"Reiner!?"

"...Kesti? What in the Lord's name are you doing in my room?"

"I was returning the book you— But that doesn't matter! Is that blood?"

"What else could it be?"

"What happened?"

"Why is that any of your business?"

"Of course it's my business, it's my job as Champion to protect you! Unless... it's not your blood?"

"Kesti. Could you please leave the book, go back to your room, and pretend you never saw this?"

"Do you really think I'm going to just walk away? Why're you acting so strangely?"

"Don't make me make this an order, Kesti. Are you sure you want to pick this fight?"

"Do you think I'm stupid, Reiner? How come you're always coming and going at odd hours? How did you rise to power so quickly when you started from nothing? I wanted to believe the best of you, but how can I ignore what's right in front of me? And if you weren't doing anything wrong, why won't you just tell me the truth?"

"Since you're so clearly suspicious of me already, if I told you the truth, would you even believe me?"

"Have you ever told me the truth? About anything?"

"I'm going to ask you one last time, Kesti. Can you please—?"

—

"Governor Reiner! Champion Kesti! What's going on?!"

"What does it look like, Gideon? She attacked me! Are you going to just stand there?"

"I attacked—?! C-Can't you see what he did to me?"

"...Kesti, I'm so sorry, but you are under arrest. Drop your arcane instrument and— What're you—?"

—

"Reiner, can you possibly forgive me? How could I have let her get away?"

"What else were you supposed to do? Try to attack the city's strongest mage with just your fists?"

"Governor... What happened between the two of you? Why would she...?"

"..."

"Reiner?"

"Sorry, Gideon. I can't answer that right now. You'll just have to trust me."

"...Of course. Always."