Sanguine smiled a satisfied, devious grin. For the first time, he truly felt as though he was experiencing Juliette’s true emotions. There was fire in her words, but not hatred. She was alive and awake, on her toes and not just going through the motions of what she’d been told she ought to be now.<br/><br/>“I never said that what the Gypsy shouted was a lie. I cannot, in good faith, do so. I’m merely saying that the words of an enemy are more like echoes of truth, given dramatic scale and pathos by innumerable retellings and emotion.” Sanguine smiled in reply. “Have I killed children? In truth, I have. Would it be less distasteful to you if I explained that I was a child myself at the time?”<br/><br/>Juliette had a very remarkable talent for recollection, perhaps he had overplayed his hand in the throne room. Being bound in chains seldom led men to their best capabilities. But since it had been Juli who brought up the subject of her father, he saw the opportunity to shift the attention away from himself.<br/><br/>“In times of war, many monarchs are bound for their grave. Speaking of which, how is your father’s health? The common people say that he had been known for his virility until very recently. Some are even convinced that there is foul play involved.” San said confidently, not going so far as to name the queen directly, but the innuendo in his tone was evident. “Sometimes, Princess Juliette, even what I do is a mercy. We live in a world that has need of many sorts of killers. Just because you and I are different sorts of killers, doesn’t mean that we can’t get along.”<br/><br/>San raised his glass once more, still grinning at Juli.