"Who said anything about giving up?" Sans asks, raising his voice to match hers. Like So-Yeon, it's less out of anger so much as a desire to be understood.

And he did understand, perhaps more than she could possibly realize. Crowns sat heaviest on the heads of those who desperately, desperately wanted to good for the people they'd sworn to protect. You did what you had to, no matter how dim the outcome.

Or, if you were him, you didn't do anything at all. Sans grit his teeth, voice gentler when he continues but no less insistent.

"I told you I'd help you. I wouldn't be here right now if I broke my promises." All too true, unfortunately. "It doesn't matter how much they've hurt you, you hurt them back and that's all the people of this town will ever remember. People will find any excuse to hate what they can't understand, kid. You do this, I can't protect you from what happens next."

He pauses a beat, thinking, before an idea comes to him. It's imperfect, but so was everything else about the quandary they found themselves in.

"We've got pull with the Lord and Lady. They think we were sent to help them defeat you. You tell my people what you told me and we'll figure out another plan." He takes her hand, less out of comfort and more in anticipation of transporting her alongside him. "I can take you to the palace right now."

Maybe it was how much she reminded him of his brother and the king that preceded him. Maybe it was that he just liked her, was worried about her, could see the grim writing on the wall that her passion blinded her to.

Whatever the reason, it never even occurred to Sans just how much this sounded like a trap.