[Hatred from the people doesn't particularly mean anything to Gilgamesh by itself. No ruler ever has the complete and total love of their people. Sometimes all they can earn is the respect of their people and nothing more. But if the kingdom were in such disarray as she describes, that hatred likely was born of his own incompetence rather than cruelty. It's a sort of weakness that Gilgamesh himself cannot abide by and he finds himself with immediate disdain for her father.]

[But the disdain he holds for her father doesn't transfer itself to her. Sure, based upon this exchange, he sees similar weaknesses in her and she is far too soft still to rule, but she is seeking to do better than her father before her. She appears to not only seek to rectify the damage that his incompetence has caused, but also become stronger and more competent than he could have ever dreamed of being. That is something worth some of his respect even if Gilgamesh remains not entirely convinced it will be possible for her to obtain those aspirations as she carries herself now.]

Hmph, you spend all your time insulting me and now you insult your people, but you want to give me advice on how to act with others. I can't imagine you were popular at all yourself. [He shakes his head.] If there were people willing to save the kingdom, they died with hope. The kingdom may not have been what it once was, but that prosperous kingdom lived in the hearts of each man, woman, and child who died willing to fight for it.