[ It's often remarked upon by Gregor's close friends that when you catch him alone, without the trappings of his station, he seems incredibly average. It's extremely easy to forget how much he lives under most of the time.

This question of marriage, though-- he laughs again, but this time darker, a quiet sound that quickly fades. ]

It's kind of you to worry about me, but you shouldn't. I have no intention of marrying anyone but who I please, when I please. [ There's something of an immovable object behind his eyes with this. ] I've given everything to the Imperium already; I'm the only Emperor they can agree on, and I have no heir.

But I'll be damned if I give them that, too. If they want me so badly, they can have me, on my terms.

[ And then there's how Miles fits into all this. Someone who's just as willing to put up a fight as he is, eh... He certainly fits that. Miles has been fighting far harder and longer than Gregor, really. But he isn't quite ready to approach that as a serious option, him marrying Miles. He still shies away from it mentally, whether he's technically given him a ring or not. ]