Work Text:
A/N: This is a secret fic exchange gift for arnaulting! One of your requests being 'established Dorobert inviting Edelgard into a polygamous relationship' was too good to pass: I now finally have an excuse to write Edeldorobert! I really hope you enjoy this Christmas gift :).
Usually Hubert dedicates his day to working.
Being the emperor’s retainer means needing to keep up with politics, be that through reading reports, checking newly written reform proposals, and speaking with nobles. On top of that being a Vestra means working in the shadows: eavesdropping on unsuspecting individuals, dealing with those who are a threat to Her Majesty’s life, and gathering intel on certain shadowy figures. Thus it only makes sense to dedicate all his time in a day to work.
But…
There are… exceptions that can be made.
When that exception is Dorothea Arnault…
…Well, who is he to deny her?
“I know that look, Hubie: you are surrendering yourself to lounging about because I am here,” Dorothea comments from the comfortable position of resting her head atop his lap. Her grin is wolfish, showcasing those lovely dimples of hers. “But I also know that if you had actual dire work to be doing you wouldn’t allow yourself to relax.”
Indeed she knows him well, too well. Once that daunted him, having someone see through the character he has been forced to create from a young age, treating him no differently from others by using a silly nickname. Now, upon learning that she too has had to flesh out a character due to life’s cruelties, and through their equal surprise of bonding over being flawed persons, he cherishes having someone to confine in and someone who understands him. The feeling is mutual, considering Dorothea admitted to him months ago before they began dating that having someone treat her as a person, not the Mystical Songstress or an object to obtain for bragging rights, who has seen faults that most suitors would ridicule as womanly hysteria, is something she cherishes from him. At first glance they make an odd couple, but when one truly dissects them they work. Though Hubert would be lying if he claimed he still isn’t dumbfounded that she fell in love with him of all people.
“Right you are,” he confesses, and he takes one hand to press a tender kiss on her knuckles.
“Imagine if someone were to walk in and see oh-so menacing Hubie looking so lovestruck at his girlfriend?” Dorothea jests, though he detects the nervous lit in her laughter: she is still so unused to welcome physical affection from another. “Your image would be shattered.”
“The door is locked,” he dryly reminds her, though it is in droll jest.
She chuckles and murmurs ‘touché’. She takes the hand not threading her hair to splay across her chest so she can tenderly massage his darkened fingers. The fact that she can see beauty in such destruction is a testimony to her sincere and strong heart. That is a reason why he slowly and surely began to fall for her. Whether he was the first to fall for her or her for him is something neither will ever know. He despises not having answers, but this is an exception he is willing to make. Another exception due to Dorothea. She is indeed a remarkable person.
A pensive look crosses his beloved’s face. Judging by the lack of gravitas it is nothing horrifically concerning. It is important, clearly, though nothing to fret too much over. If it was related to something diabolical she would have immediately told him. Dorothea does sometimes keep her emotions to herself, but with him she is slowly becoming used to opening up. Likely it is easier with him because he himself is like her in that regard.
“There is something I have on my mind…” the way her tone lingers implies that if he has something better to do then they can chat another time.
“Considering you bring it up you must be comfortable sharing,” he muses, and then pauses when a wry smile crosses her face. His visible eye widens at the implications. “You believe whatever you have to share will make me uncomfortable?”
“Not ‘uncomfortable’ in the way you’re thinking, but rather in making you think on something that you may deem taboo,” Dorothea answers.
What could it be? He is not shy to so-called ‘taboo’ subjects; Her Majesty wishes to create a world where such things can be freely discussed and debated. He and Dorothea are individuals deemed by the church as sexual deviances, a taboo in their eyes, simply because they are attracted to more than one gender, and thus he cares not of vilification or tackling anything. His intrigue must be written on his face with how she smiles in appreciation at his openness.
She pulls up to sit beside him, her hand taking his to interlock their fingers. His is blackened from Dark Magic, while hers has the electrical scarring of over-using and dangerously using electric-based Reason Magic. Her forest green eyes are arresting in how serene they can make him, regardless if a situation is serious.
“I want to talk about our feelings towards Edie.”
Ah…
Well that is… certainly a topic.
This is not the first time Dorothea has been curious about how he views his feelings towards Lady Edelgard. Initially she thought him to be some pining fool, hopelessly clinging to the idea that being ever by her side will allow her to fall for him. Then over the years she has grown to think that she will never understand what they have. She has admitted to being jealous of such a relationship; her frankness is a quality of hers he truly appreciates, so he was delightfully surprised when she confessed that.
