Dimitri laid down his pudding spoon and pushed his bowl away with a deep sigh. 'We need to at least try to work together better than this.' His tone was desperate, although his face was impassioned by the fervor of his words. 'I know that cooperation has not been our strongest suit up until now, but if we falter in our resolve...'

'Dimi's right.' Claude agreed, putting his hand on the Prince's shoulder in solidarity. 'We have absolutely no hope of a successful resolution unless we attempt to bury past enmity, and play nicely instead of snarking at each other - at least for the time being.'

'You are making it sound like I am the one creating the problem here.' Edelgard commented blankly, her arms crossed protectively over her chest, her own pudding completely ignored and untried. 'I've told you that I agree that we should pool our effort in this matter... It's not my fault if your actual strategy and ideas have all been woefully wide of the intended mark thus far.'

'At least we have attempted to offer ideas, Princess... unlike yourself who has just sat there looking like you have sucked on a lemon, and chucking out your disapproval of literally everything that's been suggested.' Claude threw his hands up in the air dramatically in a sign of surrender.

'That's a little... harsh Claude.' Dimitri tried to placate, glancing nervously between his two comrades. 'Edelgard has pointed out some pretty undeniable flaws in our proposals. This isn't an easy situation or something that comes with an obvious solution. We all agree on that much, at least.'

Edelgard sighed deeply. 'In truth, I am at a total loss. If I have appeared to be argumentative without reason, I am... sorry.'

'Nah,' Claude sat back in his chair with a frown. 'You had reason. It's just frustrating that the heralded ''Future of Fodlan''... the three of us... cant come up with a decent plan to appropriately address our objective.'

'Perhaps we are overthinking things.' Dimitri offered quietly. 'Maybe we should just let it be and do nothing.'

'We may very well be acting with purely selfish intention.' Edelgard agreed, chewing on her thumbnail, a nervous habit that she usually managed to repress.

Claude reached out and gently tapped on the hand she was biting. 'Don't show weakness, Princess!' He advised stoically.

She rolled her eyes at him but allowed a small smile to play at her lips as she forced her hand down to the table. 'I know, Claude!' She nodded. 'Never let your guard down and never show a weakness...'

'... Both your enemies and your friends will manipulate a vulnerability if it's offered.' Dimitri scowled as he completed the mantra.

'Exactly.' Claude snorted. 'You know, there really is more that we have in common than you'd suspect at first glance... being brought up to trust no one is a prime example. No wonder we are finding it hard working together. '

'Which is completely true and yet is no help whatsoever. We still aren't getting anywhere.' Dimitri pointed out with a grimace.

'If I might interrupt...' It was Dedue that had spoken up unexpectedly.

'Of course Dedue. What are you thinking?' Dimitri asked.

'It might be wise to enlist the help of a voice of reason.' Dedue suggested.

Hubert chuckled at the large man's stoic pronouncement. 'Whatever are you insinuating Dedue?' He asked, but there was no menace behind his words.

'Merely that you might get better clarity from someone with a clearer perspective.' Dedue murmured. 'I would suggest that Mercedes holds insight into the matter that could help in planning a way forward.'

'Actually, that is an excellent call.' Hubert mused. 'Compassion and practicality in equal measures make for an uncomplicated viewpoint.' He explained when Edelgard looked questioningly at him.

With the agreement of the other's -Dedue crossed the dining room and politely requested Mercedes to join them. She looked intrigued at the invitation, but rose immediately to her feet and followed the big man back, taking a seat beside him.

'Is something the matter?' Mercedes asked when nobody immediately spoke.

'We are trying to work out what to do, Mercedes.' Dimitri spoke up. 'We have been struggling to reach a conclusion, and hoped that you might have some wisdom to share.'

Mercedes's looked surprised. 'Obviously, I will assist in any way that I can, your Highness. What is it that you seek?'

'Pretty much all of the students - including us actually - want to mark Teach's birthday on Saturday – but she happened to mention to me that she would hate being the recipient of any sort of party like Flayns.' Claude explained. 'I promised her that I'd make sure that she wasn't bothered... but I underestimated people's desire to make a fuss of her. By quite a bit, actually.'

