Chapter Text
The weather
There really were many things about her new home that should be remarked upon, many things that were out of place for a noble of Faerghus, a traitor to Faerghus, and all around woman of Faerghus.
Many things.
But somehow the first thing that struck her different was the weather.
It was a well-known fact the Empire was much warmer than the northern countries but somehow Ingrid didn't expect it to be this extreme. When she rode into Enbarr for the first time she noted all the waterways and greenery, in the richer parts of town of course, and wondered at their beauty. Now she praised the Goddess for their existence because only this made the heat bearable. It was oppressive yet somehow people still had the energy to walk around and do things.
She hoped she would get accustomed to it quickly, because training, or even worse, fighting, in this heat would be extremely tough.
“Many greetings Ingrid!” Petra exclaimed in a far-too-chipper a manner.
“Hello” was the knight's curt reply. The heat was not making her personable. Fortunately Petra was already walking away from her with purpose so the greeting was only that, and not a prelude to further conversation. Thank the Goddess.
Then she noticed something that pulled her right out of her grumpiness – Petra changed from the clothes Ingrid was used to from the academy and instead she donned something that must've come from Brigid. Some kind of traditional hunter garb probably. Thing is, it was indeed very revealing. Which in this heat was a boon to be sure but Ingrid couldn't help but feel some sympathetic shame. For Goddess sake she was walking around half-naked!
Of course she looked quite striking in it, and if it's traditional there is not much you that can be said about it after all… Still, it was a little too much for a girl that grew up in Galatea territory surrounded by fur if she knew what was good for her health. Petra in the north would make a petty and colorful icicle and nothing else.
Then again their positions were reverted and Ingrid was melting in the Enbarr heat instead. Perhaps a slight change in wardrobe would not go amiss. Maybe she could ask Dorothea – she grew up in this city and would be willing to help.
Ingrid remembered how Dorothea helped her dress up for the small opera performance back at school.
Perhaps it would be better to just bear the heat instead.
Yes, that sounded like a plan.
The Pegasus
She was told to choose her own Pegasus.
Loog, her favorite one, had been left in Garreg Mach and likely had been ridden by a church soldier during the assault.
In her mind flashed Petra and Bernatetta who deftly sniped the pegasae from the skies.
Her heart constricted. Poor Loog.
She hoped she nothing would prevent her from treating her new partner better than she had the previous one. She had adored Loog, she went to visit him in her spare time and always brought a treat. But she had left him behind, and spared a thought for him only when Hubert told her where she could get a hasty replacement.
Who she was selecting now was meant to be hers. Her personal pegasus. The pegasus of the emperor's bodyguard and member of her strike force. She had access to the best of the best unclaimed mounts in Enbarr. Quite an honor indeed but she was still feeling burdened by the absence of Loog.
Loog had been a brilliant white. She always felt like a shining beacon of justice when she rode him into battle. Now her eye was on the black mare before her. A glossy black that evoked awe and fear.
She really tried with the others, but she kept coming back to the mare.
Apparently she was named Nightmare. Somebody thought themselves funny.
“How about it, Nightmare?” Ingrid addressed the pegasus, “Would you like to be my partner?”
Nightmare nuzzled her hand.
“Tell me, how attached are you to your name?”
The mare snorted derisively.
The armor
Adrestian soldiers wore black, that was a known fact. Back at the monastery the Black Eagle house was named after that very fact. Hubert wore his black uniform with great pride and Ingrid had to admit he cut an imposing figure in it. No one else in the Strike Force wore it though, after all they were not part of the regular forces so the regular uniform wasn't required. Also they were all lords and ladies of their Houses so they could wear whatever they wished. And nobody could order Dorothea around fashion-wise.
Ingrid though, Ingrid asked Hubert what were the requirements to wear a uniform such as his. The warlock was taken aback and gave the blonde an inscrutable look. Then his only reply was the he 'would look into it'.
That was several days ago. Ingrid accepted it, after all she was a very recent addition to the Empire forces and her presence was rather questionable given who was the opposing side of the war. She would need to prove herself first. That made sense and would give her a goal to work towards to.
Still, one evening, a week before the Black Eagle Strike Force was set out to deploy towards the front lines again, Ingrid came into her room and she found a very neat package atop her desk.
It wasn't the black officer uniform. No, this was better. It was a set of black armor, much better than what she wore now but still obviously made for her. Ideal for a pegasus knight.
