[The Behemoth in the room is a creature that looms just over his shoulder. He can feel it there, breathing hot on his neck, threatening to instill hesitation in him like it always did, time and time again. X’rhun must know it is there, too. He is too keen of a man to not realize what they are slowly, carefully circling around.]

My anger fills a very wide space in me. It will always cast a shadow across my character and I do not think that is something that will ever change.

[Acknowledging it does no good. He had acknowledged it years and years in the past, that day he had accepted his fate as something twisted and accursed. Ardyn has changed too much to revert to the man he once was, filled with a kindness that killed him.]

But I think that I am willing to set it aside, to break it apart piece by piece so that it does not loom so poignantly in my heart. I— [A half scoff, half tsk with his tongue.] Do not laugh at me when I tell you what I am about to say.

[Sentiment, indeed. Still like nettles in his skin, but very necessary in this case.]