As I said before, I definitely messed this up somewhere.

Chapter 70 – Prejudice (Lone Moon)

Pain was the first thing Dorothea felt when she slowly started to regain consciousness. The memory of the Manticore's attack sprung into her mind as she realized the beast must have hit her and Byleth hard. But while she felt bruised at the very least, nothing felt broken or seriously injured.

Slowly, the brunette opened her eyes to see it was almost dusk. She could no longer hear the signs of battle, which had given way to moans and cries of agony from the wounded. She pushed herself up while holding a hand to her forehead, which was in slight pain.

At least she didn't have a concussion, she thought to herself.

Looking around, Dorothea saw the Church's warriors setting up defensive positions on the bridge and tending to hundreds of wounded soldiers. Nearby, she spotted Imperial and House Gloucester prisoners under the watch of forty of House Daphnel's soldiers.

Relief washed through her as she realized the battle had been won.

As she got to her feet, Dorothea heard Alicia say, "Dorothea, are you okay?" as the Pegasus Knight walked over to her.

"I'm alright," Dorothea replied. "Just a bruise, I think."

Dorothea was about to ask where Byleth was when she saw Lana propped up against a crate, with Cia doting on her twin sister with a look of fear and relief on her face. Dorothea then remembered what had happened to Lana during the battle.

Walking over to the twins, Dorothea asked "Lana, are you okay?"

"Just a little dizzy," Lana said woozily.

"Lana, please don't scare me like that again," said Cia.

"I'm fine, Cia. No need to worry."

"That isn't reassuring, Lana."

"Hey, do either of you know where Byleth is?" asked Dorothea.

"Somewhere that way," said Cia. "She was having a chat with Lorenz, I think."

"Wait, WHAT?!"

Before any of the other divas could respond, Dorothea spun on her heel and stormed off angrily. Alicia, concerned over what her friend might do, followed her.

It did not take long for Dorothea to find Byleth, who was conversing with Anna, Judith, Seteth, and Leonie.

And to her outrage, she saw the man responsible for harming Lana during the battle.

"What is HE doing here?!" Dorothea shouted, drawing the attention of almost everyone within earshot of her.

Lorenz turned to her and said, "Dorothea–"

Without waiting for Lorenz to explain, Dorothea said angrily, "Why are you listening to anything this snake has to say?!"

"Dorothea, calm down for a second!" said Anna.

"Calm down?! He tried to kill Lana! He was fighting alongside the Imperials! He should be chained up along with the rest of them!"

"Dorothea, he's trying to help us," said Leonie.

"Oh, yeah right! 'Help' us? He's just telling you what you want to hear for his own benefit!"

Byleth was about to speak up when Lorenz said, "That could not be further from the truth, Dorothea. My actions in today's battle were for the purpose of protecting those in my family's territory from Imperial retribution. Had we not taken their side, the Empire would have ensured that my people would have suffered."

"I don't believe you! You're just making that up!"

"It is the truth, Dorothea! Please–"

"SHUT UP! I don't want to hear another word out of you, Lorenz! You helped the Empire and that's that! You don't deserve to be shown mercy!"

"Dorothea, stop it!" shouted Alicia.

"Stay out of this, Ali–"

Dorothea's tirade was interrupted as she spun around just in time for Alicia to slap her in the cheek.

As Dorothea held a hand to her stinging face, Alicia said angrily, "Are you listening to yourself?! You're condemning Lorenz for wanting to protect his people, but didn't you show mercy to Ashe back in Ailell?! Lorenz fought for the same reason as Ashe, but you're not willing to give Lorenz a chance?! What the hell, Dorothea?! Is this just because Lorenz is a born noble and Ashe isn't?!"

Dorothea's eyes widened in shock. "I… I…"

The diva was at a loss for words as she looked around, seeing dozens of people giving her strange glances. Yet it was clear to her what they all thought: they felt she was in the wrong.

"I know you've got a problem with nobles, Dorothea, but that doesn't mean you get to treat Lorenz like he's less than dirt!" Alicia continued.

Dorothea could not respond to Alicia's words, which were shaking her to her core. She looked around, watching as more and more sets of eyes centered their judgmental gaze on her.

