Chapter Text
For reasons long lost to time, a plan had been made between two ministers with regards to their heirs and future duties to the Imperial Family. Each held his own motives and ambitions for the agreement close to his chest, feeling they had both deceived each other quite well into giving the better deal. In turn, they coaxed the Emperor into agreeing to the change in terms, assuring it would be for the best. Whether they ever achieved their initial goals this way or if those were laid aside as new plans became necessary, but what was done was done by that point.
At around four years old, Princess Edelgard was introduced to her new companion, a boy her age from a noble family, who would be moving into the palace to spend time with her. They would study together, play together, train together to serve the future of the empire. At four, neither had quite a lot of concept of what that entailed, despite the adults attempting to explain it then nudge them forward to socialize.
Unbeknownst to the adults, nearby a boy was watching them from behind a corner, peering at them suspiciously. He was confused and hurt, since after all, this was meant to be his first meeting with his charge, the girl he was supposed to protect. But that job had been seemingly snatched out from under him by a child younger than he was, with seemingly little reason for it other than “that pompous idiot’s fool ideas” being involved.
Clenching his fists, Hubert wondered what was so special about this chubby cheeked little thing that made him so worth taking over the position that was the birthright and duty of the heirs to House Vestra for so long. Didn’t this boy have his own position to worry about? And even if he did… why did he have to take the assignment away from Hubert? This was all quite a mess for him to figure out.
Originally, he was not supposed to be witnessing this meeting at all. Since informing him that his position would be changing and to refocus on his studies, Hubert’s father had said very little on the subject or reasons. It was part of why he was left to guess at motivations and reasons from offhand mutters whispered under the man’s breath, most not intended for his son’s ears, though some was definitely meant for Hubert to hear and judge on. However, on this day his father had observed, peering out the window of his study, that “oh yes, that brat would be moving into the palace today”.
Who else could be the brat in question? And if he was to start living in the palace that day, then the two must be meeting.
So Hubert had abandoned his studies to go investigate the competition, so to speak. Perhaps he escaped so easily because his father wasn’t paying attention, or perhaps he wanted Hubert to go look. To see who was somehow chosen over him, to see who he had to prove to that he was the far superior choice. It all felt stupidly overwhelming.
Turning away from the scene and pressing his back to the wall, Hubert tried to regain his composure. His father would be angry if he saw him so discomposed. He caught his breath, tried to hold the seething inside.
What drew him from his thoughts was a tug at his sleeve. Huh? He hadn’t moved so couldn’t be caught on something.
Snapping to attention, he found two sets of eyes peeking at him from around the corner. Pale green eyes met soft purple and bright orange.
The Princess and her New Companion seemed to have spotted him at some point, or they had been exploring and found the right spot. Either way, the curious children were looking up at him with mirrored interest, though one more dignified and the other more sheepish. Though that could be because said New Companion had been the one to tug his sleeve to get his attention, and hadn’t hidden his hand behind his back fast enough to go unnoticed.
“Who are you?” Imperious as expected, the Princess had information to ask of the new strange boy who had stumbled into her path.
Hubert had been taught enough proper etiquette for meeting one of the royal children, so introduced himself as such. He felt awkward, unsure how to deal with the judgment of those younger than himself. Or older either, honestly. Judgment was still a little hard to deal with at this age.
To his relief, neither seemed to object to his display. They just introduced themselves as well, not that she needed it, and Hubert found himself at an impasse. Edelgard and her New Companion, Ferdinand, were both still looking at him consideringly. Really, he should have slunk back to his studies by now, giving them some excuse that he had to leave. But here he stood, still suspended in confusion under their eager eyes.
“Come play with us, Hubert.” Edelgard declared with a decisive nod.
“I…should be studying.” Hubert’s protest sounded weak to his own ears. He was sure he was not supposed to be ‘playing’ with any of the Imperial children to begin with. He wasn’t on their level, for certain.
