[ Saber stops a step after Berkut does, turning by half to look at him with a steady, patient gaze. Though he doesn't reproach her, his pause is a plain sign of disagreement on its own. So be it. She's not so self-centered as to think that all people should think as she does. She'll be content to let Berkut stand by his opinions as long as he's content to let her stand by hers.
When he resumes walking, so does she as if they hadn't stopped. ]
I see. A messy business.
[ The Zofian people -- or at least the portion of them that has seen fit to rebel -- must have been highly dissatisfied with the governance of the Knight Chancellor. It wouldn't surprise Saber if the late Chancellor's initial appointment was a design of his own making. It would be a poor look on any negotiator to emerge with greater personal elevation than the people he was negotiating for. ]
I confess some sympathy for the Zofian people. Their circumstances echo that of my own country some years past.
My uncle Vortigern, who sat the throne before me, made his bed too deeply with the foreigners who invaded our land without end. Yes, it strengthened his position against the lesser kings of the land who contested him, but the people as a whole saw it as a betrayal of Britain itself. When I overthrew Vortigern, no Briton mourned him. The people preferred to follow a young, motivated king over one who fraternized with outsiders to advance his own position.
[ She describes this all very analytically, neither prideful or boastful about her own role in the story. It was merely a necessary act. She looks askance at Berkut. ]
Of course, it is your natural right to defend your land. However, I can see how the perceived illegitimacy of the former Chancellor may fueled the self-righteousness of the Zofian people.
[ Even a young, motivated king of common stock? The people of Rigel would never allow a mere peasant to sit the throne. The Zofians, however, are different: Driven by desperation, even its most acclaimed knight foolishly handed the reins over to Alm. It seems anything is possible down there.
These thoughts fade to the background when he considers Saber's story. Berkut would sooner present himself to the executioner than entertain a traitorous thought against his uncle, but this is because His Majesty is a mighty ruler without equal; he knows there exists incompetent kings who besmirch the good name of the nobility with their weakness. Saber's uncle sounds to be have been one such king, relying too heavily on others to exercise strength that didn't belong to him—certainly not the kind of king a country of proud knights deserved. ]
A country needs a strong ruler. The Lima Dynasty ended with a king who neglected his people and mocked his neighbors, seeking hedonism above all else. Zofia was already on the brink of collapse by the time the Chancellor came into power.
[ He, too, states all of this as an observation as he meets her eyes with a stony countenance. If the Zofians were truly seeking what was righteous, they would have stopped at the border. They didn't. ]
He was a poor candidate. But he was a convenient excuse for the Deliverance to invade, and nothing more.
[ Saber inclines her head slightly, sympathy just short of full agreement. Far be it from her to make a judgment based on scant information. Even she could not fault the Picts and Saxons for invading Britain, however feverishly she fought against them; the Zofians could well deserve similar consideration, especially in the aftermath of multiple disastrous reigns. What reason could they have to invade an empire so urgently...? ]
In any case, I wish you a swift resolution. You must be quite eager to return to your homeland, considering the circumstances that await you.
I have my duties. War or no, I cannot abandon them.
[ Just as Saber must have her own duties to which to attend. He doesn't voice this, lest he make himself presumptuous. He knows that he's already voiced rather strong opinions for a mere heir in the presence of a monarch. ]
It is my hope to return before long. To that end, I shall do what I must here.
[ To a point. If it means forgoing his principles, he will turn away from Chroma. ]
As a king, you must understand when I say that those born to rule are fated to stand above the rest. It is our duty to guide those below us. A ruler may have his knights, but he alone sits the throne.
[ He describes her own stance as a ruler down to the letter. So why does she still feel a difference between herself and Berkut? The crisp clip-clopping of Buceph's hooves fill the air as she she takes a moment to ponder the matter. ]
That is certainly true. A king by necessity stands alone above his people. However, we are not inherently better for it. We may bear the qualities of leaders, but we should not forget the worth and goodness of the common man. Otherwise, we begin to serve ourselves rather than our people. Such was the folly of the last king of Lima.
Though our places may differ, nobles and commoners alike have their duty. The worth and goodness of man are determined by his ability to abide by the convention of his station. I believe this holds true for all the people.
