sranks | locked to darkseal

Thank you. Thank you, I...

[His tone is so airy that he's wondering if it'll start to melt away at this point. He's not sure he minds either way, at this point. It's not as if anything else matters--no naps, no crest research, not even the thought that tomorrow this won't even matter, for now they're simply a couplet of birds, dancing as if they'll never dance again.

When Hubert tells him to look up, Linhardt obliges. His eyes are so soft, so gentle, and he's staring directly into Hubert's with the deepest thankfulness--no. Fondness. That's what this is, isn't it? He's so utterly fond in this moment, but that doesn't feel like the right word as even the music seems to fade from Linhardt's mind, and he feels his mind focus on the sound of something beating wildly that he can hear vaguely.]

I will, Hubert. I think I understand it perfectly now.

[Everything's starting to bubble up as his heart feels like it's beating so fast that it's fit to break, and he feels himself getting closer to understanding--]

I think...I think this is what I wanted all along.

[Linhardt looks up at him, and Hubert finds himself wanting to look away, or at his feet, or anywhere but at that expression. He hadn't realized Linhardt could be this happy, and something in his chest tightens to the point it makes his breath catch.]

Is it? I'm flattered.

[It's not sarcastic - not at all - but there's a hint of amusement in there anyway, like he's not rapidly losing control of his composure because suddenly it's really damn difficult to remember to keep his guard up, his expression locked behind the usual front. He's not entirely sure when he started smiling like this, and right now he doesn't want to stop.

The music winds down, but he barely hears it, only drawing to a stop when he's reached the end of the steps, the end of the routine. Even so, he doesn't want to move his hands and he doesn't draw away immediately.]

[Hubert really has a wonderful smile. It's captivating; he's heard so many others say he could never smile, or call him so stone-faced that he wouldn't even know how to, but Linhardt doesn't stop staring for even a moment.

It's lovely. It's so lovely. He's lovely, and--

Linhardt doesn't want this to end, even as they come to a stopping point. He doesn't show any signs of letting go either, and his fond look doesn't dissipate even slightly as he simply finds himself captivated.

Something about what he was thinking--lovely, that sticks out in his mind while he stares, and he knows that's the final piece, but it doesn't fit quite right, maybe--]

...Could we... [The music's bound to start again soon, isn't it? He doesn't know. He doesn't know if he cares, he just doesn't want to leave this closeness.] Um...

[He figures the question will be obvious to Hubert. He's hoping that it is.]

[It gets a soft laugh out of him and just in time, the music starts up again. Good, because he certainly doesn't want this to end any time soon.]

Would you like to lead this time?

[He's not sure Linhardt knows the steps or if he remembers them, but he certainly doesn't mind letting Linhardt lead if he'd like.]

I...yes. Yes, absolutely.

[He nods his head rigorously after only a moment's consideration--he's not sure if they need to shift hands, but as far as Linhardt's concerned, he's more than happy to lead Hubert as the music continues on.

He can't believe this. He can't believe he's dancing, and he feels so happy while doing it--this is what he's been missing, this whole time. He keeps to the rhythm, the steps that Hubert showed him, the one's he's practically memorized even after simply once, and he's chuckling--]

I'm having so much fun, you know. It's all because of you...

Edited 2019-08-11 07:35 (UTC)

[He's still smiling at that, and shifts their hands so his free one is on Linhardt's shoulder and Linhardt's is on his hip. He's surprisingly just as experienced at following and if Linhardt needs any guidance, he can offer it. Anything he offers is nothing more than a gentle reminder or nudge in the right direction, since Linhardt is doing just fine on his own.

The words get him to flush, but he finds he doesn't really care, even though he's acutely aware of it.]

Nonsense, I just happen to be a better partner than the ones you've seen tonight. You flatter me too much, Linhardt.

[But there's something in the words that's just shy of teasing. He knows, and he feels the same.]

Oh no, I'm not allowing that...

[Linhardt's surprisingly serious, though his expression doesn't change much, if at all--he wants Hubert to take credit for this.]

