Sorry that the new chapters are taking forever. The good news is that the roommate is taking a break from playing Three Houses himself, so I can borrow his switch again to work on this. I'm hoping to post at least one chapter a month - I'll post more if inspiration strikes me.
Day 5, Garland Moon, Imperial Year 1180
Dear Brother,
I know you haven't had the chance to write back yet, but I am very upset and I need to vent to you about it. It turns out that today was Sylvain's birthday, and no one cared to tell me about it beforehand! I'm so embarrassed. I didn't have the time to prepare an appropriate gift for him!
Why did the Professor keep this important information to herself? I know she has some kind of list. I heard from one of the guards I'm friendly with that all the professors received a schedule of faculty and student birthdays in addition to the regular events' one. I need to get my hands on it if I'm to prepare gifts in time for everyone in our house!
Lorenz saw that I was upset and volunteered that his own birthday is next week, so I will at least be able to get something ready for him in time. I'm not sure what yet, but I'm sure I can figure something out. Perhaps some sort of tea? I think it's one of his sets that the Professor borrows whenever she wants to brew some. It shouldn't be too difficult to find out what Lorenz's favorite blend is. I might enlist Claude's help to avert suspicion from myself. Lorenz seems to consider him a political rival already.
Speaking of tea, the Professor invited Sylvain to have tea with her instead of giving him flowers like she did with Raphael. Sylvain apparently flirted relentlessly the entire time, if Leonie is to be believed. The Professor should know better than to encourage him like that. He'll get the wrong idea. Especially since the Professor then gave him an owl feather as a birthday gift! I am so incredibly jealous. Those feathers are gorgeous, and soft, and perfect for making accessories!
I was able to save some face from the whole affair by offering to make Sylvain's feather into an accessory for him as a birthday gift from me. He then had the gall to say he'd prefer a kiss. Ingrid happened to be passing by right then and she shook him so hard I think his teeth rattled. It did make me laugh, though, so that wasn't so bad. Actually, I suspect that Ingrid had been planning to wish him a happy birthday as well. Her pride and outrage seem to have gotten in the way, but it was a sweet gesture on her part. Not just Ingrid, but Felix and Dimitri also came by to give him their best wishes. Well… Dimitri did. I think Felix actually challenged Sylvain to a duel, but since they're childhood friends, maybe that's just the way he shows his affection? Sylvain seemed pretty happy about it, even after Felix gave him a black eye. He even called it a badge of honor when I offered to help conceal it with my makeup. Sylvain is… a strange one. He fits right in with the rest of us in the Golden Deer.
I have to cut this letter off here - there's a choir festival I have to prepare for in a couple of days. Wish me luck!
Love,
Hilda
P.S. If it were you, what type of owl feather accessory would you like to receive? I considered a hair pin, but Sylvain doesn't really have long enough hair for that.