Ingrid cast a glance at the armor she wore in battle until now – a classic steel color shined to perfection that complemented the blue fabric of her cloak. In her hands was a similar set, only this one black upon black with some red accents.
Well, it was what she asked for. It wasn't the uniform, but she wasn't an officer after all. No, a set of armor was better for a knight of the Emperor. And the color scheme was exactly what she expected. She would fit in with the Adrestian troops and it would display her loyalty to Edelgard.
After all she has said and done the color change wasn't much. Still, she imagined Sylvain and Felix spotting her on the field of battle wearing the empire colors. Their betrayed faces stung. When she imagined Dimitri a shiver of fear run down her spine – he will be enraged. And an enraged Dimitri was far scarier than any demonic beast she met and dragon Rhea came only on top of the things to fear by the sheer element of surprise that her transformation was. A furious Dimitri was terrifying.
On the other hand Edelgard with her cold calculation and icy calm of the battlefield was just as scary, but a little more… controlled. Sane a whisper in the back of her head corrected.
She quickly changed into her new battle attire. It fit perfectly, obviously modeled after her usual set. It was of excellent quality and would protect her well. She looked different wearing it, more serious. The darker colors giving the armor a different feel. But she did like the result, she looked mature and to be respected.
In the mirror she noticed a piece of paper attached to the inside of the lid of the box the armor came in. She unstuck it to see Hubert's surprisingly elegant handwriting.
'Let me know if you want the Galatea crest added anywhere. Hubert v. Vestra'
Well, that was rather thoughtful.
The Deer
It was almost shameful how late she realized it. She had been sort of wallowing and then working hard at being the perfect knight for Edelgard that she had totally forgotten about another member of the Black Eagle Strike Force that has not come from the Empire. Lysithea! Here she was a perfect opportunity to talk out their defection.
Of course Ingrid has talked with Dorothea about much of it all, but as understanding and witty as the songstress was, she just could not understand what it meant to betray her country and her prince and friend. Lysithea on the other hand had left the Alliance and her House behind. Ingrid could not wait to talk to her, maybe they could help each other through this difficult time of transition.
“Hello Lysithea” Ingrid greeted with a little bit more cheerfulness than it befitted a demure knight.
The white-haired child looked up from her book, frowning at the interruption “Oh. Ingrid. Hello. Does Edelgard need me for something?”
“Well, no” the blonde admitted, “I was just hoping we could talk.”
“About?” Lysithea asked briskly, her gaze sneaking back to the tome before her.
“I was wandering how you have been coping with siding with the Empire” Ingrid said as she took one of the many empty chairs.
The younger girl snorted dismissively “I sided with Edelgard. I don't care for further politics, I have no time for it.”
“Just like that?” the northerner gaped.
“Yes”
“What about the Leicester Alliance? And Claude?”
“Claude is exhausting to deal with. And he won't make the crests go away”
“What about the rest of the Deer? Surely you must miss some of them”
“They are inconsequential. Really, I was thrilled when the professor approached me with his proposition to switch houses. He gave much better assignments than Manuela. Really, 'how does fire make you feel'. Useless.”
“She got you into healing” Ingrid felt oddly protective of the physician.
“Well, there she was a proper teacher” Lysithea hummed in approval, “But I prefer Reason. And black magic to boot. Hubert taught me more than Manuela in that regard. And surprisingly enough, Dorothea makes a more than sufficient study partner.”
Ingrid felt the need to turn the conversation closer to the present “So no hard feeling about the Alliance?”
“Goddess no”
“What about your family?”
“They are in the empire faction keeping their head down”
“Are you not afraid for them?” Ingrid insisted.
Lysithea shrugged “If the Empire wins, good. If the Alliance manages to advance, then they just need to claim I was the hostage of the Empire and there was nothing they could do to as not to endanger their sole remaining child. Besides, it is widely known that the Ordelia line ends with me, so nobody really cares. They'll just wait for our family to die off and then they'll divide the territory. I'll be dead and buried by then so I don't really care what happens.”
“Oh.”
“Anything else?”
“Not really, no” Ingrid shook her head, hiding her disappointment.
“Alright” the girl nodded and without any ado returned to her study.
Well, that didn't go according to plan. She had expected a kindred soul but it turns out Lysithea is perfectly happy with her new arrangement.
