Chapter Text
Edelgard likes saghert and cream.
Byleth learns this fact soon after joining the monastery, watching the Adrestian princess demolish several helpings of the dessert during their post-mock battle celebration.
It’s with this knowledge in mind that Byleth enters the monastery kitchens, fully prepared with a cookbook from Lysithea and the freshest fruits from the greenhouse. It is mid-afternoon now, and if all goes according to plan, she should be finished making the saghert and cream in time for the surprise party.
She is not prepared, however, for the head chef to turn down her request for the additional ingredients required to make the dessert.
“Thirty servings?” She asks incredulously. “I’m sorry Professor, but we simply can’t spare that much flour and milk.”
“But it’s for a class celebration. My house leader’s birthday is today.” Byleth replies, shifting on her feet impatiently. She’s going to be late if she doesn’t get started soon.
“Still, I highly doubt your class of eight will need thirty servings of dessert, Professor.”
Byleth wants to disagree with her⸺ she’d spent a good chunk of time calculating the perfect amount of saghert and cream to make for the party. Six plates for Edelgard, with a little less sugar. Six more for Ferdinand, who would try to keep up with Edelgard but probably stop at plate five-and-a-half. One plate each for the rest of the Eagles, with a few to spare for those who wanted more. And finally, ten plates for herself.
Yes, thirty servings would be the perfect amount. But if there weren’t enough ingredients…
“Would you be willing to provide enough flour and milk for twenty servings instead?” Byleth asks.
The head chef takes a moment to consider, before relenting and making her way to the pantry to help fetch the ingredients.
The trays of saghert are cooling on the counter, waiting to be topped with cream, and Byleth is hungry. She has already eaten the leftover fruits, but it’s difficult to not be hungry when the kitchen is filled with the delicious aroma of baked goods. She resists the urge to take some of the saghert for herself. There won’t be enough left for everyone if she does.
Perhaps she could have some of Ferdinand’s leftovers once he is done competing with Edelgard. Byleth brightens up at the thought, and begins to devise a plan to smuggle his unfinished plate back to her room after the party.
She’s still thinking about how to best hide a plate under her cloak when Caspar bursts into the kitchen, dragging an unconscious(??) Linhardt behind him.
“Hey Professor! We’re here to help!” Caspar exclaims, jostling Linhardt awake with a light shake. “Linhardt, wake up! We gotta help the professor carry the stuff to class, remember?”
Linhardt yawns, straightening up on his feet. “Mmm, yes, I remember.” He looks around for a bit, before his gaze settles on the trays of saghert. “I must say, Professor, you’ve outdone yourself yet again. It smells positively delightful in here.”
“Yeah Professor, I bet Edelgard’s gonna be really happy once she sees this!”
Byleth sure hopes so. She wonders if it would help make Edelgard smile⸺ it would certainly be nice if it did.
Edelgard gives a little huff of amusement as she steps through the doorway of the classroom, eyes bright as her classmates surround her and wish her a happy birthday.
“I should have known something was up when you began insisting that we stay in town.” Edelgard says to Dorothea, who follows after her into the classroom. Hubert lingers behind the both of them, arms laden with several shopping baskets.
“Hey now, Edie, you know we can’t have you all cooped up in your room on your birthday.” Dorothea replies, turning to Byleth, “Right, Professor?”
Byleth nods in agreement. “It’s an important day. You should enjoy yourself.” She stacks the plates of saghert and cream she had prepared for the princess, and presents the tower of dessert to her. “Happy Birthday, Edelgard.”
It’s a little hard to tell with the stack of plates obscuring her vision, but she thinks she sees Edelgard’s cheeks colour somewhat as she steps closer.
“Thank you, my teacher.” Edelgard says as she gingerly takes the desserts from her, careful not to topple them. “This is much more of a celebration than I was expecting, to be honest.”
She pauses for a moment, taking in the sight of the classroom. Petra and Bernedetta have decorated the room with bouquets of vibrant flowers from the greenhouse, and a large banner hangs between the columns, ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDELGARD! ’ painted upon it in Ferdinand’s finest calligraphy. The desks and benches have been pushed together by Caspar and Linhardt to form a sort of makeshift dining table. Edelgard sets her plates on the table, and turns to address everyone.
“This is wonderful, really, thank you all.” She looks at the table, laden with flowers and plates of saghert and cream, and hides a giggle behind her hand. “I must say, I’m impressed you all managed to convince the chefs to make this much dessert today.”
“Not quite, Lady Edelgard.” Hubert replies, offering her a spoon as she moves to sit at the table with her classmates. “From what I understand, it was the Professor who was kind enough to gather the ingredients and cook for us today.”
Edelgard’s eyes widen as she stares at Byleth, who simply nods in response.
“But to make this much…” she trails off, dumbfounded.
“Bernadetta helped with growing the fruits.” Byleth explains.
Bernadetta startles at the mention of her name, before trying to hide herself behind one of the bouquets on the table. “Y-yes, but you were the one who did all the work, Professor! You got the seeds and fertiliser a-and baked it and everything! I just watered the plants once in a while!” The purple-haired noble sinks down under the table then, taking her plate of saghert and cream with her.
“I… see.” Edelgard replies quietly. She takes a plate from her own stack, Byleth eagerly watching as she digs the spoon into the treat and takes a bite.
It makes Edelgard smile.
It’s the pretty one that Byleth likes, the one that touches her eyes, and the sight makes something tug lightly in the Professor’s chest. With her objective completed, Byleth settles into one of the empty seats, watching contentedly as her students enjoy themselves for the rest of the night.