[Edelgard refuses to look away. It would be absolutely unthinkable to try and shy away from the discomfort that the young woman's tears give her. Edelgard deserves this discomfort for creating the situation in the first place that made her cry.

Edelgard doesn't remember much from her childhood. Not much in the way of comfort or happiness. Everything before the basement a blur. A haze of faces and events that are difficult to string together. She does remember one thing though. When she was young someone, she cannot remember who, would brush away her hair and kiss her forehead. Such soft affection soothed her sobbing. Made it a little more bearable.

And so she pays it forward to Bernadetta. Reaching over the table to brush away her bangs and place her lips gently on that pale forehead.]

I will strive to do that. To be the Emperor worth following to the end, but also to be the Emperor that sees to it that you live long enough to try all those things.