[Ah, there it is, then. A reaction, pained and laced with a burgeoning realization. Ardyn feels that spike of sadism, lets it intermingle with the way his smile sharpens and his words become languid and lingering, as if trying to amplify Noctis' obvious discomfort even more. And so naturally, the boy's own attempts at lashing out with insults loses its potency.

Because while Ardyn Izunia is many things, useless he is not. He does not plan to sit idly by and let the days pass, hoping for a solution to land in his lap. He's a shrewd man, and even this terrible prodding has its uses -- to remind Noctis that Eos still awaits him, that there's unfinished business that remains for the Chosen King. Whether he has to instigate that idea with rage, or sorrow, or something even worse, well. It's certainly not below him, either way. But motivation is always key.

Pain is just a bonus.

Noctis can try to walk away, and Ardyn won't make a move to stop him. But he'll not let him go without his words stinging at his back, if he does manage to.]

Is that all, then? [He opens his arms wide, as if to question Noctis' reaction to this figurative bomb drop.] Not even a single question regarding the trials and tribulations that you might come to expect? What your friends may have to suffer through in those long, ten years?

[Now he's just being cruel, because he does not intend to answer any of them.]