A bit of exposition, a bit of an experiment in storytelling, and an alteration in Dorothea's A-Support with Ferdinand. I probably messed up somewhere.

Chapter 42 – Trust Issues (Lone Moon)

Caspar yawned as he stretched his arms, wishing he was back in bed. It was his turn to take night watch on the western side of the monastery, though, and he had to do his part along with Cyril. Looking out at the night sky, he was glad that he could at least enjoy the view of the stars.

As he looked out into the night, he heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Brigitte walking toward him.

"Enjoying the view?" asked Brigitte. "Nice night for a little stargazing."

"Brigitte, what are you doing here?" asked Caspar.

"Aren't you supposed to be on the east watch tonight?" asked Cyril.

"I was… until I found out I was gonna be paired with Yuri. If one of you wants to go with him, go right ahead."

"Yuri? Why's that a problem?" asked Caspar.

"Because he's a no-good louse, that's why. I'm willing to do my bit for this place, but I'm not doing anything alongside that jerk."

"Hey, Yuri's not such a bad guy," said Cyril. "Sure, he's leading a gang of thieves, but he's really helpful."

"Oh, is that what you think? That his 'good intentions' mean he's alright? You're not the first person to think that. I've known a lot of good people who trusted him, and it got them killed!"

Caspar, surprised at such an accusation, asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"You don't need to know."

"That's not what I wanna hear, Brigitte. Yuri's a friend and he doesn't deserve you badmouthing him like that."

Brigitte sighed in frustration, seeing that Caspar wasn't going to let the matter go.

"Fine, you wanna know why I hate him?"

…

Byleth knew something was wrong when she arrived at Yuri's post. Brigitte was supposed to be with him, but she was absent.

The Archbishop then recalled hearing Ferdinand and Leonie discussing something about the opera matron earlier, about how she had been disrespectful to Yuri when he was burying Gwendel. Asking the two cavaliers hadn't gotten Byleth any clear answers. She knew she was going to have to talk to the lavender rogue herself.

"Ah, Lady Eisner," Yuri said upon noticing her. "Nice night, isn't it? Hapi knew a lot about stars. Really wish she was here."

"Yuri, where is Brigitte?" asked Byleth. "She was supposed to be on night watch with you."

"Ah, that. Brigitte didn't want to work with me, so she went over to the west wall. I figure she'll send either Cyril or Caspar over to take her place."

"And why is she refusing to work with you?"

"That's between her and I."

"That's what you said to Leonie and Ferdinand in Ailell."

"So, you spoke to them about it?"

"And to Bernadetta. They're worried about how Brigitte is hostile to you."

"Look, I get that you're concerned, Lady Eisner, but please don't get involved. Brigitte's got every right to hate me."

"I won't accept that, Yuri. I can't afford to have you two at each other's throats when we're in the middle of a war."

Yuri sighed and said, "Should've guessed you weren't gonna let this go. Alright, I'll explain it to you."

…

"I had an older brother once," Brigitte said to Caspar and Cyril. "His name was Julius." With a wistful smile, she continued, "Everyone in the slums loved him. He was strong, brave, and always looking out for the little guy. He was a hero… until that bastard Yuri got him killed."

"Tell us how," said Caspar.

…

Byleth listened to Yuri's account of the story as he said, "Back in Enbarr, there's a kind of community bank in the slums. People who really need the money can take a loan out on it, but eventually they have to pay it back. For a time, my rogues and I were the ones who would go and collect if someone didn't pay off their loan on time. Never had to kill anyone doing it, but sometimes you had to be a bit rough with people. One day in '73, the bank got robbed by a group I'm sure you're familiar with."

…

"They call themselves the Black Scorpions," said Brigitte. "Real nasty guys. They robbed that bank just to make the people in the slums suffer. Don't suppose either of you have run into them before?"

"I have," said Caspar. "They each have a scorpion tattoo on their arm, right?" Brigitte nodded, so Caspar said, "I had a run in with one of them when he tried to hurt a group of kids when I was still a cadet. But… the knights were trying to get information out of him, and he took his own life when I confronted him."

"Sounds like them. Bunch of crazy sons of bitches."

…

Yuri continued, "When I learned about the robbery, I put together a posse to go after the Scorpions and get back what they stole. Julius came with us."

"What happened?" asked Byleth.

"It was a set-up. The Scorpions were trying to lure me and my gang out and I fell for it. They wanted to get rid of us so they could take over the bank's protection racket." Sighing, Yuri said shamefully, "What a shitshow that was…"

…

"Yuri got a lot of good people killed that day because he wanted to play the hero," Brigitte said scornfully. "Including my brother. Julius wouldn't have died that day if Yuri hadn't been a fucking idiot!"

Caspar and Cyril were at a loss for what to say to Brigitte, who was clenching her hands so tightly she would've drawn blood if not for her gloves.

