All right. This is weird, he notes that the metaphor he only thought of is being used like he said it out loud. He's around weird a lot, he'll try to roll with it. This... 'Cole' reminds him a bit of Iuliael, that same semi-comprehending hopefulness.

"Uh. No offense, but I would've expected the walking embodiment of compassion to look li-" wow, no, don't say 'look like a girl', for all he knows this is a girl who wound up dressed like this for reasons. Anyway kindness really shouldn't be gendered. But of course, cutting himself off is useless. Julien closes his eyes, half-enjoying a moment of almost-normal putting his foot into his mouth. "Forget I said that?"

He's only being looked at incidentally, for the same reason people have been looking at him throughout this event: because he looks strange. It's about time to circulate some more. "Hey, do me a big favor? Don't let the Prince know you can do this. Please. It'd be dangerous for a lot of people if he wanted you or decided to just incorporate a lot of mindreading."

Julien's not sure any of the servants aren't guilty of treason of the mind. He certainly is, and that really doesn't need to get back. As long as he follows the Prince's whims and marks when they change, he'll be fine.