“And he may still burden himself with guilt, regardless of my reassurance.”

What is he to do, when Dimitri burdens himself with undeserved guilt? Dedue could tell him that it isn’t his fault until he’s blue in the face, and it would likely do little to alleviate him. And Felix isn’t even here anymore to tell Dimitri that he’s being foolish— Dedue did not expect that this would be the thing that he misses about him.

Grant has taken his unpleasant story quite well, though, with neither pity nor judgment. Dedue appreciates it; he doesn’t regret what he did, and should the choice present itself to him again, he would do the same.

“Even so, thank you for listening to me. I do not often speak of such things.”