#mentioned ferdinand

[askhubertvonvestra]

A parchment scroll arrives on Hubert’s desk. The sender was grateful he was not in his office to receive it, as its contents are better left read in private.

“Dear Hubert,

There is something I need to confess. I know something that I shouldn’t, and this secret’s been on my chest for too long now. It’s making me a worse soldier. The truth is, the reason I’ve gone back to avoiding you recently isn’t because you’re scaring me, or because you’re forgetting about the flower. It’s because…”

There are several scribbled out lines, as though the author could not figure out how to say what she wanted to. The final draft reads,

“I was supposed to train with Petra in the training grounds one afternoon. But when I got there, I realized I forgot my water canteen, and went back to my dorm room for it. But right when I was about to open the door, I heard you talking to Ferdinand.”

There is more scribbling. However, this time the words “about imported tea” are somewhat readable.

“It seemed really important to you. And the last thing I wanted was to upset you or embarrass you by opening my door and going back to the training grounds. Because I thought you might not want to be friends anymore if you knew that I knew before you told everyone.”

There are a few splotches on the parchment here, as though the writer were in tears.

“Why am I telling you this now? It’s because last week we were supposed to do Stable Duty together, and you were being so nice to me, and I totally ignored you. And I could tell I might be hurting your feelings…and I just missed you and thought I owed you the truth. It’s okay if you don’t want me in the army anymore, or if you don’t want to be friends anymore. But I couldn’t stop feeling guilty, so I knew I had to say something. I’m really, really, really sorry!

Your (hopefully) friend, Bernadetta.

PS: if it’s worth anything I’m really happy for you!”

((A note for the mun! It’s cause I noticed their A+ appears to be outside the first floor dorms, so I was curious if a certain someone may have overheard…))

Bernadetta,

While the moment was decidedly personal, it was our oversight to have it in a public space. You are not even slightly at fault for this—situation.

That said, I would prefer that we keep the subject between you and I for the time being. I hope that sharing this secret with me will absolve you of this unwarranted guilt. Rest assured that I do have the flower you gifted me, but I must choose to wear it at selective moments. I trust that you understand.

You have my apologies for not noticing that you had nearly opened the door. I should have been more attentive. Such negligence will not happen again.

When we decide to tell everyone... what we wish to tell, I will inform you in person. Flower properly affixed and all.

As much as I am disappointed in myself for this lapse on my part, it would still not be sufficient to end our friendship. At least not on my behalf.

May this thought be some comfort in darker times. There’s no need to shed tears over something that will not come to pass.

I was concerned that I had frightened you, and the prospect did sadden trouble me, but I am glad to have been mistaken. Your companionship was sorely missed as well. You owe me no apology, but I will accept it if that negates your misplaced guilt.

Regards,

Hubert von Vestra

Thank you.

[Aww, that’s a cute/funny thought! He’d be so shy about it, but he’ll come around. Even if he stopped to stare at this letter after every paragraph for about 15 minutes. It took a long time for him to write, lol.]

[asksylvain]

I think Ferdinand, being younger than you, is just knock off Sylvain

That right? Don’t tell Ferdinand that, but I’m flattered you told me, really. He’s got the noble thing down better than I ever will, but I don’t mind pulling rank as his elder.

...Ugh. That gave me chills, though.

[ask-casparvonbergliez]

That’s great Caspar let’s do it. Then let’s prank Lorenz

Yeah it’s gonna be fun!

Watch out Ferdinand and Lorenz were going to prank you!

[askhubertvonvestra]

Do you think theres any chance that edelgard and claude could work together? He seems to have similar goals of making fodland a better place, from what Im aware of. Maybe if edelgard had told him her plans, they could’ve worked together from the start

There is. The most considerable obstacle is their mutual resistance to the other’s methods. Claude is far more moderate than Her Majesty, who has taken the path of decisive action for swift and meaningful change. This comes at great cost. Costs that Claude objects to. You can see how this opposition of their ideals would inhibit an alliance in its most basic forms.

