Chapter Text
[This is sort of a follow-up to my other work ‘Golden Embers Falling’ – in which Byleth leads the Golden Deer House and inevitably falls in love with Claude – but this story can stand on its own. However, if you are curious as to the current political climate of Fodlan or what has happened to all of our beloved characters, I suggest reading that story first.]
A fortnight had elapsed since their return to Enbarr from Garreg Mach for the signing of the Peace Treaty. The seemingly endless debates regarding its contents were finally over. The elaborate preparations Hubert had made to guarantee Edelgard’s safety to and from the supposedly neutral venue ensured all that he had hoped.
Nothing happened.
And for the first time in his life, Hubert was… bored.
The Empress held court, continued to organize her domain, and dealt with her subjects’ concerns in a manner that, if possible, only increased his pride in serving her. Previous social standing under the old regime was irrelevant, forcing a great many changes – especially now that any alliances made out of convenience to support the war effort were dissolving.
Their true enemy was utterly defeated and the enclave at Shambhala destroyed, thanks to Byleth and the Alliance. All of Fodlan may not reside under a unified banner as he and Edelgard had once hoped – but without the former Archbishop’s meddling, their vison for the future was beginning to take root beyond the Empire’s borders regardless.
Such a thought should have made Hubert glad.
But he wasn’t.
Edelgard’s immediate safety was also all but assured. Not a soul remained at the palace that Hubert had not thoroughly investigated for even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction or betrayal. And her new cabinet was strong and efficient – or at least, as efficient as politicians could be. Hubert’s solutions were always faster – and more permanent.
Except, with every passing day, the Empire seemed to be less and less in need of his unique services.
Edelgard’s happiness, however – that was another story. Hubert could never be content knowing that his Empress was in distress. While Edelgard appeared to the rest of her people to be as calm and confident as ever, Hubert could see past her most recent guise. He heard her frequent, almost silent sighs at mealtimes and in her private quarters before retiring to bed. And he bore witness to how she paused before entering the courtroom, mentally brushing aside her own grief.
But he also knew nothing could ease Edelgard’s pain except time.
For Hubert couldn’t bring the dead back to life.
…
Exactly how and when the tradition of a long Sunday afternoon tea – and coffee – on Her Majesty’s private balcony between just the two of them had emerged was a bit of a mystery. Hubert couldn’t recall Edelgard requesting such a thing – nor had he consciously instigated it. But it had become one of the few things over the long summer months that remained consistent.
There were unspoken rules as well. All conversational topics were fair so long as they didn’t directly pertain to their work – or music. This second exception Hubert had discovered only recently.
There was a third exception too – undoubtedly tied to the second: a name. But Hubert hadn’t spoken it in months anyway. And he wouldn’t… not unless Edelgard said it first.
…
“We will have to resign ourselves to taking our Sunday afternoon tea indoors before long. I am open to any suggestion you might have as to location. Provided of course, that it is as equally… inaccessible for disruption.” Her Majesty observed, taking a sip of her tea.
Edelgard had been admiring how beautiful the autumn leaves appeared on the trees below them.
The weather was always a safe topic.
Hubert nodded, setting his own empty cup down. “Your father’s solarium would still provide a nice view. But by the Red Wolf Moon it might be cold enough there for us to seek out yet another more suitable place.”
“Not a bad idea. And perhaps the library next – as it has a large fireplace.” Her Majesty was gazing into what remained of her third cup of tea. It was probably cold by now.
Hubert didn’t reply, except for a very slight smile of agreement.
“Do you recall a conversation we had… years ago now – about us telling each other everything? No more secrets.” Edelgard asked, still looking intently into her cup.
Hubert tried to recall it exactly. “Vaguely. You were displeased that I didn’t inform you of all that I did behind the scenes – things you… didn’t need to know. But why bring that up now?” They both knew he hadn’t changed.
Edelgard shook her head. “I meant what you said after that.”
Hubert sighed. “You mean… when I told you that I… that I loved you.”
“Yes. That.” Edelgard finally looked up and met his eyes. “I know that you were… teasing me. And telling the truth at the same time. I… never said it back, did I.”
“You’ve never needed to.” Hubert felt his cheeks grow warm.
But she just shook her head again. “I… I regret not saying those words to… someone else. And now it is too late. So… please allow me to do so for you, Hubert. You mean a great deal to me.”
Hubert bowed his head respectfully but didn’t reply.
