Outwardly, Deneth's reaction to the officer's suspicion was hardly noticeable, but present nonetheless. His military background dulled out his emotional expressiveness, but his young age betrayed him.
Immediately, he replied: "Sir... I understand your concern and I do not hold it against you. I am aware that there are various factors involved... that make me a potentially dangerous element to handle. But sir... I've come here with nothing. Nothing but the burden of the wrong choices I've made back in Rheinland. Nothing but several bounties on my head. Nothing... but the sheer weight of an entire nation that despises me and wants me dead. As a matter of fact, I talk as if Rheinland was my homeland but..." He sighs, then continues: "I cannot consider myself a Rheinlander anymore. By my failure to see what was really going on in time... I've betrayed more people than I ever thought was even possible..."
He carries on, the sound of his voice gaining in honesty: "But I did not come here simply to escape death. If that was my only intent, I would have managed otherwise. You're asking me why I came here... you're asking me why should the Armed Forces take me in... why I want to join the Bretonian Armed Forces? I am here to repent. I do not seek forgiveness from the people I've let down. I do not seek pardon from the country in which I was born. I seek forgiveness from myself! I want to be of positive use. I want to be able to tell myself "I am accomplishing something good." or "I am helping others". This is what I've always strived for!"
He pauses to catch his breath, then continues: "This is why I initially wanted to be a fighter pilot with the Rheinwehr. This is why I joined the Red Hessians upon realizing that the Gottkanzler's forces will never be of any good to it's people! That's why I sold my ship, ALL my belongings and escaped with nothing once I figured out that the "Hessian way" was no better and above all... this is why I'm here."
He stops to pace himself, this was the first time he spoke so freely in quite a long time.
"Look, mein herr... that you might believe all of this might be part of some theatric act, I can accept it fully. If you believe that I am too big of a security breach, you may arrange for my deportation at once. I'll accept the consequences of my actions, even if that implies the firing squad. Perhaps that really may be the only way to rid myself of my guilt. However, sir, this much I vow. I know no one here. I know nobody outside Rheinland. I have no means to contact even my family there. In front of you, sir, lies a man who has lost... quite literally everything. Even his country. My desire to recycle myself into something good is true and genuine. I want... I want to protect the innocent. I'd give anything to do so."
He inhales one, final time. His tone is sober and markedly lower than before.
"This... is why I think the Armed Forces should accept me. If that is not possible, for whatever reason... that is OK. But... is it really that unreasonable for a person in my situation to ask for an opportunity to repair himself and by extension, protect others?"
Deneth stands in front of the man's desk, solemn, eyes locked on the person sitting in front of him. His face indicates no expectation, simply the expression of a man that said what he needed to say for a long time.
