If Miles knew the full gravity of this exchange - if he realized that this was, essentially, a marriage proposal given and accepted - he would be horrified. The thought of anyone forced into such a relationship with him is beyond abhorrent to him. Because of course he is no prize, and to take advantage of someone to the point where they are bound to him with their planet on the line? No, no, no. It's the same reason why he hadn't so much as breathed in the direction of, say, asking for sex or something as a price. No one should be pressured into sleeping with someone as unappealing as him.

But he doesn't know any of that. So instead, he nods up at her, moving to stand as well. As with almost everyone, he is considerably shorter than her, the frailty of his bones and frame even more obvious as he gets to his feet. His spine curves to one side; his head is squashed, sitting poorly on his shoulders. "Then I will defend your world with my life," he says, with a slight bow. "As will my fleet."

And frankly, he has quite a lot of experience in breaking blockades. Surely he can do it again here.