It was more than she could take.

Byleth watched as Dorothea ran off.

"Hey, wait! Get back here, Dorothea!" said Alicia.

"Let her go," said Judith.

"But…"

Byleth then said, "I'll speak to her, Alicia. Right now, we need to focus on setting up our defenses and getting in contact with Count Gloucester."

Alicia relented to Byleth's words, though both women could not help being concerned for Dorothea.

…

Dorothea didn't know why she was so out of breath. She had barely run a few hundred meters away and it felt like she had run a thousand times further.

As she leaned against one of the still standing pillars of the barracks, Dorothea could not get Alicia's words out of her head. Instinctively, she tried to deny that Alicia was right. She didn't know what she was saying, right? They couldn't trust Lorenz. He had always been looking out for his own status as a noble back during their academy days.

It did not take long for Dorothea to realize she was lying to herself. Lorenz wasn't like that. He might have been a bit pompous and arrogant at times, but he wasn't self-centered. He did care for others.

But still, he was a blue blood. He was of noble birth.

Memories of other nobles in Enbarr filled her thoughts. As a child on the streets, they would kick her, spit on her, or even attempt to kill her if it suited them. As a diva, they would shower her with disingenuous praise, or try to take her to satisfy their lust. Men like her father, Lord Eadwald, who saw her only as a pretty face or a pawn to use in their schemes.

She hated them. She could not stand them. They were all cruel, arrogant, and undeserving of their titles. They were obsessed with their own power and with having heirs with Crests. Lorenz's family was no different, nor was Lorenz himself. He was always trying to woo women at the academy, but only gave them the time of day if he felt they could be a suitable partner.

Dorothea continued past the barracks as these negative thoughts ate away at her. Upon reaching the other side, she stopped upon seeing the rows of wounded soldiers spread across the bridge. There were more than she had initially realized. Over 250 wounded men and women were strewn across the Great Bridge of Myrddin, with many begging for succor or the presence of their loved ones.

Slowly she walked along the rows of wounded, looking over the Knights and soldiers to see who needed aid the most. Among the wounded were men and women of many different backgrounds. Peasants, vassals, and even minor nobles. Yet their standing meant nothing as they equally suffered from the horrors of war.

And then, to her shock, she saw a familiar orange-haired face among the wounded.

It was Ferdinand.

"Ferdie…?"

Ferdinand struggled to breathe as a Church cleric attempted to bandage his wounds. His chest had three long, deep cuts running along it. His arm sported more lacerations. He was soaked in his own blood and sweat.

The sight of him in such a dire state left Dorothea staring at him in horror.

"Ferdie…! What happened to you?!" Dorothea said as she moved toward him.

But as she moved to see his wounds, she felt someone grab her right arm.

Dorothea turned around as Constance, who stood hidden from sunlight, said, "What happened was a result of your negligence, Arnault!"

"Constance? W-What are you–"

Angrily, Constance interrupted, "I was beside him until the Empire's Wyverns assailed us. Just moments before, he beseeched you for your aid. And though you heard his request, you repudiated his plea! Your refusal allowed one of the Empire's Wyverns to seize the chance to inflict these grievous wounds upon him!"

"B-But what about you? Weren't you with him?"

"I could not aid him, for two other Wyverns forced me away from his side! But you were in no such peril and yet you did not help him nor the others we lost! Their blood may be on the hands of the Imperials, yet you are equally guilty in doing nothing to prevent it!"

Dorothea was speechless. Each word from Constance stabbed her like a blade of ice to her heart.

She looked down at Ferdinand, who let out another groan of pain.

"B-But he's… he didn't need my…"

"Do not attempt to absolve yourself of responsibility, Arnault!" Constance shouted. "You heard his request, and what was your reply?! 'Typical Ferdie!' Those were your exact words! You denied his request solely on your unjust enmity toward him, when he has been naught but fair and sincere to you!"

Tears began to well up in the brunette's green eyes as she realized Constance was right. Memories of Ferdinand when the two were still cadets flashed before her eyes, each one with him being kind, honest, and respectful to her. And in so many of those memories, she saw herself repaying his nobility with scorn.

