[ He watches the subconscious gesture from his peripheral before looking forward again with a vague smile, releasing her hand to hold open the door. ]

I do try.

[ He isn't convinced that he succeeds just yet, but he does try. Arthur stops them at the porch to usher her over to one of the benches in the corner, out of the way enough to give some semblance of privacy. It's a bright day out, but the air is chilled in winter's grasp, so he unclasps his cloak to cover the edge of the bench for her, wrapping the shoulders about her once she's seated.

He stops to give a brief, more as a method of calming his own thoughts than looking for anyone that might be within hearing distance of them, and then there's another beat of silence once he's sat beside her, hands folded in his lap before angling himself to face her. ]

For as long as I have been here, I have still yet to fully come to terms with the time that separates us all. If we're being entirely honest, [ he raises his brows and gives her a playful smile; royalty is rarely ever so. ] it weighs heavily upon my mind even now.