Fire Emblem: Three Courses - Chapter 1
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Disclaimer: I do not own any franchises mentioned in this story. This is fan-based work of fiction.
Beta: Gerald_of_Revea
Summary: A Cook arrives at Garreg Mach Monastery. One that changes everything.
!FireEmblemThreeHouses !SI !Self-Insert
-Hubert-
It is his job to serve Lady Edelgard.
He was her servant. It has been like that since he was only six years old. At first, it was because it was his duty. His father ordered him to serve Lady Edelgard; thus, he served Lady Edelgard.
His biggest failure was not being able to protect her. For years, she was subject to the machinations of ‘Those Who Slither in the Dark.’ At one point in time, she had ten siblings. After a few years, she became the eldest. When they reunited, she was an only child.
She came back to him a different person. Changed, but not broken. But it wasn’t just her strength of will that inspired him, but her goals.
She will make Fódlan whole. For the betterment of Fódlan.
He has known her for thirteen years at this point. He didn’t doubt he knew his Lady better than her own father.
Disciplined. Focused. Pragmatic. But above all, she is decisive.
Which made it all the more troubling, at the state he found her in.
“Something is wrong with me.”
Even though Edelgard was at her desk, her fingers clasped in thought, her usual calm was little more than a mask. Sweat glistened off her skin; her fingers couldn’t keep still. All calm and repose were gone.
He believed her instantly. “Explain.”
“Soma Yukihira,” she responded, making Hubert recall all he knew about the man.
His appearance was striking. Golden eyes, bright red hair, and a recent hire. Arrived two weeks before the students for their first year. A cook favoured by some of the younger students.
“You believe he has poisoned you?” he asked, making her frown deeply.
“I’ve never tried his food,” she admitted, closing that line of thought. “The few times we have talked, it’s been at the library. And I’ve been thinking about our conversations. Too often,” she admitted, a slight dusting of pink on her face before she shook her head. “This isn’t normal. Nor is what he knows.”
“I will handle him,” he promised, plans to assassinate the cook running through his head before they suddenly came to a halt at Lady Edelgard’s next words.
“Do not kill him,” she said, making him still before she continued. “Gather information. Learn his goals. Wants. Desires. Why he is here in the Officer’s Academy and his relationships with the staff and students. Especially his relationship with the church.”
“But if he is doing something to you-,” he stressed, but she shook her head again.
“This is a suspicion and nothing less. What it is, you need to find out. Do not interact with him directly. As a precaution, do not eat his food. Observe and react accordingly.”
“As you wish,” Hubert bowed. “I will only act when necessary.”
He planned on acting as soon as possible. Whatever time Lady Edelgard spends thinking of Soma is time wasted. The time was better spent on her plans to make Fódlan whole.
Soma is not an asset. He was not even part of any of the kingdoms.
His first plan was to kill him outright, but he paused in his thoughts.
No, he would obey his Lady’s commands.
First, he would gather information. His goals, wants, and desires.
He would observe and react accordingly.
If ‘react accordingly’ meant killing Soma?
So be it.
-Soma-
There is a certain beauty to it all that I never appreciated before. Never could appreciate it before.
Could I have learnt Kendo or Archery? But that was in a safe environment.
The definition of safety differed considerably between where I am now and where I came from.
Wiping the sweat off my forehead and stabbing my sword into the dirt, I rested my hand against it as I started to watch the students. Most had formed cliques, not only around the weapon they used, but the house they were from as well. 
However, that wasn’t always the case. It certainly wasn’t for Dimitri.
Dimitri kept the point of his lance dipped low, a stony expression on his face as he waited for them to make the first move.
Four opponents stood before him: a swordsman, an axeman, a lancer, and a mage. And despite being outnumbered four to one?
They all seemed terrified to be there.
Magic should have been the game changer. It was usually that for almost any story that has it. But some magics are stronger than others.
What is a spell to a crest?
The mage of the group made the first move, sending a steady fireball his way. Dimitri started to spin his lance, much faster than I even thought possible, and soon the flames started to disperse.
The other three made their attempt, all charging at him at once with their weapons raised high as the mage prepared to launch a follow-up attack.
Faster than my eyes could track, Dimitri swept his lance in a blinding arc. The three students collapsed to the ground as their legs were swept out from under them.
In the next breath, he closed the distance to the mage. Before the caster could react, the sharp point of Dimitri's lance was already resting at his throat.
And just like that, the match was over.
“Well fought,” Dimitri said softly, and I had to hold back a snort. 
Crests were a game changer. Inherited magic that flows through the bloodline of nobles. Dimitri’s was one of the strongest.
The Major Crest of Blaiddyd. It makes him much stronger than the average man. During strength training, I’ve watched him lift boulders as if they were nothing.
If I wanted to beat Dimitri in a fight, I’d need to use magic. Something which hasn’t really clicked with me yet.
Either way? I’d much rather avoid the fight altogether.
“Oh fu-” I started to curse, a groan escaping me as I landed on the ground, my legs having been kicked out from under me.
I started to glare when a familiar armored boot came onto my chest, a smiling face grinning down at me.