“Come on,” Ferdinand seemed to be emboldened by his earlier success tugging Hubert’s sleeve with no repercussions and reached out again, this time grabbing at Hubert’s hand instead. He wasn’t even wearing gloves! Hadn’t this boy been dressed up for the meeting in advance??? Hubert wasn’t wearing them because he wasn’t even going to be out today but that was no excuse for Ferdinand!
Hubert initially froze in surprise at the contact but let himself be tugged without objecting once he got over the initial shock. He looked to Edelgard, as if somehow she had the power to decide this matter properly, even though she had already invited him.
“It can wait. Come with us.” Edelgard agreed, taking Hubert’s wrist to pull him along as well. She had apparently decided that emphasizing he needed to come with them by capturing him seemed to be working as desired.
With no possible way to escape or reject the invitation, Hubert could only resign himself to being dragged along to play. Which is exactly what he was going to say if his father came demanding to know where he was.
-
“That is a lot of numbers.” Ferdinand rested his chin on Hubert’s shoulder, looking at what he was studying.
“They’re very advanced.” Edelgard leaned against Hubert’s other side, not going so far as resting her chin on the older boy, but caging him in on the other side nonetheless.
“Yes and I am supposed to complete all of these pages. I have no time for you two.” Hubert scrunched up his shoulders, looking huffy and nervous.
Ferdinand decided to be stubborn about the scrunch so just moved his cheek closer to Hubert's and hugged him with one arm, earning an undignified squawk for his trouble but no further protests.
“We thought you couldn’t come out today. So we’re going to do our lessons in here.” Edelgard explained, pulling out a seat beside Hubert to place the pages she had carried along with them on the table beside his.
“We have numbers to practice too!” Ferdinand let Hubert go to show him the papers in his other hand.
“You’ve smudged yours again.” Hubert told him, and gave an amused huff when Ferdinand pouted at that. He only turned back to his own work once he got Ferdinand puffy cheeked and sitting down in a huff.
The best things about moving to the palace (where his father worked) were Edelgard and Hubert. Before coming here, Ferdinand had really been the only child around his home that wasn’t part of the ‘staff’. He didn’t fully understand the difference but his father didn’t like him playing with staff or their children so they often kept their distance. But these two he was allowed to play with and stay around.
Edelgard was his best friend. They were the same age (though Ferdinand was a little bit older!) and took the same lessons. She was an Imperial Princess and he was going to be Prime Minister like his father some day, so they’d be working really close together. Edelgard liked to talk (though not as much as Ferdinand) and to argue about lessons being right or not (she liked that even more than he did). Both of them were quite bossy and they got into little tussles all the time, but that was fun. She also liked slightly different sweets than he did (and both of them liked more sweets than Hubert) so they could split a box of mixed treats and each have all their favorites to themselves!
Hubert was also going to be a minister some day, so he’d work with them too. He was really fun to be around. He was older than them but not so much older as to be boring. He was just older enough to be neat. He wasn’t like Edelgard, who liked to roughhouse and go outside a lot. Hubert wanted to read his books (even when he wasn’t studying!) and sneak around watching things, and people, and try to learn things without asking questions. He would freeze or turn red if his hand was held onto or if he was hugged, but he never actually pushed Ferdinand away from those things or even said anything about them. He’d say “no I can’t play” or “I’m busy” but if they pulled him just a little, he’d go along and play their games or read them stories. And of course Hubert was the best at stories.
He could actually read (better than either Ferdinand or Edelgard could at this point) and he’d read most of it slow and grumbly, but when it was time for someone to talk, he’d try to speak how they would. The pair of them loved this, and it sent them into giggles and cheers very often. Of course he and Edelgard each had their favorite voices for him to do, or ones they would try to perform for themselves. Edelgard was the silliest about her big “deep” guy voice, which sounded a lot like storybook ministers. Ferdinand liked people who talked fancy but he was still working on it. Hubert did all sorts of voices when they asked, but he was BEST at villains. He liked to try their little evil laughs and sent his small friends into peels of delighted laughter at them.