Of course Ingrid was too, but she would admit to some apprehension still. Maybe she should take a leaf out of Lysithea's book and stop looking back.
To think she laughed when Dorothea called her a sensitive soul.
The emperor
Ingrid's eyebrows rose in surprise at the sight of her liege in armor as opposed of her usual startlingly red dress. The horned crown was still in place, giving Edelgard an unforgiving appearance.
“We're going to the training grounds” Edelgard announced.
The knight perked up – she trained every chance she got when she wasn't around guarding the emperor, but it still felt like not enough. Also, watching the white-haired woman do paperwork was hardly the most exciting thing to do.
After arriving at their destination Edelgard didn't hesitate in grabbing a training sword. Not an axe like she preferred but Ingrid knew she was a great swordsman as well. Not on par with Felix of course, but quite good indeed.
“Spar with me?” Edelgard half-asked.
“Yes, my liege” Ingrid nodded sharply and retrieved a sword of her own.
“I told you to call me Edelgard as usual when we are alone” came a tired reminder.
The blonde cocked her head to the side in confusion – surely the emperor knew they were never alone. Right now the training ground was empty, being it the private one, yet Ladislava was there talking with two of her subordinates, one back-clad man who was clearly Hubert's was there too, a suspiciously muscular maid (who also had to be Hubert's), the person 'repairing the roof' was definitely Hubert being paranoid, and those were only the ones she could see.
Edelgard sighed “This counts as alone in my position.”
“As you wish, Edelgard” Ingrid acquiesced. The happy smile she got in reply was quite the reward.
An hour later she was pleasantly sore with a bruise here and there. Before Ingrid left the Blue Lions for the Black Eagles she hadn't had a single spar with the then-princess. Once she did join it wasn't that often either, mostly working with Petra and Dorothea for swords, lances with Ferdinand and sometimes Hubert. Not to mention the professor. Professor Byleth favored the sword but his lancework was superb as well, no doubt courtesy of his father. Now, she kind of hoped these sparring sessions would become frequent, Edelgard was an excellent opponent to hone her blade against.
It seemed Edelgard felt the same about their bout as she gave a complimentary nod and smile “We should put the weapons away and take some tea. Will you join me?”
“Gladly, Edelgard” Ingrid agreed readily.
“Excellent” the emperor's smile got a smidgen wider but still quite dignified, “Since coming into my service I had not a lot of time to talk to you so we should…”
“Your majesty!” an out of breath messenger jogged into the training yard.
“Yes?” Edelgard replied sharply.
“Count Hevring needs you urgently to deal with some matters. He told me you would know what it was about” the young officer bowed deeply.
“I see. I will be there shortly. Tell Count Hevring to come to my office” Edelgard ordered.
“Yes, your majesty” the messenger bowed again and sped off, presumably to report back to the Count.
“Raincheck on the tea it seems” Ingrid chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, seeing her liege was not happy about her plans being interrupted.
“Indeed” Edelgard sighed.
Ingrid took both their training weapons and quickly put them away before the duo swiftly walked out of the yard. Everybody who they met bowed or saluted and got out of their way so their journey was uninterrupted.
Finally Edelgard stood just in front of the doors to her office. Ingrid walked in first to conduct a check just in case somebody found his way in. When it was safe the white-haired royal sit behind her desk and ordered Ingrid to stay outside for the meeting with the Count.
The knight nodded sharply and went back to the hallway. Just as she was closing the doors behind her, Ingrid would've sworn she heard a muttered “I really wanted cake.”
But that must've been her imagination.
The rumors
“Isn't Galatea Kingdom nobility? What is she doing here?
“So close to the Emperor, really, what is von Vestra thinking”
“She might be a spy”
“She betrayed the Kingdom, what assures she doesn't betray the Empire as well?”
“An unnecessary risk”
“An asset. The only Galatea to have their crest, she is a boon! We should tie her to the Empire by marriage”
“Apparently she used to be childhood friends with the Blaiddyd boy. The fact she is here is telling”
“I heard she tried seducing the emperor herself!”
“We should claim her hostage, put more pressure on the Kingdom”
“Keep an eye on her, she's probably an assassin”
Ingrid gritted her teeth and soldiered on. Really, she was just crossing one hall, there should be some limit on how many rumors could sprout around her in one room alone. Do people have nothing better to do? There is a war going on for Goddess' sake!
