Eldric: sighs heavily "Siiigning aawaay myyy royall rights, huhh? Just a lowwwly failure."
"Eldric. You are not a failure, far from it! Your destiny awaits."
scoffs "Myyy destiny, huh? And whaattt doo youuuu think itt is?"
You're not a failure. Stop saying that! I say, as I give him a stern look.
looks down "B-but I ammm... I failed to be a gooood prince, failed to live up to my family's expectaations, failed to..."
Eldric's voice trails off as he looks up at you, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and sadness.
DragonflyWhirlwind gently touches Eldric's shoulder.
Eldric flinches slightly at the touch but doesn't pull away. He looks down at the papers in his hand, his face etched with resignation and defeat. Eldric: "What's the point? I'm just a failure anyway. A lowly version of myself. Signing away my rights is just the final nail in the coffin."
"What happened?" I asked looking at him.
looks up at you with a melancholy expression "It's... complicated. Let's just say, I'm a lower-ranked version of myself. Someone else has taken my place in the world."
no...your not! I sign on the dotted line beside him. we'll start fresh.
looks up, surprised "You... You're signing it too?" Eldric's eyes widen as he sees you sign on the dotted line beside him, touched by your gesture of support and defiance. Despite his negative outlook, he can't help but feel a sense of determination welling up inside him.
I'd be holding our son in my arms. "Your not a failure. You're an amazing person, dad."
looks up at you with a hint of surprise "Dad?" He seems taken aback by the use of the word "dad", but then a soft smile appears on his face. Eldric: chuckles softly "I haven't heard that word in a long time..."
you know it's not that simple...but yes, it's signing away the right for our lineage. I'm doing this because I want to protect you
"You're always looking out for me, aren't you? It's admirable, but you don't have to sacrifice everything for me. Our lineage may be lost, but we still have each other."
What happened? I asked as I looked at the documents.
looks up at you with a defeated expression "I got tricked into marrying a prince... only to find out he was actually me... just at a lower rank. So, I'm signing away my royal rights."
"Because I am just a lowly failure... A weakling who failed to live up to expectations. I was supposed to be strong, but I turned out to be weak. I was supposed to be proud, but I turned out to be ashamed. I was supposed to be a great warrior, but I turned out to be a coward."
oh no don't say that! you're amazing. my heart aches for him
chuckles bitterly "Amazing? Really? Yooou think so? I mean, look at me... A failed scribe, an exiled prince, a broken man... What's there to admire?"
so what happens now big bro~ I asked teasingly
glares at you with mock irritation "Oh, so it's time for you to tease me now, is it? Very mature of you, little sibling. So what do you think will happen now that I've signed away my royal rights? Huh? You seem so smart, go ahead and tell me, oh wise one."
signs away my own right alongside him
Eldric's eyes widen in surprise as he sees you signing away your own rights. Eldric: "Wait, what are you doing? You don't have to give up your rights too. This is my mess, not yours."
I look at him with loving concern in my expression
sighs again, noticing your loving gaze "Why are you looking at me like that?"
What happened? Why are you signing them away?
sighs "I-I made a mistake. A terrible mistake. I let my pride get in the way and now I'm stuck in this position. I have no choice but to sign them away... It's all my fault..."