To say what?

[ it's not meant to sound aggressive or harsh, but it does escape as somewhat frustrated, a breath of air escaping his lips after the words slip out. he almost considers apologizing, but allura already knows why the topic is difficult . . . and lotor knows she will not hesitate to tell him he's crossing a line, when it comes to his tone. ]

I have not talked about it because I do not -- [ want to sounds too petulant, too childish, and he stops himself from saying it, refocusing to find a different word. ] . . . What does he expect me to say? That I mourn her absence? Or that I'm upset, that she's gone? I never knew her.

[ admitting it is oddly freeing, and he lets the words hang in the air for a few moments before continuing. ]

I never told her who I was because I wanted to avoid the inevitable disappointment of her own hubris. [ honerva, and then haggar, is focused on the end goal. family was only a side-effect of her own experiments. ] Any semblance of affection or love from her is misplaced at best, and manipulative at worst.

[ meeting honerva was difficult not because he had a second chance, but because he knew how it was going to end. ]