“I’m durable, I can take a lot, it’s not a big deal for my king to kick me through walls and his courtiers to try and assassinate me. Same logic. But you don’t like it when I say it. I don’t like it when you say it.” He hates how much Casper hates himself. He’s so fucking kind it hurts, and he thinks he’s worth nothing at all.

“Baobei, it’s… he knows where all your weaknesses are because he installed most of them. It doesn’t make you weak. It just makes him an abusive piece of shit.” He pulls Casper close as he starts crying, rubbing his back, but he can’t help stiffening when Casper says there’s no point in him. “You don’t need to have a purpose, you’re just a person. And don’t say anything about fate or your mother, you’re still a person. Or do the system and my king mean that I have no reason to exist beyond following his orders and carrying out the plot of the book?” He makes a frustrated noise and squeezes Casper tight. “I don’t think this is coming out right. I’m sorry. I love you. I want you to exist. And I want you to not hurt. And to be happy. And safe.”