They continue to chat on until Dimitri decide to ask this question which completely caught Edelgard off guard

They were smiling until Dimitri decide to ask"Tell me El, Do you believe in the value of the Crest?" Dimitri smile fated away alongside Edelgard who looks a bit confused but kept a calm look on her face

She took a deep breath and sighed as she stares at Dimitri directly at the face"Crest is the reason why we suffered and are often overvalued as people who were born crestless were often disowned or worse completely abandoned. Miklan had a lot of talent within him but even so, he was disowned just because he doesn't process a crest," said Edelgard as she quickly notices Dimitri frown 

Dimitri sighed back "Relics and Crests have been highly valued since ancient times. It was very common for someone to lose their ability to lead their house just because they don't process a crest within the Kingdom and within Fodlan." He took one sip out of his teacup 

"That exactly my point Dimitri, you see I believe in the mindset that people should be gifted on their talent, not by their birthright, as there plenty of people that are talented but are often put down because someone else was born in the higher ranks of nobility or because they were born with a crest," Edelgard frowns as she continues on while Dimitri just stayed silent

"You know, People believed that Crests are token from the goddess power and is necessary to maintain order but they are wrong Dimitri the Crest are to blame," said Edelgard as stabbed the center of the table with the same dagger that Dimitri gave her. It stood completely straight and still as a rock at the center of the table 

Dimitri remains silent for a moment. As both of them took a sip of their tea. The clear winds blow at a careful pace until Dimitri decided to break it the silence 

"Maybe you are right El, I have seen how someone having a Crest or not can change or ruin a person's life as a whole. My older uncle never got the throne due to not processing a crest while my father did." Dimitri just looked at Edelgard with a strange look as if...he sorry...but for what?

"Your uncle Grand Duke Rufus Blaiddyd older brother of Lambert who was King before..." Edelgard looks down as she hesitated at the last comment

"The Tragedy of Duscur, he became regent after my father's died during that Tragedy alongside my mother...all of whom were murder by those monsters!" said Dimitri he accidentally crushes the teacup by accident spilling the tea onto his top part of his uniform 

Edelgard reacted quickly as she picks up the red cloth and started to wipe the top area of Dimitri uniform. Dimitri started to blush a bit as he stares upwards, Edelgard just stared up "Our mother Dimitri, we are still bonded by marriage as we are still family after all even if are not related by blood" said Edelgard as she continued to wipe his uniform as her face seems to show regret as she just looks down onto the ground 

Dimitri soon reached over and grabbed Edelgard's hand as they both stared at each other directly at each other. The red cloth flew above from the wind and landed onto the blue cloth 

Edelgard didn't struggle as she saw Dimitri whose eyes are filled with tears "El...I can't afford to lose you, you are my only true remaining piece of the family left alive after the Tragedy of Duscur." Dimitri moved closer to Edelgard "Do you still remember the times we spend inside your caged room?" Dimitri asked 

Edelgard just stared at Dimitri as she just stared away at his face"...Yes, I do...I think I remembered being caged up like a bird until you showed up." She turns back to Dimitri 

"I was quite shocked at first when I found out that you were from the Empire and I remember those exact words that you compilation during your time in the Kingdom." Dimitri started to smile a bit 

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Flashback to Little Dimitri and Edelgard during their time in the Kingdom

Dimitri heard about a girl who was the daughter of his step-mother and decided to sneak in where Edelgard was held. As he dashes through the garden and then there it was, he stared at the girl with brown hair, pale skin, purple eyes and long twin ponytails locked behind a cage 

Edelgard was carrying a sketchbook as she turned towards Dimitri. Her respond was cold as she turns back around about to leave until Dimitri spoke up 

"Hey...you're from the Empire, aren't you? What are you doing here?" Dimitri asked as he when up the cage itself

 Edelgard halted in place as she looked down onto the ground "Ugh," Edelgard scoffed  "I never wanted to come here. I don't like this place. The food is flavourless the weather is always freezing...if Hubert were here things wouldn't be so inconvenient. Worst of all is this house, where I'm stuck with no way to leave and no place to go and I cannot meet those who I wish to meet if only I could soar away, just to see them." said Edelgard 

Dimitri just stared at the cage for a moment before stepping forward and grabbed onto the bars, his Crest of Blaiddyd actives where he bends them wide open without any problems even though he is just a child

