King Zaal held up a hand. “I will not be distracted from our present discussion.

Neither
will I insult your intelligence by reminding you how profoundly your every action affects
the empire. A simple announcement of your return home would've been enough to stir
up all manner of theater and excitement, but your actions today⠀””
“Indeed,” said his mother, interjecting herself, reminding everyone she was still there.
“Kamran, you should be ashamed of yourself. Acting the part of a commoner.”
“Ashamed?” Zaal looked at his daughter-in-law in surprise. To Kamran, he said, “Is that
why you think I've summoned you?”
Kamran hesitated.
“I expected you might be angry with me, yes, Your Majesty. I was also told you might
expect me to host a ball now that I've inadvertently announced my return.”
Zaal sighed, his white brows knitting together. “Hazan told you that, I imagine?” The
king's frown grew deeper. “A ball. Yes, a ball. Though that is the least of it.”
Kamran tensed. “Your Highness?”
“Oh, my child.” Zaal shook his head. “I see only now that you do not realize what you've
done.”
Firuzeh looked from her son to the king and back again. “What has he done?”
“It was not your mere interference that caused such talk today,” Zaal said softly. He was
staring out the window again. “Had you left the boy to die in his own blood, it would've
been little remarked upon. These things occasionally happen. You could've quietly
summoned the magistrates, and the boy would've been carted away. Instead, you held
him in your arms. You let the blood of a street orphan touch your skin, sully your
clothes. You showed care and compassion for one of their own.”
“And am I to be punished, Your Majesty? Am I to be cut down for a display of mercy?”
Kamran said, even as he felt the ascent of an unsettling apprehension. “I thought it
expected of a prince to be in service of his people.”
His grandfather almost smiled. “Do you mean to
purposely misunderstand me? Your life is too valuable, Kamran. You, heir to the largest
empire on earth, recklessly exposed yourself to danger. Your performance today might
go unquestioned by the people, but it will be severely scrutinized by the nobles, who will
wonder whether you've gone mad.”
“
Gone mad?
” the prince said, struggling now to control his anger. “Is that not a gross overreaction?
When there were no repercussions— When I did nothing but assist a dying boy⠀””
“You did nothing but cause a riot. They are only chanting your name in the streets.”
Firuzeh gasped and ran to the window, as if she might see or hear anything from within
the palace walls, which were notoriously impenetrable. The prince, who knew better
than to hope for a glimpse of a mob, sank back down.
He was stunned.
Zaal sat forward in his seat. “I know in your heart you would fight to the death for your
empire, child, but this is not at all the same kind of sacrifice. A crown prince does not
risk his life in the town square for a thieving street urchin. It is not done.”
“No,” said the prince, subdued. He felt suddenly leaden. “I expect it is not.”