“He’s a brilliant lad, isn’t he? It took years of training to get that good. Maybe in a few years, you can match him!”
Not unless I get super steroids. I doubt Alois could do much against him either.
Alois took his boot off my chest and bent down, offering me a hand. I grasped mine in his, a wheeze escaping me as I got onto my feet.
“But if you want to be that strong, you can’t let yourself be distracted. Come on, take your sword. Show me what I’ve taught you!”
I nodded, lifting my sword from the ground as I fell into another familiar rhythm with Alois.
I’m not built for taking a hit. I knew that for a fact, but what I did have was speed.
When he first started to train me, Alois noticed this as well, which is why he was teaching me how to fight with a sword while also playing to my strengths.
Alois is an honorable man, but despite being an honorable man, he doesn’t teach someone how to be honorable; he teaches them how to survive. 
I grabbed my blade, slowly starting to circle Alois, who didn’t even bother taking out his sword to fight me.
It wasn’t needed anyway.
I moved suddenly, my sword swiping against his armored leg. He didn’t even feel it, but that was the point.
He was armored; bandits weren’t. If there was any bandit that was armored like he was, I was told to do one thing, and one thing only.
Run.
I followed up, weaving under a haymaker and bringing the sword to his face.
Only for him to catch it in his armored gauntlet.
“Good,” he grinned, making me freeze as I locked eyes with him.
“But not good enough.”
A gasp escaped me as his gauntlet dug into my chest, making me quickly fall to my knees as I started to cough violently.
“Ah, sorry, that was a bit too hard,” he winced, falling to one knee as he looked at me with worry. He reached into one of his pockets, pulling out a familiar potion. “Here, drink this Vulnerary! We can't have you feeling so... vulnerable, haw-haw!”
The bastard probably cracked my ribs with that pot-shot, but as soon as the liquid met my lips, I started to feel my body mend itself.
Vulneraries. Drinking one can save a man from close death, instantly healing someone of all physical injuries. That being said, it can’t cure something like poison.
But it can mend whatever bones Alois broke.
“Ah, I think that’s enough for today,” Alois said, helping me to my feet. “Do you need a hand back to your quarters?”
“No, I’m good.” I waved him off. “Same time tomorrow?” I asked, and his grin widened.
“Never lose that spirit, boy!” he said, patting me on the back. “Maybe one day, you will be the new commander of the Knights of Seiros!”
I shook my head, feeling a fond sense of exasperation.
I was no good at fighting. I do love having a blade in my hand, but my place isn’t on the battlefield.
My place is in the kitchen.
-Soma-
“Oh my god,” Annette gasped, barely finishing her sentence before stuffing another huge scoop into her mouth. “This is the absolute best thing ever!”
A soft smile came onto my face at the words. It’s hard to make ice cream in this world, especially when you are stuck in the middle of a 17th-century kitchen that doesn’t even have a freezer.
Actually, forget a freezer. There’s nothing even close to a working TV. The books in the library don’t have a section for entertainment, meaning the most fun I have is with the students.
Your Support with Annette has risen to C-Rank!
That’s another thing that came when I arrived here. Every so often, I’d get a message about their ‘Support’ rank. It doesn’t seem to do anything from what I can tell. That didn’t stop me from wanting to see the rank go up.
I looked at the girl, a small smile coming onto my face when I saw the chocolate around her lips, the sad look on her face as she looked at me pleadingly.
But before she could ask for more, the door slammed open, making the girl jump.
“Annette, leave,” Seteth said calmly, and the girl hurriedly left, not even saying goodbye.
“Ice Cream?” I asked, and Seteth just sneered.
“I should have rid of you long ago.”
I blinked at that. I haven’t even been here that long. “I’ll take that as a no, then. You looking for something?”
“You made my sister cry. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t fire you?”
I should have expected something like this.
“I didn’t make Flayn cry.” I held up a finger to stop his interruption. “She made herself cry. She chose to cry.”
The girl asked if she could learn from me, and I accepted. She didn’t follow the instructions, and the food wasn’t any good.
I explained point by point where she went wrong while it was happening, and she burst into tears.
Nonetheless, Seteth didn’t take too kindly to my words, his glare intensifying.
“You are no longer welcome here. You may pack your things and take leave,” he finished, turning to leave before I burst into laughter.

He stilled in the hallway, turning back to look at me, before I pointed out the obvious.
“I want you to think about this for more than twenty seconds. How do you think that will go?”
“If you have something to say, say it now!” he barked. “However, it won’t change my position on this!”
“Anna.”
He paused, looking at me in confusion.
“If you fire me now, I’m just going to work with Anna,” I said, shrugging. “She’s made it clear she wanted to snag me up as soon as our contract was over. You would just be speeding up the process.”
“You have other job opportunities, good for you. You may pursue them as you see fit. Away from Garreg Mach.”
“Garreg Mach is more than the monastery.” I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “What’s stopping me from setting up shop here?"
Anna had already made the pitch. I knew my cooking was the best; Anna did too, which is why she wanted me so badly.
Garreg Mach was full of noble families. But most importantly, they were rich. And the rich want the best and are willing to pay for the better product.
