[Constantin can guess at just what protest Felix would like to make about his, ah, revision to the plan— and he appreciates that he doesn't. Not that the plan has become good, far from it! It is, however, easier to convince Archimedes to attend his own damned party if the two of them are a united front, and so while Constantin hates every second of this grand negotiation— he appreciates that Felix trusts him enough to let it progress. Rest assured, had he been sent here alone, he would have walked out and done something stupid and rash... Like, more so.

It's messy, and it's stupid, but there is one point in the whole plan that Constantin has faith in, and that part is Felix.

The details are laid out, and they'll be reviewed and reviewed again tomorrow night and the night after, before the party, and that's... good enough. The ride back is awkward, as is the walk back to the study... Constantin sinks into the duke's chair again, graciously resisting the urge to quip about how this whole study might as well be his now, ha ha.

And right on cue, there's the disapproval—]

I know, I know! It was the only way to force him to attend his own stupid party short of actual blackmail...

[He still has the bundle of letters and incriminating ledgers shoved in his coat, after all. Tossing around tattling to the Priestess worked because Archimedes is a punk, but who knows! Maybe they'll still need these.

Constantin sighs and leans on the desk, head in his hands. Cool, so, some choices were made tonight...]

For what it's worth, thank you for sticking by me.