Edelgard was tetchy and more than just a little angry.

'My people have been trying to get information for weeks now, my Lady.' Hubert reported standing stiffly aside the window in Edelgard's room and staring out of it rather than at her. 'As I have already told you, there was no indication that Lord Lonato was working with anyone else. His attempted rebellion against the Church appeared to be just a personal grievance.'

'Well, Hubert, your sources were obviously wrong, weren't they.' Edelgard snapped, the beginning of a headache thumping at her temple. 'Someone groomed Lonato into taking action when he did. I need to know who.'

'We can speculate, Your Highness.' Hubert finally turned to look at her. 'Lonato was directing his attention specifically at Rhea, rather than religion as a whole – so the Western Church should be considered as a suspect. Their antagonism concerning the Archbishop holding so much centralised power is well documented.'

Edelgard waved her hand dismissively. 'If it is just those clowns responsible, then there is very little cause for any alarm.' She decided.

'Agreed.' Hubert nodded. 'They have next to nothing in the way of resources, and Rhea has kept their finances on a very short leash.'

'My doubt, though, is that they would willingly give up Lord Lonato just to further their plans a little.' Edelgard mused, rubbing at the ache on her forehead. 'Lonato's funding and his status would surely have been more helpful to them than his demise.'

'A valid point.' Hubert sighed. 'Which is why I am worried that there is a much more convoluted plot taking shape right under our noses.'

Edelgard was silent for a moment. 'You suspect our beloved allies then?' She murmured.

'I always suspect them.' Hubert agreed sourly. 'This situation simply reeks of their kind of manipulation, don't you think?'

'If that is the case, then there is nothing that directly threatens us to consider.' Edelgard tapped her fingers on her desk, thoughtfully. 'They need me too much, at least for the time being.'

'That is correct.' Hubert nodded. 'Yet… if they are looking to obtain something from here, right in the seat of Rhea's power, we should potentially be concerned about what exactly it is.'

'I will talk with them tonight.' Edelgard decided. 'Ask them directly if they are involved in this and see what they say. If they are after something, I can offer aid and at least give a pretense of desiring to strengthen our relationship.'

'I'm not sure we should take risks at this stage.' Hubert disagreed. 'We still have some time before we will be ready to move forward ourselves…'

'We can't just let this slide, Hubert.' Edelgard insisted.

'No, of course not. We need to know who is challenging Rhea and why. If it is our ''friends'' then we also need to fathom their motivation… but might I suggest we use our other asset to aid them rather than ourselves?'

'You think that would be a good idea?' Edelgard looked surprised.

Hubert nodded. 'He is notoriously difficult to manage but also almost impossible to reject. He would be too useful to have on their side. Offering them his service be seen as a gesture of goodwill, and they have no idea just how deep his loyalty to you really is.'

'Interesting.' Edelgard murmured. 'A good idea, regardless of whether this current plot is of their design or not. It's not like we can make full use of his skills at the moment anyway. He is in too close a proximity.'

'Precisely. We would lose nothing and potentially gain a greater insight into our allies' plans.' Hubert relaxed slightly. 'That would be a most welcome development.' He confessed.

'At least one positive can potentially be drawn from this mess then.' Edelgard's frown was back. 'The Professor demanding that we work with the others is something of an annoyance.'

'To us, yes.' Hubert agreed. 'Her general point is valid, however. Faced with a completely unknown situation, and with the Knight's attention being diverted, it would make sense for the students to work together, particularly since her main focus is keeping us all safe.'

'We can't be seen not to be pulling our weight.' Edelgard made a face. 'We certainly can't let Dimitri or Claude provide better support than us either. I hate that the Professor looks at everyone as her responsibility. Her loyalty should be with us, and us alone.'

'I do not think it is in her nature to pick a side…' Hubert began.

'Are you making excuses for her, Hubert?' Edelgard's voice was deceptively quiet.

