[ Sylvain just chuckles, glancing down at the plates now as he distracts himself from that pointed gaze by busying himself with several more bites of food. ]

Yeah, but your rumors made you sound mysterious and interesting. In fact, I'm pretty sure the mystery you built around yourself only helped your reputation, even if it didn't always seem like it.

[ His had been the opposite. But then, his reputation had always been carefully curated for far different reasons. ]