His feelings for Lady Edelgard is something he never gave himself the opportunity to think on. She is crucial to him as he is crucial to her as organs are to a working and healthy body. It sounds methodical, but he was never one to be schmaltzy with emotions; being a Vestra means never being allowed to be attuned to them. Now though, thanks to forming friendships, and having a girlfriend that encourages him to be open with himself, he finds himself pondering just how he sees Lady Edelgard. Truly ‘romantic’ is nothing he dabbled in, not until the later years when Dorothea kept returning to this topic and trying to help him dissect it.
Despite how he feels towards Lady Edelgard that doesn’t dampen his genuine romantic feelings towards Dorothea.
“I assure you that I truly love you, Dorothea,” Hubert assures with such solemnity that to most it would be considered vaguely threatening.
“I know that, Hubie,” she says with a tender grip of his hand and a soft look in her eyes that does something he once deemed cruel to his heart. “And I also know that you have feelings for Edie, as do I.”
It is no secret to him that Dorothea has feelings for Lady Edelgard. Even before they got together he had approached her many times to discuss her falling for her. She had deemed it unlikely to happen, thinking that Lady Edelgard doesn’t harbour romantic feelings for her. She became simply content to ever be at her side in the same way he is, except that, to her, she will never truly click closely the way he and Lady Edelgard do.
It is clear to him that she does not view him as second best to her. These past months, from them awkwardly learning to enjoy physical displays of affection, spending days simply reading books out in the nature, making him giggle stupidly at her blanching over coffee, and so forth, have only shown that they truly love each other. Yet he understands that people can be in love with more than one person, and he believes that she deserves to know that Lady Edelgard absolutely reciprocates her feelings.
“Lady Edelgard is fond of you in a way I have not seen her express to any other person,” he states, never one to say something to make someone better. “She most certainly harbours romantic feelings for you.”
She opens her mouth to rebuttal his claim, only to shut it when she recalls that he never says something so grandiose without having reason to back it.
“I do not know how you did not hear ‘no story about me would be complete without the character of Dorothea’ and not think that to be the most romantic thing one can say to another,” he states with a tinge of droll amusement, a fond grin adorning his face. “I cannot even begin to recount all the flowery and adoring things she says about you. That would take me a lifetime.”
The pink blush to paint her cheeks is oddly mesmerising to behold. Making someone so versed in a golden tongue so speechless is quite something, and he cannot help but stare in awe. Once upon a time Dorothea would have scoffed at the idea of herself becoming lovestruck and acting oh-so bashful. Seeing her living out something both deemed but a romantic fantasy is oddly endearing.
Then she deviously grins at him. Well that is a change in emotion. “You claim me to be oblivious, when I don’t think there is anyone more oblivious to Edelgard being in love with someone than you.”
He flinches at such a claim. Bug-eyed he blinks as if doing so will materialise an answer. “P-Pardon?”
She playfully rolls her eyes and taps his arm. “Edie describes you with such grandiose fondness that it would make all romantic plays blush. To her you are indispensable, more important than words can describe. Despite being so tuned to her you easily ignore her obvious feelings for you.”
Dorothea can pull one’s leg, usually as a defence mechanism, but she knows when to take something seriously. Despite her amusing in his flabbergasted gawking her eyes flash with the intensity of one being absolutely truthful. Matters of the heart are indeed foreign to him. Such matters may seem more familiar to Dorothea, but beside him all other encounters with suitors have showcased that all she knows is discerning well hidden red flags. Love is neither’s forte. Still Dorothea is far more perceptive with people’s sincerity versus facades than he. Maybe they are both hopeless, but… that is why they are discussing this.
He rubs a scar hidden under her sleeve that she received from a baker not too thrilled that someone needed food to survive, his gaze pensive. “Whilst the thought that Lady Edelgard would fall for someone like me is… unbelievable, I thought the very same when you approached me with romantic interest.”
“You are loveable, Hubert, despite not believing that.”
He will never stop expressing startlement at hearing that people sincerely love him. Be that friends who are ever at his side, a wonderful girlfriend, and his lady, he will always feel this warmth at thinking he is cherished.
“Anyhow the point I wanted to make regarding our feelings for Edie is a proposal,” Dorothea continues, halting to see if he is ready to hear her out. He nods, and she interlocks their hands tightly. “Perhaps we can try out a polygamous relationship with her?”
Oh?
That is certainly a bold idea.
His visible eye widens. Polygamy is something that has been condemned by the Church for ridiculous reasons. During these past years Lady Edelgard has been pushing for the rights of queer relationships and individuals: to exist as they wish, to pursue whatever or not to pursue any relationship, and so on. Her Majesty is open about her bisexuality, uncaring of jingoist nobles that vilify such individuals. Many of the Black Eagles have come out openly about their sexualities, and thus more and more people across Adrestia and now the entirety of Fódlan have been coming out without fear.
