"Bernadetta!"

Feeling a sense of deja vu, Bernadetta froze at the harsh voice she heard coming up behind her, and slowly turned to find Hubert stalking toward her, an annoyed look on his face. That expression made her screech as she immediately imagined the man tying her up and torturing her for…well…whatever she'd done to earn his ire this time. She instantly twisted her body and prepared to run, but he must've anticipated that since he grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back as she started to run, causing her feet to go out from underneath her. Thankfully Hubert's hold on her prevented her from landing hard on the ground, however. She looked up as he leaned down, their eyes meeting, and Bernadetta felt her body trembling as she let out a whimper. "H-H-Hello…Hubert…"

"Did you really think you'd be able to run?" Hubert asked, and Bernadetta gulped. She knew from her similar encounter with Edelgard that she shouldn't be as afraid as she was, but at the same time, Hubert was much scarier, to the point that it felt like he might actually kill her if she did something wrong.

"N-No…b-but it's worth a try, isn't it?" Bernadetta asked as she tried for a weak laugh. Hubert sighed but kept his hold on her uniform.

"Do you know why I am upset on this particular day?" he asked, his voice the sort of calm that always told whoever was listening to be careful about what they said.

"I-I…I might have an idea-"

"You're aware the mission is tomorrow, correct?" he continued, and she simply nodded. "And you're aware that the professor is considering holding you back because of your late assignments, right."

"I-"

"Bernadetta," Hubert cut her off with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Please explain to me why your assignments aren't done."

"W-Well…I, uh…" the girl started, "I just…th-the assignments involved going outside and doing some field work that I…uh…didn't feel comfortable doing, so I just kept…putting it off until it was late…"

"Precisely. And now since that fieldwork assignment is very important not only to your grade but to working real-stakes missions, you're being held back from the next one, meaning we have one less person to protect Lady Edelgard."

"I…" Bernadetta started before she began to tremble even harder as his expression grew darker, even as the fake smile remained. "I-I…I'm s-sorry…please don't…h-hurt me…" Hubert sighed once more and tried for a different smile.

"Bernadetta, I'm not going to hurt you. The only people I hurt are those who pose a danger to Lady Edelgard, so as long as you don't…then you don't need to worry about me killing you." His smile was not reassuring, even though he'd meant for it to be.

"I-I find that really hard to believe…" Bernadetta said, and Hubert finally frowned.

"Why?"

"You've seen yourself, haven't you?!" Bernadetta cried, but Hubert just frowned deeper.

"I mean…I try to make it clear using only my aura that anyone who trifles with Lady Edelgard will feel my wrath, but I've always tried to temper it for allies. It seems I've failed in that regard…"

"Just a little bit…" Bernadetta said quietly. "H-Hey, can you um…let go of me now?"

"If I do, will you run away?"

Bernadetta's silence was confirmation enough.

"Look. If you need someone to help you with the assignment, I'd be happy to do so. There's still some time left in the day, so perhaps if you get it at least partially finished, the professor will allow you to accompany us," Hubert said.

"I-Is it really that important for me to come? I'm not…very useful-"

"False."

Bernadetta's eyes widened at his declaration. "What?"

"Every bit of firepower is important in the field of battle. Even a single arrow can make a difference in life or death," Hubert said with a sort of voice that Bernadetta thought sounded almost…nice. "You matter to us for your skill, which you do have, even if you don't think so. I've seen it. Even if you did make a mistake with Lady Edelgard last time, it has been the only major blunder I've witnessed from you since we met. You have potential, Bernadetta, I truly believe so."

"I…you really…?" Bernadetta's heart swelled. Part of her brain wanted to shout that he was lying, that he was just buttering her up to get her to work hard and prove herself, but she fought back against it, told herself the truth, that he really meant it.

"And, failing that, you could at least be used as a meat shield," Hubert said with a smile. Bernadetta went slack in his arms, her mouth frozen in an open expression. "Er…that was a joke." Hubert quickly said upon seeing her expression. Any hope that had bloomed in Bernadetta's chest was immediately snuffed out. "Anyway," Hubert continued, likely trying to push past his failed attempt at humor, "like I said, if you wish, we can go out and work on that fieldwork together, while we still have daylight."

