[Was it friendship? Wasn't it? Byleth wasn't sure. Claude's friendly overtures, gifts and sympathy was certainly the closest Byleth had to it outside of Jeralt's gruff affection and his intense and complicated rivalry with Shez. Yet, now that he was pondering it, with Hayame's succinct judgement on the issue, could he truly call it friendship when it was one-sided?
If he didn't truly know Claude, or understand him or even felt connected to him beyond the superficial...
Byleth wasn't sure, and he didn't know how to ask Claude without potentially offending him. The simple fact was as much as their relationship frustrated him, he didn't want to lose it either. This closest thing he had to 'friendship' here in Kenos, even at the edge of existence where their lifespans were probably measured in days at most, he didn't want to say or do the wrong thing and lose it. Byleth was fearless in battle, but in matters of the heart, he was fragile.
So, he let that topic slide by the wayside, fixating instead on the disdain that spread across Hayame's expression at the word 'noble'. Byleth understood. Nobles were a diverse breed, and many of them venomous. Even with the buffer of Jeralt who mostly handled their job acquisition, Byleth understood that many nobles were selfish and backstabbing, high on their superiority due to bloodlines and Crests. They were, in Jeralt's ever wise words: self-cannibalising weasels. It drew a strong mental image - and a strong emotional response.
But Claude wasn't just a noble, and he wasn't selfish or greedy like most of them. He moved to try and clear up the potential misunderstanding he may've caused.]
I don't think Claude harbours any empathy or kinship with Vern. I meant it more that... considering his position as the leader of Leicester - a nation in Fódlan - he's used to managing conflict within his ranks using diplomacy. Unlike kings or emperors, his rule is far more susceptible to the currents amongst the other nobility. He has to make concessions to keep otherwise odious allies on his side, rather than against him. I believe that was his intention with Vern... he's part of Meridian, and thus likely felt he cannot be harshly reprimanded in case this caused damaging conflict within the faction as a whole.
[Byleth ducked his head slightly.]
...however, this is just a theory. I am a simple mercenary, so I can't claim full knowledge on how the courts of the ruling elite function. It, of course, doesn't excuse Claude's... behaviour in certain aspects, but it may explain things.
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If he didn't truly know Claude, or understand him or even felt connected to him beyond the superficial...
Byleth wasn't sure, and he didn't know how to ask Claude without potentially offending him. The simple fact was as much as their relationship frustrated him, he didn't want to lose it either. This closest thing he had to 'friendship' here in Kenos, even at the edge of existence where their lifespans were probably measured in days at most, he didn't want to say or do the wrong thing and lose it. Byleth was fearless in battle, but in matters of the heart, he was fragile.
So, he let that topic slide by the wayside, fixating instead on the disdain that spread across Hayame's expression at the word 'noble'. Byleth understood. Nobles were a diverse breed, and many of them venomous. Even with the buffer of Jeralt who mostly handled their job acquisition, Byleth understood that many nobles were selfish and backstabbing, high on their superiority due to bloodlines and Crests. They were, in Jeralt's ever wise words: self-cannibalising weasels. It drew a strong mental image - and a strong emotional response.
But Claude wasn't just a noble, and he wasn't selfish or greedy like most of them. He moved to try and clear up the potential misunderstanding he may've caused.]
I don't think Claude harbours any empathy or kinship with Vern. I meant it more that... considering his position as the leader of Leicester - a nation in Fódlan - he's used to managing conflict within his ranks using diplomacy. Unlike kings or emperors, his rule is far more susceptible to the currents amongst the other nobility. He has to make concessions to keep otherwise odious allies on his side, rather than against him. I believe that was his intention with Vern... he's part of Meridian, and thus likely felt he cannot be harshly reprimanded in case this caused damaging conflict within the faction as a whole.
[Byleth ducked his head slightly.]
...however, this is just a theory. I am a simple mercenary, so I can't claim full knowledge on how the courts of the ruling elite function. It, of course, doesn't excuse Claude's... behaviour in certain aspects, but it may explain things.