Reading stories together was great, even if Edelgard was pretty sure Hubert sometimes made up what happened next if he couldn’t read it. Ferdinand thought she was right but also didn’t care as long as they still got a story. This all still usually ended with the three of them curled up together for a nap. Honestly, that was how A LOT of their activities ended up. Getting tired was just a fact of being energetic when awake and as long as Hubert could be dragged into their antics, he was as tired out as they were in the end.
Some days, Minister Vestra didn’t let Hubert come play with them and Hubert couldn’t sneak out of the study room. On those days, Edelgard and Ferdinand had to find things to do alone or they would bring their own study work, sneak into the study room and keep Hubert company. He still had to do his own work, but they could squish him between them like they did for story time, and all be working together on their boring classwork. Plus, when they were all together, they could ask him questions or discuss answers together when they were all confused. The most confusing answers sometimes involved going to seek out Edelgard’s elder siblings for help, but that was only in the direst of circumstances.
Today the three were able to work together quite nicely for a time. That was, until a quick sharp set of steps in the hallway made Hubert tense up.
In an instant, Hubert reached up and pushed the two on either side of him down under the desk. Ferdinand made to protest but Edelgard covered his mouth with her hand. Above them, Hubert shuffled the papers on the table and returned to his rigid posture.
The door clicked open and from the voice, it seemed Minister Vestra had come to check on his son's work.
“You’ve completed more than expected so far.” That almost sounded like praise, till he added, “do you see how much more you can accomplish when you focus properly instead of indulging in childish antics?”
“Yes, sir.”
Something in his tone must have displeased his father (something Ferdinand was quite familiar with doing as well) and Minister Vestra gave a light rap on the edge of the desk with his knuckles.
“You will understand in time the value of the future I am trying to create for you. Provided you are not so foolish as to squander it on whim and sentimentality.” He strode away from the desk, and seemed to be standing further in the room. “They're small now, but they will see you as an inferior before too long. An older playmate is only a novelty that can last until they recognize the distinction of rank and influence. You do not have the same future to look forward to, not unless things change, Hubert.”
Ferdinand balled his fists beneath the desk and struggled against Edelgard holding him back. He could only partly do that because he was equally holding her back. Despite how angry he was, this was Hubert's father not his, and arguing with him or revealing themselves would only get Hubert in trouble.
“Yes, sir.”
Hubert returned to writing, the scratch of his pen above audible again. But while he was trying to sound steady, his knees were shaking.
Ferdinand and Edelgard exchanged a look. They couldn't reveal themselves and argue, but at least there was something they could do about this!
Together, quietly as possible, the two leaned sideways so they were leaning against Hubert's legs under the desk, squishing him between them again.
For a moment he seemed confused, pausing his writing then quickly returning to it.
The musings and instructions from Minister Vestra continued for a while before he decided to leave, attending to his own business as a minister or whatever he got up to. The important part was the children were free to climb back out.
“He talks as if my father doesn't dearly trust and respect him.” Edelgard looked irked, lower lip jutting imperiously (for pouting was when Ferdinand did it, not otherwise). She resumed her seat and took their papers back from under Hubert's, but couldn't focus again yet so sat kicking her legs beneath her chair.
Ferdinand was too incensed to speak so instead just put his arms around Hubert's chest and tucked his head up under the older boy's chin.
“Are you crying again?” Hubert asked, as if to tease him, but wrapped his arms around Ferdinand with no protests, petting at his hair.
He was not, in fact, crying again. Not that he cried much anyway. He just felt his friend's father was a very upsetting presence and he strongly disliked him. He disliked how he talked about them and how he spoke to his son.
Overall just a very unpleasant interruption, taking away from their study time together.
~
As far as Edelgard was concerned, she had two best friends, though not quite. Hubert was her friend but only tentatively a friend, so he said, and he wouldn't even call her by her nickname! Ferdinand meanwhile, was definitely a friend but he was also like another brother, which was different from being a friend, she supposed, but it wasn't very clear. He had duties to her that her other siblings didn't but that was rather its own thing.