'I am not.' Hubert replied firmly. 'I am merely presenting you facts. It is unlikely that Byleth would ever disregard any of her student's needs regardless of what House they represent. You should consider that carefully when you decide how you wish to proceed with her.'

'I want her.' Edelgard growled.

'The only person Byleth is completely loyal to is her father. If you genuinely want her to follow you, then you should prioritise getting him on your side.' Hubert shook his head. 'While Byleth has a naivety in political matters, Jeralt most certainly does not. Despite the fact he does not appear to love the Church, I don't think you could win him over easily. If at all.'

'Weaknesses?' Edelgard asked.

'Only Byleth and alcohol that I could name.' Hubert admitted. 'Aside from what is obviously in front of us, the man is an enigma. There is just nothing on record of him.'

'We can attempt to engage him.' Edelgard murmured. 'If it proves impossible, then his death would act to free the Professor from her dependency. Indeed, her vulnerability in such a circumstance is something we could exploit to bring her in.'

'Killing him would not be easy…' Hubert looked away.

'Do I need to order you to try seduction again.' Edelgard sounded grimly amused. 'You might have an easier time of it with Jeralt than you have had with his daughter.'

'Is having her join us really so important to you?' Hubert turned to stare pointedly at Edelgard.

'It is not just about having her on my side, Hubert. It's also about ensuring that she is not on anyone else's side instead.'

'She is just a mercenary. I don't comprehend your sheer determination in this matter.'

'The Professor is a woman who has proven herself to be willing to give her life in the protection of her charges… both myself and Dimitri now…' Edelgard replied passionately. 'She is also a person whose genuine lack of guile makes trusting them ridiculously easy.' Edelgard paused for a moment. 'Maybe it is foolishness to want her so badly,' She admitted softly. '…But even aside from her most obvious martial skills, she easily commands a respect on the battlefield, and we have no-one like that in our ranks. We need it.'

'Your will, as ever Lady Edelgard.' Hubert acquiesced, bowing deeply.

'On the plus side, at least I have managed to gather more insight into Dimitri and developments in the Blue Lion house in the past week.' Edelgard stood and walked to the window. 'Ingrid has proven to be a mine of information on her friends and surprisingly, her company is pleasing in itself too. She is serious and dedicated to her studies, which I respect. Add the fact that extending my friendship to the girl is something that the Professor would heartily endorse, it is a winning situation all round.'

'It would be good to foster a like association in the Deer's.' Hubert agreed.

'Mhmm. I have been considering Lysithea.' Edelgard replied. 'Have you managed to look into the Ordelia's present situation at all?'

'I have.' Hubert nodded. 'It is likely that you share a bond that goes further than just your hair colour, my Lady. Lysithea is the last surviving child of her generation, much in the same way that you are in yours. After aiding House Hrym, they suffered retribution from the Empire, and the Alliance turned a blind eye. Her parents hold very little power. '

'I think that she has her suspicions about what has happened to me too.' Edelgard said thoughtfully. 'She has seemed quite intent on avoiding me at all costs, but of course, she is likely to hold a grudge with the Empire, although it could be assumed that she would hold a grudge with the Alliance too. Once things have calmed down a bit around here, I will prioritise speaking with her. I think she could prove useful if I present to her our similarities rather than our differences.'

'Lysithea is an extremely skilled mage.' Hubert noted absently

'Praise from you is rare.' Edelgard raised a brow. 'She must have genuinely impressed you, Hubert.'

'She has. Although Annette is also a force to be reckoned with. I have been a little shocked at the level of ability in the arcane I have encountered here.'

'You know, perhaps there is some validity in The Professor's views on being inclusive to others. We could potentially pick up some very useful individuals during our time here.' Edelgard chuckled slightly. 'That is not something I ever expected myself to admit. It is an indication of just how dangerous our teacher and her unique brand of morality actually is.'

'She is certainly something else.' Hubert groaned quietly.

~0~

Lady Rhea entered her private suite and removed her headdress, tossing it down on her bed with some force and scattering hairpins in all directions. Her robes of office were discarded next and treated with the same lack of reverence.