But, in fairness, it is that same opposition in Ferdinand and myself that has allowed us both to reach greater heights long before we were even companionable. In the rare instances where we could set aside our differences to work together, our differing perspectives revealed new avenues we would not have seen separately.

It is not unfathomable that the same could take place if Claude and Lady Edelgard were to unite forces.

I’m certain I’ve said it before, but any early notice of our plans to outside parties would jeopardize the entire operation. I scarcely wished to tell Metodey. For many reasons. There was simply no question about keeping our strategies secret to safeguard them from Church lapdogs and corrupt nobles that, I remind you, Claude held the focus of. There are more aspects to this than what you see on the surface.

[askhubertvonvestra]

Lord Vestra,

There's a petition going around which states that booty shorts should be part of the Imperial Army's male corps' official uniform. Some argue that such a measure would be "beneficial for morale". What is your opinion on this topic of foremost national importance?

PS: Said petition also states that His Excellency, the Honourable Prime Minister Ferdinand von Aegir, should also wear booty shorts a a way to "lead by example" and "encourage more women in the Empire to join the army". Do you believe in such a strategy and, should His Excellency refuse to do so... Would you take on his burden?

That is categorically moronic.

The Imperial Army must be ready for battle at a moment’s notice. We cannot predict when there might be an ambush or any crisis that needs immediate attention. They simply cannot take the very real risk of wearing something so exposing in a combat situation. Furthermore, the only way this petition could be considered anywhere near the foremost national importance is to save life and limb for our soldiers by dismissing this notion soundly.

We have dancers in our employ. They can elect to remain far from the front lines, and they can improve morale on their own. I have every confidence in them, as should our citizens.

While Ferdinand and... assorted company... would hardly object to the request that he himself wear this attire, I don’t see how this encourages enrollment or demonstrates anything other than... Never mind. This line of reasoning, if you can call it that, is a waste of your time and mine.

[askhubertvonvestra]

(Lyrics from All of You from Encanto)

Dorothea: Hey, Ferdinand. Why so blue?

Ferdinand: I... just got so much love inside~

Dorothea: Well y'know I got this friend of mine, too. Remember Hubert?

Hubert, pops out of nowhere: Ok I'll take it from here, goodbye!

You talk so loud~ You take care of your mother and you make her proud! You write your own poetry every night when you go to sleep- -And I'm seizing the moment, so would you wake up and notice me?

Ferdinand, stunned: Hubert... I see you...

Hubert: And I hear you!~

Dorothea and Bernadetta in the background: YES!

Ferdinand: Let's get married~

Hubert: Slow down!

Dorothea informed me she was working on various plays regarding our time during the war. I should have realized this is what she had in mind far sooner.

If nothing else, I can properly inform her on how I would dismiss someone from my company if necessary. I suppose she can be forgiven on account of taking... creative license. She wasn’t present, after all, when we...

Do excuse me. I’ve business to attend to with our songstress.

[askhubertvonvestra]

Soo, you don't like gambling? Well, mister... what if... said gambling meant you could obtain as many copies of Ferdinand and Edelgard as you could possibly want? (I think that Hubert would find gachas like feh so boring, LOL)

What would I need copies for, when I have my own versions of them in my realm? I needn’t resort to gambling. They are here in the forms that I treasure most, and I would never jeopardize that with a pastime so risky and unproven. You have to know my time is far more valuable than that as well. There is simply no reason to squander it for more of what I already hold dear.

[askhubertvonvestra]

Ok Hubie spill the beans. What’s one embarrassing thing about all of the Black Eagles plus Jeritza?

I suppose this sort of lighthearted teasing is considered standard for building rapport through duress. Less severe duress than battle, but the fact remains... Very well. I’ll disclose what I can, but don’t expect a tale for every Black Eagle. I safeguard our allies closely and without exception.

