She’s been quiet for the past few minutes as he stares down at the surface of the wine in the cup that he holds. His reflection startles with his movement when he shifts somewhat, just as a breath is taken into the center of his chest. He feels tired, the world feels heavier when you can feel the burden there at the base of your spine. But she’s no doubt waiting for him to say something - anything. Of course she possibly had good intentions. Didn’t she always? She seemed to. Yet this was something else entirely. He had shielded her enough from what he was, from what people said of him - the devil king who sat ruling the lands. But he was a beast, half a monster and partially a man whenever he held up the mask he chose to wear for his young bride.
And how young she was seemed obvious when the words came tumbling from her lips. She was with child, she was to have a baby. He could see himself having a son, a daughter centuries prior to the moment here now. He could not have children, his death having prevented that. Yet there she stood behind him and he knew that there had to be something said.
A breath is taken and he downs the wine, letting it bitterly settle on his tongue, letting the intoxication slip right into his veins as his eyes close to savor it. Finally he turns and he meets her eyes. Beautiful, young, fragile, human. He steps towards her, breathing in the atmosphere that feels far too crowded and somewhat tense as well. His hand lifts, fingertips briefly grazing her jaw as he studies her. “ I cannot have children. “ he says it so simply without explanation as he waits for her reaction to set in. There was to be one, wasn’t there? “ Was this your plan, love? for the good of the country? “ it seemed a lofty goal to reach and yet there she was with her all too fragile hands reaching into a darker part of him and this world he had intended to fully separate himself from. After all he didn’t need an heir, not if he was going to live forever.