These times didn't allow for large celebrations, only the occasional banquet organized by Claude to keep morale high. Only church holidays like Saint Seiros' Day or Ceatleann were celebrated, just to feign normalcy for a day.

Birthdays were no exception either. The empire was exerting too much pressure to be distracted by such events, unlike in the days when Garreg Mach was an academy and not a base of operations as it is now.

Your birthday arrived. You weren't expecting anything, just doing your homework. Your acquaintances and allies congratulated you as they passed by, and Professor Byleth was, for the moment, the only person who gave you anything besides a birthday wish: a bouquet of flowers.

Something as simple as that improved your mood more than you can imagine. You decided to put them in water to keep them from wilting, carrying the flowers and a vase to your room.

*And there it was, sticking out between the door and its Marco, a letter. The letter had initials and the scent of a distinctive perfume, and those cursive letters that only a noblewoman would use. You entered your room with the letter in hand, placed the flowers on a table, and began to read.

To my dear friend.

"Happy birthday! I've prepared a small celebration for you, something just between us. Everyone deserves at least a small celebration, and that's what I've done! I spent all morning baking a cake and preparing the most delicious sweets you can imagine. Look for me at 5 PM at one of the tables for tea. If you don't dare come, I'll find you myself and bring you here."

-Lysithea

That last threat brought a smile to your face. Physically, she couldn't do much to subdue you and drag you along. Deep down, you already suspected that this celebration wasn't entirely genuine and sounded more like an excuse to cook everything without getting in trouble or Claude making fun of her for eating desserts and sweets with such enthusiasm.

After a shower and getting yourself ready, you went to find Lysithea at the agreed-upon spot in the monastery. The table was laden with homemade desserts and sweets, all made by her. "Good afternoon and Happy Birthday. This is my gift to a friend who..." "deserves"

That phrase "for a friend who deserves it" made you raise an eyebrow. The cookie basket was already partially empty, and some cupcakes were missing. Even before you sat down, she had already started eating.

"Don't look at me like that. Try some, go on." Her mouth was full when she said that, something not well-received by the nobility. There were what looked like cookie crumbs around her mouth.

She brought a cupcake to your mouth, close enough that a bit of frosting landed on your lips, and you unconsciously licked it.

"Don't let all my hard work go to waste." She crossed her arms, pushing the cupcake away and frowning, hoping that would make you give in and try her desserts.

"I worked really hard on this. I even baked a cake for you." She looked at you with a pout. In the center of the table was the cake, a chocolate one, her favorite. She, but with your first and last name and a congratulation, the candle was a question mark (?), because she didn't know your age*

((ESP->))