[ She shrinks from his hand, but not in a way that suggests she's upset with him. Inexperienced though he may be, no matter how confident he may seem, he recognizes self-doubt when he sees it.
As she puts it, she as a reputation. Not an overly negative one, as her skill as a healer has always been valued, whether by the Church of Seiros or the Empire's forces. Edelgard herself has even recognized Manuela as someone who is wise and insightful beyond her station. But even Ferdinand has heard the tales of drunken stumbling after a bad date, disheveled rooms, and loneliness.
He allows her to step back, and not wanting to pressure her, he sits on the edge of his bed, patient despite how his heart aches. ]
I have done you a disservice, Manuela. When I spoke to you of my feelings all those years ago, it was not my intention to make you think that I saw you as some idealized version of yourself that only existed on the stage.
[ He casts his gaze downward to the rather drab carpeting on the floor, leaning forward and folding his hands together on his lap. ]
It is not love to overlook someone's shortcomings, but infatuation. And while you could reasonably say that as a boy, I was infatuated with you, I have not been a boy for quite some time. Love is accepting them, and when they want to address those flaws, supporting them through better or worse. There is nothing about you that makes you unworthy of being seen as special, Manuela. And if there is, then there certainly is no hope for someone like me, who was born with every advantage but still cannot overcome my own feelings of inadequacy.
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As she puts it, she as a reputation. Not an overly negative one, as her skill as a healer has always been valued, whether by the Church of Seiros or the Empire's forces. Edelgard herself has even recognized Manuela as someone who is wise and insightful beyond her station. But even Ferdinand has heard the tales of drunken stumbling after a bad date, disheveled rooms, and loneliness.
He allows her to step back, and not wanting to pressure her, he sits on the edge of his bed, patient despite how his heart aches. ]
I have done you a disservice, Manuela. When I spoke to you of my feelings all those years ago, it was not my intention to make you think that I saw you as some idealized version of yourself that only existed on the stage.
[ He casts his gaze downward to the rather drab carpeting on the floor, leaning forward and folding his hands together on his lap. ]
It is not love to overlook someone's shortcomings, but infatuation. And while you could reasonably say that as a boy, I was infatuated with you, I have not been a boy for quite some time. Love is accepting them, and when they want to address those flaws, supporting them through better or worse. There is nothing about you that makes you unworthy of being seen as special, Manuela. And if there is, then there certainly is no hope for someone like me, who was born with every advantage but still cannot overcome my own feelings of inadequacy.