I hesitated for a moment. Bastard or prince? Dutiful had made me a prince. ‘I am,’ I said quietly. ‘But due to illegitimacy, not in line for the throne.’ He shrugged that aside. ‘That lad, that Per. He was your stableboy?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘You work alongside him, and he never defers to you at all.’ ‘He does, but not in a noticeable way, I suppose. He respects me, even if others don’t see it.’