Edelgard face turned into complete shock as she witnessed this young boy bending the bars without any problems however that fear was quickly shut down as Dimitri enters her room and extends his hand towards Edelgard

"If that is the case, I will come to visit again and again, just to see you. There are countless amazing things about this country that you're yet to see, that I wish to show you! So...Please be my friend!" said Dimitri as Edelgard turns back to around to face Dimitri 

"Very well, what is your name?" Edelgard asked as she accepts Dimitri's hand

----------------

"Well to be fair Dimitri, it was my first time being inside the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus itself and before you showed up it was pretty terrible living inside of that cage." Said Edelgard as she sat down once more

"Well your face says otherwise when I bend those steel bars of your cage," said Dimitri as he starts to laugh a bit 

"I was pretty shocked back then...the thought of a little child bending steel bars like it nothing is not exactly in the top of my mind." Edelgard started to blush a bit 

"True, it not the first time that will cause misunderstanding nor will be the last." Dimitri sighed as he starts to laugh a bit 

"Oh my, well the time has sadly cut short....we should end this soon." start to pack up the tea set "Tell me, Dimitri, why did you choose to spare me...I sided with the same monsters that killed our parents," looked away from Dimitri "The same monsters that caused the Tragedy of Duscur and yet..." turns back to Dimitri "You chose to spare me when you could have easily killed me back at the library...so tell me, Dimitri, why didn't you take my life?" Edelgard asked

"El..."Dimitri took one deep breath as he pulls the Dagger out "When I first gave you this dagger." He points the dagger at Edelgard "It was a wish that you may cut your own path in life. But I still see now it was an insufficient answer to your question." Dimitri examines the dagger "A paltry defence against the overwhelming force arraigned against you. Now, what I offer to you is something more substantial. All of Fodlan united against the Church of Serios and Those who slither in the dark." Dimitri turned the dagger around and didn't hold the dagger sideways as one offering a gift. He instead offered it hilt-first as one returning a weapon to its owner 

Edelgard just stayed silent as she stares the dagger and letting Dimitri continue on

"I have failed so many of my friends and family." Dimitri looked down on to the ground "I have lost so many people I cared for. It may be selfish of me, or arrogant to believe I can accomplish it, but I refuse to give one more inch to tragedy...sister." said Dimitri as he faces Edelgard 

Edelgard eyes dropped to the ground as she didn't respond to his brazen of sentimentality. Instead, she just grabbed the dagger out of Dimitri's hand and stares at it "I accept the offer...brother, thank you for everything," said Edelgard as she stared back up towards Dimitri 

"Your welcome, sister, shall we meet again at another time?" Dimitri asked as he stood up alongside Edelgard

"If time allows it I would accept with haste but right now the upcoming ball will take up most of our time...even so, it would be nice if we could dance just to make sure that you on the right track," Edelgard smirks a bit 

"Of course, now shall we dance?" Dimitri bowed and offered his right hand to Edelgard 

"Dimitri...that a nice offer but shouldn't we move the table and the chair first?" Edelgard point at the table and chair which caused Dimitri to straighten himself

"Oh...uh...of course, let clean up first," said Dimitri as Edelgard starts to giggle at him 

The two of them started to move the tables, chairs and clean up the rest

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Claude just got the news that Marianne has been beaten up

"Wait, what? Marianne has been beaten up...since when?" Claude asked as Hilda told him the news. Claude's face is filled with confusion and regret? 

"Yea... a couple of hours ago, those bullies from our own house decide to bully our dear Marianne..." her face turns into sadness "I tried to help but nearly got overwhelmed...at least until Sylvain and Ingrid showed up," said Hilda as she smiles back to normal

Claude just sighs as he looks away at Hilda "It looks like I need to visit the infirmary and to thank those two for saving you and Marianne." Claude closed his eyes in frustration

"Of course Claude...I need to good long rest...after those bullies tried me out," Hilda walked away while Claude fails to notice her walking away

"You earned it Hilda, it was nice of you to..." Claude opened his eyes "...and she gone. Oh well...I better rethink about my plans for the next day," Claude muttered as he makes his way towards the infirmary 

(Here you go, Hope you enjoy this chapter. Leave a review down below in the comment section.)