Everyone is an unreliable narrator - they often don't notice the problems they themselves bring (if they did, they might try not to). That also means they don't

Everyone is an unreliable narrator - they often don't notice the problems they themselves bring (if they did, they might try not to). That also means they don't remember those details/problems or think them relevant. So although the author remembers it as being a point of curiosity, it wasn't necessarily as clear as that. But also, on the flip-side, it's quite possible for a non-malicious comment to seem like (via rumour/hearsay) an intent to undermine others, especially if it concerns information considered to be private.