“I consider you… all that I have left for a family.” Continued Edelgard.
Hubert held up his hand to stop her. “I know. The words… aren’t necessary.”
“But I’m glad to have said them, regardless.” Edelgard’s cheeks were a light pink. “That… and I am curious to know if I still have the privilege of asking about your secrets.”
“My secrets? Whatever do you mean?” Hubert meant for it sound light and… rhetorical. He hoped to steer their conversation back towards safer topics.
Edelgard sighed. “You are not the only one that notices things, Hubert.”
He waited for her to continue.
“You are… dissatisfied with the dwindling opportunities peacetime has afforded you.” She expounded. Although how she had come to this conclusion, Hubert had no idea.
“You aren’t… entirely wrong.”
Edelgard smiled triumphantly. “Then we shall have to discuss alternative pursuits.”
Hubert just hummed skeptically.
“And I have just the thing.” Her next words came out as a somber whisper. “Seeing as my prospects for romance seem… all but gone – I would very much like to speculate on yours instead.”
Hubert hesitated. “I don’t think there is a right way to answer that.”
“Come now – indulge me.” Her smile slowly returned. “Certainly, you have at least entertained the idea.”
But Hubert just shook his head. “I most certainly have not.”
Undeterred, Edelgard continued. “It would have to be someone we both know well. Someone from our time at the Academy perhaps. Only… there aren’t exactly very many of the Black Eagles left available.”
Hubert started to put the coffee and tea service back in order on their tray, hoping his actions were enough of a hint for Edelgard to stop.
“Would Bernadetta still count, even though she joined up with the Golden Deer?” She asked.
Hubert didn’t answer. Of course she still counted – but he wasn’t going to encourage this.
“Caspar and Linhardt are as good as married. Petra will be the Queen of Brigid before too long. Which really just leaves Ferdi…”
But she was interrupted by Hubert’s sudden, explosive laughter. The idea was beyond ridiculous. “Ferdinand?! Your Majesty… if this is the sort of speculation you had in mind, I would have encouraged it up front. You might as well pair me up with Catherine… or Seteth! What a laugh.”
Except that Edelgard wasn’t laughing along with him.
“I only want to see you happy, Hubert. With… whoever might be that person for you.” She actually appeared to have small tears in her eyes. “I didn’t exactly expect to find… She wasn’t what I had imagined before. But… in the end, she was who I wanted.”
Hubert felt so ashamed. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to…”
Edelgard was quick to brush the moisture from her eyes, as if it had never been there. “No, I should not push you to talk about such things if you do not wish to.”
Because it was just the two of them on the balcony, Hubert placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “If it pleases you… I will give it some thought. But I have never really wished that for myself. To see you succeed… that is all I need.”
Edelgard shook her head, sadly. “I have succeeded, Hubert. This… is success.”
But she said it with a slight tremor in her voice – her eyes downcast.
><><
The topic didn’t come up again until they had been taking their Sunday afternoon tea in the library for several weeks. Shorter days and poor weather conditions meant that everything had slowed down even further – enough so that Hubert was becoming desperate for any sort of distraction.
“Have you read anything for pleasure, as of late? I could use a recommendation.” Hubert was scanning the shelves – coffee cup and saucer in hand.
Edelgard was sitting in a comfortable armchair by the fire. “That depends entirely on what you consider ‘reading for pleasure’ to mean.”
Hubert sighed. “Anything. Anything that isn’t about politics or taxes or… faith, that is.”
“Does this mean you would consider Ashe’s favorite book – ‘Loog and the Maiden of the Wind’?” She teased.
Hubert cringed. “That one was awful.”
“You have read it? I am… surprised, Hubert.” Edelgard laughed.
“I didn’t say I enjoyed it.” Hubert picked out a couple new books off the shelf at random and returned to his chair opposite Her Majesty.
Edelgard laughed again. “Let me guess – the pages and pages of love declarations made you… uncomfortable.”
Hubert was pleased to see his Empress is such light spirits. “Hardly. It was that the implied long years of chaste pining and noble sacrifices was posed as desirable. Unbelievable.”
“You didn’t find it romantic?” She was still smiling.
Hubert shrugged. “They didn’t even kiss.”
“Oh. In that case… I’m sure I could come up with some suggestions that would be more to your taste.” Edelgard teased.
Hubert laughed too. “Not really what I was after.”
Edelgard got up from her chair and took a turn browsing through the library. She came back with three volumes and handed them over. “Try one of these.”
