God, why is he being so considerate - Valmont isn't used to people actually caring about what he is or isn't comfortable with, and he flounders for a bit before his brain helpfully decides to interpret this as something he does understand: condescension. As far as his ego's concerned, it doesn't help that Ren is apparently both much younger than him and much more at ease around these subjects, and so his default reaction is to get defensive.

"It doesn't bother me!"

Obviously. Clearly it doesn't. How could Ren possibly think anything else.

"It's just - there are some things one doesn't talk about in public, aren't there! So if you really do want to discuss this, why don't we go somewhere a little more, er - that is, I've got a room in the castle..."

Oh, hell. Talking five minutes and already he's invited the man back to his room - they're really going to go through with this, aren't they. Valmont briefly considers picking up one of those cakes himself to bolster his courage, then realizes that's a terrible idea and gives it up. It's around this moment that he also realizes Ren still has hold of his hand, and it takes legitimate effort not to pull away.

But he doesn't. Let's see where this goes.