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Hey there, Edelgard.
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Hey there, Edelgard.
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Leafing through documents, are we? This is new.
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Yeah, completely out of character, I know. But one of these reports has been stuck in my mind.
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Yeah, completely out of character, I know. But one of these reports has been stuck in my mind.
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Back when Count Rowe declared fealty to the Empire, other lords committed to doing the same, right?
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Back when Count Rowe declared fealty to the Empire, other lords committed to doing the same, right?
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But the moment we left and the Kingdom army marched south, they fell right back in line.
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But the moment we left and the Kingdom army marched south, they fell right back in line.
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It's like they never betrayed Faerghus in the first place.
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It's like they never betrayed Faerghus in the first place.
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Good memory. That's exactly what happened.
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Houses Elidure and Duval both made overtures to join the Empire.
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So why is the Kingdom welcoming them back without so much as a wrist slap? Is this another House Gloucester thing where the politics demand it?
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So why is the Kingdom welcoming them back without so much as a wrist slap? Is this another House Gloucester thing where the politics demand it?
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Seems like their importance as noble families outstrips the fact that they're all two-faced liars.
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Seems like their importance as noble families outstrips the fact they're all two-faced liars.
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Politics are doubtless involved, but the heads of houses can change, as they did with Gloucester.
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We're not bound to place importance on any one individual—only the bloodline.
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So the Kingdom's aristocracy gets the same free pass as the Alliance's?
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So the Kingdom's aristocracy gets the same free pass as the Alliance's?
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Yes, and the Empire's as well, even though I do my best to treat everyone equally.
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I cannot afford to slight a minister's house, for example.
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They broke fealty to the former prime minister when they swore it to me.
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Would you call that treachery? What makes it different from the actions of Count Gloucester?
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I dunno, you tell me.
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I dunno, you tell me.
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It depends on what motivated the change of heart.
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Greed makes it different—and I'd say betraying someone for money is lower than low.
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Greed makes it different—and I'd say betraying someone for money is lower than low.
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That's one way to look at it. I agree that what matters is the reason behind the change of heart.
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You can't blame someone for switching sides when they're outnumbered. Do you think they're just gonna lay down and die?
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You can't blame someone for switching sides when they're outnumbered. Do you think they're just gonna lay down and die?
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That's part of it. I think what matters is why they had the change of heart.
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Was it for land? For status? To exact revenge or seize glory?
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Because I view a betrayal for any of those reasons to be utterly worthless.
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Yeah, money and vengeance are pretty shallow motives. Though, that's why I'm here.
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Yeah, money and vengeance are pretty shallow motives. Though, that's why I'm here.
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I'm not talking about mercenaries. I'm talking about lords.
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Each of their decisions has the ability to upend the lives of thousands, if not more.
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Only a person with the character to realize that is truly fit to lead.
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I've worked for plenty of nobles in my time.
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I've worked for plenty of nobles in my time.
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And till now I couldn't have cared less what it means to actually be one.
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And till now, I couldn't have cared less what it means to actually be one.
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But then you gave me responsibility over all of these soldiers, and it...
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But then you gave me responsibility over all of these soldiers, and it...
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Well, I guess I'm starting to see the world in a different way—and the people who live in it, too.
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Well, I guess I'm starting to see the world in a different way—and the people who live in it, too.
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I see...
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I admit your grand designs sail clear over my head sometimes—most of the time, actually.
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I admit your grand designs sail clear over my head sometimes—most of the time, actually.
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But that's why I stand by you. I feel like one of these days, something important's gonna rub off on me.
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But that's why I stand by you. I feel like one of these days, something important's gonna rub off on me.
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And I feel the same.
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You've opened my eyes to all manner of things I might never have seen otherwise.
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You are a commoner without the fetters of a family name, wielding your sword directly for me.
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That's more valuable than you may realize.