The laugh had him think he'd lost it all, honestly. Being forthright had been its own risk, and one he decided to take, simply reviling all of the alternatives. He was no fine judge of character when it came to the emotions of men, or even his motives. There were moments where he could see the consequences spinning out. The dry, clinical ones, the chances of insurrection following the release of a very dangerous individual. The political backlash he would get for having done such a foolish move. To simply never capture would have been one thing, but to capture and release was something he could be easily brought to task for. Gregor couldn't merely dismiss those concerns and retain his even handed appearance. Not easily.

... And the more simple, less intelligible one. It had no words, no consequences, no fallout, political or economic.

It was a simple, leaden ache of loss.

The pools of tears that welled up in the boy's eyes washed away everything.

He was aware it could be a show. Mark was built... designed, and likely trained for this one very weakness. But he couldn't deny this one thing, no matter how much his life could depend on it. There was little strategic gain, at this point, and he rationalized it there.

"I can let her know you've an aversion," he promised, voice a little less level than it had been.

Cordelia would certainly know for certain in an instant.