Her frown turned into a small smile when she spotted Dorothea. The songstress regaled her with a tired yet brilliant smile and immediately walked towards her “Darling Ingrid! Are you busy or may we take some tea?”
“I just dropped a report, so tea would be lovely” the blond knight agreed, her mood clearing completely.
“And some snacks too” Dorothea added with a knowing grin.
Ingrid nodded eagerly and then smiled sheepishly at her enthusiasm. Dorothea just laughed and took the knight's elbow to direct her towards the gardens.
The biscuits served with the tea were delicious, far outstripping anything they had on the front lines. Ingrid went where Edelgard went, so they were not on the battlefield all the time. No, most of it they were either in the Imperial Palace or some fort and outpost. But the best food was to be found in Enbarr.
“So, that was me. What about you?” Dorothea smiled after she finished telling what happened on her assignment, “Edie is looking good, so I hope nothing too much exciting happened.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary” Ingrid nodded, “I mean we are all extremely busy, but there is not much to actually tell. Endless meetings, strategy councils, paperwork. So. Much. Paperwork.”
“And you help her combat it as the valiant knight you are” the songstress winked.
A derisive snort from a passing noble made Ingrid's mood sour but she kept her face at a practiced blank.
“What was that?” Dorothea's brows creased lightly.
“Ignore him”
The beautiful brunette regarded her friend and then hummed, but her eyes sharpened. Still, the tone of her voice was very calm and conversational. No wonder Hubert mentioned she would make a good agent for his network. “Does this happen often, Ingrid?”
“No, I…”
“And now without lying please”
Ingrid exhaled loudly, wincing internally just how unladylike it was. Then she remembered she didn't really have to care about that anymore. Finally she admitted “Alright. It happens a lot.”
“I see” the songstress replied as she smoothed the pristine table-cloth. Then she stood up, “Come with me.”
Ingrid raised her eyebrows in question but downed her tea and they left the tea tables and then the gardens altogether. Surprisingly, Dorothea led them to the Library, idly chatting along the way. Ingrid kept up with the benign conversation but her curiosity was burning.
Finally among the bookcases they found the study tables, one unerringly occupied by a sleeping Linhardt. The brunette unceremoniously shook the noble awake.
“Tell her” Dorothea ordered.
“Tell her what?” Linhardt mumbled sleepily.
“What you told me when I let the gossipers get to me”
“Hm?” the boy's gaze sharpened, his sleepiness washing away from him. He eyes Ingrid speculatively and nodded. Dorothea nodded right back and with a jaunty wave left Ingrid there.
“Eh?” Ingrid blinked, confused at her friends' behavior. There was definitely something she was missing.
“Sit” Linhardt smirked. She hadn't even known he would ever be willing to waste his energy for that.
Half an hour later the blonde knight walked out of the library deep in thought. Despite that she spotted Dorothea leaning on a nearby window, obviously waiting for her.
“Thank you Dorothea”
“Anything for you my dear Ingrid”
The downtime
With her duties to the new emperor Ingrid hadn't had much time to go out of the palace besides going in an official capacity. At first she protested when Ferdinand insisted she take a day off, but when Edelgard agreed with the man, she relented. Now, she was glad she did.
The market was bustling and Ingrid had no way to tell if it was less populated than usual or this was the norm. She chose the lower market on purpose – it was a longer walk and she wasn't really in the mood for nobles. Here, the common folk shopped. It was loud, full of energy, shops of all kinds were to be found all over without rhyme or reason, and it felt so wonderfully alive.
The first shop that enticed her for more than a cursory look was selling wonderfully smelling treats, street food that made her belly growl in demand. A steaming bun filled with some kind of sweet paste was the first to be devoured, quickly followed by two more but of a different kind.
Next she found a book shop that was nothing more than three tables under a tent filled with clearly second-hand books. She browsed eagerly before selecting two. One was an old favorite, the second she never read but seemed interesting. Both books were in better than average condition and were priced accordingly.
Nothing else attracted her at those two shops but she still enjoyed the stroll among the wonderfully smelling spices, colorful fabrics, both toy and real swords, trinkets and dozens of other things.
She took her time and explored the whole market, even the fisherman stalls despite them being mostly closed or sold out, everybody coming in the morning to purchase their goods. Finally she circled back and walked towards the palace. She took a small detour to the higher market and purchased for herself some more food, the stroll making her hungry again. Being in the more expensive side of town her new snack was actually meat, it was a few pieces on a skewer in some kind of spicy sauce. It was delicious.
