Purple streaks had begun to fill the orange sky as Hubert and I arrived at the noble dormitories.

I had been a bit worried about drawing attention, but it seemed like most of the students were either making similar preparations as me or were away on missions since we didn't come across anyone on our way there.

Hubert led the way up the stairs in the dormitory, taking clean and purposeful strides.

Since I hadn't actually gone to the dormitories before, I just followed Hubert and did my best to get used to walking around in my formal outfit.

Hubert must have noticed my discomfort since he glanced back and frowned. "You will have to do better than that when we arrive, Professor. That is, unless you intend to lose face for both yourself in Lady Edelgard among the upper nobility."

I resisted the urge to adjust my collar and gave a curt nod in response. "I'm aware, Bert."

"So long as you are." Hubert continued walking and said, "Due to various circumstances, more eyes will be present than we originally anticipated. It would be prudent of you to be cautious."

"More eyes?" I frowned. "That-"

A door opened from down the hall up ahead and then a charming female voice called out. "Oh, stop giving the Professor a hard time, Hubie. I'm sure he'll do fine."

I paused and examined the new arrival.

An elegant young woman with lightly curled brown hair walked towards us. She wore a sleeveless silky maroon dress that bared her shoulders and hugged her body. A black bodice around her chest emphasized her assets and her delicate pale arms were covered with detached sleeves that matched with her dress. To finish off her attire, the young woman wore a pair of black leather boots that went up to her thighs, just barely showing a hint of her white skin between the edge of her skirt and the top of the boots.

I blinked. The voice was familiar and I recognized her, but it took a bit to reconcile the beautiful young woman in front of me with my student. "...Dorothea?"

She laughed and covered her mouth. "Oh my. Could it be that my dear Professor is finally falling for my charms?"

Hearing her teasing words was enough to draw me out of my stupor and I shook my head. "Do you really have to flirt with me so much?"

"Oh? So you realize that I'm flirting with you, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'd have to be a brick in order to not realize it. I'm just purposefully ignoring it."

Dorothea placed her hands on her waist and said, "Well then... Looks like I've got a challenge in front of me. Don't think I'm letting up just because you gave a ring to Edie."

"...Well, I guess I can't deny the fact that you're driven," I muttered.

Hubert cleared his throat and then turned to Dorothea. "Has Lady Edelgard finished with her preparations?"

Dorothea finally shifted her attention from me and then said, "Pretty much, but she's still braiding her hair." A frown crossed the former songstress's face and she said, "Edie wouldn't let me help with that, so I decided to get some fresh air when I ran into you two. And speaking of that..." She turned back to me and gave me a once over. "My. I knew you cleaned up well, Professor, but this... Well, I suppose there's no mistaking your family lineage."

I resisted the urge to step back from her intense gaze, remembering that I'd have to face similar or worse stares soon enough, and said, "Is that so?"

Dorothea nodded, an uncharacteristic serious face on. "Definitely. If I didn't know better, I would think that you were a visiting Count or Marquis." She let out a sigh and said, "I was worried that you might not look the part. I mean, you're handsome enough but the sort of dignity that a noble has needs a long time practicing, you know?" She scrunched up her nose and said, "And it's a pain if you mess it up too."

I frowned. "Is it that serious? This is just a celebration for Ferdinand's birthday, isn't it?"

Hubert sighed. "Again, you show your lack of experience in these affairs." He shook his head and said, "Even were this simply a reception that was established for Ferdinand's sake, it would be imperative to treat it with the highest level of caution. A person's reputation, unlike their life, may be slain with a misplaced word or mannerism."

I nodded. "I'm aware. But… aren't there just going to be students present?"

Hubert let out an exasperated sigh and put a hand on his forehead. "For all your talents in instructing and fighting, how are you so inept in these affairs? Even Caspar of all people can manage better than this…"

My frown deepened and I crossed my arms.

Dorothea stepped in, pushing Hubert lightly aside, and said, "Don't mind him, Professor. Hubie's just making sure that you aren't going to make things worse for yourself later on. As for your question…" Dorothea placed a finger on her chin and said, "Well, it's true that most of the people attending will be your students and people you know from around the monastery, but this isn't going to be in the context that you're usually in."

"I know that, but…" I narrowed my eyes, trying to sort out my thoughts.

Hubert shook his head and said, "Regardless of the nature you might have with the students attending, Professor, tonight those attendees will be serving as the eyes and ears of their respective houses. And I mean noble houses, not those in Garreg Mach." He narrowed his eyes and said, "It would behoove you to be on your guard tonight, Professor. While I have carefully selected an outfit to emphasize your authority and naturally harsh demeanor so as to reduce the number of those that would approach you, eliminating all of them is impossible. It would also be detrimental."