"So, you want my advice?" Brigitte said after a moment to cool down. "Don't go along with any of that jackass's schemes if you wanna stay alive."

Brigitte strode away from the two and took a spot nearby on the wall, looking out into the darkness.

…

"I lost a lot of good friends that day," Yuri said to Byleth. "Including Julius. He died covering our retreat. The Scorpions' leader got him. Julius put up a fight, but it wasn't enough. I tried to save him, but… there was nothing I could do."

"And Brigitte blames you for Julius's death?" asked Byleth. "Does she know you tried to save him?"

"Yeah, she does. But, in her mind, it doesn't matter if Julius died doing what he thought was right. All that matters to her is that he died, leaving her alone. The two were orphans. Lost their parents to a murder. And because I was careless, Brigitte lost her only remaining family. I'm an only child, so I can't imagine what that feels like."

"Yuri…"

"So, that's the story. If Brigitte doesn't want anything to do with me, I can't blame her. It's better this way." Yuri looked back at Byleth and, seeing the protest in her eyes, said, "I know you don't like it, but she's hated me for almost thirteen years now. I doubt anything will change that."

…

The following day…

Dorothea stood in the cathedral, looking up at the broken altar dedicated to the goddess. She wasn't praying with the other worshippers, who knelt before the altar with their hands clasped.

As the worshippers eventually left, her mood soured when she heard Ferdinand say, "Ah, Dorothea. I am surprised to find you here. I did not think you were all that religious."

The diva, who hadn't gotten a good sleep the night before, turned and said crossly, "There's a lot you don't know, Ferdie. But you're right. I'd hardly call myself devout. After all, it was thanks to the goddess and her noble regime that I suffered so much as a child."

"You must be quite brave to speak so coarsely in this hallowed place. But what do you mean… about suffering as a child?"

Scowling, Dorothea asked, "Do I really have to tell you? Oh, forget it. You already know that I'm an orphan. I grew up in the alleys of Enbarr, begging for coins, eating scraps, drinking from drains."

"I see. I remember seeing street children around the city…"

"I could've died. Then Manuela overheard me singing… And suddenly I was in the opera. I was a songstress. And my goodness… did the nobles like me. The people who used to spit on me and call me an urchin? They praised my voice and my beauty. A nobleman who had once kicked me… gave me the most gorgeous shoes. I almost asked if it was a joke. And of course, I could go on for hours about how many different men wanted to kidnap or rape me, knowing they could get away with it because they were nobles. Even my own father, Lord Eadwald, told me he wanted me to give him a Crest baby… and he knew I was his daughter."

"So that is why you despise nobility. But why do you think I am the same as them? Do you really believe that is the kind of man I am? Do you think I would ever treat people differently based on appearances? There is nothing noble about that!"

Ferdinand's claim struck something in Dorothea, for she spun around and spat at him, "Don't give me that crap, Ferdinand von Aegir! You really think you and your family are something different? That's not how I remember things! It was the very day that I was discovered… I was in high spirits. Nothing was wrong in the world. I secretly bathed in one of Enbarr's fountains, hoping to wash off some of the dirt from the streets. I sang the same song Manuela overheard earlier that day." She paused for a moment, then glared at Ferdinand and said venomously, "And that's when you appeared."

"Me?! No… It could not have been…"

"Don't play dumb! You glared at me, the same look I'd gotten from every other noble. Then you ran off. When we met at the academy, you were a different person. All smiles and friendly words. You were like a bee, Ferdinand. A bee attracted to a flower in full bloom!"

Realization struck Ferdinand as he said, "So, it was you then, singing that song… Dorothea please listen. This is a misunderstanding. When I saw you… I could not take my eyes off you. I was hypnotized. Your beautiful voice, your elegant face… droplets of water on your skin that glittered in the sun. I thought you were a water nymph."

For a moment, Dorothea's anger toward Ferdinand wavered. But, upon seeing Ferdinand's face soften in relief, she said angrily, "Don't lie to me! It's what you Aegir's do! You're lying to me about what happened then! Just like how your father lied to everyone about what happened to House Temper!"

"House Temper? House Temper was massacred by bandits."

"They were murdered by soldiers sent by your damn father, Ludwig von Aegir! They butchered everyone there, including Rosa's newborn baby! Your father and his thugs ruined her life, and she killed herself in grief shortly after she came back to us!"

"Rosa? Who is–"

"She was one of the greatest singers I've ever known! I looked up to her, and your family took her away from me!"

"Dorothea, please listen."

"No, Ferdie! I'm done speaking to you, so just… just get out of my sight, you damn bee!"

Dorothea stormed away from Ferdinand and left the cathedral, with the noble at a loss for what to do.

…

Yuri watched as Dorothea stormed across the bridge from the cathedral. He had only heard her shouts echoing across the ravine, without knowing what she had said. As she entered the building, Yuri wisely chose not to speak to her as she walked past.

