Marcus straightened slightly at being directly addressed. For a moment, the formal mask he had been holding in place slipped, and something more genuine showed through—an expression of mild surprise, as if he had not expected kindness to be part of this morning at all.
"Young master Kraven," he said. His voice was still deepening into adulthood, carrying with it a slight uncertainty. "It is good to see you returned."
"Is it?" Julian said, with a slight smile that made the question friendly rather than pointed.
Marcus blinked. Then, with a honesty that he probably hadn't planned to show: "I... wasn't certain what to expect. From this morning."
"Neither was I," Julian said simply. "That tends to make mornings more interesting."
A small, involuntary smile almost broke across Marcus's face. The tension in his shoulders eased just a fraction.
"Yes," he said. "I suppose it does."
