“When I was a kid, I saw a movie about the prince and the pauper and I used to wish that I could run away and switch places with someone so I wouldn’t have to study with my private tutors.” Wes dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “It took me working on a service project in the underprivileged section of Riodan to understand exactly what I had taken for granted. My education could’ve changed some of those people’s lives and helped them escape the slums. My studies were different after that. At least until I turned sixteen and noticed girls.”
Elise smiled. “I’m sure they noticed you long before that.”
“I was a gangly kid with hair that stood straight up.” Wes ran his hand over his hair. “I keep it much shorter now.”
“Did you ever try to escape the palace?”
“Once, and that’s when I found ou