Alicia, on the other hand, looked at Dorothea and asked, "Dorothea, are you okay?"

Dorothea did not answer, still too riled up by her talk with Ferdinand. She stormed past Alicia, who watched in confusion.

"What's gotten into her?" Alicia said to herself. Then, seeing Yuri, she asked, "Yuri, did you see what happened to Dorothea?"

"I didn't see it, but I think she was having a fight with Ferdinand," Yuri answered. "Dunno what it's about."

"Oh."

"Anyhow, I've gotta get back down to Abyss. There's some stuff I've been meaning to get sorted."

Yuri was about to leave when Alicia said, "Wait. Yuri? Can I ask you something?" Yuri stopped and turned to her, so Alicia said, "I need a favor from you."

"A favor? Pretty sure Brigitte wouldn't like that."

"Brigitte doesn't know about this. Listen, I need your help."

"What's this about?"

"It's about Ashe."

…

Ashe heard Yuri and Alicia's footsteps that afternoon as they entered the dungeon. Ashe heard Yuri whispering to the two Abyssian guards but could not make out what they said.

A minute later, Yuri and Alicia both walked up to Ashe's cell. He saw Yuri reach into his cloak for something.

"I take it this isn't a social visit," Ashe said to the rogue.

Yuri did not answer. Instead, to Ashe's surprise, he produced a key from his cloak and inserted it into the lock of his cell. The lock clicked, and Ashe watched in confusion as Yuri opened the cell door.

"Get up," Yuri said to Ashe.

Warily, Ashe rose to his feet, though his wrists were still in shackles. Then, as if to further his confusion, Yuri unlocked Ashe's shackles.

"What are you doing?" asked Ashe.

"We need your help, Ashe," said Alicia.

"What could you possibly need me for?"

Alicia paused for a second, thinking of what to say to the young heir of Castle Gaspard.

…

Byleth knew something was amiss when Cyril came running up to her with an alarmed expression. The Archbishop, Anna and Brigitte were in the middle of trying to calm down Dorothea, having learned of the fight she'd had with Ferdinand.

"Lady Eisner! Lady Eisner!" said Cyril. "It's Ashe! He's gone!"

"Gone? What do you mean 'gone'?!" asked Brigitte.

"Someone let him out of his cell! The guards aren't there either."

Byleth was about to give Cyril orders when Leonie ran up and said, "Hey, I just saw Yuri and Alicia heading out west with a bunch of Yuri's rogues. Anybody know what that's about?"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Brigitte said in alarm.

As if to add to the confusion, Shamir came running up to Byleth and said, "Lady Eisner, Yuri left this note for you down in Abyss."

Byleth quickly snatched the note and opened it.

Dorothea, whose prior frustration toward Ferdinand had given way to concern, read the hastily made note aloud. "Heading out west for a few days. Will return soon. Bringing company. Yuri."

"What the hell is he up to now? And bringing Alicia with him?" Brigitte said angrily. "Prof, we gotta go after them!"

"The roads west of the monastery are still crawling with Dire Wolves," said Shamir. "We've only just started trying to clear them out."

"What would Yuri be doing heading west? That's Dukedom territory," said Anna.

Something clicked in Byleth's head at hearing all this.

"They're heading to Castle Gaspard."

"You sure, By?" asked Anna.

"Ashe must be with them. Shamir, gather up a force of five hundred men and meet me at the main entrance in an hour."

"Right away," said the spymaster as she and Cyril rushed out to spread the word.

"Five hundred?" asked Anna.

"We may have a fight on our hands," said Byleth. "Best to be prepared."

"Why would they be taking Ashe back to Castle Gaspard?" asked Dorothea.

"Weren't we going to be ransoming him back to them?" asked Leonie.

"No, that wasn't the plan," said Anna. "We were still coming to a decision on what to do with him. But why would Yuri just go off like this without telling us?"

"I intend to find out," said Byleth. "Let's get ready to move out. Leonie, see if anyone else is willing to join us."

"Got it," Leonie said as she rushed off to find the others.

This was something I've been building up to for a bit, but I didn't want to bring in the explanation for why Brigitte hates Yuri too early. We'll be getting it resolved as we go, but for now we need to get along to our first post-timeskip Paralogue. How did you like the way I shifted between Brigitte and Yuri telling the story of what happened to Julius?

I also have to ask how well I handled the Dorothea/Ferdinand A-Support. I intentionally deviated from it, with Dorothea thinking Ferdie is lying to her about how he acted in their first encounter. She's jumping to conclusions not just because she's assuming the worst about Ferdinand, but also because of how Ferdie's father was responsible for Rosa's suicide. This deviation is needed for something else I'm planning in the future. Of course, I'm probably being heavy-handed again.

Anyhow, see you on Monday.