His own expression melts into something softer, before he shakes his head with a smile.

"Despise you? I would do no such thing." Leaning forward, the food temporarily forgotten, he makes pointed eye contact.

"Do you truly believe that I could ever hate you, my friend? We have been through too much, mourned each other for too long."

Certainly, he could forgive Emet-Selch for anything.