[ So: they do, in fact, have that in common. There's a fleeting sense of satisfaction that his guess was correct as always happens when it turns out he was right, though it doesn't last long. The reality is having that in common isn't something he'd wish on anyone, and a wry smile of acknowledgment crosses his face. ]

It's a lot like starting over. Here you don't have to bring in any of what you know or lived from home unless you really want to share it. And if you don't want to? No one will know the difference. [ Well, except - ] Assuming no one else is here from your home. I'd imagine that makes a difference.

[ Something Claude's learned he has to watch now that Petra and Sylvain are here, and more so than he had upon first arriving and discovering he was alone. Nothing too troubling, and nothing he hasn't balanced before. Easy enough to shrug a shoulder. ]

I've done that before too, in some ways. I joined my grandfather's house when I was... [ He'll trail off here to appraise Wilhelm for a second with a slight smile, ] probably about your age, and that was swapping one set of criticisms for another. Did you grow up in a court yourself as well?

[ Not that there aren't lots of reasons to want to leave a past behind, but. Just another guess. ]