That does sound a touch excessive.

( though at the same time very like the palace attendants. he keeps still, watching her as though trying to see beyond the surface of what's being said.

but alina comes right out with what she wants. something he would appreciate more if it weren't dipping into the kind of territory he instinctively draws back from. )

I don't know where I was born. She traveled a great deal, in those days. Very likely it was one of the borders.