[ it actually crushes him to see him falter at his words, because he remembers the first time it happened for him, too. that strange silence between "i ..." and the next bit of words after that; it's something he recognizes, and something he realizes as having pushed him a bit farther than he'd like. it strains against the limits of their friendship, and dimitri feels terrible that he had overreached in his capacity as prince to demand an answer.

in any case that is answer enough, isn't it? dimitri pulls his knees towards him, hugging his legs close as he considers sylvain, the complicated way things ended before they got here, in a place of nothingness where nothing matters. and all of a sudden, by virtue of nothing mattering, everything is suddenly important, even the awkward silences.

so all he says is, ] Alright. That is fair.

... when you're ready, tell me how I can share your burden, and as your prince - in our world, in this world, if you so insist on it - I will do my best to bear it with you.