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