Delicate Flower - A Hilda Fanzine

“Hilda!” Leonie nods at Ferdinand. “Hey, Ferdinand,” she acknowledges.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why I’m just having tea with Hilda—”
“So, Leonie, how was your time over back at your home village?” Hilda asks
quickly, standing up.
“It went well, and I didn’t miss a single thing! And so I wanted to come right
here and thank you so much for—”
“One hundred percent,” Hilda replies. “That has to also be why your townsfolk
wanted you back for their ceremony hunt! They wouldn’t have had a
successful one without you!”
Leonie laughs, her blush spreading over her cheeks. “I guess so…”
“Say no more! I have just the right job for you.”
Oh, the things she does for friends.
“Right, right, it’s not a problem at all!” Hilda interrupts, taking Leonie by
the shoulders and leading her away. “Well, would you look at the time? It’s
basically time to eat, and I’m positively starving! Why don’t you join me for
dinner in the dining hall today?”
“Oh! Okay!”
As the two of them promptly leave the library, Hilda looks back at Ferdinand,
winking at him and gesturing towards the empty teapot.
Dismayed as Ferdinand looks, he doesn’t refuse, starting to gather up the
cups on the table.
Hilda doesn’t let Leonie say another word until they’ve fully sat down with
dinner in front of them.
Leonie swallows before cutting into another bite. “Yeah, I just wanted to
thank you for re-shelving the books for me!”
“Oh, it was no problem at all! In fact, I had plenty of help.”
“I bet — there were a lot of books! I’m sorry that I left you to it.” Leonie frowns
to herself, then looks back up at Hilda. “Is there anything I can get you back
for? Maybe something I can do for you in return? I kinda just dumped that
chore on you so I really owe you one.”
“Well, only because you’re offering, I guess there is something I think only
you would be able to help me out with.” Hilda looks at Leonie purposefully, as
if thinking out loud. “I think you’re quite good at hunting, aren’t you?”
“W-Well, I mean, sure! It’s really just that I usually do better when I have fresh
air, I think,” Leonie sputters.
For how much of a rugged exterior Leonie puts up, Hilda is still amused by
how easily flustered she gets.