Well when you're asking personally questions, this one was bound to come up sooner or later.

"Here? No..." Alexi trailed off for a moment, pondering the best way to answer. Katherine had the better story, by far, something a scribe could weave into a stirring tale if they were of the mind. Not quite his hobby, but it didn't stop his own story from seeming rather... bland, in comparison.

His own fault, maybe. When you skip all the 'interesting' details, there isn't much left, is there?

"I was born in Einfeld -the archipelago kingdom to the south?- though I've spent most of my years on the mainland."

"My family was always interested in relations between kingdoms..." How long had it been? Alexi stared off into the distance as he pondered the times from so long ago. "One of the reasons I came to know Charles, I suppose. And when the coup came to Einfeld... well it was safer to stay here."

There had always been a... Rift, within Einfeld. Small yet fiercely independent, there were always those who believed that strengthening relations with neighboring kingdoms only opened themselves up to be taken advantage of. The boon of trade and the wealth it brought was a short-term benefit concealing future devastation, in their eyes, enough to spark a coup almost ten years ago that turned into a full-on civil war. Alexi was and always would be in favor of diplomacy and open borders, but the one who sat upon the throne today did not share that same view, and to say Alexi was no welcome in Einfeld as it was now... was an understatement. But he shrugged off any further thought, forcing himself to focus on something -anything- else for now. 

"I never liked travel all that much, so I suppose this has become my home now." A nervous chuckle accompanied the words, as he managed to turn enough upon his horse to look over to Katherine once more. "You travel a lot, yes? Have there been any places you enjoyed staying at? Or do you prefer to stay on the move?"