Aubrelle straightened slightly in her seat.
Even without seeing them through her own eyes, she could feel the change in the room now. Trafalgar had gone quieter in a way that did not belong to ordinary conversation. Mayla's hands were still in his hair, but the lightness from before was gone. Rhosyn had not moved much at all, yet there was something in the way she was watching that made the whole space feel tighter.
Aubrelle rested one hand lightly near her cane. "I'm listening, Trafalgar. It seems important."
Trafalgar exhaled through his nose. For a second, he said nothing. Then, "It is."
His voice came out lower than before.
"This is something I need to tell you. If I'm asking you to stay beside me, if you're going to keep walking with me through all of this, then you should know it." His eyes stayed on her. "I wouldn't feel right hiding it from you any longer."
Aubrelle's fingers tightened slightly over the fabric near her lap. "Then tell me."
