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A scowl tugged down Ashe’s face as he made his way to the second floor dormitory. A student had asked him to deliver a letter, which Ashe now clutched too tight in one hand, palm purposefully obstructing the recipient’s name. He couldn’t bear to see “Edelgard” written in such loopy, love-sick handwriting.
If the student had told Ashe from the outset who the “sensitive letter” was meant for, he would have politely refused. This was not the kind of conversation where Ashe wanted to act as the go-between. Not only was Edelgard the Imperial Princess– she was also Ashe’s house leader. She probably didn’t want him, a random commoner from the Kingdom, involved in her love life.
Ashe wanted to pretend that was the reason– the division between their stations making this inappropriate. But as he reached Edelgard’s door, Ashe had to admit to being offended on her behalf. She shouldn’t have to waste her time with someone so weak willed as to hide behind Ashe. A man who couldn’t even deliver his own letter had no chance with a princess.
The scowl morphed into a sneer. Edelgard deserved better than this random student. Ashe had watched her since he joined the Black Eagles– saw how hard she worked to improve herself in studies and fighting, the rare moments she let her expression break into a smile. The letter crumpled in Ashe’s hand. This guy couldn’t know the first thing about her or he wouldn’t have tried this stunt.
Seizing the letter in both hands, Ashe glared down at it, seriously considering tearing it in half.
“If you are stealing my mail, I don’t think I can forgive you.”
A squeak left Ashe’s chest and he stumbled back. Edelgard’s dorm door was open, and Edelgard herself was standing in its place, one hand on her hip. She raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not stealing!” Ashe defended quickly. “I’m… I’m supposed to give this to you.” He held out the letter.
Still looking perplexed, Edelgard took it. Ashe winced at the condition it was in– he hadn’t realized how twisted and creased the paper had become.
He opened his mouth to apologize– but stopped when Edelgard rolled her eyes and tossed the letter over her shoulder. It disappeared into her room, and she stepped into the hallway and shut the door before Ashe could see where it landed.
“Honestly, a letter a week is getting to be too much,” she said, more to herself than Ashe.
Ashe gaped. “You get one of those a week?!”
“Not from the same person. But they might as well be– those kinds of letters tend to blend together after a while.”
“I’m sorry.”
Edelgard shook her head. “I’m sorry you were dragged into this one. Please, put it out of your mind.”
Ashe nodded, watching her walk down the hallway. All those letters. All those cowards. Was it that difficult to just speak?
“Princess Edelgard?”
She turned back to him.
Do you want to go into town with me tomorrow? The words didn’t leave Ashe’s throat. Pink tinged his cheeks. Not very knightly behavior. “Um, I won’t bug you with those kinds of letters anymore,” he said at last.
Edelgard smiled. Ashe’s heart skipped a beat, the heat in his face increasing. “Thank you, Ashe. I will see you later.”
Then she was gone. Ashe let out a long breath.
Yes, apparently, it was that difficult.