Chapter Text
Summer neared its end, but it took a great deal more than that to discourage Lorenz Hellman Gloucester and Ferdinand von Aegir from breaking for tea in the gardens. Hedges granted them some privacy, and the trees overhead shared their dappled shade. A tiered tray of delicious sweets accompanied their freshly brewed tea for the finest teatime they could enjoy between classes. It was precisely perfect, as expected of their teamwork!
“Truly, today is exceptional for tea,” Lorenz commented, taking a savoring breath as he lifted his cup of Rose Petal Blend.
Normally, they brewed Seiros Tea to share. But the Southern Fruit Blend called to Ferdinand, and Lorenz would be hard pressed to decline a cup of rose tea. His dearest friend was always elegant, but he looked especially sophisticated with his preferred tea in the immaculate gardens of Garreg Mach. Their conversations only supported that. Who else could Ferdinand freely enjoy discussions of dreamy knights and first crushes with? Aside from the professor, of course.
“It is indeed! How fortunate that we have this time before colder weather settles in.”
A light, warm breeze swept through the garden as carefree as a capriccio, as if on cue.
“It certainly helps one’s schedule to have a capable house leader, as you do in the Black Eagles.” Lorenz stirred his tea absently, graceful as a swan.
Even so, it took a moment for Ferdinand to realize he was speaking poorly of Claude. It was true that when he first arrived, Lorenz took to his father’s instructions to watch him closely. He had filled a powerful position, after all, and his sudden appearance was not welcome in Count Gloucester’s designs. Yet Ferdinand regularly saw Lorenz talking with Claude of his own free will. They rarely saw eye to eye at the beginning, but they always parted having learned something—or so Ferdinand thought. It was a far cry from the endless tension between him and Hubert that he’d been unable to decipher or dispel. With how frequently they spoke and how often Lorenz mentioned Claude unprompted, Ferdinand quite naturally assumed that his distrust was giving way to respect of a sort.
It wouldn’t do to keep assuming. As Ferdinand reached for a peach tartlet, he asked Lorenz directly, “You get along well with your house leader, do you not?”
Lorenz set his tea down to look aghast, his mouth open and manicured eyebrows raised as though Ferdinand had suggested inviting a bear to the tea table.
“I most certainly do not!”
Such adamance would typically be all Ferdinand needed. But he knew Lorenz all too well not to recognize a conflict in him. The almost shrill quality to his emphasis was only one indication that he was not being truthful, with himself most of all. A side effect of Lorenz’s laudable determination was a certain… willful ignorance. He would and could commit to a purpose well after he should have abandoned it on that alone. Lorenz’s flustered huff as he stared off into the trimmed bushes only convinced Ferdinand that his beloved companion was fooling himself to his detriment.
“Oh? But I have seen you spend a great deal of time with him.” Smiling knowingly, Ferdinand looked at Lorenz over his own cup of tea. “Are your feelings on him not settled, my good friend?”
Lorenz turned to Ferdinand sharply, but the pink rushing to his cheeks said all it had to. Not to speak of the accidental squeak of surprise that came with it—that would only embarrass the poor fellow more!
“They are—very settled, thank you. You must understand, my father has advised I keep a close watch on him.”
As with everything surrounding Lorenz, there was an art to assisting his childhood companion. The demands of noble upbringing were a burden and honor they commiserated over, and it called for a careful approach when Lorenz needed the reminder that he was not defined by the pressures of his station. Or, in this case, of Count Gloucester. With formidable and callous fathers such as theirs, Ferdinand and Lorenz alike needed those refreshers from time to time!
If his heart drew him to Claude von Riegan, why, Ferdinand saw no reason why Lorenz should not pursue that.
“I understand you perfectly, Lorenz. Say no more.”