[ Nobles are not inherently better, no. But they do possess a higher purpose, and it falls on them to strive to be worthy of that privilege. They are only owed what they have earned, nothing more. ]
[ Again, Saber can't disagree, though her take is likely a little more lax than his. As a king, she was harder on herself so that her people could live with more freedom -- but even so, people ought to excel at their chosen roles as well as they are able. ]
As a prince, it is indeed your duty to return to your people as soon as you are able. You say you will do what you must. But you draw the line at forming bonds with those beneath your station? We are not in Rigel, where doing so may affect public opinion. At this juncture, are you not serving your pride rather than your people by isolating yourself?
[ Perhaps he is; however, the way he sees it, serving his pride is his way of serving his country and, by extension, the people. ]
We are not in Rigel, but my duty as its representative and example still stands, even away from the eyes of its citizens. A noble must be steadfast. I refuse to sacrifice integrity for convenience.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
When he resumes walking, so does she as if they hadn't stopped. ]
I see. A messy business.
[ The Zofian people -- or at least the portion of them that has seen fit to rebel -- must have been highly dissatisfied with the governance of the Knight Chancellor. It wouldn't surprise Saber if the late Chancellor's initial appointment was a design of his own making. It would be a poor look on any negotiator to emerge with greater personal elevation than the people he was negotiating for. ]
I confess some sympathy for the Zofian people. Their circumstances echo that of my own country some years past.
My uncle Vortigern, who sat the throne before me, made his bed too deeply with the foreigners who invaded our land without end. Yes, it strengthened his position against the lesser kings of the land who contested him, but the people as a whole saw it as a betrayal of Britain itself. When I overthrew Vortigern, no Briton mourned him. The people preferred to follow a young, motivated king over one who fraternized with outsiders to advance his own position.
[ She describes this all very analytically, neither prideful or boastful about her own role in the story. It was merely a necessary act. She looks askance at Berkut. ]
Of course, it is your natural right to defend your land. However, I can see how the perceived illegitimacy of the former Chancellor may fueled the self-righteousness of the Zofian people.
no subject
These thoughts fade to the background when he considers Saber's story. Berkut would sooner present himself to the executioner than entertain a traitorous thought against his uncle, but this is because His Majesty is a mighty ruler without equal; he knows there exists incompetent kings who besmirch the good name of the nobility with their weakness. Saber's uncle sounds to be have been one such king, relying too heavily on others to exercise strength that didn't belong to him—certainly not the kind of king a country of proud knights deserved. ]
A country needs a strong ruler. The Lima Dynasty ended with a king who neglected his people and mocked his neighbors, seeking hedonism above all else. Zofia was already on the brink of collapse by the time the Chancellor came into power.
[ He, too, states all of this as an observation as he meets her eyes with a stony countenance. If the Zofians were truly seeking what was righteous, they would have stopped at the border. They didn't. ]
He was a poor candidate. But he was a convenient excuse for the Deliverance to invade, and nothing more.
no subject
In any case, I wish you a swift resolution. You must be quite eager to return to your homeland, considering the circumstances that await you.
no subject
[ Just as Saber must have her own duties to which to attend. He doesn't voice this, lest he make himself presumptuous. He knows that he's already voiced rather strong opinions for a mere heir in the presence of a monarch. ]
It is my hope to return before long. To that end, I shall do what I must here.
[ To a point. If it means forgoing his principles, he will turn away from Chroma. ]
no subject
What you must... I understand that includes forging bonds with the people here. Has that come easy to you, Prince Berkut?
no subject
Bonds of interest are easily acquired. But I have no interest in forging bonds of another kind.
no subject
"Another kind"? You will have to elaborate.
no subject
[ tl;dr he doesn't believe in friendship. ]
no subject
That is certainly true. A king by necessity stands alone above his people. However, we are not inherently better for it. We may bear the qualities of leaders, but we should not forget the worth and goodness of the common man. Otherwise, we begin to serve ourselves rather than our people. Such was the folly of the last king of Lima.
no subject
[ Nobles are not inherently better, no. But they do possess a higher purpose, and it falls on them to strive to be worthy of that privilege. They are only owed what they have earned, nothing more. ]
no subject
As a prince, it is indeed your duty to return to your people as soon as you are able. You say you will do what you must. But you draw the line at forming bonds with those beneath your station? We are not in Rigel, where doing so may affect public opinion. At this juncture, are you not serving your pride rather than your people by isolating yourself?
no subject
We are not in Rigel, but my duty as its representative and example still stands, even away from the eyes of its citizens. A noble must be steadfast. I refuse to sacrifice integrity for convenience.