She had learned more about what a retainer was supposed to be and do over the past year or so, and had learned a bit more about what Hubert would have been to her if assigned as such. Truthfully, she was a little glad he wasn't so that she could more easily have him as a friend and he wasn't always busy taking care of her. There were other staff for that and she was pretty sure he'd try to take on all sorts of things.
Of course, in learning about that she came to ask why he would even have been assigned to her so young. Neither of them were very old so he wasn't THAT much more capable than her, was he? But it seemed to be another 'that is how it is done’ answers so she stopped bothering with it. It did make her wonder about what agreement had made the ministers change their plans so much. But she liked how things were so that was alright.
Ferdinand, or Ferdie as she took to calling him for short (better than Eff or Ferd which both sounded wrong), was probably intended for a life as a noble heir. The Prime Minister didn't seem to have any other crest-bearing sons and certainly not with his wife, so Edelgard wasn't sure what made him give up his heir to be her companion. But with how young they both were when the change was made, there was really nothing else to do but adapt.
When they were five, the two had gone to see the Divine Songstress, Manuela, at the Mittelfrank Opera. Ferdinand had practically fallen in love that day, though Edelgard wasn't sure if it was with Manuela, with the beauty of swordwork on the stage, or with Opera itself. He had happily dragged her (and both of them dragged Hubert) to a few more shows after that. If he were idle, Edelgard was pretty sure he would have gone even more. But no matter, the shows had been inspiring and features from it had worked until their games.
“On guard, Ferdie!” Edelgard called, brandishing a wooden toy sword at him. “I have claimed this garden as my territory.”
“It's really more of a lawn, Lady Edelgard. A hill at best.” Hubert commented from where he sat on the grass, studying a magic tome and practicing his spells.
“Whatever.” Edelgard puffed her cheeks then declared again. “I have claimed this lawn as my territory.”
“You shall not get away with it, Wicked Lady El!” Ferdinand said back, holding out his own wooden sword.
“That is Pirate Queen El to you!”
“A downgrade from Emperor I would think.” Hubert commented.
“Shut up Hubert or I'm claiming you as part of my territory too and you will have to play with us!” Edelgard pointed out.
“She cannot be Emperor till the third act.” Ferdinand said helpfully.
“You have acts now?” Hubert asked.
They both giggled but chose to ignore him, as Hubert was trying to get on with his studies. Instead they started their play sword fight, chasing each other around the hill.
One difficulty of doing anything on a hill was the uneven footing, which the two quickly discovered. As they were starting to fall, Ferdinand had the bright idea of pulling her into a hug. So down they tumbled, and Edelgard curled herself up in his arms. At the bottom, they fell apart, bursting into giggles again.
Scrambling back up, the pair looked for their swords, tossed aside before they fell. Hubert got up to come join them, pulling out his handkerchief, presumably to wipe away some dirt from one or both of their faces. That was when a stern voice cut in.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Hubert's father, Minister Vestra, came across the lawn in quick strides to scold them. Well, more to yell at Hubert and Ferdinand. Whatever happened his son was in trouble for not handling it (despite if not being his job) and Ferdinand was inferior for not doing as he wanted. The latest issue seemed to be not “protecting” her well enough.
Ferdinand finally interrupted, his annoyance stronger than his manners at present. “I took most of the bumps so El is safe. Hubert just came to check on us. Stop being angry if he helps and angry if not!”
The Minister seemed to have more to say but Edelgard piped up with a distraction. “Ferdie, I think you're bleeding.”
“Huh?” He looked down, finally spotted his own scraped legs. “Oh. Yes. Are you alright?”
Edelgard checked herself over again. “I'm fine.”
“You have dirt on your tunic but I don't see any blood.” Hubert chimed in, catching her intended distraction. “Still we should go make sure you are uninjured and clean this dolt up before he bleeds all over the palace.”
“Yes, let's go.” Edelgard turned and gave a proper nod. “Thank you for your concern, Minister.”