I leaned against the wall and said, "Right… But isn't the point of me showing up with Delly to show how I didn't coerce her into marrying me? No, that I'm not a dangerous person? Showing up like this… It's a bit like declaring war, isn't it?"

The outfit that Hubert handed me was definitely not one that gave off a non-threatening vibe. In fact, it was bound to amplify the Ashen Demon persona, similar to how it would be if Jeritza suddenly showed up in his Death Knight attire.

Hubert nodded. "That was indeed the original course of action. However… Well." He adjusted his gloves and said, "A certain individual will take care of that matter for us. Now, what matters is that you simply accompany Lady Edelgard and present yourself as a man suited to stand beside her… Or is that too much to ask, Professor?" Hubert gave me a mocking smile at the end of his words.

I didn't rise to the challenge and simply shrugged. Still, a certain individual, huh…?

Dorothea stretched and then glanced over at Hubert. "Well, Hubie. Mind accompanying to the reception while Professor waits for Edie?" She adjusted her dress and said, "I'd ask Caspar, but Bernie and Petra already dragged him off."

Hubert raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "My, Dorothea. Asking me of all people to accompany you… Are you plotting to eliminate me by adding your suitors to my list of enemies?"

Dorothea giggled and hid her face behind a fan she pulled out from her dress. "To think that you'd be capable of making such a jest… You're not planning a 'sudden accident' for me so that Edie can have Professor all to herself now, are you?"

Hubert smiled. "I would never."

I glanced between my two students and frowned. Those words were a bit too sharp to be idle banter. There wasn't any ill-intent that I could sense from either of the two, but even so… "Should I be worried, you two? Or is this just a new way to flirt?"

Dorothea laughed and fanned herself. "Don't worry about it, Professor. Just a little inside joke between me and Hubie."

"Indeed, Professor. There is no cause for concern." Hubert gave me a slim smile and then turned his attention back towards Dorothea. "As for your request… Well, I could do worse tonight. And I suppose that I do owe you a favor for aiding Lady Edelgard with her attire tonight." He held out his right hand and said, "Come, Miss Arnault."

Dorothea glanced at the hand with a strange expression on her face. "A bit forward of you there, Hubie- Ah, I mean Lord Vestra. But I suppose I should have expected as much…" Dorothea shook her head and then took Hubert's hand.

Hubert nodded and then glanced at me. "Lady Edelgard will no doubt be out shortly. If you've any concerns, she will certainly address them. Now…" The dark mage turned around and said, "We will be off."

Dorothea walked beside Hubert, wrapped around his arm like a proper enamored lady, and then gave me a small wave as she left. "See you soon, Professor!"

I watched the two leave and then shook my head. Hubert and Dorothea walking together off to what was essentially a ball… I knew that the two had a support together, but it was still an odd sight to see. Well, better him than me though.

Through the nearby windows, I could see the sun slowly sinking below the horizon and the sky steadily growing a more violet hue.

It seemed like I still had time though.

The hallway was quiet, and it didn't seem like Delly would be finished anytime soon.

Since that was the case, I leaned against the wall and went over my current situation.

Ferdinand's birthday reception.

I remember them mentioning it after the mock battle, but I had been under the impression that it was just going to be a small gathering between the Black Eagles and maybe a few guests.

For it to be as big of a deal as Hubert and Dorothea was making it out to be…

Wouldn't it be almost the same as the ball later on in the year then?

While it was definitely smaller in scale considering that the other houses were out at the moment, the overall atmosphere seemed to be the same.

…No. This one seemed more serious. A proper political venue rather than the unwinding affair that took place near the end of the year.

Then there was the fact that it was taking place before the first mission of all things-

"Ah." I blinked, suddenly realizing the purpose of this reception.

A powerplay.

At the moment, we were under the protection of the Church of Seiros by virtue of being one of its houses, but that would only make us an enticing target when we stepped beyond its bounds.

While anything that happened here wouldn't deter the Agarthans from acting, they weren't the only forces to consider.

Minor nobles that didn't show up in the original story, third parties that were overcast by the main characters… This was a full world with vast political webs to consider. One where I was certain people would jump at any opportunity to advance themselves.

And with the Agarthans whispering from the shadows as well, it wouldn't take much for us to be beset by danger on all sides.

I glanced at my outfit and said, "So that's why I'm dressed like this, huh?"

It was an outfit that matched the color scheme of the Adrestrian Empire and also emphasized the appearance of the 'Ashen Demon'.

At the same time, it was a clear sign of allegiance. It hadn't been publicly announced yet that I was Rhea's grandson, at least I didn't think so, but when that came out, it would give Delly the backing she needed against any dissenters.

