“If you’re expecting me to contradict you, you may be waiting a while. I do have a lot to be proud of.”

He answered, definitely out of his funk enough to keep on grinning at her as she teased him. Truth was, even around people who didn’t hate his guts for how he dealt with his brother turning into a monster, even around people who actually liked him, he didn’t get teased like this often. Came with being a prince, he supposed.

“There’s nothing wrong with being prideful, is there? It is my pride that allows me to go through this place listening to all of these whispers remind me of all my mistakes.”

A beat, and then he added:

“And you could hit my stomach with your elbow, instead. Much easier access.”