"I…I guess…we could…" Bernadetta said weakly, still feeling a little deflated as Hubert hoisted her in his arm with surprising strength and started walking. "H-Hey! What're you-?!"

"This is easier, and guarantees we get there faster than trying to drag you along," he said simply. "Just bear with it until we get there." The girl had to admit he had a point. If they'd walked separately, she probably would've dragged her feet and made it take longer. Even so, the idea of going out into the woods with this man, someone she probably feared more than anyone else at the monastery…

She feared for her life.

"Well then, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Hubert asked the question as the pair walked back through the gates, Bernadetta trudging along, her feet tired and her clothes dirty. She'd fallen in a puddle of mud…twice. She was more than ready to go back to her room, take off her dirty clothes, and just sleep naked. But, they'd managed to get through most of the assignment before night had fallen, the sky red from the setting sun.

"Ughhh…" was Bernadetta's response, to which Hubert huffed a laugh.

"I'm sure this'll be enough to convince the professor to allow you to join the mission tomorrow," he said with a smile, one that felt much more genuine this time. Bernadetta froze in her tracks at the realization she'd spent all that time running around chasing animals, falling into the mud, and even fighting off a rogue bandit, just so she would have to get up early the next morning for a mission where she could potentially die.

Her knees gave way as she collapsed onto the ground. Hubert was immediately at her side to catch her with surprising speed. "Bernadetta, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"Tired…" she remarked. Hubert sighed, and without warning, he once again scooped her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style. She yelped as her face turned red. "B-But, your clothes-!" She was sure something like this would transfer the mud from her outfit to his.

"I can always change," he said as he began walking. Bernadetta wanted to say something about how this wasn't appropriate, especially as they passed a few lingering students who gave them weird looks—a pair of girls even whispering as they passed—but instead Bernadetta felt herself shrinking in on herself in embarrassment.

The two continued in silence for a while, Hubert carrying her without complaint to her room as the sky continued to darken above them, stars appearing within the night sky.

"You did well today."

The words startled Bernadetta, and she looked to find Hubert staring at her. "I mean it. You did good. You managed to catch an animal all by yourself, without any weapons."

"But it got away," she said, and he shook his head.

"You still managed to catch it. That's impressive enough on its own," he said. Bernadetta didn't know how to respond to that, other than the now even deeper blush on her face, so she decided to ask something else in an attempt to distract herself from her racing heart.

"Do you…have any hobbies? Like…do you like anything that's…not scary?" Hubert chuckled.

"Not scary, you say? Hmm…" He seemed to give it some consideration as Bernadetta's room came into view. "I suppose…I like board games. And those jigsaw puzzles, but only the large ones, with over a thousand pieces." Bernadetta blinked.

"You…like board games and puzzles?" she questioned, and he nodded as they stopped in front of her door. "I…I also…like those, too…" Hubert's smile returned.

"Interesting. Perhaps we can play together sometime. I have a few in my room that Lady Edelgard sometimes indulges me in, but maybe it would be nice to have a new opponent. I also have a few puzzles I have yet to complete that you could help me with." Bernadetta nodded.

"I think I'd like that," she responded.

"Are you good to stand, or do I need to help you undress yourself?" he asked, his tone making it hard to tell if he was joking or not. Regardless, her blush returned as she frantically shook her head.

"I-I'm fine! Thank you!" she squeaked, and he gave her a nod as he set her down on her feet. Her legs wobbled for a moment, but she recovered and stood to face him. "Um…th-thank you for the help, I guess."

"Of course. Should you ever need it, and it doesn't conflict with prior plans, I am always available to help," Hubert said as he sketched a bow. "Now, have a lovely night. Rest up for tomorrow." Bernadetta cringed at the reminder.

"Right, goodnight, Hubert," she said as she backed away to her door and opened it. Hubert turned and walked away, and she watched as he left. Once he was out of sight, she let out the breath she'd been holding, turned, and walked into her room.

"Board games and puzzles, huh?" she asked aloud as she slowly closed the door behind her.