Catching on as well, Ferdinand bowed politely as he could. “Thank you for your guidance.” He was still puffed up with annoyance but trying to behave.
Hubert steered Ferdinand along, both hands on his shoulders as the trio swiftly left. He had words to say to both of them about being careful and not talking back to his father, all said while helping clean the cuts on Ferdinand's legs and his back (some a little worse from having curled around another person).
Ferdinand hissed at the cold swipe of medicine on his skin but tried to maintain a brave face. Edelgard held his hand for moral support.
Despite his scoldings and a short “you deserved that” when Ferdinand first gave a whine of pain, Hubert was quite gentle with him. His father's anger may have also come from worry, but it was a demanding sort that showed little mercy for them as children. Hubert seemed genuinely worried they could have been hurt (either by their fall or maybe by his father?)
After, he stood still and let them both hug him, as if it were a great chore and not something he just felt shy about. Like she didn't catch him, out of the corner of her eye, smiling as he rested his cheek on Ferdinand's head.
Next time they had to deal with his father, the two tried to be slightly more sensible about involving him. Tried being the operative word.
It had been an innocuous scuffle between the princess and her companion. By which she meant they had got in a fight.
“Come on, El! If you do not get a move on, I will have to drag you.”
“Ferdie if you try, I will bite you “
“You will do no such-ow!”
She had absolutely bitten him and felt perfectly justified in doing so. Of course, he did end up biting her back which had meant neither went where they had intended (which was promptly forgotten).
As rather athletic children for their age, it was an even match. They would regularly play fight or get into small tussles so this was nothing new. Sure, they usually didn't bite and scratch or pull hair but this was normal for them.
So normal, in fact, that when Hubert arrived to see what was taking them so long, he merely greeted them with a blank stare.
“You're both going to be late if you keep this up.”
He went ahead into the room past them to pick up their discarded bags to bring along. It was then that the pair finally stopped and sat back, panting.
It was as this was happening the sound of the scuffle, now dying into an argument, seemed to attract attention.
It seemed Minister Vestra was the one to catch them this time, which was a shame because most other adults around their schoolroom were much more likely to turn a blind eye to a small incident between the friends so long as nobody was hurt.
Edelgard and Ferdinand were still hissing little jabs or slapping at each other's hands even as they stood on either side of Hubert and tried futilely to straighten up their clothes again. But as soon as his father appeared, the two did their best to behave.
“Can you not even handle two small children?” Minister Vestra looked at his son with a mixture of disappointment and disgust. He looked at Edelgard and then Ferdinand last, a glint of disdain in his eyes for them both.
With a glance at each other, a truce was immediately called and the two stepped in closer to each other in front of Hubert.
“He was reminding us of proper behavior, Minister.” Edelgard said quietly.
“And of our prior engagements.” Ferdinand added in a small voice. Though he might still just be wheezy because Edelgard had elbowed him in the stomach.
“Yet somehow he seems to have been more preoccupied with another errand than stopping something so dangerous as a fight with an imperial princess.”
Edelgard squeezed her small fists at her side and bit back any response. She could see Ferdinand doing the same. Obviously Hubert knew they would fight it out easily enough but they couldn't just say that.
A low laugh from the doorway broke through the tension.
“They're children, old friend. They aren't even hurt, are you, El?”
Standing there was Edelgard's father, Emperor Ionius, walking with her mother on his arm. There was likely a meeting he was attending with Minister Vestra but bad stopped to take his favorite concubine somewhere, leaving the man free to come investigate their antics.
“No father.” She gave a proper bow of respect as she answered him, and her friends bowed briefly as well.
“You see? Now come, you had something you wished to discuss. Let the little ones be on their way.”
Hubert ushered the two along on their intended path. She could feel his hands shaking and see the frustration on his face, barely concealed as he ducked his head forward so his dark curls could cast most of his face in shadow.
“Sorry for pulling you, El.” Ferdinand whispered, after a sheepish glance at Hubert and then at her.
