I... don't care about that gossip or what other people say. I'm going to be king one day, aren't I?

[ Which is braver than he feels, honestly, but now that the words are spilling out of him he doesn't feel like he can stop. ]

I want you with me. Always. No matter what anyone says, no matter what someone might say behind my back. It doesn't matter to me in the least. [ He squeezes Dedue's hand in reply and he keeps going, not knowing how to stop. ]

You... you mean the world to me, Dedue. I want to be able to reach out to you. To touch you whenever I can. If that means I must endure scorn from those more ignorant, then I will do so without reservation.