Aleksandra offered Tommen a sympathetic look. He actually seemed more intimidated by the current situation than he had when they had gone over the Flats. She understood it, though. Many rulers were fickle or even cruel and he had no way of knowing if Maleki's "friends" were benevolent or...less than benevolent. The expression only appeared on her face for a moment, before she straightened and looked back at those in front of them.<br/><br/>She listened as Bach made an attempt to rattle her, but Aleksandra did her best not to seem phased by his insults. She arched a brow and relaxed her stance.<br/><br/>"That's an interesting take on things, tell me, why is it when a man seeks conquests he's some kind of god, but if a woman does the same she's a whore? Do you often insinuate women you've just met are such things, or am I special?" She did not hide her annoyance at his comments. Honestly, she was beyond tired of anyone insinuating that her sex made her weaker or less than any other man around her. This was the reason her father had lost all power, because he was not willing to marry her off or breed a new wife until she produced a male heir. Aleksandra would have been his successor and apparently that caused enough fear to lead to treason.<br/><br/>"And the bastard who court-martialed your father is dead, his daughters with him, save for myself. I'm not sure what you wish me to explain, though. Why I'm here? A man killed my family in front of me and now he sits on my throne, where simpering nobles seem to fear him. He doesn't want me dead, he wants me for-- Ahh, what did you call it? Oh yes, he wants me to be his whore." She smiled, but it was not a kind expression. There was steel in her eyes and blood inside of her mouth. Both burned with an anger that Bach had managed to get a bit too close to with his comments about her whoring herself about.<br/><br/>"I'd much rather see if I can find a way to make him die slowly, after I rip what power he has taken away from him. In truth, I was not looking for Maleki, I was seeking his father because I knew Lord Todori was an honorable man and that my father made a mistake in his banishment."<br/><br/>It was the truth, she had known what her father intended to do and even as a young woman, she had begged him not to do it. Even now, she wondered if he had shown more mercy, if things might be wholly different now.