Work Text:
The cool evening air breezed through the Astrea mansion's balcony. Sitting on the railing, despite repeatedly being requested not to, Felt was lazily swinging her leg over a two-floor drop. With a half-eaten appa in her hand, she was enjoying the view bathed in the rays of the setting sun.
The mansion’s gardens had been neglected for years – since long before the girl first set her foot in the Astrea Domain. Even though the paths remained clear and the grounds presentable, the flowerbeds had long since withered away, leaving behind stretches of bare soil. Until recently, when the Diana flowers returned to the estate in full force, filling Felt’s sensitive nostrils with the pleasant scent of blossoms.
This was one of the reasons she enjoyed coming there. Another was –
“Lady Felt.”
– the peace and quiet of being unbothered. Startled out of her skin, the girl nearly dropped the appa.
“Oi! Don't sneak up on people!” she shot back without turning.
Standing behind her were Flam and Grassis, the twin maids serving the main Astrea Manor. The two exchanged a cautious glance before flanking Felt.
“We came with a request.”
“Can we talk to you about something?”
Felt narrowed her eyes. The sisters rarely approached her in such a direct way. She didn’t know what to expect.
“Depends. If it's another lecture about manners, save your breath.”
“It's not.”
“We would never.”
Her remark, meant as a joke, completely missed the mark. The twins’ serious tones immediately caught Felt’s attention. She put her legs back onto the balcony, facing the girls.
Grassis stepped forward.
“It's about Young Master.”
The grin faded from Felt's face.
“...What's with him?” she asked cautiously.
The silence stretched for several heartbeats. Felt’s eyes traveled from one face to the other. Their reluctance to speak started to creep her out.
Finally, Flam took a breath and said,
“Please don't break his heart.”
A soft wind blew through their hair. Felt blinked once. Twice.
“Huh–?!”
The request was so unexpected that she genuinely wondered if she hadn’t misheard.
“What kinda weird thing is that to say?”
Flam looked away, but she was soon joined by Grassis.
“Young Master isn't very good at asking for things for himself,” she explained.
Felt snorted. “Yeah, no kidding.”
But the twins continued as though there were no interruptions.
“Young Master always worries about everyone else.”
“But he never worries anyone with his own problems.”
“Everyone expects him to be strong.”
“So he smiles even when he's miserable.”
“...Yeah,” replied Felt when the girls made a break to catch their breaths. Of course, she’d already known all that. Then why –?
“And if you disregarded his feelings,” said Flam, shaking her head, “we don't think he would blame you.”
“He'd probably apologize for making things difficult.”
Felt winced – because it sounded exactly like Reinhard.
“Why’re ya tellin’ me all this?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders in a mix of impatience and annoyance. “What’s it gotta do with me?”
The twins exchanged a knowing look before speaking in unison.
“We've known Young Master for years,” Grassis said.
“Long before the Royal Selection.”
“Long before he met you.”
“He smiles more now,” Flam explained.
“And when he's with you?” said Grassis softly. “He seems happy.”
That answer, stated with an unwavering conviction, landed harder than Felt expected. All of a sudden, she couldn’t hide the smirk that crept onto her face. Irritated, she clicked her tongue and quickly looked away.
“You're makin' it sound weird,” she retorted after making sure that the twins had nothing else to add.
“Maybe it is weird,” Flam admitted. “But it's true.”
Finding no reply, Felt raised her chin and stared at the darkening sky. Letting out a slow breath, she thought back to the time when she first met Reinhard. He used to be this annoying knight with a creepy smile that always ordered her around. However, the more time they spent together, the more she was allowed to glimpse under his Sword Saint facade, where the true Reinhard shone between the cracks.
“...You're both idiots,” she said out loud.
Grassis sighed, resigned. “We get that a lot.”
“No, seriously. What do ya think I am? Some kinda monster?”
The twins just looked at one another. That was answer enough for Felt, who covered her face with her hand and gave out a loud groan.
“Lady Felt –?”
Her voice came out quieter than intended. “I ain't planning on breakin' anybody's heart, okay?!”
Upon finally getting the response they went all the way there to hear, the two maids visibly relaxed. Which somehow irritated Felt even more.
“Don't look so relieved!”
“Sorry.”
“We are relieved, though.”
“Shut up!” Felt shouted, her irritation reaching its limits.
Her outburst was followed by a brief silence. In a few deep breaths, the girl managed to calm her nerves somehow. She closed her eyes with a sigh.
“Besides –”
She looked behind, towards the distant flowerbeds, where a lone figure with flaming red hair was gardening beneath the fading sunlight. A faint smile touched her lips.
“If that idiot's heart was really on the line...”
Her gaze lingered on the back of Reinhard’s head. The trick of the light made his hair look like it was really on fire.
“...I'd be a lot more careful with it than he thinks.”
Neither Flam nor Grassis said anything. For once, teasing their mistress further seemed too dangerous for their liking. The two simply smiled, nodding their acknowledgments. Felt immediately pointed her finger at them.
“Now get lost before I change my mind!”
The pair retreated without protest, closing the door behind them. Left alone, Felt returned to watching her knight’s distant figure. He was collecting his gardening stuff, ready to call it a day. There was dirt on his arms and knees, but he seemed content.
“Seriously...” A faint blush slowly crept onto her cheeks. “What's with everybody actin' like it's already obvious?”
Far below, Reinhard looked up, as though sensing her gaze. The moment their eyes met, he produced his genuine smile that she spent so long trying to see. Felt's face turned even redder.
“Tch!”
She was the first to look away.