Passing some children playing a game with lots of running around Ingrid entered the palace grounds. She headed towards the gardens, her intention to find some remote area and sit under a nice tree to read her new book.
It seemed she hasn't been the only one to have the idea to relax in the gardens because she spotted Bernadetta painting nearby. She decided against waking toward the small archer, Bernadetta was already quite terrified of her, no need to 'ambush' her.
Finally she settled under a large oak tree that casted a nice shadow but she could still watch the blue sky and the passing clouds. It was perfect.
Ingrid opened her book at the first page and sighed in contentment.
One could even forget there as a was going on.
The haircut
Ingrid never put much stock in her hair. Not like mother and father. She would admit it was probably her best feature – long, shiny, a blond that sparkled in the sunlight. Of course it was a pain to dry but easy enough to manage over all. One quick braid and she was done. She wore one every day, the only exception had been when her parents specifically instructed to keep it loose – most often than not when they had guests, and doubly so when they had guests with sons of marriageable age.
Now though, she could forget everything about unwanted suitors and do whatever she wished within the boundaries of her loyalty to Edelgard.
As such…
“Cut your hair?” Dorothea stuttered. Ingrid congratulated herself at catching the unflappable songstress by surprise.
“Yes” Ingrid nodded and handed the scissors to her friend.
Dorothea bit her lip as her fingers combed through the thick blond hair “It's gorgeous, Ingrid. Are you sure?”
“It's practical”
“It's a waste,” the mage countered, “I know dozens of hairstyles that would keep it in check for anything you wished to do. You could lounge around upside down like a bat and you wouldn't even notice it's there.”
“I'm sure”
“Really, really, sure?”
“Never liked it long to be honest”
At this Dorothea sighed “Very well then.” She spun the scissors in her hand and eyed the blonde before her, trying to determine the best strategy. Then she sighed again and fetched the comb as she mumbled “Attacking Rhea was less sacrilege than this.”
Ingrid couldn't help but laugh at that.
Forty minutes later her blonde locks had been shorn. The ends were now barely brushing her jaw but could be easily tucked behind her ears. She nodded at herself in the mirror in approval and thanked her friend.
She was very satisfied with her new haircut.
Dorothea called her handsome.
Hubert commented on the practicality. The follow-up comment of 'the very picture of a knight' was probably meant to be sarcastic but she took it as a compliment nonetheless.
Ferdinand just gaped and she just left with a roll of her eyes.
Caspar and Linhardt either didn't notice or didn't care to comment. Probably both and respectively.
Petra talked her ear off about Brigid hair-styles while Bernadetta was probably in her room so she had no comment to give.
Edelgard… Edelgard hummed. She actually stood up from her paperwork and slowly circled her. Then the emperor gave her a smile that made her look her age “It suits you, my knight.”
Ingrid felt her cheeks heat up “Thank you, my liege.”
The assassin
“Finally awake my dear?”
Ingrid couldn't actually tell very well. Her sight was foggy and her thoughts quite slowed. Still, she was probably awake. Then again, the voice was strangely familiar so this also might've been a dream.
“Professor… Manuela?” she managed to ask, words heavy on her tongue.
“Just Manuela now, dear” the woman chuckled as she confirmed her thoughts, “Never would have expected one of the first cases after my joining Edelgard's forces to be a former student of mine.”
“Not… a Deer”
“All of you were my students”
The fog was starting to clear, thankfully. Manuela's voice continued as Ingrid was trying to get her bearings.
“My darling Deers were my favorite of course. Not to say I didn't have others. Dorothea for example. You as well”
“Me?... How?” words were still slurred but her mind felt much more awake.
“Hanneman pouted something fierce when you left his House” a melodic laughter soothed her confusion, “He talked about you a lot. Oh, how I loved throwing your test results at him when you flourished under Byleth.”
“Sword and… lance” Ingrid remembered the young professor's teachings, “Flying, not his… forte.”
“I know, you attended my seminars for that”
Finally her vision cleared entirely. Unsurprisingly she was in the infirmary. “What happened?”
“Wait a moment, let it come to you. I'll fetch you some water in the meantime”
The pegasus knight found it hard to concentrate and didn't feel compelled to continue trying. Still, the memory came back to her in a sudden flash.
