... [...It infuriated him on Xander's behalf, and there was something of a hard tone in Ardyn's voice that was no more for the prince than the sharp frown hidden behind a cup of tea was.]
I hope you will take no offense should I speak candidly. [He thought, for not the first time, of his brother in Xander's place. Always too serious, always struggling to be a prince before he was a son of Lucis like any other.That was too much to ask of any child, royal or otherwise.]
But I believe that to be wrong. Every life of a subject lost--criminal, innocent, man, woman, child--is one that something should be felt for. If a king can not be seen to sympathize with his people, how can they ever trust in him to hold their best interests close to heart?
no subject
I hope you will take no offense should I speak candidly. [He thought, for not the first time, of his brother in Xander's place. Always too serious, always struggling to be a prince before he was a son of Lucis like any other.That was too much to ask of any child, royal or otherwise.]
But I believe that to be wrong. Every life of a subject lost--criminal, innocent, man, woman, child--is one that something should be felt for. If a king can not be seen to sympathize with his people, how can they ever trust in him to hold their best interests close to heart?