Chapter Text
27th of the Blue Sea Moon, Imperial Year 1184
Imperial Palace, Enbarr
It was another dreary summer evening in Enbarr. War clouds had drifted in from the north - a result of a recent skirmish along the Alliance border - blocking out the sun and painting the city streets a dull color that matched the mood of most of its people.
Adrestian patriotism had been quite high after the war began with the Imperial victory at Garreg Mach, the people rallying under the banner of their emperor. But, after that first victory, the war had been in a seemingly eternal stalemate, and thus, the morale of the people had been in steady decline for years as more oceans of blood continued to be pointlessly spilled.
Still, the Empire remained in the best state - relatively speaking - of the three nations, as Faerghus and Leicester continued to teeter on collapse, as a result of years of infighting between the noble houses. Adrestia, at the very least, was united in pursuit of a singular cause.
“As long as the people are fed.”
That was the most recent thought to pass through the ever-busy mind of Edelgard von Hresvelg, the emperor of Adrestia. Though toppling the Church remained paramount, the needs of her people came first, and she was thankful that limited trade continue to flow with allied houses in the rival nations, and due to that, the Adrestian people were, for the most part, not going hungry.
But that fact still wasn’t enough to make Edelgard’s life any less miserable.
For one, the Crest of Flames seemed to be weighing her down more than usual lately. The damn thing would probably kill her within a decade, but she wished every day she could simply plunge her hand into her chest and tear the stupid thing out of there for good. Alas, the world was not just.
But, on top of her own personal health issues, there were the duties of being emperor. Constant meetings, stuffy nobles, sending good men and women to die at her behest… it truly was too much at times.
“Dammit…”
Another common thought in the emperor’s head. Edelgard walked over to the grand window of her palace quarters, which overlooked the capital. The sun, still mostly hidden by the smog of battle, could be faintly seen setting over the landscape - another day ending with nothing accomplished.
Edelgard shook her head wordlessly. Before she could get too deep into her own head, there was a knock at her door. Though no words were spoken, she immediately knew who it was; no one else would dare disturb the emperor at this time of day. “You may enter, Hubert.”
The door to the emperor’s quarters opened without a creak, and in stepped Hubert von Vestra, the Empire’s minister of affairs. Perhaps more importantly, he had also been the retainer of Edelgard since she was six, though in the years since the war began, they’d become something more that neither of them could quite explain.
Hubert closed the door behind him as quietly as he had entered, and stepped forward. “Good evening, my lady. Are you well?”
“I have not been well since I was a girl, Hubert.” Edelgard turned around, her expression unreadable. “You would know that better than most anyone.”
“Ah, that is certainly true.” Hubert bowed slightly. “My apologies for wasting your breath on a pointless question.”
Edelgard raised a hand. “You are forgiven.” She lowered her hand. “So then, why might you be here? More reports? It’s unlike you to simply barge in somewhere on a whim.”
“I am merely here to check on my lady. Nothing more.”
There it was again. My lady. That term that Edelgard found both endearing and insulting. Hubert still refused to address her by her name in most cases, but after a day of hearing enough “Your Majesty’s” for an entire lifetime, it was still welcome.
“Hmph.” Edelgard turned back around, pressing her forehead against the window. “I am not sure what you expected to find. If all you wanted was proof of life, you may go.”
Hubert stepped further into the room, stopping just behind his lady, who turned her head. Once he had her attention, he gestured to her side. “May I?” Edelgard waved her hand to give him approval, and he took the last few steps until he was standing directly next to her, hands clasped behind his back.
The last light of the day was beginning to fade, but some of the people could still be seen. Near a blacksmith, a young man could be seen polishing his lance. Across the street, two young women could be seen practicing their magic, flames dancing at their fingertips.
“They fight for you, my lady.”
Edelgard scoffed. “Yes. The woman who sends them off to spill their blood in her stead in a war that has not progressed in dozens of moons. What a noble sentiment.”
Hubert shook his head. “They would not follow their emperor’s orders if they did not believe in her, my lady.”
“Foolish.” Edelgard clenched her fists. “Why believe in me? Even if we do eventually win this war, it is not as though I am long enough for the world to see the fruit of it. Why fight for someone like that?”
Hubert smiled grimly. “Because you alone are capable of leading them to victory.”
“And that rickety sentiment is enough reason to believe in me?”
“I would say so, my lady.”
Edelgard turned her head. “Is it enough reason for you to believe in me?”
Hubert chuckled lowly. “‘Believe’ would not be an adequate word, my lady. But if I must… yes. It certainly is.”
Edelgard sighed, lifting her forehead from the glass. “I…” She didn’t finish what she was about to say, opting to shutter the windows to give the two of them privacy. “Hold me, Hubert.”
“As my lady wishes.” Hubert briskly moved behind Edelgard, putting his arms around her from behind, resting them just below her chest. He pressed himself against her from behind, and did no more than that.
Edelgard let out a sigh. “Thank you, Hubert. Your warmth may be one of the only things in this wretched world capable of bringing me some amount of comfort.”
