He sighs, turning Huaisang's hand over and dropping the soap and the cloth in it, then moves away to lean back against the side of the tub, watching him.
"What would you have me do, Huaisang? Do you think I would not love to give you as much freedom as either of us could have, that I do not want to be able to trust you? I have a duty to the council of elders, to my uncle and my brother and my people, to your brother and the Nie clan, to you. I already went against our customs for you, to try to make this easier on you, and look where we are now. Tell me, then - how am I supposed to reconcile the expectations of so many?"
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He sighs, turning Huaisang's hand over and dropping the soap and the cloth in it, then moves away to lean back against the side of the tub, watching him.
"What would you have me do, Huaisang? Do you think I would not love to give you as much freedom as either of us could have, that I do not want to be able to trust you? I have a duty to the council of elders, to my uncle and my brother and my people, to your brother and the Nie clan, to you. I already went against our customs for you, to try to make this easier on you, and look where we are now. Tell me, then - how am I supposed to reconcile the expectations of so many?"