(... There goes another one of his usual smiles. That perfectly perfect smile that comes from years of practice. And while his eyes aren't exactly bright or warm, the usual distance is... well, it's less than before.)

"Riegan" is a Fodlan name but "Khalid" is from Almyra. Together, they're names from my mother and father... two lovers from two enemy nations.

My mother ran away from home to be with my father. Against all odds and despite all of the challenges she faced, she stayed by his side and had a son. Me. Usually, the birth of a firstborn son is something the entire kingdom would celebrate... but no one wanted a prince with mixed blood, especially the blood of a cowardly, lesser people.

(Did he just mention he was a prince? He sure did.)

I came into this world with enemies who hated me and to protect the throne from an unworthy person like me... They did everything in their power to make sure I wouldn't live. They thought it would be easy because I was my mother's child and her people were supposed to be a weak people... but what they didn't know is that she was the strongest person in the world as her son? I inherited her strength.

(He survived every attempt on his life and here he is today.)

But it didn't matter how strong I was. I could fight and scream and yell and explain myself all I wanted but no one there would ever accept me...

(And that's the first part of the story, his voice trailing towards the end just to see what her reaction is. )