Araial’s heart was still racing. He couldn’t believe that Dimitri had not only confessed his love to him but had also proposed to him on the same day. He and Dimitri were now sitting with their allies, ready to deliver the news.

“You both seem excited about something,” Sylvain said. “Come on, spill the beans!”

Dimitri laughed. “All right, all right,” he said. “You’re so impatient. So anyway… the news is… I’ve made my choice of consort.”

“Ooh! Who is it?” Annette asked, bouncing excitedly.

“I’ve chosen Araial to be my husband,” Dimitri replied. “We have loved one another for years without me knowing that he felt the same. There’s no time like the present, so I proposed.”

Felix huffed. “I should’ve known. I knew you couldn’t stay oblivious forever, Boar.”

“You two were very obvious, especially Araial,” Ingrid agreed.

Araial blushed. “So… you all knew this whole time? I thought only Felix knew…”

Everyone laughed, although not in derision - rather, it was a fond laugh.

“At first, I wondered why Araial was so desperate to learn noble manners,” Ferdinand said. “But it soon became very apparent that he held a torch for Dimitri.”

Araial found his blush growing deeper. Dimitri patted his back reassuringly.

“It seems that His Highness was the only one who didn’t know,” Dedue added, crossing his arms. “But nevertheless, I know that Araial will make him happy. He is a man with a kind and gentle heart.”

Ashe beamed broadly. “I agree. And His Highness is a good man as well. They’re a great match.”

“I’ll make the wedding cake!” Mercedes announced. She was met with cheers - her talents in baking were well-known.

Meanwhile, Byleth observed the whole scene, feeling proud of himself. He had also seen how Araial looked at Dimitri, and so he had purposefully paired them for activities and missions to try to bring them closer together. Now, he sees that his efforts were probably helpful.

“Congratulations, both of you,” Byleth says. “I’m happy for you. I’m also happy to see how supportive your friends are. You have made many wonderful connections over the years.”

The person in question was not just a noble - he was royalty: Faerghus’s own crown prince, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd. The young prince had defended Araial from his tormentors many times now, even getting into a fistfight with one particularly aggressive bully. And during training, if Araial began growing weak due to hunger, Dimitri would often sneak food out of the castle’s kitchen for him.

Araial was confused at first. He didn’t understand why Dimitri was so kind to him, but he appreciated it.

He more than appreciated it.

He wanted to swear his eternal loyalty to Dimitri, to try to return the favor.

Araial soon realized that he felt more than appreciation for Dimitri. He was unsure of how to label it at first - it felt like love, a feeling described in books Araial had read - but he had never read a book in which a man had loved another man. But still, he eventually realized that it was possible.

People often said that children Araial’s age only had crushes - they didn’t actually fall in love.

But Araial knew differently. He wanted to do whatever he could to return Dimitri’s kindness. He decided to venture into the knighthood in order to be able to protect the prince - what better way to show his appreciation?

Still, he never told anyone of his feelings, out of fear of being ridiculed, or of being rejected.

As he fondly looked back on the past, he smiled warmly at his own worries - they seemed so small now.