Claude was annoyed with himself and with Byleth. He didn't want to ask Hilda to dance. He wanted to be left alone and watch other people dance. He should've left when he had the chance.

Claude kept saying that to himself until he got to Hilda. When he got to her, she thought he looked exquisite. A beauty in a pale pink dress. He shook himself aware when he heard her say his name.

"Claude?" Hilda stated quizzically.

"Sorry, Hilda," he said.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked.

Claude offered his hand. "Will you dance with me?" he asked.

Hilda just stared at his hand for a full ten seconds before accepting it. "Alright," she asked.

Claude led them out to the dance floor and started a waltz.

"It was nice of you to come back for Dimitri and the professor's wedding," Hilda said in a way of starting a conversation.

"I wouldn't have missed this," Claude told her.

"Still, I'm sure they both appreciate it," she said. She watched Dimitri, a man clearly in love with his bride, walk over and wrap his arms around his wife. "They wouldn't have won the battle without you relinquishing control of Leicester Alliance."

"You guys were in good hands," Claude stated.

"I know you better than that," Hilda stated. "My brother told me what hell Lorenz had put you through when you had suggested that the Alliance should become one with The Kingdom."

"He wanted to rule," Claude told her. "Your brother-"

"Understood what you wanted to do and why you wanted it done that way. Basically, he told Lorenz that nobody would follow him into battle," Hilda finished. "However, they would follow Dimitri."

"It was said with a bit more tact," Claude stated.

"My brother got all the tact," Hilda stated automatically, "but I'm just summarizing."

Claude made a gesture of agreement.

"I will state though," Hilda started, "Dimitri's doing a good job of letting everyone be heard." Hilda watched as Dimitri led his Byleth out on the floor and started to waltz. "It's still shaky, yet, but I wager that it'll balance out. Especially with the professor on his side, and knowing that their marriage is everything to do with love and nothing to do with strategy and power."

"Dimitri wouldn't have any other way," Claude said with confidence. He wouldn't have left the Alliance in Dimitri's, and now Byleth's, hands otherwise.

Claude gave an inward sigh. He can't just have her in his arms and not ask her. "Hilda?"

"Yes, Claude?"

"If I asked you to come travel with me, would you?" Claude asked.

Hilda stared at him and questioned for a moment if this was a trick. She saw sparks fly when it came to Dimitri and Byleth. This was just too much to bare and hoped it wasn't. So she played to his tactics, and she hoped she could pull it off. "What would you do if I said yes?" she asked.

"I would hope your brother wouldn't have an armada after me," Claude said.

"And?" Hilda prompted.

Claude sighed knowing she caught him at his own game of tact. "And I would be ecstatic," he said.

"And so would I," Hilda stated and met his hug and then his kiss.