I'm...I'm saying what I feel you deserve to hear. Because you're not just a better partner, you're the best of them. I swear on my heart, I...

[He's saying a lot, isn't he? He finds himself chuckling and unfortunately averting his gaze again, his eyes closing--he still looks delighted, but he looks properly embarrassed this time, even if he's laughing with so much mirth.]

I have been told I'm an expert.

[Oh, but that's...

No, he doesn't want to stop and think about it. If he stops, he's afraid he'll lose his nerve, or he'll analyze it too thoroughly and all of this will slip through his fingers and nothing will ever be the same as it is in this moment.

He can't stop. Not yet.]

I have to admit, I'm enjoying this as well. Your presence has certainly turned tonight around.

[Gods, Hubert knows how to flatter him in all of the best ways. Linhardt winds up chuckling and agreeing with his first statement, finally getting over his sheepishness to look back up at Hubert and stare into his eyes again while he continues to lead. Well...that may not be accurate--he's looking all around at Hubert's face, practically like he's trying to memorize every detail he can while he has the chance.]

Is that so? Well...I could say the same to you, you know. You're the only reason I decided to bother with this at all.

[That's honest. That's forward. That's exactly what he wants to say, and yet it feels like so much, maybe too much--]

It's...it's lovely, I must admit. I almost...

[He trails off there, not sure if he should be so forward...]

Oh?

[That is forward, but he can't say he minds it any. Was Linhardt really only interested in coming because he'd be here? That idea is both shocking and honestly one of the most flattering things he's ever heard. He's tempted to ask more - there's so much he wants to know about that - but Linhardt's words catch his attention and he inclines his head a bit to the side. It's not quite enough to reveal his other eye, but his bangs fall a bit out of his face for once.]

Almost what? Go on.

[It's encouraging, not demanding.]

[Linhardt's gaze goes off to the side for only a moment, before looking back at Hubert all too easily, and he practically feels his heart thump into his throat--he actually has another eye, and it's just as attractive, and he's not sure when attractive entered his dictionary in regards to Hubert but it feels like it's always belonged there--]

No...not almost. [He wishes he could move closer, honestly but he doesn't want to mess up the dance so he won't.] I...I definitely wish this wouldn't end. I'm having so much fun, and it's so lovely. I love it.

[There's no denying that his heart skips a beat at those words, and Hubert laughs softly.]

Do you? It's almost a shame the song is—

[Almost over, he was going to say, but a new one will start soon. In a perfect world, they could have kept dancing without interruption. In a perfect world, all of this would have led to something wonderful.

In a perfect world, Ferdinand von Aegir would not exist, and he certainly wouldn't have walked up to the balcony in the middle of this.

There's a brief moment where Ferdinand stares at them and Hubert stares back, almost uncomprehending given the situation. It doesn't last long.

He springs away from Linhardt with all the grace and speed of a cat that's been sprayed with water and he absently moves to adjust his attire, a nervous gesture he had trained himself out of long ago.

Ferdinand looks just as surprised as Hubert and for a moment he seems unable to find words before he finally manages "Lady Edelgard was looking for you."]

Ah, of course. Thank you for letting me know.

[...Should he... indicate that Ferdinand should go... or should he just leave, um...

Ferdinand looks just as confused at how to approach this, for the record. Hubert quickly decides that attending Lady Edelgard will make this slightly less awkward, so he nods to Linhardt - which isn't really an indication of whether he'll be back or not, in retrospect - and turns to leave. Ferdinand follows, though for once in his damn life doesn't open his mouth.]

[It truly could of, if only the most noble among all nobles didn't exist.

Hubert's jumping catches Linhardt by surprise, and for a brief moment he wonders if he's done something wrong--it isn't until he decides to look over, seeing Ferdinand having walked up to the damn balcony, that he realizes just what's happened and he practically freezes like a deer in headlights. Everything else from that point on is a blur--he's sure Ferdinand said something, but Linhardt'll be damned if he can actually remember.

