"Lady Edelgard, I must protest! Surely this task could be handled by an official courier?" frowned Hubert.
"Unfortunately, it cannot," replied Edelgard as she tossed the red hood over her head. "My uncle asked for me, and me alone. Sending anyone else would ruin any chance of him agreeing to join us. I am aware of the risk, but this is something that simply must be done."
"At the very least, allow for an escort to accompany you until the final stretch."
She shook her head. "A group leaving the palace at this time of night would be suspicious and draw undue attention. It would be far less risky for me to disguise myself as a simple courier." Her retainer winced, but bowed his head in acknowledgement. Her gaze softened. "I will not be helpless, Hubert. I will remain armed, and will carry no less than three concealed knives."
"Very well, Lady Edelgard. I will make arrangements. Please keep in mind the forests of Enbarr are dangerous, and to always keep on the path."
She nodded solemnly. "I've no intention of straying."
"Hmm? And what is this?" asked a dark robed fellow as Edelgard stepped along the forest path. "An imperial messenger?" He peeled off from the wood post he was leaning against and moved to block her way.
Edelgard stood firm as she came to a stop, eyes narrowing. "Indeed. Simple dispatches from Enbarr."
"At this time of night? Along this disused forest path? Surely you can't be carrying something just a little more important. Say perhaps… a crest?"
Edelgard's hand gripped the leather strap of her messenger bag just a little tighter as her free hand inched to her axe. "That would be ridiculous," she refuted evenly. "Something as valuable as that would only be transported under heavy guard. Not to be delivered as if a regular package."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps the best security is secrecy."
"Your suppositions are as baseless as they are unwanted. Now will you continue to block my way, or will you move aside?"
A hum of amusement came from beneath the dark cowl. "Do forgive an old man's ramblings." The attempt at sincerity fell flat, but he stepped away all the same. "Have a safe journey."
Edelgard fixed him with a glare, hand firmly gripping her axe handle as she stoically continued on her way without a word of departure.
As she walked away, the sinister figure chuckled to himself darkly. "I've finally found what I've been searching for, after so long," he said. "I believe it's time to pay a final visit to that old fool, Arundel." Raising a hand in gesture, the shadowed man warped away with a flash of magic.
Arriving swiftly at her destination, Edelgard marched briskly through the cottage garden to the front door, letting herself in with the key she'd been entrusted with.
"Uncle, I've arrived," she announced.
A voice called from further within. "Welcome, my dear niece. I'm in the back."
Edelgard found the man staring into the fireplace. He turned at the sound of her footfalls. "Hello Edelgard. I believe you have something for me?"
"No," she refused.
His brow flashed in momentary annoyance. "Oh? Surely you didn't just walk all the way here for a social call."
"I said no," she repeated.
"Hmm… I trust your journey was uneventful?"
"Enough! I refuse to indulge this farcical deception!" declared Edelgard, drawing her axe. "You are not my uncle and I'll have your head for this mockery!"
"You arrogant beast!" thundered Thales as he shredded his disguise, "Face my dark magic and perish!"
She pulled her axe free as the freshly brutalized corpse fell to the floor.
As Edelgard wiped her weapon clean with her crimson cape, the door burst open as Byleth exploded in. The silver-haired maiden looked to her evenly. "You're late," she said.
Byleth shrugged. "My apologies. I was held up." To demonstrate, she held up her sword, wet with blood.
Edelgard glanced through the doorway to see the fallen bodies of numerous dark marauders dead along the path to her uncle's house. "Nicely done," she complimented. "Was that all of them?"
Byleth nodded. "Everyone on Hubert's list was accounted for. There should no longer by anyone slithering in the dark."
"Excellent," smiled the princess. "So… I guess we're all alone now,"
"We are," agreed Byleth.
Setting down her weapon, Edelgard approached the older woman playfully. "Byleth, what big eyes you have..."
"The better to admire you with."
She slowly grasped her hands. "What strong hands you have..."
Byleth drew her into a hug. "The better to embrace you with."
A soft sigh fell from her lips. "What soft breasts you have..."
The blunette nudged the princess's head toward her cleavage. "The better for you to rest in."
"What loving warmth you have…"
"The better to stay by your side, in sickness and health, till death do us part."
~END~