Claudius smiles, and there's pride in the smile. So often he's thought of Lan Wangji as an elder brother, regardless of their respective ages -- as Gertrude was his elder sister, and a queen, at that. He understands, nowm why Lan Wangji asked that they be equals. Claudius admired Gertrude, sought to emulate her in her grace and charm and deft social insight, sought her pride like sunlight. But whenever they argued, they argued about care. They argued about who had the right, about who their burdens belonged to, both loath to let go even a little. They fell back on roles to cloak their plain desires: brother and sister, man and woman, courtier and queen. If he were any sort of man, he thought, he should've been able to protect the woman he loved. But she saw him as her sweet, soft-hearted brother and tried to shield him.

She was right -- Claudius is soft-hearted, and even sweet when he wishes. It's that soft heart that floods with warmth and fondness for his chosen brother. "Lay thy burdens down," he murmurs. "Go to thy husband, let him cosset and kiss thee, and worry not. We can carry this for thee."