Caelum did not move from his position by the door. His posture was the same as always—straight, composed, hands behind his back—but there was a pause before he answered, a fraction longer than necessary.
"That would have been the logical course," he said at last. "Given the mutual agreement between the houses following your engagement." A brief pause. "But that was not your father's original plan."
Trafalgar turned fully toward him.
"Valttair has been preparing something else for months," Caelum continued, voice even. "I imagine you already suspected as much. You said so yourself some time ago."
Trafalgar's expression hardened slightly.
"Caelum," he said, calm but firm. "I know Valttair is not my father."
The words landed cleanly.
