His disapproving glare softens and tone turns reflective. "I know Howl's concern to be genuine."
Despite his complaints, those very mannerisms are what goaded Emet-Selch to push himself just a little more as he stood at the injured wizard's bedside to heal his wounds. It prompted him to slow his pace as he walked, to smile faintly as they ate, and to try and make sure he would have the abilities to keep him safe instead of letting him be. How he wished he didn't as his mind whispered that this one would betray him. Give into the weak, frail, shortsightedness that they always have.
"I have not lied to him nor did I intend to omit that information. If my intention was to do so, I would not have shared what I had in front of the whole of the Kenoma." An instance that, initially, he wasn't aware that Howl was absent for. Not until the end.
There is the faintest look of wistfulness. What Howl saw was much more... personal than what he had shared with the Kenoma - A facet of that Imperial experience he would rather no one see.
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Despite his complaints, those very mannerisms are what goaded Emet-Selch to push himself just a little more as he stood at the injured wizard's bedside to heal his wounds. It prompted him to slow his pace as he walked, to smile faintly as they ate, and to try and make sure he would have the abilities to keep him safe instead of letting him be. How he wished he didn't as his mind whispered that this one would betray him. Give into the weak, frail, shortsightedness that they always have.
"I have not lied to him nor did I intend to omit that information. If my intention was to do so, I would not have shared what I had in front of the whole of the Kenoma." An instance that, initially, he wasn't aware that Howl was absent for. Not until the end.
There is the faintest look of wistfulness. What Howl saw was much more... personal than what he had shared with the Kenoma - A facet of that Imperial experience he would rather no one see.