After all, the Adrestrian Empire was founded by the combined work of the first Emperor and Lady Seiros.

While I wasn't too much of a devotee to religion, I didn't underestimate the impact it held over the people.

The union between the bloodlines of Lady Seiros and Emperor Wilhelm Paul Hresvelg…

I was sure that the Agarthans would try to invalidate it somehow, but considering the influence that the Church of Seiros had over Fodlan, it would take a lot more effort.

That didn't even bring into account Dimitri's role as well if push came to shove, let alone Claude's actions in the background.

In short, this would be a point in our favor, forcing the other side to act coercively for the time being. Then-

"You seem deep in thought, my love. Care to share?" A familiar, light-hearted voice called out. Delly's.

I shook my head and glanced up. "Nothing much, just-" Whatever I was going to say next vanished when I saw her.

Simplicity and calm. That was the best way to describe Delly's appearance.

In contrast to the outfit that Dorothea and Hubert had picked out for me that sharpened my natural air, the one that Delly wore softened her.

Like Dorothea, Delly wore a sleeveless dress. It was crimson, as expected, paired by a black bodice embroidered with gold that hugged her chest and upper torso. The skirt of the dress stopped at her knees, revealing silky dark leggings and red heels. Finishing up the outfit were a pair of black gloves that went up to Delly's elbows.

I couldn't help but admire it. While I already knew how lovely she could be even while she was dressed in the academy uniform, seeing her in a proper elegant dress made me speechless.

But that wasn't the only change Delly had done for the night. Her snowy white hair had been styled into a side ponytail, pulled to her right side. Not only that, but her bangs had changed too, now a softer part that draped her hair across her forehead at a gentle slope rather than the harsh part splitting it cleanly in the middle at the top of her hairline.

It was a simple thing, but it did a lot for her atmosphere. If before Delly had the aura of a stern and unyielding student council president, now she was a calm and serene beauty awaiting her escort.

Even so, that wasn't the last change.

I didn't know whether it was magic or Dorothea's skill at makeup, but even the thin black lines from Delly's condition had vanished, leaving behind only pure and pristine white skin.

Seeing me staring so intently, Delly started to shift in place. "W-What is it? Does this look not suit me? Y-You see, I had always wished to wear something like this, but never found the occasion. Since we were going together, I thought that this might… Um…"

I cut her off and said, "You look beautiful, Delly."

"T-Truly?" She frowned and shook her head. "There's no need to flatter me. An honest opinion is fine. I know that I'm not quite as feminine as Dorothea or the others, so-"

"Are you kidding me?"

"E-Eh?"

I sighed and walked over, forcibly taking her left hand with my own before lacing our fingers together.

Delly blushed at the act but then put on a stern face. "T-That's a bit much! It's fine to take my hand, but to do it like this…"

"You need to take more pride in yourself as a girl, Delly. In my honest opinion, out of everyone in the world, you're the only who I would turn my head to look at."

Delly… No, Edelgard normally had a cold and austere aura about her. Even after the proposal, there was still a bit of that around her. It was inevitable, after all. As the one fated to become the Adrestrian Emperor and as one who steeled herself to walk a path paved with blood, it would be odd not to have such a demeanor.

A beautiful but lonely flower. A rose blooming in the distance with nothing around. That was how she seemed the first time I saw her. Stubbornly blooming with thorns to protect herself, but also yearning for companionship.

But it was different now. She was different now.

At this moment, at this time, Edelgard… Delly was beside me. Not as the future Adrestrian Emperor. Not as my house leader. No, she was just 'Delly'. An ordinary, kind, lonely and sometimes teasing young woman who had dressed up and waited for the one she loved.

Delly turned a deep red and then tugged her hand away. "…That's mean. Performing a sneak attack like that… Haven't you played with my heart enough?"

"Well, I gave you mine so…"

"I suppose that's true." Delly smiled and then grabbed my right arm, wrapping her own around it. "Shall we go then, my love?"

I nodded and started walking… only to realize that I didn't know where the celebration was being held.

Delly frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"…Hubert never told me where we were supposed to go."

Delly let out a long sigh. "Honestly. How did I fall for someone as hopeless as you again?"

"My dashing good looks?"

Delly frowned and then muttered, "I pray that our children don't inherit your sense of humor."

I blinked. "What was that?"

"Nothing. Now come. The reception should be taking place in the main hall. Of course, there is a set of procedures that must be followed before we enter. I'm sure that Hubert has informed you, but just in case…"

A/N: Still getting back into the swing of things. Thanks for reading and I hope the chapter was alright. I'll see you on Thursday!