You did well, Miklan. I will remember the deeds
[cdb]you've performed here today.
Pah. You know as well as I that I only did it for the
[cdb]money. Your money.
That's...the man from before.
That's...the man from before.
I don't mean to question you, but why exactly are you
[cdb]eavesdropping on them?
It looks like they're having an argument. Butting in
[cdb]now would just make things worse.
It looks like they're having an argument. Butting in
[cdb]now would just make things worse.
What are you playing at, boar? This washed up
[cdb]bandit doesn't deserve to look at our army, let alone
[cdb]be a commander in it.
It's a decision I made in collaboration with the
[cdb]margrave. Two years ago, after I ascended the
[cdb]throne.
I ordered Gustave to capture him, made him swear
[cdb]his allegiance to the royal family, and gave him a
[cdb]unit of soldiers to command.
Spare me the details of how you did it. What I want
[cdb]to know is why.
My army was lacking leaders. We needed capable
[cdb]fighters to fill in the gaps.
As for Miklan here, the margrave himself has
[cdb]instructed him in all manner of military tactics.
I've seen his prowess with my own two eyes.
...
In the centuries since the time of King Loog,
Crests and Relics have kept Faerghus safe.
We've come to depend on that power to protect us
[cdb]from outside attacks—and grown all too complacent
[cdb]in its wake.
Naturally, we will take full advantage of our
Heroes' Relics in the battles ahead with Adrestia.
But we cannot protect our home with Relics alone.
If all who could wield them fell, so too would we.
The blood of the Heroes is thinner now than ever
[cdb]before. We need men like him among our ranks.
I don't doubt the truth of your words. But that's not
[cdb]the issue here!
Do you really think it appropriate to trust a man
[cdb]barely removed from his life as a brigand with
[cdb]the responsibility of command?
Everyone's heard the stories of the elder Gautier
[cdb]brother. How he resorted to banditry and plunder.
Do you not think our soldiers would object to being
[cdb]led by a man with such history?
Heh. Command, huh? It's got a nice ring to it,
[cdb]but you should know, I'm just a prisoner.
My attendants, my aides, my best men... All stooges
[cdb]for the royal family, breathing down my neck every
[cdb]waking moment. All the sleeping moments, too.
No wise remarks, Sylvain? You're standing there mute
[cdb]as if this has nothing to do with you.
I was one of the first His Majesty consulted with.
There's nothing I could say that I haven't already.
I'm sure you can't stand the sight of me, Miklan,
[cdb]but let's see if we can't get along, OK?
Hmph.
Anyway, now that we're all caught up... I'll await your
[cdb]next orders, Your Majesty, sir.
Let me guess, any means necessary?
I won't defend it. Though I do see use in such a man.
What he did in his time as a bandit was monstrous,
I admit that.
And I deserve no small amount of judgment for giving
[cdb]him command in spite of it.
But I can't help but wonder. Perhaps his life could've
[cdb]been dramatically different had he only possessed
[cdb]a Crest.
Same as the uncle I murdered.
...
I understand your reasoning, Your Majesty.
Yet he's hurt so many people.
What's done is done. Stolen goods may be returned,
[cdb]but stolen lives cannot.
If the man is unwilling to atone for his wrongdoings,
[cdb]then he will pay for it with his head. If he does wish
[cdb]to repent, however...
Then what better way to do so than by risking his life
[cdb]on behalf of our people?
If any among us still can't forgive him, by all means
[cdb]take up your arms and enact vengeance.
I get what you're trying to do, but you still should
[cdb]have talked to us first.
This isn't about who shoulders what blame. It's a
[cdb]matter of letting us know what you're thinking.
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