An assassin.
An assassin tried for Edelgard's life.
Relief flooded Ingrid's mind. She has protected her liege. She has succeeded. She has done her duty. She was knight not only in name but in deed. And she even managed not to die doing it, not like Glenn.
Ingrid's eyes shot open at the traitorous thought. She bit her lip, wondering where that came from.
“Fully here Ingrid?” Manuela asked a little teasingly as she handed the younger woman a cup of water.
“I think so” the blonde murmured.
“Good. You hit your head quite heard I hear and your concussion seems to agree.” Manuela sat beside her patient and watched the cup lest it fell “Magic can take of the bleeding and the horrific bruise and cut, but the concussion has to go naturally. That means rest. No strenuous activity. Not even getting up, I hate the smell of vomit on my floors.”
Just when Manuela mentioned it, a wave of nausea swept through Ingrid. That had to be the physician's fault. It made her rethink nodding and instead she answered “Alright. How long will I be here?”
“Today for sure, tomorrow probably. If there are no complications I'll release you two days from now” Manuela counted.
“I hear out hero is awake” Hubert's dry voice came from the entrance.
“A hero?” Ingrid asked with poorly masked giddiness. She tried to temp it down, a true knight would demure it was her duty, but she dreamed of it for so long…
Hubert saw right through her and uncharacteristically shuffled awkwardly “Well, no. It's hardly the first time and you are her bodyguard…”
Ingrid pouted like a small child. It had to have been the concussion.
“… but I thought it very heroic” the warlock was defeated by the pout.
“You are just saying that” Ingrid mumbled. Really, a child.
“I am” he chuckled softly, “It was heroic but also dumb. You could've skewered him long before he used magic to fling you off and into a marble pillar. But I am also told I am a cold-hearted bastard so it probably doesn't count. Edelgard thought it heroic though. Dorothea as well. Ferdinand would not shut up about you being the pinnacle of nobility or some such nonsense. And Caspar is organizing a party for when you are better.”
The meaningful glance at Manuela had the woman shrugging “It's just the concussion now. Two days' rest and she'll be back to tackling assassins.”
Hubert's countenance soured “I would hope not. I have scoured the palace from top to bottom, not one will be coming so close to her majesty again.”
“Have you found out how they got in?” Ingrid asked.
“Nothing for you to worry about now” Manuela interjected sternly, “You rest. I am sure Hubert can brief you later if he so chooses.”
Hubert nodded “Very well. Still, could you…”
Manuela rolled her eyes at his shooing motion but walked towards the door “I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, just no shop talk.”
“Lovebirds?” Ingrid gaped. Not in a million years.
Hubert seemed to share her sentiment and huffed “Ignore her, that woman is deeply disturbed.”
Once alone the blonde prompted “So, how did he get in?”
“No shop talk, remember” Hubert chuckled, “I wanted to tell you something else.”
“Yes?”
“Well done, dame Ingrid”
It was the first time he called her that. She beamed in reply.
Hubert's lips twitched decidedly upwards but then his resting bitch face came back. His words were serious but held none of his usual threat “And thank you.”
Ingrid chuckled “You know, you aren't so bad.”
“That's the concussion talking”
The uncle
In her capacity as Edelgard's protector she has met many of the Empire nobles, she would even dare say she met them all. She met all the ministers, old and new, she met the parents of her friends from the Black Eagles that kept their posts, she met the upcoming stars and new administration. She met all of the movers and shakers of the new Empire Edelgard was trying to build. Among all those there was one that gave her pause, the Lord Regent himself, Volkhard von Arundel. Edelgard's uncle. Only Edelgard never welcomed his visits and seemed shaken once he left.
Today was no exception.
That's why Hubert dismissed her for the evening and that's why she was hanging around in the stables – to see the slimy man had truly left. She didn't feel safe with him around, and the same seemed apply to both Hubert and Edelgard. They pretended he didn't affect them but Ingrid had gotten to know them pretty well. In fact, it they weren't affected she would be questioning their sanity.
Still, the man had her thinking of her own family. Her father, her mother, her siblings. All back in Galatea, no doubt involved in the war. Were they paying for her betrayal? Or it had been put solely on her? All she knew was they were on Dimitri's side and distinguished themselves enough. She heard her eldest brother's name mentioned once or twice by the soldiers. He had no crest but he did her family proud. Did father lament the fact all his efforts had been focused on her? How many times her parents told her the future of Galatea was on her, the sole woman and the sole with the crest. Did they curse her existence now?
