More Supports coming, this time a merger between the Dorothea/Edelgard, Dorothea/Petra, and Edelgard/Petra C-Supports.
Chapter 8 – Aspirations and Mistranslations (Garland Moon)
Edelgard frowned as she pondered to herself. So much was on her mind, and much of it was due to the incompetence of the many nobles within Enbarr. It was almost sickening to her to think of how few of them truly deserved their titles. She could probably count the good ones on two hands.
"Hey, Edie!" said Dorothea as she walked up to Edelgard. "Uh-oh, you're scowling again. You're going to get wrinkles all over that cute face of yours if you don't smile more."
"Hello, Dorothea," Edelgard said, turning to the singer as she did. "I was just lost in thought."
"Oh? What about?"
"There are so many things to be done—to think of them makes my head ache sometimes." With a groan, Edelgard continued, "So many nobles of the Empire are utterly useless! When I am emperor, I intend to appoint only those who can actually be useful. It doesn't matter if they're of noble or common birth."
"Noble or common, eh? Can you really do that? I mean, not that I don't agree. I'd make all those nobles vanish if I could… Especially a select few."
"It's not a question of can or cannot. All that matters is doing it and doing it right. The nobility system has only been around for twelve-hundred years. The concept didn't exist before that."
"Only 1,200 years, huh?" Snickering, Dorothea added, "You always say such preposterous and extraordinary things, Edie. Yet somehow, you actually make it work for you. It's like you're a character from an opera."
Puzzled, Edelgard said, "A character from an opera… Hm. If an opera is made about my life someday, I wonder how I'll be portrayed. Will I be the revolutionary who guided the Empire to a new dawn…? Or the foolish ruler who took her revolution too far…?"
Dorothea had to chuckle a bit at this. Edelgard always was a bit melodramatic when it came to things like this, but it was part of her charm.
"Well, that all sounds pretty violent. But either way, it would make an incredible opera. Do you figure it'd be a grand action piece full of combat and strife? Or would you prefer a somber political drama?"
Then, deciding to ruffle the princess' feathers a little, Dorothea took a deep breath as she raised her voice, bringing out the singer in her.
"~Hail the mighty Edelgard, though red blood stains her story… Heavy as her crown may be, she will lead us all to glory… To a brighter dawn, we shall carry on… Hail Edelgard~!"
Edelgard's face went bright red at this.
"That's quite enough, Dorothea. I'm starting to feel more than a little embarrassed." As Dorothea giggled, Edelgard added, "Lovely as your voice is, let's just hope that any operatic productions about me are still a ways off."
Still laughing, Dorothea said, "Sorry, Edie, I couldn't help myself."
"I was liking your singing greatly, Dorothea," said another voice, prompting Edelgard and Dorothea to turn to Petra as the Brigid princess walked up to them.
"Oh, Petra! How are you doing? Getting used to life here?"
"I am settled. Everyone shows great kindness, even while I am still learning about the language."
"I'm glad you're flourishing in your new environment, Petra," said Edelgard.
"You know, I was so surprised when you first arrived," added Dorothea. "A princess, all the way from Brigid!"
"You have my gratitude, but please do not call me princess," said Petra. "You are making my cheeks blush!"
"There's nothing to blush about. You're every little girl's dream of what a princess should be. Oh, sorry Edie!"
"No need to apologize, Dorothea," said Edelgard. "After all, a Brigid royal like yourself is of vital importance to the future of the Empire. If you ever need anything, please let me know. It's my job to watch out for you, after all."
"If that is your want," said Petra. "I will rely on you if I have the need."
"I suppose it's been a long time since you've been back to Brigid, hasn't it, Petra?" asked Dorothea. "I hope you aren't homesick. Maybe we can cook one of your favorite dishes from back home?"
"That's an interesting idea," said Edelgard. "I've never had Brigid cuisine before."
"I do wish for that, but there is no possibility," said Petra. "The ingredients are not found here."
"I suppose you're right," said Dorothea. "I'm sorry. I just got to thinking about how hard it must be to live somewhere so far away from home and… No. It can't be impossible. I'll fix you a real meal of Brigid. I'll just find a recipe and similar ingredients!"
Edelgard and Petra both blanched at this.
"Wait, Dorothea," said Petra. "It is the thinking that counts. But your cooking is… what is the word…?"
"Horrendous?" Edelgard asked, despite that it brought a look of dismay to Dorothea's face.
"Yes, that is the word: horrendous. That is what everyone is saying anyway."
"H-Horrendous?!" Dorothea said in shock. "Nobody's cooking can be that bad!"
"I'm afraid I must disagree with you, Dorothea," said Edelgard. "Do you remember the meal you cooked two months ago? I don't think I've ever tasted something so…" Edelgard frowned at the memory.
"E-Edie!" Dorothea stomped her foot in indignation at this.
"The thinking is enough for me. You have my biggest gratitude," said Petra.
"Oh, fine. I'll do something instead of cooking for you. I just want to be sure that you feel at home here. How about a massage? That may help you loosen up."
"I have no problems. My body is already able to relax."
"Oh? Then perhaps I could sing you lullabies to help you sleep!"
"I am not having sleeping trouble."
Disappointed, Dorothea said, "Hmm, there must be something I can do for you."
"Actually, there is something that I am thinking."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I heard over Sylvain describing me to another classmate as a 'hot tea.' Is this good because tea is bad when it is cold? Or is he meaning tea that is hot is bad because it burns the tongue? Am I too hot for liking of the boys?"
For a moment, Dorothea and Edelgard were silent as they looked at each other, and then at Petra.
And then the two broke out in a fit of laughter.
"Oh, Petra! I-I didn't think it was about–" Unable to continue, Dorothea let out a slew of laughter that could be heard throughout the hall, something that left Petra completely confused.
Managing to contain her own mirth, Edelgard said, "Petra, I don't believe Sylvain was talking about tea. He was simply referring to you as an attractive young woman."
"Oh? But why would he call me a 'hot tea'?" asked Petra.
It would take a while for Edelgard to explain the meaning to Petra, all while Dorothea continued to laugh herself silly.
Totally something Petra would get wrong, am I right?
I hope to make more merged Support conversations like this in the future. This one flowed together so well that it just wrote itself.