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