"happy birthday, hilda." there's something sly hiding behind edelgard's smile as though she's morphed into a storybook villain. a childish one, seeing as both her hands are clasped behind her back and she's rocking on the balls of her feet. "i'm not terribly well-versed at giving gifts, but this one came to me in a moment of inspiration." she continues, and whips the book out from behind her back. the leather binding and gold edging mark it a very expensive gift indeed. [1/2]
the cover is emblazoned with the words ‘lifting a finger: what a little effort can do for you.’ and edelgard looks all too pleased with herself. “you’re welcome!” she near-sings, and turns heel and walks away, rather more swiftly than one who wants to see the trap they set erupt would. of course, if hilda actually opens it, she’ll find the pages carved out and three rows of enbarr chocolates tucked into the hole. this is her idea of humour, you see. [2/2]
“ oh ─ wow, thanks! to be honest, i had no idea you knew. ”
now, hilda is not unobservant ─ and there is certainly something about edelgard’s coy smile that adds a measure of caution to her demeanour. that said, it wouldn’t be right of hilda to dismiss her out of hand, and certainly not under the pretence of birthday wishes. what was she, a spoiled brat? coy or no, it was the responsibility of every birthday girl to remain gracious.
it was genius of edelgard, really. very, very clever, i’ll give you that.
“ you didn’t have to make an exception just for me, you know, ” hilda says with an easy smile, a careful little quirk to her brow as she holds out her hands to receive the gift. grace was the name of the game, after all ─
and by the grace of the goddess, she’d been had.
“ ah, ” hilda says. her easy smile turns wry, but accepting. “ this is great, actually. now all i need is the sequel ‘ idle thoughts: how evil takes root in doing nothing ’ and my collection will be complete. thanks for this, edel... ”
edelgard is already leaving, looking like the cat who got the cream. stole the cream, rather. stole it from right under her nose. hilda huffs a sigh, her bangs blowing back with the effort, and tucks the book under her arm.
“ hmph. ” enough said. “ i wonder if she’s trying to tell me something. ”
( later, when hilda would inevitably toss the book somewhere carelessly and hear the strange rattle inside, she would be sure to make a note of thanking edelgard properly the next time she saw her ─ and perhaps offering some unsolicited advice on gift giving. )
