join the festivities

As he had suspected, Venom confirmed that all of Ashen's allies and the Klein family would be in attendance, though she was debating about extending the invitation to Hattori. Artorias cocked his head curiously while the Empress looked away and gave a subtle expression of why she did and did not want to invite the koi brute. He was Ike's father. Was. In the time since their separation, Art had wondered how often Hattori had seen or kept in touch with his children. Venom's cold disposition toward him in her response answered that question for him. Hattori had not remained present in their children's lives. A frown tugged at Artorias' lips. He had grown up without a father, and after becoming a father himself he simply could not fathom how any man would willingly choose to forsake the relationships they got to make with their children.

The dire brute breathed a pensive hum while he considered Venom's situation. "Hattori does have a way of complicating things..." he murmured in agreement. "I suppose what it comes down to is, what would make Kiyohime happy? Would she be happier if her father attended or was excluded?" Artorias did not know the relationship or feelings Ike held towards her estranged father. What he did know was that the wedding day was a celebration of Ike and her betrothed, and so it was a day for them. They got the final says. "Perhaps the most tactful approach would be to offer him an invitation as a guest only, not as a part of the ceremony, and let him make that decision. That would send a message that his presence is accepted, but he's not being invited back into the family."

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian"