[He feels a bit of shame, truly. He wants to say that he could come out in defiance of all of Ishgard for a child of shameful birth, but in honesty he's not sure. Ishgard has always come first, always. So he says nothing in that moment. Honesty has ever been the best when it came to Yenh, so...]

I cannot afford to lose the trust of my people. Were I a tradesman or a merchant, I think I would happily weather the opposition. I would lose the trust of every high born man and woman in Ishgard, I think. [He touches the knife-wound scar on his belly, then. Thinking back briefly to the assassination attempt.]

My life is not my own, not wholly. Regardless, you deserve better, Yenh, than a man already married to his city.

[He closes his eyes a moment.] Were I ever to sire your child, he would needs be a secret to all of Ishgard.