He at least sees Hubert nod, nodding idly in return, and just as soon as Ferdinand entered and proceeded to do That, they're both gone and Linhardt...isn't sure what to do with himself, in hindsight. Surely the dance will be over soon? Maybe?

...

You know what, no. No, he's taking a goddamn nap up in this balcony and there isn't a force on earth that can stop him. Is this blatant disrespect to the von Aegir family? He's pretty sure it is.

Does he care? Absolutely not.

He's just gonna sleep it off until they prepare to go back to the monastery.]

[Well, that was a disaster.

Not the dance, necessarily. He obtained the information he needed for Lady Edelgard, and the information she managed to pry out of those nobles was more useful than his, so they've made progress in their plans. Everything is starting to come together and it won't be long before she can finally take her place as Empress.

Unfortunately, everything that happened after his meetings with the nobles was a disaster.

He's had to threaten a certain redhead more than he'd really care to in order to keep his big mouth shut, and he's even had to resort to bribery to ensure that mouth stays shut. It would be infinitely easier just to cut out his tongue, but Lady Edelgard has made it clear that she requires his counsel so she knows what not to do. It's frustrating beyond belief.

But perhaps even more frustrating is dealing with Linhardt.

Hubert isn't avoiding the man, though his pride certainly wishes he could. They see each other in class, and he's perfectly civil and polite if not a bit distant, and he brutally crushes anything that even resembles a feeling every time it threatens to pop up.

He's not going to think about it. He's not going to acknowledge it. He has more important things to do.

As another unfortunate side effect of all of this, Hubert hasn't exactly been as careful as he normally would be. He's focused on too much at once and spreading himself too thin, and as a result, he hasn't always managed to hide everything he's working on nearly as effectively as usual. It's not something he's really aware of, but it means that it's possible to figure out which books he's been looking at and get an idea of just what he's been up to.

The picture it paints isn't pretty, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the paint's blood red.

He's in the library today, shortly after class. There are several other students here working on various things. Mercedes, Annette, and Ashe are all here going over some hypothetical battle plan that Annette drew up, but they're keeping their voices very low and aren't being distracting.

Hubert's got several books in front of him and a few sheets of paper he's fact-checking again in front of him, just like that day so long ago. At least, it feels like it was a long time ago... But that's a feeling, and feelings are not allowed right now, so he ignores it. Whatever he's working on has him incredibly busy, but he doesn't look like he's been overworking himself lately, at least. Even though he's trying to keep busy to hide from his own thoughts and definitely-not-there-at-all feelings, he's careful never to get to a point where Linhardt will worry.

...Because that would be inconvenient. Yes, that's it.]

[Everything since the dance has been a complete and utter mess, Linhardt has found. It wasn't enough that Ferdinand seemed to be wearing the metaphorical dunce cap all throughout class anymore, as Linhardt has noticed. (Really, he's not sure why all of his classmates seem to be so peeved with him--well, at least more than usual. Not that Linhardt isn't among them, sedate and blase as he tends to be about it, but that's beside the point.) No, even Hubert seemed somewhat distant, though Linhardt couldn't be altogether certain that was the case. It wasn't like the last time they avoided each other; he was still amiable enough to talk to, he was still at least there in class, but...

There's something wrong. There's something going on, and Linhardt has been perhaps a little more nosy than usual in trying to get to the bottom of things on his own.

And needless to say, he's not entirely sure what to do with what he's seen.

Hubert's sloppiness has allowed Linhardt to take a look at quite a few books that he's gotten his hands on, and slow but sure, the pieces come together like the world's most sickening puzzle; Edelgard and Hubert (because of course she'd be involve, he knows them both better than to think this is simply one of them) are planning something that could very well cause the very life they know to change forever. All of the information is utterly dizzying, but all the same, it's something that's been keeping Linhardt up more and more as the pieces feel like they're coming together.

It takes some time before Linhardt's able to really decide what he wants to do. Really, there are many things he could do; he could bring this to one of the teacher's very easily, if not Seteth himself, and stop this in it's tracks. It would make the both of them hate him, certainly, but it would keep them from doing something that'll likely get them killed, wouldn't it?

