[ The point is that there was no point; that they were playing as they would poetry, and does he not understand the words of Greek poets better than most? To suddenly dash the magic with a preaching she hardly requires or wants is the worst to do to a lady attempting a masquerade.

Quietly at first, allowing some time to pass for hopefully the stings of her words to fade and her ire from his, she reaches up to pull the plainer dark mask from her face. ]

Had you spoken true to earn my affections, you might have won my love yet, and we would see who is honored. [ Her smile is sad, and she does little to hide it, because it isn't for herself. ] But your heart, that heart I see fractured, cannot heal until you fetch your love back, and learn to keep it for yourself. You are worth loving, Atlas.