The silence that settles upon them affords him time to focus on his task. One flower whose thorns have been cut away soon becomes two, then three, and so on. For a moment, he almost looks as though he might start to hum as he works.
And there is a hum of sorts -- a hum of curious and fascinated understanding at the young girl's explanation. To be able to master such a delicate and beautiful craft simply by observing and experimenting... Her work had already been impressive, but this only adds to the marvel. The more he watches her loosen the stems until they are pliant enough to form the shapes she intends for them, the more he can't help in thinking that the former Archduchess would have been absolutely delighted by her creations, and really would have worn one with great pride. Who knows -- perhaps she, too, would have sat down with Jill to help her in making one.
Doubtless she would have placed one atop his father's head too, and the former Dominant of Phoenix would have worn it without hesitation.
That small voice draws him out of his reverie. Brows raise at the unexpected question, and at first he hesitates, even going so far as to avert his gaze in thought. The poor girl... Was he familiar with the cursed feeling? Yes, more often than he cared to admit to anyone. Ordinarily, that is. But if Jill is suffering because of it... Then maybe, just maybe admittance of being able to strongly relate will help in letting her know that she isn't alone. A sharp breath is sucked in, and when he turns his head to look down at her once more, it's with a soft, warm smile -- one that reaches his eyes, something which seems to happen less and less as of late. He shifts to settle into a more comfortable position on the floor.
"... I do," Elwin confesses in a quiet, tentative yet sincere tone. "When I was younger, I was often nervous in social situations. Sometimes, I felt so scared that my heart and mind would both race, and I felt as if I might die at any second. Sometimes, I still do."
Honesty is met with honesty. Like trading secrets; if she is courageous enough to admit something so vulnerable, then he too will open up. Somehow, the Archduke's smile softens all the more.
"Whenever I started to feel like that, I would find every excuse or opportunity to sneak away, and most of the time retreated to the chocobo stables. Talking with the chocobos always seemed to help; they did not judge me for my fears, nor did they chastise me for showing weakness. I would spend hours in their company, and sometimes would take my favorite books with me so that I could read to them."
Saying it out loud feels silly. In fact, he knows it is silly, and there's a touch of embarrassment over it. But he laughs it off, as he often does, even if the laugh is far quieter than it usually would be.
"It's something I continue to do, after all these many summers. My girl... Hold your head up high, and be proud of your work. How a person copes with that sensation may differ from one to the next, but if it helps to ease your troubled heart, then... think of it as a dear friend, to whom you can always rely upon in your time of need." Another pause. Lips part, and his brow furrows, as if he's trying to choose his next words with even greater care. "And if you need someone to speak to... you are always welcome to seek me out. As with Clive and Joshua, I will make time for you. But if I cannot help directly, then together we can find an excuse or two to pull the boys away from their studies and training."
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