“The past remains the past.” Hypocritical for him to say, perhaps, but in this matter it remains the resolute, undeniable bottom line.

To have his concern dismissed before masked nobility, to be barked at and prodded— to watch Benedict tremble before something greater than himself, and choose to stand against it for the sake of keeping those invested in him safe. For keeping all present safe, in fact. Nothing is absolute, there is no definitive sin that sends scales toppling. Gabranth himself learned that much long, long ago.

A misstep can always be corrected, no matter how grievous.

“Consider my disappointment forestalled, for however long you choose it to last.”

A beat, before he adds in turning away once more:

“I accept your apology.”