[ All her life had been amongst nobles and grizzled old men trying to tell her what to do, so it's painfully obvious when a voice of authority is being directed towards her. And just like in all those situations before, it should come as no surprise that she seems to visibly bristle in the face of it. A feeling of resistance rises in her along with a noise of annoyance. The offered sunglasses don't budge.

It'll likely dawn on her later that Edelgard's guard had been down before she realized who she'd been talking to. What had been there had been a glimpse of the woman that she had never seen because all she had known was a serious-faced girl destined to become the next Emperor. The thought that Edelgard could be anything but that doesn't occur to Hilda, nor does it matter right now because what she sees in front of her is what she's familiar with. And in a strange way, that unwelcome familiarity is what she needs to ground her in the face of this strange, new world. ]

Goddess, are all leaders this stubborn? Don't assume that you can tell me what to do. I'm doing this because I want to.

[ They had never been united under the same banner. And even if they had, her stubbornness would have worked just the same. Claude had never been able to tell her what to do despite whatever prestenses she put up. At the end of the day everything she did was her choice. It was her choice to stay. To fight. And it was her choice to match Edelgard's stubbornness right back. ]

I'll ally with you on this scavenger hunt. Neither of us deserve to be publicly spanked by some weird, creepy bird men.

[ Shockingly enough, she finds herself meaning that. ]

What else did you say you needed? Sandals, an unfinished drink and a kiss?