Dangerous. Very, very dangerous, given that scimitar slash of a smile. He'd best pick his next words carefully.

"No, sire," he says, tipping his head down. Less aggressively bland this time, more quiet and thoughtful. "That would only court trouble. Dishonor his army." A beat. All right, he can't completely dismiss his grandmother here. That would just be straight up dishonorable too. "Though I believe she had words with the Count on my behalf."