Mercedes nodded slowly. 'The Professor really doesn't like attention focused on her.' She mused. 'But I also understand why people do want to make something of the day as well.'

'Precisely.' Dimitri agreed. 'It is a form of respect.'

'And affection.' Claude added. 'Bernadetta was aghast when I suggested at our archery practice that we would most likely do nothing. Even when I pointed out how much Bernie hates attention too... she just burst into tears and ran off.'

'So, you are looking for a solution that does not overwhelm the Professor and yet commemorates the day in a way that everyone feels is enough to get their admiration across succinctly.' Mercedes pondered the conundrum.

'Exactly.' Edelgard nodded. 'Although we are on the verge of simply adhering to the Professor's wishes and banning anyone from bringing up her birthday at all.'

'You don't believe that the Professor might be hurt on some level if we were to ignore the event entirely?' Dimitri asked quietly.

Mercedes hummed to herself and twisted a braid of her hair around her finger thoughtfully. 'I don't think I am betraying any shared confidence by pointing out that before meeting Myles, the Professor had absolutely no idea when her birthday was or even her actual age. I think she was a little shocked at just how young she really is when it became known.'

'I still find that a tough concept to wrap my head around. Could Sir Jeralt have really kept such basic information a secret from her for so long?' Hubert murmured.

'It is true that he did, although not through any unkindness on his part, I think..' Mercedes gave Hubert a hard stare as if daring him to contest her words. 'I would suppose that given the life that they led, just celebrating each time they fought and got through it alive was enough.' She shook her head, sorrowfully. 'I am definitely of the opinion that if no issue was made of the day on Saturday, the Professor wouldn't care in the slightest or consider anything amiss. It's no kind of priority in her life.'

'I would concur with Mercedes's assessment.' Dedue rumbled.

'The problem then though is that if there were to be an official ban on celebrations, many of us will rebel.' Mercedes smiled. 'I know that I would ensure that some cakes would get to her somehow...'

'I'd take flowers...' Dedue nodded. '... And Bernie has been working on a knitted Colin the Cat too...' He added with a slight smile.

Edelgard tsked impatiently. 'So we would be better just gifting her on a one to one basis then?' She asked. 'I'd have considered that to be more overwhelming rather than less given the number of students there are...'

'Oh, I agree.' Mercedes chuckled. 'Unfortunately, the fact that she reaches out and sees each and every one of us as an individual, means that we all feel the need to return that kindness. We would all think we are the only one breaking the rules... when of course, in fact, it would be everyone.'

'Except me.' Hubert smirked. 'I'd have no problem whatsoever with completely ignoring her for the day...'

'It should also be considered, however... Byleth is something of a sentimentalist.' Mercedes twisted her hair a little harder as she thought aloud. 'She would most likely appreciate some recognition from her students as long as she didn't have to face it directly. If there was a practical element to the gifting, so much the better...' An idea was obviously forming in Mercedes's mind as her smile grew broader. 'Does anyone actually know what the Professor's movements are likely to be on Saturday?' She inquired.

'Yeah, I asked Myles.' Claude nodded. 'They are heading out fishing with Jeralt. He reckons they will be gone most of the day, but back in the early evening. Not wanting to gossip...' Claude smirked at his own blatant lie. '... But Myles also let slip that Flayn and Seteth would be accompanying them.'

'Oh?' A frown fleeted across Mercedes's face at that, but it didn't last long. 'In that case, I do have a tentative idea that you could discuss...'

'Please!' Dimitri requested eagerly.

'An official general gift from everyone, but one that is personalised uniquely.' Mercedes beamed. 'I am sure one of our shadier characters...' She glanced at Hubert, '... Could slip into her room while she is out with her family and leave the present, along with anything additional like a few baked goods, Bernie's kitten, some flowers... and it would all be waiting there when she got back. No pressure.'

'A nice idea, except we would all want to see her reaction.' Edelgard pouted. 'That is the whole joy of gift-giving after all.'

'That's where my idea is particularly clever.' Mercedes grinned. 'The main gift that I propose would actually be inclusive of everyone spending time with our beloved Professor.'

