Claude. There's something I need to discuss with you.
Sure, but keep it short. I know I don't look it, but I'm
[cdb]actually pretty busy here.
Hmph. Are you making light of how I usually
[cdb]respond to your requests?
Hey, don't be like that. It's just a joke. We can talk for
[cdb]hours if you want; I've got all the time in the world.
There's no need. I'm simply passing on a message
[cdb]from my father.
Count Ordelia, huh? Go ahead, I'm all ears.
I guess it's no surprise he has a word or two to say to
[cdb]the king. I mean, first the Imperial invasion, now all
[cdb]this unrest sweeping across the land...
None of this would've happened if I'd just kept
[cdb]a closer eye on those who slither in the dark.
Hold on, I think you have the wrong idea. My father
[cdb]doesn't want to complain to you.
He'd actually like to thank you for bringing the fight
[cdb]with the Kingdom to an end. And for rushing to quell
[cdb]the chaos in our territories.
He also said...he's willing to offer his full cooperation
[cdb]with any of Your Majesty's policy proposals. All you
[cdb]need to do is say the word.
I appreciate that. His broad-mindedness has always
[cdb]proven a great help.
Then consider my message delivered. But please,
[cdb]don't put more of a burden on him than necessary.
Anxiety has tormented his mind for years now,
[cdb]and he's recently started finding his body less and
[cdb]less willing to cooperate with his brain.
So I've heard. Don't worry, I won't ask any more of
[cdb]him than what's absolutely essential.
Thanks, Claude. I'll do the work of a hundred others
[cdb]in my father's place.
Hey, slow down there. You already do too much as it
[cdb]is. Piling more on top of that is just gonna crush you.
And yet I need to do it all the same. I can't let myself
[cdb]fall behind the other Leicester nobles.
Most importantly, I need to put an end to this war so
I can start thinking about how to bring peace and
[cdb]stability back to House Ordelia's territory.
I get where you're coming from, but everyone needs
[cdb]a break now and then. Your body's probably
[cdb]screaming at you to get some rest.
I'm all right. While it's true my lifespan is slated
[cdb]to be short, it's not like I'm gonna just drop dead
[cdb]out of the blue.
I'm just as healthy as I've ever been, I assure you.
You look fine enough, sure. But there's something
[cdb]lingering beneath the surface weighing you down,
[cdb]isn't there? Something the rest of us can't see.
Your body's bound to give out if you keep pushing
[cdb]your limits without taking some time to recuperate.
But...
Listen, Lysithea. I want this war to end just as fast as
[cdb]you do.
And once it does, I'm going to settle the score with
[cdb]those who slither in the dark.
In other words, it's in your best interest to stick
[cdb]with me.
...
So consider this an order from your king:
Stop fighting like you don't have a tomorrow
[cdb]to live for.
I mean, I'm still going to need plenty of help once the
[cdb]war's over. I can't have you kicking the bucket before
[cdb]the real fun starts, OK?
Understood. If it's an order from His Majesty
[cdb]himself, I guess I don't have much of a choice.
Now if you'll excuse me. I know I don't look it,
[cdb]but I'm actually pretty busy here.
Does she really understand, though? At any rate,
I'd better put this war to bed as soon as possible.