As these memories began to overwhelm her, the pressure from Constance's grip on her felt unbearable. She wasn't gripping Dorothea very hard, but the diva felt as though her very soul was being crushed.

"Let go…!" Dorothea said as a horrific memory of her childhood took root in her mind, one of a cruel nobleman trying to drag her away.

"I am far from finished with you, Arnault!" said Constance.

Another memory flashed into her mind, this time of her half-brother, Clovis von Eadwald, intending to rape her.

"Stop…!"

"I will not!"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Dorothea wrested her arm free of Constance's grip and instinctively shoved the blonde, sending her toppling to the ground.

As the diva began gasping loudly in panic, Constance looked at Dorothea with unease. She had never seen the brunette so distraught before.

Dorothea struggled to breathe as she looked around, seeing dozens of people watching her with looks of confusion. Each of their stares made her mind flash back to the many nobles who would glare lecherously at her when she was in the opera.

But as she turned, Dorothea's eyes went wide with utter horror as she saw her approaching.

It was the first noble she had ever truly trusted.

Her white hair and purple eyes were unmistakable.

"Dorothea," said Edelgard.

Hearing her name, Dorothea blinked as she made another gasp of horror.

Edelgard was gone.

No… she had never been there to begin with.

Standing in her place was Byleth, who was looking at Dorothea with worry.

It was more than the diva could take.

Dorothea broke into a run, whimpering in fright as she fled.

"Dorothea, wait!" Byleth shouted, but the brunette did not listen.

Byleth immediately gave chase as the others watched in astonishment.

…

Dorothea reached a small forest near the Great Bridge of Myrddin before her legs finally gave out beneath her. She tripped and crashed to the forest floor.

Pain wracked her body as she wept loudly. She could barely think, but she no longer had the strength to run.

"Dorothea!" Byleth shouted as she caught up to the diva.

"Leave me alone!" Dorothea said in a choked gasp. "Please!"

"Dorothea, please… I'm not here to hurt you."

Dorothea couldn't find anything to say as she kept on crying.

Walking slowly to Dorothea's side, Byleth extended a hand to her.

"Dorothea, it's okay. I'm–"

"No…" Dorothea interrupted. Byleth paused as the diva said, "No, it's not. It's not… They're right. They're all right. Ferdie… it's my fault that he's…"

"Dorothea, please, take a deep breath."

With her mind so distraught, Dorothea obeyed Byleth's request.

"Good. Now, look at me."

Dorothea gazed into Byleth's green eyes through her tears.

"Listen. Ferdinand will pull through. He's going to be alright."

Dorothea paused for a moment, and then said, "But he… he got hurt because I… because I didn't want to help him. I heard him ask for my help and I didn't do it."

Trying her best to continue comforting Dorothea, Byleth asked, "Can you tell me why?"

"Because… because I… I hate him…"

Byleth could tell from Dorothea's tone that she wasn't being sincere. The diva was clearly lying to herself, and she was struggling with her own denial.

"We both know that isn't true," said Byleth. "Why would you say you hate him?"

"Because he's a noble. Because he's just like all the others who would abuse me and trick me. I can't trust him. Just like how I can't trust Lorenz."

"Don't lie to yourself. Bernadetta's a noble and you trust her, right?" Dorothea nodded, so Byleth asked, "And what about Caspar? Annette? Felix? Anna? And the others? They're nobles too, but you trust them, don't you?"

"I… I don't even know anymore… I just…"

"Dorothea, why are you acting like this? Please, I want to help you."

Dorothea paused for nearly ten seconds. Then, taking a breath, she answered, "Because… because almost nine years ago, I finally met a noble who wasn't like the rest. She was different. She was strong and proud… but she was lonely. And after we met once, she started coming back to the Opera House to see me. We became friends. I even left the Opera so I could attend the Officer's Academy with her."

Byleth realized who Dorothea was talking about and said, "Do you mean Edelgard?"

"Yes. She was… before I met her, I couldn't trust anybody from the nobility. All of them would either hurt me or use me. But Edie… she was the first noble I ever befriended. And because of her, I met everyone at the academy. You, Anna, Claude, Dimitri, Ferdie… And thanks to her, I got to meet nobles who weren't like the ones I knew in Enbarr. They were kind and friendly. And after a while, I thought… I thought I could finally let go of my hate for nobility."

