"We're leaving in the morning," Laurent announces by the time they're halfway down the hall. He doesn't look at Nyx. He doesn't want Nyx to have a clearer view of the bitter pain on his face, and thus has no idea of Nyx's reaction to the news.

He'd meant to ask--or tell--Auguste about his travel plans, but that had all gone awry in their conversation.

Laurent heads for the safety of his room, commanding more wine from a servant along the way.

Walking swiftly, Laurent keeps his expression cold and angry until he's safe in his room with only Nyx, and he can let a few of the fractures show. "This isn't like him. It's cruel. He's toying with me and withholding information for his own amusement. He's never been cruel before."

Sinking down onto a couch in his room, Laurent rests his elbows against the arm of the couch and lets his head hang over them. Even though he'd spent all his life expecting to be married off for political advantage, he'd still held out hope that he might be allowed to marry for love. And now Auguste is stealing that away without any comfort or reassurance behind his choice, without even a bare explanation. It's nothing like the kind and patient brother that Laurent knows, and the betrayal of it makes him want to cry.