When the grip tightens, Richard closes his eyes. It feels almost like how Lambda held him in a dream. As with Lambda, Richard rests a hand on Asbel's head. Unlike with Lambda, Richard becomes commanding to cut through Asbel's guilt. "Asbel. Do not blame yourself for things out of your control. It's true that what happened may . . . trouble me, but I'm not constantly suffering over it. And remember, no matter how terribly everything went in those days, still, it was you who stood by my side and helped me put his soul to rest."

If Richard had not killed Cedric in that room, he never would have felt safe there. As twisted as it is, Richard knows that his uncle's death brought him peace.

He still doesn't regret how he killed his uncle. A death like that was a mercy after what Cedric had done.