[ Claude isn't exactly the right person to ask to be forthright, but he does understand the hypocrisy of keeping something a secret that remains mostly public knowledge, so after a raise of a brow and a beat of silence, he concedes. ]

Not often, I imagine. [ first things first, take that Oren!! ] But to provide some clarity: me being Auguste's half-brother— not full— puts me in a position where people assume that I would fold, under the right circumstances.

They aren't exactly foolish for thinking so. Many people would.