...But no. That isn't what Linhardt decides on, because while his trust for Edelgard herself is middling, he trusts Hubert. If he truly believes this is necessary, if there is something so fundamentally wrong with the world that both he and Edelgard feel the need to do this...then he wants to hear the explanation from Hubert himself.

Perhaps he gives a little too much credit to Hubert acting on his own, but well, Linhardt's never exactly been good at making decisions.

Which brings us to today. Linhardt decides to find his way to the library, and surely enough, there Hubert is. He does quickly scan the room around, regarding Mercedes, Annette, and Ashe quickly before picking a spot to study. He's surprisingly calculated, though to most, it looks careless; he plucks out a few books at seeming random (careful to remember the titles that Hubert had picked days prior), brings them over to a desk within clear eyeshot of Hubert, and begins 'reading'.

Obfuscation isn't Linhardt's specialty; it's not something he'd typically have to employ. But at the very least, the teachings of the academy have given him some skills in this regard, and he's putting them to the test in the hope that Hubert notices. He's not sure if a direct confrontation will go well, but this? This seems feasible. This may take time, but it should work.

Linhardt just has to look careless enough and stack on the coincidences enough to get his attention. He hopes it just doesn't cost him dearly.]

[He notices Linhardt walk in, but he figures the other man's here to focus on his crest research (or take a nap, though the library's a bit crowded for that at this time of day). He doesn't pay much attention at first, since he's absorbed in his work, but as Linhardt collects books, he looks up.

Hubert does not like what he sees.

It isn't difficult to put the pieces together, and it isn't as though Linhardt's being particularly subtle about it. The books might look a random assortment of Empire-related documents and texts that wouldn't interest most people and the three in the library at the moment aren't bright enough to catch on based on that alone, even if they were paying close attention to Linhardt's reading material.

No, this is aimed directly at him, and he certainly hasn't missed it.

In all honesty, he's gripped with the icy claws of fear, knowing that this certainly couldn't be anything Lady Edelgard has done but something he's messed up. Linhardt hasn't spent a lot of time around Lady Edelgard, he couldn't have picked this up from her. No, it must have been something he did or said that tipped Linhardt off. Had he really been so foolish to believe he could hide something like this from Linhardt if he got so close? He knows better than anyone just how intelligent Linhardt is. He shouldn't have let this happen.

But the icy claws slowly release their grasp on his chest as he realizes that Linhardt has chosen to come here, to seek him out and let him know that he knows what they're doing. He isn't going to Professor Byleth or even worse, the church. He isn't going to any of the Empire nobles. He isn't even addressing Lady Edelgard herself, although he certainly could.

Linhardt is playing a very dangerous game. Were it anyone else in the world, they wouldn't survive it. But Hubert already knows that killing Linhardt would be... inadvisable. He could still prove useful. And if Linhardt has come to him, then perhaps he intends to offer his support.

It's risky. It's far too risky. But Hubert doesn't allow himself to dwell on it. Some of the best plans have far too many risks.

Hubert rises from his chair, taking one of the books he was using back to the shelf and bypassing Linhardt. His movement is so precise that when he walks by the table Linhardt's at, none of the Blue Lions assembled can see when he drops a crumpled piece of paper onto the desk. He returns to his own workspace shortly after, cleaning up the rest of his books and documents before heading out.

Should Linhardt choose to read the note, he'll find the following within:]

Meet me in my room in an hour. No earlier.

[He should have known that nothing would escape Hubert's eye.

To Linhardt's credit, he's at least attempting to properly read the documents and information laid out before him, but he was mostly gauging Hubert's reaction in an attempt to see if the other man would notice. And needless to say, he hit it right on the mark; Hubert notices, and while there's a brief moment of fright when Hubert gets up, intensified by the crumbled paper that he drops on Linhardt's desk (he didn't even notice that, how did he--); it isn't until Hubert leaves the room that Linhardt attempts to calmly take the note and read it, and he feels his heart thump.