Hubert tightened his hold a bit, a humored exhale escaping from his nose. “Hah. Words uttered to me by no other soul.”
Edelgard didn’t smile. “Then cherish them.”
The pair stood in silence for a while, the only sounds being the occasional flicker of the candle, and the occasional scurry of feet outside the room as palace staff finished up for the day. It was Edelgard who eventually broke the silence, nestling a bit further into her retainer’s arms.
“What are we, Hubert?”
“My lady?”
Edelgard frowned. “It is clear our relationship goes beyond retainer and emperor. There is some amount of affection that goes both ways… and yet I cannot put a word to it. Might you be able to help me?”
“Hm.” Hubert pondered the question. “I do not believe it would be accurate to describe us as lovers. I am not worthy of being deemed my lady’s love. And yet, my reasons for staying by your side are beyond mere devotion. It seems I cannot put a word to it either.”
Edelgard lifted her hands, resting them over Hubert’s gloved ones where they laid over her midsection. “Perhaps words are not needed.” She shuffled a bit in his arms, prompting him to release her. Once she was free, she turned around. “Remove your gloves, Hubert.”
“As my lady wishes.” Hubert peeled off the gloves on each of his hands, revealing his blackened fingertips, their natural color long gone after years of countless dark magic spells.
Edelgard reached out, taking one of her retainer’s hands. “What are these, Hubert?”
“They are my hands, my lady.”
Edelgard ran her fingers along Hubert’s, beginning to feel the heat within her build. “And what are these?”
The grin on Hubert’s face wasn’t remotely close to reaching his eyes. “My digits, my lady. Made dark from years of using them to murder, torture, and beyond. A grim yet humble reminder of who I am.”
Edelgard could feel the heat now, likely her damn Crest flaring up again. She knew one way to surpress it, her hands lightly trembling over Hubert’s. “And for whom did you murder and torture?”
“For none other than you, Lady Edelgard.”
Hearing him finally speak her name snapped something within Edelgard. She took Hubert’s gloves from his hands and tossed them across the room, before hooking a hand behind his hand and pulling him down for a kiss that was more fervent than she had intended it to be.
Hubert, for his part, did his best to return the kiss. To say it wasn’t his strong suit would be an understatement, but he matched the movements of his lady’s lips the best he could. He knew that she got like this whenever her Crest was flaring up, and this was her preferred method of lowering the temperature.
After over a minute of locked lips, Edelgard finally let go of Hubert, her breathing heavy. “I…”
Hubert lowered his head. “Better, my lady?”
Edelgard swallowed. “…yes. Thank you, Hubert. My apologies for troubling you with that.”
“There is no trouble of yours I would not shoulder the burden of, my lady. A kiss is trivial compared to other things I’ve done for you.”
Edelgard lowered her head to hide her blush. “That is… true. If I may be honest… I am ready to retire to bed for the night.”
“There is no shame in taking an early rest. But, if I may recommend…” Hubert eyed Edelgard, still in her emperor garb, from head to toe. “…let us get you out of… that.”
Edelgard, for the first time that night, chuckled. “Hah. I must agree.”
Hubert got to work, removing his lady’s robes first, leaving her just in her light clothing underneath. It was not exactly proper sleepwear, but for tonight, it would suffice.
He moved to her head next, beginning to pull the horns off of her crown. “Forgive me if I am stepping out of line by saying this, but… this crown is ridiculous, to be frank.”
Edelgard nodded. “Oh, I agree, Hubert. I have been considering requesting a change to it.”
“Then do so, by all means.” Hubert pulled the last bit of the crown off, Edelgard’s white strands of hair spilling out freely. “It is not as though anyone will oppose you.”
Edelgard sighed. “Perhaps.”
“Now.” Hubert took a few steps over to Edelgard’s grand bed, lifting the covers. “Let us have you rested for tomorrow.”
Edelgard climbed into the bed, getting herself as comfortable as she could ever realistically be. “Thank you, Hubert, but please be sure you rest as well. I know you have spent many a night up far later than you should be.”
“Duty calls, my lady.” Hubert laughed lowly. “No matter how briskly we run from life, reality will always be faster. But I will attempt to retire early tonight, if you so desire. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
Edelgard nestled a bit further into her pillow. “Simply put out the candles, and that will be all.”
“As my lady wishes.” Hubert licked his dark fingers, pinching the first candle out, making his way over to the rest. Just before he put out the last one, he heard Edelgard’s sleepy voice.
“Good night, Hubert. I love you.”
Hubert froze for a moment. “…yes.” He was not worthy of those words, much less so returning them to his lady. He pinched the last candle out, shrouding the room in darkness. He retrieved his gloves from the corner where Edelgard had flung them earlier, and silently slipped them back on before beginning to make his exit.
By the time he reached the door, he could already hear the sounds of his lady breathing quietly as she slept.
“It seems my lady was more exhausted than she let on.”
Hubert dismissed the thought silently, opening the door and closing it behind him, but not before saying his final piece.
“Sleep well, Lady Edelgard.”