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Ingrid, Mercedes enter the scene
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Ingrid
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Apologies for my late arrival, Mercedes. My duties ran long, as per usual.
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Mercedes
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There's no need to apologize at all! Please, have a seat.
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Ingrid, Mercedes enter the scene
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Mercedes
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We've met for tea so many times, but you never seem to get used to it, do you, Ingrid?
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Ingrid
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Not entirely, no. I'm not accustomed to being treated so...delicately.
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Ingrid
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Anyway, what will we talk about today?
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Mercedes
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I actually wanted to gripe about something that's been bothering me.
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Ingrid
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You? Gripe? Now that's unusual! I'm happy to listen, of course.
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Ingrid
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It's the least I can do after all the kindness you've shown me.
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Mercedes
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Thank you. The one thing I really wanted to talk about is marriage...
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Ingrid
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Oh?
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Mercedes
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Yes. I received a letter from my adoptive father about marriage discussions with a noble family.
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Ingrid
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And will you accept?
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Mercedes
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That's the problem. No matter what I decide, I'll probably be married off anyway.
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Mercedes
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What I really want to do is help those in need.
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Mercedes
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But I think it would be more difficult to do so if I married a nobleman.
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Ingrid
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Understandably so. Sounds to me like you need a strategy to silence your father.
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Mercedes
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Sorry? To...silence him?
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Ingrid
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Don't you agree? It seems the best course of action would be to consider severing all ties with the family and running away.
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Mercedes
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We don't need to go that far.
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Mercedes
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I'm sorry, I really just needed to let that out. I don't need you to worry about solving my problems.
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Ingrid
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Oh. OK. It's...just a bit personal for me, actually.
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Ingrid
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My own father has brought countless marriage proposals to my attention. He always was obsessed with me carrying on the family bloodline...
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Ingrid
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At a very young age, my hand had already been promised to someone in marriage. But Glenn died young.
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Mercedes
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That must have been difficult for you. Would you have married him if he had survived?
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Ingrid
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Hm. That's a good question. It's hard to imagine now.
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Ingrid
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Although I did admire him quite a lot. He held true to the ideals of knighthood, proudly serving the king.
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Ingrid
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Even after all these years, I aspire to be the type of knight that he embodied.
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Ingrid
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But that's just it. I'm not a tool for furthering my family's fortunes. I'm a knight at heart.
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Ingrid
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Regardless of what my father desires.
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Ingrid
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But that's just it. I'm not a tool for furthering my family's fortunes. I'm a knight at heart.
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Ingrid
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Regardless of what my father desires.
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Mercedes
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I see. A very noble cause indeed.
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Mercedes
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How strange that we should be worrying about the same thing.
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Ingrid
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Even though we are such different people.
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Mercedes
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It's true. Enjoying a nice chat over tea with you like this makes me realize...
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Mercedes
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Maybe the paths we walk aren't so different after all. Don't you think?
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Ingrid
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I do. These tea parties of ours...they really are something special.
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Mercedes
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That they are. Ingrid... I would love to get to know you better, if that's OK.
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Mercedes
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I want to know about your childhood, your favorite books, the sweets you like, anything at all!
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Ingrid
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Hahaha, absolutely! I'm happy to speak with you anytime, and I want to know you better too, Mercedes.