'Go on.' Claude urged, looking intrigued.

'Okay, so first we make a list of everyone's favourite tea-blends and buy a packet of each.' Mercedes began. 'Then we get a beautiful box to store them in. Now here is the best bit. Everyone's personal tea choice should be placed in an envelope with a note, written by the individual... whatever they want to say. A personal message.'

'Oh, my!' Edelgard's eyes were wide.

Mercedes smiled kindly at her. 'Not only will the Professor finally get to complete her mission of learning everyone's preferences for her tea-parties, but at least for a short time, she will have a respite from spending most of her personal allowance on providing us all with our favorite beverages!'

'I love the idea of including a personal message.' Dimitri nodded happily.

'Oh, yes! I can imagine having a lot of fun with that.' Hubert's eyes gleamed.

'So how old is the Professor gonna be?' Caspar's voice broke into the conversation. A crowd of others had begun to form around the House Leader's table, all encouraged by Annette, whose curiosity when Mercedes had been summoned over had been too much for the small girl to handle.

'You shouldn't ask a lady her age, Caspar!' Ingrid poked him on the shoulder.

'I'm asking Mercedes, not the Professor!' Casper sounded confused.

'I'm not sure it's my place to say.' Mercedes admitted with a frown.

'We'll be twenty-one!' Myles's cheerful voice advised them as he pushed his way forward. 'Nice idea Mercedes! Perhaps you can help me in getting a gift for her too. Byleth's a bloody nightmare to buy for!'

'Whoa... she's younger than you, Mercedes!' Annette gasped.

'Age is no true indication of ability.' Lysithea grumbled. 'I think we can all agree that the Professor is quite competent in her role regardless of her tender years!'

'Even so!' Sylvain leaned on Hubert's shoulder familiarly. 'Imagine the fun it would have been if she'd become a student instead of a Professor!'

'I dread to imagine the trouble she'd have managed to get herself into.' Hubert shuddered. 'It's quite bad enough now when she's restricted in her shenanigans by a responsible role!'

'Ain't that the truth!' Myles grinned. 'Anyone know where she is, by the way? I actually came here looking for her.'

'She was heading up to Seteth's office.' Claude replied. 'That's how I knew it was safe to hold this meeting.'

'Thanks.' Myles clapped him on the back.

'Let's start this list then.' Hilda had procured some paper from somewhere and handed it to Ignatz. 'I will, of course, take on the responsibility for beautifying the tea-box. Wanna help Bernie?' She aimed her question to the table right by where Sylvain was lounging.'

'Yes, please!' Bernie's voice drifted out from underneath. There was a general clamor of voices and good-natured banter as the list started to take shape under Hilda's expert management.

'Are you alright, Edelgard?' Mercedes noted that the Princess was biting at her nails in silence, so she slipped over to speak with her quietly.

'I am very impressed with your insight.' Edelgard complimented lightly. 'I only wish that I had even close to the same level of skill. I feel I should know my own Professor much better than I do.' She had a sad little smile on her lips.

'I wonder, Princess, do you happen to read recreationally at all?' Mercedes asked thoughtfully.

'Very little.' Edelgard admitted. 'When I was younger, I used to love to read, but I have so little free time these days. Why do you ask?'

'Hmm, well, one of the things that the Professor and I share is a love for a certain kind of novel.' Mercedes said delicately. 'It is a frivolity, but it does give us both a good deal of fun talking over the storylines and some of the juicier interactions. It might be nice for you to join with us once in a while. Dorothea and Bernie occasionally do and Flayn has also developed a bit of interest too – although if Seteth were to find out, he would literally have a heart attack!'

'Juicy?' Edelgard queried breathlessly.

'Oh, yes!' Mercedes's smile was wicked.

'The Professor likes that kind of thing?' Edelgard looked like she might faint.

'Enormously.' Mercedes agreed.

'Well, um... do you think you could lend me such a book... just so that I could check it out?' Edelgard blushed crimson.

'I'll bring one by for you tonight!' Mercedes agreed happily. 'I promise you won't regret it!' She added with a wink.

'I think I already do!' Edelgard murmured.