"Thank you..."
The duke said, his voice shaky, making Asher smile as he felt the duke understood what he said.
"But you know what Asher?"
The duke asked again, making Asher pay close attention to what he was going to say again.
"Times like this make me feel you are very good at convincing me about things. You're good at comforting too. But...I guess you don't really know anyone else to tell your problems. If you have any...you can tell me. I can...at least listen."
Asher chuckled when he saw the duke's questionable expression as the last part was said, maybe recalling when his 'don't cry' that was supposed to be a comfort came out as a threat. Luckily, Asher understood he was trying to comfort him at that time.
"Will you listen to me then?"
"Yeah..."
"Even if it's very very ugly?"
"Yeah. Did I have a beautiful past? You listened to me, right? I can do it too."