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

...I knew I liked you for a reason.

[CAMILLA NO, STOP BEING AN ECHO CHAMBER YOU FUCKS

At any rate, this is the closest to...well, anything resembling humor anyone's gotten out of Camilla in weeks, so congrats, Hubert.]

I imagine it will, yes. I would ideally like to make things easier on us all, if mostly out of spite for whatever Father is trying to do.

[Camilla eases her expression back a bit to something a little more normal and neutral, though. She could leave now, but...]

I do believe I owe you an apology for stalking you all day for such...inane reasons. Tell me, might there be a way I could make up for such a mistake? Perhaps any questions you might have for me; I'll certainly answer what I can, that does not put my lord in harm's way.

[he did it.... by being horrible.....

That's interesting. He hadn't expected her to open herself up for questions. There are plenty of things he could ask, but quite frankly, he doesn't need to know about the experiments that were performed on her. He has a good enough idea judging from her hair and eye color, after all. It's likely that she suspects as much about Lady Edelgard now that she's experienced it first hand, but he can't be the one to confirm that. So for now, it's best not to ask anything close to that - for both her sake and for Lady Edelgard's.

So he'll skip over those questions. She might expect them, but even he isn't callous enough to do something like that.]

I'm curious about the people who were speaking of my involvement. Were you able to get a good look at them? Were they from House Krakenburg?

[That's the logical assumption, but he can't rule out the possibility that they were from House Vestra. If Duke Garon plans to turn against House Vestra, he might have already won over some of their men. As irritating as it is, it's a possibility he can't ignore.]

[...Camilla honestly would have decked Hubert if he asked about that, so good move, Hubert? Good move. If anything Camilla is more suspicious of Lysithea, but she's...not in the business of asking such things, really. Not when Camilla has plenty of her own nightmares to sort through, and plenty of still frayed nerves.

So she's genuinely thankful when he focuses on asking about what she remembers of House Krakenburg, and Camilla does what she can to recall it.]

I'm afraid not. Father's basement only has scant light near where they keep their test subjects, so I was not able to make out any physical details for most of them; House Krakenburg's personal guard were the ones who dealt with us directly, and at best, I imagine they were simply planted there for the sake of whatever plan there was. They spoke as if they took direct orders from you, but I could truly only make our their voices...

[...Camilla's look does briefly spark a bit, though--as she thinks hard, and recalls something specific.]

Well, for all except one. The only one who I saw was a rather...odd looking old man. His skin was almost deathly pale, and his hair was as well; he had all manner of wrinkles in his head, and his eyes...I could have sworn that they were almost entirely black. But the outfit he wore was quite odd; he looked like a dark mage, but he had some sort of strange...pendant on him, or something of the sort, and had a cane. I heard his voice speaking among them, as if he were a part of them, but...

I'm afraid I cannot recall much else about him, other than that he stole away one of my brothers who had been successfully experimented on.

[...rip Leo, basically]

[Her words get his one visible eyebrow to shoot upward, his expression momentarily displaying surprise before he's able to get it under control.

There's only one person that could be - Solon. It isn't surprising to know that Those Who Slither in the Dark are involved in these experiments and involved with House Krakenburg, but knowing that Solon was among them... This is bad. Lady Edelgard will need to know this right away. If they've managed to miss this, then what else have they missed?

If Solon was involved with them, then it's likely that he pinpointed Hubert for a reason. Those Who Slither have seemed a bit antsy with Lady Edelgard lately, but he hadn't thought they'd turn against them - Lady Edelgard's plans align with their own vision, don't they? What is the point of this, then? If Solon was responsible for pinning the blame on Hubert, then it's likely he figured Camilla wouldn't kill him, since that would only be detrimental to their plans—

No, he can puzzle all this out later. Now isn't the time. He doesn't have the time or resources he needs to work this out in front of Camilla.

He gets his expression back under control.]

I see. I believe I may know who you are talking about... but I can't be certain. Did you witness anyone else of interest while you were there?

[...Oh that's. Not promising at all. Camilla's at least nice enough to not call him out on that, but it's clear from the way she's studying him that she's absolutely noting that for later. He must know the man, that much is certain...]

No, I'm afraid. Truly, I'm surprised Father would allow an outsider so far in...he's always been a very private man.

[...Wait, actually--]

But...hm. This may not be relevant to you at all, but that old man spoke of someone called...'Kronya'. That she would be prepared very soon, for what they had in store.

[...That's likely not promising at all.]

But other than that...I'm afraid I did not find anyone, or anything else of interests. The basements were new to me, but the castle hasn't changed in the slightest other than some of the new wives.

[Kronya will be prepared very soon... for what? What is Solon planning? It's definitely not a good sign, and he'll need to return to Lady Edelgard with this information immediately in the hopes that they can sort this out and do something about it.

It feels like they're trying to keep grains of sand from slipping through their fingers. It's only a matter of time before Those Who Slither have no more use for Lady Edelgard.]

I see. Thank you for the information.

Is there anything else, or shall I take my leave?

[He's clearly distracted now, though he hasn't dismissed Camilla outright. He's still looking at her, but it's obvious his thoughts are very far away from their conversation.]

[...He's definitely distracted and distressed. Camilla's look shifts to one of worry, very briefly, before she forces that back down.]

No, that is all I have, I'm afraid.

[...]

Please, for the sake of Her Highness and yourself, stay safe.

[...Camilla's going to stay the docks for a little while longer and get some fresh air, and so she doesn't have to go to sleep, so he's free to leave. Camilla will even move out of the way for him.]

Her Highness will never be in danger [again] as long as I'm around.

[It isn't something he can guarantee, of course, but the response is nearly automatic. He nods at Camilla - both as thanks and as farewell - and takes his leave. There's much to discuss and consider; plans to be made and scrapped, and plenty more work to do.]

we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

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