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[enthraller]

 

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[swirlied]

[ Yuuri smiles back, relieved. ]

Probably. [ Then again, it's always hard to tell when it comes to Murata. ] It's still better to hear it directly from you, though.

[enthraller]

[Saralegui has to look away. The Yuuri smile is too pure. He turns back to continue walking, shrugging in an exasperated manner.]

You're still far too trusting. Ambitious men like me will take advantage of you if you aren't more careful.

[swirlied]

[ Yuuri hurries to catch up. ]

Well, nothing too bad has happened... yet.

[enthraller]

[Scoffs. Good lord, Yuuri, how have you survived this long?]

Well. No wonder you forgave me so easily, if all that wasn't "too bad".

[swirlied]

[ It's honestly a miracle.

Yuuri realizes exactly what he says, and his face colors with embarrassment. ]

You know what I mean! Everyone can be redeemed, or improve themselves... I've never met anyone who couldn't.

[enthraller]

I have. You're just too optimistic.

[What would Yuuri have done about King Lanzhil? Kept trying to talk to him and having to be rescued when it went poorly? Saralegui honestly felt bad for Yuuri's retainers. Everyone's lives would be much easier if they just sat back and let Saralegui deal with Large Shimaron. Once they all got back home, anyway.]

[swirlied]

Optimism isn't a bad thing, though.

[ But just like anything, optimism can be bad in excess. And while he knows that, Yuuri still has a hard time not believing there's a good side to everyone. ]

[enthraller]

[L o r d. Yuuri is very lucky he's so endearing. Saralegui shakes his head, his exasperation nearly tangible.]

Neither is knowing when to give it up and change methods. It's unrealistic to think you can solve every problem with optimism and talk.

[swirlied]

[ He's quiet for a few moments, before finally nodding. ]

It is... I'd just prefer to solve everything that way. But I know not everything is that easy.

[enthraller]

[That's...a surprisingly mature response coming from Yuuri, even if it is still clinging to unrealistic idealism. Saralegui gives Yuuri a thoughtful look, expression unreadable.]

You could start acting like you know that. It's exhausting watching you sometimes. I can only inage how your retainers must feel, having to deal with it all the time.

[swirlied]

[ He prickles a little at that last statement, guilt and annoyance building in his chest. ]

They're not retainers. [ But that's an argument for another day, and he lets it go for now. ]

I know it's not always as easy as I want it to be, but if I give up and start thinking that trying to solve everything peacefully won't work then it really won't work. Using force... isn't even an option for me. I'll do anything I can before resorting to it.

[enthraller]

[The first point is answered just with a loose wave, Saralegui being nowhere near in the mood to debate that right now. And the second...]

There are options besides "peaceful negotiations" and "force".

[Come on, does he look like someone who's into war and fighting? That was dad's thing, and Saralegui makes a point not to do anything like dad did.]

[swirlied]

What are those options?

[ Because he... can't really think of any. Oops. ]

[enthraller]

Cleverness and creativity. Coming up with alternate solutions depending on the situation.

[And he can already anticipate Yuuri asking "Like what?" or something, so Saralegui just powers on through, tone patient if justs a little patronizing.]

In the case of Large Shimaron, for example, King Lanzhil will never listen to you no matter how much you try, and attempting force against their military might is doomed to failure, or at least a very long and bloody struggle. But all you really need to do is get rid of Lanzhil somehow. And as he had all other possible heirs taken out of the picture to secure his own claim, Large Shimaron's throne would be left open and someone more amenable to peace could step in.

[swirlied]

[ Thankfully Saralegui gives an explanation before Yuuri can even ask. ]

Get rid of him? You don't just mean killing him, do you?

[enthraller]

[Well. He certainly wasn't against just having Lanzhil killed, if a way to do it neatly with no way to link it back to himself arose -- say, if Yuuri's attacks on Large Shimaron army and navy had happened to kill Lanzhil. Boy, that would be been convenient. But Saralegui doubts Yuuri would be happy to hear that, so he just won't mention that part.]

He doesn't have to die. He just has to lose the throne. He was well on his way to it back home, at least at the point I remember. Word got out of what he had done to the other heirs, and the stress of the situation would likely have soon deposed him if the populace uprising didn't.

[swirlied]

[ Yuuri nods in understand. Wow... Saralegui is really good at analyzing all this. ]

You have a really good sense for this kind of thing.

[enthraller]

I should hope so. I've been a king longer than you have.

[By like, two years. Which maybe isn't a really long time objectively speaking but it's probably nicer to use than excuse than to just point out that Yuuri isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.]

[swirlied]

Really? [ It definitely makes sense, though. ]

Were you raised as royalty?

[enthraller]

Mm. My father was the previous king.

[He looks a little confused over that confusion for a moment, then brightens with realization.]

Oh, right. Shin Makoku doesn't follow a primogeniture system, does it?

[swirlied]

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, the next ruler is chosen before they're born. Still... I had a pretty normal childhood.

[enthraller]

I know. You told me a little about your mother.

["While we were hiding from rebel soldiers staging a coup," he doesn't bother adding. It just complicates the story.]

[swirlied]

I did?

[ It's not really surprising, though. They must have had time for them to talk about those things. ]

Did I ever tell you about Japan, or anyone else in my family?

[enthraller]

[Saralegui glances over to Yuuri with an apologetic smile, sincerely regretful as he shrugs]

Not much, unfortunately. We didn't have much time to talk, back then. You gave me a tour of Blood Pledge Castle later, though. And you introduced me to your daughter.

[swirlied]

[ He smiles at the mention of Greta. ]

I hope you two got along, at least. [ And he pauses, thoughtful. He's a little worried about Greta, but this isn't the first time he's been gone for a while. At least she has people there to look after her. ]

I guess we'll have plenty of time to talk here, since we don't know when we'll be able to go back.