Once in 2013, I was experimenting if Vitaly can be redeemed, and creating better love triangle story (back then, I was still trying to make conflict between Dmitry, Darya and Alexei/Vitaly as mere love triangle). In that story, Darya knew the difference between Alexei and Vitaly, and she loves them both. But she also loves Dmitry's calmness and passiveness. Later, one day when Darya visiting Moscow, Dmitry being busy with overtime at the ensemble. And instead Alexei/Vitaly who willingly to clock out to meet freezing Darya. At that time, too, Darya's father still alive (not Viktor Sarpin, but her real father) and wants her to marry the father's friend. At the end, it seems Darya still choose Dmitry, and Alexei/Vitaly was only as second male lead who letting Darya go... but not before they kill the father's friend that Darya mentioned.
Yeah I know it's full of inconsistency. Even my friend (avid reader of FFnet and AO3) who try to proofreading my writing giving me 😑 face and heavily criticise the grammar, the plot, the personality etc. It become hard lesson for me that Darya was really meant for Dmitry. Just need to learn how to make better conflict than just Darya being damsel in distress.