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After three long years, it seemed that the war had finally reached its climax. Both the Kingdom and the Leicester Alliance armies were poised to make their move against the Empire at Garreg Mach, where Thales and Edelgard would be. Where Dimitri would slay them and end this war once and for all.
En route to the monastery, he received news that Rhea and the Knights of Seiros were held up by Thales's dark mages. There was no word yet if Claude and the Alliance managed to break through the Imperial Army back in the Valley of Torment. The advisors brought up both concerns during the last war council, and there were back-and-forth arguments over what to do.
Dimitri was left exhausted from the meeting but busied himself with paperwork. Eventually, he fell asleep on his desk and the all-too-familiar voices from the dead haunted him once more.
"You're so close, you can't let them escape!" Glenn urged him.
"Cornelia is right. It was Edelgard who killed me!" Stepmother implored him.
"Glenn is right. They're within your grasp now," Father encouraged him. "Spill their blood and avenge my death!"
Their aggressive pleas jolted Dimitri awake. Sweat drenched his forehead. He glanced around to see that he was still in his tent and not the burning fields of Duscur. He dragged out a deep sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. Of course, Glenn, Stepmother, and Father would visit him here when he and the Kingdom Army were so close to defeating the Empire and bringing peace to Fódlan. He owed them the prosperous future that they wanted.
Dimitri thought some fresh air would do him good, so he stepped outside and strolled around the base camp. It was late into the night, with the almost-full moon hanging above as several bright stars filled the darkened sky. Dimitri spotted a dozen or so soldiers still up, either training or conversing with one another, but otherwise, most people were sleeping.
While he wandered around, he considered finding Felix. Dimitri was certain his right-hand man might be at the training fields. Though Felix was on edge for most of the war council earlier today, so bothering him now might not be the wisest choice. Dimitri stopped when he found himself in front of the makeshift chapel in the middle of the encampment. Believing there would be no one else inside, Dimitri stepped inside.
This chapel was far simpler than the cathedrals in Camulus and Garreg Mach, but still made a good safe space for devoted followers of the Church of Seiros or anyone who wanted to pray to the goddess. Several candles from the altar burned dimly, lighting up the place in an orange hue. As Dimitri stepped forward, his loved ones repeated their pleas for vengeance and he let their screams consume him once more.
"Yes, I know that I'm so close now. Don't worry, I will get both of their heads."
Glenn, Stepmother, and Father responded with you must hurry, you must hurry! He wanted to go Garreg Mach so bad his hands trembled and his chest tightened. Soon, soon...
"Your Majesty?"
Dimitri's breath was caught inside his throat and his shoulders tensed at that familiar feminine voice. He turned around to see the mercenary Byelth staring at him.
"Miss Byleth!" Dimitri exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't expect to run into you at this hour."
"Jeralt and I had a long conversation. I then walked around the encampment until I saw you went inside the chapel and followed you behind. She took a few steps forward and dipped her chin. "I was confused who you were talking to as there was no one else around."
Ashamed at her seeing him in his most vulnerable state, Dimitri grimaced and swallowed hard. He let out a heavy sigh, lowering his shoulders.
"My sincerest apologies for what you've just witnessed. I've had reoccurring nightmares that caused me many restless nights. This has been going on for some years now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Dimitri's heart raced at Byleth's offer. Despite him being a king and her a mercenary, they spent quite a lot of time together. Byleth would tell stories from her mercenary journeys while they organized files, and he entertained her with stories of his childhood when they ate meals together. She was his favorite training partner, her swordsmanship skills impeccable.
"If you're willing to lend an ear, then I'll tell you everything."
He and Byleth sat down at the pews together, and Dimitri told her everything. Byleth was already aware of the Tragedy of Duscur but not of how he met the same enemy general he saw back at Duscur and served his head. Felix was the only other person who knew that story, and like him, Byleth listened to Dimitri with an intense gaze.
"I've heard of that rebellion before," she said once he finished his tale. "It was caused by the noble family that wanted to seize the throne after King Lambert's death."
Dimitri hummed and nodded. "That is correct. The rebellion was quelled easily after the leader of the rebel army was defeated." He hung his head down with his gaze fixed on the floor. "Most of the stories from that fight painted me as a hero, but that was the start of my descent as a monster."
Immediately, Byleth shook her head. "From what Shez and the other soldiers had told me, you love your friends and the people of Faerghus very much."
