[ He smiles a little at the compliment, even if he'd rather wince. He's unpretentious because he's unremarkable, most likely. But most good nobles have learned a modicum of modesty—it's unbefitting of their station to act lofty simply because they were born into power.

In that regard, Zagreus too lacks the haughty arrogance that often plagues royalty. It doesn't really feel like two lords discussing policy right now, so much as a pair of young men bemoaning their circumstances in life. They might even be mistaken for normal, not immune to the cold or to familial issues. ]

It isn't an easy thing to take care of an entire realm. I can't claim I was good at it either. Oftentimes I wonder why such huge responsibilities are inherited, rather than assigned.

[ There's technically reasons for it in Fodlan, but for Zagreus? It's too early for him to speculate. ]

But you're being rather harsh on yourself. All things come with study and effort. Perhaps you just hadn't had the opportunity or the means with which to develop your talents.

[ Not every father makes for a good teacher. ]