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Shadows and Vows - F!Reader x Hubert von Vestra

Featured Column - Fire Emblem Three Houses (Time Skip)

Hubert von Vestra, the ever-loyal shadow of the Empire, and [Name], a reluctant leader, enter into a strategic marriage bound by duty. As the war rages on, their union blurs the lines between alliance and something far deeper.

The room was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire burning low in the hearth. [Name] sat in a high-backed chair near the flames, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She’d known the summons was coming—Edelgard had hinted at it during their last war council—but she hadn’t expected it to come so soon, or under such circumstances.

Hubert von Vestra stood across from her, his tall frame casting a shadow over the worn carpet. His presence was as imposing as ever, his black coat immaculately tailored, his sharp eyes fixed on her with a calculating intensity. She felt the weight of his gaze, the unspoken gravity of what was to come.

“So,” she began, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. “You’re here to deliver the terms.”

Hubert inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “I am. Though, I suspect you already understand the nature of this arrangement.”

[Name] nodded, her fingers curling around the edge of her chair. “Edelgard wants me to lead the northern front. But the nobles won’t trust an outsider like me. They’ll need… assurances.”

“Precisely,” Hubert said, his tone cool and measured. “And that assurance will come in the form of our alliance. A pact.”

“A pact,” she repeated, the word heavy on her tongue. “That's one way to refer to a marriage I suppose.”

Hubert’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. “It is a practical solution,” he said. “Your leadership will lend credibility to the campaign, and our union will solidify the trust of the nobles.”

[Name] let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Trust. That’s rich, coming from a group of people who would gladly stab me in the back if it served their interests.”

“That is precisely why this pact is necessary,” Hubert replied, his voice low but firm. “It will bind their hands. No one would dare move against you while you are under my protection.”

“Under your protection,” her gaze snapping to his. “And what about my choices in all this, Hubert? Or is this just another one of your ‘calculated risks’?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, his composure unshaken. “It is a necessity, [Name]. Nothing more. The stakes are too high for sentiment.”

“Then why you?” she asked, rising from her chair. “Why not someone else? There are plenty of noble families that would jump at the chance to ally with Edelgard.”

“Because I will not entrust you to anyone else,” he said sharply, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “This war is too dangerous, and the political landscape is rife with treachery. If you are to be bound to anyone, it will be to someone who can protect you.”

The firelight flickered between them, casting shadows that danced across his pale face. [Name]'s breath caught at the intensity of his words, the way they hung in the air like a vow.

“And what about you, Hubert?” she asked softly. “What do you gain from this?”

For the first time, he hesitated, the faintest crack appearing in his stoic facade. “I gain the assurance that you will survive.”

Her heart tightened at the quiet sincerity in his voice, and she looked away, her fingers brushing the back of her chair. “So that’s it, then. A deal. A pact. No room for anything else.”

“No room for weakness,” Hubert said, his tone softening slightly. “But perhaps… room for understanding.”

She turned back to him, her eyes searching his. “Understanding?”

“I do not enter into this lightly, [Name],” he said, stepping closer. “Nor do I expect you to. But I believe we can find common ground in this arrangement.”

His words held a soft tone that she hadn’t expected, a glimpse of the man behind the mask. She swallowed hard, the weight of the decision pressing down on her like the stones of the palace walls.

“Fine,” she said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest. “I’ll agree to this. But if we’re going to make this work, Hubert, you need to be honest with me. No secrets, no manipulation.”

He stretched an open palm over his heart as he gave a partial bow, his gaze unwavering. “You have my word.”

The ceremony was brief and unceremonious. There was no fanfare, no grand celebration—only the quiet exchange of vows and the signing of documents that bound them together. [Name] stood beside Hubert, her hand resting lightly in his as they faced the small gathering of witnesses. Edelgard watched from the front row, her expression calm but approving.

As the officiant declared them united, [Name] felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. She glanced up at Hubert, whose expression remained as composed as ever, though his grip on her hand was firm.

The days that followed were a blur of strategy meetings and military preparations. Their interactions were polite but distant, each of them navigating the new dynamic with careful precision. Hubert remained as inscrutable as ever, though [Name] began to notice subtle changes, such as the way he lingered in her presence a little longer than necessary, or the way his tone softened ever so slightly when addressing her.

It was during a late-night strategy session that the walls between them finally began to crack.

[Name] leaned over the map spread across the table, her brow furrowed as she traced the lines of their planned assault. “This route is too exposed,” she said, tapping a narrow pass near the enemy stronghold. “We’ll be sitting ducks if they ambush us here.”

Hubert stepped beside her, his gaze following hers. “You’re right. We’ll need to divert their attention elsewhere.”

She glanced up at him, her lips quirking into a faint smile. “Did you just admit I was right?”

“I acknowledge accuracy where I see it,” he replied, his tone as dry as ever.

She chuckled softly, her tension easing as she turned back to the map. “You know, Hubert, for someone who claims to have no use for sentiment, you’re surprisingly… thoughtful.”

He stiffened slightly, his gaze flicking to her. “Thoughtful?”

“You could have let the court marry me off to some ambitious noble,” she said, her voice quieter now. “But you didn’t. You chose to shoulder this yourself.”

“It was the only logical option,” he said, though there was a faint edge of hesitation in his voice.

“Logical, sure,” she said, meeting his eyes. “But maybe it was more than that.”

He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze locked on hers. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate.

“Perhaps it was.”

The admission hung in the air, and for the first time, [Name] saw something unguarded in his expression—something that made her chest tighten and her breath catch. Slowly, tentatively, she reached out, her fingers brushing against his.

