hotel: estelle

[shaft]

our cheese girl

Comments

[mustbepurged]

Yes. I've had to use that training more than I would have liked...

But I always had friends fighting with me, so it wasn't as dangerous as it would have been otherwise.

[shaft]

You're on some kind of adventure in your world, I take it?

[mustbepurged]

Yes... or, I was. I've since returned to the empire.

[shaft]

[ claude, immediately: all empires are evil... ]

Ah, to take to the throne?

[mustbepurged]

No, no! [It's almost a panicked response.]

My cousin's the one who's going to be crowned emperor.

[shaft]

[ ? ]

You seem relieved about that.

[mustbepurged]

... [A nod.]

The previous emperor died last year without naming an heir. Prince Ioder and I were the only candidates for succession, and factions started forming around us. It didn't matter what we wanted, and it was getting ugly...

I'm just glad it's over.

[shaft]

Ah, can't say I'm unfamiliar succession wars.

Do you think he'll be a good leader?

[mustbepurged]

Yes, I'm sure of it. I've always respected him, and so do a lot of people. We've already agreed to work together on some matters. Ideologically, we were never that different to begin with.

... Were you involved in a succession war, too?

[shaft]

That's good to hear.

[ he smiles, genuine. ]

As for me... Unfortunately, yes, on several levels. My country was at war with two others for control of the continent. Even within the country, nobles are always battling for clout.

It's pretty exhausting.

[mustbepurged]

A three-way war sounds more than exhausting... It must have been terrible. Did you have to fight?

[shaft]

I did, yeah. As did all my friends.

It was pretty terrible, yeah. It was difficult to leave in the middle of it.

[mustbepurged]

I'm sorry.

By leave, do you mean now? Is it still ongoing...?

[shaft]

It's a little complicated, but yeah. It's still ongoing.

I imagine it'll come to an end soon though.

[mustbepurged]

That's a good thing, right?

[shaft]

It sure is. I'm certainly tired of fighting after five years.

[mustbepurged]

[There's a sympathetic wince. Five years...]

I would be, too. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for everyone...

[shaft]

It certainly took a toll on the land. Battles aside, situations like that mean that crime flourishes and further antagonizes the people. The nobles are too busy focusing on the war to properly govern their lands.

[ he sighs, shaking his head ]

I'm sure we've both seen enough of it.