This is a dangerous game. It's one that Linhardt honestly should have put more thought into before playing with gods damned Hubert von Vestra of all people. He feels a lump in his throat form as he tries to swallow some air, to calm himself.

Hubert could have easily said nothing. He could have easily gone into the shadows and waited for Linhardt's guard to be down--Hubert knew most of his hiding places, and Linhardt knew very well that he could kill him if needed. He's seen it on the battlefield many times, after all, but...

He trusts Hubert. Linhardt trusts him, and he's not sure if that's a mistake.

...Well, he doesn't have much longer to make his peace with this. Linhardt winds up in front of Hubert's room in an hour, though he winds up waiting outside of the door for a solid minute before finally knocking on it, bracing himself.]

Hubert, it's Linhardt. Are you there?

[An hour later and a knock comes at his door, as predicted.

In truth, Hubert hadn't needed an hour to prepare for this. The hour was to make Linhardt's departure from the library look more natural, so as not to raise suspicion of the people present. True, the three of them were busy and most likely wouldn't have noticed or put anything together on their own, but caution has always been important. If he's managed to accidentally let Linhardt know too much, he can't afford to have anyone else find out.

After all, if anyone else does, there's only one option. Linhardt can at least prove useful.

(Of course he'll have to convince Lady Edelgard of that and he is not looking forward to that conversation - but that's thinking too far ahead. Focus on the present.)

He opens the door shortly after the knock, and gestures for Linhardt to come in. Once he's in and Hubert has shut the door, he moves to lock it, then take up residence against the wall across from his bed, where he can keep an eye on both Linhardt and the door but not serve as a buffer to keep Linhardt from leaving.

He isn't going to kill the man. Not if it isn't necessary. Besides, it would be such a pain to cover up a murder in his bedroom.

(Not to mention he doesn't want to do that to Linhardt. He doesn't want to think about it, but it's something he can't ignore. It's a possibility he must consider, because in the end Lady Edelgard's plans are more important than anything and everyone else. It doesn't matter what he thinks or feels or wants, because his dream is her dream, and he will do anything to see it come to pass.)]

It seems you've been busy recently.

[He says that instead, driving those thoughts from his mind and crushing any would-be feelings before they start blooming.]

I doubt you have any interest in the Empire's policies and politics, much less the financial records for the past several years. Territory disputes and loyalties don't seem to be your forte either... So tell me, Linhardt, what were you studying?

[It's perhaps surprisingly not a pointed question. Not a genuine one either, because he already knows the answer. Still, it's not as though he's going to come out and admit to anything.]

[Linhardt enters easily, taking place on the opposite side of Hubert and waiting for him to speak. Linhardt forces himself to retain some semblance of calm. He trusts Hubert, right? He trusts him.

...So why is he still afraid that the very second he turns his back or says something wrong, he's going to die?

Linhardt needs to push that from his mind. Hubert's words at least seem to snap him back into reality.]

...It's no secret that you have likewise been studying. You've been studying harder than anyone for quite some time now. And it wasn't until now that I had gotten a chance to glean over the things that you have been studying. It took some time to connect the pieces, I do admit, but...

[It's honest. Linhardt's looking at Hubert, expression...attempting to be steeled but failing somewhat.]

They don't paint a very lovely picture. [...] I'm going to ask it simply, because I wish to hear it from you, rather than anyone else; are the two of you planning something?

Yes, we are.

[He nods and while he isn't entirely sure he should continue - perhaps he should deny, perhaps he should leave it up to Linhardt to put the pieces together - he finds himself continuing anyway, expression carefully composed into the usual smirk.]

Lady Edelgard will take the throne as Empress of Adrestia. Once she has, we will change this world. Her rule will change Fódlan. The world will never be the same again once she has taken the throne, and with it, she will create a better and brighter future for Fódlan.

[Hubert speaks so highly of her, as always. He speaks with the utmost conviction, as though there isn't anything in the world that could possibly change his mind on this.]

I imagine you've already learned plenty about what I've been up to in order to assist Lady Edelgard. I imagine you're already very aware of how dangerous it is to confront me about this.

[No emotion. No crack in the front he presents. And yet, deep within...