“We’re in this together now,” she said softly. “No more walls, Hubert. No more masks.”

His hand closed over hers, his touch firm but warm. “No more masks,” he echoed, his voice almost a whisper.

The weight of Hubert’s hand on hers lingered, the warmth of his touch contrasting with the cold, calculated air he always carried. [Name] studied him, her gaze searching his face for any sign of hesitation or doubt. For once, she saw none. The silence between them felt delicate, as if the smallest sound might shatter it, but neither moved to break the moment.

Finally, it was Hubert who spoke, his voice lower than usual, softened in the way that was foreign to her ears. “You are far more perceptive than I often give you credit for, [Name].”

Her lips quirked into a faint smile. “It’s not hard to see past the masks if you know where to look.”

He held her gaze, the faintest flicker of something—respect, admiration, perhaps more—crossing his pale green eyes. “Not many would bother. Fewer still would manage.”

“Well,” she said, gently pulling her hand back and crossing her arms, “you’re not exactly an open book. But if we’re going to make this pact work, we have to try. Both of us.”

Hubert inclined his head, his expression turning contemplative. “Agreed. I will do my part, though I must warn you, I am not accustomed to... transparency.”

[Name] chuckled softly, leaning against the edge of the table. “That doesn’t surprise me. But I’m not asking for you to spill your darkest secrets all at once, Hubert. Just... let me in a little. Show me the man behind the strategist.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, though there was no edge to his expression. “That is no simple task, [Name].”

“And neither is leading a war,” she countered, her voice steady but kind. “But we’re doing that, aren’t we?”

He let out a soft exhale, almost a sigh, and nodded. “Point taken.”

The days that followed saw a subtle but noticeable shift in their dynamic. Where Hubert had once been rigid and reserved, he now allowed brief glimpses of warmth. [Name], in turn, offered him her own honesty—her frustrations, her fears about the war, and her determination to protect those she cared about.

One evening, as they shared a quiet meal in the privacy of their quarters, [Name] broached a question that had been lingering in her mind.

“Why did Edelgard trust me with this?” she asked, setting her fork down. “Shecould have chosen anyone else to lead the northern front.”

Hubert’s gaze lifted from his plate, his expression thoughtful. “Because I was the one to suggest it. You are capable,” he said simply. “And you understand what is at stake.”

“That’s it?” she pressed, arching an eyebrow. “No hidden agenda?”

His lips twitched into the faintest smirk. “If there were, do you believe I would tell you?”

“Fair point,” she said with a chuckle, leaning back in her chair. “But I like to think you trust me enough not to keep too many secrets.”

He regarded her for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. “Trust is not a word I use lightly, [Name]. But yes, I trust you.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his admission, the weight of his words settling over her. She had always known Hubert to be meticulous, calculating, and loyal to a fault. But hearing him speak those words—direct, sincere—was something she hadn’t expected.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the emotions stirring within her.

He inclined his head, his expression softening ever so slightly. “It is not a courtesy I extend often. Do not make me regret it.”

“I won’t,” she promised, a faint smile touching her lips. “You can count on me, Hubert.”

Their bond deepened as the weeks turned into months. The war raged on, each battle bringing new challenges and greater stakes. [Name] and Hubert worked in tandem, their strategies precise and their trust in each other unwavering. They had become a formidable team, their partnership a quiet force within the Empire’s ranks.

But amidst the chaos of war, quieter moments bloomed—moments where the lines between obligation and something deeper began to blur.

One night, as they reviewed maps in the dimly lit war room, [Name] found herself stealing glances at Hubert. The way the candlelight caught the sharp angles of his face, the quiet intensity in his eyes as he studied the maps—it was a side of him few ever saw, and it stirred something within her that she couldn’t quite name.

“Hubert,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.

He looked up, his gaze sharp but curious. “Yes?”

“Do you ever think about what comes after this?” she asked, gesturing vaguely at the maps. “After the war?”

He was silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Rarely. My focus remains on the present, as it must.”

“But it will end,” she pressed. “Someday. And when it does, what then?”

He regarded her carefully, as if weighing his answer. “My duty will not end with the war. Edelgard’s vision for Fódlan will require continued vigilance.”

“And what about you?” she asked, her voice softer now. “What do you want, Hubert? Not for the Empire, or for Edelgard—for yourself.”

His gaze flickered, the question catching him off guard. He hesitated, his hands resting on the edge of the table. “I... have not allowed myself to consider such things.”

“Maybe you should,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’ve spent so much time protecting everyone else. You deserve to think about what you want, too.”

He studied her, his pale green eyes searching hers. “And what of you, [Name]? What do you want?”

The question hung in the air, and for a moment, she was caught off guard. But then she smiled, her voice steady. “I want to see this war end. I want to help rebuild what’s been broken. And... I want to know that I can rely on someone. That we can rely on each other.”

His expression softened, a rare warmth flickering in his eyes. “You already have that.”

Her chest tightened at his words, and she felt a rush of emotion she hadn’t expected. Slowly, she reached across the table, her hand brushing his.

“Then maybe this pact isn’t just about obligation,” she said quietly.

He didn’t pull away, his fingers curling around hers with a deliberate gentleness. “No,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Perhaps it never was.”

Editors Note: Work as been crazy busy with a report (due today lol) but I've slowly put together 2 shorter-that-recent-average fics owo;;

If the other one doesn't get posted soon after this, then I will have it out sometime tonight (depending on when we get the report out).

#this is so cool #ill start rebloging fics here instead of my main

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