Chapter Text
Hubert divulged everything, starting from the betrayal of his ancestors before moving to the capture, the curse, and the long-term effects it had on his family. Mercedes listened with rapt attention, finally getting all the answers to her questions.
“Which brings us to today,” Hubert finished. “The curse has now become relevant, and I shall die in a month unless we can somehow find a way to fix this.” It was unsettling to hear how resigned he was to his own demise.
“This is why we avoided telling you earlier,” Edelgard added. “It’s a...rather personal matter.”
“It seems like it,” Mercedes said, frowning. “Hubert, I am so sorry that I caused this to happen.”
“It wasn’t you, Mercedes,” Hubert sighed. “It was my ancestor. If it weren’t for them, I would not have to be saddled with this burden.”
“I...see. I’ll be sure to do my part.”
“You are truly too kind, Mercedes,” Edelgard said. “Now, allow me to explain what we’re here to research. There are two main things: old allies of the empire, as well as curses.”
“Why allies of the empire?”
“If I may, Lady Edelgard?” Hubert asked.
“Of course.”
“Cursing is a rather difficult form of magic. You are aware of the type of magic I use, yes?” Mercedes nodded. “That kind of magic is structured differently than the Reason magic you are familiar with. While they are similar, allowing them to be classed in the same category of magic, they share enough differences that the magic itself has different effects. For example, if you were to try and use one of the useless curses in this book, you could do it, and do it as well as I. However, if you were to try casting a curse as powerful as the one affecting my bloodline, you would be unable to. This is one of the many structural differences between Dark magic and Black magic.”
“And these structural differences,” Mercedes continued, “is this what allows Black magic to have elements attached to it?”
“Exactly.”
“You sure know a lot about magic, Hubert! The only other person I know who knows as much as you is Annie.”
“I have simply studied magic extensively. You, too could know as much as I or...Annie if you were to do so. Either way, Dark magic is not the sort of magic the Empire specializes in. In fact, it takes a certain talent to be able to do so.”
“This is why we think some outside help was involved,” Edelgard jumped in.
“I see,” Mercedes said. “Let’s waste no more time, then.”
Dinner had arrived quickly, and Mercedes was grateful for it. While she had certainly learned a lot about old Imperial partnerships, such as how they and Albinea were on good terms before the Kingdom split apart from the Empire and it became more difficult to maintain relations, her eyes needed a break. “Shall we grab something to eat?”
“I would love to get dinner,” Edelgard said, stretching. “Let me check this book out, and I shall come with you.”
“And you, Hubert? I noticed you skipped lunch. Have you eaten anything today?”
“Breakfast,” Hubert said. “I have eaten nothing since then, for my appetite has been non-existent.”
“That will not do.” Mercedes took the book on his desk (he was just getting to “How to curse pillows to permanently have feathers sticking out”) and closed it. “You can check this out and read it in your room. For now, I’ve prepared a dessert just for you!”
“For me?”
“Yes! Tiramisu. It’s a dessert with coffee in it.”
“It certainly sounds like something you’d enjoy,” Edelgard said, coming back to the group.
“You need not twist my arm; I shall try a bite.”
Edelgard and Mercedes smiled as Mercedes pulled him from the table and to the dining hall. The trio grabbed a plate of the special, Two-Fish Sauté, and sat down to eat.
Hubert’s appetite had not changed since lunch; that is to say, none. His plate went virtually untouched throughout dinner.
“Hubert, you’ve eaten nothing,” Edelgard commented. He noticed that nearly every other student’s plates were empty.
“I simply don’t have an appetite, my lady,” he said.
“You must eat something. One bite, at least.”
Hubert did as his lady ordered. It tasted as good as it did the last time the dining hall served it, but it was tough to make himself eat it.
“If you don’t feel up to eating, then you don’t have to try the tiramisu,” Mercedes frowned. “Just make sure you’re eating enough to stay alive.”
“I said I would try it, and I shall.”
“If you’re sure.”
Mercedes got up to grab the tiramisu, which had been chilling all day. She cut the cake into three slices, two regular-sized for herself and Edelgard, and one very thin slice for Hubert.
“This looks great, Mercedes,” Edelgard smiled.
“And it will taste just as good!” Mercedes said.
Mercedes and Edelgard dug into their slices immediately. Once again, it was tough for Hubert to make himself take a bite. Once he did, he found it delicious. It was sweet, but not overly so. Mercedes was quite the talented baker, and he said as much to her.
“Thank you; that’s sweet of you to say.”
“It is just the truth.”
They finished dinner with nothing else exciting, and retired to their rooms afterward.
Day one had finished. What did the rest of the month have in store?