Unable to guess the answer, she asked, "Who am I, that you should love me?" "You are My Queen," said Eugenides. She sat perfectly still, looking at h… - Megan Whalen Turner

The dandified Attolian who had spoke, a patron, but not a baron by any means, glanced at the queen to see if she approved, but she was looking the other way. The king shrugged his shoulders slightly and said, "I could send you to ask them."
The man laughed. "It would be a long trip, Your Majesty. I would so much rather hear the answer from you."
"Oh, the trip would be much quicker than you think," said the king pleasantly. "Most of my male cousins are dead."
The silence that had begun at the head table had spread to the edges of the hall. The Attolian's smile grew uncertain.
The king didn't smile back. Those who understood shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

Then, as you well know, Eugenides looked me in the eye as if I were a complete stranger and said, "The simplest way to end a war is to admit you have lost it."
The silence after that was not polite.

I seem to remember once sharing my oatmeal with you," Sounis remarked.
"I seem to remember stealing your oatmeal," said the former Thief of Eddis, "but it didn't have sand in it."
"Sand?" said Sounis, taken aback.
"Sand, and if my queen notices, she will have someone flayed.