He pulls away somewhat from Ivan. Thank god the man understands where he's coming from at least. It means less explaining he has to do.

"It hasn't been an option. My father expects to bond me off to a nice, Komarran girl," he says with no small amount of bitterness. "As a potential business dealing. Anything else hasn't been on the table and I never..." He shrugs helplessly. Why had it taken him this long to realize it?