Jayce staggers back with a small noise of surprise. He honestly thought the shove would push Edgard off-kilter enough simply based on the appearance of him. His attention is so focused on Edgard that he doesn't notice the sound of Abby's approach until she's shouting. Relief blooms in his chest, even as his eyes dart between the two, and then, a second voice above, the Head Archivist--

It's enough to afford him a quick glance behind, searching for Viktor to visually confirm his safety in lieu of responding. Who's to say Edgard (or, darkly, Edgard) is the sole hostile individual in the library?

(And is it cowardly to let himself finally accept the suspicion now that there are other people -- more capable people -- present and presumably willing to kill on that very same suspicion? If he'd his weapon, would he do the same?)