...Truthfully? It was because you reminded me of my retainer, and quite frankly I was feeling somewhat lost without him around. Irritating sense of humor, but vicious in a fight. He didn't even like to hold back in sparring matches, and he'd always laugh while keeping score of how many times he'd won.

[Ardyn trailed off as it began to fully occur to him that he had most likely outlived everyone he knew--his brother, his Shield, his entire army--and there was a long pause and a distant stare before he tried to focus again.]

Even then...even Vandeae always kept me at something of arm's length. No one ever dared push the exalted healer around whether in a literal sense or otherwise. But you don't care about any of that. You, Junpei, Clarith, everyone--every last one of you has simply regarded me as human when right now I am less so than I have ever been.

I think I've just grown attached to that.