Polygamy though is something he has not ever considered, at least not having to do with an emperor having mistresses and paramours. Petra has spoken of how in Brigid polygamy is normalised; she was startled upon learning that it is frowned upon in Fódlan. He never thought ill of such relationships—what makes them so horrific when people are encouraged to have as many friends as they want? The hypocrisy is ludicrous. Yet he is open. If Lady Edelgard turns them down then all is good; she would turn them down out of preference, not out of disgust for such a relationship.
Besides it would do her well to address her feelings for Dorothea and supposed feelings for him. Sometimes, and he has to admit it as a loyal retainer and friend and something else, she can be so dense that she needs someone to come bursting through to get to her.
He raises their interlocked hands and kisses where their fingers intertwine. “When we approach Lady Edelgard with such a proposal then we must ensure her that we are not asking to be her concubines.”
Dorothea beams at him approving this course of action. She kisses where their fingers intertwine and then leans forward to capture his lips in a mighty kiss. The meek sound to escape him is utterly embarrassing, but he focusses on how he melts into her touch and returns her affections.
“Maybe we can assure her after she grows flustered about thinking we are requesting to be her concubines,” she then rears her head to laugh when he shoots her a look. “Come on, Hubie; Edie has the most adorable blush and pout—it’s worth seeing!”
Alas that is one thing he will have to decline from his girlfriend. She grumbles in utmost dismay into the crook of his neck, and he snorts as he rests his chin atop her scalp. He murmurs that the day is young, and Lady Edelgard must have just finished her meeting, so they can approach her now. She approves.
Time to propose polygamy.
As he suspected: Lady Edelgard has retreated to her room to have a moment to herself. The guards positioned there leave, knowing that he has a unique knock that he doesn’t wish anyone to eavesdrop on. Those Who Slither in the Dark can take on any form so it is best to have such a knock. After knocking at the door he and Dorothea are permitted inside.
At her seat Lady Edelgard smiles upon seeing them, and then beams at noting something. “Holding hands you two? I must say I never thought Hubert would allow it.”
Oh—he has been holding Dorothea’s hand. Dorothea seems equally surprised, seemingly torn about whether to pull away (for his sake and her being still fidgety to unexpected touch) or to keep their hands interlocked. He taps his pinkie against her to assure her to keep their hands joined. It is mostly to showcase that the polygamy proposal is about the three of them in an equal relationship, not in a ‘two concubines to their emperor’. But he also enjoys feeling the warmth Dorothea conveys.
Those striking lilac eyes observe the two with the fondness of one being so happy that her friends found happiness with one another. She was extremely pleased at the announcement of their relationship, having uttered that he is finally loosening up and that Dorothea has finally found love. Never once has she expressed jealousy of their relationship. She is not shy of being their biggest supporter.
“Hubie is full of surprises,” Dorothea chuckles, and he immediately notes how Edelgard’s face lights up in starstruck awe at how she laughs.
“Dorothea is an exceptional person, so I allow it,” he jests, though his tone sounds far more flustered than he would have liked.
“You are an exceptional person too, Hubert,” Edelgard reminds him sternly yet not unkindly, her eyes blazing with such warmth that it is akin to a welcoming fireplace in the coldest winters.
Edelgard comes to a stand and approaches them with that expression both have learnt to interpret her willing to hear another out. He can sense Dorothea thinking her smaller height to be absolutely adorable as Edelgard looks up at them.
“Is there something you two wish to discuss?”
He and Dorothea exchange a quick look. With their free hands they gently hover them over Lady Edelgard’s own, glancing at her for permission to touch. All three are jumpy with touch, something he just took into consideration. Although confused she nods, and they take her hands. He purses his lips as he ponders if he should be the one to break the news or not. But, knowing he can come across as clinical, he gives Dorothea a squeeze to hopefully communicate to her that he’d like her to make the proposal. She squeezes his hand back.
Dorothea musters the most welcoming smile imaginable between him and Lady Edelgard. “Would you like to join us and make this into a polygamous relationship?”
To say Lady Edelgard is speechless is an insult.
Her eyebrows shoot up to seemingly her hairline. Her mouth is slightly agape as her eyes dart between them. Here is not the emperor; here is a woman absolutely gobsmacked at such a romantic proposal that she deemed unlikely to ever happen to her.
“In an equal relationship, not as your concubines mind you,” Hubert… is ‘corrects’ the right term when she didn’t seem to express thinking that way?
She owlishly blinks up at them, not out of disbelieving their intents but more so at how goodness this is the reality. Dorothea smiles so adoringly at her that honey’s sweetness cannot hope to match it. He musters a shy yet sincere smile towards his lady, and rubs where her scars lay hidden beneath her armoured gloved hand. Judging by how she seems cautiously delighted, in a manner of one thinking if it is appropriate to feel joy, it would appear that he and Dorothea were correct: she loves them both. The fact that she never brought it up in fear of jeopardising their relationship is admirable, though he wished she had confided to them so that they could have opened up to the idea earlier.
