Eduard has the most relaxed outlook on life out of the strahl candidates (although Isaac probably beats him as the most relaxed in the show). Actually it's pretty suprising he is so cheerful and friendly considering the unhappy past he has had. Yes he does have a nice noble sounding name but he's actually an illegitimate child of his father's (and the sad part is Ludwig made a comment that makes me think he's one of many illegitimate children). His mother died when he was very young so he and his sister went to live with their father the Viscount (geez I'm sure that made the gossip fly). Since the Count's real wife (the Countess) had only had 3 girls (so yes that means he has three 1/2 sisters) Eduard become the official heir to the Viscount. As you can imagine that did not go over so well with the Countess, and she was an absolute witch to Eduard and his sister. Because of this the Viscout sent Eduard's sister away to stay with a foster family so that the Countess couldn't hurt her I guess? (I'm sorry but that's just sad that he distrusts his wife the Countess that much that he had to hide his kids -_- )

Eduard is skilled with the sword (like the other Strahl candidates) and he seems to be especially good at Horsebackriding as well. His best friend is definately Orpherus, and without Orpherus dragging him around when they were kids who knows what torture the Countess would have tried to inflict on poor litte Ed. Oh yes so if you didn't already guess Ed is constantly on the look out for his sister, since he doesn't know what foster family she was sent to and he hasn't seen her since they were little.