[Just as he thought. This is the only way forward, then. She's certainly right that no one would listen to her, and even if Dimitri were to take the throne and Claude were to lead the Alliance, all three of them couldn't hope to change the minds of all the noble families. The Alliance would refuse to allow anything to get done, and even if Dimitri and Edelgard have more power, there's simply no way they could change everything all by themselves.
War is the only way. A forced upheaval of the old system, and the careful guiding hand to usher it in, even if that means a complete conquest of F贸dlan.
He doesn't like it, but he can understand it now that it's been laid out for him. Is it cruel to allow F贸dlan to stay on its current course? To allow more and more families to suffer because they don't bear the crests "necessary" for nobility? To allow more and more forced marriages for blood rather than for love? To allow nobles to trample the commoners again and again and again, just because they've inherited something that is a symbol of status more than a weapon it once was?
It is cruel, and even though he loathes the idea of such extreme measures, it truly does seem to be the only way to fix things.
But that leaves his part in it. Can he really turn his back on the Alliance? After all he was taught and trained for, after everything his father worked so hard for? Can he truly say that this is what he wants to do? To give up his own birthright and family name, for the sake of a brighter future?
Well, that's actually the easy part. As terrifying as it sounds to change the fundamentals he's known since he was a child, if it's for the benefit of F贸dlan, the benefit of everyone, then he would be exceptionally selfish to say no.
But not many people will agree. His father won't, the Alliance won't, Claude won't. He can't imagine any of his classmates would understand Edelgard's ideals and why this is necessary. Is he really going to take her hand and hope that she can guide all of F贸dlan to a brighter future?
If he doesn't, she's not going to stop. If he doesn't, she'll fight all on her own. He's learned that much about Edelgard, and before he's even fully decided, his grip tightens on her hand.]
You always sound so certain. I wish I could believe that your words alone could change F贸dlan.
[They won't. No matter how much she inspires and motivates him, her words won't reach the ears of those who refuse to listen.]
"Noble blood alone cannot help one on the field of battle."
[His free hand moves to slide his sleeve down, so she can clearly see the words on his wrist.]
I will not offer you my blood or my crest. But I will offer you everything I have left. I want to fight for this brighter future. I will stand at your side, regardless of what must be done. If this world has stagnated, then I trust you will do all you can to fix it.
[His hands are shaking a bit, so he tightens his grip on Edelgard's. Despite that, there's a fire in his eyes and determination in his expression that normally isn't present.]
I cannot make up for the mistakes of my fellow nobles, but I can work to stop such cruelties from ever happening again. Please, allow me to assist you in any way I can, Edelgard.
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War is the only way. A forced upheaval of the old system, and the careful guiding hand to usher it in, even if that means a complete conquest of F贸dlan.
He doesn't like it, but he can understand it now that it's been laid out for him. Is it cruel to allow F贸dlan to stay on its current course? To allow more and more families to suffer because they don't bear the crests "necessary" for nobility? To allow more and more forced marriages for blood rather than for love? To allow nobles to trample the commoners again and again and again, just because they've inherited something that is a symbol of status more than a weapon it once was?
It is cruel, and even though he loathes the idea of such extreme measures, it truly does seem to be the only way to fix things.
But that leaves his part in it. Can he really turn his back on the Alliance? After all he was taught and trained for, after everything his father worked so hard for? Can he truly say that this is what he wants to do? To give up his own birthright and family name, for the sake of a brighter future?
Well, that's actually the easy part. As terrifying as it sounds to change the fundamentals he's known since he was a child, if it's for the benefit of F贸dlan, the benefit of everyone, then he would be exceptionally selfish to say no.
But not many people will agree. His father won't, the Alliance won't, Claude won't. He can't imagine any of his classmates would understand Edelgard's ideals and why this is necessary. Is he really going to take her hand and hope that she can guide all of F贸dlan to a brighter future?
If he doesn't, she's not going to stop. If he doesn't, she'll fight all on her own. He's learned that much about Edelgard, and before he's even fully decided, his grip tightens on her hand.]
You always sound so certain. I wish I could believe that your words alone could change F贸dlan.
[They won't. No matter how much she inspires and motivates him, her words won't reach the ears of those who refuse to listen.]
"Noble blood alone cannot help one on the field of battle."
[His free hand moves to slide his sleeve down, so she can clearly see the words on his wrist.]
I will not offer you my blood or my crest. But I will offer you everything I have left. I want to fight for this brighter future. I will stand at your side, regardless of what must be done. If this world has stagnated, then I trust you will do all you can to fix it.
[His hands are shaking a bit, so he tightens his grip on Edelgard's. Despite that, there's a fire in his eyes and determination in his expression that normally isn't present.]
I cannot make up for the mistakes of my fellow nobles, but I can work to stop such cruelties from ever happening again. Please, allow me to assist you in any way I can, Edelgard.