"It was my own failing in battle." There's a stiffness to the words, an uncomfortable truth he wears. "But I thank you for your concern."
He recognizes his own mistake in understanding all too late, and he rescinds the gesture as he can, once more winding his wrist with bandages and disappearing his hands into the long sleeves of his robes. He gives the princess a quick bow, bending at the waist, a gesture of sincere apology; it is more of a Japanese style than an Aranean one, proceeding too quickly through his instincts to have one overridden by the other.
But his oversight provides interesting information: he's seen other Araneans react to the presence of magic often enough to recognize the difference in perceived response, and he does not think it is something she would be able to feign. It's not a realization he takes with any measure of happiness. He had heard tell of the princess' more altruistic and perhaps progressive (at least by a human's standards) ideas for Aranean society, and he had thought it easiest to believe them false, as COST currently held plans to ally with the Queen, who represented in living essence the lethal status quo.
He is quiet a moment, considering, before he comments in a subdued tone, "You keep close to things you find disdainful, then."
They were meeting at the stadium, after all.
But perhaps it was by necessity, to maintain appearances. He is aware he is not the best student of Aranean society.
"Has this always been the story for this place? That, for one to better their lot, they must compete in one arena or another? Or does it have a different origin?"
no subject
He recognizes his own mistake in understanding all too late, and he rescinds the gesture as he can, once more winding his wrist with bandages and disappearing his hands into the long sleeves of his robes. He gives the princess a quick bow, bending at the waist, a gesture of sincere apology; it is more of a Japanese style than an Aranean one, proceeding too quickly through his instincts to have one overridden by the other.
But his oversight provides interesting information: he's seen other Araneans react to the presence of magic often enough to recognize the difference in perceived response, and he does not think it is something she would be able to feign. It's not a realization he takes with any measure of happiness. He had heard tell of the princess' more altruistic and perhaps progressive (at least by a human's standards) ideas for Aranean society, and he had thought it easiest to believe them false, as COST currently held plans to ally with the Queen, who represented in living essence the lethal status quo.
He is quiet a moment, considering, before he comments in a subdued tone, "You keep close to things you find disdainful, then."
They were meeting at the stadium, after all.
But perhaps it was by necessity, to maintain appearances. He is aware he is not the best student of Aranean society.
"Has this always been the story for this place? That, for one to better their lot, they must compete in one arena or another? Or does it have a different origin?"