Dorothea & Manuela C

Dorothea
Professor Manuela! It's been far too long since we've had a proper chat. Let's fix that right now.

Manuela
Too true, Dorothea. We hardly have a moment to spare here. But it's so nice to see you flourishing. It certainly brings back memories.

Manuela
You know, somehow you've gotten even prettier. The years have been kind to you.

Dorothea
That's something like a rose telling a daisy it's pretty, but I appreciate the compliment all the same.

Manuela
Ha! Oh, honey. If that's the case, I hope you'll work hard to never become a rose like me. Too many thorns.

Dorothea
Oh, stop it. You've accomplished a great deal. You should be proud.

Manuela
That's a very nice sentiment and I appreciate it. Thank you.

Manuela
I know you didn't have any family connections. How'd you do it?

Dorothea
Well, it did require pulling some noble strings.

Dorothea
But learning everything to pass the entrance exams? That was all me and very hard.

Dorothea
Especially while I was still singing for the opera. But I wanted the academy more than anything else.

Manuela
Well, bravo and well-done.

Manuela
You've always had to find your own way in life, haven't you? I so wish you could rely on people more often...

Manuela
Still though, you haven't said why you worked so hard to get into Garreg Mach to begin with.

Dorothea
Isn't it obvious? Because you were here.

Dorothea
When you retired, it broke my heart. But it also woke me up.

Dorothea
Seeing someone like you, who shined so brightly on the stage, give it all up and start a brand new life...

Dorothea
It got me thinking about my own future, and what I wanted it to look like. As ever, I followed your lead.

Manuela
Oh... Oh my. I...I don't know what to say.

Dorothea
With such an exceptional crop of potential spouses, how could I go anywhere else?

Manuela
And have you gotten what you were after? Your dreams, a future...and a good partner?

Dorothea
Ahh, it's so nice to spend time with you again, Manuela. It's been too long.