Faustus: I like my women like I like my coffee: Hot, sweet, and overflowing with cream.
I like my men like I like my Pringles: Stacked in a small container and easily broken.
(Romain) I like my Pringles like I like my coffee: Out of my sight and out of my mind.
Faustus "But what about your women?"
(Romain) My what? No, those don't belong there.
Faustus "Really? I thought all kings had wives and concubines."
(Romain) No king I know has concubines, and few have wives. What is the point? Power is awarded by a predecessor or, more commonly, taken by force. Why should we wish to have wives meddling in our rule?
Faustus took this in, nodded, and said, "I like you. You speak sense. Come, let us enjoy a fine supper of goose and rhubarb pie!" He waved his hand and the feast appeared.
There was a lull in administration today. Wren could take care of what else that he needed. Romain decided to partake. "Very well. Thank you." He was not without manners, despite his reputation as a tyrant.
(Continued via AI)
Faustus couldn't help but admire Romain's confidence and assertiveness. It was a quality that Faustus himself possessed in spades, which was why he had risen to such a high position within his ... faith. But there was something about Romain that made him stand out, even among the other kings and rulers that Faustus had encountered.
They sat down to enjoy their meal. The goose was succulent and tender, with a crispy golden skin that had been expertly seasoned. Each bite was bursting with savory flavor, complemented perfectly by the tartness of the rhubarb pie. The meat practically melted in Faustus's mouth, making it clear that no expense had been spared to ensure the quality of their meal.
Faustus couldn't resist probing Romain further. "Tell me, Your Majesty," he said between bites of goose, "what is it that drives you? What motivates you to rule with such an iron fist?"
Romain raised an eyebrow at the question. "Power," he said simply. "The desire to control one's own destiny, to shape the world according to one's will."
Faustus nodded thoughtfully. A man after his own heart.
"But power can be fleeting," Faustus added, sipping his wine. relishing in its silky smooth texture and rich flavor. The wine flowed over his tongue like liquid velvet, with notes of blackberry and dark chocolate dancing on his taste buds. It was clear why this was Romain's favorite wine - it was truly exquisite. Faustus closed his eyes for a moment, savoring every drop of the precious elixir. He noted to himself that Romain had absolutely impeccable taste. Then his mind returned to the subject at hand. "One day you may have it all, and the next it could slip through your fingers like sand."
Romain's lips curled into a slight smile. "That's why one must always be vigilant, always be willing to do what is necessary to maintain their hold on power."
Faustus nodded again, impressed by Romain's unwavering determination. "You remind me of myself," he said. "Always hungry for more, always seeking new challenges to conquer."
Romain raised his finely-wrought silver goblet in acknowledgement. "I can see that," he said. "For men like us, contentment is simply another word for stagnation. We must always strive for something greater, something beyond our current grasp."
"And what of your people?" Faustus asked, more out of idle curiosity than anything. "Do you not feel any responsibility towards them?" He, himself, had taken in orphaned children and raised him within the Academy of the Unseen Arts, and while he did care just a tad for his students, he would willingly sacrifice the lot of them if it meant he could achieve more power.
Romain chuckled darkly. "Responsibility? No, I feel no responsibility towards my subjects. They are merely pawns in my game of power."
Faustus smiled inwardly. Romain was indeed a man who shared his ambition and hunger for power.
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