[There is hurt there, though it's lessened in the slightest by Felix's words. He feels... a touch better, even if it doesn't completely ease the ache in his soul. That Felix could even hurtle such accusations toward him settles uncomfortably in his gut, but he can swallow that down for right now.

He's always been good at swallowing things down, right?

That Felix admits to having loved Dimitri too also stings. Some part of him wonders if it's Felix that's settling for him, a stepping stone until he was ready to approach Dimitri. This thought gets pushed from his mind as quick as possible, Sylvain swallowing that down as well, despite the knives that are still pushing at his throat.

At least he can clarify his own stance.]

It's not that I love you any less. Or that I'm settling. I would never do that to you, Felix, I promise. But -- [He thinks of how Dimitri looked when Sylvain touched his face, gave him even the barest hint of contact.]

Maybe it's for the best that him and Grant are... considering all of that. Makes it easier on us at least, right?

[His laugh is tight, forced even. But at least he's not pretending to smile.]