You can't see...?

[He glances down at his wrist, as if to make sure the words are really still there. Of course they are - they've been a constant part of his life for as long as he can remember, and it isn't as though the words simply fade. But Edelgard can't see them. She can't read what's written on his wrist. Why?]

I would never attempt to falsely claim anyone for a soulmate! I'm really not sure why you can't—

[And that's when the realization hits him, much like a blunt axe to the face. He ends up staring for a moment, as though processing it.]

...I... have heard that soulmates cannot read the words written on each other, but I didn't know...

[He trails off there, looking somewhere between baffled and mortified. This entire day is turning out to be one of the worst he's ever experienced, and he'd very much like to return to his room and bury his face in a pillow and scream, but fine. Sure. This is what's happening now. The only thing he has for her is hearsay that only makes his case look even worse. Great!]

You have my apologies, I'd completely forgotten about such a thing.