Dorian lets out another chuckle, though it's warmer this time. "No, you weren't wrong in that assumption. Felix was of the opinion that I worked myself too hard and took it upon himself to act as my caretaker. Alexius was of the opinion that Felix had no business sneaking into the kitchens – partially because of Felix's station, but also because he didn't want Felix interrupting the well-oiled machine that was their kitchen staff.

"Felix's sickness put a stop to those late night kitchen raids, for good or for ill."

He pauses, testing slab of stone that slants overhead. It seems stable enough, unlikely to fall on them as they pass underneath, but Dorian still gestures to it on the off-chance the Bull hadn't already noticed it – which he almost certainly already has. The Bull is frighteningly observant, even at the worst of times. Still, it helps Dorian to feel a little useful.

"It was almost certainly a flouncing," Dorian replies, and while he still keeps his voice low, he manages to imbue it with false brightness. "I stomped off in a huff before Alexius could have the satisfaction of throwing me out of his estate, and we drifted apart. I was tired of chasing after this impossible goal and wanted to turn our attentions to something more attainable. In that moment, I was so certain that I could snap him out of his delusions – instead, I only drove him further into them."