, there was quite a turn-out," Dimitri said. "A shame all of our class couldn't be back together for it."

Felix hummed in agreement. Aside from his family's safety, he also had a burning desire to get here quickly and see Annette. He had stressed in his letter to wait for him here and that he would explain everything. Once he arrived, he'd kept a steady eye out for her, but hadn't seen her so far. He wondered if she had even received his letter.

Or worse, he thought. Maybe she did receive it and refused to stay. Could she be that upset at him? He almost heard Sylvain and Ingrid in his ears, chastising him once more.

"She's not here," Dimitri said.

He blinked in surprise and glanced up at him. "What? Who?"

Dimitri produced a scroll from his robes. Felix's scroll, complete with his house's wax seal on it. "Who indeed?"

He growled and snatched the letter from him, holding it threateningly under Dimitri's nose. "What are you doing with this?" He had half a mind to draw his sword then and there, royalty or not.

"Easy, Felix. I didn't read it, see?" He pointed out the intact seal on the scroll. "I wouldn't dream of invading your privacy like that. But your messenger came asking after Annette and where she had gone. I told him she headed home and that if he wanted to leave the letter with me, I would take care of it."

Felix examined the seal closely, confirming that he indeed hadn't read it. Small blessings, he supposed, tucking the letter away in his cloak. "I see." He cleared his throat. "Thank you then."

"Ah, hearing that from you is worth more than whatever is written in your letter," Dimitri laughed, clapping him on the back. Felix stumbled forward and righted himself quickly. The king still didn't often realize his own strength. He felt sorry for anyone who had to interact with him on a daily basis. But considering the mountain that was Dedue and the stalwart professor herself, he was sure they could both withstand it.

As they entered the mess hall and sat at one of the tables with their food, Felix had the sickening sensation he hadn't heard the end of the letter. Which proved all too true shortly into the meal.

"If I may," Dimitri began.

"I really wish you wouldn't," Felix said, cutting him off.

"I was only going to-"

"No."

"Say that I hope-"

"Enough."

"You can reconcile-"

"You're testing my patience."

"And that she accepts your apology," Dimitri quickly finished.

Felix chewed on his cheek for a moment and pointed his fork at him. "Who's to say there's an apology in that letter?"

Now Dimitri fixed him with a penetrating, soul-gazing stare that left him uncomfortable to be on the receiving end of. "I was there," he said. "Shortly after you left, she came to my tent asking about you. She broke down in the professor's lap when I told her what happened and gave her your message."

More than the hard look, that shook Felix's bones worse. To know that he had affected Annette so much and hurt her. His fork clattered on his plate and he dug his hands into his hair. Damn. The image of her weeping and heartbroken, all because of him and his stupid mouth. Damn it all.

"I wasn't trying to hurt her," he mumbled to himself.

Dimitri caught it. "I know. And deep down, Annette probably knows too. Which is why I'm confident that once she sees the apology, you two will be back together."

He appreciated that, not that he would dare mention it aloud to Dimitri. "Let's change the topic, shall we?"

"Yes, there's actually some things I've been meaning to discuss with you. About rebuilding Fodlan and how we should move forward."

Over the next several months, Felix had little time to even dwell on his problem with Annette. Dimitri kept him extremely busy, requesting his presence on diplomatic journeys. Felix met with numerous representatives of the former Adrestian Empire and Leicester Alliance,as well as Almyra, Dagda, Brigid, and Duscar. He couldn't keep track of everyone and frequently fantasized that he was back on the battlefield, cutting through swaths of enemies instead.

Even worse was when Dimitri delegated these diplomatic tasks to him, sending Felix as an emissary to all the corners of Fodlan. This isn't exactly what I had in mind as the 'Shield of Fareghus', he thought bitterly and wondered if his own father suffered this same fate under Lambert.

When he wasn't on some far-off mission, his time was split between managing his own lands and attending Dimitri's court for matters on infrastructure, treaties, military affairs, and trade. Byleth frequently attended too and had the same answer for Felix every time he pulled her aside. "I haven't found anything in the church records yet."

"And Rhea?"

"Seteth says she's recovering, but I'm certain she's hiding something."

If Felix didn't know any better, he would suspect that Dimitri was keeping his mind occupied and off of Annette. Little good it did him. He frequently tried to contact her, sending letters with explicit instructions to place them in Annette's hands and be very discreet. And every time, the messengers returned, scroll in hand with the same response. "She wasn't home, m'lord."

He opted to ask Gustave about it instead. After Dimitri's court concluded its business one afternoon, he confronted the knight outside. "Gustave, a moment?"

"Yes, Lord Rodrigue?"

