Eoin put a hand to his chest and half bowed to her, "Forgive me. It was not intended as mere flattery but a show of my respect and reverence for your most important position. Far too many make light of it and I would hate for it to be thought that I count myself among that number. I apologize, my ease with 'pretty' words, as you said, often work against my more noble intentions." Not for the first time Eoin felt there was something familiar about the Chaldean. That little smile and light rebuke, he couldn't help but feel that he had seen and heard both often enough that he could know them and her well.
Thankfully whatever surprise Eoin might have felt at that blunt question didn't show on his face or in his tone and he was able to maintain his cool, confident demeanor. "Who in their right mind would wish to rule, My Lord." he shook his head. "No. We have a ruler already who is more than capable, and you are unlikely to find a suitable man who is both wise enough to govern and has the desire to keep Her Majesty happy. As far as I am aware you were the only man who could have fulfilled both such roles with any degree of success." There had been talk over the last century, at least in his holds, that since she had found no husband yet the Queen was availing herself of the pleasures of having Lord Judgement so close. Those who had whispered of it, particularly his own mother, had been more than surprised when Sidonie started entertaining suitors.
"What Her Majesty is in need of is an heir, and if she would desire a husband to provide her such then the title of Prince Consort might be better applied to that husband than King." It also would have kept a man like Fredric in check, though he knew better than to mention it. His family might have stomped their collective feet at that notion, but given that he felt that she didn't so much as need a husband as she did a lover to find comfort in, it was the more socially acceptable idea.