"That may be true, but perhaps I love too much, and it'll lead to my downfall."
A blank stare crossed Byleth's face, unable to come up with a response for that. A short silence followed until she asked, "Felix is the only other person who knows about your ghosts and nightmares, right?"
"Yes. He tells me that my loved ones wouldn't torture me like this, but even if that were true, I can never forgive myself. The only thing that keeps me moving forward is my obligation to appease the dead, that they'll keep calling to me until perhaps the day I die."
Another lingered silence stretched between them. Byleth pursed her lips and pressed her fist on her chin, as if deep in thought. After regarding him a moment, she flashed him a determined look.
"You must forgive yourself and live for what you believe in."
Taken aback by her words, Dimitri's eyes grew wide, and he bit the inside of his cheek. It was similar to when Shez had asked him what would bring him happiness, but he couldn't find a satisfactory answer to that. Dimitri sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"To be honest, I am not sure what I believe in." His gaze fell to his hands, his palms facing upwards. "I am a murderous monster with hands that are stained red. Could one such as I truly hope for such a life?"
The first few times he and Byleth crossed paths, she wore a stoic expression whenever she cut down her enemies. This time her forehead wrinkled, and her facial features softened.
"I may not have known you for long, but I believe anyone willing to atone and change deserves a second chance."
Dimitri was strangely touched by her response, making his heart flutter. He offered her a small smile.
"I also agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly." In that instant, he thought back to his conversation with Felix after he caught him talking with his loved ones. Dimitri lowered his head and frowned. "I had asked Felix if he was willing to let me unburden my heart to him, but he scoffed. He agreed to be my right-hand man, which I could ever ask from him."
Byleth's eyes narrowed, her eyebrows pulling down in concentration. The corner of her lips moved, and he jerked his head when she gently took his hand and squeezed it.
"If Felix doesn't want you to pour your heart onto him, I don't mind if you do that to me."
Dimitri's breathing slowed, and a feeling of weightlessness took over his body. Everyone else tried to cheer him up, and while it was with good intentions that was not what he wanted. Byleth had only joined his army for some months, and already she offered him to lay all his burdens to her. He grinned at her.
"You don't know how much that pleases me to her that." He gazed down to see that she still held his hand. His fingers traced at her knuckles. "Your hands are so warm...have they always been?"
When Dimitri lifted his head, his eyes met Byleth's, and their gazes locked. As if under an enchanted spell, they pulled their faces closer and closed the distance between them with a slow and tender kiss.
Byleth's lips were warm, and he could taste the beer and sweet buns from tonight's meal on her. Their noses and teeth bumped each other on occasion, but he didn't mind. As their kiss deepened, Byleth climbed onto his lap and flung her arms around his shoulders. Dimitri wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her steady. Their bodies pressed together, and a low moan escaped from her, sending thunder sparks through Dimitri's spine.
Dimitri wasn't sure why this woman he knew for a short period had this much effect on him. His subconscious told him that he didn't deserve this, but Shez wanted him to find some happiness, and this was the closest to it.
A tight knot formed inside Dimitri's throat when their lips parted and Byleth pulled away. She hastily climbed off from his lap. The dimmed lighting from the candle's flames showed a flushed look on her face.
"I'm so sorry! I should've pulled out before we kissed."
A deep frown stretched across Dimitri's face and his shoulders slacked. He felt guilty for being lost in the moment and not stopping it.
"I should be the one apologizing. As king, I shouldn't have initiated the kiss in the first place."
Byleth pressed her lips and furrowed her brow, as if considering his apology. She graced him with the most mesmerizing smile he had ever seen.
"Don't worry, you're forgiven." She patted his knee and rose out of the seat. "I should be heading to bed now. Goodnight, Your Majesty."
"Likewise," Dimitri said with a small smile. "Goodnight, Miss Byleth."
Byleth smiled back, small but brighter than the first one she had given him. She turned around and left the chapel. Dimitri stayed inside for several more minutes, leaning his back on the pews and staring into the ceiling.
"You must forgive yourself and live for what you believe in."
Her advice from their conversation earlier echoed back inside Dimitri's mind. A pleased grin formed on his lips, and his heart soared. To live what he believed in… He wasn't sure his answer for that yet, but in due time he would be able to figure it out. And when he did, Dimitri might consider properly spending more time with Byleth, without a war in front of them.