As soon as Rhea had arrived at Flayn's party, Hubert was on the move. Despite his personal reservations about even attempting to infiltrate the Archbishop's private accommodation, he had to admit that he was experiencing an overwhelming buzz of excitement. This was exactly the kind of mission that invigorated him.

The timing was appearing to be perfect too. The regular guard patrols that Hubert was already familiar with were going about the duties as normal, but the feasting and more relaxed celebration of Saint Cethleann was in full swing now, and the people that moved about here and there all seemed merry and invested in their own entertainments.

Hubert had considered a more magical method of gaining entrance to his target but had decided that a basic approach would be best at least initially. The problem with a portal spell was that if you weren't one-hundred percent confident in your end location, many things could go awry. He was planning to check out the area and port only if there was no other option.

There was no-one to notice his passing as he climbed the stairs up past the library level of the building and Rhea's official audience chambers, nor either on the stair that led to the faculty accommodation. Now Hubert's heart rate increased as he slipped his way cautiously to the next stairwell that led exclusively to the Archbishop's suite. Once he set foot on that path, there was no other place he could pretend to be heading. Listening carefully, he stealthily made his way up step by step, trying to quell the thundering in the chest that was filling his ears.

The narrow corridor at the top was empty.

Hubert paused for a second. Where were the guards? He had been sure that at this stage, his progress would be thwarted, and he would be required to go into plan B. Something didn't seem quite right in this scenario. Silently he edged along the corridor and up to the double doors ahead of him. He wondered if it would lead to an antechamber of sorts, where the guards would be housed, but a quick inspection of the floor on either side of the door showed the kind of scuffing that would mark the placement of a regular set of feet.

Cautiously Hubert leaned into the door, but the thickness of the wood likely made listening to anything occurring the other side quite impossible. The large keyhole was also a bust. Even on this side, there was a protecting metal swing that had to be moved aside before the key could be entered, and when Hubert did peer through, all he saw was darkness that confirmed his assumption that a similar swing was set on the other side too. He sighed heavily. Rhea certainly knew how to protect her privacy, he'd give her that.

Hubert took a swift step back and considered his options. He was sure he could gain entry since the lock itself was nothing he hadn't seen before, and if he was surprised by inhabitants in the room, well... he could immediately portal himself back to his own bedroom. He would just give the door handle a quick rattle, and hope that if anyone was inside, it would draw them out.

The door clicked open as soon as Hubert properly touched it.

Spooked now, Hubert turned to make a speedy exit, but before he could get a single step, a voice growled at him from the darkness of the room.

'Get inside and shut the door, you blithering idiot! Quickly now!'

'Jeralt?' Hubert breathed... then realised he had lost any chance he'd maybe had of porting away with that one stunned word. His head reeling, he did what he was told instead.

'Byleth said you'd likely see the opportunity for a raid on Rhea's chambers this evening..' Jeralt uncovered the lamp on the table where he was rooting through papers. 'I owe her a fair bit of coin...' he grumbled. 'I didn't think you'd have the balls for it...'

'I see.' Hubert was frozen by the door.

'Well lad, get searching.. we don't have all night.' Jeralt barked.

Hubert wondered whether he needed to try and eliminate the man in front of him. If he even could.

'Are you just going to stand there?' Jeralt was looking at him now with a frown. 'I dunno why Byleth is always singing your praises, and insisting how clever you are. You are beginning to look like a bit of a dullard to me.'

'What are we looking for?' Hubert asked faintly.

'Anything.' Jeralt grunted. 'Seteth is going to keep Rhea gone as long as possible, but I reckon we should clear out as quickly as we can, regardless.'

'Seteth knows your here snooping?' Hubert had finally started to move, going along the walls in carefully in an attempt to discover anything hidden in the fabric of the room itself.'

'Well yeah, he provided the key and sorted the guards. Rhea ain't big on sharing information with anyone. Gotta be something we can shake loose here...'

'I'm surprised you didn't include von Riegan in your clandestine activity.' Hubert noted a little bitterly.

'Hey, Hubert! Byleth called it right then.' Claude poked his head out of the walk-in wardrobe he had been fully immersed in.'

'Well that figures.' Hubert grouched.

'Needed as many eyes as possible.' Jeralt muttered. 'We'd have had the Hevring lad too if he hadn't been diverted by the opportunity to have a proper go through Hanneman's office.'

'Linhardt?' Hubert was starting to feel a bit sick. Things were definitely moving well beyond his experience or control.

'I think I may have something here.' Claude was saying to Jeralt. 'Do you know if Rhea ever wears the nun's regalia, for any of the ceremonies or anything?'

'Nun's?' Jeralt frowned. 'No. She has her own garb in fitting with her rank. Other than that, I've only ever seen her in trousers and a blouse with a bit of light armor when she trains.'

'Figured.' Claude nodded. 'She does have several full nun's outfits in the back of her wardrobe though, all the same size. It would be quite an effective disguise, don't you think? If she wanted to move about the Monastery unnoticed. The wimple would cover her distinctive hair, and the gown is pretty shapeless, so her... ah ... attributes would be hidden. Plus, the nun's all scurry about with their eyes to the floor in case they become enamored by someone like me!'

'Like me, you mean.' Jeralt smirked. 'Nice job Claude. So either Rhea has a fetish, or she has the means to be sneaky.'

'You got anything there?' Claude asked as he moved from the wardrobe to crawl under the bed.'

