Three Houses Supports/Mercedes Lorenz

C Support

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Mercedes: Yeee-ow!

Lorenz: Ah-- I beg your pardon! Are you all right?

Mercedes: Yes, I'm fi-- Ow! I'm fine! I just twisted my ankle.

Lorenz: That won't do. Come, take my hand. Let's get you to the infirmary.

Mercedes: Are you sure it's OK to be seen helping me?

Lorenz: Why would it not be?

Mercedes: I thought you only extended your kindness to the nobility.

Lorenz: Certainly not! To aid a commoner in need is the most noble endeavor of all. Not only that, but you were injured by my carelessness. It is doubly my duty to assist.

Mercedes: In that case, I'll gladly accept your offer.

Lorenz: Good. There does not appear to be any real swelling, so you should heal swiftly.

Mercedes: Thank you so much for escorting me. Walking on it will still be unpleasant.

Lorenz: Allow me to lend you my shoulder, at least as far as your room.

Mercedes: If you're still offering to help, then I can't say no!

Lorenz: There you are. Safe and sound. I will take my leave.

Mercedes: Thank you again, Lorenz. You know, I think I've learned something about you.

Lorenz: What is that?

Mercedes: In truth, it's not that you only extend your kindness to noble women... It's that you can't even see us of lower birth.

Lorenz: Excuse me?

Mercedes: You and I have been together all this time, but never once did you look me in the eye.

Lorenz: I-- hadn't noticed. But you will have to excuse any perceived rudeness. As the heir to House Gloucester, I have a duty. I must ask you to forget about me. Farewell.

Mercedes: Forget about him? What could that possibly mean?

B Support

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Lorenz: Mercedes, I have to insist that you take up a position behind me on the battlefield. I must protect the commonfolk, and you have been in danger rather frequently of late.

Mercedes: I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself. Everything is about nobility and commonfolk with you, Lorenz. It's tiresome.

Lorenz: Tiresome? I am only fulfilling my duty.

Mercedes: Is that to say you would have left me lying on the floor in pain had it not been your duty to assist?

Lorenz: You mean when you were hurt on my account? I still would have assisted you, as any commoner would have. It is simply a matter of perspective. And if I were common-born, I would not have simply let you leave without� never mind. Forgive me.

Mercedes: Excuse me? Are you implying that you would have taken advantage of me if you were lowborn?

Lorenz: What? No! And I am no longer interested in the hypothetical nature of this conversation!

Mercedes: Oh, Lorenz. You'll never change.

Lorenz: What do you mean?

Mercedes: I find myself growing irritated just looking at you.

Lorenz: Is that so? I fail to see exactly how I am so irritating.

Mercedes: You claim that you don't want to be involved with common women, don't you? But I know, deep in your heart, you love being around us. You're willfully ignorant to that.

I hope you know what you're depriving

yourself of.

Lorenz: I am certain I've told you before that my marriage must be beneficial to House Gloucester. I've not the time for fruitless courtship.

Mercedes: Fruitless?! Ugh! How can you say such things? What would happen if you fell in love with a commoner?

Lorenz: Nothing at all. I accept the role that I must play, and any sacrifice that must accompany it.

Mercedes: So, your duty as a noble is more important than your own feelings?

Lorenz: Naturally.

Mercedes: If that's true, then your whole existence is rather sad.

Lorenz: I am afraid you misunderstand. This is my choice. There is no cause for pity.

Mercedes: I think I've heard enough. I have to go. ...

A Support

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Lorenz: Mercedes. I have heard that you are the daughter of Imperial nobility. Is that the case?

Mercedes: It is.

Lorenz: And you have a Crest, as well. Is that not so?

Mercedes: Again, it is. Why did you not tell me?

Lorenz: I was under the impression you were a commoner.

Mercedes: I didn't mean to hide it from you, but you never asked. Besides, I am considered common now. I don't care to flaunt my noble past or my Crest. I have no desire to return to that status.

Lorenz: Then, if I may speak hypothetically a moment... Does that mean that if a nobleman were to offer you his hand in marriage, you would decline?

Mercedes: Not at all. That's a separate matter entirely. Even if I were to fall in love, regardless of their social status... I'm not looking to marry right now.

Lorenz: What a relief! Ah-- forgive my rudeness. I am merely envious of your flexible outlook. It is a posture that I might very well adopt. Not to say that I hang upon your every word, of course.

Mercedes: You mean in terms of love and marriage?

Lorenz: Precisely. Status should be no impediment to love.

Mercedes: But if you marry a woman who isn't a noble, then haven't you neglected your duty?

Lorenz: Not exactly, no. What I said was that my marriage must benefit House Gloucester. So long as that holds true, the bloodline of my partner is actually irrelevant. For instance, if she bore a Crest, and was, at one time, considered noble... Well, now that doesn't sound flexible at all!

Mercedes: How can you know if someone will benefit your family?

Would you investigate her before

allowing yourself feelings? That doesn't sound very noble of you...

Lorenz: That is not what I...

Mercedes: I'm sorry, Lorenz. I was only teasing. I'm sure your lack of tact is what women find so irresistible.

Lorenz: Come again?

Mercedes: Oh, nothing at all. I hope you do your family proud and fulfill your duty.

Lorenz: Yes. I most certainly will!