“The Fox and The Hound!”she grinned at me. “That’s what we’ll name it! Together, we’ll become the richest chefs in Fódlan!”
But currently, they are getting that for free. And no one likes paying for anything they used to get under their tuition.
That, and I still have a debt to pay.
“Why don’t we take a step back,” A new voice entered the fray, my heart jumping to my chest as Rhea came in. “It would be a shame to lose such a talented member of staff.”
The woman scared me more than I’d like to admit. Seteth could make threats, but he wouldn’t act on them.
Archbishop Rhea, on the other hand?
She wouldn’t bother with threats.
“Before we get too hasty,” Rhea smiled at Seteth. “Perhaps you should ask Flayn what she thinks?”
However, she is reasonable. She wouldn’t try to kill me unless I gave her a good enough reason to do so. However, that could range from murder to heresy. Neither of which I plan on doing anytime soon, especially when I’m staying at the monastery.
“It doesn’t matter what Flayn thinks; it matters what he did.”
“It seems after so long, Flayn found herself a teacher willing to teach her how to cook,” Rhea countered, making Seteth stiffen. “So once again, perhaps you should ask Flayn what she thinks?”
Seteth remained quiet for a moment, a scowl on his face as he pondered the words. “I will be watching you,” he sniffed, turning away and leaving the room.
“I must apologize to you,” Rhea said, inclining her head. “Seteth, while stern, is fiercely protective of his little sister. He should not have threatened your stay here over a misunderstanding.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I waved her off. I have an out if that happens. “Judgment gets clouded when family is involved and all that.”
I froze for a moment as soon as the words left me, but Rhea didn’t seem to notice, simply smiling at me before her eyes wandered behind me. “Is that what you made for Annette?” she asked curiously, a light in her eyes. “Is it a sorbet?”
“Close, but not quite,” I answered, the light dimming. “It’s ice cream. Care to try some?”
Tentatively, she picked up the spoon and scooped up a small portion, barely enough to cover the spoon, before bringing it to her lips.
I watched her reaction in real time. It’s a luxury every child should have, stolen away from her by being born in a different time. A different world.
Rhea seemed to agree with me, her eyes widening in shock as the cold food met her lips. Her initial hesitation was gone as she took another bite. She said nothing, hastily yet elegantly devouring the dessert.
As she tasted the final bite, her look of fascination became a look of longing, the bowl having been cleared, with the Archbishop left wanting more.
“I’m glad you liked it,” I smiled. Rhea froze in place. “I can make more tomorrow if you would like?”
“Only if you have the spare time,” she agreed, the answer surprising me. “You don’t have to go out of your way to make this for me.”
“Not just for you,” I countered, swiping my finger at the tip of her nose, wiping off a bit of ice cream. “Myself, as well. And Annette too, it seems.”
She looked at me in shock, and I froze, my own flirtatious nature getting the better of me.
‘I’m going to die.’ I thought, only for my depressing thoughts to be interrupted by a musical laugh. 
“Then I will see you tomorrow,” she said softly, turning around and leaving, my eyes catching a small smile on her face as she left.
Your Support with Rhea has risen to C-Rank!
“Oh, that is a good thing,” I said aloud, my heart rate slowing, starting to come back to its normal pace. The higher Support Rank I have with Rhea, the better.
Honestly, that could be said about everyone in Garreg Mach, though some are definitely more important to have than others.
Letting out a yawn, I headed to the courtyard, on the lookout for my partner in crime.
“Soma!” Anna squealed, tackling me into a hug. “What took you so long? You had me worried sick!”
‘God, she has no right to be this cute.’ I thought, shaking my head. “Late-night rendezvous. The type that would get me kicked from the academy.”
Anna pouted at me, and I could immediately tell she knew I was lying.
I really did want to start that restaurant with her. The problem was timing. Timing and debts.
1 exp. Every time I make and serve a dish, I get 1 exp.
Soma Yukihira
Lv: 4
Exp: 91
HP: 23
Str: 6
Mag: 6
Dex: 9
Spd: 11
Lck: 11
Def: 5
Res: 6
Cha: 15
It is minuscule growth, but it is worth it. It’s two exp if I make the food all by myself. It’s safe; there’s no killing involved; it is literally just me doing what I know best. If I ever get around to starting a restaurant with Anna, my growth will go down drastically.
That, and the all-important support ranks wouldn’t be going up nearly as much.
But maybe Anna’s would reach S-Rank in the meantime. That would make it worth it. It’s already A-Rank, and she’s planning our future together.
“Pah, if only. The more days you spend rotting in that kitchen, the more days we are losing thousands of gold. So work on getting fired. Double-time!” She clapped her hands, making me roll my eyes.
“Were you able to find one?” I asked, and her pout turned into a grin.
“Of course I did; you asked the best merchant in the world! Of course, I was able to find one,” she finished, my eyes lighting up when I saw the blade.
Killing Edge. A fancy name for what amounted to a katana, but its reputation was deserved. Sharp. It could cut through a person like they were paper.
When I first came here, I didn’t think I needed a weapon. I was being way too naive.
Not when Those Who Slither in the Dark have already infiltrated Garreg Mach.