Felix still wasn't entirely used to the title and it made him squirm. He couldn't be too direct about this. He had to bring it up casually. "I haven't had a chance to ask you. How have things been since you returned home?"

"Very well, thank you. It was wonderful to see my family again."

"That's good." He smiled. Too wide, making more of a distressed grimace. "No trouble settling back in then?"

"No, not at all. But," he cocked an eyebrow, "are you feeling alright? You seem ill."

The smile strained his cheeks. "Yes, fine. And how's your house? Your family is doing well too." He was bursting to be direct. How do people manage to make small talk? This is agonizing.

"Yes, everyone is well." He paused and a knowing look appeared in his eyes. "If you're wondering about my daughter though, she's not home."

Thank the goddess. He could drop the act. "Oh, is she traveling?"

"Yes, although she asked us not to disclose where to."

There was a tone in his voice that seemed to indicate that Annette may have mentioned Felix in that request, but he couldn't be sure. Gustave didn't seem to harbor any ill feelings for him, so Annette may have kept the whole affair to herself. Then again, the man was as stoic as Dedue and had dutifully born his penance for years. Hiding any disdain for Felix would be easy in comparison.

"Well, give her my best," Felix said, quickly exiting the castle.

As the months passed, he considered traveling to Dominic and trying to catch her at home. The idea was she had to visit her parents sometime. As he dwelled on it though, it became less attractive to him. Arriving unannounced would be rude and trying to track her like that would border on stalking. Besides, he hardly had time to visit his own lands, what with Dimitri needing him more and more.

So it was that in the middle of the Wyvern Moon, he found himself at yet another court, surrounded by familiar and new faces. He picked out Ashe among the attendants, having volunteered to act as one of the two representatives for Brigid, alongside their Queen Petra. It was strange seeing Ashe in Brigid garb, far from the knightly armor he oft admired in his youth. But it actually suited him to some degree.

On Ashe's other side, Marianne and Lorenz, filling in for Claude this month. She had grown ever more adept into her leadership role thanks to her adoptive father's teaching, speaking more often than she used to. Although there were still times where she preferred to remain silent, in which case Lorenz was happy as ever to fill the chambers with hot air to battle the autumn chill whistling through the halls.

Felix wasn't sure if Lorenz or Ferdinand on his side was worse. Both seemed full of themselves and loved to talk, often putting Lindhardt to sleep and setting Caspar on edge, who noisily drummed his fingers and tapped his feet hard enough to vibrate Felix's seat beside him.

As Dimitri wound down the meeting with another lengthy recap, across the table from Felix, Sylvain and Ingrid had their heads bowed in private discussion. Not for admonishment, as Ingrid actually seemed pleased to speak with him for a change. And Sylvain himself possessed none of that flirtatious scoundrel about him. He sported a genuine smile reserved solely for Ingrid, not any other ladies in the meeting. They both were happy and bright, as if encased in a budding glow.

It irked Felix to no end.

When Dimitri concluded, he turned to each side of the round table. "Thank you all for coming. Until our next meeting."

Felix pushed away from the table, glad to be free. He had the sudden urge to practice in the courtyard. He was almost out the door before Dimitri waylaid him. "Felix, a moment, if you please."

They waited until the rest had left and Felix plopped back down into his seat. "I had a question for you. About the monastery reopening."

He kept his face neutral racked his brain. We discussed the monastery? He'd zoned out shortly into the meeting, but he wasn't about to admit that. "Yes, what about it?"

"Well, as I mentioned, we need volunteers. And if it's not too much of an imposition, I wondered if I might count on you?"

Count on me for what? To teach? To guard the school? And since when had Dimitri cared about adding to his burdens already? He thought about just outright refusing the request, whatever it was, but something tugged at him that Dimitri wouldn't ask him if he didn't absolutely need his help.

"I suppose," he said and decided to feel out what exactly he had to do. "When did you say it's reopening?"

"Two weeks. That's the plan anyway. My wife promised to have everything ready, and Hanneman and Manuela are already on the way. If you can escort our new teacher, then we'll be in good shape."

Great, babysitting. "Very well."

"In fact, she should be here by now. Why don't we go check?"

Something didn't seem right. Dimitri appeared far too upbeat, with a giddy smile and twinkling eye that usually only showed around Byleth. "So, what area is this professor going to teach?"

Dimitri looked at him curiously. "Magic. I thought that would be obvious."

Why would that be obvious? He didn't have a chance to guess. Dimitri strode into the entrance hall with him, where waiting on a bench, in a white-trimmed blue gown, sat the redhead girl that had occupied all his thoughts for the many months since he last saw her.

His breathing hitched and a lump swelled in his throat. "Annette."