“Well, now you know I mean it when I say I will bite you for it.” Edelgard told him, which was a perfectly reasonable acceptance of an apology between them and he grinned at her.
As soon as Hubert had helped place the two on the carriage, intended to take them to the imperial stables for an outing, the pair exchanged a look. All at once they both reached out and hauled Hubert into the carriage as well and closed the door behind him.
Hubert looked ready to protest, but Ferdinand pulled him into the seat between them and hugged him around his middle.
“We can see the pegasi for a bit before we go see the new foal.” He suggested, grinning cheekily.
Hiding in his hands, Hubert tried to pretend he was annoyed but had clearly given up protesting. Whether it was because of the promise of seeing pegasi (which they both had learned by accident that he was secretly fond of) or because he enjoyed a hug after being yelled at (she knew he did) was anyone's guess.
“We're ready to proceed.” Edelgard told the driver and took her seat properly, leaning against her friends and being pulled into the hug by Ferdinand. As was right and proper.
Unfortunately for them, the next time the two had an incident and Hubert's father was involved, it was the last they would see him for a while.
It had started peacefully enough. The three were sitting outside on a warm day in summer. There was a stream on the outskirts of the Imperial Gardens and all three had gone to relax and soak their feet in the water to cool off for a while.
Hubert was reading a book for them, after much cajoling and they were each laughing at various points in the story. It had been something they caught one of their governesses reading and had a great deal of trouble getting ahold of, until Ferdinand managed to acquire a copy from a private library at his father's house in the city, seemingly belonging to his mother (or one of his father's mistresses but Edelgard wasn't going to remind him of that). It was probably far too grown up for them but the three were having fun with the attempt.
Somehow, one of the topics led to another discussion of sorts.
“A union of powerful families. I wonder if that's what your father was thinking trying to make you Lady Edelgard's companion.” Hubert had commented idly.
“I hope not.” Edelgard crossed her arms, “He's like another brother.”
“The intent is separate from the effects. It might not have been planned you two would get along quite the way you do.” Hubert pointed out. “I wouldn't put it past that man to think all princesses are like maidens in a novel.
“But what about your father?” Ferdinand asked, skipping a stone across the water from where he sat.
“Who even knows. Perhaps he intends to gain lands from your family somehow.”
“Ferdie only has half-sisters so it wouldn't really work well for that.” Edelgard leaned on her hands. “Do you ever want to get married to someone?”
“Me?” Hubert colored, looking aghast.
“Either of you.” She shrugged. “Ferdie’s not going to marry me, so you're both free to marry whoever… if you wanted.”
“I… I don't know! I'm supposed to have a lot of work. Dark things, you wouldn't understand.” Hubert huffed.
“Your father does that and he is married.” Ferdinand pointed out.
“That doesn't make it sound better. He and my mother aren't close.”
“Well you are going to be better than him and so you should be better at marriage too.”
Edelgard laughed at that. “Ferdie's right. You are going to be a better than your father at everything, even that.”
“As you decree.” Hubert pulled his knees up to his chest and hid his smile by resting his chin on them.
“Whoever I marry has to like you two.” Ferdinand observed. “I do not want someone who forbids me giving you both hugs and spending time with.”
“Like Mr. Maeve in the book!” Edelgard pointed out.
“Exactly!”
“Yes, that's a good idea. Whoever either of you marry, I must approve first. I do not want either of you to be stolen away from us.” Edelgard stood properly to declare this. When they were both seated was the only time she stood taller than either of her best friends.
“And what of your own partner, Lady Edelgard? Are we going to be given the right to approve as well?”
“Yes, that only seems fair. My best friends must approve of my future husband or wife.”
“And if you're emperor, must we approve any concubines as well?” Hubert was teasing her fully now.
“Hubert.” Edelgard put her hands on her hips, staring at him seriously.
“It was your own idea. I'm just being efficient about it.” Hubert protested, mischievous smile completely contrary to his tone.
