Chapter Text
Dearest Denise,
I want you to live a happy life despite everything that has happened. For so long, I held onto the hope that you might love me, but in the end, I began to wish you would hate me instead. Hate would leave no room for hope, and without hope, I could finally let go of you—and of everything between us.
I wanted to marry you out of pure love, yes, but also out of a selfish desire to secure your safety and happiness for the rest of your life. I dreamed of giving you my ultimate protection, and when my time on this earth ends, you would be left with wealth enough to never know poverty. But now I see how foolish that was. You have already walked away from riches before; you do not long for material things. Still, the thought of watching over you, even from afar, even after death, brought me comfort. It was my way of caring for you in silence, of ensuring you were safe in the only way I knew how.
You are the most important thing I have ever had in my life. My desire to protect you consumed me, pushing me to extremes. You may see me as an obsessed monster who invaded your privacy, who watched your every move. And perhaps I am. But in my heart, I believed it was for your own good, to shield you from greater harm. Perhaps my vigilance spared you from worse dangers, or perhaps it only caused you suffering. I understand now that it was never my place to protect you, not when you never asked it of me.
You cannot be caged, Denise. You are as free as a bird soaring through the heavens, and I have no right to keep you under my watchful eye.
If you ever wish to see me again, to speak with me even for a moment, or to ask anything of me, know that I will always be here for you.
But if I never hear from you again, I will understand that as well.
Forever yours,
Claude Frollo