[ You don't know that, he wants to object. Maybe if he'd cut this off sooner, the wound would have healed faster. Ignis wouldn't still be holding onto pieces of Noctis' heart like a dragon hoarding gold, and Noctis would have been able to do his duty with it hurting him less. It's an unlikely thing, but Ignis is all out of ideas as to how to handle the future when he's fumbled with his attempts to handle the past. ]

I know. I would have understood if you did. [ He pauses, not quite sure where the line is between them, but between the wine, the late hour and the paperwork that she's coming to him with, he assumes that line is far. ] I was... not prepared, necessarily, to dislike you, but concerned that it wouldn't be an easy adjustment. That it was a farce, that it was another attempt to hurt Noctis. Instead, you've done wonders with what we've tried to accomplish, and none of this has been fair to you.

[ He makes no attempt to deny it, though he wonders these days just how much of Noctis' heart he holds. It can't be the same amount as before, not if Noctis is taking such great pains to avoid him. ]

If I could make it easier on all of us and relinquish it I - [ He starts. Stops. Looks embarrassed at himself, hiding it behind the wine glass. Softer, now, the apology written in his tone, in the slope of his shoulders. ] I don't think I could. I've loved him since I understood what love was. I've been with him since we were young. I've been his before I even fully understood what that could mean. We've loved each other fiercely, but love Lucis, the rest of the world, more. We've given up so much to get here, I don't know how to relinquish this, or if I would if I knew how.