Balthazar pursed his lips. He knew that living with Topaz's shadow over her—and face upon her shoulders—was not easy for Ruby in the least, but he had hoped for a bit more maturity from someone in a discussion about her future.

Especially someone who had seemingly been running a mail-order business for some time without his awareness which seemed, in this moment, a more desirable plan long-term.

"I am only trying," he stated calmly, "to understand fully the nature of the opportunity that has been offered for you. I would ask the same of Sebastian, and indeed did question Delight similarly when she set about joining the Ministry of Magic—though at least in her case, I did understand the nature of her work more readily."