Ardyn is a caster, which does put him at an unfortunate disadvantage while dealing with brawlers. Or it would were he a regular caster. Although he could acknowledge his 'squishiness,' being called weak? Rude.

"I'll have to work on my villainous monologue skills. It has been a while, admittedly, since I had an audience." A pause, tilting his head to one side in thought. "Well, one that could answer me." The rotting corpses hanging in the throne room weren't exactly talkative.

Spike does manage to grab onto his shirt. Ardyn brings up that dagger as a barrier between him and the other man but doesn't actually strike with it. He could also shadow step again but decides he wants to see what Spike might do not that he 'has' Ardyn in his grasp.