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Mmm... The Empire's sweets truly are a delight.
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Might I interest you in a cup of coffee? It cuts through the sweetness of the treats perfectly.
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Hmm? No, I'm good.
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Honestly, I don't understand how you can drink that all the time—it's so bitter!
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Well, I suppose one with a youthful tongue would not care for it. Yet the bitterness, the deep richness, the subtle acidity...
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Oh, and I'm not treating you like a child here—I am merely discussing different palates.
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I'm not a child and neither is my tongue. Now give me some of that coffee!
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Blech!
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Are you all right, Lysithea? Here, wipe your mouth.
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I fear that attempt was ill-advised. If you wish to enjoy coffee, you must first modify it to your liking.
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Perhaps we might try adding sugar and goat's milk? It would mellow the flavor and add sweetness.
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Yes, please.
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There's something I'm curious about, Hubert.
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And what might that be?
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Why are you being so kind and indulgent to me and only me? Compared to how you treat other people, it's clearly strange.
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And what if I were doing so because Her Majesty had commanded me to pay particular attention to you?
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Huh? She did?
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Uh, I mean, even if she did do that, you're still being far nicer to me than you have to be!
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...
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If I tell you, you must not breathe a word of it to anyone. I will erase you if this gets out. Permanently.
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You'll...erase me? Well, all right—I promise to keep it a secret until the day I die. Is that good enough?
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It will do.
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...
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I...have a younger sister. One the same age as you.
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The pair of you have similar personalities, so perhaps I end up doting on you for this reason.
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You have a sister?! Why doesn't anyone know?!
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I conceal my family's existence as much as possible to avoid their becoming a liability.
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I also have a mother and little brother, yet you certainly do not know the first thing about them, either.
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Hmm... I suppose it would be strange for a noble like yourself to not have a single relative.
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Still, it's surprising you'd keep it under wraps from even your close friends and comrades.
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That is my business. Regardless, I imagine that is the reason I unconsciously end up favoring you as I do.
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So you aren't treating me as a child, but a little sister?
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Well, if that's the case—and considering how much older you are than me—I suppose I can allow it.
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Oh, but that will not do—my sister would be most indignant if I were to treat anyone other than her as such.
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Ergo, I will simply have to exercise more caution and refrain from treating you as anything other than a normal child.
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If it would make your sister upset, then...
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What? What do you mean, treat me like a child?!
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Oh dear, I let it slip. It appears my tongue is the one that still has some maturing to do.