0. Do you have a moment, Rodrigue? There's something I'd like to ask you.
1. Anything for you, Your Majesty. What is it?
2. I want to hear your side of the story.
3. Of which story, exactly?
4. How did you feel when you learned of my father's [cdb]death? I've struggled to ask this before, but I want [cdb]to know.
5. So that's what you mean. Honestly, I had a difficult [cdb]time believing it at first.
6. But as moons passed, I gradually grew to accept the [cdb]reality of it.
7. And of course, I recalled the promise I'd made him, [cdb]and vowed to myself that I would carry it out.
8. I wonder, then. Had I died alongside my father and Glenn in Duscur, what would you have done?
9. ...
10. You know, a fleeting thought flashes across my mind [cdb]every time I see you reflect upon my father.
11. It feels as though you aspired not just to stand beside [cdb]him in life, but to meet death with him as well.
12. Don't overthink it, Your Majesty. I'm a pretty [cdb]stubborn guy, you know.
13. No, I didn't wish for my own death when Lambert [cdb]passed.
14. But sometimes I think that if I have to die to honor [cdb]my promise to him... I would be satisfied with that.
15. I won't allow you to throw your life away, Rodrigue. I'll not have you stolen from me by that promise!
16. Losing you would be almost like losing my father for [cdb]a second time.
17. If you were to die because of me...it would [cdb]destroy me.
18. You may say that, but a subject lives by the example [cdb]their king sets for them. And I know well enough that [cdb]you don't value your life, either.
19. So if you'd like me to place more importance on my [cdb]life, I urge you to do the same, Your Majesty.
20. You're right. I have no excuse.
21. No, I should apologize. That came out rather more [cdb]harsh than I intended.
22. You sounded so much like Lambert just now, I simply [cdb]couldn't hold myself back.
23. In truth, that's something I've wished I could have [cdb]said to him for a long time now, yet you were the one [cdb]who had to bear the brunt of it.
24. I suppose I can hardly poke fun at Matthias for [cdb]holding onto that sword all those years, can I?
25. I sounded like my father?
26. Indeed you did. Remember the story of the sword, [cdb]about how I got stuck behind enemy lines like a fool?
27. Well, the first thing Lambert said after he broke [cdb]through their forces was, "Don't throw your life [cdb]away like that."
28. Not that it was too convincing coming from a guy [cdb]covered in cuts and scrapes.
29. I can't imagine.
30. It sounds as though you two were very close. I envy [cdb]him for having such strong bonds with his friends.
31. Don't let my son catch you saying that. Pretty sure [cdb]he'd take offense.
32. Anyway, that's enough reminiscing for one day. How about you try squeezing some memories [cdb]out of Matthias next time?
33. A fine idea. Perhaps I'll invite Sylvain and the others [cdb]to join in as well.
34. A fine idea. Please ask him to stop by sometime, Rodrigue.