A new patient had arrived at the Black Eagle Ward. Edelgard hadn't seen him, and hadn't expected to. He had arrived late last night, and had taken the spare bed in Caspar's room. The only reason Edelgard knew there was a new patient is because she had overheard some of the nurses talking about it. She figured the new boy would sleep for most of the day.
Therefore, she was shocked when a tall, ginger boy marched into the rec room during lunch. He was skinny, pale and wearing a button up dress shirt with slacks. His deep red shirt was tucked into his pants. Over his shirt he wore a formal vest, also neatly buttoned. You could almost picture him with a top hat and cane he looked so dapper compared to what Edelgard had grown used to in the hospital.
"Greetings!" he said loudly, making Edelgard jump. "I am Ferdinand von Aeigr, son of Prime Minister von Aeigr. Who do I have absolute pleasure of meeting on this fine afternoon?"
Edelgard exchanged baffled glances with Dorothea, whom she was sharing lunch. She had never heard of Prime Minister von Aeigr, but she hadn't been keeping up with politics for a long time. Ferdinand looked expectantly at Edelgard, awaiting her response.
"Um… I'm Edelgard Hresvelg," she said, extending her hand out for Ferdinand to shake.
"It is an honor, Lady Edelgard von Hresvelg," Ferdinand said, bending low and kissing her finger tips.
Edelgard just watched, stunned senseless.
"And you?" he asked, turning to Dorothea.
"I'm Dorothea Arnault," she replied, smiling brightly and extending her hand as if she expected Ferdinand to kiss her too.
Instead, Ferdinand grimaced. "Ah, a commoner…."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Dorothea asked, sounding half way between confused and insulted.
"Nothing. Oh dear me, my most sincere apologies Dorothea. My good manners must have completely abandoned me." He reached out and kissed her finger, but dropped her hand the moment he had the opportunity. Then he sat down, linking his fingers together on the table and smiling at the two girls. "Tell me Dorothea, what is your occupation?"
This must be his version of small talk, if you could call it small talk with his long words and old fashioned vernacular.
"I was part of a theater group," Dorothea responded, not missing a beat. Edelgard wondered if her time on stage had prepared her for situations like this.
"A performer? How splendid! What art did you specialize in?"
"I was best known for my voice," Dorothea said, fluttering her eyelashes. Edelgard knew Dorothea loved to talk about her singing, a passion of hers.
"Marvelous. You simply must sing for me sometime," Ferdinand encouraged. "What about you Lady Edelgard, what sort of position are you set to inherit?"
Edelgard had no idea what to say to that, so she hid behind her sandwich and quickly changed the topic. "You are dressed nicely Ferdinand."
"Thank you Lady Edelgard. I should have known that one as high standing as you would recognize excellent attire when they saw it," Ferdinand preened.
"You know, you don't have to dress so formally in the hospital. They let you wear what makes you comfortable," Dorothea supplied gently.
"Nonsense Dorothea. It would be improper for a noble to dress anything short of immaculately, no matter the location," Ferdinand sounded flabbergasted.
Dorothea and Edelgard exchanged looks again. Much to Edelgard's immediate relief, a nurse walked in at that exact moment.
"Edelgard, you have a visitor," she said.
In walked Edelgard's father, his thinning hair dangling in a wiry mess around his face, eyes crinkling with joy as he caught sight of his daughter. Edelgard had know he had a chemo appointment today, and had been counting down the hours for when she would finally be able to see him again. He always liked to visit after his chemo appointments, he said it made the experience much more bearable knowing he would be able to see his daughter afterwards.
Ferdinand flew out of his seat, startling Edelgard badly. "Lady Edelgard, when you introduced yourself to me you never mentioned that your father was the emperor."
Again, Edelgard was tongue tied. Her father had been governor of Foldan City for a few terms, but emperor? Really?
"I am Ferdinand von Aeigr, and it is the highest honor I have ever received to be in your presence, your highness." He bowed low at the waist, hair flopping over his brow.
Her father stared, dumbfounded for a moment. Then, with as much dignity as he could muster, he said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Ferdinand von Aeigr." He extended a knobbly hand to Ferdinand.
Ferdinand shook his hand looking as if he were shaking hands with a god. His mouth opened and shut a few times before he visibly shook himself and cleared his throat. "I feel as if I must retire to my room and recompose myself. If you will excuse me ladies." He bowed one last time and left the rec room.
Everyone in the room watched him go, not quite sure what to say to each other. It was the nurse who broke the silence.
"I apologize if he made you uncomfortable, Mr. Hresvelg. Thank you for being so gracious with him."
Edelgard's father chuckled, triggering a few strained coughs. "He is not the strangest boy I have met in my long life."
"Well, I still appreciate your kindness. I'll leave you with your daughter." The nurse left the room, returning to her duties.
"I think I will go too Edie," Dorothea said, picking up her mostly empty lunch tray. "Give you some time with your father. Mr. Hresvelg," she nodded to Edelgar's father.
He nodded in return and looked again at his daughter. Even the fond smile and eye crinkles could not disguise the exhausted look in his eyes.
"Hi dad," Edelgard said, barely containing her own smile.
"Hi El."