Leo tilted his head to the side. “Is your mother Lady Amelia—”
“—Bellefleur, yes, sire.”
“Amelia.”Leo sighed with something like wonder in his voice. “She moved away so suddenly, and I could never find out why. I suppose I know the answer now.”
Mattias arched a brow. “The lady in question found herself expecting a blessed event after a certain prince charmed his way into her”—he cast a glance at Davin—“good graces.”
“I charm my way into the kitchen girls’ good graces all the time,” Davin said.
Leo stood and circled Davin, looking him up and down like he was seeing him for the first time, before coming to a stop in front of the boy. “Felix, I have ason.” He said it with more certainty this time, and the corners of his eyes crinkled with the width of his smile.
“And I’mroyalty,”Davin agreed, eyes wide. “Wait, does that mean I don’t have to shovel shit anymore?”
Mattias chuckled. “Eventually, but for now you have to swear to keep this a secret. Do you understand, Davin? Your anonymity is for your own protection, so you’ll stay working for Mother while we decide the best way to introduce you as the prince.”
Davin’s brow creased, and now that he was looking, Felix could see traces of Leo in the line of his jaw, the dark hair, the stubborn tilt of his chin. “But why do I have to stay in the stables?”
“Remind me why your mother sent you to work here again?” Mattias said.
Davin’s shoulders hunched. “Because I have an entitled attitude and no work ethic, but I need one because who knows what life will bring and someday I’ll thank her,” he recited glumly.
“Quite right, too,” Leo said. “Ruling a kingdom is a lot of work.” He reached out hesitantly and ruffled Davin’s hair.
Davin froze.“Wait, did you sayruling?”
Mattias cleared his throat. “It won’t be any time soon. But due to recent developments, it does appear you’ll be taking the throne in the future.”
Davin’s grin was pure mischief. “Are the recent developments the king and Felix going at it like rabbits?”
Felix did laugh then.
Like father, like son indeed.
* * *
“And you knew this whole time?” Felix asked Mattias.
Once the initial furore had died down, Mattias had suggested that they put their heads together to work out the best way to move forward with revealing Davin’s existence, and so Mattias, Leo, and Felix were sitting in Mattias’s office. Felix took the chance to ask questions since Leo didn’t seem inclined to do much except sit there, smiling to himself.
“I was sworn to secrecy unless the need arose,” Mattias said. “The king decided Leo was too young and irresponsible to be burdened with parenthood—and he was right,” he added, pointing at Leo, who had stopped grinning long enough to open his mouth. “You were a stroppy little git at seventeen.”
“I wasgoingto say that my father was wise to do what he did,” Leo said, pointing right back at Mattias. “I certainly wasn’t ready to be a parent, and Amelia had told me repeatedly that she had no interest in anything more than a fling.”
“So whatdidthe king do?” Felix asked.
“What royal families have done with unexpected offspring for centuries,” Mattias said. “Amelia and her family were more than happy to be awarded a country estate and an income in return for raising the illegitimate son of the prince in safety and seclusion, with the understanding that if it ever came to it, Davin would be informed of his heritage and step up to take the crown.”
Felix’s nose wrinkled. “So, they just parked the child like a spare carriage to be wheeled out in the case of an accident or emergency? That seems very unfeeling.”
“It’s not like that,” Leo said. “I’m told Davin had quite the pampered existence.”
Mattias nodded. “Toopampered. It’s how he ended up in the stables. I made sure to go and see Amelia twice a year, and last time I visited she was concerned that Davin was showing signs of turning into one of those useless fops who lounge around all day, and she wasn’t having it. We decided he needed to try his hand at physical labour and learn some manners. But of course, we couldn’t just send him anywhere, so I suggested the stables. I knew Mother wouldn’t tolerate his nonsense.”
Felix grinned. “So that explains why he was so clueless. I can’twaituntil Mother finds out he’s been giving the heir to the throne a clip around the ears. He’ll bemortified.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Leo said. “It never stopped him with me.”
“You deserved it, though,” Mattias said with a laugh.
