... Yes, you've already signed on for that, haven't you. But this isn't something that's required of you. You'd have to volunteer.

[ Such deliberate word choice. Not required of you. Gregor isn't going to ask. He can't help but think of Kitty's staunch refusal to be Empress or concubine or officially tied to him in any way and he-- he doesn't blame her, he endorses it, really, he wouldn't want that for her.

But Gregor does get tired of being a lead weight around someone's neck when they think of lasting commitment with him. He's having a hard time seeing himself otherwise. ]