[ ... and that, more than anything, startles him. Stuns him, really. For a second, Noctis wavers, eyes narrowed, jaw tight. In what goddamn world is Ardyn Izunia more sympathetic than his friend, his brother?

... He hates it. ]

I don't need your sympathy. This is just-- this is just some way to get me to put my guard down, so you can-- you can jerk me around all over again.