[ action ]
That's not exactly what I meant, Shibuya. He had unrealistic expectations. You did what you thought was best, but you didn't really act decisively.
[ There was the political angle, of course; and Lady Cheri's unhelpful assistance. No doubt Sir von Bielefeld faced pressure from his father's family as well. And no one else really did much to help the pair, all told. Himself included, if he were to be completely honest. A mess that could have been easily avoided, if everyone had not treated it as either a tool or a joke or a pipe dream. ]
When you come back to rebuild your friendship, the question of what you are to each other is not so ambiguous this time.