'My Lady!' A harassed voice came from the other side of her closed door. 'Please… allow us to assist you.'

'I want some time alone!' Rhea called back belligerently to her handmaiden, '… Although actually… find Lady Catherine for me and have her attend me.'

'At once…'

It took a fair bit of time for all of the finery that Rhea was bedecked in to eventually come off, and once it had, she was able to shrug into a far more comfortable pair of soft trousers and blouse with a huge sigh of relief. She then poured herself a generous glass of wine and sat by the fireplace in her living room as she awaited Catherine's arrival.

When polite knocking finally announced her arrival, Catherine was pulled unceremoniously into Rhea's room with a speed that disorientated the Knight, and the door was slammed shut firmly behind her.

'Archbishop.' Catherine bowed. 'You requested my attendance?'

Rhea grunted and nodded towards an empty seat, refilling her wineglass and presenting one to Catherine as well.'

'I want to spar.' Rhea declared with finality.

'Of course, my lady.' It wasn't the first time that Catherine had been requested to provide a physical workout for the Archbishop. Rhea was an excellent brawler, which would come as a shock to most of her court. It was rare for a summons to come so early in the day, though. 'Is there a problem?' Catherine asked, in her usual blunt fashion.

Rhea chuckled humorlessly. 'That's one of the things I like about you Catherine.' She admitted. 'Everyone is fussing around me like hens around a chick because of some pointless assassination threat, but you don't just assume it is that which is bothering me.'

'With respect, Lady Rhea, you are more than capable of handling yourself.' Catherine replied honestly. 'With the Knight's providing back-up, I can't see you finding the potential threat all that much of a worry.'

'You are correct.' Rhea agreed. 'It is an annoyance at best, although the ridiculous reaction from everyone else is becoming very trying on my patience. I have been dragged from meeting to meeting about "the dire situation at hand." I am just about ready to beat the next person to mention it completely senseless.'

'So I am your sacrificial lamb then.' Catherine laughed.

'Oh, hardly.' Rhea looked approvingly at the woman in white. 'You will give a good accounting of yourself and give me a good fight. Mind you, if I accidentally call you Seteth as I am hitting you, please don't take it the wrong way.'

'Your chief adviser can be a little… pedantic at times… but his care for you and his dedication to the Church cannot be discounted. ' Catherine noted carefully.

'Pedantic? Pompously dull is a far more apt description, and the damned man is continually in my face at the moment…' Rhea growled. 'This entire situation is so frustrating. You would think that people have enough to do fighting amongst themselves and their borders that they wouldn't have time to start throwing dirt and accusations at the Church or me personally.'

Catherine swallowed, attempting to school her face to emotionless. She had never witnessed Rhea as anything other than benevolently calm before, even when angry. This odd petulance was… unusual.

'I think a good arms session is just the thing to get all your frustrations out.' Catherine said quietly. 'I hope you have nothing planned for the rest of the day. I can't help but feel you need a good break.'

'I do.' Rhea agreed. 'Between threats and accusations, and Seteth and Jeralt questioning every decision I try to make, and my staff coddling me as if I am made of glass… I just want to get drunk and have a fight!'

Catherine choked a little on her drink.

Rhea looked at her, amusement in her eyes.

'Have I shocked you Lady Catherine?' She asked, a trifle mockingly.

'I know already of your ability in brawling.' Catherine replied. 'I have just never experienced such a level of grievance from you. I do understand your frustration though.' She added quickly.

'Does it make me more "human" do you think?' Rhea asked in sudden interest.

'You will always be nothing less than a great paragon of the church.' Catherine said humbly. 'However, everyone needs to let off steam on occasion Archbishop. I am… happy that you trust me to assist you.' She added sincerely.

'You are a good girl Catherine.' Rhea rose and placed a chaste kiss to Catherine's brow as she walked past her. 'Now then, lets fight!' She demanded eagerly.