To Cut a Path to a Brighter Future

[crimsonflower]

[When Edelgard was called to the conference she did not expect to see Claude there, but after certain events it did make some sense. It gets her to tense up in the beginning, but when Claude mostly hangs back for the conversation he's mostly forgotten. For now.

So then the conversation between Emperor and King went as follows—

Dimitri: Edelgard. I did not think you would actually accept my request.
Edelgard: Call it a whim. Well then? What did you want to talk about?
Dimitri: I will get straight to the point. Why did you start this war? There had to be a way to change things in your territory without the need for so many senseless casualties.
Edelgard: It may be hard to believe, but this is the way that leads to the fewest casualties in the end. Don't you see?
Dimitri: How could I? Countless people have already lost their lives in this conflict.
Edelgard: The longer we took to revolt, the more victims this crooked world would have claimed. I weighed the victims of war against the victims of the world as it is now, and I chose the former. I believe that I have chosen the best path, the only path.]

Comments

[inaurate]

[Claude can't help it, chuckling at the idea of Hilda considering herself as such.]

I'd intended to bring Hilda, actually. But she'd probably throw her axe at me if I asked her to come as my retainer. So, Teach, Dedue, and Hilda. Sounds good to me.

[Hey Golden Deer house would be a delight.]

[azuremoon]

[The thought of bringing Dedue still fills him with anxiety, truthfully. He thought he'd lost him after the escape, and he knows that if things go wrong here, Dedue would happily sacrifice himself to save Dimitri. But he knows that saying Dedue can't come would make everyone else anxious, too, so he'll just have to suck it up. He inhales slowly.]

Very well. Where should we meet you, or will you send us a messenger once you've moved her?

[crimsonflower]

We'll send an eagle with the message. An escort will meet you at the border to make sure nothing happens as you travel to the location that could be blamed on us.

[Hubert has been watching Edelgard the whole time. His opinion on this is unreadable, but she can feel his eyes boring a hole into her. They'll have much to talk about when they return. She knows.]

[inaurate]

[And straight back to business with these two. No sense of humor, truly.

Claude is, for the most part, convinced that Edelgard is truly willing to try and make this work. Hubert, however-- he doesn't trust that man as far as Lysithea could throw him. He'd have to leave handling that situation to Edelgard, however.]

Who will this escort comprise of? Just curious, since we've already told you who we'll be bringing along.

[crimsonflower]

Ferdinand and Dorothea. My two least likely to cause a kerfuffle with whomever you may bring.

[Bernadetta and Linhardt would also be solid choices if not for the chance they might not show up at all.

At least, in favor of this route, he will not have to worry about Edelgard getting desperate enough to do "trial procedures" on herself as a last ditch effort.]

[azuremoon]

[Ah, Ferdinand. Dimitri nods, pleased by the choice. Sure, Ferdinand was a little bit... dramatic, but Dimitri always found him to be pleasant enough. Dorothea unsettles him with her flirtatious behavior, though. Hopefully, she won't be in the mood to tease when the stakes are so high.]

I think they will make a fine escort.

[inaurate]

[Claude nods too, satisfied with her answer. Ferdinand is straight-forward and predictable. Dorothea less so, but reliable in other ways, and he's pretty confident he'd be able to tell if she was knowingly leading them into an ambush.

Plus, Hilda and Dorothea will love the chance to catch up. Actually, mark that in the "potential disaster" column.]

Sounds good to me.

[crimsonflower]

That settles it. Hubert and I shall take our leave. An eagle will tell you the location at which to meet with the escort and where your final destination shall be so you know if you're being led astray.

[Politely Edelgard bows intending to be excused.]

[azuremoon]

[Dimitri bows as well, even though what he really wants to do is extend his hand. Not yet — hopefully, just a little bit longer...

Byleth only nods. They're not really the bowing type, please excuse them.]

We shall await your message at our camp.

[He's made no secret of the location, even though that would be safer.]

[inaurate]

[Claude joins in the bowing, a smile on his lips. He's genuinely pleased with how well this went.]

Thank you for hearing us out. Safe travels.