“You…” It is so unlike her to become tongue-tied; she always seems to have something to say, even if she may not have an answer. The gaze to cross her is wishful yet not wanting to be too hopeful. “You both love me?”
“Yes Edie, we do,” Dorothea assures and interlocks their hands. She then snorts ruefully at Lady Edelgard’s reaction. “We three have so much in common: we doubt anyone would love us.”
Lady Edelgard seems dumbstruck that such a claim would apply to Dorothea and even himself. It appears the three of them, even if they were never to pursue polygamy, will need to work on their self-esteems.
“Dorothea and I love each other, and we also love you,” Hubert adds. “And unless I misread your expressions and body language you love us both too.”
The pink blush to adorn her pallor cheeks affirms his remark. Just how long has she been in love with them both? How long did she believe that she did not deserve them as romantic partners? It is so like Lady Edelgard to deny herself happiness, to think herself cruel to indulge in such things when she started a war.
“That I do…” she admits with a bashful smile directed at each of them.
“So would you be open to a polygamous relationship with us?” Dorothea inquires once more with a smile that to most comes across as knowing, but to the perceptive it is nervous in that manner of one hoping, yearning, yet not wishing to be disappointed.
“I must admit this is all so sudden,” Lady Edelgard admits with a hint of a nervous lit in her tone. Hubert must admit in the depths of his soul that it is lovely seeing her just being a person that can fumble, and not the stoic emperor. Her smile is so radiant that no artist can ever hope to capture it. “But yes, I would love to pursue polygamy with you.”
This seems too good to be true.
Since birth Hubert was taught that if everything seemed to be going to one’s favour it is a trap. He was also taught to doubt people’s sincerity and actions. Yet he knows Lady Edelgard and Dorothea too well to know that they treat matters of the heart with utmost gravitas. The clinical part of him reminds him that Lady Edelgard has nothing to gain politically courting him and Dorothea. Lady Edelgard is also someone not to abide simply to make others happy; people pleasing is not in her nature. And, with how she is failing to suppress her giddy excitement in her grin of pearly whites, her glimmering lilac eyes, and how she grips their hands, she is thrilled at being in a relationship with them.
Even if he still has his disbeliefs about anyone, let alone two wonderful people, falling in love with him, the prospect of being in a relationship with Lady Edelgard and Dorothea is promising and most of all welcoming. Perhaps there will be moments when Lady Edelgard thinks herself undeserving to be in a relationship with them, but he and Dorothea will remind her that she is allowed to love... and that, that feeling of underserving is mutual with all of them.
“So to seal the deal we must each give you a kiss!” Dorothea affirms. She giggles at how Edelgard looks between them and how it is so clear that she is wondering who to kiss first and if choosing someone last will upset them—ever an overthinker. “You can start with Hubie, considering you two have known each other since forever.”
His heart hammers just as it did when Dorothea asked if she could kiss him when they had their first kiss. He must appear like a rabbit caught in a poacher’s trap. Lady Edelgard shoots him an assuring smile, and her eyes glint with what he has learnt to interpret as her questioning what he thinks. So he shares her smile. With tenderness none would think he possesses he cups her cheek and thumbs the high cheekbone. The way she melts into his touch has him beaming. Then he leans forward and presses his lips against hers.
Her lips are chapped, indicative of her putting the needs of others before her own health, through overworking, and they fit her so perfectly. She kisses softly, testing out the pressures and how best to angle her mouth, considerate and always wishing to rise to the occasion. Their kiss hits him that they have had these feelings for so long, feelings they did not have a word for… until now.
When he pulls away he observes as she turns to Dorothea and allows her to cup her cheek. Seeing the two women melt into each other’s kisses, utterly and welcomingly at the mercy of one another, has him smiling for them both. They have long thought that legitimate love was beyond them, that neither would reciprocate, and here they are realising how thankfully wrong they were.
After they pull away Dorothea then kisses him. They smile against each other at the wonderful idea of inviting Lady Edelgard into their relationship. This feels so natural to them both—no, it feels natural to all three of them. Perhaps it will take them some time until they can effortlessly say 'I love you' to each other—it certainly took him and Dorothea some time until they were comfortable enough to utter those words—but the time will most certainly come. They will eventually work out the details as to how to let their friends know and how to go public with it. There likely will be those that think the two nothing but concubines to Her Majesty, but all three are known to challenge norms and prove others wrong. Relationships are neither three’s forte, but together as a throuple they will figure it out. Together as a throuple they will achieve ever-lasting happiness.
Heh, look at him: turning into a sap. How oddly endearing.