"I had believed that winter was supposed to make one's skin thick, apparently that is not the case? Perhaps he is not used to the heat of a clever mind behind such vocality." he was going to have to stop picking at Fredric, it wasn't sporting when the man wasn't there to come back at him, but he did rather enjoy it. At least this time he was able to pay her a compliment when it was his intention to do so, it may not have endeared him to her much but the flattery was genuine. "As long as a flail is not involved I would be pleased to test the thickness of my skin."
He noted the girl again but didn't stare or allow his expression to change. He was likely already pushing things with that little bit of flattery directed at the Chaldean, he didn't need to make it worse. He was even more sure now that the pretty young woman had been a trap.
It wasn't surprising that the subject finally came to this but it wasn't exactly the most pleasant of topics to discuss with such high ranking individuals. It was likely more pleasant than the physical examination and checking of his virility that would certainly come later if the Queen chose him, but that was of little comfort. "I have been as careful as any responsible man can, I assure you, it has only ever been my intention to leave a lover with happy memories of our time together, nothing more. It is of course a possibility as my physicians have assured me that I am fully capable of fathering a child. There have been those that tried to claim they were of my blood but all such claims have proven false."