The smirk fell off his face at that, amusement turning very quickly into annoyance. "No."

He didn't pretend he was immune, per se, but it was true he did not care for the castle's crass manipulation of the few feelings he did allow himself.

He was supposed to be in control, even when, like now, he chose not to be. He didn't have to be stronger, in his opinion, because he already was. He controlled this, not the other way around. He reached out to catch hold of Gren's chin with one hand. "We're nothing alike."

Gren's failings were just that, so far as he was concerned. That experience reflected nothing on his own.