In another world Cyrano wit still sharp as a knife is tempered if only slightly by his romantic heart and mind and the presence of friends in that world he lies and because he lies and Christian dies believing he is loved well and truly without artifice by his lovely lady Roxane.
In this world Cyrano learned from an early age that there are no words quite as powerful as the truth. When this Cyrano’s father was on what should have been his deathbed many times over was asked by what grace he still lived and breathed he answered “I’ll not die until after that pox ridden fuck gets what’s coming to him” and Cyrano only knee high at the time heard and remembered that spite can keep a man going where love makes him soft and content.
So Cyrano when asked by his gravely injured friend where Roxane’s heart lay he answers
With the most hurtful thing he knew the truth.
“I know not if she loves me, you, or the damned Count De Guich” he pauses looking down his nose “and if you die she will not hear the truth from my lips”
Christian heartbeat and eyes opened.