Hubert perused each of them briefly. “Journals? Accounts of explorations beyond Fodlan? A bit… unusual – but they should do nicely.”
“When Claude took the Professor – I mean Byleth… anyway, when they both left for Almyra I wanted to read up on it. I mean… it was kind of obvious that the two of them had eyes for each other back at the Academy. But to follow Claude back… to leave Fodlan behind…” She trailed off.
“Their story is at least better than Loog’s.” Hubert admitted.
Edelgard nodded. “Quite.”
They sat in an easy silence for a while. What remained of their drinks had gone cold again – but that was never the reason for their Sunday get togethers anyway.
“Have you… thought about it yet?” Asked Edelgard carefully. “About… who could make you happy.”
Hubert sighed.
He didn’t want to have this conversation.
But he had kind of promised that they would.
“A man. One who… doesn’t mind that I… that my duty to you will always come first.” Hubert supplied lamely.
Edelgard gave him a cautious smile. “Well… that’s a start at least.”
But Hubert shook his head. “I don’t think he exists, Edelgard.” He rarely called her by her name.
“Why is that?”
Hubert could think of a lot of reasons. “No one wants… half a man.”
Edelgard lowered her voice to a whisper. “Are you implying that half of you belongs to me… or something else?”
Hubert didn’t answer – which was enough for Edelgard.
“Oh, Hubert. If only you could see yourself as I do.”
He shook his head again. “I don’t think your opinion should count.”
Hubert was a killer. He hid in the shadows, broke bones, and slit throats. He reveled in outfoxing a threat to Her Majesty and was merciless in eliminating every last conceivable trace of it. Beneath his gloves his hands were pitted and scarred from weaving the darkest of spells. Hubert painted the path before Edelgard red… so that she wouldn’t have to.
He had willingly sacrificed his soul a long, long time ago.
More silence – this time a little less easy.
…
“What about you?” He finally asked – missing the sound of Edelgard’s laughter.
“What about me?” She asked in turn, rather flatly.
Hubert was careful with his words. “You… encourage me to dream. But do you… have a dream for yourself?”
Edelgard shook her head. “Not yet.”
So they dropped the subject.
><><
The truth was Hubert had spent a lot more time thinking about Edelgard’s question than he cared to admit. She had – inadvertently perhaps – planted an idea in his head that he couldn’t shake.
It’s not as if he wasn’t still busy. Running the Imperial Household and maintaining his extensive network of spies still took up much of his time. But they were becoming mundane and familiar tasks now. He could delegate some of his responsibilities to loyal palace servants and keep the majority of his focus on Edelgard alone.
When Hubert retired to his own room for the evening he had few worries to mull over and even fewer secretive late night errands to perform. The three volumes of journals Edelgard had recommended to him lasted less than a week. In fact, he was starting to wonder if this was all he should expect for his life from now on.
Hubert had to remind himself that his own happiness was irrelevant.
The Empress always came first.
…
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t idly entertain certain thoughts in the dark of night when sleep eluded him. He would brush his hand over the cold sheets next to him and wonder what it would be like to share a bed with someone.
Such a simple act was nigh impossible. Hubert was a light sleeper by necessity. There were very few people he trusted enough to doze in their presence – even briefly. In fact, he could count their number on one hand.
Ferdinand von Aegir was on that list.
The obnoxiously loud, arrogant, and self-righteous fop that he was.
Hubert thought he hated the man.
But maybe he didn’t. Or at least not as he once did.
In fact, their relationship could almost be considered… friendly.
The two of them still exchanged small gifts every now and then. Most recently he had received a box of dark chocolates filled with coffee liquor from the Prime Minister. Hubert had savored them, but he had yet to return a gift of similar quality. Nothing had caught his eye.
Granted, the man was somewhat subdued after the war. His smiles… less frequent.
Ferdinand had been with… her during their last major battle. Edelgard and Hubert were focused on taking down Lord Arundel – or at least, the creature that had up till then been wearing his face – when it had happened.
When she died.
Hubert suspected that Ferdinand had loved her just as deeply as Her Majesty had – and perhaps still did.
Which sort of dampened any dreams Hubert might have entertained of Ferdinand lying down at his side late at night.
…
But when he awoke from an uneasy slumber early the next Sunday morning, Hubert had an idea.
That is of course if Her Majesty didn’t object…
…and the Prime Minister happened to be free that afternoon.
After all, Edelgard always came first.