Chapter Text
Few characters in Fodlan’s history can come close to approaching the unique mix of mystery and significance belonging to Hubert von Vestra. Hier, Student, Vassal, General, Marquis, Minister of the Imperial Household, Hand of the Hresvelgs…the man certainly was not lacking in titles. Indeed, he is a part of that rare period in Fodlan’s history when the very land itself could be forever shaped by knights and nobles - many mere children by our modern standards. While Vestra was certainly old enough to be considered an adult today, it is worth remembering that he attended the officer’s academy at the same time as his liege, the illustrious (or infamous, depending on your school of thought) Emperor Edelgard. Much like the youthful Princess, the young Vestra worked tirelessly from the shadows to prepare for the Great War of Reunification. Much like the newly crowned Emperor, he fought fearlessly - if his legacy is to be believed - on the front lines of that war. And much like the aging Emperor, he lived out the remainder of his days in service to the Empire which their struggle renewed.
Still, despite his strength and his service, the name of Vestra is largely forgotten today. Modern retellings of the Great War focus on those at the very top: Emperor Edelgard, King of Delusion Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, The Master Tactician Claude von Riegan, and of course that fascinating interloper - Byleth. These characters, each charismatic in their own way, take up much of the cultural memory of this era. Indeed, it would take a dozen libraries to contain even the modern works of history compiled analyzing their lives - to say nothing of the endless volumes from antiquity doing the same. Hubert von Vestra, on the other hand, is often relegated to the sidelines. He finds himself pushed into the shadows to make room for the radiant glories of the Emperor.
Naturally, this is precisely what he would have wanted.
Vestra was, by his very nature, destined to thrive in the dark. Indeed, any number of black magic spells used today still bear his name (though whether this is as a credit to their inventor or out of respect to their master, we will never know with certainty). What is certain, however, is his service to the Empire, both tactically and personally. Prior to the publication of this collection, most of the scant scholarly work that had been done on the Minister of the Imperial Household focused on his role as a tactician in the war. Many of the Imperial Army’s most devastating maneuvers have been credited to him. While these claims may be largely unverifiable, the effectiveness of these strategies is undeniable.
Hubert, in the practice of his era, destroyed the vast majority of his documents relating to both war and peacemaking. To leave behind a paper trail would be to leave behind a record of one's vulnerabilities.
This is a curse for military historians seeking to understand the schemes of war, but it leads us to a hidden boon for those looking to understand the schemer himself. While documents of strategic importance were almost universally destroyed, those of personal importance were almost universally saved - kept either as mementos or as opportunities for blackmail should it be necessary. It is due to this practice that we can present this volume - a collection of letters from a man who has been so long overlooked by history… or perhaps one who actively sought to be forgotten by historians.
These letters contain invaluable insights into the young Vestra. Prior to our fully digital age, written language mattered in a profound and unique way. Tone was remarkably important. Without the crutch of facial expressions or body language, the language contained in a letter must make unmistakably clear to the reader how the author feels about the topic at hand. Subtly, though employed, could not be relied on, for fear of creating a long-lasting misunderstanding. That is not to say that these letters carry no artistic value as works of literature. On the contrary, they provide us with an unprecedented insight into the pinnacle of Fodlan’s culture and education during this period. The written world was unassailable, unchangeable, irrevocable once quill was placed to parchment. But letters served as much more than communication or record. They were the only practical tool for conversing across the continent. They were the only tool available for documenting one’s perspectives in a permanent manner. Indeed, letters were one of the only tools available to explore and define oneself - both internally and externally
The letters collected here show a young Imperial man doing just that - declaring to his peers, his elders, and himself exactly who he was.
The life of Hubert von Vestra can be broken up into four periods. Each of these periods corresponds to major events in the history of Fodlan. This connection is unsurprising for one whose life was so tied to the Empire. Those periods are as follows:
- Period I: 1160 - 1171, "Babe to Betrayal" - His birth until the Insurrection of the Seven.
- Period II: 1171 - 1180, "Schooling and Scheming" - The beginning of Edelgard’s plans to overthrow the peace of Fodlan and entry into The Officer's Academy.
- Period III: 1181 - 1186, "The War" - Naturally, the length of the Great War of Reunification.
- Period IV: 1186 - Death, "Pax Hresvelg" - The period of peace following the War, in which Hubert continued to serve the Empire.
Understandably, very little record of Hubert von Vestra survives at all from Period I - and even less of his writing. As such, the vast majority of the letters contained in this collection will be from Periods II through IV.
Hopefully equally understandably for our readers, we cannot make any claim that this collection represents the totality of Hubert’s writing. Working with documents, even intentionally preserved documents, from antiquity is a grueling exercise. As such, we’ve included only letters available to us, and in particular, letters that provide some insight into the Marquis himself. If you picked up this book hoping to read treaties solely about the status of supplies or the weather in Garreg Mach, you will be sorely disappointed.
The letters in this collection will be presented as our team of historians found them, with minimal alterations made for clarity. When necessary, [brackets] may be used to complete sentences or words left unfinished by the author. A brief note will accompany each letter, providing some key context about the circumstances of the letter’s writing, and its recipient. Some of these notes may not provide exact details. So much of Hubert’s life (and his heart, as we will see in later letters) is unknown to us. These letters, therefore, provide us with truly tantalizing glimpses into who this man was.
Lastly, it is worth noting that (after a great deal of debate) we have chosen not to present these letters in any particular order. Rather, we’ve presented them here in the same order our team came across them. We hope that this will preserve, for the reader, some insight into our research process. This provides us the ability to add newly discovered letters to the collection over time. Any readers aware, even circumstantially, of additional correspondences authored by Hubert von Vestra are encouraged to reach out to us via the normal methods.
It is our hope that this collection of letters, small as it may be, will serve to shed some light on a figure shrouded in darkness… in death as in life.
"Some people dedicate their existence to serving a master, and then are suddenly filled with regret when they reach the end of their life. I don't understand such foolishness." - H. Vestra
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading this little prologue. Since finishing my history degree some time ago, I’ve missed being able to discover and write about primary sources (beyond the ones I teach my students with). I’ve also had precious little time or energy to dedicate to creative writing. My hope is that this little project allows me to do both. My goal is to write about one letter a week - though how often I’ll publish those letters here is another matter entirely.
If you have any ideas for letters that you would like to see Hubert write, leave them as a comment on this work. I’m open to hearing quite literally anything. Naturally, I have some ideas for letters already - and just because you drop your ideas here does not mean I will necessarily use them. Still, I am always happy to be given new prompts.