sranks | we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

[Hubert's expression doesn't change from the usual almost-smirk, but inwardly, he's pleased. She's certainly clever enough to keep up, and she shows no signs of backing down. She certainly could prove to be dangerous, but this is giving him plenty to work with.]

There is nothing stopping a member from one house from traveling through another's land, is there? It certainly would be a shame were one of House Vestra's men to be killed for nothing more than passing through...

[That isn't what happened, and they both know it. Still, it is vexing that one of House Vestra's men was killed just for spying. Such a thing shouldn't have happened. Once he's in charge, he will go through their spies individually. But for now...]

I do have to wonder... Could it be that one of House Gloucester's men got the wrong idea? Such a thing could be disastrous for negotiations with the Empire... and if I recall correctly, House Gloucester has been attempting to strengthen ties in recent years.

[He doesn't have the power to threaten like that, but that doesn't mean she knows it. More importantly, he wants to see what she does with that. They are technically still talking in hypotheticals, so it would be easy enough to dismiss it.]

Mmm, it certainly would be a shame, and a rather sloppy mistake at that. It would be entirely senseless violence, all because of a simple error...

[And that much is true, isn't it? Camilla does know of most dealings with House Gloucester, due to her place at Lord Lorenz's side; it's paramount that she knows what she can to better defend her liege, after all.

But Hubert's next words do see Camilla's brow raising. That is an unknown factor that she did not consider, though she certainly questions just how much of a big deal such a thing would be. Then again, Hubert is very close to the current empress-to-be; he's as much her retainer as Camilla is to Lord Lorenz. It wouldn't surprise her if he decided to tell Edelgard all about such an event, and that could certainly spell trouble.]

It's a possibility. I shall not deny such a thing. [Camilla's face rights itself, and at this point, talking in hypothetical like this isn't going to do much, as far as she's concerned.] And that would truly paint House Gloucester in a poor light...

[Camilla's expression darkens, just the slightest bit, however.]

However...such an excuse would start to hold less and less water, the closer to the Gloucester Manor said member of House Vestra's men strayed, would it not? Certainly, it's one thing to be within the territory and pass through; such a thing could happen with little fanfare. But to be outside of the manor, or within it's walls where His Grace and the young lord sleeps peacefully...

Well. One could hardly be blamed for seeing it as an act of hostility, wouldn't they? One that could potentially put many within it's walls in danger. Surely, you understand.

[...Yeah, Camilla's no longer playing quite nice.]

Edited 2019-09-30 19:22 (UTC)

[She's certainly better at this than he would have assumed. Most servants don't know how to handle any sort of political pressure and would crumble immediately. She's definitely a danger, then.]

Of course, such a thing would be simply dreadful; House Gloucester would certainly be in the right were that to be the case.

[Perhaps it was. Whether it was or not doesn't particularly matter.]

Though that would leave House Gloucester's word against House Vestra's... I wonder how that would go.

[Mmm. She doesn't like this one, she thinks. All the more, Camilla looks and studies him and looks for all the more methods to break him in two. Snapping his neck would be all the easier if she could get the drop on him, and it would be the least bloody way to go about this...

Camilla's hands unfold themselves from in front of her, and one hand gently dusts off her skirt while the other hides her mouth.]

I can't help but wonder, either. It could certainly go well, or it could go poorly, should one side choose to pursue the other...

[Camilla's smile fades behind her hand, and she renders her expression unreadable. It's certainly with purpose.]

But I would certainly hope that such a thing would never come to pass. That a situation that could have been avoided could be settled without the need for such confrontation...that those involved could settle such matters on their own.

[It's gentle. Perhaps almost kind, if one could call such a thing kind in this situation. But Camilla's eyes haven't taken themselves off of Hubert once, and she's studying every single move he makes, however little.]

Don't you agree?

[He doesn't react any to her movements, but he's just as aware of them as she is of his. They're studying each other, trying to see who will break first - if either of them reach that point in the first place. He has no intention of bringing this to violence, but that is a possibility he can't ignore. Given her build, he assumes she's a physical fighter, which would put him at a bit of a disadvantage if she manages to get in close...

Anyway, he nods slightly at her words.]

Certainly. There's little reason to get outsiders involved, particularly those who would otherwise be so busy...

Not as though anything like this would come to pass, of course. It could only be a pain for everyone involved.

[He'll back off for now then, though he makes no effort to leave just yet.]

[Camilla lets her expression lighten the slightest bit, giggling politely behind her hand as a smile comes back into view. She's certainly not at ease--she never would be, around a man from a house that has spies aplenty that she'd break in two for her lord's sake. He's a man Camilla would never bring herself to trust in any capacity.

Never the less, Camilla does let her posture ease, and her hands go to her sides quite easily.]

I feel much the same. It would be simply terrible to bother both of our lieges with something so inane...not that such a thing would ever happen, of course.

[They both know that's a lie. And yet, Camilla grasps both sides of her skirt and offers a polite curtsy towards him; it's an all too open gesture that she doesn't mean in the slightest, but there's no need to be rude or discourteous.]

If you have any further questions, I would be willing to answer what I could, Lord Hubert. [Camilla comes up, her expression gentle as possible. As if this wasn't a thinly veiled conversation accusing her of killing a man.] You are certainly are an interesting individual, after all.

As are you. I have no further questions at the moment. Thank you for your time.

[His response is practiced and the bow that follows is as well. He doesn't bow low enough to expose the back of his neck, but it's low enough to be considered proper, at least.]

I imagine we'll see more of each other in the future.

[That gets a smirk, though his tone is unchanging; either it's a joke, or a threat, with no real indication one way or another. With that, Hubert takes his leave, slipping back into the shadows easily.]

It's no trouble. Do take care.

[Camilla doesn't make to follow him out; she can wait until there's some distance established, but those last words...Camilla waits a little bit, though her look darkens immediately once she hears his footsteps fade off, waiting and waiting until she can't hear them...]

I do so hope you won't make the mistake of threatening my lord, however. It would simply be a shame to break you in two.

[And once that is said, she'll gladly take her own leave back to her room.]

we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

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