'I'm not sure.' Jeralt admitted. 'Rhea said she had been held up by something this evening, and I'm assuming it's this.. but I'm not sure of its relevance...'

'There is a secret passageway or door here somewhere.' Hubert suddenly interjected. He was on the floor next to the wall, not too far from the wardrobe. 'There is a very obvious draft along this line here...' He explained.

Claude poked his head back out from under the bed.

'Try inside the cupboard.' He suggested. 'There may be a switch or a lever. I didn't feel anything when I checked it out, but fingertip searches aren't my strong point. Too many callouses from pulling a bow.'

Hubert located the minuscule button in the closet almost immediately. A small door swang seamlessly opens where he had indicated.

'Nice call!' Claude was fully out from under the bed now and bounding down the narrow staircase that had been revealed.

'Enthusiastic ain't he.' Jeralt chuckled, handing Hubert the papers that he's been looking at. 'Take a look at that, would you?' He asked.

'Why are you trusting me here?' Hubert couldn't help the question, it had been building since he's entered.

'I'm not.' Jeralt put a hand on Hubert's shoulder and steered him towards the light on the desk. 'But, Byleth has a great deal of respect for you, and I am willing to take heed of her judgment until you prove me wrong.' Jeralt paused a second reflectively. 'That being said, I do know what a cesspit of intrigue and backstabbing the Empire is, and Lord Bloody Arundel is the worst of the lot of them, so if you have managed to keep your little lady alive and thriving this far, then you are probably deserving of my respect too.'

Hubert blinked at him incredulously.

'I know lad. Trust isn't a thing that will come easy, or likely ever... but we both know that there is quite a bit that is fishy here, and at least some of it relates to my daughter. I will use any resource I can to get to the bottom of it for her sake. I know that your motivation is going to be driven by a different force, but we have a common mistrust of the Archbishop, and that is almost like having a common interest...'

'If it means anything, I have respect for you too, Sir Jeralt.' Hubert nodded.

'And my daughter?' He asked quietly.

'It would be impossible not to.' Hubert breathed.

'It's a start.' Jeralt clapped his shoulder, making him stumble, then indicated the paperwork again. 'We both know you are far brighter than me... please... what are your thoughts?'

'It's a way out!' Claude was back in the room. Its a really clever concealed exit in a great location below. I think we can quite positively say that Rhea enjoys a secret and free reign whenever she wants it.'

'I can get a watch set on that.' Jeralt sounded pleased. He looked back at Hubert. 'Any ideas?' He asked.

Hubert was frowning. 'It's not at all subtle, although I don't think there is any kind of code either. I think it means exactly what it is reporting. There is a sudden influx of bandit activity in ''The Abyss,'' and it is beginning to become a problem. Aid is required. There is no signature.' Hubert looked up. 'Where is The Abyss?' He asked.

Jeralt was scowling. 'That's the thing, it sounds familiar, but I don't actually know. The fact the request isn't signed is perplexing too. It is usually the head of a house that would seek to garner aid from the Knights of Seiros, and a heavy bandit problem is certainly a legitimate request, so why wouldn't they sign it or head it up on official paper?'

'I think we should maybe consider our tactical retreat soon.' Claude said suddenly. 'We have been here twice as long as we first intended anyway.'

'Agreed.' Jeralt nodded. 'We can always get together tomorrow... not that there is much to discuss.' He sighed.

'Knowing that Rhea maintains a freedom of movement is a boon.' Hubert was gathering the papers together tidily. 'Where did you find these?' He asked.

'In that binder.' Jeralt pointed his thumb to a burgundy leather cover.

Hubert took a few seconds to look through the other papers that were in there already, but nothing jumped out at him. With a sigh he settled the binder back on the table. Claude had already left.

'You next lad. Head back to the party, I'll be back in a bit.' Jeralt told him.

Once he was free of the top floor, Hubert sagged against the wall and let out a long, slow breath. He had no idea what he was going to report back to Edelgard. He had no idea what his own feeling about the unexpected turn of events was either. He hadn't even allowed himself to consider the fact that Byleth... did she really think of him as highly as Jeralt had suggested? It left him with something of a sour taste in his mouth considering how badly he had often treated her. Mentally shaking himself, he headed quickly back to the classrooms.

It really hadn't been very long that Hubert had been away he realised although, to him, it had seemed like an age. On his return, he noted that Jeritza had taken himself as far as the doorway of the Lion's room and was watching Dorothea who was now singing with Manuela to Flayn's quite obvious delight. Seteth, Hanneman, and Rhea were also enjoying the improvised opera, seated together each with a glass of wine and a relaxed countenance.

Although he tried to avoid it, Hubert found that his eyes drawn directly to Byleth, who had looked up at his arrival and was gazing at him with a gentle smile on her face. He was slightly concerned to note she was sat with Edelgard, who was holding tight onto the Professor's arm with a red flush on her face and... yes, there was a wineglass in both of their hands too.

As if his evening hadn't already presented surprises and complications... now he had a sinking feeling that his woes weren't quite over yet.

'Hubert! Hubie!' Edelgard raised a hand to beckon him over. 'There you are, you naughty fellow! Where have you been?'

'Um... have you been drinking your Highness?' He asked, his heart sinking.

'Just a bit... Mother!' Edelgard started to giggle, which set Byleth off too.

'Just great.' Hubert began a slow descent into panic.