"There is no shame in that." He hesitates, and with that hesitation comes awareness of the cadence of her breath and his, how they are beginning to align. "I understand the duty owed to family. I myself -- I was never called on to endure what you have, or anything like it, but I have made sacrifices of my own. Nevertheless, I can think of nothing crueler, nothing more against the principles, than repaying such duty with treatment so callous, so..." He trails off. Even monstrous does not convey it adequately.

"Whatever your wish may be," Lancer says, "I will fight for it until I can no longer draw breath. On everything I am, I swear this to you, your Ladyship. To you, Matou Kaede."