[His own family, well, the situation is complicated. His father does't trust him, would barely let him leave the house if not for his mother's protests, and how would it look for his father's career if his son ended up marrying into the wrong family? Pureblood, but not wanting to become attached to the wrong family, in such difficult times.

He was supposed to be his father's legacy, but he had been rejected as not cut out for it, not for anything deemed proper, long before he had grown enough to prove that judgment right and now he might be his mother's treasure, still, but he has grown beyond caring for that. He doesn't think about family, not the one he has and not of starting one of his new one. All he wants is to further his Lord's goals any way he can. If he asked him to take a wife, he would, but only then.]

The freedom? I've never been that kind of child then. [Reverse it and it might be closer to the truth.] I'll gladly take that satisfaction.

[He answers the question, but with just a nod and no words. It's not needed, he knows she understands.]

And if you know a way to wring out more of me, I might embrace it.