No. He can't think about anything but the path forward.]

I won't waste your time, Linhardt. I have no interest in killing you, but should it become a necessity, I will. I'll put it plainly: will you join us in changing the future? Will you assist us in ridding this world of the useless nobility, the reliance on crests, the stagnant nature of Fódlan?

[For a moment, he leaves it at that. It isn't a choice, they both know it.

But it isn't fair, and it isn't how he wants to leave this. He doesn't want Linhardt to die, and in some ways, he doesn't want Linhardt to join them on this path. If he opposes them, he'll die, that's all there is to it. But if he joins them...

Hubert folds his arms, his gaze darting for a moment before he focuses on Linhardt again. There's still no crack in the facade, but his hands are a bit too tight on his sleeves and his expression is a bit forced. It's the sort of thing most people might not notice, but Linhardt knows better than most people.]

...I will warn you now: it will not be an easy path. I cannot guarantee that your hands will remain clean.

[It isn't enough. It will never be enough.]

[So that's it, then.

Linhardt listens to Hubert as he speaks, his face betraying nothing as he listens. It's still that ever calm, unreadable expression that Hubert likely knows all too well. He speaks of Edelgard changing the world, acting like she's going to yank out all of the weeds, the bad apples, and everything that's wrong with the world at large. He says it with so much conviction that it's almost startling, really. Well, okay, realistically only somewhat, everyone and their mother knows Hubert is very passionate about Edelgard and would probably literally die for her (a thought he doesn't want to dwell on), but that's beside the point.]

I am aware of how dangerous this is, yes. I wanted to hear it from you, however.

[That's the sole contribution he offers until he's addressing Linhardt's part in this, and Linhardt feels his eyes widen because this isn't how he expected this to go. The offer is--well, it's startling, really, because this means that they both (Hubert and Edelgard, at least maybe for the latter) see something of value in him? And honestly, he really didn't expect that.]

I...

[What does he even say? There's many things he could--Hubert likely knows about his all encompassing focus on faith magic (outside of whatever he's forced to study), and he's hated killing people since he took his first life, it's why he's always stuck to healing others of their injuries because he couldn't stand the blood and--

He needs to speak before Hubert changes his mind.]

How many would need to die for this?

[He hates that this is the obvious thing he's worried about the most.]

I...it's not that I wouldn't want to, don't misunderstand, but...

[He doesn't know how to finish that.]

I know that neither of you would do this, if you truly didn't believe that this world needed to change.

[He's just blurting out the first things that come to mind at this point, and he chides himself. The answer should be easy, shouldn't it?]

Anyone who stands in our way, for starters. There are plenty of people who will have to be eliminated to make Lady Edelgard's dreams come true as well. Power within the Empire is shifting, but not quickly enough. Some people will have to die.

[He doesn't elaborate on the specifics; Linhardt doesn't need to know that right now.]

This is not going to be an easy path. I have already told Lady Edelgard I will eliminate anyone I must, anyone who stands in her way. I have already painted the path before her red, and I will stop at nothing to see it through.

Should you join us, you will have to fight. You're an incredibly intelligent man, Linhardt. Your intellect would be a great asset to us. But there is no guarantee that you will be kept away from the front lines. You most likely won't be tasked with assassinations, but there is no guarantee that you would not be brought to battles, either as a healer or as a mage.

Lady Edelgard's path is not for the faint-hearted. Once we have achieved her vision and created the world she desires, everything will be worth it. Lady Edelgard is the only one who can lead this world to a brighter future.

[He shifts, one hand moving toward the hem of his other glove before he catches himself. Resettles. No signs of weakness, no signs of uncertainty. He has no doubts in Lady Edelgard's path or her future, but he doesn't know what to do with Linhardt's unreadable expression or concerns.]

I cannot give you a number for how many would die. I doubt hard numbers would make this any easier.

But you are correct. Lady Edelgard would not pursue this if she did not believe it was necessary for Fódlan, for the world. And I would not walk this path with her if I had any doubts.

[Gods. Gods, what has he just gotten himself into?

