There was something about being one of few invited to Ramesses' chambers that boosted Charles' confidence. He had been training, though not admirably as such; Charles was not good at fighting and his instincts to curl up were so big, it was hard for him to truly apply himself as he always stayed in positions where that could not happen to him. Even though Ramesses screamed and raged a lot when he was there, Charles felt special, like.. he was someone that the Pharaoh confided in. He wasn't sure why, just like how he had always been unsure why. He didn't deserve any of this. But he had it, and he desired to have it and keep it more than anything in the world right now.
It came as a surprise to Charles when Ramesses suggested Sokha to him, to marry. They had met once, but Charles remembered little of their meeting. She seemed, like most here in the palace, a bit.. uptight, to him. It was odd how most seemed to think they were better than Charles — except, for some reason, Ramesses. At least not in that same arrogant looking-down-on-you way the others tended to have.
The thought of simply having some servant to carry his children had grown on Charles. No worries, no expectations; he would be in control and in charge.
Marriage seemed so... binding. Yet somehow it might not be, as Ramesses so explicitly mentioned it may be his first chance to have children this year. So it must mean that Ramesses would not limit Charles in that way. Perhaps Akashingo was just not that kind of place.
Ramesses seemed to be better, now. Drinking... Eating... Charles ate and drank with gusto, himself, always eager to enjoy Akashingo's luxury.
Did she mention me?
asked Charles after a moment of thought, a pregnant pause. It was evident that this surprised him. He also just wanted to know if this was an offer extended to him, or if she might yet choose anyone, and he was just one of the meat slabs on the table. Not that he minded. He knew that was all he had been to Nyra, too, and that was fine. That was all they were to him, too. He did not fancy the women, but he could pretend well enough that they were someone else. When he had first been with Nyra it had been about proving that he was a man, and a part of him still wished for that within Akashingo's walls, too. He knew how many of them looked at him. He wanted to prove his strength. Yet another part of him wanted a child. A child of his own. He had loved Lotus, but Nyra had not let him very close; he wanted to have a child that was all his.
This led him to his next question — how would the children be raised? would I be involved? — but he did not yet ask it, instead looking relaxed and as if he was having a delightful dinner party rather than discussing important life altering business.
Charles nodded as the Pharaoh said she had not mentioned him. That made sense; it would've surprised him, honestly, if she had mentioned him. She seemed very unimpressed, as far as Charles could tell. Of course, his default assumption was that others were unimpressed, so who knew.
It sounded like the only chances he had were if she were to return without success. Charles did not like the thought of being anyone's second choice, but at the same time he was used to it (perhaps that was why it annoyed him so). Oh, right,
he said with a nod, not showing how it made him feel.
Suddenly, a question was posed. What would become of his children if a coyote bore them? Charles blinked rapidly. He had heard that coyotes were bad at places like the Saints and out in the wilds. But he thought that things were different here at Akashingo. What do you mean?
he asked, unable to hide his surprise then. Why do it matter?