“If we just want to be simplest, I would just have to marry Hubert.” Ferdinand piped up.
“What?!” All mischief was lost to a furious blush, stronger than before, as Hubert turned to stare at him.
Edelgard laughed mercilessly. “That's a good idea! Then I only need to find a partner and you're both covered! No one is a more eligible husband for you than Hubert.”
“I already plan to have a stable. So we can just have room for a Pegasus for you there. And you would not stop me seeing El or hugging either of you.”
“That is an impractical idea.” Hubert sank into his collar and hid behind his knees again. “Our fathers wouldn't allow it anyway.”
“Well the Emperor has more authority than our fathers. So when the time comes, El can deal with it.” Ferdinand leaned over to hug Hubert, resting his chin on one shoulder.
“You're embarrassing.” Hubert grumbled at him, but leaned his head against Ferdinand's.
“Be nice to your husband, Hubert.” Edelgard teased.
“He is being nice to me.”
“I am being very nice not pushing him in the stream for trying to hug me in this heat.”
“That would just cool me off more.” Ferdinand pointed out but let him go.
“That sounds more fun than just sitting here on the edge.” Edelgard suggested and stepped into the water.
Ferdinand got up to join her and Hubert went back to reading the book for a little. He stopped for good when the two began a splash fight, and just sat on the bank watching them or occasionally adding a splash himself against one or the other.
As they were finishing up, out of breath and soaked, Ferdinand looked to Hubert then over at Edelgard.
“We cannot clean up before we go back, can we?”
“I don't imagine so, why?”
“If we go back looking like this and we run into his father again…” Ferdinand looked sheepishly down at their soaked clothes.
“Hm. That would be a problem. You can't already be tarnishing your husband's honor, Ferdie.”
Hubert looked between the two of them incredulously. “You needn't worry so much about it. He will scold me for not doing better by Lady Edelgard but he will anyway.”
“But we don't want it to be worse, Hubert!” Edelgard stomped her foot.
“I can survive a few harsh words.”
“No, I know! Come here!” Ferdinand exclaimed and held out his hand towards Hubert. “If you come here and we get you soaked too, you obviously tried to break up our games.”
“This is a silly idea.” Hubert protested but he put his bag down and haltingly took Ferdinand's hand.
Quickly, Ferdinand pulled him over to them and with a series of giggles, they proceeded to get him properly splashed and involved. All three were leaning on each other and laughing for a short while, before climbing out and going to rest on the beach.
They were, in fact, met by Minister Vestra on returning to the palace. However, their plan was mostly unnecessary. He didn't question if Hubert had stopped their antics or not. He was merely taken by the arm, told he was late (when there had been no schedule in advance at all!) and dragged off to a carriage.
Following after, his friends only learned from snatches of conversation that he was being sent to stay at their manor for further studies. He wasn't even allowed to change into something dry before the long ride. Had they not forcibly run up to the carriage as he was climbing up to tug his hands and cling a little, they may not have even got a goodbye.
“We'll write to you.” Edelgard promised quietly, holding onto one of his arms.
“You have to write us back, alright?” Ferdinand agreed, holding the other tightly.
Hubert didn't say anything, head tilted down to hide his face. It would work for anyone further away but could hide nothing from the two of them. He was biting his lip and had his eyes squeezed shut. He clutched at their sleeves a moment, just a moment longer, and then his father called him and he climbed up onto the carriage to be taken away from them.
Their first letters reached him not too long into his stay but his mother had to help with the first reply. Hubert had taken sick after his journey. It made her cross enough with her husband to ignore his orders and assist her son writing to his little friends.
Minister Vestra seemed to think that as long as they had a little time and space, the pair would quickly forget his son. He had allowed them the address but forbidden a reply, and likely expected that such young children would make poor correspondents. How wrong he was.
They were Hubert's best friend and his future spouse, respectively. Obviously they were far more determined and more attached to Hubert than he could predict.
Still, the next the three met in person would be far different than any of them had any idea.