Byleth remained silent, letting Dorothea continue.

"But then… when we were in the Holy Tomb… I saw Edie wearing the armor of the Flame Emperor… Edie, my best friend… the first noble I ever trusted… She was like the rest! She used me and everyone else to get what she wanted! I trusted her and she took advantage of me to start this whole war!"

Dorothea burst into a series of loud wails and sobs as she buried her face in Byleth's shoulder. Byleth, stunned by Dorothea's answer, couldn't help shedding a few of her own tears as she gave the diva a comforting hug.

As Byleth tried to speak, Dorothea wailed, "WHY, EDIE? WHY?! I THOUGHT I WAS YOUR FRIEND! I TRUSTED YOU! AND YOU USED ME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!"

"Dorothea… Dorothea…"

Byleth continued to say the diva's name as she tried to calm the brunette down. The singer's words became less coherent as she continued to cry into Byleth's arms.

Eventually, Dorothea's wails began to subside as she said, "That's why… that's why I can't trust Ferdie… Why I can't trust Lorenz… I can't… Because they're just like her! I just know it!"

At this moment, Byleth moved her hands to Dorothea's shoulders. She moved Dorothea so the two were looking at each other in the eye again.

Byleth then said firmly, "Dorothea, you once told me that everyone deserves a chance to explain themselves, whether they were nobles or commoners. But when Lorenz tried to explain himself, you didn't want to give him the chance. You assumed he was lying and scheming against us. Tell me, Dorothea: Are you treating Ferdinand and Lorenz any differently than how you think nobles treated you?"

Dorothea stopped as if she had just been stabbed.

"I know you've had a hard time, and that a lot of nobles have been cruel to you," said Byleth. "But that doesn't mean you can think of them all in the same way. All you're doing is returning their prejudice with your own. You're judging them solely based on their heritage rather than who they are as people."

Dorothea now felt as though her heart had frozen.

Byleth was right. She was treating nobles the same way that they had treated her.

As Dorothea began to bawl again, Byleth knew she was being harsh on her. But she could not let this go any longer. If Dorothea was ever to let go of her hate, she had to realize her own hypocrisy, even if that meant hurting her.

"Byleth… Byleth, you're right," Dorothea sobbed. "You're right, but I… what do I do…? Byleth, I'm… I'm so sorry…"

Still trying to be firm, Byleth said, "I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to. You've been unfair to Ferdinand and to Lorenz. But it's not too late. You can still make things right. I know you want to trust them. But you need to let yourself believe in them."

Dorothea was silent as she contemplated Byleth's words.

After a pause, she then said, "I… I don't know if I can…"

"I know you can do it, Dorothea."

Dorothea looked at Byleth as she smiled at her. In that moment, she knew she had to try.

Sniffling, she gave Byleth a short nod.

Smiling, Byleth said, "We should head back. The others still need us, including Ferdinand and Lorenz. Will you help me help them?"

Dorothea hesitated to answer, but Byleth could already tell what she was going to say. The Archbishop reached out her hand to the diva.

"Yes… I…" said Dorothea. "I have to make it up to them."

Byleth continued to smile as Dorothea took her hand.

And so Dorothea recognizes one of her greatest character flaws: her own hypocrisy.

This was something I probably should've focused more on in the pre-timeskip fic, but I had a lot of ground to cover there. Even if I had, though, I imagine it would've been really hard to get it right. It's a testament to how well the developers designed her as a character: beautiful and congenial, but gravely flawed. And that's what I love about Dorothea.

To make things work right in my story, I had to take Edelgard's betrayal into Dorothea's character development. Think about it: the first noble she ever trusted, who she thought wasn't like the others, started a war to get what she wanted and deceived her best friend in order to do it. That could definitely cause Dorothea to lapse back into her prior hatred of nobles, who had been nothing but cruel and manipulative to her prior to meeting Edelgard. Starting from this point, though, she can really start to better herself toward others, regardless of their social standing.

Of course, she still has to make it happen. Reconciliation isn't something that can happen in an instant. That's what we'll start to cover in the next chapter.