[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/rJicBem.png[/img][/center][center][h1][color=2E8B57]M[/color]anfred [color=2E8B57]H[/color]ohenfelter von [color=2E8B57]M[/color]eckelin-[color=2E8B57]T[/color]handau[/h1][/center][hr]
That Manfred had fought as a soldier was as plainly written on him as the colour of his eyes or the clothes that he wore. War leaves its mark on a man: in his thoughts, bearing, and actions if he is fortunate enough that it does not ruin his body.

Manfred was fortunate. By almost any measure, he was supreme in his fortune. He was young, healthy, and of noble birth. He had skill in the Gift and most women found him comely. Yet, he had been dead inside before coming to Ersand'Enise. Less than a month in and he had already changed. He had lived, he had loved, and he had laughed in a way that he hadn't thought possible since his time on the battlefield, since the day he learned that Nina had been sent to a Tethered refuge. 

That made the return of his soldiering instincts that much more painful, for he knew what he had to do. Dorothea, with whom he had shared a bed, a smile before breakfast most mornings, and many of his hopes and fears, had gone horribly wrong. The situation was only complicated by the fact that her feelings weren't at all unwarranted. He did not believe Carmillia for one moment and he certainly did not trust Zarra. The former was a schemer - he knew the type - with little ability in the Gift. The latter was a self-serving gloryhound who could be relied upon only to do whatever it was that he wanted. And what he had wanted was to play the blood-soaked hero while leaving Manfred's beloved to possibly die. He looked upon her porcelain neck: something that he had kissed, caressed, and cradled many a time.

He picked out where her carotid artery was and calmly met Eun-Ji's gaze.

In a single smooth motion that anyone else would be hard-pressed to even register as aggressive, he flattened his hand into a blade and drew it back. This, he unleashed with great speed into Dorothea's neck. It was simply the fastest way to resolve an issue that seemed hellbent on spiraling further. He stood there as events played themselves out over the next few seconds, frowning. [color=2E8B57][b]"Ihr Eingreifen ist nicht erforderlich,"[/b][/color] he said evenly, meeting the incoming arcanist's eyes.

[hider=Translation]Your intervention is not required.[/hider]
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