[ Little does Crane know the plague to which Dimitri has referenced isn’t tied to the previous anger and sadness he is repressing. Well, indirectly perhaps, but it’s merely something Dimitri has used to distract his mind. A different tragedy to toss over a recent one: the war beginning that is entwined with the traumatic inciting incident of his rage.

But the plague is safer for his mind to look at. That one holds no guilt for him; it was a red herring in the sentence. The brute strength, now that is the cutting remark Dimitri wounds himself with.

The man’s words answer an unasked question for Dimitri- he’s talking to a doctor. The clear sympathy in which the man speaks pulls at Dimitri’s own and he nods gravely. ]

That you are right… but the plague that ripped through my kingdom took more than medicine and precaution to defeat. My father sought out a brilliant mind from the south and with her we were able to establish clean water with proper aqueducts for our people.

For her contributions in ridding us of this plague he made her the royal adviser.

[ His smile is still tinted with melancholic sympathy, but Dimitri thinks he is encouraging the man standing before him. Intelligence should be rewarded. ]