Her mare nudged her gently, as if sensing the sad turn her thoughts took. She smiled at her steed and caressed the strong flank. Ingrid made a mental note to come back here tomorrow with an apple or some other treat.
She didn't regret her choice, siding with Edelgard. And family-wise, well, the Black Eagles easily became that to her. After all, they were a bunch of near-orphans all now. Only Linhardt had a meaningful relationship with his own family and now Petra who had virtually unlimited access to her grandfather in her capacity as their representative of Brigid.
The strike force had a tight bond, one forged in friendship and tested by war. True brothers-in-arms. Something she always wanted to be part of but knew it would never happen with her future set as it had been.
Yes, she truly did not regret her choice. And she truly believed in Edelgard's vision. Fóldan will be better for it, she was sure.
The bodyguard
The emperor led from the front. With her armor, axe and shield she cut an imposing figure. She stood in front of her army, daring to change the world. She looked every bit a legend. It was all she had ever wanted in a liege.
Of course now that she was Edelgard's knight, she had to grip her lance in worry every time the white-haired woman charged. In the middle of her enemies who all had a multitude of sharp instruments of death. Really, it would be much better if she observed from a hill somewhere. Much easier to protect.
The enemy soldier that was closest to Edelgard’s flank suddenly got liquefied by miasma. Ingrid spared a look at the warlock retainer. Hubert nodded back. As Edelgard charged on, both of them also shared a brief look of exasperation. It was tough protecting the most powerful woman on the continent.
(Rhea didn't count, she was a dragon)
Of course said woman was wearing the best armor money could buy and smiths could craft. Not that it lessened their worry even a bit.
For the first time Ingrid spared a thought to Dedue. His hulking body and prowess with a shield was truly best suited to being a bodyguard. Ingrid preferred fighting on her Pegasus, lance in hand. But, at least she had a much better view of the battlefield that way.
Her short spear found the heart of a caster in the distance. She smiled – Dedue would've withered it but this was better. Better to kill the threat before it realistically became one.
…
Oh, Goddess! She was turning into Hubert!
The Black Eagle Strike Force
There wasn't much to do beside being alert when she guarded Edelgard while she was in her office and behind her desk. Or when she stood behind Edelgard in meetings as bodyguard and personal knight – because the empire didn't really have knights the way the Kingdom did. So in times like these she let her thoughts wander. More than once her thoughts turned towards the Black Eagle Strike Force. More specifically its name. Such a pity Edelgard used the word 'force' instead of 'team' – they could've been the Black Eagle Strike Team – acronym B.E.S.T. And isn't that worlds better?
She had shared the sentiment with Hubert on a whim when they were both waiting for the Emperor to finish some paperwork. He had turned to her and for the first time his glare at her wasn't menacing or coldly assessing, it was fearful.
“Don't tell her majesty” he hissed.
“Why?” Ingrid raised one eyebrow.
His jaw was doing the thing when he really didn't want to tell something but knew he should. If anybody told Ingrid in her Monastery days she would find something Hubert did adorable she would probably just about pee herself laughing. But here he was, her unlikely friend, now both of them keeping watch over the petite princess turned emperor.
Hubert finally caved “Before our assault on Garreg Mach she stayed up all night to think of a name for us. She is very proud of it.”
“All night?” Ingrid's second eyebrow rose to complete the set, “And this is what she came up with?”
“Yes. Naturally I agreed with the superb choice” Hubert's voice was tinged, but only very, very, lightly, with sarcasm. Then his face turned sour “The professor did as well.”
“Well, too late changing it now” Ingrid shrugged, eager to get away from the topic. All of them still did that, even after the professor being missing for over a year.
Hubert nodded. Silence fell.
Ingrid couldn't help herself “The Emperor really isn't the best at naming things, is she? I mean 'Flame Emperor'?”
“Nobody knew about her Crest of Flames. You only know because of chance and her majesty's too much trust in you” Hubert huffed, “Besides, nobody guessed it was her, so it worked.”
“Guess it did”
Edelgard finished her writing – put her quill down and closed her inkpot. Both her retainer and her knight fell silent and observed her tidying up her table.
“Ready?” Edelgard asked as she approached them.
“Yes, your majesty”
“Yes, my liege”