[ Truthfully, he is glad for the times when he can see her as she is, apart from all the titles and the responsibilities. And at the same time, he remains all too aware of how difficult it is to separate him from his own. He maintains that who he is as Lord Commander and who he is as Aymeric have become so closely intertwined that there is no separating them, not anymore.
But if anyone could manage to separate the man from the titles and the responsibilities, he believes it would be her. He just hopes that she does not grow tired of her efforts to help bring Aymeric back to the surface or come to resent him for who he is. She told him that he did not have to be anyone but himself when he is with her, but some habits are just that difficult to break.
Still, when he is with her, he feels as though he can be himself, even though it is still difficult to shake off the mantle that he carries. He tries to make an effort to do so, however, in order that she might not feel that her own efforts are in vain. ]
Even so, you would have not been wrong if you thought of me as a cold and detached man based on my conduct and my words alone. [ His head tips downwards just slightly as he thinks back to that first meeting. He rarely speaks so openly about himself and his inner thoughts, but he feels as though he must be open with her lest she come to resent him for failing in that regard as well. ​]
Handsome and noble? [ A warm smile spreads across his face, even as he lightly shakes his head. ] You are, as always, far too kind and complimentary. But you are not wrong in saying that I did not know how to reach out, no matter how much I desired to.
[ He remains uncertain as to whether it is rejection he fears or what might happen if he opens himself up to others. Still, he does not regret opening himself and his heart to her, so that might be all the encouragement he needs. ]
I certainly did not intend to distract you from the proceedings.
[ Here, he pauses, wondering how forthcoming he should be. He has already resolved not to withhold his thoughts from her, and so he attempts to further voice what is on his mind. ]
Truthfully, I found it rather difficult to remain focused on Master Alphinaud's requests, as my gaze kept straying over to where you stood.
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But if anyone could manage to separate the man from the titles and the responsibilities, he believes it would be her. He just hopes that she does not grow tired of her efforts to help bring Aymeric back to the surface or come to resent him for who he is. She told him that he did not have to be anyone but himself when he is with her, but some habits are just that difficult to break.
Still, when he is with her, he feels as though he can be himself, even though it is still difficult to shake off the mantle that he carries. He tries to make an effort to do so, however, in order that she might not feel that her own efforts are in vain. ]
Even so, you would have not been wrong if you thought of me as a cold and detached man based on my conduct and my words alone. [ His head tips downwards just slightly as he thinks back to that first meeting. He rarely speaks so openly about himself and his inner thoughts, but he feels as though he must be open with her lest she come to resent him for failing in that regard as well. ​]
Handsome and noble? [ A warm smile spreads across his face, even as he lightly shakes his head. ] You are, as always, far too kind and complimentary. But you are not wrong in saying that I did not know how to reach out, no matter how much I desired to.
[ He remains uncertain as to whether it is rejection he fears or what might happen if he opens himself up to others. Still, he does not regret opening himself and his heart to her, so that might be all the encouragement he needs. ]
I certainly did not intend to distract you from the proceedings.
[ Here, he pauses, wondering how forthcoming he should be. He has already resolved not to withhold his thoughts from her, and so he attempts to further voice what is on his mind. ]
Truthfully, I found it rather difficult to remain focused on Master Alphinaud's requests, as my gaze kept straying over to where you stood.