"Yes, well, I also told her I'd murdered my brother in the same breath." Claudius sighs -- but for all his insight, he can't sense any unease beyond the warmth of Dionysus's expression, and so feels no guilt in proceeding to unpack his own feelings. "Aornis had meddled with her memories -- made her believe her beloved Charlie had arrived, but she couldn't reconstruct their conversation in any detail. I could've let Tress go on believing the lie, as long as it made her happy ... but she would've discovered it sooner or later. Just as he would've discovered the truth about me, sooner or later. She deserved to hear it for someone who loved her enough to be honest with her ... I didn't expect that to be me, that's all. Though it seems, in my stolen memories, I told Aornis how I'd felt about Tress first, and offered the same avuncular regard. Who can say whether that's why Tress was targeted?"