Linhardt didn't hold the confusion against Karson: The situation in Adrestia is almost absurdly complex. It belonged in a storybook or an opera, not in real life. There were at least 5 factions operating independently and most likely subfactions within each.
"I don't know." Linhardt answered honestly, taking no offense to the question. He has never been shy about offering his opinion - he and Edelgard were somewhat known for their stubborn disagreements - and here Linhardt was not subject to the consequences he would be at home so there was even less reason to be withholding, "My father might be right that he's the best person to be doing these things and that the concessions he wants from Edelgard will temper her excesses and keep her from changing things too quickly. Edelgard strikes me as the sort of person to find help wherever she can, and the other options would be far worse for the country." It was a frank statement: Linhardt admired Edelgard and might under duress or a great amount of substance admit to seeing her as a friend and being concerned for her, but he was able to hold his opinion of her as a ruler outside of his personal regard. The war had given Linhardt a gift for compartmentalizing.
"He is also a good ruler of our territory, which many of his peers are not." Nobody in Linhardt's territory feared their lords, their people were well off and educated due to the territories' specialty in skilled trades, and their territory was defensible, "But even if it is wise for my father to have more power in Adrestia, it is absolutely unwise for me to inherit it."
Linhardt didn't fear that his father would abuse the power. He feared that the results of his father's actions would overwhelm him and chain him to Adrestia for the rest of his life. He also somewhat worried how Edelgard and Hubert would respond: so far they worked together irritatingly well, but they were all deeply pragmatic and equally committed to getting what they wanted, "I hate this discussion topic. I can't do anything about political idiocy."
"Of course. We can't only sleep in our beds. Have you never slept smelling fresh roses? Or in the afternoon sun atop a beach stone? What other basic joys in life have you missed?"
"Have you ever had sorbet?" Perhaps Kelson was so interested in politics because he has been completely deprived.
Linhardt raised an eyebrow, "Yes. To both questions. If you wake me up for a hangover, the only thing I promise to do is make you feel worse." A doctor didn't mean Kelson's doctor.
"Cuts are basic. Hangovers are more complex. Both are rather routine and dull."
no subject
"I don't know." Linhardt answered honestly, taking no offense to the question. He has never been shy about offering his opinion - he and Edelgard were somewhat known for their stubborn disagreements - and here Linhardt was not subject to the consequences he would be at home so there was even less reason to be withholding, "My father might be right that he's the best person to be doing these things and that the concessions he wants from Edelgard will temper her excesses and keep her from changing things too quickly. Edelgard strikes me as the sort of person to find help wherever she can, and the other options would be far worse for the country." It was a frank statement: Linhardt admired Edelgard and might under duress or a great amount of substance admit to seeing her as a friend and being concerned for her, but he was able to hold his opinion of her as a ruler outside of his personal regard. The war had given Linhardt a gift for compartmentalizing.
"He is also a good ruler of our territory, which many of his peers are not." Nobody in Linhardt's territory feared their lords, their people were well off and educated due to the territories' specialty in skilled trades, and their territory was defensible, "But even if it is wise for my father to have more power in Adrestia, it is absolutely unwise for me to inherit it."
Linhardt didn't fear that his father would abuse the power. He feared that the results of his father's actions would overwhelm him and chain him to Adrestia for the rest of his life. He also somewhat worried how Edelgard and Hubert would respond: so far they worked together irritatingly well, but they were all deeply pragmatic and equally committed to getting what they wanted, "I hate this discussion topic. I can't do anything about political idiocy."
"Of course. We can't only sleep in our beds. Have you never slept smelling fresh roses? Or in the afternoon sun atop a beach stone? What other basic joys in life have you missed?"
"Have you ever had sorbet?" Perhaps Kelson was so interested in politics because he has been completely deprived.
Linhardt raised an eyebrow, "Yes. To both questions. If you wake me up for a hangover, the only thing I promise to do is make you feel worse." A doctor didn't mean Kelson's doctor.
"Cuts are basic. Hangovers are more complex. Both are rather routine and dull."