Oh, so they are for me and not Ethel? She’s less pleased.

[A small chuckle, as he takes the flowers.]

[A sly smile.]

Ethel will be pleased.

…-For me?

Preemptively stopping you from lecturing me.

[SIGHS.

Looks at the piles of paperwork.

…-Stands up.]

I suppose food is useful so I have the energy to continue.

[Raises his head slightly.]

[Drowning in paperwork]

Ah…Petra.

No, she figured it out on her own and asked me.

She knows you’re the reason I let her visit Brigid, for starters.

‘You’ve worked more miracles than you realise.’

[With that, she leaves, and Hubert sighs quietly.]

+see you again, Duke Aegir. Visit us more, will you not? Perhaps it will get my dear brother to relax more often.’

We can both go in the morning. For now, sister—go rest, please? You’ll need your strength if something else does lurk there.

[Defeated yet still celebrating the victory of her brother not outright banning her from a dangerous situation, Elfrieda gives a cursty and turns to leave.]

‘It is good to +

+the spooky abandoned wing than Ferdinand’s, so he brings him inside.]

‘Luring someone…? But it shouldn’t have been strong enough to call someone who is not already a medium…-I’ll have to survey the wing for other spirits, then.’

Not alone, I hope. And definitely not at night. Do not be reckless, [Hubert chides, arriving at his quarters—which are of course closer to +

[And Hubert may be skin and bones, but he can still carry Ferdinand, scooping him up to get him some place less revolting as the middle Vestra sibling follows.]

Why were you even in this wing?

[A spell is cast, and a blade of shadow cuts the arm of the thing holding Ferdinand.

Hubert rushes forward to catch his boyfriend as the energy moves to strike the heart of the spirit, scattering it to the fridges of consciousness. It will take decades to reform.]

Thank you, Elfrieda.

+away from Duke Aegir.’

[At the arrival of his sister, Hubert dutifully listens, for she’s far more skilled at handling these unruly spirits as Elfrieda begins muttering under her breath.]

I am not sure, but—

[Right. No choice. But just as he decides that, the sound of delicate footsteps approach, a raven haired teen in a dark coloured gown striding towards them, green eyes alight.]

‘It’s a spirit who has list its identity, and now feeds on negative emotions. Brother, kindly step +

[Okay yeah screw behaving he’s about to pull off a glove to cast a very risky spell.]

Will you stop harassing the living? This is no place for you anymore.

Ferdinand, I need you to try and remain calm

[Now. How the fuck is he going to get this thing to give up without using dark magic, which he’s been trying not to use due to the whole…shortening his lifespan thing.]

“With Imperial work. My sister is growing older, this is preparations for a ball she wishes to have…”

And not even Edelgard can tempt him from his brotherly duties.

A hum, leaning back into her as he continues to do his work.

[A few more feet, and—oh. Hubert can actually see this one…-and he’s not sure he likes the fact he can. It’s straight out of a nightmare.]

(Let him go,) [he commands in the tongue of the dead, a strange and unnatural language. This thing doesn’t listen. Definitely not a standard ghost.]

[Hubert? Running? For once, yes, he is sprinting (towards the screaming.)]

[Opens door, gives a pot of coffee, closes door.]

You don’t have to enter a room to set fire to it.