How strange, that he had missed something like that so completely. He didn't enjoy the idea that he might have had such massive blind spots-- it begged the question of what else he might have missed-- but, really, who could blame him for missing such a thing? The prospect of their respected professor being interested in the crown prince of Faerghus was entirely reasonable; the idea of him holding the same feelings for a common-blooded Dusci vassal? He would have deemed it silly. Not even fit for a fairy-tale.

"I was entirely unaware."

And the thought of Byleth being the Archbishop, one of the most powerful people in Fodlan, and still harboring such feelings. It would be unbelievable if he wasn't sitting here with Byleth, hearing it for himself.

"I do not know what happens in the future," he says, "but I know myself well enough. I do not think that my heart could bear being separated from Dimitri, but it would be little easier to be separated from you, either."

Byleth's head is a warm, pleasant weight on his chest. As with most people, his frame feels small in Dedue's arms.

"After I had rescued Dimitri and I was recovering with my kin, I thought of you often."