[ You thought I actually did it, Simon says, and Kostos experiences his first moment of doubt. However, because he's sort of an asshole, none of that doubt is apparent on his face. Instead he doubles down on looking at Simon like he's a bit of an idiot. Of course he fucking thinks he actually did it—

Or did. Until Simon seemed so astonished by that fact.

If there's any squirm of belated guilt, he promptly knocks it unconscious and hides it in a corner of his mind that won't affect his face until Simon he's no longer in the room. ]

If you said as much to your superiors, and they believed me over you, then Ansburg was very different from Ghislain.

[ It would be nice if he had something to do with his hands. A bag to pack, maybe, to signal that he's on his way out the door, but there's nothing for him to do but stand here and look snottily defiant. ]

I watched you— [ either the general you, Templars, or the specific you will work ] —because if I had disappeared, if I had died in a dungeon or been made Tranquil, my family would have noticed. They would have cared. There might have been a price for someone to pay. That was not the case for many others. So you must forgive me— [ or not, he doesn't care! nyah nyah! which might be awkward for him later when he realizes he needs Simon's help! ] —if I do not apologize for your slapped wrist.