Sorry about earlier, Ignatz. I wasn't much help at all.
No, it's fine. You actually did a lot.
If anything, your stories of Gustave just helped to
[cdb]confirm what I was thinking.
That you're not cut out to be a knight? Is that what
[cdb]you were going to say?
Heh. Exactly. You're pretty sharp, Annette.
Well, since I'm the one that brought on this
[cdb]misunderstanding, I'd better clear it up.
What misunderstanding?
Look, my father is clearly an incredible knight,
[cdb]and everyone knows it.
But if everyone was a knight just like him, we'd still
[cdb]end up losing every war we fought.
Don't let looks fool you—he's sloppy when it comes
[cdb]to taking care of himself. Also, he can be stubborn as
[cdb]a mule, and he's a complete worrywart to boot.
But he's maybe the best fighter in the land, and isn't
[cdb]that what a knight's job entails?
Not necessarily. The thing is, there are all kinds of
[cdb]different people who report to my father.
And most are excellent fighters, sure, but then there
[cdb]are others who can barely even ride a horse.
Yet my father relies on them all the same.
But how can he rely on a knight who can't fight?
Because they have other skills. For example, a handful
[cdb]of his reports know absolutely everything about
[cdb]cooking and ingredients.
Imagine they're under attack and rations are
[cdb]running low.
Those people tell the others what ingredients to
[cdb]gather and use them to make food, which allows
[cdb]everyone to fight another day.
Which is how they gain his trust.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and it's
[cdb]a commanding officer's job to know what those are
[cdb]and give orders accordingly.
And sure, all of this comes secondhand from my
[cdb]father, but I also know it's true. So I don't think
[cdb]there's any reason for you to be so pessimistic.
Charging directly into the gut of the enemy's main
[cdb]force isn't the only way for a knight to be useful.
So you really think I'm still helping in some way?
Absolutely! Maybe it's your skill in painting, or your
[cdb]knowledge about works of art, or how carefully you
[cdb]always look at your surroundings.
You have a lot of strengths, and it would be a real
[cdb]pity to bury them all under an avalanche of "I'm not
[cdb]cut out for this kind of thing."
You know what? You're right. There are all kinds of
[cdb]different people in our army!
And in that case...I think I'll keep trying to be a
[cdb]better knight.
I'm so glad to hear that. This was really weighing on
[cdb]me, so I couldn't just let it go.
And hey, you know how I always make a mess of
[cdb]things the second I lose my focus?
Well, I used to get really worried about that for the
[cdb]same reason as you—I thought I was holding
[cdb]everyone back.
Really? But you help us all the time, Annette!
I mean, if not for you cheering me up, I probably
[cdb]would've resigned from my knighthood.
Aw, that makes me so happy, Ignatz. I'm really glad I
[cdb]could help.
I know we both have our own sets of worries to deal
[cdb]with, but we'll just keep working hard together.
hopes.fedatamine.com
