The Greystone Bastard (naming lore query)

[Cilia]

Like I said before, I think you're reading a bit too much into this. A little more than a bit, but not quite a lot.

Emmanellain before he leaves the room, clearly angry as hell after he quoted his late brother (or perhaps there's another reason).

What's important here is that beforehand he wasn't saying anything and minimizing his presence. He was lost in thought, and Artoriel putting him on the spot broke him out of it. I'd wager he's just trying to come to terms with everything that's happened (you'll remember he wasn't at the mission briefing for the raid to free the Vault from the True Brothers' control), as what we've seen of Emannellain suggests he's not very good at taking change and responsibility (see: skips class, drinks regularly, flirts with Lady Lainette instead of getting to the mission, gets captured by the Vundu due to carelessness, cowers behind us during the escape, etc).

There is likely some resentment towards Artoriel in there, but just why I can't guess right now. I don't think it has anything to do with Haurchefant, though.

And this is Artoriel's face as he leaves the room to go after Emm, could just be me but he looks smug after getting our support.

The expression is a bit off, but I'd bet that's due to the camera angle and lighting. Personally, I think Artoriel was just smiling because he's looking forward to what the future holds now that he knows he's not alone. Even knowing betrayal and despair, I want to believe in people instead of being suspicious of everything everyone says and does.

Edmont's sudden look at Artoriel is interesting to say the least.

Edmont's expression didn't change, and looking at someone when they talk isn't strange at all.

This is pure speculation on my part, but could he be a closeted traditionalist? We know that he has spent a lot of time with house Dzemael and Durendaire and that his late mother had more influence over him than say Emmanellain. I mean while Emmanellain was genuinely upset over the death of his half brother while Artoriel admitted to be ashamed that he didn't feel as sad as he should be. Emmanellain's sudden fit of anger could've been due to his brother's sudden change of conviction. Because how can someone who can't feel sad for his brother's death suddenly uphold his words and actions? I mean no matter what option you pick he will use Haurchefant's quote to stand by his position as count. He could either be genuine and this would just be another suspicion theory, or he could be playing us like a fiddle.

I think it's just character development on Artoriel's part. Realizing that, even though Haurchefant was his illegitimate half-brother, he was still more a knight than anyone else in House Fortemps, and now that he acknowledges and accepts that he wants to do right by people the same way his half-brother did.

There could be foul play somewhere in there, but there are endless possibilities, and I don't want to be suspicious of everything everyone says and does. (Or: everyone is possessed by an Ascian / in league with the Ascians.)

Here's my prediction: The question that will inevitably come up as a result of the Warrior of Darkness drama and whatever the hell Elidibus is teasing us about is 'Is the WoL *really* a hero? Have they truly been doing the right thing?' There will be a *severe* moment of doubt, about the WoL and everything they've fought for. I cannot say what else will happen, but I think Haurchefant's memory will play a role. He believed, to the very end, that we were a hero. That we were 'hope incarnate'. And that memory, combined with whatever else happens, is going to help the WoL and the Scions flip the metaphorical bird at whatever 'awful truth' the Ascians will inevitably drop on us.

That does seem to be something they're building up to, and I hope to God it's done as well as it was in Fire Emblem: Awakening...