#esquirae

Estelle calls Alexei by his name.Now, that might not seem like a big deal, but, look at it this way, Estelle is a very proper person, and she knows and does refer to other people by their titles or gives them the ‘respect’ they have. However, when say talks about the commandant, which would be a REAL EASY thing to say, she doesn’t call him that, or call him “dinoia”, of which everyone would know, she calls him ALEXEI.

Alexei, his first name, even as he calls her ‘her highness’ and ‘your majesty’. That, to me, speaks volumes, especially at this critical stage we see Estelle, because this point is the point where Estelle is just beginning to change, become more relaxed and less up-tight about titles or how to address other people, but she’s not quite there. Yet we see that comfort from her RIGHT THERE.

Like Gosh darn it, you realize how significant that must be? ( i really want to see the japanese for that scene when Alexei comes in to pardon Yuri and the rest of them where Estelle calls his name and see if it’s the same, because if it is? And I see no reason it shouldn’t be … THAT IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

Because after all, look at Japanese, the honorifics and everything they use … she would most definitely call him by his last name along with an honorific, but if she doeSN’T THAT MEANS THEY WERE SUPER GODDAMN CLOSE.

Now, let us head into HEADCANON territory.

Alright, so I have a lot to say on this topic. Alexei is shown to be a very political person, as well as a man of high intelligence, good planning/tactics, as well as at least looked up to, if not well-liked by most people that know him, save perhaps a few upstart purist knights who dislike the progress and change Alexei has made to make HIS DREAM a reality.

Alexei is ALSO at the least in his fourties by the time Vesperia rolled around, since he could not be younger than 21 when he achieved the title of “Commandant” and we know he got it more than ten years ago, though that might only be eleven or twelve. However, this also means we can assume he’s spent at least 5-10 years previously in the knights to get to his position, which means plenty of time in the Castle, guard duties, lower assignments, all of which he can find our little ball of energy, Her Highness, Estellise.

Of course Estelle would cling to Alexei, especially at first. Most NOBLES have brown or black hair, the only ones with GRAYING hair are generally very old, and here a man comes in a sparkly uniform she’s seen with this strange hair color … She herself would probably be infatuated with how thin and soft it is, not to mention, the feeling of finally someone like HER coming around, since she’s been seen as a very odd person with her bright pink hair. So, she would get along with the knight in that instance.

Not to mention, Alexei, as much of a people person he is, has a very, very big soft spot for small kids. Just like … god, give him a kid and he will take care of them forever and ever and spoil them and play with them ( when he doesn’t have work ) and read to them and just …

He probably, when he could, left to help the princess, having her know him BEFORE he was a commandant, learning his name, telling her if she ever needed help, to ask for him and he would do the best he could to help her. Finding her in the gardens, making flower crowns, getting one placed ‘pon his head and her scolding him for taking too long to find her.

Him giving her this love of reading and books and knowledge that he himself had found to be his only comfort within the Nobility. The friends ‘pon the page becoming just as real as the friends they met in person. Making them become alive to her, making her wish to bring and spread stories to children …

I’m …

These two … are just so precious, okay?

Then let’s talk about HIS BETRAYAL.

Alexei’s betrayal has two key factors in it, and one very specific person who could have stopped it all early on, but never questioned him. The worst thing about this, in the instance he never questioned, you can see Alexei’s face in realization. 

The key points are going to be ONE pre!Game, shown to us in Kokuu no Kamen, and the other IN game, when Alexei tells Schwann secretly to watch out for the princess and to follow them.

Alexei is not a very STABLE man, at least, not by himself. He knows what to say, knows how to say it, how to convince people he’s stable, but internally he’s a lot more mixed up about things than people probably ever see. He opened up to Schwann ( Damuron, in his mind still ) telling him about what happened, how he understood, how he could do nothing, how he wished he could have saved them.

Told Schwann, he was the only one Alexei had, and Alexei asked something of him, he did not expect Damuron to be able to give, however it was SCHWANN who answered in a bland tone.

And that’s when the realization really struck. Damuron was gone. Dead. And he was alone. He had to become the stable pillar, had to become the person people –specifically Schwann– relied on. And he would do anything to not lose him as well who supported his plan.

So, when he learned that Estelle was the key he needed …

I assume, a very similar situation to then happened. Different, but similar. Alexei would tell Schwann his plan. And Schwann, would be more hesitant here and this is where Alexei would pressure him. Demand that he didn’t know what was right anymore, they were so close. They couldn’t go back. Not after everything they both did … and Schwann would yield.

And that final part holding Alexei together would shatter.

So the next time he looked at Estelle, she was no longer a person, but a tool. Something to be used. Just as Schwann was.

And that’s when he made the decision. Knew Schwann was going to die. It was what he wanted. He’d known Schwann had wanted to die since ten years ago, he just didn’t have the guts to do it. So, it was time to get rid of this weapon … 

After all, he just got a new one. One of much greater supposed strength than Schwann was.

The most horrid thing about this though, is Alexei made no move to hide this thought process. The princess, when she tried to speak to him, got cold, aloof responses, snapped at the be quiet, how she couldn’t understand. How she should let the big boys talk and just keep her mouth shut. Alienating her, as he had done to everyone else …

He was always alone.

And this betrayal solidified it, ripping Alexei and Estelle’s relationship apart. 

Even if Estelle could forgive him, Alexei would never be able to look over what he did. It was unforgivable. It was something he had to accept the consequences for.