This is going against everything that Linhardt's really ever wanted to deal with. He just wants to nap and research crests all day, and maybe eventually come to terms with the fact that he'll need to do something for his family's sake. He's not surprised that Hubert has killed people, like, that's not the weirdest revelation of the day, but that's besides the point.

There is something assuring about the idea of not being tasked with assassinations, at the very least. He doesn't know if Hubert's saying this to try to be comforting in typical Hubert fashion. Still, he...

There's some sort of ease in seeing that moment of hesitation, before he quashes it. His eyes flicker to the glove that Hubert almost messes with for a moment, before looking back at Hubert. It's not until that final portion that his expression changes--it steels itself, and he looks to Hubert with a surprising amount of conviction.

There's comfort in knowing that this is what they believe is the only option, and that they wouldn't pursue it if they truly did not believe in it. It takes some time for Linhardt to answer, but he does, eventually.]

...If this will truly change the world for the better...if this will truly fix the world, as you say it will, and it is what you both believe is the only way...

[Linhardt winds up nodding his head.]

...I will walk this path, with both of you. I will do everything I can to assist you both. If this means that the world will change for the better, I'll do what I can to support this path. Even if I...have to go beyond my own path to do so.

[...]

Don't...don't let me regret this. That is all I ask.

[He's not sure why that's the last thing he utters, but he forces himself to look away at Hubert at that. That damned hex has been acting up in all of the worst ways since he stepped in this room, and he hates it, and this just made it worse.]

[He watches Linhardt, looking for any weakness or any sign that what he's said has gotten through. Convincing someone that Lady Edelgard's way is the right way - the only way - is not nearly as easy as it seems. Even though he's convinced that nothing else in the world could be more important, not everyone sees things the same way they do. He knows that. The world will not simply roll over and allow Lady Edelgard her rightful spot.

Hubert doesn't have any regrets in reaching this point, but to be perfectly honest, Linhardt's unreadable expression scares him.

If he's guessed wrong and Linhardt refuses to join with them, he'll have to kill him. He can't let him leave the room, let word of this leak to anyone. Still, he can't bring himself to call any dark magic, or to even prepare himself for the idea of killing Linhardt.

He wouldn't hesitate if it became necessary. Perhaps that's the worst part of all.

But Linhardt's expression changes; he steels himself, and suddenly Hubert knows he's won.]

You will never regret this.

[The words are confident, certain but not arrogant. There's relief there too - relief that Linhardt understands that this is necessary, relief that he'll join them, and most of all, relief that he won't have to kill his friend.

...It almost doesn't feel fair to call him that after this.]

As I said, it will not be an easy path to walk. What Lady Edelgard may ask of you may push you to your very limits. But you will be changing the world, and you will survive to see Lady Edelgard's vision realized.

[There's no guarantee of that, certainly. But he'll do all in his power to make it so.]

Lady Edelgard will want to meet with you, to discuss everything in detail. I will let you know when she's ready for that.

[All business as usual, certainly. Still, he unfolds his arms and finally seems to relax a bit.]

I look forward to working with you.

I suppose I'll truly have to begin getting serious now.

[Linhardt finally allows his tone to shake a bit, as he lets himself just...kind of untense a bit, letting himself kind of slump into the wall. His words are serious despite his ever debonair word choice; he knows he's going to need to seriously work himself to properly earn Edelgard's trust. The last thing he needs is to worry about being expendable now.

...He's not sure he likes the idea of those thoughts entering his head, LET'S JUST NOT FOCUS ON THAT NOW THAT WE'VE SIGNED A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL SHALL WE--

He'll just. Nod his head at the idea of meeting Edelgard after all of this, he's fully expecting her to just take one look at him and go "really Hubert? That one?" but he'll do his best to convince her of his worth, surely this won't be stupid.

(It's probably gonna be stupid.)]

...As do I. I truly wasn't looking forward to the idea that we may have to oppose one another.

[He rubs the back of his head.]

That is why I wanted to find out what was happening, I should mention.

locked to darkseal

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