Claudius sighs. A part of him wants to spin this, in one direction or another, to protect his lover's feelings and preserve the peace, to protect himself from potential upsets. He takes a seat on the bench beside Laertes, crossing his legs and linking his hands over them, fidgeting with the band of his engagement ring. "He knows the fairy tales better, for what it's worth. And the artworks inspired by our story. But it's true, he wasn't keen on telling you."