But could one really lose something that was never theirs to begin with?

"If it weren't for..." Ignis repeated, slowly trying to follow the line of Liliana's logic, and slowly, he felt as though it was revealing itself.

"...ah. No. Noct and I were never..."

A part of him wondered how she could have ever found her way to such a conclusion. Another part of him knew exactly how she had. And a third part still would like for Gladiolus Amicitia to kindly exit his brain with that snorting smirk, thank you.

And then he breathed out, taking her hand again to give it a soft squeeze that went with the soft, almost sheepish smile. "No, my darling, that bag was one entirely of my own making and design, no doubt for how absurdly long I have been sitting on this ring, and, well, needing to...recontextualize the notion as a whole. After all, here I've been so brash and bold about you not being beholden to anyone, it seemed quite a bit...hypocritical of me to ask this of you. Not to mention just the potent uncertainty that you would even want it for yourself, especially when....well, with tales of your track record with such things..."

But then he actually met Jace.

"I suppose all that can accumulate over time, and, face with the realization that it had become enough of an emotional burden to manifest itself, then it became clear that I should...well..."

And it was difficult, even after all that, not to smile.

"Finally follow through."