Bernadetta von Varley: I categorically refuse to engage in any manner of embarrassing Bernadetta. She fought to achieve the social comfort and courage she has attained over the years, and I will not jeopardize that.

Caspar von Bergliez: I doubt he’d consider this tale embarrassing. Caspar was pursuing yet another thief in a village and, in an attempt to head him off using a shortcut, Caspar ran through a chicken coop. That led to the chaos and mess you might anticipate, and then the fool had to go and tackle the thief as she turned to run. They both tumbled into a feed trough, knocking the thief out cold. Fortunately for her, as she was spared Caspar’s victory shouting.

Dorothea Arnault: In contrast to Caspar, I don’t believe Dorothea should have been embarrassed by this. She is in the challenging position of resenting nobility and aspiring to financial security. With our society how it was before Her Majesty started this war, to choose financial stability was to chose nobility, and the nobles knew that. So when she attended a dinner with a minor noble’s son and he mocked her for the incorrect silverware selection, her irritation made a reasonably dependable cover for her wounded pride. We all knew who truly ought to ashamed in that exchange.

Edelgard von Hresvelg: Her Majesty is very particular about who witnesses her pastimes. Most particularly, the more important someone is to her, the less she wants them to see her casually. At least at first. Therefore, when the professor saw one of Lady Edelgard’s artistic works in progress, she was significantly flustered by it. It became gossip in the ever-changing social circles of Enbarr for a time, even Byleth was absent. The story twisted through retellings to even milder or more embellished versions of the reality, but it is a source of shyness for Her Majesty in all its forms. Regrettably.

Ferdinand von Aegir: He did not win the White Heron contest, but Ferdinand quite obviously wished he had. To his credit, he successfully concealed the purchase and sizing for the dancer costume he commissioned for himself. It was the delivery that did him in, as the tailor was so proud of his work and saw Ferdinand’s enthusiasm in the process. He took that excitement as evidence that this was no secret and delivered the attire as we left the war table. He accepted graciously, of course, but his blush was deep enough to be noticeable at a good distance. Excluding the tailor, who seemed entirely oblivious as he presented the many glittering accessories and revealing panels.

Hubert von Vestra: There is one common thread with these stories I’ve shared: they are already public knowledge to some extent or another. No such story exists in my case. And if you wish to know my secrets, you will have to earn it for yourself. At a high personal cost.

Jeritza von Hrym: He doesn’t quite experience embarrassment as most would acknowledge it. His alter ego doesn’t appear to particularly shame him, nor should it. It’s not as though he chose it. He grapples with the Death Knight perpetually and resents him, understandably. But I wouldn’t refer to it as embarrassment. His fondness for the soft and sweet is no humiliating experience to him either, and Jeritza work throughs his social shortcomings with straightforward efficiency. I would say he forgoes the emotion altogether.

Linhardt von Hevring: To be embarrassed, you must care how others perceive you. I remain skeptical that Linhardt is capable of the sentiment. To his merit, of course. There have been several circumstances in which society at large would consider him deserving of embarrassment, however. More than once, he went to the library in his nightclothes to the surprise and even bashfulness on the part of the librarians. In that sense, this story is more embarrassing to them than to him. I’m certain he would agree.

Petra Macneary: Bearing in mind that this was at no fault of her own, there is one story. Cultures vary in many regards. Greetings are no exceptions. When Petra first arrived in Adrestia, if that is what one would call it, she was far too rattled to consider such things. But as she settled into her life there, becoming companions with myself and Lady Edelgard, Petra grew more comfortable. It was that familiarity that led her to greet me as close friends do in Brigid. No one in Enbarr expected her to cup my face and hold her nose and forehead against my own. It was some small mercy that she cared more for my perspective than that of the nobles laughing at her expense, at least. I could offer her the reassurance that the likes of those spoiled cretins could never hope to.