Quote Originally Posted by Iscah View Post
- again, if he has two other adult sons, why is he looking "elsewhere"? (unless it's 'elsewhere' than the very narrow field of one specific person, but it's not the impression I get from that phrasing.) *Can* he even look elsewhere? It's a hereditary title and has to go down the family line, doesn't it?
I am not sure how helpful this really is because even to me it sounds a bit like a "cheap" explantion in this context, but the reason I didnt stumble over that scene as much as you did is probably my german client because in german Tataru says the following:

"Armer Graf Durendaire! Er hat die Hoffnung nie aufgegeben, aber er hat natürlich keine Ahnung, dass sein Sohn noch lebt. Und dann geht es ja auch noch um die Nachfolge seines Hauses. Herr Jannequinard macht sich nun berechtigte Hoffnung, eines Tages das Haus zu übernehmen."

Which translates (more or less literal translation by me) as follows:
"Poor Count Durendaire! He never lost hope but of course he had no idea that is son is still alive! And then there is the question/matter of the succession of his house. Lord Jannequinard has now actual hopes to take over one day."

Its probably not the most colorful but hopefully accurate translation - and its a bit different than the english, I'd say.

"Looking elsewhere" becomes "the line of succession isnt a 100% clear at this point". It sounds a bit more like contemplating options and not so much having to find them first.
"One step closer" becomes "actual hopes" - to me the german text there always read like: They didnt really wanted Janne as Count and didnt expected him to have to take the position, so they sended him off to study (not an uncommon practise for second and third sons in rl noble families in the middle ages). They might still be looking for some "replacment" but Janne can now actually hope to be Count one day.

...not sure if this helps at all, but I found this thread really intresting to read and went back to check what the german dialouge said - and then noticed why that part never bothered me, so I wanted to share the possibility that maybe the english version is just a bit weird when it comes to phrasing!