[The topic frustrates him. Maybe he would handle this better if he wasn't barely awake after a violent rescue from the kingdom capitol, if he was not feverish. That, and Balthus has had a habit of encouraging Dedue to be less restrained in the past.
His hand curls, squeezing Balthus' hand, as if that somehow helps his emotions.]
Stop.
[For how usually calm he typically is, he feels the abrupt urge to be angry. Lash out. Hide. Grieve. There's too much and he feels more tired but hatefully awake.]
When he takes his place again as the Kingdom's prince, I cannot risk the well-being of my people. We are hated, especially by Faerghus. It is not my heart I am protecting, it is their lives. His Highness must remain unburdened from such things when there is enough at stake. Too much I have considered this, and there is nothing good that can happen from it.
Rejection is not my worry. It is the absurd politics these people carry. It is because of the war. And I cannot afford to risk what little remains of my country.
no subject
His hand curls, squeezing Balthus' hand, as if that somehow helps his emotions.]
Stop.
[For how usually calm he typically is, he feels the abrupt urge to be angry. Lash out. Hide. Grieve. There's too much and he feels more tired but hatefully awake.]
When he takes his place again as the Kingdom's prince, I cannot risk the well-being of my people. We are hated, especially by Faerghus. It is not my heart I am protecting, it is their lives. His Highness must remain unburdened from such things when there is enough at stake. Too much I have considered this, and there is nothing good that can happen from it.
Rejection is not my worry. It is the absurd politics these people carry. It is because of the war. And I cannot afford to risk what little remains of my country.
And I do not appreciate your hypocrisy.